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IIST premises at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre campus

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), an institute of excellence established with the objective of offering high quality education in space science and technology to meet the demands of Indian Space Programme, was inaugurated by Dr G Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO on September 14, 2007 at Thiruvananthapuram. Dr B N Suresh, Director, IIST, Prof D Samchandran, Principal, College of Engineering and Rev. Fr. Mathew Mankkarakkavil, Principal, Mar Ivanious College, were also present on the occasion.


The traditional inauguration

During the last four decades, ISRO has made significant strides in the development of various technologies enabling peaceful uses of space for socio-economic development of the country. Today, ISRO has successfully established four major operational space systems in the areas of satellites and launch vehicles - Indian National Satellites (INSAT) for Communication and Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) for natural resources monitoring and management on the satellite front and two operational launch vehicle systems–Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)–for launching satellites.

ISRO has been uniquely developing satellite based applications with close interaction with all user agencies for societal development in the area of telecommunication, broadcasting, telemedicine, tele-education, meteorology, disaster management, natural resource monitoring and management. Village Resource Centres, a unique programme of empowering villages with high technology inputs like telemedicine, tele-education and natural resources management services have been initiated. Pursuit of Space Science research has contributed to the increase of knowledge and understanding of various scientific phenomena and to the evolution of technologies required for the development of space systems.

Developmental efforts in the area of spacecraft in the coming years face many technology challenges. On the launch vehicle front, efforts are on to provide low cost access to space with reusable launch vehicles and many other advanced propulsion systems. ISRO is embarking shortly on the development of human space missions.

Department of Space has been recruiting Scientists/Engineers with Degree/Post Graduate Degree in engineering and science to support the R & D efforts of the organisation. However, due to the prevailing job market, it has not been possible to recruit sufficient number of scientists and engineers in the past eight to ten years to meet the challenging requirements of the Department. Besides, the present curriculum being followed in the engineering colleges/institutes in India is well structured to meet the general engineering requirements.

Thus, the special high technology requirements of the Department of Space will have to be tutored and developed amongst the new recruits to enable them to take up research and developmental efforts of space technology. Therefore, a customised curriculum which predominantly takes into account various specialisation streams of the organisation would not only provide value addition to the curriculum but also enhances the knowledge base of graduating students suiting the requirements of Space Industry.

With a view to generate high quality human resources to pursue R & D in Space with specialised learning in the areas of Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications, the Department of Space has started its own Space Institute - Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, a pioneering endeavor in the country.

The aim of the Institute is to function as a centre of excellence in the area of advanced space science and technology. It offers Undergraduate, Post graduate and Doctoral programmes in Space Science, Space Technology and Space Applications. Within a short time, it will also provide the post doctoral fellowship in the niche areas in Space Science and Technology. In this Institute, the education will be totally integrated into high technology research work being carried at ISRO Centres. Towards that, it will make the best use of R & D infrastructure of the Department of Space apart from creating its own resources to expose the young minds to the high technology areas. Efforts are being made to create a most innovative learning process by putting the best use of Information and Communication Technologies.

During the academic year 2007-08, the Institute has started functioning with undergraduate programme in Technology with specialisation in Avionics and Aerospace Engineering and Integrated Masters in Applied Science with specialisation in Astronomy/Astrophysics, Material Science, Remote Sensing and GIS and Atmospheric and Oceanographic Science.

The institute has attracted 140 bright students, high performers through one of the prominent entrance tests in the country, at 10+2 years of school training to pursue undergraduate four year programmes in Technology or five year integrated masters in Science. The curriculum has been carefully structured taking into account the requirements of technologies pursued in the Department of Space while keeping the generic requirement of engineering and science course intact.


A faculty member of IIST interacting with students

The Institute has adopted the continuous assessment scheme followed by annual assessment scheme, to bring out consistent performance amongst the students. The institute is also making efforts to adopt modern methods of learning and has a good mix of practical, tutorial and lectures in its curriculum. The students are being involved in several professional activities like seminars, workshops, presentations, review meetings and research support projects of ISRO. Within a short time, the Institute will have the special satellite based connectivity with higher bandwidth, which would be essential for distant education delivery from premier institutions as well as research laboratories.

Within a year or two, the institute will have the needed R & D and academic infrastructure and will start offering PG programmes in specialised topics of space technology. IIST has the advantage of sharing the resources and facilities of ISRO apart from creating its own sizeable basic infrastructure to develop an excellent research atmosphere. The institute will also support post doctoral research fellowship in close association with ISRO in the highly specialised areas of research, which are relevant to ISRO programmes. Strong emphasis will be placed on publishing results of the research activities in the nationally and internationally reputed journals. The apex body in close association with ISRO has initiated the development of research policy framework and the aim is to reach very high standards in terms of publication record.


Computer Centre at IIST

At present, The Institute is functioning in the specially created premises in the campus of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvanthapuram. It has well established classrooms, hostels, library and computer facilities. Efforts are on to have its own permanent campus in Thiruvananthapuram with proximity to major Centres of ISRO with the main aim of having close interaction and also sharing the specialised infrastructure wherever necessary. The institute will be developed in its own premises with all needed facilities within next 18 months. The campus will house academic area, research laboratories, library and information area, computer centre, administrative area, senate cum convocation area, residential area for faculty and support staff, hostel with mess facility for students and studio type apartments for research fellows and students activity centre.

IIST has already started developing its own high quality faculty for its programme. The student and teacher ratio will be maintained at 8 to 10 students per faculty. In addition, the Institute will attempt to utilise the highly qualified Scientists and Engineers from ISRO who possess the academic interest. Faculty drawn from ISRO will be utilised to handle the highly specialised subjects in engineering and science and also function as guides for research fellows pursuing Ph.D programme in the Institute. The Institute will be open to induct faculty working in any part of the world with an excellent standing in the field.


A view of the student’s hostel