{"id":6693,"date":"2023-07-12T09:00:03","date_gmt":"2023-07-12T03:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/?p=6693"},"modified":"2023-07-12T09:00:03","modified_gmt":"2023-07-12T03:30:03","slug":"women-a-minority-at-iits-prof-preeti-aghalayam-tells-news18-as-shes-set-to-lead-zanzibar-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/?p=6693","title":{"rendered":"Women A Minority at IITs, Prof Preeti Aghalayam Tells News18 as She&#8217;s Set to Lead Zanzibar Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;justify-content:space-between;background:#f3f3f3;padding:0 15px 10px 10px;border-bottom:5px solid #e1261c\">\n<div style=\"width:510px;padding-top:10px;position:relative;height:350px\" class=\"jsx-1647035624 article_bimg\">\n<figure style=\"line-height:0;width:510px;height:340px\" class=\"jsx-1647035624\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Prof Aghalayam added that the male-female ratio is a bit stark at IITs because of the nature of their entry processes and the societal perception towards science and engineering. File pic\/News18\" title=\"Prof Aghalayam added that the male-female ratio is a bit stark at IITs because of the nature of their entry processes and the societal perception towards science and engineering. File pic\/News18\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=510&amp;height=356\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"510\" height=\"340\" class=\"jsx-1647035624\"\/><\/figure>\n<p style=\"line-height:18px;position:absolute;bottom:0;background:linear-gradient(transparent,#000);left:0;right:0;margin-bottom:0;font-size:12px;color:#fff;padding:32px 10px 5px;min-height:55px\" class=\"jsx-1647035624 imageCaption\">Prof Aghalayam added that the male-female ratio is a bit stark at IITs because of the nature of their entry processes and the societal perception towards science and engineering. File pic\/News18<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"width:359px;padding-top:10px\" class=\"jsx-1647035624 article_bnow_box\">\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/?p=6693\/#Calling_for_a_societal_push_to_make_the_Indian_Institutes_of_Technology_and_engineering_more_inclusive_the_first_female_director-in-charge_of_an_IIT_said_that_Indian_institutes_are_better_at_self-reflection_when_it_comes_to_gender_equity\" title=\"Calling for a societal push to make the Indian Institutes of Technology and engineering more inclusive, the first female director-in-charge of an IIT said that Indian institutes are better at self-reflection when it comes to gender equity\">Calling for a societal push to make the Indian Institutes of Technology and engineering more inclusive, the first female director-in-charge of an IIT said that Indian institutes are better at self-reflection when it comes to gender equity<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/?p=6693\/#%E2%80%98Western_Institutes_Not_Ahead_in_Gender_Equity\" title=\"\u2018Western Institutes Not Ahead in Gender Equity\u2019\">\u2018Western Institutes Not Ahead in Gender Equity\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/?p=6693\/#%E2%80%98Diversity_and_inclusivity_are_part_of_our_mission\" title=\"\u2018Diversity and inclusivity are part of our mission\u2019\">\u2018Diversity and inclusivity are part of our mission\u2019<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"min-height:24px;font-size:14px;line-height:24px;color:#3f3f3f;font-weight:400\" class=\"jsx-1647035624\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Calling_for_a_societal_push_to_make_the_Indian_Institutes_of_Technology_and_engineering_more_inclusive_the_first_female_director-in-charge_of_an_IIT_said_that_Indian_institutes_are_better_at_self-reflection_when_it_comes_to_gender_equity\"><\/span>Calling for a societal push to make the Indian Institutes of Technology and engineering more inclusive, the first female director-in-charge of an IIT said that Indian institutes are better at self-reflection when it comes to gender equity<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article_ContentWrap\">\n<div class=\"jsx-1647035624\">\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) came into existence in 1950. However, it is in 2023 that a woman finally becomes the head of one of these prestigious institutions. Prof Preeti Aghalayam has created history by becoming the first-ever director-in-charge of an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/education-career\/iit-madras-to-launch-first-global-campus-in-zanzibar-from-october-with-woman-director-8301337.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indian Institute of Technology<\/a>. The institute she will be heading is also historic in itself, being the first IIT campus set up abroad, in Zanzibar, Africa.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">\u201cIn IITs, women are a minority. This is the case at undergraduate, postgraduate level as well as among faculty. At IIT Madras about 12% of the faculty are women. There is no denying that the problem exists,\u201d she said in an exclusive chat with News18.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\">She added that the male-female ratio is a bit stark at IITs because of the nature of their entry processes and the societal perception towards science and engineering.<\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\">\u201cPerception in society is that engineering is not completely suitable for women. Many perceive IITs to be too hard. Coaching for IIT entrance is also tougher to access for women,\u201d said Prof Aghalayam.<\/p>\n<p><nonfly class=\"article_mad\" adunit=\"NW18_ENG_Desktop\/NW18_ENG_JOBS\/NW18_ENG_JOBS_AS\/NW18_ENG_JOBS_AS_ROS_MID_728\" slotid=\"nw18-dynamic-div-8312131_3_16\" id=\"new_ad_4\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">While she has been spearheading inclusivity initiatives in India, the academic does not believe that having a woman lead an IIT could instantly change the situation. However, she calls for a systematic and strategic push.<\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\">\u201cMe becoming director-in-charge cannot wave the wand and make the problems go away. We need a lot of changes across the board. While educational institutes have a great role to play but society too has to change, people have to change; for it to become a more equal space for all genders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%98Western_Institutes_Not_Ahead_in_Gender_Equity\"><\/span>\u2018Western Institutes Not Ahead in Gender Equity\u2019<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\">Aghalayam, who has pursued PhD from the University of Massachusetts and worked as a post-doctoral researcher at MIT, said that while Western institutes are ahead in some spheres of their Indian counterparts, they are not necessarily ahead of India when it comes to gender equity.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\">\u201cI pursued my undergraduate degree at IIT Madras and both postgraduate and PhD at two different universities in the West. In my graduate school, the difference in representation of women was starker as compared to UG. I do not necessarily subscribe to the idea that things are better in the West,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\">While there has been a rise in women\u2019s participation in science in the West, there has been a similar increase in IITs as well, she said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"9\" class=\"story_para_9\">Drawing on the government scheme Gender Advancement through Transforming Institutions (GATI), she said, \u201cWe (Indians) may be better off reflecting upon our situation in very thoughtful ways as compared to the West.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"10\" class=\"story_para_10\">Aghalayam is the nodal officer for the GATI programme at IIT Madras. As part of the programme, the professor says she and her colleagues had a chance to look at gender-segregated data in every sphere which helped them examine themselves. They had put together concrete plans which could make the institute gender equal in terms of both numbers and opportunities for the aspiration. These steps, she said, will be part of her mission as she heads the new campus.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%98Diversity_and_inclusivity_are_part_of_our_mission\"><\/span>\u2018Diversity and inclusivity are part of our mission\u2019<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p id=\"11\" class=\"story_para_11\">She also said that in Africa, there is a high representation of women across spheres and levels.<\/p>\n<p><nonfly class=\"article_mad\" adunit=\"NW18_ENG_Desktop\/NW18_ENG_JOBS\/NW18_ENG_JOBS_AS\/NW18_ENG_JOBS_AS_ROS_BTF_728\" slotid=\"nw18-dynamic-div-8312131_13_16\" id=\"new_ad_12\"\/><videocarousel\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"12\" class=\"story_para_12\">\u201cIt is heartening to see women at top spots. We are expecting that our campus too will carry a local aspect of gender inclusivity. Time will tell actual results but diversity and inclusivity are part of our mission,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"13\" class=\"story_para_13\">Talking about geographic inclusivity, she said, \u201cOne comfort and inspiration for me is the fact that this IIT Madras campus abroad is the statement of us embracing diversity. In our class in Chennai, over 95% of students are Indians. Here in the Africa-based campus, the composition will be different. It will be welcoming of people from various nationalities. Attracting diverse people to the campus will also push for newer and more inclusive policies. What we do is all for young people. The campus here will ensure they get the maximum out of their education.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-1647035624 authorBox21 article_author\">\n<div class=\"jsx-1647035624 author_box\">\n<div class=\"author_box_inner\">\n<div class=\"img_box1 author_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/11\/shyna-kalra.jpeg?impolicy=website&amp;width=70&amp;height=70\" class=\"lazyload\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"text1 author_content\"><a class=\"smalldesc1 author_name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/byline\/shyna-kalra.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Shyna Kalra<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div>Shyna Kalra, Chief Subeditor, at News18.com, writes extensively on education and employment. An alumnus of IIMC-Dhenkanal, Odisha, Shyna loves food an<!-- -->&#8230;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/byline\/shyna-kalra.html\" class=\"read_more\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/education-career\/women-a-minority-at-iits-prof-preeti-aghalayam-tells-news18-as-shes-set-to-lead-zanzibar-campus-8312131.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Prof Aghalayam added that the male-female ratio is a bit stark at IITs because of the nature of their entry processes and the societal perception towards science and engineering. File pic\/News18 Calling for a societal push to make the Indian Institutes of Technology and engineering more inclusive, the first female director-in-charge of an IIT &#8230; <a title=\"Women A Minority at IITs, Prof Preeti Aghalayam Tells News18 as She&#8217;s Set to Lead Zanzibar Campus\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/?p=6693\" aria-label=\"Read more about Women A Minority at IITs, Prof Preeti Aghalayam Tells News18 as She&#8217;s Set to Lead Zanzibar Campus\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[106],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6693"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6693\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bscrackers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}