Prof. Manoj Kumar Tiwari | Director, NITIE Mumbai
Awaaz, IIT Kharagpur got the opportunity to interview Prof. Manoj Tiwari, Professor from Industrial and Systems Engineering, IIT Kharagpur and currently Director of NITIE, Mumbai. He was recently awarded the David F. Baker Distinguished Research Award from the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers(IISE,USA). This prestigious award, given yearly, honours professionals who have made exceptional contribution in the field of Industrial Engineering. He is the first-ever researcher and professional based in India to receive this award. We spoke on a wide range of topics and issues, including his views on the attendance policy, research culture at IIT KGP, going abroad and much more. Following are some excerpts from the interview.
Prof Tiwari, on being asked about the award, dedicated it to his beloved students, as well as family and friends. Their unwavering support and encouragement played an important role in his success. Furthermore, he expressed gratitude towards the esteemed organization that had recognized his efforts and honoured him with this award. He felt humbled that they took into consideration the services he had provided to society.
Prof. Tiwari expressed happiness about his opportunity to go abroad on a fully funded trip, where he learned many new skills such as writing proposals for top industries. After started teaching, he used to work with students during the night shift from 9 pm to 3 am. At his earlier institutions, he however experienced difficulties due to lack of computing facilities to conduct research, and lack of proper facilities, which he worked hard to overcome. He said that at IIT, all the necessary resources are available which makes working here an enjoyable experience.
Prof. Manoj Tiwari had mentioned in a previous interview that he had a desire to be admitted to NITIE for doing his master’s in late 80s. He passed his state-level exam and secured admission in VNIT Nagpur for his bachelor’s degree. After completing his master’s from MLNREC Allahabad (now Prayagraj), he started teaching where he visited during summer schools with distinguished professors from IITs and IISc, learning a great deal. After working in an institute in Arunachal Pradesh for eight years, he joined NIFT Ranchi, where he published several research papers with their dedicated students. Eventually, he joined IIT Kharagpur as an Associate Professor and served as a Dean Planning and Coordination at IIT Kharagpur before becoming the Director of NITIE Mumbai. After becoming the director, he is working hard to turn NITIE Mumbai into an IIM Mumbai.
Regarding the general trend of limited research participation among students in engineering colleges, he noted that while job placement is a significant focus at IITs, research still holds value for some students. He emphasized that participation in extracurricular activities, such as sports and cultural, plays a vital role in developing well-rounded individuals.
When asked about his motivation for pursuing research instead of the general norm, he cited his early marriage and the societal pressure to secure a good job. After completing his master’s, he secured a teaching position in Arunachal Pradesh and eventually climbed the ranks to become a Professor, the Head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and the Dean of Planning and Coordination at IIT Kharagpur.
To instill a research attitude in IIT students, Prof. Manoj Tiwari suggested providing more faculties that can instill innovative capabilities amongst the students and orient them towards choosing the options they are genuinely interested in.
He suggests that significant changes have already been made to the educational system to provide more opportunities and choices for students. The system has introduced a new option for students to pursue a minor in addition to their major, which allows them to explore their interests further. The institutions have also partnered with several universities abroad to enable students to participate in internships and exchange programs in other countries. Additionally, several collaborative arrangements with leading industries have been established, providing students with opportunities for internships and practical experience in real-world settings.
Regarding the Mandatory Attendance Policy, he suggests a balanced approach. He believes it’s essential to give students the freedom to pursue their interests. He suggests implementing a 60 percent attendance criterion to ensure that students are meeting the necessary academic standards. To encourage student creativity and innovation, he proposes incorporating project-based learning opportunities into the curriculum. This will allow students to choose projects related to their interests while still meeting the academic requirements of their courses.
He advises undergraduate and researchers at IIT to remain connected with their seniors and alumni, focus on problem-solving and innovation, and seek out opportunities for exposure and growth to enhance their potential.
He believes that all students are an integral part of the institutes’ family and suggests creating a supportive and inclusive environment that nurtures the growth and development of students.
He believes that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the invaluable peer learning experience of students. Students learn best by inspiring and motivating each other, and unfortunately, personal interaction had become negligible during this time. However, one good thing is that online teaching has allowed us to connect with students from other universities and reach a larger audience.
He advises students to live their life to the fullest by doing their job with honesty. He encourages students to seek to innovate and create something new in their field of expertise, stay connected with their friends and loved ones, and take pride in solving problems and overcoming challenges.
As for his experience, he recalls students from KGP approaching him during the night seeking to escape the tasks of painting and illumination by jumping the hostel boundaries. Some of these students have since gone on to pursue MBAs, MS, and PhDs at esteemed universities in the United States and UK. He finds it amusing that when they return, they share with him the memories of their past and often confess to the lies they told to get out of those tasks.
Finally, he differentiates the role and culture of the two institutions. As the Dean of Coordination and Planning at IIT KGP, his role was to ensure that the data collection, rankings, and communication with the government officials were carried out efficiently. In contrast, as the director of NITIE, he is responsible for promoting actionable research, MDPs, UBPs, and organizing programs to enhance the industry connect. Additionally, the culture of the two institutions varies significantly.
He had the opportunity to be a visiting professor at the University of Wisconsin — Madison, USA in 2006 for a very brief job being from the tier-3 university where he stayed with two of his students and learned about writing proposals on futuristic topics. Despite facing difficulties such as xeroxing papers, typing, and sending through postal systems, he successfully mentored at least sixty students who were not from well-to-do families but are now in good places. Although his experience with students at KGP has been quite easy, he believes that there is a need for more involvement in research and practice to ensure a better and stable career for them. He recognizes the brilliance and motivation of the students but believes that more attention needs to be given to them, particularly undergraduate students, who have a large number and limited interaction with faculty. He hopes that the institute will focus more on the wellness of students through sports and activities to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Additionally, he suggests launching joint degree and research programs with top foreign universities and business schools for the students.
Finally, he rounded off by saying that even though many consider him to be the best professor in the department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, there were occasions when students have not given top feedback score around (4) as he was slightly harsh on them sometimes. Nevertheless, he is content with his students who recognize the value of his teaching.
