The Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), an independent network of higher education institutions, have a large number of alumni in leading positions in global companies, including Sundar Pichai, the chief executive of Google. Here, Milind Atrey, IIT Bombay’s professor in charge of the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, expands on the rise of Indians in the international business world.
What is helping to drive the trend of Indians’ success abroad?
Earlier, I used to think they were only in the software industry, but at the same time they are also in the space industry and professors in the universities. India has been doing something right for the past 30 to 40 years, [which] you can see the result of today. I believe two things went right. One is the English language. The second one is the importance of education in the Indian family. Also, adjusting abroad has never been an issue for us because of the social system – we have so many states and so many languages.
Why has IIT managed to generate so many graduates that have gone on to secure top business roles?
IIT insists on having everybody on campus. The students stay on the campus for four to five or six years. They have to adjust with others and they undergo a lot of debates. You have students from different branches, from mechanical [engineering] to humanities. We’re also good at seeking talents from the students. Even if they’re not very good academically, they could possibly be good managers or good at organising events. There are several events that happen on campus that are completely run by students. They go to different companies and get sponsorship. We have an entrepreneurship summit on campus which we have started.
What else has helped?
IIT’s alumni also play a very important role. There are fantastic role models available. If I know somebody has become a big shot, I start believing in the system, that this guy was [once] somebody like me. Alumni always come forward to help us. For example, we started a new course last year completely sponsored by our 1975 batch alumni, and most of the sports facilities have been sponsored by different batches. There’s also a flexibility of courses. They can take courses from other departments, and that interdisciplinary approach is paying off.
Is there a growth in entrepreneurship at IIT Bombay?
Students nowadays want to work with start-ups. I’m heading a business incubator at IIT Bombay from which 75 companies have come. Earlier it was a about getting a job and a big pay package. Nowadays that has gone completely and students are very happy to work with start-ups, no matter what the salary will be, because they [often] come from well-off families. This is a change of mindset and a change of culture.
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