Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) was established in 2007 in Valiamala, Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala in an area of 100 acres full of lush green to give a quality education in space science and train the manpower to ever-growing space industries in India. It was the first institution established for space in Asia set up by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) under the Department of Space, Government of India. Dr. G. Madhavan Nair laid the foundation for this institution and the then President of India and renewed Scientist missile man of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was the first Chancellor of this institution.
In this paper, we are going to analyze students’ stats, faculty, courses offered, graduation outcomes & placements, median salary & top recruiters, infrastructures and fees structures of this IIST. Since we got these details from the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) where IIST gave its reports, all the details are considered to be authenticated.
Students Intake at IIST Thiruvananthapuram
Students Intake
IIST gave admission to 132 students at UG, 22 students at dual degree and 150 students at PG in 2021. In 2020, it admitted 120 students to UG, 20 students to dual degree and 150 students to PG. In 2019, it admitted 120 students to UG, 20 students to dual degrees.
Faculty
IIST has eminent professors at its faculty who have published research articles in international journals. It has 108 professors at its faculty, of whom 95.37% are PhD holders, the faculty-to-student ratio is 1:6, that is, one professor is available for every 6 students, which is quite impressive.
IIST Thiruvananthapuram Annual Expenditures
Capital Expenditure
In the year 2021, IIST spent Rs. 14.17 crores as a capital expenditure, of which it spent 19.27% on procuring books, journals and e-resources for the library, and spent a whopping 58.08% of its funds on buying new equipment and software for quality research, spent 0.34% on engineering workshops, and rest of the 22.31% funds spent on the creation of capital assets and other expenditures. In 2020, the capital expenditure was Rs. 15 crores, and in 2019, it was Rs. 12 crores.
Operational Expenditure
In 2021, IIST spent over Rs. 73.8 crores as an operational expenditure, of which 43.59% spent on paying salaries for professors and supporting staff, a whopping 55.99% on maintaining academic infrastructures, and 0.42% on conducting Seminars, Conferences and Workshops. Spending as an operational expenditure in 2020 was Rs. 69 crores, and it was Rs. 65 crores in 2019. So, the spending as an operational expenditure is increasing in 2021 when compared to the last two year.
IIST Thiruvananthapuram Research Details
Patents
Since IIST has a good facility and good infrastructures, it filed 2 patent applications and got 2 patents in 2021 and 2020, respectively. However, it did not get any patent in 2019 though it filed one patent application.
Sponsored Projects
IIST has many distinguished professors and research scholars at its faculty, and it is known for space technology and research, so, many big companies are willing to sponsor this institution, and therefore, it received Rs. 1.19 crores through the 45 sponsored research projects from 7 companies in the year 2021. In 2020 and 2019, it received Rs. 1.97 and Rs. 1.67 crores from 50 and 46 sponsored research projects from 7 companies each, respectively.
Consultancy Projects
IIST received Rs. 93 lakhs through 9 consultancy projects from 5 companies in 2021, and it received Rs. 1.7 and Rs. 1.3 crores through 6 and 4 consultancy projects from 4 companies each in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
IIST Thiruvananthapuram Graduations & Placements
UG Graduations & Placements
As the quality of teaching and infrastructures at this institution is good, so the graduation outcome is also good, because of these, 120 students who were admitted to UG degree courses, of whom 94.17% were awarded graduations and 77.36% of them got placements at top companies and 7 were selected for higher studies in 2021; 95% students were awarded graduations, of whom 81.98% got placements and 3 were selected for higher studies in 2020; and 91.6% students were awarded graduations, of whom 65.71% got placements, 4 were selected for higher studies in 2019.
PG Graduations & Placements
In 2021 at PG programmes, 93.24% students were awarded graduations, of whom 31.25% got placements at top companies and 21 were selected for higher studies; and 92% students were awarded graduations, of whom 38.33% got placements and 9 were selected for higher studies in 2020; and 95.59% students were awarded graduations, of whom 34.54% got placements and 10 were selected for higher studies.
Dual Degree Graduations & Placements
In 2021, 20 students who were admitted to the dual degree programme, of whom all of them were awarded graduations and 94.74% got placements at top companies and one student was selected for higher studies; and 96.77% students were awarded graduations, of whom 89.65% got placements and one student was selected for higher studies in 2020.
PhD Research Programmes
In the PhD research programme, IIST admitted 210 students of whom 14 were awarded graduations in 2021, and 12 and 17 students were awarded graduation in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Median Salary & Top Recruiters
Median Salary of UG Graduates: Rs. 9.13 LPA in 2021, Rs. 9.13 LPA in 2020, and Rs. 8.82 LPA in 2019 at top companies.
Median Salary of Dual degree Graduates: Rs. 9.13 LPA in 2021 and Rs. 9.13 LPA in 2020.
Median Salary of PG Graduation: Rs. 8 LPA each in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Median Salary of Dual degree Graduates: Rs. 9.13 LPA in 2021 and Rs. 9.13 LPA in 2020.
Median Salary of PG Graduation: Rs. 8 LPA each in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
There are many national and international companies such as Adobe System, Analog Devices, Broadcom, Wipro, TCS, Texas Instruments, Viasat, Airbus, Saturn, Quest, Phillips, NFTDC, System Control, Aerolab, Opticals, MEASAT, Mathworks, Finisar Technologies, etc., looking for graduates from IIST.
Students Diversity at IIST Thiruvananthapuram
IIST attracts students from all parts and all sections of society. At this institution, 738 students have been pursuing their degree course, of whom 84.28% are boys and 15.72% are girls in the year 2021, 107 from within the state and 631 from outside the state.
Facilities on IIST Thiruvananthapuram Campus
IIST is offering plenty of facilities for students on its campus. It has hostels, hospitals/medical facilities, canteen, library, sports complex, gym, labs, wi-fi campus, shuttle service, auditorium, convenience store, lifts/ramps, etc.
Cultural Programmes at IIST Thiruvananthapuram
Dhanak – Annual cultural festival is celebrated for 4 days. As Thanak means rainbow, this festival consists of many colorful events like rainbow. DJ and Bands are also included at this festival.
Conscienta – Annual technical festival being celebrated at this campus to stimulate the interest of students in space science and technology where many workshops are being conducted on various topics and eminent scientists like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam participated and gave important inputs to students.
Conscienta – Annual technical festival being celebrated at this campus to stimulate the interest of students in space science and technology where many workshops are being conducted on various topics and eminent scientists like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam participated and gave important inputs to students.
Accessibility
As IIST near Thiruvananthapuram, it is well connected to the rest of India and the world. Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is 25 kms away from this institution and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is 30 kms away from this institution. From Airport and Railway Station, cabs and buses are available for this institution. So students can commute to this institution from anywhere.
How to Get Admission at IIST Thiruvananthapuram
For UG courses: Students who passed or appeared for the +2 exam can take the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and should pass the minimum cut-off mark required at this institution in the JEE Advance exam.
For PG courses: Students who passed a bachelor’s degree or appeared for the final exam can take the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and should pass GATE to get admission to this institution.
For PG courses: Students who passed a bachelor’s degree or appeared for the final exam can take the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and should pass GATE to get admission to this institution.
Fee Structure at IIST Thiruvananthapuram
Students need to pay Rs. 5.52 lakhs as fees for the UG course, however, the saving grace is they can get Rs. 9.13 LPA as a salary at top companies, therefore, they can earn back the amount of their fee within a year, so the burden of fees on students would be eased within a year.
IIST Thiruvananthapuram Scores by NIRF
Teaching, Learning and Resources: IIST has a good faculty and good infrastructures for quality research, and it published many research articles. Therefore, it scored 77.49%, which accounts to 30% of overall NIRF scores.
Research and Professional Practice: IIST has many distinguished professors and research scholars, however, it confines itself to limited programs, so it scored 23.18% in this section, which accounts to 30% of overall NIRF scores.
Graduate Outcome: As IIST has a conducive atmosphere for study, many students graduated at the minimum stipulated time, so for this outstanding performance it scored 61.09%, which accounts to 20% of overall NIRF scores.
Outreach and Inclusivity: IIST has a blend of students from every section and every part of India, so it scored 65.27%, which accounts to 10% of overall NIRF scores.
Perception: IIST has a good faculty, good infrastructures and a conducive atmosphere, and its graduation outcome and placements at top companies are good, so it scored 39.01%, which accounts to 10% of overall NIRF scores.
Perception: IIST has a good faculty, good infrastructures and a conducive atmosphere, and its graduation outcome and placements at top companies are good, so it scored 39.01%, which accounts to 10% of overall NIRF scores.
