Join our Whatsapp channel
The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), founded in 1931 by statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, has launched a transformative plan to become a globally recognised institution by its centenary in 2031. Declared an institution of national importance under the ISI Act of 1959, it aims to modernise governance, expand academic programs, and strengthen global collaborations.
A comprehensive review by the 4th Review Committee, chaired by scientist R A Mashelkar, outlined a roadmap for this transformation. The plan, themed “Reimagine, Reinvent, and Reposition,” includes 61 key recommendations focused on governance, academics, digital transformation, industry engagement, financial sustainability, and infrastructure upgrades.
Key Focus Areas and Actions
- Governance Reforms: The committee suggested enhancing accountability through performance evaluations and simplifying administrative processes. These steps aim to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
- Academic Expansion: ISI is working to introduce new programs in emerging fields such as data science and machine learning. It also plans to increase student intake and prioritise interdisciplinary research.
- Digital Modernisation: The institute has started adopting digital tools and hybrid teaching methods, which are expected to improve academic outreach.
- Infrastructure Development: Upgrades to campuses, laboratories, and student housing are in progress. Additionally, new centres for emerging disciplines are being established.
- Partnerships with Industry and Government: ISI is focused on building collaborations to address real-world challenges, generate revenue, and improve visibility.
Progress and Strategy
The ISI Council, led by Koppillil Radhakrishnan, is overseeing the implementation of these initiatives. The strategy involves short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals:
- Short-Term Goals: These include faculty recruitment, infrastructure upgrades, and governance reforms.
- Medium-Term Goals: ISI plans to scale academic programs, expand research output, and improve financial sustainability during this phase.
- Long-Term Vision: By 2031, ISI aims to be a global leader in statistical sciences, focusing on impactful research, innovative education, and strategic collaborations.
Significant progress has already been made. For instance, the Centre for AI and ML has aligned its work with the National AI Policy. Similarly, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Applied Statistics and Biostatistics has become operational. Efforts to streamline faculty recruitment, formalise teaching benchmarks, and improve governance are also underway. Meanwhile, ISI has introduced online and hybrid courses to enhance its reach.
