Exchange Diaries  

Gyan Prakash | Ocean Engg and Naval Architecture

Zayed University, UAE

Research Area: Internet of Things

What was the University and topic of research that was taken up by you during the FT?

The university was Zayed University situated in Dubai, U.A.E and my research topic was "Thing artifact manager".

Why is an FT important? How would one compare research in Indian universities and foreign universities?

An international internship would provide you with exposure to know-how research is handled on a global scale and also you get to meet and interact with many professors and senior students which is very beneficial in your future career.

FT vs corporate internship, what are all the things we are missing out on and what are we gaining more?

In FT you are properly guided and helped by your professor in every way and you also get major ownership of research work and journals, but in a corporate internship, you work as an employee and usually don't hold any ownership of the work you do.

Should BTech students aspiring for higher studies from abroad opt for an FT?

Yes absolutely, a student interested in research should try for an FT abroad as it gives him a greater opportunity to explore his/her area of interest, which also makes his/her CV stronger. You could get to know the culture of other countries which might prove essential when applying for MS/Ph.D. also students who have done an FT are preferred when applying for any research position.

What exactly is the application process for the FT? Are there any important documents one must keep?

For my internship, I had applied through the IRC portal which opens every year and provides regular updates regarding new projects and internships. The most important documents are your SOP and CV and it should be mentioned in your SOP why do you want to pursue this project and what are your future ambition regarding the research field.

How did the process get affected due to the online nature of the applications?

It was announced early on that this internship would be held online due to the ongoing pandemic. So there were no newfound difficulties in my application process.

Did you have to mail the professor personally for the project? For how much time did you wait for a reply?

Well in my sophomore year when I tried and mail the professor or university personally I did not receive the reply, but with IRC it was easy to apply and I was not required to mail the professor personally as the entire application process was centralized.

When should one start applying for an FT? How long did the procedure last till you got the desired FT?

Ideally, you should start applying for the FT from your second year but the chances of getting one are less as you may not be familiar with the research-oriented language that must be used in your SOP and CV. But if you are very serious and interested in research work then can start to apply from your first year and keep on applying till you get your desired FT.

What is the role of CGPA in the selection process?

In some programs there are CGPA criteria and also some programs require the prerequisite of some particular course. All the CGPA gives the professor the impression of how serious and sincere you are regarding your academics so it should not be too low. Getting an FT depends on one's skills, interest, and enthusiasm, so a student with a relatively low CGPA can also get an FT.

How did the pandemic affect your application for the project? Did the pandemic have any positive impact on the project?

The whole training was through an online mode whereas I could have gained much more through one on one interaction with my peers and professors. due to the online nature of my internship, the workload was quite less and more stress-free.

Where should a student, who is unaware of the entire application process, look up information about professors and their research work for opportunities?

There are multiple sources where you can find pieces of information regarding the professor and their research work, the most basic one being is visiting the university webpage and look up the professor's profile or you can also find the research publications of the professor on certain websites such as "ResearchGate".So during the application process or when you are mailing the professor you should always incline your research work and skill set with the professors' work to increase your chance of getting an FT. you can also visit the IRC FTP portal for information regarding professors and their research work.

How should a first-year student prepare beforehand for his FT application in their subsequent year?

Before going for an FT you must take up a small project in India. Your FT should preferably not be your first project as it would be better if you gain some experience in the domestic environment. Also doing a couple of projects in your home country adds to the CV when you apply for an FT.

Does belonging to IITKGP provide any added benefits for getting your FT?

Yes, as in my case I got my FT opportunity through IRC which many Indian colleges and even many top IITs lack. But IIT tag only provides you the opportunity, so one must wisely improve his/her skills and knowledge to get selected for the FT.