IIT Madras hosts national workshop on student wellness with Education Ministry
NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) organised a two-day regional workshop on ‘Celebrating Minds: From Academic Excellence to Sustainable Wellness’ on July 12 and 13, 2026, bringing together more than 200 faculty members and student support professionals from higher education institutions across South India. The workshop was conducted under the Ministry of Education’s Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme as part of a nationwide initiative to strengthen student wellbeing mechanisms in higher education.The event also marked a significant institutional milestone for IIT Madras, which recently became the first Centrally Funded Technical Institute (CFTI) in India to receive the ISO 45001:2018 certification for its Wellness Centre. Awarded by TUV NORD Group, the certification recognises the institute’s occupational health and safety management systems and its integrated approach to campus wellbeing.
IIT Madras hosts national student wellness workshop with Education Ministry for faculty across South India
Ministry highlights nationwide wellbeing initiativeThe workshop was attended by Rina Sonowal Kouli, Joint Secretary (Higher Education), Ministry of Education, IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti, faculty members and other stakeholders.Addressing the participants, Rina Sonowal Kouli said, “The Ministry is facilitating such programs. Since January 2024, we have been able to reach out to more than 3,000 faculty members through the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme. We will be learning from the crisis response embedded in the IIT Madras system.”The workshop is one of five regional programmes being organised across the country following recommendations of the Ministry of Education committee constituted to strengthen the national student wellbeing framework.IIT Madras showcases integrated wellbeing modelSpeaking at the event, Prof. V. Kamakoti said, “The true measure of academic excellence lies not only in intellectual achievement but also in the emotional resilience and holistic wellbeing of our students.” He added that the institute’s ISO certification and the creation of a dedicated Associate Dean Students (Wellness) position reflected IIT Madras’ long-term commitment to student wellbeing.Participants were introduced to the IIT Madras Student Wellbeing Model, which includes mentoring systems, peer support networks, counselling services, early identification of distress, inclusive education and student engagement initiatives.Sessions focus on preventive mental health supportThe workshop featured lectures, panel discussions, case studies and group exercises on stress management, resilience, institutional support systems, learning disabilities, substance use prevention and preventive mental health strategies. Experts from institutions including IIT Tirupati, NIT Tiruchirappalli, AIIMS Jodhpur, Krea University, Expressions India, Ramakrishna Math, Kauvery Hospital and YourDOST participated in the sessions.Participants also visited IIT Madras hostels and dining facilities to observe the institute’s student support mechanisms, including interactions with wardens, peer mentors, MITR volunteers and students. The workshop concluded with participating institutions presenting recommendations aimed at strengthening mentoring, counselling, hostel support and preventive wellbeing frameworks across higher education institutions.
