The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) hosted a two-day regional workshop on ‘Celebrating Minds: From Academic Excellence to Sustainable Wellness’, bringing together nearly 200 faculty members, counsellors, administrators and student support professionals from higher education institutions across South India.
Organised under the Ministry of Education’s Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme, the workshop aimed to strengthen student wellbeing frameworks and institutional support systems across India’s higher education ecosystem.
First CFTI with ISO-certified Wellness Centre
A key highlight of the event was IIT Madras becoming the first Centrally Funded Technical Institute (CFTI) in the country to receive the ISO 45001:2018 certification for its Wellness Centre from TÜV NORD Group.
The certification recognises the institute’s commitment to occupational health and safety, proactive risk management and creating a safe and supportive campus environment.
Building resilient campuses
The workshop follows the recommendations of the Ministry of Education’s committee on the National Student Wellbeing Framework and is one of five regional workshops being organised across the country.
Addressing the gathering, Rina Sonowal Kouli, Joint Secretary (Higher Education), Ministry of Education, said the Ministry had trained over 3,000 faculty members since launching the capacity-building initiative in January 2024 under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme.
She said higher education institutions need customised approaches to student wellbeing and noted that IIT Madras’ crisis response mechanisms could offer valuable lessons for other campuses.
Student wellbeing a strategic priority
IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti said academic excellence must be complemented by emotional resilience and holistic student wellbeing.
“The true measure of academic excellence lies not only in intellectual achievement but also in the emotional resilience and holistic wellbeing of our students. At IIT Madras, we have consciously built a campus ecosystem where every student feels supported, heard and empowered to thrive,” he said.
He added that the institute’s ISO certification and the creation of a dedicated Associate Dean (Students – Wellness) position reflect its commitment to making student wellbeing a strategic priority.
Sharing best practices
The workshop showcased IIT Madras’ multi-dimensional student wellbeing model, covering mentoring systems, peer support networks, counselling services, early identification of distress, inclusive education and holistic student engagement.
Dean (Students) Prof. Satyanarayana Gummadi said student wellbeing requires a whole-of-institution approach that integrates mentoring, counselling, peer support and hostel engagement to create a culture of care.
Associate Dean (Students – Wellness) Prof. Suresh Kumar Rayala highlighted the importance of early intervention, accessible support systems and reducing the stigma associated with seeking help.
Practical learning
Participants attended expert lectures, panel discussions, case studies and practical sessions on stress management, resilience, preventive mental healthcare, institutional support systems and lifestyle interventions.
A field visit to IIT Madras hostels and dining facilities enabled delegates to interact with wardens, peer mentors and students to understand the institute’s on-ground support mechanisms.
The workshop concluded with participating institutions presenting recommendations to strengthen mentoring, counselling, hostel support and preventive mental wellbeing frameworks, contributing to the Ministry of Education’s efforts to build emotionally healthy and academically resilient campuses across India.