The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) organised a two-day regional workshop on ‘Celebrating Minds: From Academic Excellence to Sustainable Wellness’ for faculty members from South India on July 12 and 13, 2026. Held under the aegis of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, as part of its Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme, the event is component of a nationwide capacity-building initiative to strengthen student wellbeing mechanisms across Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
A significant milestone highlighted during the event was the ISO 45001:2018 certification awarded to the IIT Madras Wellness Centre by TUV NORD Group. This makes IIT Madras the first Centrally Funded Technical Institute (CFTI) in India to receive this internationally-recognised certification for occupational health and safety management, reflecting its commitment to a safe, supportive, and hazard-free campus environment.
Addressing the workshop, Ms. Rina Sonowal Kouli, Joint Secretary (Higher Education), Ministry of Education, stated “The Ministry is facilitating such programs. It was during January 2024 that we started capacity building programmes for teachers as part of the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme. Since then, we have been able to reach out to more than 3,000 faculty members. This happens twice a month on fortnightly basis. As it is the campus that acts as the second home for students, after they come out of the safety of the homes, it is heartening to see such initiatives. These programs have reduced the stress of academic pressures. We will be learning from the crisis response embedded in the IIT Madras system. There cannot be one fixed path. There will have to be multiple pathways and different programs that fit each of the institutes that are taking part in this workshop.” Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, emphasized that the true measure of academic excellence lies in the emotional resilience of students, noting that the ISO certification and the creation of a dedicated Associate Dean Students (Wellness) position reflect the institute's strategic priority.
The workshop brought together nearly 200 participants, including faculty, counsellors, and administrators from across the region. Prof. Satyanarayana Gummadi, Dean (Students), and Prof. Suresh Kumar Rayala, Associate Dean Students (Wellness), presented the IIT Madras Student Wellbeing Model, which integrates mentoring, peer networks, and professional support. The two-day event featured expert panel discussions, a field visit to IIT Madras hostels to observe on-ground support mechanisms, and concluded with participating institutions presenting a consolidated roadmap of recommendations to foster resilient higher education campuses across the country.