New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) organized a two-day conference on “Celebrating the Mind: From Academic Excellence to Sustainable Living” on July 12 and 13, 2026, bringing together more than 200 faculty members and academic support professionals from universities across South India. The training was conducted under the Ministry of Education’s Malaviya Mission Training Program which is one of the projects that the whole country is doing in order to promote ways to achieve the health of students in higher education.The event also marked an important milestone for IIT Madras, which recently became the first Centrally Funded Technical Institute (CFTI) in India to receive ISO 45001:2018 certification for its Wellness Center. Issued by the TUV NORD Group, the certificate recognizes occupational health and safety practices and its integrated approach to school health.
IIT Madras hosts an international conference on student health with the Ministry of Education for teachers in South India
The service provides access to global health servicesThe meeting was attended by Rina Sonowal Kouli, Assistant Secretary (Higher Education), Ministry of Education, Director of IIT Madras Prof. V. Kamakoti, faculty members and other staff members.Speaking to them, Rina Sonowal Kouli said, “The Ministry supports such programs. Starting from January 2024, we have been able to reach more than 3,000 faculties through the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Program. We will be learning from the problems in the IIT Madras system.”This meeting is one of the five programs that are being organized in different parts of the country in accordance with the principles of the committee of the Ministry of Education that was established to promote the health of students in the country.IIT Madras presents an integrated health modelSpeaking at the event, Prof. V. Kamakoti said, “The real hope for academic success is not only intellectual but also for our students to be mentally fit and well-rounded. He added that the institution’s ISO certification and the establishment of dedicated Associate Dean Students (Wellness) demonstrate IIT Madras’ long-term commitment to student success.”Students were introduced to the IIT Madras Student Wellbeing Model, which includes teaching methods, peer support networks, mentoring programs, early detection of problems, inclusive education and student initiatives.Sessions focus on preventative health careThe conference consisted of lectures, group discussions, case studies and group activities related to depression, resilience, organizational support systems, learning disabilities, substance abuse prevention and mental illness prevention 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.The students also visited the IIT Madras hostel and cafeteria to see the campus’s student support system, including interaction with security guards, peer mentors, MITR volunteers and students. The conference ended with the participating organizations giving recommendations aimed at promoting counseling, counseling, hostel support and security prevention measures in higher education institutions.