Samyak Jain’s Post

The 'zero attendance policy' at BITS Pilani has always sparked much debate. It essentially means that students are not required to attend lectures and are evaluated solely through quizzes, assessments, and examinations. While this is an unconventional approach to college education, it encourages students to manage their own time and channel their energy into entrepreneurial ventures, which might not be possible with a rigid schedule. But a nationwide policy like this requires a significant shift in mindset for students, parents, and educators, as not all students may use this freedom wisely. Do you think more colleges should adopt this approach, or should the traditional mandatory attendance policy remain? Tell us in the comments. #BITSPilani #attendance #colleges [BITS Pilani, college, attendance]

I don't know how many of you support this policy. Most of the universities force their students to come regularly and put a signature on the attendance book , thinking that it is a vital tool to track academic progress of students. We , PhD scholars in social sciences are sometimes stuck between the personal fulfillment and institutional rules . Recently also there was a notice from our department, saying that all scholars should attend the dep regularly. I don't know why they are still stuck in this system ! What is the point of putting signature on the attendance book everyday without doing anything productive?As a social science student i strongly believe that our lab is the society and getting a chance to engage with people helps us to gain more insights and knowledge about the subject itself .I don't know how they can evaluate the academic progress of student simply from the attendance book ! It is much better to produce monthly progress reports regarding our work. NB : Still I don't know how BITS pilani is going to evaluate the performance of students. Also i don't know whether' zero' attendance policy is worth ! dear Sociologists , in the coming future we may have a Chance to conduct comparative studies regarding this !

Zero Attendance Policy: Freedom to Learn, Explore, and Grow 🚀 The Zero Attendance Policy has the power to revolutionize education by shifting the focus from attendance to outcomes and growth. 🌱 However, its success hinges on student maturity, quality teaching, and accessible resources. Striking the right balance between freedom and accountability is key. ⚖️ As a civil engineering student 🎓 (Batch of 2017), I explored my passion for innovation by building radio-controlled equipment like gliders, quadcopters, and hoverboats 🛩️🚁. I also mastered civil design software to excel in building designs, green architecture, and city planning 🌍🏙️—skills I couldn’t have prioritized with rigid attendance rules. This policy isn’t just about skipping classes—it’s about discovering your true passions and creating your own path. For those ready to embrace it, the possibilities are endless! 🌟 #ZeroAttendancePolicy #FreedomToLearn #InnovationInEducation #StudentLife #SelfDirectedLearning #EngineeringJourney #GrowthMindset #SkillsOverScores #ExploreYourPassions

The 'Zero Attendance Policy' at BITS Pilani: Revolutionary or Risky? The zero attendance policy at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, has long been a subject of curiosity and debate. Under this system, students are not required to attend classes, and their performance is evaluated entirely through quizzes, assignments, and examinations. This approach challenges the traditional notion of education, where attendance is often equated with engagement. Instead, it prioritizes self-directed learning and flexibility, allowing students to explore entrepreneurial opportunities, internships, or personal interests—things often restricted by rigid schedules in conventional systems. However, such a policy is not without its challenges. While it encourages independence and time management, it also requires students to have a strong sense of discipline and responsibility. Not everyone may use this freedom wisely, and for some, it could lead to a lack of direction. The bigger question is: Can this model work beyond elite institutions like BITS Pilani? Implementing it nationwide would demand a massive cultural shift among students, parents, and educators, with the focus moving from classroom presence to learning outcomes. Is it time for colleges to rethink the traditional mandatory attendance policy and adopt more flexible systems like this? Or does the structure of compulsory attendance ensure a foundation of discipline that cannot be compromised? I believe learning is what truly matters. Attendance doesn’t guarantee understanding, and with the wealth of e-learning resources available today, students should have the flexibility to shape their education. Let’s focus on outcomes, not just hours spent in class. #education #attendance #elearning #perspective #bitspilani

This policy has been in existence for close to 5 decades. Look at the profiles of BITS Pilani Alumni. Comparable to the top 3 IITs. Over 6400+ founders/co-founders of companies, 15 unicorn founders, over 7500 CEOs/VPs in large corporates, over 3500 faculty members in top institutions world over etc. With an acceptance rate of 2%, getting into BITS Pilani campuses is as tough as any old IIT. These are bright students and they have a choice. There are continuous assessments though. Also, the onus is on the faculty to be innovative and attract the students to class. Students can also select their teachers in BITS Pilani and make their own time table. For Institutions like BITS Pilani, which have the credibility and attract such high quality students, this works fine. May not work for all.

Quite Innovative approach for students in this new era.

🎯 0% Attendance @BITS PILANI: Blessing or Curse? At BITS Pilani, we have the unique freedom of 0% attendance. Sounds like a dream, right? But here’s the truth: Not everything that sounds good works out for everyone. Here’s my take after maintaining a near-perfect attendance record: ⏩ Structure is key: By attending all classes, I could stay consistent with my work. Instead of cramming weeks’ worth of content at the last minute, I could spend more time solving problems and PYQs, & focusing on extracurriculars. ⏩ Avoid the backlog trap: Many students see 0% attendance as a free pass to skip lectures. Sure, that freedom is tempting, but the reality? Backlogs pile up, and you’re left with immense stress and regret (oh, the “lite le” comment will bug you!). ⏩ Entrepreneurs use it smartly: Some of my friends building startups used the flexibility to work on their ventures. For them, missing classes wasn’t slacking off—it was strategic. They found ways to manage their coursework while growing their ventures, making the most of that freedom. I'll give you an example from both sides of the coin and let you make the decision- 1️⃣ I attended every class of one course this semester and still scored only average marks, while a friend of mine skipped nearly all classes, studied the entire textbook herself, and topped the exam! 📚 2️⃣ I got more time to practice each and every course's PYQs, and scored well in all other courses! 💯 So, while attendance doesn’t guarantee success, it definitely provides a framework that can save you from stress later. 💡 ❓ What’s your take: Is 0% attendance a blessing or a hidden trap?

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While it's well know that BITS Pilani has no mandatory attendance, not a lot of folks know that Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur also doesn't mandate attendance. This is the story of the only course I never attended in my four years of IIT Kanpur and how the professor tried to bribe the students to attend classes. The most dreaded class that you could sign up for is the 8am class in the winters. Winter temperatures in IIT Kanpur range in 1-5 degrees - a fact that we realized post-hoc due to the lack of curiosity and modern day smart phones. But what was nerve wracking is that you had no recourse to heaters. And if you're wondering why we did not have recourse to heaters? Well, because the hostel most seniors get are 'old' as they have more 'legacy'. And with great legacy comes prehistoric wiring which cannot withstand the power demand of more than 10 heaters. In a classic tragedy of commons, if more than 10 people use heaters, the entire hostel's electricity would blow out. We battled the cold, the old fashioned way. 4 blankets, 3 trousers, 3 socks, a monkey cap. So, getting students to wake up at 8am is a professor's worst nightmare. Now couple that with a class of 500 students on Probability. The session in January started with the usual enthusiasm with a turnout of over 100%. You would expect that everyone would get a hand of probability because you read that in JEE. But by week 3 most students were either lost or were not attending the classes. Attendance fell by atleast 50% (or so I think because I was one of those who did not dare leave his bed). Just a few weeks before mid-term, a pittance of 20 students were attending classes. Most professors would not bat an eyelid, after all, a professors primary job is not teaching. But every once in a while professors want to have some fun. So one fine day in February he decided to mandate 10% of marks for attendance. For those of you who haven't attended classes with relative grading. 10% is the difference between an 'A' grade and a 'C' grade, or in some cases the line between flunking a course and comfortably passing one. And the 'cherry on top'? It was a random roll-call, which essentially was a class on probability in a class on probability. With 500 students and 40 classes left you can do the math about what your probability for being roll called on a particular day can be. This had the intended effect, the classes were packed post the mid-sems. I'm sure you're wondering what happened to me? Didn't I mention that I did not attend any of the classes for this particular course? Well, I only spoke a half-truth. Yes, I did not attend any class till the very last day because not only did I hate the cold more than the upside of 10% marks, but because my name was never called. Which meant that I rushed on the final day just before the final class to get my name marked and managed to those precious 10% marks. Despite those 10% marks, this was my Scarlett letter in my gradesheet.