Dharwad: Karnataka’s first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) opened on August 1. The academic year began for the 120 students on Monday.

The institute was supposed to be inaugurated on July 31, but the ceremony was postponed indefinitely over the ongoing protests over Mahadayi and the unavailability of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. As many as 120 students were welcomed by the faculty of IIT-Bombay, which is the mentor for IIT-D. Regular classes for the students will begin on Tuesday.

A total of 120 students have enrolled into the IIT and they will stay in the hostel on the transit campus for three years until the institute’s permanent campus comes up on 470 acres of land at Kelgeri-Mummigatti nearby.

IIT-Bombay Professor Narayan Punekar, who has been appointed Dean (administration) of IIT-D, said that all the 120 students attended the orientation class. Out of 120 students, seven are girls and 10 are from Karnataka. The syllabus and the classes will be identical to IIT-Bombay.

The campus has hostels as well as mess. The students will get breakfast, lunch and dinner besides tea/coffee twice a day.

Prof Punekar said that computer science, electronics and mechanical engineering courses will be conducted this year. Theory classes will run from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and practical classes after lunch. Seven faculty members from IIT-Bombay will teach in Dharwad while other teaching staff will take classes once a month.