President Pranab Mukherjee will hold a two-day conference on November 7 and 8 of directors of National Institutes of Technology (NIT) to discuss the pedagogy of the establishments.

The conference is aimed at improving the existing infrastructure facilities at the various NITs.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, ministers and officials from the human resource development department and directors or representatives from 30 NITs will take part in the conference.

NIT-Patna director Asok De, who will take part in the conference, said: “The conference would focus on improving the quality of technical education, faculty development and tie-ups with other premier institutions across the world.”

Heads of the NITs will make presentations before the President on the academic performance, existing faculty strength, development plan, research work and others.

Sources said the conference assumes importance for NIT-Patna as it recently revised its syllabus. NIT-Patna has recently recruited 28 assistant professors and thus the total strength of the tech cradle stands at 115. The institute is planning to extend the faculty strength above 170.

NIT sources said the President during his address is likely to raise the issue of strengthening National Knowledge Network and virtual classroom concept and giving more importance on research.

Participating at the second convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology, Patna last month, Mukherjee asked the youngsters to develop innovative strategies to promote inclusive growth of those at the grassroots.