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Often called Tata Institute, IISc has made significant contributions because of its unique nature. It is neither a National laboratory, which concentrates solely on research and applied work, nor a conventional university, which concerns itself mainly with teaching. The Institute is concerned with research in frontier areas and education in current technologically important areas. Because it is a relatively small institution, it is able to innovate and introduce newer systems of imparting knowledge and educational reforms such as offering courses under a unit system and trying out methods of evaluation, which are highly reliable (citation required).
The Institute was the first to introduce (i) Masters programs in engineering; (ii) more recently, the Integrated Ph. D. Programs in Biological, Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences for science graduates; (iii) the new IISc Young Fellowship program for the first 20 rank holders at the + 2 level; and (iv) IISc Young Engineering Fellowship program for merited III year B. E. / B. Tech. students.