UPDATED: June 26, 2021 14:19 IST Dr Gaurav Raheja at IIT Roorkee; Photo by Mukesh Rawat 1. Department of Architecture & Planning, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee 1. Department of Architecture & Planning, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee Guru Speak | Dr Gaurav Raheja Head, Department of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee "The Department of Architecture & Planning has been seamlessly driving its academic and research programmes in online mode through the pandemic. Backed by strong institutional support, a highly motivated faculty and committed students, the entire ecosystem shifted gears to adapt to virtual collaborative tools and creative ways of delivering outcomes. Academic schedules were adhered to; design juries and other assessments were structured through online modes; and extensive digitisation of academic and research processes, such as online submissions, institutional portals for evaluation and facilitation of grading, were explored. The department completed the ongoing Spring Semester and will be initiating the Autumn Semester from end-July. The faculty offered various NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) courses towards bracing the online learning ecosystem. Digital infrastructure was enhanced with institutional support towards future possibilities of hybrid formats of education. A prestigious lab on net-zero emissions, under the Indo-UK programme, was set up, besides the Virtual Reality Lab, SPARSH Lab (Spatial Planning Research), Urban Dynamics Lab, Civic Design Lab, Industrial Design Lab, Laboratory of Inclusive Design, Infrastructure Planning Lab and Fabrication Lab to conduct high-end research in various aspects of built environments.”