Engineering Programmes with IGNOU

Engineering
Programmes with IGNOU

INTRODUCTION

The economic progress of a country is strongly linked with the quality of education It is therefore necessary for our technical education to undertake periodic review of the curriculum and subject content of the technical programmes to ensure that they are up to date, not outmoded or obsolete and effectively fulfill the technological requirements of the country.

During the past three decades, many steps have been taken in India to improve the quality of the technical education. These include evolution of model syllai, quality improvement programmes for teachers; encouraging interaction with industry through consultancy and continuing education programmes; and providing impetus for expanding infrastructural faculties in emerging technologies.

For economical growth and prosperity, the need is to produce highly professional and competent engineers. This could be achieved by imparting quality knowledge to students.

A scientist often solves problems to understand nature. An engineer usually undertakes tasks, which need to be done in a specified period of time on a fixed budget and with limited resources. Larger the information an engineer has at his command, the larger his technical and social skills, the more likely he will be able to do his job quickly and efficiently. The rapidly expanding database of technological information means that a student will have to learn only a small fraction of the total information he is expected to know. To instill all the needed inputs in a short period of a degree course is impossible. This situation can be ameliorated by improving skills for accessing information, developing flexible learning skills, removing outmoded courses from the curriculum and by addition of the appropriate and emerging technological items.

CURRENT STATUS OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN INDIA

In India, a student who passes the 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics as subjects of study in the +2 level can gain admission to full time engineering degree programme. Lateral entry directly of 10% of the available seats is also possible for 3 year Diploma holders. There is a lower and upper age limit for admission to these engineering programmes as well a time limit for completing the program.

Additionally, 4 year part-time Degree programme is also offered by some universities for the all before Diploma holders. This programme, however, does not have any age limits.

The present system does not allow a large number of 10+ITI Pass students B.Sc Degree holders as well as Diploma Holders an opportunity to advance their careers, as these Diploma/Certificate holders are unable to acquire higher Technical Education at a stage in their careers or even immediately after acquiring first degree/Diploma/certificate.

On the other hand, many bright students miss the opportunity to enter an engineering college after passing out from 10+2 system due to factors such as weak socio-economic condition in the family, lack of awareness due to limited access to information and minimal visibility of higher technical education in rural area and small towns.

The recent growth in the Indian economy has triggered an increased demand for skilled and trained human resource in the industry. The conventional system of higher technical education so far, has been unable to cope with this situation and it is likely that this gap between demand and supply may retard the growth of Indian economy in the coming years.

The potential employability of the successful engineering graduates according to NASSCOM is 18% only. There is no methodology to improve the quality of the teachers. There is a large vacuum created because of the disproportionate output and demand in the persons having PhD’s and scientists in the field of Engineering. The resultant effect is totally the Research is compelled to be discarded. Again, this affects the role of the Indian Engineers in the commercial products in Engineering. Only 2% of Indian Engineers are software Architects. Through the infrastructure is huge in India, quality people required to use it efficiently is lacking.

It is in this context that a fresh look in is needed to create a more accessible technical education programme in India that can quickly convert an unemployable student into an employable one. This can be done through stepped up technical knowledge and skill development programme based on practical training that establishes a vertical linkage between technical educational programme being offered after 10th standard and the Engineering Degree programme of Universities.

TODAY’S SCENARIO OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN THE COUNTRY

The present system of engineering education has got within itself some inbuilt defects which developed in course of time.

The present system of engineering education has got within itself some inbuilt defects which developed in course of time.

If one carefully observes the scenario of engineering education in India, following will be the outcome;

Heavy decision making structures due to which the flexibility in curriculum is very little. The eligibility criteria and the evaluation systems are rigid.

This offers very limited scope for innovations by student community, which is the most important skill required for employability.

Meritorious students in X standard tend to join and complete ITI and Polytechnic without further option to pursue their education.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

In fulfillment of the visions of the great visionaries in India, who versioned empowering the Indian youth that too the least, lost and the last with the technical education to build India on modern lines and as the deserving poorest of the poor should not be deprived of technical education when the general education has become too general, technical education should be made available not just to those who can afford but to those who are really dedicated to learning with all the deprivation.