TECHNICAL EDUCATION & ANTHROPOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The Fourth Five Year Plan of Technical Education has been formulated primarily to improve the quality and standards of technical education on the one hand and on the other, to develop adequate training facilities in critical fields like Management Education, Industrial Engineering etc. It also envisages consolidation of existing engineering colleges and polytechnics and development of post-graduate courses and research. These aims are reflected in the progress of Technical Education during 1970-71.
Because of unemployment among technical personnel and recession in economy, admissions to technical institutions were reduced by about 30 to 40 per cent in 1968 and this reduced level of admissions was maintained also in 1970-71. In 1970-71, 17 `887 students were, admitted to the first degree courses and 27,862 to diploma courses.
The problem of unemployment among technical personnel, although still persisting, has lightened considerably. The various measures devised by the Central Government and State Governments have bad an impact on the unemployment position. It is hoped that with the full implementation of the projects included in the Fourth Plan, the position will further improve.
According to the mid-term appraisal of the schemes of Technical Education included in the Central Sector, the overall progress of expenditure is very satisfactory. No major scheme has shown any significant shortfall in expenditure.
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The appraisal has also indicated that the outlays provided in the Plan for several schemes are not adequate to reach the targets and that an additional Plan outlay of Rs. 15.4 crores is needed during the Test of the plan period. This is over and above the provision of Rs. 56.0 crores (excluding U.G.C.) already made.
Quality Improvement Programmes These programmes initiated during 1970-71 include long-term and short-term training courses for serving teachers from engineering colleges and polytechnics, summer schools, short-term practical training in industry and curriculum development of degree and diploma courses. The schemes aware grouped into two broad categories; (a) those aimed at the development of faculty and (b) those aimed at the improvement of curriculum:
(a) Faculty Development: The programme is again in two parts: one, for the improvement of faculty through short-term and long-term courses and another for imparting practical experience in industry to serving teachers. The first part of the Faculty Development Programme is being Implemented through the Institutes of Technology, the Teachers' Training Institutes and other selected engineering colleges and polytechnics. The response to these programmes from technical institutions has been very satisfactory. The provision made in the scheme for long-term training leading to the master's or doctorate degrees was fully utilised in the first year and 72 teachers from 15 states enrolled themselves for these programmes. During the current year the number of places was increased to 200 to meet the increased demand. For the short-term programmes 13 State Governments sponsored 51 teachers from engineering colleges during 1970-71 for degree level programmes and 22 states and union territories sponsored 200 polytechnic teachers for the diploma
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level Programmes. The participation in the summer schools programme also reached the level of 600 teachers each from engineering colleges and polytechnics. As for the programme of training in industry for serving teachers, all the necessary preparations have been completed and it is expected that about 800 teachers will receive training in industry in the current year.
(b) Curriculum Development: The programme of Curriculum Development formulated by the Ministry the degree and diploma courses at a total cost of Rs. 144.00 lakhs in the Fourth Plan period. However, in the final stages of approval of the programmes, it was decided that only a pilot scheme should first be initiated and further expansion of the activities undertaken after the progress made under the pilot scheme had been assessed. Accordingly, eight expert groups for the degree level curricula and five for the polytechnic curricula were set up at different centres in the latter half of 1970- 71. The College level work is still being organised and its progress can be assessed only after a year or two. The polytechnic groups have made substantial progress with the preparation of curricular materials for the diploma courses in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, along with and the preparation of teachers' guides and students, work-books. The materials developed are being tried out with the help of teachers of selected polytechnics.
Industry Oriented Education The programme of sandwich courses for improving the practical content in degree and diploma courses introduced last year has made further progress. There are now 40 technical institutions conducting sandwich courses in close cooperation with Industry. It is proposed to extend the scheme to other
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institutions Progressively, depending upon the industrial training facilities available.
It was reported last year that an Expert Committee of the All India Council for Technical Education had been set up to examine the whole system of polytechnic education in our country and recommend measures for its improvement, and further development. The Committee has since submitted its report. The report has been sent to all State Governments and other educational authorities and an action plan is being prepared to implement the recommendations of the Committee.
Another programme of industry-oriented education is the introduction of diversified courses in polytechnics to meet the specific needs of industry for middle-level technicians. Seventy polytechnics have introduced diversified courses which are closely related to new employment opportunities available in those fields as for instance, Airconditioning and Refrigeration, construction and structures, Instrumentation and Control, Machine Tool Technology, Welding Technology, Industrial Electronics, Automobile Engineering etc.
Apprenticeship Training As a sequel to the establishment of four Boards of Apprenticeship Training, one in each Region, the programme of practical training of graduates and diploma holders has been re-organised in cooperation with industry, to equip the trainees with adequate practical experience under supervision. Every effort is also being made to ensure that the graduates and diploma holders secure suitable jobs after training. During 1971-72, about 13,000 training places were, secured in industrial establishments in both public and private sectors, Technical Departments of Government and other organisations.
Indian Institutes of Technology During 1971-72, the five Institutes of Technology at Kharagpur, Bombay, Madras, Kanpur and Delhi made further progress
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in their programmes of post-graduate courses and research. The total students enrolments and out-turn of graduates from the Institutes are as given below:
Enrolment in 1971-72 Total
Indian Institute cut-turn
of Technology at Under- Post Research Total 1971
graduate graduate
courses courses
Kharagpur 1,812 384 117 2,313 604
Bombay 1,520 487 223 2,230 560
Madras 1,235 502 361 2,098 439
Kanpur 1,328 403 297 2,028 445
Delhi 1,190 432 290 1,912 390
7,085 2,288 1,288 10,581 2,438
The Institutes started the following new courses during 1971-72:
Kharagpur Institute 1. M. Tech. course in Electronics and Electrical Com- munication Engineering with specialization in Reader System Engineering for candidates sponsored by Defence Department.
2. Short-term and refresher courses for continuing education of teachers and also for the staff engaged in industry.
Kanpur Institute 1. Five-year integrated course leading to the M. Sc. degree in Chemistry, Mathematics, including Statistics and Physics.
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2. Inter-Departmental programme leading to the M. Tech. degree in Material Science.
3. Two-year advanced professional course in Computer Sciences leading to the degree of Muster of Technology.
Delhi Institute Masters Degree course in Instrumental Methods of Ana- lysis and Control.
All the Institutes have extended facilities for faculty deve- lopment of engineering colleges in their respective regions by conducting M. Tech. and Doctoral courses, short-term refresher courses and summer schools and workshops. They have also offered extensive consultancy and testing facilities to industry in the public and private sectors and to other organizations.
The Institutes have successfully developed and fabricated a number of instruments and devices and taken patents for them.
Five separate Reviewing Committees have been set up to review the progress of the Institutes. The Reviewing Committee for the Madras Institute has submitted its report and those for the other Institutes are expected to do so before the end of the current financial year.
National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology, Ranchi The Institute started functioning from December, 1967 at Ranchi with the object of conducting specialised training courses for engineers and technicians for foundry and forge industry. Two short- term refresher courses were conducted during the year under report with 32 admissions in all. The Institute also organised a long-term course in 'Foundry Technology' from 4th January, 1971 with 13 admissions. The course which is of 18 month duration is now in full swing.
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The Institute moved to its own laboratory buildings which were completed in 1970-71. The construction of a students' hostel has started during the period under report.
The Institute received from UNDP the services of experts and equipment. It also deputed four teachers for training abroad on UNDP fellowships.
National Institute for Training in Industrial Engineering,
Bombay The Institute was established in 1963 to conduct short-term and long-term courses in industrial engineering and allied fields, industry-oriented 'programmes, applied research and also to provide consultancy services to industry. During the year, 42 Inter-Company courses with 719 participants and 27 Unit Based Programmes with 595 participants were conducted. Five Seminars were also held during the, year in which 277 persons participated. The Institute started a full- time post-graduate diploma course in Industrial Engineering in July, 1971. The course is of two-year duration and 19 candidates have been admitted.
Indian Institutes of Management The Ahmedabad and Calcutta Institutes of Management have graduate further progress in Management Education at the postgraduate level. Each Institute provides at present facilities for the admission of 120 students to the postgraduate courses. The Ahmedabad Institute also conducts a one-year course in Management for Agriculture 40 candidates were admitted to this course in the current year. In addition, both Institutes conducted a large number of short-term management develop- ment programmes for persons working in industry and commerce and extended consultancy services. Both Institutes have introduced Doctoral Programmes in Management in the current year and admitted four candidates. A number of research projects have also been completed by the Institutes. A Computer Centre has been established at the Ahmedabad
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Institute, with the assistance of the Ford Foundation. A similar Centre is proposed for the Calcutta Institute.
School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi During the year, the School had an enrolment of 381 students. It offers facilities for post-graduate course in Town and Country Planning and Architecture (Urban Design) in addition to the degree, and National Diploma courses in Architecture. The School started a post-graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture in July, 1971.
Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad The school is conducting five-year courses in Mining, Petroleum Technology, Applied Geology and Applied Geophysics. It also undertakes research programmes sponsored by industry and other organisations. During the year, there were 282 students-264 in the, degree courses and 18 in research.
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore The Institute made further progress with its post-graduate courses and research activity in a wide range of subject fields in science, engineering and technology. The total students population at the Institute is as under:
B. E. Students. 250
Master's Degree/Post Graduate students. 400
Research scholars. 300
Post Doctoral Fellows. 50
TOTAL 1,000
The Report of the reviewing Committee has been received and is now under consideration.
Regional Engineering Colleges The 14 Regional Engineering Colleges in various parts of the country have made further progress towards their consoli-
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dation and further development in engineering education. All the colleges are offering the first degree courses in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering. Some are also offering courses in metallurgy, electronics and chemical engineering. Nine colleges are conducting industry-oriented post-graduate courses in specialised fields like Design and Production of High Pressure Boilers and Accessories. Heavy Machines for Steel Plants, Transportation Engineering, Industrial and Marine Structures, Electronic Instrumentation, Integrated Power Systems, Metallurgical Furnaces, Production of Fertilisers etc. in cooperation with industry. On the recommendation of the Board of Postgraduate Engineering Education and Research, nine colleges have also started M. Tech/M.E. courses in various specialised fields of Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Metallurgy.
The original scheme of the Regional Engineering Colleges visualised that the institutions will be a joint and co-operative enterprise of the Central Government and State Governments concerned. It also visualised that the Central Government will provide the entire expenditure on buildings, equipment, hostels and staff-housing and 50 per cent of the recurring expenditure for a period of five years. The responsibility of the State Governments was provision of adequately developed land for the establishment of the colleges and 50 per cent of the recurring expenditure. The manner in which the recurring expenditure should be met was to be reviewed at the end of the five- year period. Although the five-year period is over for an the Regional Colleges excepting the Silchar College which is still in the process of establishment, the Central Government has continued to provide 50 per cent of the recurring expenditure. The Central Government in consultation with the Planning Commission has set up a Reviewing Committee to review the present progress of all the, Regional Colleges and suggest the lines along which they should be consolidated and further developed. The committee, has also been asked to recommend the new financial arrangements for the maintenance of the colleges in future year keeping in view that the colleges should maintain their all-India
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character. The Reviewing Committee has just started functioning.
Technical Teachers' Training Institutes The construction of buildings including hostels and staff quarters of the Madras and Chandigarh Teachers' Training Institute is nearly complete and the Institutes are functioning in their own buildings. Preparations are in progress for the construction of buildings of the Bhopal and Calcutta Institutes. These Institutes are now functioning temporarily in polytechnics at Bhopal and Calcutta respectively.
One of the main problems which confronted the Institutes in previous years was that the teachers sponsored by State Governments and other authorities had to go to the Institutes for training at their own expense. This acted as a disincentive to teachers to improve their professional qualifications and experience. The Central Government reviewed the matter and has now decided to give a stipend of Rs. 150 p.m. to each teacher to help him in meeting the additional expenditure involved on his lodging and board at the Technical Teachers' Training Institutes. The State Governments and other educational authorities sponsoring the candidates are required to bear their normal salaries and allowances. As a result of the decision, the response from teachers to undergo training at the Institutes has improved considerable. The following statement indicates the enrolments in the current year: