CHAPTER III TECHNICAL EDUCATION
As in the previous years of the Fifth Five Year Plan the follow- ing major programmes on the development and improvement of the technical education in the country have been followed during the year 1977-78 :
(1) Development of Postgraduate Studies and Research;
(2) Establishment of Linkage between technical institutions and industry;
(3) Linkage of the technical education with manpower requirements;
(4) The programme of Apprenticeship Training to train the graduates and diploma holders in the engineering and technology for gainful employment;
(5) Consolidation of existing engineering colleges and polytechnics;
(6) Faculty Development through training programmes;
(7) Curriculum Development;
(8) Diversification of courses; and
(9) The development of management education.
All these Programmes continued to be carried out during the year 1977-78 through the engineering education complex permeating the entire country and consisting of five Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, three All India Institutes of Management, University Departments of Engineering and Technology, specialised Institutes of Mining, Planning and Architecture, National Institute, for Training in Industrial Engineering, Bombay, National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology, Ranchi, Fifteen Regional Engineering Colleges, Four Regional Technical Teachers Training Institutes and other Engineering Institutes/Colleges and Polytechnics including Women's Polytechnics.
Against the admissions of 23,450 in the Engineering Colleges and 46,500 in the Polytechnics during 1976-77, the admissions
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in the year 1977-78 were 23,200 and 46,650 respectively. The out-turn of graduates and diploma, holders from the institutions increased and the same was 16,650 in Engineering Colleges and 26,750 Polytechnics as against 15,500 and 23,500 respectively during 1976-77. The Girls Polytechnics, however, witnessed an increase in the admissions. The admissions during the year 1977-78 have been 3,590 as against 3,470 during 1976-77. Likewise, the out-turn was 1,990 as against 1,650 during 1976-77. The outlays and the anticipated expenditure on development programmes of technical education during the year 1977-78 is of the order of Rs. 1712.50 lakhs and Rs. 1703.75 lakhs respectively as against the actual expenditure of Rs. 1232.75 lakhs during 1976-77. An outlay of Rs. 2986.25 lakhs has been approved by the Planning Commission for Technical Education for the year 1978-79 including technical education programmes in the Universities.
Efforts were continued to provide a new orientation to technical education facilities at all levels with an eye on the requirements of technical personnel, in terms of quality and training for industries. The programmes at postgraduate and research level continued to be improved in consultation with the industry for producing highly specialised technical personnel for research, development and design. Consolidation and development of existing facilities and reorganisation of degree and diploma courses with a view to improving the quality and standard of technical education to meet with the demands of industry and diversification of courses continued to be the keynote of the activities during 1977-78. A number of programmes were undertaken to improve the quality of teaching by providing facilities for obtaining higher qualifications for teachers in engineering and technological institutions. A Working Group has been set up for Technical Education under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Education) to review the present status of technical education at all levels and suggest reorientation and improvements to the existing programmes in the context of Nation's need during the coming decade.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME The programme of Quality Improvement was initiated in 1970-71 with a view to improving the quality and standard of Technical Education system in India. The following programmes are being conducted including Faculty Development, Curriculum
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Development, Preparation of Instructional Material, Text Books and Laboratory Development
1. 2 Year M. Tech. Programme
2. 3 Year Doctoral Programme
3. Short courses at QIP Centres
4. Short-Term training in Industry
5. Summer Institute Programme through ISTE
6. Curriculum Development.
The programme is implemented/carried out by the Technical Education Bureau at 5 IITs, University of Roorkee, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and some other Colleges and Polytechnics, Technical Teachers Training Institutes etc. The Directors of Technical Education in the States and the Indian Society for Technical Education and Ministry's Regional Officers are also involved in implementation of these programmes.
In 1977-78, the target was to train 80 fresh teachers for M. Tech. and 120 for Ph.D. in addition to those continuing from previous years. Under the Summer School programme 1200-1400 teachers were proposed to be trained. Final figures are awaited. Similarly under Curriculum Development Programme 14 Groups were to be organised. Short-term courses were to be organised within the prescribed financial limit,
Direct Central Financial Assistance of Engineering Institutions An amount of Rs. 3.00 crores has been provided by the Planning Commission in the Central Sector for extending Central Assistance direct to some selected first degree engineering institutions and polytechnics for quality Improvement Programme during the years 1976- 78. In 1976-77 some 13 engineering degree institutions were selected for direct Central Assistance to the extent of Rs. 104 lakhs for development and consolidation of their Laboratories, Library and other improvements for teaching purposes. Similarly, 14 polytechnics were selected for setting up Audio-Visual Centres, Production-cum-training Centres and Simulation Centres for improvement of training to the stu- dents at a cost of Rs. 45.30 lakhs.
For similar direct Central Assistance during 1977-78 an amount of Rs. 150 lakhs was provided. 16 Engineering degree
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institutions have been selected for direct Central Assistance to the extent of Rs. 68.735 lakhs for consolidation, improvement and development of teaching facilities. Similarly, 33 Polytechnics have also been selected for financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 75.10 lakhs.
Expenditure during 1977-78
(Rs. in lakhs)
Quality Improvement Programme 70.00
(anticipated)
Direct Central Assistance to Engineering and
Technical Institutions 149.00
(anticipated)
TOTAL 219.00
PROGRAMME OF APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING To train the graduates and diploma holders in engineering and technology for gainful employment, it was necessary to get the cooperation of Industry and also a large number of training places in Industrial Establishments. For this purpose the Apprenticeship Act, 1961 which was meant for Apprenticeship training for Craftsmen and tradesmen, was amended in 1973 to provide also for the training of degree and diploma holders in engineering and technology. This amendment gave statutory backing to the training of engineering graduates and diploma holders. The amended act, however, came into force in July, 1975. Its object is to provide practical training facilities to fresh graduate engineers and diploma holders in order to condition them for gainful employment in the Industry. The prescribed period of apprenticeship training is one year.
The training programme in each region is looked after by the Directors, Board of Apprenticeship Training located at Kanpur, Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. The Boards are autonomous organisations and are fully financed by the Central Government. The cost of stipend is shared equally by the training establishments and the Central Government. The minimum stipend per month provided under the Act is (i) Graduate apprentices Rs. 280/-, (ii) Technician apprentices Rs. 180/-, (iii)
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Sandwich course students from degree institutions Rs. 180/-, (iv) Sandwich course students from diploma Institutions Rs. 150/-.
The Apprenticeship Rules framed under the Act also provide for the reservation of training places for the Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes Apprentices.
As on 1st December, 1977, 15405 trainees were in position. Of them, 6,745 were graduates and 8,660 were diploma holders.
Post-graduate courses and Research Work : For the development of post-graduate education and research in engineering the facilities provided to State Governments and Non-Government Engineering Colleges as reported during 1976-77 were continued during 1977-78.
Indian Institutes of Technology and Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore The Five Institutes of Technology at Kharagpur, Bombay, Madras, Kanpur and Delhi and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore are autonomous statutory bodies of all-India character accorded with powers to frame their own academic policy, conduct their own examinations and award their own degrees. During the year under report these Institutes continued to make significant contributions in promoting technological education and research. Apart from, the training of scientists, engineers and technologists, these institutions are engaged in research and development activities in areas which are of crucial importance to industrial and economic development. Industrial training, industry-oriented research programmes, consultancy service, and training placement coordination are some of the factors that give these institutes their distinctive character. The main aim of these institutes is to produce technologists, and scientists comparable to very best in the world with the watchward, "Pursuit of excellence". The Institutes of Technology offer a five-year undergraduate programme leading to bachelor degree in technology in aeronautical, agricultural, civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical, metallurgical, mining, naval architecture, textile technology, etc. In science discipline they conduct integrated master's degree courses of five years duration in physics, chemistry and mathematics. The post-graduate study offers two years course leading to M. Tech. degree in specialised areas in all these disciplines and one year diploma course in selected areas. They also
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offer Ph.D. in all the branches of engineering, sciences, humanities and social sciences.
At the instance of the Department of Science and Technology, a Committee was set up under the Chairmanship of Dr. Y. Nayudamma to identify the areas of excellence in each IIT which could be developed for advanced research in the context of the National Science & Technology Plan. As recommended by the Committee, the Council of IITs approved the setting up of the following centres :
IIT, Kharagpur Cryogenic Engineering
IIT, Bombay Resources Engineering
IIT, Madras Ocean Engineering
IIT, Kanpur Material Science
IIT, Delhi Energy Studies.
The Centres started working during the year 1976-77. The student population in the IITs during 1977-78 was:-
IIT at Under- Post- Research Total
graduate
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Kharagpur 1708 534 220 2462
Bombay 1297 333 229 1859
Madras 1173 526 184 1883
Kanpur 1102 250 180 1532
Delhi 1104 379 285 1768
TOTAL 6384 2022 1098 9504
A brief account of the important developments in the Institutes during the year is indicated below :
IIT, Bombay : The following new Post-graduate courses were started
(1) Systems and Control Engineering.
(2) Environmental Sciences and Engineering.
(3) Foundry Technology.
(4) Mathematics (Specialisation in Computer Sciences).
53-short-term courses were also taken up. 349 Consultancy jobs were handled earning Rs. 14.12 lakhs.
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IIT, Kanpur : IIT, Kanpur is continuing the various courses started during earlier years. The Material Sciences Centre was started in right earnest during this year.
IIT, Madras : Following courses were started during 1977-78
1. 5-year B. Tech. course in Naval Architecture.
2. 2-Year M. Tech. course in Industrial Tribology.
3. 2-Year M. Tech. course in Television Engineering.
4. 1-Year Post-graduate diploma course in Television engi- neering and
5. Post-graduate Diploma in Production Engineering (Part- time).
IIT, Kharagpur : The Institute introduced several new post- graduate and research programmes e.g. (dairy and food engineering, ship-building and construction, coal process engineering and computer engineering) (1) Mining and Mech. Engg. (2) Maintenance Engg. in Management. 4 New courses are also proposed for 1978-79. 21 Summer/Winter short-term courses were conducted during this year.
IIT, Delhi : The following new inter-disciplinary centres of research were established :
1. Applied research in electronics
2. Industrial tribology, Machine Dynamics and Maintenance Engineering Centres
In addition, the industrial consultancy and liaison centre took up 114 consultancy jobs during this year. 30 Summer/Winter schools or short- term courses were organised by different departments for the benefit of engineers, teachers and researchers of other universities and organisations. 48 sophisticated equipments were designed/developed during this year.
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore : With the accumulated experience of 65 years, the Institute has developed capabilities for three-level functioning: as a centre for learning the research in branches of science and technology which are increasingly interpenetrative and inter-disciplinary ensuring growth of scientific manpower at high levels; as a centre for the applications of science and technology to problems of the country; and
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as a centre for intellectual renewal and rejuvenation for those who are already active in research, industry and education. Besides offering bachelor of engineering degree in eight branches including aeronautical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, metallurgy, and automation, the Institute offers M. Tech. degree in physical engineering, industrial management, molecular biophysics, and digital communication and data processing. It also offers Ph.D. degree in all these branches and in science subjects. A new diploma course in the Centre for electronics and design technology was started during the year. The Institute admits students for the following courses :
Research
M.E./M. Tech.
B.E.
Diploma
Their total strength is around 950.
REGIONAL ENGINEERING COLLEGES The fourteen regional engineering colleges set up in various States are making satisfactory progress with regard to consolidation and development. The fifteenth college at Silchar (Assam) has admitted students in November, 1977. While all offer first degree courses in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, some offer architecture, metallurgy, electronics and chemical engineering. Ten of these colleges have since introduced post-graduate courses. Of these, nine are conducting industry oriented post-graduates courses in specialised fields like design and production of high pressure boilers and accessories, heavy machines for steel plants, transportation engineering, industrial and marine structure, electronic instrumentation, integrated power systems, etc.
An Advisory Committee for the Regional Engineering Colleges as recommended by the All India Council for Technical Education was set up to advise the Education Minister on all policy matters and for laying down guidelines for these colleges. The first meeting of the Advisory Committee was held on 26th July, 1977 at New Delhi. The Advisory Committee has appointed three Working Groups to (i) evolve a common admission policy for all the Regional Engineering Colleges, (ii) evolve uniform
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service rules and service benefits for the employees of these col- leges, and (iii) prepare a scheme for involvement of these colleges in rural development and community services.
National Institute for Training in Industrial Engineering, Bombay
Set up in 1963 with the assistance of UNDP to provide comprehensive facilities in Industrial Engineering and allied fields, the Institute conducts a number of short-term courses for industrial executives and a two-year post-graduate diploma course in Industrial Engineering besides consultancy work. The short term courses include executive development programmes and unit-based programmes etc. in various Industrial Engineering and Management Techniques. The training programmes of NITIE emphasise upon learning with a purpose and professional approach and are accompanied by an abiding course for men.