CHAPTER III TECHNICAL EDUCATION
The principal institutions and programmes of the Government of India in the field of Technical Education are :
(1) The Indian Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Management, the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Regional Engineering Colleges, Technical Teachers' Training Institutes and a number of other high level specialised institutions; and
(2) Programmes of qualitative, improvement such as faculty development, curricular reform, industry oriented education and apprenticeship training.
General In accordance with the major objectives in the Fourth Plan, efforts were continued in 1973-74 to consolidate and develop technical education facilities at all levels and to improve the quality and standards of technical education. Notwithstanding the measures taken during 1973-74 to contain the expenditure on various development programmes, the financial targets of the Fourth Plan have been exceeded in the field of technical education. Against a total outlay of Rs. 57 crores for the programmes of technical education implemented by the Ministry, the actual expenditure is likely to be of the order of Rs. 64 crores. There has also been a significant improvement in the overall admission to engineering colleges and polytechnics in the country. Against the actual admission of 17,853 to Engineering Colleges and 28,541 to polytechnics in the first year of the Fourth Plan, the actual admissions made in 1972-73 were 19,997 and 36,675 respectively.
On the recommendations of the All India Council for Technical Education, a high-powered committee has been set up to undertake an evaluation and assessment of technical education at the first degree level. This Committee will recommend measures for improving and modernising the system of education at this level and to make it capable of meeting the precise demand of indusries. The committee is beaded by the Chairman, University Grants Commission.
On the recommendations of the Expert Committee set up by the AICTE, a separate Board for Technical Education has been
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set up to. advise the Central Government, State Governments and Technical Institutions on the implementation of programmes of reorganisation of technical education, diversification of diploma course, sandwich course etc. Also, on the recommendation of the Council, a model legislation for the establishment of State Boards of Technical Education as statutory bodies is being finalized.
Indian Institutes of Technology The Indian Institutes of Technology at Kharagpur, Madras, Bombay, Kanpur and Delhi have made significant contribution in promoting technological education and research. Apart from the training of specialist engineers and technologists these institutes are engaged in research and development activities in areas which are of crucial importance to industrial and economic development. To strengthen the existing infrastructure for research and development, the institutes at Madras, Kharagpur and Bombay are being equipped with modern computer systems. While the IIT, Madras has acquired a modern computer under the assistance programme with the Federal Republic of Germany, the Bombay and Kharagpur Institutes are acquiring computers from the Soviet Union under a Trade Agreement. These institutes have also initiated several inter-disciplinary programmes like materials science, BioMedical Engineering, Water and Air Pollution research etc. Prof. N. M. Swami has taken over as Director of the Institute at Delhi and Dr. K. A. V. Pandalai as Director of the Institute at Madras.
The total student enrolment and out-turn of graduates from these institutes in 1973-74 are given below:
Indian Institute of Technology at Enrolment during 1973-74
Undr graduate Postgra- Total
duate and
research
Kharagpur 1835 577 2412
Bombay 1365 723 2088
Madras 1276 837 2113
Kanpur 1281 711 1992
Delhi 1144 723 1867
TOTAL 6901 3571 10472
The reports of the Review Committees in respect of these institutes have been received by the Government. The Boards of
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Governors of these institutes have already examined the reports and made their observations on the recommendations. A special Committee appointed by the Council of IITs is now coordinating the various recommendations of the Reviewing Committees and formulating an integrated plan of action which will be considered by the Council shortly.
Indian Institutes of Management In addition to the two Institutes of Management at Ahmedabad and Calcutta, two more similar institutes are being established at Bangalore and Lucknow. The two new institutes are expected to provide facilities for training in Management, particularly oriented towards the requirements of the Public Sector. The Bangalore Institute is starting its programmes of Postgraduate Courses in industrial management in the Public Sector Enterprises from August, 1974. The programme will be of two, years duration. In addition, the institute will offer special programmes for the training of managerial personnel in various public institutes and services sector. Preliminary steps for the establishment of the Lucknow Institute are still in progress and it is expected that these would be completed shortly and the Institute would be established during 1974-75
The Institutes at Ahmedabad and Calcutta have continued to make considerable progress in the organisation of their postgradute programmes in business and industry, short-term executive development programmes, research programmes and consultancy services. The Ahmedabad Institute in particular has conducted special programmes in Management for Agriculture. The Ahmedabad institute also offered two short-term training programmes for teachers in management from various University Departments.
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore As a premier institution of higher learning and research in science and technology, this institute bag made further progress with its postgraduate, courses and research programmes in a variety of special fields. During 1973-74, the total enrolment was 1076, consisting of 289 for undergraduate courses and 787 for postgraduate courses and research.
An important programme that the institute is proposing to take up in the Fifth plan is the establishment of a School for Training in Electronic Equipment Design. Preliminary steps for setting up this school have been completed. The major recommendations
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made by the Reviewing Committee of the Institute have been accepted by, the Visitor. These include Promotion of Inter-disciplinary Programmes to ensure, a better balance between Science and Technology, strengthening of the research programmes leading to doctoral degrees, introduction of a preparatory course for Ph.D. students and broadening the base of the undergraduate programmes of the Institute.
Regional Engineering Colleges The 14 Regional Engineering Colleges established in various States are making satisfactory progress with the programmes of consolidation and further development. 10 of these colleges have entered the second phase of their development with the introduction of postgraduate courses. These postgraduate courses are specifically oriented towards the needs of industries for the training of specialists in areas like design and Production of High Pressure Boilers and Accessories, Heavy Machines for Steel Plant, Trans- portation Engineering. Industrial and Marine Structures, Electronic Instrumentation, Integrated Power Systems etc. All these courses are being conducted in close cooperation with industries. It is proposed to set up in some of these colleges specialised laboratories for undertaking practical research into problems encountered by industries which are associated with their programmes of training. The fifteenth college is expected to start functioning at Silchar in Assam shortly.
The Reviewing Committee appointed by the Central Government to review the present progress of the Regional Colleges and to recommend measurs for their further consolidation and development has recently submitted its report.
Technical Teachers' Training Institutes The Institutes at Madras and Chandigarh have more or less been fully developed according to their original projects. However, there has been some shortfall in the progress of the institutes at Bhopal and Calcutta mainly on account of the fact that their construction programmes could not be completed due to circumstances beyond the control of these institutes. Both the institutes are at present proceeding with their building programmes and it is expected that they would be completed during the first half of the 5th Plan. During 1973-74, 280 Polytechnic Teachers were admitted to these four institutes under their long-term programmes. In order to cope with the increasing demand for training facilities, the Madras Institute has increased its admission capacity from 60 to 100. In addition to these long-term training programmes, all
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the four institutes have also been conducting a variety of short-term in-service training programmes. They have also undertaken a programme, of curriculum development for the diploma course, including production of teaching aids, laboratory manuals etc. Some of the teaching aids designed and fabricated by these institutes are widely in use.
OTHER SPECIALIZED INSTITUTIONS Brief notes on the other higher level specialised institutions of technical education supported by the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare are given below:
Specialized Institutes (i) National Institute for Training in Industrial Engineering.-The first batch of students completed their postgraduate course in industrial engineering at the National Institute for Training and industrial Engi- neering, Bombay, during 1973-74. As in the previous years, this institute conducted a large number of in- dustry oriented programmes for the training of personnel working in industries in productivity and other allied fields.
(ii) National Institute of Forge and Foundry Technology.- The National Institute of Forge and Foundry, Ranchi has continued with its programme of establishment and provision of facilities for the training of technicians for forge and foundry industry. The Institute has so far conducted 18 short-term courses and a long-term diploma in Forge and Foundry Technology. A long-term instructors' course is scheduled from March, 1974.
(iii) Indian School of Mines.-The Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad has undertaken special orientation programmes for mining engineers in cooperation with the Coal Mines Authority of India. The total student strength of the School in 1973-74 was 330. Prof. G. S. Marwaha has taken over as the Director of the School.
(iv) School of Planning and Architecture.-The School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi has further consolidated its postgraduate programmes in town and country planning and architecture. There were 360 students undergoing various first degree and post- graduate programmes at the School in 1973-74.
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PROGRAMMES OF QUALITATIVE IMPROVEMENT
Programmes of Postgraduate Courses and Research The programme of development of postgraduate courses and research was continued during the year 1973-74. Under this programme assistance was given by the Central Government to 38 government and non-government engineering colleges for consolidating their existing postgraduate courses and introducing new programmes recommended by the Board of Postgraduate Studies in Engineering. The total admission capacity of these institutions is 1200 per year.
Faculty Development Under the programme of long-term in-service training of teachers from Engineering colleges, leading to a Master's or Doctoral Degree, 531 teachers joined the programmes at various Centres. This programme was welcomed by all State Governments and Technical Institutions and in fact the response to this programme was extremely satisfactory, and as a result, the original target of about 400 teachers in the 4th Plan had to be exceeded. Under the short-term programmes, 1134 teachers from Engineering Colleges and 2886 teachers from polytechnics were provided training in several specialised areas during the Fourth Plan. These programmes were designed to improve the professional competence of serving teachers and to acquaint them with modem methods of teaching. Similarly, the Summer Institute Programmes organised by the Indian Society for Technical Education also attracted nearly 1200-1400 teachers every year in the 4th Plan. Under the programme of training in industry for serving teachers, 1386 teachers from engineering colleges and polytechnics were deputed for training in various industrial establishments during the 4th Plan.
Curriculum Development The programme of Curriculum Development initiated in the 4th Plan by the four Regional Teachers' Training Institutes and the Allahabad Polytechnic for diploma level courses made significant progress. Curriculum materials consisting of teaching units and teachers' guides in several subject fields of the diploma courses in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering have already been developed by these Centres. An encouraging feature of this programme is that several State Boards of Technical Education have adopted these revised materials Which were prepared in consultation with them and with the active involvement of a large
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body of serving teachers. All these institutes are working towards the objectives of preparing a model curriculum for diploma courses in all three branches of engineering. The efforts towards curriculum reform at the degree level have not however been attended by similar success so far. Unlike in the case of the diploma courses, a major problem for the degree level curriculum is the formulation of a goal structure for the under-graduate courses. The Curriculum Centres are at present engaged in extensive consultation with experts from industries and institutions in formulating the basic objectives and preparing the curriculum materials to meet those objectives. While these efforts are in progress, the Curriculum Centres are engaged in developing the Curriculum Materials in selected special areas and preparing the teaching materials, laboratory experiments and other teaching aids for the purpose.
Industry Oriented Education The programme of Sandwich courses for improving the practical content of both degree and diploma courses made further progress during 1973-74. The Central Government has been assisting the institutions offering Sandwich courses in which practical training for a period of 12 months is integrated with theoretical education. Under this scheme, about 2700 students are undergoing the sandwich type of training in various technical institutions at the degree and diploma levels in the country during 1973-74.
Apprenticeship Training With the extension of the Apprentices Act 1961 to Engineering Graduates and Diploma Holders, it is expected that a larger number of engineering graduates and diploma holders will be provided practical training in various industrial establishments. Under the amended Act, the industrial establishments are expected to participate by contributing 50% of the expenditure on training of graduates and diploma holders. During 1973-74, 10800 Engineering Graduates and Diploma holders were undergoing practical training in various industries. The fresh entrants under this scheme during 1973-74 were 3100. The four Regional Boards of Apprenticeship Training at Bombay, Calcutta, Kanpur and Madras are entrusted with the responsibility for supervising the training programmes.
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Fifth Five Year Plan The Central Programmes in the field of Technical Education included in the Draft Fifth Five Year Plan are:
S. Name of the Programme Total
No. allocation.
in the Fifth
Plan
(Rs. in lakhs)
(1) (2) (3)
1. I.I, Ts & Indian institute of Science, Bangalore. 2500
2. Indian institutes of Management. 600
3. National Institute of Forge and Foundry Technology,
Ranchi. 75
4. National Institute for Training in Industrial Engi-
neering, Bombay. 90
5. Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad. 60
6. School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi. 70
7. Regional Engineering Colleges. 1050
8. Centre for Industrial Design. 75
9. Quality Imporvement Programmes. 500
10. Regional Teachers' Training Institutes. 350
11. Postgraduate Courses & Research. 800
12. Apprenticeship Training. 700
13. Development of non-Government Institutions. 400
14. Development of Management Education at University and
Other Centres. 200
15. National Council for Science Education. 100
16. Loans for Construction of Hostels. 400
17. Strengthening the Adminsistration at the Centre. -
18. Development of Centres for Advanced Study. 520
19. Other Programmes. 10
Total 8500
N. B. Efforts are being made to find additional funds for research in the Indian Institutes of Technology.