TECHNICAL EDUCATION
In, the development of technical education each Five Year Plan was characterised by major stress on certain aspects. Up to the end of the Third Plan, the main emphasis was on expansion, infrastructure development, and promotion of post-graduate education and research. During the Fourth Plan, there was selective expansion in post-graduate education and an attempt to consolidate ether programmes. In the Fifth Plan, the effort was mainly directed towards consolidation, diversification, faculty development, industry-institution collaboration and curriculum development. As in 1978-79, the emphasis was laid on the following programmes in the current year :
(1) Development of Post-graduate Studies and Research
(2) Establishment of linkage between technical institutions and industry ;
(3) Linkage of technical education with manpower requirements ;
(4) The programme of apprenticeship training to train graduate and diploma holders in engineering and technology for gainful employment;
(5) Consolidation of existing engineering colleges and polytechnics ;
(6) Faculty development through various programmes
(7) Curriculum development :
(8) Diversification of courses ; and
(9) The development of management education.
As a logical step in the direction of growth, it was now necessary to re-organise some of the activities and to identify programmes that need to be supported and promoted in the context of future needs of the country.
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Setting Up of a Working Group In November, 1977, Government of India set up a Working Group for Technical Education, to review the present status of the nation's needs during the, coming decade and to suggest reorientation and improvements to the existing programmes. At the first meeting of the Working Group in November, 1977 the following five subjects were identified which required indepth study and which could form the basis for further deliberations : (a) Technical Manpower, (b) Research and Development, (c) Diversification and Redesigning of the existing Programmes, (d) Quality Improvement Programme; and (e) Industry- Institutional Collaboration. The Group met again in January, 1978 to finalise the recommendations. Its recommendations were largely endorsed by the All-India Council for Technical Education at its meeting held in February, 1979. They pertained mainly to the assessment of manpower requirements on well-defined and well- established needs, measures for improvements in various aspects and optimising the utilisation of available resources by improving the management of the system.
Action on a majority of recommendations was required to be taken by the state governments and engineering/technological institutions. They have been requested to implement the recommendations of the All India Council for Technical Education as early as possible. Action on some of the important recommendations is being pursued in this Ministry also. Progress of some of the important schemes is given below:-
Direct Central Assistance to Engineering/Technological Institutions
Two expert committees were: constituted to identify engineering colleges and polytechnics and projects suitable for direct central assistance. These committees selected 18 colleges and 30 polytechnics for grant of assistance for filling the total gaps in their laboratories and to provide assistance for new schemes such as Production Centres, Audio-Visual Cells, Resource Generation Centres, Service-cum-Training Centres, Consultancy and Testing Centre, Computer Terminals, etc., in the institutions selected for the purpose. The total expenditure involved in these recommendations was of the order of Rs. 73 lakhs for the engineering colleges and Rs. 58 lakhs for the polytechnics.
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Community Polytechnics The All India Council for Technical Education, had recommended that such polytechnics as have shown initiative to inter-act with environment by organising programmes and activities to meet the needs of the community should be selected as focal points to promote transfer of technology to the rural sector: and called 'Community Polytechnics'. The Expert Committee constituted to identify such institutions selected 35 polytechnics during 1978-79 for this purpose. The Expert Committee has prepared a project report giving guidelines for the development of the Community Polytechnics. All the polytechnics are now being developed on the basis of guidelines laid down in the project report. The project report also provided for setting up four Pilot Projects for integrated rural development--one each in Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern Region, where intensive involvement of the Community Polytechnics for the integrated rural development could be tried. These projects would serve as models which could in turn be multiplied and translated at other places. For the present, one polytechnic viz. Ramgarhia Polytechnic, Phagwara, has been selected for the proposed Pilot Project, in the Northern Region. On the basis of the experience gained by this Polytechnic, suitable institutions in the remaining three regions will be selected. The recurring grant up to a ceiling of Rs. 1 lakh for each polytechnic and Rs. 2 lakh for a polytechnic for the Model Pilot Project is being released during the year 1979-80. The non-recurring grants, will be released in accordance with the requirements of the detailed schemes/projects that may be formulated for the various community polytechnics in the light of the general guidelines.
Advanced Technician Courses As recommended by the All India Council for Technical Education selected Polytechnics will be given central assistance to conduct advanced level technician programmes. In order to work out the necessary details and to prepare a complete project report for organising these advanced level technician courses at the selected polytechnics, a committee has been constituted by the Chairman, AICTE. The Committee has already met and identified a number of areas where advanced technician courses could be organised profitably. The final report of the committee is expected to be made available in the near future.
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Quality Improvement Scheme As recommended by the AICTE, a committee has been constituted to formulate supplementary Quality Improvement Programmes to enable polytechnic teachers to pursue higher courses of studios to improve their qualifications and expertise relevant to polytechnic education and to identify institutions which could offer necessary facilities for undertaking such programmes. The committee has been concentrating on the following schemes :-
(i) Three-year bachelor degree courses in engineering for polytechnic teachers having diploma qualifications ;
(ii) One-year industry-oriented post-graduate diploma course for polytechnic teachers ;
(iii) Three months' post-graduate certificate in education technology/management for polytechnic teachers.
The committee has already identified four institutions for organising bachelor degree courses in engineering and technology and six institutions for organising one-year post-graduate Industry oriented diploma courses. The recommendations of the committee are being examined.
Institutional Network In the past, considerable foreign assistance has been received by the Indian Institutes of Technology, Regional Engineering Colleges, Technical Teachers' Training Institutes and a number of other engineering colleges and technical institutions in the country. In this context, a view was expressed by the Planning Commission that it is important to take into account the expertise that has grown in, the country over the years and examine the question of promoting interaction of technical institutions within the country which may prove beneficial for all-round development of technical education. On, examination it was felt that it should be possible to work out such an arrangement. A communication has already been addressed to the State Directors of Technical Education to give due consideration to this important activity so as to build up linkages between the different institutions in the states. A programme for the institu- tional network between Indian Institutes of Technology and the Regional Engineering Colleges is also being developed. Under this programme it is proposed to take up (a) faculty exchange
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(b) faculty development ; (c) laboratory development ; and (d) research participation in the Region-at Engineering Colleges with the support of the Indian Institutes of Technology in their respective regions. As regards the programme of laboratory development, it is proposed to develop at least two laboratories in each Regional Engineering College every year. For this purpose, a provision of Rs. 75 lakhs has been proposed under the Quality Improvement Programme scheme and the other amount of Rs. 75 lakhs is proposed to be met from within the Plan funds of the Regional Engineering Colleges. The scheme is expected to be ready for implementation, from the beginning of the year 1980-81.
Community Colleges The Planning Commission, while approving the scheme of Community Polytechnics, inter alia suggested that the engineering colleges in the country should also be involved in, the work of community development. An Expert Committee has been set up by the Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education, to lay down the general guidelines and identify the projects suitable for the various colleges. It is proposed to make a beginning by involving a few colleges in the work of the community development from the year 1980- 81.
Continuing Quality Improvement Fellowship and Other Programmes 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. This programme has the following constituents :
(i) The programme which includes Faculty Development, Curriculum Development, Preparation of Instructional Material, Textbooks and Laboratory Development is 2-Year M. Tech. Programme; 3-Year Doctoral Programme; Short-Term Courses at Quality Improvement Programme Centres; Short-term Training in Industry; Summer Institute Programme through Indian Society for Technical Education; and Curriculum Development.
(ii) This Programme is implemented centrally by the five Indian Institutes of Technology, University of Roorkee, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and some other college, and Polytechnics, Technical Teachers' Training Institutes etc. no Directors of Technical Education in the States and the Indian
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Society for Technical Education are also involved in the imple- mentation, of these programmes.
In 1979-80, it is proposed to retrain 80 fresh teachers for M. Tech. and 120 for Ph.D., and to train 1,200-1,400 teachers under Summer School Programme. Similarly under Curriculum Development Progamme, 14 groups are to be organised.
Board of Assessment for Educational Qualifications The Board of Assessment for Educational Qualifications under the Chairmanship of the Chairman/Member, Union Public Service Commission, advises Government of India, in all matters relating to the recognition of degrees/diplomas, etc. awarded under the Central Government. During the year 1979, the Board met once.
Programme of Apprenticeship Training The Boards of Apprenticeship Training located at Kanpur, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras are pursuing the Programme of Apprenticeship Training envisaged under the Apprentices (Amendment) Act, 1973 for providing practical training facilities to fresh engineering graduates and diploma holders to condition, them for gainful employment. The prescribed period of apprenticeship training is one year. The minimum stipend per month provided under the Act is : (i) graduate apprentices Rs. 280; (ii) diploma holders Rs. 180; (iii) sandwich course students from degree institutions Rs. 180 ; and (iv) sandwich course students from diploma Institutions, Rs. 150. The cost of stipend is shared equally by the training establishments and the Central Government. As on 1st October, 1979, 13,538 trainees (5,503 engineering graduates and 8,035 diploma holders) were in position.
INDIAN INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY The five Indian Institutes of Technology at Kharagpur, Bombay, Madras, Kanpur and Delhi were established as premier centres of education and training in engineering and applied sciences and to provide adequate facilities for post-graduate studies and research. As these Institutes grew in stature, they have diversified their sphere of activity to, provide, for quality improvement programmes, curriculum planning, faculty development, inter-disciplinary research, inter-institutional- collaboration, consultancy services, etc.
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The Institutes conduct five-year under-graduate programmes leading to Bachelor's Degree in Technology in, various fields of engineering and technology. They also offer integrated Master's Degrees courses of five years' duration in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, two-year M. Tech. Degree Courses in various specialisations, and one-year Post-graduate Diploma courses in selected areas. In addition, the Institutes offer Ph.D. programmes in different branches of engineering, science, humanities and social sciences. There are also advanced centres of training and research in each institute in identified areas of specialisation.
The student strength and out-turn of the five institutes during
1979-80 were:-
Enrolment
IIT Under- Post- Research Total Out
graduate graduate turn
Kharagpur 1,422 773 221 2,416 732
Bombay 1,438 607 303 2,348 508
Madras 1,229 633 621 2,483 522
Kanpur 1,200 477 343 2,020 593
Delhi 1,140 614 598 2,352 398
__________ ______ _________ _________ ______
Total 6,429 3,104 2,086 11,619 2,753
During 1979-80, the institutes expanded their infrastructural facilities and made substantial progress in acquiring new sophis- ticated research equipment, starting new inter-disciplinary academic programmes and pursuing research and consultancy services. The institutes also intensified their activities in the area of continuing education by organising a large number of short-term courses, long- term courses, symposia and workshops for the benefit of students, working engineers, technologists and scientists from all over the country.
Some of the salient achievements during the year are given below:-
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur The institute introduced a new 5-year B. Tech. course in computer science. One hundred and fifty-two consultancy/testing jobs were undertaken, yielding a revenue of about Rs. 1.84 lakhs, whereas receipts from 75 consultancy project amounted to Rs. 7.00 lakhs. About 800 research papers were either
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published in national and international journals or presented at conferences. The institute also brought out six books.
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay The institute introduced a new 2-year post-graduate programme leading to the degree of Master of Design. This programme in design has been recognised by UNESCO as a model for the Asian region. During the year, 96 research publications were brought out. Forty-nine short- term courses were conducted. The total consultancy earning was Rs.9.35 lakhs and the funds received for sponsored projects amounted to Rs. 36.47 lakhs. The institute strengthened its research laboratories and workshops with additional new equipment. The CSRE of the institute took up a consultancy project in Kenya for soil investigation. A significant achievement of the Radar Project Centre was the laboratory development of Micro-wave Garnet Materials. A UNDP assistance programme was commenced at the Industrial Design Centre in January 1979. The Soil Engineering Section developed a new technique for solving the Black Cotton Soil problem which received recognition from the World Bank. This technique is being used by several states.
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras The Department of Humanities and Social sciences offered a new 4- month part-time programme in "Material Management" and "Manufacturing Management" for the benefit of practising executives. Ph.D. programmes were introduced in English and History. The institute set up an, 8-booth language laboratory for teaching and learning German.
The institute published 453 research papers and seven books/ monographs during the year. The institute undertook 349 consultancy assignments yielding a revenue of Rs. 9.67 lakhs. Twenty four sponsored projects were also in progress.
The institute added several major items of equipment to its laboratories. Twenty three items of equipment were fabricated in the institute.
The Centre for Rural Development made good progress in developing a Technology Complex for transfer of appropriate technology to the rural areas.
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Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur The institute introduced a new course in Computer Science at the under-graduate level. New electives in Maintenance Engineering and Management, Micro-electronics and Semiconductor Devices were also introduced. A new M. Tech programme in Naval Architecture was also started.
Three hundred and fifteen research papers were published during the year. Twenty summer/winter schools and short-term programmes were conducted for the benefit of engineers and teachers. The earning from consultancy during the year was Rs. 22,520. The exchange programmes with other countries made significant progress and several faculty members were deputed abroad under these programmes.
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi The Department of Electrical Engineering introduced new electives at the under-graduate level in Cybernetics, Programming Languages and Science Dynamics. Courses on Computer Communication Network and Coding and Crytography were also introduced at the post-graduate level. The Department of Mechanical Engineering developed a new course on Project Management at post-graduate level and improved its M. Tech course in Machine Tool Design. The Department of Physics developed a two-year M. Tech course in Opto-electronics. it also developed courses in Infra-red Engineering and Optical Electronics for M.Sc students. The Centre for Bio-medical Engineering offered a course on Bio-materials as a pre-Ph.D. programme. Four hundred and thirty-five research papers were published during the year. In addition, 118 papers were presented at various seminars/symposia. Fifteen books were also published by the various Departments. Fifty- four summer/winter schools/short-term courses/seminars were organised for 'practising engineers and teachers. The value of industrial consultancy projects undertaken during the year was Rs. 18.00 lakhs.
The institute set up a new Centre for Atmospheric Sciences as a part of its effort to consolidate inter-disciplinary research. Sponsored research projects were undertaken in areas of Laser Application, Solid State Device, Transportation, Ocean Engineering etc. Sixty-seven items of sophisticated equipment were designed and developed by the various departments. The Department of Physics developed a new laboratory for Infrared Detector Technology.
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In conclusion, it can be said that in shaping their academic and research programmes and in breaking new grounds in development programmes and technology transfer, the Indian Institutes of Technology have ably responded to the new perspectives of national growth and planning.
Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok The Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok set up in 1967, is an autonomous international post-graduate engineering institute governed by an International Board of Trustees whose members come from different Asian countries including India. On a proposal received from the institute for India's association with its academic development, it has been decided to extend assistance from India by donating equipment of indigenous origin worth Rs. one lakh every year and deputing Indian experts to the faculty of the Institute.
Regional Engineering Colleges Fourteen Regional Engineering Colleges were set up, one in each major State, during the 2nd and 3rd Plan periods to enable the country to meet the increased need for trained personnel during the subsequent Plan periods. The fifteenth college at Silchar (Assam) admitted first batch of students in November, 1977. While all the colleges offer first degree courses in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, some of the colleges offer courses in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy, Electronics and Architecture also. Thirteen of these colleges have since introduced post-graduate courses. Of these, nine are conducting industry-oriented 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, integrated power systems, etc.
The development of the Regional Engineering Colleges during the sixth Plan period lays emphasis on the consolidation of existing facilities, establishment of computer centres at selected colleges, modernisation of laboratories including replacement of obsolete equipment and development of students activity centres in all the colleges. On the recommendations of the Advisory Committee for these colleges, an expert committee has been set up to examine the project report of the individual colleges.
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Loans for Construction of Students Hostels in Technical Institu-
tions In order to provide hostel facilities for students in technical institutions, loans were sanctioned to both Government and non- Government institutions to the extent of the cost for 50 per cent of the student population. Loans amounting to Rs. 19.40 crores have so far been sanctioned under this scheme. From the current year the scheme has been transferred to the, State Sector.
Technical Teachers' Training Institutes The Institutes at Madras, Calcutta, Bhopal and Chandigarh were set up in 1966-67 to (i) provide professional training for teaching engineering and technology subjects ; (ii) to provide for instruction and research in various branches of engineering and technology and for the advancement of learning and dissemination of knowledge in, such branches; (iii) to arrange for practical training in industry on a co- operative education plan. The course of study for the Diploma in Technical Teaching lasts for one academic year. The trainees select the "MODULES" they like to study and undergo training from among a comprehensive list of Modules made available by the institute.
In accordance with the agreement entered into by the Government with UNESCO, the institutes have taken up various UNDP projects like Educational Film Production, National Testing Service, Educational Research, Development of multimedia learning/instructional packages, etc. The institutes are also engaged in curriculum development for technician courses and extension services.
School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi The school was established in 1959 to provide facilities for training and research in rural, urban, regional planning, architecture and allied subjects. The school has been given the status of an "Institution deemed to be university under Section 3 of the UGC Act from December 3, 1979 with a view to broadening further its academic programmes relate to human settlements and the environment to promote research and extension. During 1979-80, 34 students were, admitted to the bachelor's degree course in Architecture and 38 students in postgraduate courses.
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National Institute for Training in Industrial Engineering, Bombay
The institute was set up in 1963 with the assistance of UNDP to provide facilities for training 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. The institute also undertakes consultancy work. During 1979-80, 48 students joined the 2-year post-graduate programme in industrial engineering. This institute conducted 90 development programmes for about 1,750 executive participants.
National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology, Ranchi The institute was set up in 1966 with the assistance of UNDP/UNESCO to provide facilities for: (i) Forge education and research in the form of full-time courses, vacation courses and the like ; (ii) the training of senior executive personnel for foundry institute ; (iii) the training of suitable qualified personnel for industry in the latest production techniques and methods design and development ; and (iv) conducting applied research in the field of foundry and forge technology. During the year 1979-80, the institute admitted 179 participants to the advanced diploma, refresher courses and post-graduate programmes.
Indian Institutes of Management The three Institutes of Management at Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta were set up in 1962, 1972 and 1962 respectively with the objective of providing facilities for training young men and women for management careers, conduct research in management techniques and for the development of teachers engaged in the field of management practice. The institutes continued their post-graduate programmes and fellowship programmes and other Research and Development activities with vigour. The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad started this year a programme for the development of management faculty.