TECHNICAL EDUCATION
The technical education system of the country is designed to meet the technological needs of economy both on short-term and long-term basis, The development of technical education is, therefore, regarded as areas of high priority in economic planning. In order to Meet the urgent requirements of the nation each Five Year Plan of Technical Education is characterised by major stress on certain specific aspects in the sixth plan period, major emphasis would be on (a) consolidation. (b) optimum utilisation of existing facilities, (c) expansion of facilities in areas where weakness exists, (d) creation of infrastructure in areas of emerging technologies vital for the development of the country, (e) improvement of quality and standards of education and (f) furtherance of national efforts to develop and apply science and technology as an instrument of country's socioeconomic progress.
This approach seeks to ensure the completion of development Programmes initiated in the earlier plans and institution of new schemes, wherever essential to meet the latest challenges in the field of technical education. During the year 1982-83, the following schemes/activities were undertaken either as continuing programmes or new schemes as explained under each.
Quality Improvement Programme (a) The programme of quality improvement was initiated in the year 1970-71 with a view to improving the quality and standards of technical education system in India. The. scheme continues to play its important role in the faculty development and curriculum development in the technical institutions. The quality improvement programme consists of the, following schemes :-
(i) Faculty Development which includes; Two-year M. Tech. Programme; Three-Year Doctoral Programme;
(ii) Short-term Courses at quality improvement programme centres;
(iii) Summer Institute programmes through Indian Society for Technical Education; and
(iv) Curriculum Development which includes preparation of instructional material, text- books and laboratory development.
M. Tech and Doctoral programmes are implemented by the, live Institutes of Technology, University of Roorkee and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Banaras Hindu University, a few Regional Engineering Colleges, College of Engineering, Guindy and Jadavpur University. The Programme relating to short-term courses is implemented through various selected centres which include Indian Institutes of Technology, University of Roorkee, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Technical Teachers' Training Institutes and Allahabad Polytechnic, Allahabad. The programme of short-term training in industry is organised by the Regional Offices of the Ministry. The Summer and Winter Schools as well as short-term courses for teachers in Engineering Colleges and Polytechnics are also organised through the Indian Society for Technical Education.
During the period 1970-71 to 1980-81 about 650 teachers were trained for M. Tech. Course and 690 teachers for Ph. D. Course. About 460 short- term courses were organised by Q.I.P. Centres at degree level in which 7,000 teachers participated. At diploma level 950 courses were
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organised and about 16,600 teachers participated. Under short-term programme in industry, 1,450 teachers at degree level and 3,100 at diploma level were benefited. Besides, 740 summer/winter schools were organised by I.S.T.E. wherein 15,600 teachers participated.
In 1982-83, the target was to train 95 fresh teachers in M. Tech. and 110 teacher's for Ph.D. in addition to those continuing from the previous years. Under Summer School Programmes, 1,500 teachers were expected to be benefited. Curriculum Development Programmes were conducted by 14 groups at Quality Improvement Centres. About 1,400 Degree/ Diploma holder teachers were expected to be trained in Industry under the programme relating to short- term training in industry.
Direct Central Assistance The scheme which was started in the year 1976-77 continued W. the year 1982-83 also, to extend special direct central assistance to the selected engineering colleges and polytechnics for development of identified laboratories relevant and important for improvement of quality and standards of technical education. The National Expert Committees set up to identify technical institutions both at degree and diploma level and the areas suitable for assistance under the scheme for the year 1982-83 selected 12 engineering colleges and 22 polytechnics for grant of assistance under the scheme. The total expenditure involved in the implementation of these recommendations was to the order of Rs. 111 lakhs.
Community Polytechnics The scheme was instituted in the year 1978-79 under which 36 polytechnics were selected to be developed as community polytechnics. The scheme continued in the year 1981-83. In addition to offering diploma courses in different branches of engineering and technology, these polytechnics are required also to interact with environments and serve as focal points to promote transfer of technology to the rural sector.
During the year under report, the pace of implementation. of the scheme was accelerated and the various community polytechnics intensified their activities. The necessary grants in accordance with the approved norms were released to the various community polytechnics to meet their requirements for the year 1982-83.
Advanced Technician Course On the recommendation of the All India Council for Technical Education, a scheme of Advanced Technician Course has been started from 1981-82. The main objective of this scheme is to provide avenues or advancement to Diploma-holders and also to provide higher courses at advanced level to enable the technicians to advance professionally in their own lines, The Scheme is being implemented in the first instance, at the following Centres :-
(i) Y.M.C.A. Institute of Engineering, Faridabad.
(ii) C. M. Kothari Technological Institute, Madras,
(iii) Bhagubhai Mafatlal Polytechnic, Bombay.
(iv) Institute of Engineering and Rural Technology, Allahabad.
During the year under report., the scheme made good progress. Based on the experience of these few selected institutions, it is proposed to select a few more institutions to undertake this important task.
Institutional Net work Scheme The new plan scheme called Institutional Network Scheme in 1981-82, was instituted effectively in the year under report. Under the scheme all institutional network and internal assistance programme was continued between the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Regional Engineering Colleges in the areas of (a) laboratory development, (b) faculty exchange, (c) faculty development and (d) research participation. The main emphasis was however on laboratory development.
Under this programme 10 Regional Engineering Colleges identified 24 laboratories for- development. The total expenditure involved would be Rs. 60 lakhs. The amount of Rs. 62.50 lakhs was released during 1981- 82 for 25 laboratories in 13 Regional Engineering Colleges.
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Expansion of facilities in area where weakness exists A new scheme to strengthen and expand the facilities in the areas where weakness exists was implemented with effect from the year 1981-82. The scheme continued- for the year 1982-83 also and a provision of Rs. 220 lakhs was made for the purpose. The scheme will develop facilities and improve situations in areas of computer science, electronics, maintenance, engineering, design, manufacture, instrumentation, product development, bio-sciences and management sciences.
Creation of Infrastructures in areas of emerging
Technologies The scheme was instituted in the year 1981-82 and continued in the year 1982-83 also. Under the scheme, it is proposed to create and develop facilities for research, education and training in areas of new emerging technologies vital to the development of the country. These include microprocessor application, remote sensing,, laser technology, atmospheric sciences, environmental engineering, energy sciences, water resources management, transport engineering etc. The strengthening and creation of facilities in these arm would have far reaching consequences in accelerating the pace of development in the country. A budget provision of Rs. 350 lakhs was made for the purpose for the year under report.
Modernisation of Engineering,Laboratories and
Workshops The scheme was instituted in the year 1981- 82, and continued also in the year 1982-83. To meet the challenge of evolving trends of techno- logy, there has been a definite shift in the approach towards the aims of laboratory instructions. Also a good amount of laboratory equipment has become obsolete in view of these curricular changes. To meet the requirements of changing situations in industry and the curricular changes, the laboratories need to be modernised with more relevant and useful equipment. The scheme thus instituted will go a long way to improve the situation. During the year tinder report, an amount of Rs. 120 lakhs was provided for the purpose.
Other New Schemes During the Sixth Five-Year Plan, the major emphasis has been laid on consolidation, optimum utilisation of existing facilities, improvement of quality and standards of technical education, identification and furtherance of national efforts to develop and apply science and technology as an instrument of country's socio-economic progress besides strengthening the areas of weakness, creation of infrastructure in emerging technologies and modernisation of laboratories and workshops. With this end in view, a number of other important schemes have also been approved by We Planning Commission, which are summarised as below. The details of the schemes are in the process of being finalised and most of the spade work has already been done in the year under report
1. New Quality Improvement Programmes
(a) Degree Courses in Engineering for diploma holding polytechnic teachers;
(b) Postgraduate industry-oriented courses for the polytechnic teachers;
(c) Fellowship in institutions for personnel from industry and residency for institutional faculty in industry;
(d) Learning Resources Centres.
2. National Manpower Information system.
3. New Scheme of Continuing Education.
4. Technical Institutions--Society Interaction.
5. Special Model Projects on Correspondence Courses.
6. Support to scientists and programme to take advantage of advanced facilities created in technical institutions.
7. Development of self-reliance and product development.
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Programme of Apprenticeship Training The programme of apprenticeship training for and diploma holengineering graduates and diploma holders continued to be implemented through the four Boards of Apprenticeship training located at Kanpur, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. As on December 31, 1982, 11,500 trainees, about 3,500 engineering graduates and 8000 diploma holders were in position. A number of supervisory development programmes, workshops and seminars were also organised by all the tour Boards during the year with a, view to improving the quality of apprenticeship training being imparted to the apprentices.
Educational Consultants India Limited The first public sector undertaking of this Ministry, Educational Consultants India Limited, was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 on 17-6-1981 with the main objective to offer educational consultancy service to a number of agencies and foreign Governments and educational institution in the fields of general, medical, agricultural and technical education and training. Appointment of full-time Managing Director, a Company Secretary and other supporting staff was made during the year and the Corporation has started negotiations with international/mational agencies.
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 en incering 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 and consultancy services.
The Institutes conduct undergraduate programmes leading to Bachelor's Degree in Technology in various fields of engineering and technology They also offer integrated Master's degree 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. Programme ill 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.