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 require-
ments of the nation each Five Year Plan of Technical Education is charac-
terised 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 weaknesses exist,
(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 pro-
grammes initiated in the earlier Plans and institution of new schemes, wher-
ever essential, to meet the latest challenges in the field of technical educa-
tion. During the year 1981-82, the following schemes/activities were
undertaken either as continuing programmes or new schemes as explained
under each :
Quality Improvement Programmes The programme of quality improvement was initiated in the year 1970-
71 with a view to improving the quality and standards of technical educa-
tion system in India. The scheme continued to play its important role in
the faculty development and curriculum development in the technical institu-
tions. The quality improvement programme consists of the following
schemes :
(i) Faculty Development which includes :
Two year M. Tech. Programme; Three Year Doctoral
Programme;
Short-term courses at quality improvement programme centres;
Short-term training in industry;
Summer Institute Programmes through Indian Society for Technical
Education; and
Curriculum Development which includes preparation of instructional
material, text books and laboratory development.
M. Tech. and Doctoral programmes are implemented by the five Insti-
tutes of Technology, University of Roorkee and Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore. The programme relating to short-term courses is implemented
through various selected centres which include Indian Institutes of Tech-
nology, University of Roorkee, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Tech-
nical Teachers' Training Institutes and Allahabad Polytechnic, Allahabad.
The programme of short-term training in industry is organised by the Re-
gional 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.
In 1981-82, the target was to train 95 fresh teachers in M. Tech. and
110 teachers for Ph.D. in addition to those continuing from the previous
years. Under Summer School Programmes 1500 teachers are expected to
be benefited. Curriculum Development Programmes were conducted by 14
groups at Quality Improvement Centres. About 1400 Degree/Diploma
holders teachers are expected to be trained in industry under the programme
relating to short-term training in industry.
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Direct Central Assistance The scheme which was started in the year 1976-77 continued in the year
Scheme 1981-82 also to extend special direct central assistance to the selected en-
gineering colleges and polytechnics for development of identified laboratories
relevant and important for improvement of quality and standards of tech-
nical education. The National Expert Committees set up to identify tech-
nical institutions both at degree and diploma levels and the areas suitable
for assistance under the scheme selected 14 engineering colleges and
20 polytechnics for grant of assistance under the scheme. The total ex-
penditure involved in the implementation of these recommendations was of
the order of Rs. 104.50 lakhs.
Community Polytechnics The scheme was instituted in the year 1978-79 under which 35 poly-
technics were selected to be developed. as community polytechnics. In ad-
dition to offering diploma courses in different branches of engineering
and technology, these polytechnics for also to interact with environments
and serve as focal points to promote the transfer of technology to the rural
sector. The scheme continued in the year 1981-82 and one more poly-
technic was approved to be developed as community polytechnic. The
necessary grants in accordance with the approved norms was released to the
various community polytechnics, to meet the requirements in the year
1981-82.
Advanced Level Technician A new scheme for Advanced Technician Courses was instituted during
Cources the year under report. Under the scheme three polytechnics-one each in
Northern, Southern and Western regions-have been approved in pursuance
of the recommendations of the All India Council for Technical Education to
introduce the Advanced Technician Courses in tool engineering, air-condi-
tioning and refrigeration and tool engineering respectively. Grants amount-
ing to Rs. 38.25 lakhs were released to these three institutions for the
purpose.
Institutional Networks A new scheme for Institutional development through internal technical
assistance programme was instituted in the year under report. Under the
scheme, an institutional network is proposed to be developed between the
well-developed institutions and other engineering colleges. A beginning was
made in the year in developing this network between the Indian Institutes of
Technology and the Regional Engineering Colleges. In the first phase of
development, the scheme will concentrate on the following areas
(a) laboratory development
(b) faculty exchange
(c) faculty development
(d) research participation
With the help and close collaboration of the respective Indian Institutes
of Technology, 15 Regional Engineering Colleges identified 25 laboratories
for development under the scheme. The total expenditure involved in the
implementation of these projects was of the order of Rs. 125 lakhs out of
which Rs. 62.5 lakhs would be met out of the provision made under this
scheme.
Other New Schemes Development of facilities for education and trainining where weakness
exists today in our system of technical education is of paramount inipor-
tance. Equally important is the creation of infrastructures in areas of
emerging technologies vital for the development of the country and also
modernisation of laboratories in the infrastructure already available. To
meet these national challenges, three major schemes already included in the
Sixth Five-Year Plan were finalised and processed for implementation
during the year under report. Another scheme regarding interaction bet-
ween technical institutions and society, included in the Sixth Five Year Plan
to, promote application of science and technology to solve the problems of
society was also finalised and processed for implementation during the year
under report. Besides, spade work was also done on the undermentioned
schemes of technical education included in the Sixth Five-Year Plan :
(i) National Manpower Information System
(ii) Quality Improvement Programme for Polytechnic Diploma
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holder teachers to acquire Bachelor Degrees in engineering and
post-graduate industry-oriented degrees
(iii) Monitoring and Evaluation
(iv) New Schemes under Apprenticeship Training.
Programme of Apprenticeship The programme of Apprenticeship training continued to be implement-
Training ed through the four Boards of Apprenticeship Practical Training located at
Kanpur, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. As on December 1, 1981,
11,297 trainees--4,133 engineering graduates and 7,164 diploma holders,-
were in position. Special short-term programmes were organised by
Southern, Western and Northern Regional Boards for Graduate Apprentices
under the Act in collaboration with State industries concerned to inculcate
in them the concept of supervision, management, organisation structure,
cost effectiveness etc.
Indian Institute of Technology The, five Indian Institutes of Technology at Kharagpur, Bombay,
Madras, Kanpur and Delhi were established as premier centres of educa-
tion and training in engineering and applied sciences and to provide ade-
quate 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 develop-
ment, inter-disciplinary research, inter-institutional collaboration and con-
sultancy services.
The Institutes conduct undergraduate programmes leading to Bache-
lor'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 in diffe-
rent branches of engineering, science, humanities and social sciences. There
are also advanced centres of training and research in each institute in iden-
tified areas of specialisation.
The student strength and out-turn of the five institutes during 1981-82
were as given below
Enrolment
IIT Under Post Research Total Out-turn
Graduates Graduates
Kharagpur 1706 878 355 2939 639
Bombay 1269 597 289 2155 572
Madras 1231 578 663 2472 581
Kanpur 1159 495 297 1951 458
Delhi 1189 710 713 2612 481
6554 3258 2317 12129 2731
During the year 1981-82, the institutes expanded their infrastructure
facilities and made substantial progress in acquiring new sophisticated re-
search equipment, starting new inter disciplinary academic programme 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 work-
shops for the benefit of students, working engineers, technologists and
scientists from all over the country.
Regional Engineering Colleges Fourteen Regional Engineering Colleges were set up-one in each
major state, during the Second and Third Plan periods to enable the coun-
try to meet the increased need for trained personnel during subsequent plan
periods. The fifteenth college at Silchar (Assam) admitted the first batch
of students in November, 1977. While all the colleges offer first degree
courses in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, some offer courses
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in Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy Electronics, Mining and Architecture
also. Thirteen of these colleges have since introduced post-graduate
courses. Of these, nine are conducting industry-oriented courses in spe-
cialised fields like design and production of high pressure boilers and
accessories, heavy machines for steel plants, transportation engineering,
industrial and marine structures, integrated power system, etc.
The development of the Regional Engineering Colleges during the
Sixth Plan period lays emphasis on the consolidation of existing faculties,
establishment of computer centres at selected colleges, modernisation of
laboratories including replacement of obsolete equipment and development
of student activity centres in all the colleges. During the year under report,
the Regional Engineering Colleges made considerable progress in the
implementation of their developmental plan.
Technical Teachers' Training The institutes at Madras, Calcutta, Bhopal and Chandigarh set up in
Institutes 1966-67, provide long-term training programmes for the diploma and
degree holding teachers in engineering and polytechnics. They also offer
short-term. programmes in a number of disciplines and areas. The institutes
also (i) provide professional training for teaching engineering and techno-
logy subjects; (ii) provide for instruction and research in various branches
Of engineering and technology and for the advancement of learning and dis-
semination of knowledge in such branches; and (iii) arrange for practical
training in industry on a co-operative education plan. The course of study
for the Diploma in Technical Teachers 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 proposals like Educa-
tional Film Production, National Testing Service, Educational Research,
Development of Multi-media learning/instructional packages etc. The
institutes are also engaged in curriculum development for technician
courses and extension services. During the year under report, the institutes
intensified their activities for the training of polytechnic teachers through
its various programmes. The institutes also showed considerable progress
in the implementation of the various UNDP projects.
School of Planning and The school, established in 1959, provides Bachelor's degree courses in
Architecture, New Delhi Architecture and Master's degree course in Lands cape Architecture, Hous-
ing, Town and Country Planning, Transport Planning and Building Engi-
neering. With effect from December, 1979, the school has been given the
status of "Institution deemed to be University" under UGC Act with a view
to further broadening its academic programmes relating to human settle-
merits and the environment and also promote research and extension. The
school continued its useful activities, as before, during the year under
report.
National Institute for Training in The institute was set up in 1963 with the assistance of UNDP to pro-
Industrial Engineering, Bombay vide facilities for training in industrial engineering and allied fields. The
institute conducts (i) Extensive Development Programmes, (ii) Unit
Based Programmes, (iii) Post-graduate Programmes in Industrial Engineer-
ing, (iv) Consultancy Services, (v) Research Programmes and (vi) Semi-
nars and Conferences. The Institute carried on effectively with all these
activities/programmes during the year tinder report.
National Institute of Foundary The institute was set up in 1966 with the assistance of UNDP/UNESCO
and Forge Technology, Ranchi to provide requisite trained personnel for foundry and forge industry. The
institute offers (a) training through short-term refresher courses, long-term
advanced diploma courses, post-graduate diploma courses, (b) trainging of
senior executive personnel from industry in the latest production techniques
and methods, design and development, (c) conducting applied research in
the field of foundry and forge technology, and (d) to-serve the industry
through consultancy, documentation and information service. The insti-
tute organised fruitfully the programmes in all these areas during the year
under report.