TECHNICAL EDUCATION
1. AICTE: Setup in the year 1945 as an advisory body, reinforced with the passing of act known as the "AICTE" Act, 1987, (No. 52), the AICTE came into effect on March 28, 1988 with a view to undertake proper planning and coordinated development of the technical educations system throughout the country, the promotion of qualitative improvement of such education at all levels in relation to planned quantitative growth and the regulation and proper maintenance of norms and standards in the technical education system and for matters connected therewith.
AICTE has constituted Ten All India Boards of Studies and Seven Regional Committees. Three new Regional Offices are being set up at Chandigarh, Bhopal and Bangalore. In addition, Board of Research and Board of Industry-Institute-Interaction have been. constituted.
On the administration side, the Council has made much progress.
With the conferment of statutory status under the AICTE act, 1987, the council has been empowered to ensure coordinated and integrated development of technical education and to maintain standards through powers and functions as assigned to the Council under Sub-Clause 10 (a) to 10 (v).
To undertake this stupendous task, the council initially went through the process of reorganization and strengthening between July 93 to March 94 and have since then initiated the task on several issues as given below:
1. Re-constituted the Council and its Executive committee, appointed and activated All India Boards of Studies as, well as the Regional committees at Madras, Bombay, Kanpur, Calcutta and three new Regional Committees at Chandigarh, Bhopal and Bangalore.
2. The All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE) has been vested with the statutory responsibility of according approval as per Clause 10 (k) of the Act as under:-
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"Grant approval for starting new technical institutions and programmes in consultation with the agencies concerned" In pursuance of the above, as many as many as 1947 Institutions in Engineering/Technology, Pharmacy, (both Degree & Diploma) with Intake Capacity of 9, 33, 63 were approved.
In pursuance of the above as many as 1947 institutions in Engineering/Technology and Pharmacy with intake capacity of 293363 have been approved.
3. the AICTE Act under Clause 10 (u) states that the Council may set up a National Board of Accreditation to periodically conduct evaluation of technical institutions or programmes on the basis of guidelines, norms At standards specified by it. With a view to set up the Board of Accreditation (BOA) as envisaged in the Act, a workshop in this regard was organised at Andhra University. Waltair. This was followed by constitution of a Board, and on the recommendations of which Accreditation Proforma was finalized & circulated.
During the year 1994-95 proposals from 42 institutions and for 270 programmes were received under in this scheme. Likewise in the year 1995-96 as many as 50 institutions for 300 programmes applied for accreditations.
In order to meet the requirements on the enhanced activities an outlay of Rs. 127.50 crores and Rs. 17.65 crores are proposed for 9th Plan and Annual Plan 1997-98 respectively.
2. Technical Teachers' Training Institutes (TTTIs) Set up during mid-sixties Four Technical Teachers' Training Institutes (TTTIs) at Bhopal, Calcutta, Chandigarh and Madras were established in mid sixties for training of polytechnics teachers and undertaking various other activities for the overall improvement of polytechnic education. TTTIs offer long-term training programmes of 12 months/18 months duration to degree and diploma holding teachers of polytechnic in addition to providing short-term training of teachers and introducing them to curriculum development and related activities. The institutes at Bhopal and Madras and more recently at Chandigarh also offer post graduate courses in technical teaching, Besides teacher training,
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these institutes also undertake activities such as resource development, extension work, consultancy and project formulation.
TTTIs have been involved in a big way with the planning and implementation of a massive state sector project on technician education with world bank assistance. The project also provides for strengthening of TTTIs to enable them to take on the added responsibility under the project for improvement of technician Education system in the country. They are acting as facilitators and are providing necessary support to the States for project implementation. A review committee on TTTIs, after evaluation of functioning and activities has recommended strengthening of the TTTIs during the 8th plan period.
During the year 1996-97 all the four TTTIs will continue their activities and contribute to further development of technician education under the world bank assisted project. An outlay of Rs.6.00 crores has been approved for 1996-97.
The justification for above enhancement is to meet the requirements of enhanced targets of spending 9000 manweeks on training under long-term programme and 3400 manweeks under short-term programme in 95-96 as compared to 8500 manweeks and 3100 manweeks in 95-96. Likewise, targets have also been raised in other programmes viz rural development programme, workshops and for technical teachers, Industrial Training Programme, additional development of the curricula etc. during 96-97 which have been raised by about 40%. Additional no. of research projects and extension services are also to be undertaken in 1996-97.
An outlay of Rs. 100.00 crores is proposed for 9th Plan and Rs. 11.50 crores for Annual Plan 1997-98.
3. National Institute of Training in Industrial Engineering (NITIE)
The National, Institute of Training in Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Bombay was established in the year 1963 by the Government of India as an autonomous body with the assistance of United Nations Development Programmes through the International Labour Organisation.
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NITIE offers post-graduate programmes by research, fellowship programme (equivalent to PH.D.) in industrial engineering and diploma programme in computers and applications. It has been conducting several short-term Executive Development Programmes ranging from one to two weeks, duration in various areas of Industrial Engineering and Management techniques. NITIE is also engaged in Applied Research. and offers consultancy in the various facts of Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Information System and Computers, Marketing, Personnel and other productivity related and Management fields.
NITIE also conducts special types of programmes tailor-made to suit the requirements of individual organisations known as Unit based Programmes.
In addition to strengthening the programme in the field of Industrial Engineering, the Institute has expanded research activities in various areas. Its activities include creation of technology transfer and entrepreneurship development including Women Entrepreneurs, Transportation engineering and Management, Ergonmics of Working Postures etc. Its activities are therefore to be diversified and extended in the allied fields during and beyound the 8th Plan period.
To meet the requirements of emerging/thrust areas ; to develop computer base maintenance management process for industry and to develop data bases for project profiles, the 9th Plan and Annual Plan outlays are estimated at Rs. 53.00 crore and Rs. 1.30 crore repectively.
4. National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology (NIFFT)
Set up in the year 1966 by Government of India the NIFFT is an apex training institute to provide trained manpower and updated knowledge in the field of Foundry and Forge Technology to the concerned industries. The National Institute of Foundry and Forge technology, (NIFFT) Ranchi has prepared a Programme of Action (POA) document for its development during the 8th plan period.
In order to meet the new requirement including construction activity of additional instructional building and residential quarters, procurement of
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sophisticated equipments, introduction of new Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses in Manufacturing engineering and to carry out other activities of POA, a provision of Rs.1.50 crores is available for 1996-97. An outlay of Rs. 18.64 crores is proposed for 9th Plan and Rs. 1.72 crores for the Annual Plan 1997-98.
The justification for above enhancement is to set up 2 new regions namely teaching and Industrial services, centres for process material and technology development, centre for equipment design and development. and industrial coordination cell for Foundry and Forge Industries ; to conduct more no. of unit based special course.
5. School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi was established in the year 1955 as a pioneer institution to provide training facilities in academic programmes relating to human settlements and environment. The School has prepared POA document for its development activities for the 8th Plan period. It has already completed construction of a hostel for 250 students and 71 houses for faculty and administrative staff at Maharani Campus. The expansion of the existing building of the Department of Architecture and construction activity at the newly acquired land of 20 acres for its new campus near Jawaharlal Nehru University has also to be started. A centre for design is also proposed to be set up during 8th Plan period in the school under the Indo-Italian Cooperation Agreement. Provision for Indian component of expenditure thereon has been included in this proposal.
The proposed outlay for 1997-98 is Rs. 2.64 crores which will be used to extend facilities in emerging areas like industrial design, graphic design, visual communication, rural development and transport system engineering management. The 9th Plan outlay is proposed as Rs. 60.00 Crores.
6. Development of Post Graduate Courses and Research Works Post-graduate training in engineering and technology is considered essential for effective teaching and R&D work. The Central Government is directly assisting 16 State Governments and 24 non- Government postgraduate institutions tinder the scheme for the development of postgraduate education and research in
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engineering and technology. The scheme has made considerable contribution in promoting the cause of development of technical education in particular and economic development of the country in general. Having regard to its importance in the national development, the scheme had to be continued. Special emphasis will be laid on promoting courses in emerging technology where there is shortage of manpower.
In collaboration with the Department of Electronics, Masters Degree Course in Computer Application has been introduced in few selected centres. The scheme mainly covers government and privately managed but aided technical institutions.
Eighth plan provision - Rs. 5.00 crores
Budget provision for 1996-97 - Rs. 2.00 crores
Utilisations of Plan Provisions - Rs. 4.01 crores
in four years including 1995-96
Budget Provision for 1997-98 - Rs. 2.30 crores
Budget Provision for 9th Plan - Rs. 100.00 crores
The justification for the above enhancement is that only 20% of the institutions are covered at present and therefore more coverage is essential for overall and balanced growth.
7. Research and Development (R&D) in selected Higher
Teaching Institutions National Policy on Education 1986 lays great stress on research research which is an essential component of higher education. In fact, it has been recognized that R&D has to be an integral part of education. At present, most of the research efforts and research manpower are concentrated in few institutions only. It is necessary to grow R&D culture in all institutions of higher education. Poor library facilities, inadequate information system, absence of computational reprographic and other facilities are endemic with the majority of educational institutions. Research facilities are largely outdated. The need for creation and updating of infrastructure is urgent. There is likely to be a significant enhancement of R&D activities in national laboratories, defence establishments, public sectors
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etc. Lack of R&D activities in education sector is adversely Effecting production of R&D personnel of the right quality.
The scheme covers educational institutions in the technical and management education system which offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Eighth plan provision - Rs. 12.00 crores
Budget provision for 1996-97 - Rs. 3.00 crores
Utilisations of Plan Provisions - Rs. 6.91 crores
in four years including 1995-96
Budget Provision for 1997-98 - Rs. 3.00 crores
Budget Provision for 9th Plan - Rs. 100.00 crores
The justification for the above enhancement is that the scheme covers technical institutions offering PG programmes in the field of engineering and technology. Lack of funds have however, hampered the progress of schemes leading to decline in number of research projects supported in the last two years.
8. Development of Management Courses In order to meet the requirement of trained managerial manpower at different levels, the Government. of India initiated a programme to provide assistance to certain non-university centres which are functioning at All India level and are offering two years full-time and three years part-time postgraduate Diploma courses in management studies. The assistance is given to the institutions on the recommendations of the All India Board of Management Studies of the AICTE. So far, the Government of India has been giving assistance to a few institutions for consolidation and development of their management programmes. In the present situation, it is very essential to promote programmes in the field of non-corporate unorganized and service sectors. These activities are proposed to be strengthened during the 9th Plan.
Eighth plan provision - Rs. 1.00 crores
Budget provision for 1996-97 - Rs. 0.15 crores
Utilisations of Plan Provisions - Rs. 1.07 crores
in four years including 1995-96
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Budget Provision for 1997-98 - Rs. 0.17 crores
Budget Provision for 9th Plan - Rs. 127.00 crores
To meet the requirements of trained managerial manpower in this field the scheme needs to be expanded to cover larger number of institutions. Particularly in the last few years, several new non- university centres have also come up which need support of managerial manpower.
9. Modernization and Removal of Obsolescence The National Policy on Education has laid emphasis on Modernisation and Removal of Obsolescence of laboratories and workshops of engineering colleges and polytechnics to enhance functional efficiency. The Scheme covers IITs and RECs and other engineering colleges, technical faculties of universities and polytechnics. Funds are also provided for training and retraining of the faculty and the technical staff of the institutions to improve their skills and potential. The total provision under the scheme during 8th plan is Rs. 110 crores, yet the amount available is much less than what was available in the year 1987-88. Even to sustain the existing old institutions in terms of their maintenance and critical equipment and providing facilities to the staff in latest trends in modem technology and to augment library facilities etc., the scheme needs to be supported with minimum outlay of Rs. 20.70 crores during 97-98. An outlay of Rs. 450.00 crores is proposed for 9th Plan.
10. Industry-Institute Interaction The Scheme of Industry-Institute Interaction has three main components as follows :-
a) Interaction between engineering colleges and Industry,
b) Interaction between Polytechnics and Industry,
c) Setting up of an Industrial Foundation at IIT, Delhi.
In the case of selected engineering colleges, the programmes envisaged to tackle a Joint project between the industries and the institutions. It contained provision to
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exchange faculty with industries at the rate of two faculty per institute for both degree level institutions and polytechnics.
The industrial foundation at IIT, Delhi will be responsible for marketing the research and consultancy capabilities of the institute in tackling scientific and technical problems sponsored by industries and other organisations, commercialization of research activities through prototype development and industrial pilot plants etc. The approved plan outlay for Eighth Plan Period is Rs.4.00 crores.
Eighth plan provision - Rs. 4.00 crores
Budget provision for 1996-97 - Rs. 80 crores
Utilisations of Plan Provisions - Rs. 2.55 crores
in four years including 1995-96
Budget Provision for 1997-98 - Rs. 0.92 crores
Budget Provision for 9th Plan - Rs. 50.00 crores
For promoting linkages between Universities, technical institutions, R&D centres and the industries and to facilitate such interaction by setting up industrial institution cells, industrial foundation centres etc. To meet these requirements, targets for 96-97 have been kept at covering large number of institutions as well as to support additional proposals during the year 1997-98.
11. Scheme of Continuing Education The Scheme of Continuing Education for working professionals in the field of engineering and technology is aimed at enhancing the competence of these professionals, thereby contributing to upgrading engineering manpower capability in our industries. The scheme is linked to two aspects. First is to survey the needs of the areas in which the continuing education modules need to be prepared and second, prepare them through our experts located in the five IITs and four TTTIs. The ISTE is also associated to undertake the programme of preparation of modules and academic coordination and monitoring of the programme.