 TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Technical Education is one of the most significant components of Human Resource Development with great potential particularly in this age of rapid development and International competitiveness.

There has been a phenomenal expansion in the technical education facilities in the country since independence. Initiatives are being taken to further revamp the technical education system like modernisation and removal of obsolescence, promoting institution- industry interaction, providing continuing education for upgrading the skill and knowledge of technical personnel working in industry and service sectors, transfer of technology to the rural sector/setting up of Technology Development Missions to meet the emerging challenges in Science and Technology.

Indian Institutes of Technology

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have been set up by the Government of India under an Act of Parliament. These Institutes are located at Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur and Madras. A new Indian Institute of Technology has been established at Guwahati in Assam. These institutes are premier centres of education and training in engineering and applied sciences at the undergraduate level and provide facilities for past-graduate studies and research.

Indian Institutes of Management

Four Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) were set up by the Government of India at Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Bangalore and Lucknow as centres of excellence with the objective of providing education, training research and consultancy in management. The Institutes have Post-Graduate Programmes, Fellowship programmes, Management Development programmes and Organisation-based programmes. They play a leading role in research and consultancy and help in spearheading the industrial development of the country. Two new Indian Institutes of Management are being set up at Calicut (Kerala) and Indore (MP).

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

This is one of the premier Institutes of the country and was given `Deemed University' status in 1958. The Institute has earned recoginition as a centre of research in Basic and Engineering Sciences

and allied fields. Excellence and creativity in research, development and learning programmes have characterised the academic activity of the Institute. It has been contributing to continuing Education Programme, Technology Transfer and solutions to the problems of Industries. The Institute also attracts high quality academicians and retain them by providing conducive environment for research.

The Institute is adding facilities for the National Science seminar complex. A Super Computer facility of national importance is being established.

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

The AICTE was given a statutory status through an Act of Parliament in 1987. The main functions of the AICTE are: proper planning and coordinated development of technical education in the country, qualitative improvement at all levels and regulation of the system and maintenance of norms and standards in the fields of engineering, technology, architecture, town-planning, management, pharmacy, applied arts and crafts etc.

The Council operates through its executive Committee, All India Boards of Studies, seven regional committees and a National Board of Accreditation.

Some of the important Schemes of the council include financial assistance to professional bodies, technology forecast, grant of autonomy to technical Institutions, Scheme of Emeritus fellowship, scheme of Professor of Eminence etc.

Regional Engineering Colleges

Under the scheme of establishment of Regional Engineering Colleges, 17 colleges have been established, one each in the major states to meet the country's growing requirement for trained technical manpower for various developmental projects. Each college is a joint and cooperative enterprise of the central Government and the state Government.

Emphasis has been on the expansion and diversification of academic programmes, modernisation of laboratories, improvement of student, and staff amenities and construction of hostels for students.

Boards of Apprenticeship training

The regional Boards of Apprenticeship training were set up at Bombay, Calcutta, Kanpur and Madras for the purpose of providing industrial training to engineering graduates and diploma holders coming out of engineering colleges and polytechnics.

World Bank Assisted Technician Education Project

Recognising the need for revamping technician education, the Government has launched a major project being implemented in two overlapping phases with the assistance of World Bank to enable the State Governments to upgrade their polytechnics in capacity, quality and efficiency. The Project covers 17 States and 2 Union Territories.

Community Polytechnics

The scheme of Community Polytechnics is being implemented with a view to provide to the rural society a fair share of benefits from the investments in the technical education sphere. The scheme aims at sustained community development without environmental degradation by way of Science & Technology applications for socioeconomic development and improvement in the quality of life. The Community Polytechnics also undertake activities like technology transfer, technical support and Science & Technology awareness for the community.

North-Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology

This Institute was established at Itanagar, Arunachal. Pradesh to generate skilled manpower in the field of engineering and technology as well as applied sciences for the development of North- Eastern region.

Educational Consultants (India) Ltd-(Ed.CIL)

Ed. CIL is the only public sector enterprise under this Ministry and was incorporated under the companies Act, 1956 on June 17, 1981. Some of the main projects executed by the corporation include project space planning for the campus of tertiary Education of Mauritius, Project Appraisal Report for Arhh Minch Water Technology Institute in Ethiopia etc.

Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Gwalior

With a view to promote and nurture the field of Information Technology and Management, a new institute is being set up at Gwalior as a centrally funded autonomous institute.