The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has ordered all engineering colleges to create new industry-based course modules in order to generate BTech students who are prepared for the workplace and employable. Students will receive training in updated technical skills under this, according to the demands of the market in the future. Students who successfully complete these course modules will receive credit.
“All AICTE certified institutes have been told to build relevant industry-oriented course modules in cooperation with key industries or national level industry organisations,” says Ramesh Unnikrishnan, Advisor, Policy & Academic Planning Bureau of AICTE. To provide students with relevant training in technical, digital, and practical skills, technical universities need to work with industries.
According to Unnikrishnan, the fast evolving technical education system in our nation has made it more difficult for engineering graduates to get employment. “It is crucial to offer training in modernised crafts that are appropriate to Industry 4.0’s requirements. The action taken by AICTE will aid in closing the skill-talent gap.
“The decision to add a course module to the current curriculum must be made after considering market trends. “The entire essence of basic engineering sciences should remain intact to deliver the best of both conventional and novel courses,” says Abhay Bansal, director of the International Collaboration for Engineering and Technology at Amity University. This will prepare students for better job opportunities.
In accordance with AICTE’s direction, FullStack Labs, a web development and software consultancy company, and K C G College of Technology, Chennai, inked memorandums of understanding. They have created a three-semester industry-led curriculum together to instruct the students. P Deiva Sundari, principal of K C G College of Technology, states that MNC Capgemini Engineering would train students in technical writing, coding, and VLSI design. These IT behemoths also provide our faculty personnel with a 30-day training programme in emerging technologies, which is mandated by the MoU.
While there are certain difficulties in incorporating new course modules into the existing curriculum. The task of balancing and making up for the core and traditional engineering courses with the newly added modules, according to Bansal, may be challenging.
He continues by saying that some engineering specialties, such as computer science, electronics, and communication, as well as mechanical automation, are most suited for incorporating new courses. According to Bansal, the rise of IT in the last ten years has transformed these fields thanks to the development of technologies like 5G, AI, cloud computing, IoT applications, and automation. Therefore, there is a massive increase in demand for software engineers and computer engineers with modern skill sets.
Sundari emphasised that the AICTE’s efforts to update the curriculum will aid students in discovering how to apply cutting-edge technologies in fundamental engineering subjects. For example, machine learning and artificial intelligence are finding a role in automotive and aeronautical engineering. This will enable mechanical engineers to embark on a number of technology-based careers, she claims. In addition, the quality of internship possibilities has improved. In contrast to the custom of the senior year, our second-year BTech students can now participate in virtual internships. Up to eight BTech students are working on IIT Madras’ technology-related projects for 10 hours each week while receiving a respectable stipend.
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