‘DTE comes up with five-point revamp plan for technical edn’
Staff Reporter,
Dr Abhay Wagh for a perspective that will have a long term impact
The condition of technical education is
not very satisfactory and if targeted changes are not incorporated then
it may go from bad to worse. The technical institutes are plagued by
problems of vacancies, sub-standard education, rising lack of
employability among students, untrained staff etc. Considering these
aspects, Dr Abhay Wagh, Director of Technical Education, Maharashtra has
decided to implement five point revamp plan in technical education to
ensure quality enhancement to meet the global standards.
A comprehensive perspective plan, quality curriculum that includes industry internship, proper training of the staff, employability of the students and incubation centre, will change the face of technical education in State, Dr Wagh stated while unveiling his visit on the sidelines of an important workshop on industry-institute organised by DTE at Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management (RCOEM). This is the only way to improve health of our technical education, Dr Wagh told ‘The Hitavada’.
Perspective plan to meet supply-demand ratio
“We can not bring quality if the volume
is unnecessarily large. We have so many technical institutions and the
entire system is crumbling under its weight. Unfortunately, no serious
thought was given before opening so many colleges with questionable
physical and human infrastructure. Even the simple principle of demand
and supply ratio was not taken into account. In Nagpur around 15,000
students opt for technical courses, then why do we need 23,000 seats
here, Dr Wagh questioned while pointing out flaws in existing system.
Secondly, we should encourage students to take those courses which have
regional connection. The boy of Vidarbha if encouraged to go for Textile
engineering could easily get employment because this is cotton growing
belt. So, while preparing perspective plan these needs would be
incorporated,” said Dr Abhay Wagh.
Dr Wagh feels if focus is kept on demand and supply ratio then automatically the seats will be reduced and the vacancy issue will be resolved instead of diluting entry level norms. He said, “I am happily signing the closure applications of courses, colleges. See, how smartly the MBA people worked. They reduced their additional intake and now no seat remains vacant in that course.” In 2015, being Director of Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) Dr Wagh had submitted a report about erring polytechnics and DTE was compelled to crack down whip against 16 polytechnics by disqualifying them.
Curriculum with industry aspects
Another aspect of quality is curriculum. The universities have not changed the curriculum for years together. Dr Wagh said that he would be taking up this issue with the universities and accommodate changes that could cater to the global needs. “Our curriculum must have industry aspect, else, it would fail to deliver. My student should have all qualities of good employee on the very first day of his joining. The industry-institute linkage will play important role,” Dr Wagh pointed out.
Another aspect of quality is curriculum. The universities have not changed the curriculum for years together. Dr Wagh said that he would be taking up this issue with the universities and accommodate changes that could cater to the global needs. “Our curriculum must have industry aspect, else, it would fail to deliver. My student should have all qualities of good employee on the very first day of his joining. The industry-institute linkage will play important role,” Dr Wagh pointed out.
I-curriculum in Polytechnics
“In post HSC Diploma institutes
(polytechnic) we have implemented industry internship from June 1,
wherein the students upon entry into fifth semester would be sent to any
industry where he would work as a full time employee. We would
incorporate same practice in engineering,” informed Dr Wagh. At present
the internship aspect is present in Textile diploma course only. Dr Wagh
has described inclusion of industry internship in polytechnic as
‘I-curriculum’ which is his brainchild and he feels that it will address
the vacancy problem.DTE has already started staff training also so as
to groom them to teach finer nuances to students that would imbibe
broader aspects of technical education into students’ minds.
“I have an ambitious plan for ‘Incubation center’. Such centre provides a whole new start-up ecosystem for the young entrepreneur. I want my students to come up with their own start up, they should become entrepreneur. We have talent but it was never tapped. We want to make our students employable. They should be trained with communication skills, personality development along with their interaction with industry,” said Dr Wagh.
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