engineering education-rjit-2012
DESCRIPTION
The challenges for engineering education are highlighted. Any new institute will face challenges such as faculty, infrastructure and placement.TRANSCRIPT
Engineering Education: Imperatives & Issues
Dr S G Deshmukh ABV-Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management
www.iiitm.ac.in Session at RJIT Tekanpur, 1 Sep 2012
Opening quote….
“Quality in higher education has been a matter of
importance, concern and priority at regional,
national and international levels especially in the
recent past”.
Cathamparampil et al.(2005)
Speaking points
Imperatives
Engineering Challenges
Critical Success Factors
Issues :
Faculty development
Laboratory development
Role of faculty in administration
Industry-Institute linkages
Employability
Concluding remarks
Typical comments on curriculum
Too much theoretical content
Compartmentalized approach
Lacks preparing student for problem solving skills
Gap between what is taught and what is required
Gap between knowledge and skills
Not industrially relevant
Digital Divide
Teacher Student
Relies on old text
books/notes taught by his
teacher
Not comfortable with
technology
“Syllabus” mentality
Refuses to acknowledge
student
Uses mobile on and off the class room
Comfortable in handling technology –WiFi, Mobile, YouTube , iPad, participates in blog discussions , Hooked to Facebook , Hi5 or LinkedIn
Reluctant to acknowledge teacher !!
IImperatives ..
Globalization : Borderless World of accelerating multi-dimensional change
Quality of services(WTO, Washington accord), and Shift to knowledge economy
Role of private universities
Expectations of student community, and industry
Changing face of technology : Revolutions in Information Technology (IT)
Engineering Education System MUST
translate these challenges through a Quality
response
GGrowth of Higher Education
Institutes 1950-51 1990-91 2010-11
Universities 30 117 537
Colleges 750 7356 26,000
Student
Enrolment
236,000 49,50,000 135,00,000
Faculty 24,000 272,000 530,000 Source: Ramachandran S, 2011, Significance & contributions of self-financing institutions in higher
education, Pride, Vol 1(1), pp 6-8
Imperative 1: Globalization of
Education
Globalization refers to the increasing flow of technology, finance,
trade, knowledge, values and ideas across the borders(Knight & Wit,
1997)
It has multidimensional impact on the system of
education.
It has underlined the need for reforms in the educational
system with particular reference to wider utilization of IT
giving productivity and quality dimension and emphasis
on its R&D activities.
Imperative 2 : Expectations of Student
community and Industry
Bombarded with technological gadgets (Mobile, web,
laptop etc.)
Low retention span
Teacher as a facilitator/coach
Dynamic requirements of industry
Gap between what is taught and what is required
Features of Traditional Engineering
Education
More focused on abstract themes
Instructor centered learning
Depth in specialized fields
Very little use of computers, Multimedia, Internet
More focused on individual efforts
The Reality!: Current Weaknesses in
Today’s Eng. Graduates
Weakness in understanding manufacturing processes
Mostly analysts in specific areas
Myopic view of engineering
No understanding of quality process
Weak communication skills
Lack of design capabilities
Weak teamwork & project management skills
The Ideal! : Engineering Skills
Essentials for Competitive Graduates
Strong technical capability
Skills in communication and persuasion
Ability to lead and work effectively as a member of a team
Understanding of the non-technical forces that profoundly
influence engineering decisions
Commitment to lifelong learning
Skills in design and project management
Multidisciplinary
Forces Pushing for Change
Companies employing engineering graduates
Accreditation efforts (such as NBA/ABET)
Globalization of economy
Engineering professional societies
Technological Challenges
Information: Proliferation
Tech. development: Multidisciplinary
Markets: Globalized
Environment: Endangered
Social responsibility: Engineering
Corporate structure: Participatory
Change: Rapid!
Critical Success Factors for Good
Engineering Education
Infrastructure Students Faculty
Attract the best students with leadership potential
Develop and nurture students for a wholesome personality
Educate & motivate engineering students to be ready:
to implement new technology
to focus on innovation
to understand global trends
to make an impact on society
Students
Faculty with good engineering/science background
Faculty with excellent potential in carrying innovative research
Faculty committed to a dynamic teaching environment
Provide faculty with opportunities for self development
Motivate faculty for doing high impact research
Facilitate cooperation with industry & the society at large
Faculty
Provide enabling environment that encourages high levels of academic
productivity
Up to date facilities (Computers, Library, Laboratory, sports etc.)
Adopt flexible and clear rules and regulations
Create sense of ownership
Infrastructure & Support
Strengths of RJIT
First of its kind institute
Young and dynamic faculty
Disciplined student community
Learning culture
Good infrastructure
Adequate space for expansion
Good academic programme: Both UG & PG
Niche Programme : Automobile Engg
Implications for RJIT
Move to next orbit
Enhance quality teaching
Emphasis on laboratory development
Give space to experiment & innovate
Network with other institutes
Use of National Knowledge Network
Stress on Research
Provide ecosystem
Faculty Incentive to motivate
Issue 1: Faculty development
Encourage faculty to do Ph d
Motivate them to conduct seminars/workhops/conferences
etc.
Lab development – a priority item
Empower them to take decisions and be
responsive/responsible
Encourage team work
Incentive scheme for quality research
Issue 2: How to create interest
amongst students in Lab
Open ended assignments
Hardware based projects
Industry assignments
More emphasis on “ Hands-on” experience
Increase Laboratory weightage in evaluation
Participate in competitions such as Robocon, Baja etc.
Issue 3: Industry Institute Linkage
Invite industry people for guest lectures
Make industry visits compulsory
Allow faculty to spend time in industry (during vacation
/break etc.)
Collaborative projects : Research/consultancy/problem
solving assignments
Issue 4: How to groom students for
placement
Understand issues in employabilty
Enhance soft skills
Make students aware of the industry requirements
Conduct regular industry meets
Issue : Employability skills Cognitive skills - higher level intellectual or academic skills (e.g.
interpreting, analysing, researching)
Key skills – personal skills and qualities which are generic to a range of both academic and employment settings (e.g. enterprise, criticality, teamwork, communication, planning and organising)
Career Management skills – skills required to manage career development (e.g. self analysis, networking, self reliance and reflection)
Enterprising Attitudes – personal qualities to spot opportunities and have the skills to act on them.
Issue: Skills Expected
Technical skills : Subject matter
Ability to ask questions
Ability to work independently
Ability to identify with the community
Soft skills: Leadership, Communication, team work, perseverance ,
tenacity
Issue 5: Role of Faculty in Administration
/Academic development
Faculty have to shoulder responsibility in
admn(Procurement/Recruitment/Construction )
Evolve SOPs for various activities
Individual development vis-à-vis institutional development
Emphasis on high quality research and the supporting infrastructure that
is needed
Sense of ownership/involvement
Concluding remarks..
Providing good quality engineering education – a challenge
for an institute like RJIT
Faculty , students and staff work in a synergistic manner to
meet this challenge
Providing good ecosystem and environment: a must
Thank you very much ! I would appreciate your comments at