Rajasthan Institute of Advanced Learning (RIAL)

A Brief Note
What is RIAL?

Based on the exhaustive interaction and brainstorming with industry leaders and academic
experts, the Rajasthan Institute of Advanced Learning (RIAL) has been proposed as a
unique institution to promote advanced level learning and technology intervention to make
Rajasthan a thriving techno-hub to undertake disruptive innovation through cutting-edge
R&D in important intersecting areas of technology and business.

Why the RIAL has been proposed? (The Rationale)

The advent of use of technology in education ushered in the era of Learning 3.0
(Conventional Learning). It was primarily categorized by digitization and automation.
Advanced Learning (Learning 4.0) is a phenomenon that redefines the education landscape
by placing the learner at the centre of the ecosystem and shifting the focus from teaching to
learning.

While conventional learning revolved around new and improved ways to teach learners by
leveraging technological developments\, advanced learning seeks to empower the learner to
structure his/ her individual path keeping in the mind the final outcome. Technology has
acted as a great enabler in the pursuit of personalized learning, providing the flexibility and
comfort of remote learning at an adaptive pace and convenient time.

Shifting to Advanced Learning Model…

Parameters Conventional Learning Advanced Learning

Trainers/ Faculty Full – time Trainers/ faculty
Curriculum & Pedagogy Minor flexibility in pedagogy;
massive learning
Research Transition towards collaborative
research using technology
Funding Fee- based funding system
Infrastructure Majority of investment
physical infrastructure
Trainers are industry participants/
subject matter expert for classroom
or online training
Subject matter decided by the
learner; personalized learning.
Focus on Super Specialization
Ease of data sharing has removed
the geographical barriers to
collaboration
Along with Fee, emphasizes on
various other revenue models like
direct industry engagement,
consulting, research and IPR etc.
in Investment in technological
infrastructure to support blended
learning

Conventional higher education institutions have been criticised for not focusing on
employability and not producing industry ready candidates. This approach is known as
Inside Out. The RIAL proposes to turn this upside down which is now known as Outside In
approach and to prepare courses, & training programmes by the industry leaders and
industry standards based on the existing & emerging job demands in the industry to achieve
higher employability.

How the RIAL will work? (Operational Outlook)

The institute is being envisaged as middle ground between the conventional slow academia
and the super-fast dynamic industry. RIAL as a technology integrated R&D & thought
leadership platform will build the bridges between industry & academic expertise, create
effective & productive collaborations with the industry leaders to augment the quality of
research and innovation thereby transforming teaching-learning-R&D ecosystem in the state.
This will help augment quality in the industry production & service, offer new & innovative
solutions to market & social problems, thereby create new job opportunities for freshers and
mid-career professionals along with creating platforms for the incubation of the start-ups and
the expansion of MSMEs in the identified areas.

No such major institution as of now operationalized in India with a vision to offer this kind of
integrated technology education, professional training, R&D collaboration, and development
of innovative solutions through patents. So RIAL may take a lead of First-Mover
advantage.

A typical following comparison chart may depict the differences between a traditional
institutes and RIAL:

Conventional Technology Institute Proposed RIAL

Learning Methods

 Learning is more theoretical.  Training will be more practical and

 It’s more trainer driven
 Classroom sessions forms a large
part of trainee’s engagement.
Trainee Learning
application oriented
 It’ll be more trainee driven
 Non – classroom training will form a
good part of trainee engagement

 Trainees are encouraged to  Trainees will be encouraged to

assimilate information explore and participate more hands-
 Learning is meant to enhance one’s on practical sessions to learn
knowledge base. information in varied ways
 Learning would be meant to enrich
one’s experience.
Functional Autonomy

 Conventional Institutes have limited  RIAL may have a lot of academic

academic autonomy. autonomy (wrt research, consulting,
 They need to meet requirements Industry Facilitation etc.)
laid down by state or central  RIAL will be able to launch easily
education bodies novel courses or programs to
respond to industry needs or current
trends.
Academics

 Trainees/ Students can select only  Trainees/ Students would be able to

from a limited number of subjects, select from across many subjects of
 as allowed for the stream. the school/ centre and other streams
as well.
Flexibility to change

 Switching subjects or major  Switching subjects/ major electives

electives after a course commences could be done easily.
is not possible.  Such changes would be possible
even during the middle of the
program
Research & Learning

 Research in Indian Institutes are  RIAL will have a robust research

quite low. It has improved a bit in
recent times.
 But more work needs to be done on
funding & research infrastructure in
many Indian Institutes.
Job Opportunities
environment – with projects and
resources available across most
streams and fields of study.
 Trainees will have many research
projects to choose from.
 RIAL will have many sources of
grants or funding for their research
activities.

 Top Universities and Institutions  RIAL will develop itself as a Industry

provide good job opportunities. Focused Brand in coming time
 Lesser ranked colleges may find it which’s certificate/ degree itself will
difficult to provide placements or be widely acceptable in Industries in
other opportunities to students. India and abroad.
 After training, candidates who are
not interested in jobs; can find other
opportunities like joining research
assistantship, or in – house
openings.
USP of Rajasthan Institute of Advanced Learning
A. RIAL is a unique initiative unlike many traditional colleges or institutes in Rajasthan
and India, which normally focus on conventional syllabus, credit hours and work with
minimal integration with the industry.

B. RIAL is being designed to advance Experiential Learning through hyper integration of

best practices in academia and industry to make learning solution oriented.

C. RIAL will be a one-stop-solution for advanced learning and research spanning across
several on-demand domains with industry-oriented research, training, and
innovations including the patents.

D. RIAL will invite industry leaders to bring collaborative funding on an equity

share/revenue share/innovation share basis to establish the state-of-the art
laboratories and testing centres for the commercial use of academic institutions,
start-ups and MSMEs from Rajasthan, India and abroad.  

E. RIAL is proposed to make advanced technological intervention in several critical

areas, initially starting with three important areas:
i. Semi-conductor and Fab Lab
ii. Med-tech
 iii. Climate-tech
F. These interventions are proposed to be done through four integrated approaches
i. Training
ii. Common Facilities Centre for Start-ups and MSMEs
iii. Research and Development (R&D)
iv. Consulting