Emerging Trends in Technical

Education in India

DURGESH AHIRWAR
M.TECH[ED]
 Technical education

Technical education system is dynamic in nature

it faces many challenges in responding to societal,
technological and economical change in the local and
global environment
TE is widely recognized as an important of the total
education and training system.
The challenge is how to reposition it in response to the
global forces driving change in a knowledge based
• “Age of Accountability”: Emphasis on cost and on
measuring student learning outcomes
• Preparation for Global Competitiveness
• Students’ expectation of technology use
• Trend toward professional preparation (instrumental
values) rather than liberal education (enlightenment)
• Public perception of the value of higher education
strictly as “private gain” (with little understanding of
the public good)
• Declining financial support from states and from
endowments
• Cost/Access/Quality
• Serving a rapidly changing demographic of students
• Measuring outcomes and expressing results in a way
that meets the public’s demand for accountability
• Developing appropriate standards for liberal
education, i.e., universally understood and acceptable
but not too specific
 Globalization
5

• International recognition of importance of higher

education
• Major investments in local systems
• Bologna Process will have significant impact over time
• Cross-border offerings increasing – Australian medical
school opening in US; new programs and institutions
in China, former Soviet bloc, Middle East
• Creation of new partnerships, joint degrees, dual
degrees

Durgesh 12/09/21
 Globalisation of Higher Education

Globalisation is a process of increasing heterogeneity,

shifting identities and multi-polarity.
Globalisation essentially deals with the processes
leading to the integration of the economies of the
world, and the acceptance of the market economy
world-wide.
It has made the nations of the world inter-dependent
and inter-connected
 Internationalisation of Higher Education

“the complex of processes that gives universities an

international dimension”; thus internationalization
encompasses all facets of university life, including
scholarship, teaching, research and institutional
management.
the process which integrates an international or inter-
cultural dimension into each of its three core activities,
viz. teaching and learning, research and community
service”.
Includes academic mobility, global or multi-cultural
education, area studies and study abroad
 Internationalization
8

Lincoln Commission – value to US students of study

abroad
Increase in international students in US
Increased competition here and abroad for best
international students
Infusion of international perspectives -- a course or a
holistic perspective?

Durgesh 12/09/21
 Quality Assurance and Accountability
9

Completion rates
Placement rates
Learning results
Costs
Debt load
Executive compensation
Board accountability

Durgesh 12/09/21
 Accreditation Abroad (contd.)
10

ECPD  ABET 1980 for Engineering programs.

Computer Science Accreditation Board – 1984

CSAB merged in ABET 2001

Engineering council in UK, IEE / ICE, ImechE.

Durgesh 12/09/21
 Accreditation Abroad
11

Education Accreditation more than a century old

Oldest accreditation of Engineering program U.S.

1932 ECPD
Accredited qualification as Prerequisite of
Professional License to practice. Hence controlled by
professional societies.

Durgesh 12/09/21
 Washington Accord
12

Accreditation Agencies of Developed World

agreement for recognition of accredited
program in respective countries for License to
Professional Practice
Original Six
USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia,
Newzeland
Now added: RSA, Hongkong
Provisional Signatory Status
Japan, Singapore, Germany, Malaysia
India applicant - Team visiting January 2005

Durgesh 12/09/21
 Washington Accord (Contd.)
13

Only UG Degree programs covered

Ready acceptance of respective country’s
academic requirements for entry to practice of
profession of Engineering.
Covers Quality Assurance of online and web based
instruction and programs Imported/exported .

Durgesh 12/09/21
 Quality and Accreditation Initiatives

 “Quality Engineering Education is the development of intellectual skills

and knowledge that will equip graduates to contribute to society
through productive and satisfying engineering careers as innovators,
decision-makers and leaders in the global economy of the twenty first
century.”
Accreditation
 AICTE has set up a National Board of Accreditation for defining the
criteria for assessment of Quality of Technical Institutions, both at
the under-graduate as well as post-graduate levels.
 The Process:
 self-assessment by the Institution
 an Expert Committee Visit
 consideration by a Sectorial Committee and the Board
 21st Century Learning Competencies
15

“We are responsible for preparing our students to

address problems we cannot foresee with
knowledge that has not yet been developed using
technology not yet invented.”

“The problems we have cannot be solved at the

same level of thinking at which we created them.”

Durgesh 12/09/21
 Is Higher Education Primarily for Economic Gain?
16

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 Or Developing the Nation’s Talent and Creativity?
17

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 Changing Character of Knowledge
18

Sources of Knowledge
education institution → everywhere
(deinstitutionalized learning)
Understanding of Knowledge
static → dynamic (openness to new knowledge,
ability to “unlearn”)
Structure of Knowledge
compartmental → holistic
Nature of Knowledge
external authority → personal and contextual

Durgesh 12/09/21
 21st Century Skills

Problem identification or articulation 1 9

Ability to identify new patterns of behavior or new 2 3
combinations of actions
Integration of knowledge across different disciplines 3 2
Ability to originate new ideas 4 6
Comfort with notion of ‘no right answer’ 5 11
Fundamental curiosity 6 10
Originality and inventiveness in work 7 4
Problem solving 8 1

12/09/21 Durgesh
19
STRENGTHS
Aspirations of our Youth to pursue Technical
Education
Private Sector initiatives complementing government
initiatives. especially in (hi-tech)ICT
Increasing interest of Industry Associations (such as CII,
FICCI) and of Professional societies to partner &
collaborates with academic institution.
The Accreditation initiatives of NBA are serving to
promote Quality Improvement in the technical education
sector
the upcoming world bank project will provide the
necessary resources for upgradation of technical education
in the country
The QIP schemes have contributed significantly to the
WEAKNESSES
Technical education perceived as a Business opportunity
by some one
Severe shortage of qualified and competent faculty
While there are island of excellence these are few in
number
Lack of interest among graduating engineers to pursue
teaching careers
Lack of interest for pursuing research degree programs.
Lack of adequate III.

upgrading of qualification of faculty in technical

institution.
The MODROBS,TRAPTEC AND R&D schemes of AICTE, Inadequate manpower needs assessment and manpower
as well as of MHRD, have served to modernize the planning.
infrastructure and remove obsolecence,promote work on
thrust areas, and R&D programs in TE
OPPORTUNITY THREATS
For setting up quality Indian institutions –sponsored off In the emerging GATS scenario,Quality concerns need to be
shore campuses. addressed urgently

It tools are becoming available for technology enhanced learning, Competition from international players
for widening the reach of technical education.

Distance education possibilities for continuing education The non-uniformity in the distribution of Technical intitution in
the country, causing regional imbalance,and inter-state migration
of student

Networking of technical institutions, at different level, for mutual The tendency of our students to prefer IT –related courses and
benefits, sharing of resources. other discipline

Networking of technical institutions with R&D labs and industry. Tendency of research scholars to prefer computer based research
over experimental research

Schemes such as TDB, CORE, promoting industry-institution The ration of diploma programmes to degree programs is on the
interaction. decline

The role techology eduaction for national development and The science base in the country is getting weaker, which will have
prosperity is widely acknowledge. an adverse impact on our capacity for techology development.
 STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

Analytical Capabilities Inability to work in a Team

Design Capabilities— ability to handle open ended problems Inter –disciplinary knowledge
-- creativity and innovation intergrative skill
--ability to handle poor defined

Decision-making, including problem solving Oral and written communication skills

Graphical communication skills Inter-personal skills

Discipline, work ethic Public perception and recognition

 TRADITIONAL ATTRIBUTES 21st CENTURY ATTRIBUTES
 Problem-solving abilities Learn ability : learning to learn, on
one’s own
 Analytical skills Yen for life-long learning – continuous
education.
 Communication skills— Ability to muster knowledge from
oral, written, graphic neighbouring disciplines

 Ability to relate to practical aspects of Ability to work in a team.

Engineering.

 Inter-personal skills Exposure to commercial disciplines.

 Management skills Creativity and Innovation.
 Decision-making skills Integrative skills.
STRENGTHS
Aspirations of our Youth to pursue Technical
Education
Private Sector initiatives complementing government
initiatives. especially in (hi-tech)ICT
Increasing interest of Industry Associations (such as CII,
FICCI) and of Professional societies to partner &
collaborates with academic institution.
The Accreditation initiatives of NBA are serving to
promote Quality Improvement in the technical education
sector
the upcoming world bank project will provide the
necessary resources for upgradation of technical education
in the country
The QIP schemes have contributed significantly to the
WEAKNESSES
Technical education perceived as a Business opportunity
by some one
Severe shortage of qualified and competent faculty
While there are island of excellence these are few in
number
Lack of interest among graduating engineers to pursue
teaching careers
Lack of interest for pursuing research degree programs.
Lack of adequate III.

upgrading of qualification of faculty in technical

institution.
The MODROBS,TRAPTEC AND R&D schemes of AICTE, Inadequate manpower needs assessment and manpower
as well as of MHRD, have served to modernize the planning.
infrastructure and remove obsolecence,promote work on
thrust areas, and R&D programs in TE
OPPORTUNITY THREATS
For setting up quality Indian institutions –sponsored off In the emerging GATS scenario,Quality concerns need to be
shore campuses. addressed urgently

It tools are becoming available for technology enhanced learning, Competition from international players
for widening the reach of technical education.

Distance education possibilities for continuing education The non-uniformity in the distribution of Technical intitution in
the country, causing regional imbalance,and inter-state migration
of student

Networking of technical institutions, at different level, for mutual The tendency of our students to prefer IT –related courses and
benefits, sharing of resources. other discipline

Networking of technical institutions with R&D labs and industry. Tendency of research scholars to prefer computer based research
over experimental research

Schemes such as TDB, CORE, promoting industry-institution The ration of diploma programmes to degree programs is on the
interaction. decline

The role techology eduaction for national development and The science base in the country is getting weaker, which will have
prosperity is widely acknowledge. an adverse impact on our capacity for techology development.
 STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

Analytical Capabilities Inability to work in a Team

Design Capabilities— ability to handle open ended problems Inter –disciplinary knowledge
-- creativity and innovation intergrative skill
--ability to handle poor defined

Decision-making, including problem solving Oral and written communication skills

Graphical communication skills Inter-personal skills

Discipline, work ethic Public perception and recognition

 TRADITIONAL ATTRIBUTES 21st CENTURY ATTRIBUTES
 Problem-solving abilities Learn ability : learning to learn, on
one’s own
 Analytical skills Yen for life-long learning – continuous
education.
 Communication skills— Ability to muster knowledge from
oral, written, graphic neighbouring disciplines

 Ability to relate to practical aspects of Ability to work in a team.

Engineering.

 Inter-personal skills Exposure to commercial disciplines.

 Management skills Creativity and Innovation.
 Decision-making skills Integrative skills.