Greater Tech Use Can Help Achieve 50% GER In Higher Education: AICTE Chairman

Greater Tech Use Can Help Achieve 50% GER In Higher Education: AICTE Chairman
The new National Education Policy (NEP) envisages to increase Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education in the country to 50 per cent from 27 per cent.
Education | Press Trust of India | Updated: Dec 17, 2021 8:32 pm IST | Source: PTI



NEP envisages to increase Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER)
Nagpur:

The new National Education Policy (NEP) envisages to increase Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education in the country to 50 per cent from 27 per cent now and this target can be achieved through greater use of technology and by promoting online and distance learning, AICTE chairman Prof Anil Sahasrabudhe said on Friday.

He also said the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is translating engineering books in 6 more regional languages besides half a dozen others, including Marathi and Hindi. Sahasrabudhe was addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the inaugural function of an AICTE stakeholder meet organized at Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management in Nagpur.

He said greater use of technology, increasing the number of students, online education and opening new colleges, as well as universities, can act as catalyst in achieving the goal of 50 per cent GER in higher education in the next 15 years. "Gross Enrollment Ratio in higher education should be increased from 27 per cent to 50 per cent, whereas since Independence 75 years ago, GER has increased to 27 per cent from 0.7 per cent.


In the next 15 years, NEP 2020 is aiming to double it to 50 per cent from 27 per cent now," he said. The chairman of the regulatory body called for greater use of technology in the education sector. "This vision (of GER of 50 pc) can be achieved through use of technology and through open and distance learning. All those programmes which can be taught easily using technology must be taught. But, some of them cannot be taught that way and they need hands on experience," he said.

GER is the ratio of the number of enrollments in higher education to the total population in the age group of 18-23. Sahasrabudhe talked about universities imparting multidisciplinary courses in higher education and said more such institutions should be started in the county. He informed about the launch of engineering courses in regional language in ten states. "NEP has mentioned that not only primary education, but higher education should also be imparted in mother tongues or Indian languages," he said.

AICTE last year stipulated that good colleges, which have accredited programmes, will get permission for additional seats to teach courses in regional languages, he said. These colleges, without upgrading their existing infrastructure or increasing faculty members, will get an opportunity to increase 30 to 60 seats in mechanical, electronics and computer science branches, Sahasrabudhe said. "This year, AICTE has already given permission to 19 colleges in ten states to impart engineering education in six languages," he said.

Sahasrabudhe said the council is translating engineering course books in 6 more regional languages. This year, AICTE has already published first year engineering course books in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Hindi and Bengali. Similarly, AICTE is working on publishing engineering books in 6 more languages, including Odia, Gujarati, Punjabi and Assamese, he added.

PM launches blockchain-based degree transfer tech for digital citations at IIT-K convocation

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-launches-blockchain-based-degree-transfer-tech-for-digital-citations-at-iit-k-convocation/articleshow/88552279.cms

KANPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday presided over the 54th convocation ceremony of IIT-Kanpur where he launched the blockchain-based degree transfer technology with which digital degrees were provided to the students. The event was held in hybrid mode and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present as the guest of honour.
The students, who were not physically present during the convocation ceremony, received digital degrees through an in-house blockchain-driven technology developed at the institute under the National Blockchain Project.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded IIT-Kanpur for developing blockchain- based degree transfer technology and also the institute's role in contributing to 5G technology. He gave away medals to two meritorious students, who were physically present during the convocation function.


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You have successfully cast your voteLogin to view resultHe quoted Swami Vivekananda to give a message to the students: “Every nation has a message to deliver, a mission to fulfil, a destiny to reach.”

The PM said, “When you had come to IIT-Kanpur, you may have had a ‘fear of unknown’ in your mind. Also, your knowledge base was limited. IIT-Kanpur provided you with a large canvas. Now, you do not have ‘fear of unknown’. Your personality stands developed. You have gained a lot of experience. Your ideas have expanded. You must be feeling a change in you now from the time when you had come here to study. Wherever you will go, you will do value addition. Your knowledge and skill will benefit you in the practical world. Your ideas should benefit the country and society.”

He further told the students that the country is celebrating 75th year of Independence and work has to be done to give momentum to the country for the next 25 years. He told students that this was their golden era in life.

He also lauded IIT-Kanpur-incubated company, which has developed and set up the world’s first floating CNG station at Khidkiya Ghat in Varanasi using novel self-adjusting fixed type jetty technology. Also, praising the contribution of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) across the country, he said that India has emerged as a mega start-up hub on a global basis and this has been achieved with the help of the students from IITs.

Lauding IIT-Kanpur’s contribution towards developing technology developments, he said that the students present at the event have made this possible. He also added that IIT Kanpur’s 5G technology initiatives are now recognized globally.

The PM counted upon the use of technology in various domains such as energy and climate solution, high-tech infrastructure, health infrastructure, disaster management and also highlighted the importance and use of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IOT).
He said, “You (students) have got a huge responsibility of making ‘Bharat’ advanced and developed.” He added that “We have also launched schemes such as Startup India, Stand Up India, National Education Policy (NEP) to prepare for the future.”

He also said that over 10,000 startups came into existence in the last six months and that India is second in the world to launch maximum startups. “We have become a startup,” he said while receiving applause from the students. “I want to assure you that the government is with you.”

He said, “It is a day of double delight for Kanpur people. On one hand, you are getting a gift of Metro and on the other hand, the world of technology would get talented students passing out of IIT-Kanpur today. I congratulate you all and your parents and teachers. They have worked hard for you. Their contribution in your life has made you see this day. I congratulate you all.”

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “We all know that the technical institutions of the country play a vital role in providing quality-driven education. And especially, with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the IITs have been given the status of institute of indigenous technology. The country has implemented the new National Education Policy 2020 to fulfil the vision of a “self-reliant India”.



“The state government has contributed mutually with IIT-Kanpur on several projects such as being a technical partner in the Defence Manufacturing Corridor and setting up the Centre of Excellence in the field of AI. Now, the state government has also given approval for an upcoming School of Medical Research and Technology (SMRT) paired with a super-speciality hospital, which would enrich the health system of the state,” he added.



Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, “IIT-Kanpur has been contributing largely to all pillars of development of the nation, be it in the national or in the grass root level, and in that relentless journey, it is the students who have played a vital role along with the guiding faculties. On behalf of the institute, I congratulate all the students receiving their degrees and the awardees.”



Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT-Kanpur said, “IIT Kanpur’s vision is not only to produce skilled graduates but also better human beings who would contribute to the greater good of the society and the nation at large. “



After the formal inaugural session, PM Narendra Modi made an impromptu visit to the lecture hall to visit the students and interact with them personally. The students were taken aback with the sudden visit and the interaction. One student exclaimed, “We were overjoyed seeing Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji there suddenly. His presence and his words not only encouraged us, but also made our convocation day a memorable one for the rest of our life.”