Engineering, management students under AICTE to be tested for learning levels, employability

Through this assessment, for the first time, tech education council will test students while they're studying instead of after graduation, to identify lacunae and redress them.
KRITIKA SHARMA 22 September, 2021 8:57 am IST





New Delhi: For the first time, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is set to measure the learning levels of engineering as well as management students during the course of their studies, ThePrint has learnt.

The move is the result of earlier findings of skill assessment reports, which have shown, among other things, that Indian engineers lack new-age tech skills.

The AICTE’s Student Learning Assessment project will test management students on skills like ability in planning and organising human, financial and physical resources. For engineering, the skills tested will be in emerging areas like blockchain technology and artificial intelligence, core engineering knowledge, and basic knowledge of maths, physics and chemistry. Mental and social abilities of both sets of students will also be measured.

The assessment will be conducted online for all branches of engineering and management across all AICTE-affiliated colleges in India and is set to begin soon, officials at the council told ThePrint.

Through this assessment, the council plans to gauge the learning level of a student during the course, identify lacunae, and redress them. The assessment will also help judge the employability of students, officials said, adding that students will be assessed through questionnaires according to their year of study.

AICTE member Secretary Rajive Kumar told ThePrint: “We want to identify the learning gaps among students at various stages, and take corrective measures. This assessment is not just open to students, but we are asking institutes to extend it to teachers as well, so that they know how to improve the teaching quality.”

Shocking employability statistics

Though there have been employability assessments in the past like the ‘India Skills Report’ released annually, in association with the AICTE, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and other private agencies, an assessment while students are still enrolled has not been undertaken yet.

Over the years, the India Skills Report has highlighted shocking employability statistics on Indian graduates. The 2021 report, for example, shows that the employability of B.E./B.Tech. graduates has declined over the years. According to the 2015 report, 54 per cent of graduates were employable, but the number came down to 46.8 per cent in 2021.

The idea of conducting a pan-India assessment on engineering and management students came after a study on a small number of institutions was undertaken by Stanford University two years ago under a World Bank-funded project, the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP). The study focused on students from 167 institutions from India and compared their learning levels to those in China, Russia, and other nations.

While the complete report of the Stanford study is still awaited, sources said the preliminary findings show that Indian students fare better than their counterparts from China and Russia in terms of their learning abilities when they reach senior classes.

“After the Stanford University study, an internal committee suggested that we should do a larger study for our institutes by ourselves. It will not just help us assess students but the institutes can also take corrective measures, like appointing a new faculty member if students are facing problems with a subject, try a different teaching approach among other measures,” an AICTE official added.

(Edited by Paramita Ghosh)

Source: https://theprint.in/india/education/engineering-management-students-under-aicte-to-be-tested-for-learning-levels-employability/737397/

AICTE Warns Students of its Fake Website, Says Wouldn't be Responsible if Duped

Every person, who in the future intends to use the AICTE website, must carefully check its credentials before proceeding, the council said. (Representative image)

AICTE said that they have only one official website which is aicte-india.org. Whereas the two fake websites are aictsd.com and aictetindia.org.

All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE) has notified there are two websites that are being circulated as AICTE websites but are actually fake. The council also mentioned that they have only one official website which is aicte-india.org. Whereas the two fake websites are aictsd.com and aictetindia.org.

They also went on to mention that if a person gets duped by any of the two fake sites, then AICTE will not be responsible. Every person, who in the future intends to use the AICTE website, must carefully check its credentials before proceeding.

The idea behind releasing the notification is to make people aware of the frauds that can take place if they do not check the credentials before applying or doing transactions on fake websites. Further, if you are sending in a request or applying for anything on the fake website, it will not reach AICTE.

In the notice, the council said, “This is to bring to the notice of General public and stakeholders that the official website of All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE) has the URL https://aicte-india.org. It has been observed that some websites with similar-looking URLs like- www.aictsd.com, www.aictetindia.org, etc do not belong to AICTE.”

Meanwhile, Microsoft and AICTE have collaborated for the ‘Future Ready Talent internship programs’. This program aims at making a difference in the lives of 1.5 lakh students by helping them with higher education. It will be beneficial for students as it will help them in getting jobs in emerging fields.

As part of the program, the technological giant will be contributing by giving certifications, skilling students, and providing modules in fields of data science, AI, cloud computing, and cyber security. AICTE’s role on the other hand will be to make sure that the internship curriculum follows the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Source: https://www.news18.com/news/education-career/aicte-warns-students-of-its-fake-website-says-wouldnt-be-responsible-if-duped-aicte-india-org-4209626.html

Engineering In Odia Language From Next Year: AICTE Approval Evokes Mixed Reactions

AICTE has approved engineering colleges across Odisha to offer select BTech courses in regional languages from the upcoming new academic year 2022. However, the development has evoked mixed reactions among the students




In order to check the language barrier and dropout rate among students, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has approved engineering colleges across Odisha to offer select BTech courses in regional languages from the upcoming new academic year 2022. However, the development has evoked mixed reactions among the students.

In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the BTech courses will now be available in 11 regional languages including Odia. Preparations to roll out the new curriculum setup have been initiated in Odisha with the AICTE giving green signal for the move.

According to sources, books for the course will be prepared in Odia language soon under the stewardship of Odia Language and Research Centre. The centre will form a committee and start the translation of English course books in Odia shortly.

Meanwhile, Odisha Private Engineering College Association (OPECA) has welcomed the move.

“It’s a great move by AICTE. Now language will not be barrier for the students who are dreaming to be engineers. Since translating the core technical engineering terminologies will be difficult and at times impossible, they will remain intact in Odia translation. Only the subject matter will be translated into Odia language to make the nitty-gritty of subject simpler for students preferring to take up engineering in vernacular medium,” said Sipra Mallick, Working President of Odia Language and Research Centre.

Owners of private engineering colleges also feel that the change in the medium of study will help fill up the vacant seats in the colleges in a great way.

“As most of the students taking admission in engineering colleges come from Odia school mediums, the move will encourage them to pursue the course with new vigour,” said OPECA president Binod Das.

China, France, Germany and Korea have been successful in the field of engineering by teaching their students in their own languages. So, there shouldn’t be any doubt in our minds as to why we will not be successful,” said Das.

Engineering courses are already being taught in as many as eight regional languages like Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Malayalam and Bengali. Odia will be the ninth regional language to be the medium of engineering study from the new academic year. Students have expressed mixed reactions about the development. While some students supported the move whole heartedly, others expressed their doubt over its implementation.

“The change in the medium of language will be really helpful for the rural area students who generally find it difficult in the initial stages to comprehend the intricacies of engineering proficiently in a non-vernacular medium,” said Rojalin Nayak, an engineering student in Bhubaneswar.

However, some other students expressed their concerns that the move will not help Odia students equip better outside the State in any way.

“Engineering is vast and translating all the books into Odia will be a herculean task. Moreover, Odia students, learning the subject in their regional language, will face a great deal of difficulty outside the State,” said Anant Jena, another engineering student.

Notably, as many as 88 private colleges and eight private colleges are functioning in Odisha with around 30,000-35,000 students taking admission every year. More than 10,000 seats are remaining vacant in these colleges every year.

Source: https://odishatv.in/news/education/engineering-in-odia-language-from-next-year-aicte-approval-evokes-mixed-reactions-160065

Dennis Ritchie - Father of the C Programming Language

 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Ritchie

https://www.unixmen.com/dennis-m-ritchie-father-c-programming-language/

Webinar on Competitive Exams with a special focus on GATE

As part of the Lecture Series organized by NDLI Club, a Webinar was held on 7th August 2021 from 5 pm to 6pm for the students of Third Year and Final Year of Engineering. The theme was "Competitive Exams with a special focus on GATE".

Resource Persons:

Mr. Santosh Chapaneri (Asst. Prof. - ExTC)

Ms. Jovita Serrao (Asst. Prof. - ExTC)

The Webinar began with imploring God's blessings with the recitation of the College Anthem. Ms. Madhura Angchekar (BE CMPN) and Mst. Shrirang Joshi (SE ExTC) introduced the Resource Persons.

Asst. Prof. Jovita Serrao, one of the resource persons of the webinar, began with sharing the statistics on the number of engineering colleges and students in India. She then moved on to giving tips on how to prepare for competitive exams such as GATE keeping in mind the need to pursue higher education in institutes of National Importance such as the IITs. 

Asst. Prof. Santosh Chapaneri explained in detail on how to devote time for competitive exams, what  books are available for GATE, the structure of the exam etc. He gave a complete insight on how students can pursue their GATE studies. Finally both Jovita Madam and Santosh Sir clarified doubts of students regarding exams and careers. Overall webinar gave a new insight for students and was received well by the participants.

Mr. Paul Fernandes (Head - NSS Cell) thanked the resource persons and participants and concluded the webinar with a positive feedback from the attendees as reflected in the Chat window.

As a follow up activity to this Webinar, a mock Aptitude Test based on Mathematics was conducted.

Key takeaways:

1. To spread awareness about competitive examinations among the students, and to create and sustain interest in the respective field.

2. To introduce the students to the nature of GATE, its syllabi, structure, and preparation for it.

3. To instil a basic knowledge of the necessary preparations: pre-examination preparation, post-examinations.

Number of Participants: 80

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYzqx78CcJU

ISRO invites applications for engineering graduate apprenticeship

 Livemint

• The candidates who will be selected for apprenticeship will be given a monthly stipend of Rs8000-Rs9000

• Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) has started inviting applications for the one-year training in the following Trades with B.E / B.Tech, Diploma in Engineering and Diploma in Commercial Practice in its headquarters in Bengaluru.

  The candidates who will be selected will be given a monthly stipend of Rs8000-Rs9000. A total of 43 posts are open for the apprenticeship.

• Eligibility criteria:

  Candidates who have a bachelor degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Communication Electronics Engineering are eligible to apply for the engineering graduate apprenticeship. The candidate should pass with minimum 60% marks awarded by an Indian University.

  The Engineering Graduates or Diploma Holders in Engineering and Commercial Practice, who haw during the year 2018, 2019, 2020 or 2021 are only eligible to undergo apprenticeship l.a. only if they years of acquiring the Degree (Le. 3 years from the month and year of passing as specified in certificate) and if this time limit is crossed at the time of offer, they will not be offered t training por they are empaneled/waitlisted. candidates who have passed the qualifying examination earlier than eligible candidates who have completed the qualifying examination as regular candidates are only eligible to apply.

  Apprentices currently undergoing training or having job experience in Govt./Public/Private Sectors for a period or more as on date of joining as Apprentices are not eligible to be considered for the above Apprentices Combining of apprenticeship with other institutions is not permitted.

  Short listing of candidates will be on the basis of information furnished in the email communication. If there is any discrepancy is found in name, age, Diploma/Degree percentage & year of passing, caste/tribe, etc., at any stage, it will be considered as disqualification of the candidature and the candidate will have no claim for Apprenticeship training.

  Empaneled candidates will be called for documents verification and further process subject to availability of vacant positions for Apprenticeship. Candidates will have to produce all the relevant documents in original (proof for date of birth, mark sheets, testimonials & certificates of all educational qualification, caste/tribeldisability certificate, etc., in prescribed format) as and when asked for, falling which the candidate will be considered disqualified for Apprenticeship training.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/education/news/isro-invites-applications-for-engineering-graduate-apprenticeship-11625460485384.html

Soon, Mumbai University to offer engineering in Marathi

MUMBAI: Engineering will soon be offered in Marathi. Undergraduate commerce subjects will have credits for research. Emerging subjects such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and machine learning will figure in the course offerings of Mumbai University (MU).

MU’s academic council, which met on Tuesday, cleared the decks for a host of new initiatives. It also declared the new academic calendar open from June 14 with the first term ending on October 30 and keeping in mind festivals such as Ganeshotsav and Diwali. The second term would begin on November 15 and close on May 1, with a break during Christmas. The academic session of 2022-23 will start from June 12, 2022.

Earlier, the All India Council for Technical Education approved a proposal to teach engineering in regional languages. “There will be radical changes in teaching of engineering under the faculty of science and technology. AICTE’s recommendation to teach engineering in regional languages was also approved in today’s meeting. Therefore, engineering will soon be offered in Marathi in affiliated colleges of MU. At the same time, courses in emerging new subjects have been introduced in eight areas of engineering keeping in view the industrial needs,” said an academic council member. These include artificial intelligence and data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cyber security, internet of things, data engineering, computer science and engineering (data science), computer science and engineering (internet of things and cyber security, including blockchain technology).

For the first time, research field case studies will be included in the university to enhance student skills and improve their proficiency in a particular field. “Case studies will be introduced in the fourth semester of BMS (bachelors in management studies), BAF (bachelors in accounting and finance) and BBI (bachelors in banking and insurance) courses under commerce. For this, 30 hours have been set aside and two credits will be awarded. Field case studies will also be conducted for botany, zoology and chemistry under science and for economics, geography, sociology and anthropology,” said a dean.

For administration, the concept of schools has been approved and would be implemented to bring various subjects under one umbrella. Students will be able to pick subjects under various disciplines. The academic council approved establishment of various schools such as those for Indian and foreign languages, social sciences and performing arts. To create awareness about National Cadet Corps, nod has been given to introduce it as an optional subject. There are NCC units in 68 colleges. 

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/soon-mumbai-university-to-offer-engg-in-marathi/articleshowprint/83968185.cms