Engineering course students should undergo hybrid learning where education is not just restricted to four walls of the classroom but also towards start-up units, said Vice Chancellor of Thiruvanthapuram-based Abdul Kalam Technological University, K.P. Issac.
Speaking at a workshop on “Mission Make In India- synergy with technical education system” organised by National Institute of Technology, Karnataka at Surathkal near here on Saturday, Mr. Issac said there is need for a paradigm shift in the teaching process in technical education to prepare the young graduates for the needs of the present Industrial age.
“The education system that we are following is designed for the industrial age of 1980,” he said.
Mr. Issac said students now need to be provided with new education model wherein they are exposed to modern laboratories for research, innovation and stimulation of entrepreneurship. Mr. Issac said his university has already taken a lead in this direction by allowing FAB Labs of Massachusetts Institute of Technology at 20 places in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.
These state-of-art laboratories provide facilities namely 3D printing, scanning, embedded programming which can help in designing and developing products. “Students can come out with their own prototype of washing machine without an engine using these labs,” he said.
All-India Council for Technical Education Chairman Anil D. Sahasrabudhe said engineering colleges should allow their faculty to spend two months in an industry so that they get acquainted with the industry. The institutes should also allow students to make use of the laboratories and libraries 24x7.
Director of NITK, Swapan Bhattacharya, said, “We should never dilute from our strengths which is our in depth knowledge of processes.”
