The fourth edition of annual analysis of the impact of industry on technical institutes, conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry, has seen more participation than in the past.
Since its inception in 2012, when only 156 institutes of the 200 that registered completed the survey process, it rose to 901 participants in 2015. Though Tamil Nadu has around 600 technical institutions, only 159 participated. This is, however, the largest representation among the eight regions of the All India Council of Technical Education.
If fewer colleges are participating, it is the lack of industry support and research linkage, the survey has pointed out.
Several colleges affiliated to Anna University participated in the survey and have even been recognised with awards in various categories.
The participating institutes were graded as platinum (over 35%), gold (10-35%) and silver (less than 10%). While the overall national average score was 16.99, the southern region topped the chart with a score of 23.13. Around 21 per cent of institutions in the southern region were rated as platinum, while 61 per cent were given the gold grade, topping all regions.
The survey found that established engineering institutions (over 10 years old) and emerging institutions had performed well in governance and placements, but were comparatively weak in other parameters.
For the first time, the survey included computer and IT engineering and allied subjects. In this sector too, the southern region colleges scored well.
Among the State-run colleges, the Government College of Engineering, Salem and the Department of Computer Science, Anna University have been rated as gold. The Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, has been rated silver.
While the national average score across all established engineering institutes that participated was 16.73, southern region colleges topped the table with a score of 23.02. Representation from engineering colleges was higher than colleges offering management and pharmacy courses. Only two pharmacy colleges and 128 management institutions participated in the survey.
In the case of management courses though, AICTE’s north-western region has been adjudged better than Tamil Nadu. The State’s score was 32, against 45 of the north-western region institutions.
The survey concludes by saying that a two-way communication between industry and institutions would benefit both.
While the academia should know what the industry needs, the industry should invest in long-term relationship with the academia, it points out.
