Univ moves to produce skilled engineers

All 14 branches of engineering will have amended teaching, learning patterns

Kanchan Srivastava @kanchanDNA

After being criticised about the large number of unskilled engineers graduating each year, the University of Mumbai has finally woken up to change the way professional courses are being taught. Aiming to fill the gap between industry and classroom, the university will make sure students have minimum basic skills along with specialised skills before completing the course. That means instead of vague subject syllabus, all 14 branches of engineering, including pharmacy, architecture and MCA, will have clearly defined ‘course objectives’ and ‘course outcome’. While teachers will have to focus on ‘course objectives’ to make sure that students acquire defined skills, learners will be evaluated for the desired ‘course outcome’ in the exam.  The amended teaching and learning pattern will be implemented from 2013-14 in the second year followed by third and fourth year (except MCA which is a three-year course) from the consecutive year. The move aims to make students more dynamic and industry-ready and will be adopted in accordance with National Board of Accreditation (NBA) guidelines. Every professional institute is expected to get an accreditation from the NBA within six years of the new pattern being introduced. The changes were finalised on Monday in a meeting of Board of Studies for various courses of engineering and technology. “One must possess minimum basic skills along with special skills pertaining to his/ her branch before qualifying for a degree. We have studied the course structure and evaluation system of IITs and NITs and are quantifying the core knowledge and skills for each professional course,” said Prof SK Ukarande, dean, faculty of technology. There will be no change in exam system but the evaluation pattern will be changed. “Tests will evaluate if students have basic skills to become an engineer — his/ her analytical and creative skills and understanding of the need of society, environment and industry (70% weightage) and specific skills like ability to apply the subject knowledge in the industry (30%),” said Ukarande. Source::::  DNA < 23-04-2013, p.2, http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?id=44220&boxid=30469&ed_date=2013-4-23&ed_code=820009&ed_page=2