Focus on tech in higher education

CHENNAI: The fourth edition of Universities of India, an annual knowledge conclave, was inaugurated in Mamallapuram on Friday. The conclave, a joint effort by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Bangalore-based Mindlogicx Infratec, will focus on ‘Technology in higher education’. The two-day conference will see heads of institutions from across India and industry chiefs mull over the need of the hour in the field of education.Speaking at the inaugural session, Suresh Elangovan, founder, CEO and MD, Mindlogicx Infratec, said, “This is a platform where vice-chancellors of various universities and industry captains can discuss and come to a consensus on what the academia require vis-a-vis the industry.”Dr SS Mantha, Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education, spoke about the need to improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio in India. He shared with the audience the new format of vocational learning that would soon be launched by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. He said, “There are seven certificate levels, starting from class 9 going on till the Bachelor’s level. At the first certificate level, ie. Class 9, of the 1,000-odd hours of learning, we are proposing a 800:200 ratio of general and skill based learning. This ratio will gradually change such that skills get more wheightage as compared with general learning.” The course material for 10 subject areas was ready. Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh had already shown interest in adopting this pattern of study and Tripura and Assam were next in line, he said.Elangovan, who is also a member of CII’s National Committee on Higher Education said, “CII will make a memo based on the discussions and brain-storming sessions during these two days and pass it on to the government. We hope that the Union HRD minister will consider our suggestions.”Others present were, Nandini Rangaswamy, Chairperson-Education Forum, CII South Region, Chandrasekhran N, convener, TN Education panel, Meenakshi Kumar, Chairperson, CII Puducherry State Council, and Shalini Sharma, Head-Higher Education CII.