Parents Choose Proper Engineering College

As a Principal of an engineering college, I met number of parents, especially while seeking admission for their ward, asking about which engineering college or engineering branch will be good. Here are some tips.

     Choosing a College:

(a) Read the information given in the brochure provided by the Director technical Education (DTE) and also that provided by the college

(b) Go to the website(s) of the college and click on the “Compulsory Disclosure” and read the information carefully. If the college has not disclosed the proper information, report to DTE

(c) Ensure that the college/society does not run any unauthorised courses.

(d) Go through all 'Heads' displayed in the website

(e) It is necessary to visit the concerned college and the department where you intend to seek the admission. Look for the following information:

(i) College management and their track record

(ii) College principal and his reputation

(iii) Department head, his/her reputation, number of faculty and their qualification, teaching experience. As per the current AICTE norms, the engineering colleges are required to maintain 1:2:6 ratio among Professors:Associate Professors:Assistant Professors. Note how many faculty have Ph. D.

(iv) Department laboratories, equipment

(v) Research currently undergoing in the Department and the involvement of faculty members and students in therein. This is important, as the quality of teaching is almost proportional to the quality of research.

(vi) Research papers published by the faculty in the international journals. national events organised by the College for students and the professionals

(vii) University Results and consistency: Students in the university merit list (first ten) for last three years. 

(viii) College fees: should be proportional to the reputation

Pitfalls:

The following aspects speak good of an educational institution, however choosing an institution only on any one or two of these, ignoring the points given above, could be a pitfall: 

(a) The college building and surroundings are highly impressive (Take a look at the college laboratories, class rooms and toilets)

(b) The college name figures many times in the news channels

(c) The college organises mega events (organising a mega social, sports or competition event, with budget more than INR 5 million, takes nearly 4-5 months organisational work by the college faculty and staff, which is likely to cause negligence towards academics)

Engineering Branch: 

All engineering branches are good. The branch should be chosen without any gender bias. 
In order to secure good job, it is necessary that your ward secures First Division, consistently. As a parent, you must ensure attendance of your ward in the college. 

All reputed companies, offering good job and salary, look for consistency in the academic performance (First Division).

Seek admission for your ward, once you are satisfied with these aspects.

Read Blogs on Higher Education and Research

Go to Dr J D Bapat's website for more information on the subject

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Change V-C selection process

Change V-C selection process Dr J D Bapat The Maharashtra Governor S C Jamir—as the chancellor of state universities—has called for a systemic overhaul in the appointment process of university vice-chancellors. Instead of a selection process he described as "politicized'', Jamir recommended that a group of eminent academicians must select vice-chancellors. The Governor was in Chandrapur on, 19 Jan 2009, Monday to inaugurate a state level principals' forum. The quality of governance of many educational institutions in the state is a cause for concern. In many states, university appointments, including that of V-Cs, have been politicized. Currently, a university vice-chancellor is appointed by the chancellor on recommendations of a committee consisting of representatives from the government, from the university academic council and management council, among others. When the scholars choose the vice-chancellor, universities would see a qualitative difference in their functioning. We do not have a dearth of talented people for the posts in our universities. To ensure that we get the best persons to run our universities, it is necessary to take a re-look at the composition of the appointment committee. There are growing concerns about the large number of teaching faculty positions that remain vacant in the universities and colleges. This has considerably paralysed some of our reputed institutions. The recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission have made teaching more attractive, offering good pay scales to the teachers. If the young and bright minds are to be attracted to join the profession, enough opportunities should be made available for growth. One of the reasons for the vacant teaching positions in the higher educational institutions is the perpetual reservations. When the teachers are not available in the "reserved" category, the vacancy should become "open" after certain time period. The qualified teachers draw job satisfaction, when teaching is accompanied by the research (as in IITs). Therefore research funding for the universities need to be increased substantially.

Age no bar to lead scientific institutions

Age no bar to lead scientific institutions Gist of PM's address to 96th Science Congree, Shillong Contending that the government has laid down the foundation to foster research, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked scientists to promote younger talent and strengthen leadership in universities and research institutions. "The best science is done by young people. Our institutions must be receptive to the needs of the young people. They must promote younger talent and allow youth to lead," he said inaugurating the 96th Indian Science Congress at the picturesque North Eastern Hill University campus in Shillong. Singh said the government can at best ease the supply side constraints on teaching and research and the demand side stimulus must come from institutions and the industry. "India is lagging behind not just developed western nations, but also the newly industrialising economies of Asia," Singh said adding that while the government is doing its bit to ensure quantitative development, the leadership for qualitative development must come from the scientific community. "Our universities must do more to foster a research environment. We need strengthening of institutional leadership in universities and research institutions," the Prime Minister said. Seniority and age may be relevant in the bureaucratic system, but scientific institutions must be led by intellectual leaders, irrespective of age, he said. Singh asked the industry to invest more in R and D and boost the demand for science and technology graduates and researchers. Source: Indian Express, Jan 3, 2009

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Boost for medical education

Boost for medical Education: The United States department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Global Health Sciences (OGHA) on Friday awarded a grant of US $ 50,000 -approximately Rs 20 lakh- to Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) for strengthening medical education in the state. The grant will help tackle shortage of doctors in the state and will be used to enhance the doctors' skills. MUHS will organise deans consultation programme inwhich all the deans of the 284 affiliated colleges will be trained in leadership skills. The grant will be used for five purposes which include preparation of a proper module for teachers, continuous medical education, skill enhancement through continuing professional development, development of leadership qualities and reforms in examinations system. Over the past few decades, HHS office in India has administered over $ 200 mn for cooperative health projects in high priority areas, such as HIV/AIDS, polio, tuberculosis, malaria and leprosy. Dr J D Bapat: http://jdbapat.livejournal.com Source: The Indian Express, 20 December 2008

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