Engg counselling: Competition fierce this year, experts ask students to list more choices for seat

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Engg counselling: Competition fierce this year, experts ask students to list more choices for seat

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:28.09.2021

With 5,000 more students competing for seats in top engineering colleges in the first round of counselling compared to last year, experts say it would be smarter for students to list more choices for better chances of a seat allotment.

General online counselling to fill 1.4 lakh seats in 440 engineering colleges will be conducted from September 27 to October 17. More than 1.3 lakh students are expected to take part in the four rounds of counselling this year.

As many as 14,788 candidates with cutoff mark range 200 to 186 will be called for the first round of counselling that began with fee payment on Monday. In comparison, only around 9,000 candidates took part in the first round last year. Candidates can update their choices on October 1 and 2 for the first round.

Experts advised students to prepare a list of choices well ahead of the schedule, enter their choices with college codes to avoid any confusion between colleges bearing similar names, and to avoid doing the step at browsing centres to avoid middlemen.

Career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi said students can use last year’s rankings as a guide while choosing preferences. “The cut-off will have huge variation compared to last year. Students called for the first round need to give more choices as more students are competing in this band this year. Particularly, students with cut-off in the range of 186 to 192 should give at least 200 choices to get seat allotment,” he said.

He urged students to verify the college’s infrastructure, fees and placement details before listing it as a choice. “They should lock the choices only after several rounds of verification. They also need to confirm the tentative seat allotment to get provisional allotment,” he added.

P V Navaneethakrishnan, former director of entrance examinations and admissions, Anna University, said students should select a course based on aptitude and basic liking instead of peer pressure. To avoid getting confused with all the 60 or more branches available, he suggested grouping engineering branches into seven large groups. “Students need to consider potential job opportunities, pay packages, and prospects to study further before selecting a course,” he said.

He also asked the students to select colleges based on infrastructure facilities, quality of teaching, NAAC and NBA accreditation status and placements.

2 pvt colleges to offer mechanical, CS courses in Tamil from this year

2 pvt colleges to offer mechanical, CS courses in Tamil from this year

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

20.09.2021

In a first since College of Engineering (CEG) in Anna University launched engineering in Tamil 11 years ago, two private colleges in Tamil Nadu will offer mechanical engineering and computer science engineering in Tamil from 2021-22.

With All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) nod, Erode Sengunthar Engineering College in Perunthurai will offer mechanical engineering in Tamil while Rathinam Technical Campus in Coimbatore will offer CS in Tamil from this year.

“Our college is situated in a rural area and Tamil-medium students are showing interest in studying BE in Tamil, so we started the course,” said V Venkatachalam, principal of Erode Sengunthar Engineering College.

Except for CEG, the 16 constituent colleges of Anna University had poor enrolment to Tamilmedium courses due to lack of study materials in Tamil and fewer job opportunities.

“Our college faculty members are translating resource material into Tamil. AICTE is translating engineering books in regional languages and Anna University has also already translated 15 subjects in mechanical engineering and released them on the website. We expect the translated material to be available from next academic year,” Venkatachalam said. He further said attending placement interviews will be easier for mechanical students (Tamil-medium) as core companies focus on practical and subject knowledge and not communication skills.

There were 719 seats in BE Mechanical Engineering (Tamil) and 659 seats in BE Civil Engineering (Tamil) last year.

‘Online Mode Means Results Not Reflection Of Quality’

332 engg colleges bag 84% pass in ’20

‘Online Mode Means Results Not Reflection Of Quality’

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:20.09.2021

As many as 332 engineering colleges affiliated to Anna University got a pass percentage above 84% in the November/December 2020 exams. This is in contrast to the November/December 2019 exam when PSG Institute of Technology and Applied Research in Coimbatore secured a pass of 83.8%, the highest that year.

While a mere 57 colleges got above 50% pass in 2019, 400 of 411 colleges got above 50% pass in 2020, according to the academic performance released by Anna University on Saturday.

Experts say the results are not a true reflection of the quality of students and colleges and that they were boosted due to the unsupervised online exams conducted in July. After Anna University conducted a proctored online test in February, the higher education department ordered it to conduct a re-exam following complaints from students.

The results of the exam in the April/May 2020 semester were even higher as the government declared students of the first three years all-pass in view of Covid-19. As many as 30 colleges got 100% results and 412 of 441 got above 90% pass and only two colleges registered less than 70%.

Principals said the high pass percentage in 2020 will make more students eligible for campus placements in 2021-22. “Usually, we will have 60%-70% of final year students with all pass and be eligible for the screening process for campus placements. This year, we have around 90% of final year students eligible for campus placements due to inflated results,” a principal from a city college said.

R M Kishore, vice-chairman of RMK Engineering College, said the absence of an exam-like environment and unsupervised tests resulted in the surge in pass percentage, but added that that it will not impact campus recruitment. “Recruiters have their own screening process and will not consider semester exam marks while selecting candidates. They have their own recruitment tests,” he said.

Former vice-chancellor of Anna University E Balagurusamy said the results are not a true reflection of the performance of students and colleges. “Anna University should have avoided publishing these results on the website as it will mislead the engineering aspirants and public. The exams were not conducted in a proper form and it was mass copying. The 100% results shows the process of examination and evaluation is wrong. They should return to normal physical mode exams for next semester and if it is unavoidable, they should go for proctored online tests,” he added.

Polytechnic lecturers exam from Oct 28 to 30

Polytechnic lecturers exam from Oct 28 to 30

06.09.2021

Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) announced that polytechnic lecturers recruitment exam will be held on October 28 to 30. Around 1.26 lakh candidates had applied for the exam that was scheduled in May last year and postponed due to the pandemic. The exam will be a computer-based test. The board had notified 1,060 vacancies in government polytechnic colleges in 2019. TNN

Sacked engg faculty now in demand, get hired for a day as colleges eye affiliation

Sacked engg faculty now in demand, get hired for a day as colleges eye affiliation

Nirupa.Vatyam@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:23.08.2021

Engineering faculty members, who were relieved during the pandemic, are now said to be in demand as several colleges are hiring them for the one-day inspection to get affiliation for the academic year 2021-22.

Colleges are said to be paying ₹15, 000 to ‘act’ as faculty for one day and are looking for ratified faculty with all necessary documents-- Selection Committee Meeting (SCM) record, faculty ID and relieving letter. Messages are said to have been sent out through third-party consultancies to lure faculty who are without pay for the last one-and-half years or so. “Vacancies for M Tech-CSE visiting faculty. Certificate verification. Only a single visit ₹15,000. Only ratified candidates having 2020 and 2021 as relieving years are eligible,” read a message received by some of the faculty members in the state.

Faculty said that a majority of colleges are having openings across the branches and have been hiring thousands of them since the last week to have the required number of faculty members for inspection. “When I called on the number mentioned in the message, they said that they will hire immediately and that I just have to go on the inspection day,” said a faculty member, who used to work in the computer science engineering department at a private college. In the state, there are about 175 engineering colleges, of these, majority are affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTUH).

While JNTUH officials said that about 25, 000 faculty members are working as engineering faculty in affiliated colleges, faculty members claimed that not even 50% of these faculty are being paid salaries and many of them have been sacked during the pandemic. The JNTUH officials questioned why faculty members are supporting managements by accepting their offer for a day. “There is no way for us to see if a faculty member just came for inspection or has been working in that particular college. Faculty should not take up such offers as we go by the data uploaded by colleges on our website and verify the same when our teams go for inspection,” said an official. The official added that if found guilty, the number of seats will be reduced according to faculty-student ratio. Colleges have time till 7 pm on Monday to apply for affiliation with a 100% late fee.

Colleges are said to be paying ₹15, 000 to ‘act’ as faculty for one day and are looking for ratified faculty with all necessary documents— Selection Committee Meeting record, faculty ID and relieving letter

Faculty demand biometric attendance at engg colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:

To put a check on ‘fake faculty’ being hired by engineering colleges, the faculty demanded that the officials make biometric/iris attendance mandatory and conduct reinspection if there are any discrepancies in the faculty details submitted during the inspection and biometric attendance.

They said that in the next one week or so, the technical education department officials or universities concerned should take this step and initiate action against thousands of faculty members and college managements, who are joining in colleges just for one day. “The officials should take stern action against erring managements and faculty as per the All India Council for Technical Education norms,” said A Santosh Kumar, president, Telangana Schools Technical Colleges Employees Association.

Faculty members said that the officials should cancel the affiliation and blacklist faculty members if they are found violating norms.

They alleged that the factfinding committees (FFC), which are inspecting colleges, are not even checking bank statements of the faculty to see if college managements are paying salaries regularly to faculty members and are only going by the count given by the managements. They said that FFC should strictly verify whether the colleges have required infrastructure and faculty and only then grant affiliation to colleges for the current academic year.

Engg grads can get second degree in another branch in 2 years: AICTE

Engg grads can get second degree in another branch in 2 years: AICTE

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:15.08.2021

Engineering graduates of one stream brooding over lack of jobs and cursing themselves for not choosing some other specialization may be a thing of the past as the All India Council for Technical has now decided to allow engineering graduates to complete a second engineering degree in a different discipline in two or three years under lateral entry system.

The council has asked all technical universities and institutions to make necessary changes to its statutes to implement the decision. “AICTE is receiving requests from students regarding admission in B Tech as an additional degree through lateral entry, ” the AICTE said in its circular sent to vice-chancellor of technical universities and directors/principals of AICTE approved institutions. “It is informed that the proposal was placed before the AICTE executive committee (EC) on its 144th meeting held on July 13 and the EC opined that technical universities can facilitate such students to take admissions to BTech/BE by allowing them to get admissions at appropriate level of BTech programme in another discipline or branch of engineering,” the circular said.

“Executive committee approved the exemption from pursuing courses already done in the first discipline of B Tech programme and students can be appropriately guided to complete their requirements of the second discipline. As there is a practical component involved, students will be required to take admission in an institution or college as a regular student and the concerned university will ensure this and make necessary provision in their statutes accordingly.

The EC further approved the duration for completing additional degree to be two years to three years without compromising credit requirements in core discipline and attainment of learning outcomes of the new programme. In view of the above, you may take necessary changes in your statute and take appropriate decisions in this regard,” said Dileep N Malkhede, advisor-I, Policy and Academic Planning Bureau , AICTE.

Anna University vicechancellor R Velraj welcomed the move and said it would help the students who cannot get jobs after their degree. “They can study the branches in which they are interested in the second attempt. We will discuss it in our academic bodies and implement it,” he said.

LATERAL ENTRY SCHEME

Engineering courses will come in more exciting combos, say experts

Engineering courses will come in more exciting combos, say experts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru: 15.08.2021

From clubbing tech-rich courses with traditional engineering streams to combining engineering with medicine, accounting and more, experts say students have great opportunities ahead of them.

Domain experts discussed the vast possibilities during a webinar held on Friday to support engineering aspirants from class 12, who are in the last leg of Karnataka CET preparations.

With the exam nearing (on August 28 and 29) Presidency University in association with The Times of India and Vijay Karnataka organised webinars and a CET Prepmaster mock test on Saturday.

Supriyo Guharoy, director, Presidency University, said: “Computer science will be a key driver in the digital age. However, even traditional courses are seeing new domains. It is an exciting time for an engineering graduate.”

Prof S Sadagopan, ex-director, IIIT Bangalore, agreed with Guharoy and added that Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have begun playing a crucial role and will impact not just every engineering branch, but every other human endeavour. “Be it hospitality, medicine, journalism, or management, every field will be impacted by AI and ML,” he said.

“The reimagining of engineering for 21st century in India will go beyond engineering; it will be engineering with law, financial accounting, medicine and much more,” he added.

Guharoy said there is a healthy race between universities and colleges to provide professional and industry exposure to students and curriculums are being tailored to suit industry expectations. “Students, meanwhile, must get into the groove and change their grade-focused mindset. They must relearn, enhance their experiential learning, adopt critical thinking, self-learning and think out of the box,” he said.

Univs close 102 engineering courses as demand stays low

Univs close 102 engineering courses as demand stays low

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.08.2021

Following poor admissions in the past few years, 14 deemed universities in Tamil Nadu including top institutes have closed 102 engineering courses including 62 postgraduate courses from 2021-22, according to data released by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

The discontinued courses vary from traditional engineering courses to highly specialised courses such as civil engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, electronics and instrumentation, power electronics, automobile engineering, nano science and technology and VLSI design and architecture among others.

Around 50 engineering colleges closed 97 engineering courses in Tamil Nadu including 17 colleges which have closed civil engineering course this year, the data showed. As many as four engineering colleges including three in Coimbatore region have got the permission for progressive closure from the technical council from 2021-22. An official from the deemed university which closed postgraduate and undergraduate courses said the main reason for closure of courses was poor enrolment in the past few years.

"The simple reason for closing postgraduate courses is they have no takers. AICTE software is calculating the faculty ratio for all approved courses and showing deficiency for the course which is not offered due to no enrolment. To avoid faculty deficiency, the institutes have closed many postgraduate courses," said S Vaidyasubramaniam, vicechancellor of SASTRA.

Several institutes have closed the part-time degree programmes.

R W Alexander Jesudasan, pro-vice-chancellor, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science in Chennai, said, the deemed universities will try to revive some of these courses with different course curriculum which will appeal to students and with different nomenclature.

"Higher education system is evolving one. There will be some programmes which will lose their importance and charm and other programmes will gain prominence. The deemed universities and autonomous colleges have freedom to close and introduce new courses depending upon the number of admissions," he added.

Education Times

These 13 colleges will offer tech lessons in five languages

The institutes have been sanctioned 60 additional seats by AICTE to impart first-year Engineering courses in the regional languages

Rajlakshmi.Ghosh@timesgroup.com

09.08.2021 

In line with provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 that calls for education in one’s mother tongue as far as possible, as many as 13 Engineering colleges from 8 states are starting to impart education in five Indian languages that include Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Bengali from the 2021-22 academic session.

To facilitate the process, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has already completed the task of translating video lectures of Engineering on the SWAYAM platform in eight regional languages with plans to translate content into Oriya, Assamese and Punjabi, as well. For helping the institutes, an AI Indian language-translation tool has been developed by the technical education regulator that will aid in developing content in 12 different regional languages.

Divided opinion

The push for technical education, more so Engineering, to be imparted in regional languages, beginning from the 2021-22 academic year, was first mooted by the Education Ministry in November 2020. A few of the IITs and NITs were also shortlisted, though opinions were divided over what would be most effective for the students, keeping in view their long-term research interests and overseas study plans, though English would be one of the mandatory subjects for the students studying in mother tongue.

Bridging the gap

In a recent turn of events, however, 13 colleges have been approved to impart engineering courses in five regional languages. This follows in the wake of the emphasis on mother tongue as the medium of instruction to instil confidence among students from humble backgrounds.

Accreditation matters

“While 14 Engineering colleges had applied to impart courses in Indian regional languages, 13 were approved. AICTE will not compromise on the quality of technical education and will permit only the institutions with accredited programmes. Currently, only those colleges that are running accredited programmes have been permitted to run the courses in the regional languages. Sanctions for additional 60 seats in Engineering and technical subjects over and above the existing seats have also been granted to each of them,” says Anil Sahasrabudhe, chairman, AICTE, while talking to Education Times.

Resources in regional languages

“AICTE has further mandated that any technical institution that is willing to impart AICTE-approved courses can also run programmes in regional languages, as long as they earmark certain seats from the sanctioned intake,” Sahasrabudhe adds. AICTE is ready with the first-year undergraduate and polytechnic course books in the regional languages that were earlier not available. Approval for select streams of Engineering have been granted to these 13 colleges. “Most of the approvals are for Computer Science, followed by Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Information Technology,” Sahasrabudhe says. Of the 13 colleges that received the AICTE nod, two colleges from Rajasthan, four from UP, one college from Madhya Pradesh and another college from Uttarakhand will run courses in Hindi; one college from West Bengal will impart courses in Bengali; a Maharashtra-based college will run courses in Marathi, while one college from Andhra Pradesh will run courses in Telugu and remaining two colleges from Tamil Nadu are slated to impart courses in Tamil.

Easy to comprehend

“Our faculty members were already teaching the courses in Tamil, though at an informal level. Since many of our students come from the rural interiors of Tamil Nadu and are first generation learners, they were finding it difficult to comprehend the courses in English; most of them are afraid to even ask questions,” says B Nagaraj, principal, Rathinam Technical Campus, Andhra Pradesh, that will soon impart Computer Science courses in Tamil for 60 seats, for which it has sought affiliation from Anna University. “Local language will enhance both the creative thinking and analytical skills of the students who were earlier too stressed to have faith in their strengths and abilities,” adds Nagaraj.

Much like Rathinam Technical Campus, the Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology (NIET), Greater Noida, will start BTech in Computer Science & Engineering in regional language. “Students will be able to answer in their native tongue. Over some time, the demand for software in regional languages will increase,” says Raman Batra, executive vice president, (NIET).

AICTE directs colleges not to insist on payment of full fees

AICTE directs colleges not to insist on payment of full fees

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:22.07.2021

After receiving several complaints from students concerning the collection of full payment of fees in one go, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has directed colleges to not insist on payment of full fees amid pandemic, and instead collect in three or four instalments.

The council also directed the colleges to display the fee payment schedule on the notice board and also communicate the same through email. “AICTE is in continuous receipt of grievances from students regarding insistence by institutes for paying the full year in one go. Upon considering the current state of the country during an ongoing national emergency due to the second wave of Covid-19 outbreak, guidelines are being reissued by the AICTE for strict compliance by all colleges/institutions,” read a release from AICTE.

The council also directed the colleges not to terminate any faculty without enough disciplinary ground and due process of redressal. “Salary and other dues to the faculty/staff members should be released monthly on time. The terminations made during the lockdown, if any, should be withdrawn,” the circular added.

The faculty working in technical colleges, meanwhile, said AICTE should ensure that guidelines are strictly followed by the colleges. “The council has been issuing circulars, but the same is not strictly implemented. During the pandemic, scores of them have been terminated and colleges are not paying salaries. Not many colleges are providing an option to pay fees in multiple instalments,” said A Santosh Kumar, president, Telangana School’s Technical Colleges’ Employees Association.

Admission to engg raises eyebrows

Admission to engg raises eyebrows

This meant that learning mathematics or physics in Class 12 is not mandatory to join engineering.

Published: 14th July 2021 05:11 AM 

By Subashini Vijayakumar

Express News Service

ERODE: While All India Council for Technical Education’s is yet to clarify whether mathematics and physics subjects are mandatory to get an admission in engineering courses, several private colleges in the State have started inducting students from non-science majors. This move, educationalists say, will affect the future of students.

The AICTE, in line with the New Education Policy, has provided an array of options for students from diffrent groups to pursue courses in engineering and technology with guidelines for the universities to offer suitable bridge courses.

This meant that learning mathematics or physics in Class 12 is not mandatory to join engineering. However, AICTE also clarified that it is an option given by the council which is not binding on the states or universities and entrance exams like JEE and CET. “In future when NEP shall be implemented, this option can be effected in its letter and spirit,” the council said.

Meanwhile, a few colleges affiliated with Anna University too have started admitting students from non-science groups, said sources.

Counselling fixed for engg seats before med

Counselling fixed for engg seats before med

AICTE Schedule May Leave Engg Seats Vacant

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:14.07.2021

A day after announcing the exam date for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2021, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) issued a revised academic calendar for 2021-22 for engineering colleges on Tuesday. As per the schedule released by AICTE’s member secretary professor Rajive Kumar, the first round engineering counselling for BE, BTech programmes must be completed before September 30.

The second round of engineering counselling needs to be completed before October 10. First-year students can be admitted till October 20 and the last date to start classes for firstyear students is October 25.

According to experts, with the NEET exam scheduled on September12, conducting medical counselling before engineering counselling is not possible this year too. It would leave several hundred engineering seats in top engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu vacant as students who are unsure of getting medical seats will join top engineering colleges and discontinue it after getting medical admissions. Last year as many as 276 students discontinued BE, BTech courses in Anna University’s four campuses including College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG) and Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) to study medicine and other courses.

Internal choices in NEET paper for 2021

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has introduced internal choices in the NEET 2021 question paper after multiple eductaion boards have announced syllabus reduction for Class XII students. As per the change in the question paper pattern, physics, chemistry sections will have five additional questions and biology (botany and zoology) section will have 10 additional questions. NTA has also split each subject into two sections — section A and section B. Students have to answer all the 35 questions in section A and 10 out of 15 questions in section B. As per the new pattern students can answer 180 questions out of 200 questions in NEET exam. Each correct answer will carry 4 marks and for every wrong answer one mark will be deducted. P 10

‘Medical counselling before engg only way to stop wastage of seats’

Anna University former vice-chancellor M K Surappa said the only solution to prevent wastage of seats is to conduct medical counselling before engineering counselling.

“AICTE should consult with the National Testing Agency (NTA) and come out with proper scheduling to prevent engineering seats from falling vacant. Despite bringing it to the notice of AICTE, no remedial action has been taken this year,” he said.

Many private engineering colleges also have from 50 to 100 seats vacant if the medical counselling is conducted before engineering counselling.

“If engineering counselling is conducted first, students select the engineering seats for safety and leave their seats after getting medical admissions. Around 100 students discontinue their courses in top colleges every year,” said RM Kishore, vicechairman of RMK Engineering College.

Unlike Anna University, private engineering colleges can fill up these seats at a later stage.

However, principals said they cannot fill all vacant seats after admissions to engineering courses are over. “Scheduling is the main issue. The present schedule is forcing the students to make one choice even though they are not willing,” a principal from city college said.

Meanwhile, deemed universities facing a different challenge as the admissions to IITs, NITs are being conducted in several rounds and students are leaving these institutions after taking admissions to join centrally funded institutions.

“The ministry of education and AICTE either reduce the counselling to IITs and centrally funded institutions to four rounds or need to allow all AICTE approved institutions to admit 10% more than the sanctioned intake. It will reduce the damage caused by Jo-SAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) counselling delays and longer schedules. It is also a good idea to cancel JEE (Advanced) as it proves a non-existent differentia,” said S Vaidhyasubramaniam, vice-chancellor of SASTRA.

AICTE norms bind all institutions under its umbrella: HC

AICTE norms bind all institutions under its umbrella: HC

Vasantha.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:31,05.2021 

The regulations of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), including the prescriptions and standards, bind all those institutions governed by it, the high court has said.

The court made this observation while holding that a professor of a Tumakuru private engineering college is entitled to continue in service till he attains the age of 65 in terms of AICTE norms.

Justice M Nagaprasanna pointed out that in the JP Unnikrishnan Vs State of Andhra Pradesh case, a constitution bench of the Supreme Court has held that recognition/ approval of institutions cannot be unconditional and the top court has reiterated that what applies to the main activity applies equally to supplemental activity as well.

Allowing the petition filed by GR Bharath Sai Kumar, who is working as a professor at Siddaganga Institute of Technology, the judge noted that if uniformity is not adopted by affiliated institutions, arbitrariness will creep in and every institution will impose service conditions at their whim and fancy.

Quashing the December 3, 2019 communication/notice issued by the college management seeking to retire the petitioner at the age of 60, the judge has added he is entitled to all the consequential benefits. Born on December 18,1960, Bharath Sai Kumar was appointed as a lecturer on April 1,1985 in the department of mechanical engineering. At the relevant point of time, he was working as a professor. The institute issued a memo on December 3, 2019 declaring the staff who would retire in 2020. The petitioner was shown to retire on December 31, 2020.

Bharath challenged this memo. He claimed the institute being governed by AICTE and as per its norms, a professor like him is entitled to continue in service till 65 years. He contended that even a VTU professor is continued in service till 62. Bharath continued in service on the strength of an interim order passed by HC on December 30, 2020.

The institute claimed it is an unaided educational institution and the petition is not maintainable. Another contention raised was that determination of age of superannuation is a matter of policy of the institute and there can be no application of any order of the government or the AICTE. The government submitted that the age of retirement of employees of the institute is not being regulated by it. AICTE argued it has been issuing notifications from time to time making it applicable to all degree-level technical institutions and all service conditions including retirement.

13 TN institutes shortlisted for AICTE award

NEWS DIGEST

23.05.2021 

13 TN institutes shortlisted for AICTE award

As many as 13 technical institutes, including five deemed universities, from Tamil Nadu have been shortlisted for the final round of clean and smart campus award 2020. The All India Council for Technical Educaiton (AICTE) will conduct the final round online. The deemed universities shortlisted for the award include SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Amritha Vishwa Vidhyapeetham (Coimbatore campus). Sri Sai Ram Engineering College, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Thiagarajar College of Engineering and Sri Krishna College of Technology have been shortlisted among the colleges. Besides, three polytechnic colleges have also been shortlisted from the state. Of the 29 institutes which have been shortlisted for the award, 13 are from Tamil Nadu.

2 held under Goondas Act for remdesivir sale:

Two men, who were arrested for selling remdesivir medicine in the black market, were detained under the Goondas Act. Commissioner Shankar Jiwal also issued a stern warning to those selling the drug illegally at high prices. An officer said Bhuvaneshwar, 36, owner of Medistar Healthcare Ltd, and Nishith Bandari, 32, of Navkar Distributors, were arrested by the Mylapore special team. The team seized 145 remdesivir and ninavir vials. Nishith Bandari sold the vials to Bhuvaneswar without valid documents. While the city police has so far registered 14 cases of illegal sale of remdesivir and arrested 34 men, this is the first time that the force has slapped the Goondas Act against the accused. So far, 269 vials have been seized.

AICTE insists on new rule to sanction new courses

AICTE insists on new rule to sanction new courses

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:20.04.2021

Much to the chagrin of private engineering colleges who could not fill at least 50% of their seats last year, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has decided to contest a Madras high court order permitting such colleges to apply for new courses this year.

At least 258 engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu were able to apply for new courses following an interim order of the high court.

However, AICTE has now clarified that it has not relaxed the minimum 50% admission norm, and that it would contest the interim orders of the high court.

"AICTE has allowed the colleges only to apply for new courses. We are contesting the interim order. The norm was introduced to improve the quality of engineering programmes," an AICTE official said.

It all began with the AICTE’s approval process handbook for 2021-22, where it had stated that new courses would be allowed only in case of more than 50% overall enrolment last year.

Assailing the new norms, Consortium of Self-Financing Professional, Arts and Science Colleges in Tamil Nadu moved the high court and obtained an interim stay against the regulation. The consortium also sent a representation to the AICTE to give relaxation based on the court order. Meanwhile, the court extended the interim stay till April 26.

Pursuant to the court order, AICTE allowed 258 engineering members of the consortium to apply for new courses on its web portal.

A representative from the consortium said more than 100 engineering colleges were interested to apply for new courses. "The council is not opening the portal for the colleges, which had already submitted their application, for approval. New courses will be the lifeline for the engineering courses which are facing the survival test," he said.

Colleges said students were not preferring traditional engineering courses like civil, electrical and electronics and mechanical engineering, resulting in poor admissions last year.

"We need to be allowed to start a new course in emerging areas, including artificial intelligence and data science, cyber security, among others. It would ensure the survival of these colleges," the representative said.

Job, Higher Edu Limitations Mean Courses See Few Takers

Job, Higher Edu Limitations Mean Courses See Few Takers

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.04.2021

A survey carried out by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) among undergraduate engineering students on regional language preference shows that a majority of students are interested in Tamil as course language.

According to AICTE, 83,195 undergraduate students took part in the online survey titled as “Undergraduate Engineering Education in Mother Tongue.” Among them, 12,487 students said they would choose to study engineering in their mother tongue Tamil if given to the option. Hindi (7,818), Telugu (3,991) and Marathi (3,226) came next. As many as 1,953 students have answered, not sure. The survey included participants with 22 mother tongues.

The ministry of education has given emphasis to provide engineering and medical studies in regional languages. The survey was to get the views of stakeholders (students) on the matter.

The state introduced Tamil BE Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering in 2010.

While the survey findings portray Tamil medium as the popular pick among the group, experts find it very surprising as the two Tamilmedium courses have hardly any takers.

“If true, there should have been a big craze to opt for Tamil-medium courses. Even at College of Engineering, Guindy, seats in the Tamil medium courses are the last ones to be filled. The gap in cut-off for Tamil medium and other students is also huge. It is an indicator that students do not prefer Tamil-medium courses,” said career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi.

“Those who picked Tamil medium are struggling in campus recruitment. They are also not able to go for higher education as the GATE is conducted only in English,” he added.

As many as 17 colleges — College of Engineering (CEG) and 16 constituent colleges of Anna University — have around 1,500 Tamil-medium seats across the two streams.

“The Tamil-medium courses are a failure as the state government could not provide the students books and journals in Tamil. Due to lack of jobs and higher education opportunities, the colleges filled less than 30% seats these past few years. Seats in CEG are filled every year, but that has nothing to do with Tamil medium,” a professor from Anna University said.

A dean of constituent college said some colleges could not fill even a single Tamil medium course seat.

“Tamil BE courses are not successful as text books, resources are not available in Tamil,” said B Chidambararajan, principal of SRM Valliammai College in Chennai.

While the AICTE allowed colleges to start a course in regional language from 2021-22, few TN institutions applied.

Pvt colleges seek easing of norms for new courses

Pvt colleges seek easing of norms for new courses

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.04.2021

Private engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu have petitioned the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to relax the 50% admissions norm to start new courses. In its approval process handbook for 2021-22, the AICTE stated that new courses will be allowed only in case of more than 50% over all enrollment in the last year.

Consortium of Self-Financing Professional, Arts and Science Colleges in Tamil Nadu has got the interim stay against the new regulation at the Madras high court. The last date to apply for new courses with AICTE is April  13.

With just two days left for applying to new courses, the consortium sent representation to the AICTE to give relaxation as per the court order.

“Most students are aspiring for admission only to employment oriented or emerging areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, cyber security among others. The existing traditional courses do not have demand and they are not attracting students. Due to the poor admission in traditional engineering courses, most of the colleges can't satisfy the new condition imposed in the approval process handbook,” P Selvaraj, secretary of the consortium said in his representation to the AICTE.

He further said the present situation compels the colleges to apply for additional courses in emerging areas for their survival and effective utilisation of infrastructure facilities.

“Without other options, for the benefit of our member institutions, the consortium resorted to legal course and got the interim stay order against the new rule. We request the AICTE to grant exemption from the new condition imposed in APH 2021-22 to our member institutions and to give permission to apply on the web portal for new courses,” Selvaraj said in the representation.

Due to poor admissions, as many as 109 technical institutions, including 88 engineering colleges, in Tamil Nadu have stopped admitting new students in the last three years as running these institutions is no longer feasible for them.

The present situation compels institutions to apply for additional courses in emerging areas for their survival

Shut mechanical or cut seats: Engg colleges

Shut mechanical or cut seats: Engg colleges

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

26.03.2021 

Bengaluru:

At least a dozen engineering colleges in the state have requested their umbrella varsity — Visvesvaraya Technological University — to reduce intake or close down their mechanical engineering branches for the upcoming academic year following plunging admissions. The number of such colleges is expected to rise as they have time till April 3 to submit applications.

Seeing the trend, VTU has issued an advisory to all colleges to reconsider their decision. Calling the move a “knee-jerk reaction”, the university said historical data suggests cyclic variations in admissions to basic branches in engineering during unprecedented events like a slowdown or pandemic.

Asking the colleges to be cautious and conduct due diligence before arriving at the decision, the advisory said: “Such impulsive reactions may manifest our poor resilience and jeopardise the reputation of engineering education in basic branches.”

VTU registrar AS Deshpande said: “We have thus far received 12 such requests. It’s only likely to increase as we have a few more days’ time. Moreover, colleges can also submit their requests to AICTE directly. Since we have seen a rising trend, we wanted to curb it at the beginning and issued the advisory.”

“A large number of colleges are trying to either reduce or shut down the mechanical engineering branch... Many of the colleges have been unscientific in their growth. When there was a boom, they increased the seats drastically. Now, they want to cut it down. This is likely to happen to many other branches too in the future,” said VTU vicechancellor Karisidappa.

The registrar added that some of these colleges have requested introduction of emerging/multi-disciplinary courses related to mechanical engineering that AICTE has recently listed.

50% of mechanical engg seats vacant

During Covid, industries shut down and there was a perception that employment opportunities will be hit. Mechanical engineering is an unfortunate victim of such a wrong public perception,” said K Mahesh Dutt, member of board of studies of mechanical engineering in VTU and professor at Dayananda Sagar Academy of Technology and Management.

“Though there were signs of admissions dipping in the stream, the numbers were shocking this year. We are rehauling the entire syllabus for mechanical engineering from 2022 batch. We will also incorporate machine learning and artificial intelligence as suggested by industry experts,” he said.

Dutt said over 50% of the seats in the discipline are vacant this year. There are 12,000-13,000 mechanical engineering seats available in 170 colleges of the state. TOI had reported in January that nearly 89% of the 2,111 mechanical seats in Comed-K were lying vacant.

Deemed Univs Can Now Admit Students As Per New Rule: AICTE

No-maths rule only after a few years

Deemed Univs Can Now Admit Students As Per New Rule: AICTE

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:19.03.2021 

Engineering admissions counselling based on physics, chemistry and maths marks will continue for a couple of years more, said All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) chairman Anil D Sahasrabudhe on Thursday.

In its approval process handbook for 2021-22, AICTE has made maths and physics at Class XII-level optional to join engineering and technology courses. Students who have studied any three subjects of 14, including physics, maths, chemistry, computer science, electronics, information technology, biology, informatics practices, biotechnology, technical vocational subject, agriculture, engineering graphics, business studies and entrepreneurship are eligible to study engineering courses under the new criteria.

The move has kicked up a huge row across the country as educational institutions feared that it may further weaken the quality of engineering graduates.

“The move aims to provide a window of opportunity to students who have not taken physics, chemistry, maths in Class XI and XII. They will do it during the first year of engineering courses. There are four maths papers, two physics and one chemistry paper in engineering curriculum,” the AICTE chief said, while addressing delegates at the national conference, on ‘Approval process handbook 2021-22 for resetting technical education and implementing National Education Policy 2020’, in Chennai.

He further clarified that entrance exams such as JEE will continue to have maths, physics, chemistry for a few more years. “Some autonomous institutions including deemed universities and private universities may admit students based on the new eligibility criteria and conduct bridge courses for them,” he said.

Calling the move a “futuristic step” and the “beginning of transformation”, Sahasrabudhe said: “When the new education policy is rolled out in the next few years, there will be no distinction like arts and science streams in higher secondary.”

The AICTE boss said that under the new 5 + 3 + 3+ 4 system, the last four years will not be based on streamwise at all. “Students will be allowed to take any combination of arts, commerce and science. Students at the age of 14 are too young to make a decision on what they need to do.”

Explaining the changes to APH 2021-22, he said the caveat of 50% admissions last year to start new courses has been introduced following judgments of the Kerala high court and the Supreme Court.

Citing the Covid-19 pandemic and financial crunch faced by private educational institutions, H Chaturvedi, alternate president of the Education Promotion Society of India, sought a financial package from the Centre similar to the one announced by the US government for institutions of higher education.

G V Selvam, vice-president of Vellore Institute of Technology, said there was a shortage of 33 lakh teachers in higher education in the country and urged the AICTE to focus on producing quality teachers.

The All India Council for Technical Education sparked a huge row after it made Class XIIlevel maths and physics optional for students wishing to take up engineering & technical courses

Colleges to move court against AICTE’s norm to begin new courses

Colleges to move court against AICTE’s norm to begin new courses

Ragu.Rama@timesgroup.com

Chennai:16.03.2021 

As engineering colleges battle poor admission trend and the pandemic, the new rule introduced by the All India India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) which mandates 50% overall admissions last year to be eligible to apply for new courses for 2021-22 has faced strong opposition from engineering colleges. They have decided to challenge the rule.

The council in its approval process handbook for 2021-22, said it would allow new courses only in engineering colleges which had more than 50% overall enrollment last year. In 2020, colleges without NBA accreditation were allowed to start new courses in emerging areas such as AI and data science, by closing a course or reducing their existing intake.

The core committee of Federation of Self-Financed Technical Institutions which met in Chennai on Sunday has decided to challenge the norm in the Supreme Court. "When the overall admissions in engineering colleges is 37% at all-India level, fixing 50% admissions would render 80% of colleges ineligible to apply for new courses. Without new courses, these colleges will have natural death as they cannot survive with poor admissions," said R S Munirathinam, chief patron of the federation.

T D Easwaramoorthy, secretary of the federation, said there were no migration of students from neighbouring states in view of the pandemic this year. "Our engineering college is situated near Kerala border in Coimbatore district. Before Covid-19, we had 65% of admissions. In 2020-21, we were able to fill only 37% seats as our college did not have any students from Kerala. Due to the new rule, we cannot apply for new courses," he said.

KVK Rao, general secretary of the federationsaid, "The deemed universities which are admitting students over and above the sanctioned strength, collecting higher fees have not been properly regulated by agencies including AICTE and UGC. We will challenge the inaction of the regulatory authorities in the court."