Latest news with #Sitharam
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
AICTE chief stresses on need to teach science subjects in mother tongue
Kochi: Higher education, including subjects such as engineering and medicine, should also be taught in the mother tongue so that even those who are not proficient in English can learn these subjects, said All India Council for Technical Education ( AICTE ) chairman T G Sitharam while addressing the press on the sidelines of Njana Sabha organized by Shiksha Sanskriti Uttan Nyas. Sitharam said that the successful rollout of engineering textbooks in regional languages is ongoing, including the release of Malayalam texts last year. He cited the example of Maharashtra, where a batch of engineering students graduated entirely in Marathi and secured 100% placement, proving that learning in regional languages ensures employability. He urged stakeholders to embrace mother tongue instruction in fields like engineering and medicine to ensure inclusivity for those less proficient in English. Sitharam also spoke on AICTE's efforts to enrich education with Indian ethos and ethics. He said universal Human Values (UHV), offered as a minor course with 12-18 credits, has gained widespread acceptance among students and faculty alike, with lakhs of teachers trained to conduct these courses. While acknowledging the closure of some institutions, he clarified that this is due to the removal of intake caps, leading to increased capacity in quality institutions. "Across India, including Kerala, engineering seats have gone up by 15% over the last two years," he said. He also noted a significant development in international education, stating that 11 foreign universities are set to begin operations in India, with approvals already in place for campuses in Delhi, Mumbai, and Gujarat. He also said India's higher education enrolment is currently at 4.3 crore and is projected to touch 9 crore by 2035, he added. Former Union minister of education Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who presided over the closing day of the ceremony, said that since ancient times India has been a destination for knowledge seekers and philosophical teachers from around the world. "Universities like Takshashila and Nalanda attracted numerous students to India. Indian education focuses on three main aspects - culture, language, and knowledge. The Indian tradition of knowledge is enriched by many scholars such as Patanjali, Sushruta, Bhaskaracharya, and Chanakya," he said. He said the new National Education Policy (NEP) aims to realise dreams like Swachh Bharat, Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat, transforming India into a global leader.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Engg faculty to get Aadhaar-verified ID
Chennai: To prevent ghost faculty members in engineering colleges and other institutions, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) will soon issue Aadhaar-authenticated IDs to all 6.5 lakh faculty members working in professional colleges across India. Speaking to The Times of India, AICTE chairman T G Sitharam said the Union education ministry will issue a gazette notification for creating new IDs for faculty members. "We have already approached the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and they have accepted the proposal. It will remove the ghost faculty issue," Sitharam said. Following an expose by an anti-corruption NGO, Anna University found that around 2,000 faculty positions were wrongly shown as filled by engineering colleges for 2024-25. These faculty members were found to be working in multiple institutions at the same time. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai AICTE has removed the cap to increase engineering seats, which has resulted in many colleges increasing their sanctioned strength in emerging areas. When asked about the impact of removing the cap, Sitharam said, "Good institutions that have teachers and good placements are getting more students." On the increased interest in joining engineering courses, he said, "It is mainly due to the rise in campus placements. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hurt in an Accident? Read This vividtrendlab Undo According to the data submitted by the colleges, 95% of students studying computer science engineering were placed last year, while other branches recorded 65% placements." To overcome the faculty shortage in computer-related courses, AICTE has taken various initiatives. Highlighting those initiatives, Sitharam said, "AICTE has introduced a PG certification programme for core engineering faculty members to train them in emerging areas. They are not being transferred but allowed to take a course after completing a course. Further, we have introduced associate professors of practice and assistant professors of practice to attract industry experts from emerging areas. They can fill up to 20% of the faculty requirement through industry experts." While the professors of practice need 15 years of experience, an assistant professor of practice and associate professor of practice need five years and eight years of experience, which will enable the colleges to hire industry experts from emerging areas. He also stressed the need for continuous upgradation of the curriculum to teach industry-relevant topics to students. AICTE has also introduced the Centre for Engineering Education Excellence to upskill engineering faculty members in partnership with IITs and the Indian National Academy of Engineering. "We are planning to train 4,000 teachers from engineering colleges in the tier-two and tier-three colleges in the next three years," Sitharam said.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Future of workforce not shaped in classrooms: AICTE chairman
India should improve the capacity to enrol more students in higher education by increasing the number of universities and teachers as a large number of students are expected to attend higher education, said AICTE chairman T.G. Sitharam. Speaking at the two-day national conference on road map to VIKSIT Bharat - a multi- disciplinary approach, Prof. Sitharam said: 'From 2001 to 2025, we reached from Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) 11% to 29% in higher education. As per New Education Policy (NEP), we want to grow 50% GER by 2025. That means we want to grow 21% in ten years. This is the biggest challenge for us. How many universities are required? How many teachers are required? Every youth has to have access to quality education,' he said. Pointing to successful efforts taken to improve GER in elementary education before 2015, Prof. Sitharam said: 'As you know, in 2015, we reached GER 94% in elementary education. That means 26.5 crore students are in school education. Two crore students are going to come to higher education every year. We have only the capacity to absorb them at 30% GER.' Stressing the need for holistic transformation of higher education, he said the National Education Policy 2020 marked a watershed moment. 'The future workforce is shaped not in the classrooms, but beyond the classrooms. Enable students to go beyond textbooks and beyond classrooms. Industries need to invest in education. They should come to universities to start teaching and engaging with student,' he said. Member of Parliament Sudhanshu Trivedi, VIT Founder Chancellor and VIT vice president spoke.
India Gazette
10-06-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
AICTE hosts webinar to promote 'Yoga Sangam 2025' on International Day of Yoga
New Delhi [India], June 10 (ANI): The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) convened a national-level webinar to enhance awareness among AICTE-approved institutions, faculty, and students regarding the forthcoming Yoga Sangam 2025. This event is scheduled for June 21, coinciding with the International Day of Yoga (IDY). According to the release, the webinar aimed to mobilise widespread participation in the Yoga Sangam initiative, encouraging educational institutions nationwide to actively engage in this national celebration of yoga. As per the release, the event was graced by AICTE Chairman Prof TG Sitharam, who emphasised the transformative power of yoga and its growing relevance in today's world. 'Yoga is one of the greatest civilizational gifts India has offered to the world,' said Prof Sitharam. He further added, 'What began as a personal practice for inner peace and physical discipline has now evolved into a global movement for holistic health, sustainability, and shared human values.' He highlighted that this year's IDY theme, 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health,' reflects the interconnectedness of human well-being and planetary health. 'In today's times marked by climate change, natural disasters, rising stress levels, socio-economic challenges, and conflicts, yoga offers not just a routine, but a resilient path toward harmony, balance, and mental well-being,' he said. Prof Sitharam urged all AICTE-approved institutions to register on the Yoga Sangam portal and ensure large-scale faculty and students' participation. He reiterated that yoga should be embraced not just as a form of exercise, but as a core life skill contributing to a person's overall development and social responsibility. 'AICTE firmly believes in integrating physical, mental, and spiritual wellness into the educational experience,' the Chairman added. 'Just as we have included Universal Human Values (UHV) in our curriculum, promoting yoga further strengthens our commitment to holistic education.' The webinar also served as a clarion call for stakeholders in the technical education ecosystem, including administrators, educators, and student leaders, to champion yoga in their institutions. Prof Sitharam emphasised that widespread participation in Yoga Sangam 2025 will promote health and wellness and reinforce the values of unity and collective consciousness. The Yoga Sangam 2025 is expected to witness record participation from technical institutions across India, making it a landmark celebration of India's ancient tradition in the modern academic landscape. Institutions and individuals interested in participating are encouraged to register through the official Yoga Sangam portal, where they will find guidelines, activity modules, and resources to facilitate local celebrations on campus. (ANI)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
06-06-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
We'll integrate artificial intelligence in all branches: AICTE Chairperson
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) chairperson TG Sitharam on Friday said artificial intelligence (AI) will be integrated into all branches of technical education. While AICTE had introduced a BTech programme in AI and Data Science as early as 2017, the Council is now working to include AI in the model curriculums of all technical disciplines, including engineering, information technology, and management studies, Sitharam told PTI. "A committee of experts has been constituted to suggest necessary revisions in the model curriculums. This committee has already held three meetings. I expect the panel to submit its recommendations within the next month on how AI can be incorporated across all branches. Two months after that, we aim to finalise the updated model curriculums," he said. Based on these new model curriculums, AI-inclusive teaching could begin as early as next academic year, the official said. He also informed that AICTE has made around 1,000 textbooks available online in 12 Indian languages, which have been downloaded seven lakh times over the past two years. Currently, 54 technical institutions across the country are offering various courses in these 12 Indian languages, he said. Sitharam was in Indore to attend a meeting of Parliament's advisory committee, chaired by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The meeting focused on promoting education in Indian languages in schools and higher education institutions.
