AICTE plan evokes mixed response from academia

Thiruvananthapuram: The AICTE's latest proposition that engineering colleges swelling with vacant seats may start arts and science courses to overcome the crisis is unlikely to work out in favour of a majority of engineering colleges in the brink of closure in Kerala.
Latest statistics show that 50% of seats in self-financing engineering colleges in the state remains vacant after the completion of admission procedure. While the state government is yet to make up its mind on the policy decisions to be taken to restore order and quality in engineering education sector, engineering college managements too have not yet been able to develop a long-term strategy for quality assurance and survival.

“The proposal for starting arts and science courses in engineering institutions is welcome, provided we could ensure quality. IITs in the country offer arts and science courses. But those courses are not conceived and organized in the conventional manner, but more as a multidisciplinary courses with huge potential. If creating such a scenario is what the AICTE propose, I would definitely welcome it,” said state higher education principal secretary Usha Titus.

According to Titus, the introduction of arts and science courses should have a long-term objective in terms of quality and opportunities. Also, designing of such courses and identification of competent faculties and arrangements in the university level would require time and effort. “Even while agreeing with the idea, I would say that it would be disastrous to start such courses without due preparations,” she said.

However, a large number of self-financing engineering college managements are elated over the proposition by AICTE.

“Compared to self-financing arts and science colleges, infrastructure facilities in engineering colleges are better. Also, it’s easier to employ qualified hands for teaching those subjects”, said chairman of an engineering college here.