Industry concerned over quality of engineers

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 21

The Chamber of Industrial and Commerce Undertaking (CICU) has expressed concern over the quality of engineers produced by the country. The members said the educational levels in institutes should be improved to get the best products.

President CICU Upkar Singh said, “US is a $16 trillion economy and it produces 1 lakh engineers per year, whereas, India was just a $2 trillion economy and produced more than 15 lakh engineers per year. After getting degrees, about 30 per cent of them get suitable jobs and manufacturing sector used to be mass recruiters, but due to slow down in the industry, the recruitments have come down drastically,” said Upkar Singh.

The CICU members further discussed that the World Bank also mentioned that the poor quality of education reflected on the low learning level in India. As per a survey, there are 257 engineering colleges in Punjab. The theoretical knowledge imparted in most of the colleges is poor, faculty is not well paid, experienced teachers are not recruited, said the President CICU.

What CICU members suggest

• Colleges charge fee from students even during internships, when students take training in some factories, it should be passed on to industry, where students are taking training to match cost of Industries
• Colleges must teach in theory and practical latest and advance technologies not the old one
• Workshop of engineering colleges should be upto the mark and equipped with latest machines like, CNC Machines, robotics, 3-D printers, digital labs, rapid prototype and designing equipment and many more
• Colleges should invest in joint projects with industry, where students of final year in guidance of teachers take up the productions & quality improvement projects. It will add value to the industry as well to the students.        
• Colleges can start services such as new product development, design improvement of existing productivity for industry against nominal charges
• Special training to be imparted on digitalisation and industry
• Government must cancel the registration of those colleges, where 40 per cent do not get jobs after completing the education.