Agility In Education

The BW Education Engineering Excellence Conclave, held on 27 August 2024, in New Delhi, featured a compelling panel discussion on ‘Agile Curriculum: Keeping Pace with Technological Advances’. The session brought together esteemed speakers from leading educational institutions to address the critical need for curricula that adapt to the rapidly changing technological landscape.

Bridging the gap between academia and industry
Mini Thomas, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia, opened the discussion by highlighting the challenges in updating engineering curricula. She noted, “Once you develop a curriculum structure, it’s very difficult to change because of inertia primarily with faculty.” Reflecting on her transition from NIT Trichy to Jamia, she observed, “We haven’t revived the engineering curriculum for a long time. We are still running 180+ credits, and no choice and flexibility is given to students.” To address these issues, Thomas shared that her institution revamped the curriculum last year with input from industry professionals and alumni, incorporating non-engineering subjects such as ethics and universal human values. “It is very much possible to stay relevant, but there are lots of resistances that you have to face,” she added. She emphasised the importance of including industry members in academic departments, stating, “In each department, two industry members are mandatory. They bring lots of insight into what is happening in the industry.”

The importance of fundamentals
Dr Suneet Tuli, Dean, School of Engineering, Shiv Nadar University, shifted the focus to the foundational aspects of engineering education. He stressed the necessity of strong fundamentals, saying, “Knowledge of content, tools and skills are three aspects of engineering education for which industry and academia collaboration is needed.” Tuli lamented the lack of a robust industrial framework in India, suggesting that it has hindered the country’s progress in various technological revolutions. “For the future generations, what is more important is our fundamentals and basics. It will not come from generative AI, not from any tool or skill. You have to be strong in your fundamentals,” he asserted.

Agility in education
Prof Maneek Kumar, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology, BML Munjal University, concluded the panel by discussing the need for agility in engineering curricula. He stated, “We want our students to be agile, and the curriculum needs to reflect that.” He identified flexibility, collaboration and speed as crucial components of an agile educational framework. “We are trying to get the faculty closer to the industry,” Kumar noted, emphasising the need for ongoing dialogue between educators and industry leaders to ensure that curriculum remains relevant and responsive to technological advancements.

The panel discussion at the BW Education Engineering Excellence Conclave underscored the urgent need for engineering education to evolve in tandem with technological advancements. By fostering industry-academia collaboration, emphasising foundational knowledge and promoting agility in curricula, educational institutions can better prepare students for the challenges of the future. As the speakers highlighted, the path to a more responsive and effective engineering education lies in overcoming resistance to change and actively engaging with industry insights.

Abhinav Kumar Jha

BW Reporters The author is a trainee correspondent at BW Businessworld.