Our Goal Is To Enhance Education Through Global Partnerships - Rajive Kumar, Member Secretary, AICTE

In the ever-evolving landscape of technical education in India,  Rajive Kumar, Member Secretary of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), brings invaluable insights into how AICTE leverages such platforms like DIDAC to promote its initiatives and enhance educational experiences. 

In this interview, Kumar discusses AICTE’s commitment to integrating EdTech solutions, incorporating digital technologies and aligning its policies with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He emphasises the importance of multidisciplinary education and the need for continuous learning through reskilling and upskilling initiatives for both students and faculty. As India navigates the complexities of modern education, Kumar’s perspectives shed light on the critical steps being taken to foster an inclusive, innovative and globally relevant educational framework. 

What role do you think events like DIDAC India play in shaping the future of technical education in India, and how is AICTE leveraging this platform to promote its initiatives?

The AICTE has partnered with DIDAC for the past five to six years and this collaboration has become increasingly valuable. This year, I am particularly impressed by the large number of companies, including international brands, showcasing their technical solutions. This platform provides an excellent opportunity for our institutions and students to benefit from these advanced technologies in their education.

Moreover, it aligns with the government’s emphasis on internationalisation in education. We aim to encourage our students to spend time studying at foreign universities and conversely, to invite international students to experience the Indian education system and knowledge culture. These exchanges are crucial for enriching our educational landscape. I am hopeful that this exhibition organised by DIDAC will effectively facilitate these objectives.

With the rise of EdTech solutions showcased at DIDAC, how does AICTE plan to incorporate these technologies to enhance both teaching and learning experiences in technical education?

We initiated this journey four years ago by establishing the National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT). This platform allows edtech companies to showcase their products, but there’s an essential prerequisite, all products must first undergo evaluation by our expert team. Once evaluated and approved, these products can be featured on our NEAT portal.

In addition, for every four licences sold to students, the fifth licence must be provided free of charge to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). This free licence is specifically intended for underprivileged students who cannot afford access to these edtech products. Thus, we are able to support needy students with the resources they require to succeed.

What steps is AICTE taking to incorporate digital technologies and tools in technical education, especially in light of the growing demand for online and hybrid learning models?

According to government guidelines, universities can conduct up to 40 per cent of their courses online. While these courses can be offered through platforms like SWAYAM, some universities are utilising other platforms and counting those credits as well.

Regarding technology, we encourage institutes to freely use any tools that are convenient, available and beneficial for our students. We are not prescribing specific tools or technologies; rather, we support the use of resources that align with government guidelines and curricular requirements, ensuring that educational outcomes are clearly defined.

How is AICTE aligning its policies and initiatives with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, especially in promoting multidisciplinary education and flexibility for students?

Our autonomous institutions and universities have significant flexibility in shaping their educational offerings. Specifically, when it comes to multidisciplinary courses, up to 50 per cent of the curriculum can be drawn from skill-based or interdisciplinary domains. This means that students can pursue minors in diverse fields alongside their primary degrees.

For example, a student majoring in mechanical engineering is allowed to take a minor in music. This may seem unconventional in Indian society, where an engineering student pursuing music might raise eyebrows, but it is now entirely permissible.

I urge our institutions to fully embrace and utilise the flexibility provided by the Government of India in our education system, especially regarding the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP). This is an opportunity for innovation and broader academic exploration.
 

With rapid technological advancements, reskilling and upskilling are crucial. What are some key initiatives AICTE is taking to ensure continuous learning for both students and faculty?

Reskilling and upskilling have become essential not only for our students but also for our faculty members. We recognise this need and to address it, we have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with leading companies such as Microsoft, Meta, and L&T, among others. These partnerships, in collaboration with the Government of India, are facilitating the development of courses available on the SWAYAM platform, which is a massive open online courses (MOOCs) initiative.

These companies are actively running high-quality courses and the government is also permitting smaller companies to participate, provided they meet strict quality standards. This ensures that the content delivered through these courses is of a high calibre. Overall, these initiatives reflect the government's commitment to enhancing skills and knowledge for both faculty and students.

Mayank Badhwar

BW Reporters The reporter works as Senior Correspondent with BW Businessworld