CHALLENGES BEFORE ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN INDIA

ABSTRACTWe know that the present day economies are governed by market forces. After globalization, liberalization and privatization, the market has become very demanding, suddenly we are pushed into a situation where these are no excuse for incompetence. The jungle rule prevails. It is the survival of the fittest. Technical Education is one of the most significant components of human resources development spectrum in improving the quality of life of the people. In recognition of the importance of this sector, the planners have accorded priority to this sector. There has been phenomenal growth in the field of technical education during the previous plan periods. At the dawn of independence, there were hardly 4 degree and 8 diploma institutions. There are at present 222 degree and 203 diploma institutions, with intake capacity of 63,515 and 50,479 students respectively. Technical and higher education has its own issues to contend with. From making available adequate number of colleges and universities including technical and vocational institutes, ensuring quality of education, promoting the sprit of quest, to working out meaning full curricula aligned with the job market. The entire education sector is expectedly buzzing with activity. Every now and then we hear of young people giving up Lucrative Corporate Careers to take on the responsibility of teaching the needy. This growing social consciousness needs to be promoted and sustained. This paper focus, the aligning technical and higher education with the labour market and challenges before education in India along with imperatives for building a knowledge society. This paper suggest that highest growth in elementary occupation that has large base and in high skill category having a very small base. A large number of people require vocational skills and their number is also growing.Keywords: Engineering, Teaching, Technical Education, Engineering & Technical Education, Professional Education.INTRODUCTION:The history of inculcating formal technical education in India started in the 19th century although it got momentum in 20th century with the onset of Constitution of Technical Education Committee of Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE). After India achieved Independence in the year 1947, the head-start of technical education emerged as a major concern for the Indian Government in order to face upcoming challenges and bring the country ahead.The established the Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management and Indian Institutes of Science were a vital step in the development of technical education in the Indian subcontinent. The ability of these institutions to produce competent and hard core intelligent scientists and engineers had managed to change the outlook of Indian on the global front. India was earlier known for yoga, meditation and holy places, but now it is reckoned for computer engineers.Therefore, in order to maintain the standard of technical education all across the country, a statutory authority namely- The All India Council for Technical Education was set up in 1945. AICTE is renowned for planning, formulating and sustaining similar standards through accreditation, funding in particular colleges, monitoring and evaluation and awards thereby ascertaining coordination in management of technical education in India.The main objective of these authorities is to ensure that all the admission procedures, selection criteria, entrance examination and information regarding allied preparation material are carried out appropriately all across the country. Under the term 'Technical', there comes a number of courses which include degree and diploma courses in Engineering, Master degree Courses in Engineering, Master of Computer Application (MCA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Pharmacy Courses, Courses in Architecture and Applied Arts and Hotel Management and Catering Technology Courses.ALIGNING HIGHER EDUCATION WITH THE LABOUR MARKET:In recent years, Indian economy has grown rapidly interestingly, by skipping the manufacturing stage and going straight to the services sector, the country took a rather unconventional, path to growth. …