Date:11/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/11/stories/2008101159050300.htm

Karnataka

There is a huge gap between industry and academia: Ballal

Staff Correspondent

Concern expressed over rising rate of attrition in industries

Syllabi sought to be updated with latest advancement
Need to develop communication skills among students stressed

START: Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University Rajasekharan Warrier inaugurating the vice- chancellors’ conference in Manipal on Friday. Pro-Chancellor of Manipal University H.S. Ballal (left) is seen.

Manipal: Pro-Chancellor of Manipal University H.S. Ballal said on Friday that there was a huge gap between industry requ irements and the academia. He was presiding over the inaugural function of the two-day Vice-Chancellors’ conference at the Manipal Institute of Technology, here. Vice-Chancellors of technical universities from all over the country are participating in the conference to discuss the implementation of the new model AICTE curriculum for engineering courses.

Prof. Ballal said that the industries, especially IT, were facing a high rate of attrition. “In engineering colleges, there is a shortage of teachers because of the difference in salaries in the industry and the academia. These issues need to be addressed in the conference,” he said.

‘Stop fighting’

Vice Chancellor of Manipal University Rajasekharan Warrier said that students should be encouraged to think freely. The introduction of humanities in engineering courses should, above all, make them kind and compassionate. M.P. Ravindra, adviser (Education, Research and Training), Infosys Technologies, said that the industry and the academia should stop fighting and instead work together for a common cause.

In his address delivered in absentia, Chancellor of Manipal University Ramdas M. Pai said that a large percentage of graduating engineers were not fit for employment mainly because universities were not updating their syllabi to keep pace with the fast changing scenario in the industry.

Graduating students also suffered from poor communication skills.

These issues were taken care of by the six-monthly review of subject content and regular classes in communication for teachers and students at MIT, Dr. Pai said Pro-Vice Chancellor of Manipal University S.S. Pabla said that during the first conference held at Bhubaneshwar in March, the participants had felt the need for a change in the curriculum. In the proposed syllabus, several changes such as free electives, easy mobility between branches and introduction of humanities had been recommended.