New Delhi: The mechanical engineering curriculum of the Indian Institute of Engineering will be transformed in the 21st century, and 3D printing, drone manufacturing and more information technology (IT) subjects will become part of the curriculum. 

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is a regulatory agency affiliated to all engineering colleges (except for centrally funded technical colleges such as IIT, IIIT, and NIT) and is undergoing major revisions to make the curriculum more technology-centric. ThePrint understands that once approved, it will offer the course to students at the 2022 academic conference. 

Two other branches of engineering—computer science, electronics, and communications—are also undergoing routine curriculum revisions. 

Sources familiar with these developments told ThePrint that the idea is to make engineering students more work-oriented in the face of rapid technological, economic and social changes. 

The source added that mechanical engineering graduates either lose their jobs due to the automation of the manufacturing industry or choose to work in different sectors such as computers or electronics. Therefore, curriculum updates are essential. 

Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of AICTE, confirmed this development, saying that the council received feedback that the mechanical engineering course was outdated and needed to be updated, so a committee was appointed to modify it. “The committee has almost completed its report, and once approved, we will make it part of the AICTE affiliated college and it will be available from the next academic year,” he told ThePrint.

Sahasrabudhe added that revisions are made every four years. The committee responsible for curriculum revision is composed of scholars and professors from IIT, NIT, technical universities and industry representatives.

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According to Professor B Ravi, the IIT Bombay instructor in charge of the Mechanical Engineering Course Committee, the goal is to "ITfy" the course and "make it more attractive to the brightest students."

"Themes such as computer-aided design and manufacturing, simulation and mechatronics will be strengthened in the revised curriculum," he told ThePrint. "New interdisciplinary topics will be introduced, such as 3D printing and drones, which combine design, materials, electronics and software." 

Ravi added that the committee studied the current and emerging job prospects of mechanical engineering graduates. 

"We are trying to create flexible and balanced courses through science, technology, engineering, and practice (STEP) courses. This will enable students to plan their careers based on their talents," the professor said. "They can find traditional jobs in the manufacturing industry, or engage in research in the laboratory, or incubate technology start-ups. The younger generation is also rapidly accepting the concept of'learning-earning-burning-repeat' and starting to'part-time jobs'-at home Or work in a resort."

Speaking of mechanical engineering graduates losing their jobs due to automation, a source related to the committee explained, “For example, graduates will find jobs in the automotive industry that needs to be manufactured, but many of these companies are now In the search for automation and any remaining manual work can be done by a diploma holder or an ITI qualified person. The company does not need engineers to complete this work. Therefore, mechanical engineers must have the skills of the new era." 

AICTE also received feedback that fewer and fewer students are joining the mechanical engineering department. Therefore, one of the reasons for the revision of the curriculum is to make it more attractive to aspiring engineers. 

When formulating the revised curriculum, the committee kept in mind that it must be applicable to most engineering colleges in the country, and should address the rapidly changing circumstances of the industry, apply to new jobs, and give more flexibility. According to a source, students are choosing subjects. aspect. 

"Mechanical engineering temperament" means correct knowledge, skills, mentality and lifelong learning ability. The source added that this can be achieved through hands-on ("do-it-yourself") experiences, labs and team projects that promote experiential learning.

Other members of the committee include Professor PVM Rao from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Professor GK Ananthasuresh from IISc Bangalore, Dr. Nagahanumaiah from CMTI Bangalore, Dr. Bajirao Gawali from Walchandnagar School of Engineering in Sanli, and Dr. U Chandrasekhar from Wipro3D. 

Also read: NCERT textbooks become smarter through QR codes, and the syllabus will be revised

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