Preserving conventional engineering programs while embracing AI, Data Science
At the same time, several batches in B.E. in AI and Data Science and B.E. in AI and Machine Learning programs have been introduced. New programs in AI are meant to secure more capitation fees for these institutes.
Instead of this approach of closing entire programs, students need to be encouraged to take three or four courses in AI, ML, Natural Language Processing, and databases in every branch of conventional engineering. The Computer Science and Engineering program should be strengthened through specialisations in AI, DS, and ML.
B.Tech (CSE) can be offered as an honours degree with additional courses in AI, ML, and DS. Students should be well educated in AI fundamentals, going beyond merely using ML code.
Department closures
In the report put out by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) on approved institutions with progressive closed courses for the academic year 2021-2022, 387 departments of Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electronics, and Instrumentation were closed for the admission of first-year students.
Similarly, in 2020-2021, 639 departments closed, and for 2019-2020, 661 departments closed for the admission of first-year students. From 2016 to 2019, 950 departments were closed. From 2013 to 2016, 1,003 departments were closed. Within the subsequent two years, all the faculty in these 3,640 departments could be asked to resign.
The impact
The closures of such conventional engineering programs can affect the industrial and human resource growth of our country. It will also be tough for these experienced faculty members to survive without jobs.
If an engineering program admits no students in the first year, it won't have students for the program in subsequent years till the final year. Hence, the department could be closed. Faculty could be asked to leave the college accordingly. This has already started.
The faculty-to-student ratio is fixed. Hence, faculty members are being asked to leave year-wise.
The country requires capable Mechanical Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Civil Engineers, Chemical Engineers, and Computer Science Engineers for its industrial growth. Hence, it is not a good idea to discontinue these programs. At the IITs and NITs, the conventional engineering programs continue to be offered.
One of the key components of the technical education system in India is that it comprises a large number of private engineering institutions, about 6,000 spread over various parts of the country, with around 20 lakh students, and about six lakh faculty members. It is not necessary to introduce new and exclusive programmes on AI and Machine learning; they can be offered as modules in existing conventional programmes. The AICTE and the Ministry of Higher Education guarantee should ensure that conventional engineering programs continue to be taught in private engineering colleges.
(M. Chidambaram is a retired professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras. He has also served as Director of NIT - Trichy)
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