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Taking learning to the industries

Photo: M. Vedhan

Collaboration: Dr Patrick Chezaud, president of the University of Grenoble (right) exchanging the MoU documents with Professor S. Ramachandran, Vice-Chancellor of the Madras University in Chennai recently.

An increasing need-based interactivity between higher educational institutions and industries has taken learning to a new plane in recent years. The evident increase in the number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed between institutions and industries leaders indicates that campus-industry collaboration has become an integral part of higher education in today’s context. Whether it is collaborative research or training programmes, both partners benefit. And tha nks to these, students get a taste of industry practices, while in college.

“It is mutually beneficial,” says Vice-Chancellor of University of Madras S.Ramachandran. “We are helping manufacturers with research-aided solutions. Industries benefit by using studnets’ innovative ideas and students on the other hand, get to use industries’ infrastructure and gain exposure.” The University of Madras lends its faculty and students’ expertise to industries seeking help to solve specific problems they encounter. The University has also collaborated with Information Technology majors such TCS and Infosys.

“They train our faculty who in turn train our students and enhance their employability,” he adds. The Indian Institute of Technology -Madras has several agreements with industry leaders and research organisations. Dean of Centre for Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research ( IC&SR) at IIT-Madras T.T. Narendran says the number of interactions are on a relative level, but on an absolute level, “We have a long way to go.” Faculty at the centre are involved in fixing problems for the industry and joint-research with several government departments and noted research organisations. “While working with government departments, the research is open-ended and the emphasis, not so much on deliverables,” he says.

The private sector may not be willing to indulge in “high-risk research”. In other partnerships, like training programmes or projects, professor Narendran notes that companies offer students a good learning experience. Some companies give students challenging projects as part of their summer internships and end-semester projects.

When asked about how these collaborations could help enhance students’ employability, professor Narendran explains that most institutions engage in three primary avenues of interaction with the industry. The college sends students on summer internships to a company, the college sends students on projects or the college invites industry experts for guest lectures. “But on several occasions, the industry representatives turn down these invitations citing lack of time as the reason.”

The industry laments that students are not industry-ready, but it is not willing to invest time in human resource development. “This is a problem in smaller institutions, in particular. The industry should reach out to smaller institutions the way it does to reputed institutions,” he notes.

Apart from engaging students in research for their organisation’s benefit, companies, for their own academic growth, have tie-ups with institutions. Management consulting and technology services company Accenture has collborated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s office of Professional Education Programs (MIT PEP). They are developing the Accenture Solutions Delivery Academy, a new training and certification programme, based on the company’s application delivery curriculum.

Sandeep Arora, Lead Executive, Accenture Delivery Centre for Technology, India says: “Accenture’s two-year collaboration with MIT PEP includes ongoing review of the academy’s educational content, student assessments, and overall programme design by several MIT School of Engineering faculty who are experts in related subjects, including, Java, C++, SAP, host-centric and Microsoft technologies and the software-development lifecycle.”

Scope International working with MOP College for Women and Stella Maris to provide opportunities under the (Women Empowerment) WE@Scope initiative.

Under the programme, Scope is designing curriculum on soft skills, developing content, imparting training on soft skills to students. Onsite experience through project work and internships are offered. “Our women managers have volunteered to teach these students and are completely geared. They have undergone facilitation sessions together so as to speak in the same voice to the students.

The advantage for the students here is they get to hear industry practices from those already there.” said Ms. Shashi Ravichandran, Head, Corporate Affairs, Scope International.

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