In a significant move to empower and upskill the esteemed faculty members, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has developed short-term courses under quality improvement programmes. This initiative is aimed at addressing the shortage of faculty members in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and data science, and it presents a unique opportunity for its faculty to stay at the forefront of engineering education.
In a collaborative effort with AICTE, private institutions in Tamil Nadu are conducting several certification courses to meet the increasing demand for AI and data science analytics in the market. This academic year, 25 thousand seats are being added for engineering colleges to Anna University, further demonstrating the collective commitment to address the emerging needs of the industry. Faculty members from mechanical, civil, electrical and electronics departments with at least five years of experience can apply for these programmes, including AI, Data science, robotics, IoT, cyber-physical systems, virtual reality, and machine learning. The duration of these hybrid programmes offered by IIT is six months and they will be offered at no cost. The last date to apply is on June 6.
As engineering colleges grapple with the challenge of finding qualified faculty members to teach AI and data science, the AICTE’s AI certificate programme comes as a beacon of hope. From upskilling their faculty members to hiring industry experts, colleges are exploring various ways to teach these emerging areas. RM Kishore, Vice Chairman of RMK Engineering College, acknowledged the significance of this programme, stating, “Upskilling our faculty members in AI and data science is a crucial step, but it also comes with a significant cost.”
Colleges have also requested Anna University to accept core engineering faculty as AI faculty after a certification programme.
Some, like Rajalakshmi Engineering College, plan to create a pool of experts in AI and data science. “While training faculty, we are also trying to hire industry experts as professors of practice,” said Abhay Meganathan, Vice Chairman of Rajalakshmi Group of Institutions.
Some principals said the issue may get worse as most computer science graduates get placed at the UG level and very few opt for PG Courses. Many colleges are expanding computer science-related branches.
According to R Velraj, Anna University’s Vice Chancellor, the University will consider all aspects and try to address the faculty shortage.
The All India Council for Technical Education was established in November 1945 as a national-level Apex Advisory Body to review technical education facilities and promote coordinated and integrated growth throughout the country. The institution is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing norms and standards; ensuring quality assurance through accreditation, monitoring, and evaluation; ensuring certification and award parity; and ensuring the country’s coordinated and integrated development and management of technical education.
