AMIE EDUCATION EMF WASHINGTON ACCORD OUR PREPAREDNESS 90

AMIE EDUCATION…. EMF/ WASHINGTON ACCORD; OUR PREPAREDNESS 90 Years of Relentless Service Towards Engineering Advancement for Nation Building Professor N. R. Bandyopadhyay Chairman, CATE, IEI nrb@matsc. becs. ac. in

Industrial Outreach PRELUDE: THE OBVIOUS We live in an ever changing and evolving world but the changes are not always comprehensible. From discovery of wheel (ca 8, 000 B. C) to modern electronic computers (19451950) 10, 000 years of human history has elapsed and the human society has discovered, invented, created and developed…. . not without punctuations. Although Charles Babbage designed the mechanical computer in 1834, it took 100 years for realization of the first electronic computers. Ancient wheel to early computers ~10, 000 years

Industrial Outreach INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD Some major discoveries/inventions before birth of Christ that shaped the world 3, 500, 000 BC – approximate human origin v 250, 000 BC Oldest surviving wood tool v 20, 000 BC Bow and arrow developed (by Cro-Magnon people) v 6000 BC Copper artifacts are common in the Middle East v 3500 BC Potter's wheel in use, Sumerians Develop cuneiform writing, Egyptians develop hieroglyphic writing v 350 BC The Chinese develop printing press v 300 BC Euclid writes Elements, on Geometry v 200 BC Archimedes (287 -212 BC) - earliest recorded writing in mechanics v 100 BC Chinese mathematicians introduce negative numbers. Waterwheels used in Greece and Rome.

Industrial Outreach INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD Some major discoveries in the last 2, 000 years v 150 AD Ptolemy produced the geocentric model of the solar system v 800 AD beginning of chemistry and experimental method (discovery of hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric acids; discovery of soda, potash and pure alcohol) v 1543 – Copernicus and others: heliocentric model v 1610 – Galileo Galilei: telescopic observation v 1628 – William Harvey: Blood circulation v 1687 – Newton: Laws of motion, law of universal gravitation v 1763– 75 – James Watt developed an improved version steam engine (although history of the steam engine stretches back as far as the 1 st century AD) v 1751 – Benjamin Franklin: Lightning is electrical v 1805 – John Dalton: Atomic Theory v 1905 -25 – Albert Einstein: theory of relativity v 1920 s – Development of quantum mechanics

Industrial PRELUDEOutreach Some salient observations: Most major discoveries, particularly technological inventions are in most cases not a creation of single individual. Most discoveries are somewhat product of time which find their outlet through great individuals, at times by complete negation of the existing theories and/or hypothesis. (E. g. heliocentric model of solar system, development of Calculus, non. Euclidian geometry, steam engine, modern computers) A time span of 50 -100 years in the history of humankind is too short for making conclusive assertions or negations.

Industrial Outreach THE BASIC NEED The need therefore is to have groups people who are : o. Vibrant, passionate and aware on the impending issues o. Well-trained in the state-of-art o. At the same time ready to challenge the existing frameworks The first major question? Does our engineering education address these issues? Or Merely produce engineers who are ‘fit’ to get a job in the dwindling job market?

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … IEI is authoriesed to conduct the examination as per Clause 2(f) of the Royal Charter, which reads as follows: “…. . to provide for the holding of classes and to test by examination or otherwise the competence of such persons and to institute and establish professorships, studentships, scholarships, rewards and other benefactions and to grant certificates of competency whether under any Act of the Government of India Local Governments regulating the conduct and qualifications of engineers or otherwise howsoever. ”

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … PAST & PRESENT q. IEI is the first professional body of engineers to start nonformal engineering education programme in the country. q. The first examination, popularly known as AMIE Examination, was held in August 1928. q. Rules & Syllabi of the Institution examinations were drawn as far back as in 1924. q. Rules & Syllabi of Sections A & B examinations have been revised many times to keep pace with the technological advances and developments. q. Last revision of Rules and Syllabi was implemented in 2005 where project work and laboratory experiments were made compulsory and are evaluated. q. Again, the syllabi have recently been revised and would be sent to MHRD for approval.

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Recognition / Approval q IEI had received approval from MHRD, Govt. of India regarding passing of Sections A & B examinations as equivalent to bachelor’s degree in appropriate branch of engineering from a recognized Indian University in 1978 and 2006 (Ref. Gazette of India notification, 11 February, 2006). q IEI courses are duly recognized by all Indian Universities, IITs and apex bodies of Govt. of India such as UPSC, UGC etc and also by foreign bodies. q IEI courses does not come directly under the purview of AICTE for recognition. q Before 1987, before AICTE, IEI was the only accrediting body for engineering courses in the country

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Salient Features of the IEI (AMIE) Examinations: q. Career Enrichment Chart q. Equivalent to degree in appropriate branch of engineering of the recognized universities in India and hence access for admission to postgraduate courses and employment necessitating degree in engineering q. Freedom to select branch of engineering at specialization stage q. English is the medium of examination q. Fixed time limit to pursue Sections A & B examinations q. Restricted number of subjects to appear in an examination q. Compulsory project work and laboratory experiments q. Grading system for evaluation. Schemes of Examination There are two schemes of the Institution Examinations: * Section A - Diploma Stream - Non-diploma Stream * Section B

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Eligibility Criteria for Section A (Non-diploma) Examination q. Every interested person to become eligible for Section A (Nondiploma) examination is required to enroll as Technician Member q. For election of Technician Member, a person should have passed 10+2 examination or its equivalent, with minimum 45% marks in aggregate as well as 45% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and pass in English q. On being elected as Technician member, a person is eligible to appear in Section A (Non-diploma) Examination in immediate next examination held in June and December every year. q. The course consists of a total of 10 subjects – two subjects of basic sciences; five subjects of engineering sciences, two subjects of communication and one subject of social science. q. A technician member is required to pass all ten subjects for a complete pass in Section A examination. However, he is permitted to opt any four subjects only in an examination.

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Eligibility Criteria for Section A (Diploma) Examination q. Every interested person to become eligible for Section A (Diploma) examination is required to enroll as Senior Technician Member. q. For election of Senior Technician member, a person should have passed diploma in engineering with Physical, Chemistry, Mathematics, Engineering Drawing, and English Communication duly accredited/recognized by the competent authority of the respective countries. q. On being elected as Senior Technician member, a person is eligible to appear in Section A (Diploma) Examination in immediate next examination held in June and December Every year. q. The course consists of a total of four subjects – two subjects of engineering sciences, one subject of communication science and one subject of social science. q. A Senior Technician member is required to pass all four subjects for a complete pass in Section A Examination. He is eligible to appear in all four subjects at a time.

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Eligibility Criteria for Section B Examination After passing Section A (Non-diploma) or Section A (Diploma) examination, a candidate is required to apply for registration of Section B Examination in any one engineering discipline of his choice in which examinations are being conducted. A present Section B examinations are being conducted in following ten engineering disciplines: (a) Chemical Engineering (b) Civil Engineering (c) Computer Science and Engineering (d) Electrical Engineering (e) Electronics and Communication Engineering (f) Mechanical Engineering (g) Materials & Metallurgical Engineering (h) Mining Engineering (i) Production Engineering (j) Textile Engineering A technician/Senior Technician member is required to pass a total of nine subjects – one subject interdisciplinary commonality, five compulsory subjects and three optional subjects out of 15 optional subjects divided in three different specialization groups.

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Project work On passing any five subjects of Section B Examination, a T/ST member is permitted to do project work a topical subject under the designated project guide. q. Only corporate members of the Institution in the respective country are eligible to become project guides q. The project work is evaluated for appropriate Grade. Laboratory Experiments On passing any five subjects of Section B Examination, a T/ST member shall be permitted to do laboratory experiments in an engineering college/institute nearby to his place. Institution has a tie up with engineering colleges/institutes in India who have agreed to extend their laboratory facilities to our T/ST members for performing laboratory experiments A T/ST member has to complete any ten laboratory experiments out of the specified list of 20 laboratory experiments. The laboratory experiments are evaluated for appropriate Grade.

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Changed Scenario q IEI achieved full membership of EMF in June 2009 and professional engineers certification being conducted on the basis of systems and procedure of EMF. q Being a full member of EMF and Washington Accord in India being implemented the curriculum of professional bodies like IEI run courses will also be under the ambit of accreditation process by the competent Accreditating Body of the country. q IEI constituted an Expert committee comprising of: Prof. M Anandakrishnan / Prof. D. V. Singh / Prof. Amitabha Ghosh / Prof. P. N. Srivastava and Prof N. R. Bandyopadhyay to look into the issue of Accreditation/ Recognition of Grad IE Examination in the changed scenario.

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. First meeting of the Expert Committee was held at the premises of Delhi State Centre of IEI on 27 th January 2010. Experts opined q Existing accreditation process of NBA does not cover accreditation of Courses of professional bodies like IEI. q In the ensuing budget session an Accreditation Bill may be passed by the Parliament where through act of Parliament a body will be authorized to do the accreditation of courses of all recognized institutions/professional bodies. q National Accreditation Bill will have rigorous criteria about methodology, procedure of accreditation. q Process of accreditation should be substantially equivalent to other signatories of Washington Accord.

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Public Notice regarding Accrediation Bill published in The Telegraph dated 20 th May 2010

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Reaction regarding Accreditation Bill q. The National Board of Accreditation, the agency to assure the quality of technical education in the country, has been separated from its parent body, the All India Council of Technical Education, in a step to make it more independent. q. The NBA has been registered as a society and now has its own general council and executive council to decide on accreditation and quality control of institutions teaching engineering, management and architecture. q. Set up under the AICTE Act in September 1994, it at present assesses and accredits the courses offered by nearly 8, 000 technical institutions in the country.

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Reaction regarding Accreditation Bill The member countries of the accord held a meeting in Canada in July. They are in favour of India’s permanent membership. They have asked for some more documents with regard to the status of the NBA, which is the accreditation body. As per the accord, the accreditation body should be separated from the agency giving approval to engineering institutions. Accordingly, the NBA has been made a society. We have supplied all the information and we expect full membership by early next year, ” Mantha said.

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Reaction regarding Accreditation Bill q“After being made a society recently, the NBA notified its new rules, according to which the general council will be the highest authority to decide on accreditation. The AICTE chairman will remain president of the general council which shall have 20 members, including four vice -chancellors and six principals. q. The NBA will have its own executive council of at least 20 members to deal with administration and implementation of its guidelines. q. The NBA will periodically assess institutions and award grades. It will also ensure that the accredited institutions follow the AICTE curriculum.

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Reaction regarding Accreditation Bill q. The NBA is a society and has been separated from the AICTE. Earlier, it had board members who were deciding accreditation related matters. The minutes of the board were also going to the AICTE council meeting. Now the NBA is independent and can take decisions without depending on AICTE, ” acting AICTE chairman Prof. S. S. Mantha told The Telegraph. q. The step was taken to meet the requirements of the Washington Accord, an international agreement for recognizing engineering degrees of signatory countries. The accreditation agencies of at least 14 countries, including the US, Britain, Australia and Canada, are signatories. India has applied for permanent membership of the accord to help engineering graduates from the country to move easily to any of the other member countries for work or higher education

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. Rigorous criteria: some salient features q Input Parameters… Quality of students enrolling q Process Parameters. . Teaching /Learning Method, Faculty Quality for the guidance class, Quality of courses taught (besides engineering subjects inclusion of three major science subjects, management, accountancy and economics as credited course) and Laboratory experiments. q Output Indicators. . Employability Graduates (Grad IE) passing out every year. How to prepare ourselves… due thought require

AMIE Education…. EMF/ Washington accord … Contd. The experts further opined that q. As compared to other professional societies, IEI run non-campus based AMIE courses are in better position q. But in view of changed perspective of accreditation, IEI should take immediately action to address salient features mentioned earlier q. Besides some modest changes alike campus based system viz. q. Establishment of Academic Council changing EEAC q. Re-designation of existing position in the examinations systems; q. Compulsory contact hours for the students etc. should be immediately introduced q. Establishment of the laboratories act ESCI and four other Metropolitan based centres. PROCESS ALREADY INITIATED

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