International collaboration in curriculum and laboratory development

Abstract

The aim of any country‟s higher education system is sustainable development and achieving higher growth rates. India aims to increase the higher education enrolment rate from about 12 percent at present to 30 percent over a decade. Technical education at all levels in India is witnessing a consistent growth by establishing new institutions, addition of courses and increase in seats mainly with private participation. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), a statutory body of Govt. of India is the national level apex body with its mission of developing and promoting quality technical education in the country has been constantly giving importance to improvement of quality by constantly upgrading the curriculum. AICTE brings out model curriculum in all specializations and programmes governed by it viz, Engineering, Management, MCA, Pharmacy, Hotel Management and Architecture. The curriculum development in India is done keeping the outcome based approach or the competency based approach. The National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) located at four different places in India carry out research and assistance to institutions and universities in developing the competency based curriculum for engineering courses at various levels viz, Diploma, Degree and Post Graduate. The use of Information Communication Technology in the teaching learning process is promoted in India through a nationally coordinated project – National Project on Technology Enhanced Learning. As part of this project, e-contents are developed for various courses and virtual laboratories are being established across the country. This paper discusses the above and similar practices in achieving quality education in India and the areas of mutual collaboration with other countries.