'Training the trainers' at varsities

``Tailormade to work'' is the new buzzword going around in education circles these days. And helping universities realise that dream of coming out with ``ready for the market'' batches are now bigwigs of the corporate world.

The last couple of months have seen companies like Intel, IBM and Tata tie up with Indian universities either to train their faculty or to help directly and train future Indian professionals.

And the latest company to join this bandwagon is Cisco, which is launching a networking academy to help train upcoming network professionals. With the aim of educating the Internet generation, the Cisco Academy will focus on ``training the trainers'' and through them bring about a change in the curriculum of various educational institutions.

With over 8,300 institutes across the world, Cisco is simultaneously launching more than 50 centres in Asia alone. What makes these tie-ups interesting is the fact that apart from providing most institutes with the latest in the market of technology, these companies train students keeping in mind the needs of the job market.

With India's IT industry alone faced with the need for around 1,00,000 engineers in another five years, most companies feel that there will be a major demand for better equipped engineers in the days to come.

The Indraprastha University had earlier this year launched the Indraprastha University-IBM programme, which enables colleges affiliated to the University incorporate educational programs on IBM software technologies to support the main course of curriculum -- elective or project -- within the framework of the university syllabus.

IBM's role in the scheme included investing in providing licensed versions of cutting edge software like DB2 Universal database, websphere application server family and visual age for Java, apart from providing faculty training and facilitation of curriculum development.

``We need to familiarise students with the software so that when they start working, the company gets value addition in through the new professional. What we need today is graduates who are ready and prepared to work rightaway,'' believes Pawan Sharma, the country manager of software group and develop relations, IBM India Ltd.

Earlier this year, the Microsoft Corporations had launched the Net Campus Challenge in India in collaboration with Aptech institute. It is targeted at engineering colleges and Microsoft certified technical education centres, which require students to build business applications using XML web services.

And considering the fact that it is not small scale or upcoming companies, but established and reputed ones that have taken upon themselves the responsibility of training these youngsters, the scenario in future is only expected to get better.

Intel's education programme, for example, concentrates on training teachers in the latest in the field of technology, so that they can pass on the information to their respective students. Intel's innovation in education programme supports courses that can improve education through the effective use of technology in classrooms.

* * *

When Bharat Ratna and Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, walked into the auditorium of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University to deliver a lecture, he received a hero's welcome.

The science wizard surprised many by shunning the gleaming but glaring lights of the electronic media, pointing out that they were not letting him see the students properly. As far as students were concerned, there were quite a few who were left disappointed by the fact that the Bharat Ratna awardee did not say much on the country's nuclear policy.

The loudest applaud then, not surprisingly, came when Dr. Kalam justified India's testing of the nuclear bombs by saying that only strength respects strength. And much to the disappointment of the teachers and `elderly' ones in the auditorium, Dr.Kalam said it was only those below the age of 23 who could really help the country in becoming a developing one.

``I have learnt from my own experience that after crossing 23, most people seem to overuse the word can't, while those below that age insist on believing that it might be difficult but it can always be done.''

* * *

To help students in preparing better for the IIT-JEE screening exams , Macmillan India will be conducting ``Macmillan Surefire'', a simulation of the IIT-JEE screening examinations. To be held on November 25 at all metros and several other major cities, the results for the exams will be declared within a few days of the test.

Based on the syllabus and pattern of the IIT -JEE screening, the examinations will enable candidates to gauge their preparedness for the actual exam.

-- Lakshmi Balakrishnan

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