Andhra polytechnic students should engage in Innovation

Vijayawada: In a resounding call to foster innovation and technical skill development among polytechnic students, Principal Secretary of the Department of Skill Development and Training, S. Suresh Kumar, has directed officials to encourage students of polytechnic colleges to look beyond their curriculum. He emphasized the importance of engaging in innovative projects, publishing research papers, and exploring online courses to create a more competitive and globally relevant workforce.

Mr. Suresh Kumar delivered this significant directive while addressing attendees at the “Transforming Polytechnic Academics – Towards a Globally Competitive Workforce” conference held in Vijayawada recently. This pivotal event brought together principals from government and private polytechnic colleges across the state to discuss and strategize the future of technical education.

Highlighting the pivotal role of technical skills in driving employment opportunities, Mr. Suresh Kumar stressed that these competencies should be at the forefront of the students’ educational journey. He underscored the need for students to recognize the potential within themselves to contribute to a competitive workforce and urged principals to actively involve parents in the process. He encouraged regular interactions with parents to emphasize the importance of prioritizing employment opportunities over pursuing higher education immediately after completing a diploma course.

Mr. Suresh Kumar also wanted them to engage skill counsels in technical education and establish a vocational education ecosystem for training students in emerging technologies. He urged them not to lose sight of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 guidelines and implement credit system. Maintaining standards is important, he emphasized and informed that the department was taking up an academic audit.

Mr. Suresh Kumar also appreciated the efforts of the Department of Technical Education in bringing out textbooks and lab-manuals at reasonable prices for students. He inaugurated the newly-developed website of the State Board of Technical Education and Training (SBTET) and felicitated the authors and editors of the textbooks brought out by the department.

Director of the Department of Technical Education Chadalavada Nagarani said the principals and the department officials should ensure effective implementation of reforms, in alignment with NEP 2020.

She said add-on courses were being designed in alignment with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) guidelines and that students would undergo an intensive training in these courses. Students would also have the choice of opting for online training programmes available in the SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) portal and certificates and additional credits would be awarded for these programmes.

Referring to the ‘academic audit’ by the department, she said State-level rankings would be given to polytechnic colleges, both in the government and private sectors.

Deputy Director (Training and Placement) M.A.V. Ramakrishna, Joint Director of Technical Education V. Padma Rao and others were present.