PanIIT_Alumni_Driving_Excellence_in_Technical_Training_v8.3

“ IITians for ITI” Driving Excellence in Technical Training A PanIIT Program for improving technical training quality in India’s Industrial Training Institutes (ITI’s) PanIIT Alumni Association
Atul Mathur (IIT/K-B.Tech-1984)
PanIIT Pacific Northwest Chapter
November 2006

Agenda
Executive Summary
The Problem: Uneven Quality of Technical Training in India
India’s Technical Training Institutes
Existing Efforts at Quality Improvement
Potential role for IIT Alumni
“ IITians for ITI”: Towards Excellence in Technical Training
Program Details
Project at an ITI
Next steps

Executive Summary Industrial Training Institutes ( ITIs ) are mandated to train India’s vast technical workforce needed for her ever growing industry. There is growing concern about the quality of training imparted in these institutions owing to the problems with the curricula, infrastructure, instruction quality and other issues, including lack of collaborative effort with industry. India urgently needs her ITIs to produce quality technicians for global competitiveness. Towards this objective of improving the ITIs, a number of IITian’s, led by Atul Mathur, have studied the problem at a high level. The outcome is the birth of “ IITians for ITI ”, a Program envisioned to improve ITIs and drive sustainable excellence in India’s vocational training. The PanIIT Organization is uniquely placed to actively help transform India’s ITIs. PanIIT will provide the platform to formulate and implement the Program, which is being designed to afford opportunities for several IITians to participate, from India and the world over.

Executive Summary-Cont’d
This concept paper sets out the Program vision, its objectives and outlines the next steps. It helps gain a good understanding of the issues at hand and explains how the many diverse strengths of PanIIT can be effectively leveraged for realizing the Program goals. It also paves the way for further studies and engagements to define and finalize various components of the Program, including its implementation strategy.
The Program is predicated on the active involvement of IIT alumni around the world in one or more of the hundreds of ITI across the nation.
IIT alumni located locally will reach out to the ITIs. They will work at mentoring an Institute’s principal, its instructors and will liaise with the local industry.
IIT alumni located remotely will work on program administration, governance and monitoring. To promote excellence, PanIIT members worldwide will financially contribute for instructor training and student scholarships.
PanIIT organization will work with government agencies and industry associations to clear roadblocks and solicit support.
All in all, the Program calls for collective team effort and aims to appeal to every IITians’ core value and identity:
Pursuit of excellence in our relentless strife for success in all our initiatives
Excellence in technical/engineering training and education

Agenda
Executive Summary
“ IITians for ITI ”: Towards Excellence in Technical Training
Program Details
Project at an ITI
Next steps

ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes)
5114 ITIs as of January 2005
Capacity ~ 750,000 seats
Most are in southern & western region
Government ITIs
Run by the state governments
About 150-250 students
Great variation in the quality of ITIs
Privately owned institutes
63% of all ITIs.
but most are fairly small (< 100 students)
Just a few are very good e.g. NTTF
In-house Training Divisions
Telco, MICO, BHEL etc.
Role models
Training institutes with international collaboration
Danish Tool Room
German Tool Room

India's technical training institutes do not produce highly skilled technicians
Employers from the manufacturing sector feel the lack of highly skilled technicians to meet their growing needs
Study by CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) & TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) found:
Students from ITI’s had “Insufficient Practical Knowledge”
Need for “Multi Skilled Workers” is increasing, training has not kept pace with it.
Technology changes made by industry outstripped the capacity of most training institutions.

India's technical training institutes have quality problems rooted in many causes
Poor infrastructure
Outdated curriculum
Infrequent training of instructors
Over-centralization of power with bureaucracy
Lack of regular interaction with the industry

What do ITIs need?
Management guidance
Technical guidance
Faculty quality improvement
Infrastructure improvement
Better utilization of Government funding
Suitable curriculum
Suitable equipment, Instruments and teaching aids for imparting practical training
Close interaction with the industry
Introduction of new courses in response to industry needs
Periodic update of curriculum and equipment
Reputation as premier institutions to attract better quality students and faculty

Current efforts at improving ITI quality U pgradation of ITIs into “the centers of excellence” (CoE)
Centrally sponsored scheme for the upgradation of ITIs into “the centers of excellence” (CoE)
Select ITIs being ‘upgraded’ currently under a recent scheme of Government of India.
This scheme is to be extended to 500 ITIs.
Central Government and World bank funding (Rs. 160 crores)
CoE-ITIs have a new framework to facilitate industry participation
Managed by Institute Management Committees with industry participation
CII and FICCI participation
Status of the scheme
Implementation varies greatly by the state
IMCs already set up in 480 ITIs in 28 States
Limited autonomy to IMCs

Current efforts at improving ITI quality
Advanced Training Institutes for Instructors’ training (six institutes around the country)
Central Staff Training And Research Institute , Kolkata is the source for teaching aids with German collaboration
National Council for Vocational Training prescribes the curriculum and conducts All India Trade Tests to award National Trade Certificates
State Council for Vocational Training conducts trade tests which are not approved by NCVT but are operated by state

Current efforts at improving ITI quality
Recommendation by FICCI to create a new institutional framework for private participation
Create new autonomous organizations at states like universities, with which ITIs should be affiliated
Strengthen Private industry linkage with ITIs
PanIIT organization recently made a recommendation to “Create institutions similar to the IITs but focused on vocational education and highly skilled workers”

Agenda
Executive Summary
Program Details
Project at an ITI
Next steps

IITians can give many tangible and intangible inputs to ITIs
Global perspective
Management advice
Mentoring to the Faculty
Technical know-how
Funding for certain class of expenses
Industry and international collaboration
Reputation by association

Supporting an ITI will fulfill many needs of an IITian who wants to ‘give back’ to India
Fulfillment of personal vision of making a difference to the life of people and institutions in India, and specially to those in their own hometown
Opportunity to collaborate with other IIT Alumni towards a long-term shared goal
Satisfaction of improving a technical institution of the home-town
Satisfaction of mentoring and the resulting growth
Recognition for making a contribution

Why should PanIIT Alumni Association get involved?
This program fulfills members’ personal vision of making a difference to the life of people and institutions in India.
This program will motivate members to contribute passionately as it is aligned with IITians’ core identity and value:
an identity that revolves around excellence in technical/engineering training and education leading to world-class success.
pursuit of excellence in our relentless strife for success in all our initiatives
This program will channel the energy of IIT Alumni towards preparing ITI students to succeed in today’s global economy.
This program will help manufacturing sector of India become globally competitive.

PanIIT Alumni Association is in a position to support the program
Influence high level government policy to get the required approvals
Ministry of Labour/Directorate of Training
Directorate of Training at individual states
Collaborate at the highest level with Indian industry
CII, FICCI
Manufacturing sector, including large manufacturing companies
Operationalize the program
Develop international collaborations
Training institutes (e.g. C&G in UK, ITT in USA)
Community colleges in USA
Multi-national companies

Agenda
Executive Summary
“ IITians for ITI ” : Towards Excellence in Technical Training
Program Details
Project at an ITI
Next steps

“ IITians for ITI” Program goals
The goal of the program is to elevate the quality of ITI by supporting their management and instructors, and by promoting excellence among their students
Program envisions a phased approach with initial focus on that subset of ITIs which have the best chances of success being higher up on the quality spectrum. The momentum of this phase will be used for the rest of the ITIs.

“ IITians for ITI” Scale of the program
Long term project spanning over ~15 years
Nation wide projects at 100s of ITIs
At its maturity, the program will involve 500 to 3000 Alumni volunteers
Scope bigger than what any single IIT Alumni group can accomplish
Long term program envisioned to improve ITIs and drive sustainable excellence in India’s vocational training.

Program will consist of many simultaneous projects at different ITIs around India Each project defines the program effort at a single ITI IITians for ITIs Project 1 Project 2 Project 3 Project 4

Agenda
Executive Summary
Program Details
Project at an ITI
Next steps

What does PanIIT organization need to do to start the program?
Form a focus group and seed it with the right group of people
Define the program strategy and components
Form Coordination Committees
Enable the program through high level contact
Expand collaboration with Indian industry organizations (CII, FICCI)
Enter into MOU with Ministry of Labor
Publicize the program
Campaign to reach all the Alumni Assoc. chapters and members
Provide shared resources for coordination/communications
Website/Forums
Communication tools such as WebEx/LiveMeeting
Conduct pilot projects
Invite proposals from Alumni to initiate pilot project at ITIs
Start with southern and western region
Track pilot projects to completion

What does PanIIT organization need to do to operationalize the program?
Support IIT Alumni launch projects at ITIs
Interconnect project groups at all the ITIs
Facilitate sharing of best practices across all the projects
Website/forums/newsletter etc.
Coordination among various projects at different ITIs
Advisory role to project groups
Mentoring in leadership/management
Review of proposals/project plans
Fundraising for the projects
Funding for the operation of groups associated with individual ITIs
Sponsorships for the projects (Communication travel, etc.)
Involve IIT faculty and workshop instructors as advisors
Influence policy at various state governments
Influence central government policy

Agenda
Executive Summary
Program Details
Project at an ITI
Next steps

Core group champions the ITI as a center of excellence over the long term
What does a project at a specific ITI look like? Project driven by a core group of IITians Core group selects a promising ITI Gets approval from the ITI management and presents a proposal to Pan IIT Engages the ITI in a phased manner

Project objectives at an ITI Excellence in training of technicians
Technicians trained at the ITI…
acquire trade certificates with international recognition
compete successfully in international skill competitions
command a well-paying job anywhere in the world
get social recognition as being from a premier institute
Improve overall quality of technical training
Support the management and instructors
Promote excellence among the students

Project objectives at an ITI Institutional excellence
Institute under the project …
Gains accreditation with internationally recognized bodies
Trains Master craftsmen
Retrains industrial employees and runs advanced courses for industry
Becomes financially self-sustaining
Gains social recognition as a premier institute
Improve overall quality of technical training
Support the management and instructors
Promote excellence among the students
ITI Aundh in Pune conducts evening courses in CNC and PLC Programming for industry Model example

Stake holders for a project ITI Principal Students Instructors Management State Government Directorate of Training Central Government Directorate of Training Local Industry Program governance body Core group PanIIT Advisory group Primary member

Project team
Primary member
One of the IITians in the core group who is located geographically close to the ITI
Working experience in the industry in the sector of excellence
Member of the institute’s management committee, especially if the level of support from ITI is limited
Direct and regular contact with the ITI
Principal of the ITI
Main collaborator of the primary member within the ITI
Critical role in setting up the project

Project team
Core group
Consists of 3 or more IITians
Supports the primary member in coordination, planning, problem solving, research etc.
Periodic teleconference with the primary member
Raises and manages funds and sponsorships
Manages the excellence promotion and quality improvement components
Advisory group
Consultants for technical expertise in the domain
International group
Common resource shared by projects at multiple ITIs

Project Components
Quality improvement
IIT Alumni to provide guidance and support to the Principal
Help align the syllabus with the industry requirements
Raise funds for equipment and teaching aids
Mentoring
IIT Alumni to personally and remotely mentor the ITI instructors
Scholarships/sponsorships for ITI instructors
Excellence promotion
IIT Alumni to sponsor ITI students to participate in the national/international competitions for skill standards and performance benchmarks e.g. WorldSkills Competitions
Support for acquiring certificates with international recognition

Project component Quality Improvement
Review to identify the needs of the ITI
Funds
Equipment
Teaching aids
Part-time instruction
Sponsorship of experienced technicians from industry as instructors

Project component Excellence promotion
Sponsor ITI students to participate in the national competitions for skill standards and performance benchmarks
Provide ideas for projects
Fund student projects
Awards for participation and display of excellence
Accreditation with international bodies such as C&G
Sponsor students to acquire certificates with international recognition
WorldSkills Competitions
Sponsor the winners of national competitions into international competitions

Project component Mentoring
Primary member as the mentor
Selects the instructors to be mentored
Direct and regular contact with the instructors
Helps sets the instructor’s goals and provides resources
Reviews a periodic progress report
Incentives for the instructor
Scholarships for the instructor
Monthly scholarship
Scholarship for further training
Sponsorship of resources
Personal productivity tools
Internet connection
CAD systems etc.
Tied to continued progress by the instructor

Key success factor: Level of support from ITI
Support from ITIs which are run by state governments depends on many factors
Resistance from State government bureaucracy
Management, principal and instructors
Support from the local Industry
Central government
Private ITIs
Support from management, principal and instructors
Support from local Industry
How to increase support?
Publicity and education to enhance support
Central government support
State government approval

Degree of program support at a specific ITI depends on its current state * => Scaled back Poor Good Level of support from ITI to the program Full Limited
Quality improvement
Instructor’s mentoring
Quality improvement *
Quality improvement
Excellence promotion
Instructor’s mentoring
Quality improvement *
Excellence promotion*
ITI’s Quality

Local PanIIT chapter can play an important role in the success of the project
Organize events to support the project team
Provide networking opportunities to members of the project teams
Personal visits to project ITI by alumni
Prepare video reports on visits ("A first hand look at .....")
Organize resources with discipline specific expertise
Identify alumni in the industry who can serve on advisory board
Identify trainers in the industry who can train the instructors
Identify industrial training opportunities for students from the ITIs

Agenda
Executive Summary
Program Details
Next steps

Next steps
Seed the Program core team, drawing from members from all IITs to kick start the initial work:
Conduct multiple exploratory field and desk research studies , based on a robust study sample, to:
Gain ground level understanding of the ITI quality problem
Seek appropriate input from current stakeholders- ITI principal, instructors, students, administrative and funding agencies, industry etc.
Evolve quality measures and yardsticks to benchmark and rank individual ITIs
(We plan to involve business school students with engineering background and faculty drawn from top-tier Indian business schools in this effort)
Formulate Program strategy :
Program vision and mission
Program Governance and Administration
Program Scope
Program Roadmap
Delivery Strategy- phase wise implementation approach with initial focus on ITIs of relatively higher quality

Acknowledgement
Primary author:
Atul Mathur (IIT/K B.Tech - Mechanical ’84) . Atul started his career in Telco, Pune, and worked in India for a total of 8 years. Atul is currently working for Autodesk in CAD/CAM software development area and is the primary author of this concept paper. Atul worked on this concept during his sabbatical from Autodesk in 2006.
Key contributors
Abhijit Bhattacharyya (IIT/K B.Tech - Mechanical ’84) . Abhijit has worked in manufacturing industry in India for 17 years. Abhijit is currently pursuing PhD in manufacturing at University of Florida, Gainsville, FL.
Dr. Seshagiri Rao (IIT/K B.Tech – Chemical ’84), currently a Senior Manager with Accenture. Sesh was earlier Asst. Professor at School of Business, Queen's University.
Sources from Indian Industry
Yatish Mathur (IIT/K B.Tech – Metallurgical ’84), Delhi, India
Sharad Saxena (IIT/K B.Tech - Mechanical ’77), Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Rajendra Apashankar (IIT/K B.Tech – Aeronautical ’84), Pune, India
Sources from Indian Government (IAS officers)
Alok Tandon (IIT/K B.Tech – Electrical ’84) Alok is currently pursuing PhD at UC SD, CA. Alok was earlier Personal Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development, Government of India.
Prakash Kumar (IIT/K B.Tech – Electrical ’84) Prakash is currently Joint Secretary of Ocean Development. Till recently, he was Secretary of Technical Education for Delhi
Ajay Kumar (IIT/K B.Tech – Electrical ’84) Ajay is currently pursuing PhD at University of Minnesota.
Advisors
Nishith Mathur (IIT/D B.Tech – Mechanical ’84)
Harsh Arora (IIT/D B.Tech – Chemical ’74)
Dr. Piyush Kumar (IIT/K B.Tech – Mechanical ’84)
Dhiraj Goswami (IIT/K B.Tech – Electrical ’94)
This paper is dedicated to the Master Craftsmen trained at Training Division, Telco, Pune.

PanIIT_Alumni_Driving_Excellence_in_Technical_Training_v8.3

by akmathur on Apr 02, 2007

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PanIIT_Alumni_Driving_Excellence_in_Technical_Training_v8.3 — Presentation Transcript