20, Jun 2024
Dhyan Foundation to Open New Dhyan Center on Sunday In The City At Banjara Hills To Teach Free Yoga
Dhyan Foundation is the only Indian non-profit body to work with Border Security Forces (BSF) to rehabilitate cattle
Ashwini Guruji under whose guidance the classes delivered lectures at prestigious institutions like IIM, Bangalore, Oxford University, London etc.
Hyderabad, June 20, 2024….Dhyan Foundation, a volunteer-driven social organisation is to open a New Dhyan Center in Banjara Hills for Free Yoga Training. It will be the state-of-the-art Yoga Studio. It will be formally opened on Sunday by its volunteers.
Dhyan Foundation works for the welfare of animals, particularly the Indian sacred animal cow. It is the only organisation working with the Border Security Force (BSF) to rehabilitate cattle rescued from the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Disclosing this in a press note issued in Hyderabad, the Dhyan Foundation spokesperson said the centre which is coming up in the centre of the city at Banjara Hills is its place and can accommodate up to 200 people. It will teach every aspect of Yoga by volunteers who are students, homemakers, lawyers, journalists, doctors, and CEOs under the guidance of Ashwini Guruji of Dhyan Ashram.
Soon it will run a few special sessions of Secrets from Sanatan Kriya for eternal youth & glow and a brilliant mind, under the guidance of *Ashwini Guru ji* of Dhyan Ashram.
Ashwini Guruji is an embodiment of the gyan of the Vedas. He follows the Guru-Shishya parampara in its totality, He believes yoga is a sadhana and not a business. The foundation is committed to the cause of spreading awareness about the authentic path of yoga, as laid down by Sage Patanjali 4,500 years ago. Be it conducting lectures at various prestigious institutions like IIM, Bangalore, Oxford University, and London, authoring masterpieces on esoteric subjects (including the thesis on anti-ageing, Sanatan Kriya – The Ageless Dimension) or taking seekers from across ages on spiritual sojourns to places of importance in the Vedic culture – He has continuously enlightened us about our history.
From revealing to us the deep secrets hidden under the Earth at the Patal Bhuvaneshwari Caves, interpreting the ancient Vedic symbolism of the Rollright stones in the UK, to uncovering astounding revelations of the Sigiriya rock in Sri Lanka, Ashwini Guruji has enlightened us about the Vedic relevance of each of these places.
Formed in 2002 to share and spread the gyan of the original and pristine form of yog, Dhyan Foundation, today is a global phenomenon with centres all across the world where Sanatan Kriya (Patanjali Ashtang Yog in its original, undiluted form) sessions are conducted free of cost as per the ancient Guru-Shishya Parampara. Thousands across the globe have benefited physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually from the practice of Sanatan Kriya.
Dhyan Foundation runs several animal welfare programmes for dogs, birds, cows, monkeys and many other animals. Today, it has over 47 shelters and gaushalas and we provide aid, care, food and shelter to over 70,000 animals.
Those interested in training in Yoga free of cost may please reach out to Dhyan Foundation at Road no 10 Banjara Hills Hyderabad 500034, Google location pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/tr6BEkzMCgFvgDys5?g_st=iw. For more information, please drop in at 8465005989, 9393468680. Please visit the Dhyan Foundation website Www.dhyanfoundation.com
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- By Rabindra
21, Mar 2024
New Relic Deepens Commitment to Open Source with One-Step Observability for OpenTelemetry
Bangalore, March 21, 2024—New Relic, the all-in-one observability platform for every engineer, announced that it will now provide native support for OpenTelemetry and Prometheus-instrumented hosts and Kubernetes clusters at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2024. With this launch, organizations can now instrument Kubernetes clusters and hosts using the OpenTelemetry collector and Prometheus Node Exporter in a single step. They also gain instant access to curated UIs that automatically correlate performance across applications and infrastructure.
Open source instrumentation frameworks like OpenTelemetry and Prometheus are being rapidly adopted because they are standardized, vendor agnostic, community supported, and cost effective. However, instrumenting and setting up these open source tools to work with commercial observability platforms requires significant time and expertise. Engineers need to gather the right telemetry for each resource, establish tagging for correlation, create dashboards, and set thresholds of acceptable performance. Even with these measures in place, teams often find it challenging to correlate data across different dashboards to determine the cause during an incident response. New Relic solves these challenges by making it easier to instrument and get visibility into applications and infrastructure telemetry data to lower incident response times.
“Open source frameworks like OpenTelemetry are an integral part of the tech stack, and that reliance continues to grow. Most observability platforms only offer primitive support for these tools. There needs to be a shift in the industry to meet developers where they are,” said New Relic Chief Product Officer Manav Khurana. “That is why we offer native support for OpenTelemetry in our platform. We are now simplifying observability for engineers using OpenTelemetry and Prometheus so they can spend less time on instrumentation, setup, and troubleshooting and more time on what matters most to them – shipping code and driving innovation.”
“One of the major reasons we chose New Relic over other observability platforms is because of how deeply and natively integrated it is with OpenTelemetry,” said ZeroFlucs CTO Carly Christensen. “They continue to push ahead of any other vendor on the market by adding new features like native support for OpenTelemetry and Prometheus-instrumented hosts and Kubernetes clusters. This, combined with the cost effectiveness of their platform – they charge based on consumption – is why we rely on New Relic as our single source of truth for observability.”
New Relic’s native support populates golden signals in its native UIs for hosts and Kubernetes, with automatic correlation between application and infrastructure telemetry. As a result, teams can quickly detect and isolate the cause behind performance issues across their applications and related infrastructure in one place.
New capabilities include:
- One-step instrumentation for Kubernetes clusters and hosts using the OpenTelemetry collector and Prometheus Node Exporter.
- Instant access to out-of-the-box dashboards and native UIs with standardized golden metrics.
- Automated relationship mapping between application and infrastructure to render topology maps and understand how the performance of one layer impacts another.
- Faster debugging enabled by automatic correlation with application and infrastructure logs.
22, Feb 2024
Thyroid Eye Disease: more to it than meets the Eye
Authored by Dr. Saptagirish, HoD Orbit and Oculoplastics, Dean,
Sankara Eye Hospital, Bangalore
Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) is mostly caused by the immune system targeting the muscles and tissues that surround the eyes, which causes irritation and an array of ocular symptoms. In a study conducted over 18 months in 2020, it was found that 34.7% patients with thyroid dysfunction having TED and 4:1 ratio of women to men with TED. With the advancement of AI and technology, it is much easier to diagnose TED and provide much more advanced treatment that will help in the speedy recovery of the patient. People need to be conscious of these indications and get help as soon as possible to prevent them from getting worse. Failure to do so may lead to complications, including potential vision loss.
Key Clinical Features of Thyroid Eye Disease:
Protrusion of Eyes (Proptosis): One prominent indication entails the protrusion or bulging outwards of one or both eyes due to swelling and inflammation affecting the eye muscles along with adjacent tissues.
Double vision: TED can induce restriction of one or more muscles that help rotate the eyes in different directions, thereby leading to double vision medically termed diplopia.
Ocular Discomfort and Pain: Individuals afflicted with TED often experience discomfort accompanied by dull aching pain within their affected eyes coupled with sensations akin to grittiness, irritation and foreign body sensation.
Swelling and Inflammation: Swelling alongside inflammation in tissues surrounding the eyeballs leads to redness, pain and discomfort
Dry eyes: Reduced production of tears, inability to close eye completely and increased visualization of white part of the eye leads to dryness
Cosmetic disfiguration: bulging of one or both eyes, staring look, inability to close eyes completely and eyelid lag can result in unsightly appearance aesthetically displeasing to some individuals.
Systemic manifestations: Weight loss, palpitations, increased heart rate, heat intolerance and generalised apprehension and anxiety should alert one on presence of hyperactive thyroid hormones. Ocular manifestations may precede or follow systemic manifestations in a majority of individuals.
Dietary Considerations
When managing TED closely paying heed towards eating habits emerges as beneficial thus certain considerations worth pondering include:
Foods that should be avoided include processed foods, as they often contain high levels of sodium which can contribute to water retention and worsen eye swelling. Excessive intake of sugary foods should be restricted as it may lead to inflammation in the body. It is always recommended to follow a low-sugar diet to help manage symptoms.
Selenium supplements: Dietary sources like onions, garlic, meat, seafood, shellfish, eggs and cereals or selenium supplements prescribed by a medical practitioner have beneficial effects in controlling symptoms and progression in mild TED due to its antioxidant properties.
Addictions: Smoking and alcohol are substances that have the potential to exacerbate eye discomfort and disrupt sleep patterns associated with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). Therefore, it is advisable to gradually reduce and stop consumption of these substances altogether.
To take precautions against TED, regular medical check-ups are essential. By scheduling routine appointments with healthcare providers, individuals can monitor their thyroid function and assess the progression of TED more effectively.
Lubricants: The use of lubricating eye drops can also alleviate dryness and increase overall comfort experienced by some individuals.
Adequate sleep plays a significant role in promoting overall well-being while alleviating uncomfortable symptoms such as eye discomfort. It’s important to prioritize quality rest by ensuring sufficient hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.
Furthermore, stress management techniques prove beneficial for managing autoimmune conditions related to TED. Adopting practices like meditation or yoga helps individuals cope better with stressors that could potentially worsen their condition over time.
Understanding Thyroid Eye Disease requires awareness of its symptoms alongside implementing supportive dietary choices and taking the necessary precautions mentioned above. This includes seeking personalized advice from healthcare professionals regarding tailored treatment plans. Finding a balance between medical guidance, and lifestyle modifications allows people affected by this condition, to improve their overall well-being effectively, and successfully manage its impact on ocular health.
• Indian Journal of Ophthalmology: Clinical profile of thyroid eye disease and factors predictive of disease severity
• National Library of Medicine: Selenium supplementation in thyroid associated ophthalmopathy, an update
21, Feb 2024
Bangalore Police and OYO’s joint drive against immoral activities in hotels
Bangalore, February 22, 2024. The police department has initiated a special drive in its fight against immoral activities including human trafficking in hotels in Bangalore in partnership with OYO.
Top officials of OYO along with hotel operators held a meeting with Shri D Devaraja, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Division, and extended their support to the police in combating immoral activities in city hotels. They discussed strategies to curb immoral activities such as human trafficking, drug abuse, and other illegal practices often associated with certain unscrupulous elements misusing hotel facilities.
OYO reaffirmed its commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for all its guests and reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards any form of illegal or immoral activities on its premises.
As part of this joint drive, OYO and the Bangalore police have agreed to enhance collaboration and information sharing to swiftly identify and address any suspicious or illegal activities. This partnership underscores OYO’s proactive approach to ensuring the safety and well-being of its guests and the community at large.
Shri D Devaraja, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Division, Bangalore said “We are committed to working closely with the hospitality industry to ensure that hotels remain safe and welcoming places for all guests. By collaborating with organizations like OYO, we can better identify and address illegal activities, ultimately creating a safer environment for everyone.”
He also said that though proper record-keeping of guests is important moral policing should not be encouraged. In addition to this, hotels should also ensure that CCTV cameras in the property and neighborhood is functional all the time.
Nitin Thakur, Head, of Strategic Alliances and Communications, OYO, added “This meeting is a part of our nationwide program to collaborate with the police and ensure a safe environment for guests in hotels. The discussions included strategies to improve information sharing, enhance training programs for hotel staff, and establish clear protocols for reporting suspicious activities. This partnership is especially important since we have a lot of hotels in Bangalore, and it is a high growth city for us.”
OYO has a robust safety and security system to ensure that hotels listed on its platform must comply with the safety-related laws and guidelines issued by local law enforcement agencies. It also provides regular safety and security-related training to its hotel partners and their employees to watch out for red flags such as guest behavior and unusual check-in patterns and take preventive actions.
20, Feb 2024
IET India Expands Reach with the Launch of Local Network in Hyderabad
Bangalore, 20th February: The India branch of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), one of the oldest and largest professional engineering bodies in the world is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest Local Network in Hyderabad. This strategic expansion marks a significant step forward for IET India and the organization’s efforts to drive the advancement of the engineering community of India.
ET India’s Hyderabad Local Network currently has 400+ members that include students, as well as industry and academia pioneers. Throughout the upcoming year, the network will delve into three overarching themes: People-centric Infrastructure, Digital Futures, and Productive Manufacturing. With a comprehensive event calendar for the coming year, the Hyderabad Local Network is set to host a series of engaging activities, including hackathons, expos, and summits.
The academia-industry collaboration will be a focus area for the year, and the Network is geared up to partner with many leading industry players.
On the launch of the Hyderabad Local Network, Shekhar Sanyal (Director and Country Head, IET India) said “The IETF’s Local Networks are instrumental in driving collaboration and uniting the remarkable talent and dedication of our members and volunteers. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the members of our newest Local Network in Hyderabad and warmly welcome them into the IET community. We look forward to witnessing the advancements that the network will foster in the region through collective efforts.”
The IET’s Local Networks across the globe play an essential role in facilitating collaboration, exchange of knowledge, and professional growth in the engineering and technology industries at the local level. Through them, the IET hopes to create a dynamic forum for professionals, academics, and enthusiasts in the region to interact, exchange insights, chart a roadmap for technology adoption and inspire engineers all over the world.
Looking forward to the new journey, Dr. Kalyan Sagar (Chair, IET Hyderabad Local Network) said, “Being the newest addition to the IET family fills us with immense pride and excitement as we join this global community driven by a shared passion for engineering and technology. We are on a simple yet profound mission to uncover fresh avenues for partnership, to spark innovative ideas, and to turn them into impactful projects that make a real difference and more than anything else become an inspiration to all engineers in this region.”
19, Feb 2024
L&T Technology Services and The National Institute of Engineering’s illuminate 2.0 Highlights New Frontiers of Technology
Mysuru/Bangalore, February 19, 2024: illuminate 2.0, an initiative by L&T Technology Services Limited (BSE: 540115, NSE: LTTS), and The National Institute of Engineering (NIE) in Mysuru, brought together industry leaders and innovators to share invaluable insights and perspectives in the vibrant city of Mysuru. Distinguished speakers Shri Ramesh KS, Senior Vice President of Ather Energy, and Thiyagarajan. A, Project Specialist – Statue of Unity, L&T Construction, inspired the audience with their diverse and deep experiences from the world of technology, innovation, and engineering excellence.
The event featured immersive and interactive sessions that explored the latest frontiers of technological advancements across industries and domains. Ramesh KS highlighted the growing impact and sustainability benefits of electric vehicles, emphasizing their potential to revolutionize the global mobility industry. Thiagarajan A shared the story behind the design and construction of the world’s tallest statue – The Statue of Unity, shedding light on the transformative technologies and initiatives adopted during its in-record-time construction.
The audience, comprising scientists, engineers, industry leaders, government dignitaries, academia, students, and members of the media, was deeply engrossed in the compelling narratives that unveiled the extraordinary stories behind today’s monumental creations. In a subsequent fireside chat, moderated by Rajeev Gupta, CFO of L&T Technology Services Limited, the speakers further delved into the role of engineering in designing, developing, and optimizing processes for significant growth without compromising performance, quality, or reliability. Their message to the youth and the Engineers at Heart was clear – follow your passion for achieving new heights.
Abhishek Sinha, Chief Operating Officer and Board Member at L&T Technology Services commented on the occasion, “Through illuminate, our flagship industry-academia interface initiative, LTTS aspires to fulfill its commitment toward promoting unmatched excellence and a spirit of innovation among young engineers, aspiring technologists, and the public. The first-hand experiences, connections, and insights into the groundbreaking developments – from electric vehicles to construction engineering – in the vibrant city of Mysuru, reaffirm our belief that sustainable growth paradigms can only be achieved through all-round and continuing stakeholder engagement for driving the next frontiers of success.”
Expressing her thoughts, Dr Rohini Nagapadma, Principal, NIE – Mysore, observed, “We are pleased to be a part of the second edition of Illuminate with L&T Technology Services. Through meaningful engagements around the role of science and engineering in our society, our speakers this year inspired us with firsthand accounts of ingenuity and innovation that is shaping India’s growth story. An important takeaway, I feel, is the need for synergizing talent development and problem-solving approach within our academic and skill-development initiatives.”
The inaugural edition of Illuminate was graced by Dr Mylaswami Annadurai, popularly known as the “Moon Man of India” and Shri Sudhanshu Mani, the mind behind the Vande Bharat Express trains. Illuminate will continue to drive the passion of engineering excellence among the youth and technology enthusiasts in the coming days.
17, Feb 2024
Re Sustainability Unveils New Waste to Energy Facility in Rewa
Bangalore, India February 17, 2024: Re Sustainability Limited(ReSL), Asia’s largest integrated waste management company, inaugurated its regional Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) facility, addressing the waste management needs of the Rewa, Satna, and Sidhi districts, comprising a total of 28 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
The project’s scope includes the establishment of an Integrated Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management Facility, which elevates the waste management capabilities of the region, facilitating the door-to-door waste collection and transportation, processing, and disposal (including RDF, composting, recycling, and landfill operations). The project also includes a 6 MW Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant. The project involves the participation of 28 ULBs, with 12 from the Rewa district, 12 from the Satna district, and 4 from the Sidhi district. The facility will help the district to efficiently process and manage 350 metric tons of waste each day.
Approximately 2,35,000 households are being served under the project, involving collection and transportation municipal solid waste. The waste to energy plant has a capacity of 6 MW, and the concessionaire tenure for the project is 21 years. The project is undertaken by Nagar Palika Nigam, a government corporation in Rewa.
Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Rajendra Shukla, said “The government’s commitment to supporting initiatives like the Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management Facility underscores our dedication to environmental preservation and sustainable practices. Through this partnership with Re Sustainability Limited, we are addressing the pressing waste management challenges in our districts while also harnessing renewable energy resources for the benefit of our communities.”
“This Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant brings the world’s best technology to solve the region’s municipal waste challenges, while simultaneously enabling a circular economy. It not only diverts waste from landfills and conserves precious land, but also generates clean energy, contributing to the state’s response to climate change. This is a monumental occasion for citizens of Madhya Pradesh and a testament to our commitment to building a cleaner and more sustainable future for all of India – from the mega-cities to the smaller towns and urban clusters” said, Mr. Masood Mallick, CEO, Re Sustainability Limited.
The nature of the project is build, own, operate (BOO), and the government is providing a capital grant of Rs. 87.27 crore. The total project cost, inclusive of collection and transportation and processing and disposal, amounts to over Rs. 220 crores. The boilers at the facility have a capacity of 32 tons per hour of steam generation. There are plans for expansion of the facility in the next five years, intending to increase the Waste to Energy capacity by another 6 MW in future.
er 85+ operating locations spread across India, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Tanzania and USA. With over 25 years of operational history, ReSL has a dominant presence across the entire waste value chain and has been a long-standing partner in the environmental solutions space to its customers.
16, Feb 2024
Are you at risk of Preeclampsia
Are you an expecting Mom? While the joy of impending motherhood is certainly exciting, there’s important information to be aware of as you embark on this incredible journey. Preeclampsia is a syndrome that manifests during pregnancy, characterized by elevated blood pressure and signs of organ damage, typically affecting the heart, liver, and kidneys. This condition is usually identified after the 20th week of pregnancy and can impact both the expectant mother and the developing foetus.
Preeclampsia can be tricky to detect and one should be extra cautious of the symptoms and should not ignore even a small sign of it. Talking openly with the doctor will certainly help to manage the condition positively to ensure maximum protection for the baby and mother, says Dr. Prathima Reddy, Director & Lead Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SPARSH Hospital, Bangalore.
#Signs and Symptoms:
o Watch out for increased blood pressure (hypertension) often with headaches and visual disturbance.
o There can be swelling of hands and face or sudden weight gain.
o Continuous nausea or vomiting may imply severe preeclampsia.
#Risk Factors:
o These include having a family history of preeclampsia.
o Take heed if you are pregnant with twins or more, as well as if you are suffering from a previously existing illness (high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease and the like).
#Complications:
o The two incidences that come along with it are premature birth and low birth weight of the baby
o In severe instances, it may progress to eclampsia, marked by seizures, thereby posing serious risks to the mother’s life.
#Regular Prenatal Check-ups:
o Regular check-ups will help the physician monitor your blood pressure and preeclampsia symptoms during your visits.
o If preeclampsia is detected early chances are higher for both mother and baby to have a better prognosis.
#Lifestyle Modifications:
o To be in good health, it is necessary to have a balanced diet, especially fruits and vegetables and whole-grain products.
o Engage in physical activity under your physician’s supervision. This could involve following a recommended exercise routine tailored by your doctor.
o Stressed out? Try breathing deeply or signing up for prenatal yoga classes.
#Know When to Seek Help:
o Do not wait, call your doctor immediately if you notice any symptoms that could be worrying
o Preeclampsia can only be effectively managed through emergency medical attention.
#The Power of Support:
Have open conversations with your healthcare team, partner, and family regarding your concerns and the experiences you’ve encountered in this matter.
When a woman is aware of preeclampsia, she is empowered to take proactive steps to ensure the safe and healthy birth of her baby. In the exciting journey of motherhood, the path ahead is one of upward progress. Knowledge is key, so stay informed, remain vigilant, implement lifestyle adjustments, and approach pregnancy with confidence.
15, Feb 2024
Under Armour Chandigarh Fast Marathon to Transform Long-Distance Running in India
Bangalore, 15th Feb 2024 As long-distance running continues to gain popularity across India, so does the interest in prestigious global marathons. Increasingly, Indian running enthusiasts are traversing the globe to partake in the renowned Six World Major Marathons, including New York, Chicago, Boston, Berlin, Tokyo, and London. However, gaining entry to these esteemed events typically demands qualifying times achieved in other certified races, leaving a gap for competitive runners within the Indian marathon circuit.
Enter the Under Armour Chandigarh Fast Marathon—a groundbreaking initiative poised to redefine the Indian running landscape. Proudly presented by Under Armour, a leading inventor, marketer, and distributor of branded athletic performance apparel, footwear, and accessories, this event sets itself apart by being exclusively for qualified participants. This race is only by qualification and is scheduled to kick off on February 18, 2024, in Chandigarh—a city known for its splendid infrastructure, favourable climate, and unwavering encouragement from the government.
Commenting on the race, Vikas Singh, race organizer and CEO of India Running, a premium running and running technology company said, The Under Armour Chandigarh Fast Marathon solely focuses on performance and is meticulously designed to provide every essential support for long-distance runners. With our commitment to excellence and support from Under Armour, we aim to elevate this marathon into a premier qualifier for the esteemed World Major Marathons, not just within India but across the entire Asia-Pacific region in the years to come.”
Speaking on the partnership Tushar Goculdas, Managing Director, Underdog Athletics (exclusive licensee & distributor for Under Armour in India) said, “The Under Armour Chandigarh Fast Marathon embodies the spirit of pushing boundaries and striving for excellence, values that resonate deeply with Under Armour. We believe in empowering athletes to achieve their personal best, and the Under Armour Chandigarh Fast Marathon is poised to do just that. We look forward to witnessing the profound impact of this race, not only within India but also on the global running stage.”
15, Feb 2024
We need to work towards a future where no region in India is without internet access – Dr Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chair NAAC, NBA, NETF
Bangalore, 15th February 2024: The Institution of Engineering and Technology, a leading global engineering body, successfully concluded its academic round table on ‘Changing face of global engineering – calibrating India’s response’. The roundtable witnessed the successful convergence of industry leaders, academicians and regulatory bodies to chart a standardized industry-first, solution-oriented roadmap for the future of engineering education. The event featured three impact-driven panel discussions focused on paving the way for a more outcome-oriented Indian engineering education system, as per the NEP 2020. The discussion was chaired by Dr. Anil Sahasrabuddhe, Chairman – Chair NAAC, NBA, NETF, and also featured notable speakers such as Dr Amit Dutta, Director, AICTE; Dr Atul Chauhan, Chancellor, Amity University; Prof (Dr) Indranil Manna, President – Indian National Academy of Engineering and Vice Chancellor, BIT, Mesra, Ranchi and Mr Abhijeet Sinha, Program Director, Ease of Doing Business and National Highways for EV (NHEV))
“The IET is dedicated to fostering important discussions that lead to positive changes in the industry. India is rapidly becoming a top choice for Global Capability Centres, thanks to our skilled engineers. But there’s a big problem: the gap between industry and academia is getting wider, hindering our progress. India is also becoming a global powerhouse for engineering education but the quality of this education needs to be world class. This Roundtable will curate a roadmap to bridge this gap and navigate the changing streams of engineering education. These insights will greatly contribute towards shaping the future of engineering education for the next generation of aspiring technologists and thereby the country.”, said Shekhar Sanyal, Country Head and Director, IET India.
The event began with a discussion around ‘Where is Global engineering going and what is the skill gap?’, followed by conversations on ‘Outcome-based Education: Why is it critical?’. Speaking at the event, Dr Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chair NAAC, NBA, NETF, said “We need to train engineers to become lifelong learners and self-learners, as technology developments are advancing at an exponential rate. The digital revolution has greatly improved the accessibility of engineering education. Today, Indian students have access to free courses from leading global institutes like MIT and Harvard, as well as Indian platforms like SWAYAM. We are seeing innovative startups by high-school graduates from non-engineering backgrounds, who have acquired all their knowledge from YouTube. Therefore, we need to work towards a future where no region in India is without internet access, and therefore no region is deprived of learning opportunities.”
“There is still a dire requirement for more hands-on learning opportunities for students through industry-collaborative products and internships. We currently have 1.7 crore students and 75,000+ internship providers on a portal, which uses modern tools like AI to suggest internship opportunities based on the student’s interests, their locality/hometown and the opportunities available in the region. This is particularly essential for students in remote areas and Tier 2/Tier 3 cities.”, he added.
The second panel discussion highlighted that the engineering education system is a victimisation of meritocracy, and raised an important question – “What are we awarding as merit – rote learning or independent thinking?” It further highlighted that teachers are also under immense pressure to deliver learning in just 60 minutes. Additionally, the panel deliberated on the need for institutions to create a formal and transparent student feedback mechanism to assess the efficiency of teachers, rather than simply evaluating them as ‘researchers’. It emphasized the necessity for a revamped evaluation system that considers not only the quantity of research conducted by a professor but also the quality of their teaching.
Speaking on the steps taken by AICTE to bridge learning gaps, Amit Dutta, Director, All India Council for Technical Education, said “We have introduced an intervention through a portal called ‘Parakh’, which serves as a gap analysis tool for both students and faculty members. I’m pleased to share that currently, over six lakh students have registered, and more than 2.5 million students have completed their gap analysis tests. The portal identifies gaps in students’ knowledge before they graduate from the institution, enabling the implementation of necessary remedial measures to address these gaps before the students graduate.”
To address the role of technology in delivering engineering education, the third panel discussion explored how technological advancements shape the methods and approaches used in engineering education, in the context of a dynamic global paradigm. It also identified key initiatives and measures that can position India as an appealing destination for prospective engineering students globally, fostering an environment that nurtures excellence and innovation in the field.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology will present the outcomes and conclusions of the day-long discussion as a policy recommendation roadmap to the Ministry of Education. Additionally, the global engineering body will issue an advisory note to educators and higher education institutes to initiate an actionable roadmap towards improving India’s engineering education ecosystem.
