Options for higher engineering educationnext time
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Options for higher engineering education
Engineering education spans a wide spectrum, right from doctoral studies to first degree to diploma and to craftsman levels to meet the industrial and societal needs. Each level has its role. Setting up the five Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) (followed by 20 Regional Engineering Colleges RECs) soon after gaining political independence was a game-changing investment. It paid off by providing world-class undergraduate engineering education, with their graduates proving to be as good as or better than engineering graduates anywhere.
An equally exciting, but challenging and potentially more rewarding opportunity is knocking at present at the Indian higher engineering education. If pursued with a sharp focus, the present young generation with high-quality advanced engineering education through their publications, patents, innovations and entrepreneurship will take India to the centre stage of global knowledge economy.
The postgraduate engineering education forms the core for training of future teachers and researchers and for building up international reputation through publications, patents and entrepreneurs. These professional leaders are capable of transforming the industry. The number of engineering PhDs produced in a country is a good indicator of the generation of advanced knowledge and innovation. Another measure of the vibrancy and sophistication of technical activity in a country are publications and patents.
After completing a first degree, graduates have the option of continuing their education either through a taught Master’s degree or through research. A research Master’s degree usually takes two years, after which a student may progress to a doctorate; alternately, a student may go directly towards studying for a PhD. A PhD may take three to four years to be completed.
These two routes are classified as “postgraduate research courses”. Taught Master’s are classified as “postgraduate taught courses”. The purpose of a taught Master’s degree is said to be threefold: to specialise in a specific subject or area, to convert from an expertise in one discipline to a degree in a second discipline, or to enhance a Bachelor’s degree to qualify for a “license to practice” in an area such as engineering. Doctoral graduates may chose to enter general employment or take a post-doctoral position with a view to pursue a career in academia.
Admission
During the course of engineering education, students develop interest in some specified areas and also have an urge to continue their education. Most foreign universities abroad also look holistically as an individual and check other achievements along with the scores in the qualifying entrance examination. The Statement of Purpose (SoP) is a very important component that includes the purpose of study, along with Letters of Recommendation (LoR).
Students must have been involved in activities like paper presentation, journal publication etc, which would act as an indicator of their inclinations towards higher studies. Choice of course mainly depends upon the course of interest, institution, scholarships and assistantships. Also, the cost depends on the type of programme, the length of stay, etc.
Many scholarships, education loans from banks etc. are available to meet the expenditures. Following are the few entrance examination that helps to secure a spot in engineering universities/institutions in India and abroad.
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE): There are several quality institutions and programmes in India. To get admission into a Master’s programme in India, the GATE scorecard is used. GATE is an entrance examination conducted by premier institutions in India in the last week of January and first week of February. This is an online computer-based examination which includes questions with numerical answers and others multiple choice questions.
The duration of exam is 180 minutes and result is valid for three years from the date of announcement of results. After obtaining the percentile results, students have to apply to their choices of institutions. Selected candidates for higher education will get a stipend of Rs 8,000 per month by the Government of India.
Graduate Record Engineering (GRE) Exam: For students who want to pursue a Master’s or doctoral programme in the US, the GRE is crucial for admission. Prospective students take the GRE that provides a common measure for comparing candidate qualifications. The test is available at more than 850 test centers in over 160 countries. In most regions of the world, the computer-delivered test is available on a continuous basis throughout the year.
GRE scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records, recommendation letters and other qualifications for graduate-level study. Overall academic ability is tested by this examination and results are accepted by more than 200 countries in the world. It is a computer based exam with 190 minute test with a 10 minute break.
Test includes
Verbal Reasoning: It measures the ability to analyse and draw conclusions from discourse; reason from incomplete data; identify an author’s assumptions and/or perspective; understand multiple levels of meaning, such as literal, figurative and author’s intent, select important points; distinguish major from minor or relevant points; summarise text; understand the structure of a text, understand the meanings of words, sentences and entire texts; understand relationships among words and among concepts
n Quantitative Reasoning: Measures ability to understand quantitative information interpret and analyse quantitative information solve problems using mathematical models; apply basic mathematical skills and elementary mathematical concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data interpretation includes real-life scenarios
Analytical Writing: It measures the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively, support ideas with relevant reasons and examples, examine claims and accompanying evidence sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion, control the elements of standard written English. Higher scoring in GRE helps to secure seat for higher class Universities in the world for M S program.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Exam: This test is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication. This examination is conducted in 140 countries at 1000 locations and four times in a month. IELTS is available in two formats – Academic and General Training.
The Academic Reading and Writing tests assess whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level. Examination includes basically language skills, namely – listening, reading, writing and speaking. Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is based on the results of these tests. The General Training Reading and Writing tests are not designed to test the full range of formal language skills required for academic purposes, but emphasise basic survival skills in a broad social and educational context.
General Training is suitable for candidates who are going to English-speaking countries to complete their secondary education, to undertake work experience or training programmes not at degree level, or for immigration purposes to Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Depending upon the performance students, are graded on a 9-brand scale.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): The TOEFL test is the world’s most popular English-language test, accepted at more than 6,000 colleges, universities, licensing agencies and immigration services, in 110 countries.
This exam is mandatory for students aspiring to pursue a Master’s programme in the US. Contents of the exam includes paper based test and next generation computer based test. English language skills like - reading, listening, speaking, structure and vocabulary are important.
Scoring well on the TOEFL means students can be eligible for admission to virtually any school in the world, including top colleges and universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The Internet based TOEFL is a four hour test and the paper based test is for three hours.
(The author is professor, SDM College of Engineering and Technology, Dharwad)
An equally exciting, but challenging and potentially more rewarding opportunity is knocking at present at the Indian higher engineering education. If pursued with a sharp focus, the present young generation with high-quality advanced engineering education through their publications, patents, innovations and entrepreneurship will take India to the centre stage of global knowledge economy.
The postgraduate engineering education forms the core for training of future teachers and researchers and for building up international reputation through publications, patents and entrepreneurs. These professional leaders are capable of transforming the industry. The number of engineering PhDs produced in a country is a good indicator of the generation of advanced knowledge and innovation. Another measure of the vibrancy and sophistication of technical activity in a country are publications and patents.
After completing a first degree, graduates have the option of continuing their education either through a taught Master’s degree or through research. A research Master’s degree usually takes two years, after which a student may progress to a doctorate; alternately, a student may go directly towards studying for a PhD. A PhD may take three to four years to be completed.
These two routes are classified as “postgraduate research courses”. Taught Master’s are classified as “postgraduate taught courses”. The purpose of a taught Master’s degree is said to be threefold: to specialise in a specific subject or area, to convert from an expertise in one discipline to a degree in a second discipline, or to enhance a Bachelor’s degree to qualify for a “license to practice” in an area such as engineering. Doctoral graduates may chose to enter general employment or take a post-doctoral position with a view to pursue a career in academia.
Admission
During the course of engineering education, students develop interest in some specified areas and also have an urge to continue their education. Most foreign universities abroad also look holistically as an individual and check other achievements along with the scores in the qualifying entrance examination. The Statement of Purpose (SoP) is a very important component that includes the purpose of study, along with Letters of Recommendation (LoR).
Students must have been involved in activities like paper presentation, journal publication etc, which would act as an indicator of their inclinations towards higher studies. Choice of course mainly depends upon the course of interest, institution, scholarships and assistantships. Also, the cost depends on the type of programme, the length of stay, etc.
Many scholarships, education loans from banks etc. are available to meet the expenditures. Following are the few entrance examination that helps to secure a spot in engineering universities/institutions in India and abroad.
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE): There are several quality institutions and programmes in India. To get admission into a Master’s programme in India, the GATE scorecard is used. GATE is an entrance examination conducted by premier institutions in India in the last week of January and first week of February. This is an online computer-based examination which includes questions with numerical answers and others multiple choice questions.
The duration of exam is 180 minutes and result is valid for three years from the date of announcement of results. After obtaining the percentile results, students have to apply to their choices of institutions. Selected candidates for higher education will get a stipend of Rs 8,000 per month by the Government of India.
Graduate Record Engineering (GRE) Exam: For students who want to pursue a Master’s or doctoral programme in the US, the GRE is crucial for admission. Prospective students take the GRE that provides a common measure for comparing candidate qualifications. The test is available at more than 850 test centers in over 160 countries. In most regions of the world, the computer-delivered test is available on a continuous basis throughout the year.
GRE scores are used by admissions or fellowship panels to supplement undergraduate records, recommendation letters and other qualifications for graduate-level study. Overall academic ability is tested by this examination and results are accepted by more than 200 countries in the world. It is a computer based exam with 190 minute test with a 10 minute break.
Test includes
Verbal Reasoning: It measures the ability to analyse and draw conclusions from discourse; reason from incomplete data; identify an author’s assumptions and/or perspective; understand multiple levels of meaning, such as literal, figurative and author’s intent, select important points; distinguish major from minor or relevant points; summarise text; understand the structure of a text, understand the meanings of words, sentences and entire texts; understand relationships among words and among concepts
n Quantitative Reasoning: Measures ability to understand quantitative information interpret and analyse quantitative information solve problems using mathematical models; apply basic mathematical skills and elementary mathematical concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data interpretation includes real-life scenarios
Analytical Writing: It measures the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively, support ideas with relevant reasons and examples, examine claims and accompanying evidence sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion, control the elements of standard written English. Higher scoring in GRE helps to secure seat for higher class Universities in the world for M S program.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Exam: This test is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication. This examination is conducted in 140 countries at 1000 locations and four times in a month. IELTS is available in two formats – Academic and General Training.
The Academic Reading and Writing tests assess whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level. Examination includes basically language skills, namely – listening, reading, writing and speaking. Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is based on the results of these tests. The General Training Reading and Writing tests are not designed to test the full range of formal language skills required for academic purposes, but emphasise basic survival skills in a broad social and educational context.
General Training is suitable for candidates who are going to English-speaking countries to complete their secondary education, to undertake work experience or training programmes not at degree level, or for immigration purposes to Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Depending upon the performance students, are graded on a 9-brand scale.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): The TOEFL test is the world’s most popular English-language test, accepted at more than 6,000 colleges, universities, licensing agencies and immigration services, in 110 countries.
This exam is mandatory for students aspiring to pursue a Master’s programme in the US. Contents of the exam includes paper based test and next generation computer based test. English language skills like - reading, listening, speaking, structure and vocabulary are important.
Scoring well on the TOEFL means students can be eligible for admission to virtually any school in the world, including top colleges and universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The Internet based TOEFL is a four hour test and the paper based test is for three hours.
(The author is professor, SDM College of Engineering and Technology, Dharwad)