The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) celebrated Engineers’ Day by introducing three innovative initiatives designed to enhance India’s technical education framework. Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary of Higher Education, Government of India, officially launched Project PRACTICE (Project for Advancing Critical Thinking, Industry Connect and Employability), the AICTE Research Internship (ARI) Portal, and the establishment of AICTE R&D Cell and Climate Cell in all accredited institutions, with notable figures such as Prof. T.G. Sitharam, AICTE Chairman, and other senior dignitaries present. Project PRACTICE is a transformative initiative aimed at uplifting 1,000 tier-2 and tier-3 engineering institutions with subpar academic performance by incorporating project-based learning, live industry projects, and improved employability skills.
Supported by Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF), LEAP, and CRISP, this initiative involves an investment of ₹23.31 crore, equally contributed by AICTE and its partners. Over the next three years, Project PRACTICE aims to positively impact 20 lakh students and 10,000 faculty members by enhancing industry collaborations and promoting innovation across India’s engineering sector. Dr. Vineet Joshi highlighted the necessity of preparing Indian engineering graduates for leadership roles in technology and innovation, citing success stories of tier-2 and tier-3 students developing drones for national security and the government’s commitment to dismantling barriers in technical education. He also announced complimentary access to AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity Go for students, facilitating more efficient use of time for research and critical learning.
Prof. T.G. Sitharam stated that AICTE has consistently aimed to cultivate not only employable engineers but also innovators and nation-builders. Project PRACTICE will transform project-based learning and enhance collaboration between industry and academia, especially in colleges with significant potential. The Research Internship Portal and R&D Cell will provide students with valuable research experiences, while Climate Cells will encourage environmental stewardship and support India’s sustainable development goals. R. Subrahmanyam, Founder & CEO of CRISP, stressed that Project PRACTICE focuses on supporting underperforming institutions, promoting their development, and integrating them into the mainstream of quality technical education and innovation. Prof. R.K.
Bhandari, former Director of CSIR-CBRI, praised AICTE’s visionary initiative in launching such programs, noting the significant impact on 1,000 rural engineering colleges, 10,000 faculty members, and 5 lakh students. AICTE’s initiatives aim to address the employability gap in emerging fields like AI, data science, and cloud computing, integrating critical thinking, practical learning, and sustainability to position India as a global leader in innovation-driven technical education. Dr. Hemant Kankia, Founder of Maker Bhavan Foundation, remarked that these initiatives will greatly benefit students and faculty by promoting innovation and experiential learning. Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan commended AICTE’s strategic focus and reaffirmed the government’s dedication to quality, innovation, and inclusivity in engineering education, aligning with the vision for a Viksit Bharat.