- Major Push for Industry-Ready Graduates
New Delhi. : On Engineers’ Day, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) unveiled a set of initiatives aimed at improving employability, innovation, and research among engineering students. Launched by Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary of Higher Education, the reforms are expected to impact 20 lakh students across India.
Key Initiatives Announced
The reforms include:
- Project PRACTICE (Project for Advancing Critical Thinking, Industry Connect and Employability) – Designed to strengthen nearly 1,000 tier-2 and tier-3 colleges through project-based learning, industry assignments, and skill-development. Expected impact: 20 lakh students and 10,000 faculty over three years.
- AICTE Research Internship (ARI) Portal – A platform to connect students with research-oriented internships.
- Mandatory R&D and Climate Cells – To nurture innovation ecosystems and environmental awareness across all AICTE-approved institutions.
Funding and Partnerships
Project PRACTICE is jointly funded at ₹23.31 crore, with contributions from AICTE and partners Maker Bhavan Foundation, LEAP, and CRISP. The initiative is tailored to help underserved institutions compete with premier colleges.
Tech-Driven Support for Students
AICTE also announced free access to AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity Go for engineering students. The goal is to shift focus from routine tasks to innovation, problem-solving, and research.
Leaders’ Perspectives
AICTE Chairman Prof. TG Sitharam said the initiatives go beyond employability, promoting sustainability, innovation, and stronger industry-academia collaborations.
R. Subrahmanyam of CRISP added that the reforms will particularly benefit tier-2 and tier-3 colleges, helping them bridge the gap with leading institutions.
Nationwide Impact
With over 30 lakh students enrolled across 5,868 AICTE-approved institutions, officials believe these reforms mark a decisive step toward building a skilled, industry-ready generation of engineers.
Click Here for More Latest News