AICTE tie up with US firm for cheap IT training

new delhi: it is an attempt to regulate the non-formal structure of education. troubled by the ``uncoordinated'' surge in the number of training institutes in computer and related fields charging ``hefty'' sums of money, the all india council of technical education is teaming up with a us-based company to offer high-end technology programmes, but at a cheaper price.the technical council has signed a memorandum of understanding with sun microsystems india private limited under a new scheme called the centre for national academic network for continuing education. ``the six-month certification programmes in java technology will be offered at one-third the cost,'' said advisor to aicte i k bhat. the courses will be offered by sun for rs 22,000 per programme, he added. aicte, a statutory body created by an act of the parliament for co-ordinated development of technical education, initiated c-nance in march this year. the council has identified 100 approved and accredited institutions across the country for offering this programme. the programmes will be conducted in the identified institutions beginning september 15. ``since the courses will be held in the evening, they can be attended by professionals as well,'' bhat said. the course contents will be oriented according to market needs, he added. the two-hour modules will be conducted thrice a week and the certification will be awarded by sun microsystems, under the aegis of c-nance. delhi will have two centres ^ delhi college of engineering and the netaji subhash institute of technology. the other institutions include 17 regional engineering centres, state engineering colleges, deemed universities, iiitm (gwalior), institute of engineering and technology (lucknow), thapar institute of engineering and technology (patiala) and punjab engineering college. sun microsystems, which has been associated with java technology since the very beginning, is known for its trainer certificate programmes that it launched in the wake of the y2k scare. the aicte is also planning to invite reputed organisations and institutions to start such short-term courses in other emerging sectors like insurance, water management, earthquake engineering, paramedical fields and biotechnology. the move is a direct result of human resource development ministry's decision that guidelines should be framed for the regulation of non-formal education in the country. and it has been spurred by the ``breach of promises'' made by some institutions, officials added. in addition to being light on the pocket, the aicte is also positive that such programmes will encourage industry participation. the core idea behind the venture was to utilise educational facilities available in the identified institutions, said aicte chairman r s nirjar. private enterprises seem to be taken by surprise. they maintain this will not affect their market. ``the target group of courses under the aicte is different than ours,'' said ravi dighe, divisional head of asset international, the high-end programming division of aptech. ``the user can pick up the skills from a website through self-study as well. the choice of the institute depends on the quality expected,'' added sanjeev kataria, a senior official of niit. but the collaboration between aicte and sun microsystems is not limited to courses only. the company will also adopt five institutions in different regions of the country for establishing state-of-the-art ``competency centres'' where students faculty and professionals will be allowed to engage in industrial projects, research and consultancy. the adoption process will multiply at the rate of five every year, bhat said. the company will also train the faculty of the institutes. the 100 identified institutions include 17 regional engineering centres, state engineering colleges, deemed universities, iiitm (gwalior), institute of engineering and technology (lucknow), thapar institute of engineering and technology (patiala) and punjab engineering college, among others.