From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 18: The state government is committed to facilitating the introduction of novel learning methods in order to reduce the gaps between theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge in the higher education courses including engineering, deputy chief minister and higher education minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan said on Friday.
Addressing the inaugural session of the ‘Regional Research Symposium on PBL (problem-based learning)’, a two-day virtual event organized by the Higher Education Council in Bengaluru, he said the objective was to make the students globally competitive.
Educational institutions will be encouraged to achieve collaborations in pursuit of acquiring knowledge and skills, he pointed out that by the time a student gets graduated along with the knowledge and skills, they also should be industry-ready.
"If this becomes reality, the gap between academia and industry will be filled paving the way for innovation and entrepreneurship,’’ he said.
Prof K Kasturirangan, chairperson, NEP drafting committee, who was present as the chief guest, said the time is apt to consider introducing the ‘PBL’ (problem-based learning) method in engineering courses along the lines of implementing National Education Policy.
The ‘PBL’ method introduces students to real-life problems and motivates them to find out the solutions in a collective way. This also enables the students to experience the aesthetic, emotional, moral, creative, analytical, and other aspects of the situation in a holistic way, he explained.
Prof Anette Kolmos, director, Aalborg UNESCO centre for PBL in engineering science and sustainability, was present as a guest of honour.
Amitav Babi Mitra, executive director, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Prof Thimme Gowda, vice-chairman, Higher Education Council (HEC), Prof Gopalakrishna Joshi, executive director, HEC, Prof Karisiddappa, vice-chancellor Visvesvaraya Technical University, Dr Tandava Gowda, HEC and others were present.