BITS Pilani and Industry Linkages: Going beyond Borders
"Industries really aspire to have the budding students to collaborate with them in the effort of taking industries forward" says Mr. Sushil Kumar Roongta, Chairman SAIL at BITS Pilani. The Practice school program fostering the University-Industry linkages is unique to BITS, Pilani. With escalating competition, there is an increasing demand for students to get adequate exposure in professional setting which would train the students so that they can be readily absorbed by the industry.
Tweet-- The three day Seminar on “University-Industry Linkages” during March 9-11, 2007, is aimed at providing a common platform for young prospective engineers and industry executives to express their views, share their experiences and explore future opportunities. The inaugural session started with a documentary film on Practice School Program highlighting various aspects of the same and views of all the stakeholders.
The Chief Guest on the occasion, Mr. Sushil Kumar Roongta, Chairman, SAIL inaugurated the seminar and while speaking to the audience said that BITS has contributed in India’s development in great measures. According to Mr.Roongta , “ The culture of entrepreneurship and the risk taking ability of Indian entrepreneurship is really going to be the biggest advantage for Indian Industries in future”. In this regard, he appreciated BITS Pilani’s pioneering efforts to foster the culture of entrepreneurship among the students through University – Industry Linkages.
While welcoming the chief guest and participants, Prof G Sunder, Dean Practice School Division outlined the objectives of the seminar as encouraging students to share their experiences and contributions made to the organizations, communicating the learning opportunities in the concerned organizations, identifying projects of special interest, disseminating the achievements of the students to the corporate world to enable them to tap the students' potential, identifying Research & Development Projects relevant to industries to be carried out at BITS, Pilani.
Prof. LK Maheshwari in his speech said that unlike early education system which was self managed system, in today’s world the education has to be properly managed. While citing various benefits the PS Programme which included commencement of various ME collaborative programs, Work Integrated Learning Programs, establishment of CEL and TBI, updation of oncampus course curriculum, research papers and mentoring of other institution in this direction, Prof. Maheshwari defined PS as a method to extend education from institute to industry.
Prof. VS Rao, Director, Hyderabad Campus and former Deputy Director, Off Campus Programs, BITS Pilani said that the PS Program of BITS Pilani is the most uniquiely identified milestones in University – Industry Linkage scenario in India. He said PS has come a long way since 1973 and was a result of sustained and integrated education reforms.
The three-day seminar will go a long way in identifying areas of mutual interest of the all stakeholders, directions for future and in fostering the champions of global industry for tomorrow.
Notes to Editor
Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani is a Leading University in India offering degrees in Engineering, Management, Pharmacy, Sciences, Engineering Technology, Information Systems, General Studies, Finance, etc presently at Pilani, Dubai, Goa campuses and in the near future at Hyderabad campus. BITS Pilani also offers an array of work integrated learning programmes for HRD of a vast spectrum of Indian corporates.