Events | New Delhi

In a significant move towards fostering inclusive technical education in India, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) today. The agreements were inked with Youth4Jobs Foundation, Amazon Development Centre (India) Private Limited, and an Umbrella MoU with National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) in the presence of AICTE Chairman Prof. T.G. Sitharam and Member Secretary Prof. Rajive Kumar.

Amazon India’s Empowering Initiative

AICTE joined hands with Amazon India under the ‘Women of the World’ (WoW) initiative, aimed at empowering women students in engineering colleges across India. Amazon WoW seeks to equip these students with essential skills, including coding, providing industry exposure, and fostering soft skill development. The collaboration, lauded by Prof. T G Sitharam, aims to create a more inclusive and dynamic tech landscape, offering valuable opportunities for career growth to women in STEM.

Youth4Jobs Foundation Partnership

Another crucial partnership emerged as AICTE signed an MoU with Youth4Jobs Foundation, dedicated to providing training and placement support to students with disabilities. This collaboration aims to raise disability awareness and promote inclusion in higher education and employment. Youth4Jobs’ innovative AI-triggered accessible job platform is designed to connect persons with disabilities seamlessly to employment opportunities.

Faculty Development with NPTEL

AICTE also signed an Umbrella MoU with NPTEL, involving IIT Madras, IIM Bangalore, and NITTTR-Chennai. This collaboration focuses on executing Faculty Development Programs for teachers in AICTE-approved Technical Institutions through NPTEL’s Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). The initiative aims to upskill faculty members on a large scale, focusing on polytechnic and engineering institutes.

Commitment to Inclusivity and Diversity

Highlighting the importance of inclusivity and diversity, Prof. Rajive Kumar, Member Secretary of AICTE, emphasized the seriousness of AICTE on these issues. Various schemes for students with disabilities and women in technical education are in place, ensuring integration into mainstream education.The MoU signing ceremony witnessed the presence of key figures, including Suman Yadav (Director, Amazon Development Centre), Meera Shenoy (Founder, Youth4Jobs Foundation), Dr. Usha Natesan (Director, NITTTR, Chennai), Prof. Prathap Haridoss (Dean-Academic Courses, IIT Madras), and Col. SD Aravendan (Chief Administrative Officer, IIM Bangalore). The collaborations aim to propel India towards a more inclusive and diverse future in technical education.