Hyderabad: Engineering colleges in Telangana were awaiting implementation of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) model curriculum. The council released the first year model curriculum in November 2017, giving universities and affiliated ones ample time to study it and get it passed in senates so that it could be adopted from the coming academic year. According to engineering college associations, it would be difficult for colleges if Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, (JNTUH) delayed implementing the new curriculum any further. The colleges would have to procure laboratory equipment, which took time.
Though the proposed model curriculum was a welcome change in achieving desired outcomes from UG courses in engineering and technology. But any further delay by JNTUH in implementing it would affect the engineering colleges in the State. NRI Institute of Technology Chairman Dr Srini Bhupalam said, “JNTU has not said anything about adapting AICTE model curriculum till date and we were told that they constituted a committee to look into it. But no communication has come till now. The main issue because of the delay is procuring the laboratory equipment; normal lead time for delivery is eight to 10 weeks. If the universities announce the implementation immediately, we can work out timelines assuming the classwork starts around the second or third week of July.”
AICTE initially released the curriculum for the first year as it was required for new academic year of 2018-2019 so that senates of universities and affiliated ones could pass it, he added. Prof G.V.K. Reddy of Vardhaman College of Engineering said, “Any further delay means less time for faculty preparation and equipment procurement and new books. However, JNTUH has asked the autonomous colleges to submit proposed syllabus in conformance with AICTE model syllabus.” Telangana Engineering College Managements president Goutham Rao said, “Though the university promised to give more time to establish the new curriculum, it should be informed and planned in advance because the students also need time to adapt to the new system.”
