Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy announced measures to augment diploma and engineering courses to make them industry-ready, including the introduction of new diploma courses and laboratories on AI, robotics, and EV technologies. Six new diploma courses will be introduced in four polytechnic colleges: packaging technology at the Institute of Printing Technology, petroleum chemistry at the Institute of Chemical Technology, footwear technology at the Institute of Leather Technology, and two more at the Institute of Textile Technology. Three government engineering colleges in Coimbatore, Salem, and Bargur will each get a laboratory on robotics and artificial intelligence, each costing Rs 3 crore. Laboratories on EV technology will be set up at colleges in Tirunelveli, Dharmapuri, and Erode, each costing Rs 3 crore.
Colleges in Karaikudi and Bodinayakanur will get Internet of Things laboratories at Rs 2 crore each. Additive Manufacturing laboratories will be established in Vellore, Thanjavur, and Tiruchirapalli, each costing Rs 3 crore. Additionally, Rs 7.05 crore will be spent on procuring furniture and other logistics for government arts and science colleges, and training on capacity building will be conducted for polytechnic college teachers. Training for competitive examinations for post-graduate courses will be expanded to 1,400 students, with an additional Rs 77 lakh allocated.
Infrastructure facilities in government colleges will be upgraded, including a new men’s hostel building in Coimbatore costing Rs 21 crore, with similar hostels in Erode college, Chennai CIT campus, and Central Polytechnic campus. A separate restroom for female students will be constructed in 171 government colleges at Rs 5 lakh each. Government colleges will increase their intake for arts and science courses by 20%, government-aided colleges by 15%, and self-financing arts and science colleges by 10%.
source-The New Indian express
