Academia Industry Interaction

he Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) launched a Distinguished Visiting Professorship (DVP) Scheme jointly with AICTE in 1999. The Scheme envisages promotion of industry-institute interaction by facilitating the dissemination of knowledge through the expertise of experienced and knowledgeable persons from industry to integrate their rich industrial experience with technical education. The Scheme has received very enthusiastic response from industry and engineering research institutions over the years. Thirteen Industry Experts were selected during the year 2000; eighteen each in 2001 and 2002; fourteen in 2003; ten in 2004; thirteen in 2005; fourteen during the year 2006, fifteen during 2007; eleven during 2008; eighteen during the year 2009, nine during the year 2010 and seven during the year 2011 by a high level selection committee of experts from Academia, Industry and representatives from AICTE and CII.

The scheme has been running successfully and has received good response from industry as well as engineering colleges/institutions. The success of the scheme is largely attributed to active participation of experts from renowned industries like TATA Steel, Larsen & Toubro Ltd., Hinduja Automotive Limited, ArcelorMittal, JK Industries Ltd¸ Kirloskar Brothers Limited, TVS Motor Company Ltd., Tata Consulting Services, GE India Technology Centre Pvt Ltd, ST Microelectronics, Grasim Industries Limited, Bharat Earth Movers Ltd, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, M/s IP Rings, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Andromedia Communications Pvt Ltd, Solar Semiconductor Pvt Ltd, Tata Research Development & Design Centre, Aditya Birla Group (Cement Division) and Jindal Stainless Steels Ltd etc...

Based on the success of Distinguished Visiting Professorship (DVP) scheme, a new scheme – “INAE–AICTE Distinguished Industry Professor Scheme” has been launched during 2007 in the reverse direction wherein Faculty from engineering institutions, who are Fellows of INAE, will interact with the engineers in industry and get acquainted with the latest technologies and use theoretical knowledge for solving ‘real life’ problems encountered in industry. Under this scheme, Faculty from engineering institutions will spend some time in industry to contribute to the Industry as well as gain exposure to the industrial environment/requirements. The Royal Academy of Engineering, UK has also such a similar scheme called “Industrial Secondment Scheme” which has proven to be a success.
During the course of teaching engineering at under graduate and postgraduate levels it is desirable to correlate theoretical knowledge with ‘real life’ practical problems encountered in industry. For engineering faculty, this would provide the opportunity to learn about the State-of-the-Art technologies and get exposure to current industrial and commercial practice. This would make the teaching relevant to the industrial realm and add to the realism of the courses taught in engineering institutions. The interaction with captains of the industry will lead to bringing new and innovative ideas, thereby enhancing credibility of the teaching imparted at the institution...

INAE Chair Professorship has been instituted in order to encourage engineers/technologists with outstanding research contributions, promote long-term participation in academic research and enhance the research standards in academic institutions...

The objective of INAE Distinguished Professors/Technologists Scheme is to utilize the expertise of INAE Fellows after superannuation primarily for research in institutions/universities/Research & Development establishments, and industry in India...