Abstract
Apart from the exposure given to technology revolution in textile industry, producing skilled technical cadre of engineers should also require to be focused. The practical orientation toward the upcoming technology, industrial training in new manner and the mentoring concept are needed to implement for the same. The practical knowledge, decision taking ability and the communication skills are the main hurdles in the progress path of the complete technical human being. The core problem is the lack of a systematic and coordinated approach to the education reforms. Many well meaning people are addressing the symptoms in various ways today, but achieving real, sustainable progress requires a more holistic strategy. Hence it’s the demand of present time to bridge the gap between industry and institute.
Introduction
Indian textile industry is one of the leading textile industries in the world. Indian textile industry largely depends upon textile manufacturing and exports. It also plays a major role in economy of the country. The sector contributes about 14% to industrial production, 4% to the GDP and 17% to the country’s export earnings. It provides direct employment to over 35 million people. The textile industry is the second largest provider of employment after agriculture.
India has the potential of increase its textile and apparel share in the world trade from current level of 4.5% to 8% and reach US$80 billion by 2020. The global technical textile industry is estimated at US$127 billion and its size in India is pegged at US$11 billion. Thus, the growth and all round development of industry has a direct bearing on the huge requirement of technocrats.
To develop this industry human need to research, invent new technology which helps to develop garments and clothing industry. Now-a-days the demand of textile education is increased because there are a large textile and garments industry in many countries which produced and develop garment so that they need technical and educated person. So many countries has a large number of textile universities, colleges and institutes which provides different types textile degree including postgraduate, undergraduate, diploma degree, etc. If anyone wants to build their carrier in textile industry, he/she should take up a textile related degree which helps them more.
Why you need Textile Education or why you study Textile? There are so many answers for this question. If you want to build your carrier in garments industry then you should need textile education which helps in your action fields. You need textile education because Developing strategic action plan, Handling problems related to gender issues, Evaluation and monitoring, Development of supply chain, Labor safeguard provisions, Develop product, Invent new product and textile technology, Firefighting and disaster management and so on. Industry is ever changing towards achieving excellence, better quality controls, using automated machinery, environmental consciousness and following Right First Time concept besides giving training to vocational staff from time to time.
Textile Education – Quality Assurance
Quality in technical education system is pertinent to provide high quality human resources and excellence in emerging technologies. In the scenario of phasing out of the quota regime, globalization phenomenon has affected textile education as well.
Existing course curriculum is not enough to meet the challenge of competitive world market. Hence there is a need to improve the quality of various facets of textile education. In general, the ISO 9001:2000 serves this purpose and its successful implementation brings about the desired dynamism and continual improvement in textile education system.
The challenging environment in 21st century demands that textile education should be meaningful and responsive to develop a mechanism to produce dynamic and technically competitive human resource in order to meet the challenges of the global world. Right and effective strategies needs to be adopted for affecting quality improvements in textile education thereby making it relevant and useful not only for the sustained growth and development of the textile institutes but also in serving the societies in a progressive way.
Figure 1. A typical model of teaching learning process in textile education
Textile Education – Quality Improvement
There is no doubt that in view of the fast changing global scenario and rapid technological advancement in textiles, quality of education needs to be improved to match with the international level and to ensure the development of technically competitive human resources. Some of the measures which can be taken in this regard are: curriculum development in emerging technologies, faculty development, modernization of infrastructural facilities, better utilization of the infrastructural facilities, enhanced exposure of students to industries, building the feedback mechanisms in education system, greater autonomy to technical institutes, fostering/promotion of research aptitude in students, network between institutions, institute-industry interaction, accreditation of institutions, resource mobilization and continuing education programs.
- Curriculum development in emerging technologies: In order to keep pace with the changing practices, textile based institutions must design curriculum based on the requirements of industry. Curriculum should be developed as and when required and industry persons should be involved.
- Faculty development: There is the requirement of technically competent human resource with high knowledge and skill base to maintain high quality and productivity at the scale of world standard for developing and maintaining excellence of faculty for sustained growth of technical education. Periodic exposure to industry, participation in training programs, refresher courses, workshops and symposiums, facilitation to undertake research projects, participation in the faculty exchange programs in collaboration with the best national and international counterparts, inducting competent persons of repute from industry as visiting professors etc. are some of the key strategies for faculty development. Initial screening of faculty at the entry level in technical colleges and institutions as well as periodic review of individual performance is important aspect which cannot be ignored. Above measures will definitely contribute towards sustained growth of the textile institute and imparting quality technical education to the students to compete in the global textile arena.
- Modernization and utilization of infrastructural facilities: The infrastructural facilities in textile institutions need to be upgraded and utilized through coordinated and concentrated efforts. Institutes should undertake consultancy projects from the industry and impart specialized training programs for professional engineers leading to resource generation for sustained growth of the institutions and improved reputation. Textile institutes should make best efforts for development of the appropriate infrastructure through various AICTE research and development schemes. This will facilitate to strengthen research and technology base for effective and meaningful research capabilities and interaction with industries.
Using the computers for educational purposes in the form of PPT, computer graphics and multimedia has not only made the teaching-learning process effective but also interesting and challenging. E-learning is a kind of online learning and can take place anywhere, anytime synchronously.
- Enhanced exposure of students to industries:
Inadequate industrial exposure to the students affects their ability to effectively deal with the real life industrial problems. This leads to unsatisfactory performance in professional careers. Thus, students must spend at least one full semester in industry to understand the industrial environments and prevailing practices during the project work under the supervision of capable persons. Development of required skills to understand the industrial problems and the tools and methodologies to solve those problems are the resultant gain in this process.
- Building the feedback mechanisms in education system:
In order to affect quality improvements in textile education adequate feedback mechanism from all quarters are to be gathered and critically analyzed. Thus, effectiveness of the quality of the technical education system can be judged from student reaction survey, frequent feedback from faculty and administrative staff, feedback from industry at the time of placement and after absorption, and also the response from the alumni regarding inadequacies of various programs. Deficiencies in the delivery system can be corrected towards quantum improvements in the textile education system.
- Greater autonomy to technical institutes:
Enhanced autonomy in various dimensions such as academic, administrative, and financial would definitely provide an opportunity to the textile institutes the means for providing industry linkages through various consultancy projects and designing of specialized training programs depending upon the requirements of the industry.
- Fostering/Promotion of research aptitude in students:
There is emergent need of revitalizing the textile education system for promoting research interest in students to build up competent technical human resource and research team matching with best in the world.
- Networking between institutions:
Quality in the textile education can be improved by establishing the synergic networks between the leading technical institutions of excellence and the developing institutions. The growing institutions can be benefited by the exposure to the latest technologies to affect improvement in the skills and knowledge base of their faculty and technicians in improved delivery of technical education.
- Institute-industry interaction:
Leading textile institutions and the industrial sector can collaborate in the joint projects for the development of emerging technologies of mutual interest. Major thrust areas can be identified by a Technology Upgradation Group involving leading academicians from technical institutions, eminent technologists from reputed industries and talented scientists from textile research associations in the country. Such an effort will surely lead to the development of state-of-the-art technologies pertaining to the industrial sector and promote the collaboration between institutes and industries.
- Accreditation of institutions:
Accreditation is the mark of the quality of technical education. Through this process an institute is evaluated by technical bodies such as NBA and grades are awarded depending upon the performance in different aspects. The accredited institutions are to be eligible to receive research grants in various funding programs. Marketability of a textile institution is often affected by the accreditation.
- Continuing education programs:
Textile institutions should concentrate imparting quality education not only to the undergraduate and post-graduate students but also to faculty in developing institutions and technical persons working in the industry. Customized continuing education programs can be formulated on the latest technologies, concepts and practices to improve the quality of education through effective dissemination of knowledge and expertise by involving expert faculty and industry professionals.
- Mentoring concept in education:
Mentoring is a professional activity, a trusted relationship, a meaningful commitment. Mentoring is of enormous value to youth development. Research shows that mentoring can help a young person develop increased self-esteem and self-confidence. It can help a young person set positive goals, enhance their feelings of identity and wellbeing, and result in better relationships and decision-making. It is a friendly relationship between professional from industry or institute and a student. This relationship is to be established by educational Institute to enhance the student’s career via building skills and knowledge. Mentor is someone who is trusted adviser and Guide.
Conclusion
Today a textile engineer is expected to perform research, development and design work in addition to assuming production responsibilities. He must be capable of evaluating new projects, competitive bids and of carrying out economic analysis at an advanced level. They are expected to be qualified in the supervision of the operation of the plants. Their responsibilities range from the evaluation of raw materials to the competitive marketing of finished products.
The number of textile engineers produced each year does not reflect the size of the industry. “Textile engineering offers decidedly more opportunities to graduates than most other engineering disciplines.
Textile technologists work closely with chemical engineers to develop new materials for a variety of purposes. Textile engineering has received relatively less attention from young people entering technical colleges – it lacks the gloss of some of the other fields, although the opportunities it presents are perhaps similar. As in any branch of applied science, the scope of opportunity lies in the way you look at the field, and what you choose to do with the knowledge you gain.
References:
- Gotmare V.D., Some interesting observations and education to textile shop-floor persons, The Textile Association, 73 (6), 2013.
- https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/9/847/quality-assurance-in-textile-education6.asp (Quality Management)
- https://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=84863.
- Paneerselvam A., Can the teachers be replaced with new technologies, GCTE J. Research and Extension in Education, 7(1), 2012.
- Claudio Zaki Dib, Formal, non-formal and informal education: concepts/applicability, Interamerican Conference on Physics Education”, Oaxtepec, Mexico, 1987.
- Holmberg, “Status and Trends of Distance Education”, Kogan Page, London, 1981.
Prof. Tushar C. Patil – Assistant Professor, CTF MPSTME, SVKM’S NMIMS, Shirpur Prof. Nitin Chaudhari – Head – Atal Tinkering Lab, R.C. Patel Education Society, Shirpur. Prof. R.D. Parsi – Assistant Professor, CTF MPSTME, SVKM’S NMIMS, Shirpur Prof. Tushar A. Shinde – Assistant Professor, CTF MPSTME, SVKM’S NMIMS, Dr. P. P. Raichurkar – Associate Dean, CTF MPSTME, SVKM’S NMIMS, Shirpur
