In a significant move towards bolstering technical education in India, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology and the Government of Maharashtra through its Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education last October 11, 2024 in New Delhi.
“The collaboration between NIELIT and the Government of Maharashtra will ensure that students receive practical education, tailored to the current needs of the industry. This effort, beginning in Maharashtra, will be extended to other states, focusing particularly on Polytechnic institutions, ITIs, and the newly established university in the state. This is an exciting opportunity for our youth, especially in the IT industry,” said Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw,ｕｎｉｏｎMinister of Electronics & Information Technology, Railways, and Information & Broadcasting, during his address at the signing ceremony.
Shri Chandrakant (Dada) Patil, Minister of Higher & Technical Education, Govt. of Maharashtra; Dr. Vinod Mohitkar, Director, Technical Education, M.S.; Dr. Pramod Naik, Director, Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education; Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY); and various officials from MeitY were also present at the signing ceremony.
Centers of Excellence in AI, Robotics, and Advanced Technologies
The scope of the work in this MoU is to establish Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Internet of Things (IOT), Industry 4.0, 3D Printing and Allied Technologies, for capacity training and R&D centers at government polytechnic and government engineering college in Maharashtra and to seek funding from MeitY and other government organizations through joint project proposals.
Addressing a gathering at the signing ceremony of this MoU, Shri Vaishnaw emphasized the importance of aligning education with industry demands.
Maharashtra has built a strong foundation through its well-established network of Polytechnics, ITIs, and higher education institutions, which have developed the necessary capacities to house centers of excellence in emerging technologies like AI, robotics, and IoT. It is based on these developed capabilities that the Government of Maharashtra was able to seek funding from the central government, a proposal that was actively supported and delivered by MeitY, ensuring that Maharashtra can lead in cutting-edge technical education and innovation.
“The industrial strength of Maharashtra, which has a 150-200 year-old industrial base, is combined with the technical education necessary for today’s youth. This framework aligns perfectly with the National Education Policy by focusing on practical and technical education,” said Vaishnaw.
The initiative is expected to create significant opportunities for students, providing them with the necessary skills and job placements to succeed in the rapidly evolving technological landscape. The Government of Maharashtra has a total of 40 government polytechnics and 300 private polytechnics in the state. Through the Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education, the state government has already established the Center of Excellence in IoT at six government polytechnics and Center of Excellence in Robotics & Automation at three others. At the remaining government polytechnics, the center of excellence will be established through the funds made available through this MoU.
