New Delhi: Out of 100 students who pass 12+ examination every year, only 25 are getting opportunity to take up higher education, Vice Chairman of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Professor (Dr.) M P Poonia informed.
Poonia told this to the 17th National Conference on “Role of Engineers in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” organised by Engineering Council of India (ECI) with the support of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and UN Global Compact Network India here on Friday.
While addressing the conference, Dr. M P Poonia said that the ratio of the students who miss their higher education in US is 87 per cent, in Japan 70 per cent, in UK more than 70 per cent, in Malaysia more than 50 per cent and in China more than 40 per cent.
“Higher education is a big concern for all of us. Only 25 percent get an opportunity to knock the door of higher education and still Industry is saying that our graduates are not employable,” he added.
“With sound economic performance, India lifted 271 million people out of poverty between 2006 and 2016 (According to 2019 global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) of UNDP),” Professor Poonia said.
While addressing through video conferencing, former Minister, Railways, Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu said that role played by engineers is seen everywhere specially in providing cost effective solution to providing low cost energy.
“Indian Engineers have made India an “epicentre” of innovative solutions towards the SDGs, both frugal innovations and the most advanced technological and digital-based solutions,” he added.
Former Minister of State, Human Resource Development through Dr Satya Pal Singh said that India’s achievement of SDGs over the last five years is really laudable, the government has been ensuring that people at the “bottom of the pyramid” get the benefits that are due to them.
The conference discussed the role of Engineers in achieving SDGs in Industry and Infrastructure in two technical sessions devoted to the role of technology in achieving SDGs.
The conference was attended by about 250 delegates from 33 Member Associations of ECI, Professional Engineers registered by ECI on its National Register, engineers, technologists, experts from other disciplines from Public and Private sectors, and researchers and professional engineers drawn from universities, colleges and apex institutions in India.
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