MARCH 27: With the introduction of vocational courses at the undergraduate level under the University Grants Commision six years ago, an informal industry-institute partnership came into being. In a pioneering gesture the Ladies Wing of the Indian Merchants Chambers and the University of Mumbai will sign a memorandum to formalise this partnership next month.A result of the insistence of Dr Indu Shahani, vice principal, HR college, Churchgate, the MoU seeks to strengthen the formal system of education by organising seminars, workshops, guest lectures, field visits and faculty development programmes with the help of professionals, business leaders and captains of industry.Confirming that the memorandum will be signed on April 26, President Elect of the Ladies Wing of IMC Gauri Pohoomul told Mumbai Newsline that the their website will be equipped with details of students and their preferences of work and companies where trainee as well as companies giving their requirements so that interested parties can directly interact. But ofcourse, she clarifies, all depends on passing the proposal at the executive committee meeting.Bharti Gandhi during whose presidency the informal industry-institute partnership took shape pointed out how the formal tie up is widening the scope as well. ``As of now, we are concentrating on students getting the exposure to industry. Now we want to extend the facilities to the teachers as well. Some short term courses for the teachers during summer or such other long holidays will enhance their vision as well and have that much impact on a wider number of students,'' said Gandhi.Dr Snehalata S Deshmukh, vice chancellor of the University of Mumbai stated that the formal tie between the two will extend from person to person interaction to institute to institute interaction.Dr Shahani stated that she was led to suggest the formalisation because of her recent thesis on industry-institute partnership. The results of the study conducted at a commerce college at the University of Mumbai compared the TYBCom vocational (advertising) students who had been exposed to guest faculty, project work and on-the-job training to other students. The overall pass percentage of the advertising batch in 1997 was 100 per cent, in 1998 was 97 per cent and in 1999 was 97 per cent. In contrast the pass percentages of TYBCom students were 91 per cent, 89 per cent and 89 per cent respectiviely and the university average pass percentage (TYBCom) was 53 per cent, 51 per cent and 50 per cent.Also, the advertising batch scored a greater number of first classes since the course was introduced and the number of first classes are increasing every year with the advertising batches scoring more than others.On the issue of industry, her thesis spoke of the USA-based National Employer Leadership Council (NELC) that highlights returns on investments by employers participating in partnerships with educational institutions. Rewards mentioned frequently include - a reduction in the cost of recruitment, selection and training of new workers, development of a high quality, diverse workforce, an increase in the skill and employability levels of students and the improvement of performance levels of trainers and mentors.
