TEQI programme a good success Karnataka: Minister

Bangalore, Jun 25 (UNI) The World Bank aided Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) introduced in 14 colleges in Karnataka has yielded better results, Higher Education Minister D H Shankarmurthy said here today.

Speaking to newsmen here he said the project that began in April 2004, involved participation by 14 engineering colleges, including two government colleges, and the progress jointly reviewed on June six showed some good results.

Some of the achievements included setting up of a faculty development centre for training engineering faculty in methodologies of teaching, research and consultancy, student technical competitions and joint research programmes.

He said important networking activities, among others, included digital notice board collaborative network, faculty exchange programme in specialised areas and establishment of exclusive laboratories to be shared by all TEQIP institutions.

Discussions were already on to introduce the second phase of the project involving more number of colleges after the completion of first phase in 2008. Those institutions interested in joining the project had to repay the World Bank loan at a nominal rate of interest, he explained.

Principal Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee, who was also present, said in all 135 exclusive laboratories were established and 571 papers were presented in international conferences after the introduction of the project reflecting improvement in quality in these institutions.

UNI