TG Sitharam, President of the All India Technical Education Council, awarded his degree certificate at the St. Joseph’s School of Engineering in OMR on Saturday. |Picture source: B. Velankanni Raj
More than half of Tamil Nadu’s students have passed the high school exam and entered the university, the state has achieved the goal of the entire country, by 2035, Professor TG Sitharam, chairman of the National Council for Technical Education, said here today.
Professor Sitharam spoke to students at graduation ceremonies at St. Joseph’s College of Engineering and St. Joseph’s Polytechnic Institute, and Professor Sitharam said that the total rate of levying (GER) in Tamil Nadu has over 50% in higher education, while in other parts of the country, the admission rate (GER) in Tamil Nadu (GER) is only 29%. He said the state has performed very well in engineering education, while highlighting the role private institutions play in improving GER.
Professor Sitharam said that while a degree is important, high skills are a priority in the world of technology disruption. Whether it’s artificial intelligence, generated artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, or blockchain, these disruptions are changing the way people think or work. “In this world of destruction, you must be self-aware and keep up with these technologies,” he asserted. He added that in addition to mastering domain skills, students should also be prepared to master soft skills or any form of art or music to protect themselves from technological destruction.
Later, speaking with reporters, Professor Sitalam said that Niti Aayog cooperated with AICTE and the Federation of Industry in India (CII) to launch a program called DX-Edge (Digital Growth and Digital Excellence for Enterprises) to digitally and technically technically technically Micro, Small, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). This could mean that of the eighty million MSMEs in the country, many of them may benefit from the use of AI that may increase by 20% to 30%.
When asked about AICTE’s consideration of building an ethical framework for using AI, Professor Sitharam said lifting the guardrail could limit innovation. Instead, higher education institutions should instill in the moral culture of how students use AI, when to use it, and fully disclosed in use.
A total of 2374 students graduated from St. Joseph’s College of Engineering in 2023 and 2024, while 1,046 students graduated from St. Joseph’s College of Technology in 2023.
publishing – May 11, 2025 at 05:59 AM IST
