With an aim to strengthen the industry-institute linkage, Maharashtra’s Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay. With this, the faculty and students of all engineering colleges in the State will be able to utilise facilities at prestigious institutes including IIT, Bombay. Also, the faculties and students of Government and aided engineering colleges can avail guidance of experts available at the IIT. The MoU was signed by newly-appointed DTE Dr Mohitkar and IIT Bombay’s Dean of Research and Development Dr Milind Atre, on Friday.

 

Dr Sachin Patwardhan, Dr Anil Nandgaonkar and others also were present on the occasion. Higher and Technical Education Ministry in State calls the event of signing of the MoU as a step towards quality collaboration. The State engineering colleges will also get an opportunity to use Research and Development facilities of IIT Bombay. DTE is endeavouring to increase quality of engineering education in State colleges. The Government is trying to strengthen the industry-institute linkage. Institutes like IITs are at top as far as the initiative is concerned. The MoU will play a pivotal role as students of State engineering institutions from 15 Government and aided institutes under DTE will do internships at IIT. Students from Government engineering colleges will get access to infrastructure like laboratory, library set ups at IIT Bombay. The research activities are lacking in State engineering institutions.

 

They will get to do more and in a better manner at IIT. With this development, the expertise at IIT Bombay will be utilised to train teachers in State engineering colleges through workshops. Considering the vastness of research activities at IIT, the faculties in State institutions will receive guidance in preparing research proposals and assistance in research and development works. Dr Mohitkar gives full credit of the development to Minister Chandrakant Patil, Principal Secretary Vikas Chandra Rastogi for making it happen. Dr Mohitkar hails from Chandrapur.

 

After doing BE in Civil Engineering, he did Masters in Highways and Transportation. Dr Mohitkar completed Masters Diploma in Business Administration (Financial Management) and then PhD. Dr Mohitkar has 22 years experience in the field of Technical Education in various capacities as Administrator to a policy maker and 10 years as an Engineer. Before taking charge as Director of MSBTE in 2017, Dr Mohitkar worked as Assistant Transportation Engineer, CIDCO; Assistant Director (Tech), Deputy Director of Technical Education. Dr Mohitkar has expressed his gratitude towards Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, Principal Secretary of Higher and Technical Education Vikas Chandra Rastogi for showing faith on him and giving him opportunity.