Board Meeting of APEN at GTU focuses on the Project Based Learning courses
Ahmedabad: The Board of the Director’s meeting of Asia Professional Education Network (APEN) was held for the first time in India at Gujarat Technological University (GTU), Chandkheda, Ahmedabad on December 6, Tuesday, 2016. APEN is an Asia’s wide international network of universities/institutes who have developed Project Based Learning courses. APEN is the only education network in Asia, which specifically aims at producing professionals, who can solve the many issues that industry confronts today and in the future.
GTU has initiated a number of innovative programs and initiatives, to significantly improve the quality of graduates and diploma holders and make them useful to the industry and society. GTU is always working towards providing all necessary exposure to the students which can make them industry ready. Considering its initiatives & achievements and based on the meeting of Prof. Hidetoshi Nishimura, Executive Director, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) with Shri Narendrabhai Modi, Honourable Prime Minister of India (then the Chief Minister of Gujarat), GTU was invited to represent India in Asia Professional Education Network (APEN), Dr. Rajul Gajjar, officiating Vice Chancellor of GTU said.
She also mentioned that GTU has strongly proposed to take up projects involving MSMEs so that their industry personnel can be trained in specific skills. The courses can also be taken by anyone interested in such sector specific skills. This will augment the skill development mission which GTU has already initiated with NASSCOM as a part of its MoU at Vibrant Gujarat Education Summit. Currently, APEN has 13 members from 13 countries, and the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology, (AIIT, Japan) plays the role of secretariat. Other major members of APEN are India, China, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Brunei & Myanmar.
Participants:Asia Professional Education NetworkDr. Shintaro IshijimaChairperson of APEN, Honorary President of AIIT―Prof. Mitsuhiro MaedaSecretary General of APEN, Professor and Director of Foreign Affairs of AIIT―Gujarat Technological UniversityDr. R.K. GajjarOfficiating Vice Chancellor GTUIndiaJ.C. LilaniI/c Registrar, GTUDr. N M BhattDirector GIT, Dean ME & PhD Chairperson of APEN India ChapterDr. Karmjitsinh BiholaAssistant Professor Centre for Industrial Design (Open Design SchooL)Advanced Institute of Industrial TechnologyDr. Satoshi YoshidaProfessor of Graduate School of Indstrial Technology, Chairperson of APEN Japan ChapterJapanDe La Salle UniversityProf. Alvin B. Culaba Ph.D.University Fellow & Professor of Mechanical Engineering Chairperson of APEN Philippine ChapterPhilippines
Points discussed in the meeting:
Sharing best practices in Engineering education for project based learning
Collaboration for projects and consulting work through APEN consortium members
Active Teaching Learning Through Electronic Media Like Skype or webinars
Participation and Presentation of Paper During Symposium/Conferences
Sharing the Experiences (Success Story, Challenges etc.)
Research in the field of Design Engineering, Project Based Learning, Engineering Education
Implementation of various initiatives for collaboration with Asian SMEs Connectivity
Faculty and students exchange for various projects to learn practical approach
A seminar on “Academia-Industry Collaboration” was also held at GTU in which Dr. Shintaro Ishijima, Chairperson of APEN and Prof. Mitsuhiro Maeda Secretary General of APEN presented their views and interacted with Deans of GTU. Dr. N.M. Bhatt, Dean GTU gave detail of industry-academia collaborations by GTU, which include Design engineering, Shodhyatra in final year of Degree Engineering, Industry based electives, start-up ecosystem, GTU Innovation Council having activities of CiC3, Student Start-up Support System, Nodal Agency etc. Dr. Karmjitsinh Bihola, Assistant Professor Centre for Industrial Design (Open Design School) proposed Vote of Thanks.
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