AICTE launches PRACTICE to transform 1,000 engineering colleges, benefit 20 lakh students

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched PRACTICE (Project for Advancing Critical Thinking, Industry Connect and Employability) to transform India’s technical education ecosystem. The initiative will focus on uplifting 1,000 tier-2 and 3 engineering and technology institutions with lower academic outcomes.

Project-based learning, live industry projects, and enhanced employability skills will be part of the Project PRACTICE. The AICTE and its partners have infused Rs 23.31 crore in the project, supported by Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF), LEAP, and CRISP.

TG Sitharam, chairman, AICTE, said: “AICTE has always strived to nurture not just employable engineers but leaders of innovation and nation-building. Project PRACTICE will redefine project-based learning and strengthen industry-academia collaboration, particularly in aspirational colleges with untapped potential. Together with the Research Internship Portal and R&D Cell, students will gain access to meaningful research opportunities, while the establishment of Climate Cells in institutions will foster environmental responsibility and drive India’s commitment to sustainable development goals.”

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Project PRACTICE will benefit 10,000 faculty members

The project also aimed to directly benefit 20 lakh students and 10,000 faculty members, ensuring stronger industry linkages and boosting innovation across the nation’s engineering ecosystem.

The AICTE launched the project, along with two other initiatives - Research Internship (ARI) Portal, and R&D Cell and Climate Cell in all approved institutions during the Engineers’ Day event today.

Vineet Joshi, secretary, higher education also announced the free access to AI tools such as ChatGPT and Perplexity Go for students, enabling them to save time on routine tasks and focus on research and critical learning.

“The initiatives aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry while nurturing innovation at the grassroots level,” according to the official statement.

R Subrahmanyam, founder and CEO of CRISP, emphasised that the focus of the project PRACTICE is on “non-meritorious and often neglected institutions.” “The initiative aims to support these colleges, promote their growth, and bring them into the mainstream of quality technical education and innovation,” Subrahmanyam added.