1. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION – ROLE OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES Prof. D.N. Reddy Chairman, India Society for Technical Education (AP Section) Former Vice Chancellor, JNT University, Hyderabad.

2. FUNCTIONS AND OBJECTIVES Interface with institute-government and industry-public Further interests of the professional group Regulate and guide practice of professionals, certifications Professional development and training activities and continuing education

3. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS- OPPORTUNITIES ICT and digital learning technologies have reduced the gap between Geographies. Possibility of bilateral and multilateral collaboration opportunities Millennium students and engineers use social networking extensively Flexibility in broadening Engg Education through informal ways

4. STRATEGIC AREAS Creation of GLOBAL NETWORKS and Virtual Organizations Mobility of Engineers Resource Sharing Curriculum Planning and Student Development for Establishing Uniform Accreditation Parameters Bridge the difference in level and areas of Research and Technological Expansion Technology Transfer and Knowhow

5. PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES Umbrella organization Discipline specific Student run Engineering Societies in Universities and Institutions Some award Professional Designations CONSORTIUM – Engineering Council in India.

6. BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP Endless Networking Opportunities Funding and Assistantships Memberships convey to the employer that they are dedicated to the field Entrepreneurship and Innovation opportunities Collective wisdom

7. Engineering Graduates lack basic skills Industry Faces a skill deficit Challenges in internationally acceptable skills International Mobility Competencies Forum (WTO Environment) Engineering Profession has no legal status in India Industry Ready Professionals Academic Training of Engineers PRESENT CHALLENGES

8. ROLE OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES Institutions/ Societies/Councils/National Academies FICCI/CII/NASSCOM/AIMA/AMSME Re-Engineering of Professionals Professional Societies play a strong interactive role – Planning – Regulation – Assessment

9. PROFESSIONAL COUNCILS Engineering Council of India (ECI) in Apex body (standing body for registrar and Engineers) (25 Professional associations/ societies/ councils/Institutions/Members of (ECI) are Institution of Engineers (India) Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE) Institute of chemical Engineers (I.Ch.E) Computer society of India (CSI) Consulting Engineers association of India (CSAI)

10. ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS Discipline and accountability, ethical and conduct among professionals International collaborations – challenges – Teaching –Learning – Cultural ecology – Admission policies – Visa Restrictions – Course Flexibility

11. SOME EXAMPLES OF COLLABORATIONS Private sector initiatives Indo –US collaboration in Engg. Education (IUCEE 2007) Amrita University – US collaboration (2005) Supported by ISRO/DST, Govt. of India and Manipal Academy of Higher Education – 16 US universities – Georgia Tech. – Michigan/Washington/Purdue – Wisconsin/Madison/U. Illinois, Urbana Champaign

12. ROLE OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES Learner – Centric Teaching Research Excellence Outcome based quality supported by accreditation Innovation and Entrepreneurship System concept and modelling Critical thinking and problem solving Project planning and Management Creativity and innovation Entrepreneurship and small business development Knowledge management Economics, civics, sociology, Human Biology

13. Professional educational programmes Updating skills Professional certification Knowledge sharing Professional societies for Development and monitoring of

14. RECOMMENDATIONS Informal Education and International Collaborations Lie on Top of any Reform for Millennium Engineer Development. Professional Societies have Proven Record of Building Largest Network of Students, Professionals and Institutes in any Nation. International Collaboration through Professional Societies is Imperative to Match the Pace and Scale of Global Changes. Success Stories Viz., INDO-US need to be extended to Global Scale.