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T.G. Sitharam, chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), has assured that the currently non-functional AICTE regional office in Bengaluru will be transformed into a ‘Quantum Computing Lab’. Speaking at the felicitation ceremony organised by Senate members of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) at the VTU Regional Center in Bengaluru on Saturday, he stated that the university had submitted a proposal on transformation of the office into a Quantum Computing Lab and that AICTE considered it. “Quantum computing is gaining prominence and launching it in Bengaluru will benefit many,” he added. “Every year, around 1.5 million students graduate with engineering degrees in India. However, the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for higher education remains low. Over the past 50 years, this figure has not changed significantly. In South Korea, the GER is 96%, while in India it is 32.5%. Now, there is a golden opportunity to improve this,” he explained, advising engineering colleges to take proactive steps in this regard. Sundar Madakshira, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Sinch India, spoke on the topic ‘Building Professionals for the Future: The Role of Universities and Educational Institutions’. He emphasised that universities must produce professional students and provide education that meets industry expectations. He also urged students to abandon the mindset of learning only after securing a job. “Learning is a continuous process and must not be forgotten. However, most employees aim to retire by age 40, and 70% of them prefer to work as hobbyist professionals. Amidst these trends, finding quality employees is a challenge. Students must build networks, which will become their net worth in the future,” he said.
