In a major step towards reinforcing industry-oriented education, KLS Gogte Institute of Technology (KLS GIT) has launched a ‘Factory on Campus’ initiative in Belagavi, Karnataka.
The project provides engineering students with the opportunity to receive work in manufacturing experience while studying in the classroom and thus bridge the gap between classroom learning and industrial experience.
The 'Factory on Campus' concept brings an operational manufacturing setup to the college campus. Instead of lab simulations and short-term industrial visits, students will now have access to high-quality equipment, manufacturing processes, and quality control systems in the hands of professional staff and will be able to work with such equipment, manufacturing processes, and quality control systems in real life.
The initiative was developed jointly with industry partners to ensure that students get in-depth exposure to the latest manufacturing technologies. It will have an impact on students in many engineering disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, electronics, and industrial engineering.
During the inauguration, institute representatives said the facility will enhance students' technical skills, problem-solving skills, and will be beneficial for entering the job market.
It is consistent with India's growing emphasis on skill development and experiential learning along with the idea of workforce integration with a skill-based curriculum, which has been highlighted through Skill India and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The facility will give students access to live production activities as well as industrial workflows and quality assurance, process optimization, and workplace safety issues. Such hands-on experience will improve students' employability and help in preparing them for advanced manufacturing and engineering fields.
Industry experts have repeatedly stated that graduates with practical experience are better equipped to meet the demands of today’s manufacturing industries.
By bringing industrial operations onto the campus, KLS GIT aims to reduce the transition time between graduation and professional employment.
The Factory on Campus, apart from improving the technical knowledge of the students, is expected to foster innovation, research, and collaboration between academia and industry.
This will allow students to work on actual industrial challenges, prototype development, and process improvement projects projects that could benefit both educational institutions and manufacturing companies.
Belagavi is one of Karnataka’s most important industrial centers, and the city’s engineering, automotive, and manufacturing companies are based there.
Establishing such a facility within an educational institution complements the city’s industrial ecosystem and creates opportunities for closer collaboration between local industries and future engineers.
Such initiatives are what engineering education experts believe will be the future in India as academics are coupled with practical skills, innovation, and industry engagement. As technology continues to change manufacturing in many ways with automation, robotics, and digital production systems we are finding it ever more useful to be exposed to factory environments.
The Factory on Campus has also made KLS GIT a leader in the field of industry skills training and experiential learning, and by introducing the Factory on Campus, it has made a mark on the training of many engineering graduates who can be employed in the industry.
The project will be a model that other engineering colleges should follow in order to enhance practical education and job-oriented employment in the future.
