All India test for dual degree management courses soon: AICTE

NEW DELHI: Following US and UK Universities, Indian colleges will offer dual degree and integrated courses in management and engineering from 2012-13 session onwards.

Approved by AICTE on Thursday, the six-year integrated management programs will be combined with a technical course such as engineering, architecture or pharmacy. Here, the student will have the choice of dropping off mid way, to gain some work experience.

They can join back to get a dual degree in management and technical education for completing six years of education. Upon completion of five years, a separate degree will be offered.

“We have about 3800 colleges. We expect many colleges to start the integrated management programs from this session onwards,” said Dr SS Mantha, Chairman of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on Thursday.

On ther other hand, the dual degree programs will have management coupled with bachelors in science, commerce or arts. “Student will have the option to drop off after three years, gain some work experience and join back,” said Dr Mantha.

He or she can join back the course and complete the management piece in 24 months, which can spread across a timeline, which is being worked out.

“There will be an All India Test for the Dual Degree programs, the details of which will be announced later this month,” Dr Mantha said.

AICTE also launched a free cloud service with Microsoft whereby 10,000 technical colleges and institutes across India will be offered 10GB of free cloud space and web apps. The Live@Edu program will host communication and collaboration service that offers email, Microsoft office web apps, instant messaging and storage to AICTE’s more than 7 million students and nearly 500,000 faculty members.