IN TALK WITH
“Industrial Organizations appreciate the Sandwich Pattern of learning as they get the students who are already trained, and they don’t have to invest more time as well as capital in their training.” – Dr. Shivalingappa Nagappa Sapali
introduction
The world is becoming more and more competitive day by day, everybody wants the best for themselves. Students want the best jobs for themselves & on the other hand, organizations want the best employees. For all of that to happen there is one sector that particularly has to work hard & that particular sector is the Educational Sector.
The individuals responsible for the welfare of the Educational domain must be well updated about all the new methodologies and technologies. This time we are talking about a pattern of education that brings out the best in students.
It is the Sandwich Pattern, a pattern in which one year extra is added to the curriculum for the industrial experience as students have to work in the industry while doing their graduation. In India, it is adopted by a handful of colleges & one such institution is College Of Engineering, Pune.
This time Rishabh Mehta of Team Eduvoice got a marvelous opportunity to have a fruitful discussion with Dr. Shivalingappa Nagappa Sapali of CoE, Pune. He gave us some insights on how the Sandwich Pattern works and what are its advantages as well as disadvantages. He also provided his suggestions which can be added in the pattern for the betterment of the students.
Let’s have a look what are Dr. Shivalingappa’s views on Sandwich Pattern Learning
Rishabh Mehta
COEP (College of Engineering, Pune) is one of the oldest engineering colleges in India. We would like to know about your responsibilities as a faculty and educationalist at COEP?
Dr. Shivalingappa Nagappa Sapali
I joined the government college of engineering in Kard in 1987 and then I was transferred to Pune in 2003 as an Assistant Professor.
After that, I became a professor in 2008 and was promoted as HOD from 2013 to 2015.
Currently, I am working as Dean for Quality Assurance & I am also having a portfolio of coordinator for the Quality Improvement Program Center. I am also holding the position of Ph.D. Admission Incharge through NDF.
After becoming the Dean of the Quality Assurance, I started the Internal Quality Assurance Channel which was created keeping the guidelines of the UGC Performa in mind
Also, as Dean of Quality Assurance, I have started an Internal Quality Assurance Channel as per the UGC Performa. In this channel, we invite various eminent personalities from the Academic Sector and have a fruitful discussion with them on the notion, how to sustain the quality of engineering education in COEP as a leader.
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Rishabh Mehta
What is the Sandwich Pattern of Learning and how it is implemented. We would also like to know about the ratio of theory to practical in this pattern?
Dr. Shivalingappa Nagappa Sapali
The Sandwich Pattern of Learning is a learning methodology wherein the students are exposed to theoretical as well as practical exposure. The students acquire theoretical knowledge from the college and they understand as well as learn the practical applications of it by working in the industry under various organizations.
This model is very effective as it allows the students to understand what is happening in the real world and what are the use-cases of the things that they are learning in the classroom. All this is achieved in the set duration of the course that they have opted for.
In COEP, the Production department is running its Undergraduate Program of Production Engineering in Sandwich Pattern. The students of this program work in the industry under the guidance of corporate experts during the complete tenure of their 5th and the 7th semester.
Before sending the students in the industry, the department has to do rigorous research to identify the interests of the students & find the organizations in those particular domains. The department also has to communicate with the HR department of these organizations to provide the desired internship to the students.
Talking about the ratio of theory to practical, I would say that COEP always tries to keep a perfect balance between the two. Theory and Practical knowledge are equally important & therefore equal attention is paid towards both the verticals of learning.
Rishabh Mehta
What according to your are the Pros and Cons of Sandwich Pattern?
Dr. Shivalingappa Nagappa Sapali
There are many pros and cons of this pattern. One of the major advantages of the Sandwich Pattern is that students get job offers immediately after the fourth year of their curriculum. Apart from that students also get to publish their research papers.
When it comes to learning, they get exposed to the current technology that is being used in industries and get hands-on training. Financially, the students get stipend which is good for them.
When it comes to the cons, one of the major cons is that it is very difficult to manage the industry & invite them to hire the students. Sometimes, there are problems at the industrial end or the market is on the downfall and at that point of time, it is a very tedious job to get in touch with them.
Rishabh Mehta
If the Sandwich Pattern is so effective and advantageous then why is it not being opted by the Engineering Colleges across the nation?
Dr. Shivalingappa Nagappa Sapali
I agree that it is very effective but we need to understand that it is difficult for the colleges to tie up with industrial organizations. Also, placing the students in the industry is not an easy task. Sometimes only half of the students get placed for the internship and the remaining half don’t. The situation then becomes more difficult & that’s why most colleges don’t opt for this pattern.
Rishabh Mehta
How do the Industrial organizations respond towards this pattern?
Dr. Shivalingappa Nagappa Sapali
A majority of the organizations appreciate this pattern as they get the students who are already trained and they don’t have to invest more time as well as capital in their training. They can give them projects immediately and because of this pattern, professionals from various organizations come to colleges directly for hiring students.
Rishabh Mehta
Does the Sandwich Pattern need modifications or is there an alternative method to it?
Dr. Shivalingappa Nagappa Sapali
I don’t think so it needs any kind of modification but yes, there is an alternative to it. It is known as the Partial Sandwich Model. In this model, the students work in the industry under the guidance of corporate experts for a single semester only.
Rishabh Mehta
Sir, I have a suggestion that if the students spend half a day in college and half-day for the last two years of their curriculum in industry that way they will get more practical knowledge. What is your take on it?
Dr. Shivalingappa Nagappa Sapali
Yes it is a great suggestion but it can only work if the college and the company are located in the same locality but if the distance is much then most of the time would be wasted in traveling itself.
Instead of the half-day system, we can do one day in college and another in the industry only if the organizations have no issues.
Rishabh Mehta
If any autonomous institution is willing to implement sandwich patterns, will you help them?
Dr. Shivalingappa Nagappa Sapali
Yes, obviously I would love to, and I am already mentoring two colleges as I am working with AICTE as well.
It was a wonderful experience talking to a renowned personality like Dr. Shivalingappa Nagappa Sapali & gaining the insights of Sandwich Pattern of Learning. Dr. Sapali appreciated the initiative of Eduvoice & has also agreed to help colleges/universities across India by becoming a part of the Eduvoice Advisory Committee. With the help of Eduvoice, he will assist colleges and universities in implementing Sandwich Pattern of Learning in their respective streams and domains.
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