The present system of technical education- though huge and diverse
has focus on analytical capabilities. There is a need for
skill sets appropriate for design, development and prototyping
using modern tools and techniques. The Product Lifecycle Management
(PLM) approach to entire cycle from research and development,
manufacturing, quality assurance, distribution, maintenance
and disposal of new products is gaining currency. Thus there
is a need for a design and manufacturing programme which includes
all aspects such as mechanical, electrical/ electronics as
well as software engineering. The programme should give emphasis
on aesthetic, ergonomic and functional considerations of products.
Further, the programme should not only consider all facets
of design considerations but also give emphasis on the aspects
of prototyping as well as manufacturing technologies. Accordingly,
it has been decided to set up Pandit Dwarka Prasad Mishra
Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing
(PDPM IIITDM) at Jabalpur.
Primary goal of the institute is to educate and train engineers
who are dealing with design and manufacturing of engineering
goods. The task of incubation has been entrusted
on Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur). The
Director, Faculty and Staff members of IIT Kanpur are working
together to achieve the goal.
Jabalpur city
is located at the centre
of the State of Madhya Pradesh in India and is one of
the most important cities in the State. It is situated in
the 'Mahakaushal' Region of the State and gets its name from
history being the native land of the great 'Jabali Rishi'.
The holy 'Narmada' river flows through the District which is
the major drinking water source for the District.There is
a multipurpose 'Bargi Dam' Project on this river.Known
world-over for its 'Marble Rocks' and the 'Dhuandhar' water
falls, the tourist site 'Bhedaghat' is also located nearby.
The city is an important educational centre
of the state. Located centrally, it has some very reputed
and old schools. Some of the schools are more than a
century old. There are two Universities: Rani Durgavati University and the Jawaharlal Nehru Agriculture University.
Good educational institutes in Jabalpur include Govt.Engineering College, a Medical College,
Law Colleges, Post Graduate and under-Graduate Colleges. It
is planned to have the campus of PDPM IIITDM with a land area
of 50 acre which would be divided into three zones. Thirty
acres of this land would be earmarked for academic activities
while ten acres would be kept for Design Studio Park to be
developed with industry partnership. Remaining ten acres would
be residential area for students’ hostel, faculty and staff
housing. Till the campus is built it is planned to start the
activities of PDPM IIITDM in the ENGINEERING COLLEGE located
at distance of about 8 km from city centre.
Setting
up of PDPM IIITDM at Jabalpur would be landmark in the evolution
of technical education system in the country. This meets a
very pressing need of the industry today. The industry driven
adaptive management structure provides this institution ability
to respond to challenges of the future. This would provide
sustainable competitive advantage to Indian industry in the
area of design and manufacturing of new products in the increasingly
globalized economic environment.
