Excellence in Curriculum Design (CURRICULUM DESIGN FOR INDUSTRY RELEVANT AND INTERDISCIPLINARY GRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS IN APPLIED SCIENCES, NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS)
V.Thanikachalam B.E., M.Tech., Ph.D., M.S., FIE., FIGS. FMR Professor and HOD, CIA, National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research, Chennai Abstract Most of the high performing students migrate to various professional programs. Hence, the arts and science programs have to be developed to attract them. Innovative methods of curriculum development in arts and science programs could be based on the reverse system approach. This would provide promise to develop industry relevant graduate and postgraduate programs in applied science, applied mathematics and natural sciences. By close collaboration with the association of national laboratories, various Indian Institutes of Science Education Research the faculty can design innovative programs which would enable the candidate’s employer ready. The programs could also meet the career developments of the candidates. The Indian economy requirements could be assessed through various national and state projects. The program educational objectives are to be planned to meet the expected job specifications in science related jobs. The faculty members are to be developed to plan interdisciplinary programs and implement them. Keywords: Curriculum development process. Reverse system approach, enhancement of the relevance of postgraduate programs Introduction Profound changes are occurring throughout the world in the new age of rapidly advancing information technology and globalization. The need for the research- based applications of the social sciences, natural sciences, and applied sciences has never been greater, and is growing stronger as the 21 st century unfolds. In 1950s five Indian Institutes of Technology were established by the Government of India. These institutes organized master degree programs and Ph.D in applied Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. Indian Institute of Science provides master degree programs for science graduates. In 2000 Government of India established Indian Institute Science Education and Research. The need for applied science graduates increase due to advancement of economy. Most of the Indian universities in arts and science and autonomous colleges largely adopt traditional approach to design new programs or marginally improve the obsolete programs. In this 21st century, there is a need for more applied science programs to meet the demands of the growing needs of Indian economy. Most of the high performing students migrate to professional programs where as the applied sciences provide strong foundation for the development of advances in the professional programs. The universities could constitute empowered planning committees in each branch of arts, commerce, and science and evaluate the programs against the current needs of the 1