Last week, the Class 12 results were declared by the National Examination Board. A majority of the universities have commenced the process of accepting applications for undergraduate admissions even prior to the announcement of these results.
At present, universities are rapidly receiving applications for admission to their existing programs. Within Kathmandu University, the School of Education, particularly the Department of STEM Education, has commenced the implementation of the Bachelor of Technical Education in Informatics Technology (B Tech Ed in IT) program. This is taking place at the central campus during the ongoing academic session. The School of Education is working in partnership with the Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering from the Kathmandu University, School of Engineering to supervise the implementation of this program. Coordinator Netra Kumar Manandhar disclosed this advancement.
The inaugural instance of this program took place at Sindhuli Community Technical Institute (SCTI) in the year 2078 (2022 AD), as conveyed by the school's Dean, Professor Dr. Bal Chandra Luitel.
As per the information shared by Dean Professor Dr. Luitel, sessions were held at Aspire College in Biratnagar during the previous year. In Sindhuli, there are currently 18 students enrolled, and in Biratnagar, the count is 23. Meanwhile, it's planned that the School of Education will commence its classes starting this year. The Dean also mentioned that a total of 30 seats have been allocated each for Sindhuli and Biratnagar in partnership with the university. Additionally, there is a designated quota of 30 seats for the School of Education.
During a press briefing conducted today, Dean Professor Dr. Luitel conveyed that admission is open to individuals who have successfully completed their Class 12 education or hold an equivalent diploma from the Council of Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) in any field of study.
The conference disclosed that a requirement of achieving a minimum of 1.6 CGPA (ungraded) or obtaining a 'second division' in all subjects of Class 12 has been instituted. This translates to securing over 41 percent marks in total.
This program represents a fusion of education and information technology. It's a curriculum provided by the Department of STEM Education within Kathmandu University's Bachelor of Technical Education in Informatics Technology (B Tech Ed in IT) program. Spanning 8 semesters over a 4-year duration, the course encompasses a total of 136 credits. It merges educational and IT components. Enrolled students won't solely study; they'll also actively participate in hands-on exercises. Devkota affirms, "Those enrolled in this program will have the chance to work alongside their studies. Following the third semester, students can even delve into software development," as articulated by Professor Dr. Luitel.
Both educational and IT disciplines are integral to this program's curriculum. Beyond the realm of IT, the course encompasses subjects linked to education and pedagogy.
The IT aspect incorporates subjects such as software development, software engineering, programming languages, digital logic, and e-learning management systems. The distribution between theory and hands-on practice is evenly balanced at fifty-fifty. This involves students undertaking two internships, which encompass both teaching and practical work.
The program mandates a cumulative of 136 credit hours. Within this framework, there are allocations of 18 credit hours for core subjects, 20 credits for vocational pedagogy, 80 credit hours for IT specialization, and 18 credit hours for internships and research.
For the theoretical component, a division of 50 percent internal assessment and 50 percent external evaluation has been determined. Dean Professor Dr. Luitel elaborated that practical subjects will have 75 percent of their assessment conducted internally, while the remaining 25 percent will be externally evaluated.
With skilled technical educators in short supply due to the migration of workforce abroad, educational institutions are currently grappling with a deficit of teachers well-versed in vocational knowledge. At present, individuals who have honed technical skills in fields like engineering and related domains are being encouraged to take up teaching positions in vocational schools. This step not only ensures a dependable and secure career path but also caters to the nation's needs. By leveraging their expertise to bring about financial transformation, even for just a single academic session, this program offers relief to educators. This initiative is oriented towards generating proficient teachers, with a dedicated focus on meeting the country's demands, and is being executed with meticulous attention.
The objective of this program is to cultivate a workforce in the realms of both technical and vocational sectors. Upon finishing the course, students have the opportunity to specialize in a range of subjects including IT programs, TVET, education, social sciences, and more.
Upon completion of this program, students can evolve into proficient educators in the TVET sector. This initiative also aims to produce trainers for this purpose. Furthermore, they will attain recognition that's on par with National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF Level 6). This will equip them to pursue roles as IT professionals, instructors, TVET educators, and developers of TVET curricula, as articulated by Dean Professor Dr. Luitel.
Over a span of four years, students are required to cover a tuition fee amounting to NPR 570,000. However, Dean Professor Dr. Luitel has highlighted that the School of Education offers a 40% scholarship for classes under its purview, in collaboration with another contributing institution. The School of Education has furnished details regarding scholarships tailored to individual needs.
Regarding classes conducted centrally, if students do not apply for the scholarship, Dean Professor Dr. Luitel provided information that scholarships will be allocated to students hailing from Sindhuli and Biratnagar. Kathmandu University communicated that the fee for the eight semesters can be settled across 16 installments. During the conference, it was also conveyed that students are expected to remit NPR 22,500 per installment, with the arrangement structured accordingly.
For the admission notice of B Tech Ed IT click HERE.
