The global major in chip manufacturing, Intel Corporation has announced an ambitious programme that is intended to nurture students who are curious and innovative. The programme named as “Future Scientist Programme” is designed to assist teachers to develop curricula to nurture a sense of research and innovation in students.

Intel to work with NGO’s and governments

Intel plans to work with NGO’s, various social bodies, and state governments to implement the programme, which will help students to develop scientific skills and expertise. They plan to reach out to about 50,000 students across India with the help of NGO’s and other social bodies. The programme will include development of curricula, different competitions and online educational resources that will help in developing skills.

The programme

The programme includes 7 modules that will provide practical training for the participants. The main objective of such a program is to channelize the thinking of the participants from the classroom to laboratory. The programme is intended to help in raising the position of the Indian students to match with the standards of world class education.

Technology and Innovation

With this programme Intel plans to use technology to bring about improvements in the field of education. The new curricula will be developed with the support of technology that will be more interactive and will engage students effectively in the process of learning. Innovation is very crucial if India is to develop as a major economic power. For innovation to happen in the field of science education it is important to develop a sense of inquiry in the students. It will sharpen the thinking process of the students and will make the students curious.

How the programme will benefit students?

The programme will focus on problem solving, discoveries, exploratory learning and thus will pave the way towards creativity and innovation. It is designed to help teachers to understand inquiry based learning approaches to science and to create a science based, inquiry based lesson plan. The programme lays importance on activity based learning where students are encouraged to learn by doing. Another positive aspect of the programme is that it will encourage the students to participate in science fairs, where students will be exposed to different ideas from a large number of students.

In India, the present education system totally ignores development of curiosity and activity based learning. Our education is based on rot learning which will improve the memory power of the students. But innovation needs creativity, curiosity, critical thinking and the ability to ask sensible questions. Such qualities are absent in majority of the Indian students who are victims of rote system of learning. A programme like “Future Scientists Programme” will help in developing such qualities among the students, which is the need of the hour. Such a programme will sow seeds of research in the minds of the students which ultimately will encourage the students the take up research as a career. Innovation will be a natural outcome of an education system that encourages research and will develop role models for the future student generations.

Both the central and state governments should extend their whole hearted support for such programmes as the government will not be able to introduce such programmes in the country on their own.