Conceptual framework provides the steps in planning and implementing tracer studies on the alumni of engineering institutions. One can update the curriculum, improve the instructional methods, etc.

1. Conceptual Framework for
Planning a Tracer Study
V. Thanikachalam, B.E., M. Tech.,
Ph.D., M.S., FIE., FIGS., FFIUCEE

2. Overall Goal
 The overall goal of a tracer study is to
assess the extent to which higher
educational institutions, taken as a system
composed of polytechnics,engineering
colleges,deemed universities,and technical
universities produce the types,mixes and
qualities of skilled human resources that
meet the demands of the current labour
market in India.

3. Objectives of the Study
 The evolution of employment of
engineering graduates and diploma holders
in modern sector during 2000-2005,and
how this compares with other Asian
countries.

4. Objectives…
 The annual output of engineering graduates
of tertiary institutions by level,type of
studies,and field of specialization,and the
extent to which this corresponds to
employment opportunities in INDIA,noting
cost differences in producing these
graduates and potential for improved returns
to scale in higher cost disciplines.

5. Objectives…
 The chances of employment and the extent
to which available opportunities match
training , noting options available to
potential unemployed graduates and subject
to levels of remuneration.

6. Objectives…
 The nature of skill shortages employers
face , and their response to such shortages

7. Objectives…
 The governance mechanisms required to
ensure that graduates are equipped with
skills required by the labour market,
including modes of participation of and
incentive systems for private employers in
order to promote the changes identified as
most critical.

8. Graduates’ Decisions
 Factors that contribute to enrollment in an institute
 Graduates’ ratings of the curriculum and
instructional process
 Graduates’ career and future growth potential
 Rewards and compensation
 Utility value of the courses
 Planning for further education

9. Possible Terms of Reference
(TOR)
 Identify specific sub-sectors of recent and likely
economic growth
 Study the relationship between the supply of
graduates of the tertiary institutions and demands
of the labour market
 Identify the extent of graduate unemployment in
India among polytechnic and engineering college
graduates as well as relevance of the education
received to the labour market

10. T.O.R…
 Assess the adequacy of current tertiary
programmes(bachelors / masters/ doctoral) to
satisfy labour requirements in both quantitative
and qualitative terms for the following disciplines:
 Electrical engineering
 Electronic engineering
 Mechanical engineering
 Civil engineering
 Computer engineering
 Chemical engineering

11. T.O.R…
 Agricultural engineering
 Aeronautical engineering
 Textile engineering
 Automobile engineering
 Biomedical engineering
 Polymer technology
 Petroleum engineering
 Multi skilled inter disciplinary engineering /
technology programmes
 Post graduate programmes

12. T.O.R….
 Investigate the adequacy or otherwise of
contemporary higher education in engineering and
technology vis-a vis human resources
development needs of I.T industry
 Determine the factors that influenced the alumni’s
choice of higher education of study
 Ascertain the academic climate and culture in in
the respondents’ institutions of study
 Determine whether or not the respondents specific
professional work and assignments are related to
their fields of study

13. T.O.R….
 Ascertain the employment,salary,perks, quality of
work life of the alumni
 Access the alumni perceptions and attitudes
towards their occupational characteristics,career
expectations,actualisation and changes
 Unravel the coping capacity of respodents vis-a
vis their working conditions,experiences and
employers expectations

14. T.O.R…..
 Identify the needs of collaborative research
at the grassroots through a nationally
coordinated by SMEs
 Identify the innovations that are required
 Formulate technology transfer process to
SMEs
 Assess the needs for crating the centers for
excellence in the institutions

15. T.O.R…
 Ascertain the needs for the multi-skilled
programmes
 Identify the needs of post-graduate programmes
for the global industries
 Estimate the industry specific research and
development projects that can be proposed in
collaboration with global industries
 Need for dedicated center of excellence in
engineering and technology

16. Project Personnel
 One faculty from each branch
 One project officer
 One consultant
 Project staff

17. Planning Meetings
 Planning meeting
 Objectives based on the T.O.R
 Areas of concern
 Industrial trends
 Economic development
 Programmes and projects of GATS / FDI
 Emerging technology
 Review with consultants

18. Questionnaire Preparation
 Goals and Objectives of the study
 Target audience
 Nature of the questions based on the objectives
 Broad frame work
 Proposed sample size
 Research questions on the social status / gender
 Draft items / questions
 Validation of the items / questions
 Relevance of the items / questions

19. Pilot Study / Trial Run
 Distribution to a limited population
 Getting the views on the items
 Editing
 Revised questionnaire
 Second field testing
 Improvement
 Mass production

20. Student Records
 Id number
 E mail IDs
 Updated Mailing list
 Local alumni clubs
 E-mail groups

21. Distribution Strategies
 On-line posting
 Distribution through alumni clubs
 Distribution through post with prepaid
envelopes for reply
 Distribution through post with permitted
envelopes for reply without postal stamps
 Administered through persons and collected
personally

22. Mailing the Questionnaire to
the Alumni
 Time to send the responses
 Covering letter to explain the purpose of the
project
 Rewards for the immediate dispatch
 Cut off date
 Data codification
 Statistical analysis

23. Analysis of the Responses
 Time taken to get the first job
 Process adopted
 Experience gained
 Relevance of programme and courses
 Suggestions on the courses
 Modification ,additional topics, deletion of
the obsolete topics

24. Suggestions on the
Instructional System
 Industrial exposure
 Industrial training
 Apprenticeship
 Internship
 Industry based topics for projects
 Industry based seminar topics
 Industry specific courses

25. Building Partnership with the
Industry
 MoU
 Consultancy projects
 Cooperative programmes
 Services of the industry personnel
 Research and development works
 Continuing education programmes

26. Industry Questionnaire
 Interview schedule
 Topics for discussion
 Areas of mutual interest
 Relevance of the data / information
 Utilization of the responses
 Improvement of the process

27. Selection of the Industries
 Relevance of the technology
 Recruitments made
 Possible future selection of the alumni
 Readiness to for partnership through MoU
 Scope for expansion
 Any other criteria

28. Institutional Questionnaire
 Programmes
 Nature of the institute
 Faculty
 Nature of autonomy
 Development envisaged
 New programmes, courses
 Consultancy projects

29. Continuous Process
Improvement in Instruction
 Academic council
 Boards of studies
 In-house faculty development center
 Leadership development center

30. Statistical Analysis
 Averages,mean,median,mode
 Correlation
 Variance,covariance
 Standard error
 T-test

31. Highlights of the Report
 Direction for improvement , restructuring,
modification,creation of centers / cells.
 Development of new programmes in
emerging technology
 Dedicated centers for research and
developments

32. Institutional Development
 New programmes / courses
 New inter disciplinary centers in emerging
technology
 Learning resources development centers
 Consultancy center
 Research and development centers
 Placement center

33. Your Special Needs
 Academic
 Faculty development
 Internal revenue generation
 Industry-Institute – Community Partnership
 Outreach programmes
 Networking with state /national laboratories
 Overseas programmes

34. Thank You