Printing Technologists for the New Age of Information Explosion: How to Educate and Train them?

摘要

One of the greatest impact of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics is felt on Printing Technology and Printing Industrial Practices. Printing Technology has been traditionally art based requiring a great deal of artistic skills. But with the advent of large scale advancements in Computer and Information technologies and due to the various societal changes in India, this technology has changed from a skill based profession to a Science and Technology based one. The present day Printing Technologist in India needs to work in a complex and ever changing work environment digesting the advancements in Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics and swimming against the resistance to change. Today the demand scenario is changing. Present day customers require instant and customized printing in various forms with a high degree of quality. Hence a need is felt in India to understand and identify new ways of teaching and learning Printing Technology programs and courses. This paper makes an attempt to analyse the factors that affect Printing Technology education and evolve methods to bridge the gap between education and training, as the Printing Industry in India presently needs professionals who are both knowledgeable (education) of the subject matter and posses the ability to apply such knowledge (training) to the resolution of problems in the workplace. The importance of cross disciplinary education for a creating a Printing Technologist to fit into the information explosion age is also discussed.