Until early 1980 Higher Education and Professional Technical Education remained only a dream in the minds of rural India students and they have to go to big cities for fulfilling their ambitions. Technical Education Development Society (TEDS) has taken a step to promote the students from this area to achieve their higher education especially in the field of safety. TEDS, having its registered office at Mavelikara and regional office at Kazhakuttom Thiruvananthapuram, has empowered International Institute of Fire and Safety (IIFS) to conduct various courses under its positive control. IIFS is presently one of the leading institutions, who impart training in safety based courses through 61 study centers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu to cater the needs of socially and economically backward classes and rural areas. The main offices are situated at Thiruvananthapuram, Mavelikara and Kottayam looking after Administrational, Academic and financial control. Currently 550 students are enrolled in this institute for the academic year 2008- 09 and will cater for over 1500 students in the succeeding year. The institution is having 67 teaching staff and 51 non-teaching staff. Each study centre is situated in area of minimum 2000 sq ft.
To redefine the scope of higher education by infusing into each of our pursuits, initiatives that will encourage intellectual, emotional, social and Spiritual growth thereby nurturing a generation of committed, knowledgeable and socially responsible citizens by providing a wider variety of career options.
The teachers have the responsibility to be role models and create learning environment that enables students to acquire inquiry driven, self directed learning and foster an attitude of life long learning. The major objective of the courses are to produce competent Safety/ Technical/ Management workers in the light of present needs. The trainees are not only given theoretical knowledge but also exposed to various practical performances at different demonstration centers.
The scope for job opportunities in the field fire and safety Engineering has increased in India and abroad. This includes Refineries, petrochemicals, Airports, Shipyards and ports, constructions industry, Rigs, Factories, Industries, Hotels, High-rise buildings etc.. Successfully completed students will get jobs as Safety Engineers, Safety Officers, Safety Managers, Safety Supervisors, fire officer, Safety Technicians etc. according to their experience and can have a starting salary from 5000-50000/- in India and Rs 150007- to 1.5 lakhs abroad.
High demands occurring scarcity to get suitably trained safety professionals is the major issue faced by Organizations. Countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Australia, Germany, USA, Singapore, Malaysia, China etc. are in need of trained safety personnel and the requirement is huge in the current year.
International Institute of Fire and Safety is the prior institute to release a handbook for construction safety written by Mr. Muraleedharan Pillai a well known safety manager. This handbook gives useful information and it covers the wide range of responsibilities for the construction personnel and Safety professionals. It is an excellent book of reference for the students and job seekers in the field of safety.