Chennai: A survey conducted in Tamil Nadu among a cross-section of stakeholders about the state of engineering education and job scenario for fresh engineers in the State, has seen a call for dipping the number of seats in such colleges by half. There was also a suggestion that it would be a good idea to convert at least 200 private engineering colleges and polytechnics as arts and science colleges.
The survey was conducted by Nandini Consultancy Centre, a chemical engineering and technology/market research firm based in Chennai, in April 2019, among a cross-section of stakeholders. The survey was conducted amongst faculty members in engineering colleges, recently passed-out engineering students, prospective employers of engineers and parents of the students.
QUANTITY
With more than 550 engineering colleges with admission capacity of around 2.5 lakh students every year, only less than 50 per cent of the seats got filled up in 2018-19. In the ensuing academic year, it appears that this percentage would likely go down further. Some observers think that lack of job creation is the reason for fresh engineers not getting jobs, which have resulted in admission seekers for engineering courses going down. This appears to be a very simplistic view, says Nandini Consultancy Centre director, N S Venkataraman.
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QUALITY
Moreover, the quality of engineering education in several colleges has deteriorated due to many factors like unsuitable management, lack of trained senior professors in adequate numbers for the vast number of colleges, and admitting students with minimum marks for money, finds the survey.
Several employers and educationists, including some Vice-Chancellors, have said many engineers passing out in Tamil Nadu are unemployable. Students passing out with good grades do get well-paying jobs but others are mostly under-employed.
SOLUTION
It is clear engineering education in Tamil Nadu is facing a crisis, finds the report. A few leading educationists have called for the immediate closure of engineering colleges – at least 50 per cent of them – that do not maintain standards. It is already happening, as a few engineering colleges have not got even minimum number of students. The infrastructure of these colleges could be used to set up arts and science colleges. Some could offer certificate courses in skill-oriented technical education, says the reports.