New Delhi: Why are traditional branches of engineering like mechanical and civil less attractive to students than computer science (CS) and electronics in recent years – low pay, tough work, or faculty quality? Experts believe this is linked to the mindset that CS is a “better field”.
According to All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) data from 2017 to 2021, accessed by ThePrint, despite the increase in admission percentage in engineering branches, it has not even reached 50 per cent in mechanical and civil engineering branches. In contrast, computer science and electronics have had over 60 per cent admissions in all five years.
The admission percentage in mechanical engineering was 47 per cent in 2017, dropped to 43 per cent in 2018, then fell to 40 per cent and 36 per cent in 2019 and 2020, before going up to 46 per cent in 2021.
For civil engineering, the admission percentage was 47 percent in 2017, 43 percent in 2018, 42 percent in both 2019 and 2020. This rises to 48 percent in 2021, still below 50 percent all these years.
In 2021, the admission percentage in Computer Science and Electronics was 84 percent and 67 percent, respectively. In 2017, it was recorded at 63 per cent and 48 per cent respectively.
tall order? low pay? Faculty quality?
Anil Sahasrabuddhe, Chairman, Executive Committee, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and former chairman of AICTE, said that it is not that there is no demand for mechanical and civil engineers in the market, but people do not want to take them because they think that Work is tough.
“Mechanical and automobile industries are growing, it is not that there is no demand for these branches, but work cannot be done sitting in AC rooms. They’re all getting out. People don’t want to do the hard work, step out and do the work. They want a comfortable job…,” said Sahasrabuddhe, himself a mechanical engineer.
“We need to change this mindset about jobs or else after 10-20 years we will not have people to work as civil or mechanical engineers. Students should do mechanical engineering but along with it they should also take subjects like artificial intelligence and robotics so that they can get the job they want.
Dheeraj Sanghi, vice-chancellor of JK Lakshmipat University in Jaipur and former professor at IIT Kanpur, also believes that placements have made computer science the most attractive branch for parents and students.
“Every parent who wants their son/daughter to take admission in engineering wants their child to earn a hefty package. The highest salaries are seen in computer science, so there are more admissions,’ Sanghi said.
However, he added that on the other hand, it is not the branch but the merit of the students that leads to a bigger package.
“Most of the engineering colleges have the option that if you do well in the first year of engineering, you can get a CS or Electronics branch and most of the bright students opt for it. Most of the bright students in most of the colleges go for CS branch They are from and hence they get the highest package. It is not the branch but the students who are getting the better package. Colleges don’t explain it in detail to the parents and they stick to the branch.”
Sanghi also said that due to the prevailing mindset, more students opt for CS but there are not as many jobs.
“However, civil engineering has its takers. I don’t worry much about low marks in civil. Most of the students who get admission in Civil end up getting placements even if they do not get astronomical salaries. I am concerned about CS students, a large number of them are not employed, but not much attention is paid to it.”
Lakshmi Rao, who teaches at a private engineering college in Gurugram, said the quality of education and faculty is also a reason why mechanical and civil see less interest.
“Forget about IITs, if you look at other government and private engineering colleges, the quality of faculty and education is not that good in civil and mechanical branches, because that is not where colleges can earn more money, so naturally What they pay more attention to formally may be beneficial to them,” he said.
Rao said that often students who do not get a good branch join mechanical and civil branches. “It’s sad, but it’s the truth.”
(Editing by Anumeha Saxena)
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