Placements give 88% undergrads a miss
Of 34,300 students eligible for recruitment, only 4,300 students have received job offers this year. By 2015, lakhs of students will have to compromise on salary, job profile if colleges do not improve on quality of education and skills being imparted
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, February 11, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2012021120120211021707263589690ce/Placements-give-88-undergrads-a-miss.html)
The job market is not so welcoming, especially for new graduates. Of 34,300 youths studying engineering, MBA and MCA across the state, only about 4,300 have managed to secure jobs during placements. And several of those who found employment, compromised on salary and job profile, say experts.
Today, few students except those with above average marks, can expect a come-hither from a deep-pocketed firm. Nearly, everyone else is struggling. Of about 15,000 engineering students in the state, only 2,700 found jobs during placements held between June 2011 and January 2012. Only 1,200 of 14,500-odd MBA students secured jobs. The situation is worse for MCA students as only 400 of some 4,800 students have been placed so far.
If this situation persists, then in the next three years, several colleges will close down. An estimated 1 lakh engineers will either take on menial jobs or remain unemployed, opine experts.
Says Prateek Kanchan, placement officer at B K School of Business Management (Gujarat University), “Till last year, 90 pc of our students were offered jobs during placements. But the scene is dismal this year. After analysing the market, we asked our students to be flexible in their demands for position/salary and grab what was being offered. Despite this. the 18 firms that arrived on campus hired just 24 students. That is not even 50 pc of the student strength. Even the minimum salary package dropped from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. Most firms do not want to hire and train fresh graduates.”
Experts attribute this scenario to various elements: disconnect between industry and institute, lack of branding, dropping demand for manpower, and inferior students. The major factor, however, still remains the deteriorating quality of education.
Staff shortage
A recent survey held by the Local Inquiry Committee of GTU states 453 self-financed technical colleges affiliated to Gujarat Technological University have staff scarcity of over 40 pc. Nearly 50 pc of private technical colleges remain headless. Several colleges were found lacking laboratory equipment making it impossible for students to carry out practicals. To rectify the situation, GTU made it mandatory for the colleges to furnish attendance of its students daily instead of once a year. Colleges were required to send attendance details online every day. However, varsity authorities are facing stiff competition in this regard.
Reputation matters
Says Kunal Bhoyania, placement officer at L D Engineering College, “Companies have grown smarter. They check the quality of education and faculty provided by the college. They check the college’s local and national ratings. They ask colleges to fill up forms or send teams to check on the facilities that the colleges give students. Most companies look only at those students who have scored 60 pc or more in all their semesters. Students can achieve such grades only if they are taught by the best.”
He adds, “Reputation matters when it comes to attracting recruiters. Colleges like LD, Nirma, BVM in Vidyanagar, SVNIT in Surat, MSU, DAIICT, DDIT and a couple of others in the state do not face problem inviting headhunters as the firms are assured of the quality of workforce we can provide. Companies whet candidates very carefully. Technical skills is not their only priority. They check if the student has effective communication skills, dynamic personality and even how they dress themselves. Recruiters tell us that several times, they fix a candidate just by the way he carries himself/herself. Such confidence comes only if a student is trained to believe in themselves and their education. Only quality education can instill such faith.”
He adds, “We conduct mock interviews and several extra-curricular events to prepare students for the job market. Most colleges in the state do not have staff to conduct classes. How can one expect them to hire placement officers to ‘sell’ their students to the industry? It is the job of a placement officer to turn the college into a brand.”
Bridging the gap
Experts believe recruitments have fallen because the skills imparted are ill-adapted to market needs. “It is important to study what the industry looks for in recruits and make sure that their demands are met. Courses should be amended to incorporate suggestions made by companies. If syllabus stagnates, students will be ill-equipped to meet market demands,” they say.
Agreeing there is deterioration in the quality of education imparted by colleges in the state, GTU Vice-Chancellor Akshai Aggrawal says, “We are trying to rectify the situation by developing courses that cater to requirements of the industry. We have introduced new rules to ensure that classes and practicals are held regularly. We need to convince companies that we impart good education and appropriate skills to students. Only then, will they approach us. Meanwhile, we have set up an integrated training and placement cell so that students from rural areas also get equal job opportunities and exposure.”
Increased seats
The imbalance is also being blamed on the increase number of seats. Principal M N Patel of L D Engineering College says, “Engineering seats have increased from 7,000 to 50,000. But job openings remain static. A good student will always secure a job. Our job is to ensure that we churn our quality students.”
Syndicate member Manish Doshi says, “Till now, students who scored well, gained admission to professional courses. In the past 2-3 years, however, colleges have lowered the eligibility criteria to admit even those who scored just 35 pc. One cannot expect them to excel in these courses which are anyway very demanding.”
Principal Jitendra Patel of Chaudhary Technical Institute that runs MCA and MBA courses, confirms the gloomy placement scene. “Packages being offered to MCA students are pathetic. MBAs are being hired mostly by insurance firms as agents,” said a college official, refusing to be named.
Scared students
Parth Prajapati, who is a sixth semester student of Silver Oak Engineering College near Gota, is aware of the harsh reality. He says, “Our college has assured us that placements will be held. But after spending lakhs on educating ourselves, we are not sure if we will secure a job. This is worrisome.”
Chetna Patel (name changed) of Sigma Institute of Management Studies at Bakhrol near Vadodara says, “Only 10 pc students of our college have been placed. The minimum salary offered is very low. I have not received an offer and am very scared. I have placed all hopes on March placements. If I do not find a job, I don’t know what I will do.”
To curb the situation, GTU V-C urges parents and students to pull up lax colleges. “Parents pay lakhs to educate their wards. If the colleges do not provide facilities or take lectures, students and parents should take the college authorities to task. If that does not work, they should file a complaint with the varsity so that appropriate action can be taken,” he says.
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, February 11, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2012021120120211021707263589690ce/Placements-give-88-undergrads-a-miss.html)
The job market is not so welcoming, especially for new graduates. Of 34,300 youths studying engineering, MBA and MCA across the state, only about 4,300 have managed to secure jobs during placements. And several of those who found employment, compromised on salary and job profile, say experts.
Today, few students except those with above average marks, can expect a come-hither from a deep-pocketed firm. Nearly, everyone else is struggling. Of about 15,000 engineering students in the state, only 2,700 found jobs during placements held between June 2011 and January 2012. Only 1,200 of 14,500-odd MBA students secured jobs. The situation is worse for MCA students as only 400 of some 4,800 students have been placed so far.
If this situation persists, then in the next three years, several colleges will close down. An estimated 1 lakh engineers will either take on menial jobs or remain unemployed, opine experts.
Says Prateek Kanchan, placement officer at B K School of Business Management (Gujarat University), “Till last year, 90 pc of our students were offered jobs during placements. But the scene is dismal this year. After analysing the market, we asked our students to be flexible in their demands for position/salary and grab what was being offered. Despite this. the 18 firms that arrived on campus hired just 24 students. That is not even 50 pc of the student strength. Even the minimum salary package dropped from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. Most firms do not want to hire and train fresh graduates.”
Experts attribute this scenario to various elements: disconnect between industry and institute, lack of branding, dropping demand for manpower, and inferior students. The major factor, however, still remains the deteriorating quality of education.
Staff shortage
A recent survey held by the Local Inquiry Committee of GTU states 453 self-financed technical colleges affiliated to Gujarat Technological University have staff scarcity of over 40 pc. Nearly 50 pc of private technical colleges remain headless. Several colleges were found lacking laboratory equipment making it impossible for students to carry out practicals. To rectify the situation, GTU made it mandatory for the colleges to furnish attendance of its students daily instead of once a year. Colleges were required to send attendance details online every day. However, varsity authorities are facing stiff competition in this regard.
Reputation matters
Says Kunal Bhoyania, placement officer at L D Engineering College, “Companies have grown smarter. They check the quality of education and faculty provided by the college. They check the college’s local and national ratings. They ask colleges to fill up forms or send teams to check on the facilities that the colleges give students. Most companies look only at those students who have scored 60 pc or more in all their semesters. Students can achieve such grades only if they are taught by the best.”
He adds, “Reputation matters when it comes to attracting recruiters. Colleges like LD, Nirma, BVM in Vidyanagar, SVNIT in Surat, MSU, DAIICT, DDIT and a couple of others in the state do not face problem inviting headhunters as the firms are assured of the quality of workforce we can provide. Companies whet candidates very carefully. Technical skills is not their only priority. They check if the student has effective communication skills, dynamic personality and even how they dress themselves. Recruiters tell us that several times, they fix a candidate just by the way he carries himself/herself. Such confidence comes only if a student is trained to believe in themselves and their education. Only quality education can instill such faith.”
He adds, “We conduct mock interviews and several extra-curricular events to prepare students for the job market. Most colleges in the state do not have staff to conduct classes. How can one expect them to hire placement officers to ‘sell’ their students to the industry? It is the job of a placement officer to turn the college into a brand.”
Bridging the gap
Experts believe recruitments have fallen because the skills imparted are ill-adapted to market needs. “It is important to study what the industry looks for in recruits and make sure that their demands are met. Courses should be amended to incorporate suggestions made by companies. If syllabus stagnates, students will be ill-equipped to meet market demands,” they say.
Agreeing there is deterioration in the quality of education imparted by colleges in the state, GTU Vice-Chancellor Akshai Aggrawal says, “We are trying to rectify the situation by developing courses that cater to requirements of the industry. We have introduced new rules to ensure that classes and practicals are held regularly. We need to convince companies that we impart good education and appropriate skills to students. Only then, will they approach us. Meanwhile, we have set up an integrated training and placement cell so that students from rural areas also get equal job opportunities and exposure.”
Increased seats
The imbalance is also being blamed on the increase number of seats. Principal M N Patel of L D Engineering College says, “Engineering seats have increased from 7,000 to 50,000. But job openings remain static. A good student will always secure a job. Our job is to ensure that we churn our quality students.”
Syndicate member Manish Doshi says, “Till now, students who scored well, gained admission to professional courses. In the past 2-3 years, however, colleges have lowered the eligibility criteria to admit even those who scored just 35 pc. One cannot expect them to excel in these courses which are anyway very demanding.”
Principal Jitendra Patel of Chaudhary Technical Institute that runs MCA and MBA courses, confirms the gloomy placement scene. “Packages being offered to MCA students are pathetic. MBAs are being hired mostly by insurance firms as agents,” said a college official, refusing to be named.
Scared students
Parth Prajapati, who is a sixth semester student of Silver Oak Engineering College near Gota, is aware of the harsh reality. He says, “Our college has assured us that placements will be held. But after spending lakhs on educating ourselves, we are not sure if we will secure a job. This is worrisome.”
Chetna Patel (name changed) of Sigma Institute of Management Studies at Bakhrol near Vadodara says, “Only 10 pc students of our college have been placed. The minimum salary offered is very low. I have not received an offer and am very scared. I have placed all hopes on March placements. If I do not find a job, I don’t know what I will do.”
To curb the situation, GTU V-C urges parents and students to pull up lax colleges. “Parents pay lakhs to educate their wards. If the colleges do not provide facilities or take lectures, students and parents should take the college authorities to task. If that does not work, they should file a complaint with the varsity so that appropriate action can be taken,” he says.
