Tamil Nadu   

The never-ending craze for circuit branches

K. Ramachandran

A strong foundation in core engineering for IT and preparing for changes ahead are vital

PRINCIPALS ARE not pleased with the current trends. College managements also feel no better as they are under pressure. Academic experts too are tired of arguing with students and parents.

Still, the clamour for admissions revolves only around the `circuit branches' — electronics and communication, computer sciences and engineering or Information Technology — in almost all engineering colleges.

Annual phenomenon

This is an annual phenomenon that refuses to change despite the best of advice. Parents and students insist on seeking admission in only these engineering branches, although experts regularly swear by one premise: "How and where you study is more important than where you study."

Industry recruiters cry hoarse that they take people not for their domain skills alone, but only for their ability to learn, and work in a team, communication and adaptability capabilities rather than their programming skills.

The argument against the unjustifiable craze for circuit branches can take any form.

First, the academic viewpoint: Anna University Vice-Chancellor D. Viswanathan says the knowledge of Information Technology applications can at best be a tool for development. "A country can develop or progress only if it has a strong R and D base in core areas of engineering such as mechanical, civil, chemical, leather or plastics engineering, other than computers. Only if there is a strong base, growth will be sustainable."

"The country needs expertise in product design or analysis, or in mathematical modelling and for this computing will be useful," he says, wondering that "computing and Information Technology might be good prospects now... But in another 10 years, if other areas develop and attrition begins in the industry, where will all these people go then?... It will be too late to retrain them in core areas."

His premise: A person would do well in his career only if he undergoes a knowledge-based education. After watching campus recruitment trends, Dr. Viswanathan says students from almost all branches including biotechnology and aeronautical branches have got into IT majors. "It makes no difference even in the short term..." he adds.

The dean of RMK Engineering College and a design enthusiast in Anna University curriculum, Prof. Chandrasekaran says the dotcom bust proved how hollow mere IT skills without core knowledge can be. "You need to realise that engineering skills is the core around which the technology tools are wound. Without a core, the tools will not work. That is why, today engineering discipline is becoming IT-enabled engineering. Yes, IT plays a role everywhere including in applied areas. Big players such as Infosys, Tata Consultancy and Satyam have clients in core engineering verticals and these companies are always looking for people with strong core engineering skills for design, manufacturing and modelling," he adds. He notes that the Union Government is creating two Indian Institutes of Information Technology in Jabalpur and Chennai, with basic focus on design and manufacturing. These institutions will look at producing people with strong focus on product development and product innovation.

"Today assembly line manufacture process has given way to customised manufacture. Even in mass production, the customer wants uniqueness. So IT-enabled engineering will become important for fine-tuning manufacturing processes to meet customisation needs... " Prof. Chandrasekaran adds.

Principal A.M. Natarajan of Kongu Engineering college near Erode points out that over 330 candidates from his college from almost all the branches including civil and mechatronics have landed plum jobs in the IT sector.

The Dean of SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, S. Vaithyasubramanian, highlights how Ashok Leyland took five mechanical engineers from his institution.

Manufacturing, industrial and production engineering, metallurgy are some of the core areas which can see a rise in the next few years with companies such as TATA motors, and Aditya Birla group making fresh forays.

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