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MUMBAI: Computers and IT-related courses including artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI & ML) and data science (DS) make up for over 70% of applications received by the state’s CET cell for undergraduate engineering admissions this year. While many of the AI and DS courses are just five years old, they have climbed up the students’ preference lists and are in the top 10 sought-after ones already.
The rising trend has prompted colleges to increase their capacity by two to four times in the last two years. While principals say there are jobs aplenty for these students even as many multinationals are setting up their global capability centres here, some are cautious about the ‘inorganic’ growth, which will lead to a deluge of graduates in these super specialised areas five years later.
This year, 1.91 lakh aspirants have registered to participate in the centralised admission process for an intake capacity of 1.6 lakh seats in engineering in the state, almost 30,000 more than 2023-24. These students have filled in over 72.9 lakh applications (each student can choose more than one course and college). Of the total, computer engineering alone has received 19 lakh applications, followed by 13.42 lakh in information technology and 10.6 lakh for electronics and telecommunication engineering. On the contrary, other core branches such as mechanical engineering (3.7L), electrical (2.3L) and civil engineering (2L) together have received less than 15% applications. However, a host of new courses, which are ‘offshoots’ of computer engineering, have individually received 1-6 lakh applications.
Principal GT Thampi, Thadomal Shahani Engineering College said that a lot of colleges had almost doubled their intake this year. “Earlier each institute used to have around 400-500 seats in all courses put together, now some colleges have over 3,000. Companies even in core engineering sectors now are looking for graduates in computer-related areas. While China was a potential talent-rich country for multinationals, lately with China + 1 strategies by global players, India has become more attractive a location for recruiting manpower and outsourcing IT consulting and services. China is also disadvantaged by growing cost of living and ever increasing entry-level wages. It is only in India where they are still finding cost-effective and sufficient quality engineering graduates. So much so that multinational companies are now looking at setting up their global capability centres here,” said Thampi.
Emerging technologies are based on AI & ML and data science, said principal of Thakur College of Engineering and Technology, BK Mishra. “Every industry is relying on automation and these are further remotely controlled using AI and ML. The market is driven by data and therefore data management is becoming crucial in every sector, even for corporate decision making. Courses like cyber security, which was an added certificate programme five years ago, has now become mainstream,” he said.
Principal of Sardar Patel Institute of Technology, B N Chaudhari, however, said that the inorganic growth in the intake capacity in the so-called emerging areas in computer engineering could be a problem in the near future. “There are private universities which have about 80-90% of their courses in computer-related emerging areas. Some have increased their intake capacity by four times in just one year to give multiple combinations of AI, ML, Security, Block chain, IoT and DS. I am not sure if the economy in the future will have the ability to generate so many jobs in these sectors. While the top colleges will remain unaffected, the mediocre ones will fizzle out,” said Chaudhari. In his opinion, students should pursue broader branches such as Computer, Chemical, Civil, Mechanical and Electrical at undergraduate level and then opt for specialised areas in PG education. “There is a possibility that the bubble will burst in the near future, as there is also a debate on whether AI will generate more jobs or eat into people’s jobs,” he added.
The rising trend has prompted colleges to increase their capacity by two to four times in the last two years. While principals say there are jobs aplenty for these students even as many multinationals are setting up their global capability centres here, some are cautious about the ‘inorganic’ growth, which will lead to a deluge of graduates in these super specialised areas five years later.
This year, 1.91 lakh aspirants have registered to participate in the centralised admission process for an intake capacity of 1.6 lakh seats in engineering in the state, almost 30,000 more than 2023-24. These students have filled in over 72.9 lakh applications (each student can choose more than one course and college). Of the total, computer engineering alone has received 19 lakh applications, followed by 13.42 lakh in information technology and 10.6 lakh for electronics and telecommunication engineering. On the contrary, other core branches such as mechanical engineering (3.7L), electrical (2.3L) and civil engineering (2L) together have received less than 15% applications. However, a host of new courses, which are ‘offshoots’ of computer engineering, have individually received 1-6 lakh applications.
Principal GT Thampi, Thadomal Shahani Engineering College said that a lot of colleges had almost doubled their intake this year. “Earlier each institute used to have around 400-500 seats in all courses put together, now some colleges have over 3,000. Companies even in core engineering sectors now are looking for graduates in computer-related areas. While China was a potential talent-rich country for multinationals, lately with China + 1 strategies by global players, India has become more attractive a location for recruiting manpower and outsourcing IT consulting and services. China is also disadvantaged by growing cost of living and ever increasing entry-level wages. It is only in India where they are still finding cost-effective and sufficient quality engineering graduates. So much so that multinational companies are now looking at setting up their global capability centres here,” said Thampi.
Emerging technologies are based on AI & ML and data science, said principal of Thakur College of Engineering and Technology, BK Mishra. “Every industry is relying on automation and these are further remotely controlled using AI and ML. The market is driven by data and therefore data management is becoming crucial in every sector, even for corporate decision making. Courses like cyber security, which was an added certificate programme five years ago, has now become mainstream,” he said.
Principal of Sardar Patel Institute of Technology, B N Chaudhari, however, said that the inorganic growth in the intake capacity in the so-called emerging areas in computer engineering could be a problem in the near future. “There are private universities which have about 80-90% of their courses in computer-related emerging areas. Some have increased their intake capacity by four times in just one year to give multiple combinations of AI, ML, Security, Block chain, IoT and DS. I am not sure if the economy in the future will have the ability to generate so many jobs in these sectors. While the top colleges will remain unaffected, the mediocre ones will fizzle out,” said Chaudhari. In his opinion, students should pursue broader branches such as Computer, Chemical, Civil, Mechanical and Electrical at undergraduate level and then opt for specialised areas in PG education. “There is a possibility that the bubble will burst in the near future, as there is also a debate on whether AI will generate more jobs or eat into people’s jobs,” he added.
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