Big rush for core Engineering? Mechanical seats trump ECE

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Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsIn what observers say is a new trend, the preference for Mechanical Engineering has overshot that of Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) in the Anna University counselling, indicating that more and more students are looking towards a career in the core engineering sector.However, given the lower rate of expansion in jobs in the mechanical and manufacturing sectors, observers feel not all who opt for mechanical engineering would end up with jobs relevant to their study and might still have to depend on the infotech sector.According to data obtained from Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA), as of 5 pm on Tuesday, 26,445 students had opted for Mechnical Engineering as compared to a total of 24,968 in the ECE stream. Last year, at the end of the entire counselling process, the figures were 24,447 for ECE and 22,740 for Mechanical. While the numbers could go either way within the next few days of the counselling process, officials say this is perhaps the first time in the last three or four years that ECE has been dethroned from its top spot at any given point in the counselling.Former V-C of Anna University, A Kalanithi, said that the idea behind the rush for Mechanical is the options it provides. “Students are now realising that Mechanical gives the license to branch out into other sectors at any point. This could be the reason for the higher demand,” he said. However, he argued that such trends make very little sense as students generally have a “herd mentality” and do not have the maturity to judge streams at the Class XII level.Education consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi said statistics clearly indicate that more mechanical students get into core engineering work after their graduation as compared to ECE. “In that sense, we can read this trend as an indicator of students preferring core engineering work. The jobs available in the core communication sector are very low. However, majority of them still have to depend on IT sector,” he opined.first published:August 15, 2012, 11:43 ISTlast updated:August 15, 2012, 11:43 IST
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In what observers say is a new trend, the preference for Mechanical Engineering has overshot that of Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) in the Anna University counselling, indicating that more and more students are looking towards a career in the core engineering sector.

However, given the lower rate of expansion in jobs in the mechanical and manufacturing sectors, observers feel not all who opt for mechanical engineering would end up with jobs relevant to their study and might still have to depend on the infotech sector.

According to data obtained from Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA), as of 5 pm on Tuesday, 26,445 students had opted for Mechnical Engineering as compared to a total of 24,968 in the ECE stream. Last year, at the end of the entire counselling process, the figures were 24,447 for ECE and 22,740 for Mechanical. While the numbers could go either way within the next few days of the counselling process, officials say this is perhaps the first time in the last three or four years that ECE has been dethroned from its top spot at any given point in the counselling.

Former V-C of Anna University, A Kalanithi, said that the idea behind the rush for Mechanical is the options it provides. “Students are now realising that Mechanical gives the license to branch out into other sectors at any point. This could be the reason for the higher demand,” he said. However, he argued that such trends make very little sense as students generally have a “herd mentality” and do not have the maturity to judge streams at the Class XII level.

Education consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi said statistics clearly indicate that more mechanical students get into core engineering work after their graduation as compared to ECE. “In that sense, we can read this trend as an indicator of students preferring core engineering work. The jobs available in the core communication sector are very low. However, majority of them still have to depend on IT sector,” he opined.