Trend in Engineering Disciplines: A Shift Towards Computer Science
Lucknow: An increasing number of aspiring engineers are gravitating towards Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), whether they aim for the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) or private universities.
This burgeoning interest has compelled academic institutions to augment their CSE programs, while seats in civil engineering, electronics, and other traditional disciplines languish unfilled.
Industry specialists caution that this pronounced discrepancy may substantially alter the engineering employment landscape and impair the talent pipeline vital for core engineering sectors.
Arun Mohan Sherry, director of the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Lucknow, remarked that while computer science will undoubtedly continue to forge numerous opportunities, the competitive edge will increasingly favor candidates endowed with robust fundamentals, exceptional technical acumen, and interdisciplinary insights, rather than those depending merely on the prestige of a degree.
He further warned that focusing exclusively on CSE may lead to an oversight of core engineering disciplines that are critical for infrastructure development, manufacturing, energy systems, and national self-sufficiency.
Data presented by Prof. Arun Kumar Tiwari, in charge of training and placement and dean of the Faculty of Engineering at LU, underscores a radical shift in career preferences toward technology-centric fields.
Citing official figures from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for the academic year 2024–25, he indicated that total BTech enrollment in India has surged to 1.253 million students, marking the highest figure in eight years and reflecting a 67% increase from the 2017–18 academic year.
Prof. Tiwari noted that this growth trajectory is predominantly fueled by the CSE discipline, which registered 390,245 enrollments in 2024–25.
Over the preceding five years, demand for CSE nearly doubled, showcasing a direct correlation with student aspirations linked to an increasingly digitized economy. To accommodate this demand, educational institutions have expanded their capacities substantially.
He reported that the total number of approved engineering seats across the nation has escalated to 1.49 million for 2024–25, with the majority of new placements occurring in CSE and emerging specializations such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, and Cybersecurity.
This trend, he argued, is indicative of the evolving “modern BTech dream,” which is now predominantly anchored in high-tech domains, despite the ongoing necessity for core engineering fields conducive to the country’s long-term advancement.
Prof. Tiwari elaborated on the enrollment figures for traditional engineering branches: Mechanical Engineering had 236,909 students, Civil Engineering had 172,936, Electronics and Communication recorded 160,450, while Electrical Engineering saw 125,902—all significantly trailing behind CSE.
Experts express concern that fewer students in these foundational areas could ultimately hamper the availability of proficient engineers crucial for construction, public works, power systems, and various sectors outside of IT.
He also predicted that the ramifications of this trend will become increasingly evident in the job market by 2026 and 2027.
As automation and AI progressively assume routine tasks, the intrinsic value of a standard degree is undergoing transformation, making employability increasingly contingent on specialized skills and tangible capabilities.
Himanshu Pandey, an associate professor at the engineering faculty of LU, highlighted the evolution of the university’s BTech CSE program, which commenced in 2017 with an intake of 60 seats and has incrementally expanded to 120 seats by 2023.
Additionally, BTech CSE with a focus on Artificial Intelligence was introduced in 2021 with an initial 60 seats, which has since doubled in capacity.
Source link: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
