Engineering is one of the graduation courses that have been in demand for many years. Still, it is one of the most prestigious programs offering best career opportunities for students. Educational institutions are struggling to keep up with the industry’s pace as the demand for skilled engineers continues to increase. However, it is necessary to identify the loophole and address the problem so that the coming generation will not face the inconvenience.
You must have heard about the gap between engineering education and industry requirements. Well, the standard engineering pedagogy stalls to prepare pupils for a smooth evolution from college to the office. Hence, they do not create capable or industry-ready nominees. Let us discuss the issues and solutions that will help students understand and pick educational institutions accordingly.
Sandip University is one of the honourable and top private engineering colleges in Nashik, Maharashtra offering courses to educate students with industry relevant engineering skills. The syllabus revision happens when needed, and teaching patterns change from time to time to help them stay relevant and the students are industry-ready. So, they get immediate employment after college studies.
Why Does the Gap Continue to Exist?
In Indian colleges, engineering courses focus on theory, which is partially correct. It is necessary to research engineering curriculum vs. industry needs. Almost all the universities follow outdated syllabus that are missing the present-day industry demands. Moreover, colleges and educational institutions are constantly training their students to score pass marks.
Instead, they should familiarise the students with solving real-world crises. Industries are advancing at a pace and mandate professionals with problem-solving proficiency, valuable skills, and experience with the latest technologies. Hence, graduates are not prepared for the industry and are seen struggling to secure a job for themselves.
What are the Issues with the Engineering Colleges?
Not Maintaining the Standard –
If you need to stay relevant, you need to adapt to the changing technology and techniques. This rule applies to engineering students and educational establishments. Today, industries are looking for candidates with agility. Most companies need professionals who are industry-ready and can begin working as soon as they join the firm.
Outdated Curriculum –
Universities need to monitor the syllabus taught in most engineering colleges. They follow a curriculum that mandates immediate updates to sustain industry relevancy. Nowadays, enterprises are employing AI, ML, data analytics, cloud computing, etc. for efficient results. Students are taught old programming languages and fundamental circuits without any hands-on experience.
Shortage of Practical Classes –
Engineering is all about practice. Whenever students attend a theoretical class, they must attend a practical session that will help them understand better. Students can also determine if they have had a clear understanding and are eligible to implement the strategies. Unless engineering institutions aren’t prepared to offer sufficient practical classes, they cannot produce intelligent and efficient graduates.
Poor Industry Collaboration –
Universities offering engineering courses need to be in constant connection with different companies. If they are updated with the current occurrences, they can incorporate them into the syllabus to educate their learners accordingly. It is crucial to focus on industry alliances because it will benefit trainees by giving them industry-relevant experience and understanding.
Limited Research and Innovation –
Engineering students lack the skills of critical thinking and innovation, which is a significant shortcoming. It is because their academy does not furnish them with sufficient possibility to do hands-on experiments that help develop new concepts. Hence, graduates lack the skill of ideation and an entrepreneurial outlook.
Prominent Solutions to Bridge the Gap:
Revise the Curriculum –
The primary step to bridge this gap is by updating the syllabus to ensure it fulfils the global standard and is ideal for preparing students for jobs. Once the foundation is strong, no one can stop the learners from acquiring a job after completing the course. Every college must upgrade its curriculum as soon as possible.
Hands-on Experience –
Engineering students need adequate opportunities for hands-on experience as it will encourage them to critical thinking, innovation, problem-solving approach, etc. Therefore, universities need to invest in building suitable infrastructure that will help with project-based learning. Properly equipped labs are of utmost importance. Also, it is better to advise students for internships that will open doors to a successful career.
University-Industry Collaborations –
Invite industry professionals to your university for special classes where they can share their knowledge with aspiring engineers. It will not only help them broaden their knowledge but understand the industry position.
Every engineering student must be updated about the current developments with the support of workshops, lectures by guests, and workshops Therefore, colleges must cooperate for the betterment of the learners.
Use of Technology –
Engineering is nothing without the implementation of technological learning. In the world of artificial intelligence and machine learning, you cannot afford to lack an understanding of cloud computing, etc. Therefore, universities need to use technology to educate their students as well as teach them its usefulness.
Soft Skill Training –
Engineering courses must be associated with additional skills like teamwork, communication, leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, etc. These are the aptitudes that help students perform mindfully during their interviews as well as their workplace.
Up-Skill Teachers –
Teachers need to keep themselves up-to-date with the current scenarios so that they can educate the students as per the industry requirements. Teachers need to promote student-centric learning techniques that emphasise identifying hidden talents, fostering a positive learning environment and many more. Thus, educators of an institution need to work equally hard on themselves.
These are some of the vital areas that can help bridge the void between engineering education and job prerequisites, increasing the chance for employability of engineering graduates. It is not possible to bridge this gap only with the efforts of the university or the companies, it is a shared responsibility and with efficient effort, it is possible to overcome this gap. Therefore top engineering colleges in Maharashtra emphasise on following updated teaching methods, more decisive industry partnerships, and a guide on both technical and soft skills, to produce a future-ready workforce.
Sandip University offers future-ready engineering courses that help in shaping a bright career for our students. Please feel free to discuss with us about your queries or doubts.