Alva’s Education Foundation Chairperson Dr M Mohan Alva along with Sahyadri Engineering College Placement Officer Rashmi Bhandary inaugurates the Deccan Herald – Prajavani pre counselling guidance programme for aspirants of engineering and medical courses

 DHPHOTOS

Deccan Herald-22May,2016

Mangaluru: “Do you want to study?” or “Do you have to study?” – Manipal University former vice chancellor Prof B M Hegde asked the aspirants of engineering and medical courses.

He was addressing students as a part of the pre-counselling guidance programme organised by Deccan Herald and Prajavani at Sri Sudheendra Auditorium of Canara Girls’ High School on Saturday.

Mentioning that many students “have to study” rather than “want to study,” he rued that there is a dearth of “thinking students” due to the existing education system. By questioning students on the meaning of science, education, existence of mind – like, ‘why can’t one see an electron’ – he made the students think. He also said that the aim of education should be to create a healthy mind.

Citing examples of well-known scientists Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, Prof Hegde said that both could not pass any exams. He also explained the roles and contributions of scientists lesser-known to common man, such as German physicists Werner Karl Heisenberg and Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck and American biologist Elisabet Sahtouris.

Giving a piece of advice to the aspirants of medical courses, he told them to empathise with patients. “If you want to make money, please don’t become a doctor – you will be a menace to the society,” he said.

Another resource person, Rashmi Bhandary, Sahyadri Engineering College Placement Officer, told the engineering aspirants that the next four years of their life would determine the subsequent 40 years of their life.

Stating that there are wonderful and ample opportunities for engineers, she suggested the students to choose a subject only if they are really interested in it. Bhandary called upon engineering aspirants to try not to select a college just because their friends or peers study there, as it may not really help them academically. She said that there is no substitute for hard work and also explained the opportunities and scope in different streams and disciplines of engineering courses.

Yet another resource person, Government College (Kavoor) Lecturer Sacheth Suvarna, explained in detail the selection process for the Common Entrance Test (CET) being conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), the dos and don’ts and the necessary steps to be taken by students before filling the forms and the various options available for the students. “As the entire process is carried out online, students need to check the website regularly,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Alva’s Education Foundation Chairperson Dr M Mohan Alva inaugurated the programme and stressed on the need to select the right course.

Stating that the recent moves on NEET and CET have confused the students, Dr Alva called upon parents to help their sons and daughters take the right decision and not impose their interests on them.

Expressing disappointment that a few private institutes have been engaged in making business, he called upon students not be carried away by false propaganda or publicity.

Students from different colleges attended the pre-counselling guidance programme. Fran Mascarenhas, a student of St Philomena College in Puttur and an engineering course aspirant, said that he benefited a lot from the programme as it was informative and interesting.

“I did not know about some of the options available in the seat selection process until I attended the programme,” he said.

Similarly, Jasline Ancita Lobo, a student of St Mary’s PU College and a medical course aspirant, said that she learnt many new aspects during the different sessions.

Prajavani bureau head Balakrishna Puttige and Printers (Mysore) Private Limited circulation department manager Prakash Nayak were present.

DH News Service

Jun 03 2016 : The Times of India (Bangalore)

It’s not just IIM graduates, but many engineers passing out of some of the state’s most reputed institutions seem to be grappling with the predicament of deferred joining dates as well.Three companies, that hired six students from MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT), postponed their joining dates by three months. “With 348 companies visiting the campus for placements, the deferral of joining dates will not hurt our students,“ said Savitha Konna M, head of placement and training, MSRIT. She cited recession and failure to bag projects among the reasons for companies to put off joining dates.

At Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management (SCEM), a reputed core company deferred the joining date of six students by a year, while another company deferred its joining date by three months.Consequently , the college is now wary of the companies it invites. Rashmi Bhandary , head of placements at SCEM, said, “We only invite reputed companies which won’t create such problems. Last year, we had 122 companies recruiting from our college.“

Nine students of RV College of Engineering faced a similar problem after two startups delayed their joining dates by five months. D Rangnath, dean of placements and training at the college, said that the companies had employed the students as interns during the five-month period and paid them a stipend.

At Srinivasa Institute of Technology , Mangaluru, a prestigious IT company deferred the joining date of 27 students by five to six months.Placement officer Guruprasad Pai said the college stayed in constant touch with the company , and offered the students temporary employment as teachers at the institution.

Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysuru faced a similar problem at the height of recession in 2009. “After three reputed companies deferred the join ing dates of six students, we blacklisted them,“ said Pradeep Manjunath, placement officer of the college.

After a Bengaluru-based company deferred the joining date of 16 students from PES Institute of Technology and Management, Shivamogga, by four months, the college ensured the interests of both the students and the employers were protected, said Pramod S Prabhudev, head of career and development centre at the institute.

Predictably , engineering colleges are now apprehensive to invite companies that caused problems to students last year. However, colleges in tier-two cities looking to cement their reputation, are reluctant to blacklist the companies.

TIMES VIEW

With over a million engineers passing out each year, it was inevitable that the profession be hit by a problem of plenty.While unemployability of engineers remains a gnawing problem plaguing even the best institutes in the country, deferral and withdrawal of offers are issues that often leave students’ careers blanketed in uncertainty. Colleges need to go through the credentials of companies they invite for campus recruitment. Colleges that restrict students from attending interviews after receiving an offer letter from a company need to revise their placement policy. A fluctuating economy has put many firms in a position where they’re unable to honour their commitments to students who should be prepared for such eventualities.

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