Diploma courses in higher demand, preference for degree courses witnesses a sharp drop shows GTU data
There has been a steep rise in engineering students opting for diploma in niche courses like bio-medical engineering, nano technology, mining engineering whereas the same for a degree course has dropped.
As per the data shared by Gujarat Technological University, for bio-medical engineering, the numbers dropped from 231 in 2015 to 189 in 2018 whereas in diploma, the numbers increased from 277 in 2015 to 330 in 2018. Similarly, for diploma in aeronautical engineering, the numbers almost doubled with 27 in 2015 to 52 in 2018. For degree in production engineering, the numbers dropped from 381 in 2015 to 144 in 2018, for mining engineering, 162 students had opted in 2015 which dropped to 70 in 2018.
Dr NR Sheth, vice-chancellor, GTU, said, "Diploma students are more industry ready. Stability of diploma is greater than degree students. Infact, this year more diploma colleges are coming up. As of now, we have nearly 133 colleges and nearly 10 new colleges have applied for affiliation with GTU."
Academicians speak
Himanshu Pandya, vice-chancellor, Gujarat University asserted, "There are couple of reasons for students preferring diploma than degree. Degree course students are more focussed on theoretical knowledge whereas diploma students are more exposed to workshops, field trips and hence are more job ready. Another reason is that diploma colleges and polytechnics are supported by the state government so there are lot of schemes and benefits that the students. Also, many times diploma helps students decide which field they want to eventually pursue as degree is a long term programme."
Former Gujarat University VC and Vice-chancellor of Parul university MN Patel, "The trend has changed only a few years ago, since the time seats in engineering courses increased and engineers started getting exploited. Diploma students get elemnetary knowledge whereas degree students get designing and detailed knowledge. Students of diploma are ready to join job in half salary and then get training on the job hence job prospects in diploma courses are much higher than engineering.
Placements are much better. Industries feel that if they recruit engineers, they need to pay more whereas for diploma students, they can get more in numbers.
Data
As per the data shared by Gujarat Technological University, for bio-medical engineering, the numbers dropped from 231 in 2015 to 189 in 2018 whereas in diploma, the numbers increased from 277 in 2015 to 330 in 2018.
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