Stepping into college from school is a defining moment in deciding the career path of students. The intervening period is equally tough for the students and parents as they need to do a tightrope walk in choosing the right course. They need to get a clear and best idea from various sources, friends and experts.
The Hindu Educational Plus Career Counselling 2015 programme, presented by SASTRA University, held in Tiruchi on Friday, proved to be an eye opener for aspiring students and parents.
Students, many of them accompanied by their parents, from different parts of Tiruchi and neighbouring districts paid a patient hearing to the analytical speeches of the experts, who outlined the way the job market will move forward four or five years down the line from now. They answered queries on various aspects of human resource requirement in India and abroad in the near future.
V.M. Muthukumar, Vice-Chancellor, Bharathidasan University, who inaugurated the programme, set the tone by advocating the habit of reading. Citing a number of examples of various achievers, he said avid reading had produced many scientists, social scientists and leaders to India and the world. “Students can choose any course. If they are enthusiastic readers, their success rate will be excellent. It will make a real difference in their life,” he said.
The non-fulfilment of engineering seats in many engineering colleges during the last few years also came up for discussion. Some of the speakers delved extensively on future of engineering courses. “We have to keep in mind that engineering and medicine courses are ever green. Students can bet on them. But they need to choose good colleges that make students employable,” said Ramesh Praba, Director, Galaxy Institute of Management, Chennai.
On the need for consensus in a family before choosing courses, he said parents could certainly guide their wards on selecting engineering or medicine courses. But the interest of aspirants and his level of ability should be the deciding factors.
Pointing out the craze for medicine, he said there were many openings in alternative medicine such as homeopathy, unani and others. The chances of getting seats in alternative medicine were bright than getting MBBS seat.
Stating that mushrooming of educational institutions including schools, colleges, and universities across the country had opened up numerous opportunities, V. Badrinath, Dean, School of Management, Sastra University, Thanjavur, said there was a huge demand for English and Mathematics teachers. A basic degree in English literature or science with excellent communication skills could make the aspirants to get remunerative teaching jobs. If they possessed proficiency in English, their career graph would be good.
Sounding out good prospects for commerce graduates, Soma Valliappan, an expert in human resource and personality development, said they would continue to be ever green courses. Banks were set to create more job openings.
Moreover, a large number of employees of public sector banks were expected to retire in the next three to four years. If the students were passionate, they could reach to great positions even with basic degrees.
On chances for women engineering graduates, Anusha, Chief Executive Officer, Park Group of Institutions, Coimbatore, said companies had been showing enormous interest on recruiting women candidates. There were instances in which companies conducted special drive exclusively for women graduates.
Solai Mani, Chief Executive Officer, Sun Global Service, Chennai, said there was a grace for foreign educated candidates in India for various opportunities. Their career graph would be brighter if they possessed degrees from institutions in developed countries. There could even explore scholarships offered by various colleges in the U.S. and others.
Lakshmi Gopal, Goethe Institute, Tiruchi, said learning foreign languages, in addition to the basic degrees, would land the aspirants in good positions world over.
SASTRA University was the title sponsor of the event. AMET university, Park Group of Institutions, and Placeme, leaders in overseas education, were the associate sponsors.
