The Executive Council of the National Association of Software Services Companies (Nasscom) has been requested to revisit its guidelines and encourage recruiters to visit institutions for on-campus recruitment during the 7th semester itself as against the present system of such recruitment in the 8th semester.
In a letter to Nasscom, Dean of SASTRA University, Thanjavur, S. Vaidyasubramaniam, said, “This will not only encourage students to undergo meaningful internship after recruitment but also give way for various innovative industry-institute interactions in all types of institutions – University or not.”
One of the main reasons that Nasscom had to issue the guidelines was the students' attitude towards academic pursuits after their recruitment, the Dean said. “This reason is unacceptable. A sudden behavioural change in a student, who is studious for 7 semesters, is an issue concerning his/her fundamental values. Such students will behave the same way even if the recruitment happens in the 8th semester. What cannot be a part of an 18-year upbringing cannot be inculcated overnight. This is an issue that can be handled by various institutions and universities that enjoy academic flexibility.”
The Dean said that though these guidelines were followed meticulously by recruiters for the recently graduated 2010 batch, students and faculty members were facing practical difficulties due to these guidelines.
He said, “SASTRA University encourages students to proceed on long-term meaningful internships in various universities, companies and premier research labs (inside and outside India) after the end of the 7th semester. This has resulted in many students gaining valuable industry/global experience. During the 8th semester, many students are selected for the prestigious Indian Academy of Science Fellowship (maximum students were selected from SASTRA during the last 3 years) to conduct research in premier research labs across the country. Many also proceeded on research internships to various companies and universities outside India, including MIT & Harvard. Such students miss the opportunity of attending the campus recruitment, as an internship of high quality is an unavoidable life-time opportunity.”
He wanted Nasscom to revisit the guidelines in the interest of the students' career and the academic schedule in the 8th semester.
