Edge lies in academics with extra-curricular touch: experts

‘Passion, inherent skills should guide student’s selection of engineering branch’

May 28, 2018 01:31 am | Updated 01:35 am IST - TIRUPATI

In addition to the regular coursework, academic experts vouched for the benefits for students from extra-curricular activities, which add the much needed weightage to their resumes, during the 15th edition of The Hindu Edge Career Counselling, held here on Sunday.

The annual event, which aims to clear the doubts among parents and young engineering aspirants, witnessed a sizeable number of participants from in and around the temple city.

Right from the selection of engineering branches to the existing and future employment opportunities in the government and private sectors, the participants posed a wide range of questions to the academic experts, resulting in a lively interactive session. Professor and head of Mechanical Engineering at the Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Science (MITS) Mr. P. Suryanarayana Raju urged the participants to select an engineering branch, based on their passion as it would enable them to work hard and stay motivated. “While many parents and youngsters ‘go with the wind’, depending on the opportunities/prospects projected by an engineering branch, a careful assessment of skills and what a particular line of work will offer to the aspirants goes a long way in selecting an appropriate group. Youngsters should also remember that only academics will put them nowhere in this competitive world, but a judicious mix of extra-curricular activities with regular coursework will do wonders for their profile,” he added.

Dr.K. Nagendra Prasad, professor and head of Civil Engineering at the SVU College of Engineering (SVUCE), opined that there was ample scope in every branch of engineering and youngsters should understand the subject and develop the respective skills for succeeding in their careers. Instead of pointing fingers at the system, engineering aspirants should show the intent in distinguishing themselves with unique skill sets and profiles, he added.

Emerging areas in IT

Head of Computer Science Engineering of the Sri Padmavati Mahila Viswa Vidyalayam (SPMVV) Prof.P. Venkatakrishnan outlined the new branches emerging from the field of Information Technology and urged the youngsters to choose an engineering branch based on strengths and weakness. He said anyone with a proper internet connection could access a wide range of courses from famed universities across the globe (via MOOCs/online-digital learning) and focus on their academics.

SVIMS University professor and head of Biotechnology Dr.P.V.G.K. Sarma spoke on the attributes required to pursue Biotechnology, whereas SVUCE ECE professor and placement officer Dr.R.V. Satyanarayana elucidated on the aspects such as ‘emotional quotient and character building’ among youngsters.

Motivational speaker and Srikalahasti Pipes general manager K. Dorai Raju presented statistics on the upcoming areas of demand (employment opportunities) for the benefit of parents and engineering aspirants.

Core branches

Most of the queries, during the question and answer session, were centred on the core engineering branches and their opportunities in the government sector, particularly mechanical engineering, precautions to be taken while exercising web options, scope of chemical engineering, difference between civil engineering and architecture, paths in pursuing civil services etc. Earlier, the participants were presented with thenxt.step, a detailed career guide for engineering aspirants.

TV5 was the television partner for the event, and Dr. Cooper the presenting partner.

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