An eye on the future

Newer specialised courses are slowly gaining popularity over the more general and traditional STEM programmes, especially among international students

December 29, 2018 02:15 pm | Updated 02:15 pm IST

Gone are the days when Indian students opted for either engineering or medical courses after high school. Today’s generation is not shying away from taking the road less travelled. Unlike before, they now have a pool of options to choose from depending on their personal interests and skill sets. This trend has also caught on with individuals studying overseas.

The 2018 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange revealed that Indian and other international students in the U.S. are turning to off-beat courses. While traditional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) courses continue to be their top preferences, some specialised courses such as robotics, automation, and mechatronics are also witnessing an increasing demand.

Here’s a look at some courses that are set to gain popularity in the forthcoming year.

Robotics

Thanks to the rapid progress of AI (artificial intelligence), robots are no longer considered dumb-machines that are only capable of doing simple, repetitive tasks. With the arrival of humanoids like Sophia and SoftBank’s Pepper, robots have made huge leaps in recent years. Simultaneously, the career options for students who specialise in robotics has expanded. From doing research to designing industrial robots, they have the opportunity to work in a variety of industries. Therefore, the number of students opting for courses related to robotics is likely to go up in 2019.

Automation

With the Fourth Industry Revolution upon us, automation has already started making profound impacts on the business world. Be it manufacturing, automotive, or retail, nearly every sector is now investing heavily on automating tasks that are tedious, repetitive, and dangerous. As traditional job roles are evolving, the demand for automation experts is growing by the day. This explains why a large number of international students are now leaning towards automation courses. Other than automation engineering, certification courses in industrial automation are also expected to take off next year.

Mechatronics

Mechatronics is a fairly new branch of engineering that has recently caught the attention of students. As described on Stanford University’s online portal, it is at the intersection of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, and software engineering. Broadly speaking, mechatronic engineering focuses on technologies involved in building intelligent electro-mechanical systems. After completion of their course, graduates can look for work opportunities in various areas including automation and robotics, AI and expert systems, sensing and control systems, computer integrated manufacturing systems, and transportation and vehicular systems. Since it is a specialised field, only a few universities currently offer this course in undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Disability programmes

According to a World Bank report, one billion people across the world have some form of disability. At a time when people with disabilities make up 15% of the global population, the demand for disability support workers is on a rapid rise in many countries. In Australia, for example, the Healthcare and Social Assistance sector is speculated to grow by 16.1% by 2025, creating as many as 2,50,500 new jobs. Students with a degree in disability programmes can find a wide range of jobs. Be it a speech therapist or a full-time caregiver, the options are plenty. Students can also decide to work for government bodies after graduation. Most medical schools in popular study destinations offer specialised courses in disability care.

Infection control

Another course that is tipped to gain popularity in 2019 is infection control. This specialised field of study prepares students to work in an array of settings such as hospitals, healthcare facilities, government departments, and private labs among others. While only a handful of universities offer regular courses in infection control, students can opt for certificate courses or part-time programmes. In most countries, however, they need to get a license before they start their professional career.

Besides these courses, students are also getting lured by other interdisciplinary programmes like geophysics, marine engineering, and game design and development, says the 2018 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.

When it comes to Indians, the scenario is not much different. Although the majority of them still prefer to choose a safe career path, popularity for unconventional courses are slowly growing. And in the new year, it is expected that this shift in their demeanour will become more prominent.

The writer is Director, ESS Global – Study Abroad Consultant.

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