Viability of ‘Gap Year’ concept hotly debated

To encourage ‘techno-preneurs’, the government has asked the universities to introduce the concept of Student Entrepreneur in Residence, popularly known as Gap Year, in engineering colleges this academic year. Under this, outstanding students pursuing B. Tech courses who wish to pursue entrepreneurship can take a break of one year after the first year, to pursue full-time entrepreneurship.

This gap may be extended to two years at the most.

These couple of years will not be taken into count by the university and the student can come back and complete the remaining years of his/her course.

New mode

The new mode has been brought into play to help active students interested in starting their own business, to take a gap and gain employability by enhancing practical knowledge.

“An evaluation committee will be constituted to assess ‘Gap Year’ proposals submitted by students and the final say on whether or not a student should be allowed to go ahead with the proposal will be the committee’s,” said E. Srinivasa Reddy, Principal, Engineering College, Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU).

Academically bright students with a passion for setting up their own start-up will be given preference.

The committee members will have elaborate discussions with their parents on the viability of the proposal before taking any stand on the issue, Mr. Reddy explained.

But the idea has not been as convincing to faculty of engineering colleges as the government tries to make it sound. Many professors of B. Tech courses disagree with the fact that all is hunky-dory.

Taking risk

“The concept does not address the fee reimbursement issue. Will the student be paid the reimbursement after he/she returns after a gap? How many parents will take the risk of encouraging their wards to break the linking year and take up a business project before completion of the degree?” wonders a faculty member of an engineering college.

Local conditions

“Asking students to turn entrepreneurs without extending any financial assistance from the government side makes little sense.

The government seems to be blindly emulating the western educational institutions without taking into consideration our local conditions which are far inferior to the western world,” said another college teacher on condition of anonymity.