Engineering colleges of Srikakulam have devised many plans to “attract” students in the academic year 2016-17.
They plan to conduct education fairs for parents and students who complete their intermediate (plus-two) this year. They have appointed public relations officers to present their colleges in a good light. The PROs will get up to Rs. 10,000 for an admission. They will approach parents, heads of intermediate colleges and student hostels to present a positive picture about their colleges. Fee reimbursement scheme and concessions in hostel fees will be highlighted during the canvassing, said a source in an engineering college.
All these techniques have become necessary, thanks to the drop in admissions to engineering courses. Colleges fear that students may join three-year degree programmes or enrol in courses like chartered accountancy, which will ensure them quick jobs.
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Parents are sceptical as many engineering colleges are unable to ensure placements through campus interviews. Companies prefer students of reputed engineering colleges and private universities in cities like Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, rather than colleges in districts like Srikakulam.
Despite their best efforts, engineering colleges in the district find it difficult to bring reputed companies for campus interviews. Sources say the IT companies of Hyderabad have been giving preference to students from the Telangana region over those from the Andhra region, after the bifurcation of the State.
With the exception of two institutions, engineering colleges in Srikakulam could not fill up even 50 per cent of their seats in 2014 and 2015. The only ray of hope for them is the increase in the number of those who have bought applications for EAMCET (Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test) this year. As many as 5,918 students have applied for EAMCET-2016.
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“We have around 900 more applications this year. We hope a majority of the students will opt for local colleges as the fees are relatively less in Srikakulam district,” said a representative of an engineering college.
The managements will conduct vigorous campaigns at the centres in which students give their web options for the final selection of colleges.
Last year, many candidates joined private universities although they wrote the EAMCET in Srikakulam. “The colleges here are unable to provide good faculty. There is no concentration on communication skills and English-speaking. We, therefore, prefer to admit our wards in Visakhapatnam and other cities,” said J. Chandrasekhara Rao, a parent.
The engineering colleges, however, claim that they maintain the highest standards. “We are able to get students from other States. Tough competition makes us improve our standards. We hope to get 100 per cent admissions this year with proper publicity of facilities in our institution,” said a representative of an engineering college.