Demand for part-time engineering course on rise

BANGALORE: The part-time (evening) BE Civil Engineering course started this year at University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) has received a never-before response with 46 seats out of 60 total intake already filled. The reason for such attraction, according to Dr K R Venugopal, principal, UVCE, is the demand for engineering courses.  “There is a great demand for engineering courses right now. And what makes evening courses attractive is the fact that working students can take advantage of enhancing knowledge and skills that they have already at work,” said Dr Venugopal. The World Bank in its report on ‘Indian Road Construction Industry: Capacity Issues, Constraints and Recommendations’ had warned India of a chronic shortage of skills in its construction industry over the next decade, which could jeopardize the Government’s ability to sustain its 9 per cent growth target. The part-time Civil Engineering course, based out of Bangalore University’s Jnana Bharathi campus, is open only for diploma holders who are employed for a minimum of one year. “This stipulation is in place as the need for a degree is high. Not just this, it also helps them in their job-front for promotions and career advancements,” he added. Dr Venugopal added that the part-time model of coaching was better than second shifts. “What is the point of increasing the number of seats? You can rather have part-time classes to give opportunity to working diploma holders. It is really useful for them, as they have already received 3 years of relevant education, and a part-time course would help them become more skillful,” he explained. If trends are any indicators, part-time engineering students are now taking up competitive exams like Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). “Also, the average age in a part-time classroom has come down drastically. Back then it was 40, whereas now the average age is less than 30,” said Dr Venugopal.  “It is obvious that part-time students are more sharper. Their enrollment to the course despite being employed shows their focus and interest. And this focus in engineering is what is currently needed,” he said.