Career clarity: Experts guide students at The Hindu Education Plus Counselling Session 2025
Students at a crucial juncture in their academic journey and contemplating career choices received valuable guidance on planning their future from experts in different fields at The Hindu Education Plus Career Counselling session 2025, held here on Saturday.
Conducted at the Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (VVCE), the event was attended by more than 700 students, with many of their parents as well, taking the opportunity to get doubts cleared on various career choices.
B. Sadashive Gowda, principal of VVCE, made a presentation and gave an overview of the technical education scenario in the State and the country, apart from highlighting the criteria the students should follow for selecting colleges for admission. Prospective students were told to pay attention to parameters like college infrastructure, faculty, placement history, location, reputation, and previous years' cut-off marks before making the final choice.
He cited the AICTE records to point out that in 2024-25, there were 13 lakh engineering seats in the country, of which only 70% of them were filled up. In Karnataka, there were 1,12,000 seats, of which 92,800 seats were filled during 2024-25, the enrolment being 83% of the available seats, Prof. Sadashive Gowda added.
Pointing out that aspirants enrolling for core engineering streams like civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics, and communication were relatively less compared to IT and related streams, he drew attention to the government's push for the semiconductor industry.
Prof. Sadashive Gowda said if this materialised, then it would require more trained manpower from the field of electronics and communication than the country produces, hinting at great job opportunities in these streams in the future.
Ameen e-Mudassar, career counsellor and CEO of CIGMA, spoke extensively on career choices other than medical and engineering and said there was a window of opportunity waiting to be tapped. Aptitude, attitude, interest, and skills are key to a successful career, he said, urging the students to identify these traits early in life.
Touching upon the current trends, the students were told to adapt themselves to the change being ushered in by new technologies like artificial intelligence. Speaking at length on the importance of focus and discipline, he said students should be focused on what they want to achieve and be disciplined enough to pursue it.
He also gave a presentation on the 'path less travelled' and touched upon fields like aviation management, foreign language expert, sports management, transportation management, sports coaching, financial analyst, teachers, culinary arts, machine learning, etc.
Uday Shankar, nodal officer of the Karnataka Examination Authority helpline division, provided information on CET counselling. S.N. Manjunath, head of the community medical department of the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, S. Bhargav, a chartered accountant from the ICAI Mysuru branch, and Vinutha G.R., a former IAF officer who was selected for civil services in the 2024 UPSC exams, were other resource persons. A career guidance handbook containing information on various career options and courses was also released and distributed free of cost to the participants.
Platinum sponsors: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Presidency University, and Reva University.
Gold sponsors: R.V. University, Bengaluru, Chanakya University, Bengaluru, East Point Group of Institutions, Cambridge Group of Institutions, and Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences.
Silver sponsors: GSSS School of Architecture for Women, Mysuru; JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru; JSS Science & Technology University, Mysuru; Karnataka State Open University, Mysuru; Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan; Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering, Mysuru; Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, Bengaluru; Soundarya Group of Institutions, Bengaluru; Adichunchanagiri University; The Christ (Deemed to be University); CMR University; Indian Institute of Fashion Technology; Karnataka Milk Federation; MSIL, and K.S.Group of Institutions.
Associate sponsors: Khaja Bandanawaz University, Kalaburagi; SDM Educational Society (R), Ujire; The Institute of Cost Accountants of India; Karnataka Bank; Shaheen Group of Institutions, Bidar; Bapuji Educational Association (Regd), Davangere; Hyderabad Karnataka Education Society, Kalaburagi; VTU; Navkis Engineering College, BLDE Association, Vijayapura, and IDBI Bank.
Regional sponsor: MVJ College of Engineering, Bengaluru.
Snack partner: Naturo.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
NIAT is Empowering Universities to Deliver NEP-Aligned, Industry-Ready Education
BusinessWire India Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 6: As India's education system advances under the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with the continued efforts of UGC and AICTE to promote quality and relevance in technical education, the NxtWave Institute of Advanced Technologies (NIAT) is playing a key role in bridging the gap between academia and industry expectations. Through its University Collaborations, NIAT is enabling UGC-approved universities across India to provide outcome-based learning, modern infrastructure, and deep industry alignment for their students, in full compliance with UGC and AICTE guidelines. The result is a new national benchmark for skill-based engineering education. "At NIAT, we're strengthening universities," said Rahul Attuluri, Co-founder & CEO of NxtWave & NIAT. "Our role is to bring in everything the industry wants--hands-on skill training, practitioner-led faculty enablement, internships, and placements--while the university continues to own and deliver the core academic program." The collaboration begins with curriculum insights. NIAT gathers and synthesises these insights from multiple sources -- its 3,000+ hiring partner companies, a community of over 10,000 tech professionals, and cutting-edge in-house R & D and product development. These combined insights are distilled into structured reports and whitepapers, highlighting real-time industry trends, evolving job roles, and skill gaps across domains like AI/ML, cybersecurity, and more. Universities receive these inputs at regular intervals, helping academic councils and boards of studies modernise the curriculum while staying fully aligned with UGC and AICTE regulations. Faculty upskilling is another cornerstone of the collaboration. NIAT runs industry-led certification programs for faculty, including case-based labs, hands-on code reviews, and access to sandboxed real-world projects. Universities also benefit from NIAT's network of 10,000+ tech professionals through the onboarding of Professors of Practice--seasoned professionals who co-deliver modules and mentor students. "To become a globally competent professional, students need not only a degree but also the right skills and aptitude. This integrated program with NIAT delivers both. We're proud to offer such a transformative education," said Dr. R.K. Jain, Vice Chancellor, Ajeenkya DY Patil University, Pune. To power experiential learning, NIAT provides and university integrates an AI-enabled tech platform into its infrastructure. This platform supports project-based learning, live assessments, and real-time feedback, giving students the kind of exposure previously reserved for top-tier industry bootcamps. "Technical skills aligned with industry needs are essential for today's students. Our partnership with NIAT ensures they don't just graduate--they're prepared to thrive in their careers," said Farhad Yenepoya, Pro-Chancellor, Yenepoya Deemed University. Modern infrastructure is another focus. NIAT provides universities with a research-backed classroom design playbook, informed by benchmarking top world-class institutions, and adapted for the Indian context. The design includes high-speed Wi-Fi, ergonomic seating, smart AV systems, soundproofing, and collaborative layouts--all built to support tech-enabled, project-based learning. Implementation by universities is supported with detailed bill-of-quantities, vendor templates, and rollout roadmaps--ensuring academic institutions meet both AICTE norms and global standards. What truly sets this collaboration apart is its corporate connection. Through partnerships with 3000+ tech companies, NIAT facilitates structured internships, mock assessments, and placement sessions--aligned with actual industry hiring practices. Using data dashboards, every student's progress is tracked and supported, giving universities deeper insight into career readiness. "Students today need more than just a degree--they need skills. Through this partnership, students will receive a degree from our university and an industry-ready certification from NIAT. This gives parents the confidence that their child is truly career-ready," said Dr. Ch.V. Purushottam Reddy, Founder and Chancellor, Chaitanya Deemed University. Students receive a UGC-approved degree from the university upon completing the university projects, assessments, courses, required credits, and an Industry Ready Certificate (IRC) from NIAT, based on their performance in skill tracks, projects, and assessments. This dual credential not only boosts their employability but also aligns perfectly with the UGC/AICTE vision of multidisciplinary, skill-based learning. "From 2025-26, students at our campus will benefit from a holistic program--receiving a degree from Aurora University along with upskilling and industry certifications from NIAT. This collaboration empowers students with both academic credentials and real-world capabilities," said Dr. Srilatha Chepure, Vice Chancellor, Aurora Deemed University. Importantly, the fee structure is fully transparent. Students pay tuition directly to the university for academic services, and a separate, optional fee to NIAT for the Industry Readiness Program. There is no bundling or crossover, ensuring 100% compliance with UGC, AICTE norms. "This is what the government wanted education to be," said Rahul Attuluri, Co-Founder & CEO of NxtWave & NIAT. "And the government bodies like UGC/AICTE are bringing important reforms for change. Aligning with them, we've built collaborations that make that change real--inside classrooms, with universities, and for students who now have both a degree and a future they can count on."
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Admission schedule for BBA, BCA, MBA & MCA announced
Indore: The Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Madhya Pradesh on Thursday released the admission counselling schedule for BBA, BCA, MBA (via CMAT) and MCA courses for the academic year 2025–26. Online registrations for all courses will begin on June 16. For BBA and BCA, candidates can register until July 1, with options to edit applications on July 2–3. The choice-filling process, where students list their preferred colleges, will be open from June 20 to July 5. The merit list will be released on July 6, followed by seat allotment on July 11. Students must report to their allotted institutes and complete admission formalities by July 16. This year marks a historic shift, as BBA and BCA courses will now be regulated by AICTE instead of the Department of Higher Education. Consequently, admissions will be conducted by DTE through centralised online counselling. Over 70 colleges affiliated with Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya offer BBA and BCA programs, with more than 40,000 seats available. For MBA admissions, students with valid CMAT 2025 scores can register between June 16 and 29. Edits can be made on June 30 and July 1, choice filling is scheduled for June 18 to July 3. The merit list will be declared on July 4, and admissions will be confirmed between July 9 and 14. For MCA, the registration and counselling schedule mirrors that of MBA. Officials have clarified that all applications must be submitted through the MPOnline portal and only verified documents will be accepted during admission. The second round of counselling for all courses will begin in mid-July after the completion of the first round. Fresh registrations and seat allotments will be conducted based on remaining vacancies.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
The rising challenge of university and college closures
Global higher education is undergoing a paradoxical shift. On the one hand, student enrolment is booming, with over 254 million currently enrolled in higher education institutions. This figure has more than doubled over the past two decades and is projected to rise. On the other hand, despite this growing demand, university closures and mergers loom large in many countries. Much more attention needs to be focused on these failures, which affect students, staff, and society. There are many reasons for this unhappy situation — population declines, a growing scepticism about the return on investment from a university degree, populist opposition to science and higher education, shifts in government funding to higher education institutions, predatory private providers, technological disruption, rise of online learning, and others. The consequences are already visible: a wave of campus closures and mergers that is reshaping the higher education map in many countries. In many cases, closures and mergers are not signs of strategic innovation, but rather responses to institutional distress. While exact figures are difficult to determine, it is estimated that hundreds of universities and colleges worldwide have shut down or merged in recent years. The Indian case India is not immune to these trends — but at the same time is an unusual case since its population continues to grow and the number of young people seeking post-secondary education is expanding as well. While the number of universities and colleges in India continue to expand, smaller institutions, especially private engineering and management colleges, are facing closure. The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 sets an ambitious road map for improving access in the sector. One of the most significant targets set by the NEP is to raise the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 50% by 2035. Another key recommendation is the expansion of higher education institutions into underserved regions. However, recent developments reveal a contrasting reality on the ground. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) imposed a two-year moratorium on the establishment of new engineering colleges in traditional areas of engineering in 2020-21. This was lifted only in 2023-24. In the current academic year, the AICTE approved the closure of 27 private colleges nationally. These institutions have stopped accepting new students — current students can complete their programmes. Furthermore, many affiliated colleges under the supervision of State universities are quietly being phased out. For example, in 2024 alone, 14 colleges affiliated with Mahatma Gandhi University in Kerala shut down due to declining enrolment and financial difficulties. The Karnataka government is currently reviewing the continuation of nine newly established public universities in the State. Similarly, in 2024, Anna University in Tamil Nadu decided to close down 12 of its affiliated engineering colleges due to very low enrolment rate. Unfortunately, national agencies such as the University Grants Commission or State government data do not provide an accurate picture of college closures nationally. Only the AICTE provides detailed data on closures. Global phenomenon Universities and colleges in many countries are struggling to stay viable amid shifting demographics, rising operational costs, and evolving societal perceptions of higher education's value. Countries facing significant demographic declines, such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, face especially serious problems — and in these countries the large majority of students are in private universities. And in all three countries, the government has considerable power over private institutions. In Japan, 33 universities have closed in the past few years and another 29 have merged with other institutions — and these numbers will significantly grow. A similar number have closed in South Korea, and others, called 'zombie' universities, are kept alive through government funding. In both South Korea and Japan, most failed institutions are in provincial areas where population decline is especially evident. In the U.S., 79 universities have closed in the past five years and at least another 80 are in imminent danger. Most of these schools are private and in rural areas with declining populations, and enrolments have declined precipitously. Mergers are also increasingly common though accurate statistics are unavailable. But a few are public — for example, in the state of Pennsylvania, which has a large number of small public colleges, the State government is merging these institutions to reduce costs. In the U.K., a majority of the non-elite universities have fiscal deficits and have been firing large number of academic and other staff. A decline in the number of overseas students, stimulated by more restrictive government policies, will exacerbate financial problems. Similar issues are evident in Canada and to a less extent in Australia. In the Canadian case, many vocationally oriented colleges, some of which have engaged in shady academic policies, have deep financial problems —estimates are that more than 80 public or non-profit colleges have already closed. Globally, closures and mergers do not affect research intensive universities but rather institutions at the lower end of the academic hierarchy. Top institutions, such as those in the U.K. and those targeted in the U.S. under the Trump administration, may face crises, but not existential threats. Early warning Competition and institutional closures are natural in any sector, including higher education. However, ignoring warning signs make the situation worse. India currently benefits from a large youth population, but changing birth rates will lead to a demographic decline in the future, similar to the East Asian and U.S. experience. This potential shift emphasises the need for sustainable strategies to ensure the stability and quality of higher education institutions. A college or university in crisis typically shows many early warning signs. In India, common indicators include a consistent drop in student admissions over time, which affect both public and private institutions. Over-reliance on tuition fees can also be considered a sign of crisis. Academically, signs of trouble include the reduction or closure of programmes, non-renewal of faculty contracts, and the resignation of prominent faculty members without proper replacements. Governance issues, such as frequent leadership changes, and reputational challenges such as poor campus infrastructure, unpaid electricity bills and inadequate student support services, further signal decline. The public, including students, parents, and faculty, should observe early warning signs of a college or university in crisis to avoid long-term harm to them. Practical steps to identify these signs include reviewing publicly available data, such as enrolment figures over the past few years. To enhance transparency, displaying this data on the institution's website should be made mandatory. Government authorities have a responsibility for tracking institutional performance and financial stability as well. (Eldho Mathews is programme officer (internationalisation) at the Kerala State Higher Education Council. Philip G. Altbach is professor emeritus and distinguished fellow, Center for International Higher Education, Boston College, United States; views are personal)
