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Karnataka is mulling curbs on student intake in computer science and allied courses in engineering colleges, taking note of the rising unemployment among graduates in these streams.
Out of 1,53,000 undergraduate engineering seats available in Karnataka, about a lakh are in computer science and related subjects alone, state higher education minister MC Sudhakar has informed the Legislative Council. “We are taking this very seriously to prevent a bigger crisis in future,” the minister said.
The problem has its genesis in the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) relaxing its norms, paving the way for a surge in student intake in computer science courses. While earlier one computer was mandated for every four students, the statutory body relaxed it to one computer for 10 students, which led to the jump in intake, the minister said, responding to concerns expressed by BJP members Dhananjay Sarji and Pradeep Shettar.
In July, the Telangana High Court (HC) dismissed a batch of appeals filed by a group of engineering colleges, pressing for additional intake in computer science engineering courses. Sudhakar also said that both the Telangana HC and the Supreme Court have upheld the state’s powers to alter the intake as necessary.
A veteran educationist said that so many students aspiring to join computer science and related courses was not a healthy sign, as the increased adoption of AI by tech companies would make low-end software jobs redundant. He did not wish to be identified.
He added that students and colleges should not get swayed by any one stream at the expense of foundational engineering across the major branches of mechanical, civil, electrical/electronics, and chemical engineering.
ET recently reported a wave of ‘silent layoffs’ in the software services sector, over and above the job cuts announced by the technology companies. While TCS announced early this year that it would cut 2% of its workforce by 2026, sending tremors through the job market, many smaller firms have fired people while recording the same as voluntary attrition.
Karnataka Unaided Private Engineering Colleges Association (KUPECA) secretary MP Shyam hailed Sudhakar’s initiatives to expand the government’s skilling efforts. “This is the need of the hour, and the government is approaching it in the right manner. Students need relevant skills in emerging areas of technology, along with a deep knowledge of STEM subjects,” he added.
