BENGALURU: As hiring patterns shift and companies prioritize career-ready talent, engineering colleges across India are integrating courses, certifications and internships into their curricula to narrow the gap between academia and the workplace.
However, these programs are short-term in nature, often lecture-based, and closely tied to current demand for technology – making them vulnerable to rapid obsolescence as industry needs evolve.At GITAM University, industry engagement is integrated through credit-based courses designed and delivered with companies like Google, Capgemini and Wipro. Typically includes 2-3 credits (48-72 hours), spread over semesters and covering AI, data analytics, Python, Power BI and cloud technologies.
Specialized subjects such as GenAI and Agile Engineering are taught by industry practitioners.“There are certain topics that faculty members cannot handle…that is why we bring in trainers from companies like IBM, Google and Microsoft,” said Edwin Antony, senior director at GITAM University.At Manipal College of Information Sciences, collaborations with GE Medical Systems, Infineon and Philips have shaped specialized programs aligned with industry needs.
“We realized that if you are associated with one company, competitors will not take your students,” said Keerthana Prasad, professor and director of the institute.Software has evolved with market demand – from medical software to healthcare data analytics, and then big data more broadly. “Whatever is relevant today may not be so in a few years… We are constantly adapting,” Prasad said, adding that nearly 90% of jobs are secured through internships such programs enable.In contrast, institutions such as IIIT-B take a more balanced approach. R. said. Chandrashekhar, dean of academics at IIT India: “Educational institutions are not training centres.” But Silicon Labs only hires from students trained in its partner programs. Happiest Minds has recruited around 100 students through the internship and placement model, said Rajesh Chandran Sugasu, Head of Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development.