The Comed-K engineering seats in Karnataka are vacant with over seventy-one per cent of twenty six thousand seats being vacant. At least thirty-three private colleges observed zero admissions & a large majority of seventy-five colleges filled lesser than twenty five percent of the seats. In 2023, zero admissions to Comed-K were reported by twenty-nine private engineering colleges. However, under CET (Common Entrance Test) none of the colleges reported zero admissions although architecture, civil and mechanical courses had no takers.

"With this, several colleges increased the number of seats for computer science courses and allied programmes, while reducing the number of seats in core branches like civil and mechanical. Even top colleges increased intake for select increased intake for select courses. Consequently, a large number of colleges which used to get at least a handful of students until last year were left with no students at all.  They are now desperate to fill students through some means ," said S Kumar, secretary, Comed-K.

Architecture also saw huge vacancies. "Ever since Covid, architecture seats have been falling vacant. This year is better than last year. Architecture course has longer duration and is more expensive than others. With more computer science seats available, students are opting for them," said Vimala Swamy, principal, Gopalan School of Architecture and Planning.

Today, the topic of much debate is the relevance of traditional engineering degrees especially in the context of rapidly evolving technology, and changing industry demands. Although there are no straightforward answers, the discussion can be framed through examination of both challenges as well as opportunities conventional engineering education witnesses today.

Globalization & Gig Economy

The rise of gig economy as well as globalization has influenced the relevance of engineering degrees. Characterized by short-term contracts as well as freelance work, the gig economy is transforming and reshaping the nature of employment specifically in the engineering industry. Engineers are being recruited on a project-by-project basis and often via platforms such as Freelancer, Toptal & Upwork.

Employers may prioritize skills as well as experience over formal degrees in this particular context. For instance, to an employer/recruiter, a software engineer with a robust GitHub portfolio would be more appealing than that of a graduate with a conventional degree however with not much or little real-world experience. The ability of demonstrating proficiency in any specific skill instead of only holding a degree is becoming highly important these days.

The rise of alternative education models

The advent of alternative education models which include online platforms such as edX, Udacity and Coursera, has transformed the way students are acquiring knowledge & skills. These platforms provide courses from world-class universities as well as tech organizations, which help learners in picking up market-relevant skills in a flexible as well as cost-effective way. For example, today professionals can earn certifications in data science, full stack development, cloud computing even without making any enrollments in a four-year program or a full-time program.

Although a few of the experts argue that the conventional degrees are becoming less attractive as they lack the flexibility of incorporating emerging technologies swiftly. Furthermore, the price of obtaining a four-year degree can be prohibitive, making students to seek faster as well as cheaper alternatives which will still provide pathways into lucrative streams.

The value of Engineering Fundamentals

There is still a significant value in conventional engineering education, despite the numerous challenges specifically in the courses’ focus on the fundamentals. Engineering programs teach students about the rigorous problem-solving skills, deep understanding of scientific as well as mathematical principles and critical thinking. These are the foundational skills which can be applied across diverse sectors & roles right from automotive, to aerospace to healthcare as well as renewable energy.

Traditional engineering degrees are not losing relevance completely, however, they are under pressure to evolve. The increase of alternative education models, the rapid pace of technological transformation, and the shifting industry demands have helped build a more complex landscape for engineering education. While the basics that are taught in the engineering programs are valuable, there is a growing requirement for flexibility, practical experiences, & interdisciplinary.

As the industry continues to grow and evolve as well, the most successful engineers will likely be those who can gather a strong foundation in engineering principles with the agility of learning new technologies as well as adapt to changing market requirements. Conventional/traditional degrees will stay as a crucial part of the education ecosystem, however, they will require to modernize to stay relevant in the future.