Latest news with #TamilNaduEngineeringAdmissions
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Picking an engineering course in Tamil Nadu
Over 2.5 lakh students are expected to take part in the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2025 counselling from July 14. The merit list was released Friday last. Early trends suggest a continued preference for Computer Science-centric courses — though surprises cannot be ruled out. Private engineering colleges report that courses like Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Machine Learning, and Cybersecurity are in high demand, in line with the industrial trend nationwide. In contrast, traditional core branches such as Civil and Mechanical Engineering continue to struggle for patronage, despite recent efforts at reviving interest in these courses. Principals across engineering colleges agree that students mostly prefer Computer Science and allied fields. 'In our institution, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science are the top picks, followed by Computer Science and Engineering [CSE], and Electronics and Communication Engineering [ECE],' said T. Saravanan, principal, New Prince Shri Bhavani College of Engineering and Technology, Chennai. ECE has gained popularity owing to the government's push in the semiconductor sector, while Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) and Mechanical Engineering are regaining traction. However, Civil Engineering continues to evoke low interest, with only 30% of seats filled at his college, he added. Under the TNEA 2024 single-window counselling system for colleges affiliated to Anna University, only 4,451 candidates opted for Civil Engineering-related courses as against 10,772 available seats. 'Civil Engineering is still not preferred. We offer only 30 seats, and just 35% of them are filled under the management quota,' noted K. Palanikumar, principal, Sairam Engineering College in Chennai. 'Interestingly, students opting for Civil Engineering often have parents working in the construction sector. What we have noticed is that there is a disconnect between job opportunities in government departments and public perception.' He added that the fear of lay-offs in information technology companies has slightly slowed the admission to CSE, while the government push for manufacturing has sparked interest in Mechanical Engineering and EEE. Staging a comeback In Coimbatore, the Dhaanish Ahmed Institute of Technology has recorded a surge in interest. 'Cybersecurity is the buzzword in information technology companies such as TCS, Wipro, Infosys, and CTS. After computing, semiconductors are next in demand,' said its principal K.G. Parthiban. He added that Mechanical Engineering and allied branches — such as Robotics, Automation, and Mechatronics — are on the radar again, thanks to the growing demand in the auto and industrial automation sectors. 'There's even an increase in girl students choosing Mechanical Engineering.' At Vivekanandha Educational Institutions, Tiruchengode, girl students mostly opt for Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, CSE, ECE, and IT — in that order, said executive director S. Kuppuswamy. Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology rank fourth, while core engineering courses trail. Despite his personal efforts to advocate for core courses like Civil Engineering, students remain unconvinced. 'We have 30 Civil Engineering seats and fill them through government counselling. We've chosen not to surrender the branch, hoping that the interest in it will revive over time,' he said. A few years ago, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) allowed colleges to surrender seats in less popular disciplines so as to start new courses. Many colleges relinquished nearly 50% of their Civil and Mechanical Engineering seats and then expanded Artificial Intelligence and data-centric courses. While some institutions are attempting to revive core branches, IT-related programmes continue to shape the engineering education in Tamil Nadu, fuelled by immediate job prospects. This is not limited to Tier-2 and Tier-3 engineering colleges. Even the country's premier institution — the Indian Institute of Technology — is no exception. A recent event organised by the Pan-IIT Alumni Leadership Series (PALS) in Chennai discussed ways to improve candidates' choices. Directors of several IITs took part at the event. A recurrent theme was the need to encourage students to choose core engineering programmes. PALS has adopted 50 Tier-2 and Tier-3 engineering colleges to help them improve performance. A model for other students IIT-Madras Director V. Kamakoti acknowledged that in the past decade, 99.9% of the toppers in the Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) — the qualifying examination for admission to the IITs — opted for CSE. Students did not choose Electrical Engineering. This is a matter of concern against the backdrop of two major occurrences — the COVID-19 pandemic and Operation Sindoor. 'In the first one, a solution came from biological sciences and in the second, from multiple disciplines. It is not just Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. It was the multidisciplinary approach, much beyond traditional AI,' he pointed out. 'We must reach out to people who studied in these core disciplines and are now doing well for themselves. They could be examples for younger students.' Mr. Kamakoti gave a wide range of suggestions, from improving syllabus to encouraging students to appear for competitive tests to help them evaluate themselves against their peers. He suggested that autonomous colleges fine-tune their syllabus to attract students. Colleges could call on their alumni in core engineering programmes to interact with the aspirants. Institutions could focus on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary education. Candidates should be encouraged to take up dual-degree programmes. Every institution must encourage students to take 40% of their credit through advanced courses to prepare themselves for the industry, he said. The AICTE and the University Grants Commission have permitted colleges to offer 20% skill-oriented courses. These courses could be taught by industry experts, and students could be assigned credits. Faculty members should encourage students to take the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering to help them understand their self-worth among peers, the IIT-M Director said. 'Self-audit is very important for students.' Instead of focusing only on engineering education, college faculty members could offer students wider choices, encouraging them to go in for even the Civil Services Examination. The country would benefit from tech-savvy engineering graduates who could shape technology-driven policies, he pointed out. IIT-Tirupati Director K.N. Satyanarayana suggested that students be given more time for practicals. Introducing Artificial Intelligence in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering is the way forward, he said. But there are no teachers for the subject. Lack of engineers He pointed out that India had built only 50% of the infrastructure it needed. It aspires to be the manufacturing hub for semiconductors and electronic chips. Lack of trained engineers resulted in an Indian company Tata advertising for workers in Taiwan to work in its semiconductor industry. While it is true that civil engineers get paid lower than a software engineer or a CSE graduate initially, a level playing field is achieved for a core engineering graduate when the candidate completes 30 years in service, he added.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
What to B.E.
Over 2.5 lakh students are expected to take part in the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2025 counselling from July 14. The merit list was released Friday last. Early trends suggest a continued preference for Computer Science-centric courses — though surprises cannot be ruled out. Private engineering colleges report that courses like Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Machine Learning, and Cybersecurity are in high demand, in line with the industrial trend nationwide. In contrast, traditional core branches such as Civil and Mechanical Engineering continue to struggle for patronage, despite recent efforts at reviving interest in these courses. Principals across engineering colleges agree that students mostly prefer Computer Science and allied fields. 'In our institution, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science are the top picks, followed by Computer Science and Engineering [CSE], and Electronics and Communication Engineering [ECE],' said T. Saravanan, principal, New Prince Shri Bhavani College of Engineering and Technology, Chennai. ECE has gained popularity owing to the government's push in the semiconductor sector, while Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) and Mechanical Engineering are regaining traction. However, Civil Engineering continues to evoke low interest, with only 30% of seats filled at his college, he added. Under the TNEA 2024 single-window counselling system for colleges affiliated to Anna University, only 4,451 candidates opted for Civil Engineering-related courses as against 10,772 available seats. 'Civil Engineering is still not preferred. We offer only 30 seats, and just 35% of them are filled under the management quota,' noted K. Palanikumar, principal, Sairam Engineering College in Chennai. 'Interestingly, students opting for Civil Engineering often have parents working in the construction sector. What we have noticed is that there is a disconnect between job opportunities in government departments and public perception.' He added that the fear of lay-offs in information technology companies has slightly slowed the admission to CSE, while the government push for manufacturing has sparked interest in Mechanical Engineering and EEE. Staging a comeback In Coimbatore, the Dhaanish Ahmed Institute of Technology has recorded a surge in interest. 'Cybersecurity is the buzzword in information technology companies such as TCS, Wipro, Infosys, and CTS. After computing, semiconductors are next in demand,' said its principal K.G. Parthiban. He added that Mechanical Engineering and allied branches — such as Robotics, Automation, and Mechatronics — are on the radar again, thanks to the growing demand in the auto and industrial automation sectors. 'There's even an increase in girl students choosing Mechanical Engineering.' At Vivekanandha Educational Institutions, Tiruchengode, girl students mostly opt for Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, CSE, ECE, and IT — in that order, said executive director S. Kuppuswamy. Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology rank fourth, while core engineering courses trail. Despite his personal efforts to advocate for core courses like Civil Engineering, students remain unconvinced. 'We have 30 Civil Engineering seats and fill them through government counselling. We've chosen not to surrender the branch, hoping that the interest in it will revive over time,' he said. A few years ago, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) allowed colleges to surrender seats in less popular disciplines so as to start new courses. Many colleges relinquished nearly 50% of their Civil and Mechanical Engineering seats and then expanded Artificial Intelligence and data-centric courses. While some institutions are attempting to revive core branches, IT-related programmes continue to shape the engineering education in Tamil Nadu, fuelled by immediate job prospects. This is not limited to Tier-2 and Tier-3 engineering colleges. Even the country's premier institution — the Indian Institute of Technology — is no exception. A recent event organised by the Pan-IIT Alumni Leadership Series (PALS) in Chennai discussed ways to improve candidates' choices. Directors of several IITs took part at the event. A recurrent theme was the need to encourage students to choose core engineering programmes. PALS has adopted 50 Tier-2 and Tier-3 engineering colleges to help them improve performance. A model for other students IIT-Madras Director V. Kamakoti acknowledged that in the past decade, 99.9% of the toppers in the Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) — the qualifying examination for admission to the IITs — opted for CSE. Students did not choose Electrical Engineering. This is a matter of concern against the backdrop of two major occurrences — the COVID-19 pandemic and Operation Sindoor. 'In the first one, a solution came from biological sciences and in the second, from multiple disciplines. It is not just Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. It was the multidisciplinary approach, much beyond traditional AI,' he pointed out. 'We must reach out to people who studied in these core disciplines and are now doing well for themselves. They could be examples for younger students.' Mr. Kamakoti gave a wide range of suggestions, from improving syllabus to encouraging students to appear for competitive tests to help them evaluate themselves against their peers. He suggested that autonomous colleges fine-tune their syllabus to attract students. Colleges could call on their alumni in core engineering programmes to interact with the aspirants. Institutions could focus on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary education. Candidates should be encouraged to take up dual-degree programmes. Every institution must encourage students to take 40% of their credit through advanced courses to prepare themselves for the industry, he said. The AICTE and the University Grants Commission have permitted colleges to offer 20% skill-oriented courses. These courses could be taught by industry experts, and students could be assigned credits. Faculty members should encourage students to take the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering to help them understand their self-worth among peers, the IIT-M Director said. 'Self-audit is very important for students.' Instead of focusing only on engineering education, college faculty members could offer students wider choices, encouraging them to go in for even the Civil Services Examination. The country would benefit from tech-savvy engineering graduates who could shape technology-driven policies, he pointed out. IIT-Tirupati Director K.N. Satyanarayana suggested that students be given more time for practicals. Introducing Artificial Intelligence in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering is the way forward, he said. But there are no teachers for the subject. Lack of engineers He pointed out that India had built only 50% of the infrastructure it needed. It aspires to be the manufacturing hub for semiconductors and electronic chips. Lack of trained engineers resulted in an Indian company Tata advertising for workers in Taiwan to work in its semiconductor industry. While it is true that civil engineers get paid lower than a software engineer or a CSE graduate initially, a level playing field is achieved for a core engineering graduate when the candidate completes 30 years in service, he added.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Competition heats up for TNEA 2025 as more students score high cut-off score
This year, 144 students have secured a perfect cut-off score of 200, more than double the figure of 65 last year, according to the merit list released by the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2025 committee. The increase signals a stiffer competition for coveted seats across the State. As cut-offs fall slightly overall, more students are clustering in tighter score bands. For example, students with a cut-off of 198 this year will find themselves ranked similarly to those with 197 last year. But they will now be competing against 1,035 more candidates. The disparity is even more pronounced in the lower score ranges. A candidate with a 145 cut-off this year holds the same relative rank as someone with a 129.5 cut-off last year — a 15.5-mark difference. In this bracket, 1,74,740 students are competing for seats, up from 1,32,337 in 2024, an increase of 42,403 applicants, said R. Ashwin, an independent career guidance counsellor. 'In 2024, only 78% of the candidates who scored 200 or above 198 took up the seats allotted to them. Among those with cut-offs between 199 and 195, just 74% opted to join. Overall, the percentage of candidates accepting seats has dropped at every level. Notably, only 40% of TNEA-registered candidates scoring below 130 took part in counselling,' he added. Mr. Ashwin also pointed to a shifting trend in course preferences. 'Computer Science Engineering and Computer Science-related programmes, like AI and Data Science, continue to draw top scorers. However, students with slightly lower marks are increasingly turning to the ECE [Electronics and Communication Engineering] stream, which is likely to see more high cut-offs this year.' Girls make strides Girls have made strides in the merit list. Twelve girls from the general academic stream — including five of government schools — are among the top 10 rankers, all with perfect 200. However, girls represent only 45% of the total applicants, numbering 1,09,055, compared with 1,32,582 boys. In the horizontal reservation category for government school students, 24,752 girls have applied as against 22,619 boys.
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
TNEA online registration portal to close at midnight on June 6
The online portal for the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2025 will close for registration and fee payment at midnight on Friday. However, candidates who have already paid the fees could upload their certificates till Monday (June 9, 2025). A press release from Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhiaan said 2,98,425 candidates had registered on the portal, with 2,44,168 (1,33,805 boys and 1,10,363 girls) paying the registration fees as on 1 a.m. on Friday. The National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) 2025, for admission to course, will be held in the final week of June and, hence, candidates can register via the TNEA portal and pay the registration fees till June 30. The release added that dates for the Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) supplementary counselling would be announced as soon as the supplementary exam results were declared.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Gruelling NEET, AI craze push applications for engg to five-year high
Fixation with engineering touched a new high in Tamil Nadu as the number of candidates applying for counselling increased by 14% compared to the previous year. A gruelling NEET paper, a curiosity towards emerging technologies, a declining interest in pure sciences (BSc courses), and high capitation fees for management quota seats were cited as reasons for more applications towards engineering counselling this year. The last date to apply for engineering counselling is June 6. With less than a day to go, Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) received 2,95,134 applications. Among the applicants, 2,39,871 had paid their fees, while 2,14,005 uploaded certificates as of Thursday. Last year, 2,48,848 candidates registered online, while 2,09,653 submitted fees to participate in the counselling, which is open only to those who have paid the fees. "Following the release of NEET answer key, there were more inquiries for management quota engineering seats. The daunting NEET experience could result in more applications for engineering," said D Valavan, principal of Saranathan College of Engineering in Trichy. Career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi attributed the preference for engineering over pure sciences as the main reason for more applications this year. "Colleges collect higher fees for management quota seats (in Physics/Chemistry/Mathematics). So, many students opted to go for counselling to join BE, BTech seats through govt quota, which costs comparatively less," he said. The number of students opting for science stream in higher secondary schools has also increased compared to the last few years, he added. Academicians have turned the focus on generative AI tools as a driver of the popularity of engineering courses. In the management quota admissions, more students opted for computer science engineering, information technology, AI and data science, and ECE courses this year. In engineering counselling, computer science engineering is likely to remain the top choice as BSc computer science was popular even among arts and science students. The preference for engineering counselling poses challenges four years down the line, vis-a-vis employability of candidates and availability of suitable jobs in the market. "Students will be gainfully employed, provided they come with sound engineering knowledge and are willing to skill themselves and adapt to evolving technologies in AI modules, development boards, and tools," said K Shanmuga Sundaram, director, Centre for University Industry Collaboration, Anna University. It's a perspective that finds resonance among industry leaders too. "The world is increasingly turning technology-intensive. This offers outsized opportunities for engineers across disciplines of specialisation, thanks to rapid innovation occurring at the intersection of technology and businesses," said Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, former CMD, Cognizant India, and partner at Catalincs, a tech growth advisory firm. "No country attracted more than 500 Global 1,000 companies in a 10-year period except India. Encompassing a gamut of industries such as electronics, health sciences, energy, manufacturing, financial services, retail, and telecom, these enterprises made a beeline for India, set up captive technology centres (GCCs), and hired thousands within a short span," he added. "This growing trend, coupled with strong investments in tech by Indian corporates and a thriving tech-driven startup ecosystem, will provide engineers with a platform to build their careers in their chosen disciplines of study," he signed off.
