Graduates reluctant to pursue M.Tech course

HYDERABAD: Even as they are preparing to issue a notification for admissions in to M.Tech and other PG courses in November first week, the Andhra Pradesh State Council for Higher Education officials are concerned over filling up all M.Tech seats.The decision of All India Council for Technical Education to give permission to 145 new engineering colleges to offer M.Tech from the current academic year despite vacant seats last year has made officials opine that after the EAMCET and ICET, where huge number of seats remained vacant, the same fate might befall M.Tech seats.364 colleges including 14 university colleges at present offer M.Tech courses.Many colleges found it difficult to fill 100 per cent seats last year.There were 24,000 seats available and with the new approvals, the number has risen to 32,000.The lack of interest from engineering graduates to apply for M.Tech seats can be attributed to the fact that most companies during recruitment did not give preference to M.Tech students over engineering graduates."What is the meaning in pursuing a PG course spending two valuable years when it gives no benefit over graduation," S Narendar, a B.Tech graduate said.In addition, most software companies were preferring graduates as they are younger.The companies were of the opinion that younger people might continue for a few more years at the beginning of their career.Most candidates pursuing graduation intend to take up teaching due to huge number of engineering colleges in the state. But they were reluctant to seek admission in M.Tech courses, as most engineering colleges are not following AICTE norms in paying salaries to faculty. Some M.Tech graduates are being paid a mere `12,000 per month, though the AICTE norms says the salary should be more than `20,000. Hence, engineering graduates are more likely to take up jobs in software companies after completing their B.Tech/BE and then taking up teaching as a profession.However, students admitted pursuing M.Tech in IITs, NITs and other national level institutions after qualifying the GATE exam had better job prospects.