Are Engineering Graduates in A.P. Missing Essential Soft Skills for Employment? Let's Discuss!

Soft skills level in present engineering graduates in A.P. is at its lowest ebb. Most of them write exams by rote and buy their projects from Ameerpet or photocopy them from their seniors. They do not have a clue why they have studied engineering, and their employability levels are minimum. The reason being they are driven by these EAMCET rank-driven education and they forget to develop all-round skills. We need to orient them from the 10+2 level and refresh their career plans better. What say, friends?

Dear S9 Consulting,

This is not only the case of AP, it's also happening in TN. A lot of students from TN & AP who have absolutely no clue of what is expected of them and from the course land up in these engineering colleges. AICTE is giving approval left, right, and center. There are so many colleges offering engineering that some of them have no students or faculty.

I had the misfortune of conducting soft skills classes in one of these colleges (now some of the Anna Univ affiliates have to mandatorily conduct SS training). Right from the profile/dressing of the students and their attitudes, it was a dampener. I happened to ask a few students (when I really felt like plucking a few hairs on my head) why they were doing this course. They gave me this smart alec answer, 'to get 5k (mind you, crores) as dowry.'

The (so-called) MD of the college called us one day and told us not to make the students run around and make noise. When he was told that this was an interactive session, not a lecture, he said, 'you shut up, I will teach you how to take classes.' We then found out this glorified MD was a Rice Mandy owner and qualified with 8 passes in school.

As for the staff, they were freshers from the very same college or similar ones.

So, what I want to ask is: who is to blame? The AICTE, Kid, or Management?

It's a frightening situation.

Lisa

Hello Ashwin,

I am a B.Tech 1st-year student from Andhra Pradesh, studying at Bapatla Engineering College. The point you made is valid to some extent. I think soft skills are crucial to being on top of the scheme of things within one's living environment.

Even though a student achieving 80% in B.Tech may lack the soft skills sought after by the corporate world, companies often prefer someone with 60% and strong soft skills. I don't believe this is the right approach. A person with 80% likely has a good understanding of the subject matter. Regarding projects, I am curious about how present-day HR professionals complete theirs. Do they do it independently? I doubt it, except for a few who genuinely work on their own. How did present-day HR professionals, officers, and leaders acquire these skills?

Soft skills develop with experience. This is not an argument but a statement.

Hanuma

Dear Hanuma,

Once you graduate, your certificates act as a ticket that can just get you interview calls, but clearing them is a very different ball game. If you have good technical knowledge not backed up with good communication skills, your chances to clear the interview are very bleak.

The problem is that students realize the importance of communication only during their college days when they are attending their campus interviews, which happens to be very late. In fact, the importance of soft skills and communication should be given from the school days itself.

On one hand, companies release advertisements on employment opportunities, and on the other hand, we have an unemployment problem, a totally mismatched situation. This shows that the skills imparted by our current education system and the skills required by different industries to find employment are headed in different directions.

Regards,
Vijayendra

I totally agree with all of you. In fact, this is not just the case with Engineering colleges; for that matter, even MBA and MCA colleges are like that. Many students come to us for projects, and we find their skills so poor that they can't even draft a letter properly. I believe the faculties and management of these colleges are not listening to the corporates. On one side, we don't get the right people, and on the other hand, we have unemployment. Really, we need to address this.

Gopal Garg