COVID-19 hits engineering placements
Training and placement officers of engineering colleges in Kolhapur talk about students’ problems and statistics of placements.
Features
Photo credit: https://aits-tpt.edu.in/blog/tips-to-prepare-for-campus-placements/
Akash Umesh Khandke
Kolhapur: March to September is ‘placement season’ in engineering colleges. This year, owing to the unusual circumstances, the recruitment process has been extended until December. In the wake of the global pandemic, a number of companies have halted their recruitments. Consequently, job aspirants throughout the country have been severely affected.
Along with the pandemic, the economic slowdown is equally responsible for job cuts. Multiple students who are placed in various companies are still awaiting their appointment letters.
"The pandemic has ruined the academic time table. The examinations, which are usually conducted in April, were scheduled for October. The students have lost job opportunities. Companies should conduct campus placements in December," says Shruti Gurav, an engineering student of KIT's College of Engineering, Kolhapur.
Every year, for recruitments, over 75 companies visit various engineering colleges in Kolhapur. The average salary package is anywhere between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh a year. This year, the number of companies have dropped to below 50. Thousands of job aspirants have been deprived of an opportunity to showcase their skills; the mechanical engineering branch seems to be the most affected.
"Every year more than 350 students from various streams secure jobs during campus placements. This year 150 students were recruited till March. Since the lockdown was imposed there has been no improvement in the recruitment figures. Compared to last 10 years data, this year might witness a 20 per cent dip in total placements figure," says Subhash Mane, Training and Placement Officer (TPO) of KIT's College of Engineering, Kolhapur.
DKTE's Textile and Engineering Institute Ichalkaranji, a renowned college for textile engineering in Asia, has opted for online interviews. TPO Sanjay Akhivate said, "DKTE is known for its high placement figures. Every year, by the end of July, all the students are placed in national and international textile companies. This year, December will mark the end of the recruitment process. The online interview process has gained momentum. The 100 per cent placement record will continue this year too, in spite of the pandemic."
