Introducing the Pre-Engineering Program in Schools

Although it is evident that education can transform lives, does it lead to employment is a question that we have to analyze.  In the engineering field it is the same scenario, while there are many degree holding engineers it is difficult to find one with the necessary skills equipped to work in a global market place. The root of the problem lies in school education; it fails to impart foundational skills to succeed in technical education.  Another added problem is the knowledge of English. In schools, students studying in English medium or any other medium for that matter are told to ignore the languages and concentrate on science and maths. When they come to study technical education where most of the books are in English they face difficulties.

This is where the Pre-Engineering program comes into play. There can be a program that teaches the foundational skills necessary for students to make the necessary transition from school education to engineering stream. Some of the core skills necessary are communicative English, computing skills and mathematics. Without a firm grasp on these areas students will find it difficult to keep pace with engineering education and lose the opportunity of transforming their lives for the better.

The first and foremost area in which engineers need improvement is their ability to communicate in English. This helps them in their presentations, writing assignments and gives them the confidence to face the exams boldly.  It also helps when despite their technical knowledge they don’t have the skills necessary to perform in interviews and GDs.  Secondly knowledge of computers is a must in today’s education scenario and work.  Students from rural background still lack the necessary skills when it comes to using a computer, so providing special computer education is a must. Thirdly engineering education cannot be complete without the necessary mathematical ability.  This will help them strengthen their understanding and application of math principles in engineering.  A Pre-Engineering program introduced in schools will help students emerge as better engineers at the end of their engineering education. Alpha College of Engineering is among the top engineering colleges in India offering quality engineering education. It belongs to the Alpha Group of Institutions having more than five decades of experience in the field of education and a leading education groups in India. 

Scope of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest and broadest branches of engineering.  Mechanical engineering applies the principles of engineering, physics and material design for the design, production and operation of machinery. Mechanical engineers have to deal with concepts such as mechanics, thermodynamics, robotics, kinematics, structural analysis, fluid mechanics and many others. These concepts are applied in designing state of the art manufacturing units, automobiles, aircraft, aerospace parts and industrial machinery.

 Mechanical engineers also help develop various engines, power plant equipment, heating and cooling systems, in short from simple to complex machinery. They are also involved in the testing, maintaining and manufacture of mechanical systems. The current scope of Mechanical engineering is expanding beyond its traditional boundaries to areas like nanotechnology and biomedical applications.

Mechanical engineering field has a healthy growth rate every year with plenty of job opportunities. Another advantage of mechanical engineering is that once you have done a B.Tech in Mechanical you can opt to specialize in other areas like aerospace, automotive and many such fields. It you are interested in R&D you can get employed in many public/private research organizations. With the rapid expansion in the industrial sector, the demand for mechanical engineers is ever increasing.

Industries/Companies who hire mechanical engineers:

•           Automobile and auto part manufacturers
•      Aerospace industry
•      Aviation companies
•      Steel plants
•      Thermal plants
•      Air conditioning and refrigeration industry
•      Shipping industry

Mechanical engineers have employment opportunities in both private and public sectors. Government sectors like Defence, PWD, Railways etc hire mechanical engineers. There are umpteen private companies that hire mechanical engineers, SIEMENS, L&T, Tata Motors etc are some of the big private firms to name a few. There are also equal opportunities outside India.

Alpha College of Engineering is one of the top engineering colleges in Chennai offering Mechanical Engineering and other branches of engineering. The college has got university rank holders and the best infrastructure offering quality engineering education. Alpha also offers the B.E Plus program. It is a part of the engineering program and students get trained in the best industry practices in parallel to the engineering program. It provides exposure to the students about the happenings in various industries through institute-industry collaboration.

Challenges in Management Education in India

In this rapidly changing global scenario, management education needs to be constantly updated. 

Some of the challenges in management education in India today and some suggestions to address them are:

Management education in India emphasizes mostly on theory while practical education lags behind. When it comes to engineering education the theoretical facts can be verified by experiments in laboratories. Similarly management education needs to focus on case study driven methods to ensure the necessary takeaways for its students. 

It is also necessary for students to have some industry experience which enables them to relate more to what is being taught in the classroom. Unfortunately this does not work in many cases as most students pursue their education KG to PG without any break. This not does not give them the necessary industry exposure and they find it tough to digest the management courses being taught.

Most of the management education across the globe is case study driven and the educators in the field have a blend of industry, research and consultancy experience. The educators are able to share their industry knowledge with students. With the existing gap between industry and academia, India lacks such educators (or at least in lower rung colleges).

Techniques to Ensure Quality Management Education:

• Interact with the industry and find their pulse before crafting management curriculum
• Encourage students to interact with industry to meet the industry expectations
• Make sure the faculty have diversified experience including industry, research and consultancy experience
• Providing team education in classroom where two educators, one from industry and another from teaching teach together. It helps student connect theory with practical knowledge

Alpha College of Engineering is among the top engineering colleges in Chennai offering management degrees as well. It offers MBA with four specializations HR, Finance, Marketing and Systems Operations. Alpha places great emphasis on developing strong links with the industry through joint programs, invited lectures and workshops. An MBA also gives you a variety of career opportunities and if you are an engineering graduate it gives you more chances to switch to a managerial position and move up the corporate ladder quickly.