Engineering's the hot career option this summer

AHMEDABAD :  There is a paradigm shift in the mindset of Gujarati students. Shunning their age-old orientation towards business and medical careers, students are now making a beeline for competitive exams for careers in engineering.

This, say educationists, is a trend brought about by globalisation. Not only are more students appearing for exams like Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE) for IITs and All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), but they are scoring well too.

Vice chancellor of Nirma University, NV Vasani said, "Gujarati students are globalisation-oriented. This phenomenon is expected to bring a boom in the engineering sector. Students and parents are now more goal-oriented and focused. Middle class families are now pushing their children towards these careers."

Earlier, in the event of getting low percentage, class XII (science) Gujarati students would secure admission by paying hefty donations and migrating to other states. This trend has been reversed. The IIT-JEE has seen a marked increase in the number of students. In the last three years the number of examinees has jumped by 2,500. In 2010, there is a rise of over 500 students appearing for IIT JEE.

Earlier, only English medium students would dominate the exams. But, more Gujarati medium students are appearing now. "The increase can be attributed to the fact that Gujarat has got its own IIT now," said Sudhir Jain, director of IIT, Gandhinagar.

The jump is huge in AIEEE. In the last three years, there has been an increase of 20,000 students appearing for AIEEE. Sunil Trivedi, principal of the Delhi Public School and co-ordinator of AIEEE-Gujarat, said, "In Ahmedabad alone, there is an increase of more than 5,000 students. We had to make provision for additional 10 exam centres. In Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, a total of 26,000 students appeared for the exam in 42 exam centres."