Students’ career in limbo

Hyderabad: The non-renewal of affiliation for 174 private engineering colleges by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Hyderabad (JNTU-H) has left several current students in the lurch. The colleges were not given affiliation citing lack of proper faculty and infrastructure.

Although the colleges got a conditional clearance from the High Court, many students currently studying in these colleges are worried about the future career prospects upon their graduation. Varsity officials refused to comment on the issue citing that the matter was sub judice but stated that academics of II, III, IV year students in such colleges wouldn’t be disturbed. However, a common question that was doing the rounds among the students was about the placement drive in the colleges.

The students said that due to removal of affiliation, the placements might take a beating and felt that campus offers might drastically come down this academic year.

“To conduct a campus drive in college, the companies come with prerequisites. Affiliation plays an important role in a student’s career. In the current context though many colleges have affiliation, companies conduct placement drives only in a few colleges. What about the colleges which don’t have affiliation?” questioned T Naveen Reddy, a student in one college which lost its affiliation.

Another final year student from a college in Ibramhimpatnam who did not want to be identified said that last year there were a few selections from his college during the placement drive. “As affiliation was scrapped for the college, the campus placements might not be held in the college,” he said.

The task force which was constituted in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh government in its report said that out of 700 colleges in united Andhra Pradesh, 265 companies had conducted campus recruitment in 421 colleges and recruited 17,652 students. With JNTU-H scrapping affiliation, companies might not show interest in such colleges.

An official of one such college said that after thorough scrutiny by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) accorded permission for the college. “Scrapping affiliation on the context of basic amenities, infrastructure was not correct. JNTU-H should have given notices before they annulled affiliation. Students are now concerned about the placement, we would do our best to woo companies,” he added.