Specialisation to Generalisation : Dual Engg degree and Mechatronics

Yesterday, I was searching on google to find syllabus of Pune University for engineering.I couldn't get it.However, some interesting things popped up.

Anna University has introduced dual degree programme - BE/B Tech (Information Technology) for students who have completed 2nd semester from non-IT streams of BE/B Tech. Thus such students can take courses (subjects/papers) of IT ,which they have not studied ,from their 3rd semester, in extended hours beyond their usual hours of regular studies, and will have to complete all the IT courses by 10th semester.Thus, one can get dual engg degrees in 5 years instead of one degree in 4 years.I think this is vcery good.As there is perception that demand for Computer engg/IT, as an independent sector, may not be there in the future students are reluctant to seek admission to computer/IT. Students feel that IT/Comp will be required to be mastered as tool and not end in itself. And I feel that's correct. Even my child Pranav, who is quite well in computers, programming had this idea in mind and hence decided to choose a non-comp/IT branch!!

These days there is increasing tendency to take core subject and supplement comp/IT knowledge by acquiring it separately.Large no. of students do these IT courses from institutes like NIIT etc. But if they can get university degree in IT, that too Engg degree, it will always be preferred.

Now is the unfortunate part.This facility is available to students from Tamilnadu state only!Come on everyone! Make representations to Anna University, to your local university.state govt., UGC,AICTE, so that such facilities are available to all students of engg.

I can understand that there will be strong opposition from students who are already doing comp/IT and especially IT.

One more interesting thing came up.One of the womens engg college in Pune has write-up on MECHATRONICS on its website.They say that in future one need to be aware of almost all the processes of manufuturing, from conceptualisation to production.And they believe that in future only such person / engineer will be required.

I think it could be correct as long as engg students remain on floor-shop. But these days most of the students prefer to do MBA and shift to non- floorshop jobs. Secondly, if you see the above referred write up, few of the existing degrees have most of what is mentioned in the write up. Instrumentation, Industrial, Production engg. are the cases in this category; however not favoured by students -it's simply out of fashion according to students.

I think, AICTE should formulate a policy where by there should be only one engg degree having syllabus akin to Mechotronics, provide electives in 3rd and 4th year and may have specialisation at post-graduate level. Like Architecture and Medicine the first degree should have common syllabus save electives.

There is one question:

Either specialisation or generalisation?