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Perhaps the most versatile of the study lines, Engineering,
Science and Technology hold the optimum charm for the
students. A professional degree in Engineering/related
subjects opens up huge career opportunities, simply,
because the modern world is powered by technological
advancement. From test-tube babies to tinned food stuff
and from wireless talking gadgets to sophisticated flying
machines, today’s life has been virtually crafted
by technological sciences.
Obviously, this branch of study has a vast field of
career choices and an aspiring student can specialise
or super-specialise in hundreds of independent and inter-disciplinary
subjects in engineering and technological sciences.
Aptitudes that help
An analytical mind, certain degree of creativity, an
aptitude for handling tools and machines, a good deal
of practicality, decisiveness and an ability to work
in teams are personal attributes which come handy.
How to get through
Selection to various engineering/technological programmes
is conducted in three categories in India.
(1) The IITs in Delhi, Kanpur, Mumbai, Chennai, Roorkee,
Kharagpur and the Institute of Technology, BHU and Indian
School of Mines, Dhanbad admit students for their B Tech
courses through an All India Entrance Examination— IIT-JEE.
Several other technological institutes also select students
through IIT-JEE for some specialised programmes offered
by their institutes. The examination consists of a screening
test, held in April, and then followed by the Main Examination
in May every year. The basic educational qualifications
are +2 Science, (PCM)/equivalent, 3-4 year Diploma in
Engineering from an AICTE/Directorate of Technological
Education approved Institute.
(2) The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
conducts the All India Engineering Entrance Examination
(AIEEE) for admissions to all the National Institutes
of Technology (NIT), certain Deemed Universities, Central
Technological institutes, Army Engineering College, Pune
and several other institutions invarious states and UTs.
The selection is made for BE/B Tech/B Arch/B Pharm. degree
courses, for which basic qualifications are +2 science
PCM., 50% marks for BE/BTech/B.Arch and +2 Science PCB
with 50% for B Pharm.
(3) All the states in India conduct independent entrance
tests—JEE or CET to select domicile students for
private and government engineering colleges in respective
states. Minimum qualification is +2 science with PCM.
(4) BITS, Pilani, selects students for its BE/B Tech
programmes by merit, based on their performances at +2
science level.
Prospects
Engineers, as such, have the option of multiple specialised
fields to work for; and with some further specialisation
in MBA courses can chart into professions in corporate
management and jobs in finance sectors. They can work
in varied fields such as research and development, academics
and media, also. Career openings are aplenty for them
in government, private and defence sectors. And, there
is no further need to mention about the field day Computer
Engineers are enjoying today.
Other than the well known engineering disciplines like
civil, electronics, mechanical, electrical, telecommunication
etc., here, we discuss some interesting branches of engineering
and technological sciences and their career prospects.
Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering:
This specialised engineering branch is concerned with
research and development of new technologies in the designing,
building and maintenance of commercial and military aircrafts,
missiles, spacecrafts and their relevant components.
How to get through
From among various engineering colleges and technological
institutes, Madras Institute of Technology offers a three-year
post graduate programme in Aeronautical Engineering for
B Sc (Electronics/Physics) students. Indian Institute
of Science, Bangalore, provides M Tech and PhD programmes
in Aeronautical Engineering. The IITs –Mumbai,
Chennai, Kharagpur and Kanpur are premier institutes
providing courses in AE, Aircraft Maintenance Engineering
and Aerospace Engineering. Students have to qualify the
entrance tests of respective institutes.
(Refer Where to Study section to learn about selections)
Career avenues
The career prospects for aeronautical engineers, today,
have become directly proportional with the constant technological
advancement of the commercial and fighter aircrafts,
satellites, missiles, propulsion technology and expansion
in civil aviation network. Aeronautical engineers can
find opportunity to work in the private airliners, the
Ministry of Defence and Civil Aviation, defence research
laboratories, space research organisations and satellite
launching units. A boost in hospitality and travel industry
and entry of private and foreign airlines operators have
extended the scope for the aeronautical engineers.
Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural engineering is concerned with meeting technical
needs of the agriculture, horticulture, soil and water
conservation and rural electrification sectors. Agricultural
engineers design and manufacture agricultural machinery,
plan irrigation and drainage systems, farm structures,
help in setting up biogas plants, lift-irrigation facilities
and maintenance of all related structures and installations.
How to get through
Students qualified in +2 Science (PCB) are required
to clear entrance tests conducted by institutes/universities
for BE/B Tech-agriculture courses. Those who want to
diversify to biotechnical research or bioinformatics
should have MS/ M Tech-Agriculture or advance computer
programming and database skills. Those having inclination
for working in agriculture, agro/food processing, rural
and allied sectors can go for a BE/M Sc in agriculture
Engg. /Science.
The IIM Ahmedabad offers a programme in Agri-Business
Management – PGP- ABM for students having BE/M
Sc degree in Agriculture Engg. /Science or in any other
agriculture related discipline. They have to submit a
special form available at the PGP-ABM office at Ahmedabad.
Selection is through CAT (Common Admission Test).
Career avenues
Wide and interesting career openings exist for agriculture
engineers in agro-industrial sector (design, sale, marketing
and servicing of agro-equipments); design and construction
of farm buildings and crop storage; in government departments
for soil and water resources, irrigation, horticulture,
rural electrification and banks; private concerns; NGOs
and R&D labs. Agri-engineers are, also, in demand
in social sectors especially in rural development and
in technical journalism.(PGP-AJMC course at Natl. Inst.
of Agri. Extn.Management, MANAGE, Hyderabad, www.manage.gov.in)
Rapid advancement in Biotechnology and bioinformatics
has created promising career avenues for the agri-engineers
and agriculture scientists (See,also, the Biotechnology
chapter in this section). They can opt for academics
too.
Biomedical engineering
Biomedical engineers are hi-tech scientists who use
the principles of life science and engineering conduct
research on the biological aspects of human and animal
life. They have developed medical devices that have transformed
the field of healthcare management. Some examples are
artificial heart and artificial organs, prosthetics,
laser surgical equipments, cryosurgery, ultrasonic equipments
and computing diagnostic machines/software.
Biomedical Engineering is fast catching up as an exciting
professional field and a promising industry. A professional,
here, executes a range of task such as design and development
of medical devices according to specifications; review
deliverables, risks mitigation, status reports; coordinate
prototype building; perform acceptance tests (lab & field),
define and design interfaces for complex technical systems
inside a production unit and devise business development
activities.
How to get through
To pursue a degree in the subject of biomedical engineering
one should have Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry with
biology at +2 Sc level. One has to clear the usual qualifying
entrance examinations to get into courses in engineering
colleges providing the subject.
At present, BE degree holders (but, preferably Master’s in Engineering)
with training in multiple disciplines (Computer Software/ MBA), are preferred
in the job sector.
Career avenues
Biomedical engineers have exciting career opportunities
in medical and healthcare sectors especially in manufacturing
units of medical equipments, where one is involved in
the design and manufacture of diagnostic or therapeutic
instruments. In India, companies like BPL, Wipro Medical,
L & T, Siemens, GE and Sanmina-SCI have a large presence
in the market. Graduate engineers can look forward to
challenging work prospects in the healthcare technology
in the areas of research and development (R & D),
direct engineering support or sales and marketing of
sophisticated healthcare equipments.
Ceramic Engineering
Beyond the general perception of ceramic being used
only to produce glassware and pottery, it has an interesting
range of other applications, too. Ceramic is used in
the manufacture of fibre optics, semi conductors, engine
parts, electronic items, tools and machine components,
electric power insulators, tiles etc. Ceramic is produced
by complex chemical processes. A ceramic engineer studies
the properties and applications of ceramics, which help
in the designing and manufacture of related products.
How to get through
After +2 Science (PCM), a student can opt for a BE
course in Ceramics after qualifying in the required entrance
tests. Students having B Sc. (must have Mathematics as
one of the subjects together with Physics/Chemistry/Geology)
or Diploma in Ceramics with 2 years hands on experience
in ceramic industry or BE-Chemical can specialise in
Ceramic Technology.
Career avenues
Engineers qualified in ceramic technology have prospects
in research, design, production and sales/marketing sectors
of the ceramics industry. Chemical engineering industry
is a potential employment sector for ceramic engineers.
Environmental Engineering:
This engineering branch has evolved as a direct response
to the widespread disruption of our natural resources.
Environment engineers study, plan, work and counsel for
the correction, check, and revival of the disrupted or
polluted environment, consult on the negative environmental
impact of industrial, irrigational power projects and
provide expert know-how for waste and effluent management.
Environment engineering combines knowledge of various
disciplines such as natural and social sciences, biology,
chemistry, commerce, geography, anthropology and importantly
management.
How to get through
To pursue a career in this field, a Master’s or
higher degree in Environment Eng. /Sc. is required. For
an M Sc programme in Environment Engineering the basic
qualification is a B Sc. in any discipline. The IITs
offer PG D/ ME/M Tech courses, and the JNU’s School
of Environmental Science offers M Sc, MPhil and PhD programmes
in Environmental Sciences. (See the list of institutes
at the end of this chapter)
A graduate chemical engineer can directly opt for a
career in this sector.
Career avenues
Environmental Engineers/Scientists get ample opportunity
for a satisfying profession in manufacturing units, government
departments of — pollution control, industries & environment,
forestry, wildlife, water resource, R&D labs; NGOs,
corporate houses, and consultancies. They have very good
opportunity to use their specialised knowledge on environment
in emerging fields of biotechnology, bioinformatics and
research on alternative energy resources.
Fire Engineering
Fire engineering is that branch of engineering technology
which is broadly concerned with fire risk management.
Now, fire detection, prevention, fire fighting and training
have become highly specialised areas and have developed
into a branch of science and technology. In advanced
countries, an outbreak of fire is dealt by thorough bred
professionals.
Fire engineers research into the causes of fire, develop
preventive methods, design and test fire-resistant materials
for alternative uses. They counsel on the type of building
materials, fire preventive measures for the public buildings
such as hotels, government buildings of strategic importance,
corporate buildings, hospitals, auditoriums etc. and
especially all high-rise buildings. They, also, train
fire fighting personnel on the techniques to arrest fire
break, effectively.
How to get through
Till recently, fire prevention and fire fighting trainings
were conducted, only, by the state Home Departments.
Now, it is a recognised subject in various technical
colleges and universities of India.
Eligibility for BE / B Sc in Fire engineering is +2
Science /equivalent with Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry,
and for Fireman Training, the basic educational eligibility
is SSC / equivalent.
The eligibility for BE / B Sc degree in one of the premier institutes
for Fire engineering — Maharastra Institute of Technology, Pune,
is diploma in engineering / B Sc.
Career avenues
A cursory survey can tell us that the market is ready
for the highly trained fire fighting professionals, and
there is a real demand for them in view of proliferation
of high rise buildings and rapid industrialisation, especially,
in the chemical, petroleum and petrochemical segments.
Moreover, government has made it regulatory on the industries
to appoint qualified fire officers to maintain safety
measure.
So, fire engineers and trained firemen have great scope
for work in industrial units, government fire fighting
departments, fire consultancy firms offering services
to corporate houses, construction and architectural firms,
hotels, research labs etc. They also, have job openings
in airports, defence services, shipping companies and
in almost all major areas of human activities where,
there is always a risk of fire.
Marine Engineering
There are two specialised fields in marine related sciences,
namely, nautical/navigational sciences and marine engineering.
Nautical sciences chiefly concerns with responsibilities
other than core technical jobs inside the engine room
of a ship.
Marine Engineering involves designing, supervision
and maintenance of machinery and installations in a ship
such as propulsion systems, refrigeration, motors, boilers,
steam engines and sanitary systems. In all they are engaged
for the smooth and efficient functioning of machinery
system in a ship by extending technical expertise.
How to get through
Marine Engineering & Research Institute in Kolkata
is the premier Institute offering training in BE (4-year,
120 seats) and ME (2-year) in marine engineering. Selection
is through IIT-JEE.
Marine Engineering & Research Institute, Mumbai, offers 1-year pre-sea
training to BE (Mech.)/ Naval Architecture students. (Course fee – 1,40,000/-,
including mess, accommodation and uniform). Three-year degree course
(B Sc) in nautical Sciences is offered at T.S. Chanakya to +2 science
students (PCM, below 20-years), selection is through IIT-JEE, admission
notice is advertised in October every year. It, also, offers a 1-year
pre-sea training to +2 Sc. (PCM) /B Sc (below 22-years) / BE/B Tech (24-years)
students.
There are many private training institutes functioning
in India. But, before going for a course there, one must
check (a) the backgrounds of the institute (b) placement
ratio and other feedbacks from students there, and importantly
(c) the nature of institutional tie-ups for training
and award of degrees/certifications.(Useful contacts:Marex
Marine Consultant,Mumbai, Email:info@marexbulletin.com;
www.rlinstitutes.com; www.tcmindia.com)
Career avenues
Marine Engineers have career openings in merchant navy,
shipping companies, ports, Indian Navy, cruise-liners
and in marine research projects. The job openings can
be found both at Indian and international market. According
to BIMCO-ISF’s (an international shipping federation)
Manpower Update-2000, currently, there is a shortage
of 16,000 trained officers and engineers in India, and
the projected shortage of which by 2010, is somewhere
around 45, 000.
Mining Engineering
Mining Engineering applies technology related to geo-sciences
for the efficient exploration and extraction of minerals/ore
deposits from the earth, with maximum safety measures
to the people and the environment, associated. They work
with the geologists and metallurgical engineers to locate
ore deposits and appraise the practicality of mining
design, open pit and underground mines (verification
of conveyors), supervise the entire mining operations,
research and develop better extraction processes and
advance mining equipments.
How to get through
Indian School of Mines (ISM) Dhanbad and IIT-Kharagpur
are India’s top two educational centres providing
courses Mining Technology. Established on the line of
the Royal School of Mines, London, ISM is Asia’s
premier mining institute. It offers 4-year B Tech degrees
in mining, mining machinery, petroleum etc. and 3-year
MSc. /M Tech programme in Applied Geology and Geophysics.
It conducts an all India entrance examination for admission
to its courses.
IIT-Kharagpur offers a dual degree programme of B Tech (Hons) and M Tech
(specialisation in Mining Engineering) of 5-year duration. Admission
is through the IIT-JEE entrance.
(For details about leading institutes and selections in this field, check
the list at the end of the chapter)
Career avenues
Knowledge of some other fields such as Geology, Metallurgy,
Economics, Management, Computer Application and Environmental
Sciences replenishes a career in Mining Engineering.
Mining being a global activity offers a wide range of
career opportunities involving technology, human, finance
and environmental resources. Mining companies, mining
finance houses, and research and development organisations
recruit a number of skilled mining engineers and scientists
from this specialisation.
Plastic & Rubber Technology
The plastics and rubber sector is considered a sunrise
industry in India exhibiting consistent growth trends.
The remarkable development in the plastic machinery and
petrochemical sector has facilitated the growth of 30,000
existing plastic processing units in the country. The
professionals research, develop and design plastic moulded
and extruded goods starting from polyester films to laminates,
soft luggage items, writing instruments to PVC leather
clothes and sheets.
Rubber and recycled rubber have many innovative uses
in, transportation, agriculture, fitness and playground
equipments, automotive and various manufacturing industries.
Rubber is also used as thermoplastic composites, polymer
additives and compounding ingredients, and is used for
adhesive, inks and paints. Several companies specialise
in design and manufacture of precision moulded rubber
component parts for hi-tech sectors such as healthcare,
military, aerospace and electronics.
How to get through
Basic eligibility for the study of plastic and rubber
technology is +2 science (PCM) /equivalent. Students
having BTech/BE in Chemical/Mechanical/Textiles/Plastics
and Rubber Technology/M Sc in Chemistry are eligible
to pursue M Tech in plastics and Rubber technology.
Career avenues
Joint ventures, foreign investments, easier access
to advanced technologies in a global economic scenario
have furthered the growth of this industry. Tremendous
career prospects are there with the public and private
sectors such as Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas,
Polymer Corporations of different states, and in tyre,
paints, petrochemicals, thermoplastic/plastic appliances,
and luggage manufacturing companies all over the world.
Private entrepreneurs also have a promising scope in
the application of plastics and rubber technology.
Space Sciences Technology
Space science and technology broadly covers study areas
such as Astronomy and Astrophysics, Atmospheric Studies,
Earth Science and Solar System Studies. Several universities,
institutions, research organisations like the Physical
Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, Space Physics Laboratory
(SPL), Thiruvananthapuram and Space Application Centre
(SAC, ISRO), Ahmedabad, are pioneering the R and D in
this field in India.
How to get through
Students interested in this field must have an M Sc
in Physics as basic qualification to pursue a Ph D Programme
in Astrophysics and Space Sciences. Selections, in premier
institutes of India are made through a Joint Entrance
Test for Ph D Programmes.
Names of some leading institutions offering such specialised programmes
are enlisted below:
Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Koramangal, Bangalore, www.iiap.ernet.in
Courses – Physics (Optics, Non-Accelerator Particle Physics, Atomic
Physics), Astronomy and Astrophysics
Eligibilty - 1st class M Sc in Physics/BE or B Tech in Electronics/Instrumentation/Mechanical
engineering
Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune,
Courses – Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics
National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), of Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research, Pune,
Courses – Physics (Astronomy and Astrophysics)
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad,
Courses – Physics (Experimental & Theoretical, Space Science,
Earth, Planetary, Atmospheric & Space Sciences, Non-linear Dynamics,
Computational Physics), Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Planetary & Geo-science.
Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore,
Courses – Physics (Experimental: Optics, Soft Condensed Matter
Physics, Physics in Biology, Theoretical Physics,), Astronomy and Astrophysics.
State Observatory (SO), Nainital,
Courses – Astronomy and Astrophysics
Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), Mumbai,
Courses – Geomagnetism, Astrosphere and Space Sciences, and Plasma
Research.
BE/BTech/ME/MTech students with specialisation in Industrial Design or
related subjects (or without any such specialisation) can always opt
a career in the areas of Space Technology. (Refer to the article by Nilamani
Mohanty and the institution list in this chapter)
Career avenues
India has achieved excellence in the research, development
and application of space technology in the areas of designing
and building satellites, climatic studies, telecommunication,
natural resources and environment monitoring. Students
qualified in science and engineering subjects or subjects
relevant to space science/technology — M Sc/M Tech/M
E/BE, and in some cases B Sc/ Diploma in Engineering
have wide career options in space centres and also, in
industrial sectors manufacturing space craft related
equipments.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology involves research on living micro organisms,
and development of newer technologies for improving significant
areas of human life and its surroundings. The R and D
in Biotechnology have expanded in great proportions after
the breakthrough advancements in Human Genome Programme
(HGP) and gene sequencing in other biological spheres.
In the last 10-15 years, application of Biotechnology
has brought drastic changes in the following areas: Healthcare — medical
diagnosis, development of genetically engineered vaccines,
antibiotics and other drugs; Agriculture – development
of high yield crop varieties with greater nutritional
value, solution to crop diseases, development of bio-fertilizers,
Seri-culture, aquaculture; Animal Husbandry – development
of improved breed of livestock and others animals (race-horses),
animal feed; Industrial Sectors – significant development
in the production qualities in the heavy industries and
in the processed food industries; Energy and Environment – exploration
of new sources of energy, waste management methods and
pollution control.
Bioinformatics
It is popularly described as the inter-face between
molecular biology and computing technology. Bioinformatics
is all about using computer technology for managing (collect,
store, analyse & integrate) huge amount of data generated
from the study of genomics, proteomics and pharmacogenomics
(determination, sequencing and analysing the genome of
an organism). Bioinformatics is an indispensable aid
in research and development in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical
sciences.
How to get through
An M Sc degree in Biotechnology is basic to enter into
a career in this line. Besides, after +2 Sc./equivalent
in science, a student can proceed for a graduation in
biological or non-biological sciences/ engineering, and
may proceed for a Master’s in Biotechnology, there
after. After 10+2 Science/equivalent, a student can opt
for a 4-year B Tech programme in Biotechnology at Anna
University, Chennai or Jadavpur University, Kolkata.
Students, qualified in the IIT-JEE, can opt for a five
and half year integrated M Tech programme in Biotechnology
at IITs, Delhi and Kharagpur.
Bioinformatics: Graduates or post-graduates in Molecular
Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Medical Sciences, Mathematics,
Statistics, Physics, Engineering, IT professionals or
PhDs in related subjects etc. have tremendous career
prospects in Bioinformatics today. An aspirant, is required
to have sound computational skills such as molecular
sequence analysis programmes like BLAST, GCH, FASTA etc.
programming skills in C++, JAVA, HTML, Perl, operating
systems of UNIX, Linux and essential data base skills
in SQL.
Candidates who have expertise in Bio-sciences/ Engineering/medical
related subjects with a degree in computational sciences/technology
stand a better chance to succeed in a career in bioinformatics.
Career avenues
In the last two decades, Biotechnology has emerged
as the most happening area in science at the global level.
New researches have created exciting business opportunities
in biotechnology enterprises. Premier business groups
in India has big stakes in biotech business, today.
Again the efficacy of application of Bioinformatics
in genomics and gene sequencing has encouraged biotech
and pharmaceutical companies to invest heavily in relevant
software industries, furthering professional opportunities
in the sector.
The latest market research says, IT spending in biosciences
is likely to be more than $100 billion in India; more
than 1 million scientists and engineers are going to
get employment in biotechnology sector with an estimated
business of $ 9 billion. Most of the revenue will come
from exports of complete database solutions to companies
across the globe. Companies such as TCS, Satyam, Wipro,
Infosys, Ranbaxy, BIOCON, Pfizer, Bayer etc. are some
major recruiters of professionals in this field.
It is a convergent field of multidisciplinary subjects
such as biological and non-biological sciences, engineering
and technology, medical sciences, pharmacy, veterinary
and information technology/computer sciences. Employment
avenues are open in the pharmaceutical companies, R and
D organisations, government departments and academics. |
