Core engineering placements surge 25% with AL, ML minor degrees

NEW DELHI: In the 2024-25 academic year, the first batch of students to earn “minor degrees” at Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT) in Bengaluru graduated. Core engineering students of this batch recorded a sharp increase in placements, a change teachers attribute to the minor degree policy.

Earlier, core engineering branches would see placement rates in the 55-60% range and salaries languished at Rs 4-5 lakh per annum, said Kiran Aithal, dean, research and development. Minor degrees served as a gamechanger. “For 2024-25, we have 78% of our mechanical engineering students already placed. Earlier, we struggled to reach this number. Further, overall core engineering placements have increased by 20-25% due to minor degrees. For many years, we struggled to place students from core engineering branches, which has improved now.”

The apex technical education regulator, All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), introduced minor degrees in its 2020-21 Approval Process Handbook – a policy document that lays down the ground rules for technical education. The policy allowed students enrolled in a particular branch of engineering – say, BTech in civil engineering – to pursue a “minor degree” in a different branch, such as computer science engineering.

Initially, AICTE allowed 39 minor-degree courses on new-age technologies. These included machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, sustainable energy engineering, robotics, VLSI, and others. In 2023, AICTE permitted all subjects to be taught as minor-degree courses in combination with regular engineering branches.

The impact has been significant. The prospect of earning minor degrees in much more popular branches of engineering was a key factor in core engineering seats filling up again. This, in turn, led to the lifting of the ban on new courses and colleges. Now, it’s helping with placements.

Rajive Kumar, member secretary, AICTE, agreed that the introduction of minor degrees has helped improve placement opportunities. "Placements have improved. This year's placement data will be available in May. We are sure that there will be an increasing trend. We started the programme four years back and now everyone is talking about it. Even institutions who were opposing at that time have now come on board. It will be an encouraging figure," Kumar told Careers360.

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BTech Courses: Increased placements

Amity University’s School of Engineering introduced a minor specialisation – a format akin to the minor degree – in 2019. One batch with a minor degree has already graduated, having witnessed a 20-30% increase in placements of core branches.

“Minor degrees have given a new dimension to core engineering students,” explained Aithal. “These specialisations are aligned with the industry needs which has given students an edge. As the industry is talking about interdisciplinary collaboration and global exposure, specializations like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data science, Internet of Things, robotics and automation are being taken up by core engineering students, helping them land a job, which was difficult previously.”

The number of students opting for minors and of institutions offering them is also increasing. Minor specialisations were introduced to Delhi University’s Faculty of Technology in 2024.

Its dean, Sanjeev Singh, 60% students from core branches are taking different minor specialisations. “With the change in industry requirements, companies are looking for candidates who have holistic knowledge, not a narrow one. Now, through these minor degrees, students are more industry-ready, more equipped and more skilled in multi-dimensional areas,” he explained. “Students are now working in different labs gaining more diverse knowledge which has developed a deep interest in students in different areas, which is a positive sign."

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BTech degree: Top specialisations, roles

Across institutes, the minor degrees most sought after are in data science, AI and ML, cybersecurity, and robotics and automation.

At NMIT, mechanical engineering students are pursuing minor degrees in robotics, automation and data sciences. In electrical and electronics, other than AI and ML, students are showing interest in cyber security. Even quantum computing is doing well. Civil engineering students are taking up courses in sustainable engineering and smart cities.

“Nowadays, core companies are looking for candidates who have domain knowledge along with AI and ML, for diverse roles. These students are getting jobs in data-driven decision-making, AI-driven automation roles, and AI research and AI deployment roles,” said Aithal.

Delhi University is seeing a similar trend, with computer science students taking up minor degrees in electronics and communication, like the 5G. “Each student wants to diversify to ensure employability. Even electrical engineering students are taking up sustainability energy and VLSI, which have turned out to be a good match,” said Singh.

Manoj Pandey, director, Amity School of Engineering, added: “Industry is expecting some extra skills along with their regular engineering courses that will be required for students to fit into the industry as per the current trends.”

Core Engineering: The future

Most academics believe that if a core-engineering student specialises in AI and ML, they will benefit the company or find it easier to become an entrepreneur. “This is an advantage and opportunity for students, and they must grab it with both hands,” said Aithal. “All streams like blockchain, financial technology and sustainable development systems have AI, ML and data sciences roles, where students are getting jobs. This is the future.”

Pandey added that companies are now emphasising broad requirements like BTech in electronics and communication with exposure in ML. This has meant job roles that weren’t available earlier and an opportunity for graduates with diverse training.

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“India is going to be the hub of manufacturing with many foreign manufacturing companies setting-up their branches in India. These companies are looking for people who have exposure in AI and its related branches,” he said. “Eventually, we are optimistic that core engineering branches like ECE, mechanical, electrical and civil, will do well in placements which have reduced over the last many years.”