‘Engg Grads have
Poor Awareness of Research’
New Delhi: Engineering students in India have poor
awareness about research in their field and they don’t get enough guidance to
build careers in research, according to a study which has revealed that less
than three in 10 top engineering graduates in India are aware of any
international research journal or conference in their field of study. The
number slips to a meagre 22% for students beyond the top 50, it has found.
The findings of the study are based on a qualitative survey
conducted among top engineering undergraduates to understand their awareness of
research in their field of study. The students were identified on the basis of
their scores in AMCAT, India’s largest employability assessment test conducted
by Aspiring Minds. The survey considered only the top 15% or 3,000-4,000 AMCAT
assessed students.
The study was conducted as part of the book ‘Leading Science and Technology:
India Next?’ written
by Varun Aggarwal, co-founder of Aspiring Minds.
As per the study, as many as 81% engineers have no clue about any
prominent researcher in their field of study. “There is considerable focus on
engineering, medicine or management as top career options. However, a research
career is lacklustre in India,” Aggarwal said. “The first and foremost reason
for this is lack of awareness of the importance of research, how it happens and
why it is exciting.”
The main reason for lack of awareness about research, according to
the study, is the lack of critical mass of researchers in India to voice their
opinion on science and technology. “While the government is emphasising the
need to build focus on research and development for gaining competitive edge on
the global forefront, there are very few scientists and researchers who emerge
as public role models,” Aggarwal said.
“The lack of public recognition and public regard for researchers
acts as a major barrier in generating awareness among students on the rewards
of pursuing a career in the field,” he said.
The survey reveals that among the top five changes students wish
to see in a research career in India, three concern professional rewards.
Students report lack of guidance for research careers among the top reasons for
lack of interest or awareness in the field. As many as 75% students said no
researchoriented discussions are conducted by faculty in classrooms. Even at
premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), only 50% students reported research-based
discussions taking place in their classes.
The survey found that most students were aware of the IITs when
asked about the top research institutions in India. This is not surprising
given that IITs are top-ranked undergraduate universities with many academic
disciplines. However, only about 50% of students in lower ranked engineering
colleges identified IISc as a top research institution in addition to IITs.
Source | Economic Times | 30th January 2018
Regards
Prof. Pralhad Jadhav
Master of Library &
Information Science (NET Qualified)
Senior Manager @ Knowledge Repository
Khaitan & Co
Twitter Handle | @Pralhad161978
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