Hyderabad, September 18: Osmania University is undergoing a paradigm shift of sorts with introduction of industry-oriented and placement-specific administrative reforms. In the face of continuing agitations at the university, there is a hope that placement figures this year are going to improve as the season starts afresh. The varsity is already gearing up with a web portal dedicated to placements for wider accessibility.
The prototype of the portal will be ready and launched in a month’s time from November onwards.
The long-term plan remains to link 5 lakh students of the university and affiliated colleges to prospective employers.
“With an increased impetus on customizing syllabus on industry feedback and creation of skill sets, OU is planning a change in its placement outlook. Right from the vice-chancellor to individual colleges, the focus will be on introduction of mock tests, group discussions and finishing concepts.
These are attempts to train the students according to requirements of the industry,” said director of university placement services, S Pardhasaradhi.
A core placement committee at each college will have a placement officer, student coordinators and faculty coordinators to structure the placement process.
While the business management course is the first to be customized, changes in other courses are in the pipeline.
Compulsory courses in English language, human rights, personality development, wellness and community work have been introduced in the first semester for all PG students, except for MBA students.
Industry training in the third year for engineering students on preparing resume and for interviews will be introduced. It will be introduced in other colleges later. A choice-based interdisciplinary subject has been also made compulsory from this year.
The University College of Engineering has had 100 percent placements in the last 5 years. Management students both at the graduate and post -graduate level have seen 90 percent placement while for other departments, the figures are between 70 to 80 percent.
Meanwhile, even as the number of companies recruiting students have crossed 150 this year; Wipro, TCS, Infosys, Cognizant, Vedanta Aluminium and Capital Fortune remain the top recruiters this year.
“We are introducing these reforms to help students match their profiles with industry requirements and inculcate values that will help them in their career,” added Pardhasaradhi.
–Agencies