In recent years, we have gravely witnessed surge in number of science and technology students, but decrease in relative terms. In fact, educational contents and curricula play an important role in raising and maintaining young peoples interest in SandT. It has been strongly observed that positive contacts with science and technology at an early age can have a long-lasting impact. Negative experiences at school, due to uninteresting contents or poor teaching determine future choices. Furthermore, curriculum structures can also play an important role in preventing pupils from pursuing their natural preferences. Accurate knowledge about SandT professions and career prospects are key elements of orientation, but are currently fraught with stereotypes and incomplete information thus creating disinterest among students. Challenged by evolving business models, newer technologies and innovations, organizations unarguably demand future employees to be equipped with a variety of skills to manage and grow their businesses. They demand additional requirements like analytical ability, communication and people skills, technical proficiency, creative thinking and leadership competency, social media skills for preferred recruitment. At this critical juncture, institutions must cater to the competencies needed by diverse industries, especially those of the services sector. However, the dilemma is still there. No doubt, there are some visionary institutions that have made this a priority and their success rate is impressive. The shortage of quality professionals is an unfortunate reality today and unless we take strong measures, it will soon become a crisis situation. Lets collaborate and act together before it becomes too late. In many autonomous universities curriculum has been constantly changing to cater to to the changing market trends. The non-autonomous institutes must also cut out the red-tapism and bureaucracy and introduce necessary changes to curriculum and teaching materials. Training in soft skills must be provided to faculty and students preferably with or without the co-operation of software companies. Corporate training institutes can fill the gap and provide soft skill courses. Universities can provide grants to individual faculty members to avail training in soft skills. To begin with, the curriculum must include a well-devised selection of courses that address state-of-the-art technologies. A close collaboration with external organizations, and in particular, the industry needs to be fostered and students given the opportunity to do practical projects with companies. Both universities and institutions on one hand and companies on the other hand have to work in tandem to ensure the grooming of students who will be software engineers of tomorrow. Industry would be the first to gain from helping shape future employees as they need to endure less training costs and would get well equipped software engineers. Academia would learn and be able to better teach their pupils thus discharging their duties in an improved manner.

By Web Team

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