AICTE makes internships compulsory for students

AICTE also plans to start a placement portal to strengthen industry linkages between companies and
students
MUMBAI: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has decided to make internships
compulsory for engineering students in order to increase employability levels and reduce skill gaps.
The council, in a notification, has said students in the fifth, sixth and seventh semester of approved
engineering colleges will have to intern from three to 24 months in a core or service industry. AICTE
chairman SS Mantha said the initiative was part of the National Employability Enhancement Mission
(NEEM). The council is also planning to register external agencies who can liaise with the industry to get
internships for students. The registration process for which has already begun. While this initiative does
not guarantee jobs, it will make students more employable and industry ready, said Mantha.
Academicians have welcomed this move stating that even though the country has quality institutions,
students lag behind in employability. In a survey conducted by the National Employability Report, on
engineering graduates last year, less than one out of four engineering graduates are employable. It also
found that while 18.33% of the engineers are employable, 18.09% actually get a job. The AICTE has also
signed a memorandum of understanding with BSNL to train students in communication and related
fields to kick-start the internship drive. An internship adds much value on a students resume, not to
mention the abundant experience they gain during its course, said Vivek Yakundi, principal of
Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering. Further to this, the AICTE also plans to start a placement portal
to strengthen industry linkages between companies and students. Students will be able to upload their
bio data in a set format, and will be seen by recruiters on one platform. e are born with our set of likes
and dislikes that shape our personality from childhood. It will not be exaggerating to say that one of the
greatest causes of conflict in our life is the feeling of dislike for others. There is a saying, a person
disliked is a person remembered. Many of us ponder over the faults and mistakes of others. Why do we
allow ourselves to waste time over such a fruitless experience? We should change our perspective of
people from negative to positive.
When we are dissatisfied from within, we are inclined to be dissatisfied with everyone and everything.
We do not know the real cause of dissatisfaction. Its a proven fact by modern day psychologists, people
are generally unhappy with who they are, which means they do not like themselves. So, if we are not
positive from within, then on what basis can we be positive about others? Therefore, the only way out
of this problem is to ensure that we have a positive vision within us.

Source | Hindustan Times | 4 August 2014