The Hindu Business Line : Concern over civil engineers' migration to IT

The construction industry's loss is IT sector's gain. As per the latest statistics, the number of civil engineers going to IT is on the rise on account of better pay and work environment.

Although civil engineering is one of the basic and most important branches of engineering, high rank holders in entrance examinations are reluctant to join civil engineering on account of lack of attractive remuneration.

Hence civil engineers are not available to the construction industry, according to Mr Joseph Alexander, Head, Nodal Centre for Kerala, National Technical Manpower Information System, Cochin University of Science and Technology.

In a paper presented at the national convention of the Builders Association of India here recently, he said planners and policymakers in the construction engineering industry should be aware of these aspects and take remedial action.

Companies can also consider sponsorship at the entry level in engineering colleges with an agreement to serve the company a few years on completing the course, he said.

The curriculum of civil engineering should also be enriched with the latest and practical skill sets demanded by the industry in civil engineering technology and management.

Entrepreneurship development training is also essential, considering the self-employment possibilities in the context of globalisation, he added.

Major role

According to Mr Alexander, the Builders Association of India has a major role to play in instituting scholarships and sponsorships to motivate civil engineering education.

It can also start a few centres of excellence in the profession to act as a catalyst for continuous qualitative and quantitative improvements in the industry.

Competence in civil engineering is the foundation for any development. A qualitative and quantitative degradation in civil engineering can lead to disaster since the challenges are high in the country having the potential to emerge as one of the world's leading economies by 2020, he said.

Due to inflow of heavy investment in all the sectors, demand for civil engineers is expected to increase, with a shortage of professionals with the right skill sets to meet market demand, he said.

Mr Alexander said that primary importance of civil engineering has to be emphasised over other branches, and candidates should be motivated to take up civil engineering by giving incentives such as scholarships. These scholarships should be viewed as investment in construction industry and national development.

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