Engg grads can get second degree in another branch in 2 years: AICTE

Engg grads can get second degree in another branch in 2 years: AICTE

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:15.08.2021

Engineering graduates of one stream brooding over lack of jobs and cursing themselves for not choosing some other specialization may be a thing of the past as the All India Council for Technical has now decided to allow engineering graduates to complete a second engineering degree in a different discipline in two or three years under lateral entry system.

The council has asked all technical universities and institutions to make necessary changes to its statutes to implement the decision. “AICTE is receiving requests from students regarding admission in B Tech as an additional degree through lateral entry, ” the AICTE said in its circular sent to vice-chancellor of technical universities and directors/principals of AICTE approved institutions. “It is informed that the proposal was placed before the AICTE executive committee (EC) on its 144th meeting held on July 13 and the EC opined that technical universities can facilitate such students to take admissions to BTech/BE by allowing them to get admissions at appropriate level of BTech programme in another discipline or branch of engineering,” the circular said.

“Executive committee approved the exemption from pursuing courses already done in the first discipline of B Tech programme and students can be appropriately guided to complete their requirements of the second discipline. As there is a practical component involved, students will be required to take admission in an institution or college as a regular student and the concerned university will ensure this and make necessary provision in their statutes accordingly.

The EC further approved the duration for completing additional degree to be two years to three years without compromising credit requirements in core discipline and attainment of learning outcomes of the new programme. In view of the above, you may take necessary changes in your statute and take appropriate decisions in this regard,” said Dileep N Malkhede, advisor-I, Policy and Academic Planning Bureau , AICTE.

Anna University vicechancellor R Velraj welcomed the move and said it would help the students who cannot get jobs after their degree. “They can study the branches in which they are interested in the second attempt. We will discuss it in our academic bodies and implement it,” he said.

LATERAL ENTRY SCHEME