New IITs are Facing Trouble to Get Attention from Recruiters

This placement season, many of the new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), are facing a stiff competition in getting enough attention from recruiters. They are playing hard to have their students get picked for a well-settled career.

Most institutes are letting the recruiters take their as much time as they need to select the desired students, despite having little space, insufficient resources and low scope of negotiations to make.

Though this ongoing third edition witnessed better placement scenario than previous ones, yet young IITs are struggling to attract firms to offer job prospects to them.

A placement officer from a newer IIT told that those companies who earlier have already come for placement but did not select any student have not looked back this season. All the while, the students who rejected companies offers in the earlier batch, refused to register again. Besides, the gloomy economy can also add up to the bleak job offer factors.

Faculty of IIT Patna told about the companies taking tests of students and most of them not turning up for the second interview round.

Placement in IIT-Jodhpur commenced on December 1 in sync with others, observing 5 companies - Morgan Stanley, Cognizant, Cisco, Samsung and Oracle offering jobs at their Indian offices. However, these many recruiters are still insufficient and students from mechanical engineering department still need to be picked. To accommodate recruiters the IIT-Jodhpur had to rent 3 blocks of the Jodhpur University.

Up till now Cognizant has selected 7 students from IIT-Jodhpur which makes it the largest recruiter and Morgan Stanley offered the highest salary of Rs 13 lakh per annum.

IIT-Gandhinagar with 44 M.Tech students in addition to 120 final year graduates is expecting 21 registered companies to arrive on its campus for placements, most of which were IT firms. Of the 21, 19 companies have visited and made 39 offers. The maximum students were picked by E-clerx i.e. 12 students.

No slowdown at placements, IIT-K students bag $210,000 pay package

No slowdown at placements, IIT-K students bag $210,000 pay package

Engineering graduates from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have been getting extremely lucrative job offers from MNCs as well as Indian companies despite the poor state of the economy. The number of companies visiting IIT campuses has gone up this year and several graduates have landed jobs with pay packages of several lakh rupees.

The highest pay package is as high as $210,000 per annum, which has been offered to three students of IIT-Kanpur by Oracle US, confirmed sources in the placement team.

Earlier, there were reports that two of them had declined the offer given by the Oracle US and instead took the Job at Google, but sources confirm that none of the students declined any such offer.

  

The highest domestic package at IIT-Kanpur is Rs 40 lakh per annum, which has been offered to three Computer Science graduates, according to sources. However, they declined to divulge any information about the company's name.

Meanwhile, amidst the good news a few students have been left disappointed as they were eyeing Facebook. However, the social networking firm is not visiting the campuses this year, placement co-ordinators said. Facebook had offered lucrative packages to students in the last few years.

Though, a student of IIT-Bombay managed to get a pre-placements offer (PPO) from Facebook.

Flipkart has picked 36 students while EXL Services has offered jobs to 34 students. At least 250 IIT-K students had accepted the job offers till now.

Google USA, Orcale USA, Linkedin USA, InMobi, EXL Services, Flipkart, Mitsubishi Japan and Sony Japan are some of the companies amongst others which are participating in the placement drive at IIT-Kanpur.

Over 80 companies have visited IIT-Kanpur till day 5th of the placements and a total of 250 domestic and international companies will participate while in IIT-Bombay 230 companies will visit the college.

The number of startups participating in the placement drive has also increased. "Many startups have requested to participate in the placement drive and students are also willing to join them. The packages they are offering are competitive and even some start-ups are paying higher than many big companies," said IIT-Bombay Assistant Placement officer SK Mehta.

To meet the demand of companies and with the large number of participants, IIT-Bombay college is conducting the interview at a separate 10 storey building for the first time. "We are using 10 storey building for conducting placement drive. More than 170 rooms are being used for the interviews," said Mehta. The placement interview generally goes on till 2 am in the initial days.

In four days, 123 domestic and international companies have participated and made 495 job offers. Samsung has picked 42 students, Goldman Sachs 16 students, Microsoft offered jobs to 9 students, ITC to 7 students, Microsoft Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Conductor to 18 students, US-based Epic to 18 students.

First phase of placements at IITs have started on December 1 and will continue till December last second week. The number of companies visiting the campuses is between 200 and 250 in the top IITs.

Pleasant surprise for IITs ahead of placement season

For the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), this placement season may be much beyond their expectations. IITs say, given the economic scenario, they expected placements to be a muted affair, but the response from companies has been quite good. 

There is more. Placement cells have recorded an increase of 10-20% in average salary levels. The highest salary offered has seen an increase of around 20-90 per cent as compared to last year. Final placements on IIT campuses begin on December 1.

"Given the slowdown, we wondered if the placements would be as decent as last year but a good number of companies have confirmed participation allaying our fears," said a placement official from IIT Bombay.

A US-based software major has offered the highest salary (so far) of Rs 1.30 crore per annum, to an IIT Bombay student. However, an institute official said this cannot be confirmed till placements begin as the final offer has not been made yet. Last year Samsung (Korea) offered the highest salary at Rs 80 lakh per annum. 

IIT Bombay will see 1,600 students sitting for placements this year and expects around 250-270 companies to participate."Some US companies have doubled the salaries this year against what was offered last year," the placement official added. 

IIT Bombay said this year there is a lot of interest from software companies. Microsoft, Oracle, LinkedIn, Facebook, Goldman Sachs, Shell and  Samsung are  a few companies which have confirmed participation so far. 

Even IIT Kanpur and Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) are expecting salaries to be better than last year.  The institutes said IT giants like Google, Microsoft and Yahoo will be visiting the campus during placements next month. 

"There is misleading speculation that none of the US companies are coming to IITs for placements. This is not true. Some of these giants have taken care of their requirements through pre-placement offers (PPOs) which is why they are not coming. However, major IT, consulting, finance and core engineering companies like ITC, Microsoft, Google and Yahoo have confirmed their participation in the placements at IIT-KGP this year," said Sudhir Barai, head - training and placement at IIT-KGP.

For IIT KGP, feedback from recruiters has been "very good". "The number of companies participating at KGP has increased from 180 last year to 220 this year.  The feedback from recruiters have been very good and salaries will be higher than last year," said Barai. The batch size at IIT KGP this year is over 2000 students.

Seconding Barai is Vimal Kumar, chairman - training and placement at IIT Kanpur who said that global firms like Google, Microsoft and Amazon will be visiting its campus.  

"Some companies have dropped out after confirming but it is not alarming. This happens every year. However, salaries will be higher or at least like last year," said Kumar. IIT Kanpur will roughly see 200 firms participating in the placements process for a batch size of over 1000 students.  Other firms likely to participate at IIT Kanpur placements include Oracle, Mitsubishi, Diamond Consulting, Crédit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs, among others.

IIT Madras could not be reached for comments. 

No-show by US companies at campus placements, techies worried

American presence at India's campus placements this year will be conspicuous by its absence. Apart from Facebook that isn't visiting any of the IITs, most US companies that do not have operations in India have not registered for placements at the country's tech schools. There's no trace yet of Twitter, which paid big bucks in the last recruitment season. Slot Zero, the promising opening day of campus placements on December 1, has probably never looked less American. 

While most students and faculty members were tight-lipped about the no-show of American companies, several job aspirants said the US visa issue last year was a great concern and many American companies that hire in large numbers—and with big pay packets—had decided to stay away from Indian engineering college campuses now. Last year, the annual quota of 65,000 H1-B work visas were snapped up by job-immigrants even before graduating techies had their first degree in hand, forcing many to take an unpaid vacation to work at the US companies' India offices or fly to another country for a year. 

Smart IITians who fear a similar repeat occurrence this time around are filling up forms and making alternative profile plans, both local and international. 

"There are more Japanese firms coming to IIT-Bombay than companies with operations solely in the USA," said Avijit Chaterjee, chairman of IIT-Bombay's placement cell. Japanese firms like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Uhuru Software and Sony Japan have made their way to the top slots. 
Apart from that, the bad economy has seen little attrition; most companies said they have fewer vacancies to fill. 

IIT-Madras placement advisor Babu Viswanathan said getting a US visa was a big problem last year but it is too early to say if there will be a "noticeable drop" in students who will be offered a profile in the US this year too. "Also," he cautioned, "companies can have a change of mind and may decide to come anytime during the placement process." 

Sources at IIT-Delhi said, "Two large IT companies with operations in the US are not coming; that is our biggest loss. But there are about five new international companies coming for the first time, including some Japanese ones." 


Comparing notes over dim sum, graduating students at IIT-Kanpur underwent a semester-long language course. Students picked up the Japanese language and a few finer details of Japanese culture so that they are better prepared for interviews. By January, this college will release a placement brochure in Japanese, apart from one in English. 


The placement team in Kanpur has forecast that technology, politics and economic factors will alter the geographical distribution of companies coming on their campus and a multi-lingual placement brochure— with students' profiles in German, French, Japanese and English—will be released from next year. 
Among the American companies that have promised to come this year are gaming company Pocket Gems, Epic Systems, Rocket Fuel and Tower Research. Then there are US firms like Microsoft, Google, Oracle, Schlumberger that have registered; however, they will pick fewer candidates, many for their India offices. "These companies have a good relation with the campuses and they may come and pick a student or two," said a student on the placement committee. 


There was a time when computer science students were high currency; they were plucked by companies that offered them dollar dreams and flew them out no sooner they graduated. This year, with not many greenbacks arriving, candidates from other branches are feeling the heat too. "If CS students are all not going to get absorbed by IT firms, consulting and finance companies are going to fall over each other to bag them. That is going to affect candidates from other branches that are not so popular," said a student. 
Clearly, many things are working to alter the placement landscape. Recruitment season on Indian campuses, said an optimist placement member, is going to get a more global flavour. 

MHRD does not have fund to establish IIT, IIM in Seemandhra during 12th Plan

Establishment of national level higher education institutions such as Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) or Central University in Seemandhra will be a tough task.

Reportedly, the budgetary allocations being made to the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) every year as part of the ongoing XII Five-Year-Plan (2012-17) will not be sufficient for the purpose.

The current allocations are not adequate to meet the budgetary needs of existing institutions, which are exploring various options such as increase in fees, and cut in scholarships, said a MHRD official.

Officials estimate that nearly Rs 8,500 crore would be required to set up these institutes in Seemandhra, and the XII Plan allocations will have to be increased manifold. More than funds, it’s the amount of time that would take to set up these institutions.

As per official estimates, it requires Rs 1,850 crore to set up an IIT, Rs 1,500 crore for NIT, Rs 900 crore for IIM, Rs 1,080 crore for IISER, Rs 3,000 crore for three Central universities and Rs 75 crore for an IIIT in Seemandhra. All this adds up to Rs 8,405 crore.

As against this, the Centre allotted Rs 16,120 crore for higher education in the 2013-14 budget. Out of the Rs 16,120 crore earmarked for higher education this year, Rs 2,220 crore will go to the existing IITs, Rs 331 crore for IIMs and Rs 5,147 crore to the University Grants Commission (UGC), 

IIT-Delhi to set up research academy in Mauritius; expansion in Sonepat and Jhajjar

Expansion and improving its global image are twin goals Indian Institute of Technology Delhi is currently focused on. Thirty-eighth amongst 300 institutions in Asia with its electrical and mechanical engineering departments topping the QS World University Rankings, the institution has constituted a four-member committee to work towards improving its global position.

IIT is also setting up a research academy in Mauritius by the end of the current academic year. With land having been allocated for its two extension campuses in Sonepat and Jhajjar, it's also planning a number of centres and executive programmes there.

Speaking about expansion plans and setting its first footprint abroad, IIT Delhi director R K Shevgaonkar said it has formalized setting up an IIT Delhi Research Academy in collaboration with the Mauritius government.

Back home, IIT is planning a number of centres including one on cyber security. "We are coming up with a cyber systems and information assurance centre in collaboration with University of Nebraska. We are also coming up with a policy research centre, partially funded by the department of science and technology," he said.

The IIT is having its 44th convocation on Saturday in which President Pranab Mukherjee will be the chief guest. He will inaugurate an innovation exhibition before conferring the alumni awards. This year, the institute will confer degrees to 1,793 students.

IIT, Delhi, forms committee to coordinate with world ranking

As part its efforts to position itself among the top in the global ranking list, IIT, Delhi, has set up a four-member body to coordinate with ranking agencies and provide appropriate information and data sought for. 

The move comes in the backdrop of the HRD Ministry setting up of an 18-member committee to review existing arrangements, develop a strategy and a framework for research evaluation to drive up research activities, the lack of which is hampering Indian institutions from featuring in the global ranking list. 

A group of IIT Delhi professors would be engaged in a more focussed activity, understand the relevant information sought by the ranking bodies and provide inputs in proper format, IIT, Delhi, Director R K Shevgaonkar told reporters here. 

Coordination among the peers, the faculties and alumni is the other objective of the group as providing correct information is important for the rankings, he said. 

According to Times Higher Education's (THE) World University Rankings list 2013-14, IIT, Delhi, along with IIT, Kanpur, IIT, Kharagpur and IIT, Roorkee, are clubbed in the group of institutions between 351-400. 

The QS world university ranking puts IIT, Delhi, at 222. 

Concerns over absence of any of India's institutes among the top has been flagged several times by President Pranab Mukherjee who would be attending IIT Delhi's 44th convocation function tomorrow. 

The institute, considered among the best in the country, would be having a Centre of Policy Studies to evolve policies for science and technology. It would be set up under the Department of Humanities. 

It would also set up a Centre for Cyber Security in collaboration with the University of Nebraska, an MoU for which is expected to be signed early next year. 

"The Centre wanted that we should have research on cyber security given that it is a big challenge in the coming days for national security of the country," the IIT Director said. 

Ministries of Home and HRD are supporting the IIT in this endeavour.

IIT JEE (Advanced)- 2014: Eligibility, important dates and schedule

JEE (Advanced)- 2014 will be conducted by the seven zonal IITs for the eligible candidates on May 25, 2014.

Only the top 150000 candidates (including all categories) based on their scores in Paper-1 of JEE (Main)- 2014 will be eligible to appear in JEE (Advanced)-2014.

What is JEE-Advanced?

JEE-Advanced is the second round of entrance exam for candidates looking to get admissions into engineering courses in all IITs and ISM Dhanbad.

Candidates who are ranked in the top 150000 in the JEE (Mains)-2014 will be able to take up this second round of exam.

JEE (Main)-2014 will be conducted by CBSE on behalf of the JEE Apex Board during the month of April, 2014 (both online and offline modes).

JEE (Advanced)-2014 will be jointly conducted by IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras and IIT Roorkee.

JEE (Mains)-2014: What candidates need to know 

Eligibility:

- Candidates who wish to write JEE (Advanced) - 2014 must write the Paper-1 of JEE (Main)-2014 in the month of April 2014 and should come in the top 150000 of the merit list out of which 75750 is the number reserved for common merit list and th rest are for reserved classes.

- Other criteria as same as that for the JEE (Mains).

- Admission to IITs and ISM Dhanbad will be based only on category wise All India Rank (AIR) in JEE (Advanced)-2014 and also these candidates should be among the top 20 percent of successful candidates in their Boards exams in respective categories.

Exam Schedule:

The JEE (Advanced)-2014 will be held on Sunday, May 25, 2014 as per the schedule below:

Paper 1	9 am - 12 pm
Paper 2	2 pm - 5 pm

Exam Type:

The questions will be of objective (multiple choice) type, designed to test comprehension, reasoning and analytical ability of candidates. In some sections, incorrect answers may be awarded with negative marks.

Important Dates:

Event	Date
Opening Date for JEE (Mains) online registrations	November 15, 2013
Last Date for JEE (Mains) online registrations	December 26, 2013
JEE (Main)-2014 exam	April 6, 2014
JEE (Main)-2014 results	May 3, 2014
Opening date for eligible candidates to register for JEE (Advanced)	May 4, 2014
Last Date for JEE (Advanced) online registrations	May 9, 2014
JEE (Advanced)-2014 results	June 19, 2014

For more details visit the official website at http://jeeadv.iitkgp.ac.in/

HRD Ministry okays IIT, IIM, 3 central univs for Seemandhra

The HRD Ministry has given its nod for an IIT, an IIM and three central universities among other institutes for the Seemandhra region which has witnessed widespread resentment over the Centre's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.

The Ministry has conveyed its decision to the Home Ministry which had forwarded representations made by different stakeholders to it earlier in response to the GoM on Telangana inviting suggestions on bifurcation of the state.

The decision would be placed before the GoM for consideration, sources in the Ministry said.

The ministry has also cleared an IISER and an IIIT for the region.

The move is aimed at striking a balance between the two regions -- Telangana and Seemandhra -- as far as establishment of premier institutes are concerned, though the end objective is to ensure that students derive maximum benefit, they said.

Rough estimate suggests an investment in the range of Rs 6000 to Rs 7000 crore for establishment of the institutes in the Seemandhra region.

The ministry's decision assumes significance as the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh will leave the Seemandhra region without any of the elite higher educational institutes which are mostly concentrated in Hyderabad in the Telangana region.

HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju represents the Kakinanda constituency in Seemandhra.

In their representation, various stakeholders had suggested that all central institutions in Seemandhra should be backed by a bill and all national parties should sign it.

"Most of the highly developed educational institutions are going to the state of Telangana. The Centre should immediately grant the above said institutions and they should come into operation within a year," the representations said.

Centre May Allocate IIT and IIM To Seemandhra

With an aim of placating people of Seemandhra, Centre may allocate elite educational institutions like IIT, IIM and NIT to the region which has witnessed widespread resentment over its decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.

Highly-placed sources in the HRD Ministry said a decision in this regard could be soon conveyed to the Home Ministry which had forwarded representations made by different stakeholders to it in response to the GoM on Telangana inviting suggestion on bifurcation of the state

The suggestions included establishment of an IIT in Visakhapatnam, an IIM at Vijayawada and conversion of the Andhra Pradesh University in Visakhapatnam into a central university.

The bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh will leave the Seemandhra region without any of these institutes as all of them are concentrated in Hyderabad in the Telangana region.

The representation also states that all central institutions should be backed by a bill and all national parties should sign it.