Students optimistic despite sluggish industry

They don't make them like they used to. This slightly contemptuous olden days adage

can no longer be applied to the present day infotech student. The IT student

community today comprises of smart, intelligent, opinionated and undeterred

personalities.

Taunt them about their choice of course (most students were doing Java or related

courses) and the dangers lurking behind it, and in return you'll hear a chorus

exuding confidence. Java is not dead, says an unperturbed Uthara

Sriram, an SSI student. Dotcoms may be out but I see a future in web

services, says Ambika of TransEd Software Education.

Many students did admit to a slight decline in Java, and an increase in C#, but

refuse to admit that Java is passe. Networking still remains hot. As Ramesh

Kumar of Marshals' Supersoft Technologies says, Networking does not change

as rapidly as software. While ERP was the order of the day in 1997-98,

certified courses were hot in 1998-99, followed by the e-com craze. Commenting

on certified courses, Ramesh Kumar of Marshal's says, Certified courses do

have universal acceptance. But today's market demand is more towards basics and

fundamentals, not on specialization that wears thin too soon.

With Microsoft's aggressive positioning of its .NET, market dynamics seem to be

changing in the IT training segment. However .NET itself doesn't seem to have

many takers as of now. .NET is not very convincing. The grapevine has it

that Microsoft itself is targeting the 2004 market for its .NET. We'll have to

wait and see, said Praveen Kumar of ITG.

The mere mention of the US slowdown may have the entire IT industry squirming in

their seats, but for the students, the US meltdown signals a different ballgame

all together. Most of them are rational enough to acknowledge the slowdown and

are confident that the dull scenario will blow over in a few months from now.

The industry will bounce back in another three months, says Rajesh

of TransEd Software Education. The US slowdown will blow over soon,

says Anand Sheshan of e-Objects. In fact, things are beginning to look

up, says Anirudh of Marshal's Supersoft Technologies.

I see a lot of off-shore job opportunities, thanks to the slowdown, says

Ambika of TransEd. This optimistic view is shared by most of the students,

undeterred by the fact that every other neighbor talks of a son or daughter

returning from the US.

As for the destination of their dreams, as far as career is concerned, Europe seems

to have it all. However, India seems to be a serious contender for the

most-favored-destination slot. And that's good news for all those who screamed

hoarse about India's brain drain.

India is my mother country and I will work here, says an emphatic Divya Malarr,

of Marshals' Supersoft Technologies.

Taking a similar standpoint but playing it safe is Tapas Naresh, an SSI student.

This again depends on the scenario then. But as of now, I can say that I

would prefer to stay back in India and work here. Germany, Australia and

Japan seem to be the other hotspots in the career destination map. The US option

however is still open.

Gone are the days when Rs 60,000 or above was considered wickedly expensive for a

course. Today, students don't consider spending a similar amount for an IT

course as expensive. Of all the students interviewed, only one student said that

the fee was expensive. 'Moderate' was the buzz work when asked if they felt

their course was (too) expensive. I'm spending Rs 50,000 for my course,

which I think is moderate, says Fakruden Ali Ahmed, a student at ITG.

They seemed vociferous when asked about what they think about e-learning. While

Ramesh Kumar of Marshals' says that e-learning is yet to pick up, CN

Ravi, a student from the same institution said, When there are enough of

'real universities', why do we have to resort to 'virtual' universities.

Needless to say that the concept of e-learning is yet to pick up.

With regards to choosing between long-term and short-term courses, majority of the

students are in favor of shot-term courses (between 3-6 months). The reasons

they cite are varied. However, convenience seems to be their sole objective.