All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has approved 21,900 seats in more than 300 technical institutes affiliated with AICTE for working professionals. These institutes will provide undergraduate, master’s, and diploma courses.
This move is taken to ensure that the working class can continue to pursue education. Also, this initiative will be a great opportunity for students who can’t afford to go for higher education but are willing to learn while working. To initiate the move, the council has invited applications for the institutes to begin courses from the next academic year.
Courses provided to working professionals will be Bachelor of Technology (BTech), Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), Masters of Technology (MTech), and diploma programmes as per the council’s official statement in July.
The council released official data which states that 10,800 diploma seats in 169 institutes, 1,920 postgraduate seats in 54 institutes, and 9,180 undergraduate seats in 143 institutes have been granted across the nation.
“The council has approved 325 undergraduate courses, 345 diploma courses, and 128 postgraduate courses in areas varying from data science, computer science, mechanical, electronics, civil, Artificial Intelligence, VLSI (very large scale integration), manufacturing, and power electronics, among others,” a council official said.
Prof TG Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE said, “The initiative was taken since several individuals often encounter a point of stagnation in their career without an advanced degree, and subsequently struggle to pursue higher education while on the job due to industry demands. This AICTE initiative for in-service persons will help them in their professional upgradation.”
“These programmes will provide such professionals with a more accessible path to upskill and improve their knowledge in domain-specific areas, ultimately enhancing their career prospects and providing in-depth knowledge and specialised skills,” Sitharam added.
Only working professionals in recognised businesses or organizations are eligible for these programs, as per AICTE. Additionally, an assurance from the applicant’s employer must be submitted to the institutions.
