From robotics to mechatronics to automation, these are the programmes that are going to be popular this year, says ROHIT SETHI

Gone are the days when Indian students either opted for engineering or medical after the completing high school. Today’s generation is not shying away from taking the road less travelled. Unlike yesteryears, they now have a pool of options to choose from depending upon their personal interests and skill sets.

This trend has also caught on with individuals studying overseas. The 2018 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange reveals that Indian and other international students in the US are turning to off-beat courses.

While traditional Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) courses continue to be their top preferences, some specialised courses like Robotics, Automation and Mechatronics are witnessing an increasing demand and will gain popularity this year.

Robotics

Thanks to the rapid progress of AI (Artificial Intelligence), robots are no longer considered dumb-machines that are only capable of doing simple, repetitive tasks. With the arrival of humanoids like Sophia and SoftBank’s Pepper, robots have made huge leaps in recent years. Simultaneously, the career options for students who specialise in robotics has expanded.

From doing research work to designing industrial robots, they can get the opportunity to work in a variety of industries. Therefore, the number of students opting for courses related to robotics is likely to go up in 2019.

Automation

With the fourth industry revolution upon us, automation has already started making profound impacts on the business world. Be it manufacturing, automotive or retail, nearly every sector is now investing heavily on automating tasks that are tedious, repetitive and dangerous.

As traditional job roles are evolving, the demand for automation experts is growing by the day. This explains why a large number of international students are now inclining towards automation courses. Other than automation engineering, certification courses in industrial automation are also expected to take off next year.

Mechatronics

Mechatronics is a fairly new branch of engineering that has caught the attention of students off late As described on Stanford University’s online portal, it is at the intersection of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering and software engineering. Mechatronics engineering focuses on technologies involved in building intelligent electro-mechanical systems. After completion of their course, graduates can look for work opportunities in various areas including automation and robotics, AI and expert systems, sensing and control systems, computer integrated manufacturing systems, and transportation and vehicular systems. Since it’s a specialised field, only a few universities at present, offer this course in undergraduate and post-graduate levels.

Disability Programmes

According to a World Bank report, a billion people across the world live some form of disability. At a time, when people of disabilities make for the 15 per cent of the global population, the demand for disability support workers is on a rapid rise in many countries. In Australia, for example, the Healthcare and Social Assistance sector is speculated to grow by 16.1% by 2025, creating as many as 2,50,500 new jobs. Students with a degree in disability programmes can find a wide range of jobs. Be it a speech therapist or a full-time caregiver, the options are plenty. Students can also decide to work for Government bodies after graduation. Most medical schools in popular study destinations offer specialised courses in disability care.

Infection Control

Another course that is tipped to gain popularity in 2019 is infection control. This specialised field of study prepares students to work in an array of settings such as hospitals, healthcare facilities, Government departments, private labs among others. While only a handful of universities offer regular courses in infection control, students can go for certificate courses or part-time programmes. In most countries, however, they need to get a license before they start their professional life.

Students are also getting lured by other interdisciplinary programmes like Geophysics, Marine Engineering, Game Design and Development, says the 2018 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.

When it comes to Indians, the scenario is not much different. Although the majority of them still prefer to choose a safe career path, popularity for unconventional courses are slowly growing.

The writer is the director at ESS Global