Mechatronics and robotics will rule the roost in 2019 Funding your education through diverse sources
Gone are the days when Indian students either opted for engineering or medical after the completion of their 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 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) courses continue to be their top preferences, some specialized courses such as Robotics, Automation and Mechatronics are also witnessing an increasing demand.As we draw closer to 2019, let’s look at some courses that will gain popularity in the forthcoming year.
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 specialize 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 4th 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 lately. As described on Stanford University’s online portal, it is at the intersection of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering and software engineering. Broadly speaking, 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 specialized field, only a few universities currently offer this course in undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
DISABILITY PROGRAMMES
According to a World Bank report, 1 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 250,500 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 specialized courses in disability care.
INFECTION CONTROL
Another course that is tipped to gain popularity in 2019 is infection control. This specialized 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 parttime programmes. In most countries, however, they need to get a license before they start their professional life.
Besides these courses, 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. And, with just a few days left for the New Year, it’s expected that this shift in their demeanour will become more prominent in near future. Everyone wants the best education in order to meet their lifegoals and secure their dream job. However, higher education is becoming increasingly expensive. This applies even more so if you wish to study abroad or are out of your hometown, as there are a number of additional costs, including the basics such as housing and food. A good amount of research can go a long way to help you out in such a situation, in a sector where the costs are continuously escalating. Here are five options to look into:
SCHOLARSHIPS
There are a number of scholarships offered by either the colleges you are applying to, government scholarships or scholarships from various educational institutions. One can refer to resources from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education.
There are several websites that have curated lists of scholarships, which you can browse through and compare as well. Scholarships can be partial or full, and are awarded on the basis of merit (essays, interests, activities, final marks), need (financial hardship, parents’ annual income), or a combination of both. Most scholarships cover only tuition and fees barring a few which also account for other payments such as living expenses, accommodation and travel.
EDUCATION LOAN
Education loans have come in as a big enabler for aspiring and deserving students. Government of India has categorised educations loans as priority sector loans in a bid to encourage more banks to provide credit to students for higher education. According to a report by credit bureau CRIF Highmark, banks disbursed education loans worth Rs. 82,600 crore in the last fiscal year, FY18, which was 9.25 percent more than the in FY17. The average amount disbursed per applicant climbed to Rs. 9.6 lakh in 2018 from Rs. 6.8 lakh in 2017. Education loans are a feasible choice for funding ones higher education as they come at lower interest rates, have longer loan tenures, enjoy tax exemptions and have a waiting (moratorium) period before EMI repayment begins. However, an education loan of a loan amount exceeding Rs 4 lakh, requires a guarantor and a loan above Rs 7.5 lakh requires a collateral as security. Further, the loan may be available only for admissions to recognised and reputed institutions. These factors limit the available choices for many aspiring students. The other option is to take a personal loan for funding educational expenses either by the parents or by earning candidates.
EMPLOYER SPONSORSHIP
Employer sponsored higher education several large multinational and Indian companies run special programs for high performing and talented employees by offering them paid sabbaticals for higher studies. The employees are allowed to go on sabbatical for higher studies and many times these are paid sabbaticals. A system like this helps companies in enhancing the skills sets of their employees and get higher productivity once these employees are back in the system. While some companies pay upfront for your education, others reimburse you for the expenses.
FUNDING FROM PRIVATE TRUSTS
Private trusts run by large corporate have a number of grants and scholarships available for the meritorious students and students in need of financial support. Several organisations have their own programs to assist applicants with their education expenses. These include the K.C. Mahindra Education Trust and Mariwala Trust which apply across disciplines, and the J.N. Tata Endowment which offers loans for higher studies abroad only. These come in handy if other loans and scholarships don’t work out, and there is a lot of information online about what they cover. One can apply based on their requirement.
WORK AND SAVE
An effective option for those with lack of finances is to work for a year or two and save up enough to fund their own education. For those who can’t or are not willing to wait to pursue their higher studies, working part-time is an option. There are a number of freelance opportunities today, which are a convenient way to make some money on the side if you approach these smartly.