Anna University to revamp engineering syllabus

After implementation of the new syllabus, only 40 per cent of the course will be mandatory and students will be able to select up to 60 per cent of variation in their courses, says Vice-Chancellor. 

Anna University is planning a major overhaul of its syllabus from next year to equip students as per industry needs. The aim is not only to make engineering students more employable, but also to give them the right guidance and support in research and higher education.  

New syllabus to provide more flexibility to students: Velraj 

As per a report published in The New Indian Express, Anna University Vice-Chancellor R Velraj said, “The new syllabus will be more diversified, will provide more flexibility to the students and give them more choices.”  

He said the requirements for students who want to pursue research and higher studies are different from those who want to excel in administrative services or engineering industry works. “Our idea is to accommodate the needs of all three types of students in the new syllabus,” said Velraj.  

Currently, almost 90 per cent of the course is mandatory and the variation in course that a student can choose is hardly 10 per cent. “After implementation of the new syllabus, only 40 per cent of the course will be mandatory. Students can select up to 60 per cent of variation in their courses,” added Velraj. 

For example, a student who wants to go for research can select subjects taught in master’s degree as their honours subject in the bachelor’s level itself for better understanding. Similarly, those who want to write the civil services exam can take up courses such as public policy and economics as their minor programme, said the vice-chancellor. 

Syllabus of first-year students revised 

As the first step towards the goal, the syllabus of the first-year students in affiliated colleges have been revised and will be implemented from the new academic session this year. University officials said the process is on for revamping the syllabus of second year, third year and fourth year courses for affiliated colleges, Anna University campus colleges, and constituent colleges, and that it would be completed within six to eight months.  

Read more: 

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