Lateral entry BTech – a good option?

Diploma engineering courses can provide early entry into the job market right after high school. However, the decision to pursue a diploma course may simply be prompted by missing the academic grade required for entry into degree courses or sometimes financial constraints.

After gaining work experience, several engineering diploma holders tend to pursue lateral BTech in a bid to ensure faster promotions and avoid stagnancy in career growth. What are the pros and cons of this approach versus pursuing a regular BTech after class XII? Let's see what our shiksha experts and advisors have to say in a discussion on the topic.

Following the Regular BE/BTech course

Advising to opt for regular BE/BTech over diploma courses, PR Choudhary observes, “There is a big difference in the attitude of those having regular BTech and lateral BTech. It generally seems that students unable to take admission in BTech through entrance exams opt for diploma courses.” He adds, “ I really don’t know about the private sector but in the government sector there is a great difference between job responsibilities of BTech and diploma holders. 10-12 years job experience is just treated equal to a BTech fresher. It’s my personal observation and views and my intention is not to hurt anyone.”

Surya Prakash Singh points out that “for most students opting for diploma, the reasons lies in either financial problems or perhaps the student is not so good in studies which compel him and his parents to go ahead with Diploma option after 10^th.”

Arun Mishra is in favour of regular studies, be it BE/BTech or regular diploma. However, according to him, “If a candidate has already completed diploma and is pursuing a job, then it’s absolutely fine if he decides to pursue BE or BTech parallely through part-time or distance learning. Similar argument holds true for ME, MTech or MS after regular Diploma.” He suggests to begin with “gaining some basic level of technical education like a Diploma in engineering through regular mode and thereafter go for a job coupled with BE or pursue only BE through regular or part-time or distance mode.”

Nowadays, organisations prefer candidates with regular education rather than distance/part time. “Basically, for getting the job in MNCs anyone should be having minimum 16 years of education which is not the case with diploma. Also, part time degree will add advantage if you have one good basic degree,” points Navneet Nigam.

“Lateral entry is subject to prior education in Diploma with respective specialisation or BSc with Maths as a subject in First Year or Second Year or Third Year. Lateral entry assumes that candidate has already done his basic technical learning at his prior education and so First Year can be exempted and candidate can be admitted to Second Year directly. I find this to be perfectly OK and genuine and logical. Rest of the syllabus is same for regular as well as lateral entry candidates,” informs Arun Mishra.

Is Regular BTech = Lateral Entry BTech?

“In my opinion both are the same,” says Pawan Gupta, “After getting a degree, when students from both the streams look for a job, both will have equal opportunities in the corporate world. However, students holding a diploma might face some kind of difficulties in pursuing BTech as they would not have read the entire subject in detail in diploma. This is especially the case with students who have had problems with mathematics.”

Kewal Singh, a shiksha user is not in favour of lateral entry. “Good economies like that of Germany, allocate 65% of the entire budget for education towards vocational training to produce real engineers. Indian engineering education system produces technical babus who have little employability. This is mainly on account of the fact that private engineering institutes ignore practical learning because it costs. The laboratories are not adequately equipped and there is a shortage of competent faculty/lab technicians to carry out practicals. Lastly, the so-called inspections of such colleges by regulatory authorities don’t really amount to an honest effort,” says Singh. He also points to another issue that “in some states the curriculum for diploma does not favour continuity in curriculum for engineering degree”.

K Bhagyashree feels both options have their own advantages and gaining work experience and then going for further studies puts one at an advantage, creating a better impact on one's resume.

Why Lateral Entry BTech?

Janani Balasubramanian, a shiksha user feels that “Lateral Entry leads to acquiring more practical knowledge apart from theory. However, one needs to gain further qualification to acquire a higher position at work”. He says, for instance, civil engineering provides good plan for the building but the person doing the work has more practical know-how.

Supporting the point, Abhishek Kumar Sinha says, “BTech after class 12th is a good and a wise option but direct 2nd year admission is very good. Because of experience and knowledge, you will be more experienced than a regular 2nd year student. While, it doesn't ensure a good package but your chances will definitely increase.”