How to choose an institute for IT?

More jobs, better pay packets and better standard of living. The Information Technology (IT) revolution has impacted the youngsters in many ways.

Making a career in IT requires lots of academics and quick thinking. Your choice of college can define the way you study, understand and implement. We spoke to our experts Goutam Chatterjee and Sham Kumar who shared with us the factors to keep in mind while selecting a college for studying information technology.

Faculty:

Goutam Chatterjee: You must find out the number professors and out of the whole faculty how many are PhDs. Ideally, there should be one PhD professor per department. As a thumb rule, at least 25% faculties should be post graduates for UG courses. The AICTE mandate is to have Professor, Asst Professor and Lecturer in 1:2:4 ratios.

Sham Kumar: They should have experience of at least 10-15 years and its better if they are from a specific specalisation.

Labs and Infrastructure:

Since research is an integral part of any study these days, both the experts emphasised on the importance of having a networked computers and availability of internet in the institutes. Goutam Chatterjee added that, "the Library should have at least 250 titles per course. Availability of photocopy machine, Fax and telephone is mandatory as per AICTE/UGC norms. The classrooms must be having space at the rate of 1.1 sq. meter/ student. The labs must be at least 180 sq. meter and library must have separate reading and stack areas; in total 400 sq. meter. Institute must provide Boys room, girl's common room and student activity area."

Reputation from Industry perspective and placement:

Sham Kumar: The bigger the university better will be the faculty and they will be able to attract better companies on campus.

Goutam Chatterjee: Reputation of any institute is decided by the category declared by AICTE/UGC, NBA accreditation and ISO certifications. All institutes must apply themselves for NBA (National Board of Accreditation) after their two batches have passed out. In case, they have not done so, clearly they lack in many areas and their promises are not valid. Each institute must have placement cell headed by a qualified TPO.

General environment and fee:

Goutam Chatterjee: You should check for secured gate, spacious reception area, query handling section, covered fees collection area, parking for two/four wheelers and garden indicate a good general environment. The institution should also have an anti-ragging policy.
Fees can not be more than the decided by fees committee of respective university and displayed on website. No institute can charge mandatory transportation, uniform or any other amount like development or building construction charges.

Questions to ask while talking to the Institute:

• Whether approved by AICTE/UGC/DEC in case not a deemed or open university.
• What will be the total fees for each semester?
• How often placement drive happens in institute?
• About placements in previous batches
• Does your institute takes part into inter college competitions?

About the experts:

Dr Goutam Chatterjee has done BE, MTech, MSc, PhD, FIE, FIETE and is the director of Trinity Institute of Technology & Research, Bhopal.

Sham Kumar has done MCA and is the CEO-founder of Truddle services.