Hyderabad: Worried about not getting a seat in computer science engineering? Experts say students should no longer view engineering branches in isolation, as artificial intelligence is increasingly blurring the lines between disciplines and pushing even core branches towards computing and automation.The shift, they say, is no longer limited to computer science, or even engineering alone.Students across branches may increasingly need to work with AI tools and systems as industries rapidly adopt automation and AI-assisted workflows.“We are moving towards a multi-disciplinary or inter-disciplinary approach where students need to have knowledge of various branches,” said V Balakista Reddy, chairman, Telangana Council of Higher Education. “So, it doesn’t matter which branch they choose or got admitted into, they need to become jack of all trades… AI is everywhere and there is no escaping from it.”Experts, however, stress that engineers may continue to require domain-specific knowledge, but AI skills could increasingly become common across branches.“Going forward, domain knowledge would be a bare minimum expectation. Students would be expected to know how to work with AI tools because AI is like the invention of the wheel. The disruption it is causing is irreversible and scary. Fact remains that all branches of engineering, along with other fields, are disrupted by AI,” said Manan Sharma, a senior HR leader.He pointed out that even students from traditional branches such as mechanical and automobile engineering may increasingly need to work with AI systems in areas such as automation and driverless vehicle technologies.Why fundamentals still matter in AI eraWhile the IT industry has been majorly disrupted by AI, the same is not yet fully reflected in engineering classrooms.“We still teach C programming in the classroom as it gives a strong foundation to students,” said Ramesh Loganathan, professor at the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIITH).He said students today learn languages such as Python on their own very quickly, but foundational concepts such as logical thinking, algorithms, and problem-solving remain critical.“Some of the major skills students need to have now are learning capabilities and problem-solving skills,” he said, adding that it is nevertheless important to accept that AI tools and models are now widely available and should be integrated into classrooms.“When I give an assignment, I ask students to use any model they want to complete the task. However, I make them write a test in the classroom. If someone does extremely well in online submission and poorly in classroom, it means he or she did not understand the output, but simply copied it,” Loganathan said.Look beyond placements, check college facultyExperts said one of the biggest challenges engineering colleges are facing currently is the lack of trained faculty and advanced laboratories where students can work on AI tools, models, and projects.“The first and foremost factor that students consider while joining a college is faculty and infrastructure. Unfortunately, many colleges do not have top faculty who can teach subjects by integrating them with AI. The same goes for labs as well,” said J Upendar, assistant professor at the electrical engineering department, Osmania University.They said students and parents should increasingly look beyond placements and check whether colleges have trained faculty, industry tie-ups, hands-on training programmes, and practical exposure to AI tools and live projects.They pointed out that with most engineering subjects taught within a semester, faculty members are expected not only to teach core concepts but also to help students understand how AI tools are being used in industries.“Subject knowledge is important because only then can students verify the AI output and make required changes,” Upendar said. “To have that, one needs faculty and labs.”He added that some top colleges have already tied up with multinational companies to ensure students receive practical exposure and training on industry-level projects and technologies.Recruiters seek engineers who can work with AIIrrespective of the engineering branch, companies are now looking for students who can work with AI tools rather than those with only coding skills.C Vinod Kumar from Forum for IT Employees, said: “Routine work such as testing, maintenance, and repetitive coding is increasingly being automated, forcing companies to look for graduates with stronger analytical and AI-related skills.”Experts said students who focus only on programming or their core branch may struggle as companies increasingly need people who can work across projects and domains.“Unless a student is a top-notch programmer, he or she may not be able to effectively use AI agents, give prompts quickly, and run iterations efficiently. The same applies to other engineering branches as well,” said L Praveen Kumar, head of department of computer science engineering at a private college in the city.Let go of fear generated around AITraining and placement officers said students should focus less on fears around AI replacing jobs and more on improving learning ability, communication, and problem-solving skills.They said companies are increasingly looking for graduates who can quickly learn new tools and technologies.“Students choosing engineering should focus not only on the branch they enter, but also on whether colleges can help them adapt to rapidly changing industry demands,” said Kanakapalli Kishore, director of training and placement at Vasavi College of Engineering.He added that while AI may change the nature of engineering jobs, students with strong fundamentals, adaptability, and the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn are likely to remain in demand.
