Placements, Internal ‘Brain Drain’ and Academic Life of Undergraduates at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

The nature of jobs that undergraduate students at IIT Bombay opt for is analysed in this study. We examine the factors that affect student choices, especially what makes them opt for core (related to branch of study) or non-core jobs. We factor in the effect of their branch of study (or department), the remuneration offered, extracurricular activities pursued and the dominant aspirational narratives. Except for Computer Science and Engineering, there is a preponderance of students taking up non-core jobs. This ‘realization’ amongst students often promotes a disconnect with academic studies, especially of core subjects. We conclude that placement data need to be recorded and analysed every year so that rational decisions about the number of seats on offer in a given branch, the nature and extent of curricular changes, establishing multidisciplinary ‘branches’ and improvements in the placement process can be made in a reasoned manner.