Visitors at the Admission Expo in Patna on Monday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, June 20: The two-day Admission Expo revealed a new craze among students for BTech courses.

Most representatives from the 120 institutes at the expo admitted there has been an unprecedented demand for BTech courses. Reason: High job prospects after course completion.

When The Telegraph asked Saket Bhargav, the admission in-charge at the stall of Millennium Group of Institutions, Bhopal, he said in clear words: “They (the students) only want BTech.”

“Of around 150 students who approached us, 125 students enquired about BTech courses only. This shows that the students here are obsessed with engineering,” Bhargav said.

He pointed out that his institution provides various degree courses, including pharmacy and management studies, apart from engineering courses.

“After passing out with a BTech degree, it is very easy to get a job. However, in management courses, even after spending four years, usually one has to struggle to find their way out. The students from here, I believe, want quick jobs and that is why they prefer BTech over other courses,” said Bhargav.

Rakesh Kumar, a 17-year-old student, was seen enquiring about the details for the BTech course at Bhargav’s stall. Rakesh, who took the Class XII examination under Bihar State Education Board, said: “I am looking for good institutions that provide BTech courses. I had not decided what I will do after my results, but now that I have secured good marks, I am on the look out for good institutes from where I can do my BTech course.”

Arvind Mishra, head of Deming Asia, Noida, said the demand for technical studies has given a boost to BTech courses. “Today there is a huge demand for technical courses in the market. What I have observed in such fairs is that rather than going for management courses directly, students opt for MBA courses after completing their BTech as it adds value to their careers.”

Firozul Akbar, the admission in-charge at Acharya Institute of Management and Sciences in Bangalore, said the students of Patna need serious counselling and they are just “obsessed with engineering courses”.

Tanushree Chaterjee, the organiser of the fair, said she was happy with the response the fair received and that this was the first time as many as 120 colleges took part in an expo in the state.