Classes in progress at an animation technology teaching centre in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, April 12: With the job market witnessing major changes, student preferences for higher education are no longer limited to run-of-the-mill courses.

More youngsters are opting to tread the unconventional route with a wide range of offbeat courses at their disposal. Parental and peer pressure often discourages several youngsters from pursuing their dreams and making independent career decisions. The conventional choices such as engineering, medicine or law are still the most preferred domains.

However, the city is now witnessing a heartening trend as students are going beyond traditional college education to explore new avenues.

The courses which are now gaining popularity among the youth are fashion, jewellry and interior designing, animation, acting, film-making, photography, product design, advertising, tourism and hospitality, event management, aviation and others.

These courses are being offered by various colleges in the country.

Most colleges have set the minimum eligibility for these unconventional courses at Class XII or junior college.

A second year Plus Two student at BJB Junior College, Deepika Mohanty, who is planning to pursue a course in fashion technology, said: “I believe I have a good fashion sense. I am aspiring to make it big in the fashion industry. Initially, my parents had certain reservations about my academic choice. However, they finally agreed to what they think is a risky venture. They know there is cut throat competition in this industry and like any other parent, they want me to be successful,” said Deepika.

A parent, Amaresh Prakash Mohapatra, said there was a thin line between being impulsive and being motivated and youngsters need to differentiate between the two. He said: “By and large, parents are becoming receptive to non-traditional courses.

“Seven years ago, my son became a software engineer. However, my daughter wants to take up a course in photography.

“If the child is able to earn sufficiently for a comfortable living, what more can we ask for?” Students are even inclined towards career options such as radio jockey (RJ) or disc jockey (DJ) for which there are not many formal courses. Several discotheques and clubs prefer youngsters who are up-to-date with the latest songs and ready to experiment as DJs.

With more software coming up in the market that help mix and blend music, the amateur DJ takes no time to transform into a professional. On the other hand, RJ fever caught on after three radio channels were launched in the state.

“Being an RJ is about fluency, wit and a ear for good music. While many students in the city perceive radio or disc jockeying as a part-time job, it is a lucrative option in cities such as Delhi and Mumbai where you get paid very well,” said Tamanna, an aspiring RJ.