I am going to do a post-mortem on the syllabus that I studied under CUSAT. This is applicable to almost every university, not just CUSAT. Im calling this a post-mortem, because Im already through with this. Post-mortem is done only on dead bodies. The Word itself means, ‘after death’.
Lets rewind 7 years. There are 60 of us who joined for the Computer Science course. Only a very few had a proper exposure to computers before, but all have come together to learn computer science, trusting the university, its syllabus and the staff. Now this is what we get in semesters 1 and 2.
Engineering Mathematics 1 & 2
People tend to give mathematics an unquestionable authority. “Learning maths is never a waste. Ive heard this sentence many times from many people. Actually learning anything is never a waste. But learning something out of the context on the expense of relevant subjects is stupid. Thats what these 2 papers does in the first year. These mathematics papers are tailor made for the old engineering disciplines, not for computer science students.
Engineering Physics, Engineering Chemistry, Engineering Mechanics
These subjects are relevant to the old branches of engineering. Civil, mechanical, chemical etc can use this. But what are we as computer science engineers going to do with this ? Once in a discussion about this, I got a funny answer. “You computer box is made using mechanics principles and the nuts and screws are prevented from rusting using knowledge derived from learning chemistry”. I dont have any counter arguments.
Engineering Graphics
The same theory is used for computer graphics. But the subject is taught using a gun shaped instrument and all that we learn is some tricks on how to draw various stuff. It has got 3 hours of lab every week, and those 3 hours is a wresting with pencil, the gun and the paper. Why not do it on a computer ?
Fundamentals of Engineering 1 and 2
Fundamentals of engineering includes civil, mechanical, electrical, Electronics. An argument that supports these subjects. “An engineer should learn the basics of all engineering disciplines”. Ya ofcourse, I should know the exact concrete mix needed for a dam, I should know the energy cycle graph of 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines.
Computer Fundamentals
Rain in the Desert. This involves a little bit of C programming.
Humanities.
I have got nothing to say about this subject. Humanities hours were really peaceful times where almost everyone can sleep. The subject had a touch of moral science and no one really cared about it.
Computer programming lab
The only enjoyable and useful subject we learned in the first year.
Workshops.
This substituted for the Gym workouts. Carpentry, sheet metal work, Electrical wiring, filing etc. These required a lot of manual effort. There are subjects that should be taught in schools, not in engineering colleges.
The core of the problem
This is not a computer science syllabus. This is an old civil, mechanical, electrical syllabus, slightly modified. Old engineering disciplines and new engineering disciplines have nothing in common. We are different and we need a different semester 1&2 syllabus. We dont want a common first year. Here are some better alternatives we could have studied, some things that we missed.
- Computer hardware overview, assembling a PC.
- Operating system choices, installation, configuration and maintenance
- Useful software tools, document editor, spreadsheet, presentations
- Proper use of the keyboard (typing)
- Useful internet tools, develop an internet culture
- Computer science history, software licences, philosophies.
The result
Wasted 90% of the s1, s2 time. Caused a lot of frustration and depression. Wasted money, effort and time in other semesters writing supplementary exams. Wasted money on text books, lab equipments and salaries. Over all confusion and lost focus.
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The recent hype in the education market is about finishing schools. Every Trust, every agency, every organization which is into education of some sort has or is planning to start a finishing school. The latest to join this is the IHRD.
What are finishing schools ?
A finishing school (in our context) is supposed to make a student ready for the industry. A student joins a finishing schools after his graduation, learns (or is supposed to learn) what he can use while working for a professional company. What a great Idea !!!!!!!
So I am supposed to spend 4 years in an engineering college (and learn stuff thats not useful), and after getting my good for nothing degree I am required to join a finishing school, pay a huge fees and then learn stuff thats useful.
Then Why TF am I wasting 4 years in a college. Why cant I simply join a finishing school after 12th and save a few years of suffering at an engineering college.
Its all about the money… honey…..
Education is a business in Kerala. The most profit making business, and the least troublesome also. I am not against running an educational institution for profit as long as the student is given primary importance. Its not about the stupid syllabus, or the crazy examination system. Its about the student.
Its high time that companies also got involved in the education scenario. The bigots who run the education scenario right now are losers and left overs. The curriculum and the examination system is controlled by a lobby of text book publishers and university staff.
The only solution - Autonomy for institutions.
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In some of my posts I have written some things against CUSAT. And with my latest post, some asked me why I hate CUSAT so much. Actually I dont hate CUSAT. I love it very much, after all I hold an engineering degree from CUSAT. How can I hate it.
Here Ill write some of the things I heard about CUSAT before joining CUSAT.
- The only Technology University in Kerala (Very True)
- The only university in Kerala, whose name is known outside Kerala
- CUSAT degree has got more value than any other university in Kerala
- Companies give preference to students with a CUSAT degree
- If you want to study abroad you definitely need a CUSAT degree
- CUSAT Syllabus is the best in India
- CUSAT will soon become an IIT
Now I am not going to comment on any of these, Cos I Love CUSAT.
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Today I Opened the Assissi magazine (Christian magazine) and was surprised to see an advertisement. Chavara Matrimony (matrimony site for Christians) is conducting a Marriage Fair. The event is called “Mega Marriage Fair”.
Now, for my readers from the western world, We do things a bit different here. We dont have dating sites, instead we have matrimonial sites. Both are the same, but in a matrimonial site people end up getting married. So is this marriage fair an Indian adaptation of blind dating groups ?
I dont know how a marriage fair works cos ive never attended one. For those who dont believe, you can check my DOB in the about me page. But the advertisement says “Its your golden chance to find a suitable life partner”. Hmmmm Im going to imagine how it will be…
Will it be like different stalls for different girl categories ? software stall, nurses stall, NRI stall, govt employed stall, teachers stall, jobless stall etc…. And men will walk by looking at the items in display, Will there be resumes ? Or is it like “Swayam Varam”
Or will be it like stalls for men… ahh I dont want to think that way…. my ego wont let me think that way.
If anyone has experience attending marriage fairs, please comment
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