As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes software development and hiring, a startup founder’s sharp critique of India’s computer science education system has sparked a wider debate over whether engineering degrees are still delivering on their promise.
In a viral post on X, founder Shvetha argued that the country’s CS degree crisis has “three accused,” colleges that continue to teach outdated curricula, parents who still see engineering as a guaranteed route to career success, and students who fail to question whether their courses align with today’s job market.
Her comments have reignited conversations around employability, rising education costs and whether India’s engineering ecosystem is adapting fast enough to the AI era.
‘INDIA’S CS DEGREE CRISIS HAS THREE ACCUSED. ALL GUILTY’
Summing up her argument, Shvetha wrote, “India’s CS degree crisis has three accused. All guilty.”
She accused engineering colleges of charging lakhs of rupees while continuing to teach syllabi that have changed little in nearly a decade.
According to her, many institutions are effectively “selling 2015 syllabus at 2026 fees,” asking students to spend around 12 lakh learning concepts that AI tools can now generate or automate with ease.
HAS THE ‘ENGINEERING GUARANTEES A JOB’ FORMULA FINALLY BROKEN?
Shvetha also turned her attention to parents, arguing that many families are still making career decisions based on a job market that no longer exists.
She said the long-held belief that a computer science degree automatically guarantees a well-paying job or a pathway to the US has become outdated. Yet, many parents continue to take education loans with those expectations, despite dramatic shifts in hiring trends after the pandemic and the rise of AI.
According to her, the equation of “engineering equals job security” effectively “died in 2020.”
ARE STUDENTS ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS BEFORE CHOOSING A COURSE?
The founder reserved equally strong criticism for students, urging them to evaluate whether the degree they are pursuing actually improves their employability.
Instead of blindly following the engineering route, she argued, students should examine industry trends, hiring patterns and the real value of their chosen course before investing four years and substantial tuition fees.
She questioned the logic of spending years preparing for entry-level packages of around 3.5 lakh per annum, salaries that, according to her, have barely moved in over a decade, while thousands of candidates compete for a limited number of openings.
“The market moved. AI moved. Hiring moved. Only the mindset didn’t. Wake up. All three of you,” she wrote.
WHAT SHOULD ENGINEERING STUDENTS DO DIFFERENTLY?
Beyond criticism, Shvetha outlined a practical roadmap for students looking to remain competitive in an AI-driven job market.
For first-year students, she recommended building strong programming fundamentals, mastering at least one language and starting a GitHub portfolio early instead of waiting until placement season.
During the second year, she advised taking internships, including unpaid opportunities at startups if necessary, and focusing on hands-on projects that demonstrate practical skills rather than replicating online tutorials.
By the third year, students should aim for more meaningful internships that could convert into pre-placement offers while choosing a specialisation such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity or embedded systems.
In the final year, she suggested looking beyond campus placements by actively applying for off-campus roles, maintaining a portfolio that can be confidently explained in interviews, and responding quickly to new job openings.
WHY THE POST IS SPARKING A DEBATE
Shvetha’s comments have reignited the debate over the future of engineering education in India. As AI transforms software development and hiring, concerns are mounting over outdated curricula, changing career expectations, and the growing importance of practical skills over degrees.
Her post argues that India’s computer science challenge extends beyond outdated classrooms to an education ecosystem struggling to keep pace with technological change.
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