Computer courses drive 800% seat surge in engineering

Ahmedabad: Computer engineering and allied courses—information technology (IT), artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI-ML), and data science—have expanded sharply in Gujarat over the past decade. In 2025, these programmes together offered 41,646 seats, up from 4,560 in 2015, an addition of staggering 37,086 seats and an 813% rise, according to Admission Committee for Professional Courses (ACPC) data.

With around 72,000 engineering seats filled through ACPC, computer engineering and allied courses now account for 58% of the total intake, making them the single largest segment of engineering education in the state.

The scale of growth stands out against traditional branches. Over the same period, five major disciplines—electronics and communication (E&C), chemical, electrical, civil and mechanical—together added 11,333 seats, less than one-third of the 37K increase recorded by computer-related programmes. In fact, the decadal rise for the five disciplines was 68.5% from 16,530 to 27,863.

As the 2026-27 admission process begins, educators expect the preference for computer and IT-linked branches to remain strong. Even with E&C gaining traction in recent years amid Gujarat’s semiconductor push, computer-related courses continue to dominate choices among high-ranking candidates.

Dr Nilay Bhuptani, principal of LD College of Engineering and member secretary of ACPC, said a large share of top performers continue to prioritise these branches. “Out of the top 500 students, about 70-80% opt for computer-related branches,” he said, attributing the trend to steady demand for trained professionals, the rise of emerging technologies such as AI-ML, higher pay packages, and opportunities to work abroad. He added that computer engineering has consistently been among the top branches in campus placement salaries.

Anay Jalota, a class 12 science passout who scored 92% says he has set his eyes only on computer engineering. “With technology advancement such as AI-ML, computer engineering promises ample career growth opportunities,” said Jalota.

The expansion has been driven largely by self-financed institutes (SFIs), which hold more than 90% of the computer and allied seats in Gujarat. College administrators say the economics of infrastructure also plays a role. “When 15,500 seats were vacant in 2025 for computer and allied courses, 15,400 were in SFIs, indicating that govt-run and grant-in-aid colleges had almost full occupancy,” said the principal of an engineering college. He added that computer programmes are often seen as more viable for SFIs because they require fewer heavy laboratories than branches such as civil or mechanical engineering, relying primarily on computer labs.

Prof S S Manoharan, director general of Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), said newer specialisations have accelerated demand. He pointed to AI-ML and other emerging areas as drivers of a fresh surge in computer applications. “The next few years will require tech experts conversant with the new landscape of computer sciences and new applications,” he said, adding that the branch is likely to continue growing.