Quality education and great freedom

I was interested in Mathematics and Biology and was wondering if there is an engineering field that includes both subjects. And then I came across Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering. SCTCE is the only self-financing institute under KSRTC, providing this particular course in Kerala. That was the motivation for me to join at SCT. KEAM rank is the eligibility criteria for admission in Government seat and there are also management seats and reserved seats. KEAM exams usually occur in April and admission procedures and allotment will be completed by July and classes starts in August. The biotechnology field is novel with high research potential. The course curriculum provided by Kerala Technical University is having subjects of importance in both Biotechnology and Biochemical area. That includes biochemistry, microbiology, transport phenomena, mass transfer and so on. But it lacks Immunology which is a basic Biotechnology subject which is relevant in GATE exams.

Course curriculum provided by KTU includes both chemical engineering core subjects and biotechnology subjects. Chemical engineering subjects are taught well with theories and problems. But the biotechnology subjects are taught not that well and quality of knowledge learned is less. Exam orientated teaching reduces the interest of students for the subjects. Guidance to the research is literally low. Major subjects discussed are microbiology, biochemistry, industrial biotechnology, tissue engineering, bioprocess engineering, bioprocess calculations, mass transfer, fluid dynamics, transport phenomena, process dynamics, and so on. The lab facilities required for a biotechnology subject is really important. But college provides poor lab facilities in the biotechnology department but there are a number of instruments in chemical engineering labs. Teachers in general are really encouraging and friendly. Subject orientated teaching with research guidance should be included in the curriculum.

Students can do internships during their course work. Generally, June and July months are vacation time and students can do internships at any institutes or companies. College provides permission and opportunities for that. Almost all students of biotechnology department did an internship in companies like Milma, Titanium, WWF, HLL and TCC, and institutes like RGCB, Hindlabs, KFRI, etc.

The placement cell of the campus is really great. Provides placement from many companies in every year. About 40% of the students got placed in the biotechnology department in the year 2019. The highest salary package offered by Amazon is 11 LPA, and the lowest salary offered by CPC is Rs. 16,000 per month. Zifo is the top recruiting company for biotechnology campus placements in SCT. Other companies include TCS, Infosys, Cognizant, CPC, Mu Sigma, etc. The top role offered in biotechnology placements is as a data analyst. In biotechnology course, the highest salary package offered is 4.3 LPA and the lowest salary offered is Rs. 16,000 per month. About 80% of the students did an internship in companies like Milma, Titanium and TCC, and institutes like RGCB, Hindlabs, KFRI, etc.

Fees structure is reasonable and based on government orders. Government seats have tution fees of 35,000 INR whereas management seats have 65,000 INR. There are NRI quota, KSRTC quota and other reservations. The scholarships provided by the government can be availed like e-Grantz, MOMA etc. E-grants can be applied for all category students with family annual income below 1 lac. Only exam fees for each semester have to be paid by those students.

SCT college has six departments in engineering. They are B.Tech in Biotechnology and Biochemical, Computer Science, Electronics and Communication, Automobile, Mechanical, Mechanical production. The college has Central Library has books for all the departments, Seminar Hall for each department, Lab and Workshop facilities, Central computer facility, Badminton court, Basketball court, auditorium, cafeteria etc. There is no hostel facility for boys. There is a girls hostel controlled by college named 'Ashiyana'. Students have to depend on private hostels. As they are private hostels rent will be high and they're no enough facilities. The college organises Tech fest, department fest with various talks and opportunities to learn the subject. Evogen is the organisation for biotechnology department and it organises National level symposium every year name 'EQUILIBRIA' which helps students to present papers, posters and hear various quality talks.

College doesn't have its own hostel for boys. There is a hostel named Ashiyana for girls controlled by the college but it has only very few accommodation facilities. Many of the students are hostellers but college have not yet provided hostel facilities. Students have to depend upon private hostels and they have high rent and facilities provided by them are too low for the money. Food provided by the PG that I stayed was also too low. We have opportunities to complain about hostels in college but it will only have an effect for a few days.