Campus Placements at B-Schools Likely to Get Impacted Due to COVID-19 Outbreak

B-Schools and engineering colleges are likely to have a tough year when it comes to campus placements. The placement process at many colleges can get impacted due to the COVID-19 outbreak which has hit businesses and global economies, hinting towards a recession. Recently, the HRD Ministry asked 24 IITs to make arrangements for conducting a special recruitment drive for the students who may have lost or are likely to lose jobs due to the outbreak. Ramesh Pokhriyal, the HRD Minister also mentioned that the placement records of IITs should not dip due to the current situation and also the academic calendars of IITs should be managed in such a way that students do not end up losing the summer or winter internships.

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The teaching-learning disruptions are being managed by the online classes and institutes have stated that COVID-19 would impact the summer placement process and then the final recruitment season at the prestigious IIMs and IITs. Though most companies have assured the students regarding job commitments and are even considering options such as virtual onboarding or even shifting the foreign jobs to Indian locations on a temporary basis but things could turn serious if the lockdown gets extended. IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode and Indore have said that even some companies who have data privacy issues have said they will get laptops couriered to the students.

IIT Madras is also trying to get placements done for students whose offers have been revoked by one company in other companies. Another IIT mentioned that it will get in touch with the alumni and companies from the sectors which haven't been much affected for placements of students who don't have a job offer.

As per the HRD Ministry, a special recruitment drive will be organised in July and August for those whose jobs have been withdrawn after campus placements. IIT Ropar Director, Sarit K Das said that the pandemic has affected the educational institutes and 2020 looks like a tough year considering the campus placements.

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At first, the summer placements will get affected and may not even begin on time which will impact the final placement process as well. He further said that roughly 40 per cent of the students opt for international summer training and in the current scheme of things, it seems very doubtful as corona has a global impact.