India is famous for its engineering colleges. Many students choose engineering to get good career opportunities, not only in India but also in other countries. Engineers are the ones who bring innovation and build different kinds of things to fulfill the needs of humans.
There was a time when a student must attend the college to complete an engineering degree. However, the rise of the internet has opened up many opportunities for students to learn. Now, the internet is filled with many massive open online courses. In order to keep up with the innovations and provide more opportunities for students, many institutes have also started to offer part-time engineering.
However, these changes have also given rise to the debate of part-time engineering vs full-time engineering. Both types of learning have their own advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, part-time engineering is suitable for some people, and full-time engineering is suitable for others. So let's explore all the details of both part-time and full-time engineering.
Differences between part-time engineering and full-time engineering:
Before we differentiate between part-time engineering and full-time engineering, we must understand these modes of learning.
Some of the differences between part-time and full-time engineering are as follows:
| S.No. | Full-time Engineering | Part-time Engineering |
| 1 | Must complete all the requirements to get the degree | Must complete minimal requirements to get the degree |
| 2 | Higher competition | Lower competition |
| 3 | Higher practical exposure | Lower practical exposure |
| 4 | No online classes | Online classes are available |
| 5 | Must attend regularly | Must attend when the institute calls |
| 6 | Offered in all institutes | Offered in only a few institutes |
| 7 | Only available during the day time | Available during different shifts |
Now let's analyze both types of education separately, in order to clear the debate of part-time engineering vs full-time engineering.
Part-time Engineering:
Due to an increase in industrialization and globalization, the world started to become busier than ever before. Many people do not have enough time for full-time education.
The part-time engineering is a kind of a boon for the students who don't have time in their hands. Many institutes have started to realize the need for part-time education. Therefore, they have started to offer part-time engineering in their institutes.
Students who opt for a part-time education have the choice to attend the college on particular shifts based on their work schedule. Some educators also give a choice to the students to learn through online classes.
Pros of joining part-time engineering:
- A student can work at a job while studying
- It is more accessible due to the internet
- It allows more flexibility as the student can choose anytime to watch the online lectures or attend a particular shift at the institute
- It is perfect for the middle-aged people
- A married person can spend more time with the family
- An additional degree can help the candidate get promotions or better job opportunities
- An increase in the salary of a working candidate
Cons of joining part-time engineering:
- It may take more time to complete the course
- Lack of time management can put the student at trouble
- Lack of a supportive environment can increase stress
- It can get difficult to manage studies, work, and family all together
- Many institutes and colleges do not offer part-time engineering
- External problems can distract the student
- Lack of an academic environment can cause a student to lose focus
Based on the pros and cons of a part-time engineering course, it is suitable only for the below candidates:
- Employed candidates
- Middle-aged people
- Mothers
- Working students
- Married people
Full-time Engineering:
The introduction of part-time engineering in the education system has not completely replaced full-time engineering. Many students prefer a full-time course as they are exposed to an active learning environment on a regular basis.
Moreover, students in a full-time course can also experience the fun of participating in different activities and events held on the campus. The regular tests and revisions conducted in the college also help the student score better in the final exams.
Another benefit of full-time education is that the students learn many different social skills by constantly being around the people of their age-group.
Pros of joining full-time engineering:
- The college environment helps a student to stay focused
- Students can concentrate on studies without distractions
- Students get proper guidance and practical experience inside the campus
- Students can complete the degree within a specific time frame
- Full-time courses have higher value from society's perspective
- The students get to pursue their hobbies through the extracurricular activities held on the campus
- Students can get peer support in a full-time course
- Group studies can make learning fun
Cons of joining full-time engineering:
- It is not the best choice for working students
- A person who is married may not find full-time courses favorable
- People who are already working full-time do not prefer going back to college
- Most of the time in a day must be devoted to academics
- Lack of flexibility and work-life balance
- It is not favorable for women with young children
- People in the middle age group may not be able to adjust among the youngsters
Based on the pros and cons of a full-time engineering course, it is suitable for the following candidates:
- Young students
- Unemployed candidates
- Unmarried person
- Candidates who prefer more practical exposure
Part-time Engineering vs Full-time Engineering:
The decision to choose between part-time engineering vs full-time engineering entirely depends on the situation of the candidate. Part-time education is the best choice for some students, while others are better off by taking full-time education.
It is usually better for students to take full-time engineering after completing their 12th. However, in certain cases, if a student needs to work because of some situations, part-time education would be a better option for him.
While the students of a full-time course depend entirely on their teachers, the students of a part-time course eventually became self-dependent. Part-time engineering can also help the students build certain skills like time management, self-study, etc.
Even though part-time education is not as popular full-time, it can become almost equal to full-time education with a few more innovations. However, there is no certain winner between part-time engineering vs full-time engineering.
If implemented correctly, both part-time and full-time engineering can provide quality education to the students. After all, helping the students succeed is the common goal of both types of education.
