12th Standard Board exams for 2025 concluded on Tuesday. More than 35,000 students belonging to government, government-aided and private schools in Coimbatore district wrote the exams.

Parents are now focused on securing the best higher education opportunities for their children. Education Fairs have already kicked off in the city, serving as a bridge between students and institutions.

A visit to these fairs reveals a clear trend: students today, regardless of whether they come from urban or rural backgrounds, have a strong sense of direction regarding their education. What they seek is guidance in selecting the right institution to shape their future.

There is a strong inclination toward emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) among students. This trend is dominant in engineering education and is rapidly gaining traction in Arts and Science streams as well.

“Computer-based courses fill up quickly. More students than ever before are opting for programs centered around emerging technologies. New courses related to computer science are constantly entering the academic landscape,” said a faculty member from a private institution.

Courses like B.Sc. Computer Science with Cognitive Systems, Machine Learning, Data Science, Data Analytics, and B.Sc. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are highly sought after by Arts students. Cybersecurity courses are receiving heightened interest, reflecting the entire industry's need for cybersecurity professionals. Following closely are B.Com-related courses, with other disciplines trailing behind.

Several factors contribute to the popularity of tech-based courses. While student interest in technology plays a major role, the promise of swift career growth, attractive salary packages, and a few perks further fuel this demand. 

Coimbatore is steadily evolving into an IT hub, with major tech companies setting up operations in the city, drawn by the strength of its educational institutions and talent pool. As the city’s tech sector expands, student aspirations are increasingly aligning with careers in IT.

While core engineering disciplines continue to have a dedicated following, technology-driven courses command a larger share of student interest.

However, an academic representative pointed out that opportunities and career growth in traditional engineering fields remain stable. "These fields will regain prominence because, at the end of the day, we cannot build houses with bytes and codes. We need bricks and bridges to build a better world," a faculty said.

Education costs have sky-rocketed due to various reasons yet few institutions offer decent scholarships to the right candidates. A source said that a global engineering giant with roots from Coimbatore has partnered with one of India's esteemed universities in the district to offer a full scholarship opportunity to the deserving 25 candidates who pursue a core-engineering course at this university. Besides scholarsip it also offers guaranteed placement opportunity in its own company to candidates who successsfully complete the course.