Students should have several career options ready and not lose confidence if their first preference does not materialize, said speakers at The Hindu EducationPlus Career Counseling 2026 held at Doddappa Appa Sabha Mantapa, Sharnbasva University campus, Kalaburagi on Saturday (16
More than 500 students from various colleges including Chandrakanth Patil PU College, Appa PU College, Disha PU College, Shaheen PU College and Sharnbasveshwar Residential Composite PU College participated in the event.
Anilkumar Bidve, Vice-Chancellor of Sharnbasva University advised students to have plan B, C and D ready if plan A fails.
“Unfortunately, our education system is designed in such a way that a three-hour exam decides your fate regardless of what you have studied in the last 15 years. Once you pass PU, the decisions you make will affect your career. If you fail to secure first preference, don’t get discouraged. Prepare multiple options and keep working hard,” he said.
Prof. Anilkumar Bidve, Vice-Chancellor of Sharnbasva University, addressed students during The Hindu EducationPlus Career Counseling 2026 at Kalaburagi on Saturday (May 16). | Photo credit: ARUN KULKARNI
Prof. Citing the example of NEET aspirants, Bidve said that nearly 24 lakh students appear for the exam every year, but not all of them manage to secure medical seats despite high marks. Therefore, students should not lose confidence if they failed to secure their desired course or institution, he added.
Sharing his own experiences, he said that he aspired to become a scientist in national laboratories, but was unable to fulfill this dream. “I implemented plan B and became a teacher in a CBSE school. Today I am the vice-chancellor of a reputed university,” he said.
Prof. Bidve highlighted the widening gap between demand and supply of skilled labor in the country, saying unemployment persists despite the huge demand for skilled workers due to lack of employability.
“Degrees alone are not enough. Skills are more important,” he said.
He also found that while there was a rush for computer engineering courses, there was limited capacity to absorb all the graduates in the sector. Meanwhile, traditional engineering streams such as civil, mechanical and electrical engineering continued to maintain strong future prospects as their core skills could not be easily replaced, he added.
CR Shivakumar, Head, Department of Surgery, Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, spoke about opportunities in medical sciences and allied health sectors.
“The medical profession requires dedication, hard work and a passion to serve society. If your only goal is to make money, healthcare may not be for you,” he said.
He advised students not to feel disheartened if they failed to secure seats in MBBS and pointed out that several alternative courses like dentistry, Ayurveda, Unani, naturopathy, homeopathy, pharmacy, nursing and physiotherapy also offer promising career opportunities. He also highlighted growing opportunities in allied health sciences, including medical laboratory technology, anesthesia and operating room technology, cardiac care technology, respiratory care technology and medical imaging technology.
PU students from various colleges attending The Hindu EducationPlus Career Counseling 2026, held at Kalaburagi on Saturday (May 16). | Photo credit: ARUN KULKARNI
CIGMA’s Career Counselor Abdul Nasir Mauzam urged students to assess their interests, passion and abilities before choosing a career. He also addressed concerns about AI, stating that it will not replace humans, but that humans who have failed to adapt to AI tools may be left behind.
Comparing it to calculators, he said that people once feared that calculators would replace humans, but later those who use calculators fell behind. A similar trend would emerge in the AI era, he added.
Chartered Accountant Santosh Patil highlighted career and business opportunities in business and chartered accountancy. He urged students to learn from failures and focus on acquiring skills rather than depending on academic degrees alone. He also encouraged students to read subjects beyond their syllabus, including Kannada literature.
Karnataka Examinations Authority Representative Suresh Shetagar guided the students on CET application procedures and option entry during online counseling and explained common mistakes students should avoid while selecting courses and institutions.
Sharanabasappa Pappa, President, Kalyana Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and Iranna Yalawantgi, Head, Department of Physics, Disha PU College of Science, also addressed the students.
Published – 16 May 2026 19:51 IST
