Jadavpur University celebrates crore-plus package for computer graduate

KOLKATA: Jadavpur University has seen the best placement season in years, reinforcing its status in Bengal's Ivy League and dispelling fears that recent incidents of campus turmoil have dented its image. The highest salary package offered this year is a whopping Rs 1.1crore, and the mean is Rs 10 lakh -a three-fold jump from the earlier average of Rs 3 lakh-odd.

Google picked up Asif Ahmad of Krishnanagar, a student of JU's computer science and engineering department, with a crore-plus package for an opening in Singapore. But that's not the only happy news. JU teachers are gushing about an "unprecedented placement season". "Even core engineering departments, like mechanical, chemical and civil engineering, have found several takers and lucrative packages," said Samita Bhattacharya, the university's placement officer.

JU vice-chancellor Suranjan Das called it a "great moment" for the varsity . "The placements are in line with the recognition JU has earned at national and international levels. JU ranks as one of the top universities in Asia and is in the top 100 BRICS ranking. It's also the second best state-aided university recognized by the Department of Science and Technology in 2015-2016," said Partha Pratim Biswas, senior professor of JU's construction engineering department. Asif Ahmad, who had ranked 263 in WBJEE, is thrilled. "The offer is from Google! Though I am not at liberty to discuss the details, the salary break-up includes stock, bonus and basic salary apart from house rent, communication and the like," he said.

Asked about the interview that changed his life, he said, "They asked me questions from my subject and I was well prepared. I knew the interview went well, but the salary package has come as a surprise," he said. He got the confirmation letter in March and has been asked to join in September. He had received impressive offers from two more companies, including Amazon. "The other packages were in the range of Rs 27 lakh. I am excited to join Google and live and work in Singapore," he said.

The next best packages are in the Rs 30-lakh range.One of the lucky ones is Vikhyat Khosla, a student of IT engineering. "I will know the exact pay only after joining Microsoft in Hyderabad. But the package is above Rs 30 lakh. Before appearing in the interview I did a summer internship with PWC. As I had experience of an interview, it helped me prepare better," he said.

His advice to aspirants? "Internet forums and textbooks related to your subject are a good way to prepare for job interviews," Vikshyat said.

Amazon has offered Rs 30 lakh to Jishnu Mukhoti, a final-year student of computer science and engineering. "I read a lot of sample codes from many sites. This was sufficient for the interview. My offer is for their Hyderabad office. When the interview was on, we knew about the package. So it didn't come as a surprise," Mukhoti said.

What's most encouraging for the university is that big offers have come in sectors that aren't in the best of health. "Despite the oil market and process market hitting a low, core engineering departments have received amazing placements. We ensured a good number of companies were invited. Another round of placements will begin next week," JU placement officer Samita Bhattacharya said.

IIEST, Shibpur -formerly BE College -has had a good season as well. "The highest package is Rs 40 lakh for a computer science student.Another one has landed the same job from Google but he's got Rs 35 lakh as he chose an India location. Salaries are Rs 10-12 lakh on average. It's in the same range every year, but the placement season is on," said an IIEST official.