Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Public Service Commission has decided to conduct an aptitude test for third and fourth year engineering students of all affiliated colleges under the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University in March 2019. The PSC has also decided to issue a certificate of merit to all students who qualify this test.
The PSC chairman has requested the university to consider awarding of activity points to the students who qualify the aptitude test, as a motivation factor, said an order issued by Technological University (Dean) Academic J.Sreekumar.
After examining the matter in detail, the university has decided to award 10 points as activity points to the students who are issued Merit Certificates for the aptitude test conducted by the PSC, the order said.
In order to nurture technical soft skills, leadership qualities and team spirit, the university has introduced activity points to be earned by the students during their academic stay at the university covering extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. All students have to earn a minimum of 100 activity points from various activity segments listed to qualify for the B.Tech degree. Two credits are given for this on a pass/ fail basis and is mandatory for getting the B.Tech degree. As no grade is given for these two credits, they are not included in the CGPA calculation. For lateral entry students joining from the third semester, the activity point requirement is 75. Points earned by the student will be indicated in the consolidated academic statement.
The decision was taken based on the assumption that students should have excellent soft skills, leadership qualities, team spirit, entrepreneurial capabilities and societal commitment apart from technical knowledge and skills, to be successful as professionals and students.
