Even as global technology companies continue to announce layoffs and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence reshapes hiring trends, engineering graduates in Gujarat are securing some of the highest placement offers in the state’s history.
Leading the pack is a student from Nirma University in Ahmedabad, who has received a staggering ₹94 lakh job offer from LinkedIn. The offer is not only the highest ever recorded at the university but also among the biggest campus placements reported across Gujarat this year.
The achievement surpasses Nirma University’s previous placement record of ₹88 lakh, which was set in 2022. What makes this year’s figure particularly significant is that it comes at a time when the technology industry worldwide is grappling with uncertainty, automation, and workforce reductions driven by AI and machine learning.
According to Dr. R.N. Patel, Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Engineering at Nirma University, placement outcomes have remained remarkably strong despite the changing industry landscape.
“Median salaries have increased by 15 to 25 percent compared to the last couple of years, and several students have secured packages exceeding ₹50 lakh. Almost all major recruiters, including Google and Microsoft, participated in the placement process,” Patel said. He added that the AI and machine learning boom is not a temporary trend and that industries will increasingly require skilled professionals capable of managing and driving technological transformation.
Patel also pointed out that the highest-paying offers continue to be concentrated among students from Computer Science and Information Technology streams.
At Dhirubhai Ambani University, the highest package offered this year stood at ₹57 lakh. Placement coordinator Prof. Souvik Sarkar said the university maintained a median annual salary of around ₹15 lakh, comparable to last year’s performance.
“We have seen strong participation from industry, with 165 companies visiting the campus, including several leading recruiters,” Sarkar said.
Parul University in Vadodara also reported an impressive placement season. The highest package offered there was ₹43 lakh, secured from ServiceNow, the US-based enterprise software company headquartered in Santa Clara.
The university attracted a wide range of recruiters, including Microsoft, HCL, TCS, Cognizant, BP, IBM and L&T Technology Services. The median salary package at Parul stood at ₹4.5 lakh.
Gurcharan Singh, Director of Training and Placement at Parul University, noted that 470 companies participated in campus recruitment this year, surpassing last season’s numbers.
“We are witnessing two realities at the same time—news of layoffs and students receiving packages above ₹20 lakh. Both are true,” Singh said. “The market is not shrinking; it is splitting. Earlier, companies hired large numbers of graduates and trained them over several months. Today, recruiters prefer a smaller pool of candidates who are already job-ready in areas such as AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity and full-stack development.”
At Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT), Surat, placement activity remains underway and is expected to continue until July 31. So far, 230 companies have confirmed participation, already exceeding last year’s count of 205 recruiters.
Prof. H.B. Mehta, Head of the Career Development Cell at SVNIT, said the highest offer received so far is ₹62 lakh by a Computer Science and Engineering student. The median package in the CSE department has also increased from ₹15.2 lakh to ₹16.2 lakh, with further improvement possible before the placement season concludes.
CHARUSAT University in Anand reported a top package of ₹46.38 lakh, offered by Amazon. Industry experts noted that median salaries in Computer Science and Information Technology programmes have remained above ₹20 lakh at institutions such as Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) and IIT Gandhinagar.
For more than a decade, Computer Science and IT graduates have dominated engineering placements across Gujarat. However, experts believe the sector is entering a period of transition.
Sunny Vaghela, CEO of TechDefence Labs, which has recruited from several institutions in the state this year, believes future success will depend on how quickly students adapt to changing industry requirements.
“Cybersecurity, product development and emerging technologies continue to require skilled talent. However, from next year onwards, only those students who understand the changing landscape will remain competitive in the job market,” Vaghela said. He emphasized that educational institutions must strengthen industry partnerships and upgrade training programmes to sustain current placement trends.
Industry observers also point out that most global layoffs have been concentrated in roles increasingly vulnerable to automation, including manual testing, basic technical support and legacy maintenance functions. At the same time, demand remains strong for professionals involved in building AI-powered products, developing scalable infrastructure and working on emerging technologies.
Placement coordinators across institutions say recruiters are placing greater emphasis on practical skills than ever before. Internships, project portfolios and demonstrable industry experience are increasingly becoming deciding factors in hiring decisions.
“Academic qualifications alone are no longer enough. Many of the highest-paying offers this year went to students who had already interned with the companies that eventually hired them,” a placement coordinator said.
The trend suggests that while artificial intelligence is disrupting parts of the technology workforce, it is simultaneously creating new opportunities for graduates equipped with specialised, future-ready skills. Gujarat’s engineering institutions appear to be benefiting from that shift, producing talent that remains in high demand despite uncertainty in the broader global job market.
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