Mangaluru is witnessing a noticeable shift in education trends, as more working professionals are heading back to college to pursue postgraduate degrees. Once mostly seen among MBA or MCA aspirants, this trend is now spreading across various disciplines, including allied health sciences.
Educational institutions report a small but steady rise—around 2% to 3%—in postgrad enrolments from individuals returning after gaining work experience. These professionals are seeking to boost qualifications, switch fields, or align studies with their refined career goals.
Dr Alwyn V D’Sa, registrar at St Aloysius (deemed to be university), observed that students today are choosing unconventional academic timelines. “It was once expected that both UG and PG would be completed by 23. Now, many work after their bachelor’s, then return for postgraduation. These students tend to have more clarity, confidence, and often secure better-paying jobs—even without top scores,” he noted. He added that many shift streams entirely, reflecting a growing alignment with Western education models.
Dr Sunitha Saldanha, dean at Yenepoya School of Allied Health Sciences, welcomed this change, especially in her field. “We always hoped students would return to study after some hands-on industry experience. Around 3% of our PG students now fall into that category.”
However, a reverse pattern is seen in the medical field, says Dr Vijay Kumar M, vice-chancellor of Yenepoya University. “Today’s MBBS graduates are keen to go straight into NEET-PG prep, unlike earlier when many worked before entering PG courses.”