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A Computer Science degree is a stepping stone to a career in technology, but does it train students for the challenges of real-world software engineering? The question was a central point of discussion on the stage of Constellation 2026, organised by Polaris School of Technology, where Mr. Puneet Patwari, Principal Engineer at Atlassian, spoke about what it takes to be a competent engineer in today’s fast-changing tech world.
Speaking to the new students and their parents, Mr. Patwari highlighted the increasing gap between what students are learning in the classrooms and what the industry expects from them. The message was clear: Getting a degree is just the beginning. The real learning is when students start to build, solve problems, and work with technology outside their academic curriculum.
Is a Computer Science Degree Enough?
The degree provides students with a foundation in computer science. But being an engineer is more than just knowing the concepts or doing the assignments.
Mr. Patwari pointed towards the widening gap between academic learning and the kind of skills engineers are expected to bring to the workplace. Students who depend entirely on their syllabus may find themselves struggling when faced with problems that have no ready-made answers.
He encouraged students to move past conventional classroom practices and shortcuts. Simply studying to clear an examination, he suggested, is not the same as learning to become an engineer.
The difference becomes clearer when students have to apply what they know, make decisions, and figure out why something isn’t working.
His Advice to Students: Start Building, Not Just Studying
One of the key ideas from Mr. Patwari’s talk was the importance of developing a “builder mindset.”
Students often wait until they have completed a course or learnt a programming language before starting a project. Mr. Patwari’s advice was to take a different approach. Start building early, even if the first attempt is far from perfect.
Working on personal technical projects gives students a chance to learn things that classroom assignments may not cover. They have to think through a problem, decide how to approach it, write code, test it, and fix what goes wrong.
And that is where much of the learning happens.
A project need not begin with a big idea. What matters is taking it beyond a classroom exercise and making something that actually works. As students gain experience, they can take on more challenging projects and explore areas that interest them.
Why Strong Fundamentals Still Matter?
As new technologies and tools spring up almost daily, it’s easy for students to get caught up in learning what’s trending. In Mr. Patwari’s message, the emphasis had shifted to a firm grasp of fundamentals.
Learning a programming language is useful, but learning how to solve a problem is far more valuable in the long run. Engineers need to be able to break down complicated problems. They need to be logical thinkers and understand how different parts of a system interact.
These are skills that students take with them as programming languages and development frameworks change.
The aim is not to learn a technology for the sake of adding it to a résumé. It is to understand what you are doing and why.
Learning the Tools Used in the Industry
A last important aspect of preparing for an engineering career is to get acquainted with modern development tools.
Software is not built the same way today as it was a few years ago. Students coming into the field need to be open to exploring new tools and knowing how they fit into the development process.
Mr. Patwari encouraged students to adapt early rather than wait until their first job to begin learning how the industry works.
At the same time, familiarity with tools should go hand in hand with technical understanding. Knowing how to use something is one thing; knowing when it is useful, where it falls short and how to work with it effectively is another.
What Should Parents Take Away From This?
Mr. Patwari’s address was also relevant for parents who are helping their children make decisions about college and careers.
Academic performance matters, but engineering is not a field where marks alone tell the whole story. Students need room to explore, experiment, and occasionally fail while trying something new.
Encouraging a child to work on projects, ask questions, and develop an interest in technology can be just as important as keeping up with coursework.
The transition from school to college is a good time to develop these habits. Students need to understand that their learning will not stop when a class ends or an examination is over.
Key Takeaways From Mr. Puneet Patwari’s Address at Constellation 2026
“Mr Puneet Patwari’s address at Constellation 2026 was an eye-opener that we need to go beyond classroom learning and get ready for the realities of software engineering. Students, he urged, should strengthen their fundamentals, undertake challenging technical projects, and learn in a practical manner. His message was straightforward: build, experiment, and continue learning to meet the evolving expectations of the tech industry.
| Area | Key takeaway |
| Computer science education | Don’t depend entirely on classroom teaching or outdated syllabi. |
| Learning approach | Focus on understanding concepts instead of finding shortcuts to examinations. |
| Practical experience | Build personal projects and learn by solving actual problems. |
| Technical skills | Strengthen programming, logical thinking, and problem-solving fundamentals. |
| Industry preparation | Explore modern engineering tools early and learn to adapt. |
| Career development | Take responsibility for your learning instead of waiting for a job to provide practical exposure. |
Preparing for Engineering Beyond College
Mr. Puneet Patwari’s session at Constellation 2026 brought attention to something students often realise only after entering the industry: an engineering education is as much about what you do outside the classroom as what you learn inside it.
For students beginning their journey at Polaris School of Technology, the message is a practical one. Make time to build. Work on problems that interest you. Understand the basics before chasing the next big technology. And don’t be afraid to learn through trial and error.
A degree can open the door, but the ability to think, build, and keep learning is what helps an engineer move forward.