Vadodara: Stricter safety regulations and the push for environmental compliance and sustainability are turning fire safety engineering into a booming career, with employers offering higher salaries and strong placement opportunities to meet rising demand.Reflecting the trend, GSFC University’s BTech in fire, environment, health and safety (Fire & EHS) has witnessed a fivefold increase in enrolment since its launch in 2019.The highest campus placement package has doubled from Rs 6.5 lakh per annum in 2024 to Rs 14 lakh this year, while the average package rose from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 7 lakh during the same period. Currently, GSFC is the only university in state that offers an engineering course in fire safety.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
“The rapid industrial expansion across sectors and increasing emphasis on occupational safety, environmental protection and statutory compliance have created a strong demand for professionally trained Fire & EHS engineers. The programme has evolved in line with industry expectations, and the placement record reflects this growing demand,” said P K Taneja, IAS (Retd), president of GSFC University.The programme has expanded from an initial batch of 25 students in 2019 to a current enrolment of 142. University officials said they expect to fill all 60 approved seats for the current academic year.Taneja said the recent recognition of the degree by the Gujarat govt’s urban development and urban housing department for recruitment of fire professionals in municipal corporations and municipalities has further strengthened its appeal by opening up govt career opportunities.Industry leaders attribute the growing demand to stricter environmental, social and governance (ESG) norms and mandatory business responsibility and sustainability reporting (BRSR) for India’s top 1,000 listed companies.“Workplace safety has become one of the core pillars of the ESG framework. Companies are increasingly evaluated on safety standards, audits and compliance. These graduates are sustainability professionals who can help industries meet evolving regulatory and ESG expectations,” said Sameer Khera, president of the Federation of Gujarat Industries (FGI). He added that more universities should introduce similar programmes with greater emphasis on ESG-related subjects.The university said its FirePlex (AgniSankul) Centre of Excellence, approved by the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health, played a key role in preparing students through hands-on training. The facility conducted over 42 specialised programmes, training more than 1,425 industry professionals and over 3,050 students in fire safety, industrial risk management and emergency response.The university signed MoUs with more than 70 industries and institutions, while graduates secured placements with companies including Amazon, Reliance Industries, Adani Group, UPL, Nirma, Alembic Pharmaceuticals and Jindal Saw.
