Institute offers crash course to aspiring women politicians; only qualification is a love for politics | ||
The 40-day crash course will formally train women to handle various political and administrative roles. "With women's reservation gathering steam, the course aims to create a cadre of trained women politicians," CPP chairperson Rajeev Gowda told DNA. With representation of women in local bodies going up to 50 %, the course will equip women to handle different political scenarios and administrative challenges. "At the local level, women's reservation is already in force, and at the state and central level, it will soon come into force. Such a course will equip women to take on bigger roles in politics," said IIM-B adjunct professor Ashwin Mahesh. "The course will provide women a chance to improve their knowledge about governance." There is no eligibility criteria for those who wish to enrol for the course. "There is no particular qualification required, other than interest in politics. There is no need for of any qualification in politics anyway," said Mahesh. The course will zero in on issues women can focus on after being elected. They include governance and its administrative structure, powers of an elected representative, formulating budgets and interventions in the affairs of their constituency to bring about a positive change. In all, it will be an overview of an elected representative's duties and responsibilities. The course is scheduled to begin in a few months. "We are still working out some details. It may take a couple of months," said Gowda. |
IIM-B to create more Sonias, Sushmas, Jayas & Mayas
Get armed with brain power
An amazing invention which can tap signals from the brain has been unveiled recently in Canada...
and soon Indian students could be working on it
ou've lost an arm in a car crash and want to desperately get back to living the normal life. YYou go to a lab where they fit you with a prosthetic arm without surgery and ask you to `think' about moving it. You do the needful and gasp in amazement. Your arm obeys your brain and goes up. Two young biomedical engineering students at Ryerson University's Digital Media Zone (DMZ) in Toronto, Canada, Thiago Caires, 22, and Michal Prywata, 19, have come up with this brilliant device, an Artificial Muscle-Operated (AMO) Arm. Fitted with lithium-ion batteries, it is connected to a headset, which picks up the signals which the brain would have emitted to the lost arm. The artificial muscles in the pneumatic arm are then pulled by a small air compressor to carry out the command from the brain.
In an interview to the Global News Channel in Toronto, Caires and Prywata have said, “You bypass a lot of approvals because it's not really a medical device.“ It's the same as a cellphone, capturing signals from the brain instead of waves from a tower.
“It's a project that developed into a full company. The students (now in the US) have filed for patents,“ says Dr Sheldon Levy, president of Ryerson University, who is visiting India to announce the launching of a R5.95lakh (each) fellowship for bright Indian sparks who want to do research work in DMZ.
The university helps its students with patenting, legal advice, financing, networking with potential partners in the industry, etc. “We want the kids to not just graduate with a degree, but with a business as well,“ says Levy.
And how has the India trip been? “Amazing. I met this brilliant student in IITMadras and I wanted to pack him up in a suitcase and take him home. India has the talent,“ says Levy.
life coach - Help! My roomies are troubling me
I have just moved to Delhi for my bachelor's. I am living in a PG. I feel my roommates, who are my seniors in college, are troubling me on purpose. They have even blamed me for something they lost the other day and made a big issue out of it.
All this is affecting my image and I am not able to make new friends in college and the city. I often end up crying and don't want to bother my parents. What should I do? Will I be able to change my situation and how?
--Aggrieved roomie It is indeed courageous of you to come out with the problem and discuss it. Many new students, especially those migrating from a different city, take time to adjust to the cultural and social changes. Not only are you in a completely new place, but you have also left a deeply protective environment. If you think your roommates are troubling you on purpose, try talking to them and find out the reason. Talk to your classmates and try to deal with it together. This way you will not find yourself alone. If it still doesn't help, then it would be advisable to talk to your landlord/lady about it.
As far as your image in college is concerned, you need to give it some time. Since you have just started college and are not familiar with anyone, making new friends will be a gradual process. You can interact with new people by taking the initiative of introducing yourself to them, participating in the college fresher's party, signing up with different societies/clubs in the college etc.
Try not to lose sight of the main reason that brought you to Delhi, and don't let your academic performance suffer. If you think that talking to your parents would make you feel better, then do so, as they may have some useful advice for you. Having their support would undoubtedly help you through this difficult phase in your life. Good luck! The author is a senior consultant psychiatrist with Moolchand Medcity and Vimhans, New Delhi. Send him an email at hthorizons@hindustantimes.com, marked `Dr Nagpal'
How do I become a quantum physicist?
I am in Class 8. I want to become a quantum physicist? Which institute should I join after Class 12? -Shyam It is good to hear that you are interested in pursuing a career in the pure sciences, particularly a field like quantum physics. You must be good at physics and maths.
A specialised field of physics, quantum physics is the study of the behaviour of matter and energy at the molecular, atomic, nuclear, and even smaller microscopic levels. It is a research field which requires many years of specialised study at the master's/ PhD levels. As you are in Class 8 and there could be many new ideas and influences in your life before you make your career decision, it is best to keep some options open to give you greater flexibility in the years ahead.
Therefore, I suggest that you take up the science stream with physics, chemistry and maths in Class 11.
After this, if your interest in physics remains strong, you could do graduation in general physics before specialising in any particular field of physics.
The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (www.iisc.ernet.in) is offering new courses in pure sciences. It launched a programme designed as a balanced blend of core science and interdisciplinary topics, to serve as a launch pad for research and doctoral studies in cutting-edge areas in science and technology. You can major in any of the disciplines which include physics, chemistry, biology, material sciences and environment science. As the programme also includes courses in engineering, humanities, and inter-disciplinary areas, it gives you a well-rounded learning experience which can guide you towards your field of interest, whether quantum physics, or any other area of science. Do check the website for more details.
SAP certification One of my friends is planning to go for SAP. However, we are not sure which institute offers the best SAP training. Also, my friend is CCNA-certified. Can he go for SAP in IT or if not then which branch of SAP would be best option for him?
--Rashmi Your friend can take up the SAP course which has applications in many companies and industries. SAP is the world's leading provider of business software which specialises in industry specific enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions.
There are hundreds of companies that require trained SAP professionals.
Your friend can take up the SAP certification course from any computer institute, or do it online. To keep pace with the growing demand for SAP certification, SAP India has expanded its certification programme, and now offers them at three levels of expertise associate, professional and master. You can get more details from the SAP Education website www.sap.com/india. SAP certifications are also available through SAP partners such as NIIT, which offers the programmes in both instructor-led and online modes to working professionals, postgraduates and graduates.
College not approved My sister is pursuing her BTech from Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou). She got the information that the college is not AICTE-approved. Can anyone help?
--Worried The BTech from IGNOU is a distance learning programme suitable for those who have completed a three-year diploma in engineering, or are employed in equivalent capacity. It is a four-year extension education programme. After successful completion of the first two modules, your sister is eligible for the award of an advanced diploma in construction management (ADCM). With the ADCM, she can move on to completing the BTech degree, either through lateral entry into a regular programme, or after some work experience apply for the Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Engineers (AMIE), which enables working people or diploma holders to acquire a bachelor's engineering degree through distance education.
admissions & scholarships
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad Fellow programme in management Eligibility: A master's degree in any discipline, with at least 55% marks. Or, five year/four year integrated masters degree in any discipline, with at least 55% marks, or a professional qualification with at least 55% marks. Or a four-year bachelors degree with 60% marks.
How to apply: Visit www.iimahd.ernet.in Last date to apply: November 30, 2011 Indian School of Business and Finance Postgraduate programme in management Eligibility: Candidates must have completed graduation with a minimum of 50% marks in any discipline from a recognised university How to apply: Visit www.isbf.edu.in Last date to apply: August 30, 2011 Indian Institute of Commerce and Trade, Lucknow MBA (pharma business management/ pharma marketing) Eligibility: Interested candidates should have completed their graduation in any discipline or must hold a three-year polytechnic diploma coupled with three year's work experience to apply for the programme How to apply: Visit www.iict.in Last date to apply: August 30, 2011 MISCELLANEOUS Department of Geography, University of Allahabad PG diploma programme in remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) Eligibility: Admission to this programme will be made on the basis of the candidate's past academic record, entrance test and a personal interview.
Graduates in any discipline from a recognised university can apply.
How to apply: Visit www.llduniv.ac.in Last date to apply: September 16, 2011 School of Archival Studies Diploma in archives and records management Eligibility: Masters in history with at least a second division and 50% marks.
The candidate must have studied modern Indian history How to apply: Candidates have to send the application form with a pay order of R100 or DD drawn in favour of National Archives of India, to Director General of Archives, National Archives of India, Janpath, New Delhi110001 Last date to apply: September 16, 2011 Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi Certificate Programme in Global Trade Logisticts and Operations Eligibility: The candidate must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognised Indian or a foreign university.
Diploma holders with two years full time work experience at the executive or the supervisory level as on October 31, 2011 can also apply. Organisational sponsorship will be preferred in the application for the programme How to apply: Visit www.iift.edu.
Last date to apply: September 9, 2011 SCHOLARSHIPS In laks Research Travel Grants The In laks Shivdasani Foundation has been supporting innovative work in research and scholarship for more than three decades. The grant is aimed at assisting registered PhD students of Indian universities to undertake short term visits to universities abroad to collect material, use facilities and consult experts. The grant offers financial support for a maximum of three months at a university/institution/ library abroad. The grant will cover discounted air fare, maintenance expenses at a modest rate, funds for buying material and books, and making copies of relevant literature.
Eligibility: The applicants must hold confirmed PhD registration for at least two years but for not more than four years; have a first class degree at either bachelor's (Honours) or master's level, preferably both; and be under 35 years of age as on December 31 of the year of applying.
How to apply: The forms may be downloaded from the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation website along with a sample of written work (3000-5000 words) on the subject of the candidate's research.
This should preferably be a draft (with full annotation and documentation) of a chapter of the PhD thesis along with details regarding the reading list, surveys, or any other work done towards the thesis. Evidence of having communicated with concerned persons or institutions abroad and having received a positive response. A written and signed statement from the applicant's supervisor stating: The candidate's ability, focus and progress in the work done under her/his supervision; the candidate's need to go abroad, that the funds for the visit cannot be obtained from any other source. The forms and other enclosures must be sent by post to the following address: 86/87 Atlanta, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021.
Last date to apply: September 30, 2011 New Voices Fellowship for Screenwriters Asia Society India Centre has launched the New Voices Fellowship for Screenwriters (NVFS), a programme to identify and support a group of six talented independent screenwriters to develop their feature film scripts by working in a dynamic and innovative environment with guidance from eminent filmmakers and screenwriters Eligibility: The fellowship is only open to Indian citizens residing in India, above 18 years of age who have written one full-length feature script that has been registered with any film writers' association in India. The project will have two phases. Through an open application process, 12 writers will be selected to attend the first workshop to be held in November 2011. At the end of the workshop, six writers will be invited to continue on in an eight-month fellowship that will provide a focused platform to explore their work and ideas more fully. Fellows will have a rare opportunity to work with eminent screenwriters to develop their scripts and to attend two workshops. Each participating fellow will receive: a stipend of R1 lakh; regular feedback from men tors; two five-day-long workshops led by industry professionals and with active participation from peers in a learning community; recommendations on how to take the scripts to the next phase. This includes conceptualising strategies and approaches to develop contacts How to apply: Please check asia society.org/centers/india/new-voices-fellowship-screenwriters#faqs for more details Last date to apply: August 31, 2011
How to apply: Visit www.iimahd.ernet.in Last date to apply: November 30, 2011 Indian School of Business and Finance Postgraduate programme in management Eligibility: Candidates must have completed graduation with a minimum of 50% marks in any discipline from a recognised university How to apply: Visit www.isbf.edu.in Last date to apply: August 30, 2011 Indian Institute of Commerce and Trade, Lucknow MBA (pharma business management/ pharma marketing) Eligibility: Interested candidates should have completed their graduation in any discipline or must hold a three-year polytechnic diploma coupled with three year's work experience to apply for the programme How to apply: Visit www.iict.in Last date to apply: August 30, 2011 MISCELLANEOUS Department of Geography, University of Allahabad PG diploma programme in remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) Eligibility: Admission to this programme will be made on the basis of the candidate's past academic record, entrance test and a personal interview.
Graduates in any discipline from a recognised university can apply.
How to apply: Visit www.llduniv.ac.in Last date to apply: September 16, 2011 School of Archival Studies Diploma in archives and records management Eligibility: Masters in history with at least a second division and 50% marks.
The candidate must have studied modern Indian history How to apply: Candidates have to send the application form with a pay order of R100 or DD drawn in favour of National Archives of India, to Director General of Archives, National Archives of India, Janpath, New Delhi110001 Last date to apply: September 16, 2011 Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi Certificate Programme in Global Trade Logisticts and Operations Eligibility: The candidate must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognised Indian or a foreign university.
Diploma holders with two years full time work experience at the executive or the supervisory level as on October 31, 2011 can also apply. Organisational sponsorship will be preferred in the application for the programme How to apply: Visit www.iift.edu.
Last date to apply: September 9, 2011 SCHOLARSHIPS In laks Research Travel Grants The In laks Shivdasani Foundation has been supporting innovative work in research and scholarship for more than three decades. The grant is aimed at assisting registered PhD students of Indian universities to undertake short term visits to universities abroad to collect material, use facilities and consult experts. The grant offers financial support for a maximum of three months at a university/institution/ library abroad. The grant will cover discounted air fare, maintenance expenses at a modest rate, funds for buying material and books, and making copies of relevant literature.
Eligibility: The applicants must hold confirmed PhD registration for at least two years but for not more than four years; have a first class degree at either bachelor's (Honours) or master's level, preferably both; and be under 35 years of age as on December 31 of the year of applying.
How to apply: The forms may be downloaded from the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation website along with a sample of written work (3000-5000 words) on the subject of the candidate's research.
This should preferably be a draft (with full annotation and documentation) of a chapter of the PhD thesis along with details regarding the reading list, surveys, or any other work done towards the thesis. Evidence of having communicated with concerned persons or institutions abroad and having received a positive response. A written and signed statement from the applicant's supervisor stating: The candidate's ability, focus and progress in the work done under her/his supervision; the candidate's need to go abroad, that the funds for the visit cannot be obtained from any other source. The forms and other enclosures must be sent by post to the following address: 86/87 Atlanta, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021.
Last date to apply: September 30, 2011 New Voices Fellowship for Screenwriters Asia Society India Centre has launched the New Voices Fellowship for Screenwriters (NVFS), a programme to identify and support a group of six talented independent screenwriters to develop their feature film scripts by working in a dynamic and innovative environment with guidance from eminent filmmakers and screenwriters Eligibility: The fellowship is only open to Indian citizens residing in India, above 18 years of age who have written one full-length feature script that has been registered with any film writers' association in India. The project will have two phases. Through an open application process, 12 writers will be selected to attend the first workshop to be held in November 2011. At the end of the workshop, six writers will be invited to continue on in an eight-month fellowship that will provide a focused platform to explore their work and ideas more fully. Fellows will have a rare opportunity to work with eminent screenwriters to develop their scripts and to attend two workshops. Each participating fellow will receive: a stipend of R1 lakh; regular feedback from men tors; two five-day-long workshops led by industry professionals and with active participation from peers in a learning community; recommendations on how to take the scripts to the next phase. This includes conceptualising strategies and approaches to develop contacts How to apply: Please check asia society.org/centers/india/new-voices-fellowship-screenwriters#faqs for more details Last date to apply: August 31, 2011
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER Shoot to thrill
A tiger closing in on its prey, a peacock lazily unfurling its colourful feathers... The mission of a wildlife photographer is to capture and shoot animals in their natural habitat... with a camera. It's a profession that requires love for the wildlife, nature, interest in conservation, along with in-depth knowledge of one's subjects. Constant upgradation of photography skills is a must. Satisfaction comes from getting that elusive shot printed in magazines/displayed at exhibitions for wildlife lovers to admire CLOCKWORK 3.30am: Wake up, have a cup of tea and start trek 4am: Reach the researched site, set up camouflage and equipment 4.30am 8.30am: Start shooting as animals and birds make fleeting appearances 9am: Breakfast 9.30am: Manage a few more shots before light gets too strong 11am: Retire to camp, empty memory cards 12pm: Hike to nearby resort to send shots to the magazine editor 3pm: Meet forest officials/ guides to check for animal movement 4pm: Do some research for the next day's shoot 5pm: Grab some more shots before it gets dark 8pm: Retire to camp, have dinner and sleep THE PAYOFF At the outset, you should work independently and do as much work as possible. Then, share the work with newspapers, magazines, or NGOs that work for animal rights. You can also host exhibitions and enter photography contests. The objective is to get your work noticed. Your photographs can also be used for greeting cards and calendars, or you can even get posters made.
Income at this level is around R5,000 to R10,000 a month, depending on one's talents. An established wildlife photographer reports earnings of R30,000 to R5 lakh a month. A photographer may also undertake freelance assignments SKILLS/TRAITS Extreme patience Presence of mind Strong communication skills Deep respect for nature in all its forms A naturalist's sensitivity Ability to blend in and maintain silence GETTING THERE There's no one way to get to be a wildlife photographer. You can start as soon as you can lay your hands on a camera. Beginners can start observing their surroundings first and photograph the commonly occuring native species. At this stage, a professional camera is not required. To be a good photographer, it is essential that you love animals. You can join a basic photography course and gain knowledge from there. A lot of information is available about animal behaviour on the Internet and you should studiously seek this out.
Also, make it a point to visit the nearest zoo to get an idea of how animals behave, time at which they are most active etc INSTITUTES AND URLS National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad www.nid.edu Fergusson College, Pune www.fergusson.edu Canon Education Portal www.usa.canon.com www.wildlifephoto.net/articles/started.html PROS AND CONS You get to travel a lot You have less time for family and friends Freedom to operate independently Exposure to danger Contributing to saving the creature you love No steady income Sustaining yourself financially could be difficult
COAST GUARD Water vigil
The Coast Guard is the principal agency protecting the maritime zones of India and ensuring the safety and protection of the artificial islands, offshore installations etc. It is also supposed to provide protection to Indian fishermen and assist them in case they face any problems. The Coast Guard's duties also include preservation and protection of the maritime environment, including prevention and control of maritime pollution and helping customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations CLOCKWORK The coast guard has dedicated, professional team of officers and men who operate ships and aircraft for safeguarding country's maritime interests. The life of a Coast Guard officer is a mix of hard work, professionalism, risk, adventure and the opportunity to move around and visit different places within India and abroad. An officer's routine would depend on the function he is performing and varies accordingly THE PAYOFF As an assistant commandant one gets to take home R15,600 to R39,100 with a grade pay of R5,400. As a deputy commandant the grade pay increases to R6,600. As the deputy inspector general the pay is R37,400 to R67,000 with a grade pay of R8,700. As one moves up to the level of the director general the grade pay increases to R12,000.
The pay includes dearness allowance, kit maintenance allowance and transport allowance.
In addition, other allowances are also admissible based on the nature of duty and place of posting SKILLS/TRAITS Physical stamina Good communication skills Knowledge of the Indian coastline is an added advantage GETTING THERE You should have completed Class 12 with science, be in the age group of 21-25, and have a BSc degree in mathematics and physics to apply for the post of assistant commandant for general duty as well as short service appointment (for females). For the post of assistant commandant, general duty (pilot /navigator) you should fall in the age group of 19-27 and have a BSc with physics and maths. The recruitment of asst. commandants is conducted bi-annually. Check the website for more details on eligibility criteria and minimum required physical standards INSTITUTES AND URLS www.indiancoastguard.nic.in PROS AND CONS A respected profession, full of adventure The perks are very encouraging
DEVELOPMENT JOURNALIST Write to progress THE LOWDOWN
Coined in 1968 at a Press Foundation of Asia conference in the Philippines, the term development journalism highlights the catalytic role played by the press in the socio-economic development of any country. Development journalism covers both urban and rural poverty, the environment, agriculture, health and sanitation, gender issues, infrastructure, road safety, education, innovation, human rights, etc.
Journalists are required to produce well-researched, factbased articles which highlight the plight of people, communities or the society in general. They will be required to travel a lot and live in underdeveloped areas CLOCKWORK The average day of a budding development journalist at an investigative news magazine: 8.30am: Call up contacts and fix appointments 9.30am: Out, meeting sources 11.30am: Attest statements 1.30pm: Lunch 3pm: Meet a government official for a report 6pm: Back to office. Write stor organise picture and supplementary elements for the story 8pm: Meet contacts over dinner 9.30pm: Back home THE PAYOFF Initially, the pay package is about R1.5 lakh to R3.5 lakh per annum.
The package depends on the media organisation (news channel, newspaper or magazine), its size and location. A lot of develop ment journalists freelance. Many develop. ment communicators switch lanes and join non government organisations, which promise more growth and exposure.
SKILLS/TRAITS Excellent communication skills Good interpersonal skills Good general knowledge and awareness Ability to pitch story to TV/newspapers A modest personality and an inherent desire to report on human issues would take you a long way GETTING THERE You can opt for any subject combination in Class 12 and at the bachelors levels. An aspirant seeking to make a career in development journalsim may come from any academic background, but a social science degree is preferable. You need to acquaint yourself with the social sciences, especially important theories of political science and sociology to gain a better understanding of the contemporary society. Familiarise yourself with the history of the country/district/village. A postgraduate degree or diploma in journalism/ mass communication or development communication might help INSTITUTES AND URLS Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi www.iimc.nic.in Jamia Millia Islamia www.jmi.nic.in Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore www.iijnm.org Asian College of Journalism, Chennai www.asianmedia.org Xavier Institute, Mumbai www.xaviercomm.org PROS AND CONS It is a very satisfying work, as it touches lives The profession offers relatively low packages A high-responsibility job Your work can influence the reader's life Tight deadlines You may have to travel to remote areas, at times risking your life Reporting on development issues can get extremely challenging Limited job options
foreign education bill It's the value that counts
nce the foreign educational institutions law is in place, will OHarvard and Cambridge open campuses and offer their best programmes right here at our doorsteps? Will it change India's higher education landscape for the better? A section of senior academics are sceptical about what the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill can do.“Foreign universities coming to India may help overcome the dearth of quality institutions in the country. It's also important to give them genuine autonomy and ensure that they are close replicas of their foreign campuses. Also, a level-playing field must be created between the domestic and foreign players. Students need good quality education, which includes the best faculty and infrastructure, at a reasonable price,“ says Bakul Dholakia, former director, IIM Ahmedabad.
Saumen Chattopadhyay, associate pr fessor of education at Jawaharlal Nehru University, says the arrival of overseas players “will lead to expansion of higher education, but only for the upper crust (5%) of society“. It will not be inclusive.
An open question is who will eventually turn up.
According to Shyam Menon, VC, Ambedkar University, Delhi and Chattopadhyay, if institutions such as Harvard and the London School of Economics come in, it will possibly mean quality education. Menon adds, “We need to observe if they are just coming here to make money or to add value to our education system.“
But Menon is “cautiously optimistic“. Apart from giving more education options in the private sector, it will also open up the job market (for graduates), he says.
The revised Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test was launched on August 1, said to be the `biggest change' in its 60-year history.
The revised Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test was launched on August 1, said to be the `biggest change' in its 60-year history. For the uninitiated, HT Horizons profiles the GRE and other major standardised tests needed for admission to international institutions and for immigration. The GRE is required for admission to graduate programmes, including more than 600 MBAs, in many foreign universities. Every year, about 7 lakh aspirants take the GRE test, the scores of which are used for entry to thousands of graduate and business school courses globally.
The GRE general test is given as a computer-based test by appointment throughout the year at most centres.
The three hour-45 minute test has six sections with a 10-minute break after the third (analytical writing is the first, while the others can appear in any order): Analytical writing: “Analyse an issue“ task and “Analyse an argument“ task, 30 minutes per task Verbal reasoning: Two sections with about 20 questions each, 30 minutes per section Quantitative reasoning: Two sections with about 20 questions each, 35 minutes per section Unscored: Number of questions and duration vary Research: Number of questions and duration vary The new version of the GRE General has been billed as very “student-friendly“. It has new questions, score scale and design.
“The GRE is a computer adaptive test, so a correct answer to one question leads to a more difficult subsequent question, while a wrong answer leads to a simpler one,“ elaborates Suruchi Wagh, who has a master's from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and is founder of nextLeap, a recommendation engine, which provides virtual counselling. In the new format, test-takers can revisit previous questions, and edit or change answers -all within the same section.
According to ETS, the nonprofit body which administers the test, “The new verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning score scale, from 130-170 in one-point increments, will enable admissions professionals to better compare candidates' scores as it makes small differences in scoring look small, while bigger differences will continue to stand out.“
“Earlier students needed to mug up about 4000 words for the verbal section,“ says Wagh. “The revised test requires more in-depth understanding of what you are reading. It's for people who take interest in what they do. The questions in the revised GRE General Test are more about real-life scenarios. The test needs more practice. It's becoming close to the GMAT.“ Indeed, a lot of b-schools now accept GRE scores and technical schools take GMAT scores, she points out.
In addition to the GRE revised General Test, there's also the GRE Subject Test, which assesses extensive knowledge of a certain discipline. It is given in eight disciplines: biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, biology, chemistry, computer science, literature in English, mathematics, physics and psychology, at paper-based centres worldwide in October, November and April. Test preparation help is available on the ETS website Fee: $95 (R4,304) (discounted fee for GRE revised General during August or September 2011), $190 (R8,609) (after September 2011); $160 (R7,250) (GRE Subject Test) How to apply: Register for a GRE revised General Test or GRE Subject Test online or by mail. Registration for the subject tests and the GRE revised General Test is available at www.ets.org.
A recession plan for PR agencies
The crash in global markets will soon have agency heads assess its impact on business. The smart ones have already begun taking stock — evaluating projections and charting out game plans to guard against potential dip in revenues. The Monday morning meetings might well include a word of caution from the Branch heads to not only up the ante on client servicing but also be on the lookout for telltale signs from clients that could hint at potential causes for concern. The threat is not just from the outside but also within as undercutting and poaching become commonplace in the industry. Seasoned PR agencies have been through the recession drill several times. The last decade alone has trained agencies to prepare for the worst with the dot-com burst and subprime mortgage crisis. While India weathered these crises relatively well, the situation does not look very promising now. If economists and institutes like the ICRIER are to be believed, India is less resilient now and more vulnerable to a domestic meltdown. Industries like Tourism, IT, Manufacturing and Infrastructure are expected to be the most affected. When companies cut costs during recession, contrary to what one would expect given the high ROI of PR, the first casualty is often the PR agency. Besides ignorance and short-sightedness on the client's end, to a large extent, this could be attributed to the fact the PR budgets come from the advertising agency-controlled marketing kitty. I recently asked some PR professionals on Twitter to share their top tips on coping with recession. Some of their inputs have been incorporated in these 10 tips to help PR agencies build their own recession protection plan: l Client retention is easier than new business acquisition. Focus energies on walking that extra mile to be a valuable partner to clients. Innovate; stretch every rupee for the client. l Renegotiate contracts with a clause to revisit retainer fee after a few months. Depending on the nature of relationship shared, retain or scale down current scope of work. l Leverage research capabilities to provide real-time information and analysis on industry and competition to clients. Market intelligence could not only help in retention, but also revenue creation. l Fix hygiene and employee issues within the agency. Update databases, upgrade resources and train people, all of which would stand the agencies in good stead in the long run. l Consider developing new skill sets like digital media expertise. l Avoid the knee jerk reaction of downsizing as it could adversely impact employee morale. l Hire smart. l Renew focus on business development; incentivise and reward employees who help in revenue generation. Focus on sectors like Healthcare, Utilities, Agriculture and Pharma that are likely to be least impacted. Score quick wins through specialist products, projects and workshops. l Take a hard look at measurement and give clients something to think about by showcasing tangible benefits. Utilise opportunities to talk about relevance and importance of PR during slowdown. l Have the courage to walk away from non-paying clients. l Remember Roman poet Horace's words: Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant. |
For us, SAT-like aptitude test called NAT Exam
For us, SAT-like aptitude test called NAT | ||
plans to put in place by 2013 single entrance test to rank students across india for admissions | ||
The Union ministry of human resource development (MoHRD) is all set to revolutionise the way students get admitted to various engineering and undergraduate level courses in colleges across the country. Borrowing a leaf out of the American education system's Scholar Aptitude Test (SAT), the MoHRD is planning a similar single entrance examination which will rank students across the country and enable them to get admission according to their rankings. By 2013, there would not be any joint entrance examination for the coveted IITs and other engineering courses. Students need to just sit for the single National Aptitude Test (NAT) and get admitted according to their positions. A similar examination was being planned for all the BSc, BCom and BA undergraduate programmes. This would mean students can stop losing sleep over the crazy cut-off percentage system for admissions and instead try and get good rankings in the new aptitude test. However, their Std 12 marks would continue to cast a shadow on deciding admissions. The revolutionary scheme has been credited to Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal who came up with the concept of the "one nation, one exam" recently. The proposed reform would benefit more than 10 lakh students annually, who at present have to take multiple examinations to pursue engineering and other undergraduate courses. But not everyone was happy with the proposal. Noted educationist and former school principal Vibha Parthasarathy felt that "each child has a different aptitude so you cannot homogenise the system. Having a common entrance test just doesn't make any sense." Former NCERT chairman Krishna Kumar, however, said that "a similar system in medical courses is needed and will prevent students from being stressed out." According to a senior MoHRD official, this examination "will be sufficient to get admissions in colleges across the country as a single merit list will be prepared based on the common aptitude test. All colleges in the country will have to make admissions based on this list." In the run up to preparing a legislation to put this into effect, the MoHRD conducted an online survey for three months, starting June this year. The ministry was overwhelmed with parents and students supporting the initiative wholeheartedly. Nearly 70 % of the 2,063 participants were in favour of this proposed initiative. India' single-entrance would, however, suit Indian requirements. "We have to tweak the SAT system to our requirements and keep factors such as diversity and the size of the Indian population in mind. For instance, a student from Tamil Nadu does not have to write a test in Hindi," the official told DNA. The test would be conducted twice a year so that those who failed to make the cut once get another chance to improve. For this, the official said the Indian education system was going in for a major overhaul by having a semester system. |
PROFILE: maharaja agrasen college A fresh start
One would believe that the pang of separation, as one detaches from the past to make a new beginning, often overshadows the newfound joy.
However, for students of the Maharaja Agrasen College (MAC), the transition from their old campus to the new one has been an exhilarating experience.Sharad Mishra, a third-year BSc electronics student, says, “Since we moved to our new campus at Vasundhra Enclave (from Mayur Vihar), the only thing that has changed is the number of opportunities for us to explore.
We are not missing the old campus because we wanted a better campus. At MAC, the effort is on discovering and creating new horizons for ourselves and the community. That was somewhat difficult with the limited resources and restriction, in terms of space on the old campus, but now, this problem has been resolved. The new campus with its infrastructure provides us a healthy environment to develop ourselves.“
USP: MAC is one of the only two coeducation colleges of Delhi University to offer a journalism programme, the other one being the Delhi College of Arts and Commerce.
Faculty: The college has a teaching staff of 82 and a nonteaching staff of 52 members.
Programmes: On offer are four courses of study in various disciplines: bachelors in business economics (BBE), English, Hindi, political science, journalism; BA programme; BCom (hons); and BSc in electronics, physical science and mathematical science.
Infrastructure: “The facilities for students have increased. For example, as a science undergraduate student, a lot of emphasis is laid on experimentation and practical application of what we are taught. In the previous campus, we only had one functional electronics laboratory for all three years (batches). Now, we have separate, well-equipped labs. We also have a lab each for students of journalism, chemistry, biology, physics and computers,“ says Mishra.
There is a MAC Educational Innovation Incubator (MAC-EII), which is an electronic classroom that helps students innovate better. The incubator provides a place where the faculty and students can experiment together and try new tools and techniques.
The fully computerised library caters to the academic and research needs of students as well as the faculty. The college also has a sprawling ground with many sports facilities.
IT quotient: The centralised computer lab has various computing and visualisation facilities, which help students carry out research activities. Currently, there are over 80 computers in the lab. From this academic session, a Wi-Fi network provides network access to the entire campus. There are plans to initiate various IT-enabled services for students and faculty members.
Clubs and societies: Various departmental societies of the college provide a platform for creative thinking. They organise competitions, conferences, seminars, symposiums and workshops at college/ inter-college levels.
Such events encourage the students to think innovatively and hone their organisational skills.
Some of the prominent societies active in the college are Promsoc, the western dance society; Abhinay, the theatre group; adventure club; business economics association, the society of department of business economics, Literati, society of department of English; Hindi Parishad, society of department of Hindi; Samvad, society of department of journalism; Chanakya, society of department of political science; Lakshya, society of BA programme; Vyaktitva, society of department of commerce; Techno, society of department of electronics, Ramanujam, society of department of mathematical science; and Ketos, society of department of computer science.
Studentspeak: “MAC is a great working and learning community.
Students' issues and queries are given proper attention. Thanks to this improved system, the interaction between students and teachers, as well as among students has been strengthened. With all the facilities and ample resources, we have more chances to interact through extracurricular and cocurricular events and activities,“ says Prashant Verma, a third-year student.
Delhi have dedicated counsellors, therapists and helplines to help students with psychological problems
Several schools and universities in Delhi have dedicated counsellors, therapists and helplines to help students with psychological problems
A c ` ounsellor, guide and stress buster', Pathma Naidu wears several hats at a time. Head of counselling and life support education at Pathways World School, Gurgaon, Naidu is one of the many counsellors in schools and colleges across the Capital who contribute to the holistic development of students. “We run the Pathways of Universal Life Support Education programme (PULSE), which has a comprehensive guidance and awareness curriculum for students in a classroom setting,“ says Naidu.
She points out that counselling sessions are like a triangle of which parents are the base, teachers and counsellors are two other sides and children are the centre -everything must come together to help children fight psychological issues.
Other schools also have various means of imparting life skills. Etishree Bhati, clinical psychologist (counsellor), Delhi Public School, RK Puram, who has been a CBSE counsellor, says that she sees that there's an increasing trend of children suffering from behavioural problems, depression, speech dysfunction, inattentiveness, dyslexia or learning disorders. “We have appointed mentor teachers and buddies (who are fellow students). Using peer influence and relaxation therapies are other unique ways (to aid students),“ says Bhati.
Universities too have made provisions to help students overcome and discuss psychosocial matters. For instance, Delhi University has a Career and Counselling Cell that has been functioning under the control and supervision of the dean, students' welfare since 2009. The cell counsels individual students and maps their personal problems, goals and visions besides counselling them on social and personal issues such as sexuality, interpersonal relationships, adjustment and family problems, and guides them in improving their academic grades. DU also has a helpline counselling service since 1995 in the Centre for Adult, Continuing Education and Extension that provides telephonic counselling (9873302532), personal counselling and referral services on these issues.
“DU has dedicated counsellors for students wherein students come with various problems including family issues, coping with the course they are pursuing, college life etc. Depending on the nature and extent of the problem, students are referred to the concerned experts. They are also given financial assistance at times,“ says Dinesh Varshney, deputy dean, students' welfare, DU.
Ambedkar University, Delhi has also set up a psychological counselling centre, which has clinical psychologists who are trained in psychodynamics and psychotherapy to deal with problems of young adults. “Students as well as outsiders can access this counselling centre,“ says Shifa Haq, a research assistant at this centre.
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University has a dedicated helpline that functions during university hours (011-25302167-69). The varsity also organises counselling sessions wherein queries are addressed by the departmental heads and counsellors.
Meet the man behind the movie I am Kalam, and learn of his journey to the world of cinema from a small village in Orissa
Meet the man behind the movie I am Kalam, and learn of his journey to the world of cinema from a small village in Orissa
What does it take to make your mark in Bollywood? Is it contacts, big bucks or a star-studded cast in your debut feature film? In Nila Madhab Panda's case it was none of these. His directorial venture, I am Kalam, which released last week, has taken the cine world by storm winning close to 11 awards, some of them as prestigious as the Young Jury Award at the International Film Festival of India in Goa, 2010. His journey into the world of cinema was not one of luck but one of a passion to tell stories that mattered and to depict people, emotions, relationships and circumstances through the lens. Hailing from a small village in Orissa, Panda's childhood was spent grappling poverty, meeting the unruly demands of his father and pushing himself to study in the makeshift village school.
Says Panda, “Life as a child in the village was about whiling away time by the river, playing with friends and working in the fields.
The only things that gravely concerned me were meals and education because getting a proper meal seemed impossible in a joint family of 10-15 people and I hated studying in the mud school, which would get washed away during the monoons.
Since I hated theoretical bookish framework, and avoided school education, my father and I were constantly at loggerheads,“ recalls Panda.
Ask him how he developed an interest in movies when circumstances were so grim, he says, “I loved storytelling.
In the village, I would mesmerise people with my stories and the craft of storytelling. It was kind of a stress-busting exercise for me. Then, someone in the village bought a television and that changed my life. I saw villagers going crazy over the shows. For them, it was very difficult to understand that it was people like them and I who acted in those programmes. That was my chance. I knew they were people, and I wanted to meet them,“ says the filmmaker. However, taking the first decision wasn't easy because of the lack of funds. So, he convinced his father to sell off his mother's jewellery and used this money to fund himself in his quest.
His quest brought him to Delhi's National School of Drama, and later took him to the US. It was while he was in Delhi that he met some filmmakers from the US. “It was exciting to interact with them and understanding the contrasting worlds we lived in. For us, clean water, sanitation, roads were a problem, but for them these were reality. They came from a place where these things were taken for granted. What was interesting was the possible stories that emerged from that encounter. After this first experience, I realised that there was a way of telling stories by collaborating and building networks,“ Panda says.
He has produced and directed over 700 films and describes his work as being `needs based' aimed at creating awareness about social issues and bringing them into mainstream entertainment.
Elaborating about this, he says, “I am not just a filmmaker, my films are a platform. They serve a purpose.
They aren't about an item song here, a DK Bose there. I address social issues through cinema. My films hold a mirror up to society and reflect it in its true character. Even I am Kalam does the same it weaves in entertainment with a very serious issue of child labour, childhood dreams and aspirations to help the viewer relate to Chotu (the main protagonist).
“You can say that the movie is partly based on my life experiences, but it goes beyond that to highlight child labour, to convey the rights of education, particularly for village children -any of whom could be the next Kalam -who is the inspiration for the movie.“
Next on his agenda, Panda says “is one of the many stories I have in mind. Twentyfirst century India is changing, and changing at a very fast pace, throwing up new challenges at every step. Be it the BPO culture, growing consumerist tendencies in the metros, issues of skewed sex ratio, sanitation, or education in villages these present exciting opportunities to be told to the world as stories.“
Addressing the youth of today, he says, “Just follow your dreams and have firm belief in your abilities. Do what you like and never be afraid of making choices.
They might be wrong, but you'll have the satisfaction of it being your decision.
Theoretical knowledge isn't everything what is important is that you understand the society around you. Feel the pulse of the place.“
Career Advice
I'm a Class 11 student studying physics, chemistry, biology and psychology. I want to keep psychology (hons) as my second option, the first being medicine, and plan to become a clinical psychologist. Do let me know which courses I need to apply for and about the good colleges. What's the difference between psychology and clinical psychology?
-Tanika Clinical psychology is one of the several specialised areas of work in psychology. It is concerned with the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental disorders. While clinical psychologists often work in medical settings, they are not medical doctors and do not prescribe medication.
Clinical psychology is the largest subfield within psychology. There are also speciality areas within clinical psychology, including child mental health, adult mental health, learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, substance abuse, geriatrics, health psychology and so on.
After a BA in psychology, most students choose to get into an MA in psychology to gain more indepth understanding of the subject.
While there are some institutes that offer MA courses in clinical psychology, in most cases you need to pursue an MPhil degree after your masters to become a clinical psychologist.
A few of the institutes for MPhil are as follows: National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore www.nimhans.kar.nic.in Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, New Delhi ihbas.delhigovt.nic.in From BBE to PR I am a chemistry graduate from Mumbai. I took a postgraduate diploma in medical lab technology from Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education. I have been working in a blood bank as a technician for more than five years now. However, while it's good to be holding a job, there is almost zero growth in my field. This makes me tense. Please suggest some career options in the same or other fields?
-Rajendra As such, the demand for laboratory technologists will continue to increase since the number of hospitals, speciality hospitals, laboratories etc is growing rapidly. The healthcare sector growing at 13% and large companies like Apollo, Max, Fortis, Wockhardt, Tata and several others are setting up state-of-the-art hospitals, clinics and laboratories across the country for providing a range of multi-speciality healthcare services.
Moreover, as newer sophisticated machinery is introduced, medical technologists are required in larger numbers and with the knowledge and skills to handle the equipment, and to constantly upgrade their skills. Since you like your work, you can consider learning on the job and moving to molecular diagnostics, molecular biotechnology companies, in vitro fertilisation laboratories or research labs. In the clinical areas, drug testing, therapeutic drug monitoring and biogenetics are just a few of the specialities with openings. In industry, medical technologists are needed for positions in product development, marketing, sales, quality assurance, environmental health and insurance, among others.
So, if you are unable to advance to supervisory or management positions in your current lab, consider joining another diagnostic lab or hospital. You could also upgrade your skills with a master's in MLT, or an MSc in microbiology or clinical microbiology.
Alternatively, how about moving laterally into areas such as hospital management, clinical research, pharmacy or biotechnology after qualifying for these fields? An MBA degree in hospital administration offers good prospects, with specialised knowledge on the working of a hospital, marketing of hospital services and logistics management.
-Tanika Clinical psychology is one of the several specialised areas of work in psychology. It is concerned with the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental disorders. While clinical psychologists often work in medical settings, they are not medical doctors and do not prescribe medication.
Clinical psychology is the largest subfield within psychology. There are also speciality areas within clinical psychology, including child mental health, adult mental health, learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, substance abuse, geriatrics, health psychology and so on.
After a BA in psychology, most students choose to get into an MA in psychology to gain more indepth understanding of the subject.
While there are some institutes that offer MA courses in clinical psychology, in most cases you need to pursue an MPhil degree after your masters to become a clinical psychologist.
A few of the institutes for MPhil are as follows: National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore www.nimhans.kar.nic.in Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, New Delhi ihbas.delhigovt.nic.in From BBE to PR I am a chemistry graduate from Mumbai. I took a postgraduate diploma in medical lab technology from Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education. I have been working in a blood bank as a technician for more than five years now. However, while it's good to be holding a job, there is almost zero growth in my field. This makes me tense. Please suggest some career options in the same or other fields?
-Rajendra As such, the demand for laboratory technologists will continue to increase since the number of hospitals, speciality hospitals, laboratories etc is growing rapidly. The healthcare sector growing at 13% and large companies like Apollo, Max, Fortis, Wockhardt, Tata and several others are setting up state-of-the-art hospitals, clinics and laboratories across the country for providing a range of multi-speciality healthcare services.
Moreover, as newer sophisticated machinery is introduced, medical technologists are required in larger numbers and with the knowledge and skills to handle the equipment, and to constantly upgrade their skills. Since you like your work, you can consider learning on the job and moving to molecular diagnostics, molecular biotechnology companies, in vitro fertilisation laboratories or research labs. In the clinical areas, drug testing, therapeutic drug monitoring and biogenetics are just a few of the specialities with openings. In industry, medical technologists are needed for positions in product development, marketing, sales, quality assurance, environmental health and insurance, among others.
So, if you are unable to advance to supervisory or management positions in your current lab, consider joining another diagnostic lab or hospital. You could also upgrade your skills with a master's in MLT, or an MSc in microbiology or clinical microbiology.
Alternatively, how about moving laterally into areas such as hospital management, clinical research, pharmacy or biotechnology after qualifying for these fields? An MBA degree in hospital administration offers good prospects, with specialised knowledge on the working of a hospital, marketing of hospital services and logistics management.
Career mastermind
An MA degree through distance learning could also help you improve your career prospects and gain better access to the international market
A bachelor's degree may be your launch pad for a career but a master's degree (while you work) can give your career an extra push. Be it a better package or a promotion, being a postgraduate can enable you to get there with ease. While most students prefer a full-time course, the trend of taking a master's degree through the distance-learning mode is catching up with working professionals. There are examples where a worthwhile distance-mode PG stamp does help professionals reap the benefits in their careers. It is well-known that a PG qualification can earn you better rewards over a plain graduate degree. However, in the case of Nimisha Arora, a master's degree was like icing on the cake.
She says, “An MBA helped me grow as a professional. I thoroughly enjoyed studying the syllabus because I was working simultaneously and could relate to the practical aspects of the learning process. Now that I am through with my course, I can feel the palpable changes. I am better organised and have sharpened my managerial skills. Besides, even at the workplace, my suggestions are taken into account and people's perception of who I am has changed a lot. Apart from these positives, a postgraduate degree also helps people earn a better package as compared to just a graduate degree. The options increase manifold,“ she adds.
While for some a master's degree is about raking in the moolah, there are others for whom it is a passport for a future abroad. Meet Kapil Mahajan (name changed), a manager in a telecom firm.
“I am doing pretty well for myself in my current job. I earn well, am settled and for career advancement, I keep taking certifications off and on. I never gave a thought to a two-year master's degree, because it is not really required in my industry. However, last year I applied for a position in the United States, and my application was rejected because I did not have a master's. It was then that I decided to go for an MBA programme through the distance-learning mode.“ Mahajan recently finished his MBA and awaits “a good opportunity“.
A bachelor's degree may be your launch pad for a career but a master's degree (while you work) can give your career an extra push. Be it a better package or a promotion, being a postgraduate can enable you to get there with ease. While most students prefer a full-time course, the trend of taking a master's degree through the distance-learning mode is catching up with working professionals. There are examples where a worthwhile distance-mode PG stamp does help professionals reap the benefits in their careers. It is well-known that a PG qualification can earn you better rewards over a plain graduate degree. However, in the case of Nimisha Arora, a master's degree was like icing on the cake.
She says, “An MBA helped me grow as a professional. I thoroughly enjoyed studying the syllabus because I was working simultaneously and could relate to the practical aspects of the learning process. Now that I am through with my course, I can feel the palpable changes. I am better organised and have sharpened my managerial skills. Besides, even at the workplace, my suggestions are taken into account and people's perception of who I am has changed a lot. Apart from these positives, a postgraduate degree also helps people earn a better package as compared to just a graduate degree. The options increase manifold,“ she adds.
While for some a master's degree is about raking in the moolah, there are others for whom it is a passport for a future abroad. Meet Kapil Mahajan (name changed), a manager in a telecom firm.
“I am doing pretty well for myself in my current job. I earn well, am settled and for career advancement, I keep taking certifications off and on. I never gave a thought to a two-year master's degree, because it is not really required in my industry. However, last year I applied for a position in the United States, and my application was rejected because I did not have a master's. It was then that I decided to go for an MBA programme through the distance-learning mode.“ Mahajan recently finished his MBA and awaits “a good opportunity“.
How does a master's degree weigh against a bachelor's?
Rahat Bano and Gauri Kohli find out if it makes sense to go in for the higher qualification
Did you know that once companies used to pay allowances to employees with postgraduate qualifications?
Industries that offered such an allowance included banking, manufacturing etc. But over time, it was found that the extra bucks did not bring any additional value to the individuals as professionals but helped them negotiate salaries.
Therefore, this allowance has now been replaced by a benefit, with companies paying for courses relevant to their work. Businesses have realised the benefits of sending employees for management development programmes aligned to the work they do and derive tangible benefits from such an exercise, elaborates Nina Chatrath of Korn/Ferry International, an executive recruiting firm. So, where and to what extent does a master's degree help a job-seeker in his career now? Are postgraduates likely to net a better pay package than mere graduates?
The entry requirements and compensation policies vary from company to company. Whether a master's tag helps or not depends on the career path. In some places, it's valued, in others, it's not. While in certain cases (such as school teaching) it's a mandatory requirement to get a job and for professional growth, elsewhere it's hard to say.
At times, what hirers need essentially are people with a particular skill set. A certain international media giant looking to fill editorial positions is searching among University of Delhi's (DU) history graduates who can `read between the lines' and `analyse a situation from different angles'. Publishing houses, on other hand, give preference to the university's philosophy graduates over others.
According to Seema Parihar, who was the founder chairperson of DU's Central Placement Cell, a master's qualification may or may not help you bag a job with a higher pay. “It depends on the job profile or the employer. A lot of companies nowadays prefer graduates who are trainable.
They are looking for other skills such as communication, team-building and leadership, besides academic knowledge in the candidates.
They can find such candidates in any stream.“
Also, in recent years, a surfeit of postgraduates has altered the scenario in a number of fields where a bachelor's is still the basic eligibility qualification.
According to Vipul Varma, chairman, Executive Recruiters' Association, “Today, ordinary graduation is simply not enough.
Postgraduation is almost mandatory ... Let's take tourism, for example. If the pool is large enough and there are many applicants with a (PG) diploma in tourism management, I would rather look at the diploma holders.“ However, sometimes a BE is preferred to an MCA, says Varma. According to him, distance-mode programmes are often not looked at favourably. “A lot of employers discount these.“
The salary differential is determined by a host of factors, though at the entry level, the BCom and MBA gap is the most significant, the latter mostly fetching a fatter take-home pay, says Varma.
Shailja Dutt, managing director, Stellar Search, says a master's in fields including management, manufacturing, journalism and public affairs is “essential to grow“.
An enviable full-time PG credential from a renowned institution can propel you onto the right trajectory while further on it is “completely performance-driven“, she says. “There's a much higher probability that a good master's degree will get you a foot in the door in the right organisation in the right role, which ensures your growth because good companies have good processes.“
As far as the streams are concerned, humanities graduates should go for postgraduate degrees to get better jobs (again, however,
different rules apply even within the same discipline, because of employer and job demands).
English (hons) graduates can think differently. “Every industry has a communication wing which can accommodate a literature graduate,“ Parihar adds.
When it comes to a subject like history (hons), “if you are opting for competitive exams or the job of a historian, you ought to have in-depth knowledge in the related field,“ says Parihar. For those with MCom degrees, industry jobs are fewer. It's better to go for a PG diploma or MBA in specialised areas after BCom. In the sciences, a master's is required for a whole lot of relevant jobs. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and engineering require specialisation after graduation.
“The career opportunities are greatly enhanced in core and service sectors, including information technology. Further, there are great opportunities in higher education which is reeling under a talent shortage for faculty,“ says PB Sharma, VC, Delhi Technological University.
“Postgraduates can also expect a higher pay package in a good industry, consultancy firm, design centre, an R&D organisation and also in an MNC.
Usually, a master's degree holder gets R50,000 to R1 lakh more per annum than a graduate,“ he adds. “In 2010-11, all eligible master's degree holders got very good jobs and approximately 144 bachelors degree holders got two jobs and more.“
Parihar suggests that students should introspect before signing up for a PG course. “One should only go for a master's degree if they enjoy the subject and intend to stay in the field for a long time. Otherwise, there's no need to label you.“
'Sachin deserves Bharat Ratna'
World champion Viswanathan Anand says the batting maestro is the right contender for the honour. Excerpts from a media interaction:
Chennai is being considered as a possible venue for the world championship tie. How much difference would it make? Will there be pressure of playing at home?
Right now, it hasn't been decided where the world championship will be held. However, if it is held in Chennai, it will be more exciting. There won't be any pressure, as you have to block everything when you start the game. But yes, there will be some distractions for me.
Your opponent Boris Gelfand is known for his hard work and strong preparations. What's your opinion about him?
He is definitely a strong contender. He has come through many difficult situations in tournaments and has the ability to repeat it. Moreover, he scores over me when it comes to experience and preparations. It will be a very challenging tie.
Many sports are following Indian Premier League format to popularise their game. Do you think it will boost the board game too?
This is an interesting idea. This attractive format, I think, can be replicated in chess too. However, the game needs a critical base. Even the spectators need to know the game thoroughly. This makes chess different.
There is a proposal that the sports persons should also get the Bharat Ratna and you are a strong contender for that award along with Sachin Tendulkar. What is your say on that?
Basically, I am not thinking about that right now. My focus is on the world championship. However, if it's going to be, then I feel that Sachin definitely deserves it.
Do you think that the Indian players lack killer instinct during the game as compared to western countries?
I don't think so. I never lacked killer instinct. I just showed it in a different way. I definitely enjoy defeating opponents but I don't show it at all.
How did you manage to keep your cool during your match against GM Garry Kasparov when he made aggressive gestures and slammed doors in 1995?
It was a big mistake that I let it go. I should have protested that time, but I kept it inside. I tried that I shouldn't let my opponent know that he is disturbing me.
In most sports, the associations are run by the government. Do you think this is the right way?
I feel it's government's duty to provide infrastructure and other facilities, which is not possible for everyone. Rather than running the associations, they should help them for smoother functioning.
Empower yourself
If we have to live the life we want, we need to empower ourselves by, first, having a vision of what should be. For that to happen, you need to do a lot of things.
Help yourself to grow. Read a lot. Interact with people. Empathise with them. Identify problem areas. Use your free time to think about issues as it is only by pondering that we can find answers to vexed questions.
First, consciously realise that you have potential. Then, work towards developing it, refining it and focusing it to reap the rewards. When we start walking on a growing curve, we automatically get energetically charged. As you explore yourself and the little world around you, there will be a new sense of exhilaration.
Bravely enter the lexicon of change strategies. Do not fear change as it helps you to get a feel of something different and untested. Most of the time, you will see that change helps to leap on to another plane. It is worth the risk.
Look at life like a lab. You have to experiment. Only then can one have the courage to dream of different possibilities that life offers. You have to trust your ability to find what is right for you. This takes both effort and time. Few do it as they are scared of what it might entail or turn out to be.
To neutralise negativity, one just has to think about the reality of how millions around us live. They battle poverty, hunger, injustice, intolerance and hardship. That should be enough to thank our stars, empower ourselves and move ahead. If possible, even help others see a new day.
We just need to daily look within ourselves to discover the wealth we have. There are so many things we have that money cannot buy. Like freedom. Like the power of sight. Being healthy. Having a roof that does not drip during the rains. A hot meal.
But, it is important to visualise the life we want. Once we identify that, then the path is easy. We just have to systematically work towards it. But the truth is that most of us do not even try to visualise what our life should be. So we end up floating around without a dream to chase and build.
No one can empower you. You have to do it yourself.
Help yourself to grow. Read a lot. Interact with people. Empathise with them. Identify problem areas. Use your free time to think about issues as it is only by pondering that we can find answers to vexed questions.
First, consciously realise that you have potential. Then, work towards developing it, refining it and focusing it to reap the rewards. When we start walking on a growing curve, we automatically get energetically charged. As you explore yourself and the little world around you, there will be a new sense of exhilaration.
Bravely enter the lexicon of change strategies. Do not fear change as it helps you to get a feel of something different and untested. Most of the time, you will see that change helps to leap on to another plane. It is worth the risk.
Look at life like a lab. You have to experiment. Only then can one have the courage to dream of different possibilities that life offers. You have to trust your ability to find what is right for you. This takes both effort and time. Few do it as they are scared of what it might entail or turn out to be.
To neutralise negativity, one just has to think about the reality of how millions around us live. They battle poverty, hunger, injustice, intolerance and hardship. That should be enough to thank our stars, empower ourselves and move ahead. If possible, even help others see a new day.
We just need to daily look within ourselves to discover the wealth we have. There are so many things we have that money cannot buy. Like freedom. Like the power of sight. Being healthy. Having a roof that does not drip during the rains. A hot meal.
But, it is important to visualise the life we want. Once we identify that, then the path is easy. We just have to systematically work towards it. But the truth is that most of us do not even try to visualise what our life should be. So we end up floating around without a dream to chase and build.
No one can empower you. You have to do it yourself.
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