University to revalidate MoU
From Rashmi Talwar
AMRITSAR: Guru Nanak Dev University and the institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, have decided to revalidate the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on June 7, 1997, for another five years to initiate academic and research programmes in the areas of bio-sciences, biotechnology and chemical sciences. 

Australia favoured destination for studies
BY Veena Ahuja
THE Australian Education system is divided into four levels of instructions — primary school, secondary school, vocational education and university education. In all these sections the institutions are government funded as well as private. Overseas students coming to Australia for studies, generally enter the system for the last two years of secondary school. 

Career Hotline
by Pervin Malhotra

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University to revalidate MoU 
From Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR: Guru Nanak Dev University and the institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, have decided to revalidate the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on June 7, 1997, for another five years to initiate academic and research programmes in the areas of bio-sciences, biotechnology and chemical sciences. Four major research projects were undertaken identification, cloning and characterisation of stress inducible genes in the grains of wheat at different stages of development” under the MoU. These were funded by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Two collaborative projects entitled ‘Isolation and characterisation of brassiosteroids from different clones of tea’ and ‘Role of brassionosteroid in seed development of tea’ have been submitted for active consideration of Department of Science Technology (DST) and the CSIR, respectively. Another project on ‘Invitro management of kinnow in Punjab” has been submitted for funding to the CSIR. Under training programmes, eight teachers/scientists Dr G.S. Virk, Mr Jaspreet Singh, Ms Navtej Kaur, Mr Manoj Kumar Sharma, Dr P.K. Verma, Ms Bandana Gambhir, Mr Ashok and Mr Gurprit Singh were sent to the IHBT to work there in collaboration with other scientists on different areas of biosciences. Ten scholars of the IHBT have been enrolled with GND University for Ph.D. They are Ms Anupma Sharma, Mr VHK Verma, Mr Chandan Sharma, Mr Amit Kharkual, Mr Lakhvir Lal, Mr Rajesh Gupta, Ms Jyoti Dadwal, Mr Dheeraj Vyas, Mr Dharam Singh and Ms Bandana. They will undertake research on various aspects of bio-Sciences. Dr P.S. Ahuja, Director, IHBT, has been nominated member of the Biotechnology Board of Studies of the university. In a DBT sponsored “refresher course in biological sciences” organised by the Academic Staff College of the university, Dr PS Ahuja, Mr MP Singh, Dr PK Nagar, Dr AA Zaidi and Dr AK Sinha of the IHBT have delivered lectures on various topics of bio-sciences. Under this revalidated agreement, IHBT scientists will participate in teaching programmes of biotechnology, biochemistry microbiology, pharmaceutical chemistry, botany and chemistry. Guru Nanak Dev University would recognise this institute as an accredited centre for pursuing research. The IHBT will provide training facilities to students with a strength of 10 at a time and the institute scientists would help prepare teaching material for the students. The Director of the IHBT would nominate a member each on various research degree committees (RDC) and two members on research board (RDB’s) of Guru Nanak Dev University. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) have realised the need for a close link between national laboratories and universities in terms of research and academic activities.

Australia favoured destination for studies
BY Veena Ahuja

THE Australian Education system is divided into four levels of instructions — primary school, secondary school, vocational education and university education. In all these sections the institutions are government funded as well as private. Overseas students coming to Australia for studies, generally enter the system for the last two years of secondary school. The Institutes of training and further education (TAFE) are placed somewhere between secondary school and university. They offer a safe pathway into higher education. These are government funded institutions with a strong vocational focus offering a blend of theory and practical training. There are about 1 lakh international students on the rolls of educational institutions. Why is Australian education becoming so popular the world over and more importantly in North India, particularly Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh where it is a dream for most aspiring youngsters to enroll themselves in the prestigious institutions? Mr Naresh Gulati, a resident of Australia who has studied and lived there and now is Director of Oceanic Consultants, representing Australian Education in India, claims “Australia is one of the most multicultural societies of the world. People from more than 140 nationalities live in Australia.” Indian students find it very easy to settle in Australia. They can find Indian food in supermarkets, films, Indian newspapers and even radio programmes in Indian languages. Mr Gulati says another advantage is that a community of people living there. With “a mission to improve and empower the students to make well informed decisions and encourage realistic sense of optimism, the oceanic helps them to create a fulfilling future” claims Mr Gulati. Col Tur, whose daughter Aman Tur completed her Master of Applied Science in Information Technology at the RMIT University, Melbourne, says: “The main reason of popularity of Australian education is the high education standards and its worldwide recognition in countries like the USA, Canada and the UK. Another reason is the curriculum in consonance with the technological development and India’s proximity to Australia. Australian being a crime-free country offers a very safe place for the girl students”. Mrs Rinki Singh whose both sons are studying hotel management at the Regency Institute of TAFE, says Australia is comparatively an inexpensive country for studies, far less expensive than either Britain or the USA. Adesh Gupta, a Delhi-based businessman whose son is studying computing at the Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, says he finds “Australian education as a gateway to education in the 21st century. The country is pleasant, friendly and safe.” 

At the Visa Office students are required to show funds (academic plus living) for one year and access to funds for the subsequent period. If your aid covers overall expenses for the first year, that should suffice.

In case your child or spouse accompany you, your living expenses would double or triple. You will then have to account for this as well.

The Aeronautical Society of India (ASI) conducts an Associate Membership Examination. The good news is that Sections A and B of this examination have been recognised by the Ministry of Education, at par with a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from an Indian university. Accordingly, you stand eligible to apply for positions of an Engineer with the Armed Forces.

History is the study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesising, and analysing of evidence and theories about past events. As you must be aware by now, it includes study of historiography, historical research methods and studies of specific periods.

History offers three main specialisations: archaeology, museology and archival studies. With a background in history, you can specialise in these fields as most of these courses are offered at the postgraduate-level.

An archaeologist’s work is either research-based or field-oriented. Excavation work is only one aspect of archaeology. Archaeologists attempt to glean knowledge of the past from the study of ancient coins, weapons, sculptures, pottery and other objects. Most of them specialise in particular objects of study and thereby become experts on coins (numismatist), weapons, sculpture, deciphering of inscriptions (epigraphist), etc. Archaeologists are employed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), state departments of archaeology of different state governments, museums and research institutions.

Museologists on the other hand, work in museums and much of their work is a combination of research, administration and public relations. As a museum curator, you could specialise in natural history, metals, terracotta, textiles, paintings, etc. This profession requires an artistic and aesthetic bent of mind combined with administrative skills. Your work would also include maintaining a record of each item i.e. from where it has been acquired, its age, conservation treatment and such details. MA as well as Phd in Museology and History of Art are offered by the National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation & Museology, National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi 110011

Archivists focus on the selection, preservation, arrangement and description of documents. Public and administrative records need to be catalogued and maintained for ready reference and preserved as archival records. For future historical significance, archivists assess the value of research papers currently prepared by historians and various research organisations and also prepare for reference purposes, records which were produced in the past. An archivist must be familiar with the methods of preservation, repair of parchment and paper and microfilming of the documents. Such professionals find placements in museums, libraries, the National Archives of India and in different state archives.

History is also a popular optional subject for the Civil Services examination. There is scope for teaching history in schools and colleges. Historians are employed as researchers in historical research organisations such as Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and Indian Council of Social Sciences Research (ICSSR). Knowledge of history is also an asset in journalism.

The chances of landing a decent job straight after graduation are similar in both cases, irrespective of the fact that you have acquired the degree through correspondence or a regular course. But certainly the prospects are bright if you acquire a professional postgraduate qualification subsequently. Since mere graduation is not sufficient to equip you with the skills required to enter a profession, the postgraduate professional course of study which you take up subsequently is what will really matter. Besides, the best part is that the degree that you get at the end of a correspondence undergraduate course does not specifically mention the fact that you have studied through correspondence.

Of late, I’ve been deluged with hundreds of queries (mainly unaddressed) sent directly to my office. As much as I would like to, you will appreciate that I can’t possibly accommodate them all in my columns or reply to each one personally.

CARING (Career Information & Guidance), New Delhi