Peeyush Agnihotri looks at how some teachers are treated as corporate assets
THE corporate norm of doling out gifts and perks to best workers has bitten the education sector too. Good teachers are being given official conveyance, paid holidays, perks, swanky cellphones with all call-bills paid and even cars, all as a part of talent retention.

Campus Notes
Punjabi University, Patiala
Seminar on Prof Mohan Singh
A one-day seminar on different perspectives of Prof Mohan Singh’s literature was organised by the Department of Punjabi Literary Studies to commemorate his birth centenary. Eleven research papers were presented by eminent scholars. Dr Amrit Pal Kaur, Head of the Department, said Prof Mohan Singh’s poetry underlined subtle streaks of his times, including romanticism and socio-political struggle.

ADMISSION DEADLINE

Peeyush Agnihotri looks at how some teachers are treated as corporate assets
THE corporate norm of doling out gifts and perks to best workers has bitten the education sector too. Good teachers are being given official conveyance, paid holidays, perks, swanky cellphones with all call-bills paid and even cars, all as a part of talent retention.

Last week, Harsh Sadawarti, a 32-year old Vice-Principal from the Regional Institute of Management Technology, Mandi Gobindgarh, was gifted a Ford Ikon car by the college management for putting in “best efforts” for the college, a gesture hitherto unheard of in teaching circles.

With cash-laden corporate houses diversifying into the education sector and numerous management, engineering, education and pharmacy colleges popping up in Punjab, qualified and talented teachers are making hay while the sun shines.

“A good teacher can make a tremendous difference in the learning and performance of students and help them lay a strong foundation in their academic life and subsequently in their career,” avers Mohit Chitkara, Vice-Chairman, Chitkara Educational Trust.

Chitkara says their institute offers faculty members a number of special benefits, which, besides higher salaries, also involves perks like laptops, study leave, participation in training programmes and conferences.

Even a myopic can see the reasons behind this corporate trend that is fast seeping into the education sector. Firstly, there is a severe shortage of trained and experienced faculty, especially in the emerging areas (biotechnology, electronics and computer science). So much so that AICTE vide its latest circulars has relaxed the cadre ratio norms for these emerging areas and also enhanced the age limit for the faculty from 65 to 70 years.

No effort is needed to read between the lines, thus, that poaching is rampant and headhunters remain on prowl throughout the year. Recently, a faculty member was virtually held hostage by a Doaba region-based professional institute and convinced to join the college.

Secondly, thanks to the PTU largesse of granting permission to a plethora of business houses and consortium of talented individuals, more than a 100 management, engineering and professional colleges dot Punjab’s landscape, besides the upcoming ones in the field of education. As a result, seats are left unfilled even in government-run college, otherwise famous for low recurring costs. This has given rise to the trend of hunting for a total quality person (TQP, in corporate lingo) rather than a book-crazy teacher.

“Faculty members are expected to be teachers, research-oriented academicians, administrators as well as counselling experts, who can fill all seats of a college in minimum counselling sessions,” points out Sandeep Rao, a faculty member.

Thirdly, it is a rare phenomenon that a fresh pass-out becomes attracted towards teaching. “A fresh engineering graduate gets a Rs 25,000 start in the industry while it is merely Rs 15,000 in a college. After one year, the salary for those in the industrial circles jumps by Rs 5,000 nearly while a person in a college gets a Rs 650 increment merely,” says a board member from one of the management colleges, not wishing to be quoted.

Col D. S. Cheema, Coordinator, Department of Professional Studies, DAV College, says the current trend of rewarding the best faculty member is a double-edged sword. “Though a reward may make a faculty member feel important, it may also lead to the creeping of burn-out syndrome and a teacher in his zest to excel may end up as a physical wreck.”

He says the focus should rather be on a better selection procedure, provision of suitable growth environment so that self-actualisation seeps into a faculty member, enhanced career planning and future vision sharing with the chosen one.

Then who minds dollops of perks with all these!

Campus Notes
Punjabi University, Patiala
Seminar on Prof Mohan Singh

A one-day seminar on different perspectives of Prof Mohan Singh’s literature was organised by the Department of Punjabi Literary Studies to commemorate his birth centenary. Eleven research papers were presented by eminent scholars. Dr Amrit Pal Kaur, Head of the Department, said Prof Mohan Singh’s poetry underlined subtle streaks of his times, including romanticism and socio-political struggle.

Dr Gulzar Singh Sandhu, a contemporary of Prof Mohan Singh, in his inaugural address, said Prof Mohan Singh’s poetry would always occupy a special place in Punjabi literature due to its simple, subtle, straight and creative approach towards all issues.

Renowned Punjabi critic Dr Sutinder Singh Noor, in his keynote address, tried to co-relate historical context and poetry of the times. Analysing Prof Mohan Singh’s poetry, he tried to unravel the implied political struggle, ideological themes, pessimism of an idealist along with romanticism and realism in his works A monograph and autobiography published by the department were also released. The function concluded with the poem of Prof Mohan Singh recited by Jaspreet Singh, a student of the Department of Music.

Social work with tribals

The Department of Social Work organised an interactive session for the students with Priyanka Yadav, Programme Coordinator with the Indian National Trust for the Welfare of Tribals. Speaking on “Social Work Interventions with Tribals”, she shared her experiences of working in the remote tribal area of Kalahandi in Orissa. 

She gave information regarding geographical, economical and social conditions of the area and various problems faced by native people, NGOs and professional social workers there. She explained indigenous technology used for water recharging and stressed upon the role of a professional social worker in handling pertinent issues affecting the tribals and hurdles faced by them.

Faculty and students actively participated in the session and raised several queries. Dr U. K. Popli, Head of the Department, introduced the speaker to the faculty and students.

Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
Campus abuzz with poll activity

The Guru Nanak Dev University campus is now bustling with campaign activity for elections to the Non-Teaching Employees Association to be held on October 26.

Candidates and supporters are busy canvassing. The main contest is between Mr Sawinderjit Singh of the University Karamchari Democratic Front (Bath group), and Mr Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa of the Democratic Employees Union (Randhawa group) for the post of president.

Mr Bhagwant Singh, Surjit Singh Cholia and Hardip Singh Nagra of the Bath group are contesting for the posts of vice-president, secretary and joint secretary, respectively, while the Randhawa group has fielded Jagir Singh, Achhar Singh and Hazaara Singh for these posts, respectively.

The elections will also be held for the 10 seats of members and the 15 seats of executive members. The number of voters at present is 1795.

Contributed by Rubinder Gill and Pawan Kumar

ADMISSION DEADLINE

Armed Force

Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shajahan Road, New Delhi 110069 
www.upsc.gov.in

National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Exam (I), 2006

Eligibility: Unmarried Indian males. DoB: 2 January 1988–1 July 1990.

For Army Wing: 10+2.

For Air Force, Naval Wing & 10+2 (Executive Branch) Course at Naval Academy: 10+2 (Physics & Maths)

Exam: 16 April, 2006

Application Form: Available at designated Head PO’s: Rs 20 (cash)

Details: Employment News (15-21 October)/ website.

Application Deadline: 14 November 2005

Engineering

IIT– Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016 
www.iitd.ac.in

PhD & MS Research Programmes – 2005-06 (2nd Semester)

Application Form: Send Rs 300 by DD favouring “Registrar, IIT Delhi” payable at SBI, IIT Delhi or Canara Bank, SDA with a stamped (Rs15) self-addressed envelope (25cm x 20cm) to the Assistant Registrar (PGS & R), Room No AD-225 to the above address or download from website.

Eligibility & Details: Employment News (15-21 October)/ website.

Application Deadline: 14 November 2005

IIT – Guwahati, Guwahati 781039

www.iitg.ernet.in/ www.iitg.ac.in

PhD:
In Departments of: Mechanical/Civil/Chemical Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Humanities & Social Sciences/Centre for the Environment /Centre for Nanotechnology.

Application Form: Send request for application with a stamped self-addressed envelope (24 cm x 15 cm) to the Assistant registrar (Academic) at the above address by 28 October 2005. Superscribe “Request for PhD application Form” on envelope.

Details: Website.

Application Deadline: 7 November 2005

Management

All India Management Association (AIMA), Management House, 14, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003 
www.aima-ind.org

Management Aptitude Test (MAT) - 2005

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree.

Test: 04 December ‘05

Application Form: Send Rs 690 by DD favouring ”AIMA-CMS”, payable at New Delhi with two self-addressed slips / adhesive stickers by 17 November 2005.

Details: Website.

Application Deadline: 19 November 2005

All India Management Association, AIMA-CME-Management House, 14, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003 
www.aima-ind.org

PhD in Business Administration (in collaboration with Aligarh Muslim University, Distance Learning mode)

Eligibility: PG (55%) with 50% in Bachelor’s degree OR BE / BTech, Law, CA (55%).
Work Experience: Minimum 5 years work experience or 3-year experience as faculty in a B-school.

Selection: Research Management Aptitude Test (R-MAT): 04 December 2005

Application Form: Send Rs 850 by DD favouring “AIMA-CMS” payable at New Delhi to the above address.

Details: Website.

Application Deadline: 15 November 2005

International Institute of Information Technology, P-14, Pune Infotech Park, Hinjawadi, Pune 411027
www.isquareit.ac.in

MBA in Advance Information Technology (20-month; FT; Residential)

Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree (60%) Maths in 10+2 
Selection: CAT scores, Interviews

Details: Website.

Application Deadline: 01 December 2005

SP Jain Institute of Management & Research, Munshi Nagar, Dadabhai Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai 400058 (Mah) 
www.spjimr.org / http://admissions.spjimr.org

PG Diploma in Business Management (2-year)

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree.

Selection: CAT / XAT score.

Application: Apply on-line.

Details: Website.

Application Deadline: 30 November 2005

Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Symbiosis Infotech Campus, Plot No. 15, Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, MIDC, Hinjewadi, Pune 411057. (Mah) 
www.siib.ac.in

1) Masters Programme in International Business (2-year) 
(Specializations: Marketing / Finance / Supply Chain Management) 
2) Master’s Programme in Agri-Business Mgmt (2-year)

Eligibility: For 1: Bachelor’s degree (50%) 
For 2: Agri / Non-Agri Graduates (50%)

Selection: SNAP Test 2005: 18 December 2005

Application Form: Send Rs 1000 by DD favouring “Director, Symbiosis Institute of International Business” payable at Pune with Online Registration Printout to SIIB (Write your name and SNAP ID on the reverse of DD) to above address or apply online by 5 January 2006

Details: Website.

Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS) Range Hills Road, Kirkee, Pune 20 (Mah) 
www.sims.edu

Postgraduate Diploma in Management (2-year, FT, Residential) 
(Specialization: Marketing / Finance / Systems / Operations / International Business / HRM / Information & Communication Technology)

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (50%)

Selection: SNAP Test 2005, Personality Assessment, Work Experience & Academic Records.

Application Form: Send Rs1050 by DD favouring of “The Director, SIMS” payable at Pune (additional Rs50 towards courier charges) to the above address or apply online.

Details: Website.