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Soft skills, Tough Call
New visa rules
Career Hotline
Failure Scripts Success
First person
Bright prospects
In the NEWS
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Soft skills, Tough Call
Definition Research involving almost 40 companies has identified nine missing elements which limit a candidate’s employability. These are:
n Attitude (sincerity, can-do, ownership/motivation) Experience over a period of one year after administering a 240-hour “employability” intervention to 3,000 students across 6 Tier II cities (focusing on Tier II/III MBA colleges) has thrown mixed results. Attitude and ethics were the most difficult to correct. Clinical psychologists are of the view that attitude can be improved through a six to nine-month long process involving motivation, extended practice and constant feedback. Being pedantic almost never works in improving someone’s attitude. Still most college professors and principals continue to hope that by repeating their unsolicited advice multiple times, their students may listen — we all communicate what we want to say versus what our audience wants to hear! But even the use of innovative techniques like story-telling has had mixed results. In reality the effect of a few hours of class was often drowned by their 22 years of grounding. While some borderline cases did change, for the most part the already good ones became better. Grooming and confidence, on the other hand, are the easiest to correct. Steady practice in small batches of 15-25 students, with people of similar ability carefully chosen and put together, and then giving every individual a chance to speak for 5-7 minutes every single day for 4-5 months, helps tremendously. Workshops involving specially trained grooming instructors, emphasising on ‘Dress to Impress’ create impact. The process requires strict discipline in order to ensure that everyone gets sufficient time to speak; else, the ones already good take all the “air-time”. Similarly, basic grooming checks like colour combinations of attire, hair and shoe polish, etc. everyday for few months change people’s habits. Grooming itself generates self-confidence. Communication skills development takes time and a very scientific method of intervention. The first part is to sharpen the basic communication skill in any language. This involves honing listening skills, trying to understand the audience, and practice being crisp and logical in responses. The second concern for most Tier II colleges is the inability of students to speak in English. Unfortunately, just putting a good English spokesperson does not work. A scientific module which covers specific grammar and spoken English /pronunciation, especially tailored for adults is required. Students are also less inclined to focus on English at such a late stage in their careers. So, session needs to be lively and interactive. Use of modules followed in BPOs for 80-140 hours has been successful since these BPOs have mastered the art of imparting training in English communication skills to adult learners. But it requires a rigorous curriculum of 1-1.5 hours session every single day as lack of continuity drastically reduces the effectiveness. Current awareness is also a relatively easy job. An everyday quiz on current awareness for six months develops reading habits in the students. The reward and punishment strategy works effectively in building the interest of students in this. Managerial skills like leadership, teamwork, stress and time management can be learnt but again require innovative methods. A good corporate style game followed by an intense and deep debrief, and repeated twice or thrice, can at least sensitise people and make them cautious towards exhibiting the “right” behaviour. While it would be ambitious to think that a two-hour teamwork session will make everyone a great team player, still a significant improvement in the level of maturity and intent can be winessed after this sensitisation. Sales/customer service and practical domain knowledge are coachable but require faculty from industry. The challenge that most Tier II colleges face is that the major chunk of students are freshers without any previous experience in any domain. Adding to this, the average faculty of these colleges also has limited quality industry experience. So their ability to train students on practical industry-oriented knowledge is limited. The best practice may be to get a significant portion of training, say 25 per cent, to be delivered by actual industry experts. A recent study used IIM alumni who could deliver live corporate experiences, share inside secrets and tips of the business world, explain what is not covered in theory and how to apply theory in real life etc. The feedback from these sessions was positive. Add to it some live games (demo selling, demo trading etc.). Experience is the tricky one. Most companies wanted experience before a degree like MBA but 80-95 per cent of Tier II/III MBA students were fresh BA/BCom/BSc. We tried to use a via media, offering live industry projects during the course, but industry acceptance of these was varied. Most HR managers were not convinced that a two-month part-time project can replace a relevant work experience of one to two years. The only long-term solution may be for the colleges to recruit only experienced students, especially for a postgraduate course like MBA. So, for all those who wonder whether employability skills be inculcated through effective training, the answer, is not a simple yes or no. While some of these skills can be acquired through coaching, others can’t be learnt and perfected 100 per cent. In grooming, confidence, sales/customer service and basic managerial skills, we may be able to reach significant levels of improvement. On attitude and ethics, however, the impact of limited hours of classroom training is questionable. Communicational skills, on the other hand, can improve drastically but demand extended practicing and effort. (The writer is CEO,
Elements Akademia and guest faculty, IIM, Lucknow)
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New visa rules
Boasting of world-class universities and colleges equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, Australia has fast recovered from the recent setback. This all was made possible by some concrete measures initiated by the Australian Government following world-wide outcry against racism. Now as the dust settles on the ‘war of words’, Kelly Raj, Counsellor-Education in the Australian High Commission, New Delhi, threw light on the various aspects of Australian education following the recent announcement of a stricter student visa regime. Excerpts: Do you think the recent ‘damage control’ exercise by the Australian Government has been effective in luring back Indian students? But students from the northern region still seem to be scared about pursuing their studies Down Under? Our government is taking the issue of the safety and well-being of Indians in Australia very seriously. Authorities at all levels of government in the country have resolved not to tolerate victimisation and violence against international students. Strengthened police operations have improved physical security and arrests have been made. Tighter regulation has also improved the quality of education, while protecting students affected by the closure of some education providers. Initiatives are also in place to better support international students and foster their inclusion in local communities. Don’t you think stringent student visa rules can prove counter-productive for overseas students? The paramount objective of the student visa programme is to maintain Australia’s reputation for quality international education by facilitating the access of genuine students to our country. When assessing the genuineness, a number of factors are considered, including the applicant’s financial capacity, English proficiency, potential to breach visa conditions and other relevant matters. These requirements were introduced on the basis of past experience that indicated such measures resulted in a higher proportion of students complying with visa conditions. The student visa requirements are necessary to ensure the integrity of Australia’s visa programme and to support the long-term sustainability and quality of Australian international education. They also help protect the welfare of students and their families, and help students to have a positive experience living and studying in Australia. How effective has the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India (AAERI) been in reining in bogus education agents? The AAERI was formed to assure the integrity of agents recruiting students on behalf of Australian institutions. One of the strengths of AAERI is that all members agree to abide by a Code of Ethical practice and that code of ethics is based on the Australian Government’s Education Services for Overseas Students Act. So AAERI’s Code of Ethical practice ensures that members provide accurate and realistic counselling to Indian students wanting to study in Australia. Do you think Australia will bounce back before the September intake? I understand numbers of enrolments have continued to grow since the beginning of this year with an average growth of almost 9 per cent each calendar month. I think the recent Joint Ministerial Statement between India’s Ministry for Human Resource Development and Australia’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations will further strengthen what is already a solid partnership between Australia and India, and expand avenues to achieve greater cooperation between the two nations in the education sector. Now that countries like New Zealand have taken the major chunk of Indian students, will the Australian government welcome such students’ transfer to its own (Australian) universities and colleges? Despite major events such as the global financial crisis, Indian students’ enrolments in Australia reduced only by 1.9 per cent. Australia develops and maintains bilateral education and training relationships throughout Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Australia and New Zealand’s geographical proximity, historical, social and cultural affinity extends to the education sector. Educational bilateral activities include more than 30 formal agreements between universities in Australia and New Zealand and 23 offshore programmes. Permanent residency and study abroad is considered to be a dangerous mix. How does the Australian Government see it in the present scenario? Student visas entitle people to come to Australia on a temporary basis for a specified period to undertake study at an Australian educational institution. While many overseas students make a decision to apply for permanent residence upon completing their studies, this is an entirely separate process and there is no guarantee that, purely on the basis of having held a student visa, a person will meet the requirements to be granted PR. Students should not make educational choices solely on the basis of hoping to achieve a particular migration outcome, as the general skilled migration programme will continue to change and adapt to Australia’s economic needs. For more information students can visit the following links:
www.studyinaustralia.gov.au; www.australiaawards.gov.au; www.aei.gov.au
Living costs & funds
While international students are able to supplement their income with money earned through part-time work in Australia, the ‘living costs’ requirement helps to support the success of students in their studies by ensuring they don’t need to rely on such work to meet all their expenses. Under the new migration regulations, the basic rate of living costs were increased from the previous rate of $12,000 a year to $18,000 a year for the main student. Student visa applicants may also be asked to demonstrate the funds they are relying upon to meet the costs of studying in Australia will be genuinely available to them during their stay in Australia.
A note of caution
Never ever go by what your agent says. You know, he always has a business motive. The smart act would be to do your home-work well on the Internet and then seek the advice of your tried and tested agent. Also, you should be wary of academic transcripts offered for sale, generally via the Internet, without any study involved. Find more information on the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations’ website.
Top universities
n The University of Adelaide (Adelaide) www.adelaide.edu.au Common study courses
Australian universities and higher education institutions offer programmes leading to Bachelor Degrees and higher qualifications in a diverse range of fields. Australian universities offer programmes from architecture to zoology. Bachelor’s degree is the most common qualification offered in Australia. Specialised research training and professional development is also offered through Masters Degrees and Doctoral Degrees. Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas are also available. Diplomas are becoming less common, however, the Associate Degree provides a shorter-cycle degree programme for professionals wishing to further their careers.
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Career Hotline
Q. I have done MSc (electronics). Since this is regarded as equivalent to BTech, please tell me if I’m eligible to appear in the SET exam of
DRDO? — Vikas Bhalla
A. The eligibility for taking the DRDO SET (Scientists’ Entry Test) is BE/BTech in mechanical, chemical, ECE, computer science, electrical (first div). The DRDO’s information brochure specifically mentions that MCA/MSc in any science subject will not be considered equivalent to BE/BTech in the subjects mentioned above. Scientists (Class B) are selected on the basis of the SET.
Model call
A. Typically, the minimum height required for becoming a ramp model is 5’10. However, don’t be disheartened. Fashion modelling is essentially of three kinds: n
Still modelling for print advertisements and cata logues. If your face speaks volumes (the kind that can launch a new frying pan or a thousand ships!), but your physique holds you back then the first two options would be ideal. It also helps to keep abreast of things in general, along with the latest trends in style and fashion to project that ideal mix of brains and brawn. Usually the age specified for participants is 18-30 years. Typically modelling agencies ask you to send one full-length and one close-up colour picture along with your vital statistics. So the first thing you need to do is get some pictures taken by a professional photographer. For an aspiring model, a well-shot portfolio is the passport to getting noticed. You can also directly contact fashion magazines, ad agencies and perhaps even some top-of-the-line designers or choreographers if you feel your portfolio does you justice. You can do this by simply sending your photographs to the ad agency’s model coordinator, even though the odds are that in the beginning, they may land up in the dustbin. But then, that’s all a part of the initial struggle. The catch lies in not giving up. As the old adage goes — no pain, no gain. Signing up with a reputed modelling agency would help.
Open chance
Q. I did my BCom from an open university. Am I eligible to take the Civil Services Exam? — Pavni Shankar A. Why not. If you have completed your education from an Open School / University you can surely apply for the CS Exam provided it is a recognised university and you possess the prescribed educational qualifications and are otherwise eligible. Moreover, even those who did their graduation without passing Class X and XII, are still eligible for taking the Civil Service Exam provided they fulfill the other conditions.
The writer is a noted career expert and director, Career Guidance India (CARING). Please send in your queries with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: The Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers @tribunemail.com
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Failure Scripts Success
Success is not so much a matter of talent or opportunity as of concentration and perseverance. As Bulwer puts it, “The man who succeeds above his fellows is the one who, early in life, clearly discerns his objects and towards that object habitually directs his powers.” Some flip-flops plunge into a venture, gain a momentary success and then let it peter out. They overlook the stark reality that success depends on knowing, how long it takes to succeed. Water boils at 100 degree. It is a mistaken notion that success calls for a genius. Contrarily, the greatest successes of the world are won by simple means and the exercise of ordinary qualities. “What is the secret of your success?” Dr George Washington Carver, eminent scientist, was asked. He replied, “I pray as if everything depends upon God. Then I work as if everything depends upon me.” Green-horns look upon failure as a disaster. They give up. Or sink in the blues. Some even go to the length of ending their life. Whatever be the hue of failure, attitude matters. If you think that you have burnt all your boats, you go deep in depression and get mentally paralysed. However, if you look upon it as a temporary setback and rise above it, rather than going under it, you look upon failure as a challenge and an opportunity. You rise again like the legendary Phoenix. What can be gained from failure? First, the lesson that persistence can turn failure into success. Quitters do not win. Winners do not quit! The number of times you try is not important. The important consideration is the intelligence with which you try, and above all, what you yourself discover from your efforts. Courage helps one to accept failure, not as defeat, but as a discipline leading to ultimate success. Coulsen Kernahan says: “Our greatest glory is not in never failing but in rising after every fall.”
During the Second World War, John Kennedy, later President of the USA, suffered a severe back injury when his boat was cut into two. He says about his feelings at that time when death stared right in his face,”Well, this is how it feels like dying.” He came out of the vice-like grip of certain death. It was feared that he would spend the remaining part of his life in bed, a spineless person. But he falsified the forebodings of the prophets of gloom. With his indomitable will to live a full, rich life he emerged from the shadows of death into the sunshine of success. Surely, there is a technique of facing failures.
Overpower failure
Greatness lies, not in avoiding failures, but in overpowering them. Failures arouse dormant energy in some and extinguish it in others. Failure fire the former with a burning sense of purpose. The dormant volcano of ambitions and energy in them gets active. Failure is a challenge to them; it is like the proverbial red rag to the bull. They charge at it with renewed vigour and fury. Like oysters, they convert irritating particles of sand into pearls. Norman Vincent Peale states: “The blows of life, the accumulation of difficulties, and the multiplication of problems tend to sap energy and leave you spent and discouraged. In such a condition, the true status of your power is often obscured, and a person yields to a discouragement that is not justified by the facts. It is vitally essential to reappraise your personality assets.”
Patience is not the tame, negative virtue it is sometimes made out to be. It is the very opposite. You need patience to renew your efforts when the going is tough. When fired by it you foresee the possibilities of what you hope to achieve. “If a man does only what is required of him,” writes A.W Robertson,” he is a slave. The moment he does more, he is a free man.” The one who “does more,” explores every avenue of approach to chosen goal. Failure closes no doors. Be alert to possibilities. It is hard to gain through misfortunes. Yet, it can be done.
Luck factor
Strokes of bad luck that overtake through no fault of yours are harder to bear than failure. Accidents may leave you unable to lead a successful life. They bring hardship. If you turn grief into self-pity, you begin to live in a shrunken world of self-depreciation. Beethoven, when deafness, threatened him, intended taking his life. He overcame his despair, however, and continued composing. Eric Blom writes: “It was only when he had a great work in hand that Beethoven could rise above the fearful trials of his existence. But as an artist he triumphed again and again, and the music he produced, although he was fated never to hear it himself, made life endurable for him and indeed often filled it with a joy that made for all his sufferings.” If you are sinking in despair, think of the struggle of a seed to sprout from the earth into an oak. You resemble a tiny seed. You have the potential to grow into big proportions hidden within you. If you wilt under pressure and give up the struggle, you wither.
Be confident
In times of stress and strain, there is a tendency to lean on others. That cripples your capacity to overcome obstacles. Dependence, too, has a similar weakening effect on your character. It is better to throw away the ‘crutches’ and face obstacles, drawing on you own inner resources. Samuel Smiles says, “Success grows out of struggles to overcome obstacles. If there were no obstacles, there would be no success.”
Negative thoughts come, may even invade your mental fort. When they do, fight them with positive ones. Face failure realistically, as something to prove your mettle. Do not be defensive. Failure is an opportunity to prove how strong you are. You prove your strength when you meet failure. Seneca said,” Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labour does the body.” Just as exercise is necessary to strengthen the body, just as mental work is needed to keep the mind strong and alert, so in life setbacks are necessary to make character strong. Each time you overcome a failure, you emerge stronger. You have within yourself resources you needed for any eventuality. Accept this fact, believe in yourself, and your ability to overcome failures as well as your failings. You become a man! Each failure is a step to success. Every trial exhausts some form of error. He alone is free from failure who makes no attempt!
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First person
There is a spate of technical education institutes in the region and lakhs of students enroll for different courses every year nursing dreams of a bright career. With rapid growth in the field, there is ample scope for technically qualified youth in the job market. A strong training base at these institutes, however, is a must to increase the employability of the students passing out each year. For a strong technical education base, keeping in step with the contemporary industrial culture and environment is as important as keeping pace with technological advancement. Thus, sound training for teachers in technical institutes is an important part of the overall training scenario.
Charandeep Singh chats up Parijat De, Director of the National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research (NITTTR), Chandigarh, to find out how right training for the faculty and development of course materials are strengthening technical education in the region and helping in providing suitably trained manpower of high quality as also to improve the employability of the final product passing out of the technical institutions. Excerpts from an interview: What is the importance of technical teachers training? This involves the training of teachers of engineering colleges and polytechnics. We have four institutes, in Bhopal, Kolkata, Chennai and Chandigarh for this purpose, which are supported by the government. The National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research (NITTTR), Chandigarh, has been delegated with the responsibility of conducting training for the northern region comprising J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. There is a constant interaction with principals of the engineering colleges in these states. The principals come up with specific inputs as to what they would want to be included in the training programmes. So, we design tailor-made training programmes according to the need of the teachers and various technical institutions. What is the scope and the importance of Teachers Technical Training in the region Since, we provide training to the teachers who are already employed in either government or private colleges, so the training, which they undergo with us doesn’t enhance their employability status. It gives these teachers intellectual enrichment and stimulation. When these teachers go back, they are more up to date on their knowledge base, with improved pedagogy, enhanced instructional material. With all the inputs, teachers are better equipped to develop the latest curriculum for their own institutes. This happens because of the inputs they receive during their training programme at NITTR. With the mushrooming growth of engineering colleges in the region, it has become imperative for the teachers of these colleges to get trained and equipped with the latest developments and innovations, hence the importance of technical teachers training has increased manifold. The basic facets of technical teaching like preliminary instruction of pedagogy, how to spruce up your knowledge base, how to keep your lecture more inspiring, to help students go for various courses overseas and how to make the backbenchers the front sitters, are all fed to the trainees in order to make them more effective and erudite teachers. What role has government support played in this endeavor? The government is our chief mentor. However, we face staff crunch. We have only 43 faculty members. Considering, the teachers in engineering colleges and polytechnics are in the ratio of 1:250. So, the government should strengthen NITTR and take a fresh look at its working. Till now, we were the only technical teachers training institute in the area, but now a Ludhiana-based business group has tied up with a foreign university for providing training. Even Punjab government is thinking of starting a Technical Teacher Training institute of its own. Since, now we have competition at our hands we want that the number of faculty members be spruced up so that we have an upper hand over our competition.
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Bright prospects
The prime focus, now, is on murrah buffalo, which has become the key to success for 47 per cent of households in the state. Haryana provides best conditions for murrah buffaloes, making these the prized possession of the state, especially in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Jind and Sonepat districts. The sorghum-wheat and rice-wheat cropping system that is prevalent in Haryana, too, blends well with a proper understanding of the murrah buffalo and crossbred-cow farming system. Pure breed of murrah buffalo in Haryana will enable farmers to take to animal breeding also along with dairy farming. With large-size ponds in each village, buffalo rearing has tremendous scope in the state. Dairy farming has attracted support from the government, university, farmers, breeders, and traders, leading to a sort of ‘murrah revolution’ in the state, especially in the past five years as has been revealed by exponential rise in the number of dairy enterprises in the various parts of the state. According to a report of the advisory committee on animal husbandry and dairying (Vol.1) constituted by the Planning Commission, the states of Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh have the potential for achieving high growth rates of 6 to 8 per cent during the remaining part of the 11th Plan, whereas the current annual growth rate evaluated is 3 to 4 per cent for Haryana. So the scope of growth in the state is tremendous. Animal husbandry is an important sub-sector of agriculture, which is contributing 25-30 per cent of the agricultural GDP, and milk alone contributes 68 per cent of the GDP from the livestock. Some of the major support services that have been helpful in making the prospects in this sector bright are: Institutional technical support: The extensive network of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) imparts special vocational training to youth in the state. Every district headquarter has a KVK, along with qualified animal/veterinary science experts for imparting training and education about all aspects of livestock production and management. CCS Haryana Agricultural University scientists of animal science/veterinary science carry out research to augment milk and fodder production, and KVK experts deliver/transfer these technologies to dairy farmers in the state. Haryana has 21KVKs, and each KVK has trained more than 100 rural youths and women, especially of lower castes (SCs) in a year about scientific dairy farming methods apart from the traditional methods. Government support: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying also provides good quality semen for artificial insemination services for breed improvement and development, insurance for death-risk cover, vaccination to prevent the animal wealth from diseases like FMD and HS etc, and financial help along with subsidy for setting up high-tech dairy farms for enhancing productivity. Cooperative department support: Hafed (Haryana State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd.) is providing quality and low cost compounded cattle feed for more milk production and increasing the calf crop to dairy farmers. In dairy farming the feed and fodder cost alone accounts for more than 70 per cent of the total expenditure. By growing fodder following practices like the time of sowing, seed rate, fertilisation and stage of harvesting, farmers can increase the production of fodder and reduce the cost of feeding. Marketing facilities for milk: The Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation limited purchases milk from village-level milk coopertive societies at the rate of Rs 3.40 per point fat. Thus, at village level the producer gets Rs 34 per kg of milk having 10-point fat. The average fat percentage in buffalo milk is about 7 to 8 points. So dairy farmers will get Rs 23.80 to Rs 27.20 per kg of milk at the village level. Thus, with intervention from the government, institutional technical support, and cooperative department, dairy farming is growing effectively in the state, and its present growth rate is 5.06 per cent. The writer is a senior extension specialist, (Animal Sciences), Krishi Vigyan Kendra Rohtak
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Happiness @ work
An ideal worker is talented, hardworking and has shraddha (right attitude) towards work. In a normal worker who may not have all these qualities, the right attitude matters most.
Sanjna, Vishwakarma’s daughter, married Surya only to find the sun god too glaring during summer. “As you have closed your eyes on me, the sustainer of life, you shall give birth to Yama, the god of death. And as you tremble before me, you shall bear my daughter Yamuna who will be as fickle as you,” announced Surya to the dazed Sanjna before he left her in darkness. As a result of a momentary loss of compatibility, Sanjna and her children suffered long till the couple reunited. “An arrogant Ganga will be of no use as she, with her force, can drive Earth into hell during her descent from heaven. Pray to Shiva to break her fall,” Brahma advised King Bhagirath. Even after Shiva broke her fall and only let her out as a rivulet from his locks, she had the audacity to destroy sage Jahnu’s hut. The sage swallowed this rivulet and, on Bhagirath’s request, released a trickle from his ear. Pride humbled, Jahnavi, as Ganga is also known, became of use to humanity. Don’t let the cause down with your wrong attitude.
— Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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In the NEWS
New Delhi: The 8th Infra Educa 2010 will showcase a comprehensive view of the education horizon and industry at Pragati Maidan on May 29 and 30. Organised by FEPL, this edition of the exhibition allows students from every educational and economic background to explore the various career options available to them.
The fair will begin after the declaration of Class XII results, thus giving the students a platform to visit over 120 educational institutions in various streams like engineering, management, animation, hospitality, media, and interact with the admission teams of the colleges. Free career counselling, career guidance, on spot aptitude and psycho test will be conducted free of cost for the visitors from the experts like Jatin Chawla, Director, Centre for Career Development, at the event. — TNS
ZICA in Punjab
Chandigarh: Animation and creativity institute, Zee Institute of Creative Arts (ZICA), is all set to increase focus in North India, especially in Punjab. ZICA has centres in Chandigarh and Bathinda. Atul Sharma, Regional Manager-North of the institute said, “We have already realised North India as a key market for us due to its strong demographics — a population of over 50 crore, predominance of urban youth, aspirational immigration from other states and a vibrant media market. We will continue to focus on North India with more ZICA centres.” The Certificate and Diploma courses in 2D and 3D animation, visual effects and gaming offered by ZICA at its Chandigarh and Bhatinda centres, include BSc in Animation and Visual effects (36 months), Diploma in Animation Film Making (24 months), Advanced Diploma in Animation and VFX (18 months).
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Fortnightly Quiz - 362
1. Name the Commander of the Indian Navy who recently became the first Indian ever to circumnavigate the globe solo on a sailboat.
2. Who recently took over as Britain’s youngest Prime Minister in 200 years? 3. Who recently became the youngest Indian to scale Mount Everest? 4. Who has climbed Mount Everest for a record 20 times? 5. Name Asia’s first Nobel laureate who composed the national anthems of both India and Bangladesh. 6. Who led a military mission to punish Wazir Khan, subedar of Sirhind, who had bricked alive two young sons of Guru Gobind Singh – Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh? 7. Name the person, credited with inventing the world’s first automated teller machine (ATM), who died recently. 8. Name the cyclone that recently wreaked havoc in many coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. 9. Which countries were recently declared the joint winners of the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament? 10. Which country recently won its maiden ICC cricket title in limited overs cricket?
— Tarun Sharma
Winners of quiz 361
The first prize by draw of lots goes to Anuj Verma, class IX-D, Govt High School, Kajheri, Chandigarh, Pin Code - 160063 Second: Renu Sharma, class XI, Senior Secondary School, Pharal, district Kaithal, Pin Code - 136021 Third: Prabhjot Kaur, class XII, LADM DAV Public School, Budhlada, Mansa, Pin Code – 151502 Answers to quiz 361: Shah Faesal; Rabindranath Tagore; INS Shivalik; New York; Harley-Davidson; Gulf of Mexico; Justice Sarosh Homi Kapadia; Nitin Nohria; Emu; Suresh Raina Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent directly at the school address. Note: Kindly mention the pincode of your place to facilitate the delivery of the prize money. Answers can also be sent
at quiz@tribunemail.com |
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Enough has been written on “employability skills” or the lack of these among most Indian students. Essential for any job aspirant, these are the non-technical skills and competencies which play a significant part in contributing to an individual’s effective and successful participation in the workplace. As per a report by Nasscom, a mere 10 per cent of fresh graduates are actually employable. Similar surveys on engineers and MBAs put employable professionals no more than 25 per cent net. A vast majority of even professionally qualified people are not industry ready.
Historically, Haryana has been the star of dairy farming, and it is a highly suited profession for unemployed youth and women. Shrinking land holdings, mechanised farming, ready marketability of milk, and the involvement of educated unemployed youth, has increased the scope of hi-tech dairy farming in
Haryana.
Enough has been written on “employability skills” or the lack of these among most Indian students. Essential for any job aspirant, these are the non-technical skills and competencies which play a significant part in contributing to an individual’s effective and successful participation in the workplace. As per a report by Nasscom, a mere 10 per cent of fresh graduates are actually employable. Similar surveys on engineers and MBAs put employable professionals no more than 25 per cent net. A vast majority of even professionally qualified people are not industry ready.
While the obvious solution to unlock India’s much talked of demographic dividend is to empower our students with these requisite skills, the big question is: Can these employability skills be coached?
Undeterred by sporadic incidents of violence with racial undertone and egged on by peer pressure back home, Indian students have started flying to Australia again, though in small numbers though. Some ‘genuine students’ from the region can always give us compelling reasons to believe that the kangaroo-land will soon spring back to reclaim its status as the number one study destination.
Measures to better protect the rights and well-being of Indian students in Australia have already been introduced by the Australian Government. These include a nationwide audit of education providers and a requirement for them to re-register their courses under tighter new criteria this year. In addition, the Australian Police Commissioners have agreed to share initiatives designed to ensure student safety and improve the dissemination of information to stakeholders. The Council of Australian Governments, which comprises the Heads of Government of the national, state and territory governments, has also agreed to a suite of practical initiatives designed to better ensure a positive, safe and rewarding study experience for international students. These initiatives form part of the International Students Strategy for Australia and compliment the findings of the recent Baird Review to ensure that Australia remains a world-leader in the international education sector.
Q. I want to make my career in modelling, but my height is 5’7. What qualities should one have for it? What do I have to do to become one?
— Manish Rastogi
Once you decide upon modelling as a career, ‘professional’ is what you’ll need to be at every step: regular with your workout, diet and grooming. Surely, a well-sculpted body or a healthy glowing complexion is not built in a day.
There are three primary principles essential to success with their offshoots. They are — determine your objective; analyse the obstacles in your way; learn how to overcome them.
Historically, Haryana has been the star of dairy farming, and it is a highly suited profession for unemployed youth and women. Shrinking land holdings, mechanised farming, ready marketability of milk, and the involvement of educated unemployed youth, has increased the scope of hi-tech dairy farming in Haryana.
Only one with shraddha deserves to succeed me, Guru Nanak thought as it was time to choose his successor. Indicating to what appeared to be a corpse covered with a shroud, he ordered, “Eat it.” No one, not even his sons Lakshmi Chand and Sri Chand, moved. Then Lehna volunteered and on removing the cloth discovered it to be a tray of sacred food. The guru blessed his unquestioning disciple with his ang (hand) and christened him Guru Angad.
