The HUMAN angle
Sensitive and sensible approach by HR managers can go a long way in dispelling the negative perception about their role, writes D.C. Sharma

An oft repeated grouse of HR managers is that their role is generally perceived negatively by workers. This may be true to a certain extent, but so is the fact that HR managers whose job is to develop the potential of the workforce for productive and constructive use, have an impression that workers are merely commodities like office machines and vehicles. Heavily unionised nations like France and Germany have emphasised that human beings are not commodities. Labour mobility tends to make economies more productive, but the fact remains that workers are humans with specific individual potential.

The term Human Resources (HR) was coined in 1960s. It later developed in industrial and organisational psychology. In the late 19th century Cadbury’s recognised it for looking into the welfare of the workforce. By 1920 USA viewed workers as per their psychology and fitness with companies rather than as interchangeable parts. The role of HR grew manifold by the mid of 20th 
century.

So many HR managers today seem to have forgotten that behind every human worker there is a soul that feels and thinks. Instead of developing the particular and unique human potential of the worker, they have become biased due to excessive stress on commercial success of an enterprise. Instead of providing job satisfaction to the workers, many HR executives just serve as mouthpieces of their “boss” management. They think more of satisfying the management than the workers, who are, in fact, the fulcrum of an organisation. They often blow their own trumpet. Instead of winning the loyalty and confidence of the worker, so many HR managers perform in an ego-centric manner.

Neglecting or undermining the welfare of the workforce is contrary to the real function of an HR manager. Is it not the duty of an HR manager to see why some workers become victims of a vindictive attitude? There have been cases where higher ups have singled out subordinates who failed to wish them “Good morning”, and thrust them into unreasonable tasks and deadlines. How do HR managers deal with such situations is a question which needs an immediate answer.

Lessons to remember

An HR manager needs to keep a complete control over his own ego. He must realise and implement that caring for the workforce develops its potential. Pay and perks are often secondary considerations for a good worker, while his dignity is the chief priority. “What I have discovered with job-seekers is that their version of greener pastures has nothing to do with a higher salary or perks but just simply working in a better work environment,” says Udit Mittal, Director of Unison International. A successful HR manager genuinely and timely rewards high potential workers besides giving them a frequent pat on the back and praise.

Favouring one’s own kith and kin and neglecting deserving employees, too, is not the true function of an HR manager. HR managers should lend a patient ear to the workers. The efforts of a worker should be evaluated and recognised impartially. It is best to keep personal likes and dislikes out of the ACR files and routine tasks. Bert Wheeler, President of Wheeler’s would say, ”I’ve found that if I can forget myself, my status, and my importance long enough to listen to some of my employees, I can pick up a lot of good new ideas.”

It is a better policy to throw down a challenge to the workforce to get the desired results. By doing so, you touch a man’s competitive spirit, and this way he will always rise to the occasion. Radiate your confidence in your workers. Inspire people to have confidence in you, to trust you, and to follow you. To do that you must be honest and truthful, and ready to accept mistakes. Self criticism is a much better motivator. Instead of finding flaws with your subordinates, let him himself tell how and where he needs to improve himself. And when you praise his frank attitude, it further raises his morale.

Beware, HR managers. Human workforce is a tough yet delicate stuff. Know your duty first. Your workers are an asset. Develop them. Retain them. Then and only then each worker will salute your from the core of his heart.

Deadly attributes

New research conducted by CEO succession planning experts TalentInvest has identified eight key characteristics that cause even the most talented company executives to derail in their careers.

One in four senior executives fail in the first 18 months of their appointment according to the US-based Corporate Leadership Council. This has only accelerated since the Global Financial Crisis due to the unprecedented complexity and ambiguity faced by many businesses.

TalentInvest’s Principal, Meena Thuraisingham says, “The dominant career breaker for executives is leaning too heavily on what worked for them in previous roles. The very strengths that propelled an executive into the top of an organisation can also become their Achilles heel.”

“As business becomes more complex, the inability to adjust and learn quickly and efficiently becomes a major derailer. This was never more evident than during the GFC, which tested the mettle of even the most successful business leader.” Thuraisingham, who advises publically listed companies in the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong and India on CEO succession planning conducted the research in 2008.

The research focused on executives who had been part of a formal succession planning process and had been identified during this process as having CEO potential.

These characteristics and the toxic and limiting organisational structures that lead to an increase in executive derailment have been included in Thuraisingham’s latest book, Derailed – What Smart Executives Do to Stay on Track. — Medianet International-AsiaNet

Careers with healthy growth
Charandeep Singh

The healthcare sector in India is worth $17 billion and is anticipated to grow by 13 per cent every year. This sector earns revenue accounting for 5.2 per cent of the gross domestic product. The healthcare market is set to experience a hike and attain a figure ranging between $53 and $73 billion over the next five years. This, in turn, will reflect an increase in the gross domestic product to 6.2 per cent GDP. Employment opportunities are provided to as many as four million people in this sector or in other related sectors catering to the healthcare industry in India in some way or the other.

 Owing to the vast differences in medical expenses in western countries and in India, the country has become a favoured destination for medical treatment. Due to the progressive nature of the healthcare sector in India, several foreign companies are intending to invest in the country. Nursing and Medical Laboratory technicians are the key components of healthcare sector and offer plenty of career choices to students.

Medical Lab Technology

Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) also known as clinical laboratory science is an allied field, which is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease through the use of clinical laboratory tests. These tests help doctors to detect and diagnose diseases. There are two levels of medical laboratory workers — Technicians and Technologists.

Medical technologists work in five major areas of the laboratory i.e., in blood banking, clinical chemistry (chemical analysis of body fluids), hematology (blood related), immunology (study of immune system) and microbiology (study of bacteria and other disease organisms). Medical technologists have more training and job responsibilities. They perform complex tests such as microscopic examinations of tissues, blood and other body fluids to detect evidence of disease and detect the presence of bacteria, fungi, parasites etc and chemical tests to determine blood cholesterol levels. Medical technicians do routine laboratory testing under stipulated conditions. They work under Medical Laboratory Technologists or supervisors. Technicians may prepare specimens and operate machines that automatically analyse samples. In addition to running tests, technicians set up, clean, and maintain laboratory equipment, such as centrifuges, microscopes etc, they also take care to ensure that the laboratory is under the stipulated conditions.

The three main courses available in medical laboratory technology are:

B.Sc. (MLT)

B. M. L. T. (Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Technology) and

D. M. L. T. (Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Technology)

Institutes

All India Institute of Medical

Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi

Course : B.Sc (Hons) Med Tech in Radiography.

University College of Medical

Sciences and GTB Hospital,

New Delhi

Course : B.Sc (Med Tech) (Radiography)

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi

Punjab Technical University,

Jalandhar

Baba Farid University of Health

Sciences, Faridkot

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research,

Chandigarh

Course : B.Sc (MLT)

MLT

Scope

Medical technologists are an integral part of the medical profession. The career prospects in this field depend on the academic and technical skills of the technologist/ technician. Initially he/she joins any laboratory as a certified medical laboratory technician. These days with the growth in the private sector there are so many private hospitals, nursing homes, blood banks, pathology laboratories thus the demand for laboratory technicians is on the up-swing.

With adequate knowledge and experience, Medical Laboratory Technologists can advance to supervisory or management positions in labs and hospitals. They can also work as lab manager/consultant/ supervisor, healthcare administrator. Additional opportunities are available in molecular diagnostics, molecular biotechnology companies and in vitro fertilisation labs and research labs.

Nursing

Nursing is the backbone of healthcare industry. Nursing assistants are the fulcrum of the para-medical health staff. Without nurses at their disposal even doctors at the hospitals feel crippled at work. There is, however, a shortage of trained nurses. In order to fill this void, a number of colleges have sprung up all across north India. In Punjab, the government has appointed Punjab Nurses Registration Council as the Regulator. By enrolling under PNRC the professional standards have improved. The course curriculum is also in sync with the requirement of the industry. The regulator also keeps a check on the fee structure, so that the training programme across all affiliated institutions is affordable. A Bill for Punjab has been made on the provisions of the Madras Nurse and Midwives Act, 1926. Under the Act, there is a provision to prohibit any unregistered person from practicing nursing and penalising the offenders.

Various nursing programmes are as under:

There are four courses offered by PNRC across various institutes. These include

l General Nursing and mid-wifery: It is a three-year diploma course, with minimum age limit for entry into the course being 17 years. Minimum qualification required is Plus II. Annual examinations commence from September 15, every year.

l Auxillary Nurse and Midwife: This course has a duration of 1.5 years with Class X as a basic qualification. Prescribed age limit is 16-35 years and the examination commence from March 15, every year.

l BSc. Nursing: It is a three-year programme with minimum qualification being either Plus II (medical) , or the one who are trained in General Nursing and mid-wife courses.

l MSc. Nursing: It is again two-year programme open for those who have completed their BSc. in Nursing.

Institutes

l Adesh Hospital and Research Centre, Muktsar

l Gyan Sagar Institute of Medical Services, Banur

l Baba Farid University, Faridkot

l Christian Medical College, Ludhiana

l Army College of Nursing, Jalandhar

l Desh Bhagat College of Nursing, Moga

l Guru Nanak College of Nursing, Nawanshahr

l S.G.T.B. College of Nursing, Amritsar

l Silver Oaks college of Nursing, Mohali

l Sri Guru Ram Dass College of Nursing, Hoshiarpur

Scope

With increasing health consciousness in India, the quality of health services has improved. Skilled and specialised nurses are in high demand in health organisations. Nurses can get excellent employment opportunities in government or private hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, orphanages, old age homes, military services, industries and schools. Experienced ones also act as counselors in psychiatry 
treatment and rehabilitation centers. A majority of nurses from the region go abroad. Skilled nurses can get the employment in specialised fields like Surgical, Medical, ICU, Telemetry and ER.

Career Hotline
Target CBI
Pervin Malhotra

Q. I am very keen to join the CBI — even if it is at a lower level. Please tell me how the recruitment is done.

— Rajan Gambhir

A. Typically, CBI recruits Sub-Inspectors through the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), which publishes its recruitment notice in Employment News and other leading dailies. CBI also inducts officers in the ranks of Inspector of Police and above from the state and Union Territory Police forces on deputation. Non-police officers are also taken on deputation in the CBI. The necessary details about various posts in the CBI, recruitment/induction procedure, vacancy statement etc. are all posted on this website (www.bi.gov.in)

State police officers in the rank of Sub-Inspector / Inspector of Police can approach their local CBI Superintendent of Police who is generally located in the state capital.

Officers coming to CBI on deputation in these ranks are entitled to 25per cent special incentive allowance, deputation allowance and rent-free residential accommodation among other perks.

The basic qualification for taking the SSC Exam (written Exam and Interview) is a Bachelor’ degree and meeting certain standard physical requirements.

You should be between 20-25 years.

A Sub-Inspector can rise up the ladder to become Inspector, Dy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Superintendent of Police (SP), etc.

However, a substantial number of posts at the middle and higher levels are filled through ‘Deputation’ (temporary 5-10 year posting) of IPS (Indian Police Service) officers from various states who have a thorough experience in investigation.

Just last week I spotted a notification in this paper for inducting Inspectors in CBI on deputation at Chandigarh, Shimla, Jammu and Srinagar.

Sub-Inspectors working in the state police or similar paramilitary forces (with five years of regular service) or Inspectors of Police were invited to apply.

At the lower rung, personnel of the rank of Constables are recruited by the Bureau through notifications in leading national dailies.

Since the nature of scams and crime has gone increasingly “hi-tech”, excellent working knowledge of IT and the intricacies of corporate finance and related matters is now mandatory.

Eligible for BTC

Q. Please tell me if I am eligible to pursue BTC after doing BCA?

— Tanvi Raza

A. As long as you have a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, you should have no problem.

To improve the quality of teachers, the government has set up various institutes that offer Basic Training Certificate (BTC) courses in every state in India so that maximum number of teachers can be trained to help improve the quality of education in the country.

Moreover, BTC courses are becoming increasingly popular as recruitment boards of primary teachers in various Indian states regard it as part of the minimum eligibility criteria for appointing primary school teachers. And the recent Right to Education Act has generated a need for many, many more teachers at this level.

The syllabus and curriculum of the two-year BTC is provided by the NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education). Being a graduate, you can also pursue a BEd to teach up to middle school level. If you wish to teach at the high school level, you will need a master’s degree which you can pursue through correspondence course from a university recognised by the DEC (Distance Education Council) while you continue teaching.

Open field

Q. I did my high school from Bhatinda in 2005. After that I could not continue with my studies due to some serious family problems. Now as I am out of all problems and mentally ready, I want to continue with my studies. Please, advise me whether I should opt for NIOS or fill in a private form for intermediate examinations. If there is any other way then please suggest me. Will I be able to get admission in B.Tech or any other course afterwards?

— Gopal Bisht

A. It’s never too late to resume your studies. Yes NIOS would be a good option because of the sheer flexibility it gives you. And sure you can do your BTech or any other bachelor’s level academic or professional course subsequently. Alternatively, after Class X, you can also opt for a Diploma (3-year) in any branch of engineering from a good recognised polytechnic. After that, you can either seek employment or get lateral entry into the second year of any BTech programme in your state. So you have plenty of options open to you. As for other graduate courses, there is no end to them really. When the time comes for you to make a choice, get in touch with me and I will send you a copy of my i-Opener career explorer that will match your interests, aptitude and personality with over 3000 career options!

HOSPITABLE terrain
Hemant Kumar Kochar

As a vast, dynamic and growing industry, hospitality provides tremendous opportunity for ambitious students who enjoy working with people. The hospitality industry operates in a highly competitive environment. It is important that those seeking careers as a professional develop a strong business foundation and customer service skills.

The hospitality sector in India has come a long way. With the help of the government and all other stakeholders, including hotel owners, resort managers, tour and travel operators and employees who work in the sector, Indian hospitality industry has gained a level of acceptance world over. With unlimited tourism and untapped business prospects, in the coming years Indian hospitality is seeing green pastures of growth. The availability of qualified human resources and untapped geographical resources give great prospects to the hospitality industry. The number of tourists coming to India is growing each year. Likewise, internal tourism is another area with great potential. Candidates opting for a career in hospitality sector have to go through a rigorous training programme to be able to sustain the ever-growing demands of this industry.

COURSES

Aspirants can pursue different courses depending on their interest and qualification. Some of these courses are — Diploma in Bakery and Confectionery, Diploma in House Keeping, Diploma in Front Office, Diploma in Food and Beverage Service, Diploma in Food Production, Certificate Course in Hotel and Catering Management, Craftsmanship Course in Food and Beverage Service, Craftsmanship Course in Food Production, Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics and Hospital Food Service, Post Graduate Diploma in Accommodation Operation and Management, M.Sc. in Hospitality Administration etc. A degree in hospitality administration is much more than just a degree in hotel management.

Scope

After completing course in hospitality, one can specialise in the field and work as catering officer or chef in hotels, customer relations executive, management trainee, marketing/sales executive or work in the field of kitchen management/ house keeping management.

Moreover, one can also join as an executive in tourism development corporations and resort properties or as teacher in hotel management or food-craft institutes and cabin crew in national and international airlines.

There are plenty of job opportunities in the Industry. As per your skill set and area of interest you can choose from myriad hospitality profiles. You can become a restaurant manager, food and beverage manager, front office manager, executive chef, executive housekeeper, cabin crew manager, general manager.

You can also find a job in Industrial canteens and corporate guesthouses, Airlines as cabin crew and customer service executives at airports, in flight kitchens, merchant navy and in the catering department of the luxury ships, or straight away into the catering companies, railways.

You could also work as a Quality Inspector for commercial canning in quick-freezing stations or packaging for the domestic and export market. There are even some industrial houses, which handle large-scale scientific cultivation of fruits and vegetables. Opportunities exist here too.

Eligibility

For one-year diploma: Class X or XII pass with minimum aggregate performance of 50 per cent.

For three or four-year bachelor degree programme: Class XII or equivalent pass with a minimum 50 per cent

For two-year PG Diploma: The applicant must be a graduate of any stream.

M.Sc. in Hospitality Administration: B.Sc. in Hospitality Administration.

Certificate courses: Plus II or equivalent.

The selection process comprises of an entrance test followed with group discussion and personal interview.

Remuneration

Excellent scope for career development, lucrative remuneration, glitz, glamour and traveling to some extent are some of the factors which have played a major role in drawing the attention of the young generation towards this career.

As an executive or management trainee you can earn in the range of Rs 5,000-7,000. If you know your spices you could work in the kitchen, where the growth can be very exciting. An Executive Chef in a five-star hotel earns about Rs 60,000 or more per month plus other perks.

If good money is what you are looking at, then hotel management is one profession you won’t regret choosing. The General Manager of an average hotel earns anything between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 a month, while someone working for a five-star hotel could draw up to Rs 25,000-60,000 or even more.

The earnings of some other positions are as follows: Food & Beverage Manager: Rs 8,000-20,000, Front Office Manager: Rs 6,000-20,000. Lobby managers: Rs 4,000-12,000, Executive Chef: Rs 8,000-60,000, Executive Housekeepers: Rs 14,000-40,000, Asst. Housekeeper: Rs 8,000-16,000, Pantry Supervisors: Rs 7,500 -12,500.

The money in a cruise liner is even more attractive. Career mobility is very fast in the hotel industry for dynamic, energetic and diplomatic professionals. Movements up the organisational hierarchy are purely merit-based.

Hospitality Administration vs Hotel Management 

Hospitality administration is a holistic course catering to all the aspects of the hospitality industry. The course contains gamut of lessons which enhances the overall development of the student to excel in the field of hospitality.

The course enables a student to assess his skills, his areas of expertise and choose a career he wants to go into. Even if the student is confused before going for this course, the teaching from this course gives enough opportunity to the student to make a career choice as per his area of interest or liking.

With more and more international hotel chains coming to India in search of greener pastures. A course in hospitality administration has become the need of the day. It not only opens door for the students to be a part of these MNCs but also search for avenues offshore.

Duration of courses

Courses in Hospitality Administration can be pursued at the undergraduate level as well as at post-graduate level. Apart from the undergraduate and post graduate courses, some institutes also offer certificate/diploma courses in Hospitality Administration.

Duration of certificate courses is six months to one year.

Bachelor and diploma courses are of one and half to three year duration. With graduation one can go for post graduate diploma courses, duration is one year.

The writer is the Director of Madhuban Academy of Hospitality Administration and Research (MAHAR)

Future perfect
Fazle Ghufran

Kamal Kumar, Director LBI Institute of Hotel Management, New Delhi

How has the hospitality industry evolved over the past few years?

Hospitality is a dynamic and ever-evolving industry. It has to exceed the expectations of the guests in given circumstances. Some trends which reflect changing perceptions in hospitality industry are:

l  Increased concern and provision for safety and security (Post Mumbai Terrorist Attack)

 Anticipating the needs of the guest, not just meeting them,

l  Increased level of Hygiene & Sanitation,

l  See-through Kitchen & Customised Cooking etc etc.

With globalisation and more and more people travelling, exotic and foreign cuisines have become popular and are in great demand. What are the job prospects in this field?

Hospitality industry is the largest employer in the world and is going to be so in India also. The services sector is growing fast. Hotel management courses prepare students to fit into any branch of service Industry. A student can expect to get employed not only in Hotels and restaurants but in malls, resorts, banks, corporate hospitals, cruiseliners, airlines, BPOs etc.

What are the challenges and opportunities in this field?

The biggest challenge is “unpredictability”. Every day is a new day and given the circumstances, one has to perform his/her best to keep the guests satisfied. The Industry revolves around the theme “Guest is God” and one has to anticipate the guest’s needs to satisfy him/her.

Opportunities are endless and it is up to a candidate to grab these. Sky is the limit in terms of employment and earning opportunities for the right candidate.

What are the different kinds of courses that come under it and they institutions/colleges in India?

The most popular course after Plus II is the degree course offered by a number of institutes. Barring these degree courses, there are a few short-term/ certificate courses (like Food Production, F & B Service, Bar-tending, House-keeping, Front-Office etc) though they are not seen as career-oriented courses. These courses are seen more as skill-development courses for unskilled employees. It is a pity that in India, hotel management is still not considered a respectable and dignified career option. Even though India is known for its hospitality worldwide, people still perceive hotel management as not one of the prime career options like Engineering, Medicine etc. However, perceptions are changing and in the next few years the profession will be among the top career choices. At present, however, there is hardly any institute that offers courses beyond PG in the hospitality sector.

What are the criteria for selecting a good institute?

Students must look at the following points before joining an institute: Legality and validity of degree, quality of faculties, practical infrastructures, and links with industry, placement records and track-record of the institute. If it’s a new one, then a thorough knowledge of the background of promoters as well as faculties is important.

Study Abroad Switzerland
Swiss soiree
R.M.S. Atwal

Switzerland is a study destination that prides itself on its high standard of publicly-funded education and invites overseas students to complete their final year of study in its universities. As a country with few natural resources, its prosperity depends to a large extent on its brain power. Most people continue studying after completing compulsory education, and many keep on taking further courses throughout their lives. At the same time, the Swiss education system has to deal with new challenges in the face of changes in society and the world.

The country tops in hospitality and hotel management study courses with internship, followed by one-year work permit for which students have to find jobs on the completion of their course. If they can renew their job offer then they are allowed to stay on work permit, but the Swiss government as such does not have any policy on residency status for overseas students.

Recently, during a seminar at Jalandhar, Sandeep Sandhu, Director of Patiala-based Pearls Institute of Hospitality and Management threw light on the various aspects of studying in Switzerland in the backdrop of his institute’s academic tie-up with its Swiss counterpart, HTMI (Hotel and Tourism Management Institute).

The institute’s inaugural four-year academic session will commence from July 26. Indian students can opt for a paid industrial training in Switzerland in the final year of the BSc Honours course.

“Quality manpower for the Indian hotel industry is the need of the hour today. Since Punjab needs to keep pace with the rest of the world when it comes to higher standards of excellence in hospitality and technology, the Swiss education can do wonders for our boys and girls,” avers Sandhu, adding, “but we never promise Swiss PR to them. They should go with a mind set of completing their studies there and return to India after gaining international experience.”

Excerpts from an interview:

As Switzerland does not encourage permanent residency, how difficult it is to acquire residence permits to study and work there?

It is not that difficult if a student follows a proper procedure. To obtain a residence permit, he needs to prove — first to the Swiss Embassy here and then to the Aliens Police there — that he has the financial means to support himself while pursuing the course in Switzerland. He can show a bank statement or similar authenticated documents as a proof of sound financial health. A student can’t finance his studies solely through supplementary work in Switzerland. The permit allows for a profit-earning activity, as long as his university provides a statement confirming that his employment will not prolong the length of his studies. In actual practice, many students — Swiss as well as foreign — work alongside their studies to earn pocket money and gain professional experience. For foreign students, however, the number of weekly work hours is limited to 15.

What mainly attracts students from the region to Switzerland?

Today, students are moving to Switzerland and other EU countries because they offer quality and affordable education at par with other Western countries. Since there is no attraction of PR in Switzerland, it is only the serious and bright students who go there for higher studies. Armed with an international degree, say in Hospitality and Hotel Management, our students can get highly paid jobs in India. With the service industry booming and lot of MNCs setting up businesses in India, there will always be need for world-class managers and chefs, including other support staff.

The Swiss embassy is known to be tough in giving student visas. Your comments.

A student’s academic record definitely count when it comes to getting a visa for Switzerland, or for that matter to any other top study destination of the world. He should have a valid Letter of Acceptance (from the university of his choice) in hand before applying for a visa, which means his academic strengths have already been evaluated by his university. The embassy requires one full year’s tuition fee to be paid in advance. A student also must have his medical examination before leaving Indian shores.

English is widely spoken in Switzerland and it is not important for students to know the local language. However, if they know French, German or Italian, it would be an added advantage in the job market. For most courses a minimum of IELTS 6.5 bands are required; at least 6 in each module. However, there are institutions that take students even with 6 bands. Students must submit their visa applications five-six months in advance as the university admission process takes nearly two months and an equal amount of time is required for the visa formalities.

Top universities

There are five universities in the German-speaking part of Switzerland (Basel, Bern, Zurich, Lucerne, St Gallen), and three in the French-speaking part (Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel). Fribourg University is bilingual in German and French. Since 1996 there has been a university in Italian-speaking Ticino, with its main base in Lugano. The Federal Institutes of Technology are in Zurich (ETHZ) and Lausanne (EPFL).

Courses

Besides Hotel Management, Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, Computer Sciences, Material and Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and MBA are in high demand.

Fee structure

Most Swiss universities are publicly funded, making international study relatively affordable. The Swiss government and some universities also offer scholarships to international students. Some universities require foreign students to pay an additional fee, a pittance when compared to the actual cost of a student to the society, which varies between SFR 50,000 and SFR 150,000 per year.

Warning signals

Don’t forget that English is not one of Switzerland’s national languages, so only a restricted number of courses are taught in it. If you don’t speak German, French or Italian, you should be sure to ask about the language of instruction. If you want to study at a private college, you should check its credentials before paying any money. If in doubt, enquire at your local Swiss embassy or consulate. Students are not allowed to finance their studies through work, although they can normally work to earn extra money. There are restrictions on the number of hours one is allowed to do this.

Animal breeding course
Good option for rural youth
Dr Rajinder Singh

Murrah buffaloes and Basmati rice have played a major role in bringing Haryana among the top agrarian states of the country. The state has formulated an effective livestock breeding policy to promote the breeding and development of livestock, especially of cattle and buffaloes.

Nearly 60 per cent of the breedable population of cows and buffaloes is covered by artificial insemination (AI). AI is key element of genetic improvement and development of bovine. The Department of Animal Husbandry in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have been organising calf rallies and kisan goshtis, to counter the lack of awareness in this regard among the farmers.

Success rate can be improved considerably by incorporating trained youth to carry out the process. Those with Class X qualification can benefit from the training imparted by Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB). The 10-day-long training programmes, that usually train 10-12 youths in each batch, add to the employability of the rural youths in this field. The course fee is a nominal Rs 500 per trainee. Till date the institute has trained more than 40 youths. The initial investment to initiate the programme (AI) is Rs 20,000. The immense scope of earning for the inseminator lies in contacting the livestock owners on a regular basis.

The other AI training is through VLDAs (Veterinary Livestock Development Assistant), and courses being run by the College of Veterinary Sciences CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (eligibility Class XII).

AI has enormous scope of enhancing milk production and providing employment opportunities to youth. It can provide direct and indirect jobs to a large segment of educated and unemployed youth.

The writer is Senior Extension Specialist Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Rohtak

Transform to stay in the race

The number of people feeling stuck in their jobs rose as the recession put promotions on hold and crippled the job market.

But there is no reason to endure a job you don’t like or that doesn’t challenge you. Fortunately, quitting isn’t your only option. Try transforming your current job by changing one or more of these three things instead:

Tasks

You can alter your job by taking on more or fewer tasks, different types of tasks, or by simply changing the way you do the tasks you currently have.

Relationships

Change the nature and degree to which you interact with others. Take on a mentee, or spend more time getting to know people in other departments.

Perception

Think about your job in a different way. If there are parts you don’t like, separate them from the parts you do like. See your job as two jobs: one that you must do, and one that you enjoy doing. — Reuters

Adapted from Turn the Job You

Have into the Job You Want by Amy Wrzesniewski, Justin M. Berg and Jane E. Dutton

Happiness work
One sheath can’t carry two swords
Gems of ancient wisdom

Just as a vehicle with more than one driver would not know which way to move, a team with more than one leader would fare similarly.

Irked by the continuous struggle for the crown of Hastinapur between the Kauravas and Pandavas, Bhishma, Drona and Vidura suggested the partition of the kingdom so that both set of brothers would get a realm to rule.

To set all doubts to rest in the minds of citizens of Ayodhya, Bharat declared himself as Rama’s deputy who would rule till the eldest brother took charge.

In contrast, Akbar wasn’t clear whether to crown his son Jahangir or his grandson Khusrau after him. Jahangir happened to be at the right place at the right time — near Akbar on his deathbed — and ascended the throne. He imprisoned his own son, blinded him and threw him into a dungeon.

Alarmed at the fact that sage Vishwamitra was creating a universe for King Trisanku, an ancestor of Rama who was hanging upside down in the middle of heaven and Earth after being kicked out of heaven, the gods requested the sage to stop. “A second universe would upset the power equation of the world,” they said. The sage acceded to the gods’ request.

When Guru Arjan was ordained the fifth guru of the Sikhs, his eldest brother Prithi Chand vehemently objected to it. To avoid conflict, Guru Arjan not only presented him the turban but also left Goindwal for Amritsar.

To quell the bitter differences among the 72 schools of Hindu thought that were followed at that time, Adi Sankara, the eighth century saint, advocated the supremacy of Advaita, the one without a second Almighty.

To end the debate between their Hindu and Muslim followers whether they should be cremated or buried, Guru Nanak and Kabir transformed their mortal remains into flowers.

Even two cooks can spoil the broth!

— Sai R. Vaidyanathan

The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com 

Fortnightly Quiz-366

1. Which day will be observed as “Nelson Mandela Day” by the United Nations?

2. How many currencies in the world have their own symbol?

3. Name the giant glider-like aircraft that recently completed the first night flight propelled only by solar energy.

4. Who is the External Affairs Minister of India?

5. Which hotel in India was recently ranked the best in the world by the Travel + Leisure magazine?

6. Which country recorded its 13th consecutive win over Pakistan in Test cricket recently?

7. Which bowler has taken maximum wickets in Test cricket?

8. How many Grand Slam titles have been won by Leander Paes?

9. Which country won the Football World Cup for the first time recently?

10. What is the highest international rank achieved so far by ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal?

— Tarun Sharma

Winners of quiz 365: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Sunil Kumar, class VI, Arya Nav Jyoti Senior Secondary School, Chuharmajra, district Kaithal , Pin Code – 136021

Second: Janhvi Jindal, class VI-C, Cambridge International School for Girls, Urban Estate, Phase II, Jalandhar, Pin Code - 144001

Third: Nishant Kumar, class XI, Ryan International School, Sector 49-B, Chandigarh,

Pin Code – 160047

Answers to quiz 365: 8.8 km; Julia Gillard; Nitin Nohria; Third; India; Jabulani; Ronaldo of Brazil; Five; Tomas Berdych; Rafael Nadal

Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent 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