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sexual
harassment of women at workplace
career
compass: chartered accountant
testing
times: preparation for gate
news
board
Happiness
@ work
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Commercial
pilot Usha Albuquerque Of all the jobs in aviation that of the pilot is possibly the most critical, and therefore the most sought after. This isn’t only because of the huge salaries that the pilots earn, but also because of the sheer excitement of controlling a machine that soars in the skies like a bird. Although traditionally, a pilot’s job has been almost exclusively for men, more and more women are now coming into this profession with a fair degree of success. Aviation has been a major opening for women, particularly in the area of flying, and a large number of women have already made their presence felt as pilots. The aviation boom a few years ago had created a huge demand for commercial pilots, but today the aviation story does not have such a silver lining. In fact, with most airlines facing the economic crunch and others like the Kingfisher on the verge of closure, there is a large surplus of fresh cadet pilots lacking flying hours looking for jobs, and a shortage of experienced captains which the industry requires. However, as the market begins to recover, the cycle of demand in the airlines is likely to come round again. The work The commercial pilot is responsible for the safety of passengers, crew and the aircraft during the time the plane is in motion. He must be familiar with the functioning of all instruments and controls in the aircraft, be updated with meteorological information and detailed flight plans. He should be able to perform complex calculations of take-off and landing and be prepared at all times for the unexpected. The work includes briefing the crew and supervising loading and refuelling. During the flight, too, pilot must be constantly alert, ensuring there are no mechanical snags, maintaining contact with the air traffic controls and cabin crew throughout the flight. He also has to keep a record of the flight details. Pilots must continuously use their training and skill in the use of the sophisticated computerised instrument systems in the aircraft, and maintain contact with air traffic control. Most flights have two pilots and duties are shared with the co-pilot, particularly on long flights. The foothold The training to become a commercial pilot is a long and arduous one, conducted in three stages, and enough to deter all but the most determined. A basic requirement for taking up any professional assignment as a pilot is a Commercial Pilot’s Licence issued by the Director General Civil Aviation Students Pilot Licence: To enroll for training you must register with a pilot training institute, recognised by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Government of India. The registration requires a medical certificate, security clearance and a bank guarantee. Vision in one eye must be perfect. (6/6 eyesight) In the other eye, you could have an imperfection of 6/9, which must be correctable to 6/6. The medical certificate of fitness can be obtained from doctors designated by the Director General of Civil Aviation — Air Force Central Medical Establishment in New Delhi and the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bangalore. You will also need to take the SPL tests in air navigation, air technical, air regulation and aviation meteorology. For the complete list of DGCA-approved flying schools log on to www.dgca.nic.in Eligibility: Plus II with maths and physics; minimum age 16 years and a medical fitness certificate. Private Pilot’s Licence: After clearing the SPL you can start flying training with an instructor or trainer. You need to complete 60 hours of flying, of which 30 hours should be solo flying and five hours cross-country. There is also a theory exam comprising five papers in various subjects of air navigation, aircraft engines and seamanship, after which the Private Pilot’s Licence is given. Eligibility: Plus II with a SPL Commercial Pilot’s Licence: After a PPL you will have to train for another 190 hours including solo flying, cross-country flying, and day and night landing to qualify for the CPL. Also five theory papers on advanced aspects of flying and navigation. Helicopter pilots, too, need to pass a written exam in air regulation, aviation meteorology, aircraft and engines for the preliminary Private Helicopter Pilot’s Licence (PHPL). Thereafter, another 60 hours flying experience followed by a written exam makes one eligible for the CHPL, or a Commercial Helicopter Licence. Institutions The only formal Flying Training Academy in India is the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udaan Academy at Rai Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh. Here the selected candidates get training and flying experience leading to a CPL as well as Helicopter Pilot’s Licence. The rising cost of fuel has made flying training expensive and you must be prepared to pay more than Rs 20,000-30,000 per hour or more, depending on where you train — in India or abroad. Many students go for training abroad as due to the shortage of trainer aircraft in the country, it may take one years to clock in the necessary 250-300 hours of flying time required for training. Those taking up flying training abroad should make sure that the institute is a certified one. Also if you wish to work in India then you will have to clear the DGCA qualifying exam on returning to India. Skills required Although the thrill of flying can be very attractive, those who take up this profession need to posses certain qualities. A commercial pilot has a very critical job. The lives of all passengers and crew on the flight depend on his ability to handle a crisis. A pilot, therefore, needs to have above average intelligence, ability to be alert at all times, quick reflexes, mental agility, high standard of physical fitness, self-confidence, leadership qualities, and an ability to take instant decisions. Medical fitness is very essential, and there are regular medical checks, every 6-12 months, for pilots. Pilots spend long and irregular hours on a flight, particularly over long distances, and so can experience fatigue and jet-lag. A pilot has to be 100 per cent alert all the time, and take split second decisions when necessary. They may also be required to stay in different places depending on their travel schedules. Career prospects Pilots are recruited as trainee pilots and work for a year or so under the supervision of a senior pilot. The first independent job is as a co-pilot or first officer. Promotion to Captain/Commander can come after about 8-10 years of service and seniority is determined by the hours of flying experience and successful completion of various programmes. The Captain of an aircraft has the total responsibility for the aircraft, crew and passengers. While a pilot is trained to perform navigating tasks, a few aircraft still need the services of a flight engineer, who has to carry out an inspection of the aircraft before the flight, during the flight and after landing. Truly the sky is the limit for pilots, but on a more earthly plane while there is a huge requirement for pilots, most private carriers are not willing to invest in training pilots for the particular kind of aircraft that they use. Indian Airlines, Air India and some private airlines take on trained pilots with a CPL (Commercial Pilot's Licence) and a minimum of 250 hours of flying experience as trainee pilots and further training is imparted at the respective airlines’ training centres where pilots are put through rigorous technical training on the various aircraft of the airline, as well as courses in high altitude meteorology, navigation, flight planning and flight safety. Trainees are also put through training on a simulator which enables them to learn complicated instrument procedures and emergencies, before the actual flight training. Only after completing all these stages does the pilot obtain Type Endorsement on the licence from the DGCA for flying a particular aircraft. Training for each type of aircraft doesn’t come cheap either. Training and endorsement costs for different aircraft, including the Airbus 320, Boeing 747 can be extremely expensive and range from Rs 10-15 lakh or more. Moreover, each time a pilot moves over to another type of aircraft, he/she will have to undergo special training for that aircraft and obtain the Type Endorsement. Most private airlines expect candidates to pay for the training and endorsement, and normally look for pilots who have already clocked in 1,500 hours or more. Given the cost of training and the responsibility they take on, commercial pilots are paid handsomely - starting on salaries ranging between Rs 8-12 lakh for trainee pilots, and generous allowances like housing, medical and outstation allowances as well as free concessional air passages for immediate family and dependants. Experienced pilots can expect to earn over Rs 4-5 lakh per month. A pilot can get a job for flying passenger and cargo flights for a domestic or international airline, or with organisations that maintain their own aircraft. In addition there are jobs with charter flights, parachute dropping, air taxi services, agricultural crop spraying, aerial photography or becoming a flight instructor. Commercial pilots can also explore the option of joining the Indian Navy which is taking CPL holders in its aviation division under the short service commission. Alternatively you can look for a career in the Air Force where you not only get your flying training paid for, but fly some of the most sophisticated aircraft available. Helicopter pilots are hired by public and private sector corporates as well as security agencies. Pawan Hans, the helicopter corporation and corporate organisations such as the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), also employ helicopter pilots. So if becoming a pilot has been a childhood dream, taking to the skies is not an impossible feat. Even with your head in the clouds it is actually a lot easier than it sounds. — The writer is Director Caareers Smart Pvt Ltd.
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sexual
harassment of women at workplace Swati Rai The Indian workplace is all set to become woman-friendly in the wake of the lower house of Parliament passing the ‘Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace’ (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal), Bill 2010, spearheaded by Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath. On the face of it the future looks bright but it remains to be seen whether this measure will be enough to tackle the mental barriers that we have. We find out what the ground situation is in the corporate sector and what changes will this Bill bring about in the lives of an ever-increasing women workforce. The concept of gender equality, sensitisation and woman empowerment at workplace began to gain momentum with the liberalisation of the Indian economy in 1991 when MNCs set anchor on Indian shores. Yet, due to the patriarchal mindset of our society nothing much has changed in the past couple of decades. It is true that sexual harassment is rampant in the corporate sector and it is equally correct to say that a majority of such instances are brushed under the carpet. But the new Bill is a step to change all this. Will it change things? It goes without saying that laws and policies to protect women against such exploitation will improve women worker’s participation and productivity and promote an egalitarian work culture. However, the Bill does come with its share of loopholes especially when it stipulates that every office should have an internal complaints committee and local complaints committee which is expected to finish an enquiry in 90 days but no time limit has been set to take action against the guilty. It states that if the complaint is found to be of malicious intent then action would be taken against the complainant. It gives the woman a chance to apply for transfer and even quit work while the enquiry is in progress or is ending. The employers not adhering to the provisions of the Bill can be fined up to Rs 50,000 and repeated violations can lead to the cancellation of registration or licence to hold business However, the big question that activists, women employees, HR Heads and CEOs are asking is whether this Bill has enough teeth to ensure a safer workplace for women? Dr. Samir Parikh, director, department of mental health and behavioural sciences, Fortis Healthcare opines, “Laws may not ensure 100 per cent adherence yet these act as deterrents. These also take care of the rampant ignorance and raise the awareness levels of society. Yet we all have to be introspectively honest and admit that there are a large percentage of women who will still hesitate to come forward and report such incidents.” Supriti Bhandary, Vice-President, Talent Engagement and Development, Wipro Technologies says, “Sexual harassment is a violation of the dignity of individuals and safety of the workplace. It is an intimidating form of violence, which negatively affects the morale of the victims, their lives, their productivity and the spirit of the workplace.” Existing norms A large number of corporates already have a system in place to check the incidents of harassment. Informing about the policies already in place against sexual harassment at Wipro Technologies, Bhandary adds, “Wipro has had a comprehensive framework on prevention of sexual harassment for many years now and follows a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards sexual harassment. We have a central ‘Prevention of Sexual Harassment’ Committee, with a Chairperson, who is a senior woman employee. We also have expert-led training sessions for the committee members. It helps them in conducting effective enquiries and ensuring that the spirit of the policy is put to action at every stage of the concern being resolved.” Srimathi Shivashankar, Associate Vice-President, Diversity and Sustainability, HCL Technologies, states, “We assure confidentiality and protection to all HCL employees from threats by the management or co-workers for filing a grievance or participating in an investigation. We have a policy in place on prevention and redressal of sexual harassment at workplace. HCL has also set up a Secure Governing Council (SGC) with senior employees under the leadership of the Head, Human Resources (HR) to look into this matter.” Talking about policy against sexual harassment in his organisation, Ashu Malhotra, President, Human Resources, Tulip Telecom says, “We have a clearly defined policy against sexual harassment at workplace. We also have a few NGOs working with us to arbitrate in matters of such conflicts. We focus on creating an awareness in this regard to curb such instances in the organisation. One of our primary aims is to establish an expected norm and behaviour in the organisation. We have induction training programmes where trainees are subtly informed of the expected mores of social behaviour and dress code. We have a self-defence programme running in the organisation and ensure registered cabs are used for pick-and-drop facility.” This brings us to the ground situation so far as these policies in the organisations and their implementation is concerned. Shivshankar informs of the whistle-blower policy at HCLT, “The principles of trust through transparency and accountability are at the core of HCLT’s existence. Apart from a policy on prevention and redressal of sexual harassment at workplace, we also have a whistle-blower channel available to all stakeholders within or outside HCL to ensure strict compliance with ethical and legal standards across the company. We do specific trainings for managers, for employees and have published the redressal channels available. There is an online e-learn tool available which the employee goes through at his/her desktop. These practices have been very effective any reported case is dealt with severely by the management.” Bhandary explains, “To nip sexual harassment in the bud and to increase awareness of employees, multiple channels are being used at Wipro. To cater to the needs of a large employee base like ours and to leverage the online platform that is used by employees for other trainings, we have built a comprehensive case-based e-module for employees. We co-create awareness events with employees, through mediums such as street theatre, wherein employees participate in the story creation and narration at public places (like the office cafeteria). The new hire orientation covers Wipro values and sexual harassment policy awareness.” Dr. Parikh states, “Such a law will make the women workforce feel secure and enhance their work efficiency. I feel this should also apply equally to members of both genders and ensure a safer workplace. There ought to be fair justice irrespective of someone’s gender. Success of such laws is a part of the larger whole. What is important is how it will make women employees mentally secure.” Speaking about the necessity of clearly defined laws against sexual harassment Malhotra adds, “Such legislation is required as this ensures that there is a redressal mechanism in society and organisations, too. We do have a procedure whereby warning letters, suspensions and even dismissals are done in case rules and regulation are violated.”
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Paying Peanuts
Indian companies are among the world’s 10 lowest paying employers in the IT space, with their mid-to-senior level staff getting an average salary of $ 38,767 (about Rs 21.5 lakh) per annum — less than one-fourth of the IT pay package at globally top-paying Swiss firms.
Salaries in the IT sector of Switzerland are the highest in the world at an average of $ 168,211 (about Rs 93 lakh) per annum, as per a study titled ‘World wide IT Salary 2012’.
The study, conducted by global recruitment service provider MyHiringClub.com, has ranked India at eighth spot among 10 worst IT paymasters globally. On the other hand, Switzerland stands at the top spot among the top-paying nations in the IT sector. The study, which was conducted in August this year, took into account the average salaries for people with four and more years of experience for the Indian and other companies. The report compared
the total annual cash compensation and total remuneration information for IT staff in more than 6,000 companies across 40 different countries and found that employers in western Europe were the best
paymasters. It also found that compensation in developed countries focus more on variable factors, such as bonus schemes, to attract staff. At the same time, the emphasis remains on cash compensation in the lower-paying countries. “Experienced IT managers are highly sought-after in India and there is strong competition to attract and retain skilled employees. MNCs rely heavily on Indian IT managers, so they need to ensure their pay is competitive. “Although pay in Asia and Eastern Europe tends to be much lower, it would be difficult for firms to outsource the IT manager role to these regions. Instead, we may see a migration of IT skills from lower paying nations to places in Western Europe and North America,” MyHiringClub.com CEO Rajesh Kumar said. Interestingly, IT managers in India fare better than their counterparts in neighbouring China, where the average annual compensation package were lower at $ 38,624. In addition, IT employees in India, scored better than their peers in Bulgaria, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, where the average annual salaries were even lower at $ 23,745, $ 29,831, $ 33,768, $ 33,965, $ 34,107 and $ 36,790, respectively. Among the best IT salaries paying countries Belgium bagged the second position with an average salary of $ 144,980, followed by Denmark ($ 136,542), the US ($ 128,632) and the UK ($ 127,890). — Agencies
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career
compass: chartered accountant Arvind Vaish
The work Chartered Accountants usually occupy high and respectable posts in an organisation. They are the ones responsible for handling accounts and finance related matters. They deal with money management, prepare, analyse and audit accounts along with providing financial advice to companies. Only members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants can call themselves Chartered Accountants, after attaining the certificate from the institute. Legally only qualified CAs are authorised to audit and certify a company’s books of accounts. They ensure that the financial transactions of an organisation are maintained as per the legal guidelines. The accounting department prepares and analyses financial reports and documents of an organisation. They also keep track of the cost of management of the company and manage tax matters. Later these figures and statements are examined, verified and are then certified by the auditors. Job scape CAs are generally employed with firms or they can have their own private practice. The range of work in both the cases depends on the size of the practice. The following are the areas where CAs can get lucrative jobs:
Public Limited Companies (mandatory for the purpose of law)
Auditing Firms (such as KPMG, Price Waterhouse, etc.)
Finance Companies, Mutual Funds, Portfolio Management Companies, Investment Houses, Stock Broking Firms
Legal firms, legal houses, patent firms, attorneys, trade mark and copyright registers.Getting in Chartered accountancy can be pursued after Plus II or graduation. The whole course can be divided into three stages i.e. Foundation. Intermediate and Final. Foundation: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) offers CA foundation course to students who have cleared Plus II in any stream. The duration of the course is one year. After getting registration with the institute, students are provided with the study material by the Board of Studies. Students have to complete their study and clear the test papers under the postal tuition scheme. They also have an option to attend contact classes organised by accredited institutions. Students opting for these classes are exempted from taking the test papers under the postal tuition scheme. After 12 months of registration and satisfactory compliance with the requirement of the Board of Studies, the Foundation examination can be taken. The examination is conducted twice every year i.e. in May and November. The course has four papers in the following subjects.
Mathematics and Statistics
Economics
Mercantile LawAfter clearing the papers of the foundation course, candidates can register for articleship (apprenticeship) under the practicing CAs or CA firms. Articleship has to be done for a period of over three years. The training begins under close supervision and later on, articles can manage bigger assignments. The purpose of articleship is to impart practical training and exposure of the profession to freshers. During articleship the articles can take up intermediate examination after 12 months. Articleship also includes a year of industrial training which can be done in the last year after clearing the intermediate examination. After completing articleship, seeking membership of the Institute is essential for practicing as a CA. After five years of membership, fellowship of the Institute can be taken. Many students prefer to pursue chartered accountancy professional training and course after graduation. These students have to take an entrance test in four subjects (elements of accounting, English, mathematics and general commercial knowledge and economics). Graduates with 50 per cent marks in accounting, auditing and commercial or mercantile law are exempted from taking the entrance test. Other graduates with 55 per cent marks are also exempted from taking the entrance test. Rest all is same as those who have taken the Foundation Course. Intermediate examination: Registered students who have completed nine months of training as articled or audit clerks and have completed the oral/postal tuition scheme imparted by the Board of Studies, are eligible to take the intermediate examination. The examination has the following subjects. Group I: Accounting, law, and auditing Group II: Cost accounting, Income-Tax and Central Sales Tax, and organisation and management and fundamentals of electronic data processing. Final examination: Students who successfully clear both the groups of intermediate examination of the institute and complete the prescribed period of practical training (three years) or have yet to serve a period not more than nine months of such services can take the final examination. The examination has the following groups. Group I: This group consists of the following subjects; Advance accounting, management accounting, auditing and company law Group II: This group consists of the following subjects;
Corporate management, secretarial practice, managerial economics and national accounting
Operational research and statistical analysis, system analysis and data processing, costs systems and cost control
Management information and control systems, tax planning and tax management, management and operational audit.Pay package For CA Inter: Generally candidates holding CA inter-qualification are paid somewhere between Rs 7,500 and 15,000 depending on the type of firm. Payments can be higher for candidates possessing other qualifications such as M.Com or an MBA. On the other hand starting salaries can be as little as Rs 4,500 to 5,000 in some small towns of the country. For CA Final (FCA): Starting salaries range between Rs 12,000 to 30,000 depending on the type of firm and nature of the economy. A full fledged CA can expect a salary between Rs 30,000 to 75,000 after serving a stint of more than five years in a top firm. — The writer is MD, A. Vaish and Company, Kanpur
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field
in focus: food technology
The discipline of food technology draws its genesis from a host of other branches of science like biology, chemical engineering, and biochemistry with an attempt to develop food processes that can yield improved food products. The discipline deals with the activities that go into the selection, preservation, processing, packaging, distribution, and use of safe food.
Punjab has always been identified with agriculture, and more so for “food” – both production and consumption. Hence the relevance of food technology for the state is immense. During the past 10-15 years, the culture of consumption of packaged foods has witnessed an ascent. This has led many of the food processing companies to set up their base in Punjab, owing to its advantage of being a source-region for raw food material. Eminent companies like Nestle, Pepsico etc. have set up units in the state while many others have plans of joining the bandwagon. The rich dividends that the farmers have reaped by dealing directly with food processing companies based in Punjab, have given momentum to the popularity of food-industry in the state, which in turns augurs well for adoption and application of food technology practices in a more pronounced way. Skills required For those looking for a full-time career in this field, it is essential to have an inclination about working upon food stuff along with having a technical bent of mind. An experimenting attitude and research-oriented approach is also desirable. One also needs to pay attention to the concepts like safety and taste of food and be receptive to the needs and demands of the consumers. The word “technology” in food technology does imply that scientific acumen is desired, but it is more of an art to work upon food stuff to make it delightfully edible, nutritious and fresh for a longer time. And a good food technologist should always strive for improvement and enhancement his field of work. Scope Food industry had always been a lucrative career option, especially aboard. However, in past two decades it has emerged as a high-profit industry in India as well. The industry is witnessing an exponential growth in the country, and this translates into a high number of job opportunities for professionals and trained personnel with academic background in food technology. Contrary to popular belief that food technology is meant only to process “ready-to-eat” snacks, the same finds tremendous application in conserving basic or primary foods such as wheat and rice products, sugar, oil and pulses and the processes for converting them into edible form. The mall culture has also upheld the significance of food technology, as many bakery and dairy products, breakfast foods, meat and fish products, fruit and vegetable products etc. are increasingly being ‘readied’ for consumption through the use of various technological processes. Popular courses Eligibility Diploma in food technology can be pursued after Plus II (medical/non-medical). The one-and-a-half year course generally has a cut off of 50 per cent in Plus II. BSc. and B.Tech courses in food technology call for students with Plus II in the science stream. Most colleges admit students with at least 50 per cent marks in Plus II (medical/non-medical). Those having a diploma can also take admission through lateral entry in second year of B.Tech. (food technology). Master’s in Food Technology is a two- year course after graduation. Duration of courses Diploma is of 1.5-2 year duration. The duration for bachelor’s courses is three years and four years for B.Sc. and B.Tech. programmes, respectively and PG level courses are of two-year duration. Students can also go in for specialisation in different fields like dairy, sugar, alcohol, bakery and confectionery items, oil and oil seed processing, fruits and vegetables, meat-fish, cereals etc. Career roles and job prospects A career in food technology is rewarding in terms of the remuneration offered, job profile as well as tremendous opportunities of professional growth. The main sectors that the students of food technology can get into include: Remuneration Qualification, technical skills and professional experience are the factors that determine compensation in this industry. With the advent of MNCs in packaged food industry, salaries have seen appreciation like never before. A graduate with B.Sc. degree pockets an average salary ranging between Rs 8,000 and Rs 12,000 per month, while a B.Tech degree holder can make between Rs 20,000-25,000 in an average company. Those with work experience can get a salary between Rs 25, 000 and Rs75, 000 per month, as per the depth of their experience. Those functioning at senior management level are awarded higher salaries in comparison with their counterparts from other sectors. — The writer is Dean, Lovely
Professional University (LPU)
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Career
Hotline Pervin Malhotra email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com ... Q. I am a final year student of BSc (Agri) and am very much interested in pursuing further studies in biological conservation. Could you suggest the best course for me? — kishore thareja A. The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)’s National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore offers two programmes which would serve your interests very well. The conservation of India’s biodiversity in future will critically depend on sound professional management of the key areas. Despite substantial investments by governmental and international agencies, effective conservation of biodiversity is hindered by a lack of professionals who can design, implement and monitor conservation grounded in sound science. Effective conservation is a multi-dimensional task that ultimately depends on trained, knowledgeable professionals. Reflecting the multi-disciplinary nature of conservation, excellent students from a wide range of academic backgrounds e.g. those who have their primary degrees in basic sciences, engineering or medicine are eligible for admission. Integrated PhD (Int-PhD) programme is ideal for BSc. graduates with an excellent academic record who are keen to pursue a career in research. The advertisement in this regard is issued in early September and the selection is based on a written test held in December. This test assesses basic analytical skills and Plus II level maths, physics, chemistry and biology. Candidates are short-listed for an interview at Bangalore, based on performance in the test and information furnished in the application package. You can register for a PhD at the TIFR Deemed University typically 1.5 - 2 years after joining, provided you meet the coursework requirements and clear a comprehensive exam. You will receive the MSc. degree along with your PhD. MSc. in Wildlife Biology and Conservation: seeks to bridge this gap by producing practicing wildlife biologists who can actively promote and advance scientific conservation of wildlife and natural landscapes. Experts from India and abroad are invited to conduct modules, giving students an exposure to the latest developments in the field. The course is offered in collaboration with the Centre for Wildlife Studies and the degree is awarded by TIFR. The MSc. programme is offered every two years. The notification appears 7-8 months before the course commences. The next batch commences in July 2014-16. Selection is based on a national written test in December, a detailed application, and an interview of short-listed candidates. For further information and application details, log onto: www.ncbs.res.in.
Prospects of studying in New Zealand
Q. While we’d like to provide our son a foreign education, I’m afraid the total costs of study in Australia or UK are beyond our means. We recently attended an education fair and came across a few universities from New Zealand. Is it worthwhile to send our child there? — k.s dheer
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testing
times: preparation for gate Abhijeet Chaudhuri
Another change is in the formula used in calculating the GATE score. While historical data will be used for arriving at the qualifying score, the performance of the top 0.1 per cent of the test takers in each stream will play a very significant role. How to prepare GATE is a test of a student’s grasp over his or her undergraduate studies - right from the first year to the final year. It checks concepts as well as their application. In most cases, the one-mark questions and the match the following questions usually check understanding of concepts while the two-mark questions (usually numerical) guage application skills. Different strategies for different goals There are usually two kinds of professional track athletes — marathoners and sprinters. Their objectives, preparation, workouts and strategy are very different from each other. Similarly, there are two kinds of GATE aspirants — those who have decided in the first year itself that GATE is the goal and those who wake up to the exam’s potential in their pre-final or final year. The first step in the preparation for GATE is the concept strengthening and in this the former set has a distinct advantage — diligently following the lessons in their engineering course greatly increases their grasp of the fundamentals and concepts and this also helps them ace their university exams. And it is sufficient for them to practice a variety of questions as GATE is just an extension of their engineering syllabus. The latter group is faced with a far greater challenge — to cover up for the lost ground and that too, without the aid of a teacher. To overcome this difficulty, one could opt for a good classroom coaching module, so that concepts can be strengthened in a shorter span. Also, your goal in terms of the rank to be achieved also plays a big role in shaping the preparation. For e.g, if your goal is to join any of the top courses in IITs, then you need to get a rank of less than 1,000, which means that you cannot afford to leave out any section during preparation. On the other hand, if just qualifying is the goal, one can afford to leave out some sections and focus on the important ones and still get enough marks to qualify. Engineering Mathematics and General Ability constitute 30 per cent of the marks and hence are critical but also high-scoring sections. For example, electronic devices in ECE contributes to not more than 2-4 per cent of the marks but takes up substantial preparation time. Hence students are advised to check out the pattern trends in GATE over the past few years and identify critical and non-critical sections and proceed accordingly. So in essence, the approach to be taken will be determined by your attitude and goals -whether you want to be a marathoner or a sprinter and where do you want to finish. External guidance or self-study? A good tutorial, whether classroom or online, will help you not only in understanding concepts but also in channeling your efforts in the right direction. It will also provide you with the relevant study material and tons of practice questions, which is as important as the tutoring itself. Opt for self-study only if you are confident about grasping difficult concepts without the help of an instructor and are also confident of putting in a lot of effort without external coercion. Assessment and improvement Every product needs to be tested in exact operating conditions before it can be released in the market. Similarly, you need to check whether your preparation has equipped you to take on the competition. You need to know your strengths and weaknesses. You need to check whether you are prepared to handle changes in the pattern or difficulty levels. And lastly, you need to know if you can handle the exam pressure. To know all this and more, a mock-test series is strongly recommended, preferably one which is conducted on an All-India basis. It will not only provide you with good quality questions and a comprehensive performance analysis vis-ŕ-vis similar GATE aspirants, but will also simulate the actual test environment. Such simulation and acclimatisation with the test environment is even more crucial this year as 15 papers would be online. It also lends seriousness into preparation once you see your results. Some aspects of the exam such as shading with pencils, the time it requires to shade OMR sheets are also brought to light for the first time, when a student goes for these exams. And it is important to analyse your performance after each test and try to implement the lessons in the next. Weaknesses cannot become strengths overnight but hardwork and perseverance will pay in the long run. — The writer is Director, GATEFORUM
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news
board Galgotias Business School has signed an MOU with Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Pvt Ltd on the occasion of the launch of Toyota Sales Education Foundation (TSEF), in Greater Noida. Conceptualised, developed and supported by TKM, TSEF is a programme focused at training students on automotive sales during their graduation years and later recruiting the trained students as ‘sales officers’ across Toyota dealerships. On this occasion, Dr. Renu Luthra, Director, Galgotia’s Business School, said, “Industry Academic partnership is the only long-term sustainable process, where by the employability of management student can be improved. We at GBS are keenly looking forward to a mutually beneficial association with TKM as this is a great career opportunity for our students to develop industry relevant skills.” Commenting on this occasion, Sailesh Shetty, Vice-President, Dealer Development and Sales, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “The launch of TSEF as a special sales training module will enable us to provide the latest automotive sales training to students during their graduation and encourage these students to take up sales as their career. This initiative will also help generate employment opportunities for the students at Toyota dealerships. We wish to expose the students to latest sales techniques used in the automotive industry.” Scheduled to be allotted for a minimum of five hours per week in the 6th trimester for PGDM students, the programme will have a size of 40 students for each batch and will be based on a sales module, developed and designed by TKM. The TSEF module will consist of 40 hours of classroom teaching and 20 hours of on-job training in form of projects and research work. The ‘on the job’ training modules will be conducted at Toyota dealerships. — TNS
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Happiness
@ work No use having a short fuse
Having brought the sick Dharamsee Mill in the Kurla area of Mumbai, Jamsetji Tata renamed it the Swadeshi Mill. Despite immense hard work, the mill didn’t do well. So, Jamsetji started referring to it as his ‘rotten mill’. When Jamsetji, on a visit to Nagpur, became unwell, a doctor was called. On asking Jamsetji how he felt, he answered, “I keep hearing sounds — of my rotten mill machinery.” When Tata Steel was launched, it was suggested to Sir Fredrick, Chairman of Indian Railways, that Tatas could produce steel for railway lines. Fredrick jokingly said, “If Tatas produce steel to our standards, I’ll eat every pound of it.” When Tata Steel found acceptance by the Railways, Dorab Tata remarked, “If Sir Fredrick were to keep his word, he sure would have some slight indigestion.” When the leg of Krishna’s idol at Dakshineshwar broke, Rani Rasmani, who owned the temple approached Ramakrishna Paramhans. “Should we cast the idol into the Ganga as suggested by the priests?” she said. Ramakrishna said, “If one of your sons-in-law were to break a leg, would you throw him away? Bring the idol to me and I’ll repair it.” After the failed uprising of February 21, 1915 by Indian revolutionaries, Rash Behari Bose fled from Lahore to Varanasi, disguised first as a scavenger and then as a Pathan. Then he went to Chandernagore, his native place, and spent a month there as a priest. One day, Bose saw a policeman coming towards him. Even before Bose could decide what to do, the cop fell at his feet, sought his blessings and went away. Similarly, the freedom fighters knew that it was time to disperse after the Kakori Conspiracy on August 9, 1925. Chandra Shekhar Azad ran away to Dhimarpur, a small village near Jhansi, and became the priest of a Hanuman temple. When a policeman asked him if he was Azad, he said that all devotees of Hanuman are azad (free). When the cop asked Azad to appear before the police chief, he threatened to curse him. The terrorised cop ran away. Laugh…and the whole world will laugh with you. — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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Course cruising
Forest management
The Indian Institute of Forest Management is inviting applications for admissions to its two-year residential PGDM course. Eligibility: A three-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent in in any discipline with an aggregate of 50 per cent marks How to apply:
IIFM uses CAT score for shortlisting candidates. Download form from www.iifm.ac.in/admission Deadline: December 10, 2012
International Institute of Health Management Research, New Delhi, has launched a postgraduade diploma in health informatics management. The course intends to create competent human resources for meeting rapidly growing demands of professionals well conversant with the use of information technology tools for applicationsfor health care delivery. Eligibility:
For freshers: Bachelor’s degree with 50 per cent marks with a flair for computing along with MAT/CMAT/CAT scores. For mid-career professionals: Minimum two years of work experience Deadline:
October 29, 2012 Check out: www.iihmrdelhi.org
Those wanting to become a part of the rapidly growing mobile app industry can check out the Excel-in-IT (Mobile Application & Technology) certificate course being offered by TALENTEDGE. This mobile application and technology programme provides in depth specialised knowledge on planning, designing, deployment and management of new and innovative utility, gaming, business application for all the popular Smartphone ecosystems including Android, iOS, Blackberry and Windows Mobile platforms Number of seats:
Max 20 seats per batch Duration : 400 hrs Fee: Rs 55,000 Deadline:
As per batch schedule Check out: www.talentedge.in
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Scholarship roundup
The Clarendon Fund funded full-time and part time master’s and DPhil scholarships for international students are available for those taking admission in the University of Oxford. Clarendon Scholarships are awarded on the basis of outstanding academic merit and potential to graduate students from all around the world. Scholarships are tenable in all subject areas and open to candidates who will be starting a new course. Students of all degree-bearing courses including full-time and part-time master’s courses (MSt, MSc, BCL/MJur, MBA, MFE, MPhil, BPhil, MSc by research, MTh) and all DPhil programmes. Eligibility: All applicants for graduate study at the University of Oxford are eligible. Tenure of award:
Full tenure of the course. Details: All Clarendon Scholarships cover tuition and college fees in full and a generous grant for living expenses. The grant for living expenses for scholars on a full-time in 2010-11 is GBPŁ13,590, which is normally sufficient to cover the living expenses of a single student living in Oxford. Scholars on a part-time course receive a pro-rata amount of the full-time grant for living expenses. Part-time master’s scholars are offered one third of the full-time grant per year for two years. Part-time DPhil scholars are offered one sixth of the full-time grant per year for six years. Selection criteria:
Selection criteria vary slightly depending on the subject area and whether applicants apply for a taught or research degree, but include:
How to apply:
Those applying for graduate study at Oxford University will automatically be considered for a Clarendon Scholarship. No need to submit any additional documents specifically for the Clarendon Scholarships and there is no separate scholarship application form. Deadline:
Graduate admissions for 2013-14 is January 18, 2013 (or January 4, 2013 for medical sciences, philosophy, politics and international relations) Check out:
www.clarendon.ox.ac.uk/apply/eligibility For girls of minority communities The Maulana Azad Education Foundation offers scholarships for girl students of Class XI and XII belonging to national minorities. Eligibility:
A student getting a scholarship from any other source would not be eligible. Details:
Rs 12,000 each (Rs 6,000 each in Class XI and XII). Scholarship will be admissible for expenditure on payment of school/college fee, purchase of syllabus books, purchase of stationery/equipments required for the course and the payment of board and lodging charges. How to apply: Online Deadline:
September 30, 2012 Check out: ww.maef.nic.in
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Fortnightly quiz 422
1. Name the Indian-American astronaut who recently became the second woman in history to take command of the International Space Station.
2. Which US space shuttle that flew 25 times in space and circled the earth more than 4,700 times is to be kept in a museum? 3. Which Hindi film was recently selected to represent India at the Oscars? 4. Which two Asian superpowers are facing strained relations over three uninhabited islands in East China Sea? 5. Which controversial India-born author’s memoir is titled ‘Joseph Anton’? 7. Which company has the world’s largest retail outlet? 8. In which state is the Manimahesh shrine situated? 9. With which sport is Sebastian Vettel associated? 10. Which British player recently won his first tennis Grand Slam singles title and also became the first male player of the UK to win a tennis Open tournament in 76 years? — Tarun Sharma Winners of quiz 421: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Jyoti Dahiya, Class 9th E, St John’s School, Sector 7, Faridabad (Haryana), Pin Code 121005 Second: Zippy Mamotra, Class: IX (Red),
HRA International School, Gurdaspur (Punjab) Pin Code: 143521 Third: Kshitiz Singh, Class VIII-B, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Air Force Station, Sarsawa, district Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Pin Code - 247232 Answers to quiz 421: VJ Kurien; Fifty; Boeing 787 Dreamliner; Sivakasi; Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya and Rajasthan; Mitt Romney; Shivasamudram; Ratan Tata; Madhya Pradesh; Unmukt Chand 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 on the letter/postcard to facilitate the delivery of the prize money. Answers can also be sent at quiz@tribunemail.com Name……………….………….....
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The Indian workplace is all set to become woman-friendly in the wake of the lower house of Parliament passing the ‘Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace’ (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal), Bill 2010, spearheaded by Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath. On the face of it the future looks bright but it remains to be seen whether this measure will be enough to tackle the mental barriers that we have. We find out what the ground situation is in the corporate sector and what changes will this Bill bring about in the lives of an ever-increasing women workforce.
Career
Hotline
Chartered Accountancy as a profession is attracting a lot of young people and is witnessing a rapid growth, thanks to the growing corporate sector. As per estimates based on the growth of Indian economy in the past five years, the country needs about 7,500 to 10,000 fresh CAs every year.
Financial Accounting: Financial accounting deals with maintaining the financial records of an organisation. It involves operating accounts, interpreting, supervising, controlling and organising income and expenditure, doing internal audits, dealing with wages and salaries, paying accounts and sending out invoices, and coping with taxes etc.
A.
In New Zealand the human population is outnumbered several times by the number of sheep and cows. Going by recent statistics, it seems Indian students are doing their bit to rectify that imbalance! With over 12,000 students going to New Zealand in 2010-11, India has emerged as the second largest source country after China for international students in New Zealand. New Zealand is gladly accepting the additional student inflow, especially those put off by the bad press that Australia has been getting. In fact, New Zealand is the fourth most popular study destination for Indian students. And not without reason. Higher education in New Zealand — both UG & PG — can cost half as much as courses in the UK and Australia. Depending on the undergraduate course, the annual tuition fee can range from Rs 3-6 lakh per year. Management and Technology are by far the most popular courses that students opt for. However, they also have some good programmes in tourism and hospitality, marine engineering, biotechnology and food and diary technology. Living expenses, too, are comparably lower than those in other countries (Rs 3-4 lakh p.a.). Further, students can work up to 20 hours a week while studying in New Zealand and also receive a two-year work permit after completing their course. Given the relatively small population, New Zealand is also keen on educated, technically qualified professionals choosing to settle there. In case you have an educational qualification from a New Zealand University, the two-year work experience requirement is
waived.
GATE is conducted by an organising committee consisting of the IISc and seven IITs. The GATE score is used for admission to ME/M.Tech courses in various institutes as well as for recruitment in various PSUs like BHEL, IOCL, HPCL, NTPC etc. For GATE 2013, 15 papers would be conducted online, prominent among them are Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, while the remaining six papers (Electronics, Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Instrumentation and Production Engineering). The offline exam will be conducted on February 10, 2013 while the online exam will conducted on January 20, 2013.
In the tense environment at workplaces, it is vital to keep one’s sense of humour.
Clarendon offer
6. Which country’s population suffered a lot during the Khmer Rouge regime?