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wedding photography
subject matter: mathematics
Green is the way to go
smart strategy: resolving conflict between employees
cubicle trends
in conversation
Career Hotline
Cool Counsel
Happiness @ work
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wedding photography
India is known for its follies, foibles and big FAT weddings. Weddings are a treasure of emotions, of moments beyond measure. Of late, the number of photographs taken at an average wedding has assumed staggering proportions. The most important photographs are usually those of the bride and the groom, and the rest of the wedding party.
A major chunk of the money that is spent on the ostentatious weddings goes into capturing and perpetuating the magical moments through the lens of a camera. Wedding photography involves taking photographs of the ceremonies and participants. However, there is much more to wedding photography than simply clicking a few pictures. However, the main skill and qualification required to capture and make these moments memorable is
creativity. There’s no telling how a wedding day will unfold, and a wedding photographer is in the thick of it all and is yet not a part of it. A wedding photographer is one person who is not directly connected with the ceremony but in the end it is his perspective that brings the candid moments to life. So one of the major skills is to transfer the hopes and aspirations of the main protagonists and their families in an impressive and aesthetic way, says Baljit. According to him the main skills required are a keen eye for detail, the ability to anticipate and visualise the perfect frames and lighting. This profession also puts one’s physical stamina to test as Baljit puts it, “With Indian weddings going on for as long as three to four days, it sometimes becomes very taxing for us to be back from the Sangeet Ceremony at around midnight, and go for shooting the Anand Karaj as early as 5 am the next day”.
Work profile
The work actually begins much before the actual event and ends long after the wedding ceremonies are over. The first step obviously is to meet the clients and discuss the details and get an idea of their expectations from the wedding photographer. Essentially, he gets a feel of his client’s style. Once these plans have been discussed, the wedding photographer will usually scout out the venue before the wedding. On the day of the wedding, a wedding photographer is often one of the first ones to arrive. The first wedding photographs are taken before the actual wedding even begins. A wedding photographer's job doesn't end after the wedding ceremony. At an average wedding, each photographer will usually take hundreds of photographs. Only a small percentage of these is usable. The selected pics are retouched and different effects are used to create an artistic album and a wedding video.
The foothold
A matter of course: Becoming a wedding photographer may not always require a degree. However, it is important to understand the technical aspects of the camera and equipment. Photography courses are available through Bachelor of Fine Arts programmes, diploma and continuing education programmes, among others. You can also learn about black-and-white exposure, digital editing, light manipulation and color correction. Besides, you should know how to use light meters, editing software, filters and lenses. While many programmes focus on general photography training, students can find courses that specifically cover wedding photography methods and techniques. You might learn about candid photos and formal poses, ceremonies, sales techniques and location lighting. Some degree programmes require students to acquire hands-on experience through internships. An internship can go a long way in giving the true taste of the actual work conditions and crisis that a wedding photographer can face. Besides one also gets real-life experience working with the different settings, shutter speeds and lenses available on professional cameras. Be an assistant: Working as an assistant to a veteran photographer is one way of acquiring experience. Photographers just entering the business can learn about what is required for the wedding day coverage, how to interact with potentially stressed clients and the attention to detail that goes in capturing a couple's special day. You can also become familiar with how professional wedding photographers manage their businesses, find new clients, determine prices and create contracts. Create a photo album: A photographer's portfolio is the most important thing for the client while finalising a photographer. A portfolio is a good way to showcase one's experience and personal style. While studying photography in school or working as an assistant, an aspiring wedding photographer should constantly add to and update his portfolio.
Remuneration
Though it is very difficult to give an exact figure that a professional can make each month or for each year, professionals who have been in the business for several years will admit that some years are much more lucrative than others. The typical salary for a wedding photographer will vary greatly, depending on his talent and reputation in the market. Experienced wedding photographers are usually able to charge more and book more gigs, and therefore, make more money. Therefore, if you are passionate about the camera and want to create and recreate life, just start clicking.
Emerging Trends
Wedding photography has undergone a paradigm shift in the past few years. Its changing faces are:
3D wedding video
This started last year in the USA. For those with a flexible budget, a team will fly in to India to cover a son’s or daughter’s wedding. However, their equipment is ostentatiously bulky and attention-grabbing.
Cinematic videos
These are typically shot with high-end digital SLR cameras. The shallow depth of field these cameras is useful in highlighting a single face, or features of that face, such as an eye. If made well, such films can be quite stunning.
Candid still photography
For several years, this is the trend among”elite” weddings. The posed pictures in which the photographer calls the attention of his subject before clicking are frowned upon as ‘backward’.
Photo books
These are modern day wedding albums, but they look more like coffee table books. They are printed and bound on digital machines. Designing these is the job of a graphic designer, and the preferred designing software is Adobe Photoshop or Indesign.
Institute Scape
A number of institutes and universities offer certificate and diploma courses in photography. Some also offer it as three-year integrated courses and subsidiary subjects. Here are some institutes that can be of interest to those wanting to foray into wedding photography. Degree courses in Photography (BA 3 year integrated) ●
Pune University, Poona ● Fergusson college, Pune Diploma Courses (one year) ●
Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi ● Ravishankar University , Raipur ●
Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati ●
Southern Film Institute, Thiruvallam, Thiruvananthapuram (1 year certificate course) Photography as a subsidiary subject: ●
Film and Television Institute of India, Pune ●
Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu, ●
India International Photographic Council, New Delhi ●
MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamnagar, ● National Institute of Design, Allahabad, UP ●
St. Xavier's Institute of Communication, St. Xavier's college, Mumbai ●
The Film and TV Institute of Tamil Nadu, Chennai — The writer is a Ludhiana-based career consultant
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Get into the number
game Maths is seen either as a very tough subject or as an uninteresting field and very few dare to venture into it. But this core discipline offers promising and exciting career options in diverse fields Seerat Toor Grewal “No employment can be managed without arithmetic, no mechanical invention without geometry” — Benjamin Franklin Mathematics as a core discipline offers promising career options for those who can decipher its relevance in various fields. This subject has immense potential to be assimilated in diverse industries. Students showing an early interest in pure mathematics have to go through a rigorous curriculum to build-up an effective approach to building a career. The right base Senior mathematician Prof. H.L. Vasudeva, pts it very simply, “Although mathematics is currently employed in almost every branch of knowledge, it initially evolved as a leisure activity. The progress of our knowledge of mathematics depends on two factors broadly: By what we know and By what we do not know about the subject.” Students who want to pursue a career in mathematics have to start at Plus II level by opting for mathematics in Class XI. Generally it is clubbed with physics and chemistry. Undergraduate courses offer BSc./BA in mathematics which creates a foundation for taking up postgraduate courses. Postgraduation calls for a well-defined goal to select a specialisation. The specialisations include: M.Sc. in Mathematics;. Mathematics with computer science; Industrial Mathematics with Computer applications; Applied Mathematics; Biomathematics (Mathematical ecology, Mathematical Epidemiology, Genomics, Bioconvection etc.); Statistics Operations Research; M.Stat.; M.Sc. Statistics and Informatics; M.Tech. Computer Science and Data Processing, MSc. Computing and Numerical Analysis. Students interested in PhD or research have to pick a specific topic and peripheral depending upon their area of interest. Scope The world is witnessing a paradigm shift towards number-maneuverability. This time marks the age of professional interdependence and so it’s the best time to be a committed mathematician with sharp logic and skills relevant to the ultimate job who are eyeing. Mathematics and computer modeling have shared a close relationship ever since which led to mushrooming of job-opportunities in IT and engineering. This alliance has now attracted completely new domains across businesses wherein comprehensive mathematical doctrines have found habitat. Mathematicians can find sound roles in a large number of career fields. Your proficiency in maths can land you jobs like: ● Hard-core teaching professionals: Making maths easy for those who find it a tough take is a very lucrative career. Apart from taking private lessons, teaching assignments in engineering colleges, universities and other institutes of higher learning are ideal for those wanting to spread the “light” of numbers. ● Marketing- wizards: A thorough grounding in maths can serve as a strong foundation in a career in marketing. There is huge demand for professionals who can help read, categorise and design innovative models to decode consumer preferences, trends and charting advertising campaigns. ● Data-miners and data-processors: In this career one involved in developing various techniques to structure and present relevant information from huge public and private databases, Financial-analysts: Studying financial figures and scripting sound financial advice I the domain of these professionals. Those who can dare to think out-of-the-box and can turn-around the thought cliché to give a new dimension to both sinking and excelling firms excel in this field. Financial mathematicians are also referred to as ‘quants’. This job is for individuals with deep knowledge and sharp analytical skills. They find placements in mortgage banking, financial derivatives and as stock market analysts. Data-analysts: The mushrooming of online social platforms and networking has made a large number of people more active and comfortable with the idea of internet shopping, advertising, studying and browsing in general. This has led to oceans of consumer-data that is just waiting to be analysed and structured to build useful results which are then employed by firms to craft their future strategy. Although these mainly require computational skills, many mathematical concepts are also involved and hence the need for skilled mathematicians. Actuarial- analysts: Actuaries manage risks for companies, mostly being insurance or finance. This job has bagged a top slot in terms of job-satisfaction and career progression. ● Banking/Credit/Investment managers: Many mathematicians find relevant roles in core banking areas. ● Bio mathematicians: There role involves developing various models and techniques based on elaborate statistics, algorithms and analysis to decipher high-potential biological problems. ● Applied mathematicians: They often work on mathematical problems incurred during research in various disciplines viz. physics, chemistry, engineering, geology etc. These professionals get hired in a wide range of organisations in both public and private sectors. The placements can be in firms dealing in electronics, computer manufacturers, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment development, computer information and software, financial consultation, energy systems, aerospace and transport equipment, research etc. ● Statisticians: Veering a degree in maths to the path of statistics can open the doors for job offers across industries that require people to collect, sort and analyse various forms of data. Institute watch Mathematics as a subject is offered in mostly all universities across India some of the salient ones include: Bachelor's degree ● Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore ● Chennai Mathematical Institute, Chennai ● Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur ● Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Master’s Degree ● The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai ● Hyderabad University, Hyderabad ● Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi ● Indian Institute of Science Education and Research; Pune, Mohali, Kolkata ● Delhi University, New Delhi ● Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi ● Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Kanpur, Delhi. PhD Programme ● Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai ● Harish Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad ● The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai ● Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore ● Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Kharagpur. New course Higher studies in India have taken a major leap forward by introducing the meta-university concept. It will now enable students to go beyond the regional, curriculum and procedural constraints to select a combination of disciplines at master's level which they find vital to their career success and interests. This actually brings forth a highly interconnected network of participating universities who will share all kinds of data, library access, research papers and projects at an online platform in addition to effective utilisation and sharing of limited resources. This will enable students enrolled in one university to pursue other courses in a different university. Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia are the first to introduce this concept and have come up with a new two-year joint degree programme “Masters in Mathematics Education” from 2013 session. The admission to the course is based on an all-India level entrance examination. The students who have answered two separate papers in mathematics at the undergraduate level are eligible to opt for it. The students club mathematics with any other discipline of their choice. The degree will be awarded jointly by both the universities after completion.
My advice to students who opt for this subject will be that they should not give-up in between especially. when confronted with a difficult problem. —Prof. H.L. Vasudeva, Visiting Prof. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali
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Green is the way to go
For career changers thinking about growth and advancement potential, forget the blue-collar and white-collar categories: Green is the way to go.
A bull market has begun to develop in green careers for job seekers and those looking for a career switch. Green jobs mean making a better renewable energy sector than what is available at present, and a strong spirit of conscience to be more environment-friendly. Careers promoting environmental responsibility that are now considered cutting edge will become mainstream fields within a decade. Green jobs would help having cleaner fuel production, such as wind energy, solar energy, Bio gas etc. It would create new avenues for environmental engineers, who can contribute to reducing power consumption, providing alternate energy systems etc. It would also open a new arena for those involved in water-recycling, plumbing etc. Garbage removal, disposal and recycling would be another issue which can be addressed through green jobs.
Wide range of new jobs
Half a million new jobs in ecologically responsible trades will blossom in the next three years alone. And jobs will pop up at every income level, from chief sustainability officer to "green" maintenance supervisor. A few job titles poised for growth include: ●
Green Product Designer: Designs products that use less energy and raw materials to produce and consume less energy and resources to use. ●
Energy Rating Auditor: Performs a comprehensive analysis of a building's energy efficiency. An energy retrofitter can use an auditor's recommendations to create more efficient home heating and cooling systems for existing buildings. ●
Environmental Manager: Coordinates management of an organisation’s environmental performance to protect and conserve natural resources. ●
Biological Systems Engineer: Designs, manages and develops systems and equipment that produce, package, process and distribute the world's food and fiber supplies. ●
Permaculture Specialist: Analyzes land use and community building to create a harmonious blend of buildings, microclimate, plants, animals, soils and water. ●
Urban Arborist: A landscaper or greenskeeper with an understanding of conservation and renewable resources. In addition, professionals will find opportunities by adding green to their skill sets, from accountants who can manage corporate carbon emission offsets, to zookeepers who must maintain environmentally sensitive and ecologically friendly animal habitats. Get in on the action For anyone considering a green collar-career path, consider: Can your current job be ‘Greened’? An employer who values you may be willing to train you to include skills to meet the goals of the company’s green initiatives. Can you go back to school? An increasing number of colleges are offering environmental studies programs and green MBAs. Do you already have the skills? Start on eco job boards, and check out sustainablebusiness.com, Ecojobs.com, Greenbiz.com. As in traditional careers, personal connections help in finding a green-collar job. Volunteering for an eco-friendly organisation could help build those connections while doing some good for the planet.
— The writer is Principal, Satluj Public School, Ropar
Top Green Cos
ITC Limited ITC strengthened their commitment to green technologies by introducing ‘ozone-treated elemental chlorine free’ bleaching technology for the first time in India. The result is an entire new range of top green products and solutions Wipro Technologies The list of top 10 green Indian companies is never complete without Wipro which climbed to the top five brand league in Greenpeace’s ‘Guide to Greener Electronics’ ranking. Oil and Natural Gas Company (ONGC) India’s largest oil producer is among the top green Indian companies with energy-efficient, green crematoriums that will soon replace the traditional wooden pyre across the country. IndusInd Bank Green banking has been catching up as among the top Indian green initiatives ever since IndusInd opened the country’s first solar-powered ATM and pioneered an eco-savvy change in the Indian banking sector. Hero Honda Motors The company’s philosophy of continuous innovation in green products and solutions has played a key role in striking the right balance between business, mankind and nature. Pacific Gas and Electric Among major American utility companies, PG&E is one of the greenest. 56 per cent of its retail electricity sales come from non-greenhouse-gas emitting sources, according to CNN Money. Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited Adjudged the best performer in the 2009-2010 Green Business Survey, TNPL was awarded the Green Business Leadership Award in the Pulp and Paper Sector. Suzlon Energy The world’s fourth largest wind-turbine maker is among the greenest companies in India.
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smart strategy: resolving conflict between employees Ragini Gulati Dealing with conflict between employees is one of the most daunting tasks for any manager. As a consequence it is often tempting to pretend that the problem does not exist and everything is normal. However, ignoring conflicts does not make it go away but allows the situation to escalate. Petty disagreements soon turn into full-blown rivalry that divides co-workers into camps. It also has disastrous effects on the morale and productivity in addition to creating an unhealthy work environment. Effective communication is one of the best methods that a manager can apply to resolve workplace conflicts. Supervisors should intervene and help the warring parties resolve their issues immediately. Most importantly the solution should not be imposed but be mutually agreed upon. Find the root of problem An important aspect of resolving conflict between employees is discovering the underlying issue. More than often complaints which sound trivial are an indication of larger problems. Some concerns may arise due to professional differences while others have their foundation outside the workplace. Employees may feel unappreciated by the management or dissatisfied with their salaries. They could also be experiencing trouble in their personal life. Inquire about how employees feel about their jobs and anything they are unhappy with. Talking with the disputing co-workers individually is an ideal way of getting the real story. By understanding the deeper predicament one can successfully resolve the conflict and deter future disagreements. Preliminary talk Prior to scheduling a meeting of the conflicting parties, speak to each employee separately. Ask them to put across their views on the situation and how they would like to see it resolved? Request them to stick to the facts and refrain from being vague or over emotional. Note down the highlights of the conversation so that information from both parties can be collaborated. Also read back the notes to the respective employees to make sure you have understood them fully. At the end of the discussion permit them to ask questions or add relevant inputs that were missed. Most importantly explain your role as an impartial facilitator who has no hidden agendas whatsoever. Set up a meeting Schedule a face-to-face interaction of both the parties having the dispute in a private setting. It should be a neutral space where distractions of the office do not interfere with the discussion. However, the meeting should be arranged subsequent to approaching the employees individually. Commence by establishing ground rules for a calm, peaceful and professional negotiation. Request the co-workers to refrain from raising their voices or making personal attacks. Additionally stress on absolute confidentiality to keep the details of conversation private. Allow each party to voice their version of what occurred and listen objectively. Handling the issue in a group setting will help to minimise employees' fears that they are being singled out. Let everyone speak Whenever conflicts take place it is impossible to achieve a resolution that satisfies everyone. Nevertheless it is extremely important that each viewpoint is heard and carefully considered. Give the disputing employees a chance to speak and explain what the disagreement is all about. Let every individual give a brief, without comments or interruptions from the other party. Also ensure that both employees refrain from making personal attacks. Usually strong feelings of anger and hurt accompany dispute between two people. As a consequence before any kind of problem-solving can take place, these emotions should be expressed. More than often allowing employees to make their position known and understood may be enough to placate them. Brainstorm solutions Once both the parties have freely expressed their point of view, get them to talk to each other. Ask them to listen to what the other says and repeat it in their own words to avoid confusion. Next invite each employee to come up with proactive steps that can be taken to end the problem. Eventually collaborate with the conflicting individuals to formulate a resolution that is in the best interest of the organisation. Thoroughly explain the course of action to be taken and what is expected of the employees. Follow-up Subsequent to reaching a resolution, follow up to ensure that the plan has been successfully executed. Schedule a meeting to determine how well the issue has been resolved. The interaction between the involved parties should be held after a few weeks. Additionally, keep a close eye on the situation yourself by observing the employees concerned. As long as they are getting along in a satisfactory manner, it is not necessary for them to be friends. However, if there is still a sense of tension, diffuse the situation by discussing their concerns. A follow-up meeting not only gives an opportunity to reiterate previous decisions but also address new conflicts, if any.
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cubicle trends
India has topped the list of countries where people are working in their dream-jobs with 44 per cent Indians admitting they have the career they wanted as a child, according to a survey. In the survey conducted by networking website LinkedIn, 44 per cent Indians said they had their dream-jobs, while just 21 per cent of the site's British users said they worked in the career they had wanted in their youth.
Other English-speaking countries also did relatively poorly, with the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all scoring less than 30 per cent, the 'Daily Mail' reported. When LinkedIn asked its users which job they had most wanted in childhood, the results showed a marked gender divide. British men said the career they had coveted the most was to be an aeroplane pilot, followed by engineer, scientist or police officer. Most women, by contrast, wanted to be a doctor or nurse, with teacher, writer and singer also high up the list. Meanwhile, those in other countries have different aspirations - American men said they wanted to be Olympic athletes, while women in Sweden longed to become vets. Britons may not be all that happy with their jobs, but they have not lost hope of improving their lot, with 32 per cent revealing they still dream of getting the career they always wanted. When the 8,000 persons surveyed in the UK were asked how they would define a dream job, the overwhelming majority (75 per cent) said that ‘taking pleasure in work’ was the priority. Nine per cent revealed their main aim was to help others, while five per cent said they longed for flexible working conditions. “It’s never too late to land your ideal job,” said Darain Faraz, a LinkedIn spokesperson. — PTI
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Fair chance for non-engineers in B-schools
Geetu Vaid An MBA degree, no doubt, is among the most-coveted qualifications for lakhs of students in our country as each year multitudes nurture the dream of getting into the hallowed corridors of IIMs and other B-schools and move on to plush jobs with hefty pay packages. The first step towards realising the MBA dream is a good score in tests like CAT, GMAT, XAT etc. These tests are the touchstones for assessing a candidate’s aptitude for management and all business schools use one or more of these as measures to filter in the right set of candidates. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is one of the most prestigious tests that ensures admissions to management courses in institutes all over the world. This test is accepted for admission to more than 180 programmes offered at 82 business schools in India. The international tag of the test also makes it a favourite with those looking for admission to colleges abroad. "GMAC has expanded its footprint in India over the past few years. Last year 30,500 candidates took this test with a year-on-year growth of 11 per cent and almost 42 per cent growth has been seen in the past five years", says Ashish Bhardwaj, Vice-President, Asia Pacific of GMAC. In an interaction with J&C Bhardwaj talks about the salient features of this test. Excerpts: What are the factors that make the GMAT different from other tests? This test enables students from diverse streams like humanities to pursue a career in management. The general belief is that most of the qualifying tests for B-schools are more “convenient” for engineers. The GMAT has been structured to tests students on more subjects and gives a multi-faceted assessment of a candidate’s skills. Actually, those from humanities background bring a unique set of skills to the organisations and more and more business schools are now looking for a “balanced” group of students rather than just those with an engineering degree. The qualifying tests, thus should give a fair chance to those from other disciplines and streams. Apart from this it is a flexible test and candidates can time their preparation and the dates of taking the test according to their convenience. The test can be taken for almost 320 days in a year in 17 cities all over the country. Moreover, it is a candidate-friendly test as it is computer-adaptive rather than a computer-aided test. What is the difference between a computer-aided test and a computer-adaptive test? A computer-aided test means a test that can be taken online, whereas a computer-adaptive test is an interactive test in which the questions that a candidate gets depend on the responses that are given by the respondent. The basic idea of any competitive test is to challenge the candidate to give his best. If the test is too easy it will not measure the candidate’s potential and if it is too hard then it may frustrate the candidate, forcing him to give up. The test has to suitably challenge the mental faculties and academic knowledge of a candidate and this is what a computer-adaptive test does. How has the GMAT evolved over the years? Changes have been made in the test pattern according to the changing needs of business schools. We are living in an age of information overload, in such a scenario it is imperative for students to be able to analyse and collate information from different sources into cohesive and comprehensive bits. A survey in 2008 had also revealed that the students were lacking in skills to synthesize information. In order to tackle this problem a new Integrated Reasoning (IR) section was added to the test in 2012. This is a 30-minute section that tests multi-part reasoning. It was created following a survey of more than 740 management faculty members from across the globe and it tests candidates’ abilities to assimilate and evaluate information available in different forms and formats, such as graphs, charts, tables and spreadsheets, to solve complex problems. An increasing number of students is checking out options to enrol into a management course abroad. What are the options available to them? Students seeking admission abroad basically have two options. One is to go in for “Pre-experience master’s programmes” straight after graduation. B-schools in countries like UK, France, Germany, Singapore, and Australia are happy to enrol freshers for their programmes. The second choice is to go for an MBA degree after getting work experience of at least three years. USA is the most popular destination for those with experience. Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada, France also have a number of good B-schools. A good GMAT score enables one to seek admission in almost any continent as it is used by almost 5,400 graduate business and management programmes worldwide. What is the preparation support available to students wanting to take GMAT? Official guide 13th edition is available for test takers. Besides this there are guides also for the verbal and quantitative sections. Some of the other study material include: ● A series of three diagnostic tests for quant reasoning section. ● GMAT write for analytical writing section ● Prep question pack with over 400 questions. For more info on students can check out: ● mba.com/India. As a majority of aspirants want to know about the career rather than just about the test here they get a chance to hear the first-hand experiences of other students not just about the GMAT but about their experience in the career. ● Official pages on Facebook and Twitter and Pagalguy.com. ● GMAT information bulletin Collateral. ● Campus connect programmes
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Career Hotline Q.I am a final-year student of B.Sc Nursing. I want to know something about the MPH (Masters in Public Health) and MBA in Public Health courses in India and abroad. What are the career aspects in these fields? Are nursing students eligible for these courses? — Veena Malhan
Some of the major public health concerns are chronic diseases, toxic wastes, health problems of the impoverished and disadvantaged, new infectious diseases, health of infants, mothers and senior citizens etc. The acute shortage of public health professionals further compounds the problem. There is a worrisome dearth of trained healthcare professionals in preventive and social medicine in the country to address these issues. Leading business groups and philanthropic organisations, including the Melinda Gates Foundation, Ranbaxy-Fortis Healthcare group and a few others, have joined hands with the government to set up public health schools on the lines of leading global PH institutions (e.g. National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, US) with a corpus of over Rs 100 crore under the aegis of the Public Health Foundation of India, Delhi. The public and private sectors coming together to breathe life into the ailing public health system should bring a host of opportunities both in terms of teaching at these new public health schools as well as working with the government and NGO sector for providing healthcare facilities to the people. MPH courses equip you with a set of professional skills and principles to manage programmes and monitor outcomes so that health information systems are deployed effectively for health surveillance and health insurance data, develop health information infrastructure and design appropriate Public Health Interventions. You may find some further inputs on the website of the Public Health Foundation of India’s website: www.phfi.org The Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi offers a Master’s Programme in Public Health (MPH). The programme is funded by the WHO and offered by the National Institute of Communicable Disease, New Delhi. All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Kolkata (under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GoI and affiliated to the West Bengal University of Health Sciences) (www.wbuhs.org) offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (2-year) Check out their websites for eligibility conditions and other details.
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Which languages are in greater demand today?
A.Choose a language based on what you’re more comfortable with and one where you can get access to training, reading material and most importantly (from your perspective) the one which will have relevance to your work. It’s not necessary to have a “degree” in the language. It’s your fluency in the language that matters regardless of the certification or degree that you get on paper. Sure, your knowing a foreign language can provide a slight edge, either during recruitment or in terms of future growth. But the main determinant will be your postgraduate qualification and subsequent performance. Think about things you enjoy doing, your personality traits, academic and extra-curricular areas you excel in and then consider your suitability for different careers and courses.
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I want to pursue a one-year master’s programme in India
A.You won’t find any one-year master’s degree programmes here in India. One-year programmes are designated as PG Diploma courses at most universities. Check out the PG Diploma in Applied Statistics with Software offered by Mumbai University, as it fits quite nicely with your UG course.
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Cool Counsel To formulate good questions and asking these efficiently is an important skill. This skill can substantially enhance one’s career prospects whether one is selling, managing, coaching, counselling, parenting or consulting. Acquiring and mastering this skill requires a conscious effort to hone one’s abilities. To begin with, an employee needs to learn to differentiate himself from the rest of the crowd. To develop the habit of being a consultative resource can be an added quality. When one learns how to engage people in a dialogue one uncovers a lot of potential opportunities to ascend the career ladder. And once a rapport with people is established and you listen to their problems effectively, there will be ample chances to ask the questions effectively. Almost all reputed organisations hold training programmes. Even business schools hold career counselling workshops, to sharpen their learners’ skills. How they learn, and what they learn, all comes through asking questions, and getting them answered well.
The best way to put a question is to make it stimulating. A stimulating question encourages the other party to give a concrete and direct answer. Such question mostly pertains to a phase of work or assignment. As the person to whom the question is put is already in the thick of things, it sets the tone for an intelligent and productive interaction. When the question begins with a straight “why”, it demands a direct reply. It is a productive question. With every ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as an answer, it encourages an employee to come out with more and more ideas that have been waiting to be aired. A good question should not only be direct but should also be focused on a particular aspect of the problem. A question veiling many other questions is not worthwhile as it confuses, even disturbs an employee’s focus. A pointed question scatters neither fuel nor fire; it rather cooks the right kind of material. A good question is always concrete, concise and clear cut. It has no ambiguity in its grain. The employee for whom it is intended clearly understands it. The language and phraseology used in such a question is common. Such a question conveys the meaning as clearly as it intended. A purposeful question never encourages an employee to use guess work. An unambiguous question guarantees an unambiguous response leading to concrete solutions which will not cause any waste of time and effort. — The writer is a psychologist and a career expert
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Executive PGDM
Asia-Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi is inviting application for the
AICTE-approved three year part-time Executive Post Graduate Diploma in Management
(PGDM) programme. The Executive PGDM programme has been designed specially for the working executives. The programme takes a holistic approach, helping to create complete managers, who can balance the needs of various stakeholders - customers, owners and society at large. Eligibility: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university with minimum two years of working experience. How to apply:
Admission forms and prospectus can be obtained from selected branches of Indian Bank, Axis Bank and
IMS. Online forms are available on college website www.asiapacific.edu. Selection criteria:
Academic records and personal interview. Deadline: February 16, 2013. The International School of Business and Media, Gurgaon is inviting applicationd for the PG Diploma in marketing, finance, insurance and risk managemnt and human resource courses. Eligibility: Apllicants should have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 50 per cent marks. CAT, XAT,MAT,ATMA,JET scores will be considered for the final selection. How to apply:
Online. Deadline: Februaty 10, 2013 Check out: www.isbm.edu.in
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Erasmus Mundus India4EU II offer
India4EU II provides scholarships to Indian students for undergraduate, master, doctoral, postdoctoral and staff levels. India4EU II is an Erasmus Mundus Action 2 project organised by the partnership of some of the most prestigious universities in Europe and India. The European Commission funds this project. India4EU II provides scholarships to nationals of India to spend a mobility period in Europe on a wide variety of academic fields at different levels of study. Study subject(s): Agricultural Sciences; Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning; Business Studies and Management Sciences; Education, Teacher Training; Engineering, Technology; Geography, Geology; Law; Natural Sciences and Social Sciences. Eligibility:
The candidates must be Indian nationals The candidate must not have resided nor have carried out their main activity (studies, work, etc) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in any of the eligible European countries at the time of submitting application to the partnership. The candidates must not have availed a scholarship for the same type of mobility under an Erasmus Mundus Action 2 project. Details:
The scholarships cover subsistence allowances, travel costs, tuition/registration fees and insurance costs. The project launched a call for a First Cohort of mobilities on November 30, 2012. The scholarship includes a monthly subsistence allowance paid by the Partnership for the duration of the mobility period: ●
Undergraduate - 1,000 euro ● Master- 1,000 euro ●
Doctorate- 1,500 euro ● Post-doctorate- 1,800 euro ●
Academic/Administrative Staff- 2,500 euro. Included in the scholarship, the Partnership will also: ●
Pay for your travel costs (maximum 2,000 euro); ●
Provide you with a high quality individual insurance coverage on health, travel, accident for the duration of your mobility period; ●
Cover all university fees at the hosting universities. ●
Participants at any level will not be required to pay any fees to the host universities. Exchange students will continue paying their fees at their university of origin. Number of awards: 126. Duration: Scholarship durations are from 1 to 34 months depending on the level and type of mobility. Notification: Students will be notified within three months of the call closing. How to apply: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae and names of 2 references by email. Deadline: The first call for applications is open till February 18, 2013. Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Applications are invited for the World Bank funded the Robert S. McNamara Doctoral research fellowships programme for young lecturers and researchers preparing a doctoral thesis. The field of research is economics, health, education, agriculture, environment, natural resource management, or other development and related subjects. Eligibility: An applicant must: ●
Be a national and resident of a World Bank member country which is currently eligible to borrow; ●
Be under 45 years of age. ● Have completed and been awarded at least a master's degree, or equivalent, at the time of application; ●
Be regularly registered in a development related doctoral programme; ●
Have completed all coursework and exam requirements for their doctoral
programme; ● Be employed as full time lecturer or researcher by an academic or research institution in their home country; ●
Be accepted as a visiting scholar by a renowned university located outside the country of origin or residence for a period of five to ten months. Duration of award(s):
Five to 10 months in a host institution in a country other than the home country or country of residence of the researchers. Details:
The grant amount to be awarded to each fellow will be decided by the Selection Committee. The maximum amount of the grant is $ 25,000. Selection criteria: Eligible candidates are evaluated by external reviewers based on three criteria: academic performance, teaching and research experience, and relevance of the proposed research programme. How to apply: By post. Deadline:
July 31, 2013. Check out: www.worldbank.org
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National conference on nanotechnology
LIQVID ties up with ASSOCHAM Integrated eLearning content solutions company LIQVID has entered into a tie up with the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) for their skill development initiatives and certifications. The recently signed agreement makes LIQVID the seventh organisation in the country to partner with ASSOCHAM. It also authorizes LIQVID to represent the apex body at all platforms related to projects and cases in the field. LIQVID's focus would be on inculcating employability and sustainability skills using English as the key propeller to enhance growth prospects. The technology enabled language learning solutions would give Indians a competitive edge over their peers in domestic and international markets. EnglishEdge, LIQVID’s flagship English language training product, has been associated with several skill development initiatives over the years. Its technology enabled solutions have proven particularly successful and effective for language learning. MoU signed Tribhuvan University (TU), Nepal, has signed an MoU with LPU to facilitate academic research, student/faculty exchange, and high technology transfer between the two universities. The MoU was signed by TU Rector Prof Nyaupane & LPU Registrar Dr Monica Gulati, on behalf of TU & LPU, respectively. Convocation The first convocation of Manovikas IGNOU Community College, the first-of-its-kind college for persons with developmental delays in India, was held earlier this week in New Delhi. As many as 31 students were awarded with Certificates in Vocational Training from IGNOU in their respective courses. This college is the only college in the world that provides mainstream higher education to persons with intellectual disabilities. Diploma, certificate, or non-degree programmes offered by the institute are designed to support students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities to continue college education for gainful employment. Arvinder Singh Lovely, Revenue Minster, Delhi Government was the chief guest on the occasion. Banking course Manipal Global Education Services and Federal Bank have announced the launch of Federal Manipal School of Banking at the Manipal University campus in Bangalore. The Federal Manipal School of Banking is a fully residential campus offering a one-year (nine months of intensive campus training and three-month internship at a branch of Federal Bank) full-time programme on various areas of banking and management disciplines which is coupled with intensive grooming and soft skills training. On successful completion, students will be awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in Banking and Finance by Manipal University and will be absorbed as Probationary Officers by the Federal bank. This is an industry-academia partnership to mould officers of calibre in the banking field with First Day First Hour productivity. This is an “earn while you learn” programme where students earn a monthly stipend of Rs 2,500 per month for the first nine months and Rs 10, 000 per month during their three-month internship with the bank. Federal Bank will support full fee financing through education loans and loyalty bonuses.
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Happiness @ work
The world is fast turning into a global village. As Republic Day approaches, let’s vow not to lose our Indian identity in this great mix-up.
A worthy place: When Jamsetji was barred from a Europeans-only hotel, he bought 2.5 acres opposite Apollo Bunder in Mumbai on November 1, 1898 for a hotel. Since its opening in 1903, the Taj Hotel has hosted numerous world-renowned personalities. Strong fibre: On the way to meet a British executive, Ghanshyamdas Birla was not allowed to use the lift as ‘Indians and dogs were not allowed’. Then, he overheard the executive calling him good-for-nothing black native. Birla hit back by starting a jute mill and then founding the House of Birlas. Fall and rise: Despite having proper first-class ticket, Mohandas Gandhi was called a coolie and thrown off a train at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, in 1893. By the time he died on January 30, 1948, he was renowned all over as Bapu, Mahatma and Father of the Nation. Armed retort: Rash Behari Bose was fired from his clerical position in the army at Fort William in Calcutta as the British masters thought that Bengalis couldn’t fight. He founded the 40,000-strong Indian National Army at the Bangkok Conference of 1942. The INA reached Kohima in Nagaland on March 18, 1944. Fair till the end: When, in 1824, the British tried to invade Kittur in Karnataka on the death of King Shivalinga Rudra Sarja, Queen-mother Chennamma defeated them and took many prisoners. On seeing the British reinforce themselves with battalions from Bombay and Madras, Chennamma knew her defeat was inevitable. Not wanting to take cover behind the prisoners, she let them go. Spirited fight: “Swamiji, go to the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Tell the West about the India that they have missed for its superstitions,” said the Prime Minister at Porbandar to Swami Vivekananda. After his address on September 11, 1893, the West began wondering why it was sending missionaries to an already spiritually enlightened India. Nation comes first: Imprisoned Lal Bahadur Shastri let go of the opportunity to be with his seriously ill son Hari as he would have had to give a written pledge not to indulge in any political activity against the British in that period. India’s the best: Due to a crackdown on weekly ‘India’, Editor Subramania Bharati had to shift to Pondicherry (under French rule). But in November 1918, he decided to return home as “imprisonment in my beloved land is better than staying here”. Jai Hind! — Sai R. Vaidyanathan
The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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India is known for its follies, foibles and big FAT weddings. Weddings are a treasure of emotions, of moments beyond measure. Of late, the number of photographs taken at an average wedding has assumed staggering proportions. The most important photographs are usually those of the bride and the groom, and the rest of the wedding party.
A major chunk of the money that is spent on the ostentatious weddings goes into capturing and perpetuating the magical moments through the lens of a camera.
“No employment can be managed without arithmetic, no mechanical invention without geometry”
— Benjamin Franklin
For career changers thinking about growth and advancement potential, forget the blue-collar and white-collar categories: Green is the way to go.
A bull market has begun to develop in green careers for job seekers and those looking for a career switch. Green jobs mean making a better renewable energy sector than what is available at present, and a strong spirit of conscience to be more environment-friendly.
An MBA degree, no doubt, is among the most-coveted qualifications for lakhs of students in our country as each year multitudes nurture the dream of getting into the hallowed corridors of IIMs and other B-schools and move on to plush jobs with hefty pay packages. The first step towards realising the MBA dream is a good score in tests like CAT, GMAT, XAT etc.
If all this interests you, then you can very well build your career as a wedding photographer. Baljit Singh, a renowned wedding photographer and CEO of Baljit Photography who forayed into international wedding photography as a freelancer in 2001 after working as an advertising professional and graphic designer for over 10 years, calls this an extremely challenging career as there is virtually no scope for error. “Each moment has to be captured aesthetically and accurately in that very precise moment as the opportunities for retakes are almost nil”.
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Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Orissa 
Mathematics inculcates in every individual the capacity to see any situation more rationally as one developes a sharp analytical ability to do so. Students who want to opt for the discipline, need a keen bent of mind and a strong inclination towards it. Thus, 'perseverance' is the key to a bright career in mathematics. 
A.Sadly, India has one of the highest disease burdens in the world, which in the long term, can prove to be a major stumbling block to our country’s economic development. 
Q.I am in second year of BCom. I think I should do CFA or MBA after my graduation but I’m not sure. Along with BCom I also want to learn a foreign language. Will learning a foreign language be useful for me in future? Can I pursue a bachelor’s degree in any language along with commerce? —
Hardyal Singh Chahal
Q.I will be completing my BTech this year. I now plan to do MS from US in mathematics. Meanwhile, I want to do some postgraduate degree course of one year duration here in India. Can you please suggest any such regular/part-time/correspondence course? I tried to search for many universities but all offer two-year M.Sc. —
Gurpreet Wadhwa
Why so many aspirants falter and fumble while asking questions? It is simply because they are not clear about what they are asking. A question that confuses even the one who is asking it is worthless. But the same question when well put, proves constructive and productive. 
Gulzar Group of Institutes, Ludhiana will be organising a National Conference on “Recent Trends in Nanotechnology and Its Applications (RTNA) - 2013” on March 23. The high-tech academic meet will discuss the latest theoretical and technological advances in nano-science and nanotechnology. Eminent professors from well-known universities of India like Kurukshetra University (Haryana), IIT, Roorkee (Uttrakhand), Jiwaji University, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh ), DCRUST, Murthal (Haryana), M R University, Faridabad (Haryana), DRDO, New Delhi, LPU, Jalandhar (Punjab), Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak (Haryana), Punjab University, Chandigarh, LCET, Ludhiana, GND University, Amritsar, NIT, Kurukshetra, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar will be attending this event.
Even during the 190 years that the British ruled us and despite their effective propaganda to break the Indian spirit, there emerged many self-respecting Indians who kept the nation’s flag flying
q high.