|
|
|
|
|
|
Career Hotline
news board
scholarship roundup
subject matter: microbiology
campus scene
study abroad: germany
course cruising
smart strategy: professional protocol
Careers bloom with trust
Focus shifts to profiles post appraisals
India’s great places to work in
bookshelf
Happiness @ work
|
|
The power of two tango
A number of professional institutes are now offering students an opportunity to complete a part of their course in a university abroad. Twinning programmes can add an international punch to your degree at affordable cost Usha Albuquerque
Recognising the need for an expansion of this sector and for making quality education available to a wide spectrum of students, the Indian government has brought in the Foreign Education Providers Bill, which, when passed by Parliament, will allow reputed international institutions of higher education to establish campuses in India. But until that Bill is passed, higher education providers have come up with an interesting innovation termed as the Twinning Programme concept. “Twinning” allows a foreign partner institution to offer the first half of its university degree programme in India and the rest in a college abroad. It’s an arrangement under which students can complete a part of their studies in India and the rest abroad. Courses offered in India are clones of those offered by these partner universities — using identical syllabi, titles, numbers, texts, teaching formats, and evaluation standards as their model on-campus.
Although the concept of twinning programmes started way back in India in 1995, it is only over the past couple of years that the number of institutions offering these has increased substantially. At present over 50 institutions are offering these programmes. Engineering and management disciplines are among the more popular courses being offered through the twinning programmes, although other fields like hospitality, science research and biotechnology have also attracted attention. Some institutes offering twinning programmes * Manipal University was possibly among the earliest to start the twinning courses and offers perhaps the broadest range of engineering programmes in India through its International Center for Applied Sciences (ICAS). ICAS provides a four-year twinning programme in engineering through which students pursue the first two years of their programme at Manipal and the final two years with a partner university in one of the 74 universities across six countries USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany and France. These include universities such as Michigan Tech, Drexel University, Illinois Institute of Technology in the US, Lancaster and Nottingham Universities in the UK, Queens University in Canada and several others in France and Germany where students would receive their engineering or equivalent degree. The course curriculum, methodology and evaluation is based on the US University structure/pattern and is compatible with most of the US, Australian and European universities. * Ansal Institute of Technology, in Gurgaon, has also established twinning arrangements whereby engineering students after two years of study at AIT are eligible to earn accredited recognised degrees from reputed universities such as North Dakota State University, Eastern Michigan University, North Carolina State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology in the US and McMaster University in Canada as also in Australia, France and New Zealand. * Christ University, Bangalore offers several twinning programmes in Business Administration, Commerce and hospitality management, including the BBA with Western Michigan University, US, Liverpool Hope University, and Sheffield Hallam University UK, Sikkim Manipal University has also collaborated with Andrews University, Michigan, USA and Lancaster University, UK to offer a BS (Engg) Twinning Programme (equivalent to a BTech in India). * SRM University, Chennai, also offers a similarly structured programme in which students enrolling with the university for BTech will complete their two years of study in India and later complete the remaining two years at an overseas campus to secure BTech from SRM and BS from overseas or BS from overseas. SRM University offers transfers to 70 universities in USA, UK and Australia. This includes, Cornell University, Purude University, Texas A&M University, University of Southern California, Northeastern University, University of Pittsburgh in USA, University of Toronto, McMaster University, McGill University in Canada, Warwick University, University of Manchester, University of Birmingham in UK, University of Western Australia, Queen's University and University of Auckland in New Zealand. * Maeers MIT Institute of Design, Pune, which is offering twinning programmes in animation, product design and Gaming at University of Dundee, Scotland, University of Abertay, Dundee and Middlesex University, UK. * The Symbiosis International University (SIU), Pune, has signed an MOU with Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, to partner on joint research in the areas of biomedical sciences and computer engineering and later extend it to other disciplines. * In addition there are institutions such as Educomp-Raffles that offer twinning programmes in design and business administration which allows students the option to study the final year in Australia or Singapore. Points to be considered While the twinning programme can be a real win-win for students there are a number of factors that students and their parents need to think about before signing up for the course. The most critical is the cost factor, which is often the main reason because of which students opt for these courses. Twinning courses are more expensive than the Indian programmes but far cheaper than any international programme. Most programmes come within the range of about Rs 2-5 lakh per year tuition fees for the two years in India, along with an average of about $ 15,000-25,000 per year tuition, plus around $ 8000 - 10000 for travel and stay, for the two years abroad, depending on the country and the course. It is also important to check the credentials of the foreign institutions in terms of their academic record, faculty and placements. Not all institutes ready to collaborate with Indian universities are among top grade foreign universities. By trying to save on two years of study abroad you may land up with a poor quality education. Equally important is the course of study you choose to take up and its value for further study or career opportunitiesYou also need to check out the acceptance rate of the hosting university, the seat availability and what you would be required to complete so as to be able to meet their admission criteria. Foreign colleges can reject you if you have not fulfilled the required academic parameters, or credits completed in your first two years. Some may also ask for IELTS/TOEFL and SAT scores. So it may be worthwhile to enquire how many students in previous years have been accepted/rejected by the universities so you know what to expect. Another critical question is that of the visa, as most twinning programmes are based on the assumption that students will obtain the visa. Often colleges do not have a contingency plan in case the student’s visa application is rejected, and the student has to continue with the degree programme in India. In such cases, the college needs to provide a good fallback option. While keeping these points in mind, twinning programmes are still a good option for many students. Good courses offered through the twinning programmes can provide students a graded entry to an international education. With Indian college admission cut-offs and foreign education costs both soaring heavenwards it can be some comfort to know that it may be possible to get the best of both these worlds through the twinning route. — The writer is Director Careers Smart Pvt Ltd., New Delhi A win-win approach
Foreign educators prefer adopting the twinning mode to operate in India as they have minimum stakes and don’t have to invest in setting up a campus or on infrastructure. It also suits Indian students, as this way the total cost of a degree from a foreign country is considerably lower and more affordable. The degree is awarded by the international university where the student completes the course which is recognised in India and abroad.
|
|
Career Hotline
A. Your being Punjabi is no different from being a Gujarati, Mahrashtrian, Keralite or Kashmiri as far as speaking English is concerned. For the simple reason that it’s not our mother tongue. But, whether we like it or not, English has become the lingua franca or global link language of education, technology and trade today. In fact, it’s the most widely spoken language in the world. Which is why those who can’t speak and write good English find it somewhat tough to survive in the Information Age. And propelled by the BPO boom, India is fast emerging as the centre of gravity — with the world’s largest share of English speaking people. The best way to improve your verbal skills would be to make your own effort to master the spoken language. This is possible by consciously listening to English programmes on radio and TV, and paying attention to correct pronunciation and intonation. Practice reading aloud from newspapers and periodicals (in privacy of course!). Try this as a simple exercise if you want to hone your GK skills as well. Read five pages of the newspaper i.e. front page, business, international, edit and sports. Make bullet points on the edge capturing the gist of articles. Use the tape-recorder to record and review your process. Grab every opportunity to converse in English. The more, the better! Ask a well-meaning friend to help you out and correct you wherever necessary. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. English is not our mother tongue. It’s but natural that we are not hundred percent fluent in it. However, practice makes perfect. Once you overcome the initial hesitation, you will be surprised how quickly your vocabulary and conversational skills would improve. Just try and see. Do log on to www.learnenglish.org.uk. This British Council’s free website helps you strengthen your English language skills through fun games and interesting exercises linked to its two other sites: www.go4english.com/ and www.in2english.com.cn/ Similarly, log onto Voice of America’s website: www.voanews.com/specialenglish/ You’ll find their broadcasts and word list very useful. Also, log on to www.palabea.com, a social networking site which is customized for learning, teaching and communicating in foreign languages. There are video and audio tutorials as well.
|
|
Should I switch my job
—
Avneesh Khattar A. Are you sure that you’ve given serious and sufficient thought to quitting you current job to move to an NGO? Typically, someone would move to an NGO driven by an impulse to do something ‘more meaningful’ or something that makes a ‘difference’ at the grassroots level etc. In which case, the focus is more on making a serious contribution and gaining experience rather than on the monetary reward. You say you’re getting a lower designation but a higher pay. So are you looking at moving to the NGO as a career move rather than with an altruistic motive? It’s not wrong to do so, but you must be clear about what’s driving you to take this decision. And yes, working with an NGO is a completely different experience. Some introspection and clarity of thought about your goals will tell you whether the move is worth it. Alternatively, do check if there’s an opportunity within your organisation or elsewhere to work in the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) department. This will give you an opportunity to work with NGOs in specific development areas. All large companies are now mandated by law to set aside a percentage of their budget for CSR activities.
|
|
Route to studying medicine in the US
A.
Incidentally, the study of medicine can be pursued in the US only at the Graduate (i.e. PG level) after completing a bachelor’s degree with biology as a subject. Medical school in the US is typically a four-year programme, although there are some medical schools that offer a combined BS/MD or BS/DO degree in six years. That is, a sort of combined college/medical school curriculum that takes six years vs. the traditional eight years (four years of college plus four years of medical school). Moreover it’s a very costly affair. You’re obviously a bright student. I would suggest you to do your MBBS in India from a good medical college like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) (www.aiims.edu); Maulana Azad Medical College, (www.meramamc.com); Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) (www.afmcpune.com), to name a few. The CBSE offers a four-year scholarship for merit-holders in the NEET. Girl candidates, who are otherwise eligible and are the only child in the family, are preferred. Subsequently, if you wish to go abroad for further studies, you can take the PLAB (for UK) or USMLE (for US) to pursue advance courses in medicine and allied fields such as genetics, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, immunology or public health. It is relatively easier to get admission for postgraduate courses leading to research in these fields, with some scholarships, assistantships etc thrown in.
|
|
news board
This year’s edition of Yale University’s India-Yale Parliamentary Leadership Programme concluded last week. The programme was held in a new partnership with the Governance and Public Policy Initiative of the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi. The 2013 cohort of 11 MPs went to the Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut on June 19 to complete a six-day leadership programme. The programme was complemented by a four-day programme of meetings, discussions, and interactions in New York City.
The 2013 participants were drawn from five different national and regional political parties. These included vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Smriti Irani, and the vice president of the Telugu Desam Party, C. Ramesh. In addition to BJP and TDP, representatives from the Indian National Congress Party, All- India Trinamool Congress Party, and Shiv Sena also attended the programme. In the academic programme on the Yale campus, the delegation participated in discussions with Yale faculty on nuclear non-proliferation; the democracy movement in the Arab world; women’s empowerment; elections theory and practices; political and economic developments in China etc.
|
|
GADVASU Student selected for course in us varsity
Deepjot Singh a student of first batch of Bachelor of Fisheries Science (BFSc) degree programme from College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana has got selected for the MS in Fisheries and Mariculture Programme in Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (USA).
He has also been appointed as a Teaching Assistant with a package of US $ 15000 per annum along with out-of-state tuition fee waiver. During his degree programme for MS in Fisheries he will be doing research on Super Intensive Culture of Shrimp under the guidance of Dr. Tzachi Samocha. He will be joining the degree programme in USA in the first week of September 2013.
|
|
Junior Research Fellowship for DRDO project
Eligibility: Candidates with PG degree in Biochemistry/ Biotechnology/Microbiology with NET/ GATE a minimum of 55 per cent marks or equivalent qualification Duration: Two years. Details: A fellowship is of Rs 16, 000/-p.m + 10% HRA. No TA/DA will be provided to the candidates for attending the interview. How to apply: The mode of applying is electronically or by post. Deadline: Contact employer Check out: www.prist.ac.in/ Research opportunity
in Australia
Macquarie University offers International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) and additional International Macquarie University Research Excellence (iMQRES) Scholarships for international students. Eligibility: Awards will only be available to applicants who: *
Are a citizen of a country other than Australian/ New Zealand, and not an Australian Permanent Resident. *
Have already completed, or expect to complete in 2013 a research masters degree *
Are enrolling as a full-time student 2014 IPRS round information 3. *
Will undertake a Masters of Philosophy or Doctorate (only PhD candidates are eligible for an iMQRES) in 2013/14 Additionally: *
IPRS applicants must be commenced full-time enrollment for the first time in a higher degree research program in Australia. *
IPRS applicants who commenced a higher degree research degree and terminated that enrollment within 6 months of commencement may still be eligible for scholarship. *
Scholarship holders must be resident in Australia during their award tenure, unless on approved overseas research leave Duration: Three years for PhD applicants while master's by research candidates receive IPRS funding for two years. The iMQRES, available for up to three years. Details: IPRS applicants will receive a matching Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship stipend at the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) stipend rate, currently $24,653 pa, tax exempt (2013). The iMQRES, available for PhD candidates only, offers the same stipend plus tuition fees for up to three years for students enrolling in 2014. Applicants who are offered an iMQRES need to pay for their overseas health cover upfront for the duration of their visa, as required by visa regulations. Successful IPRS PhD candidates will be asked to pay for their compulsory health cover for the additional visa period upfront. Neither the IPRS nor the iMQRES cover relocation costs. How to apply: By post. Deadline: August 31, 2013. Check out: http://hdr.mq.edu.au/information_about/scholarships Offer for electronics engineers The Newcastle University's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) is offering scholarships to international students starting their undergraduate studies in September 2013-14 academic year. This scholarship will be awarded to the overseas students who meet the conditions of the university's offer for a place in one the courses in the School of EEE and choosing this course as their UCAS first choice. The scholarship is based on the performance of the student and it continues in subsequent year as well upon achieving satisfactory results. The students will also receive a laptop for their academics. The School offers Undergraduate Degrees (3-year BEng and 4-year MEng) in, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year (1 extra year), Electronics & Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering and Electronic Communications Details: £3000 per year payable towards the tuition fees. How to apply: Students need not apply separately for the scholarships. But they must have applied to one of the courses of EEE via Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), got university offer. This applies to all applicants, including mature students. Check out: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/eee/study-with-us/scholarships/scholarships-ug.htm
|
|
Not micro in gains
Sunanda Ahuja Do you enjoy a hearty breakfast that gives you the energy to take on the challenges of life throughout the day? Ever wondered about the small soldiers in that breakfast who provide the fighting elements to your system! These are the tiny microbes that are present in your bread, curd, south Indian dishes, or pickles etc that are all made by the fermenting activities of microbes such as lactobacillus and saccharomyces cereviseae. Millions of bacteria living in our intestines help us take nutrients from our food and fight the ‘bad’ microbes to prevent illness. Some microbes can cause disease in humans, crops and farm animals. These are present in air, water and soil and include all bacteria, archaebacteria, fungi, algae, protozoans. If these microbes are not present then it will be difficult to imagine the fate of this earth because microbes are the best decomposers and scavengers. The scientists looking for life on other planets also look for water, air and microbes. If all these are present then no doubt life is also possible.
Getting in Students of the medical stream in Plus II (physics, chemistry, biology) can go in for BSc in microbiology at graduation level and move on to post graduation and research in this subject later. Students wanting to upgrade their skills can opt for various certificate, diploma and short-term courses in different disciplines of microbiology offered by various universities and R&D centres. As a microbiologist, you will need the ability to plan and carry out practical experiments, using technical equipment and computers. You must be very strong in both basic and applied aspects of microbiology, including special skills in laboratory techniques. You should be able to identify, select, organise and communicate information. You will need a logical approach to problem solving, and must be accurate, methodical, patient and with analytical skills. Good written and oral communication skills are needed to present your findings, and work on your own or as part of a team.
A career in microbiology, however, is not exclusively lab-oriented. Microbiology has better prospects than biotechnology. A microbiologist can identify, isolate micro-organisms and India has a large number of industries where this skill is required, so a lot of job opportunities are available as compared to those in the field of biotechnology. Food processing units have vast opportunities for microbiology graduates. Dairy microbiology is another field where one can get jobs. Another research area is pharmaceutical microbiology. Microbiology students are involved in discovering more antibiotics from micro organisms. So many researches are concentrated to find anti-microbial substances from medicinal plants for curing plant diseases. India has a large number of pharmaceutical companies that require professionals in this field. Another sector offering openings for those with a degree in this subject is the beverage sector. wine, Vodka, beer and fruit juices etc. all are prepared by fermenting activity of microorganisms and the backbone of all these fermentation product is yeast — a versatile micro-organism.
Remuneration Private organisations offer much higher salaries to microbiologists. In private sector, one can find job openings in private hospitals, research organisations, pharmaceutical companies, chemical industries etc. A fresher with a graduate degree in microbiology can expect an average salary ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on the industry he/she joins. Better compensation packages are offered to employees as they gain more experience in this area. International companies offer high remuneration to microbiologists as compared to their Indian counterparts. The compensation offered to each candidate depends upon the experience and performance of the individual. — The writer is a senior science faculty in Dr. M.K.K Arya Model School, Panipat
|
|
Diverse and focused
The Class of 2014 at ISB’s Mohali campus is a motley group of professionals from different fields who share a common goal of enriching their professional lives Khuswant S. Gill
It is an established fact that an MBA is of more benefit for students after they have a few years’ work experience under their belt. Being a practical course, geared towards producing efficient managers, an MBA deals with ‘real-world’ experience. An interaction with a group of students of the Indian School of Business at the sprawling 70-acre campus in Mohali revealed some interesting facts and pointed towards the changing profile of MBA students. One of the country’s top B-schools, the I SB with campuses at Hyderabad and Mohali, has its Class of 2014 in place.
The Mohali campus was inaugurated in early 2012 and this is the second batch of the one-year Post Graduate Programme in Management — a time-compressed, but internationally recognised programme. The diverse student body has 14 international students this year from countries like China, Iran, Nepal, UK, USA, Spain, Korea, Canada, Pakistan and Australia. Further, the diversity extends to the background of the Indian students. The present batch has a doctor, a retired Colonel and students from fields as diverse as fashion and public sector enterprises. So, who are these students and what are the trends they point to? Take the case of Mamata Banerjee, a fashion technology professional from NIFT, Mumbai who has experience in production and operations. “My focus now is on the retail, B2C space and an MBA is essential for me at this stage. Especially where I can interact with global faculty.” Colonel Jatinder Minhas from the Corps of Signals took retirement from the Army to start the next phase of his life. A third generation army man, he feels that he is now ready for a career in telecom and technology industries. Ridhi Gupta, an IIT Delhi graduate with experience in the financial sector, points out that many management institutes cater to a younger profile — fresh post-graduates and new entrants in the workplace. “Over here, it is refreshing to be engaging with mature students and a world-class faculty geared towards them”, she adds. Professionals from diverse fields are also opting for an MBA programme. “I felt a need to get familiar with the nitty gritties of management”, says Dr Pankaj Khater from Kolkata. A dialysis specialist, he has spent over six years in the pharmaceutical sector. “Domain knowledge and experience of medicine and pharma is the base. But it is the challenge of managing a growing Indian market and providing pharmaceuticals to all sections of society that made me join this course”. While it is a change of careers for these students, for some of the others this course is what is going to give a forward thrust to their existing careers. Harsh Raghav, an engineer with considerable experience, most recently with the public sector SAIL, says, “I decided it was time to move up to the next phase in my career. I felt there was some stagnation and I now look forward to this management programme to provide a forward boost”. Kanwal Kella, from Karachi is looking to get some work experience in India after finishing this course. Srikanth Lal, an Information Systems professional, feels that the interaction and healthy competition with fellow students is inspirational. “You’re constantly challenged and drawn out of your pre-conceived notions as you’re surrounded by the brightest and the best. Each student brings unique characteristics and experiences to the table and the resultant synergy helps everyone”. In the same vein, Abhishek Ahuja, a CA and an experienced finance professional, feels that the collective student experience is something he has missed in his earlier years. “I’m looking forward to making the most of it now”, he says. Whatever their individual reasons and areas of focus may be, this diverse group of students typifies what the mature profile of today’s MBA student. Further, they personify a confident generation that is willing to take risks, re-educate themselves and move ahead in their careers.
|
||
|
Mecca of technical and management education
Natasha Chopra Germany is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Indian students. Germany is a country which not only has high quality of teaching in some of the world's top-ranked universities; it also is very affordable as education cost is as low as 500 euros a semester. So, it is no surprise that international students prefer this country. The universities have also changed a great deal as many of the courses are now offered in English. Some of the popular universities have high international rankings, like the University of Berlin is ranked 87th in the world rankings; Humboldt University which is also based in Berlin is ranked 99th in the Times higher Education. Tomb which is the technical university of Munich is ranked 53rd. Ludwick Mexican University comes slightly below Tomb and excels primarily in subjects like engineering, whereas Lumb University ranks just below Tomb and Heidelberg University. Heidelberg is excellent in sciences and ranks 55th in the world. Germany is highly recommended for the support that it gives to its international students. The government has clearly recognised the need for fresh talent. As the German economy is an aging economy with an aging population, the government has taken steps in the right direction by ensuring that international students can also come and study in the country and pay the same fee as is paid by the local students. This is a huge change for the country that never welcomed foreigners who were known as gasterarbeitn (guest workers). In fact, now the country has introduced legislations that enable both students and academia to stay in the country and be able to find a job. For example students are allowed to stay for 18 months as against 12 months earlier to be able to find graduate-level employment. Students are also allowed to work part time up to 120 days instead of the 90 days allowed earlier. And the students who are able to find the job also get a right of residence after two years. Another significant change that has come about is the introduction of the "Blue Card". Blue Card is a welcoming aspect not only in Germany but in other European countries as well. The welcome news for the families of the 'Blue Card' holders is that they no longer require approval from the German Federal Employment Agency and the card holders are also eligible for permanent residency after 2-3 years. German graduate degrees are well regarded all over the world. As there is more stress on the practical aspect of education, most of the programmes have internships linked to them. Germans are very well known in the world for engineering, design and particularly in the car industries. They are also known for their machine tools i.e their electrical engineering products for which they are leaders in the international market. It is generally regarded that the quality of German education is intensive and far more in depth than in many other countries so it is the very best who are generally selected by the universities there. Students wanting to get into a course in a university in Germany would thus need a very high score to be selected. Many of the German universities date back from 14th century including the University of Heidelberg, the quality of their research in the institutions is excellent. Some of the main programmes that are in demand are in the areas of mechanical automotive engineering. Also IT, computer science as well as biotechnology. While students can work in Germany and have an entitlement, it is important to understand that one must learn the language. Until you have language skills, it is not possible to communicate verbally and in writing. The students who don't find the jobs are often the ones who don't have the language skills and can't mix with the local community. If you are planning to study in Germany it will be an excellent idea to start learning German now. — The writer is the MD of "The Chopras", an educational consultancy
|
||
|
course cruising
Manav Rachna International University (MRIU) invites application for B Tech-Lateral Entry, a three year full time programme.
Eligibility: At least 50 per cent marks in Diploma in Engineering (any branch) of three- year duration from the State Board of Technical Education, Haryana/equivalent examination/BSc degree from a recognised university as defined by UGC, with a minimum of 50 per cent marks and passed Class XII with mathematics Mode of admission: First preference to merit in MR-NAT and second preference to merit in the qualifying examination. Seats: 120 Deadline: July 20, 2013 Check out: www.mriu.edu.in Event management EMDI Institute of Media and Communication invites applications for admission to its event management courses. These include full-time and part-time diploma and PG diploma courses. Duration: One year Eligibility: Plus II for the part-time and full-time diploma course and graduation in any discipline for the PG course. Selection process: Entrance exam and personal interviews How to apply: Offline/ collect application form from the campus Deadline: July 20, 2013 Check out: www.emdidelhi.com Clinical research Applications are invited for master’s and diploma programmes in clinical research offered by the Centre for Bio-Sciences and Clinical Research, Apeejay Stya University, Gurgaon. Courses: MSc in Clinical Research (2 years) n One-year PG Diploma Clinical Research & Data Management; Analytical, Molecular and Immunodiagnostics Eligibility: BSc Bio stream/ BSc, BTech Biotech / B. Pharma /MBBS/BAMS with minimum 55 per cent marks. How to apply: ASU prospectus and application form can be downloaded from http://university.apeejay.edu or can be obtained from ASU Campus and ASU City office in Gurgaon. Deadline: July 31, 2013 Check out: http://university.apeejay.edu Online programmes Online education group simplilearn.com offers PMP professional training courses. These include both online PMP training and PMP classroom training courses coupled with live webinars. Course name: PMP certification Eligibility: For pursuing PMP certification one should possess a bachelor’s degree or any other global equivalent of bachelor’s degree with a minimum of three years of professional project management experience. Duration: The duration varies from 30 days to 180 days Fee: Varies between Rs 6000 and Rs 13,000 Deadline: A candidate with the above eligibility can enrol anytime for the course. Check out:
www.simplilearn.com/project-management/pmp-certification-training
|
||
|
smart strategy: professional protocol
Social media has overtaken our lives, both professional and private and it is all pervasive now. Much of what we do and feel is shared with friends, family and even colleagues and strangers in the virtual world!
The importance of social media cannot be ignored today as it has been established beyond doubt that it is a medium to promote oneself professionally, network, make like-minded professional groups and also stay updated on the goings on in one's work interest. But can all this be a part of professional ethos? Where does one draw the line between being private and professional? As a working professional how much and what to share are the issues that one needs to look into. Considering some people have been losing their jobs based on the things that they share online! To answer this modern day conundrum, follow these tips to get the maximum out of social networking at or outside of work. Keep it 'private' If you must include your professional contacts in your friend's or followers list, make sure that you are abreast with the latest privacy settings and methods to customise the way you connect with people. This is required of you because your professional contacts would not be interested in how you spent your weekend or publically intimate confessions on the internet. This will also avoid unwanted trouble and attention. Personal
or professional Internet is a great tool for marketing and brand building but on a social platform it is a good idea to keep these two profiles separate. Likely clients, partners, team mates are interested in your professional opinions and thoughts, whereas your family and friends could care less about the same. By separating these two accounts on two different e-mails, you ensure that you don't lose friends or professional associates. This will add value to your professional page in any social media site as it will be a public profile open to viewing by all and also increase your online publicity. This will help you get a target clientele of professionals who can freely contribute and interact with you. Content check Before you allow everyone to view your profile, try to keep the content that you share on your public profile, professional unless you want to quit your job! Social media presence can greatly build business, extend professional goodwill and promote networking, if carried out in the right strain. Sharing and interacting with like-minded professionals means your content should be regularly updated, current and apt to your professional beat. Right etiquette The etiquette protocol that is followed in the real world should be replicated in the virtual world, too. One has to be polite, discerning, and professional in sharing information or opinions virtually, too. Participants can engage in constructive criticism and debate on social networks on issues ranging from social, societal or professional. Avoid topics like office gossip or prospective or future clients. Exercise restraint in a heated debate, take care not to look down upon or embarrass someone. Don't also go overboard with daily updates that spam your viewers' wall leading to frivolous content. When the personal encroaches on the professional or vice versa, it becomes difficult to negotiate the path. The nature of formality or the lack of it that needs to be followed in the office space cannot be carried per se to the virtual space when interacting with senior colleagues or even the boss. The question then is should you be friends with your colleagues or boss on a social virtual medium? Considering HR is taking a serious note of how you behave socially in the virtual world you should too! Your pictures, language and political or religious leanings come under scrutiny at such times. At a time when the number of internet users is growing exponentially all over the over the world and also in India, there is a recognised need for knowing the virtual social protocol.
|
||
|
Frontline employees will help in their organisation’s improvement if they see that there is a high degree of autonomy in their jobs and have trust in their leaders, a new research by two Indian business professors has suggested.
The study conducted by Gopesh Anand and Dilip Chhajed, professors of business administration at University of Illinois found that a flexible environment plays a significant role in increasing employee’s commitment to continuous improvement initiatives. Anand said continuous improvement initiatives are typically bundled with employee empowerment techniques. He asserted that it’s always said that if employees are empowered, they will take care of the improvements, however, this does not work. Chhajed said that in employee empowerment is being forced upon employees by management. He said that this makes the employees feel that they are being forced into a job that they may not even see as being very useful. The research, co-written with Luis Delfin, a former graduate student, has advanced three arguments on how workers’ commitment to continuous improvement in the workplace can be enhanced. Firstly, the day-to-day work environment should be perceived as autonomous. Secondly, as continuous improvement involves making changes to the very practices that frontline workers use in their work, trust in leadership is critical. Thirdly, a higher degree of trust in leadership further leads to proactive behaviours by frontline employees, which encourages them to use the autonomy in their day-to-day jobs to seek out and make systematic improvements to work practices. The researchers tested their hypotheses on data collected from individual employees working for Christie Clinic, an outpatient health care organization based in Champaign, Ill., that has actively engaged in continuous improvement based on lean management principles over the last six years. The paper will appear in the journal Operations Management Research. — ANI
|
||
|
Focus shifts to profiles post appraisals
In keeping with the growing focus on managing their careers proactively, professionals are quick to ensure that their online profiles and resumes reflect their career successes and are updated as soon as there is any change in their roles.
There has been surge of almost 53 per cent in resumes being updated in May 2013 when compared to April 2013, with the momentum to refresh resumes picking up in March and April and peaking in May. Speaking on the trend, Uday Sodhi, CEO, HeadHonchos.com said, “The first quarter of a financial year brings changes in the career profiles of most professionals. The resume is meant to capture the essence of a professional’s performance — that’s why people are proactively ensuring that their resumes reflect important changes in their responsibilities, KRAs and even designation.” Professionals are increasingly investing time to plan their careers and to manage their personal brand on relevant internet touch points. They no longer update their resumes only at the last moment when they have to apply for a job. Instead they prefer to quickly highlight their achievements during the year gone by and keep their resumes in line with their new career goals. As a resume acts as a snapshot of a professional’s career, updating resumes in this phase also ensures that important facts and figures relating to one’s career are captured in a timely manner.
|
||
|
India’s great places to work in
Global Talent Development Corporation and Asia’s largest IT trainer NIIT was also recognised as the number one Training and Education Company to work for, consistently for the third year in a row. The survey, which is the most extensive workplace study in India, is conducted across the country by the Great Place to Work Institute (GPTW). Commenting on the results of the survey, Vijay Thadani, Chief Executive Officer, NIIT Ltd. said, “What makes NIIT a Great Place to Work is that we always put people first. Since the past three decades, the organisation has lived its core value and belief that NIIT is People. We foster career building by creating opportunities that facilitate learning, thinking and innovation.” NIIT also achieved the distinction of being among the top two companies in India for fairness in Performance Management System, and among the Top 10 companies in terms of rewards and recognitions for its employees. Over the past year, NIIT has re-engineered its performance management system by revamping the organisation's goal-setting process and has introduced annual performance appraisals based on individual absolute performances. This is coupled with a strong execution focus on making appreciation a way of life with its innovative rewards and recognition programme called HATS OFF. The top ranking companies, including NIIT, scored high on caring for employees, equal opportunity for recognition, candid communication, reliability of managers, collaboration with employees, impartiality and ample opportunities for career growth. — TNS
|
||
|
bookshelf
“Think Like Zuck” is a must have book for those who dare to think differently and accept new challenges for building enterprises of social value. It offers the line of thought and ideals behind the work strategy of Facebook’s iconic founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who led a social media revolution in his early 20s and is now among one of the most influential people in the world.
The author Ekaterina Walter, who herself was among the 25 women who rocked social media in 2012, has taken extra care to record each little detail and philosophy behind the various events mentioned in the book. The book has phenomenal potential for the young workforce who has passion but need direction, who have resources but are looking for avenues for growth and for all those entrepreneurs serving in the corporate world to make their success stories possible. The book does not state a mantra to achieve success which one can chant, but presents fundamental principles which seasoned employees, innovators, businesses etc. tend to overlook or ignore generally. Walter, after an elaborate research and thorough analysis depending on the data she received from Facebook, concludes that its triumph truly rests on the unfaltering beliefs of Zuckerberg, who by his clear vision, bold attitude to challenge the status-quo and the right choice of people, has been able to create a company that boasts of connecting one billion people across the world everyday. Another notable entry by the author is the mention of the “Hacker Way” approach which is religiously followed at Facebook. It stands for extremely open and meritocratic culture wherein people always strive for excellence and are never content with the product. It serves as a burning desire to do more. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as the book carries enormous examples and quotes by the man himself. Think Like Zuck thus, explores the hidden potential of the lethal combination of passion and purpose, over and above routine monetary gains as “great companies don’t just create products, they create movements”. The, book addresses the widespread need for young readers to discover their inner passion and purpose of pursuing their jobs and careers. This book will help you channelise your energies and efforts in the right direction and add more meaning to your lives.
|
||
|
Happiness @ work
Happiness cannot happen on an empty stomach. All of us do a job and get paid to take care of the necessities of life.
Having lost his father when he was just one-and-a-half years old, Lal Bahadur Shastri barely managed to attend school within the resources available. So upon joining the Kashi Vidyapeetha, he took up a part-time job at a khadi store in Varanasi. When Jayaprakash Narayan went to the US for higher studies, he worked as a foreman in Marysville. Then he joined University of Berkeley and did well. But he had to leave it as it was too expensive. At Iowa University, he paid for his fees by working part-time. Influenced by communist thought, he planned to go to Moscow, but had no money. So he went back to Chicago to find a job, fell ill and was bed-ridden for six months. To pay his debts, JP’s father mortgaged his lands. Finally, JP gave up the idea of going to the Soviet Union. Marie Curie and her elder sister Bronya dreamt of going to Paris for their higher education. But this was easier said than done. So Marie devised a plan. First, Marie worked as governess to finance Bronya’s studies. Then, Bronya returned Marie the favour. In 1925, JRD Tata joined Tatas as an unpaid apprentice. Due to his father Ratanji Dadabhoy’s death, he became the head of the family at the young age of 22. To repay his father’s debts, he sold off his properties in Bombay, Pune and Hardelot in France and began working officially at Tata Sons for Rs 750. On December 22, 1901, Rabindranath Tagore inaugurated the school at Shanti Niketan, but the response was poor. He sold his books to raise funds. Seeing him worried, his wife Mrinalini Devi offered to sell her ornaments. But there is more to life than money. Vivekananda’s family was going through bad times. To add to their woes, his father Vishwanath Datta died. So he approached Ramakrishna Paramhans and asked him if Goddess Kali would give him what he wanted. The seer said, “Just go and ask anything you want.” Despite needing money badly, Vivekananda first asked the Mother for knowledge, then devotion and finally, renunciation. At Presidency College, Calcutta, Prof Jagadis Chandra Bose refused to take his salary for three years to protest against the disparity between Indian and European teachers. Secondly, he even refused to get patents for his discoveries and inventions saying “I am a seeker of knowledge, not wealth or fame. My knowledge belongs to the entire world”. Thirdly, despite crowds flocking to his lectures, JC Bose refused to charge tickets for his speeches. Money is important, but it isn’t all. — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
|
This year’s edition of Yale University’s India-Yale Parliamentary Leadership Programme concluded last week. The programme was held in a new partnership with the Governance and Public Policy Initiative of the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi. The 2013 cohort of 11 MPs went to the Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut on June 19 to complete a six-day leadership programme. The programme was complemented by a four-day programme of meetings, discussions, and interactions in New York City.
Germany is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Indian students. Germany is a country which not only has high quality of teaching in some of the world's top-ranked universities; it also is very affordable as education cost is as low as 500 euros a semester. So, it is no surprise that international students prefer this country. The universities have also changed a great deal as many of the courses are now offered in English.
Social media has overtaken our lives, both professional and private and it is all pervasive now. Much of what we do and feel is shared with friends, family and even colleagues and strangers in the virtual world!
The importance of social media cannot be ignored today as it has been established beyond doubt that it is a medium to promote oneself professionally, network, make like-minded professional groups and also stay updated on the goings on in one's work interest. But can all this be a part of professional ethos? Where does one draw the line between being private and professional?
Frontline employees will help in their organisation’s improvement if they see that there is a high degree of autonomy in their jobs and have trust in their leaders, a new research by two Indian business professors has suggested.
The study conducted by Gopesh Anand and Dilip Chhajed, professors of business administration at University of Illinois found that a flexible environment plays a significant role in increasing employee’s commitment to continuous improvement initiatives.
The number of students going abroad for higher studies, and those wanting to go abroad has seen a steady increase over the past few years. According to the Forbes India magazine currently 2.64 lakh students are studying abroad. A majority of these are in the US and the UK, but colleges and universities in Canada, Australia and some other European and Asian countries are also attracting Indian students. Studying abroad is highly valued these days not only because of globalisation and for the multicultural and multidimensional perspective, but also because of the tough competition that students have to face to get into the top league Indian institutes.
Growing reach
Q. I’m from a small town in Punjab and my spoken English is very average. Will it be a problem in getting a job? How can I speak the language fluently and also enhance my GK? Please advise. —
Yash Medha
Q. I’m working in the administration department of a reputed company. I have an opportunity to do the same kind of work in a small NGO, with a fatter pay packet but at a lower designation. Is it worth considering? I am 28. For me it’s more about the challenge of doing something different in a new place than the designation.
Q. I am in Class XII. I got 98 per cent marks in Class XI. I want to be a doctor. Please tell me what I need to do in order to study medicine in the US? — kumud bhasin
Applications are being invited for Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-funded post of a Junior Research Fellowship at PRIST University. The fellowship is awarded in 'Medicinal Plants -Their role in Wound Healing and Regeneration'.
Before you think that we are posing puzzles to you, let’s get back to the point we are trying to make — the important role that microbes play in our day to day life. So, something that is such an integral part of our lives is surely an important area of study, as the study of these microbes or microbiology is. 
Jobscape
Mushroom cultivation and farming is another upcoming and lucrative career in India where those with knowledge of microbiology can be employed. Scientists dealing with better varieties of mushrooms and better ways of its cultivation are required in this field. Being a microbiologist you can check a number of diseases that come from your kitchen. Bioremediation is another area of research in which microbiology students can make a career.
The trend was confirmed by HeadHonchos.com, India’s premier job search and career portal, exclusively for senior professionals, as it saw a sharp increase in activity to update resumes after the completion of performance appraisals. 
Google India Pvt. Ltd. topped the list of best companies to work for in a survey of 550 companies across 22 industries in India. The survey was conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute recently. Intel Technology India Pvt Ltd, American Express India Pvt Ltd. and NIIT Ltd. were acknowledged as the second, third and fourth best companies, respectively, on the basis of employee satisfaction criteria.
