Wind energy
The Wind beneath your wings
Wind energy is the fastest growing source of electricity all over the world and thus offers multiple career options
Usha Albuquerque

Every couple of weeks we feel the pinch when petrol prices rise higher and higher. And while there is talk of conserving fuel, of environmental concerns and of the current account deficit mounting as we import more and more petroleum, we also need to seriously consider alternative sources of sustainable energy. As is well known, generating electricity by harnessing wind energy is one of the cleanest, most sustainable ways Wind power produces no toxic emissions and none of the heat trapping emissions that contribute to global warming. This, and the fact that wind power is one of the most abundant and increasingly cost-competitive energy resources, makes it a viable alternative to the fossil fuels that harm our health and threaten the environment.

Wind power has been used since pre-historic times — from the sailing ships of the ancient Greeks, to the well recognisable windmills of pre-industrial Holland. Even today, the latest high-tech wind turbines used in all the major developed countries indicate that wind power, has become one of the fastest growing sources of electricity generation in the world.

Areas of work

The maximum number of jobs in the wind energy sector are, therefore, those in the area of manufacturing of wind turbines, installation and operation, for which mostly engineers, as manufacturing engineers, plant managers, and quality assurance personnel are recruited.

There are also specialists in wind energy analysis, design, testing, and management.

People with degrees in computer science, aerodynamics, atmospheric science, or mathematics are likely to find positions with companies working in this sector.

Another important job in this field is that of wind resource assessment — the people who assess the wind resource at a particular site, analysing wind patterns, predicting how much energy a wind farm on that location is likely to produce, and providing technical information to support site-choice decisions. Those with training in meteorology can provide this expertise.

Another area that requires scientific expertise is environmental assessment, in which the site that will house the turbines is studied to determine whether drinking water, plants, or animals will be affected by a new wind-power facility.

Some of these positions require a bachelor’s degree in biology or environmental science and extensive professional experience.

Getting in

The wind energy sector offers jobs in a variety of areas, including manufacturing and engineering, environmental and consulting services, and even marketing, and is ideal for people with science backgrounds who are interested in a career that helps the environment.

While the maximum number of jobs are for engineers — electrical, computer, and mechanical engineers, students with background in physics, mathematics, environment science and other such disciplines can take up a specialised courses in sustainable energy, or specifically wind energy studies.

Doing an internship with a wind energy company is another good way to enter the field.

Training

In view of the growing need for qualified manpower in the wind energy sector both in national/international levels the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy ( MNRE) has encouraged the establishment of courses in wind energy in universities/colleges. Several universities have started supporting Renewable Energy programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Energy Technology, Energy Engineering, Energy Management, Energy Auditing primarily focusing on renewable energy.

These include University of Lucknow, University of Pune, University of Hyderabad, Devi Ahilya University, IIT Bombay, NITs at Tiruchi, Calicut and Bhopal, Tezpur University, VIT University, TERI University, Annamalai University and others.

Job prospects

With the support of the government and the need for energy conservation and renewable energy utilisation, there is tremendous potential of employment generation and social entrepreneurship in the field of renewable energy, particularly for those trained in almost all streams of engineering, technology and the sciences.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is also taking steps to organise training programmes in renewable energy and energy management sectors in Industrial Training Institutes and polytechnics.

A Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET), an autonomous organisation under the administrative control of the ministry, has been established in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and serves as the technical focal point for wind power development.

Big players

India’s persistent demand-supply gap in electricity has seen many private and multi-national companies including GE, Siemens, Shell Oil enter the wind energy sector with a requirement for trained manpower. Suzlon, a leading wind power company, has inducted some of the most advanced technology to become the world’s 5th largest wind energy company.

Continuum Wind Energy founded in 2009, has developed wind farms in India and Asia, and is executing a 175 MW project which is amongst the largest wind farms in India.

GE Wind operates a state-of-the-art wind turbine manufacturing and assembly plants in Pune and Bangalore with state of the art research and development facility.

With increasingly competitive prices, growing environmental concerns, and the call to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources, a strong future for wind power seems certain. In India too new and advanced wind turbine technologies have made wind-powered electricity competitive with conventional thermal generation in many places.

So if you wish to work for a cleaner, brighter world, a career in wind energy can be the wind beneath your wings to soar towards a successful future.

— The writer is Director Careers Smart Pvt Ltd., New Delhi

What it means

The wind as it blows turns turbines which can generate power.

The cost of generating that power depends on how fast the wind blows, how often, and when.

The power output from a wind turbine rises as a cube of wind speed. In other words, the higher the wind-speeds, the cheaper the power generated.

Wind turbines operate over a limited range of wind speeds. If the wind is too slow, they won’t be able to turn, and if too fast, they shut down to prevent any damage. Ideally, a wind turbine should be matched to the speed and frequency of the resource to maximise power production.

on the Turbine turf

Modern electric wind turbines come in different styles and many different sizes, depending on their use. Small wind turbines are generally used for providing power off the grid, for powering small farms and remote villages.

Large wind turbines, most often used by utilities to provide power to a grid, can range from 250 kilowatts up to the enormous 3.5 to 5 MW machines that are even being used offshore and are usually placed in groups or rows to take advantage of prime windy spots. Wind “farms” like these can consist of a few or hundreds of turbines, providing enough power for tens of thousands of homes.

how India fares

India is the world’s fifth largest generator of wind power. The country’s installed wind capacity stands in excess of 17,000 megawatts (MW) mainly spread across Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Orissa and West bengal and some other smaller states, accounting for 8.5 per cent of India’s total installed power capacity, and generating 1.6% of the country’s power.

Institute watch

The post-graduate level of training offered by various universities and organisations:

• MSc (Renewable Energy), Department of Physics, University of Lucknow, Lucknow (www.lkouniv.ac.in).
• MTech (Energy Studies), School of Energy Studies, Department of Physics, University of Pune www.unipune.ernet.in.
• Interdisciplinary MTech (Energy Studies) and Interdisciplinary MTech (Energy & Environment Management) School of Energy Studies, IIT, Delhi (www.iitd.ac.in).
• MTech (Energy Management) and MPhil (Energy and Environment), School of Energy and Environmental Studies, Devi Ahilya University, Indore (www.seec.dauniv.ac.in).
• MTech (Energy Science and Engineering), Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (www.iitb.ac.in).
• MTech (Energy & Environmental Engineering), VIT University, Vellore (www.vit.ac.in).
• MTech (Energy Engineering), National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli (www.nitt.edu).
• MTech (Energy Management), Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Calicut (www.nitc.ac.in).
• MTech (Energy Technology and Environment Management), School of Energy and Environment Management, Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal (www.rgtu.net).
• MTech (Energy Engineering), Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal (www.manit.ac.in).
• MTech (Renewable Energy Engineering and Management) and PG Diploma (Renewable Energy)*, TERI University, New Delhi (www.teriuniversity.ac.in).
• MTech (Energy Science and Technology) and Certificate (Energy Management and Audit)*, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur (www.jadavpur.edu).
• MPhil (Energy), Centre for Non-Conventional Energy Resources, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur (www.uniraj.ernet.in).
• PG Diploma (Energy Management)*, Centre for Distance Education, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad (www.uohyd.ernet.in).
• PG Diploma (Electrical Energy Management and Energy Audit) and Diploma (Energy Engineering)*, Annamalai University, Chennai (www.annamalaiuniversity.ac.in).
• Distance learning programmes

smart strategy: dealing with unfairness at workplace
Seek a fair deal
Ragini Gulati

Unfairness at workplace is an ordeal that every professional has faced at some point of his career. It could be in the form of gender discrimination, regional or communal bias, favouritism, racial differentiation, or even outright harassment. But in spite of this often the concept of unfairness is based on an individual’s perception of what is right and wrong. As a consequence the behaviour which is acceptable to someone may be considered unacceptable by another.

No matter what the unfair treatment is, in workplace scenario one has to take necessary steps to handle it in a professional manner. Some of the strategies that will be of help in this regard are:

Identify the issue

The first step towards dealing with unfairness at workplace is to identify the issue. Take a step back to observe the context as well as dynamics of what is going on. There is a possibility that what we perceive as unfair could be part of the work culture of an organisation.

Also gain clarity on the role being played by specific individuals and their attitude towards you. Since it is difficult to quantify human interactions, view everything with a clear and open mind. Most importantly, seek assistance of family and friends for an objective opinion on the situation. It will not only help gain perspective but also reduce the chances of bringing up an issue that does not really exist.

Keep a record

Subsequent to determining the source of unfairness, start maintaining a record. Document every seemingly unfair instance or action to create a paper trail detailing the situation. Print out emails, save voice messages and file internal memos issued to you by the concerned individual. Also keep a diary for writing down dates, detailed description and sequence of events.

Maintaining a record will allow you to see things clearly even if you choose not to raise the issue with the higher authorities. In fact, it may even help to identify behavioural patterns of the person who is treating you unfairly. Moreover, the documentation will act as a proof to validate your claim in case things get out of control.

Keep emotions out

Although easier said than done, emotionally detach yourself from the injustice at workplace.

Each individual has his or her own reasons for acting in a certain way, which may be perceived as unfair by us. As a consequence remain calm and collected by not taking things too personally.

Make a conscious decision to start each day with a positive outlook, irrespective of the situation. Rather than ruining your composure and peace of mind, push yourself to work harder. Create a support system both inside and outside of workplace to stay motivated against all odds. Most importantly take an occasional break from the daily grind of workplace for a healthy work life balance.

Take the ‘talk’ route

Prior to approaching the higher authorities speak to the individual concerned. Although confrontations are emotionally draining, ignoring them can be even worse. Politely let the person know your feelings on being treated unfairly. Speak to them in a manner that is neither aggressive nor mild. However, make sure to keep a control over your emotions throughout the conversation.

Make an effort to identify the cause of their behaviour instead of throwing accusations at them. Also enquire if there is anything that you are doing which is bothering them. More than often people don't realise that they are being unfair to others. Speaking directly can resolve misunderstandings and clear the air to a large extent.

Involve HR

When everything else fails, speak to HR personnel. Fix a meeting to discuss your concerns with regard to the unfair treatment. Prepare a strong case and share it with them without getting too negative or defensive.

Give a comprehensive account along with specific examples so that your claim does not come across as frivolous. Also offer suggestions which could improve your relationship with the concerned person.

However, don’t run to the higher authority every time someone treats you unfairly. Complaining frequently will indicate your incapability to manage things independently. Keeping the same in mind seek the assistance of higher-ups only as a last resort. The management may not take immediate action but at least your complaint will be officially lodged.

promising pathways: psychology
Get psyched for success
Kranti Kumar Srivastava

The demand for qualified psychologists has grown tremendously over the past few years and many new career aveneues are now available for those who have chosen psychology as their path of success.

There is an increased demand for psychological services in schools, hospitals, social service agencies, mental health centers, substance-abuse treatment clinics, consulting firms and private companies. If you hold doctorate from a leading university and have specialised in popular streams like counseling, health and school psychology, there is not going to be a dearth of work options. A background in quantitative research methods and computer science will be an added advantage. Here are some specialised areas that can offer lucrative careers to those with a degree in psychology:

— The writer is Chairman, Indian Institute of Psychology, Noida.

Engineering Psychology

While engineering is concerned with improving equipment from the point of view of mechanical and electrical design, psychology is concerned with the study of the mind and behaviour. Engineering Psychology, thus, is concerned with adapting the equipment and environment to people, based upon their psychological capacities and limitations with the objective of improving overall system performance (involving human and machine elements.

Engineering psychologists specialise in designing safer and more user-friendly products. This field of psychology emerged during the 1940s, as more engineers began considering user factors when developing new programmes. If you enjoy developing and improving products to meet people’s needs, consider a career in engineering psychology.

Work and the skills needed

• Engineering psychologists are primarily concerned with user interface, perception, and interactivity. The field of engineering psychology has evolved over the years as consumers have demanded safer and ergonomic computers, power tools, chairs, and other consumer goods.
• Engineering psychologists must possess an array of skills and knowledge from numerous disciplines.
• They must also possess excellent analytical skills and work effectively in teams since they frequently collaborate with other professionals.
• It’s also important for them to remain unbiased during design phases.
• In addition to ensuring products are ergonomic, these specialists conduct tests to make sure consumers like the appearance and usability of products. While conducting tests, engineering psychologists frequently conduct surveys and seek feedback about previous products.

Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology is a specialisation of psychology that deals with legal issues. A forensic psychologist deals with people who are associated with all levels of the legal system, from attorneys and judges to defendants in civil cases and suspected criminals. A forensic psychology programme trains students to apply the principles of clinical psychology to the civil and criminal justice systems.

It involves understanding criminal law in the relevant jurisdictions in order to be able to interact appropriately with judges, attorneys and other legal professionals. Forensic psychology is the intersection between psychology and the justice system. An important aspect of forensic psychology is the ability to testify in court, reformulating psychological findings into the legal language of the courtroom, providing information to legal personnel in a way that can be understood.

Opportunities

There are various professional positions and employment possibilities for forensic psychologists. They can be practised in several different employment settings.

Academic Researcher: Academic forensic psychologists are involved in teaching, research, training and supervision of students, and other education-related activities.

While their main focus is research, it is not unusual for them to take on any of the other positions of forensic psychologists. These professionals may be employed at various settings, which may include colleges and universities, research institutes, government or private agencies.

Correctional Psychologist: Correctional psychologists work with inmates and offenders in correctional settings. They serve both the role of an evaluator and a treatment provider to those who have been imprisoned or are on parole or probation.

Evaluator: These forensic psychologists take on the role of evaluating parties in criminal or civil cases on mental health issues related to their case. For criminal cases, they may be called on to evaluate issues including, but not limited to, the defendants’ competency to stand trial, their mental state at the time of the offence (insanity), and their risk for future violent acts.

Treatment Provider: Treatment providers are forensic psychologists who administer psychological intervention or treatment to individuals in both criminal and civil cases who require or request these services. In criminal proceedings, treatment providers may be asked to provide psychological interventions to individuals who require treatment for the restoration of competency, after having been determined by the courts as incompetent to stand trial.

Trial consultant: Forensic psychologists often are involved in trial consulting. A trial consultant, a jury consultant, or a litigation consultant, are social scientists who work with legal professionals such as trial attorneys to aid in case preparation, which includes selection of jury, development of case strategy, and witness preparation

Role and responsibility

The main roles of a psychologist in the court system are -

• Evaluation of possible malingering
• Assessment of mental state for insanity plea
• Competency to stand trial
• Prediction of violence and assessment of risk
• Evaluation of child custody in divorce
• Assessment of personal injury
• Interpretation of polygraph data
• Specialized forensic personality assessment

Industrial-Organisational Psychology

This specialisation is concerned with the study of workplace behaviour. I-O psychologists often apply research to increase workplace productivity, help in selecting employees best suited for particular jobs and for product testing.

Opportunities

• It is a diverse field with opportunities in several different areas. Many I-O psychologists work in business in positions dealing with worker productivity, employee training and assessment and human resources.
• Other I-O psychologists work in research or academic positions.
• Specific specialty areas in I-O psychology include human-computer interaction and human factors.
• Consulting opportunities are also available for experienced organisational psychologists.

Education and training

Forensic psychologists need following degree/ diploma in psychology:

• Short-term certificate course in forensic Psychology and Criminal Profiling (Duration 2 months).
• Advanced Diploma Course Certification in Forensic Psychology and Criminal profiling (Duration 6 months).
• PG Diploma Course Certification in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Profiling. (Duration 12 months)
• Certification in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Profiling (Duration 6 months).

study abroad: sweden and denmark
A Scandinavian sojourn
Natasha Chopra

There are a plethora of options and choices as many more countries across the world are now investing in the export of education as they have clearly seen the benefits that have been garnered by the traditional education export countries like US, UK and Australia.

Many European countries are now also increasingly establishing themselves in India and are offering education options that are cost effective and provide degrees and experience that is comparable to many of the traditional western destinations.

Students internationally are also exploring new education destinations. The countries that have generated a lot of interest in this regard are — Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Each of these Scandinavian countries is breathtakingly beautiful with lakes and mountains and a long shoreline. Needless to say, these are also at the forefront in environment and climate studies.

Denmark

Similarly, Denmark a smaller island with a population of just over 5m also offers a very high standard of living, and is considered to be the second most prosperous nation in the World Economic forum assessment. The Danish education system is ranked 12th in the 2012 Global League Table developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit and the education firm Pearson. Denmark is highly regarded for its world class education in engineering, life sciences, social sciences and IT with strong industrial collaborations and focus on practical training which allows students to be more easily absorbed in the labour market.

Unlike Sweden, Denmark allows 15 hours of work per week. It is also the least corrupt nation in the world. The average fee in Denmark varies from 6000 to 16000 Euros per year and a number of grants are available for students. Danish government scholarship for highly qualified non EU students is the one to look out for.

Denmark indeed is a destination with one of the most innovative education system offering a quality of education that is internationally reputed.

Sweden

Sweden is ranked the fourth most prosperous country as per the World Economic forum assessment. The country has a long and proud history of academic excellence, with outstanding universities dating back to the 15th century. Sweden is also the home of the Nobel Prize — the world’s most prestigious academic distinction. Sweden’s social fabric is considered to be very fair and a society that has an open mind as well as a judicial system that is not prejudiced. One of the world’s most modern and advanced nations, Sweden is considered to be at the forefront of technology, innovatioan and adapatation, it is also the birthplace of many successful international corporations such as Ericson, Volvo, Bluetooth, Skype and Ikea and Alfa Lavel, thus showing the diversity of its industry.

The country enjoys an enviable reputation in many areas including IT, telecommunications, mining and banking and the environment. In 2012/13 QS World University Rankings, five of its eight ranked institutions were in the top 200 led by Lund University (71) and Uppsala University (81).

The universities are well known for their research of international relevance and there are scholarship options too for the deserving candidates. The postgraduate programmes are generally of two year duration and the PhD of three years.

Twenty per cent of the student community is of international students, thus making Sweden a very cosmopolitan and cultural experience.

Students can work part time up to 20 hours per week and have a six-month stay back to find a job. The high standard of living along with the many benefits that employees enjoy offers a lifestyle of work-life balance. All these facts make Sweden a very attractive destination.

— The writer is MD of The Chopras

in conversation
Adding a new perspective to management education
Swati Rai

Rajul Garg, Director of Sunstone Business School and Co-founder Globallogic, a global leader in R&D outsourcing

Online educational avenues in management have opened a whole new set of opportunities for working professionals, giving them a chance to upgrade their qualifications without having to leave their jobs. Rajul Garg, Director of Sunstone Business School that is running specialised courses for management professionals in IT/ITES industry talks about the growth of online education in management studies and its future globally. Excerpts:

What is your take on the future of online learning?

With burgeoning technological innovations, online is definitely the future of education. I think online course curriculum should steer away from the mistakes that theoretical curriculum of campus learning makes. When we started this school our aim was and still is to break away follow the traditional campus mode and theory of learning and make the courses more accessible to all. Our Avant Garde curriculum follows problem-based pedagogy. It is a hands-on, interactive project based learning process, formulated for professional, adult learner.

What do you make of the importance of experiential learning in management education?

If you see globally and now also in India, it is almost a given that you have to have at least two years of industry experience to be able to get admission to management courses. It is more convenient for an MBA aspirant from the ITES/IT background who already has an experience of, let's say, 5-6 years to without having to quit his job, enrol himself for an online MBA course.

What in your opinion are some of the key areas where IT/ITES professionals' management related skills need honing?

In our experience, there are some specific areas where we need to work with IT/ITES professionals. Since most of these professionals work in an environment which is far removed from business exposure, therefore most tend to lack a business perspective. Owing to their academic background in rationalistic science most are unable to deal with variables and vagueness of the business world.

What are the expectations of industry from management graduates?

I think the industry requires its MBA graduates to think on their feet and take on whatever necessary role they are assigned to. The industry expects them to change according to the need of the time as it is undergoing a lot of pressure at a macro level. There is a movement towards preference for people who can take on generalist' tasks as opposed to specialised area of work.

work station
Why sweat over small stuff
Khushwant S. Gill

We’ve all had bosses who have this “shock and awe” approach of popping up suddenly behind us and announce, “ Is that report coming along well? Need some help? You’ll get it done on time, won't you?” You turn around and say, “Sure, yes, all under control.” But the damage has been done. Because that’s the third time the boss has asked you the same questions and the deadline’s still a long way off. You start having second thoughts. “Am I ready? Does he know something, with all his experience, that I don’t know”. And on and on.

The whole experience is absolutely debilitating. It saps your self-confidence, creates doubt and should, actually, have no place in a well-run office. It certainly is not a pleasant experience to be caught in the currents of micro-management. But at the same time, it will be unfair to believe that it is just a “managers’ malaise”, as most of us have the ‘micro-manager’ DNA in us.

This tendency is usually cloaked as “perfectionism” or “efficiency” and this is what makes it all the more difficult to stand up against it. Years of experience on the workstation in different companies has made it clear that whichever way one may dress this tendency it is one of the major killers of confidence, creativity and initiative among juniors. Who would want to take the time to try something new when the manager is going to want to get it done his way in the end anyway. Micromanaging wastes the talent of a vast majority of the employees and stunts their future growth. This is one “management trick” that does more harm than good.

So, all ye micromanagers next time the impulse of “taking the controls in your hand” seizes you or propels you to showcase your “skills”, just take a few deep breaths and remember the following points

Trust your people

Learn to let others take the wheel and sit in the back seat for a change. Once you have delgated the work and given instructions and identified the target or deadline, let things take shape in the hands of the person put in charge by you. Remeber that it is you in the first place who found that person fit for the job, so any doubt about his ability to perform actually boomrangs on your sense of judgement. So, trust is the mantra and just step back with a high degree of confidence that the work will be done.

Have patience

Have ‘tactical’ patience, as they say in the army. Let things develop and mature, before butting in prematurely.

Know your lieutenants

Knowing your employees, their strengths and weaknesses is crucial. Knowing how well and in how much time they can do something allows you to plan the workload. That way you won’t be pushed into micromanaging at the last moment in case the job isn’t done.

Being in tight command of your area of responsibility does not translate into micromanagement necessarily. You have to know your employees intimately and have them respond to you positively.

Have a system in place

Additionally, have a system whereby your orders and memos are acknowledged systematically. That way you know that your talk, your suggestions and your orders have been registered and action will be taken on these.

An honest self-assessment, from an honest man. The work points may be easier said than done, but they definitely have to be tried. There’s really no other alternative.

— The writer is an Organizational Identity & Personnel Development Consultant

hiring scene
Weak rupee derails hiring plans

Hiring outlook has weakened in most of the Asia Pacific region, particularly in India with the rupee falling against most currencies and experts are of the opinion that the worst is yet to come.

The weakening economy, inflationary pressures and falling rupee has had a detrimental impact on the companies’ bottom lines, thereby creating uncertainty amongst companies and adversely impacting their talent management strategies.

“While most companies will not consider a reduction in workforce, they will decrease their hiring efforts by growing internal talent. As a result, young job seekers are likely to find themselves in an unconducive employment market,” Towers Watson India Talent & Rewards Director Subeer Bakshi said.

Bakshi further added that most indices, research houses and experts believe that the worst is yet to come.

Amidst this tough business environment, companies are adopting a cautious approach to recruitment. According to experts, campus hiring are likely to suffer and companies are now adopting new hiring models based on a mixture of campus hiring, just in time hiring, lateral and global hiring.

In a calender year, the August-November period is generally the the most important phase for the job markets as people change jobs and companies seek new hires. But this time this is not happening.

“Against the current economic backdrop, employees will be more careful about job changes resulting in decreased attrition, with companies working to steady human capital costs and moderate salary increases,” Bakshi said.

The slowdown in the hiring space is likely to be across the board, and India Inc on the whole may suffer as input costs invariably rise due to the fall in rupee and as a result decreased hiring activity may be witnessed across all sectors.

According to Prashant Lohia, CEO, Ginesys, the fall in rupee is likely to further dim, the hiring prospects of those companies where input costs are linked to forex fluctuations while for the rest, the effect would not be so immediate.

Commenting on the current economic situation, ISF President K Pandia Rajan said employment in India is standing at very crucial juncture where, while jobs are being created they have been mostly in the informal sector which currently engages 94 per cent of our workforce.

“It is important to create an environment which offers choice of fair employment, decent wage, social security cover and a means to regularly enhance skills- all of it within the organised workforce,” it added. — PTI

cubicle trends
Google staff loses ‘creative’ space

Google has reportedly ended its ‘20 per cent time’ for creative work scheme to its employers which allowed them to work on side projects. The move has left many employees in a tizzy making them totally work bound. According to the Huffington Post, Google’s famous perk has not been officially acknowledged by the management to be moribund.

The report said that Google’s founders had cited this 20 per cent of time as instrumental to the company’s ability to innovate which led to the incubation of ventures like Gmail, Google Transit, Google Talk, and Google News, among other projects.

Google’s previous policy allowed all Googlers time to work on independent projects, however, the new rule requires employees to get approval from the management based on the productivity of their respective teams.

CEO Larry Page had also announced a strategy that would put more of Google’s resources and employees behind a smaller number of projects which meant a closure to the Google Labs and ultimately compromising upon the creative time.

Recently, Forbes list of most innovative companies placed Google at a disappointing number 47 booted down by lesser known companies which includes coffee chain Starbucks, thereby highlighting how tech giants are increasingly losing out on their creative streak. — ANI

Happiness@work
Gems of ancient wisdom
A ‘good’ reason to cheer

The first sign that you are on the path to progress will come from none other than your bosses. So if your higher-ups think of you as competition, march on ahead. In 1892, Jamsetji Tata decided to start an Indian university for advance studies. But Viceroy Curzon stood like a hard rock in his path. “Where are the students? Where are the jobs for pass-outs? Where is the finance? Isn’t this project an attempt to seek personal glory?” he posed to the great industrialist.

So Jamsetji gave the project a national name and a third of his landed property. Then, he went over Curzon’s head and wrote to the Secretary for India. Finally, the Viceroy relented. Five years after Jamsetji’s death, the Indian Institute of Science started in Bangalore in 1909.

When Ghanshyam Das Birla decided to start a jute mill, the British put pressure on the owner of the chosen site not to sell his land to Birla. When Birla overcame this hurdle, the Imperial Bank refused him a loan. Then, the Brits increased the freight rates for Birla’s goods and the Jute Mill Owners’ Association turned down his application for membership. “The British are scared and I’ll fight,” said Birla and won.

Persian head priest-cum-sorcerer Durasrob was a worried man as a son had been born to Pourushasp and his wife Dughdhowa. Knowing that the boy Zarathushtra was a threat to all forces of evil, he stole the baby and put him in the path of galloping bulls and horses, and hungry wolves. When all these failed, he threw the baby into fire. Then, he tried poisoning him, but the boy survived. As a youth, Zarathushtra confronted Durasrob and revealed his evil designs to the people.

On realising that his student Ramanuja was brilliant and could start a rival school of thought, scholar Yadava Prakasha thought of killing him during a pilgrimage. But Ramanuja’s cousin warned the 11th century saint in time and he escaped.

But truly great leaders aren’t scared of competition. The London Times on November 19, 1929 announced a flying England-India race. JRD Tata and Aspy Engineer were two of the three contestants. In Alexandria, as Aspy’s plane needed some spare plugs, JRD helped him out despite knowing him to be a competitor. Touched, Aspy gave him a life jacket and when JRD returned to India, Aspy was at the airport to welcome him.

Seeing a garland in the hands of an admirer, Bengali writer Bankim Chandra Chatterjee passed it on to young poet Rabindranath Tagore who accepted it as a blessing.

Your reaction to competition indicates whether you are born great or have thrust greatness on yourself, boss.

— Sai R. Vaidyanathan

The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com

SCHOLARSHIP ROUNDUP

King’s College offer

The Tagore Centre for Global Thought at the King’s India Institute invites application for fully funded PhD studentships and research visit in UK. Two fully-funded scholarships, each tenable for a duration of 3 years, are available, and applicants for these scholarships must have an unconditional offer of admission to the PhD programme at the King’s India Institute, King’s College London to be eligible for this studentship.

Eligibility:

For PhD studentships: Applicants should be Indian citizens and with an intention to return to India to pursue careers in higher education or research upon successful completion of their PhD.

For research visit: Research visit for 1 Semester:Applicants should be Indian citizens, and may be interviewed during the selection process.

Detail: The PhD studentships will cover full tuition fees, a subsistence grant, and research materials allowance.

Research visit: The studentship will cover travel expenses, accommodation for 3 months, and a subsistence allowance.

How to Apply: Electronically. Applicants who want to be considered for this studentship should send one sample of written material (20 pages, 1.5 line space) with a covering letter to the Administrator at india-institute-at-kcl.ac.uk

Deadline: June 1, 2014.

Check out: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/aboutkings/worldwide/initiatives/
global/indiainstitute/Tagore-Centre/PhD-Studentships.aspx

For international students in Australia

Curtin University, Australia is offering merit scholarships for international students. The scholarships are provided in the faculty of business, health sciences, humanities and science and engineering. The scholarships are available for pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degree level.

Eligibility: Candidates must meet Curtin University and course academic and English language entry requirements

• Must be international, full fee-paying students
• Must be commencing a full undergraduate or master (coursework) degree in Semester 1 2014 at Curtin University, Western Australia

Check out: http://scholarships.curtin.edu.au

Quota scheme in Norway

Norwegian Government offers quota scheme for developing countries’ students in Norway. The scheme includes courses taught in English at master’s and PhD level, in addition to certain professional degrees at selected universities in Norway.

Eligibility: The quota scheme will only enrol students from institutions (organisations, universities, authorities) that have collaboration agreements with Norwegian universities or university colleges.

Students who come to Norway as self-financing students will, not be considered as being qualified for the quota scheme.

Details: Each student receives the same amount of money as a Norwegian student would do in an equivalent educational programme. About 30 per cent of the amount is given as a grant and 70 per cent as a loan.

How to apply: All inquiries should be directed to the International Office at the institution in question. Applications should be sent directly to the institutions and SIU is not responsible for received applications.

Deadline: December 1, 2013.

Check out: http://siu.no

NEWSBOARD

Solar Electrical Training Programme

Su-Kam Power Systems has become the technology partner in the “Solar Electrical Training Programme” offered by Rural Electrification Corporation, a Government of India enterprise, in association with Advit Foundation as part of the curriculum of Engineerin and ITI students. The Engineering and ITI colleges receiving this addition in their curriculum shall belong to economically backward regions of the country. The programme shall be rolled out in a phased manner in other colleges in the country with the first step being taken at DAV College of Engineering and Technology, Kanina, Mahendragarh, earlier this week.

The Rural Electrification Corporation, has initiated this training programme ar Mahendragarh as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. This programme will span over a period of five months and is expected to churn out 200 qualified engineers and technicians who will be well versed with the technicalities as well as the economics of Solar Photovoltaic.

Successfully trained candidates will then be assisted in job placement in the solar industry. During the course of the training, candidates will undergo classroom training as well as hands-on solar workshops.

Online teacher training

EuroKids, an education service provider in the preschool segment, recently launched EuroVarsity — a virtual university aimed at providing programmes to develop teaching skill sets. The first course offered is a certified Teacher Training Course, 'Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education'. The course will be spread across 9 months and will comprise six programmes dealing with various aspects of child care and education, child development, pre-school organisation and administration, curriculum and pedagogy in early child education, creative learning techniques and food and nutrition for young children. — TNS

course watch: tribal development
Make a difference
Mohsin Uddin

Around 8 per cent of India's total population accounts for tribal community. Most of the tribal groups have been living below the poverty since long. Therefore, there is need for developing trained professionals for improving the quality of life of tribals. The Tribal Development Management courses aim at equipping the aspiring candidates with knowledge and skills for managing development projects. In the present scenario the social sector has a vast potential to grow. This provides a lot of job opportunities for those with expertise in the field of tribal development in various institutions like funding agencies, NGOs, government, corporate houses, co-operatives, academic, research and training institutes etc.

Personality traits

A successful development professional should develop important personality traits such as leadership, decision-making power, team building, conflict resolution, communication and managerial skills.

Job scape

Several job opportunities in tribal development are available in sectors like horticulture, dairying, rural small and medium enterprises, among others. The list is not exhaustive, and therefore, a dynamic professional can pursue many more opportunities.

Training and education

Quite a number of universities and institutions are providing training and education through regular or distance learning mode such as master's, post graduate diploma, degree, diploma courses in Tribal Development across the country. The basic eligibility criteria for diploma and degree courses is Plus II and for PG degree or diploma, graduation from UGC recognised university is required. However, eligibility criteria vary marginally from university to university.

The writer is Training Manager, National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad

Institute watch

• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi (www.ignou.ac.in)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work Among the Tribals (PGDSWT)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Tribal Culture and Development (PGDTCD)
• National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad (www.nird.org.in)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Tribal Development Management (PGDTDM)
• University of Pune, Pune (http://unipune.ac.in)
• Diploma in Tribal Development
• International Centre for Distance Education and Open Learning, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla (http://icdeolhpu.org)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Tribal Studies
• Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Tripura(W) (www.tripurauniv.in)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Tribal and Ethnic Studies
• The Global Open University, Dimapur, Nagaland (http://nagaland.net.in/courses.htm)
• MA in Tribal Development
• Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai (www.tiss.edu)
• M. A. Social Work in Dalit & Tribal Studies and Action

COURSE CRUISING

TISS programmes

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai through its nine schools and five independent centres, along with campuses in Tuljapur (Maharashtra), Guwahati and Hyderabad offers 44 highly competitive, socially relevant MA / MSc. / MRH. / MHA programmes in inter and trans-disciplinary areas of social, health, management, development, habitat and climate sciences.

For detailed information on programmes, eligibility, selection procedure, reservations and online application Form, visit www.admissions.tiss.edu.

Deadline: October 25, 2013.

TISS National Entrance Test will be held on December 15,2013

Check out:

https://admissions.tiss.edu/admission-process/online-application-form

CAREER HOTLINE
Pervin Malhotra email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com

What is the scope in meteorology?

Q. I am a student of Class XII. How can I make a career in meteorology? What is the scope and where do I study this subject?

— Harkeerat Nishchal

A. Meteorology is an inter-disciplinary science that studies the processes in the earth’s atmosphere that cause weather conditions. This information is vital for making daily weather forecasts that impact business and industry, transport and telecommunication, agriculture, defence, water management, disaster mitigation, and several other areas of daily life. The work essentially involves collecting data on the weather (wind velocity, humidity, air pressure, temperature etc) and researching atmospheric cyclones and precipitation, lightning, etc. While some routine observations are made with simple tools, aerial and marine monitoring combined with the use of satellites facilitate monitoring of complex data, which is then utilized for several purposes. For example, timely weather bulletins and meteorological alerts help farmers decide their course of action for protecting and enhancing crop yields. In fact, there’s a specialised branch of study called agricultural meteorology.

In aviation, critical information is provided to pilots and airports on actual and expected weather conditions, surface winds, temperature, visibility etc. As a result, there’s a special Meteorology branch in the Indian Air Force.

Precise weather warning is vital for ships sailing on the high seas. Weather bulletins are broadcast at regular intervals providing information about prevailing atmospheric conditions particularly along the lines of disturbance.

Various government departments, including Revenue, Public Works, Irrigation, Power, Post & Telegraph and PSUs operating in critical infrastructure sectors are regularly warned against adverse weather conditions.

Weather observations are exchanged globally via telecommunication channels. These are plotted on weather charts and are analysed by professional meteorologists at forecasting centres using sophisticated computers.

Applied meteorologists apply this information to specific practical applications such as aircraft design, controlling atmospheric pollution, architectural design, urban planning, air-conditioning and exploiting solar and wind energy.

Although, weathermen draw considerable flak due to inaccurate predictions, the work is by no means easy. While short and medium term forecasts have become quite accurate thanks to satellite data, long-range predictions tend to be somewhat dicey. The atmosphere being in a state of constant flux and freak weather having become the norm, you can’t overlook any recording. Besides working round the clock, you have to be extremely meticulous with details and make as accurate a forecast as possible since the information affects so many lives.

There are three main divisions in meteorological departments: 1) research 2) operational forecasting and 3) teaching or consulting. The pay scales are as per the Sixth Pay Commission for all gazetted officers. Television news channels also employ forecasters to develop customized predictions.

The Indian Meteorological Department is the largest employer of weather men — although they presently have less than half its requirement of 500 officers. The Indian Institute of Tropical Management in Pune, recruits physics graduates directly through the UPSC exam offering them on the job training at different levels.

Only a few institutes like MS University of Baroda, Vadodra, Andhra University, Waltair; and CUSET, Cochin, offer MSc (Meteorology) courses. Bachelor degree holders in any of following subjects physics, maths, geophysics, applied maths and statistics are eligible for pursuing master’s level programmes in this field.

How can I get into CBI?

Q. I will be completing my graduation (BSc) this year. I am very keen to get into the CBI. Could you please tell me about the eligibility criteria and the selection procedure?

— Sachin Goyal

A. Typically, CBI recruits Sub-Inspectors through the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) through recruitment notices published in Employment News and other leading dailies. CBI also inducts officers in the ranks of Inspector of Police and above from the State and Union Territory Police forces on deputation.

Non-police officers are also taken on deputation in CBI. The necessary details about various posts in the CBI, recruitment/induction procedure, vacancy statement etc. are all posted on this website (www.bi.gov.in)

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

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

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

You should be between 20-25 years of age.

A Sub-Inspector can rise to become Inspector, DSP, SP etc.

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

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

Eligibility for CRPF post

Q. The eligibility criteria for recruitment in CRPF as Circle Inspector is typing and shorthand. If I pass vocational Higher Secondary – Office Secretaryship Course, will I be eligible for this job?

— Uma Saini

A. As long as you fulfill the basic academic requirements and qualify in the typing and shorthand test, it does not matter what secretarial course you have done.