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Foreign Universities in India
Career Hotline
A date with cat
know your course: business accountancy
testing times: medical entrance
course chat: m.tech in building science and technology
Lead from the front
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hiring scene
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The Global Edge
Usha Albuquerque
What it means for higher education
Foreign institutions are expected not only to bring in foreign direct investment, but also to provide the much needed capacity and new ideas on higher education, management, curriculum, teaching methods, and research. The entry of foreign universities can play a critical role in the growth of higher education in India. No doubt, Indians will gain from access to quality education without leaving India (and without paying in dollars). But additionally Indian education system, too, would benefit from the introduction of new ideas, teaching methodology and programmes. International colleges and universities have a variety of programmes —for undergraduates, graduates, professionals, part-time students, executives, researchers, online students and distance learners. Such an initiative also presents a good opportunity to foreign institutions to tap into a country with a huge population. Several foreign universities have been keen to enter India to tap a higher educational market that is worth ~46,200 crore and is expanding by 18 per cent every year, according to a report from audit and consulting firm EY. According to the HRD ministry at least 20 foreign universities-mostly from US, such as Duke University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and VirginiaTech among others, as also those from Australia and Canada —have already expressed their desire to enter the market. While it is still too early to conjecture as to how many and which universities will venture into India, a more likely scenario is the collaboration of foreign educational institutions with Indian counterparts in a variety of partnerships and programmes. According to the HRD Ministry, 631 FEIs were already operating in India in 2010 — 440 functioning from home campuses, five in own campuses, 60 in programmatic collaboration with local institutions, 49 under twinning arrangements, and 77 in arrangements other than twinning or programmatic collaboration.
Collaborations that are working
At present a foreign university needs to join hands with a local education provider to offer courses in India and the degrees are not considered foreign degrees. Already, a broad set of American and British universities have launched programmes in India. Several Ivy League American universities and others have undergraduate exchange programmes with various IITs and IIMs. IIM Ahmedabad’s partner institutions include some of the top B-schools of the world such as Chicago Graduate School of Business, US, Anderson School of Business, UCLA, Stern School of Business (New York University, Institut de Empressario, Spain, as also a double-degree programme in association with ESSEC University and a jointly branded Executive Education Programme in association with Duke University. The Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai has, over the years, built bridges with many universities across the world, and is offering joint degree programmes, faculty and study abroad programmes with universities in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. There are many other foreign institutes that are offering good programmes in collaboration with Indian institutes, such as the Schulich School of Business, London School of Economics, Lancaster University, among others. The Schulich School of Business at York University, Canada, came into India in 2010 with an MBA programme that is offered as part of a twinning arrangement with the SP Jain Institute of Management & Research in Mumbai and has been approved by the All India Council for Technical Education. Now Schulich is planning a new campus in Hyderabad with more international students and faculty and a transnational approach to management learning. The University of London’s International Programmes enables students in India to gain a prestigious University of London qualification with courses developed by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) such as accounting and finance, banking, economics, management and business. Lancaster University UK has set up a partnership with GD Goenka World Institute (GDGWI) in Gurgaon, offering students undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in business management and economics. Leeds Metropolitan University, UK, offers its programmes to students enrolled in the Leeds Met India, Bhopal campus with access to all the learning resources available in the UK. Middlesex University, UK, also has plans to offer courses in IT, business and media, in partnership with an Indian institution, while Scotland’s University of Strathclyde will come up with a campus in Greater Noida soon. The US-based Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) has signed an MOU with the Andhra Pradesh government with the intention of establishing a new international campus in Hyderabad to offer Master of Science degrees and PhD programmes in engineering, science, business management, and other academic fields that are currently not widely available in the country. So far most foreign universities have opted for the twinning mode of providing courses to students in India. Under the twinning arrangement the foreign partner institution offers the first half of their university degree programme in India and the rest at their foreign campus. It is an arrangement which many institutions prefer to undertake, as they have minimum stakes and do not have to invest in a campus and infrastructure. It also suits Indian students, as the total cost of a foreign degree is considerably lower and more affordable than that of a complete course undertaken abroad. The degree is awarded by the international university where the student completes the course which is recognised in India and abroad. 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 include Manipal University which has an international academic collaboration for twinning programmes in engineering with universities in the US, UK, Australia and other countries. Other institutions offering such joint programmes include SRM University, Chennai, which also offers a similarly structured programme for the BTech engineering programme with 70 universities in USA, UK and Australia; Ansal Institute of Technology, in Gurgaon, which also offers engineering programmes with US and Canadian universities; Christ University, Bangalore, which offers several twinning programmes in Business Administration, Commerce and hospitality management with US and UK universities; Symbiosis International University (SIU), Pune, which has partnered with Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, on joint research in the areas of biomedical sciences and computer engineering and several other institutions. There is no doubt that the next few years are going to see significant and exciting new developments in higher education in India. If we are to benefit from this window to change it may be better to open it completely without subjecting prospective universities to the complicated conditions and limitations that have been imposed. — The writer is Director, Careers Smart Pvt Ltd., New Delhi Virtusa wins international award Global business consulting and IT outsourcing company Virtusa Corporation has won a Silver Stevie Award for Human Resource Department of the Year at the 10th annual International Business Awards. This is the second consecutive year that Virtusa has won this award. This year, more than 3,300 nominations from organisations in more than 50 nations and territories were submitted. The International Business Awards are considered the world’s premier business awards programme. Virtusa was one of just two organisations honored with the award this year. The company was awarded for developing and implementing innovative, global HR practices aimed at recruiting and retaining team members and ensuring they reach their full potential both personally and professionally. Over the past year, Virtusa has been recognized all over the globe with numerous awards, including “Best Employer” awards in the U.S., Britain, India and Sri Lanka. Recently, Virtusa was named to Britain’s Top Employers list and The Boston Globe’s Globe 100, in addition to being recognized with a Pegasystems Partner Excellence Award for ‘Thought Leadership in Legal Services.’ Winds of change Will we see a Harvard, Stanford, or Oxford University in India? Hardly likely. But if the government’s recent move to allow foreign universities to open campuses in India was to blow in winds of change in the quality of higher education, in research, methodology, faculty training, providing opportunities for excellent education and research which can contribute to the economic well-being of the country, it will have served its purpose a hundred fold. The response According to the HRD ministry at least 20 foreign universities-mostly from US, such as Duke University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and VirginiaTech among others, as also those from Australia and Canada —have already expressed their desire to enter the market.
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Internship issues
Pervin Malhotra email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com
A.These days, it’s quite common for college students to take up part-time jobs alongside their study, regardless of whether they are pursuing a BBA or some other course. And it’s not always for the money. Many of these youngsters hail from well-to-do families. Though earning your own money at this age is fun for many of these students who take up summer jobs or work part-time. Some additional moolah is always welcome, especially when life in a big city is so expensive. Then there are others, who have their feet firmly planted on the ground, and eyes fixed on goals which are a little away from their grasp right now. I know several students who give tuitions at home. While most chose to make an additional income, or go for crash courses to prepare for competitive exams, some others enrol for short-courses like computers or personality development, fitness, foreign language etc. Making some money is undoubtedly important, but it's interacting with people that boosts your confidence and prepares you to make your way in the competitive, professional world. Besides making you confident and improving your over-all personality, your internship assignment will also teach you a very important lesson in time management -- a necessity when there's so much to do, and so little time! So if you get the opportunity of doing a real internship - grab it. Besides giving you that welcome dollop of extra pocket money, it will give you a tremendous insight into the world of work that will hold you in good stead regardless of whether you go for further study or work subsequently. Moreover, it will help you understand the practical application of the theory you are taught in college. Since we all work to earn money, you'll also have a better appreciation of the value of money. And don't underestimate the value of on-the-job experience. You will shed your inhibitions about interacting with strangers and gain confidence and corporate experience that will be useful in your future career. You may hesitate because working part-time seems 'too trendy' and not the conventional thing to do in India. But the choice is yours -- would you prefer to loll at home and while away your time on FaceBook, Twitter and TV Or would you rather spend it constructively learning new skills and making new friends? Think...
Is my joining family business a good idea?
A.It's not a good idea . Not to begin with at least. While there's nothing like doing your own thing, family businesses don't always allow us to do it. In a traditional family-run business, the processes are fairly well set and established, so you may not get the opportunity to learn on your own from the scratch. And if the business is not large enough, you may find yourself somewhat restricted. A smaller canvas may not give you the opportunity to realise your personal goals. The experience and recognition you'll earn through working for a large competitive establishment will be a great value-addition. It will also give you a wide overarching perspective when handling complex situations that your family business may not provide. The systems and discipline that you acquire in a large successful organisation will be a great learning experience in itself. If you keep your eyes wide open, you will pick up some valuable tips to raise the standards of your family business when you step aboard. Besides, working in a competitive job will serve as a good testing ground for all that you've learnt at B-school. So barring a dire emergency, it may be wise to defer joining your family business rightaway.
What are the career prospects in fashion communication?
A.Fashion Communication is a new but very exciting field that has opened up in the fashion industry. In today's extremely fast developing fashion scenario, many Indian brands are competing with international brands. This has opened up exciting opportunities for those who have a design aptitude combined with specialised knowledge of communicating through different media such as print, electronic, digital, web and audio-visual media. A good course in communication will arm you with an understanding of web and multimedia design, computer graphics, illustration, product design, exhibition design, visualising and art direction, typography, photography. Students passing out, will have high level skills and domain knowledge, and emerge as professionals who can offer effective communication solutions for the fashion and lifestyle industry. As a designer of fashion communication, you will work on areas such as visual merchandising, styling, graphic design, display and exhibit design, advertising, public relations, and creative writing, besides evolving design strategies, branding, portfolios etc. Courses in Fashion Communication are offered at: Pearl Academy of Fashion, www.pearlacademy.com, NIFT (www.niiftindia.com), Symbiosis Centre for Design, Pune (www.symbiosisdesign.ac.in), S.N.D.T Women's University, Mumbai (www.sndtcet.in)
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A date with cat
The tough turf Quantitative Ability
Quantitatie ability section is traditionally the toughest one in CAT each year and this year it was no different. Most of the questions were based on geometry and algebra. Data Interpretation area saw questions on Pie Chart and Case lets. Out of total 30 questions in this section, 21 were based on Quant and 9 on DI. According to Nitesh, “Data Interpretation questions were less difficult but time consuming due to their calculation-intensive nature. Since each candidate got a different question paper, it all boiled down to picking the questions that were less tricky. If you spend three minutes on a question and then chuck it out, you have wasted a lot of time”.
No surprises there Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning
Second section comprising 30 questions, had 20 questions on Verbal Ability, including three questions on critical reasoning completion of last sentence of paragraph and 10 questions on Logical Reasoning. The section was not very tough and therefore would have a higher cut-off percentile. The reading comprehension passages were all based on philosophy, literature and history called for inferential and attentive reading. There were a few common questions on these passages. Out of 10 questions two questions were ‘What is the Tone of the passage’; 3 questions were on ‘summarise the main idea of the passage’. Once you were able to detect the tone of the passage, it was smooth sailing. Other questions were based on meaning of the phrases and information available in the passages The surprise of CAT 2012 was repeated and one question to pick out the ‘Out of context sentence’ again found the place in parajumbles, though there was no fresh surprise. The two other questions were based on random jumbled sentences. The questions were not very difficult. Those who had practiced a little could attempt them well. The contextual vocabulary usage questions required us to fill in the blanks with the appropriate pair of words. Logical reasoning constituted sets, arrangements, arguments was not very difficult although a little time consuming.
A piece of advice
According to Nitesh, “Looking at the pattern, you should now devote more time to practice questions on geometry and algebra also. The relative difficulty level is supposed to remain the same. With this difficulty level, a higher percentile can be scored, if you are able to crack 13-15 questions in Quant and DI with 100 per cent accuracy level. The questions can follow any pattern from easy to complex and also complex to easy. So, maintain your calm and handpick the questions that are crackable”. For Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, the level of difficulty is expected to remain the same. All you need is practice. For Parajumbles, look for connecting words like ‘those’, ‘these’, ‘this’, ‘who’, ‘as’ . Besides, any sentence depicting a thought, different from the flow of action, should be construed as ‘out of context’sentence. Cracking contextual vocabulary would require common sense more than anything else.It is not required to cram your head on learning the words. Read and understand their usage. It will help to mark at least two of the vocabulary questions right. The trick is to opt for the sentence that should conclude the paragraph and should not take the thought to any further discussion. For Logical Reasoning, practice more on sets and arrangements”. Thus, focus and commitment are the two key mantras to score well in CAT this year.
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know your course: business accountancy
New courses and streams have become important avenues for students to enter into to ensure their career begins on the right path. One such opportunity is the introduction of Business Accounting (BA) as an entry-level qualification. To gain a competitive edge amongst their peer set, students now seek to supplement their basic qualification. A professional degree course not only gives one a competitive edge but also helps the student with the basics of finance right after graduation. The Certificate in Business Accounting is an entry level accounting qualification for students with little or no accounting background. It is a globally recognised qualification and is highly valued by employers across sectors within the country and abroad. While chartered accountancy courses provide students with the capability and understanding of accounting processes/procedures, business accounting is a balance of both accounting and business management skills. The entry-level qualification is the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting, which is a stepping stone towards a CIMA Professional Qualification. There are five subject examinations — Management Accounting, Financial Accounting, Business Mathematics, Business Economics and Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law, that can be taken in any order and in any combination of subjects. Getting in
Students who have completed Class XII can apply for the Certificate in Business Accounting, while commerce graduates/other relevant degree holders can directly apply for the Operational Level and possibly earn five exemptions. Exams for the first level of the qualification — the Certificate in Business Accounting — are computer based and can be taken at any of the 145 Pearson Vue centres in the country. Written exams for the other levels are held twice a year at 11 cities in the country. ICAI/ICWAI professionals, CAs or MBAs with specialisation in finance or a M.Com degree holders can fast-track through the CIMA qualification, with the help of the Gateway routes. The Gateway Assessment is a single examination. On passing this exam, eligible students, will receive exemptions to 11 of the 15 papers, an entry to the fourth level of the CIMA qualification and an Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting. Over the past three years, a number of Indian universities have also seen the benefits in encouraging their students to pursue this qualification along with their graduate degree. Some universities that work with CIMA are Manipal University, Christ University, GITAM University, Babu Banarasi Das University and Surech Gyan Vihar University who all offer integrated BBM / BBA degrees, along with the Certificate in Business Accounting. Such dual qualifications provide students with secure capabilities to attain good placements early on in their careers nationally, as well as globally.
Job scape
Business/management accountants can obtain positions such as Business/Financial Analyst, Group Treasurer, Financial Controller, Project Manager, Director of Operations, Corporate Finance, Business Planning, Pricing/Cost Analyst and Management Consultant. According to CIMA’s global salary survey of 2012, CIMA qualified members earn on average ~20.87 lakh in basic salary plus ~ 2.48 lakh in bonus payments, totalling ~ 23.35 lakh per annum. As India is the hub for finance and accounting outsourcing, and a large amount of financial transactions for global companies are processed in India, there is immense opportunity for business accounting students to build their careers on. — With inputs from Fiona Harvey, Regional Director, Performance and Emerging Markets, CIMA
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testing times: medical entrance With the government’s decision to scrap NEET, we are back to AIPMT. However, the students should not be bothered regarding their preparation, as the syllabus and pattern for AIPMT is a just a replica of NEET’13. So the candidates needn’t fret over the right preparation strategies. The similarities
The syllabus will also be the same. Another similarity with NEET is that there will be just a single paper, as opposed to two papers in the older AIPMT. There will be 180 objective-type questions from physics, chemistry, botany and zoology (45 questions from each subject). There is no official clarity regarding negative marking in AIPMT-2014.
The difference
The main difference between NEET and AIPMT-2014 is that AIPMT will be conducted only for the 15 per cent national quota in government medical/dental colleges all over India, except in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. State directorate of medical education and research (DMER) will be conducting its own test. NEET was the only gateway to all seats in medical colleges. Another difference is that in NEET the aspirants had to give only one paper for all colleges, but in case of AIPMT, they will have to go through multiple exams for multiple colleges. So, get set go on the right track and prove that changes, when taken with a positive and a determined attitude, always bring out good results. — With inputs from Aakash Chaudhry, Director, Aakash Educational Services Ltd
Preparation tips
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course chat: m.tech in building science and technology
The modules covered are Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, Green Technology, Carbon footprint and Measurement for all building types, Modern Materials, Construction and Characterisation, Life Cycle Assessment and Materials Selection, Building Rating Systems with case studies, Retrofitting of buildings, Renewable Energy, besides others. The pedagogy and the curriculum have been designed, keeping in view the professional demand for cutting edge technology solutions to address the sustainability challenges. Speaking on the launch of the new programme, Dr. N Sundararajan, Vice Chancellor, Jain University said, “Rapid urbanisation leading to environmental degradation on a massive scale is mainly attributed to the building and the construction industry. Sustainable building technology requires interdisciplinary expertise and today there is a dearth of professionals in the space, with specialised knowledge and skills. Hence we have joined hands with IGBC for the programme, to develop competent professionals with required techno-managerial skills in building science and technology, with more emphasis on Green Technology.” Graduates of this M.Tech programme will have good career opportunities and growth in the infrastructure, energy, real estate sectors, township development, etc., both within India and overseas. Eligibility criteria for admission to this programme include candidates who have passed BE / BTech degree or its equivalent in Civil/Mechanical Engineering with not less than 50 per cent marks in the aggregate. The SC/ST category of candidates will require at least 45 per cent. The other eligibility conditions are as per university regulations.
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Lead from the front
Here are the top ten traits that can make an effective leader: 1A good leader creates an atmosphere of expansive thinking. He empowers his team with time, resources and techniques, to solve big issues with big ideas instead of quick fix solutions. 2 A good leader builds in the right culture from the very beginning. This culture is built by design is not a default. It means they attract the right people to get on, get them the right seats. It's also important that they ensure that the wrong people never get on, and in the off chance that they do, they get off just as quickly. 3Delegate substantial projects, not just simple tasks. Most managers often give task based assignments to people without sharing or involving their team in the long-term strategic plan or business implications. Time and effort spent in teaching someone in your team to work their way through the project will pay off. Your team will appreciate the increasing trust and responsibility and will work harder to prove their value. Be accepting of different work styles or approaches. Your team might surprise you with insightful new ideas. 4Reward and advocate your team. If your team has delivered and completed some challenging assignments. Don't forget to reward them for a job well done. Recognising their efforts and rewarding them is very important. Advocate for them throughout the organisation. Applaud them in front of their peers and senior managers. 5An effective leader integrates learning and development into every job description so that personal growth is required and rewarded. They ensure that the company apportions time and money towards personal growth so that everyone shares reasonable expectations of commitment and success. 6A good leader builds teams that work together to succeed and fail together (of course he also ensures how to ensure people fail safely as well - that's good direction). This creates a tight bond of loyalty to the company and each other. Successes are met with equal high praise and rewards, while failures are met with encouraging acceptance and post-mortem learning discussions yielding next-step improvements 7A good leader admits he/she is human. He/she takes responsibility for their own errors. As a leader, you are also a teacher. Showing a sense of humility when an error happens. This also sends out a clear message to the team about honesty and owning up responsibility when things go wrong. 8A leader conducts himself/herself with high standards of morals and ethics. It's important to inspire future leaders by living and working with integrity. 9Leaders demonstrate passion. They have a feel for the business. The best leaders have a solid understanding of all the key aspects of the business they are in. They understand the products, the technology, market share, sales channels, and how to read an income statement. Those well-rounded managers make the best business leaders. 10Good leaders are awesome decision makers. More than anything, management is about decision-making. That's where the rubber meets the road. The most effective way to do that is to ask the right people the right questions, listen to what they tell you, then trust your gut and make the call. If you're right a lot more than you're wrong, you're in good shape. The thing about lists like these is they tend to be composites of all the best qualities we've seen in ourselves and others. That's certainly the case here so, if you've got five or six of these qualities, you're probably doing fine. It's a competitive world out there. If you want to make it, focus on what it takes to succeed — in the real world. — The writer is Director and Co-founder of Annecto? Rewards & Retail.
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Finding a mentor
Khushwant S. Gill
The one thing that was constantly drilled into our heads during the MBA course was the importance of networking and finding a mentor. “There’s not much difference in your skill levels,” the marketing professor would say, “but what’ll make a difference in the success level of your careers is your ability to navigate the corporate world.” And this world is best navigated if someone is showing you the way. So who is a mentor? Simply stated it’s someone who takes an interest in your success and guides you along the way as and when possible. In a work situation, it could be your supervisor, your boss, someone in a different company you can turn to for advice, or in this technological world, someone even junior to you who knows his way among the tech jungle. I consider my first boss as my mentor. For instance, if I couldn’t close a sale, I’d walk across to his office and shoot the breeze for a while. His advice on not only closing, but on the whole sales process, was invaluable. But he would go a step further. He’d sometimes pass along a few of his contacts over to me. “Look, there’s this guy coming in tomorrow at 3pm to look at that silver C 230. I've been working with him for a while now and he's going to buy that car. So, as I’m not here tomorrow, you’re up. I know you’ll close the deal.” And that’s another invaluable feature that a mentor brings to the table. He or she gives that added boost to confidence, which a greenhorn sorely needs. Advice, help, opening doors to people and areas which are currently beyond you, and infusing you with confidence - these prove invaluable later as your career progresses. But how do you find a mentor? Again, you have to make the effort. For every person's office I entered to “shoot the breeze”, very few had time for me. From a cold shoulder to a straightforward I’m busy, don’t bother me, the rejections were many. But then once in a while you’ll run into someone who genuinely enjoy helping others. And that’s your man. Of course, it helps greatly if you can reciprocate. I prided myself on being a storehouse of automobile knowledge and enjoyed sharing this with others. My mentor would ring me up frequently and enquire about the horsepower or torque of a certain engine, or the handling characteristics of a certain competitor’s car on hilly roads. Or some such thing. I was pally with the service department guys too, so if he needed a car serviced in a hurry, or wanted some extra favour or two thrown in, I’d get it taken care of for him. So, mentoring is a two-way street. You get help, and you help. An additional point here is that you have to be quite sure in what field exactly you want a mentor. If your long-term career is sales, then look for a hardened salesperson. If it is the corporate ladder that you want to climb, then get mentored by someone who is rising in that direction. But most of all, mentoring centers around friendship and mutual respect. If someone is not comfortable chatting with you and hanging out with you at times, then that relationship is not going to go too far. So make sure that you find someone you can connect to on many different levels. And this friendship will help you greatly in your career later. After all, you will have at your disposal a lifetime of experience and the networking skills of a seasoned veteran. — The writer is an Organisational Productivity& Personnel Development Consultant
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Job creation maintains a healthy trend
“Job creation during the second quarter of the current fiscal has grown 9 per cent or over 1.36 lakh jobs, over the previous quarter, and as many as 61 per cent of new jobs were created in the top five metros,” industry lobby Assocham said in a report. The Q1 of the fiscal saw over 1.25 lakh new jobs. The cities that created the maximum number of jobs were Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Kolkata and Mumbai. “Though with 23.6 per cent share, Delhi-NCR topped other metros in new job generation, this was still down over 5 per cent — from over 34,200 jobs in Q1 to over 32,300 jobs in Q2,” said the report. Mumbai generated 11 per cent more jobs (14,649), and Chennai 8,786 while Kolkata saw decline of 2 per cent with the reporting period adding just over 6,400 jobs as against 6,500 in Q1. With over 58,000 new jobs, IT, IT-enabled services and IT hardware sectors topped, at a share of 42 per cent or a growth rate of over 12 per cent. The second highest contribution has come from the banking, financial services and insurance with over 22,900 new jobs, a growth of over 32 per cent. Construction and engineering sector is at the third slot with over 7,200 new jobs. Telecom, aviation, pharma and bio-technology, FMCG, energy, hospitality, advertising and event management, sports, merchandising, other manufacturing, automobile, research and consultancy are other sectors which saw job growth. However, academics/education, realty, agriculture and allied activities, architecture, gems and jewellery, HR, infra, logistics, media, retail, textile and warehousing saw a dip in job generation. The survey tracked job vacancies posted by over 3,000 companies on job portals, newspaper ads of national and regional dailies and news journals in 56 cities and 32 sectors. — PTI
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Scholarship roundup
Eligibility: Details: The amount of the fellowship is ~25,000 per month in addition to regular salary from the host institute. If an awardee is receiving salary from international organisation, he will be entitled for research grant i.e. contingency only. Number of fellowships: Five Duration: Three years, extendable further by two years on a fresh appraisal. How to apply: Application (six copies) may be sent as per proforma downloadable from DBT website (www.dbtindia.nic.in) and forwarded by the competent authority to Dr. A. K. Rawat, Joint Director, Department of Biotechnology, Block-2, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi -110 003. Deadline: October 31, 2013. Check out: www.dbtindia.nic.in. Le Cordon Bleu – Australia, Scholarship for the Indian Sub-continent Le Cordon Bleu Australia, which is among the world’s most respected culinary arts and hospitality educator is providing a comprehensive range of scholarships 2013-2014 for the Indian subcontinent. These scholarships are designed to recruit the brightest and most talented students to support their professional development. Le Cordon Bleu is offering a scholarship of a A$10,000 fee waiver for the Diplôme Avancé de Gestion Culinaire (Advanced Diploma of Hospitality) and for bachelor’s degrees in hotel and restaurant management offered in Sydney or Adelaide. The diploma can be taken with a Cuisine or Pâtisserie focus and provides students with skills and experience in the kitchen as well as management. How to apply: Applicants will need to demonstrate a strong academic performance in a one page summary of their hospitality career or business goals.
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News board
Earlier 25 persons from Punjab were also awarded the ‘certificate of completion’ at Panchkula on completing their training at the academy. This online academy, was set up for those who have the ambition and the will to achieve, but require a little guidance to move forward in their respective career. The training programmes under the academy include basic and advanced English, interviewing skills, selling skills, soft skills, essential computer skills, basic finance and resume writing. Since its launch in April 2013 the academy programme has received over 13,000 registrations from across India with more than 3,000 persons already enroled in the various training programmes.
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Tricky terrain
Moreover, under the proposed rules, Foreign Educational Institutions (FEI) that want to set up a campus in India, must be among the top 400 universities of the world as per the ranking published by Times Higher Education, Quacquarelli Symonds or the Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Degrees awarded by FEIs would be treated as foreign degrees and will be subject to the equivalence accorded by the Association of Indian Universities. One of the hurdles can be the fact that according to Companies Act, the companies registered under Section 25 cannot distribute profit or dividends to members, which means that the foreign universities cannot repatriate money. The $11 million upfront investment by a foreign provider and the restrictions in making any profit on the Indian branch can be a strong deterrent. It is also not clear as to how the Indian authorities will evaluate a foreign institution before permission is given to set up a branch campus. Further, will foreign campuses be subject to India’s highly complicated and controversial reservation regime? If they are to admit large numbers of students from the low-income families who are unlikely to afford high foreign campus fees, then such campuses may be financially unstable. India would do well to encourage as many top-ranked universities as show interest in setting campuses here. They may not be interested in India as a source of revenue and not establish full-fledged campuses in India, but could be keen on establishing partnerships with universities in the form of student exchanges, faculty exchanges and collaborative research projects. They could also be encouraged to establish new and innovative programmes in diverse locations and fields of study. Most institutions and foreign players tend to go for the more popular professional courses such as Business Administration, finance and engineering, but incentives can be created for institutions interested in engaging in fields such as agriculture and social sciences, and in the setting up of institutions such as community colleges offering a variety of skill-based programmes in locations other than metropolitan cities. If special curriculum was to be evolved and research programmes developed keeping the Indian context in the picture, in addition to creating knowledge for its own sake, then this would add tremendous significance.
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Course cruising
It offers a spectrum of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in areas like European Legal Studies, International Legal Studies, International Business Law, Maritime Law, Finance & Law as well as Information Technology & Commerce. Eligibility: For undergraduate courses, entry requirements from the CBSE (12th) and ISC syllabus are set at 85 and 80 per cent, respectively. Students applying for the postgraduate courses must either be holding an LLB degree from a good law school in India with a minimum of 50 per cent or a recognised Law degree from other countries. English language requirements are at IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any component. The annual fee for the LLB & LLM programmes is £13,290 and £14,440 respectively. How to apply: Candidates can apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Please visit www.ucas.com for the same. Deadline: Deadline to apply for LLB and LLM programmes is January 15 and February 28, 2014, respectively. Check out: www.southampton.ac.uk/law Send admission related queries to:
global@southampton.ac.uk
Hospitality management
The course: The PGMP is considered amongst the best in Asia and is a benchmark for excellence. Associates are groomed through a structured curriculum of academic study which includes general management and hospitality. The programme also provides practical experience at Oberoi group hotels that have been rated amongst the best in the world. The programme is designed to facilitate the personal and professional growth of associates into consummate hoteliers. Successfully completing the programme forms the foundation for a distinguished career with The Oberoi Group. Details of the course: Information on the Management Training Programme is available at http://www.oberoigroup.com/careers The programme commences in July 2014. Eligibility: Candidates should:
Deadline: October 28. Check out: www.oberoigroup.com/careers
Visual Merchandising
JD Institute of Fashion Technology, has announced admissions for its Diploma in Visual Merchandising programme. This programme offers the students an in-depth understanding of how to sell their designs through window display. It also teaches the students the strategies and tactics to attract the customers. As a visual merchandiser, the student can be a visual arts specialist in fashion, jewellery, interiors, film, theatre or retail. The course: It is a three-month full-time programme that covers topics like introduction to the subject, outlining and developing a display strategy, strategic planning, classification of displays, details of pattern, sophistication in visual display, strategies of visual merchandising and its scope. Eligibility: Applicant should have passed Plus II from a recognised board in any discipline. How to apply: Application forms are available at the corporate centre of JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Hauz Khas Village. Application Forms can also be downloaded from the website www.jdinstitute.com Deadline: October 31, 2013. Check out: www.jdinstitute.com
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Happiness @ work
Indian revolutionaries wanted to stick a notice on the walls of the police station. As the area was heavily guarded, no one dared to volunteer. Finally, 15-year-old Chandra Shekhar Azad stepped forward. He smeared a thick layer of gum on the back of the notice and a little on the face. Then, sticking the face of the notice on his back, he went and leaned against a pillar at the police station — job done! To escape the British authorities’ eye, patriot Bagha Jatin Mukherji first became a stenographer to the Governor’s secretary. Later, he set up an import/export firm so that he could — without suspicion — import arms from Russia, Germany and Japan. After bombing the procession of Lord Hardinge, Viceroy of India, at Chandni Chowk, Delhi on December 23, 1912, Rash Behari Bose went underground and changed his name to Narendranath Sen. To get the support of Indian soldiers in the British India army for the uprising on February 21, 1915, he visited several cantonments disguised as an army officer. The Barisal incident on April 14, 1906, in which non-violent volunteer Chittaranjan Guha was thrown into a tank of water and beaten with lathis, had electrified the nation. Alarmed, Viceroy Lord Minto issued an ordinance restricting the right to hold meetings. So, singer Liakat Husain said, “Only meetings are banned. Not singing, festivals or plays.” Boys trained by him started singing patriotic songs. Similarly, Mukunda Das composed Jatras (folk theatre) with similar themes. Mughal Emperor Akbar found himself in a dilemma after hearing praise about the devotional songs of Mirabai. Even when he knew that the Rajputs and Mughals had a long history of enmity, he desired to hear Mirabai in person. So he and court musician Tansen — disguised in the saffron robes of sadhus — went to Chittor. Mira’s prayers left Akbar in a trance. He touched her feet and placed a necklace at the feet of Krishna’s idol. Ranu, a “low-caste” follower of saint Ekanath, invited him home for lunch one day. Hearing this, the Brahmins in Paithan decided to catch Ekanath red-handed while defying Brahminical customs. After seeing him eating at Ranu’s place, they decided to wait in front of Ekanath’s house and confront him. But a miracle happened. The Brahmins saw the seer giving a discourse there. How can Ekanath be at two places, they thought and dropped the idea of ostracising him — for the moment. At the end of it, Ekanath reasoned, “Lord Pandurang must have taken my form and given the discourse outside my house.” Losers tread on the beaten path, winners make their own. — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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The government’s decision to allow foreign universities to set up campuses and offer degrees without having a local partner is, thus, a timely move in the current context. The department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) and the department of economic affairs (DEA)’s executive order allowing overseas universities to operate as so-called Section 25 or non-profit companies under the newly passed Companies Act, recently has opened doors for prestigous universities to set up campuses in India.
The government’s decision to allow foreign universities to set up campuses and offer degrees without having a local partner is, thus, a timely move in the current context. The department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) and the department of economic affairs (DEA)’s executive order allowing overseas universities to operate as so-called Section 25 or non-profit companies under the newly passed Companies Act, recently has opened doors for prestigous universities to set up campuses in India. While the Foreign Education Providers’ Bill is still awaiting parliamentary approval, with powers vested in it through the UGC Act, the ministry will allow foreign universities to set up campuses in India and award foreign degrees.
This means that the world’s greatest and most influential universities can now bring a broad set of programmes to the Indian market. 
Moreover, as Indian universities currently lag behind their global colleagues in research capacity, many of the research universities in the US keen to conduct research with their Indian colleagues, can help build the capacity of Indian universities to conduct research programmes. 
Q.I am a student of BBA. Please tell me how important it is to do an internship which is considered to be a part of the course? Some of my friends say that it’s not mandatory and we can always submit a statement from a company or business saying that we have worked with them. Is this true? — rupinder chawla
Q.My father would like me to join the family business straight after my MBA. Is that a good idea? — kishore nagpal
Q.What is taught in a fashion communication course and what are the career prospects?
— Anisha rao
On October 16 the CAT was out of the bag. Like the annual budget, it attracted a mixed set of responses. For some it has been smooth sailing with a little bit of rough weather, while for others it has been a bolt from the blue. According to the candidates who have appeared for the first set of the test the Quant section was a little more difficult in the first session of CAT 2013 and DI was comparatively easy but confusing. There were more geometry based questions, so those with an expertise in this area did well. Nitesh Jain from Ludhiana who took the test for the second time this year said, “The Quant section has been the most difficult section in the past three years. However, if one was able to relatively shuffle through the questions and 15-20 questions from the section with accuracy, you would bag a good percentile”. However, some first timers had a different opinion. BCom graduate Amrita Sharma said, “The Quant section bowled me over. I am worried”. Here’s how this year's CAT pattern has been so far according to the candidates who have already taken the test:
Commerce — management and accounting — has always been a student’s basic entry point into the corporate world. With economic globalisation, business boundaries have melted and conglomerates have become ‘glocal’ across the world. They now seek educated management cadre who can positively address local as well as international business environmental factors. Students graduating from management schools are required to exhibit analytical skills, creative problem-solving skills, and assimilation with the latest business processes that are utilised in current corporate houses. Today companies are looking for people who don’t just process a transaction, but are able to analyse it and derive information from them. A management accountant has these skills.
Jain University, Bangalore, in collaboration with Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), recently launched a two-year MTech programme in Building Science and Technology (with specialisation in Green Technology). This four-semester programme with an intake of 18 seats will commence in 2014.
Being a boss is not an easy job as most people don’t naturally wish to have one, and not everyone aspires to be the one to lead a team or a group. But there is a distinct difference between being a boss and a being a leader. As a boss you also need to be a leader who inspires, motivates and instils trust and builds loyalty. Managers should strive to become good leaders and not just great bosses. By focusing on leadership people will learn from you, want to contribute to your success, the client’s success and their own.
Ever thought about the fact that your workstation, your desk, or your office social circle can become a sweet trap that can prevent you from moving up in your career? It’s true. The more time you spend alone at your workstation, or gossiping with your buddies, the less time you have to cultivate a mentor at work. And without a mentor you are shooting in the dark, and reinventing the wheel of your job and career.
Despite the economic slump, companies continued to hire as new jobs creation grew at a healthy 9 per cent in the second quarter of the fiscal with top five metros accounting for 61 per cent, says a survey.
Applications are invited for Tata Innovation Fellowship, a highly competitive scheme instituted by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India to recognise and reward scientists with outstanding track record in biological sciences and a deep commitment to find innovative solutions to major problems in health care, agriculture and other areas related to life sciences and biotechnology. The scheme is aimed at rewarding interdisciplinary work where major emphasis is on innovation and translational research with a potential towards commercialisation.
Academy awarded ‘certificate of completion’ at Ludhiana & Panchkula Hausla Buland Academy, which is an initiative to facilitate the journey of a common man to the next milestone has given ‘certificate of completion’ to 25 aspiring people from Punjab who have completed their courses at the academy in Ludhiana recently.
It is expected that the foreign providers will bring some investment to the higher education sector, particularly since the new law requires an investment of a minimum of $11 million — a kind of entry fee — but the total amount coming into India is unlikely to be very large.
The University of Southampton Law School is inviting applications for its undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses for September 2014 entry. The School, whose programmes are recognised by the Bar Council of India, is one of the leading law schools in the UK with a worldwide reputation for excellence in education and research.
The Oberoi Group has commenced the selection process for its two-year Post Graduate Management Programme at The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development.
In this world, there are no readymade answers. At best, someone who is good enough to connect the dots may find clues to solutions.
