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Winning skills
Career Hotline Will NCC certificate boost my career prospects? Which institutes offer BSc in optometry courses? Cool Counsel
career compass: hospital adminstrator
smart strategy
work station
cubicle trends
india skills report
study abroad: thailand
course cruising
scholarship roundup
Happiness
@ work
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Winning skills
Simply having good marks and completing a degree is not enough to get a job in today's rapidly changing economy. Many students, in fact, complete degree after degree, and then wonder why they are unable to get a good job. “Just graduating with good scores does not help. The schools do not teach students to use both sides of the brain, which is most important,” says Kishore Biyani, CEO of the Future Group. A study conducted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) which surveyed 102 small and major firms from the manufacturing, construction, IT, pharmaceuticals and FMCG sectors based in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore found that despite about four lakh MBA students graduating annually from 4,000-odd B-schools in the country, 82 per cent of the corporates surveyed reported job vacancies they were unable to fill as applicants lacked the skills required. These skills included communication and motivation skills, expertise and personality.
India's former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam also rightly stated that India does not have a problem of unemployment but of unemployability. Graduates lack skills beside the academic or technical skills. Organisations today require new graduates who understand the part they play in building their organisations, and have the practical skills to work effectively in their roles. This means engaging with the organisation and its goals, understanding the dynamics of the workplace, and taking up a job role with an informed knowledge of all of its requirements. It also means applying a broad range of employability skills that enable employees to get along with their fellow workers and to make sound, critical decisions. Often good candidates are rejected, despite excellent academic qualifications, either because they lack these skills, or simply because they cannot demonstrate the abilities required of them at work. It is, therefore, important not only to recognise these skills, but also to incorporate skill development into your academic experience. The better the skills and traits employers desire, the more marketable you will be.
Skills needed for success
Communication skills How to build communication skills: *
Write articles, features, or editorials for campus or local newspapers v Get involved or organise campus events. *
Join cultural clubs or student organisations, and be an active participant in the activities. Use of modern technology This is the ability to appropriately apply modern technology and effectively use major software, the web, mobile and other devices to accomplish job responsibilities. Employers expect new college graduates to be familiar with standard business computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, data management, presentation software and web research. Keep yourself abreast of hi-tech advances, as they will shape jobs and organisations. Ask questions. Every day push yourself a little further inside what's happening in the tech world. How comfortable you are with online tools like email, blogs, podcasts, web conferencing, in the virtual world, and viewed to be, in this particular aspect of office culture, is truly important Build new tech skills: *
Learn basic computer skills - MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Spreadsheet etc *
Take an online course. * Design a personal web page, or maintain web sites for student organisations, University offices or community organisations *
Design brochures or newsletters using desktop publishing software * Assist college clubs, NGOs or your department with databases, statistical analyses and reports *
Get a summer job or internship working on computer networks or doing programming *
Use spreadsheet balance accounts to keep financial records. * Design PowerPoint presentations for class or an organization Attitudinal skills Develop leadership skills *
Be elected to a student government office and serve on your college student council Participate in campus leadership training programmes, conferences, and events *
Organise and manage any college events — sports, cultural shows, debates and so on. Interpersonal and teamwork skills Employers look for individuals who are skilled at building rapport among group members and are able to resolve conflict in ways that provide opportunities for positive growth. "People skills" - the ability to deal effectively with people and to "get along" is not a talent as much as a skill. Interpersonal skills is, therefore, all about understanding people and yourself well enough to be able to make a favourable impression and communicate effectively. In today's global world, inter-personal skills also means being aware of and respecting cultural differences, learning about and appreciating different cultures, maintaining an openness to new ideas and working cooperatively with others. While many want to be leaders, it is often difficult to be accountable as a member of a team. This requires the ability to get on with others, and work with them even when it involves ideas generated by others. You must also be able to organise and enact changes required to enhance group effectiveness and promote development. * Participate in any social or cultural programme in the college *
Work for a society, club, or group to organize programmes, events conferences, job/career fairs etc. *
Be part of a group volunteer project * Participate in debate team or speech team (this will also improve your communication skills) *
Volunteer to work in an NGO or for some fundraising programme * Join an editorial team — conduct interviews with different kinds of people *
Take up teaching or tutoring work for school children. Language skills To cope in the global marketplace, equip yourself with international skills. As the world becomes a global village and interaction within and amongst countries increases, the need for understanding people who speak different languages is growing. If you know more than one language and are sensitive to cultural differences you can effectively interact with diverse people, and handle a range of international assignments. Language skills on their own are of very little value. What matters is the framework of technical, professional or practical skills within which a person can apply a language. There are very few careers for which languages are the primary skill required, but for a growing number of careers, the knowledge of additional languages is a useful, and sometimes essential, secondary skill. With so many multi-national organisations working in India, bilingual employees have a definite advantage. And while for many decades the focus of international business and trade was on the western world, languages such as French and German became increasingly used. However, of late, it is South East Asia that is becoming increasingly important; Chinese, Japanese and Korean companies are investing in India in larger numbers and therefore there is a growing need for communication in these languages too. Build language skills: *
Learn a foreign language * Join international student organisations, and participate in their activities. Success is not what you have, but who you can become! — The writer is Director, Careers Smart Pvt Ltd., New Delhi
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Career Hotline Will NCC certificate boost my career prospects? Q.I am doing BSc (final). I have NCC ‘C’ certificate (Army Wing). Please tell me where I can I use it. Also will it also help me in the govt and private sectors? — Ankush Kumar
The training has been modified to keep pace with emerging needs. For instance Naval trainee cadets are sent on cruise missions on naval ships. Select girl cadets are sent to the Officers Training Academy (OTA), while some others are sent on exchange programmes abroad. A number of vacancies in the IMA and OTA are reserved for NCC 'C' certificate holders. Similarly a percentage of all vacancies in the Air force are reserved for NCC cadets. For IMA you must apply through the UPSC i.e. the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) and for OTA through the NCC Special Entry Scheme for which notifications are published in Jun/Jul and Nov/Dec every year. The latter is a non-UPSC entry. And now even private industries are dipping into this talent pool for recruiting members for their security services. A case in point being the Reliance Group Security Service that provides security cover for Reliance Industries Ltd. NCC graduate `C’ Certificate holders aged 20-26 years, Height min 170 cm (164 cm for women) can apply for RIL’s Probationary Security Executives programme. To qualify you must be physically fit, well built, highly motivated with a background in sports and ECA activities to undergo rigorous one-year commando like training. Selection is based on a written test followed by GD, Interview, fitness & psychometric tests etc. Good communication and computer skills would be an added advantage. Successful candidates are offered a 10-year contract during which they will also be trained in Administrative Services, Hospitality, Law, Logistics, HR, IR etc. Those interested in security per se can specialise in Security Engineering, Design, Vigilance, Detection, e-Detection, e-Security, Fire & Safety, Fire Engineering, Fraud Control etc. Probationary Security Execs are paid an all-inclusive stipend of ~31,000 per month and upon confirmation, a Gross Salary (CTC) of ~4.50 lakh per annum.
Which institutes offer BSc in optometry courses?
Q. I am working as an ophthalmic officer in the Punjab Health Department. I have passed my diploma in ophthalmic assistant from a medical college in Patiala. Now I want to go for a bachelor’s degree in optometry (BSc Optometry) via correspondence in order to enhance my qualification. Kindly suggest some universities/institutes that offer such courses. —
Aseem Sahil
Eligibility: Plus II or equivalent. I have also come across a number of other institutes, particularly in the South that offer this programme such as Vinayaka Mission University, Directorate of Distance Education, Salem, T N (http://mudde.ac.in), Tejasri Institute of Distance Education, Khammam-507 001 AP (http://tejasriinstituteofdistanceeducation.hpage.com), Sadhana Group of Colleges, Hyderabad (http://sgoc.org) B.Sc Optometry (Dist) That offer B.Sc Optometry (Dist) programmes. However, I suggest you check their accreditation / recognition before signing up. Also, check the acceptability of the course from your own Health Department. Rationale behind MBA from a foreign university Q.I did my BPharm in 2007 followed by a year of work experience in sales and marketing with a pharmaceutical company in India. Then I went to Canada for PG Certificate Course in Project Management (one-year). I returned from Canada in 2010 and worked as a retail pharmacist for two years. At present I am working with a private immigration company as a Senior Executive. Overall, I have over three years of work experience. Now I am planning to do MBA from an Australian university. Since the fees structure in Australian universities is quite high, kindly advise if it is worth of spending ~35 to ~40 lakh on MBA? Will I able to cover up the cost? — ajay gupta A. Since this is a question I’ve been asked rather frequently, let me give you a reasoned and detailed answer. First of all, let’s get the fundas right. What exactly do you want out of a ‘foreign’ MBA? With thousands of MBA programmes available globally and loads of them in India, you first need to be very clear about what you expect out of studying abroad. While rankings are a good place to begin your search, they’re definitely not the best place to conclude it. Do you want to work abroad or come back to India armed with a “phoren” degree? Are you looking at a fast-track one-year Executive Programme or a regular two-year MBA programme? Also, if getting into a good B-school in India is tough, making it to the top B-school in Australia or elsewhere is no cakewalk either — considering the procedural hassles, time and costs involved. So do give it serious thought. Spaced over 11-18 months with no breaks between semesters, the one-year programme is typically developed around one specific functional niche. It’s ideal for someone who’s been working for a while and is looking at continuing in his functional area i.e. finance (in which case an MS in Finance or Financial Engineering may do just fine). What functional area do YOU wish to specialise in? No doubt a good foreign MBA from a top-ranked B-school will broaden your horizon and give you a global perspective. It will also give you an opportunity to develop contacts with people all over the world and make you employable anywhere in the world. However, since the MBA can cost you an arm and a leg (~35-45 lakh), do also consider the RoI (Return on Investment). Don’t expect industry to go ga ga over your degree and offer you a fancy job at a fancy salary just because you have foreign degree. The reality may be quite to the contrary. If you have done your foreign MBA or MS from a B-school that isn’t so well known back home, you may well have to do the rounds of placement agencies before you find a job. After all, there’s no dearth of MBAs here. And don’t forget, Indian MBAs have the advantage of campus placement! If you’re not convinced of what you’re getting into, do request an informational interview with the Head of Department either on telephone or skype to clear all your doubts before you commit yourself. And be prepared to field off-the-wall questions without fumbling or waffling. If you’re already working, you could also consider some of the online MBA programmes offered by prestigious Indian B-schools (IIMs, XLRI, SP Jain, NMIMS) or foreign universities, which can be pursued without moving out of your city. Do also look at some of the twinning programmes offered by prestigious Indian B-schools in collaboration with their counterparts abroad. Some of the programmes also incorporate a stint at the partner institution, abroad.
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Cool Counsel Q.How do I handle conflict with my peers? I feel I am too soft and end up losing all negotiations for any common office resources like temporary staff, shared printer usage, etc. — Subodh Sahay A.Before you start the negotiation by taking a stance or position and then sticking with it, please remember that the “adversary” is a colleague. He/she is part of the same organisation, so must be having the same vision, strategic direction and indeed goals for the year as you. My suggestion is to wear the company hat, and not your own ‘departmental hat’ for any such decision making process and your decisions will come out better — even if they are detrimental in the short term for your own department. Step into the shoes of the other individual and ask yourself the question why this shared resource is important to him/her. Have an adult-to-adult conversation with the individual, brainstorming all possible options. In fact, grow the number of options on the table. For example, if the printer usage is the shared resource, is it possible to avoid printing altogether for anyone’s task and use email instead? Is it ok to review flexitime, so that such resources can be used for longer periods every day? If you put your collective heads together, there may be many more solutions that you may generate. There may be no need to “fight over a single slice of pie”. Like I said, increasing the options on the table is like “adding another slice of pie” in the negotiation. Both parties can go back happy!!!
Deal diplomatically
Q.Our team is facing a challenge , and I do not agree with the solution proposed by my boss. I want to present an alternative solution instead. However, I am worried that the boss’ ego will come in the way and I will spoil my relationship with him. How do I handle this situation diplomatically? —
Praveen Kumar
A.As a leader I have always coached my team to stand up for their beliefs. A “Yes Man” is very dangerous to the team. While many friends may tell you to “keep your opinion to yourself” or “Be more diplomatic”, nobody tells you what “being more diplomatic” means exactly. I believe as a leader or a budding leader, you should express yourself and challenge the thinking of others in the team. That is the only way that will make the team grow in its thinking and achieve bigger and better results. The trick, however, is to understand “how” to do this without hurting the ego of others. If you tell your boss that he/she is wrong, even pointing a minatory finger at him/her, what do you think will be the reaction you get? Has to be Negative. On the other hand, if you separate the issue from the individual and tell your boss that while his/her idea is wonderful, there may be a different way to address the challenge. Ask for permission to discuss the alternative option and then be crystal clear what the benefits of this approach are. Don’t be overly possessive about your idea — it may or may not be finally accepted for implementation (basis how you use your influencing skills), but you should definitely voice your opinion. Rajnish Virmani is a management guru with 30 years of experience in senior positions in multinationals like TCS, American Express, Aviva, Reliance and Colt Technologies. Readers can send their workplace-related queries at careers@tribunemail.com
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career compass: hospital adminstrator Gauri Chhabra The Obama Care initiative marks a watershed for the healthcare and hospital industry in the US. It also has a ripple effect on medicare and wellness industry in India. The most seismic shift, however, is the move away from the fee-for-service model. Medical establishments such as hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers are not only being looked upon as hallmarks of hope but also as the providers of efficient service. With more and more people resorting to medi claim, the expectations from the hospitals have increased manifold. This increases the demand for Hospital Administrators. The work
The duties and responsibilities of a hospital adminstrator include the following: * Coordinating business functions * Dealing with doctors' requirements *
Looking after patient's well being and medical care * Managing patient records *
Managing hospital's public relation activities such as marketing, community health projects and fund-raising activities. *
Strategising policies and procedures and ensure that the rules are adhered to by the hospital staff. *
Come up with short as well as long-term programmes for the growth and development of the hospital's research departments. n* Overseeing daily hospital functions by managing financial operations and budgets. Course cursor The main professional courses available in this field are Bachelor's in Hospital Management/ Administration, Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital Management/Administration, Master's of Hospital Administration, MBA in Hospital Administration and MD/MPhil in Hospital Administration. There can be certificate courses, diploma courses as well. Getting in Bachelor’s in Hospital Management/Administration (BHA) is a three-year course the eligibility for which is Plus II with biology with a minimum of 50 per cent marks and the selection is through general entrance test, followed by a group discussion and/or personal interview. You can do post-graduate/diploma courses and an MBA in Hospital Administration after graduation in any subject. But the eligibility criteria for PG courses may vary according to the course and the institute concerned. Career pathways You can find employment in large hospitals, clinics, international and national healthcare organisations and health insurance companies, college and universities nursing homes, mental health organisations, public health departments, rehabilitation centers, pharmaceuticals and hospital supply firms, medical software companies and hospital consulting firms. The MHA (Hospital) programme prepares one for leadership roles in planning, operational and project management of hospitals and in managing financial, material and human resources as well as planning and managing information systems. You may be an assistant hospital administrator or manage front office, public relations, finance, quality control etc. Experience in this field can also fetch you a C-level job. You can work as hospital superintendents, dean or director of medical colleges, medical directors, nursing directors and so on. If you are a medical graduate, you can dovetail your discipline into technical aspects of hospital administration, whereas the other streams will make you fit into the operational, financial and human resources aspect of management. Remuneration The salary of an administrator working for a medium grade hospital is around Rs 30,000 per month. The annual remuneration of an administrator in a super specialty 1000-bed hospital can easily go into lakhs. The road ahead One sector that is recession proof and always on the rise is health and wellness. The Obama care initiative in the US would have a ripple effect in India and bring about a meteoric rise in the demand for quality hospital administrators and managers. Besides, the government is making concerted efforts in providing health care in both rural and urban areas of the country. So, gear up for being a part of this meteoric rise in money and medicine. — The writer is a Ludhiana-based
career consultant
Institute watch
* All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi *
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai * Armed forces medical College, Pune *
The Apollo Hospitals. * Symbiosis Centre of Health Care (SCHC), Pune * Tamil Nadu Open University offering a two-year distance learning MBA course in Hospital Administration. *
The Indian Society of Health Administrators (ISHA) offering a one-year distance learning programme in hospital administration and nursing administration. For institutes like the All India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Armed Forces Medical College, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Symbiosis Centre of Health Care (SCHC) etc, the minimum qualification for PG courses is an MBBS. First person “I enjoy my role as a Hospital Manager as it keeps me connected with my core discipline that is MBBS, and also lets me use my management skills. Managing a hospital is very challenging as you are dealing with human lives and every nano second is important. It is a 24x7 job. There is always the need to take swift decisions. At times I have to take the responsibility of doing something even while subverting the normal process. However, my utmost satisfaction is when I see patients getting cured and their families smiling as they walk out of the corridors. Doctors save lives, but we are the ones who actually are the closest to the patients”. Amit Kaushal, Hospital administrator, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
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smart strategy
An employee's reputation at workplace is one's life and career. This most important aspect of one's career is like trust. One builds it over years. But it can be ruined within seconds.
Studies show that it is often the close colleagues who spoil one's reputation. The lies and scuttlebutts of the envious colleagues often spread a false rumour about one's reputation. So always remember to keep a very professional relation with colleagues and keep the personal details out of it. This way you can have your cake and eat it too, as you have cordial relations at workplace without the fear of someone knowing too much to attack your reputation. But in case you are confronted with such an attack then adopt the following strategy to come out of the crisis situation: Avoid reacting Learn to respond rather than react. Chances are that some colleagues hurl at you the fact about the rumour being spread about your reputation. It is always in your own interest if you don't get flared up, offended or upset. It would be better if you try to respond, rather than react. If you react impulsively, then you may have to regret at a later stage. But if you respond, your response can be polite and planned. Your controlled response can do wonders for your reputation. Be proactive When you reputation is hit, don't take things lying down. If you suddenly go silent people will raise fingers at you. So be proactive. Build a network of colleague friends who will speak for you even when you are not there. A timely word coming from a right person can at once silence and snub all false criticism that is being made about you. Take responsibility True, no one is immune to reputation attacks. Each one of us can make mistakes at one time or the other. But once we learn how to take responsibility for the mistakes, we can learn to improve upon our flaws. When you own up your mistake, you always learn to improve. And once you improve upon your flaws, your lost reputation will be restored. Be patient It takes a lot of effort and time to earn a good name once your reputation has suffered a blow. But as the victimised employee you must be patient. Lost reputation can be rebuilt only with patience, determination, and perseverance. Clear air with the boss The boss may personally know your value and worth, but when a rumour reaches his ears all that seems lost. The facts and factors get changed the moment the shocking rumour reaches the boss. But the solution lies in how to tell your boss that all that stuff was concocted and false. In such circumstances, it is always better to stay calm and cool. Though the loss of reputation is acutely painful, and it is difficult to keep cool, yet the more you keep control on your reactions the better it is. In case your boss calls you in his/her office, don't try to clarify the things unless and until he/she asks you to do so. Just pretend that you don't know anything about what he has heard about you lately. Such a confident attitude on your part will go in your favour. Cultivate trust Loyalty and trust are the two basic tools of a good reputation. When you stay loyal, sincere and trustworthy, the word will soon spread that the concocted stories were nothing but baseless rumours. But you can do so only when you learn to stay calm and cool. A good rule of the thumb is to avoid the topics which might make your jealous colleagues uncomfortable. Though you must try to avoid gossip, you must stay cooperative, kind and congenial. In case you feel the impulse to show your anger, remember that you should avoid creating a scene which could further tarnish your image which is already at stake. The writer is Kangra based psychologist & motivational career expert
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work station
Workstations across the country have been buzzing with discussions over the past fortnight about the sexual harassment case involving a high profile Editor of a news magazine. Keeping the political undertones and patriarchal and feminist platitudes aside, the fact remains that workplace has it’s own peculiar dynamics with a myriad of personalities and issues in constant interaction with each other. Throw gender into the mix and you can have a potentially explosive situation.
What has generally been overlooked here is the responsibility of the managements to ensure a safe working environment for employees. The employers can not, and should not, refuse to take responsibility for such incidents. But, look around and see how many of the employers actually have a system in place that would serve as a deterrent for such “predators”. How does one deal with a situation in which you find that your colleague is “merrily two down” after the dinner break in the night shift and the pagination person is “heavily sozzled”, asks a journalist friend of mine who has encountered this situation umpteen times in her career. Even though nothing untoward happens, it is like walking on thin ice. It is not that the authorities didn’t know about all this, but everyone chose to turn a blind eye to this and it was passed as a routine thing in night shifts. And that is the saddest part. Most of the times there is hardly any choice. The idea of complaining directly to the person involved, or to the management, may be a daunting one for a fresher as it can make one appear like the proverbial ‘stick in the mud’. The work profiles and organisations may change but the basic dilemma remains the same be it an IT company or a hospitality group. The question to ask here is, does the blame lie only with the individual offenders? Will socially ostrasizing one individual be enough? Doesn’t the organisation have a responsibility to maintain a conducive and safe atmosphere for all its employees? As we answer in the affirmative, it’s time for organisations to take sensitisation more seriously and put into place systems that prevent insensitivity and sexual harassment. Weekly, or monthly, orientation sessions should be a routine to sensitize employees about their roles and responsibilities. And there has to be a section in every HR department that deals exclusively with such issues, with a single person where the buck stops. To be fair to all concerned, harassment is certainly not a one-way street. With more women taking their rightful place in positions of power, harassment, or insensitivity, works both ways. Your gender doesn’t matter — it’s your dealings with the opposite gender that are of consequence. The message should be loud and clear from the managements that taking things for granted, and abusing the power that you’ve been given is a complete no-no. Coming back to the cautionary tale above. How could it have been better handled by the management? For one thing, nonsense has to be brought to the notice of the rightful authorities before it gets out of hand. Fear and favour of the crowd should really be of no consequence. For another, would be Casanovas, or in the case of today’s equal opportunity world, femme fatales, need to be counselled. We are in the 21st Century after all and that needs to be brought home to everyone that getting away with such behaviour will be impossible and that late nights, Bagpiper whisky and a professional atmosphere usually don’t mix. Everybody’s liable to get a real bad hangover. — The writer is an Organisational Productivity and Personnel Development Consultant
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cubicle trends
With the growing usage of smartphones, tablets and laptops in the country, about 86 per cent of Indian employees prefer to enhance their corporate skills through mobile devices, according to a recent report.
“About 86 per cent of learners surveyed in India prefer to access learning on their mobile devices,” according to a survey 'Learning and Development Trends in Asia Pacific' by cloud-based learning solutions provider Skillsoft. However, only 46 per cent of organisations surveyed in the country provide their employees with this option, it said. The survey further said the other 54 per cent of respondents from organisations, which have deferred the implementation of mobile learning, cited network integrity and security as the prime barriers to adoption. “There is a noticeable shift across organisations in India towards the adoption of e-learning. The survey indicates that organisations are rapidly integrating learning programmes customised to individual development needs and also delivering it across platforms that include mobile devices and tablets,” Skillsoft Country Manager, India, Vinay Pradhan said according to a PTI report. About 93 per cent of learners surveyed reported that learning directly impacted their work performance when customised to their individual needs, he said. The Skillsoft survey includes data from more than 300 businesses and organisations across 20 industry sectors in Asia Pacific, with IT or technical services and education or training services representing 42 per cent of the sample. It revealed that 67 per cent respondents in India saw growth in their organisational budget on learning over the last two years, whereas in the rest of the Asia Pacific region saw tightening of budgets on the same. About 75 per cent of companies in India spend around USD 800 per learner on learning and development, it said. It also found that 74 per cent of respondents reported that skills gained from learning programmes had a direct positive impact on their work performance, while 81 felt they were able to effectively apply the skills gained from these. "The report has shown that both decision makers and learners are keen for more learning opportunities, and the e-learning market is set to grow," Skillsoft Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Glenn Nott said. Blended learning that combines both classroom learning and e-learning is also on the rise. This has been identified as one of the top trends to emerge in the knowledge delivery industry with 92 per cent of surveyed organisations offering this, the survey said.
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india skills report
The recent job freeze across industry sectors is not the only reason for unemployment of the skill pool of India as two out of three job seekers fail to meet employers’ requirements and are not considered fit for jobs. This is one of the major findings of the first India Skills Report, released last week. A joint Initiative by PeopleStrong, India’s leading platform based multi-process HR Outsourcing, Technology and Recruitment Company, and Wheebox, a Global Talent Assessment Company, in Collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry; the report not only captured the skill levels of talent pool but also brought out the hiring estimates across major Industry sectors in the country.
The report also brings out a general trend amongst the employers to look for skills rather than qualifications in candidates. As per the report’s findings, the coming year would not see bullish hiring in any of the sectors. Out of about 10 sectors surveyed, a majority of the sectors (like BFSI, BPO/ITES, and Manufacturing etc), are not expecting a major change in their hiring numbers. Engineering and Core, Hospitality and travel, came out as the only sectors where there will be a significant increase in the hiring numbers. Apart from this, the report has in-depth analysis of the skill pool based on the gender, age-group, and domain along with the states where the most employable pool can be found. It also shows the domain wise hiring trends for the coming year. One of the notable highlights of the report has been the challenge of corporate for maintaining gender diversity. The study states that the number of women employees across industries is very low. Based on the gender, it was found that the quality of female candidates is better than the males. Reaching out to over 1,00,000 students spread across the length and breadth of country parallel to almost 100 employers spread across 10 Industry sectors, the India Skills Report has helped to create an agenda that can function to solve the talent supply-demand challenge the country is facing. — TNS
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Blend of learning and leisure
Natasha Chopra
The country’s tourism industry is now also accompanied by a growing interest in education, too. While Thailand is not an education hub like Singapore, four of its universities are listed in the Top 100 Asian universities as per the QS rankings. These being Chulalongkorn University, Chiang Mai University, Mahidol and Kasetsart. Thailand’s public and private institutions also offer a large number of international programmes varying across multiple disciplines, starting from certificate programmes to masters’ programmes to PhDs to cater to the needs of students. Foreign universities Many programmes are being offered by foreign universities in collaboration with Thai institutions. Given below are a few examples: Webster University set up its campus in Thailand in 1999 and is the only American university in Thailand and has students from 57 countries around the world. Its courses are accredited both in USA and Thailand. The Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration was set up as long ago as 1982 by Kellogg Business School at Chulalongkorn University, the leading university in Thailand. As in the new international executive MBA joint programmes, the curriculum design and format of the Sasin venture is akin to The Kellogg School’s Executive MBA Programme. Master’s programmes from MSc to PhD in engineering are offered by Sirindhorn International Thai German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS) — a joint institution established by RWTH Aachen University in Germany, one of Europe’s top ranking universities and King Mongkut University of Technology. Preferred courses Both undergraduate double degree programmes in Tropical Agriculture and International Trade are co-offered by Kasetsart University and Victoria University of Technology — New Zealand. Another very prominent programme is Aerospace Engineering and Business Administration co-offered by Kasetsart University and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia. Thailand has also become the hub for hospitality courses. There is an increasing demand for hospitality and culinary programmes. A well-recognised and prominent school offering these courses is Le Cordon Bleu, the leading French school in Culinary and Hospitality education, as well as Stamford International University and Mahidol University. Gains for international students There has been a huge change both in the number of education institutions and courses in the past few years to cater for demand both for domestic and international students. In 2008, both Thai public and private higher education institutions offered a total of 884 international programmes with English as the medium of instruction at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Both Foreign and Thai students can take courses for credits from those programmes. In 2011, there were 20,309 foreign students in 103 Thai higher education institutions and 3,136 foreign students enrolled in the Business Administration programme, an increase of 34.18 per cent compared to the previous year. In the same year, Assumption University had the highest number of foreign students (4,179), followed by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (1,276), and Mahidol University (1,233), respectively. These facts reveal the increasing prominence of Thailand as a study destination. Fee and scholarships A majority of foreign students are generally self-funded but there are a few scholarships on offer from Thai and international organizations, respectively. The cost of eEducation varies from ~2.5 to ~5 lakh with the MBA and master's programme fees at the higher lend of the scale. The programme cost depends on the institutions and those that are taught in English are at a higher price than those taught in Chinese. Private foreign universities will have higher fees. Living expenses again will vary depending on your lifestyle but an approximate budget of ~4 lakh per annum is a good indication. Most of the universities provide various accommodation options, campus, privately owned studios or single/double bedroom. On-campus accommodation allows students to live within the university vicinity, giving them opportunities to interact with one another and participate in various on-campus social activities Students get an opportunity to study and at the same time experience the best that Thailand has to offer, including nature and related activities like scuba diving, snorkeling. Thus Thailand offers students a wonderful blend of learning and leisure and close proximity to home too. The writer is Managing Director of The Chopras, an education consultancy firm.
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Certificate course on Positive Psychology
Applications have been invited for admission to a one month full time certificate course on Positive Psychology Perspective: Research, Education & Communication for Health (P3 REACH) being conducted by the Department of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS at Bangalore. Eligibility: MA/MSc degree in Psychology obtained through a regular full time course from a recognised university Selection criteria: Selection will be based on merit. The aggregate marks obtained during MA/MSc course will be considered for preparing the merit list. In case of ties, aggregate marks at undergraduate level will be considered. In case of further ties, seniority by age will be considered. How to apply: Interested candidates can send their application on a plain paper along with the following documents: * Bio data with a recent passport size photograph and full postal address with email id * Attested copies of undergraduate and postgraduate level degree certificates along with marks sheets. * Class X certificate for proof of age. * Research and work experience related documents, if any. Hard copies of the application along with supporting documents should be sent to the following address: The Professor and Head, Dept, of Clinical Psychology, M.V. Govindaswamy Center (3rd Floor), NIMHANS, Bangalore-560029 Deadline: June 25, 2014 Check out: http://www.nimhans.kar.nic.in/aca_admission Online Certificate courses in Law The Indian Law Institute, New Delhi has invited applications for admission to the online certificate courses: * Intellectual Property Right and Information Technology in the Internet Age * Cyber Laws Duration: Three months Eligibility: Anyone who is pursuing / has pursued diploma or degree after Plus II and has access to computer and Internet can apply for the above courses. How to apply: Applications can be downloaded from the website link: http://www.ilidelhi.org/addonline.htm A hard copy of the Application Form, duly filled in, along with proof of payment of Rs 5000 have to be sent to the Registrar, Indian Law Institute, Bhagwandass Road, New Delhi-110001. Payment can be made through Credit/Debit Card or through Demand Draft. For online payment click on http://www.ili.ac.in/payment.html DDs are to be drawn in favour of ‘Indian Law Institute’ payable at New Delhi Deadline: December 24, 2013. Check out: http://www.ilidelhi.org/addonline.htm Management courses Whistling Woods International, Mumbai is inviting applications for its January intake for 2 year PGP + MBA in Media and Entertainment Eligibility: Graduation How to apply: The admission form can be downloaded from www.whistlingwoods.net.The admission form should support past academic credentials and creative submissions. Creative submissions differ from courses to courses and a student needs to check the particular course for details. All applications are assessed and the selected applicants are called for personal interviews. Selections of candidates are made on the basis of their academic records and their interview performance. Check out: MA in Global Political Communication The Department of Social Sciences at UK’s Loughborough University has launched an MA in Global Political Communication and is inviting applications to this programme. The Department of Social Sciences is a centre of excellence in teaching and research and has been ranked 7th in the UK by The Guardian for Media Studies and its Sociology and Social Policy and 8th for its Sociology and Social Policy by the Times Good University Guide. The course: The degree is designed to develop specialist understanding of contemporary developments in political communication in a global context. It will be relevant to those interested in politics, international relations and political communication. Students will also acquire research skills which will be of value in both media-related and academic careers. The course would provide students training in research methods. Eligibility: Candidates wishing to apply for the course should have a good upper second class honours degree (a minimum of 60%) in the social sciences or humanities, but applicants with appropriate professional expertise will also be considered. Duration: One year. How to apply: Online. Visit http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/howtoapply/ Timelines: The course begins in October, 2014 Deadline: March, 2014. Check out: http://www.lboro.ac.uk
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Scholarships in Ireland
UCD International Scholarships V.V. Giri Scholarships (Graduate) * 4 x 100% V.V. Giri Scholarships. These are awarded on application to the top Indian students applying for postgraduate courses* Graduate (Taught Masters) Scholarships * 5 x 50% Global Graduate Scholarships. These are merit based tuition scholarships for Indian students applying for postgraduate courses* * 50 merit based tuition scholarships worth €2,000 each specifically for Indian students applying for postgraduate courses* (applied to applicants who accept offers in first come, first served basis) * U21 Delhi University Scholarships. UCD offering tuition scholarships worth €2,000 each specifically for Indian students graduated from Delhi University, UCD’s Universitas 21 partner, applying for postgraduate courses* (guaranteed) Undergraduate Scholarships * 1 50% Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship. This is a merit based tuition scholarship * 5 merit based tuition scholarships worth €5,000 each for undergraduate students * 10 merit based tuition scholarships worth €2,000 each for undergraduate students Deadline for applications is April 30, 2014. The Government of Ireland Scholarships for India Government of Ireland scholarships were awarded in the 2013-2014 academic year to Indian students, who have successfully gained a place on a 1 year Taught Masters Programme. Each scholarship entitled the successful student to a full tuition fee waiver at UCD, as well as a stipend of €10,000 to cover living expenses for the year. Details of the Government of Ireland scholarships will be confirmed in February 2014. UCD Michael Smurfit School of Business Ireland top Business School is offering 5 x 50% merit based tuition scholarships specifically for Indian students applying to MSc Programmes in the UCD Smurfit School of Business MBA and PhD scholarships available. Candidates need 650 or higher in GMAT to be considered for the MBA scholarship. Deadline: March 28, 2014. Check out: www.smurfitschool.ie/scholarships. UCD Graduate School of Law James Healy Masters Scholarship in Law – see list of law programmes eligible: www.ucd.ie/law/graduateprogrammes/ Award: Scholarships of €5,000 plus fee waiver to the value of €8,450. The UCD School of Law Bursaries Award: 6 tuition fee bursaries of €3,000 each to fund full time study in the LLM, Deadline: April 17, 2014
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School essay competition
The Tata group has announced the launch of the eighth edition of Tata Building India School Essay Competition. This year, the competition will be held in 12 languages and would reach out to nearly 3.5 million students, from 7,000 schools spread across nearly 185 cities. Two new languages – Punjabi and Assamese – are proposed for the first time this year. The theme for this year’s competition is ‘Happy and Prosperous Nation’. To ensure a level playing field for students, the competition is conducted across two categories — Junior level for Classes 6-8 and Senior level for Classes 9-12. The participants are required to submit an essay between 500-600 words. Prizes at the school level include certificates, medals and special Tata Building India merchandise. The city level winners and the runners-up receive prizes like digital cameras and MP3 players. The nationa-level winners receive laptops along with a trophy and a certificate.
ASSOCHAM award for Manav Rachna varsity
The Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET) from Manav Rachna International University (MRIU) has been felicitated with ASSOCHAM — Education Excellence Award 2013 for the 'Best engineering campus in North India for promoting Research'. The Award function was organized by ASSOCHAM in association with Education Post to honour those institutions that have contributed significantly in the field of improving the quality in education delivery with emphasis on world-class research and innovations and enhancing the development of quality education. The award categories included Best management institute in corporate relations, Leader in family business and Entrepreneurship, Best management institute for Impact Potential etc.
Film for UK-bound students
UK universities have launched a new film aimed at helping talented Indian students better understand the process of applying to the UK’s leading universities. Made by award-winning Indian filmmaker Ravi Lekhi, the video was directed and produced by independent and BBC journalists Sue Emmett and Nicola Carslaw and commissioned by the University of Sheffield. The video will be used by the British Council at education fairs and events across India as well as made available on You Tube and it is hoped it will be widely shared by students themselves via social media.
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Campus notes Rs 50 lakh grant for computer science dept
On the recommendations of the FIST Advisory Board of Department of Science and Technology (DST) Government of India, New Delhi, the Computer Science Department of Punjabi University has been sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for upgrading the computational facilities in the department. Dr Rajesh K.Bawa, Professor and Head of the Computer Science Department, informed that recognising the department's excellence in academics and research, DST has sanctioned this grant for strengthening the teaching facilities in the department.
Translation system developed
A research scholar from Punjabi University's Computer Science Department Ajit Kumar has developed India's first ever Machine Translation System purely based on Statistical approach for translating Hindi text to Punjabi text. This machine translation system has been developed presently for Linux platform and has been released as desktop version.
Dr Bharti felicitated
Prof. T.C. Narendran Trust for Animal Taxonomy has conferred Dr. Himender Bharti, Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences of Punjabi University Patiala, with the Distinguished Taxonomist Award 2012, in recognition for his outstanding contribution to the diversity of Ants. Dr Bharti has discovered many new species from India, including red list species from Himalaya.
Varsity athletics meet
National College of Physical Education, Chupki, men and Public College, Samana, lifted the respective titles in the 51st Punjabi University Annual Athletics Meet that concluded successfully here at Raja Bhalendra Singh Stadium under the Chairmanship of Director Sports of the University Dr Rajkumar Sharma. As many as 14 new records were made during this championship. Tejinderpal Singh of NCPE Chupki and Mandeep Kaur of Public College, Samana, won the title of Best Athlete in men and women category, respectively.
Punjabi literary conference
The three-day World Punjabi Literary Conference, orgnaised by the Punjabi University's Department of Literary Studies, on the topic of “Modern Punjabi Poetry: Achievements and Possibilities” concluded here recently. Dr. Jairoop Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, inaugurated the conference. In his keynote address, Dr Satinder Singh, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, discussed at length the significant achievements, dimensions and impressions on the society of the poetry. Eminent Urdu poet Sardar Anjum termed poetry as spiritual food. Punjabi poet Dr Surjit Patar, discussed Punjabi poetry in detail and termed it as the mirror of society. The Department also released some publications on this occasion. Contributed by Gagan K. Teja
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Happy hour ‘virus’
If you have been feeling tired of staring at the office clock and have hours to kill, a new fake virus for PC lets you fool the boss and sneak out of the office early. The happy hour ‘virus’ can help employees sneak out of the office early by simply choosing which version of the crash screen should be displayed.
According to
metro.co.uk, user can simply select a screen mode to ‘break’ the computer and let it spread on the full screen and to ‘fix’ the screen, they can press esc button. The happy hour virus site asks employees to use the Happy Hour Virus to leave work early and enjoy the company of friends, family or co-workers acknowledging that it might jeopardise their productivity the following day, but they are willing to take that risk on their behalf. — ANI
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Happiness
@ work
For the sake of efficiency, human society endeavours to be sequential. In this scenario, think well before promoting someone out of turn.
In the Mahabharata, as guru Dronacharya had promised to make Arjuna the best archer of his time, he treated better archers — Ekalavya and Karna — unfairly. He refused to train Karna and from Ekalavya, he asked for a ‘gurudakshina’ of his right thumb to slow down his shooting speed. In 1581, Guru Arjan, the youngest son of fourth Sikh master Guru Ram Das, became the spiritual head after his father’s death. As he had superseded Prithi Chand and Mahadev, his two elder brothers, Prithi Chand was bitter. So Guru Arjan left his birthplace Goindwal and shifted to Amritsar. Prithi Chand continued to pester him and even complained about the holy Granth to Mughal Emperors Akbar and Jahangir. Chandu Shah, a banker in Delhi with a lot of influence in the court, joined Prithi in his evil designs. Chandu Shah had refused the match of Guru Hargobind, Guru Arjan’s son, for his daughter. The duo succeeded in their plans and Guru Arjan made the supreme sacrifice on May 30, 1606. Ahimsaka joined a guru mid-session and emerged tops. This made the laggards envious of him. So they spread the rumour that in the opinion of the guru’s wife, Ahimsaka was superior to the guru. On finding his wife and his brightest pupil deep in discussion, the guru banished Ahimsaka. When he went home, his family, friends and employers refused to accept him. As no avenue was left, he became the notorious robber Angulimala. The court of King Bhoja of Dhara had many scholars. But one day, a poet named Kalidas came and made a special place for himself in the King’s heart by his ready wit and poetic skills. This made the old-timers jealous. As they knew Kalidas would never write a poem in praise of a living King, they poisoned Bhoja’s ears. “Write a verse praising me just as the others do,” the King commanded. Saying that praise of mortals wasn’t poetry’s aim, the bard refused and went into hiding. So the King went in disguise and searched him out. On meeting his favourite poet, the King lied that Bhoja was dead. Overwhelmed, Kalidas’ grief poured out in the form of a verse in the praise of the “dead” King. Pleased, Bhoja disclosed his identity. Kalidas made appropriate changes to the verse to suit the revelation. Without the right reasons, don’t upset the queue. — Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan
@tribunemail.com
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Simply having good marks and completing a degree is not enough to get a job in today's rapidly changing economy. Many students, in fact, complete degree after degree, and then wonder why they are unable to get a good job. “Just graduating with good scores does not help. The schools do not teach students to use both sides of the brain, which is most important,” says Kishore Biyani, CEO of the Future Group.
The Obama Care initiative marks a watershed for the healthcare and hospital industry in the US. It also has a ripple effect on medicare and wellness industry in India. The most seismic shift, however, is the move away from the fee-for-service model. Medical establishments such as hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers are not only being looked upon as hallmarks of hope but also as the providers of efficient service. With more and more people resorting to medi claim, the expectations from the hospitals have increased manifold. This increases the demand for Hospital Administrators.
The recent job freeze across industry sectors is not the only reason for unemployment of the skill pool of India as two out of three job seekers fail to meet employers’ requirements and are not considered fit for jobs. This is one of the major findings of the first India Skills Report, released last week. A joint Initiative by PeopleStrong, India’s leading platform based multi-process HR Outsourcing, Technology and Recruitment Company, and Wheebox, a Global Talent Assessment Company, in Collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry; the report not only captured the skill levels of talent pool but also brought out the hiring estimates across major Industry sectors in the country.
Thailand has always been a very attractive destination for the international globetrotter, at both ends of the spectrum of the luxury traveler as well as the backpacker. Rich cultural heritage with over seven centuries of history and diverse influences has made it a wonderful confluence of heritage and natural beauty.
One of the fundamental skills needed for success is the ability to verbalise, write, listen, give presentations, facilitate discussions, and share knowledge effectively. This is possibly the most important skill required in every job. One of the first areas, other than appearance, that will form someone's first impression, is how you communicate. This includes speaking as well as body language. With English being the language of the workplace, you must be fluent in English. Grammar, diction and accents are almost as important to an impression as what you actually say. To be able to relate to people on their level, you must be able to understand what they need and what they are trying to convey to you. By the same token you must be able to make them understand what it is you want them to know. Whether you are explaining an idea in a meeting, writing a report or simply directing work, effective communication skills will put you ahead in the game.
Make sure that the work you do is excellent, not just passable from the first day. You can do this with the right blend of skill, commitment and application. Develop your skills and versatility, and be open to take on new assignments, and new ways of providing workplace solutions. It is good to expand your job by taking on added responsibilities as time and scheduling allow and be ready to seek out new knowledge and expertise. In today's fast-paced technology-driven work environment you will be expected to pick up the work requirements very quickly while also being watched all the time. Make an impact by being productive. One of the best ways to enhance your value in the workplace is to continually develop new skills and competencies. So you must build the stamina to keep going when the going gets tough, both mentally and physically, and earn respect from the people around you. Employers seek graduates who have demonstrated leadership by being active contributors on campus. 
Building
teamwork skills:
A.Sure it will! The most coveted certificate is the NCC ‘C’ Certificate and there are special entry routes for cadets like you in the Para-Military and Armed Forces. In fact, over a quarter of cadets currently training to be officers at the Officer’s Training Academy, the IMA and NDA are from the NCC, while the figure is even higher for women cadets.
A.The GNOU School of Health Sciences (www.ac.in) offers BSc (Hon) Optometry & Ophthalmic Techniques. This four-year degree programme (which can be completed in 7 years) comprises 128 credits (52 credits theory & 76 credits practical). Presently, there are19 Programme Study Centres.
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Hiring staff
Thailand has always been a very attractive destination for the international globetrotter, at both ends of the spectrum of the luxury traveler as well as the backpacker. Rich cultural heritage with over seven centuries of history and diverse influences has made it a wonderful confluence of heritage and natural beauty.
University College Dublin (UCD) recently launched UCD scholarships for Indian undergraduate and postgraduate students. Of particular note in the €250,000 scholarship fund, the largest ever by an Irish university, are the 4 full scholarships in recognition of V. V. Giri, the fourth President of India, who studied law in UCD from 1913 to 1916.
In the Ramayana, Kaikeyi’s attempt to get her son Bharata crowned in place of the eldest son Rama led to Kaikeyi’s defamation; Dashratha’s death; exile for Rama, Lakshman and Sita; and an empty throne for 14 years.