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Master the digital world
Career Hotline
office mantra
Is a startup right for you?
course chat
Grooming future leaders
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Master the digital world
The MBA in IT is ideal for those who have done BE/BTech in computer science and information technology or BCA and wish to enhance their career with a management degree. Such a programme will enable you to work in a management capacity in the IT sector, or with organisations requiring an in-depth understanding of the operational and strategic aspects of managing with information technology. Some years of work experience in the IT sector before such a programme is always advisable as it will help you understand better the new technologies and the ground Getting in
You need to have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline to pursue MBA in IT, although a background in computers and IT is preferable. A minimum pass percentage of 50% in graduation is the norm for most institutes offering this course, which is offered by most of the leading MBA schools such as the IIMs, XLRI, Symbiosis Pune, IMT Ghaziabad, Narsee Monjee and SP Jain Institute of Management, and several others. In addition, the Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad (www.iiita.ac.in) has started an MBA course with major specialisation in information technology and minor from marketing or finance. Admission is through the CAT exam and another test conducted by the institute. Other institutes offering the IT specialisations include the International Institute of Information Technology, Pune, (www.isquareit.ac.in) and institutes such as the Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning which offers a two-year PG diploma in IT management. The IT MBA course is a blend of both technical and management knowledge and skills, to educate and develop managers who can effectively manage the planning, design, selection, implementation, use, and administration of emerging and converging information and communications technologies. The programme typically includes computer science, information database management, and networking, imparting training in latest technologies, providing exposure to best business practices and helping build team leadership qualities and management skills. Additionally, some programmes may also incorporate e-commerce and other topics in online marketing and brand building.
Job prospects
There is an enormous scope for those who have pursued a programme in the field of Information Technology and Management. In the ever changing and evolving global IT scenario, there is a growing requirement in companies both national and international for professionals with in-depth knowledge of managerial aspects and functions along with the technical skills. An MBA-IT graduate can therefore find employment opportunities with organisations belonging to all domains, as also specifically with software and IT companies and in positions related to IT management. Other positions include IT financial management, IT infrastructure, project management, and as Chief Information Officer, System Manager, Research and Development Manager, and so on. So, if you have a blog, have modified a Wikipedia page, love fiddling with your computer or phone, and dream big, then the MBA in IT is probably what will click for you. So, before you follow the herd towards an MBA, think about what will give you an edge and enable you to stand out in the crowd. Narayana Murthy never did MBA in IT (there was no such course in his time) but he started as an electrical engineer who combined technical skills with the traits of a successful manager to create a world-class company. You can do that too!
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How can I become a TV producer?
Pervin Malhotra
A.TV production incorporates multiple tasks: from managing the entire production process to ensuring that the programme is made within the stipulated budget and time. The work includes co-ordinating with other departments to select the cast, clear scripts and co-ordinate the use of production facilities such as studios, cameras, lighting etc. It also includes supervising the production staff and the editing department to ensure quality of production. As opposed to the film industry where the producer is essentially a financier, in TV production is a mix of direction, cinematography and editing. The role of the Producer is combined with that of the Programme Director. In either case, the job calls for extensive hands-on experience, creative talent, and technical knowledge of cameras, lighting, and editing software, plus a high level of planning and organisational skills. Working as a production assistant is considered a perfect hands-on entry-level job for anyone who has the ambition to move into the production end of TV. But before you rush in, just make sure you have the absurd levels of energy required — an entire episode (even several episodes) is often canned in a single day, and where normal shifts stretch beyond 10 hours! Which is why when you look at the age profile of our present-day TV producers, you’ll find they are all in their 20’s or early 30’s. A degree in mass communications with specialisation in audio/video production or a related diploma from reputed institutions will help you get your foot in the door. Also don’t be unduly choosy to begin with. As an entrant, you should be willing to do all kinds of work since that’s the best way to learn.
Opt for full-time MBA
A.Marketing, HR, finance, international business or IT, are all critical business functions. Your professional success however will depend on your individual skills, aptitude and initiative — regardless of the specialisation you choose. Your pay packet will also depend on the B-school you graduate from, the kind of companies that visit your campus for recruitment and to some extent on the economic cycles that prevail at the time of placement, e.g., when the economy is booming, jobs in finance are at a premium). Not to worry though: the first year’s MBA curriculum at most B-schools is compulsory for all students. It covers the basic functional areas of finance and accounting, marketing, personnel and operations management. You will also learn the basic principles of economics, behavioural sciences, information technology and quantitative methods in the context of business management. At the end of the first year, you will work on a summer assignment (8-10 weeks) in an organisation. In the second year, you will have the opportunity to pursue the areas of special interest to you. Therefore, all the second year courses in good B-schools are electives. Besides helping you develop an integrated approach to solving business problems, this gives you sufficient time to choose your field of specialisation. IIMA and a number of other B-schools give you the flexibility of dual specialisation. You can even mix and match courses from different streams if you like - as long as you are prepared to take on the load of extra credits. Someone like you would be better off with a regular full-time MBA from a reputed B-school.
Career confusion
A.While an MBA is a professional, job-oriented PG programme, a Master’s degree in Commerce or M.Com is an academic and theoretical in its content and approach. After completing your M.Com, the main avenues open to you those in teaching, accounting & audit, finance, and banking. By adding a B.Ed to your M.Com degree, you are eligible to teach at the +2 level. Once you clear the NET exam, you can even teach in colleges and universities. M.Com graduates can find suitable employment in financial research and analysis, taxation, stock market, insurance and financial planning and advisory, banking, financial services sales/ executives with all kinds of product and service providers. Also, jobs in accounting, financial processing and documentation as well as in KPOs. You can sit for general competitive entrance exams such as the Civil Services, State Selection Commission of each state. Your M.Com qualification also allows you to appear for the selection exams of the Income Tax, Customs and Excise Departments, Comptroller & Auditor General, Bank Probationary Officers.
email your queries to careers tribunemail.com
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Tips for a successful teleconference
Ragini Gulati
However, like any other business practice, teleconference has its own set of rules and etiquettes. Unfortunately, most professionals find the whole process disconcerting since it is unlike face-to-face meeting. As a consequence the biggest challenge as a host is to ensure that the teleconference is as productive as possible. Prepare and share agenda with all the participants in advance so that they know the objective of the meeting. Refrain from delaying the call for latecomers and stick to the time schedule. Most importantly conduct a trial run prior to the call so that technical issues don't sabotage the teleconference. Here are some points that you should keep in mind while conducting a teleconference: Check equipment
No matter how advanced the teleconference technology is, run a quick trial before the session. Immediately resolve glitches if any for a high quality and uninterrupted transmission. Moreover provide all the necessary dial-in information to the participants, at least one day prior to the call. As far as the equipment is concerned landline should be preferred for better sound quality. Discourage participants from using cordless or mobile phones, as these may cause static or other interference. Similarly speakerphones pick up background noise and often produce echoes. A headset is the ideal choice for conference call since one can hear the conversation much better. Testing beforehand will help reveal technical issues that might disrupt the teleconference.
Quick introductions
The foremost step in a teleconference is a quick round of introductions. Lack of visual cues makes it difficult to identify voices even though they may be familiar. As a consequence ask each participant to state their name, location and current role. It will give everyone a chance to acquaint themselves with each other’s voices. Moreover through this exercise one can find out missing participants at both the ends. Also introduce anyone who might wander into the teleconference without disrupting the flow of conversation. It is only fair that participants know who is present in the room listening in on the call. Introductions ensure a quick voice/ name connect which is extremely helpful during the conference.
Eliminate distractions
Even the slightest movement or noise can disrupt the proceedings of a teleconference. As a result make sure that everyone takes the call from a quiet place. A secluded room which is free from internal as well as external interruptions should be preferred. Encourage participants to put their phones on mute when they are not speaking. It will prevent sounds like shuffling of paper, coughing etc from being broadcast across the meeting. Also ask them to turn off their call waiting and flip the ringer switch off. Most importantly cut down on background noise by keeping participants to minimum. Reducing distractions as much as possible will improve the quality as well as output of teleconference.
Stick to schedule
An important aspect of a teleconference, like that of any other meeting, is time management. Outline all the important points to be covered and share them with the participants beforehand. Whenever the discussion seems to drift, direct everyone back to the subject at hand. Sticking to the agenda will ensure that the teleconference runs smoothly and on time. Also set a time limit on the duration of conference call so that everyone can plan accordingly. Additionally, urge participants to be punctual so the meeting can be started on schedule. Request latecomers to enter the call silently and announce their presence only when there is a pause. Keeping an eye on the watch will prevent the teleconference from dragging.
Allow interruptions
Disturbance due to participants talking over one another can hamper the productivity of any meeting. However, the conversational dynamics of a teleconference call are completely different. Absence of body language cues makes it hard to know when someone wants to interject or who disagrees with what is being said. As a result important questions or points, which are valuable to the discussion, may be missed. Prior to the teleconference make it clear that interruptions are acceptable. Allow participants to speak up whenever there is a pause or politely interrupt with an ‘excuse me’. Also ask them to introduce themselves so that everyone knows who is speaking. A successful teleconference is based on courtesy and professionalism.
Record proceedings
Like any other meeting, follow-up is a crucial part of teleconference. Subsequent to the discussion, address each person by name and ask for their feedback. Choose someone to take notes so that you can concentrate on facilitating the call. Make sure to document what everyone has agreed upon, person responsible for each item and the deadline. Most importantly review highlights of the meeting along with announcing the schedule for follow-up call. E-mail the minutes to the participants as well those who could not attend at the earliest. It will not only give clarity but also access to an accurate record of the meeting. Close the teleconference formally by thanking everyone for their contribution and time.
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Is a startup right for you?
Newspapers splash stories about startups that made it big, or crashed or burned, and we always think, we can do better. In case you are a risk taker and have always wanted to be an entrepreneur, startups are just the right place for you. Let us look at the good, the bad and the ugly side of startups… The good For all of you who are fresh out of college start ups are a place where you can satisfy your entrepreneurial itch as well as see all the theories you studied in the classroom translating into reality. You have a long list of reasons for going in for a startup. Diversity of skills: In an established firm, there are specific roles for specific jobs. On the other hand, in a startup there is always a dearth of resources, both human and material; you will have to wear multiple hats and it would help you hone your diverse skills. Unless you are narrowly focused on just one field, in which case you should avoid startups, this can be a great thing. You will get to develop a more diverse skill set, which will help you in your future job search. Leadership opportunities: When or if your startup grows, you will be in a great place to lead your own team. Many people join a company and find that within months they are expected to manage new hires. Each time a bit of your work shipped at a big company, you can say, “I did that”. And that would make you happy. At a startup, however, you are not only shaping the company in how you perform your immediate responsibilities, but you are also offering feedback on all aspects of business. Rapid results and rewards: For all those who wish to wish to see instantaneous results, startup is the only option.You won’t have to wait to see the results of your work in the real world, it would happen very soon and would be there for all to see. That holds true for any decisions you make as well. For better or for worse, the outcome is visible within months, enabling you to learn from your mistakes and successes faster. Besides, if you get very lucky, you could be very rich, very soon. Manpreet Singh Dargan, Senior Quality Analyst, started his career with a startup firm Safaltek in the tricity area. He says, “The company had a total head count of 20. I was appointed as a tester, but I found myself interacting with clients, handling finances or thinking up new product ideas. Because of the flat organisational structure, I was able to interact directly with the CEO. Instead of handling a small component of a larger project, I was a part of the brainstorming, engineering and execution of a marketing campaign, product launch and was involved from start to finish. Before I realised, I was wearing multiple hats, that of a Business Analyst, Team Lead, and Domain Lead which would not have been possible in a large IT giant. “I also got an exposure of different testing tools, project management tools, CMMI level documentation and realised I had a very fast growth trajectory and within a span of 3 years, I joined another company and graduated to be the QA lead, managing a team of 11 employees. It helped in developing leadership qualities, team work, time management and organisational skills. “Today I work with the professionals who have come from highly reputed companies like HCL, Infosys, TCS, etc. I owe all this to my previous experience and working with a startup.” The bad Startup burn out is a real thing. The following stresses tend to wear on people the most: Long hours: With the amount of money and careers depending upon a start up's success, long hours are critical.Those who do the bare minimum do not last long and startups do not have any qualms about firing under performers that bigger companies do. Unclear job description: You were hired to be a Marketing Manager and now you are looking for office space. And sometimes you are calling in people and interviewing them. Tough, seems like you are diluting your job description. You realise that by the time you actually start assuring quality, you have done a number of other odd jobs. That may mean you spend less time what you love doing. Low pay: With very few exceptions, startups tend to pay below industry standards and may compensate for the difference by paying you ESOPs (Employee Stock Options Plans), which are no use till start up is chugging at its own seams. Plus the perks and the flashy benefits are missing. The earliest employees of Tata, Reliance, Google and Yahoo have a lot of credibility, but who knows the XYZ company that was founded 3 years ago! Having to scrimp and save due to meager salary may frustrate you. So, for all those who believe in the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and wish to go by the affiliation needs would feel frustrated by some ‘no name’ company on your resume. Learning curve: You may learn the skills to multitask but there is hardly any chance to hone your core skills as there is a very negligible amount spent on training. Big companies can teach you a structured way of solving problems, under the guidance of more experienced professionals, while those at startups are learning on the go. And if your co-workers have never spent time at a big company, they may have never been taught how real companies do things. Bhanu Jain, a Quality Analyst who started her career with the IT giant Infosys, says, “While pursuing my BCA, I got recruited in the then Infosys Technologies Ltd via a campus placement drive. And I can proudly say that I was among the very few from my college to have got that big opportunity to start my career with a company of that stature. “On the first day of joining, I was, like my other batch mates, astounded to see the whole infrastructure that the company has — the buildings, the security, workforce, facilities, etc. During our training, we were educated a lot about how things are like in the IT sector. Our training included everything — from professional communication, office mannerisms to all the technical knowhow. This, in my opinion, is the biggest advantage of starting career in a big corporate — you get all the trainings upfront. You get polished from a mere fresher to a corporate professional. Also, the starting salary package you get from corporates is comparatively higher than the ones provided by startups. As you go along the path of your career, you will, at each step, have people with vast experience around to mentor you. “That being said, we cannot disregard the fact that it’s the individual who has to work hard and smart to get noticed among the herd. You definitely have to broaden your skills to outshine others and not to be just a cog in the wheel.” The ugly Rapid job switching: The ugliest part of joining a startup is — before you realise, you may be jumping from one hot coal to another. The reasons may be — an ego clash with the CEO (remember he is as new to the company as you are), the startup may buckle under its own pressure, another one may start veering in the wrong direction, and lucky number may be the one you decide to start yourself. Rapid job switching becomes a part of your life, and you need to be prepared for this constant change. The only silver lining here is that because your coworkers will have worked at so many places, you will be tapped into abroad network of people. You can build upon them. Well, startups and big companies have their own share of opportunities and challenges.It all depends on whether you wish to be a small fish ina big pondor a big fish in a small pond… —
The writer is a Ludhiana-based career consultant
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course chat
B.Tech engineers (EE/ECE/EEE/EIE) seeking a global career in Merchant Navy and as seafarers will not have to look far beyond Kolkata anymore. Seacom Marine College, Kolkata, has introduced the Electro-Technical Officer’s (ETO) course for the first time in Eastern India.
Seacom’s ETO course module has been designed as per industry requirement and the passing students will be immediately absorbed in the industry. This residential course of 17 weeks will be followed by an 8-month mandatory on- board training. Seacom Marine College is the only college which has been granted approval to conduct this course in Eastern India. This ETO programme has been officially adopted by IMO (International Maritime Organization) recently (STCW Convention A – III/6) and approved by Directorate General Shipping (Govt. of India) as an entry point post in shipping industry and will become mandatory from January 1, 2014 onwards. Speaking on the occasion, Anish Chakraborty , Chairman of Seacom Group said, “There is a huge demand for Electro-Technical Officers (ETO) and there are no adequate professional to fill the gap. Students earlier had to shell out huge tuition fees for this course as they were solely depended on foreign Colleges, Universities. But now the same course can be completed in Kolkata in just 17 weeks. Total course fee including the 8 month on board training is only about ~4,50,000 (includes fees, accommodation, Study Materials, Uniforms and onboard Training)”. On successful completion of this course the student will be immediately absorbed in the industry with a starting scale of ~60,000 to 1 Lakh for Indian ships and $1500 – 2000 per month in foreign flag vessels (approximately), as indicator only but for experience ETO the salary structures are much higher.
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Grooming future leaders
Take the example of Bansari Vyas, who joined Airtel from IMT Ghaziabad in 2005 as part of the HR team. Eight years hence with exposures across functions, including business analytics and a stint in Singapore, she has today led the Airtel Online team to develop the My Airtel App which was awarded as the “App of the Year” at the prestigious Global Mobile Awards 2013 in Barcelona. His colleague Smriti Handa is another example of exceptional career growth within a short span of time. She joined Airtel in 2004 as a Management Trainee and is today the National Talent Acquisition Head in the company and the youngest member of the HR Leadership team. “The success of campus placements is not only in getting the right people but in giving a fulfilling career opportunity to them and to nurture them,” says Manoj Garg, Head HR, B2B Market Operations, Bharti Airtel. Airtel has a Young Leaders Programme in place to infuse fresh talent into the company through campus placements from B-schools across the country. “iCreate is a concept that encourages young minds to come together and showcase unconventional solutions for the most challenging business problems. Employees hired via iCreate are directly placed under the Young Leaders programme which provides them with an opportunity to take on large roles early in their career,” says Garg The right talent is brought into the company as Young Leaders (YL). These YLs undergo a comprehensive orientation and training programme, including cross-functional exposures, especially in Sales and Marketing, Customer Service (CSD) and Network which are the core business pillars of the telecom industry. They are also provided a platform to work on CSR to ensure an exposure on life realities as well, and thus as a process they also work with Bharti Foundation on the Satya Bharti School Programme, which is the flagship rural education initiative of the foundation aimed at holistic development of children. On the successful completion of these business/function orientations, they are absorbed in the function of their choice. The company has 330 YLs across geographies, functions and businesses, and they are competent to take up challenging assignments and are a talent pool that achieves superior business results and delivers value to the organisation. Hospitality players like JW Marriott also have a leadership grooming system in place for fresh recruits. Once a candidate is selected and hired, the organisation accentuates the process of onboarding with the help of a two day induction programme, “In The Beginning” followed by a self-paced learning module called “Get on board”. “These programmes help the employees integrate with the new environment quickly,” says Geetika Sharma, HR Manager, JW Marriott, Chandigarh. The company also offers various technical and discipline-specific trainings on a periodic basis such as “Passport to Success” and “Gateways” along with certification programmes like “ESSM” (Essential Skills for Supervisors and Managers) and “In-motion”, which results in smoother transition to higher roles and helps the organisation retain talent and decrease short-term turnover rate. The structured grooming plans are especially helpful in industries that have limited talent pool where the need to groom the existing workforce for future leadership roles is all the more imminent. Giving an insight into this Varun Mehta- Director of HR, SRL Diagnostics says, “It is an established fact that talent is a scarce resource to find in today’s dynamic business environment. The challenge gets further multiplied in a rapidly growing industry like ours with multiple new entrants and a limited talent pool.” One of the ways in which SRL has been able to combat this challenge is through lucrative Employee Referral Programmes based on ‘More you Refer, More you Earn’ that not only gets the company the desirable talent, but also helps in a big way for hiring in volumes for new projects. As an organisation we believe in ‘Hire for Attitude, Train for Skills’ approach, and hence plan to launch our Industry Academy Model under which graduates hired from campus will go through a Structured Training Programme for one month. “This programme will helping them understand the quintessence of our niche industry before they move into their defined jobs,” says Varun Mehta One of the key success factors of the programme at Airtel has been the encouragement given to the YLs to move across functions and geographies, including international experiences, for shaping themselves into true business leaders. “All the exposures together equip the YLs with necessary competence and knowledge to build a successful and enriching long-term career with us,” says Garg. Easy access to the management cadre and robust feedback processes ensures a strong mentor support and continuous learning experience resulting into complete programme effectiveness. More and more companies have now woken up to the fact that anorganisation with a diversified business portfolio can be managed effectively only when competent and effective leadership is distributed across the organisation. And it is this realisation that can result in the young workforce getting a right career course charted out for them by their employers.
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Campus Notes
MoU with University of Fraser Valley, Canada
Prof Ajaib Singh
Brar, Vice-Chancellor of the Guru Nanak Dev University, and Dr Mark. D. Evered, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Fraser Valley, Canada, signed the
MoU. Under this MoU, both the universities agreed to enter into an academic partnership within the context of global integration and aim to cultivate international professionals. The coordinators would be designated by both the universities who shall manage the development and conduct of joint activities. These coordinators would be responsible for the evaluation of activities under this MoU according to the practices of their respective institutions. This agreement would be valid for a period of three years but may be renewed or extended by mutual consent expressed in writing. Prof Brar said that the main objectives of this MoU would be to the development of articulation/transfer agreements and to organise cooperative academic activities such as conferences, seminars, symposia or lectures. "This MoU is intended to take full advantage of the education resources at both institutions and provides for the development and expansion of the education markets.
Fellowship awarded
Prof Jaspal Singh
Sandhu, Dean Faculty of Sports Medicine was awarded Fellowship of the National Academy of Medical Sciences by Dr
C.S. Bhaskaran, President of National Academy of Medical Sciences during the convocation held in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur recently. Dr Sandhu was recognised for “his significant contribution for advancement of medical sciences”. With this fellowship, Prof Sandhu now joins the league of stalwart medical professionals like Prof P.N Chuttani , Prof Tulsi Das, Prof Man Singh
Nirankari, Prof Santokh Singh, Prof Hardas Singh and Prof Ajmer Singhand. This is the first fellowship awarded by NAMS for substantial development in the field of Sports Medicine. Prof Sandhu has many other firsts to his credit. He is the first and the only Indian to be conferred Fellowship of International Federation of Sports Medicine
(FIMS) since 1928 last year in Shangai. He is also the first Indian to be the Secretary General of Asian Federation of Sports Medicine and member of Education Commission of
FIMS.
Foundation Day celebrations
Students from various colleges affiliated to GNDU conducted folklore exhibition depicting Punjab's rich traditional culture and rural life during the 44th Foundation Day celebrations in the campus last week. As many as twenty various affiliated colleges of the university participated in different competitions. Over a dozen stalls, including the one installed under the banner of Atam Public School, Islamabad displayed rare ancient coins,
jewellery, household items and artefacts draw huge crowd and enthusiasm among the visitors. The rare collection of Dev
Dard, lecturer at GSSS, Attari and his son Prateek Sehdev, who has a master 's degree in Archeology Numismatics, generated a lot of interest. The collection had coins from Indo-Greek, Mauryan and Mughul era coins. The students of Bebe Nanki University College,
Mithra, Kapurthala displayed old handmade utensils made of brass which were being used in their homes in present times. In other stalls, Harsimar and Amit Sharma, lecturers of GNDU College
Chugh, near Bhikhiwind, projected a Punjab village life and displayed Panjaali (bullock cart), gaagra (pot), madaani (butter churner).
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Scholarship Roundup
here is no separate application for the scholarship program. All eligible students who have submitted a course application will automatically be considered and ranked against other international applicants on the basis of academic merit. Eligibility: Students must: Number of award(s): 50 Details: The students can get 50 per cent, 100 per cent and $10,000 remission from tuition fees depending on merit. The scholarship is for the normal duration of an undergraduate degree and does not cover an honours year, does not cover Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Selection criteria:
Selection is made by International Admissions based on academic merit. There are five selection rounds with a designated number of scholarships available for each round. How to apply: There is no separate application for the scholarship program. All eligible students who have submitted a course application will automatically be considered and ranked against other international applicants on the basis of academic merit. Deadline: Late December and May 31. Check out: http://services.unimelb.edu.au
Great India scholarships
University of Stirling, UK, is offering two MBA scholarships for Indian students in UK. The GREAT India scholarship is a joint programme part funded through GREAT funds and part funded by Stirling Management School. Eligibility:
The scholarships are open to applicants from India. The applicants must hold or expect to obtain, an offer of a place on the full-time MBA course offered within the Stirling Management School. Details: Two Great MBA India Scholarships, each with a value of £4,500 will be awarded to students joining the Stirling MBA in September 2014. How to apply: Complete the Application Form, ensuring all sections are answered legibly and provide a 500-1000 word statement on the following: Deadline: June 10, 2014. Check out: http://www.stir.ac.uk
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Course Cruising
Eligibility: Applicants who have passed the Class XII examination conducted by CBSE/ISC/State Board/International Baccalaureate (IB)/GSCE A-Levels (by May 2014) are eligible to apply. All applicants for this degree should have demonstrable proficiency in both, English and mathematics. Candidates applying for BSc Economics need to have proof of competency in Mathematics (equivalent to Grade 12). For other programmes candidates should be able to demonstrate ability in Mathematics (equivalent to Grade 10). Selection procedure: IB and A-Level students: Are exempted from the Entrance Exam (per application basis). Selections are made on the basis of a Personal Interview. How to apply: Online: Visit www.applytoisbf.com Download application form: Visit www.isbf.edu.in - Undergraduate section. Complete the form as per the instructions and send it via email (uol@isbf.edu.in) or print the completed form and courier it to us. Deadline: December 27, 2013 Campus Details: Address: ISBF, 15A, Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar IV, New Delhi 110024. Tel: +91 11 404 3000 Mob: +91 99717 95612/13 Email: uol@isbf.edu.in
Vocational courses in apparel and fashion design
Interested candidates can apply for vocational courses offered by Apparel Training and Design Centre (ATDC) Institute at different centres in the region. ATDC, which is alligned with the Skill Development Initiative Scheme (SDIS) offers courses in apparel manufacturing, fashion and textile technology. ATDC centres and courses are approved by DGE&T/NCVT and fee support is provided by DGET, MoL&E, GoI & MoT. Strong placement linkages with over 8000 garment exporter member of AEPC Industry Internship & Field Trips for all long term courses Courses: Advance Diploma (One Year) Smart Courses (under ISDS, Min. of Textiles,
GoI) How to apply: To Download Application Form log on to www.atdcindia.co.in. Application duly filled in along with course fee by way of Demand Draft may be submitted at any of the ATDC Vocational Institutes mentioned below latest by December 21, 2013. ATDC centres in region Haryana DELHI PUNJAB Ludhiana: B-XX-2597/570, NOBLE ENCLAVE, 2ND FLOOR, FEROZEPUR ROAD, BHAIWALA CHOWK, LUDHIANA. 141001. PUNJAB. PH- 0161-2402605, MOB- 7696048287 E-mail enquiries : admissions@atdcindia.co.in or Call Toll Free No. 1800-307-02080 Check
out: www.atdcindia.co.in/docs/ATDC_Session_JAN_2014.pdf
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Happiness @ work
Years later, Bappa became the Commander of the forces of his uncle Raja Mori of Chittor and “remarried” the Solanki princess. Then, he succeeded his uncle as the ruler of Chittor and united the warring kingdoms of Rajasthan. “Why should you be the tiger all the time?” asked a mate of Tipu Sultan. As little Tipu didn’t agree to relinquish his position in the game of ‘tiger and sheep’, the two boys wrestled it out and Tipu won. The determination that he showed during this childhood game at Dindigul only strengthened as he grew. On his death in 1799, an English correspondent wrote, “With the death of Tipu, the empire of the east is at our feet.” Birdman of India Salim Ali got his first gun — a daisy nickel-plated 500 shot repeater — at the age of nine from his uncle Amiruddin Tyabji. His shooting for fun introduced him to the world of birds. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan and Vibhushan in 1958 and 1976 respectively. Akbar was a daredevil. He loved to ride elephants during a fight of jumbos. Towards the end of his reign, he organised a fight between elephants of his son Salim and his grandson Khusrau. It was reportedly to look for an omen for his successor as there was a struggle between the two men for the throne. Salim’s jumbo was the winner and by the following week, he was on the throne as Jahangir. Biophysicist Jagadis Chandra Bose was a nature lover even as a child. At his home in Faridpur, where his father Bhagwan Chandra Bose was the deputy magistrate, he not only rode horses but also kept animals — from snakes to frogs to sheep — as pets. During his stay at a boarding school in Calcutta, he gathered a few pets and made a garden for them. At the beach resort of Hardelot in France, little JRD Tata met the son of Louis Bleriot, the first to fly across the English Channel in 1909, and saw the exploits of legendary aviator Adolphe Pegoud. That began his lifelong affair with flying. As soon as a flying club opened in Bombay, he joined and in 12 days, got the first pilot licence issued in India — on February 10, 1929. Who says a career can’t be made out of fun? —
Sai R. Vaidyanathan The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com
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Cubicle Trends
India, which has a presence of 228 of the top 500 firms globally, has the opportunity of creating 2,00,000 jobs in the research and development (R&D) space in the next five years, global advisory and management consulting firm Zinnov said in a report.
According to the report, Crossing the Value Chasm, China, is the leading destination for R&D investments with a total of 385 G500 companies having a presence there as compared to 228 global 500 companies in India and 220 firms in the Bay Area in the US. “In keeping with the historic trend that companies with a higher R&D spend find India more attractive for investments, there is a clear opportunity to create additional 200,000 R&D jobs in India by global 500 companies in the next 5 years,” the report added. The top 500 R&D spenders contributed over $577 billion, with the top 100 R&D spenders alone contributing 66 per cent to the global R&D spend, it said. Of the total global R&D spend, 40 per cent of the overall is from organisations headquartered in North America, followed by 34 per cent from Europe, 18 per cent from Japan and 7 per cent from Asia-Pacific, Zinnov said in the report. “In 2012, 26 firms increased their global R&D spend by at least 20 per cent and contributed over $19 billion. Fourteen of these companies have a presence in India and have increased their global R&D spend by $14 billion, of this only $129 million was invested in India,” the report said.
At present, close to 50 per cent of the global 500 firms present have over 10 per cent of the global R&D head count in India. While software/Internet companies tend to achieve the milestone of locating 10-20 per cent of their R&D headcount in India faster than others, few companies seem to have reached a ceiling at a minimal 1-4 per cent of the global head count. “A factor is that many of the India centres lack strong leadership and global stakeholder buy-in. Currently, only 11 per cent of the companies with centres in India have global roles in engineering, product management and support functions,” it said.
Stack-ranking system
Microsoft is doing away with its controversial stack-ranking system. The ‘stack ranking’ process has long rated employees on a fixed curve, which has led to lower compensation to some employees even in cases where their managers might have felt they deserved more. According to the Verge, for years Microsoft has used stack ranking that effectively encourages workers to compete against each other. Stack ranking is a process where each business unit’s management team has to review employees’ performance and rank a certain percentage of them as top performers, or as average or poorly performing, the report said. Former Microsoft employees have claimed the process leads to colleagues competing with each other, especially when some employees in a group of individuals need to be given poor reviews to match the method. Microsoft HR chief Lisa Brummel issued a memo regarding discontinuing this system, saying that this is a fundamentally new approach to performance and development designed to promote new levels of teamwork —
Agencies
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Newsboard
The education and skill development organisation, AISECT, has trained 6,000 women of Punjab as part of a 3-month long innovative digital literacy programme by e-Vidya, an
initiative launched by the National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW) in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The basic objective of the programme is to mobilise the community of rural women and create awareness among them about digital literacy. The training programme, which included basic computer skills for rural women and adolescent girls, was executed through 506 Common Service Centres of AISECT in Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur districts. NMEW that aims to train 25,000 women through CSCs in the states of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tripura, had allotted AISECT to train 8,000 women from three districts-two in Punjab and one in Chhattisgarh-on a pilot-project basis.
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If you enjoy working with computers, have a strong technical background and also look forward to a managerial position in the future, the answer is an MBA in IT. Most companies use IT not only to automate their activities but also to stay ahead of their competitors. With the expanded growth of the computer and the use of information technology (IT) in all facets of business, there is today an apparent need for IT professionals with wider skills. A large number of IT companies require managers who are technically competent in the core IT field, and can also handle managerial responsibilities as they grow in their careers. The growing demand of computers and its high usage in almost every field has seen the need for technically qualified professionals who can interact effectively with management and develop business competitiveness. An MBA in IT fulfils this need as it covers everything about emerging IT trends, the application and implementation of information technology in businesses.
MBA in Information Technology is a specialisation in management which focuses on information technology and the use of management techniques to enhance the usage and applicability of information technology. While attempting to combine business areas with computer knowledge, MBA in IT helps to create well-rounded IT managers who can conceptualise and execute organisational planning in terms of IT infrastructure and effectively integrate people, information and communication technologies, and business processes in support of organisational strategic goals.
Q.What exactly does a TV producer do? How is it different from direction? — Meeta Wadhwa
Q.I am doing a diploma in civil engineering after B.Sc and want to do MBA after this. Please suggest me which branch I should take? Can I pursue it through distance education? — Pranay Verma
Q.What are my career options if I pursue M.Com instead of MBA after completing B.Com?
Teleconference is one of the easiest ways of communicating across long distances via a telephone or network connection. It allows multiple participants to have a discussion without leaving their office or home. With organisations cutting down travel expenditure, the concept is gaining popularity across the globe.
Go to almost any business school and you will find that there are about three times as many people who claim to be interested in startups than those actually pursuing their career path with a big company. Why? Because startups are interesting.
The trend of major companies scouting the campuses in their search for fresh talent is now well-established if one takes into account the campus placement figures released by different campuses. But picking up the bright “sparks” from campus is not the end of the road for many companies as India Inc. is fast mastering the art of chiselling and polishing this “raw” talent to transform them into future leaders.
The system working behind these success stories is a well-chalked-out leadership grooming plan that gives suitable opportunities to fresh talent to excel in their chosen fields. 
Guru Nanak Dev University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the University of Fraser Valley, Canada, to promote scholarly activities and international understanding.
University of Melbourne offers 50 undergraduate scholarships for international students. Scholarships are offered for the normal duration of an undergraduate degree. Scholarships are allocated on a competitive basis subject to quotas by course and region.
Indian School of Business & Finance (ISBF), an affiliate centre of the University of London (UoL) with academic direction from London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) invites students to apply for its three-year full-time undergraduate honours Degree programmes BSc Economics, BSc Economics & Management and BSc Business & Management
CBSE/ISC/State Board: Selections are made on the basis of an Entrance Exam (iMET- ISBF Mathematics English Test) and Personal Interview. 
Fun activities too can impact on one’s life and career. So, don’t neglect those.
In the eighth century, little Bappa met the Solanki princess of Nagda during the ‘Jhool Jhoolni’ fair. Children of the area used to come, install their swings and rode those there. As the princess had forgotten to bring her ropes, Bappa loaned her some of his in exchange for marrying him at a mock wedding.
