Add-on courses for Commerce students
Add value to your degree
Usha Albuquerque

For many students the suggestion of opting for commerce in college gets a bored, déjà vu reaction. “After all almost everyone (other than science graduates) does commerce”, is the common refrain. Commerce is also given short shrift by students when called upon to make their subject selection for the Plus II stage. “I don’t know anything about commerce, and I don’t like humanities!”, when science becomes the default option. Yet commerce is a subject that every individual deals with from an early age ever since we start using our pocket money to buy goods and services or think about money matters.

Thinkstockphotos/Getty images

Commerce is the basis for all financial transactions, and the study of commerce provides a spring-board for career opportunities in financial organisations, banking, business and industry, management and entrepreneurial ventures. In fact, with proper training one can virtually enter any field of work, as all need people with the requisite ‘commerce’ skills.

The Commerce degree (BCom) is a practical degree programme designed to inculcate business acumen in students. The course curriculum is designed to provide students with fundamental concepts of accountancy, business administration, finance, economics and industrial policies, and help develop a wide range of accounting and managerial skills.

Accountancy is the forte of this field and if you are good with numbers, you can excel here. A decade ago, CA was considered the only option for commerce students to enter the financial sector. Today, commerce students can try for jobs as financial analysts, cost and work accountants, bankers, various financial services in banking and non-banking services, tax consultancy, stock broking, financial management and many other related jobs that are being created continuously in this field.

Commerce also opens job avenues in other non-commerce/business related careers such as law, hotel management, advertising, media planning and so on.

You can also spice up your degree course with a range of different add on courses that will not only expose you to employment opportunities after graduation, but also add value to your academic qualifications.

There are several courses which students can pursue along with BCom degree once they are sure about their career aspirations and interests. There are broadly four ways in which you can enhance your commerce degree and prepare yourself for the job market:

• Depending on your interest areas you can take up short-term diploma courses in subjects related to your degree course in areas such as financial management, banking, insurance, marketing management, export import, taxation etc.
• You can also take up short courses in subjects not related to your degree but to your field of interest in which you may wish to pursue a career. These could be courses such as travel and tourism, mass communication, interior design, dress making, film & TV, advertising, animation and web design, etc.
• You can also take up short computer courses useful for all commerce students such as MS Office, Tally, or more advanced ones like SAP, C++, Java, E-commerce and so on.
• You can also opt for courses in a foreign languages which is always a big plus point for any professional in today’s global market. With the emergence of the Eastern and Asian economies languages such as Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are becoming as useful as French, German or Spanish.

Career Hotline
What are the career options for a student of history?
Pervin Malhotra

Q. I am awaiting my Class XII results. I had opted for humanities stream. History has been my favourite subject since Class VI and I am keen to take it up in college too. However, my family tells me that there is little scope apart from teaching if I take up this subject. Is this true? What all careers can I pursue after my graduation with this subject? — Ananya Agarwal

A. History involves both the study of individual societies over extended periods of time and the study of several societies simultaneously to enrich our understanding of the past.

Archaeology is an interesting specialisation for students of history as it involves field work as well as opportunities for research

It provides distinctive insights into differing political, cultural, social and economic structures in past societies and their interrelationship.

The study of history at higher levels includes the study of historiography, historical research methods and studies of specific periods.

History offers three main specialisations: archaeology, museology and archival studies. With a background in history, you can specialise in these fields as most of these courses are offered at the postgraduate level.

An archaeologist’s work is either research-based or field-oriented. Excavation work is only one aspect of archaeology. Most of them specialise in particular objects of study and thereby become experts on coins (numismatist), weapons, sculpture, deciphering of inscriptions (epigraphist), etc. Archaeologists are employed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is entrusted with the upkeep of 3,600 monuments, state departments of archaeology of different state governments, heritage bodies, museums and research institutions.

Heritage management is another interesting field of further study and occupation.

Museologists on the other hand, work in museums and much of their work is a combination of research, administration and public relations. As a museum curator, you could specialise in natural history, metals, terracotta, textiles, paintings, etc. This profession requires an artistic and aesthetic bent of mind combined with administrative skills. Your work would also include maintaining a record of each item i.e. from where it has been acquired, its age, conservation treatment and such details.

Archivists are well-versed in preservation, repairing parchment and paper and microfilming documents. They work in museums, libraries, the National Archives of India and in different state archives.

A degree in history equips you with a set of transferable skills applicable to a wide range of careers such as law, publishing, journalism and the media, museums, librarianship and archival work, teaching, advertising, work in the development sector, global charity work, etc.

History is also a popular optional subject for the Civil Services (Main) examination. If you are not intimidated by the vastness of the syllabus, it has a number of advantages: it’s easier to grasp, there’s no dearth of study material and it covers a key segment of the General Studies paper.

In addition to teaching history at the school and college level, historians are employed as researchers in historical research organisations such as Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and Indian Council of Social Sciences Research (ICSSR).

Acting talent

Q. I am fascinated by films and want to try my hand at acting. I have acted in a lot of school and college plays and was appreciated by friends and family. How should I go about converting my dream into reality? — Gurdeep Singh

A. The road to success in the film industry is long, tough and competitive. Of the thousands of starry-eyed girls and boys from across the country who board a train to Mumbai, only a few manage to even come close to entering a studio or film set. A rare one may manage to actually get an acting break. In other words, those who don’t have the right pedigree in Bollywood and still manage to get spotted and make a mark are seriously lucky.

Although it certainly helps, even training doesn’t assure you an entry into the film industry. Besides talent and that something “special”, you need the 3 Ps: passion, persistence and perseverance to pursue contacts (networking), and move in the right circles to get your foot in the door. And keep at it. Don’t let initial let-downs deter you.

Many have got into the profession by working their way up through small roles with reputed names in the industry. The road to success in this industry is long and tough.

Acting on the small screen (TV) is another lucrative option. It’s easier to break into and once you’ve done that, it’s easier to move to the big screen as many Bollywood aspirants have done.

Modelling and participating in talent hunts is yet another way to get noticed. Grab every opportunity to audition for plays, TV programmes, etc. there is no substitute to training on the job!

However, don’t discount the merits of training as talent is one thing, but honing it methodically will always work to your advantage.

Aspiring actors, be it for the stage or screen, are like rough diamonds that need cutting and polishing. A formal acting course helps you learn the techniques of conveying feelings or emotions through your voice, speech, body language etc. And practice makes perfect. It is the only way to polish your skills and get noticed in Bollywood.

It also helps you ascertain whether acting as a career is your cup of tea or not.

Do speak to professionals working in the entertainment industry — actors, casting directors, agents, producers and directors. They will give you some valuable ‘insider’ tips that will help you succeed.

And while you’re at it, do also examine other alternatives because the film industry does not offer any guarantee of permanent employment or fixed salaries.

Which is why it’s also best to complete your academic education so that you have a back-up plan in case your acting career get’s derailed or delayed.

email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com

Cool Counsel
Right focus will take you a long way
Upendra Bhatnagar

What most of the people, whether young or old, lack today is focus. They just run after an opportunity and join the race without knowing the consequences or the end result and get lost. Where as we should focus on the subject, execution process and the end result. Students are supposed to be focused towards their studies rather than entertainment, company of friends, indulgence in undesired activities. All students are alike when they join a class, but only a few of them top the ranking chart and rest of them are either average performers or fail altogether. Why? Where is the difference? The difference is of ‘focus’. Those who focus on becoming number one, could reach their goal while the rest just completed their journey.

Remember whatever you want to do in life, the most significant endeavour should be focus. Don’t just be success hungry, this hunger should be coupled with the skill of executing the job. Only then will you head in the right direction.

In order to maintain this focus one should keep in mind the following points:

• Learn to control and monitor your thoughts, ideas and dreams. When you get this control, you will realise that past, present and future all melt into one driving force to make you achieve your goal. History tells us that Siddhartha could become Gautam Buddha only because he was focused towards his mission. Like him anyone can achieve awakening provided he is focused towards his goal. Be calm, serene and focused to your ultimate goal.
• Meditation and spending time with oneself is a great way to nurture focus. This trains your mind to focus on your goals and gives you strength to overcome hurdles and difficulties in your path.
• Be aware of your shortcomings and try to overcome those. Our weaknesses are like tiny holes in a pitcher that keep on draining it. So the first step to maintain focus is to accept your weak points and then work on turning them into your strengths.
• Don’t be a slave of your ego, as ego is the biggest enemy of focus. It distracts the mind and shifts priorities. A man driven by ego finds it difficult to focus on his goal as all his energies are devoted towards nursing his ego rather than on working on his goal.
• If you have conviction and self confidence then it is very easy to maintain focus. The basic obstacle in our attainment of success in life is our own restricted vision about our strengths, capabilities and our own self. Remember each person is a fountainhead of energy; a volcano that is covered with the dust of unseen fears. Once we remove this dust, we will be different persons. If we focus on our emotions, thoughts and feelings connected to our energies, we can certainly change the direction of our life as we want to.

BE courses with a difference
In view of the changing dynamics of the increasingly competitive job market, Thapar University, Patiala, has introduced four new BE courses to equip students with specialised skills that would give them an edge over plain engineering graduates.
Gagan K Teja

BE Computer Engineering (Honours in Computer Animation and Gaming)

Duration: 4 years

Number of seats: 30

Recognising the immense scope for computer animation and gaming, the Computer Science Engineering Department of Thapar University has introduced a new BE course in Computer Engineering with Honours in Computer Animation and Gaming. Students opting for this course will get a head start over their peers, considering the phenomenal growth registered by the animation industry over the years and the huge opportunities thrown up by it.

The Indian animation industry, which is projected to grow up to Rs5,400 crore by the end of this year, offers excellent prospects for students who have acquired expertise in this field. Globally, too, the scope for animation and gaming has grown a lot with many international companies like DreamWorks, Pixar, Blue Sky and Sony Pictures out­sourcing their work. The comprehensive curriculum of this course is aimed at training students in all aspects of animation. It will give the students a thorough grounding in the fundamentals and techniques of animation, both 2D and 3D, design visualisation, image magic and digital sculpting. The students will be updated on the latest technologies and tools used in the animation and gaming industry. The engineering graduates in this emerging field can build highly successful careers as content developers, modellers, character animators, layout artists and 2D-3D animators.

BE (Software Engineering & Management)

Duration: 4 years

Number of seats: 30

In a first-of-its-kind course in the country, Thapar University’s School of Mathematics and Computer Applications, in association with the LM Thapar School of Management, will start a four-year BE programme in Software Engineering and Management from the coming academic session. This course promises the right blend of technical insights into software engineering and development of the skills required to manage the business-related aspects of these technologies, will provide significant managerial competencies to engineering students, thus giving them an edge over simple engineering graduates who have little understanding of management fundamentals. This programme will enable engineering graduates to coherently formulate business problems and identify and apply tools to solve them. Industry trends reflect the changing job profile of engineers as effective decision-makers who have to not only manage the existing infrastructure but also introduce new practices and technologies.

Students pursuing this course can look forward to a career in industrial management, high technology management, R&D management and entrepreneurship. The programme is designed to develop entrepreneurial capabilities in students so that they can be absorbed in the industry as technopreneurs. Apart from the core engineering domain, the students will get exposure to software testing and quality management, software design and construction, software architecture, software project management, finance, human resource management, operations and social and commercial entrepreneurship. The course will enable students to understand the contemporary business environment, advance their careers through interactive industry and research projects, design solutions that are sustainable and economically feasible and develop strategies for growth in their new role as techno-managers and technopreneurs.

BE Mechanical Engineering (Production)

Duration: 4 years

Number of seats: 30

The modern manufacturing industry needs to innovate, design, set up and maintain state-of-the-art production facilities that are globally competitive. Recognising the need to develop India into a world-class manufacturing hub, the Mechanical Engineering Department of Thapar University has started a new undergraduate programme in Mechanical Engineering (Production). This course has been envisaged to build upon the strong base in the traditional discipline of mechanical engineering by adding to it the dimensions of production and manufacturing engineering. The course will help in producing professional engineers who can manage production and manufacturing facilities. It will also enable them to implement policies and techniques capable of producing high-quality, competitively priced and diverse products suitable for national and international markets.

While graduates with a simple mechanical engineering degree may still have to be answerable to production engineers, as is the norm in many companies, especially multinationals, production engineers, on the other hand, control an entire manufacturing department and deal with everything right from the procurement of raw materials to the production and manufacturing processes involved till the product finally reaches the market. This course is designed to prepare mechanical engineers for this crucial managerial role. It promises them many openings in automobile companies, manufacturing industries, food processing industries, railways, IT companies and space and other research organisations for inspection, quality control, operation of automated equipment, production management and control of manufacturing processes. The Mechanical Engineering Department of the university has a strong base in traditional manufacturing, production and industrial engineering, and non-traditional manufacturing processes that involve advanced technologies.

BE Computer Engineering (Honours in Machine Learning and Data Analytics)

Duration: 4 years

Number of seats: 30

This new course being introduced by the Computer Science Engineering Department of the university from the coming academic session is aimed at meeting the challenges faced by the industry in storing and processing data in a meaningful way. These challenges have become bigger than ever before with data accumulating at tremendous rates. “Big Data”, the term used to describe a collection of data sets so large and complex that it becomes difficult to process it using on-hand database management tools or traditional data processing applications, is an IT trend which is on the rise. Data analysis methods in machine learning and statistics play a major role in industry. The enormous growth of data is driving the need for scalable, parallel and online algorithms and models that can handle the “Big Data”.

This course will teach students the fundamental computing skills necessary for collecting data and effective data analysis. They will learn how to program in R, a programming language, draw inferences and conclusions about real world phenomena and apply modern statistical methods. The students will also be able to explore the computational techniques associated with performing these analyses in the context of parallel and cloud architectures such as MapReduce (Hadoop) and GraphLab. The curriculum first gives a graduate-level introduction to machine learning before imparting in-depth knowledge of new and advanced methods. The course emphasises on approaches with practical relevance and discusses a number of recent applications of machine learning, such as to robotics, data mining, computer vision, and text and web data processing. Graduates in Machine Learning and Data Analytics can carve successful careers as research scientists in top-notch companies like Infosys, Microsoft and Xerox India.

A high flying career
With India’s civil aviation sector expanding rapidly, several international firms are setting up Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in India where all kinds of major repairs on aircrafts are undertaken.

The work

While MROs undertake major maintenance, there are several routine activities that are carried out during operational hours to ensure zero-error perfection level. Pre Flight inspection during transit at each station is one such activity conducted by Aircraft Maintenance Engineers who issue a Certificate Release to Service (CRS). Aircraft cannot fly without CRS or fitness certificate issued by AME. These are specialised jobs. Different airlines have different guidelines and policies for safety inspections but all align with those of the aviation safety authority in India — Director General of Civil Aviation, DGCA.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers are the key people to monitor safety measures both during daily operations and at the MRO facilities. Owing to the high safety standards, and civil aviation regulations, the education and license training programmes to become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer is governed by DGCA, and not by AICTE. To get a license to work as an AME on an aircraft, one has to undergo six semesters training and has to pass all the examinations conducted by the training institute and DGCA.

Getting in

A candidate can appear in the DGCA examination only when he or she has undergone a course at an institute approved by DGCA which closely monitors the curriculum. The eligibility of such courses is minimum Plus II or intermediate pass with physics, chemistry and mathematics.

AME Course: There are five semester of six months each for theory papers. Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (Basic) Course focuses on following areas of specialisation:-

• Mechanical Stream: (Aeroplane and Power plants) — Comprising light Aero plane(LA), Heavy Aero plane (HA), Piston Engine PE), and Jet Engine.
• Mechanical Stream: (Helicopter and Power plants) — Comprising Rotary Wing Aircraft (RA), Piston Engine (PE), and Jet Engine (JE).
• Avionics Stream: Comprising Electrical System (ES), Instrument System(IS), and Radio Navigation(RN)

Job opportunities

When it comes to aviation, people in general think of pilots or air-hostesses. However the truth is that for every operational aircraft, the industry needs 2-4 pilots, 6-10 cabin crew menbers, 25-30 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, and 50-60 ground staff. Since lots of new airlines are starting their operations in India, the demand for trained manpower is going to rise. Industry training opportunities are always available and are mentioned on the respective websites of all the major aircraft carrier and MRO companies. The demand for the type rated service engineers will be high in the industry. The starting package as a trainee is usually between Rs3 lakh and Rs4 lakh, which scales to Rs12-15 lakh per annum once type rated license are procured.

WHERE TO STUDY

• JRN Institute of Aviation Technology, New Delhi
• Bharat Institute of Aeronautics, Patna
• Indian Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, Kolkata
• Academy of Aviation Engineering, Bangalore
• Andhra Pradesh Aviation Academy, Hyderabad

With inputs from Rajiv Kumar Misra, Former DGM - Air India, and Principal, JRN Institute of Aviation Technology, New Delhi

Campus notes
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

Admission schedule

The admission schedule of the Guru Nanak Dev University for 2014-15 academic session for various courses has been released. Dr. Inderjit Singh, Registrar said the admission to various courses run on the university campus, regional campuses and university college, Jalandhar, would be accepted up to July 24, 2014 under normal schedule, but with the approval of the Head of the Department till July 30, 2014. Admission could also be sought with the permission Dean, Academic Affairs up to August 4 and with the consent of Vice-Chancellor up to August 7. Thereafter, a late fee of Rs5,000 would be imposed and the admission can be accepted between August 8 and 13, subject to the approval of the Syndicate.

Already enrolled students, who have been promoted to the next class, can seek admission till July 14. With the late fee of Rs200 along with the approval of head of the department, the admission would be done from July 15 to 21. Similarly, with late fees of Rs500 along with approval of Dean, Academic Affairs, the admission could be sought from July 22 to 28. With the late fees of Rs1000 and approval of Vice-Chancellor the admission would be given from July 29 to August 7. Between August 8 and 18, the admissions would be made with the approval of Syndicate with the late fee of Rs5000.

Admission to various courses following semester system being run in the affiliated colleges of Arts, Science, Social Science, Agriculture and constituents colleges, could be sought till July 7, 2014 without late fee, with a fine of Rs50 along with the approval of the Principal, till July 14.

He said the admissions would be done by these colleges from July 15 to 30 with late fees of Rs100 along with the approval of Dean, Academic Affairs of the University. The normal dates for the admission to various courses being run in the affiliated colleges of Arts, Science, Social Science, Agriculture colleges and constituent colleges is till July 7. From July 8 to 18, a fine of Rs. 50 along with the approval of the Principal would be a must.

National seminar

A National Seminar on “Agro-Processing Industry in North Western States of India – Performance, Prospects and Problems” was organised at the university recently. This seminar was organised by the Punjab School of Economics of the University & sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi. As many as 80 subject experts and research fraternity from various parts of the country participated in the seminar.

Prof. M.S. Hundal, Dean Academic Affairs presided over the seminar while Prof. S.P. Singh from IIT, Roorkee delivered the key-note address. In his keynote address, Prof. S.P. Singh emphasized that agro processed industry has huge potential but at the same time that there are many shortcomings like lack of productivity and suitable infrastructure.

Prof. Hundal in his presidential remarks emphasised the need to diversify agriculture and develop complementary industries. He said it was a matter of concern to get maximum yield of any crop with this limited agricultural land. He said that need-based agro industries needed to be encouraged keeping in view the agro product of that region.

Conference on Punjabi drama

A conference on ‘Punjabi Drama of 21st Century’ was organised by the School of Punjabi Studies at the Guru Nanak Dev University campus. As many as 40 eminent scholars from various universities and colleges participated in the conference.

Prof. A.S. Brar, Vice-Chancellor presided over the conference while Dr. Atamjit Singh, eminent dramatist delivered the key note address. Dr. Ajmer Singh Aulakh, prominent playwright and theatre director presided over. Uma Preetladi and Kewal Dhaliwal were the special guests on the occasion. Dr. Sukhdev Singh Khara detailed about the conference. Dr. Atamjit Singh said that drama should touch the core of the heart and should be simple to understand, so that viewers should feel themselves to be the part of on stage performance. He said that drama should be inspirational to give the encouragement to the audience.

Contributed by G.S. Paul
GNDU, Amritsar, Notes

in conversation
Training for success
Students should equip themselves with life skills that bring about a complete transformation not only professionally but also personally. For a fresher to be successful in his career it is important to be self-motivated and proactive in taking initiative to be a productive employee

A lot is being said about the huge skill and academia gap, which is impacting the growth of the country. When it comes to training, a lot of emphasis is laid on skills training which is imperative. However, one thing that is overlooked in this is the moulding of attitude and behavouiral skills of youngsters.

Some of the traits that organisations look for in students include interpersonal skills, communication skills, and behavioral traits such as attitude, motivation, time management, leadership skills and social grace. To be employable, students should participate in trainings that help build employability skills along with their formal education so that they are ready for their professional roles when they pass out.

This has led to a need for a wide-ranging training, which is being termed as “transformational training”. Transformational training is aimed at building the self-belief and resilience in individuals and in tough circumstances it is like a homing missile. It can help bridge the skill gap as it helps to integrate technical knowledge and interpersonal and management skills which can prepare students to keep pace with the growing challenges of the corporate world. “This training has a 360 degree approach and aims at developing its students from within and will equip them with employability skills”, says Sachin Adhikari, India’s first Transformational Training Designer & Chief Mentor of Achiever’s Zone. He talks about the key features and benefits of this training and how organisations are incoporating it in their training modules. Excerpts:

What is transformation training and how it can bridge the skill gap?

Transformational training aims at the overall development of the employees by improving their interpersonal and communication skills, leadership development, teamwork, time management and conflict management, thus building their overall self-belief.

It motivates individuals to have an entrepreneurial mindset where one sees every challenge as an opportunity which helps him/her to succeed in his professional and personal endeavours. Such transformed individuals are self-motivated to see the opportunities in day-to-day work and align the organisation’s objectives to their personal goals and well-being of the community.

How is traditional training failing businesses in retaining and motivating employees?

Traditional training approach does not consider a holistic approach, it focuses on imparting knowledge and skills which are not adequate to awaken employees and transform their behaviour by habit building.

Transformational training can help transform the behaviour and personality traits of an individual; it can inculcate positive attitude, self-belief and motivation by building successful habits.

What are the key elements of an effective transformational training module?

Transformational Training and development is the long-term solution to help corporate India cope with this fast-changing scenario. Unlike traditional training modules that are focused on professional expertise, experts have realised that motivational training which works on developing an individual from within, to inspire him to do his best in all aspects of his life, whether personal or professional is a much preferred training.

Why is this training relevant in the Indiam context?

Transformational training is becoming more relevant in a country like India where the education system does not delve enough into personality development. With globalisation and free market policy, our companies suddenly find themselves on the same plane as the rest of the developed economies. Leaders of such organisations need to be trained appropriately to be able to keep up with this competition and handle the stress that comes with it. A 360 degree training approach can help bridge this gap and prepare students to keep pace with the growing challenges of the corporate world.

 

An effective transformational training module must incorporate Analysing the training needs specific to the target group. The most important step in organising training programmes is to do a training-needs analysis to assess the training requirements Design — which implies that the module created by the experts has an understanding of the current role of the participants and maps their needs to not only leap to the next level of hierarchy in the organisation, but also to attain contentment in their personal roles In most organisations, there is no dedicated team for Talent Development and HR teams are not completely accountable for the training programmes designed for the employees. Thus, it is important to adapt Transformational Training programmes that will include evaluating how well the participants have learned and if they can apply their learning in their day-to-day work. Vision, Principals and Strategy are always shared top down and the learning from the on-ground execution is shared bottom up from employees. It should be a mid-way approach to top down and bottom-up approach of working Encouraging change agents, mentors, counsellors in the organisation who will drive the change under a visionary leader For an employee to be self-motivated he needs to align his personal goals along with the organisational needs and objectives. Transformational training continues to motivate its recipient until he finds his dream, passion, or purpose in what he does

As told to Geetu Vaid

cubicle trends
Inclusive strategy enhances productivity

Most Ind employees link inclusion to high performance: Report Feeling included rated very high among Indians as most employees, who feel more included, report going above and beyond the call of duty and suggest new product ideas and ways of getting work done, according to a recent study.

Among Indian women, perceptions of inclusion accounted for 46 per cent of innovation and 29 per cent of team citizenship, while among men, perceptions of inclusion accounted for 82 per cent of innovation and 61 per cent of team citizenship, says Catalyst’s new global report — Inclusive Leadership: The View From Six Countries.

The report surveyed over 1,500 employees from India, Australia, China (Shanghai), Germany, Mexico and the US.

“Developing and reinforcing altruistic leadership behaviours within the workforce, especially among emerging leaders, is a powerful way for companies to create a culture of inclusion and empowerment,” Catalyst India WRC Executive Director Shachi Irde said.

When employees feel they are in a supportive environment where their ideas are valued by senior leaders in an organisation, they are more willing to share their insights, she opined.

“This not only fosters innovation in the workplace, but also enhances organisational performance as well,” Irde said.

In China, inclusiveness accounted for 78 per cent of innovation and 71 per cent of team citizenship, while in Mexico it accounted for 51 per cent of innovation and 60 per cent of team citizenship.

Inclusiveness in Australia, Germany and the US accounted for 19-22 per cent of innovation and 29-41 per cent of team citizenship.

Globally, employees felt included when they perceived they were both similar to and distinct from their co-workers.

However, in India employees do not differentiate between belongingness and uniqueness, but see them as two sides of the same coin, equivalent indicators of inclusion.

In India, perceiving leaders as altruistic accounted for as much as 42 per cent of inclusion in both male and female employees.

“Characteristics like humility and courage are absolutely essential for creating more inclusive, dynamic workplaces around the world, where women and men can advance and thrive,” Catalyst President and CEO Deborah Gillis opined.

This report, she said, shows that small moments can have a big impact on innovation, performance and productivity.

“Leaders must be mindful of what makes employees feel included, and excluded, and develop skills that can help their companies attain inclusion for the long term,” she added. — PTI

youth economics: career expectations survey
More youngsters prefer to settle in India

As many as 84 per cent of graduation and post graduation students in Delhi NCR feel that India’s growth story will remain intact in coming times and thus prefer to settle in India for career prospects while the remaining 16 per cent are of the view that moving abroad would help them repay their education loans and attain good financials and better living standards for themselves. This has been revealed in a survey conducted by Research Bureau of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The survey 'Youth Economics: Career Expectations Survey' was undertaken during November 2013-February 2014 to understand the perception of students in terms of their career expectations, sources of income and managing finances and expenditure. During the course of the survey, a large sample of about 3,000 students, including graduation and post graduation courses/programmes, across colleges in Delhi NCR was conducted. It found that students grapple with multiple challenges such as lack of financial resources for pursuing education vis-à-vis ever increasing prices and lack of employment opportunities.

Career development plans

According to the survey, 55 per cent of the respondents said after the completion of their graduation/post-graduation, they would prefer to get a job to become self-sustainable financially as early as possible, while 29 per cent of the respondents were thinking about higher studies followed by entrepreneurship (12 per cent) and family business (4 per cent).

Of the total job aspirants, around 44 per cent of the students responded that they would prefer private sector jobs for excellent growth opportunities, fabulous remuneration packages and challenging roles. While 36 per cent respondents preferred the government jobs as they prefer a good combination of job security and privileges, stability and satisfaction. The remaining 20 per cent surveyed students were indifferent between the public or private sector jobs.

Financial dependence

According to the survey, a large share of the students (73 per cent) were found to be financially dependent on their parents, while 19 per cent of the students were dependent on scholarships or stipends, part time jobs like assisting accounts, giving tuitions etc and remaining 8 per cent were dependent on small home based businesses like trading, direct selling etc. As per the survey, almost all the students unanimously felt that volatility in global and domestic economic scenario have impacted their career planning and expectations.

“The biggest challenge to India’s growth story is its poor supply side infrastructure and if bottlenecks to supply side economics were removed, the country has potential to attain fastest economic growth in the world economic system”, said Sharad Jaipuria, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stressing that reforms in supply side infrastructure would pave the way for macro economic stability, increased consumption demand and millions of new jobs.

Happiness @ work
Gems of ancient wisdom
Productive breaks

Sometimes, in the middle of hectic activity, comes a break. One should not lose focus during the interval and utilise the interruption to do a rethink.

On the death of Huna chief Toramana in the fifth century, exiled King Narasimha Gupta Baladitya attacked Toramana’s puppet ruler Vainya Gupta and regained his kingdom Magadha. On hearing the news, Toramana’s son Mihirakula became very angry. But his counsellor advised patience. “For the moment, let Baladitya be. Just tell him to pay tribute. Consolidate your position first.” The break also gave Baladitya time to work on his position. Not only was his army strengthened, but art and culture were also promoted during that period.

The Mughal army had surrounded Ahmednagar fort. Its personnel started laying five mines to blow up the fort. In the night, Chand Bibi, the regent of Ahmednagar, told her soldiers to stealthily remove the gunpowder from the mines. At dawn, the Mughals spotted the Ahmednagar soldiers and fired at them. One mine exploded and a breach was made in the fort wall.

Afraid that the remaining mines might blow in their faces, the Mughal soldiers waited. But as the gunpowder had been removed, no blast occurred. But the Mughal reluctance to enter through the breach gave Ahmednagar masons enough time to close the gap. As both sides could make no headway, a peace plan was agreed upon.

On April 20, 1526, Babur defeated Sultan Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat. The Mughals continued to rule till the First War of Indian Independence in 1857 except for a brief period when Sher Shah made Mughal Emperor Humayun flee from India in 1540. In the small period of five years that he got as Emperor of Hindustan, Sher Shah struck coins that became the basis of our existing currency and extended the Grand Trunk Road.

To become invincible Ravana’s son, Meghnad, needed to perform a sacrifice. But the enemy was not giving him any time. So he created an illusory Sita and took her along to the battlefield. Then, in full public view, he killed her. On seeing it, Rama and his army lost the will to fight. This would have given Meghnad the time he needed to perform the sacrifice, but for his uncle Vibheeshana. He and Lakshman attacked and killed Meghnad before he could finish the ritual.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak fought for the nation’s freedom and when he was put in jail he read and wrote books. In Yeravda jail, German scholar Prof Max Mueller sent him his translation of the Rig Veda. In the five years and eight months that he spent in Mandalay jail, Tilak wrote the “Gita Rahasya”.

In the lull, prepare for the storm.

— Sai R. Vaidyanathan

The writer can be contacted at svaidyanathan@tribunemail.com

Scholarship roundup

For Indian PhD students

To support the continued growth of its international research connections the University of Sheffield is funding 10 new scholarships for Indian graduates to study for a PhD in the UK from October 2014. The scholarships were announced by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sir Keith Burnett during his visit to India and will allow the successful applicants to join a number of the University’s new and established doctoral training centres in a range of research areas.

Eligibility: The scholarships are open only for Indian applicants who are currently Indian residents and who have acquired first divisions in their bachelor and master’s degree from a recognised Indian university.

The scholarships will be awarded to the merotorious applicants and are suited for scholars interested in adding an international dimension to doctoral studies at Sheffield and who will value the opportunity as a platform to a productive research career in India and beyond.

Details: The Vice-Chancellor’s Indian Scholarships will pay a full overseas tuition fees and an annual, tax-free maintenance stipend at the standard UK research council rate (£13,683 in 2014-15).

Subject areas: The scholarships are offered across six doctoral training centres in; Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences, Environmental Science, Cell Biology, Metallics (Engineering) and Energy Storage (Engineering) and all encourage applications from a range of academic backgrounds.

Criteria for selection: The scholarships will be awarded through assessment on the basis of academic success and qualifications, experience, research background, a clear well-articulated research proposal, the potential impact of the research and a good match with supervisor/ departmental expertise.

How to apply: Prospective students would need to apply for their first year of study on a full-time PhD with the University in the 2014-15 academic year on a project aligned to the research area of one of the selected Doctoral Training Centres.

Deadline: May 30, 2014 at 12 noon (UK time)

Check out: www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/scholarships/vcindia

Colleges and contests

National Geoscience Awards

The Ministry of Mines invites nominations from the individuals/team of geo-scientists/ engineers /technologists/academicians in order to recognise their meritorious contributions in the field of fundamental or applied geosciences, mining and allied areas with a view to provide them an incentive for striving towards excellence. The awards will be given each year.

The National Geoscience Awards are of three categories:

National Geoscience Award For Excellence: Award for Excellence is made to one outstanding geo scientists/ engineers /technologists/academicians for his lifetime achievements and significant contribution in any field(s) of Geosciences. The award carries a cash prize of Rs500,000, a certificate, a citation and a trophy.

National Geoscience Awards: Nineteen awards are given to geo-scientists/engineers/technologists/academicians individually or to team(s) in recognition of meritorious contribution in any of the following fields; Discovery & exploration for minerals, coal, lignite & coal bed methane, oil, natural gas & gas hydrates and, groundwater, mining technology, mineral beneficiation (including mineral economics), sustainable mineral development, stratigraphy, structural geology, paleontology, geomorphology, Economic Geology, Geodynamics, petrology and geochemistry, applied geology, geophysics / applied geophysics, geo-environmental studies, disaster management, ocean development, geo-information system and Glaciology and Antarctic Research. Each award carries a cash prize of Rs200,000, a certificate, a citation and a trophy.

Young Researcher Award: This is a single award for research work in any field of geoscience to Researchers / Scientists from Universities, academic and professional institutions who are below 30 years of age as on the 31st December of the Year of Award. Award carries a cash prize of Rs50,000 a certificate, a citation and a trophy.

Eligibility: Any citizen of India who is a professionally qualified geo-scientists / engineers /technologists/academicianswith significant contribution in any of the field specified in Clause 3 of the Regulation shall be eligible for the National Geoscience Awards.

Nominations: The nominations for the National Geoscience Award for Excellence —2013 and the National Geoscience Awards — 2013 and one Young Researcher Award — 2013 are invited from individuals through designated sponsoring organisations as mentioned in Clause 9 of the Regulations.

Deadline: May 31, 2014

Check out: www.mines.nic.in