CAMPUS
IGNOU to introduce two-year MCA from 2005
Smriti Kak

The Indira Gandhi Open University has offered the opportunity of joining from the third semester of Master of Computer Application under its Lateral Entry Scheme from January 2005 session for all those fulfilling the eligibility criteria and passing the qualifying examination.

For candidates passing the qualifying examination, the course would be for two years instead of the usual three years. Detailed information in the prospectus could be obtained from the Regional Centre or Director SRE, IGNOU at Maidan Garhi here at Rs 500. The examination fee of Rs 1,000 along with the application in the form of a demand draft could be sent till March 31, 2004.

IGNOU has also announced the launch of four certificate programmes for rural artisans. The programmes, each of six months’ duration, will be skill-based and enable the learners to be self-entrepreneurs, IGNOU said in a statement.

Under the ‘Project of Rural Artisans Vocational Qualification Guru-Shishya Programme’, stress would be on transfer of adequate modern and traditional technical and occupational skills to the learners.

Lingerie award

Ritika Gupta, a fashion designing student at Pearl Academy of Fashion, has won the ‘Young Lingerie Designer Award’ at Bodywear 2004 contest.

Ritika’s range for the bridal collection represents a “bride who flaunts her beauty with pride. She is the woman whose notorious heart is sinking in love and she lets her emotions flow”. The contest was divided into various categories, the bridal wear, nightwear, swimsuits, day-in-day-out and sports wear.

Of the 500 entries received in the form of designs, 10 best entries were selected for the second round by judges including Meher Castellino, Ashok Salian, Viren Shah, Rehan Shah, Harish Mulchandani, Shelly Manocha in a fashion show held in Bombay.

The final round was held in Delhi on February 3 with five best entries in a fashion show, at NSIC exhibition centre, Okhla, New Delhi. NIFT, Wigan and Leigh, B D Somani and IIFT were also represented in the contest.

Convocation ceremony

A Convocation Ceremony was held at the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry auditorium to felicitate students of Aptech Computer Education, Arena Multimedia and SSI Education, power brands of IT training major, Aptech Limited.

The highlights of the evening were the presentations by guest speakers. While Dr Gulshan Rai, Executive Director – ERNET talked about the ‘Emerging trends in the IT industry’, Mr Rajiv Puri, CEO – Jobsahead.com shed light on the plethora of ‘Career opportunities in the resurgent IT industry’.

The event saw massive student participation and served as a forum for Aptech students to interact with leading lights from the IT industry. While congratulating all successful Aptechites at the Convocation ceremony, Pramod Khera, CEO and MD, Aptech Limited said, “The IT industry is in a resurgent mood and leading IT companies are on a hiring spree. With the advantage of Aptech’s industry relevant curriculum behind them, I am confident Aptechites present at this Convocation will create a niche for themselves.”

Among those present were Mr A.M. Thimmiya, National Head - Aptech Computer Education; Mr Atul Vohra, National Head - Arena Multimedia and Mr K. Venkatesh, National Head - SSI Education.

‘Comprehensive solutions to complex business situations’

Mr Sudarshan Banerjee, ICC, Chief Patron (Asia) and MD & CEO, Dalmia Consumer Care launched International Consulting Consortium (ICC) here last week, which will be instrumental in international project outsourcing, knowledge sharing and information exchange, global networking and job search among other activities.

The ICC consists of consulting clubs of 14 premier business schools like London Business School, Emory University, Marshall School Of Business, Indiana University, Richard Ivey School Of Business, University Of Michigan, Melbourne Business School, UCLA (Anderson), New York Stern University and Indian Institute Of Management Calcutta, which has conceptualised it.

Dr Uddesh Kohli, Senior Vice-President, All India Management Association (AIMA) & Chairman, Consultancy Development Centre India (CDC) presided over the occasion.

‘International Consulting Consortium, a global association of consulting clubs, is representative of members from various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. The consultancy provided by the consortium, thereby marks an ‘observer approach’ and an ‘ear to the ground’ perspective.

Analysing business realties, identifying the source of business problems, and offering customized solutions will be the objective of the consortium.’ observed M Scalem, Chairperson, International Consulting Consortium.

The Consortium is a student initiative and a student-run body. With a horizontal decentralised organisational structure, the consortium will hold international consulting festivals, contests, seminars and talks by eminent personalities. The target audience would include professionals besides students of national and international B-Schools.

Aerobic instructor course

Reebok has announced the first Reebok’s Aerobic Instructor Certification Course for the year 2004, in New Delhi. The certification course would begin from February 20, 2004 and would be held at Club Xcell, GK-I, New Delhi. Targeted at aerobic instructors and fitness enthusiasts, Reebok conducts the Instructor Certification Course twice a year in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

The 10-week certification course imparts a sound foundation in theory and practicals and covers a vast variety of topics related to cardio- vascular fitness. Anatomy, exercise physiology, scientific principles of exercise, diet and nutrition and injuries are some of the topics covered and a full Step Reebok program along with basic aerobics is taught during this course. The course spans over 80 hours and at the end of the training period a written and practical exam is conducted in Basic Aerobics and Step Reebok. The students need to score a minimum of 70% to qualify. Certificates in Basic Aerobics and Step are awarded to successful candidates at the end of the certification programme.

Management education

Universitas 21 Global, a venture of 16 universities worldwide, has tied up with Zee Interactive Learning Systems Ltd for imparting management education and appointed a job portal in India as its placement partner.

Universitas 21 Global will be utilising Zee Intractive’s network of 300 study centres to impart its online management education.

Universitas, which started last year, has enrolled 200 students worldwide for its management programme and of whom 30 per cent are in India. It has also applied for AICTE recognition in India for its programme.

IIPM seminar

The final year students of IIPM organised a seminar on ‘The Evolutionary Process of Media and its Impact’. The focus was to discuss on how the media has evolved over the years, how marketers can capture value through the various forms media and how technology and evolutionary trends in media are changing the concept of advertising.

A three-minute short film, ‘Love Story’ on the relationship by media and consumers over the years was also screened.

Seminar on Jats

The Research and Publication centre of Surajmal Memorial Education Society organised a two-day national seminar on ‘The Jats: Their role and Contribution to the Socio-Economic Life and Polity of North and North West India’.

The function was inaugurated by Prof. G C Saxena, Vice-Chancellor, B R Ambedkar University, Agra. Speaking on the occasion, he acknowledged the initiative to organise a seminar, which will help the Jat community to be recognised for their contribution towards nation building.

Prof. K L Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Jaipur University delivered the keynote address.

Kirori Mal fiesta Kirori Mal’s College’s annual fiesta ‘Renaissance’ was a three days of non-stop fun. Shibani Kashyap was among the performers at Renaissance. Performing on the first day, she belted out numbers including her latest ‘Sajna aa bhi ja’. The singer also relied on her old numbers to make the crowd shake a leg.

Shibani Kashyap at the annual fiesta of Kirori Mal College, Renaissance.