Q I have done M.Sc Biotech. I am now thinking of starting my own biotech company. Is it a good idea?

— Deepak Makhija

A An academic degree does not guarantee success in business which is a completely different ball-game altogether. You need the necessary finances, entrepreneurial capability and a solid business idea — particularly in a hi-tech field like biotech.

Some experience of working in the industry would familiarise you with the practical aspects of marketing, sourcing, manufacturing and managing a business.

Here are a couple of institutions that would help you formulate your plan and provide you the right information and guidance:

Promoted by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), GoI, Biotech Consortium India Ltd.(BCIL) provides linkages amongst research institutions, industry, government and funding institutions, to facilitate commercialisation of biotechnology. BCIL also operates an industrial training and placement programme through which postgraduates with the right aptitude for biotechnology are provided industrial training to orient them in commercial biotechnology. Over 100 trainees have been trained and placed during the last five years.

The programme provides the following inputs:

• Broad Business Plan: The BCIL provides an overview of various aspects (e.g. market potential, aspects of manpower, machinery, raw material, finance, regulatory, marketing etc) relevant for venturing into a particular biotech area.

• Feasibility studies: Feasibility studies include the viability of a particular venture in a given set of macro-environment forces e.g. demographic, technological, economic, political and social environment.

• Diversification strategies: Entry level strategies for small, medium and large sized companies planning to enter into biotech. This includes SWOT analysis of the organisation, identification of suitable product groups and market entry strategy.

• Market assessment: Market Assessment study focuses on the status of the product/product group, size of the market, end-user segments, analyzing market needs for a given biotech.

• Market Entry / marketing & promotion strategies: These include identifying the competition, market segments, market targeting, product differentiation and positioning and designing marketing strategies.

• Strategic alliances & partner identification: This Involves identifying suitable technology partners in the given area in keeping with the client’s needs for joint-venture, licensing, direct/indirect exports or direct investment.

Log on to the BCIL website for a wealth of information: www.biotech.co.in

Q I have been told that certain institutes in the USA don’t require TOEFL scores to evaluate a student’s English proficiency. Is this true?

— Balvinder Singh

A Yes that is correct. Many institutions do not require TOEFL test scores from certain international applicants e.g. Holders of degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English-speaking countries like USA, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand.

Those who have successfully completed at least a two-year course of study in which English was the language of instruction.

Those who have taken the TOEFL within the last two years.

Students from USA or Canada who have taken a transfer and whose academic course work was favourably evaluated for content and duration.

Also non-native Americans who have successfully pursued academic work at schools where English was the language of instruction in an English-speaking country for a specified period — generally two years.

Ideally, you should contact your prospective institution directly concerning specific admission requirements.

A word of advice: Do check the credentials of the school that don’t ask for TOEFL scores. They are generally not the best of schools!

Q I am in the final year of B.Sc (Agri). Now I want to do M.Sc (Medicinal Plants). Which universities offer this specialisation and what is the business potential of this field?

— Manpreet Bedi

A You can pursue MSc in medicinal plants at the following universities:

lThe Central Institute of Medical & Aromatic Plants, P O CIMAP, Lucknow 226015. CIMAP develops agrotechnologies for economically significant medicinal and aromatic plants. It also conducts basic research in phytochemistry, plant physiology and biochemistry, pathology, genetics, entomology and pharmacognosy (plant biology, organic chemistry).

lYou can also get in touch with some of the leading agricultural universities like Punjab Agricultural University, G.B Pant University, Pant Nagar, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi or Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry in Solan or the CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur, for technical guidance and details.

lGujarat Ayurved University, Administrative Bhavan, Irwin Hospital Rd, Jamnagar 361008, (Guj). Also offers Diploma in Medicinal Plants.

lGulbarga University, ‘Jnana Ganga’, Gulbarga 585106 (Karn).

lUniversity of Madras, Institute of Correspondence Education, Chepauk, Chennai (www.universityofmadras-ice.ac.in) offers a 6-month Certificate in Herbal Farming and 1-year PG Diplomas Medicinal & Aromatic Plants through distance learning, which you may find useful.

lGandhigram Rural Institute (Deemed University), Dindigul Distt Gandhiram 624302 (TN) offers a Certificate course in Medicinal Plants.

lThe University of Madras, Institute of Correspondence Education, Chepauk, Chennai (www.universityofmadras-ice.ac.in) offers a 6-month Certificate in Herbal Farming and 1-year PG Diplomas Medicinal & Aromatic Plants through distance learning, which you may find convenient and useful.

lAromatic & Medicinal Plants Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Odakkali (www.kau.edu) is a lead centre for lemon grass research at the national and international level. Set up to promote conservation of endangered species of medicinal and aromatic plants, AMPRS has standardised the farm management practices and post-harvest technology of such plants.

Q Our daughter has studied throughout in a small town in Punjab and I feel she lacks some of the essential social graces. Please tell me whether we should send her to a finishing school for some grooming?

— Harbinder Kaur

A A well-adjusted person is comfortable with herself and her surroundings, so being a good individual is the starting point. But factors like politeness, manners, grooming and attitude do add to the total picture.

From impeccable table manners to good diction and deportment — a finishing school will groom her in social, communication and presentation skills. This in turn will instill the necessary confidence, grace, poise and a positive attitude.

Finishing schools typically focus on protocol, business, social and telephone etiquette, fine dining, entertaining, interview skills, conversational skills, voice modulation, public speaking, fitness, yoga and healthcare, deportment, personal grooming (make-up, skin and hair care), dressing appropriately for formal and informal occasions, ballroom dancing, entertaining, menu planning, correspondence and even gift giving.

Whereas earlier only girls signed up for finishing schools, now the clientele consists of a fair sprinkling of males as well.

Some people might lack the ability to effectively project their competence despite having the requisite knowledge and qualifications for a job. Even employees must project the right image since they are the brand ambassadors of the company.

The message is simple - you need to look good, behave in a refined manner and know how to handle your fork and knife (and champagne flute).

With TV opening windows to the world, a number of finishing schools have cropped up, but many of them are sheer rip-offs. Check them out carefully before you enroll. Also, refinement does not come cheap. The fees can range between Rs 5000 for an 8-session course to Rs 25,000 for a customised one-on-one package.

I am not a ware of any good finishing schools in Punjab (perhaps there are so me in Chandigarh), but you could send her for a brief stint to any of the following short-term courses in Delhi:

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, KG Marg, New Delhi.(Personality Grooming & Public Speaking, 2-month, evening; (www.bvbdelhi.org)

Please send in your query, preferably on a postcard, along with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers@tribunemail.com