Foreign Languages

Introduction:
Language skills can prove to be an important attribute in many professions. A career in foreign language has always been an attractive proposition, especially for those who have a flair for languages. The opportunities are starting from tour operators to interpretor and translators. While interpreters are concerned with interpreting the spoken statements from one language to another, translators have more to do with translating the written documents from one language to another.
With the globalisation of Indian economy, multinationals coming to India and more and more companies going for joint ventures abroad, have opened up job scenario for those proficient in foreign languages. Academic qualifications in foreign languages helps in pursuing careers in the areas of tourism, entertainment, public relations and mass communication, international organisations, embassies, diplomatic service, publishing, interpretation and translation etc.
Nature of Work:
Though the fact is that opportunities for regular employment are far and few and are mostly in metropolitan cities, but on attaining professional qualification in foreign languages, one can work in the following areas.
TEACHING: The most common of all the available career options in foreign language is teaching. Teaching of foreign language is just like teaching any other language. For newcomers, it is advisable to start with teaching. As a teacher, a person gets enough opportunities to enhance his skills. As far as teaching jobs are concerned, many institutions are offering courses in foreign languages and so jobs exists at all levels. Those reluctant to engage themselves in a full-time profession, can take private tuition as well.
INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS: Interpreters and translators both need to have a good command over two or more languages. Interpreters job relates to interpreting spoken words of one language into another, therefore needs to have not only good command over the language but having excellent verbal communication skills also becomes important.
The job of an interpreter can be of different types. Sometimes they are engaged in simultaneous interpretation, which is used for meetings, conferences, speeches etc. Here the interpreters sits in a sound proof room and listens to speeches and almost spontaneously interprets it in the target language into a microphone. The other type of interpretings are consecutive interpreting and liason interpreting. Consecutive interpreting goes on during formal speeches where the speaker halts for a while when the interpreter interprets the spoken statements to the audience. Liason interpreting is to facilitate conversation between to people knowing different languages.
Translation work can be related to a variety of fields like technical, scientific literary or business. Translators work on books, scripts, articles and translate them into specified languages. Apart from having linguistic skills, a translator must possess adequate knowledge in the area of the work so as to maintain the style and essence of the orignal text.
FREELANCING: Often, after pursuing courses in foreign languages, people like to work as freelancers. These people get work in translation bureaus, research organisations, international organisations like UNO, FAO, foreign companies, Reserve Bank of India, publishing houses etc. Expertise in foreign language coupled with other additional qualifications in areas like management, tourism, hospitality industry, airlines can be even fruitful and better the chances for employment opportunities.
Personality:
Linguistic ability is nurtured from an early stage and improves with its regular and correct usage, therefore important to practice it regularly. Learning languages can be exhaustive as at times it takes long before one gets acquainted with it. So it is important to be patient and deligent. For language specialists, it is imperative to have good verbal aptitude and interest in those areas where they get to work as a language specialist. Linguists work with a variety of people and under various settings hence need to have adaptability and a pleasant demeanour. They should also be able to handle work pressure and withstand strain as sometimes working hours may be prolonged.
Professional Courses:
Foreign language courses can be studied after 10+2 as a 3 years graduate course or even as 5 years integrated language course in the universities offering such courses. Some universities even offer diploma/certificate courses for graduates and post graduates. The other option is to pursue these courses at the institutes run by embassies and counsulates. These institutes offer both basic and advanced level courses, some of them extending upto 5-6 years.
Career Prospects:
International organisations and embassies employ language specialists for secretatial, executive and public relation assignments as well as for translations and interpretations jobs. Translators are also found to be employed with industries, publishing houses, government and research organisations. Other job opportunities for language specialist lie with the travel and tourism sector, hotel industry, exhibitions and fairs, airlines offices, export agencies, radio stations and trade organisations. Teaching can also be given a thought. For pursuing a career in teaching, a teacher should be a graduate in that foreign language and must have a teaching degree.
Remunerations:
Emoluments vary with the kind and the place of work. For instance, a career in teaching can earn anything from Rs.10000/- p.m to Rs. 20000/- p.m. A Lecturer's pay scale is between Rs. 10000/- p.m. to Rs. 13000/- p.m. and professors can expect over Rs. 18000/- p.m. Those working as translators get paid between Rs. 50/- to Rs.100/- per page. An interpreter gets paid on hourly basis and at present the rate varies from Rs. 300/- to Rs. 500/- per hour. For those working with embassies can get paid between Rs. 8000/- p.m. to Rs. 10000/- p.m.

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Veterinary Science as a career

Introduction:
Veterinary science is a medical profession that deals with the control of disease in animals. A veterinarian or a doctor of animals' primary responsibility is to look after the health and welfare of the animals. It also includes the breeding and scientific handling of livestock. Veterinarians can choose to work in urban areas, where the work would mostly include the care and handling of domestic pets, or with the government's animal husbandry departments.
The demand for veterinary doctors has increased tremendously. More and more people are keeping pets, both for companionship and protection, than ever before. Many more women, too, are entering this profession today.
Nature of Work:
The job profile of veterinarians is probably much more than that of a general physician or a surgeon.
They diagnose the disease; work to prevent and control animal diseases; treat sick and injured animals; prevent the transmission of the animal diseases to people and advise owners on proper care of the pets and the livestock.
Approach in treatment can also vary according to different animals. Those handling domestic pets have to keep in mind the owner's attachment to the pet and provide individual attention and care.
In farm animal practice, vets are concerned not only with treating animals which are owner's investment, but also with advising on the well-being and productivity of the entire stock.
Personality:
A veterinarian should have a genuine love for animals. Aptitude and interest in the biological sciences are important. Scientific learning and undertaking of animals is required.
Working with large animals requires physical stamina and quick body reflexes to tackle the animal's moody behaviour. Other qualities are:- ability to inspire confidence in animals; power of observation and self-reliance; adaptability; indifference to the occasionally disagreeable conditions of work; the ability for team work.
Professional Courses:

• College of Veterinary Science, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
• College of Veterinary Science, Guwahati, Assam.
• College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Ranchi, Jharkhand.
• Bihar Veterinary College, Patna, Bihar.
• College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anand, Gujarat.
• Bombay Veterinary College, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• College of Veterinary Science, Ludhiana, Punjab.
• College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner, Rajasthan.
• Madras Veterinary College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
• College of Veterinary Science, Pantnagar, Uttar Pradesh.
• Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai.
• West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Calcutta.
  

Specialization:
Most veterinary surgeons develop a particular area of expertise.
Private Practice:- Veterinary doctors in urban areas can set up private practice to deal mainly with small or domestic animals. This can be quite profitable, especially in big cities, but tends to get restricted to canine and feline pets.
Hospitals:- Veterinary surgeons attached to veterinary hospitals in cities may also find themselves handling mainly domestic pets. But the government postings could also be in rural areas where responsibilities extend to cattle, sheep, goats, horses, poultry, etc.
Extension Officers:- Veterinary doctors are required for extension programmes, i.e. they educate and encourage livestock farmers to build up the quality of their animal stock. They also advise on animal farm management and animal health problems.
Dairy Sector:- The veterinarian doctors employed by the dairy sector work at ensuring increasing yields in milk production, and also the health and breeding of dairy cattle.
Pharmaceutical Companies:- Veterinarians are employed in the pharmaceutical companies where they handle the production of vaccines, or the development of animal feeds and fertilizers. Wildlife and Environment:- Vets play an important role in captive breeding of wild animals, particularly those feared to be getting extinct. This helps in maintaining the ecological balance and in catering to the health of wild animals.
Career Prospects:
Within the veterinary field itself, there are several career options. After a student graduates as a vet, he/she can opt for a Post Graduation or Ph.D. in specialized areas like surgery, andrology or medicine, or take up the job of a livestock development officer. Other than these, a vet can also join dairy and poultry farms as a doctor or become a marketing officer for a pharmaceutical company.
Wildlife and zoo veterinarians promote natural ecology and cater to the health problems in wildlife in zoos, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
Army veterinarians can work as officers of the Remount Veterinary corps.
Remunerations:
In India, an average vet makes anything between Rs.10,000 to Rs.80,000 per month. This depends upon the kind of practice and the animals that are treated.

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Leather Technology as a career

Introduction:
Leather technology in recent times is fast emerging as a lucrative career option. Until a few years ago, those who happened to be in the industry were there through experience rather than through any formal training. But now, in India, scores of institutes are offering certificate as well as diploma courses in designing as well as production, adding a much needed professionalism to this industry.
The Indian leather industry is growing by leaps and bounds. One must be wondering why is India exporting so much of leather to western countries. Apparently because leatherwear still enjoys a great demand abroad and nowadays even the domestic market is developing and consuming the offerings of this industry. To many, it would also be a surprise to know that the Indian Leather industry is the fourth largest export earner in the country. One can only imagine what shape this industry takes on further maturing.
Nature of Work:
The demand of the leather goods is on the rise and is expected to grow further. With more and more multinationals coming to India, this industry is poised to become a hi-tech industry. Leatherwear constitutes a variety of products ranging from footwear and accessories like belts, bags, purses and caps to toys, upholstery, baggage, musical instruments, garment tags, gift items etc. The largest sub-section of this industry is still footwear, despite growing competition from the materials like synthetics and fabric.
At present, most of the people in this industry are not trained but now with this industry advancing and developing both technologically and professionally, it calls for qualified professionals to cater to the needs and requirements of the people. Thinking of this industry as a career option, one can either take up designing or may get into the technical side that is production, depending upon the interest and aptitude. Both the options are rewarding. As far as designing is concerned, worldover, designers have started using leather as an important part of their designer wear and accessories, which has made leather amongst the top apparel material. The other option being production is also not a bad proposition. On attaining requisite qualifications in the field of production, one can start working with leather manufactuing companies and tanneries. On gaining experience setting up self owned production unit can also be given a thought. The initiative can be advantageous as it is a low cost-intensive small scale unit, requiring relatively small investment, cheap labour, raw material and minimal power supply.
Personality:
Leather industry as such, does not ask for very special attributes but just like any other industry, to be a high achiever, commitment, dedication and hardwork are the key, the same goes true for this industry. If one happens to be in the production line. The work can be quite tiring, specially while working in the tanneries and production houses, often involving a lot of physical hardwork and strain.
Designing sucessfully, on the other hand is more of a combination of mental ability and artistic finesse. Creativity with uniqueness can do wonders for designers. So being creative and orignal is of utmost importance. They should combine well their mental ability to constantly think and come up with new ideas, with dexterity so as to give shape to their ideas.
Professional Courses:
Whether designing or production of leather garments, footwear or accessories, professional qualification is important to up-date with the latest international standards and competition. The various institutes offering courses in leather garment designing and technology are as follows.

• Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Adyar, Chennai 600020.
• College of Leather Technology, Salt lake City, Calcuttta 700091.
• Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), Noida 201301.
• Centeral Footwear Training Institute (CFTI), Agra.
• National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi 110016.
• AVI School of Fashion and Shoe Technology, S.C.O., 493-94, 2nd Floor, Sector 35-C, Chandigarh.
  Shoe Design Centre, 5477/72, Kikarwala Chowk, Karol Bagh, New Delhi 110005
• Central Footwear Training Institute (CFTI), 65/1, GST Road, Guindy, Chennai 600032.
• Indian Institute of Leather Products (IILP),102, Mangalapuram, SIDCO Industrial Estate, Ambattur, Chennai.
• Prototype Development and Training Centre (PDTC), National Small Industries Development Organisation, Guindy Industrial Estate, Ekkaduthangal, PO, Chennai 600097.
• VTA Institutes of Leather and Leather Products, 21, Kailashgiri Road, Udaendram, Vaniyambadi 635734.
• Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology, Muzaffarpur 842003.
• Anna University, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai 600025.
• Bharath Institute of Science and Technology, 173, Agharam Road, Selaiyur PO, Chennai 600073.
• Priyadarshini Engineering College, Anna Salai, Konamedu, Vaniyambadi, 635751, Vellore Distt.
• Harcourt Butter Technological Institute, Kanpur 208002.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Regional Engineering College, P.O., REC Jalandhar 144011.
  Colleges, Institutions and Universities

Career Prospects:
The leather industry is set to boom with bright career opportunities in both technical and designing areas. The Indian corporates alongwith foreign multinationals in this industry have made it possible to look forward to exciting employment options. Earlier Indian exports included only raw materials, but now leather goods are fast catching up with increasing acceptance in the international markets. This has enhanced opportunities for designers.
Designers are found to be working with footwear companies as technical designers and stylist designers. While Technical designers train themselves in pattern making, cutting, designing, Stylist designers are responsible for updating the product in fashion and style. Designers are also employed by leather garment production houses and boutiques. Established designers also hire young designers to work under them.
On gaining sufficient experience, one can also set up his own unit for production and marketing of leather based products. As far as career growth and progression is concerned it is purely performance based and there is no limit to what one can achieve.
Remunerations:
As most of the jobs are in the private sector, pay is generally high. With Multinationals setting up their bases in India, this industry is no longer confined to small scale and financial returns can be quite satisfactory. Fresh recruits can expect a starting pay package between Rs. 5000 - 10000 p.m., depending upon their qualifications and the size of the organisation. For freelancers and those self-employed in their own units returns are not fixed. It varies from one another based on individual performance.

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Spa and Massage Therapist as a career

Introduction:
The life today is becoming hectic, with people hardly having any breathing space or a moment to call their own. Hence turning over to specialized ways of relaxation to revitalize themselves is the only way out to chill and unwind. This is also the need of the hour as the stress levels of people are increasing day by day with rising competition in the markets. This therefore has given rise to careers in Massage and Spa Therapy.
Nature of Work:
Not long ago, it was frequented only by the cream section of the society. They were the people who had enough means to indulge in such luxuries. Today, however the rules are changing and people of all sections of the society are inclined towards this thing. Demand for the fully trained massage and spa therapist professionals has been on the rise over the years, as many clubs and hotels prefer to include massage and spa therapy, for the ultimate customer satisfaction.
Personality:
A Massage therapist is not a career for the shy (you'll need to tell complete strangers to take their clothers off and get under a sheet), the restless (complete concentration at all times is a must), or anyone with hang-ups about making skin-to-skin contact with people off the street who migh call to schedule an appointment. One need to believe in the healing power of the human touch to come to this field with an open mind, ready hands and a desire to help others. A massage therapist is charged with reducing stress, relieving muscle aches and pains and lulling clients into a state of blissful relaxation.
Massage is a physically demanding and thse who practice must be in good shape. Masseurs must be ready for any personality or body type to walk into the treatment room.
Having a thick skin will come in handy as clients can be critical if the massage isn't exactly the way they want it to be.
Moreover, good interpersonal skills and a grasp of good conversational skills could take a professional a long way.
Professional Courses:
The professional courses in Massage and Spa Therapist careers are also availing popularity with its rising demand. Courses and programs intended to teach massage and spa therapy, endows the students with skills, essential to provide the best in massage and spa therapy.
Programs of massage and spa therapy, helps students to learn about the basic physiology and anatomy of the human body. It also enables better understanding of different types of body forms and for identifying its imperfections. Students learn about the various forms of massage and spa therapy and also about the conditions that can be rectified or healed through massaging.
Students also are taught how they can treat cellulite and also learn to administer heat therapy, body wraps, mud wraps, body polishes and salt exfoliations.
Students gather information about the trigger movements, Pettissage, effleurage, tapping and sensory. Aromatherapy, muscle stimulation, sanitation, and sterilization are also covered within these programs. Courses also cover hydro and stone therapy, Swedish massage techniques, remedial exercises and different techniques of massage theory.
Massage and spa therapy career also offers great deal of financial security and has tremendous potential for further growths in future.
Colleges, Institutions and Universities:
There are many schools that offer professional education in the state of Massachusetts, USA. However when opting for a program it is important to assess whether it is affiliated and recognized by the Department of Education and does it fulfill the state requirement of covering 500 hours of training. It is best to make a thorough research of the various schools before enrolling in any of the institutes. Schools that specialize in massage therapy or spa therapy should be one's ideal choice. An associate or bachelor's degree in complimentary health care might be an additional advantage. To acquire, nationally certified credentials, students graduating from approved programs by the National Certified Therapeutic Massage and Body Workers can opt for the national certification exam.
Shahnaz Hussain in India runs a chain of institutes that offer courses in Diploma in beauty therapy, Post graduate diploma in skin and beauty therapy and short term vocational courses.
There are several institutes in India that offer courses in massage and spa therapy:
The Body Tree Training Centre for Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Medicine, Massage, and Traditional Indian Practices usually work with persons who are from socially and economically backward communities. Particularly tribal communities, refugees and displaced persons are part of this institute.
Abhyanga massage training is offered at Goa in India in combination with Shirodhara.
Kerela in India also has several schools that offer training in massage and spa therapy.
Specialization:
Abhayanga massage is a special form of massage practiced in India. This massage involves a head to toe massage using warm medicated oils and lasts for forty five to sixty minutes. It relieves anxiety, stress, exhaustion and vata disorder. Body Tree has introduced medicinal plant curriculum, theoretical and practical knowledge, yoga and preventive medicine.
Career Prospects:
There's no thing as such promotions in a massage and spa therapist's career. The progress is gradual and additional courses are an advantage to attain newer heights. This increases the therapist's ability and efficiency, apart from increasing the number of clientele and fees. It takes at least a period of six months to a year, along with constant effort and perseverance, to earn a reputation and name in the field of massage and spa therapist's career. Income automatically witnesses a positive rise with the increase in the number of clients attended on a day to day basis.
Remunerations:
Location, level of experience, type of practice, skills and different techniques, modalities used can largely affect a massage therapist's income. Massage therapists, having their own facilities usually earn the most and also have the maximum responsibilities, which includes building and maintenance of sufficient clientele. Massage therapist, working on hourly wages, usually earn the least. Independent contractors, who work in clinic settings, usually spilt their fees on a percentage basis, that covers the services provided, such as costs incurred on availing a working space, supplies, like oils, linen etc, receptionist and equipments that include things like massage tables, stools, chairs, etc.
The charges depend on the complexities and the features offered. Practitioners, who work on hourly wage basis although earn less, do not have to cover overhead expenditures. As the emotional and physical demands of massage therapy is pretty high, so massage therapists do not work more than 35 hours a week. However the capacity of each individual varies. So many therapists practice part time, usually less than ten hours a week
How to find a Job?
Massage and spa therapist careers have a wide variety of options. Those who indulge in massage and spa therapist careers can work as self employed practitioners, independent contractors, salaried or commissioned employees and in private or group offices. Hence they get an opportunity to practice in a variety of settings.
Massage and spa therapists, who want to indulge in business enterprises, can open their own clinics. After owning a clinic, the practitioner or the owner of the clinic, can also hire additional practitioners. He can even allow them to practice in the same area for a suitable fee. Private practice, hence, is the ideal thing for therapists, who have a natural inclination for setting up their business.
Massage therapists willing to team up with other health professionals, can opt for the multidisciplinary clinics. It serves the purposes of a full service clinic, where means of all sorts of alternative health care can be availed. There are options to restrict it strictly to massage but it has to be of different types to cater to the needs of different clients.
For massage therapists, spas are turning out to be huge sources of revenue. Several high-end spas have packages, including massage therapy. If you are retainer with a spa, being a massage therapist, can prove to be extremely profitable. On the other hand in chiropractors' and doctors' offices, massage therapy complements traditional medicine and also chiropractic medicine. For healing purposes too, massage has proved to very efficient. Due to that vast employment opportunities are available for massage therapists at the rehabilitation centers.
For the elderly and the sick, massage is the ideal therapy and some of the therapists specialize in these areas. For that reason, practicing massage in nursing homes or hospitals is like getting past the reticence of people, who never had any such experience before. Even in health clubs and hospitals, the opportunities are vast. If you are part of a high end club, ample opportunities would be available to you. However if associated with a budget facility, it might prove to be a wastage of time, as hiring a full time massage therapist, is unlikely to take place in these centers.
If one can manage to get a break in one of the sports team or sports medicine clinics, it can prove to be a huge break. Sports teams or sports medicine clinics usually can afford to have huge budgets and can easily accommodate a therapist on full time basis or on retainer. If big bucks are what you are looking for, this is the place for you. But if they have big bucks to offer they also expect the best from you in terms of professionalism. Very much in the same league are the sports medicine clinics. This can be rewarding not only in terms of job satisfaction, but also in terms of money.
Many therapists, in private practice, find on-site massage in the workplace, to be very lucrative. Employers now are offering massage as work perk, sometimes footing the entire bill and in other times, paying only a portion. This might however require some additional efforts as one needs to build up connections and relationships with prospective employers. There are some massage therapists who have portable tables to do house calls. But this requires lot of traveling from one place to another. Not only this, you also have to meet the client's expectations of being able to provide customer satisfaction. This however is a low cost means of initiating an independent business.
Certain massage equipments are essential if one plans to start a massage therapy business in an office, on the road or at home. Massage tables, a massage stool, a towel cabinet, massage oils, massage creams, massage lotions and gels, candles, healing stones, relaxation CDs are some of the essential things. Apart from this a well furnished reception area, with adequate number of chairs and desk along with a product display equipment are equally required if one plans to sell retail products. Few of the extra things that might be necessary are adjustable headrests, table side extensions, foot rests, armrests, neck bolsters, massage cushions and electric table warmers. If you are planning a portable massage business, then you will need a portable massage chair, a portable massage table or desktop massage chair that largely depends on your clientele and preferences. Also a table, a chair carry case accompanied with a reliable and large vehicle to transport it all is also required.
The overall future of massage and spa therapists' career is very bright and hence the numbers of professionals are increasing largely in numbers, with every year.

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Architecture as a career

Introduction:
Growth and prosperity of an economy, to an extent is reflected in its physical appearance. The industry responsible for this is the construction industry, which for quite sometime is experiencing boom. Times have changed and so has our focus. From, the basic necessity of housing and shelter of yesteryears, emphasis is now given on comfort, luxury and style. All this has importantly led to creation of avenues for those interested in making a career in this sector. In the last few decades our economy has witnessed hectic and massive construction activities, new structures have been raised, townships have evolved, evident of growth in the sector.
The construction task involves both the designer and constructors. Any built structure is an outcome of close coordination and participation of a number of people, technical and non-technical, including architects, contractors, surveyors, engineers, designers alongwith bricklayers, masons, carpenters, electricians, plumbers etc. Everyone is specialised in his own area hence beyond comparison.
Nature of Work:
Architecture, in particular is the study which deals with planning and designing of building and structures. The subject, not new at all, has been practiced since ages in different parts of the world. Everybody has heard about Roman, Victorian, Moslem and Indian architecture, examples of which even stand today. Architects blend their vision and dreams with materials to erect milestones which leave a powerful imprint on human mankind. Today, architecture has taken a totally different shape. The rapidly changing demands and requirements asks for professionally trained architects who can not only cope with changing times but also design and deliver quality, environment friendly constructions.
Designing any structure not only moves around giving physical facelift to it but involves other important factors which are equally important like its functional utility, safety and economy. Arhitects engage themselves in designing of a variety of structures including houses, apartments and colonies, offices and industrial complexes, hospitals, hotels, airport terminals, stadia, shopping and commercial complexes, schools etc. They provide professional services to individuals and organisations not only regarding new constructions but also in alterations and renovations.
Clients approach architects with some idea of what they want, but with little awareness regarding its feasibility. A good architect is the one who strikes a right balance between aesthetics and practicality. The work starts on the basis of ideas and requirements of the client like its appearance, financial budget and time frame. The arhitect then begins his job with sketching and making plans with details of sizes, specification and estimates of the cost of the structure. Sometimes models and graghic are also used for presentations. Once the plans are finalised and accepted by the client, the architect has to obtain the approval and permission of the local authority for construction. Subsequently, the architect negotiates contracts with building contractors, engineers and surveyors after which the construction starts. The architect is the overall incharge of the contract, his responsibility begins right form designing and planning the structure until the very same is erected. Architects can work alone as well as in a team. They also work with firms and organisations, some of which specialize in a particular type of construction. Architects even indulge in interior designing; an upcomimg field which involves scientific and artistic skills. Demand for interior designers continue to be high with these no longer limiting to corporate offices and hotels alone. One can see it coming into houses in a big way. Interior designers require abstract reasoning and three dimensional space perception to translate ideas into realities. Understanding client's need is at the very core of the profession.
Personality:
Students having academically good background in physics and mathematics are better suited for the study of architecture. An aspirant for the field of architecture should be a creative artist with an interest and bent towards designing. Ability to sketch, free hand plan though not utmost important but is beneficial while explaining to the clients the very intricate details of the structure. He needs to have an imaginative and perspective outlook. Awareness of social and environmental factors, observant attitude adds to the advantage while designing structures. Apart from being technically sound, good mathematical ability is important as the work involves complex designing problems, building economies and cost estimations. Often architects deal with legal procedures and documents making it necessary for them to understand legal language related to the profession.
Good communication skills, hardwork, physical stamina to work on the desk as well on the site, a high degree of concentration level, flexibility, patience, team spirit, responsibility and accountability are some other important traits of the profession.
Professional Courses:
Anybody who has studied Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry at the 10+2 level can apply for admission to study architecture at the graduate level in colleges offering the course. B.Arch is a 5 year course and most schools and colleges select students through a written test. Further on completion of the graduate course, if interested, one can study architecture at the post graduate course which varies from 18 months to 2 years.
Entrance test for B.Arch Courses- The Council of Architecture conducts an aptitude test on an All India basis for admission to colleges of Architecture. Engineering colleges select students on the basis of the result to the appropriate engineering courses. Some other renowned institutes carry their own selection tests to identify suitable candidates while some give weightage to class 12 marks and entrance examinations to select students.
Colleges, Institutions and Universities:
Some of the Colleges/Institutions/Universities offering Graduate/Post-Graduate courses in Architecture are mentioned below.

• School of Planning & Architecture, 4, Block-B, IP Estate, New Delhi 110002.
• Punjab University, Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chandigarh 160012.
• School of Architecture CEPT, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009.
• Lucknow University, Govt. College of Architecture, Tagore Road, Lucknow 226002.
• Goa University, College of Architecture, Campal Panaji, Goa - 1.
• University of Mumbai, Sir J J College of Architecture, 78/3, Dr. D.N. Road, Mumbai 400001.
• Indian Education Society's College of Architecture, 791, Bandra Reclamation, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400050.
• Pune University, Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Architecture, 302, A, Deccan Gymkhana, Pune 411004.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, School of Planning & Architecture, Mahavir Marg, Hyderabad 500028.
• Kerala University, College of Engineering, Thiruvananthpuram 695016.
• Anna University, School of Architecture & Planning, Sardar Patel Rd., Chennai 600025.
• IPS Academy, School of Architecture, Rajendra Nagar, Indore 452012.
• Bengal Engineering College, PO Botanic Garden, Howrah, West Bengal.
• Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Sushant lok, District Gurgaon, Haryana.
• Vastu Kala Academy, School of Architecture & Interior Designing, 9/1, Institutional Area, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067.

Specialization:
Though few in number, some architects prefer to go in for specialization at the post graduate level. They may choose to specialize in India or Abroad. The subjects of specialization may include urban designing, regional planning, building engineering and management, architectural conservation, industrial design, landscape arhitecture, naval architecture, architecture concerning traffic and transport planning etc. Sometimes even without pursuing specialization courses in any particular field, architects on gaining experience engage themselves in a particular type of work for eg:- in construction of housing societies and apartments, schools, hospitals, commercial complexes etc.
Career Prospects:
Substantial increases in investments in the construction sector has been recorded year after year. As far as architects are concerned, there is a huge gap in the demand and supply. Annual requirement projections of architects stands over 10,000 which is expected to rise further and the training facilities available are still short. All these factors contribute in making this field a very competetive one with healthy career prospects.
Employment opportunities for architects are available in government as well as private sectors. Some of the government organisations include Public Works Department, the Archaeological Department, Ministry of Defence, Departments of Railways, Post and Telegraphs, Public Sector Undertakings, National Building Organisation, Town and Country Planning Organisation, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Housing and Urban Development Corporation, National Building Construction Corporation Ltd., City Development Authorities etc. Besides these organisations, various other institutes and agencies like State Departments, Housing Boards, Local Bodies responsible for construction works also recruit architects.
Openings in the private sector exist with the Builders, Architecture Firms, Consultants etc. Architects with some experience can even set up their own business as Consultants and Contractors.
Remunerations:
Substantial increase in investments in the construction sector has been recorded year after year. As far as architects are concerned, there is a huge gap in the demand and supply. Annual requirement projections of architects stands over 10,000 which is expected to rise further and the training facilities available are still short. All these factors contribute in making this field a very competetive one with healthy career prospects.
Employment opportunities for architects are available in government as well as private sectors. Some of the government organisations include Public Works Department, the Archaeological Department, Ministry of Defence, Departments of Railways, Post and Telegraphs, Public Sector Undertakings, National Building Organisation, Town and Country Planning Organisation, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Housing and Urban Development Corporation, National Building Construction Corporation Ltd., City Development Authorities etc. Besides these organisations, various other institutes and agencies like State Departments, Housing Boards, Local Bodies responsible for construction works also recruit architects.
Openings in the private sector exist with the Builders, Architecture Firms, Consultants etc. Architects with some experience can even set up their own business as Consultants and Contractors.

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Medical Transcription as a career

Introduction:
Medical Transcription is the most recent and fastest growing IT-enabled service in India. In hospitals across the US, doctors are short of time to fill up the medical records of their patients. These medical records, however, are very important for them, since they form the basis of retreiving money through processing of insurance claims. Therefore, the doctors in US record their findings into the computers with voice recognition technologies. These recorded voice signals are sent to companies outside US via satellite links. The companies employ medical transcriptionists who hear these records, and process the data into a word procesor. These transcribed medical records are then sent back to the source electronically.
This process takes advantage of the time difference between India and US. Recorded messages gemerated in US during the day can be transcribed within 24 hours and sent back to the doctors by their next morning. Since labour in India is cheap, it becomes a preferred location for outsourcing the job.
Nature of Work:
Being a medical transcriptionist requires:
A very good command over the English language
Good listening and comprehension skills
Understanding of American way of speech and accent
Familiarity with medical terminolgy and grammar
A good typing speed is an added advantage
Personality:
Medical transcription is a profession which demands a very good co-ordination between the mind, ears, eyes and the hands. It requires a lot of accuracy in terms of listening to and understanding the dictation being given in American way of speech, and then typing it at a fast pace with a correct grammar and spellings. One needs to keep updated on the medical technology and new terms in the diagnosis and diseases front. The job requires a lot of hard work, dedication and committment to deliver the best.
Professional Courses:
There are scores of institutes that offer training programmes on Medical Transcription. A whole lot of companies in the major metros have already signed the contracts and started work in this area. Since this job requires experience, these companies are expected to recruit a lot of people as trainees and then develop their skills so that they become experts in this field.
Career Prospects:
The medical transcription industry has its genesis in US. Health care is the second largest industry in US with a very high growth rate. Hence, the volume of outsourcing work which originates from there is very high and is expected to grow in future. This career offers a tremendous potential for growth.
Remunerations:
As a trainee, a medical transcriptionist can expect to get a stipend between Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 5000. Once the training is successfully completed, the person usually would get a starting salary between Rs. 5000 to Rs. 7000 .

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biotechnology

Introduction:
Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary science including not only biology, but also subjects like mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering. It is a blend of various technologies applied together to living cells for production of a particular product or for improving upon it. Its use and application ranges from fields like agriculture to industry (food, pharmaceutical, chemical, bioproducts, textiles etc.), medicine, nutrition, environmental conservation, animal sciences etc. making it one of the fastest growing fields. The work is generally carried out in the laboratories, as it is a scientific research oriented field.
Nature of Work:
The nature of work of biotechnologists, being interdisciplinary, requires working together of people from different fields such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, genetics, engineering, food science, agriculture etc. Some of the fields where biotechnology studies are applicable are as follows.
MEDICINE AND HEALTH CARE: Biotechnology's application in this area has helped in the development of various medicines, vaccines and diagnostics. The remarkable development work carried out by biotechnologists in this field has led to improvement in the methods of diagnosis, medicines and vaccinations for diseases which once thought were incurable are no more a cause of worry, which has been a blessing for humankind.
INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: Both the government and the private sector employ biotechnologists. They conduct research and development work, for increasing productivity, improving energy production and conservation, minimizing pollution and industrial waste etc. Biotechnologists also find opportunities at places involving activities like chemical processes, genetic engineering, textile development, cosmetic development etc..
AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY: Indian economy is very much dependent on agriculture and biotechnologists have made major advancements in this area. Over the years, the agricultural output has been improving, owing to the improvements in the quality of seeds, insecticides and fertilizers. The latest technologies like micro propagation and tissue culture has further helped agriculturists to overcome problems like soil imbalances, genetic breeding and crop diseases. Biotechnologists are also encouraging a shift from chemically prepared fertilizers and insecticides to biochemicals and bioinsecticides.
Biotechnology's intervention in the area of animal husbandry has improved animal breeding. Numerous kinds of genetically engineered, high yielding animal breeds have come up which has increased the output of dairy products as well as the meat products. India has in fact, become the largest milk producer in the world
ENVIRONMENT: Environmental biotechnology has become another area of extensive work due to the dangers brought about by increasing levels of environmental pollution. A lot of hard work is being done to protect our environment. In this field, the job of a biotechnologist spans from checking industrial air pollution levels, treatment of industrial waste to recycling of sewage sludge..
Personality:
As the work is largely related to scientific research. It becomes quite important to have a good academic background in science. Hard work and high level of intelligence with a scientific bent of mind, determination, perseverance, imagination, innovative attitude, ability to work for long hours, originality, team spirit are some important essentials for becoming a successful biotechnologist.
Professional Courses:
Candidates having background in science at the intermediate level can take up:

• B.Tech in Biotechnology.
• P.G. courses available are

M.Sc. Biotechnology

M.Sc. (Agriculture) Biotechnology

M.V.Sc. (Animal) Biotechnology
M.Tech. Biotechnology, M.Sc./M.V.Sc. Veterinary Biotechnology
M.Sc. (Marine) Biotechnology
Medical Biotechnology
M.Tech. in Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology. Depending upon the aptitude and necessity, more advanced courses such

• Ph.D. and Post-DoctoralResearch in Biotechnology can also be pursued.
  Colleges, Institutions and Universities

Specialization:
Being an interdisciplinary subject with diverse areas of study, biotechnological procedures apply themselves to a wide range of fields allowing students from different backgrounds and interests to specialize in fields of their choice. Some of the fields of specialization are

• Molecular Biology
• Microbiology
• Biochemistry
• Biophysics
• Botany
• Zoology
• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Horticulture
• TissueCulture
• AgriculturalEngineering
• Animal Sciences
• Dairy Technology,
• Fisheries
• Medicine,Life Sciences,
• Genetics

Career Prospects:
In recent times, biotechnology as a subject has grown rapidly. And as far as employment is concerned, it has become the second fastest growing sector after multi-media. Candidates with postgraduate degree in biotechnology get absorbed in corporate and government sector, both. Qualified biotechnologists are employed in leading indian business houses and MNCs including pharmaceutical companies, chemical industries, bio-processing industries, agriculture related industries and pollution control activities of the major industries etc. They can even join government and corporate run research and development organizations. On the whole making it a good career opportunity for the bright young people.
Remunerations:
Remuneration very much depends upon academic qualification, institute or university from which the degree is attained and the level of work experience. In the corporate sector, fresh IIT pass outs may get anything in the range of Rs. 70,000 p.a. to Rs. 85,000 p.a. and fresh B.Sc./B. Tech. graduates from other universities may get anything in the range of Rs. 50,000 p.a. to Rs. 70,000 p.a. Those workimg in the research institutes can expect something around Rs. 60,000 p.a.

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Get into animation industry

NASSCOM says that India's gaming industry (computer games and mobile games) is expected to generate $424 million by the 2010. There has been a US$14 million deal between Italy's Mondo TV, Europe's No 2 cartoon producer and distributor, and India's Padmalaya Telefilms. This is expected to boost India's creative reputation. NASSCOM has projected a creation of an additional 300,000 jobs in this sector in next few years. Indian animation industry though a late starter is on the threshold of a boom period and so has a great career potential. India has great mythological stories and characters, good artists and technicians.
Animation application areas include myriad avenues in the following areas :

• Entertainment (movies and television)
• Business (product promotions and marketing demos)
• Sales (presentations)
• Education (Computer Based Tutorials/Web Based Tutorials)
• Publishing (graphics and printing)
• Virtual reality in Defense
• Web designing
• Engineering
• Advertising (commercials and print ads)
• Fashion designing and interior designing
• Development of computer games/mobile games
• Medical, legal and insurance industry (presentations and models)
• Leading studios and training institutes

Remunerations:
Animation is a sparkling career option even though it is at its nascent stage in India. It is rightly said that animation is a career where one can literally 'draw' ones salary. The training institutes help the candidates in their placements. After finishing the in-house training in some leading animation production studio, you can be a junior animator and can start earning between Rs.12000 to Rs.14000. A senior animator with an experience of 3 to 5 years can take home a sum of Rs.25000 to Rs.35000. But if you have a portfolio of some good and outstanding animation work you would even be able to earn more than Rs.50000 to Rs.60000.So in just a few years one can draw a salary of six figures.

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Colleges, Institutions and Universities for animation

• National Institute of Design (NID ( www.nid.edu.com)
• J.J School of Arts.
• Zee Institute of Creative Arts (ZICA)( www.zica.org)
• Industrial Design Center (IDC), IIT Mumbai and Guwahati
• Arena Multimedia ( www.arena-multimedia.com)
• Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics( www.maacindia.com)
• TOONZ Animation India Pvt .Ltd( www.toonzanimationindia.com)
• Academy of Digital Arts and commerce ( www.killickchallenger.com)
• RAI University (www.raiuniversity.edu )
• ANIMASTER (www.animaster.com)

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education qualification for animation

For a diploma and for a bachelor degree in animation one needs to have passed 12th standard from any recognized board with minimum of 45% marks. For postgraduate program one should have a bachelor's degree in any discipline preferably arts. One should have a basic knowledge of handling computers.
Some of the institutes like Industrial Design Center (IDC), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Design (NID) have a strict eligibility criterion-only graduate of architecture, technology and engineering, fine arts can apply for this course.

personality of a animator:
Animation is a creative thing and one needs to have creativity while handling it. It not being a mechanical subject needs lot of passion and imaginative skills. One should have flair for sketching/drawing. It needs long hours of continuous work with a whole lot of dedication. One should be good at visualizations, choice of colors and acting too. Though this profession seems to be quite unglamorous, yet it is very exciting and unless one has the complete dedication and interest in it one should not enter this field

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Nature of Work of a animator

3D animation is a complete teamwork and works on the creative ideas.3D animation itself is a combination of wide variety of career combinations. The various steps included in the making of a 3D animation movie consists of:
Story → Story Boarding → Character Sketch → Concept creation → Modeling → Environments → Rigging → Character and Mechanical Animation → Storyboard Animation → Lighting → Texturing → Dynamics → Voice Recording → Digital Editing → Vfx → Final Film
So one can work as a :

• Modeler
• Layout artist
• Clean-up artist
• Scanner operator
• Digital ink and paint artist
• Compositor
• Key frame animator
• Background artist

In-between animator Every role is crucial for the successful creation of the Animated project.

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what is animation

The word animation is derived from a Latin word anima, meaning soul i.e. when life breathes into characters. The art of animation started with the cavemen who used to draw pictures on the rocks surfaces. Then who can forget Walt Disney for the creation of his cartoons especially the Mickey Mouse! In the present sense it means linking the series of drawings and simulating their movements together. It is a rapid display of 2D or 3D images to create an illusion of motion. It is an art form in which inanimate objects are brought into life by sequencing the drawn images.
Animation is emerging a special form of media now days. Animation is growing into a multi-billion dollar industry generating a great scope of employment for those who ready to try their skills into it. From a simple flick book to the computer 3D animation of stories, animation involves a lot of hard work and long hours of meticulous planning. This field being new to the Indian sector has a lot of hidden potential and talent, which needs to be properly groomed and exploited according to the international standards. There are many companies like Walt Disney, I Max and Sony who are ready to outsource their cartoon characters and are ready to invest heavily in this sector in India.

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effect of reservation on institutions

The Supreme Court has given its verdict on the 27 per cent reservations and the government is all geared up to implement it from this session only. The much-debated other backward classes (OBC) quota will be implemented at prestigious educational institutions like IITs and IIMs nationwide. Why the reservation card was played by Arjun Singh is altogether a different matter and now let us concentrate on the impact of this extra reservations on higher education in India.
The faculty shortage: The number of faculty hasn’t increased all that much with the subsequent rise in the number of students over the years, and this is because there’s a huge shortage of quality teachers. Latest survey says that the nation’s seven IITs need about 900 additional faculty members before the next academic session to counteract the shortfall. This survey was done when there was no provision for the OBC quotas. The government has said that the total number of seats belonging to general category wouldn’t come down. But can government tell us from where will they get the teachers? In a scenario where leading tech colleges across America and Britain offer 1:6 faculty student ratio, most IITs just manage to scrape up a 1:12 ratio while struggling to stem attrition and quality faculty. In some of IITs, it is hard to maintain a ratio of 1:14. The same is the story of the medical institutes. We recently saw the strike by medicos in Mumbai following the reduction in post graduate seats for need of the teachers. The seats, which were 1900 in 2001 have been reduced to 450 in the year 2008. The reservation is definitely going to impact on the quality of education.
The infrastructure: Government announced recently that it’s going to open 10 more IITs and IIMs and the apparent reason is that it wants to promote higher technical education in the country, but won’t opening more IITs and IIMs dilute the brand of these institutions? Already these institutes are facing crunch of faculty members and it is yet to be seen how the government will manage to attract more faculty members for newer institutes. Secondly, do we have requisite infrastructure? The government has no solutions to the problems related to shortage of laboratories, playgrounds, staff, hostels and classrooms in existing institutes. Will they be able to sustain newer institutes or will it turn out as just another plan on paper? Do you remember, the government in 2003 planned to open six all India institute of medical sciences (AIIMS) in the country. The plan has yet not took off. What a pity!
The merit compromise: The identity of any organization is its quality. Output depends on input of quality. Anything we do should not disturb the quality of input. Why today IIT or IIM or IISC stands so high in quality index, this is because the input quality is extraordinary. The whole idea of reservation, and that too in premier institutes such as IITs and IIMs and a medical institute such as AIIMS would reflect on the quality of graduates that these institutes would deliver. The deserving ones feel left out in the race despite spending a fortune and making all efforts to cope up with the pressure of admissions. We should focus on finding a solution to the issue ‘without diluting excellence’. The students of these institutes have made their country proud and created a brand in the global market. This is because they were few of the best brains in the country and won the fierce competition where there are 10,000 people for one seat. If now we will have 50 per cent seats where the merit is not the sole criteria, then it is bound to impact the ‘merit’ of these institutes. If OBC candidates manage to get admissions into IITs and IIMs, there is no doubt that the OBC candidates will get the skills required to get job offers that make media analysts drool. In the bargain, if some upper caste candidate is deprived of a seat; well, that is social justice in action!
Losing investors: Many people argue that reserving seats at India’s few merit-based and uncorrupted institutes of higher learning will dilute standards, bring down student morale, and jump-start a brain drain that had just started to reverse. At a time when India is looking towards its youth population to take India to new heights it is of umpteen importance that we provide everyone with the best education possible. Till date, the government has failed miserably to maintain the standards of elite institutes and is definitely looking for private players to invest in the education sector. Many economists are worried about the effect of reservations on India’s competitiveness. Surjit Bhalla, an economist who often advises New Delhi, said in an interview that reservations would become a problem for investors. If there isn’t enough qualified talent available in India, they "will not hesitate to go to China, Vietnam, or even to Bangladesh and Pakistan."
IITs, AIIMS and IIMs are temples of education that command international respect. Their students represent the face of modern India. Let us not ‘mandalise’ education and vandalise young lives. Perhaps Minister Arjun Singh would do well to recall the words: "Give a man food and he will be grateful yet poor. Give a man the means to earn his food and he will be grateful and financially independent." He just needs to substitute food with education. We need to focus on the better primary education first. As I would like to sum it up. There are two cliffs – one is the student and the other is quality higher education. In order to bridge these two cliffs, we need quality primary education. But the government, instead of strengthening the bridge, is focusing on one cliff only. If that is the cast, then the bridge is weak and a student will fall into the pit joining the two cliffs.

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The politics of reservation in education

It is the yummiest cake all politicians � irrespective of political stripes -- want a big pie of.
The Indian Parliament has passed the 104th Constitution Amendment Bill, providing reservations for the socially and educationally backward classes, besides the Scheduled Classes and Scheduled Tribes, in all private aided and unaided educational institutions.
The amendment is the government's attempt to offset the effect of the recent Supreme Court judgement that categorically said that in an unaided (which runs without government funding) educational institution -- whether run by non-minorities or minorities -- the government cannot implement its policy of reservation.
"This amendment is nothing short of a revolution because good education is every Indian family's dream," Indira Jaising, eminent Constitution expert, told rediff.com
"For the first time, unaided private institutions -- where better education is provided -- are now under the purview of the State. Private education institutions that are accruing huge profits and no responsibilities felt no obligation to Dalits. This is no longer the case," Jaisingh added.
The political mileage resulting from the move, which directly benefits more than 70 per cent of voters, is so huge that of the 381 members present in the Lok Sabha, 379 voted in favour of it.
The important amendment is an attempt by Congress to re-establish its lost credentials among tribals, Dalits and Other Backward Classes who have moved away from it since the emergence of regional parties and the Bharatiya Janata party.
Column: The 104th Amendment Bill is dangerous
The trouble is, as analyst Amulya Ganguli put it, when a political party eyes a vote bank, it forgets that others too are on the prowl.
The BJP can't stomach the huge chunk of the vote bank going Congress' way. It somewhat convincingly asked why minority-managed -- meaning Christian and Muslim -- institutions are not included in the amendment.
The BJP wants substantial reservation for socially and educationally backward castes in these institutions also. Minority institutions have staunchly resisted the move.
Although Article 30 of the Indian Constitution gives the right to minorities to establish and administer educational institutions, in practice they have become highly commercialised where poor or backward students can't even dream of getting education.
For example, in Andhra Pradesh alone 9,000 engineering seats in minority colleges were not filled up because they could not find students rich enough to pay for them.
The Bill is certainly going to upset upper-caste Hindus because it will shrink seats in the general category.
The BJP tried to capitalise on both these classes' sentiments by unsuccessfully moving an amendment to the Bill to get Muslim and Christian education institutions under the purview of the Bill. But the BJP move only got 110 votes out of the 382 members who voted.
The BJP's Ananth Kumar argued in Parliament that, 'I do not know why the UPA [United Progressive Alliance] government has not given this provision of reservation to the minority institutions. This Constitutional Amendment is an eyewash.
'After passing this lopsided Constitution (Amendment) Bill there would be no medical colleges, no engineering colleges, no IT institutions, no law institutions in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 in the name of non-minority institutions,' he argued.
Column: Time for reservation in minority institutions
'The UPA government is doing a draconian social injustice and creating a minority private institutions bazaar in the country. Education should not be nationalised and education should also be in the private domain.'
In reality, the minority-run institutions have not been above board.
During the debate, politicians cited an example that in Mumbai, more than 70 per cent of the majority-run institutions claim a minority status.
BJP leader Bal Apte argued in the Rajya Sabha that, 'The main problem is not of religious minorities, but of linguistic minorities. They hardly have the presence of their community in a particular region, but because their language is different, they establish an institution and claim a minority status and that really gives them an opportunity to earn money.'
All over India, minorities do run a few exceptionally dedicated institutions, helping the poor and bringing social justice, but most of them are profit-making machines. The cries to include minority institutions are raised loudly because the private institutions are better managed than the government-owned institutions.
In Karnataka, at least four government colleges do not have even 60 per cent of the required staff.
Nearly Rs 450 billion is spent for professional courses, including medical, dental and engineering, in India.
The hidden question is whether education is a business, trade or a national mission and an instrument to bring social justice.
According to R L Jalappa of the Congress, "Around 85,000 seats were vacant in the engineering stream during the year 2003-04 in India. In my state alone, 400 seats in dental colleges were not filled up. It was very difficult for us to fill up the seats in the dental as well as for the MBBS courses. Now, the government is proposing to bring about reservation. Who will foot the bill for the tuition fees?"
The political issue of reservation in educational institution is so important, fundamental and explosive that every time it comes up for debate politicians get into their act.
While passing the law, politicians asked for more by arguing why there is a need to have reservations in the judiciary and the bureaucracy. Out of about 100 secretary-level officers, not even one is a Scheduled Caste, they complained.
There are approximately 16 to 20 million Dalit Christians who have been denied reservation. Already, a powerful section of the government, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, are contemplating reservation in jobs in the private sector.
Many MPs cutting across party lines argued that there should be reservation for the economically backward. One MP said, "A person who migrates from one state to another should be provided reservation in that state also."
Like it happens in the case of most issues, opinions got vertically divided when the House passed the bill. It is now being argued that a new kind of reservation will pit Muslims and Christians against Dalits and tribals.
Dr Udit Raj, chairman, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, says, "I am happy that the Bill has been passed but we wanted to include the minority institutions. But the Congress is indulging in appeasement of minorities. There is a truth that the Congress party appeases minorities more than it really gives them something."
Maneka Gandhi, MP from Uttar Pradesh, said, 'The government is manufacturing fertile ground to sow, nurture and harvest the evils of separatism, keep people divided on religious grounds. The present attempt is not only short-sighted but antithetical to any hopes of narrowing India's religious divisions.
'By keeping religious segregations alive, the government is going against the very purpose of the inception of these institutions,' she added.
Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, who moved the Bill, could not hide his glee when he replied to the BJP on why minority institutions cannot be included.
'Minority rights, as specified in Article 30, should, in all circumstances, be protected. This Article has a great historical necessity. Therefore, it cannot be deleted,' he said.
'In the light of the trauma of Partition, Article 30 was put into our Constitution as a Fundamental Right because this country, this republic, gave the assurances to these people that they will not be discriminated against and that they will be protected, and, therefore, it was better for them to stay where they were.'

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Colleges, Institutions and Universities for mass communication

1. Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, JNU New Campus, New Delhi-110067
2. A J K Mass Communication Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi-110025
3. Manipal Institute of Communication, Udayavani Building, Press Corner, Manipal-576119.
4. Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Senapati Bapat Marg, Pune-411004.
5. Asian College of Journalism, Express Building, 1 Queen's Road, Bangalore-560001.
6. Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Poona, Pune-411004.
7. New Delhi YMCA, Centre for Mass Media, 1 Jai Singh Road, New Delhi-110001.
8. Amity School Of Journalism and Communication, (More available at AKC House, E-27 Defence Colony, New Delhi -110024.

Some of the other offered courses include the following :

• Undergraduate courses (Journalism) offered by some colleges in Delhi University.
• School of Vocational Studies, H-58 South Extension Part I, New Delhi-110024.
• Indraprastha College for Women, 31 Shyam Nath Marg, New Delhi-110054.

Career Prospects:

Diversification in different areas of mass communication is witnessing a steep rise and is expected to thrive further, on account of growing professionalism and advancement in this sector. Anyone who is creative, dynamic, enterprising and has a flair to project his ideas, thoughts, observation through different mediums of communication can accomodate himself comfortably in this industry. Computers, especially the advent of Internet has furthermore brought new and challenging opportunities in the communication segment. It is attracting a more and more people from traditional forms of mass media.
Opportunities for placement in diverse fields of mass communication are available in publishing houses, radio and television companies, corporate world, entertainment industry, media industry, advertising agencies, public relations agencies, government organisations etc. As far as remuneration is concerned it varies from one area of mass communication to another. However in every area, it is much dependent on the size of the organisation, its location combined together with the level of responsibility and experience of the candidate.

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mass communication as a career

Changing times have revolutionised prospects in all most every career field one can find today. So many new and exciting career options are lined ahead that it is difficult to choose one. Mass communication is one such field which is attracting a lot of young these days and why not, when it has to offer such interesting career options in the fields, like various kinds of medias - newspapers, magazines, radio, television, advertisements, public relations etc. Though its presence has been there since long but it is only in recent times that it's been able to earn due recognition. Efforts are on to add professionalism to different areas of mass communication, with many universities and institutions offering number of professional courses.
Mass communication covers a wide area, comprising of closely related fields of advertisement, communication and public relations. Almost all kinds of establishments whether business, government or political are availing of services, offered by these industries, therefore an encouraging sign for those looking ahead to making a career in mass communication.

nature of work:

Mass communication is a vast field covering many areas under it. Some of these are discussed under the following headings.
PRINT JOURNALISM: In short, journalism is collecting and editing of news for presentation through media. Print journalism has been one of the oldest forms of journalism. Newspapers and magazines, big or small have always been major source of news and information throughout the world and millions of readers go through them daily. Over the years, print journalism has witnessed major transformation, the simple reporting of yesteryears has taken a shape of highly specialized and professional field owing to competition and other factors. The newspapers and magazines today cover a wide range of specialized sections like political events, business news, leisure, cinema, sports, career, health and so many other subjects, which demands for professionally qualified journalists. Given the variety of subjects to choose from, one can look forward to a field of his interest and pursue several avialable courses in that direction.
ELECTRONIC JOURNALISM: Introduction of electronic communicaiton especially through broadcasting has affected the lifestyles and thoughts of masses. Communication mediums like television, radio, audio, video etc. has made possible news, entertainment, information, education related subjects reach the very far and wide places. It has to an extent sidelined other forms of communication. With the growing network of TV, satellite communication, cable services, radio stations, etc., the future of this industry seems bright. Electronic journalism offers to professionally qualified aspirants opportunities in a number of fields. Some of these are direction, production, camera, graphics, editing, sound, programme research, script writing etc.
FILMS - PRODUCERS, ACTORS, MUSICIANS AND DANCERS When we talk of films today, there is no dearth of available professional career options. Although, it is not all that easy to taste success in one of the most competitive and sought after fields, but definitely for someone sanguine and determined, it can be quite rewarding. Films have always earned recognition and fascination of masses. There are so many different groups of people associated with the so-called big screen and one has a variety to choose from the available options from technical professions like directors, producers, soundmen, lightmen, cameramen, editors etc. to artists like actors, dancers, musicians, stuntmen etc.
The rapidly growing film industry and its certain future has led to various institutes offering highly professional courses. One definitely finds it useful to pursue these courses in order to hone their skills and make themselves better to compete with the best in the industry.
ADVERTISING: Advertising is brand building process of a product, idea, thought or a even a service, through effective mediums of communication. From newspapers, magazines, posters, signboards, bills to the commercials on radio, television and even Internet, advertising has come a long way. Business organisations, political organisations, social organisations, all find it important to advertise in order to influence public opinion.
Since advertising is a service industry, the reputation of the ad agency depends on the effective work being done and campaign released from time to time. This makes the job even more challenging. With the advent of the multinational companies, more and more Indian agencies are tying up with the the foreign agencies to pitch for international clients which is clearly indicative of high growth in coming years in this industry.
PUBLIC RELATIONS:Once, the simple operation of publicity, today has emerged as an important management function. Public Relations, as the name suggests, is used to generate and portray, positive image of an organisation by various means. Business houses, schools, universities, hospitals, government institutions, etc. engage public relations personnels and agencies to cast and present their image, objectives and policies in the best possible light.
For somebody to become a successful public relation consultant, it is imperative to have a liking to meet people alongwith excellent communication skills, ability to interact with, convince people, and build a rapport is important. The other traits should be, quick decision making abilities and good organisational skills.

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New Trends In High-Tech Recruiting

There is a new trend developing in the recruiting of high-tech employees. Due to the competitive nature of the business, companies are looking for new ways to recruit individuals that not only have the business and technical knowledge required to perform a specific job, but they are also looking for candidates that fit well into the corporate culture of the organization. Tech Planet is one such high-tech firm that is using this new approach to recruiting. Instead of the normal first round job interview, applicants at Tech Planet sit down to an informal meal with employees. The goal is to socialize with the employees to determine whether the applicants belong in the organization. After the initial meal, employees vote on which candidates will be invited back for the next round.
During the second phase, job applicants are asked to" bring an essay explaining how they feel about working with small businesses and how they envision their next job - plus an inanimate object that best describes them." Objects brought by potential candidates in the past have included Silly Putty, soccer balls, hair gel, and pictures of family pets. Several other companies, including executive recruiters, are transitioning from a traditional approach to this new unorthodox method of screening applicants.
At some firms, candidates are asked to play touch football or Yahtzee with other employees. The belief is that these activities can demonstrate an individual's ability to work in a team setting and how they will get along with colleagues. Though this appears to be a new trend in the world of recruiting, some employment experts question the value of this new approach. They feel that companies may overlook the most highly skilled applicants in search of "people who are just fun."
Another trend in the high-tech business world is the scarcity of information technology employees. Recruiters are facing new challenges in filling open positions within both technology and non-technology firms alike. Typically, the high-tech firms, new start-ups with hopes of going public, are having an easier time filling their IT positions as they focus on higher wages, bonus compensation, and stock options. Conversely, non-technology companies with IT needs are finding it difficult to entice qualified candidates to fill their openings. They just can't offer the perks that other technology companies are offering and are losing potential candidates as a result. Today's generation is motivated more by instant gratification and high incomes than benefits packages including medical and dental insurance.
Though there may be several applicants who possess the necessary technical and business knowledge to perform the tasks, there is a level of uncertainty regarding their ability to work within the culture of the organization. Formal interviews are beneficial in determining some behavioral tendencies, but it is still difficult to determine how individuals will work with others in the organization if hired.

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growth of BPO sector in india

Growth of BPO Sector in India during the first half of 2007 was showing a moderate trend of growth which is registered at 14%. Five years ago, the growth in this sector was quite low due to less contracts but the situation is worse now. However, the growth of the BPO sector is expected to improve.
The BPO and KPO sectors in India have been showing some positive signs with demands from western countries increasing manifold due to the availability of cost-effective labor in India, which is highly skilled and also fluent in English. The BPOs in India are focused on increasing the growth through change in pricing techniques. Pricing in a BPO is supposed to be based on the value added to the business. So a remarkable change is in store as the BPOs in India work towards their full potential.
Of course, the big boom in the BPO industry in 2003 had generated a lot of employment opportunities and continues even today. Nevertheless, Indian BPO sector is facing competition from countries like Philippines, Mexico, Malaysia, China, and Canada. The expected growth of this sector in 2003 was 25%. Nations like the United States and Europe are showing great interest in increasing their investments in the Indian BPO sector.
India has an edge over other countries as we consider the following:

• Tech savvy professionals
• Cost effectiveness
• Superior competency
• Business risk mitigation
• 24 hour service
• Economy of scale

The trends in growth of the BPO sector in India are as follows:

• 2003 - USD 2.8 billion
• 2004 - USD 3.9 billion
• 2005 - USD 5.7 billion

The growth in the BPO sector of India in 2004 was mainly due to the demands from the two segments – BFSI and telecommunications. There were low telecom costs for the leased lines and 400 companies were part of the BPO sector of India. The companies that were involved included third parties, Indian companies, and multinational corporations.

Growth of BPO sector in India has been truly impressive in recent years, but things can get even better, according to market analysts. India stands out already as a market leader as far as BPOs are concerned and so India also attracts huge foreign investments which are extremely essential since the Indian economy is expected to have an unprecedented growth in the years to come.

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Career avenues of bioinformatics

The use of information technology in the field of molecular biology has grown steadily, opening avenues for career prospects in the field. Bioinformatics is an emerging interdisciplinary research area, which can be defined as the interface between biological and computational sciences. As a consequence of the large amount of data produced in the field of molecular biology, computers are used to gather, store, analyse and integrate biological and genetic information.
Some of the specific career areas that fall within the scope of bioinformatics include:
Sequence assembly; Database design and maintenance; Sequence analysis; Proteomics; Pharmacogenomics; Pharma-cology; Clinical pharmacologist; Informatics developer; Computational chemist; Bio-analytics; and Analytics.
A course in bioinformatics is suitable for those with a graduation or post-graduation in molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, chemistry, pharmacy, veterinary sciences, physics, mathematics, and also engineers, IT professionals, PhDs and medicos.
there are many good institutions in tamil naidu which offers b.tech in bioinformatics like SRM,sathyabama,Dr. MGR nd many more.
the demand of bioinformatic profrssionals in india is growing.many leading IT companies like TCS,Wipro,reliance,satyam are coming to this field.

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choosing the right B-school

There are over a thousand B-schools in India, and about half a dozen rankings. In such a scenario, finding the right B-school becomes quite a task. What matters is not obtaining an MBA, but doing a program that is respected and recognized. Once you identify your dream B-school, go all out to make sure that you get in.
Where do you want to study?
First and foremost, you need to decide where do you want to do an MBA from. This can be a choice between doing an MBA from India or abroad. You need to realize that the admission process, eligibility criteria and screening process for both may differ.For pursuing an MBA in India, there are several locational factors you will have to consider, such as the proximity of the B-school to business hubs. The location of a B-school greatly influences the level of interaction between a B-school and industry, thus affecting the quality of education and visiting faculty, if any.
What does the B-school offer?
You need to take a look at the school, its learning environment and the programs offered, whether approved and certified by 'All India Council for Technical Eduction' (AICTE) - the official governing body responsible for regulation of higher education in India; curriculum, full-time faculty, campus services and the student body. A good infrastructure assures sound technical and logistical support.
What is the balance between faculty and research?
It is a top B-school's ability to attract and retain top-class faculty and its emphasis on the quality of research that separates it from others. Most business schools strive for a balance of both. All top B-schools have a strong focus on research and provide extensive, contextual and relevant study material.
What is the placement record?
Find out the program’s acceptability from the point of view of the list of potential recruiters you have in mind, analyze this through the B-school’s placement statistics of the last three years, the number of students that were picked by top-notch companies and the differential placements of the various B-schools. In this regard, also find out how active is the placement cell and/or the alumni network.
Recently, the six IIMs announced that only students who score a minimum of 50% in the qualifying exam will be eligible for CAT. This was proposed as one of the measures to reduce the number of test takers and reduce the burden the admission process on the faculty.

Does a B-school provide affiliations and exchange?
B-schools have collaborations with acclaimed international B-schools. For example ISB, Hyderabad offers an International Student Exchange Program, which gives students the opportunity to study for 1-2 terms at leading business schools such as the London Business School (UK) and Kellogg School of Management (USA). IIM Kozikode encourages international student exchange with B-schools such as the European School of Management (ESCP-EAP) in Paris and the European Business School in Frankfurt. Exchange programs and affiliations encourage a healthy, cosmopolitan learning environment and promote global standards of education. Such programs are optional, even if you do not participate in a program yourself, the experience of interacting with visiting students will also benefit you alot.
Does a B-school offer financial aid?
MBA programs do not come cheap. However, it is quite easy to obtain financial aid for pursuing an MBA, especially if you are doing the MBA from one of the top ten B-schools. Most Indian B-schools do not offer scholarships till you reach the 2nd year and most of these are merit based. However, most banks are willing to give students a loan to pay for their education at extremely nominal rates and these are not required to be repaid till you start working. It is highly recommended that you do not allow financial constraints to stop you from joining a good B-school and to go in for loans. In fact, these loans actually reduce your tax burden once you start drawing those 6-7 figure salaries.
Who features in the B-school alumni?
If the alumni of the school are in well-respected positions in various industries, it automatically ensures a good standing for the school in the corporate world, which, in turn, implies better placement opportunities.

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the other side of coin-the MBA life

As in all careers, there is a flip side to being an MBA. Though not a huge deterrent, one should know about the life of an MBA as well.A bit of a reality check here, but the personal life of most MBAs especially during their training period and formative years in an organization is extremely hectic. One of the primary reasons being: high performance pressure. Most MBAs are at the helm of affairs for business concerns involving decision and policy making that demands a lot physically and mentally. The ones spearheading departments are responsible for what the whole team does, and every decision you take affects not just you, but often your entire team and impacts the entire organization.But then, what's life without challenges? If you feel that you are made for tackling life head-on, and are excited about your work being meaningful, what are you waiting for? An MBA is a great first step towards your dream destination.

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Career in Vogue: Masters in Business Administration(MBA)

Upon completion, an MBA leads to responsible positions in business, taking critical managerial decisions that lead to the growth of any top-notch organization. MBA programs are run throughout the world, because their relevance is across industries, business sectors and economies. And what’s more, this exciting profile comes with an even more exciting pay packet.

Open newer avenues: An MBA provides the modern manager with tools and skills needed to identify new opportunities for organizational success. MBA programs are designed to make one aware of different approaches that have traditionally helped in managing organizations.

Understand business dynamics better: An MBA provides a person with the ability to understand the nuances of business and the dynamics involved in managing it. An MBA is useful for anyone who wants to refocus his or her career.

Why Do Companies Prefer MBAs?

The foremost traits that corporate recruiters look for and find in MBA candidates are:

• Sound communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to analyze and strategize
• Leadership skills

Call it the effect of globalization or to combat competition, companies today are taking all measures to ensure professional conduct in all aspects of their functioning. These changes in the business environment have a natural and direct correlation with the kind of people that are hired to run companies, irrespective of the fact that they are naïve graduates or experienced racehorses.

It is perceived that certain professional characteristics are innately present in most MBA recruits:

• Emphasis on professionalism
• Stress on deliverables and deadlines
• Better understanding of a company’s integrated functionality
• Internationally mobile and sensitive to cultural diversity

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