Research laboratories are starved of researchers and scientists. The National knowledge Commission has remedies.

Pure science forms the bedrock of all applied science. Advancement in Science is a necessary condition for future technological revolutions. But students across India are shunning Pure Sciences.
Many reserved faculty posts remain vacant in the absence of innovative or flexible appointment moderns to all these strain and teaching load on the existing teachers. In addition, this has contributed to the gradual decay and death of many departments of pure sciences in colleges and universities around the country, which were once famous for their science teaching.
The reasons are not too far to seek. It’s not paying to be a scientist. Period. And to arrest this disturbing trend, be National Knowledge Commission (NKC), appointed by the prime Minister has come out with various incentives to lure students. All you
Students who shunned experiments and laboratories, read this:
The strategy for the promotion of science education in the Eleventh plan aims at expanding and strengthening the Science and technology base in our universities and promoting excellence through competitively secured funding art centers for advanced research.
“Since developing competence in the basic sciences has a long incubation time, it s important that this problem be addressed with alacrity.

“Science and Mathematics are living subjects which grow rapidy and give rise to new areas which build on other existing areas. Therefore, there must be a constant input of fresh and young talent. It is worthwhile to note that developing countries like china and South Korea have investedmassivelu in science education in the past few decades and are reaping enormous benefits today in terms of economic development and global standing in science,” the Commission has said.
• Invest in upgrading and expanding the existing infrastructure and promote sharing of available resources. There is a need to expand seats at entry level in Science disciplines to create a critical mass of scientists in each stream.Sunstantial expansion of capacity of bachelor’s programme in all good institutes is required.
• The starting of IISERs is a step in the right direction and it is crucial that they succeed in setting an example. A continuum of institutes in quality is needed. While there are IISERs on. One end and government science colleges on the other end, there is a need to start undergraduate courses at universities and other places which currently offer only post graduate education in sciences to complete the continuum of institutes for students with varying abilities.
• Select universities can offer Bachelor’s honors (four year course-with an option to directly move to ph. D.programme after successful completion of honours.
• Attracting students to Maths and Science: They choose their place of study. Colleges which do not have adequate infrastructure should form clusters with nearby colleges and institutes to share laboratory resources, especially expensive equipment.
• Sharing resources: Many valuable facilities are not optimally shared among research institutes, laboratories and universities. The funding agencies should promote the formation of centres for shared instrumentation, by facilitating a consortium approach.
• Full-fledged laboratories within the campuses o f our universities and other educational institutions can be ser up. Greater collaboration should be promoted between research institutes and universities through appropriate incentives.
• Scholarships: The number of direct scholarships to meritorious students like meritorious students like KVPY (Kishore Vigyanik Protsahan Yojana) should be increased to cover a larger student population. To enlarge the pool of scientific manpower and foster research in the sciences, the Government of India has announced a programme entitled “Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research” (INSPIRE).That should be launched soon.
• To facilitate teaching in universities by research scientists, supporting infrastructure should be created in universities for visiting professors.
Further, University and research institute faculty members should be given the flexibility of taking sabbaticals for teaching in colleges, doing work in educational field and for popularizing science among children, teachers and communities in rural and urban areas.
• There are lots of grant disbursing government departments and organizations. Researchers seeking funds for their projects have to manoeuvre across all these administrative hassles to get funds. A web portal, which brings all relevant funding information together, should be launched. Administrative problems and delays created by funding agencies should be done away with. Competitive process for grants should be established.
• School teachers should be provided with avenues to discuss new pedagogical developments, For instance, they should be encouraged to do projects in laboratories in colleges during vacation time. Colleges can be given separate funds to run such programmes.School teachers should be sufficiently encouraged to develop new experiments and activities to be used at school level.

The Masters course in wildlife Biology and Conservation, jointly offered by the National Centre for Biological Science (NCBS) and Centre for Wildlife Studies, is the best window that lets you into this field.

This course is based at BCBS, a TIFR institution in Bengaluru (www.ncbs.res.in) and among the best research institutions in the world in field of biological sciences.NCBS offers teaching facilities as good as anywhere in world. The Centre for Wildlife Studies in Bengaluru (www.wcsindia.org) has pioneered research on large carnivores in India. Several other eminent institutions are partners in the academic programme.

The wildlife Conservation Society (www.wcs.org), among the best known conservation agency in the world, funds this programme.

The course was started in 2004 out of the shared concern that the severe dearth of professional wildlife biologists is impeding conservation, despite substantial public interest and governmental commitment to conservation of our wild animals and their habitats.

The course is offered only once in two years to 15 students, Graduates inany field are eligible to apply for admission. Admission process includes an entrance test, conducted candidates. The course is fully funded through grants, so that the most talented and motivated students are not constrained by financial considerations.

“The course is offered only once in two years to 15 students. Graduates in any field are eligible to apply for admission which is through an all India entrance test”

The academic programme develops skills and understanding incore fields such as ecological theory, behaviour, taxonomy, conservation biology, mathematics, statistics, social science, policies and laws, and protected area management. Students are familiarized with tools such as remote sensing and GIS, laboratory-based molecular techniques, among others.

The course also develops skills in communication, advocacy, negotiation and conflict resolution, which are necessary to practice conservation in the real world. The students undergo extensive field training during parts of India.

In the final semester, students carry put field-based research projects, based on which each student is required to submit at least one manuscript for publication in peer reviewed journal.

Through this dissertation project, students apply the theory and skills gained in the preceding three semesters to conceptualize, design, implement, analyze and publish original research. These projects also provide critical information required for the conservation and management of Indian wildlife.

With a guest faculty consisting of eminent academicians and practitioners from prestigious institutions worldwide, this course is designed to offer the best training programme in the most cost effective manner.

The course opens windows of opportunities to a variety of fields in field of wildlife research and conservation to suit ones abilities and philosophy.

The potential careers include those in wildlife research, for which opportunities exist in several universities and other institutions, Indian Forest Service, and conservation advocacy and implementation, for which opportunities abound in several well known NGOs.

Or you may want to influence multinational companies or donor agencies such as The World Bank or the UNDP to channel their energies into conservation. Or you may want to work as an individual for the cause of conservation, or even set up your own organization to fight for the cause. Whatever you may want to do, if wild animals and their conservations is your passion and if you want to make this passion into a profession, you need to equip yourself well. This course does it.

What do you think is the prospects for a student pursing maritime education?

In a recent report, the international shipping federation forecast that the worldwide shortage of officers will reach 46,000 by 2010.In such a scenario, the supply of seagoing manpower, not just to national fleets but to foreign ships too, has become a major revenue earner for some countries, and India, with its long and powerful tradition of seafarers’ training, has, as a consequence, become a leading participant in the global market.

What is the advantage for Indian students compared to foreign students?

Our (Indian) Students are strong in communication skills. Our students have good English fluency with which they outshine students from china. In terms of human resource India has more number of seafarers. But China’s problem is different; all the seafarers they produce are recruited in their own ships, as that country has a large fleet size. There is abundant opportunity available for seafarers in ships with foreign flags, so it is high time that our students capitalize on the current trend.

As a person who had started maritime institute way back in 1993, what is your opinion on the Indian shipping industry?

India has more potential to develop as the ship building hub in this part of the world; our shipping industries need to concentrate more on building ships.
We have a lengthy coastline on three sides of our country. From Europe ship building industry moved to Japan and later the industry shifted its focus to Korea. Now the latest entrant in this industry is China, it has received numerous orders from shipping companies all over the world.
All the chine’s docking yards are full with orders, so India can step in now to take future orders. As a country with large of number o f talented youth we need to turn the world’s attention in the ship building industry.

Tell us about how you got upgraded into university?

We were granted the private university status on August 21, last year, which made AMET the first maritime academy to become a university in the country. Situated on the outskirts of city, we offer diploma, graduate and post-graduate courses in nautical science, marine engineering, marine technology naval architecture and ship design, marine ecology and environment, marine biotechnology and microbiology, port management and port operations, containerized shipping management and marine insurance. The university would be a major resource provider for developing countries like Africa, Vietnam, Myanmar, Yemen and Sudan.

What are the other unique features in your university?

We have a ship on campus which has various facilities for students to get hands on training on the working of the ship. With this ship on campus the students will have an experience although they are operating a true ship.


What about placement for students who purse various courses in your university?

Most of our students are placed in top maritime companies across the world like, WAP Moller Denmark, k-Line, Japan, Neptune Orient Lines, Singapore, northern Marine, UK, Pacific International Lines, Singapore, sanmar shipping and many others.

Our institution was established with sole objection of providing quality education was established with sole objective of providing quality education on diverse marine disciplines that culminates in capable and well-rounded marine disciplines that culminates in capable and well-rounded marine and shipping graduates who can think and act objectively and independently and who are ready to meet the challenges of an ever-changing and ever-demanding maritime industry.

 You are required to study full-time in Australia.

 You must attend at least 80 percent of all your classes to maintain a valid enrolment.

 Do not work more than 20 hours week during your semester studies.

 You must extend your student visa before it expires if you are intending to stay I Australia after that expity date.

 Please remember that any beach of the Australian student’s visa conditions will result in its cancellation and your departure from Australia.

 Statement of charges and evidence of part of course fees paid.

 Evidence of funds to pay for stay and studies in Australia or letter from host/sponsor in Australia.
Do you think that our shipping industry is facing a crisis as there is a shortage of seafarers?
I wanted to pursue a course which will have better job prospects. One of my friends told me about be abundant job opportunities in shipping industry, but I have my own doubts on the field, consulted a career counselor for getting my doubts clarified, he suggested that I can earn more money working in ships with foreign flags rather than engineering stream.
It is true that the shipping industry pays well, but not many students join the course as they need to be on ship for long time and cannot meet their near and clear ones frequently. If you join engineering or medical degree programme. You can also earn money and also be close to our friends and relatives. So I think pursing engineering of medical or law stream would be appropriate for a person who wants be close to his family and friends.
I think it is better for a student to pursue course in shipping as it offers exciting career options. A person can become an officer or chief engineer in the ship. His lifestyle would also change as he visits numerous countries while on duty.

The Indira Gandhi national Open University has been offering certificate in German language programme, which has been developed with Goethe Institute of Max Muller Bhavan.

It aims at providing the basics of German language and gradually building up skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. it also attempts to promote cultural understanding. The programme is for a period of six months and it is based on common European framework of reference for languages for mulated by the council of Europe. The programme requires working on course book and attending 13 contact classes each of 5 hours duration, organised twice a month on weekends.

The contact classes will be held at Chennai and Salem.
The due date for submitting application for this programme has been extended unto August 15.The application form can be had from any of the IGNOU centres or can be downloaded from www.ignou.ac.in.

The number of joining various universities in Australia increased by 63 per cent last year, says Australian Consul –General.

The number of Indian students going to Australia for pursuing their higher education increased by 63 per cent last year an this year the growth is expected to be more than this, said Mr.Aminur Rahman, Australian Consul General for south India and Trade Commissioner.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle Education, Mr.Rahman said that there were over 63,000 Indian students studying in various universities across the continent.
“Australia is the second most popular international education destination for Indian students next to the United states. Australia’s popularity is counting to grow quickly. In 2008 about five lakh international students enrolled in Australian institutions from over 200 different countries.”

The most popular courses among Indian students are business, information technology, engineering, science and hospitality. Though enrolments in higher educational education sector is becoming popular with the Indian students.

About the reasons how Indians adapt to the Australian education system, Mr.Rahman said, “Indian students find it easy to get used to the Australian education system, due to the similarity in our 10+2+3 education structures. Students can choose from a wide variety of Australian universities and education institution to suit their specific needs and goals. Each higher education institution has its own strengths and an area of specialization.This provides students with a wide choice of study options and access to the latest research in their chosen field.”

Australia enjoys one of the highest standards of living I the world. Living costs and student fees are very affordable and Australia is consistently less expensive than the UK or USA says the Consul-General.

Another important advantage for international students pursuing higher education in Australia, is that they can work part-time while they study.

One of the key areas of growth in Australian education is the vocational education an training (VET), provides skills and knowledge for work, enhances employability and assists learning. Vocational education and training has played an important role in Australia’s outstanding economic performance, by greatly increasing the skill of workers. Higher skill levels contribute to improved productivity by raising workers output and increasing the rate of innovation. There is a shortage of killed labor in information technology hospitality and business administration. The Indian students have better job prospects in these segments, Mr.Rahman pointed out.

To get admitted in this course, a student has to obtain a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized institution, with at least 50 per cent marks or equivalent cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in aggregate and 45 percent marks or equivalent CGPA for candidates belonging to SC/ST or persons with disability.

For Honors graduates the aggregate will include marks of both Honors and pass papers.Candidates appearing for the final bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification examination can also apply, provided that on their selection to the program, they submit their mark sheets and certificates latest by December 31, 2009.

The sanctioned strength for the MBA programme is 40 and the reservation policy of Government of India meant for higher educational institutions is trickily adhered to. CAT scores are used for short-listing candidates who have to apply for admission to ISM separately.IIMs have no role either in the selection process or in the conduct of the program.

Request for ISM application form an brochure should be accompanied by demand draft of Rs.1250 drawn in favour of Registrar, Indian School of Mines University and payable at Dhanbad with two self addressed stickers and should be addressed to the Assistant Register(Academic), Indian school of mines University, Dhanbad between September 22 to November 28, 2008.
Further details can be had by calling (0326)2296559/60/61/62 or browsing ISM website, www.ismdhanbad.ac.in.

I am pursuing under graduation in business studies, but interested in studying anthropology course. Please advise me about the career prospects in anthropology?
Anthropology is a science which studies the origin and the physical, social, and cultural development and behaviour of mankind. It encompasses the study of the origin of human species as well as its cultural and social structures. Besides, Anthropology also studies the evolution of man at different ages as well as the physical and cultural diversity among humans, living at the same period of time, at various pars of the world in diverse environments.
Anthropology also involves the comparative study of human similarities and differences, It includes the cultural history and biology of the human species over the last four million years, the cultural patterns of people from around the worlds down to even those who happen to live next door to you. There are three main areas if employment for an Anthropologist, i.e., teaching, research and officer in museums. Research jobs are available in organizations like Archaeological Survey of India, planning Commission as well as in renowned international organizations like UNESCO and UNICEF.
Moreover, openings are also available for social-cultural anthropologists with non governmental organizations (NGOs) who seek their expertise in under standing relations between industry and society.
Cultural anthropologists are particularly well suited to work in professions involving people, such as teaching, law, medicine, social work and journalism. Persons with corporates as cultural resource management specialist,.
Museums are yet another potential area of employment; Many organizations like the ICMT, WHO and the police department also offer employment to anthropologists for the purpose of crime detection.
A section of the students may possibly opt for anthropologically oriented research to provide better service delivery or to assess social issues and socials problems, such as in public health education, urban development planning, and international development.
Unfortunately, anthropology as a field of study still remains among one of the lesser known and less popular subjects.
I would like to know about courses in energy and environmental engineering and also the institutes offering those programmes.
Some of the most interesting and productive developments in engineering have taken place at interfaces between conventional engineering disciplines. For example energy engineering, which relates to study of application of a mix o engineering disciplines, such as mechanical and electrical engineering, to solving the problems of extracting, collecting and utilizing energy resources to satisfy human needs without destroying the environment.
An interesting new growth area for energy and environmental engineering graduates and post graduates are emerging. Wind power is leading the race to expand but some of the others, for example solar electricity from photocoltaic,is not far behind. There are also tremendous career opportunities in wind, hydro and solar energy areas.
Environmental engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to improve the environment ( air, water and land resources), to provide safe drinking water, air and land for human habitation, apart from other organisms.
I am pursuing arts stream in college, I would like to study a course in gemology kindly guide me.
Gemology is the scientific study of gemstones. It is a is related to the study of gem materials, including identification and testing methods, cutting and polishing synthetically manufactured gems, precious metals and alloys, their sources and origins and grading and appraising.
Those interested in possessing gems for their value should have an idea of Gemology to distinguish one gem from another.
The first step in learning about gems is its categorization. The next step is to learn the terminology of gemstones and then their physical and optical properties and how those properties are used to identify gems.
After getting the background one can proceed into gem identification. Studies relating to this field are gem cutting, sorting, grading, valuation and identification of gemstones, fashion, computer pattern designing, jewellery making consultancy regarding stones, selling etc.
While Gemologist studies the quality, characteristics and values of gem stones, jewelers typically do the handiwork required to produce a piece of jewellery.A gemologist identification is one of the key elements of business. Some rules and garnets sometimes look liked, but their values are considerably different only a Gemologist can easily identify the difference and know its physical characteristicAnd value
As the Indian gem and jewellery industry has entered the new millennium with great confidence you have got good opportunities as a gemologist.

Meghana Mungikar of class 8 of PSBB T.Nagar has been selected to represent the school and the foundation in the International Conference for Youth Leadership at the Raffles School Singapore from November 17 to 21, 2008. She is one among the 10 girl students who will be attending the convention from India, Her name was short listed after she participated in an essay contest “Aspire to Inspire”. The GELF team then interviewed her over the telephone from Delhi.

Megahna will pick up hands-on skills on advocacy and community service, share sessions with established leaders from diverse fields, learn how to make a difference to lives of people in her community and experience the energy of the vibrant city of Singapore.

Former president Dr,A.P.J.Abdul Kalam recalls how his mother sacrificed to feed her son, who later in life turned out to be the first citizen of the country. Dr.Kalam also reminisces about his childhood days in Rameswaram, where he was born.

During the second world war in 1941, it was a difficult time for our family at Rameswaram, I was a 10 years old boy then, War had almost reached our doors of Rameswaram since the cloud of war had already reached Colombo. Almost everything was a rarity from food articles to anything. Ours was a large joint family. The size of our family was five sons and face daughters and three of whom had families.I used to see three cradles in my house at any given point of time.
My grandmother and mother were almost managing this large contingent. The environment in the home alternated by happiness and sadness.

I used to wake up at four in the morning , take a bath and go to my teacher swanuyar for learning mathematics. He will not accept students if they had not taken bath, He was a unique mathematics teacher and he used to take only five students for free tuition in a year. My mother used to get up before me, and help me take bath and prepare me to go for the tuition. use to come back at 5.30 am when my father would be waiting for to take to the Namaz and Koran sharif learning in Arabic school. After that I used to go to Rameswaram Road Railway station, three kilometers away from my house to collect newspaper.Madras Dhanushkodi Mail will pass through the station but will not stop, since it was wartime. The newspaper bundle will be thrown from the running train to the platform.

I used to collect the paper and run around the Rameswaram town and be the first one to distribute the newspaper in the town, My elder cousin brother was the agent who went away to Sri Lanka in search of better livelihood. After distribution, I used to come home at 8 am. My mother would give me a simple breakfast with a special quota compared to other children because I was studying and working simultaneously. After the school gets over in the evening, again I will go around Rameswaram for collection of dues from customers. I can still remember an incident that I would like to share with you. As a young boy I was walking, running and studying all together. One day, when all my brothers and sisters were sitting and eating, my mother went on giving me chapattis (even though we are rice eaters only, wheat was rationed).

When I finished eating, my elder brother called me privately and scolded “Kalam do you know what was happening? You went on eating Chapattis, and mother went on giving you. She has given all her chapattis to you. It is a difficult time. Be a responsible son and do not make your mother starve. “First time I had a shivering sensation and I could not control myself, I rushed to my mother and hugged her,. Even though I was studying in class 5, I had a special place in my home because I was the last guy in the family. There used to be no electricity. Our house was lit by the kerosene lamp that too between 7pm and 9pm. My mother specially gave me a small kerosene lamp so that I could study up to 11pm. I still remember my mother in a full moon night Which I had portrayed with the chapter “mother” in my book “Wing of Fire”.
This is the story of my mother who lived 93 years, a woman of love, a woman of kindness and above, a woman of divine nature. My mother performed Namaz five times everyday. During Namaz, five times everyday. During Namaz , my mother always looked angelic. Every time I saw her during Namaz I was inspired.

A poem on my Mother

I still remember the day
When I was 10, sleeping
On your lap to the envy of
My elder brothers and sisters.
It was full moon night, my world
Only you knew Mother! My
Mother! When at midnight, I woke
With tears falling on my knee you
Knew the pain of your child, My
Mother.
Your caring hands, tenderly
Removing the pain your love, your
Care, your faith gave me strength,
To face the world without fear and with his strength.
We will meet again on the great
Judgment Day. My mother!

Vel multitech Sri Rangarahan Sakunthala Engineering College organized a conference titled ‘Emerging Trends in Instrumentation and power System 2008’ to emphasise the fact that energy security has taken the centre shape in India this year.
The conference focused on opportunities in instrumentation and power systems for national grid development.
With liberalization and privatization policy in place and division of power system into generation transmission and distribution as separate entities, national grid network is playing a major role.
Numerous students presented their technical papers during the event.
Mr. Mohammed Reza, academic advisor, Microsoft inaugurated the symposium and Mr. Jayaprakash A.Gandhi, career counselor and analyst was a guest for the event.

About 16 Naval NCC cadets and an officer of the sathyabama University in Chennai are on their way to kanniyakumari on a cycle expedition from the University campus from August 6 to 20.

University chancellor Jeppiaar flagged off the expedition. The team will cover about 1,000 kms Nine other expeditions were organized previously based on different themes.This time the expedition was to spread awareness about antidowry. The team is scheduled to reach the destination by August 17 and it will cover some of the major cities along the way. The NCC cadets will also issue pamphlets in favour of public awareness and will perform skits on the theme “anti-dowry” to help educate the illiterate the seriousness of the issue.

Mr. V.J.Ravishankat,lead economist of world Bank, delivered a lecture to the students of Loyola Institute of Business Administration recently.In a ‘knowledge sharing’ session, he discussed a few topics on social investment and developmental products of the world Bank.
Beginning with a brief introduction of World Bank history and its initial operations in India the lecture further delved into the two forms of credit-----social investment and the developmental products, given in the form of loans to member countries, The session was followed by an interactive session where the students and the lecturer.
A contest was organized for 6 best ideas from the students on the following slogan ‘Imagine you are the chief economist of the largest lending institution to developing countries. Faced with the hefty ideals of reducing poverty and improving living standards, what would be your strategy for India, The best ideas will be presented to the senior management at World Bank, Delhi.
Addressing students, Mr.V.J.Ravishankar lead economist of world Bank said,
‘India has supported the World Bank with its objectives of operational, fiscal and fiduciary efficiencies thereby ensuring increased loan sanctions. The World Bank has been assisting states and Governments in development activities. Being the most mineral rich state compared to the other states in the union the Government of Orissa has received financial support from the World Bank has diversified its product offering to in clued development loan with an added feature which enables states to initiate the process and take final onus to secure funding for various growth maximization projects.
Earlier, loans were sanctioned only on proposal/project submissions by the Central Government.
Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandra Abu Naidu, was the first to opt for the product. While reviewing project assessment and growth areas, it was found by the world Bank that demand for this kind of product was low, in fact, negligible in most of the Indian states. But soon the state of Uttar Pradesh forayed for the scheme; this was a boon for the World Bank.

From black and white to real life colors, to larger than life special effects and now, the next big evolution---animation. With the industry, both 2D and 3D,flourishing in the country, the demand for specialized talents has also multiplied
Over the years. And Tamilians seem to have struck a good impression as most companies in a India look to Tamil nadu for the best talents.has also multiplied over the years.And Tamilians seem to have struck a good impression as most companies in India look to Tamil Nadu for the best talent.

To meet this enormous demand, added to those myriad computer institutes offeritn animation courses in the city, animation companies have also stepped into the river to train students themselves to meet the industrial needs.

Recently DQ Entertainment, a popular animation company has set up a training institute in the city. The CTO of the company, Mr.jayakumar, explains, “More than 40 per cent of the our animators, designers and artists are from Tamil Nadu.An hence, when we decided to set up training institutes around the country.Chennai was on the top of the list, Though the industry is very young in the global stage, it has already emerging as leader in what it does.”

He explains that though other countries too meet the desired requirements, cost advantage and language adaptability have put our country on the map. And having takeover several foreign projects, we have natured more experience to make indigenous projects.
And that explains the new trend in the Indian film industry that is new coming up with new animated flicks like Hanuman, Romeo, etc. And as the industry promises a fat pay on par with the IT industry, an animation course has become as important as that of an engineering degree. But the unfavorable side for the whole craze for these courses is that school students prefer to pursue this right after their class 12 without having obtained a proper degree as they are promised a job with a fat pay.
Jayaprakash Gandhi , career counselor, explains
‘It is true that there is a tremendous need for trained candidates in the animation studios. Attracted by these, many students have enrolled themselves full time after their school. it is advised that they obtain proper degree, which will strengthen their educational qualification, A degree in fine arts or visual communication will also help in laying a good foundation to pursue a job in this field.”

And it may come as reliefs to many students, some of the institutions, that have previously restricted themselves to a diploma course, are offering graduate and post graduate courses. While ICAT was one among the few institute of Communication& Research (AICAR) has announced the launch of an 18-month residential postgraduate program in Animation post Graduate program in Animation.

R.Krishnan, Head, Arena says, “The project was designed in collaboration with the University of the west of England (UWE), UK, The institute decided to offer this course as applications kept pouting I very large numbers, as the demand was high . And also, highly talented students were a bit apprehensive to pursue a job in the animation field.”
The course will cover commercial aspects of animation, visual culture and communication, and research methodology. He explains that the student would have the opportunity to progress to UWE, UK to complete the course.

I am doing plus two arts group I am interested in career related to Modeling please provide career prospects on Modeling.

Modeling has become one of the most sought after career options for youngsters in India. This is one of the most thrilling as well as lucrative profession, it attracts males and females equally, though there was a time when females dominated the field. With the expansion of consumerism and media there has been a fabulous boost in the advertisement industry. This along with upsurge in fashion industry has made modeling an attractive career option. It has generated a large and continuing demand for fresh faces and personalities to launch and promote a variety of branded products or show a garment to its best advantage.

Modeling is, undoubtedly a glamorous field which offers tremendous opportunities to travel and meet various classes of people, Moreover once established it isa highly paid job.Even with all these plus points it involves lot of hard work, dedication and perseverance to be successful in this field.It is a highly competitive and short-lived career.Further, stress factor is high and the hours are etrratic.The job also requires a lot of stamina and patience.

It is a profession where educational qualifications become insignificant and physical attributes and personal qualities assume importance.

Modeling is of various types.The modeling can be broadly classified into ramp modeling, television modeling and print modeling.

• Modeling Courses: Modeling can be mainly classified into Television modeling, print modeling/still modeling, Ramp modeling/live modeling, show room modeling.
• Television modeling: This involves modeling before the Movie camera, to be used for Television commercials, cinema, video, internet etc. Modeling for video or films often includes some acting or dance and is mostly conducted on location. To make a successful television model you need a flair for acting.
• Print modeling: Models generally pose for still photographs, to be utilized in the press advertisements, brochures, magazines, catalogues, calendars etc. Models for print media have to work along with ad agencies and photographers.
• Show room modeling: As per the name it take place in the showrooms. Models work generally for the exporters garment manufactures and the big garment retailers to display the latest trends of fashion to the buyers.
• Ramp or catwalk modeling/Live modeling: Requires models to display the garments and accessories in front of a live audience.This can be at an exhibition or a fashion show, or at a showroom or point of purchase. Ramp modeling , thus, requires long hours of practice, performing in a live show before an audience can be very stressful. It requires tremendous confidence and poise. Ramp models should have a good posture, walking style and body a language.
• Advertising modeling: This is the one where both print & electronic media has equal importance. It is in order to promote or popularize a product. Advertising models appear In press advertisements, an posters, in TV commercials and advertising films. Advertising modeling is open to models of all age groups. Basic acting skills and a photogenic face are must. There are no set standards o training I this area, and models are usually expected to learn on the job. A beginning for training in this field has been made by ex-models who have set up training schools; however it is restricted mainly to Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai.

• Training programs includes instructions on beauty care, make-up , hari styling, diet and exercise, how to walk and carry yourself elegantly and so on. These training programs include guidance on how to make a contract and other technicalities.Guidance on making a portfolio also forms a part of such training programs.
I would like to know about post graduate programme in labor management
and career prospects

Labour management is a method in management theory which determines
Changes to improve labour productivity. The student will be exposed to areas like standard method for performing each join, select workers with appropriate abilities for each job, training for standard task, planning work and eliminating interruptions, wage incentive for increase output,etc.
The student will also train in scientific approach to business management and process improvement and also in the importance of selection and training of labour.
The labour management programme also facilities learning in modern concepts, techniques, and practices in the management of human recourses and exposes the student to different functional areas of management to enhance the effectiveness among the labour.
A two-year professional post graduate management in labour management is offered in Tamil Nadu Institute of Labour studies, Chennai.

Dr A.P.J.Abdul kalam talds about science and scientist who enriched the world
Science is the foundation for sociental transformation.
Most important ingredient for realizing a happy, prosperous, safe and peaceful society is the ignited minds of the youth who can use science and technology as a applications.Technology is linked to economy and environment are linked to technology , which promotes properity to the society.Dear young friends, I would like to share the uniqueness’ of five great minds,all of them Nobel Laureates, each one having unique traits which symbolize Value of science; science as a Life time mission; science is borderless.

The traits of Nobel minds


• Value to Science: I would like to sharing with you and incident about sir C.V.Raman – a Nobel Laureate in Physics for discovering Raman ----a Nobel Laureate in Physics for discovering Raman Effect. Raman gives the view that the colour of sky is blue due to molecular diffraction which determines the observed luminosity and in great measures also its colour, This led to the bird of the Raman Effect. Raman was in the first batch of Bharat Ratna Award winners.The award ceremony was to take place in the last week of January soon aster the Republic Day celebrations of 1954.The then president Dr. Rajendra Prasad wrote to Raman inviting him to be the personal guest in the Rashtrapati bhavan, when Raman came to Delhi for the qward ceremony.Sir CV Raman wrote a polite letter.regretting his inability to go .Raman had a noble reason for his inability to attend the investiture ceremony. He explained to the President
That he was guiding a ph.D.student and that thesis was positively due by the last day January and that he had to be by the side of the research student. Here was a scientist who gave up the pomp of a glittering ceremony associated with the highest honour, required him to be by the side of student. It is this unique trait of giving value to science that builds science.

Science as a Life time mission:

Chandrasekhar Subramanyan’s most famous discovery was the astrophysical Chandrasekhar limit. The limit describes the maximum mass(~ 1.44 solar masses) of a white deaf star, or equivalently, the minimum mass fior which a star will ultimately collapse into a neutron star or black hole following a supernova. The limit was first calculated by Chandrasekhar while on a ship frion India to Cambridge, England. The Chandrasekhar limit led to the determination of how long a star like sun of particular mass will shine. In 1983,Chandrasekhar subramanyan got the Nobel price for this discovery. Two of chandrasekhar’s students in 1947 were the doctoral candidates Tsung-dao Lee and Chen Ning Yang in Particle Physics research. Even though Chandrasekhar Subramanyan maintained his office at the yerkes Observatory in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, he would regularly drive the one hundred miles to Chicago to guide and teach Lee and Yang and others many a times in difficult weather conditions. In 1957, these two of his students won the Nobel Prize in physics for their work in particle physics research. His students. Science indeed is a life time mission for Chandrasekhar. It is this characteristic Which makes youth to become passionate towards science.

Science is Borderless : Prof .Bert Sakmann –a germen medical doctor and research scientific who in 1991, together with German physicist won the Nobel prize for medicine for research into basic cell function and for their development of the patch—clamp technique, that in turn established the role it plays in diseases like diseases, like diabetes, cardiac epilepsy and certain cardiac, epilepsy and certain neuromuscular disorder.
Prof Bert Sakmann who did his elementary education in a rural back ground had a passion for Physics and Engineering in school days. He got interested in Cybernetics in the final year school, since he realized that living organisms could be understood in engineering terms.

Thus the seed of inter-disciplinary research was firmly rooted in him in a very young age. As a doctoral student, he worked on electro-physiological basis of pattern recognition. For this, he closely worked with electrical and computer scientists.
He learnt the basic mechanism of vision. Later, he ran his own laboratory in physiology in close collaboration with physi0-chemical and bio-chemical departments, in his won words. He enjoyed working write fellow scientists on scientific adventures. He is the real example for working in the multiple disciplines” Science is borderless”.

Global Scholar Inc, an online learning portal www.globalscholar.com and Education world, india’s education news and analysis magazine announces the Global Scholar Education World Young Achievers Awards 2008.The pan-India Global Scholar-EW Young Achieves Award are open to all Indian citizens between ages 12-25 and acknowledge and celebrate young achievers in four fields of endeavour: Science, Maths and Technology; Arts and Music; social work and Sports.

Nominations (including self-nominations) will be assessed by IL&FS Education and Technology services Ltd and eight young Achievesrs from across India will be invited (all expenses paid ) for thefinal round of interviews to be held in Bangalore.

Thereafter a jury will interview the eight finalists,of whom one in ech category will be adjusged the Global Scholar-Education World Young Achievers 2008 at a convication in Bangalore.

Entry forms can be downloaded from www.globalscholar.com/yaa

Last date for applications is October 30,2008.

Sometime ago when Anna University, Chennai announced its result and put up some of the results analyses of aggiliated on its website,a teacher of an engineering site, a teacher of an engineering College had lamented about how it was easy for the brighter kids in the university’s constituent college (like the College of Engineeting Guindy or the MIT in Chromepet) to get high marks. It was because of the higher weightage given for internal assessments.

The teacher argued that a student of CEG or MIT needs to put in minimum effort to get a first class or distinction, while those in affiliated colleges struggled to get even average marks, as the internal marks had far lesser weightage.


While some parts of the article are worth looking at closely, the writer seemed to be missing certain other aspects of engineering education. Of course, one has to again debate as to why India alone shouls continue with such a outrageous concept like affiliation, there is however another dimension to the issue—grades and marks are one side of education, but the outcomes of the education get rarely debated in intellectual fora.

For example, take a program like the computer science and engineering in engineering colleges. This subject is particularly known for a yawning gap between what is taught in colleges and what is practiced today. Simply because this is one of the fastest emerging fields in applied engineering today in industry.

Sometime in early 2007, the National Science Foundation of the U.S. recognized that “despite the deep and pervasive impact of computing and creative efforts in a small number of institutions, under graduate computing education today often looks much as it did several decades ago”.

Several acknowledged faculty experts are pointed to reports such as that from Microsoft Research to highlight that futther development in the sciences will require the complete integration of computing principles and practices into the very fabric of science, as opposed to the mere applicaton of computing to support scientist sin their daily work.


In other words, transforming the state of undergraduate education in computing for both computing majors and non –majors alike has become a national imperative, The issues arised were:

• The current state og undrgradeuate computing education.
• Approaches taken to improve the curriculm for computing students.
• Progress achieved in developing non-traditional computing majors,
• Approaches taken to make computing more attractive and accessinle to non-traditional or under-represented populations;
• Progress achieved in making computing an equal partner with (and not just a service course provider to) otherdisciplines,
• Specific strategies, techniques used to improve computing education.

Prof s. Muthukumaran, former vice-chancellor of Bharathidasn university raises his doubts on the implementation of choice based credit system(CBCS), that aims to help students at colleges level select their course.

“We have to moce towards the ‘Teacher preparing syllabi, teching methodolofy and evaluation and the teachers should be properly trained.”

1.Q. Do You Think the choice Based credit system, (CBCS) as it called, is relavant in today’s context?How do you view on the government’s effort in implementing the system?

ANS: The idea behind the proposed introduction of CBCS is to give an equal opportunity for the students to choose the subjects instead of the college forcing them to take only a particular group of subjects. This would mean the college offers more than the required number of courses at a given time. So, the students will have a choice to pick up his prefered subject,

Or in oter words, for a degree course, the requirement is that 15 courses will ne in first half of the year (semester) and 15 in the second semester, which means, the college will be offering more than 15 subjects.

This would mean engaging additional teachers, additional class rooms, with out making provisions for all. The introduction of CBCS will only deserve straight Jacked programme’. The government must provide extra expenses for the implementation of any such new system.

2.Q.Recently a exam pater valuation scam has brought to light. How do you think such malpractices can be curbed?
ANS:The academic system must be revamped.Qualified staff should examine the answer sheets. A thorough screenin is tequired. Any they should be honest.

The clerical level staff should also bethoroughly screened.Normally, the vcaluation tampering takes place during the entry level of awarded marks. Entries are made at two different levels.

This is compared on computer basis, If there is a difference, the higher examiner or thire valuation comes into the picture.Once the mark entries are finalized, there is a programme where the computer will not accept any changes in the marks. What we should do is move towards the ‘Teacher preparing syllabi, teaching methodology and evaluation.’

This is what invoked in IIT, IIMS and other Higher Institutes.This must be implemented in our institutions, provided the teachers are properly trained.

3.Q. What do you think about common syllabi for all the universitie?

ANS:I do not think would be a good move. There must be scope for every individual institution to frame their own syllabus looking into consideration of the local needs and aspiration.Already we have a scheme of going for autonomy to the colleges.

This move gives certain amount of freedom to the colleges to frame their own syllabus.Therefore the present move would not be viewed as a progressive step.If it is meant for allowing the students to move from one university to another, then they must be advised to choose an appropriate subject, to suit all the varsities. A new method should be devised.

The SDM institute for Management Development (SID-IMD), Mysore has signed an agreement with Mays Business School, Texas A&M University, for a student and faculty exchange programme.

According to Mr.Ramesh Venkateswaran, Director, SDM-IMD, “The institute has always aimed to offer the best education to its students.Our associations with such globally recognized institutes will give our students a wider perse\pective to the world of business management which is very important for their growth.”

According to the agreement, up to four students from SDM-IMD would get an opportunity to spend a semester and attend courses at Mays Business School. An equal number of MBA students would be invited to study a semester in SDM-IMD’s
Award-winning campus in Mysore,

As an alternative, the agreement also envisions underguarduate students from Mays attending a five-week summer programme focuse on conducting business in India, at SDM-IMD, during May-June. The exchange will also encourage institutions to promate the exchange fo faculty for teaching and collaborative research programmes.Earler this year, the institute had signed a similar agreement with the Global Management Education Institute of shanghai University.For more information, visit www.sdmimd.ac.in or http://www.tamu.edu/

Several college from Chennai participated at the debate contest orgainised by U.S.Consulate and Loyola College.The chief guest on the occasion was Mr.Andrew Simkin , the Consul General.

The event commenced with the screening of the videoclipping of the first and second presidential debates between Barrack Obama and John McCain at Mississippi University and Belmont University respectively. The participants, as per the norms of the contest, reproduced them by providing both Democratic and Republican perspectives on critical issue such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Energy, Immigration, Healthcare, etc.

The judges, Mr.Karthik Chidmabaram and Ms.Jodie Enda , A journalist declared the team from Stella Maris College as the winners, closely followed by Loyola College and Ethiraj College. The debate moderators, Ms. Ragini Gupta, admitted,
“The colleges did much better than some colleges in the US.” She handed out the mustpread “post-AmericanWorld” by Fareed Zakaria to all participants.

Concerned at the increase in global warning and the consequent natural disasters the students, of PSBB Senior Secondary School , Formed a team called the ‘Rainbow Warriors’ and formulated several approaches to create awareness on global warming. They made attractive charts with powerful messages on global warming and put them up in more than 30 outlets in their neighbourhood .These charts are replaced every fortnight with other charts with more messages.

The Rainbow Warriors Present a sapling toevery child from 4th to 8th standard in their school on his /her birthday along with instruction o nurturing it.Children take this sapling in a paper bag (recycled paper) which strongly requests students to lessen the use of plastic.They have also gifted tree saplings to the panchayat Union Middle School at sundara Cholavaram.They made a power point presentation on global warming in Tamil to the students of the schoolk and also gave them charts with miessages on reducing global warming, in Tamil.

Established in1925 and spread over 96 eacres, Loyala college, Chennai offers around 107 undergraduate, postgraduate, M.Phil and ph.D.programmes. One of chennai’s most prestigious institutions, the college,is planning a cokplete makeover.The celebrates 100 years of its establishment.

However, the funds needed to transform Loyala into a world class institute are in the region of Rs.200 crores and so the college recently set up the Loyala Development Office (LDO) to supervise fund raising and the kind of networking –establishing Loyola’s relations with other educational institutions here and overseas and with government and with non-governmental organizations—needed to meet its aims. The LDO will be headed by Joe Arun, Dean of External Affairs and Development. Apart from looking into fund raising, the development of human resources, training and building competencies in both teaching and non-teaching staff will also be supervised by the LDO.

The money raised will be used to build smart classrooms to execute new strategies in teaching and learning. A business school, a studies and a School of Education will also be planned with the funds.

However the college has some 150 ‘unaided’ teachers so if the government continued to offer grant-in-aid and pay their salaries and benefits, the college could explore the idea of converting into a university, said principal Father Albert Muthumalai.

There is good news for female students, girls beat boys despite their diversified reading habits, say a survey by
ASSOCHAM. Male students between the age groups of 18-26 generally outshine their female counterparts in reading habits but it is the girls that score better an higher over their male counterparts, whether it is in academic or competitive examinations said the study.
“Why females are going reasonably better in academics and even competitive examinations with their limited participation is because they are more focused,” revealed the survey.

And there is more good news for girls! The survey states that the concentration levels of girls in whatever they attempt to do to carye out careers is much more intense and is driven by utter sincerity to accomplish goals ,while boys generally lag behind.

However, the report said that boys have very diverse interests which they pursue equalky. These include, reading sports etc.

The demand for nuclear technology courses is on the rise in the wake of India taking its place amongst the nuclear nations of the world.
With the Nuclear Cooperation Agreement its final leg of completion, the education sector is also gearing up to meet the demang of trained personnel in the field with the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) deciding to start a two year M.Tech pragramme in Nuclear Engineering and Technology from the 2009-10 academic session.

According to M.S.Ananth, Director, IIT-M, the course was initially being planned for the 2008 academic session.Owing to the subject’s inter-disciplinary approach, the institute is planning to take help from the mechanical, Chemical Engineering
And Technology from the 2009-10 academic session.

According to M.S.Ananth,Director,IIT-M, the course was initially being planned for the 2008 academic session.Owing to the subject’s inter-disciplinary approach, the institute is planning to tade help from the Mechanical, Chemical Engineering and Physics Departments.Officials at the institute say that the Homi Bhabha Institute has offered to help them by sending a group of scientists on a temporary basis.
“IIT-M is launching an M.Tech course in Nuclear Engineering and Technology”
“with the sector scheduled to open up to private players, the days, of governmern salaries are over and the demand nuclear technology courses should be on the rise,” says Pramod Patil, an industry watcher.

Not to be left behind, Delhi University has launched an M.tech course in Nuclear Technology during the current academic year.With the country expanding its nuclear programme and about to set up new nuclear power plants, educators feel that the sector is bound to experience an increasing need of manpower.

Delhi Uiversity’s three-year, M Technology is in being conducted in collaboration with the joseph Fourier University of France. Students will bre able to avail of a scholarship of Rs,.3,000 per month and be sent to France as part of the course work an dissertation.

The course requires a Bachelor’s degree in Physics as a subject.IIT Kanpur and IIT Bombay who already run sucj courses are in the process of reviewing their course material.

MTV has spelt the magic and it seems to be audition timefor young daredevils across the country.With the fun-filled andcrazy MTV Roadies 6 auditions, which just wrapped up in style,the enthusiasm among teenagers for the auditions of the show ,Splitsvilla, is more than ever.These reality show auditions are a sure-shot way for Gen Y earn name, fame, money and of course,a lot of glam at the end of it all. Says Anjana s, a student form Sophia college,” I went for the MTV Roadies 6 auditions and they were simply amazing, as this time, the roadies are heading to Australia, the challenge gets tougher. To depict that, the audition rooms were titled as cage one,cage two,etc andwe contestants were termed as ‘victims.’ The line of change this time around was that Raghu’s evil twin Tajeev scrutinized the contestants,so there was literallu dounle-trouble out there.Although I didn’t get selected, I has a blast at the auditions. I am now keen on the Splitsvilla 2 auditions. I have just filled the application form online.”

Poorva Roa, a medicl student from a popular college in Bangalore is all gung-ho about it and is waiting for the audition dates to ne out. Says she, “I an glad that this time MTV auditions have gone online.Usually the audition used to beonly in five locations. But with the online auditiona everybody has an opportunity and a fair chance, As this tine there are going to be eight guys and eight girls in the show ,in an exotic island, I am very excited and I am anxiously waiting for acall.

Which is better the movie adaptation or the book?
This is a question we have been asking since we climbed down from the trees. But inthis case the writer is most likely to benefit immensely in both ways.As those who have tead the nook may like to see the film out of sheer curiosity and those who were drawn to the theatre to watch the movie because of the three hotties in it- Gul Panag., Amrita Arora and Isha Koppikat, would definitely want to grab a copy of the book, so that the youngsters can ‘compare notes’! Yes, we are talking about the movies,Hello, which is a movie interpretation of chetan Bhagat’s bestseller novel,One Night @ the call center or simply ON @CC (as popularlu abbreviated by Gen y.)

Around this time io 2005, he released his second novel, One Night @the call centre, And as it turns out,it’s in that month of the year again, that the soft-spoken author is ou with its big screen version, Hello, where he’s credited for the story, screenplay and dialogues,. But Whether the movie works ornot is a matter of least concern for the author who is sporting a wider grin as his book has yet again topped the best seller list after the release of the film.says Sharon Babu, store manager of Crossword book store in Chennai,”After the release of the movie Hello, the sales of the book bave increased by 75 percent.On a weekday we sell about 15 to 29 copies and on a weekends we sell about 30 copies of the book,”

Around the time of the movie release, the publishers have given the book jacket a revampand as per expectations the sales shot up like never before.sakhi Gupta owner of an online bookstore says,”The book tops our bestseller list and is picked up the most by the youngsters who are keen on discussing the book with their friends.The price is a another factor which has boosted the sales of the book.”

So what is it that draws Gen Y towards reading the book? Answers sharamit kaur, a class 11 student,”I am not an avid reader. So when the book was launched three years ago, I was not very keen on reading it. But after watching the movie, it suddenly became the talk of the town and then I decided to get my copy.And now, I feel the book is far better than the time pass movie is! Chetan has done a lot of American bashing in the novel and it is the same in the novel and it is the same in the movie as well. I liked reading it because of the simple language and interesting plot.”
Shubhangi Vasudev, a second year commerce students was quick to agree.”I haven’t read the book, not all of it anyway, but I was most curious about its cinematic adaptation.The movie is hilarious and is filled with a lot of drama. I loved Sharman Joshi and Sohail Khan ‘s performance in the film and I was keen to know how their characters have been sketched in the book. Also there were long discussion threads online as to how Gul Panag has successfully played Priyanka’s character.Ipurchased the book to know more about the film,.”Well, it is evident that both the ‘time pass ‘ flick and the book have managed to hit it off well with Gen Y. IN.

Materials management is the management of materials in an industry, with the person in charge of the department coordinating orders,purchase, inventories and the transportation of materials from the store to the factory and then to the retail outlet.

A materials manager will ensure that there are no bottlenecks in the demand and supply chain, “Earlier, there were different departments that looded after each function--- store, inventory, operations--- now all these have been clubbed together under materials management, which is an inseparable part of supply chain management: says Asish Chatterjee, faculty, IIM Calcutta.

In a globalised world , there is increased competition on cost, delivery and variety.Although, there is a proliferation of product lines, product life cycles have become shorter.There is a need to cut lead time, inventory and lost sales. All this calls for efficient and quick supply chains.

An example can be taken of dell computers that started a business of upgrading IBM compatibles in1983.This was despite a sales growth of 40 percent,which wasnot sufficient to cover expenses that shot up by 55 percent.Dell realized its costs were high because of sales through retail channels,creating a lot of waste in form of inventory and unsold goods.”it was then that DELL established its direct model-started assembling PCs after receiving orders and supplied directly to customers, thus briging down inventory to 13 days from 75 days.”says prof Chatterjee.This improved profits and is a good example of how an efficient supply chain can turn around a business.
In order to do well in this profession, you haveto be a multitasker.”And you will have towear many hats to be a successful executive,” says Bimal Ghosh, vicePresident of the idian institute of Materials Management .

(IIMM-East) adding, “you should also be able to take quick decisions, be a good negotiator and have a cool temperament.” He modern industry belives in cost savings. Hence,a materials manager is much in demand and he often commands a lucrativepackage,which could run up to Rs.1 lakh per month.

Junior Fellowships, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD):Under this scheme, nearly 60 scholarships (worth Rs.2,000 per month for two years) are offered to visual attists (painters, sculptures, photographers, lithographers) between 18-20, with a bachelor of fine Arts (BFA) or equivalent qualification. Selection is based on interviews.

Contact: Section Officer, S&F Section, Room No.333, C Wing, Department of between 3 to 4 pm only on working days.

Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA) National Scholarships: LKA offers about 40 annual grants to visual artist, art historians and art critics (worth Rs.3000 per month for one year), who are below 35 years of age with a BFA or equivalent qualification (waived in the case of folk artists). Selection is based on a written proposal which is followed by an interview.

The advantage with the LKA grant is that the Akademi also gives students an apprenticeship with a senior artist at Garhi, New Delhi, where LKA runs one of the biggest studio facilities in Asia.Besides studio facilities, LKA also organizes a national exhibition that fatches cash awards of Rs.25,000- 40,000 and which receives thousand of entries annually from every nook and corner of India.

Contact:Secretary, LKA, Rabindra Bhawan, 35, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi-1.

Kanoria Centre for Arts Ahmedabad: ‘Experimental liberal education’ is perhaps the best phrase to describe the ethos here. Scholarships are offered twice a year (Nov-Dec and May-June) for 3-6 months in any art discipline to graduate and postgradeuate students, which can be extended at the discretion of the board.One advantage with Kanoria is its accessibility from both Mumbai and Delhi, two large art hubs.

Contact:Kanoria Centre for arts, K.L.campus, university Road, Navangpura,Ahmedbad.

FOREUGN FELLOWSHIPS
Charles Wallace India Trust Award:Only mid-career artists between 23-40 are eligible to apply, and the minimum qualification is a BFA.
Contact: British Council Division, 17, kg Marg, New Delhi -1.ph:3711401.

Commonwealth Fellowships: Administered by the MHRD,these awards are available to students of Fine Arts,Art Historu.Graphic Design or Sculpture (below 42)for postgraduate and research studies in the UK.
Contact: mhrd, Department of Education, External scholarships Division,A-1/w-3, Curson Road Barracks,K.G.Marg, New Delhi-1.PH:3386401.

Inlaks Foundation Scholarships: Offers 10-15 scholarships annually to Fine Arts and Applied ARTS and Conservtion students. The Trust even helps meritorious students secure admission in the Royal College of Arts , UK.covers almost everything-travel, tuition fees and living expenses.

The US Educational Foundation in India:Grants one award each to artists between 25-40 working in the plastic Arts and Arts and culture Management for 2-6 months.covers everything.

Contact:USEFI, Fulbright House, 12,Hailey Road, New Delhi-1. ph:3328944.

Japan Foundation Felllowship : Available in May for 2-6 months but tenable only in Japan, after submitting proof of institutional affiliation.Doesn’t cover living expenses
Contact: Japan Foundation, Room No.102-107,Ashok Hotel, 50-b chanakyapuri, New Delhi-1.ph:6888263/64.

Rhodes Fellowship plan:Valued at US$ 27,000 per year,it’s one of the most prestigious awards but available only to Fine Arts students between 19-25 years of age selected by a college in Oxford.
Contact:Indian Secretary, The Rhodes Scholarship Trust Directory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi-67.ph:6172406.

Besides these, some organizations offer interest-free loans to pursue higher studies abroad, which are also available to Fine Arts students. Many well-known Indian art colleges also have student exchange programmes with art colleges abroad, to allow short stints of art exposure to their students in these countries. For instance, Switzerland’s Federal Commission for scholarships for Foreign students(FCS) offers several grants to Fine Arts students.

These days, if you have the slightest bit of talent and good networking skills, there is no dearth of art patrons and opportunities. Daughter of a vegetable vendor, shakila Bano’s life changed when her talent was spotted by B.R.panesar, a retired statistician from the National Smple Survey.Her work so captivated him that he took her under his wing.

Her Untutored, fresh vision has won her a slew of awards.The issue is: if she can do it why can’t you? Here is the low down on the scholarships and fellowships available.

The JG Institute fo Foreign studies (JGIFS) signed Seneca college, Toronto, Canada to offer students career-oriented programmes I a variety of fields. Said john Geevarghese chairman of the Asia charitable Trust that launched JGIFS, This is a first of its kind joint venture in Gujarat where students can pursue foreign education in Ahmedabad without spending too much money and time abroad.”

Frederick c.Miner, president of seneca said that the programme was designed in such a way that it would “ provide a unique college and university to students.”

With more than 100,000 full and pat-time students and more than 260 programs Seneca is one of canada’s largest post-graduate and under-graduate level institutions said miner. JGIFS, in partnership with Seneca college, will offer post-graduate diplomas in a selection of subjects like international business management, fashion business, tourism and flight services.Three semesters will have to be completed in India with the remaining one semester to be done in Canada.

Recognised all over the world , these vocational degrees will help students access industry in the ‘ready tio work ‘mode.

In another tie-up, Seneca college Frameboxx animation and visual Effects, Mumbai announced an agreement to jointly offer Graduate certificate Programmes in Animation, Visual Effects and Gaming in India.
Seneca’s Animation Arts centre located in Toronto, is internationally known for its leading edge training in 3D Animation, Gaming and Visual Effects.” This agreement will provide students from India with the opportunity to receive internationally recognized training in animation, visual effects and gaming,” said Mohammed Khan, vice –president International andsiness Development, Seneca college.

Frameboxx has more than 40 established training centres in India and overseas.” At Franeboxx. We’ve always aimed at delivering world class animation and visual effects training in India.our association withseneca is one more giant step in that it will bea unique opportunity for students who wish to carve a niche in this industry,”said Naveen Gupta ,CEO, Frameboxx.
Scheduled to begin in January 2009, the new initiative will offer spaces for a maximum of 25 students. The first semester will be completed in India and will cover a wide range of courses. Eligible students will then have the opportunity to complete the second semester at Seneca and get a globally recognized certification at the end of their study programme.

“Decide on the programme that you wish to take and then check the Irish institute’s
accreditation status at the HETAC website.” informs Shikha Mohanty, Education
and Trade Manager at the Embassy of Ireland.

All in all, a student should select a particular university not because it’s the “most
well known” or the “most famous” but because it would be the most appropriate in
helping them stay ahead of the curve,” concludes Narayan.

The debate , thar university ranking can serve a legitimate purpose, goes on. If
these are done right canthey really help a student make an informed choice. That
seems to be the million dollar question. As part of their annual exercise, most
ranking agencies come out with their unique—and often contradictory –rankings on
diggerent criteria, leading to denials, clarification,boycotts (by the universities from
the next year’s ranking) and more confusion for students and their befuddled
parents.

Although Shevanti Narayan, Country Managae, Educational Advising services
United Sttates-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) declines to comment on
these, she does grudgingly accept the fact that several organizations and
magazines in the USA publish their annual rankings of US universities and Indian
students must be aware that since all universities DO NOT participate in these
surveys,they cannot be the lat word on the quality of instruction offered at these
universities.(In fact similat protest stands are also taken by IIM Ahmedabad ,
Bangalore and Calcutta to B-school rankings in India).
“If at all these rankings must be considered in making a selection, students must also analyse the methodology used in the randking,”Narayan advises.

In fact the same parameters that rankers use---quality of programmes, profiles of
the faculty, programme content, etc---are the ones that students can also use and use
more objectively in reaching a decision, Narayan explains. Eventually students
would do well to choose a university that is the “ right fit” for their specific needs.
I would ask them to make their own ranking list on the basis of their requirements,
“she adds.

As for British Universities ,more than general rankings, they are assigned a research
ranking, they are assigned a research rating,” informs Amit Chaturvedi, Head of
Education UK.”This research assessment is done by a government agency and can
be a reliable source of information for Indian students,’he explains. The courses
under this sustem are rated on a scale of1-5, he explains. Indian students can check
out these ratings on www.hero.ac.uk/rae.”For teaching quality, they can login to
www.tqi.ac.uk,”he adds.

At the Republic of Irekand there is nio system of rankings as it’s a tiny country with
just seven universities and 14 Institutes of Institutes of Technology. The latter are
accredited by the Higher Award and Training Award Council (HETAC) which is
akin in constitution to the AICTE in India.

What do you feel about the necessity of teaching basic lawat
school level especially for those who want to take up law as a
profession.

Every one must have a knowledge about basic laws. This must be imparted in
the initial stage itself. Ignorance of law cannot be an excuse.Laws play a major role
from cradle to the graveyard. My suggestion is school students should be trained
about Human Rights.This is part of National Education Policy evolved by the then
prime minister Rajiv Gandhi 1986.

As a head of the Law varsity, what do you propose to do about imparting legal
education to students of other branches.

The TamilnaduDr.Ambedhkar Law university has introduced exclusive law education to students of science and arts courses, we do have five-year B.A.,BLAND BA.,BL(Hons)and three year BL courses. We have introduced a three year BL(Hons.) course exclusively for the science graduates. These is a proposal tio extend a similar course to graduates in managements commerce, Economic and other disciplines.
The Law University has already started a one-year deistance education course on cyber crime. We have tied up with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for this certificate course, The Law University has also plan to introduce a diploma course in BCL (Bachelor of Civil Law) through distance education.This will be done in association with the IGNOU. The course curriculm will be developed by IGNOU. We will facilitate the contact classes through our affiliated colleges caros Tamil Nadu.The course will have Environment Law, Businesss Law, Intellectual property Law and other related subjects. Law University will also help them to draw resource persons to conduct classes.

Any expansion programme proposed in the Law University in the coming years.

We are seriously thinking about setting up nine law school across the stare. It will not be a problem for us since we do have the required infrastructure in place. All we have to do is to restructure the existing faculties. We are waiting for the approval from the University syndicate. Such schools will benefit both the teaching and student commuities.Teachers can specialize in certain branches of law while students get an exposure to all branches of the legal profession,. Teachers can also develop their writing skills by contributing to law journals. Besides developing their professional skills the students will take part in simulated court proceedings. This is usually to include drafting briefs and participating in oral argument).The next edition of the Moot Court to be held in March 2009 WILL feature about 20 colleges. These Moot Courts will help the students to get adequate training in drafting and pleading cases.

Do you think just legal knowledge is enough for a law practioner.

No.That is why we in Tamilnadu Ambedhkar Law University designed and drafted a new curriculum. We are introducing NCC for first and second year students. This is the first time a law education institution is introducing NCC in its campus. Our mission is to help the students grow as a disciplined lot. Also on anvil is an optional paper on Military Law. This will help the students to get placement in the legal wing of the defence forces of the country.

The students of M.Sc. Eletronic Media, Anna university conducted an anti-tobacco
IEC compaign (Information Eduction Communication ) recently for the students of
wallajabad at the Arignar Anna Girls Higher Secondary School.The campaign was
part of a three day workshop titled ‘capacity Building on Development
Communication for Tobacco Control’conducted by the Department of Media
Sceences,Anna University in collaboration with the Directorate of punlic Health and
preventive Medicine, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, As part of the work
shop, twenty five students were trained in developing street plays and supportinf
IEC materials on tobacco control.

The street plys involved humour and information
in the right quotient.The street plays informed about the government’s ban on
smoking in public areas and the right of every citizen to prevent people from
smoking in public. The plays also made a mockery of sstars to smoke on screen and
informed the students on the impact of smoking on the health of the smokers and
their families and friends.

After the performance, the officials from the health department and the faculty
from the department of Medial Sciences conducted a feedback session with the
scholl children and the response was overwhelming.The students vowed to prevent
the sale of tobacco products in their villages and they promised to take home this
message.

Schookl students have come a long way fromjust merely reproducing science
projects from’easy-to-do scholl projects books, to innovative designs the highlight of
which was robotics (both designing and programming) at the madras christian
college school,chetpet, Others include tropical topics suchas global
warming,”stydents are more aware about the needs of the society and what is
needed to protect our earth’s future and in turn theirs too. It is very exciting to see
them exhibit and explain such innovative and complicatedmodels at theis very
young age,”said Vice-chancellor of Anna University Prof Mannar Jawahar, who
was thechief guest on the occasion.The exhibits ranged from walking robots to
projects against global warming.

Mario Capecchi had a difficult and challenging childhood, For nearly four
years,Capecchi lived with his mother in a chalet in the Italian Alps. When world
war II broke out his mother, along with other Bohemians, was sent to Dachau as a
Political prisoner. Anticipating her arrest by the Gestapo, she had sold all her arrest
by the Grstapo, she had sold all her possessions and given the money to friends to
help raise her son on their farm. In the farm, he had to grow own wheat,m harvest;
take it to miller to be ground. Then the money which his mother left, for him ran
out and at the age of four and half years , he started sometimes living
inthestreets,sometimes joining gangs of other homeless children, sometimes living
in orphanages and most of the time hungry, He sent the last year in the city of
reggio Emelia, hospitalized for malnutrition where hiw mother found him on his
ninth birthday after a year of searching. within weeks the capecchi and his mother
sailed to America to join his uncle and aunt.

He started his third grade schooling afresh over there and started his education,
interested in sports, studied political science. But he didn’t find it interesting and
changed to science, became a mathematics graduate in 1961 with a double major in
physics and chemistry. Although he really simplicity, he switched to molecular
niology in graduate school , on the advice of james D.watson who advised him that
he should not be bothered about small things since such pursuits are likely to
produce only small answers.

His objective was to do gene targeting. The experiments started in 1980 and by 1984,
capecchi had clear success. There years later, he 1989, he developed the technology
to mice with targeted mutations. The technology created by Doctor Capecchi allows
researchers to create specific gene mutations anywhere they choose in the genetic
code of a mouse, By manipulating gene sequences in this way researchers are able to
mimic human disease conditions on animal subjects, What the research of Mario
capecchi means for human health is nothing short of amazing, his work with mice
couls lead tio curse for Alzheimer’s disease conditions on animal subjects .what the
research of Mario Capecchi means for human health is nothing short of amazing,
his work with mice could lead to cures for Alzheimer’s disease or even cancer. The
innovations in generics that Mario Capecchi achieved won him the Noble Prize in
2007. Noble laureate Capecchi’s life indeed reveals:-

“when you wish upon a star, Now, I would like no narrate an incident which took
place during a function congerring Noble Laureate Prof, Norman E Borlaug, a well
known agricultural scientist and a partner in India’s first Green revolution, with
Dr, M.S.Swaminathan Award, at vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on the 15th of March
2005.Prof . Borlaug,at the age of 91, was in the midst of all the praise showered on
him from everybody gathered there, When his turn came , he got up and high-
lighted India’s advancement in the agricultural science and production and said
that the political visionary shri C.Subramaniam and Dr, M.S.Swaminathan, pioneer
in agricultural science were the prime architects of first Green Revolution in India
Even though prof Norman Borlaug was himself a partner ion the first green
revolution, he did not make a point onthis. He recalled with pride, Dr. Verghese
kurine who ushered White Revolutio in India. Then the surprise came. He turned to
scientists sitting in the third tow fifth row and eighth row of the audience. He
identified Dr, RajaRam,a wheat specialist, Dr,S.K. Vasal, a maize specialist,
Dr.b.r.Barwale, a seed specialist. He said, all these scientists had contributed for
india’s and Asia’s agricultural science.Dr.Borlaug introduced them to the audience
by asking them to stand and ensured that the audience cheered and greeted the
scientists with great enthusiasm.

This action of Dr.Norman Borlaug, I call it ‘scientific Magnanimity’. Friends , if we
aspire to achieve great things in life, we need scientific Magnanimity will motivate
the scientific community and nurture team spirit.

To futher what can be the challenges in front of you some of our national missions.
We have a roadmap for becoming an economically developed nation for fulfilling
the aspiration of a billion democratic people of multi-religion,multi-language and
multiculture.

Our human resources particularly the 540 million youth will make this mission a
reality using science and technology as a tool with the available bio-diversity and
natural resources.

Faced with the huge increase in demand for persons with accounting knowledge for the small and medium scale companies, retail sector. BPO/KPO sector etc., the Institute of cost and works Accountants of India (ICWAI) is introducing a new course on certificate for Accounting Technician (CAT).

Its is estimated that at least one million accounting technicians will be required within the next three years in India. This course will be open to students who have completed the class 12 Examination. The entry level syllabus of the cat course will be the same as foundation course of the ICWAI examination.

This will be followed by the competency level consisting of 2 more papers. Students desiring to pursue the complete professional course of ICWAI would be able to switch over from the CAT course and vice versa.

“keeping in view the global standing and the demand from the industry for qualified cost & Management Accountants, the Institute has revised the Syllabus of the Institute effective from January 2008. The New syllabus has been designed to address the future demands on the profession in the areas such as valuation Management, Strategic Management, Strategic Management, and capital Market Analysis. The Institute is also laying a lot of emphasis on the practical aspects of cost & management Accountancy by way of implementing Hands-on-Training with the industry/practicing professionals” said mr.kunal Bannerjee, president, ICWAI.

The Institute is in the process of introducing online registration system for students all over India. This has been fully Implemented in south and west and is under implementation in north and East.