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Sky-high demand for astronomers

There’s no dearth of employment opportunities for qualified astronomers in government organisations, research institutes, 40 planetaria across the country, observatories, museums, colleges and universities For those interested in unravelling the mysteries of the universe, career options in the science of astronomy are aplenty, with demand for astronomers far outstripping supply. In liberalised and deregulated India, the study of astronomy could prove highly rewarding, both intellectually and monetarily. The word astronomy literally translates into ‘law of the stars’. Astronomy is the science of celestial objects (stars, planets, comets, and galaxies), phenomena that originate in the Earth’s atmosphere (such as auroras) and cosmic microwave background radiation. Broadly, it is concerned with evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology and motion of celestial objects, as well as the formation and development of the universe. A career as an astronomer primarily entails research and teaching. The academic training required to qualify as an astronomer requires a sound grounding in basic sciences, particularly physics and mathematics. In higher education, the study of electronics —analogue and digital — is necessary. This academic background is crucial to enable researchers to make observations using existing telescopes and instruments, and also innovate and develop state-of-the-art astronomy equipment. STUDY PROGRAMMES. Ideally, aspiring astronomers should enroll for a B.Sc in physics or maths after Plus Two. For careers in instrumentational/ experimental astronomy, a bachelor’s degree in electrical or electronic engineering would be the best preparatory qualification. Several Indian universities offer Masters degrees in various fields of astronomy such as celestial mechanics, astrophysics, galactic astronomy, astrochemistry etc. Individuals with Masters degrees and Ph D qualifications are welcomed by: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, TIFR Pune Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad Space Science Centre, ISRO, Thiruvananthapuram SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata Harish Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad However, their selection criteria differ and some administer an entrance test followed by an interview. Aspiring astronomers and space scientists also have the option of signing up for the 12-month joint astronomy programme of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore jointly designed with IIA, RRI and TIFR, Mumbai, which offers the prospect of enrolling in a Ph D programme on completion. On completing their first research assignment, aspiring astronomers are usually absorbed as research scientists on startup remunerations of around Rs.40,000 per month, which can go up to over Rs.100,000 as there’s no dearth of employment opportunities in numerous government organisations and research institutes, 40 planetaria across the country, observatories, museums, colleges, universities and miscellaneous private institutions. Moreover, globally reputed institutions such as Unesco and NASA also employ astronomers, offering handsome compensation packages. And, the demand for astronomers has spiralled further with India’s space programme on a roll. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE. “The future of astronomy in India is very bright and this is the right time to enter this exciting profession, which is experiencing…

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Boom time for investment bankers

A booming capital market, flood of foreign investment, frantic mergers and acquisition activity and indigenous corporates targeting foreign takeovers have made investment banking a hot new career Even India’s modest two-steps-forward-one-step-back economic liberalisation initiatives of the past two decades have transformed the nation into the fastest growing economy worldwide. A booming capital market, a flood of foreign investment, frantic mergers and acquisition activity, and indigenous corporate targeting foreign takeovers have made investment banking a hot new career option for youth with big numbers, corporate funding, and restructuring on their mind. An investment banker transacts with corporates providing advisory financial services in connection with the issue of new securities for raising finance for takeovers, mergers, and acquisitions. He/ she also manages share portfolios, capital market operations of companies and often the wealth management of valued corporate clients. A postgraduate degree in business management with specialisation in finance preferably from the IIMs or other top B-schools, or chartered or cost accountancy qualifications are ideal, but graduates with a strong financial background could also have the red carpet rolled out for them. The banking and finance sector is currently facing an acute shortage of talent, hence everyone with a background in finance, sound analysis, and mathematical skills can get a break in this profession. Opportunities are also multiplying for investment bankers in mutual funds, brokerage firms, insurance companies, merchant banks, and other financial institutions. However, an investment banker should possess strong interpersonal communication and sales skills and most importantly, must have the stamina to work long hours. Investment bankers also need to develop a sound knowledge of the business world and awareness of corporate developments. An investment banker usually starts her career as an analyst writing reports, maintaining spreadsheets, trading stock options, doing research etc. As she scales the ladder she begins advising companies on capital formation, mergers, acquisitions, investment options, managing capital assets, and/or liaising with government and financial institutions. FINANCIALLY BENEFICIAL CAREER. Apart from the glamour and variety of work, it’s big bucks which are the charm of this profession. The starting salary of analysts is Rs.5 lakh per annum or thereabouts. And after a few years’ experience, an investment banker usually moves into the Rs.10 lakh per annum (plus bonuses) bracket, depending upon the size of the employer company. Recently mint-fresh IIM graduates were snapped up by foreign banks with pay packages of Rs.1 crore per year. “With the stockmarket experiencing an unprecedented boom and a lot of money being invested in equities and equity-related funds, investment bankers who can provide intelligent advice and project market trends are in great demand, and investment banking has become a preferred career option,” avers Sangeetha Sanghvi, the Mumbai-based founder of Equity & More, a boutique investment advisory firm. A commerce graduate of Mumbai’s H.R. College, Sanghvi began her career in 1985 as a salesperson of Brother Business Machines. In 1991 she signed up with Jamnadas Morarjee & Co to market fixed deposits and other financial products. However, she simultaneously pursued her management studies…

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Growing opportunities in international trade

A career in international trade has tremendous potential with employment opportunities multiplying in export-import firms With the rapid globalisation of markets and the dismantling of trade barriers under the new World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime, highly rewarding job opportunities are becoming available to professionals trained in export-import or foreign trade management. A career in international trade has tremendous potential with employment opportunities multiplying in the marketing, documentation, shipping, and packaging departments of export-import firms and in the export divisions of business firms. To successfully effect business transactions beyond national and cultural boundaries is very challenging. It’s like walking a tightrope because it requires success in international markets while working within the bureaucratic constraints of the domestic environment. Even though international trade is mainly transacted by private sector exporters and importers, it takes specialised students of international trade to help manage the myriad official procedures associated with it. A formal study course in export-import management familiarises the student with fundamentals of international business such as international marketing, banking, forex (foreign exchange) management, export-import policies, export commerce, shipping documentation, marine and cargo insurance etc. India has an impressive catalogue of exports comprising spices, garments, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, medical and chemical goods, and services like software solutions. The best education programmes in this field are offered by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi. Courses offered at IIFT include PG diploma in international trade. Duration: one year. Eligibility: Master’s degree in any subject with two years’ relevant experience or bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least 55 percent plus two years work experience. Age: below 30 years. IIFT also offers a Master’s programme in international business. Duration: two years. Eligibility: bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree in any discipline with at least 50 percent. Other reputable institutes offering postgraduate courses in foreign trade/international trade or international marketing include: Department of Commerce and Business Management, Punjab University, Chandigarh Department of Commerce, Delhi School of Economics Indian Institute of Export Management, Kolkata Symbiosis Institute of Foreign Trade, Pune Institute of Management Development & Research (IMDR), Pune International Institute of Foreign Trade, Gandhinagar Campus, Visakhapatnam Amity Business School, Noida Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi Indian Institute of Commerce and Trade, Lucknow Recently IIFT has introduced its part-time three-year MBA in International Business on its Salt Lake, Kolkata campus. This programme is being offered at IIFTs Delhi campus as well. Among takers are government officials, senior managers, and executives with six to seven years work experience. Currently there are over 5,000 export-oriented firms in Mumbai itself. International trade managers are needed by them. Their services are also needed by shipping companies and clearing and forwarding agents as also by multinational and national export and trading houses. Consequently, pay packages are very attractive though they vary with managers’ experience and the type and size of the employer company. “With India’s exports growing by a healthy 10-15 percent per year, young people need to look beyond the infotech and MBA options at careers like foreign…

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Great opportunities in horticulture boom

For professionally qualified horticulturists there are wide-ranging work options that offer handsome remuneration With an annual growth rate of 30-37 percent, India’s high potential horticulture industry is blooming and is poised for a great leap forward after the opening up of foreign markets post new World Trade Organisation accords and revolutionary advances in greenhouse technology. Giving this industry a big push forward is also the entry of retail giants such as Reliance, Godrej, and Walmart which have established multi-product retail chain stores inter alia offering farm fresh and processed foods to the fast expanding middle class countrywide. For admission into most B.Sc (horticulture) degree or diploma programmes, the minimum eligibility requirement is clearance of Plus Two in science or agriculture with at least 50 percent average. The minimum qualification for admission into Master’s programme in horticulture is a 60 percent plus average while graduating in the same or related streams. Admission to universities could be based upon collegiate exam scores or academic performance in an entrance examination. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan, New Delhi) conducts a pan-India entrance examination for admission into undergraduate courses in agriculture, horticulture, and allied sciences for 15 percent of the total number of seats in state agricultural universities and the Central Agricultural University, Imphal. Among the most reputable universities and colleges of agriculture/ horticulture are: Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani College of Agriculture, Pune University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru College of Agriculture, Hebbal, Bengaluru Rev. Carey Institute of Horticulture, Kolkata Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan Central Agricultural University, Imphal Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad For professionally qualified horticulturists, there are wide-ranging work options (including entrepreneurship) which offer handsome remuneration. They can be gainfully employed in agro-based industries, insecticides, pesticides, and fungicide manufacturing units; and state horticulture and forest departments. Moreover hotels, health farms, holiday resorts, and a growing number of office and residential complexes employ horticulturists to beautify their environments. NEW OPPORTUNITIES. For Indian industry to rise to the new opportunities and challenges in agro-industry and horticulture, in 1998 the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) drew up a blueprint of a world-class Horticulture Training Centre (HTC) at Talegaon (near Pune) in collaboration with the Practical Training Centre of the Netherlands and The Netherlands Development Finance Company. “The first of its type in Asia, this centre was promoted in October 2003 and to date has delivered practical training to over 4,800 farmers and other professionals in greenhouse technologies which came to India in the early 1990s. We conduct a week’s residential training programme in Marathi, English, and Hindi throughout the year and attract trainees from all over the country as well as neighbouring countries like Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan,” say Dr. Suresh Dhumal, a professional hydroponist and former…

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Sweet smell of success in floriculture

With the domestic demand for flowers growing at 25 percent annually and offshore demand rising as fast, there’s a great need for qualified individuals in this high potential agri-industry I t could be roses all the way for youth who opt for careers in floriculture. Incrementally people — especially within India’s expanding middle class — are saying what they have to say with flowers on birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day etc. Little wonder, the floriculture industry, one of the most high-potential sectors in Indian agriculture, is in full bloom. Floriculture, the art and knowledge of growing flora or flowers, is no longer the preferred hobby of retirees; it’s a fast growing sunrise industry. With the domestic demand for flowers of all shapes and hues growing at 25 percent annually and offshore demand rising as fast, even the somnolent government of India has woken up and accorded the floriculture industry 100 percent export-oriented status to help develop the country into an international hub of flower production, auction, distribution, and retailing. However, despite being blessed with a facilitating agro-climatic profile, vast land resources, and availability of abundant labour and agricultural scientists, India’s share of global floriculture market is a negligible 0.6 percent. But with several brave entrepreneurs establishing export-oriented floriculture units under controlled climatic (i.e greenhouse) conditions, India is slowly but surely making an impact in the international floriculture market centred in the Netherlands. Currently the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana are in the vanguard, with Kerala producing cut flowers and ornamental plants for domestic consumption. Fortuitously, India hosts many exclusive varieties of ornamental flowers, usually exported in the form of seeds or capsules. Roses, marigolds, chrysanthemum, and jasmine are among the popular varieties and about 10,000 hectares of total cultivated area in the country is devoted to growing them. To prepare for a career in floriculture, the best option is to acquire a four-year B.Sc (horticulture) degree or to study horticulture as a subject in a B.Sc (agriculture) degree programme. Subsequently an M.Sc in horticulture followed by a Ph D and post-doctoral fellowship is ideal. Among the most reputed institutes offering the B.Sc (horticulture) degree programme are: College of Horticulture and Forestry, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra Shri Venkateshwara University, Tirupathi College of Horticulture, Vallanikara, Kerala and Hyderabad Horticulture College and Research Institute, Periakulam Faculty of Horticulture, TNAU, Coimbatore College of Agriculture, Bangalore, Ratnagiri, Akola and Pune Aspee College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari (Gujarat) MARIGOLD BLOOMS. A typical example of a successful new genre floriculturist is Megha Borse, a pioneer woman entrepreneur who has transformed her five-acre farm on the Nasik-Indore road into an export- oriented floriculture unit. Known as the ‘flower power woman of Nasik’, Borse’s farm — Sheelman Flora — which blooms with marigolds the year around, attracts hundreds of visitors from around the country. “When I started out in 2004, there were only 10 flora farms in Nasik. Since then, 10-15 are being promoted every year. I am motivating farmers…

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Great future in boom industries

The essence of a sound recordist’s job is to detect minutiae which are unnoticed by the untutored ear and to utilise hi-tech equipment to give crystalline clarity to recorded sound With the pervasive growth and development of the electronic media there is a continuously rising demand for sound engineers and sound recording professionals. Consequently, this 21st century profession is attracting youngsters with keen ears and technical expertise, by the droves. Sound engineering, also known as audio engineering, is the technical knowledge of sound and recording so that sound besides being intelligible instantaneously is also preserved for future generations. Sound is an integral component of the entertainment industry and Mumbai, and other metros are full of recording studios fitted out with the latest hi-tech equipment capable of reproducing high-quality sound. The essence of a sound recordist’s job is to detect minutiae which are unnoticed by the untutored ear and to utilise hi-tech equipment to give crystalline clarity and timbre to recorded sound. A sound engineer’s expertise is required in all professions connected with voice and music recording. Sound engineers can make or break live music performances, radio jingles, advertising, record albums, television, theatre, and movies. Even though the basic skill sets required in this vocation are common across all mediums, specialisation is required in each medium. Recorded sound can be broadly classified into film and playback recordings, music recorded for videos, cassettes etc and speech reproduction. The recordist has to continuously adapt hi-tech equipment to the needs of a particular stream of sound. For instance, to record sound on film location, a recordist has to possess a higher degree of engineering knowledge than while working in the controlled environment of a studio. STUDY PROGRAMMES. Sound recording/engineering education is usually offered as a three-year diploma course to graduates in physics/electronics at: Film and Television Institution of India, Pune Institute of Film Technology, Adyar, Chennai Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata Mumbai University School of Audio Engineering Institute at Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram Audiophile Institute of Sound Engineering, Kochi The Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu, Chennai Admission is on the basis of performance in admission tests. Shorter duration certificate courses are also offered by several less-known institutes. Since the basic principles of sound are based on the laws of physics and maths equations, most institutes demand the study of physics up to class XII. However, many people without a science background have also entered this field and created a niche for themselves. But over and above formal qualifications, the most important qualities a sound engineer/recordist must have are a good ear for music, the spoken word, and familiarity with contemporary hi-tech sound recording equipment and processes. A professional sound recordist/engineer could work as a production mixer, boom operator, production sound assistant, sound transfer operator, sound editor, music editor etc. Moreover, these days it’s common practice for famous music artistes to bring their own recordists to studios, which is very rewarding both financially and in terms of exposure.…

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Growing opportunities in international trade

A career in international trade has tremendous potential with employment opportunities multiplying in export-import firms. With the rapid globalisation of markets and the dismantling of trade barriers under the new World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime, highly rewarding job opportunities are becoming available to professionals trained in export-import or foreign trade management. A career in international trade has tremendous potential with employment opportunities multiplying in the marketing, documentation, shipping, and packaging departments of export-import firms and in the export divisions of business firms. To successfully effect business transactions beyond national and cultural boundaries is very challenging. It’s like walking a tightrope because it requires success in international markets while working within the bureaucratic constraints of the domestic environment. Even though international trade is mainly transacted by private sector exporters and importers, it takes specialised students of international trade to help manage the myriad official procedures associated with it. A formal study course in export-import management familiarises the student with fundamentals of international business such as international marketing, banking, forex (foreign exchange) management, export-import policies, export commerce, shipping documentation, marine and cargo insurance etc. India has an impressive catalogue of exports comprising spices, garments, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, medical and chemical goods, and services like software solutions. The best education programmes in this field are offered by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi. Courses offered at IIFT include PG diploma in international trade. Duration: one year. Eligibility: Master’s degree in any subject with two years’ relevant experience or bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least 55 percent plus two years work experience. Age: below 30 years. IIFT also offers a Master’s programme in international business. Duration: two years. Eligibility: bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree in any discipline with at least 50 percent. Other reputable institutes offering postgraduate courses in foreign trade/international trade or international marketing include: Department of Commerce and Business Management, Punjab University, Chandigarh Department of Commerce, Delhi School of Economics Indian Institute of Export Management, Kolkata Symbiosis Institute of Foreign Trade, Pune Institute of Management Development & Research (IMDR), Pune International Institute of Foreign Trade, Gandhinagar Campus, Visakhapatnam Amity Business School, Noida Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi Indian Institute of Commerce and Trade, Lucknow Recently IIFT has introduced its part-time three-year MBA in International Business on its Salt Lake, Kolkata campus. This programme is being offered at IIFTs Delhi campus as well. Among takers are government officials, senior managers, and executives with six to seven years work experience. Currently there are over 5,000 export-oriented firms in Mumbai itself. International trade managers are needed by them. Their services are also needed by shipping companies and clearing and forwarding agents as also by multinational and national export and trading houses. Consequently, pay packages are very attractive though they vary with managers’ experience and the type and size of the employer company. “With India’s exports growing by a healthy 10-15 percent per year, young people need to look beyond the infotech and MBA options at careers like foreign…

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Great future for graphologists

Given the small number of graphologists and professionally certified hand-writing experts in India, their services are in high demand “There’s a great future for graphologists and handwriting experts in India. People are becoming increasingly aware that hand-writing analysis is not a mystical craft but a science which uncovers an individual’s personality. Development of this science has opened up new career avenues for handwriting analysis professionals and experts who are very much in demand for written reports which determine forgery and fraud cases. HRD managers in corporate India are also availing their services to learn about the character and personalities of top managers,” says Dr. Parag Khatri, a practising dental surgeon who is also a graphologist and hand-writing expert. For new age professionals not averse to multi-tasking, a second career as a graphologist (hand-writing analyst) – as exemplified by Dr. Khatri – offers interesting possibilities. Graphology is the science of understanding the human mind including the subconscious, through study of hand-writing. A trained graphologist takes five minutes to interpret handwriting and detect 50 character traits including personal characteristics, relationship compatibility, professional and financial competence. Typical clients of graphologists include curious individuals, managers solving corporate fraud cases and making recruitment decisions, career counselors, detectives, teachers and individuals seeking insights into their prospective spouses’ emotional character prior to arranged marriages — a big market in India. Doctors, especially homeopaths rather than practitioners of allopathy, tend to rely on graphology as this branch of medicine focuses more on root causes rather than symptoms of ailments. A handwriting expert differs from a graphologist in that the former confirms whether a particular handwritten document is authentic. She doesn’t necessarily read personality traits from handwriting. STUDY PROGRAMMES. Most people take up handwriting analysis as a hobby. When captivated by the craft and its accuracy, they sign up for informal classes where they are tutored in the science. Certificate courses are offered as part-time or weekend programmes by institutes such as the World School of Grapho Education & Therapy, Mumbai, the Institute of Graphology and Personal Success, Pune, and the Indo-American Institute of Graphology, Mumbai. The Handwriting University, USA offers widely acclaimed online certification programmes. Individuals aspiring to qualify as handwriting experts are advised to sign up for the university’s two-year online programme of documents examination. Given the small numbers of qualified graphologists and professionally certified handwriting experts in India, their services are in high demand. Currently analysts and experts earn around Rs.20,000 per month working part-time, and more if they publicise their services. For individuals who wish to make full-time careers in this profession, take home earnings could average between Rs.25,000-50,000 per month. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE. “Handwriting analysts are in great demand to conduct study programmes for clubs, colleges and professional institutes among others. They are often hired for events and parties, where they can entertain guests with their talent. Professional handwriting analysts who have scaled up their skills, assist psychologists in understanding their patients more thoroughly. Moreover, experts are much sought after for their written opinion in…

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Spiralling demand for deep sea divers

With offshore oil exploration and production set to intensify, a huge demand for deep sea divers, who inspect, maintain and repair sub-sea installations, is on the cards The workplace is deep underwater; the hours long requiring hanging by an umbilical cord-like link which supplies life-giving oxygen, and a connection with the world above. That’s perhaps why deep or sub-sea divers are a small minority. It’s also why this vocation is offbeat, adventurous and financially rewarding. Broadly speaking, sub-sea divers are of two types — air divers and saturation divers — with both categories trained to inspect, maintain and repair undersea installations which suffer heavy corrosion due to sea-water salinity. The differentiator is that air divers dive up to 50 metres and lodge in cabins after their shifts. Saturation divers plunge to greater depths and remain in special saturation chambers for the entire operation. The biggest employer of sub-sea divers is the offshore oil and gas industry. As a training regime for deep sea office, every diver needs to acclimatise to the pressure he will be exposed to. Therefore, before a dive he is placed in a sealed saturation or ‘sat’ chamber aboard a ship in which the pressure is gradually increased to match the levels he will be diving to, a process which can take up to three days. Subsequently, the diver’s work begins underwater after he descends to the predetermined level in a diving bell. Saturation divers usually spend eight hours underwater per shift, before returning to the sat chamber to gradually decompress. STUDY PROGRAMMES. The basic education required of commercial air and sat divers is completion of secondary school (class X) with physics as a compulsory subject, and ability to speak and write in English. However, certification by IMCA (International Marine Contractors Association) is mandatory for those seeking employment in registered companies. Apart from the Indian Naval Diving School, Kochi which conducts IMCA approved air diving courses, there are no certified training institutes. Therefore, aspiring Indian divers are trained and certified by diving institutes in the UK, South Africa, France or Australia. The Underwater Training Centre, Scotland and Institut Nationale De Plongee, Marseilles, France are two of the most popular institutes for Indian divers. Opportunities for growth and advancement are good for qualified professional divers. The McKinsey Global Institute has projected a 2.2 percent annual increase in the demand for crude oil every year for at least another 20 years. With offshore oil production and exploration set to intensify, there will be a substantial hike in demand for inspection, maintenance and repair of sub-sea oil rigs and installations, necessitating a huge requirement for deep sea divers. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE. “Experience and qualifications govern the remuneration of deep sea divers. At entry level, divers earn between Rs.20,000-30,000 per month. With experience and further training for saturation divers, earnings rise substantially to Rs.250,000-300,000 per month plus saturation bonuses,” says Tapan Banik, chief operating officer and vice president (operations) of Dolphin Offshore Enterprises (India) Ltd, which provides offshore oil and gas companies…

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Rising demand for art curators

With the coming of age of Indian art, a new vocation of art curator has emerged as a career option for artistically inclined youth With the rapid expansion of post-liberalisation India’s middle class, art galleries and exhibitions are mushrooming across the country, prompting huge and rising demand for works of art (paintings, sculptures, objets d’art). Contemporary Indian art is also gaining ground on the international art scene, with a strong presence in art galleries, art fests and auction houses abroad. The canvases of Indian masters such as Tyeb Mehta, MF Husain, FN Souza, Akbar Padamsee among others are being valued and traded for record millions at Christie’s and international exhibitions. With the coming of age of Indian art, a new vocation of art curator has emerged as a career option for artistically inclined youth. Contemporary works of art and their creators aren’t easily understood by the general public and require interpretation. Usually, this duty is discharged by the curator who describes the artist and his work, to aid and enhance its appreciation. In sum, the curator’s vocation is to interpret, evaluate, select and present the works of promising artists. Curators tend to be highly educated with undergrad degrees in the liberal arts and Ph Ds in subjects such as history, art history, archaeology, or the classics. The ideal qualification is a Masters in art history which is offered by several institutions. Of them, the Royal College of Art, London has a global reputation. Back home in India, several curatorial courses are offered by museums and colleges. CAREER PROSPECTS. Although art curating as a career is still nascent, opportunities for employment are multiplying. As a curator, one could start as a staff member at a museum in a specialised department, at an art gallery which offers opportunity to become involved in every exhibition or work as an independent curator, which would involve staging exhibitions in galleries and museums. Freelance art curators have to devise specific themes, persuade artists to exhibit, prepare promotional material and negotiate artists’ contracts and payments to galleries. For a curator working full-time in a gallery or museum, the remuneration structure varies and could range from Rs.15,000-40,000 per month. Although not assured of monthly pay cheques, freelance curators however, could average Rs.100,000 per month depending on their network of contacts within the community of creative artists, gallery owners and art critics. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE. “Art curating has a young history in India but the demand for curating services is definitely on the rise. Every gallery has a curator and the number of curated exhibitions is several multiples of shows a decade age. This is a profession still in its development stages,” says Mumbai-based curator Veerangana Solanki, who has quickly established a reputation for curating contemporary art exhibitions. An English literature graduate of Mumbai’s premier St. Xavier’s College with a diploma in Indian aesthetics from Mumbai University (2007) and Masters in art history from SNDT University (2009), Solanki also completed the first Gwangju (Korea) Biennale international curators course in 2009.…

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Futuristic machinery drills for natural gas outdoors generated by AI

Soaring demand for aerospace engineers

With several deep space missions in the pipeline, opportunities for aerospace engineers have multiplied The touchdown of Chandrayaan-3, the third mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on the dark side of the moon (lunar south pole) on August 23 and its successful release of the Pragyan Rover made media headlines the worldover. This successful mission established India as one of four outer space powers of the world (after the US, Russia and China). This mission was followed up by the successful Aditya-I mission to the Sun. “With several deep space missions in the offing, the demand for aerospace engineers is likely to double within the next five years,” says Dr. N.G.R. Iyengar, former pro vice chancellor of Jain University and director of the International Institute of Aerospace Engineering and Management (IIAEM, estb.2006), Bengaluru. Aerospace engineering is a science which focuses on research, design, development, construction, testing, science and technology of aircraft and spacecraft. It is further divided into aeronautical and astronautical engineering. The former deals with aircraft operating in the Earth’s atmosphere and the latter with aircraft venturing into outer space. To qualify as an aerospace engineer, aspirants should be well-versed with the basic principles of aerodynamics, aerospace structures, flight mechanics and control, propulsion, avionics, meteorology, airworthiness regulation and air traffic control and management. STUDY PROGRAMMES. Aerospace engineering study programmes at the advanced diploma, bachelor’s, Masters and Ph D levels are offered by mechanical engineering departments of several universities and specialised technology institutes, some of whom offer degrees in space-focused aeronautical engineering as well. Among the well-known institutions offering aerospace study programmes at the graduate and postgraduate levels, are the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru and IITs at Kanpur, Chennai, Mumbai and Kharagpur. Some universities also offer aerospace engineering at the undergraduate level. In addition to undergrad, postgrad and research programmes, Jain University’s IIAEM offers a Masters programme to engineers employed in the aviation and related industries as also research establishments to upgrade their skills. Likewise, the ISRO-sponsored Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Trivandrum (estb. 2007), offers undergraduate and postgraduate aeronautics, astronautics and space science courses. Distance learning programmes in aerospace engineering were introduced by IGNOU in 2009. For those interested in studying abroad, America’s globally renowned National Aeronautics & Space Agency (NASA) offers advanced programmes in aerospace engineering. REMUNERATION PROSPECTS. Aerospace engineers are in great demand in the civil aviation and defence sectors, Indian Air Force, ISRO and other research organisations such as DRDO, National Aeronautical Laboratory etc as also in higher education institutions. Inevitably, pay packages are handsome ranging from Rs.45,000 for freshers to Rs.3-4 lakh per month for experienced professionals. The demand for India- trained aerospace engineers is sustained. Indian engineers constitute a significant percentage of technical professionals in NASA. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE. “India is poised to become the world’s third largest market for aircraft by 2020 with 1,800 aircraft flying Indian skies, transporting 400 million passengers per year. The Union government’s planned investment of $12.1 billion (Rs.73,810 crore) in the airports sector…

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Spiraling demand for criminologists

With a crime wave sweeping India, the demand for criminologists who determine the causes and effects of criminal activity and develop strategies for crime abatement, is becoming pressing According to latest data of the National Crime Records Bureau — a statistical unit of the Union home ministry — a crime wave is sweeping India. In 2021 there were 29,272 registered cases of murder; 31,677 of rape; 101,707 kidnappings and abductions, of which most were of women and girls. Little wonder that the demand for trained criminologists — professionals who determine the causes and effects of criminal activity with the objective of developing strategies to abate crime and rehabilitate both victims and criminals — is spiralling. Criminology involves the study of criminal activity, socio-economic causes of crime and its consequences. Essentially criminologists are social scientists who examine society’s response to crime and suggest ways and means of crime prevention. STUDY PROGRAMMES Professional study programmes in criminology and allied disciplines are available at the undergraduate, postgraduate, M.Phil and Ph D levels. Programmes under the criminology umbrella including forensic and social sciences are offered by: University of Delhi Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai MS University, Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu) Madras School of Social Work, Chennai Sagar University, Bhopal Karnatak University, Dharwad The latter two varsities also offer undergraduate courses in criminology. REMUNERATION PROSPECTS Unsurprisingly, employment opportunities in this field are growing. Criminologists are employed in prisons and police departments, NGOs and social service institutes for women, juvenile homes, and drug and violence rehabilitation centres. NGOs are major employers as are corporates and government, apart from academic and research organisations. Fresh graduates usually begin with remuneration packages varying between Rs.20,000-50,000 per month depending on the reputation of the employer organisation. After a few years experience, pay packages can rise to six figures monthly. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE “Obviously the demand and scope for qualified criminologists in the West is greater in terms of research as well as jobs in government — child protection services, probation, police and prison departments, crime prevention units, community service and parole agencies etc. In India as well, this profession is certain to flourish with government support and dedication of individuals already committed to the profession,” predicts Vijay Raghavan, associate professor and chairperson of the Centre for Criminology and Justice at the School of Social Work of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai and director of Prayas, a field project of TISS. According to Raghavan, a growing number of youth are getting attracted to this profession although it may take a while for it to become a vocation of choice. “Because this profession is still young in India, readymade career paths are not clearly charted. But it will soon become possible to carve out meaningful careers in this field in government, academics, law firms and civil society organisations,” he says. An idealist dedicated to serve and address the ills of society, Raghavan enrolled with TISS, and equipped himself with a Masters in social work, specialising in correctional administration in 1989.…

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Promising career for history buffs

Following enactment of the Public Records Act making it mandatory for every government office to maintain records, demand for archivists is rising If you want to understand the present, you have to know your past! “India, with its long and diverse history has a cultural wealth of hundreds and thousands of manuscripts, records, inscriptions, documents etc. Preserving and restoring such ancient documents is the role of an archivist,” explains Bhaskar Dhatavkar, former director of the Maharashtra State Archives housed in the heritage building of Elphinstone College. In these premises surrounded by over five million documents dating from the 16th century, stacked on towering, dusty shelves, Dhatavkar researches the history of the Maratha and Peshwa dynasties of modern day Maharashtra. The National Archives of India (NAI) is the official custodian of all non- current records of the government of India and its predecessor bodies. It is the premier records repository in Asia and has four regional repositories in Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Jaipur, and Pondicherry. NAI provides financial assistance to state archives (each state has its own), voluntary organisations, and other custodial institutions so the nation’s documentary heritage is preserved and research and writing of history is facilitated. The job of a professional archivist is to meticulously collate, classify, and preserve ancient documents, parchments, records, and materials, so they remain in good condition. As such, she has to combine scholastic research with the aggregation, preservation, cataloguing, and description of documents, records, and objects of historical value. Archivists could also work with specialised forms of records viz. manuscripts, photographs, electronic records, sound recordings etc. STUDY PROGRAMMES. An appropriate academic base for archival studies is history or the library sciences. Specialisations include public administration and political science. A PhD is preferred for high-ranking positions in academic institutions. There are, however, specialised courses in archival studies/science of one-year duration. The School of Archival Studies, New Delhi, offers a diploma programme in archival studies (12 months); certificate courses in archives administration, reprography, care and conservation of books and manuscripts (eight weeks); certificate courses in record management for personnel employed in archival repositories and record rooms in government, public and private organisations (four weeks); sub-professional course in servicing and repair of books for personnel employed in record rooms of ministries, libraries and other departments (eight weeks). Other courses on offer are: Diploma programme in archives maintenance (part-time), Annamalai University One year postgrad diploma programme in archival science and manuscriptology, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu Postgrad diploma course in archival science and manuscriptology (one-year), Osmania University, Hyderabad One year postgrad diploma programme in archival studies, Pondicherry University 12-month certificate course in archives, Gujarat Vidyapeeth, Ahmedabad A Ph D in archival studies, history, or library science is generally the prerequisite for advancing to the highest position of director of state government archives. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE. “A number of business houses like the Tatas have set up their own archives and with so many Indian companies tying up with MNCs, demand for trained archivists is rising,” says Dhatavkar, a dedicated archivist,…

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Global data security, personal data security, cyber data securit

Galloping demand for ethical hackers

The growth and intensification of e-commerce traffic over the worldwide web (aka the internet) has multiplied opportunities for cyber terrorists. Enter the cyber security professional With cyberspace payment gateways multiplying, e-payments, credit cards circulation and the country’s internet user base expanding, e-commerce is fast becoming a way of life for government, corporates and middle-class India. However, the growth and intensification of e-commerce traffic over the worldwide web (aka the internet) has also multiplied opportunities for cyber fraudsters and terrorists to hack into citizens’ accounts and play havoc with their finances and businesses. Cyber criminals or hackers strike through virus attacks which may erase an entire system or by stealing financial information from secure systems or breaking into systems to modify files without owners’ knowledge. Therefore unsurprisingly, there’s galloping corporate and public demand for IT (information technology) security professionals (aka ethical hackers) who can counter the machinations of the growing community of cyber crooks and criminals and checkmate them. The job profile of a cyber security professional includes permitted ethical hacking into a company’s network to identify security loopholes; designing security systems for business and other organisations; 24×7 remote management of security systems and firewalls; security auditing; cyber forensics (clinical investigation of computer crimes) and training company personnel to safeguard its e-commerce activities. The ideal qualifications for a career in cyber security are a degree in engineering or computer science topped up by specialized diploma courses in cyber security. Certification programmes such as CISA (Certified Information System Auditor), CISM (Certified Information Security Management) and CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professionals) are very useful to kick-start a career in cyber security. Other vendor specific certifications such as CCSP (Cisco Certified Security Professional) and MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) are also useful. Most of these courses are of 12 months duration. Among the reputed institutes offering postgrad cyber security diploma programmes are IMT, Ghaziabad (www.imt.edu); Tilak Maharashtra University, Pune (18 months); and Manipal Institute of Technology (distance education programme). Network Intelligence India also offers several training programmes which are good for an introduction to cyber security, and the Sedulity Group, Delhi (www. sedulitygroups.com/elearn/ethicalhacking.php) conducts workshops on ethical hacking. With institutional and corporate demand for cyber security professionals rising 200 percent per year, this is a big-bucks career option. Freshers start at Rs.5 lakh per year and after acquiring two-three years hands-on experience, annual remuneration packages could swell to Rs.15-24 lakh, with the sky being the limit for competent self-employed professionals. “In the near future, almost all businesses will take to e-commerce in incrementally expanding modes. With cyber security awareness among Indian companies being very low currently, and cyber security regulations coming into force, the demand for well-qualified and trained information security professionals will skyrocket. According to NASSCOM, cyber security will be a major job creator within the IT sector with the annual demand rising exponentially,” says whiz kid Yash Kadakia, chief technology officer of Security Brigade Infosec Pvt. Ltd, a cyber security firm founded by him in 2006. Kadakia’s interface with the worldwide…

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Market research professionals

For professionally qualified business management graduates, there’s high demand for careers in market research which is becoming increasingly sophisticated T he numbers-crunching back-room boys of high-flying marketing strategists of industry — especially of the glamorous FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) industry — are low-profile market researchers who provide the vital demographic, qualitative research and other data, based on which marketing whiz kids and advertising agencies conceptualise and design multi-crore multimedia advertising and sales promotion campaigns. Market researchers collect information about markets and customers in a scientifically organised manner. For every business organisation, information and data gathered through market research is the prerequisite of planning business development and marketing strategies. Continuous field research data inflow enables business managers and executives to keep abreast of changing trends in the marketplace, diverse geographical locations and to gauge consumer preferences and effectiveness of marketing, sales and public relations campaigns on an on-going basis. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for most market research jobs. A strong background in English and working knowledge of marketing, economics, statistics, psychology, sociology and political science is useful, as are good communication skills. Most freshers in market research start as trainee coders or tabulators, then become interviewers or research assistants, before moving up the firm’s hierarchy. STUDY PROGRAMMES. However, specialised certification is increasingly being preferred by employers. Most B-schools and business management institutes in India offer special market research modules in the standard Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme, while a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is the preferred postgraduate course for aspiring market research professionals. There’s also an option of Master of Marketing Research (MMR). The eligibility for undergrad programmes is Plus Two whereas for admission into postgrad degree and diploma programmes, students should be graduates of any recognised college or university. Some of the more prominent institutes offering market research study programmes in India are the Apeejay School of Management (Delhi); RA Podar Institute of Management (Jaipur); IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Lucknow and Indore); Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies; SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, among others. Moreover, market research is now available as a postgraduate programme in India. AC Nielsen — the premier market research agency in India — has joined hands with the Northpoint Centre of Learning, Mumbai to offer an 11-month fast-track course and culminates in an internship with placement opportunities. REMUNERATION PROSPECTS. For professionally qualified business management graduates, there’s high demand for placements in market research. A B-school graduate starts as a research associate or research executive and moves up the ladder as market research manager, senior research manager, research director, associate vice president, vice president and executive director, depending on performance. Career progression tends to be fast. Salaries keep pace with field executives commanding Rs.5.6-8.5 lakh plus benefits per year; data processing analysts between Rs.5.5-10 lakh and senior managers earning between Rs.9.5- 15 lakh with attractive benefits. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE. “There is no lack of opportunities in the fast-track market research industry. The usual entry routes are to sign up…

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Urgent need for urban planners

A heavy and onerous responsibility of drawing up detailed blueprints for the construction of new towns and cities has devolved upon professionally qualified urban planners With India’s urban population slated to increase from 377 million currently to 600 million by 2030, and the number of urban households predicted to rise from 22 million to 91 million in 20 years, urban planning has emerged as a vitally important vocation. Professional urban planners have the onerous responsibility of drawing up detailed blueprints for construction of new cities and towns and devise optimal land use strategies to accommodate the influx of rural migrants into India’s already crowded towns and cities. The minimum academic qualification required for acceptability into this esoteric profession (only 5 percent of the country’s top 21,000 civic management professionals are formally trained) is a Master’s degree in urban or regional planning from an institute accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board, Delhi. For admission into a Masters programme of an accredited institution, a bachelor’s degree in architecture/urban design/economics/or environmental design is the usual requirement. Formal study programmes in urban planning are normatively offered by architecture, design, geography and/or public policy schools. Study programmes. The School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi (estb. 1959) is widely acknowledged as the country’s premier institute for town/ urban planning studies, offering undergrad, postgrad and doctoral programmes. Another well- reputed institute is the Centre for Environmental Planning & Technology, Ahmedabad. For working professionals already employed in urban planning and development in civic and municipal organisations, the Bangalore-based Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) offers a nine-month Urban Fellows Programme and Urban Practitioners Programme. Graduates and working professionals are eligible for admission into IIHS. Promoted in 2008 as a PPP (public-private partnership) education institution, IIHS is India’s first prospective independently funded and managed inter-disciplinary national university for research and innovation. Its objective is to research civic management issues. Remuneration prospects. Employment and career development prospects are excellent both in public and private organisations. In the public sector, certified urban planning professionals are urgently required in municipal corporations, local governments, and parastatal organisations. They are also needed in civil society organisations engaged with livelihood, advocacy, and civil rights, improved urban services delivery, community empowerment and social inclusion issues. In the private sector, certified urban planning professionals find ready employment in infrastructure development, real estate, construction and consultancy companies. Given the acute shortage of qualified urban/civic planners, this is a well-paid profession. Freshers can expect Rs.25,000 per month as a start with pay packages swelling to Rs.100,000 depending on performance and experience. “There is critical need for a radical shift in urban planning policy formulation and practices to build healthy and hospitable cities of the future. This calls for a new generation of implementers, managers, advocates, activists, game-changers, leaders, and urban planning practitioners. The greatest constraint of contemporary India is the availability of a sufficient number of well-educated professionals committed to the common good to discharge these roles,” laments Dr. Gautam Bhan, associate dean, School of Human Development and senior…

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Bright future in product engineering services

According to Astute Analytics, the aggregate revenue of engineering services outsourced worldwide is likely to skyrocket from $1.5 trillion to $6.8 trillion by 2031 With the digital revolution now in full swing, new products are being constantly launched, developed and upgraded especially in the automotive, consumer electronics, medical devices, and telecom industries. These developments have opened up vast business opportunities for engineering services companies which play a critical role as partners of tech companies to enable them to meet their goals of incorporating quality, safety and reliability into the design and manufacture of their products. With the demand for engineering services also coming in from abroad, creating an outsourced services industry, working in the newly emergent product engineering services industry is an attractive option for graduates of engineering and technology colleges According to Astute Analytics, the aggregate revenue of engineering services outsourced worldwide is likely to skyrocket from $1.5 trillion to $6.8 trillion by 2031. This boom is expected to benefit Indian engineering firms in a big way with India emerging as the most preferred destination for engineering services outsourcing, followed by the US and China. The basic academic qualification required for entry into this newly emergent service industry is a degree in any of the primary engineering disciplines depending on choice of industry segment. For example, for developing diagnostic or therapeutic medical devices, degrees in biomedical engineering or biotechnology are needed; for developing heavy industrial machinery, a degree in mechanical engineering or control systems engineering is useful and for designing and developing consumer electronics products, an electronics engineering background is critical. Additionally, specialised education in areas such as industrial design or human factors engineering is always valuable. Essentially, a product engineer’s job is to design and develop new products, new applications and improve and upgrade already successful products. This requires understanding customers’ needs, evaluating engineering blue-prints, testing and finishing new products “Companies and enterprises which manufacture and/or market products for mass consumption, computer software, automobiles, and aerospace engineering firms are examples of corporates always looking for skilled and innovative product engineers. Indeed, IT companies such as iGATE Patni, WIPRO and HCL have large PES (product engineering service) divisions. For committed hands-on engineers this is an exciting career option and PES companies are attracting highly skilled engineers, technologists and people with unconventional backgrounds such as Ph Ds, MBAs and even medically qualified persons,” says Satish Joshi, executive vice-president and head of product engineering services at iGATE Patni, a top-ranked IT services company. An electrical engineering and computer science postgrad of IIT-Bombay, Joshi began his career as a scientific officer at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in 1980. In 1983, he signed up as senior software engineer at Patni Computer Systems which has morphed into iGATE Patni after it was acquired by iGATE in January, 2010. According to Joshi, 12 percent of the global population of qualified engineers is hosted by India and the PES industry is expected to generate an estimated 250,000 jobs in the next few years. This…

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Demand surge for spa professionals

Confronted with rising incidence of stress, people from all walks of life are flocking to spas and wellness clinics. Therefore there’s growing demand for qualified professionals in this global $255 billion industry A beneficial fallout of the sustained growth of India’s hospitality industry — hotels, restaurants, tours and tourism — is the simultaneous growth of the health and wellness business. Suddenly, health and rejuvenation resorts aka spas, capitalising on the ancient Indian tradition of ayurveda and massage, are springing up in metropolitan India, driving the demand for professionally qualified spa therapists and spa managers. Confronted with rising incidence of stress, people from all walks of life are flocking to spas and wellness clinics for recharge and revitalisation. Indeed the explosion of indulgence in health and wellness is a global phenomenon. The value of the global spa and wellness industry is estimated at US $255 billion (Rs.20 lakh crore), making it one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. Not so long ago, spas were the luxurious preserves of the rich and super-rich around the world. Today, however, they have become more accessible and affordable for people of all segments of the middle class to de-stress and unwind in their comfortable premises. For school and college graduates, this emerging industry offers the advantages of attractive pay packages, quick advancement, opportunities for working abroad, and pleasant, stress-free work environments. Against this backdrop, professional massage and spa therapist study programmes are becoming increasingly popular. A course in spa therapy will familiarise the student with basic physiology and anatomy of the human body, help her understand body forms and identify imperfections. Moreover specialist programmes detail various types of massage and spa therapies, as well as the specific health problems they can rectify and heal. Besides learning how to reduce cellulite, students learn how to administer heat therapy, body wraps, mud wraps, body polishes and salt exfoliation processes. For those interested in a career in this sunrise industry, it makes sense to sign up for a professional programme in spa therapies and acquire international certification. There are several schools in Massachusetts, USA which specialise in professional education in this field. To acquire US-accepted certification, students should be certified by institutions approved by the National Certified Therapeutic Massage Workers Body. Among institutes in India offering courses in this field are the Ananda Spa Institute (ASI), Hyderabad which offers an eight-month spa diploma programme and the ASI holistic diploma (five months). A postgraduate diploma programme in skin and beauty therapy as also vocational courses are offered by the Shahnaz Hussain chain of institutes; the Body Tree Training Centres which provide ayurvedic medicine, massage and traditional Indian wellness training mainly to students from socially and economically backward communities. The southern sea-board state of Kerala hosts several schools for training in massage therapy, and likewise schools in Goa offer Abhyanga massage training in combination with Shirodhara. With the health and wellness industry booming, opportunities abound for qualified spa therapists at remuneration packages ranging from Rs.25,000-100,000 per month depending upon qualifications,…

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New horizons for genetics engineer

Intensive research in this new frontier science has created advanced awareness of cures for inherited and durable diseases. Unsurprisingly there’s growing demand for genetics professionals Almost three decades ago, Dolly, the world’s most famous sheep was cloned successfully — a breakthrough which brought the science of genetics to the forefront of global consciousness. Since then, universities and research institutes around the world are actively engaged in the study of genetics and related sciences in the hope of finding technological breakthroughs for humanity’s new scourges such as AIDS and cancer. Intensive research in this new frontier science has created advanced awareness and effective treatments for inherited and durable diseases. As a result, there is growing demand for genetics engineers worldwide. Genetics or genetics engineering as it is popularly known, explores the use of a wide range of technologies and techniques to modify and/or change genetic material in the DNA (or mRNA) codes of living organisms. Genes or genetic material from the DNA of one species is taken and mixed with those of another. Genetics engineers also study how traits and characteristics are transmitted through generations, and the causes and effects of genetic disorders. By deciphering genetic codes they attempt to discover cures for these disorders. A duly qualified genetics engineer must possess a graduate/postgraduate degree in genetics or related fields such as biotechnology, molecular biology, microbiology or biochemistry. The basic eligibility criterion for admission into a degree programme (BE/B.Tech) in genetics engineering is Plus Two with biology, chemistry and maths or a bachelor’s degree in science or molecular biology. Most higher education institutions don’t offer study programmes in genetics engineering per se but as a subsidiary subject in biotechnology, microbiology, and biochemistry degree programmes. Specialised undergraduate degree programmes in genetics engineering are offered by Kakatiya University, Warangal and Osmania University, Hyderabad. Among the reputed universities offering this programme at the postgraduate level are: Bio-Informatics Centre of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi Indian Institutes of Technology at Kharagpur, Delhi and Mumbai Jadavpur University (Kolkata) Universities of Delhi, Pune, Kerala, Mumbai Vellore Institute of Technology National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore After postgraduation, students enroll in research institutes such as Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, or go abroad for further education and research. Against this backdrop, it’s hardly surprising that employment opportunities for qualified genetics engineers (GEs), especially postgraduates and Ph Ds, are aplenty. In particular genetics engineers are required as research scholars and those with postgrad qualifications as collegiate and varsity faculty the world over. Besides research, qualified GEs have the option of employment in the pharmaceutical industry which requires scientists trained in molecular biology, cytogenetics, biochemical genetics, immunogenetics and related disciplines. They also find work in specialist hospitals in the area of genetics counseling or opt for clinical genetics which involves diagnosis and treatment of people with genetic disorders, besides writing for scientific and medical journals. “It’s not easy to land a job immediately after M.Sc as most employers prefer experienced personnel. But once you’ve…

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Exciting opportunities in medical tourism

India’s post-liberalisation state-of-the-art hospitals, well-qualified doctors and low medical charges are attracting a rising number of patients from developed countries with ageing populations With the costs of medical care particularly surgical procedures, having soared beyond middle class affordability, and waiting lists in public hospitals in developed OECD countries becoming longer, medical tourism has emerged as a new high-potential business in India with even the Union tourism ministry pitching India as a global health destination in a big way. Currently an estimated 400,000-800,000 medical tourists from over 78 countries are treated in hospitals across India every year. This country’s post-liberalisation state-of-the-art hospitals, well-qualified doctors, lower medical costs, and shorter waiting periods for surgeries are attracting a rising number of patients from developed nations with ageing populations. Informed estimates indicate that healthcare tourism will rake in over $13 billion (Rs.106,600 crore) annually by 2026. Naturally a large number of career opportunities has become available in this booming industry. India’s upmarket, fully-equipped and efficient corporate hospitals offer high-quality affordable healthcare facilities to medical tourists. Among them are the Apollo Group of hospitals, Fortis Healthcare, Max Healthcare, Wockhardt International Group, Medanta Medicity, and Asian Health Assist Worldwide (an affiliate of the Asian Heart Institute). Healthcare professionals believe India’s medical tourism market is growing by 25-30 percent per annum and is set to generate 40 million new jobs in the next few years. Therefore exciting career opportunities in medical marketing services, public relations, international insurance, travel and tourism, logistics management and hospital administration have become available to youth interested in this non-traditional career. With the exponential growth of medical tourism as a business in its own right, almost all large-scale healthcare corporates and private sector hospitals have tied up with travel firms, airlines, hotels, car rentals, ayurvedic spas etc to offer customised healthcare-cum-leisure travel packages to medical tourists. This has led to rising demand for spa therapists and managers, public relations personnel, travel advisors, insurance facilitators, interpreters, chefs and tour planners, with internationalisation options. STUDY PROGRAMMES. As yet there aren’t any specialised study programmes in medical tourism per se. However professionals with marketing, PR, travel and tourism qualifications are highly valued by healthcare companies and hospital chains. While a postgraduate programme with medical tourism as an elective is as yet a distant possibility, several institutes offer Masters programmes in healthcare, hospital administration and diplomas in travel and tourism which are accepted qualifications. Among institutes offering MBA in hospital administration are • Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai • Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapally (M.Sc in healthcare and hospital administration) • Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai (MBA in health management). For MBA diplomas in travel, tourism and aircargo management, among the best educators are • Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management, New Delhi • Kerala Institute of Tourism & Travel Studies (KITTS), Thiruvananthapuram • Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Gwalior • Pondicherry University REMUNERATION PROSPECTS. Being a sunrise industry, career progression is fast and remuneration packages are well above industry average. Medically qualified professionals who perform life-saving…

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Promising future in costumes design

For youth attracted by the glitz, glamour and lights of the film and television industry, new career opportunities are available. To a lengthening list add costumes and accessories design Despite 95 percent of the estimated 1,500-2,000 feature films produced annually in India flopping at the box office — with Mumbai-based studios and hastily incorporated firms of Bollywood contributing most heavily to production and flops — mysteriously the flow of funds into the film (and television) industry shows no signs of drying up. Production budgets are getting bigger, exotic foreign locales are the norm and costumes and special effects are becoming brighter and more spectacular. As a consequence, a spate of new career opportunities have opened up for ambitious youth attracted by the glitz, glamour and bright lights of the film and television industry. Among them: sound, lighting, continuity, catering, transportation, choreography and make-up specialists. And to this list add the newly emergent specialisation of costumes and accessories design. A costumes designer is an expert professional who advises the director to dress characters appropriately and credibly to enhance the overall impact of a film or television show. For instance, for historical or period narratives, costumes designers have to undertake extensive research to ascertain how people from different strata of society were dressed at the time, and commission clothes and costumes. Whether a film is set in Victorian England, village India at the time of independence (as in the hit movie Lagaan) or in 21st century urban India, clothing characters appropriately enhances actors’ appeal and adds value and authenticity to the audio-visual experience of audiences. Since there aren’t specialised study programmes in film costumes design in India, for those interested in this high-potential profession it would be best to sign up for the three-year degree programme of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi which has branches in Kolkata, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, or the four-year textiles design programme of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Another, perhaps more appropriate option, is the three-year diploma course in dramatic arts of the National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi, which also covers sets and costumes design modules. After graduation the usual career trajectory is to intern with a costumes designer working on a big budget film or teleserial. Once you’ve learned the tricks of the trade, it won’t be difficult to land assignments, as the Indian film, TV and OTT industry is expanding rapidly. “You need to know an actor/star or a director to get a break in this field since it involves their reposing faith in your ability to deliver. The money isn’t as good as other specialisations in the film industry since the wives of lead actors and relatives of producers and choreographers all want to get involved in dress and costumes design to earn pin money,” warns Salim Arif, a well-established and celebrated costumes designer for teleserials such as Shyam Benegal’s Bharat Ek Khoj, Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi’s Chanakya, Gulzar’s Mirza Ghalib, Nirja Guleri’s Chandrakanta and several feature films…

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Structural Engineer: Enviable profession to be in

With public, private and foreign investment pouring into infrastructure projects, there’s sustained demand for professionally qualified structural engineers The rapid urbanisation of India requires massive investment in highways, roads, power, construction, and infrastructure industries. Inevitably, demand for professionally qualified structural engineers needed to build the required infrastructure is set to skyrocket. Structural engineering is a specialised field within civil engineering. It’s the science and art of constructing huge, capital-intensive projects capable of withstanding the forces of nature and discharging their functions with safety, durability and economy. The field encompasses the completion of residential, commercial, educational and recreational buildings, besides bridges, stadia, ports, dams and aqueducts — just about every type of ‘structure’. A structural engineer manages technicians and workers on a project site and discharges the duties of planning and overseeing construction and/or maintenance of buildings, bridges and other structures, within budgeted periods and expenditure. The minimum eligibility for admission into a BE/ B.Tech in civil engineering study programme with specialisation in structural engineering is Plus Two science (physics, chemistry and math). Entry into engineering colleges is usually on the basis of performance in entrance tests such as IIT-JEE or competitive state-level CETs (common entrance tests). For admission into the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) formerly known as Regional Colleges of Engineering, success in IIT-JEE is a prerequisite. After graduation, students often continue their studies by signing up for the ME/M.Tech programme offered by most engineering colleges/universities including IITs and NITs. STUDY PROGRAMMES. The aggregate number of approved institutions offering undergraduate and postgrad engineering education in India is estimated at 3,500. Of them, 700 offer degree programmes in civil engineering (of whom about 100 offer specialisation in structural engineering). Together these institutions graduate nearly 18,000 structural engineers annually — a number far short of the demand for 100,000 civil/structural engineers. Among the most respected engineering colleges offering certification in civil engineering with specialisation in structural engineering are the 15 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs); BITS, Pilani; VJTI, Mumbai; Sardar Patel College of Engineering, Pune; Delhi College of Engineering, and University of Roorkee. REMUNERATION PROSPECTS. With public, private and foreign investment pouring into infrastructure projects, there is sustained demand for professionally qualified structural engineers within the economy, resulting in a quantum leap of over 40 percent in average remuneration during the past two years. Indian structural engineers are also in high demand in Asian, African and Middle East countries. Currently, professionally qualified structural engineers command starting salaries ranging between Rs.4-21 lakh per annum, depending on their qualifications and work sites. “There are excellent job opportunities for qualified structural engineers in the public and private sectors. Of late, several large multinational engineering corporates are mopping up available talent by offering huge pay packages which Indian companies can’t match. It’s an enviable profession to be in at the moment,” says Uday Chande, the promoter-proprietor of U.D. Chande Consulting Engineers, Surveyors & Valuers, a Mumbai-based firm promoted in 1979. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE. A civil engineering graduate of the Maharaja Sayajirao (MS) University, Baroda with a…

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Private equity professionals

Contrary to conventional wisdom, venture capital firms aren’t run by wealthy financiers who magnanimously fund start-ups, but by professionals who study, analyse and assess capital mobilisation proposals submitted by entrepreneurs If you believe you have the ability to spot a good business opportunity and aspire to fund the dreams of entrepreneurs who can create jobs and tax revenue streams for public investment, a new career option which merits consideration is private equity, aka venture capital funding. In the popular imagination, a venture capitalist is a wealthy financier who magnanimously funds start-up companies. However, the contemporary reality is that venture funds are pools of capital, usually limited liability partnership firms which invest in start-ups and growing businesses in expectation of high rates of return within five to seven years. Far from being passive financiers, venture capitalists enable the growth of investee companies through involvement with management, strategic marketing and planning. They are entrepreneurs first and financiers next. Typically, venture capital (VC) firms raise money from wealthy individuals, corporates, financial institutions, and non-profits to build a corpus which is deployed into start-ups, especially new technology firms and businesses. VC professionals study, analyse and assess capital mobilisation proposals submitted by entrepreneurs. The aim and objective of VC professionals is to fund high-potential business ventures and killer apps, and exit when funded enterprises receive high valuation and/or go public. For entry into established venture capital firms as a professional, a commerce degree is sufficient, although top-ranked VC firms prefer to recruit MBAs in finance or chartered accountants. Financially, a career in private equity can be highly rewarding. Young professionals usually start as analysts obliged to do research and administrative work. At this level, compensation packages are normatively Rs.10-15 lakh per year. After a few years experience, or alternatively, with a masters degree or MBA you could start as an associate earning Rs.20-30 lakh annually. The next step up is to the position of principal who typically manages the ‘deal flow’ and short-lists promising proposals. At this level, annual remuneration packages vary between Rs.30-50 lakh. And at the very top are fund partners — high performers with excellent investment track records of identifying, nurturing, hand-holding and maturing start-ups into high valuation corporates. Partners are the public face of private equity funds whose knowledge, business analysis and trends forecasting skills prompt high networth investors to entrust their savings to their equity funds for steady or spectacular returns. Partners are usually investment superstars who earn crores of rupees by way of salaries and bonuses, with some of them morphing into independent investors and starting their own VC firms. “Private equity is a highly rewarding profession as there are over 350 private equity funds from around the world investing in India. Remuneration packages are excellent and comparable with foreign banks, and the ‘carry’ offered by most VC firms is an addition. ‘Carry’ is a percentage of the profit made by a fund from investee companies,” says Ashish Chugani, partner and head of private equity at the Mumbai-based Centrum…

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Career for youth with wanderlust

The demand for professionally qualified geologists with a sense of adventure has increased almost tenfold during the past decade For outdoor types who like to explore the environment and hike through the wilderness, professional qualifications in geology could open up a world of opportunities. Geology is the science of earth studies. Geologists study geographical data and material collected through seismic prospecting, examine surface and underground rocks, minerals and fossils in search of oil, natural gas and minerals. A number of universities and institutes offer bachelor, Masters and doctoral degree qualifications in geology. For admission into undergrad study programmes, Plus Two with science and at least 50 percent average is mandatory. STUDY PROGRAMMES. Almost all major state universities host geology departments and many top institutes offer graduate and postgraduate studies in geology. The most reputed are: • IITs (Mumbai, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Bhubaneswar) • IIT-Dhanbad • St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai • Institute of Science, Mumbai • Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai • Indian Institute of Geo-Magnetism, Mumbai • Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad • National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad • National Institute of Oceanography, Goa • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) — Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad and Delhi Professionally qualified geologists are usually employed in mining, oil, petroleum and ground water exploration; environmental planning and site remediation; geotechnical investigations; ISRO; defence terrain research; academia, and often in banks (as domain specialists for resource evaluation). Also Read:Floral designers in full bloom PAY & PERKS. Remuneration packages of geologists are attractive. In academia, an assistant professor with a Ph D can expect an annual pay package of Rs.6-9 lakh; in the oil industry, a postgraduate averages Rs.12 lakh; in mining around Rs.3-11 lakh and in the public sector ONGC, a junior geologist starts at Rs.10 lakh per year. With a few years of experience, professional geologists could take home Rs.20-24 lakh annually. “The demand for well-qualified geologists has increased almost tenfold in the past decade. That’s mainly due to the opening up of the Indian economy and the new natural resources management and utilisation policies enacted by the Central government,” says Dr. Hrishikesh Samant, associate professor of geology and vice principal at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. The department/faculty was established over 90 years ago as an independent school affiliated with Bombay University, and recognised by the varsity as an independent research centre in 1954, offering undergraduate and postgrad degree programmes in geology. After acquiring Masters degrees in applied geology and geo-exploration from IIT-Bombay, Samant began his career as a geologist with the public sector Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (1990-92). After working for the government and acquiring adequate field experience, he re-entered IIT-Bombay, working as a tutor in the faculty of earth sciences, and simultaneously conducting research in the remote sensing photo-geology and geomorphology laboratory, for which he was awarded a Ph D in 1997. Meanwhile in 1996, he began lecturing in the geology department of St. Xavier’s College and in 2017 was appointed vice principal. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE. “Teaching this subject is challenging…

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Pet care and grooming professionals

While the pet healthcare and food industries are growing steadily behind the scenes, pet grooming salons or parlours have become increasingly visible in the country’s metropolitan cities For the country’s growing number of animal rights activists and household pet lovers, new opportunities have emerged to combine their pleasure — love of pet animals — with business. According to Euromonitor International, a London-based transnational market research agency, the population of pet dogs and cats in India numbered almost 18.5 million in 2018, a number that is expected to grow considerably in the near future. Consequently a host of vocations and professions have begun to take wing in the fledgling but promising pet healthcare and grooming businesses. The estimated revenue of the Indian pet foods, healthcare and grooming industry will rise to Rs.2,400 crore by end 2022. While the pet healthcare and food industries are growing steadily behind the scenes, pet grooming salons or parlours have become increasingly visible in the country’s metros, especially Delhi and Mumbai. The multiplying number of pet salons in the metros and tier I cities has opened up opportunities for a high-potential career choice for animal lovers. Pet grooming services are mostly availed for dogs, especially long-haired breeds, and can include basic services such as bathing, hair drying, eye cleaning, teeth brushing, nail care and hair trimming or complex hair styles such as the ‘lion cut’, the ‘teddy bear cut’, the ‘lamb cut’, etc. Additional services include manicures, herbal hair colouring, dematting, deshedding, anti-tick treatments, hydro cleaning and nail painting, perfuming, aromatherapy and massage. “Proficient groomers are expected to offer both routine and show grooming services, for pet and show dogs respectively, and to be able to cater to felines. People are now more open to spending on their pets due to increased education and exposure, and pets are now regarded as members of the family and not just guards of home spaces,” says Sanjeev Kumar, the country’s premier pet care entrepreneur. Kumar gave up his career with HDFC Bank in 2005 to pursue his passion for pet grooming and was joined by his teacher wife, Preeti. He promotes his pet care business under the name of Scoopy Scrub and owns 12 salons in Delhi, and has licensed 13 franchisees in Jaipur, Hyderabad, Pune, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Dehradun, Vijayawada, Secunderabad, Kolkata, Delhi and Bangalore. A mere love of animals though, is not enough to make a career in pet grooming. A diploma programme will facilitate entry into pet salons and also empower aspiring entrepreneurs to start their own salons or businesses. Until recently, Indian pet care professionals were obliged to travel overseas to acquire certified qualifications — mainly to Singapore which is a more budget-friendly option, compared with pet care academies in Europe or the US. However, now several pet lovers and entrepreneurs have promoted training schools in India. Among them: Fuzzy Wuzzy Pet Grooming School and the Shevar Grooming School, Bangalore; Whiskers & Tails, Mumbai; and Scoopy Scrub, New Delhi, which offer basic and advanced pet grooming…

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Rising demand for forensic scientists

The forensics scientist makes sure that victims of crime and murder/violence are thoroughly examined, appropriate tests are conducted and data interpretation is accurate With crime and criminal activity of all types — murder, rape, kidnapping, terrorist bombings, cyber crime, and credit card frauds — rising exponentially, the demand for forensics science professionals, trained to detect crimes and ferret out the guilty, is growing commensurately. For science and whodunnit aficionados, the emerging career of forensics science offers ample opportunities to bring ungodly law-breakers to book. Forensics science or forensics is the application of scientific concepts and principles to the investigation of criminal and civil breaches of law. All clues collected from a crime scene are analysed by forensic scientists in specialist crime laboratories and converted into evidence adduced in courts of law. The evidence might include traces of blood, saliva, other body fluids, hair, fingerprints, footwear and tyre impressions, explosives, specimens of tissue, blood and alcohol, DNA etc. Primarily a lab-based profession, forensics science requires people with highly developed analytical and investigative skills apart from in-depth knowledge of science. The forensics scientist makes sure that victims of crime and murder/violence are thoroughly examined, appropriate tests are conducted, data interpretation is accurate, and written reports are logical and comprehensible to non-scientists enabling the police to use them to solve crimes and convict criminals. With demand for forensic scientists set to explode, several colleges and universities have introduced forensics science as a study option. The minimum eligibility criterion is graduation in any branch of science for a postgraduate programme, and Plus Two for under-graduate studies. For admission into a Masters programme in forensics science, applicants need to graduate in any of the following subjects: physics, chemistry, zoology, botany, biochemistry, microbiology, applied science, B.Pharm, MBBS, BDS, engineering, computer science or psychology. STUDY PROGRAMMES. The National Forensics Sciences University, New Delhi is the country’s nodal institution for training professionals employable in the fields of criminology and forensics science, as well as for research relating to these sciences. It conducts training programmes for government officers and also offers diploma and certificate courses. Among the reputed institutes for graduate and postgraduate study programmes are: ► The Forensics Sciences Department, Chennai ► University of Delhi ► Anna University, Chennai ► University of Lucknow ► Institutes of Forensics Science, Mumbai and Aurangabad affiliated with Mumbai University ► Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh ► Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwa Vidyalaya, Madhya Pradesh Specialisation in branches of forensics science such as forensic anthropology, archaeology, and serology improves career progression prospects. Moreover there is tremendous scope in training and employment, especially in the US. REMUNERATION PROSPECTS. Career progression depends on qualifications and work experience. A forensics science graduate typically starts as a lab attendant while a postgrad starts as a junior lab assistant and progresses to scientific officer after attaining a Ph D, and subsequently to the position of senior scientific officer, assistant director and director. Pay scales range from Rs.30,000-80,000 in government agencies and departments. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE. “Job opportunities are growing by the…

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Floral designers in full bloom

Within the booming Indian economy, occasions to celebrate are aplenty. Therefore floral designers are much in demand and tend to be given a carte blanche to exercise creativity and imagination Within the booming Indian economy, occasions to celebrate are aplenty. Therefore floral designers are much in demand and tend to be given a carte blanche to exercise creativity and imagination With the Indian economy booming like never before, an offbeat career that’s blooming is that of floral designers. Loosely defined, these are professionals who can create magic with flowers. Occasions to celebrate are aplenty — birthdays, festivals, weddings, and anniversaries, and at all these bashes flowers and lavish floral decorations are ubiquitous. Especially in big fat Indian weddings, it’s roses, roses (and/or carnations or orchids) all the way for floral designers, who tend to be given a carte blanche to exercise their creativity and imagination. The natural characteristics required of a professional floral designer are sensitivity and imagination to translate customer requirements into eye-pleasing floral arrangements for every occasion. Also useful are knowledge of floriculture, aesthetic sense, eye for detail and creativity. Willingness to experiment and continuous improvement are essential qualities of floral designers. To these add good communication skills, business acumen, and the ability to work with a team. And for true professionals in this vocation, timeliness is next to godliness. Although hitherto formal training was not absolutely necessary, this field has become more crowded and competitive, and enrolling for a formal course to learn the basics is highly recommended. Several colleges with home science study programmes offer classes in flower arrangement, and Ikebana courses are conducted in most metros by Indo-Japanese Associations. It’s important to keep learning and updating one’s knowledge and skills by practising, reading, or surfing the Internet. There are plenty of formal study programmes abroad. The Floral Art School of Australia and International Floral Design School, Victoria, Australia, offer diploma courses in floristry through correspondence. Read: Career for youth with wanderlust Likewise the Pearson’s School of Floristry, New South Wales, Australia, offers a variety of courses which prepare aspirants for careers in the floral design industry (https://pearsonsschool.com.au). Indeed there are myriad correspondence courses available abroad which are helpful to those aspiring for a full-fledged career in floristry. However, after basic grounding, learning-by-doing is the best way to burnish your skills. FLOURISHING INDUSTRY. The usual career path of a floral designer is to start with an established florist, a floral designer, an event management company, or a wedding planner. After acquiring experience, you could branch out on your own or set up as a retail florist. Career options are also available in teaching and interior design, where floral designers can create cheerful environments, designer terraces, and gardens for clients. “This business has definitely grown and is likely to grow much more with the spending power of people. Those who enter this field must have a passion for flowers and love nature. You need to establish good contacts with plant nurseries and wholesalers to ensure a steady…

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Demand explosion for Project Management

With 20 percent of global GDP being expended on infrastructure and construction projects, the demand for professionally qualified project managers is set to explode In the newly-emergent competitive global economy, project management is a skillset for which there’s huge and rising demand, given that an estimated 20 percent of the world’s GDP is being expended on infrastructure and construction projects of varying shapes sizes. And with many project management professionals scheduled to retire in the near future — which according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) will impact 64 percent of building and construction corporates worldwide — the demand for professionally qualified project managers is set to explode. Simply put, project management entails setting and achieving realistic project completion goals. It requires planning, organisation, and managing people and resources efficiently to achieve targets within set financial and time frames. Unlike specialist managers who supervise functional departments, project managers in effect oversee and co-ordinate the completion of entire projects. For instance, a project manager who’s overseeing the development of a new product of service will be required to supervise marketing, IT, and finance personnel. Inevitably, project managers (PMs) are pivotal players in industries such as construction, engineering, architecture, manufacturing and real estate. But career opportunities for PMs exist beyond these traditional industries. In the hi-tech, biotech and pharmaceutical industries for example, project managers are discharging responsibilities of launching new products, developing new technologies, and managing collaborative programmes with strategic partners. Moreover, large corporations such as insurance companies and banks are hiring PMs to implement new standards and practices in branch offices, and online businesses are leaning on PMs to oversee website launches and development of new applications. In short, when a project involves releasing a product, building a new office site or launching a rocket, PMs are called upon to make sure everything comes together within time and cost frames. Towards this end, they need to possess multi-tasking capability, analytical thinking, and excellent communication skills. STUDY PROGRAMMES. Education qualifications required of project managers vary according to the type of projects in which they specialise. For construction, a civil engineering degree is usually required. Hi-tech projects need PMs with a degree in electrical or computer science engineering preferably supplemented with postgrad business management education. General programmes apart, diploma programmes of the Project Management Institutes (which has an India office) or Prince 2 (Projects in Controlled Environment, version 2), UK provide an excellent understanding of the fundamental terminology and processes of effective project management. These diploma programmes are online examinations for which graduates can register at their convenience. “The demand for project managers has been rising exponentially in the past decade. Employment opportunities are aplenty in conventional infrastructure and construction companies in which remuneration packages at the entry level range between Rs.7-10 lakh per annum, rising to Rs.10-14 lakh in middle management, and Rs.14-20 lakh at senior levels varying from industry to industry,” says Anup Gandhi, manager (global production) of HERE Solutions India Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of the telecom giant…

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Boom time for yoga professionals

The demand for yoga professionals by far exceeds supply. And a career as a yoga trainer is fast emerging as a new vocation offering glitz, glamour, and upward mobility Thanks to the global communication revolution, yoga — the ancient Indian science of mind and body therapy — has become a wonder science for people around the world. Increasingly it is acquiring a magical reputation for its therapeutic values and as a cure for stress conditions. Consequently, the demand for yoga trainers and exponents by far exceeds supply. And a career as a yoga trainer/therapist is fast emerging as a new generation vocation offering glitz, glamour, and upward mobility. With yoga gaining popularity around the world, there’s a huge global shortage of trained yoga instructors. The Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (www.ccryn.gov.in), a autonomous body under the Union ministry of AYUSH, is tasked with the mandate to develop yoga in terms of “research, education, training and propagation”. Study programmes One of the most renowned institutes for yoga education is Kaivalyadhama at Lonavala, 90 km from Mumbai. It’s one of the few private institutes to be recognised by the government of India and empowered by the Union ministry of education to discharge the duties of a national nodal agency to impart yoga education by licensing a network of yoga institutions and conducting periodic workshops. Its diploma in yoga education is recognised by the National Council for Teachers Education. Established in 1924 by Swami Kuvalayananda, the institute enjoys an international reputation for its excellent training programmes and research activities. During the past four score years, Kaivalyadhama has been able to harmonise yogic culture with contemporary sciences. For the first time, asanas, bandhas, mudras, kriyas, and pranayamas have been subjected to laboratory experiments with the help of hi-tech equipment. The G.S. College of Yoga (a consitituent of Kaivalyadhama), which is accredited by the Central and Maharashtra governments as a research institute, also offers numerous training courses. Its certificate course in yogic culture (of six weeks duration) is devised for those eager to learn about the philosophy and psychological underpinnings of yoga — about why and how it affects body and mind. The diploma course in yoga education is of longer (nine months) duration. It is designed for those who want to teach yoga. On the other hand, the diploma in yoga therapy is for medical practitioners interested in holistic healing and using yoga to complement conventional medical prescriptions. Diploma awardees usually find employment as yoga teachers in schools and universities. Among other reputed institutes are the Bihar School of Yoga, Munger, which has branches across the country and the Iyengar Institute, Pune, promoted by the legendary B.K.S. Iyengar, a globally renowned exponent of yoga, who has a large following worldwide particularly in the US. Moreover the University Grants Commission also offers incentives to universities to establish yoga faculties. At the pre-university level the Central Board Secondary Education Education — India’s largest pan-India secondary schools examination board — has mandated yoga training…

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Stockbroking: There are billions in this trade

Old-style stockbroking firms have morphed into gleaming Wall Street-style powerhouses employing economists, accountants, analysts, and specialists Very few monitors of the Indian economy could have imagined that Indian companies like Infosys Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services and others would emerge from the cloistered corporate world of India to become star scrips on Nasdaq (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations), the technology-heavy US stockmarket index. But these scrips were merely the vanguard of at least two dozen blue-chip Indian companies which are now listed on Nasdaq. India’s two active stock exchanges are now dealing with big numbers and big money with stockbrokers dealing in billions rather than in millions. Their characteristic tiny booth-like offices boasting only a telephone have metamorphosed into gleaming avant-garde Wall Street-style powerhouses employing economists, chartered accountants, financial analysts, researchers, and industry specialists. Quite obviously stockbroking firms and stockbrokers are redefining themselves as the business of advising buyers and sellers of financial paper and of facilitating the transaction (‘broking’) becomes more complex and voluminous. The National Stock Exchange or NSE (inaugurated on July 23, 1994) provides nationwide trading facilities accessible to investors all over the country with the automated, screen-based trading system using state-of-the-art technology making stockmarket operations more transparent. Simultaneously with foreign financial institutions such as Morgan Stanley and Jardine Fleming having entered the Indian stockmarket, stockbroking has become more professional. Today’s progressive stockbrokers have all their operations computerised and employ qualified industry specialists to advise on buying and selling of stocks. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has been empowered by an Act of Parliament to protect the rights of investors and ensure the promotion and regulation of the capital markets. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), New Delhi, conducts its chartered accountancy programme for Plus Two level school leavers through a foundation course and directly for graduates (except fine arts graduates). Finance managers may be MBAs with specialisation in finance from reputed institutes of management or from business administration departments of major universities. Some other useful learning programmes for the stockbroking business are: Institute of Company Secretaries of India, New Delhi, offers a postgraduate membership course in capital markets and financial services Institute of Capital Market Development, New Delhi, offers a one-year postgraduate programme in fundamentals relating to capital market development All India Centre for Capital Market Studies, Nasik, Maharashtra, offers a one-year postgraduate programme in capital market studies in collaboration with the Bombay Stock Exchange Training Institute, leading to a diploma from the University of Pune Stock Exchange Building, Mumbai, offers certificate courses run throughout the year Institute of Financial and Investment Planning, Mumbai, offers a one-year correspondence-cum-lecture series course leading to a diploma in financial and investment planning Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI), Hyderabad, offers a chartered financial analyst equity research programme The Orion Institute of Capital Market, New Delhi, offers a one-year diploma programme in financial systems and investment management With a large number of foreign financial institutions entering the Indian stockmarket, courses in forex…

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Rising demand for qualified architects

With growing public awareness that urban habitats need to be neat, well-laid out living spaces, the demand for professionally trained architects is growing exponentially Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation of the Indian economy has generated huge demand for business and residential premises, especially in urban India, with investment in the real estate market slated to grow from $14 billion to $102 billion (Rs.408,000 crore) per year during the next decade. Moreover with growing public awareness that urban habitats need to be neat, well-laid out living spaces, the demand for professionally trained architects is growing exponentially. Architecture is the art and science of conceptualising and designing residential, office, industrial, and other buildings. As such, architects have to assume responsibility for planning and designing functionally sound, aesthetically appealing structures in harmony with their environment and within the boundaries of approved project budgets. ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS. For prospective architecture students, study of mathematics and English at the Plus Two level is mandatory. Admission into architecture degree programmes also requires clearance of the National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) conducted by Council of Architecture, Delhi. The full-time architecture degree (B.Arch) programme is of five years duration. The study programme includes a period of work experience either in the form of practical training for one semester or experience at a project site. A part-time diploma course takes seven years to complete. After completing B.Arch degree programme, students can press on to acquire a Masters and specialise in a preferred field of the discipline — urban planning, urban design, architectural construction, property development, industrial design, construction law, disaster relief, architectural journalism, architectural history, landscape architecture etc. Moreover qualified architects have to register with the Council of Architects to practice the profession. Among the most reputable architecture education institutes are: · School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi · CEPT University, Ahmedabad · Sir J.J. School of Architecture, Mumbai, the oldest and largest fine arts college in Asia · Chandigarh College of Architecture · School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University, Chennai · Faculty of Technology and Engineering, M.S. University, Baroda · TYB School of Habitat Studies, New Delhi · IIT-Mesra, Ranchi · University of Roorkee, Uttar Pradesh With India’s residential housing shortage estimated at a massive 25 million units by Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd (HDFC), newly qualified graduates are snapped up by architectural firms at starting salaries of Rs.20,000 per month. After a few years of hands-on experience, remuneration packages can swell to Rs.40,000– 65,000 per month, and for those who go solo the sky is the limit. “Job opportunities are aplenty for professionally qualified architects, especially those who can design memorable buildings. With industrialisation and urbanisation, the country’s housing shortage is getting worse by the day. Unfortunately, most qualified architects are obliged to work under the pressure and influence of developers and big builders intent on profit maximisation. As a result, generous spatial planning and design are often sacrificed on the altar of expediency. Hence reputed architects like Charles Correa, Rusi Cambata, B.V. Doshi don’t…

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Cosmetic make-up artistry: Hot new career option

With the entertainment and fashion industries growing by 20-plus percent per annum, professional make-up artistes are in greater demand than ever before With the entertainment and fashion industry experiencing persistent boom conditions despite the worldwide recession, cosmetic make-up artistry has emerged as a hot new career option for the country’s growing youth population. Professional make-up artistes are in greater demand than ever before and with the entertainment and fashion industries growing by 20-plus percent per annum, demand for make-up professionals will keep rising for years to come. The make-up professional’s repertoire ranges from creating contemporary to period looks and styles to transforming an actor’s face and body using prosthetics. Make-up and hair-styling are key elements in styling the cast in films and television productions to conform to the demands of the script. The chief make-up artiste is responsible for the overall design and execution of actors’ make-up in feature films and big budget commercials. He works closely with costume designers and hairdressers to ensure that actors’ outward manifestations complement the script. He is usually assisted by make-up assistants and special effects experts, and has to work in close cooperation with directors and producers. Above all, he must be affable, diplomatic and prepared to work long hours to grow and thrive in this profession. Traditionally, this vocation has been a male stronghold. Most make-up professionals begin their careers as assistants on movie and television sets. But with the entertainment and fashion industries becoming highly professional, formal training has become necessary. Although there’s a conspicuous dearth of world-class professional training institutes, the Make-up Studio Training Centre (MSTC), New Delhi, the training arm of Make-up Studio, a world-renowned brand of professional make-up products and accessories, offers an international diploma in comprehensive make-up artistry (CMA). Abroad, however, there are several top-notch institutes such as the Miami School of Design, Miami, and in New York and Los Angeles there are numerous schools offering professional training in CMA. For formally trained cosmetic make-up professionals, the demand from the film, television, advertising, fashion and beauty industries is high and sustained. Rewarding career opportunities are also available with beauty products and cosmetics manufacturing/marketing companies, and in bridal studios. Freelance make-up artistes routinely earn Rs.10,000-20,000 per day in film and television studios, with sky-high remuneration for trained and experienced professionals. “This is a happening career. The film and fashion industries have become more professional, the number of fashion shows held countrywide is on the upswing, and bridal make-up is a new vocation in its own right. Today, make-up professionals are highly respected as creative artistes and treated like celebrities,” gushes Ojas Rajani, who quit a drab cost accountant’s job and is making waves in Bollywood and the fashion industry as a make-up artiste par excellence. A commerce graduate of Mumbai’s Sydenham College and a fully qualified ICWA (Institute of Cost and Works Accountants) professional, after working as a book-keeper for a year, Rajani realised that number-crunching was not for him. “Bollywood, make-up, dresses, shoes, weddings and glamour had always…

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Software testing: high-potential career option

With IT’s increasing pervasiveness, software testing is a new and fresh option in this field, a promising career choice for today’s young and diverse workforce Especially in India’s fast-track IT (information technology) industry (aggregate revenue: $99 billion) where change is constant, new jobs and vocations which were not on the radar screen of parents, youth and even career counselors a decade ago, have emerged as lucrative and high-potential career paths. With IT’s increasing pervasiveness, software testing is a new and fresh option in this field, a promising career choice for today’s young and diverse workforce. The aggregate revenue of software testing companies is estimated worldwide at $40 billion, of which Indian enterprises are expected to corner a major share. “Software testing is a major business within the global BPM (business process management) industry. Almost every business process nowadays is computerised and software programmes have to be completely reliable. This makes the testing of the products/system at every stage mandatory,” says Suman Reddy Eadunuri, managing director and country head of the Hyderabad-based Pegasystems Worldwide India Pvt. Ltd. Currently the company has a headcount of 1,500 testing professionals, and is recruiting aggressively to maintain its phenomenal growth rate. According to Eadunuri, software testing is a very critical function within the software development and service industry. It’s a fundamental component of software quality assurance and a review of specifications, design and coding. Software testers subject newly developed software programmes to several stress tests to ensure they serve their intended purpose. “Some companies spend around 25 to 50 percent of their software development budgets on testing,” says Eadunuri. Study programmes. To qualify as a software testing professional, an engineering degree is the minimum requirement. Additional qualifications particularly a diploma in the subject is an added advantage. Among the well-known institutions which offer training in software testing are: Seed Info Tech and SQTL, Pune Webteklabs at Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata MindQ, Hyderabad Qspider, Bangalore Moreover QAL, ASQ, ISQTB and several other institutes offer certification. CQTM and PMP are additional certifications which could help testers to shinny up the executive ladder. Quick Test Professional (QTP) is a testing tool that allows the automation of user actions on a web or client-based computer application and almost every institute trains its students in using this tool. However, domain knowledge of software development is a prerequisite of a successful career in software testing. Remuneration profile. “The rapid growth of the IT industry has created a huge demand surge for software testing professionals. While testing was hitherto incorporated into the software development process, it has now become an independent vertical. Almost all big and medium-size IT companies boast independent testing centres to maintain quality excellence. Our projections indicate that around 1,65,000 new software testing professionals will be required in India by 2025. To sustain this growth, software graduates are rapidly absorbed in this field, with top bracket IT companies offering start-up salaries of Rs.700,000 per year. In Pegasystems, we recruit software testers at the same salaries as software developers and…

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Bioinformatics: plethora of options

The immense potential of the IT, life sciences and biotech industries in India and the West has encouraged promotion of corporates which are allying with academia to conduct path-breaking research The 21st century’s most promising industry, bioinformatics — a marriage of IT (information technology) with life sciences — offers a multiplicity of high-potential and rewarding career options. Currently the annual revenue of the bioinformatics industry worldwide is estimated at $10.7 billion, with exponential growth expected in the next decade, stretching the boundaries of biotechnology from an essentially lab-based science into an information science which will yield rare biological insights, and hasten the discovery of an entire range of new life-saving drugs and pharmaceuticals. The growth and immense potential of the IT, life sciences and biotech industries in India and the West has encouraged the promotion of a huge number of conglomerates and corporates which are increasingly allying with universities and academic institutions to conduct path-breaking research in this field. Hence life sciences, mathematics, computers, agriculture, medicine and engineering graduates, postgrads and Ph Ds are likely to find a plethora of career options in bioinformatics. Study programmes. Institutes offering specialised postgraduate programmes in bioinformatics include: The Jawaharlal Nehru Bioinformatics Centre, New Delhi IIT-Kharagpur University of Pune Bioinformatics Centre Osmania University, PGRR Centre for Distance Education, Hyderabad Amity Institute of Biotechnology, New Delhi University of Kolkata Bose Institute, Bioinformatics Centre, Kolkata Madurai Kamraj University, Bioinformatics Centre, Madurai Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Bangalore Bioinformatics Institute of India, Noida Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies, Kerala Bharathiar University, Coimbatore Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad Admissions into these higher ed institutions are usually on the basis of an entrance test. Students acquainted with bioinformatics have numerous job opportunities in this booming industry. Graduates and postgrads with database management skills and capability to collect, store, retrieve, analyse and correlate data to develop new and advanced algorithms, have a particularly bright future in this fast evolving industry. Remuneration prospects. Remuneration packages for bioinformatics professionals in the West range between $77,000-123,000 per year given their immense utility in pharmaceutical research. In India, however, bioinformatics is yet to mature and postgrads signing up with private sector pharma companies can expect relatively modest, yet fairly handsome salaries ranging between Rs.10-39 lakh per annum. Professionals with doctorates could start research labs in various institutes or sign up with pharma companies as research scientists and expect fast-track career growth. Professional profile. “The bioinformatics sector can expect to grow fast during the next decade as pharmaceutical and medical companies have chalked out ambitious growth plans. With considerable progress in sequencing the complete human genome, there’s a vast amount of knowledge unfolding and employment opportunities are multiplying, specially in the fields of diagnostics and data analysis,” says Pradnya Shelke, co-founder and managing partner of Omics Systems (estb. 2011) which provides computational, bioinformatics and consultancy services to the life sciences, pharmaceutical and medical industries. A life sciences graduate of Mumbai’s St. Xavier’s College…

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Career Focus

Robotics: glamorous new career opportunities

The scope and possibilities of the emerging science of robotics are vast, spanning space exploration, surgery, automotive industry and the defence services With blockbuster movies Robot and Ra-One having fired the imagination of Indian youth already hooked on computer games in a big way, robotics is emerging as a glamorous and popular career option. The science of robotics is centred around the development and application of sophisticated robots and computerised systems for manufacturing, sensory feedback and information processing. More simply, robotics is about designing and maintaining robots, developing new applications for them, and conducting research to expand the boundaries of robotics science. Robots may be remote-controlled by operators or possess artificial intelligence. The Robotics Institute of America describes a robot as a “reprogrammable multi-functional manipulator designed to move materials, parts, tools or specialised devices through variable programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks”. The scope and possibilities of the emerging science of robotics are vast, spanning space exploration, surgery, automotive industry and the defence services. In Japan and Korea, most industries are heavily automated with robots rapidly replacing the depleting labour force. In the US, this new science is being driven by the military-industry complex while in India, robotics technology is growing fastest in the healthcare industry. STUDY PROGRAMMES. High degrees of specialisation are required to make a career in robotics. Hence there are not too many options in undergraduate education, although it is a popular elective course for engineering students at all IITs and several NITs (National Institutes of Technology). Over the years, specialised study programmes in robotics — in mechanical engineering the tilt is towards manipulators and mobile robots; in electrical engineering towards control; and in computer science towards artificial intelligence and digital control — have become popular. A combination of mechanical engineering, electronics and computer science is required for robotics studies. With sensors becoming important and forming the basis for autonomous and smart devices, several university departments, especially of physics and chemistry, have introduced courses on the science behind sensors. For those aiming for Masters and doctoral degrees, academic and industrial research in robotics is fertile ground. In terms of robotics research in India, there are excellent labs and facilities at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and most IITs. All these institutes offer postgraduate and doctoral degrees, summer fellowships and project-based employment opportunities for those with research aptitude. These labs are among the best worldwide in terms of research output, publications and patents. REMUNERATION PROSPECTS. Opportunities in India are still emerging and the focus is primarily on educational robotics. There are hardly any companies in the country designing and building industrial robots. The four main careers in this field are in R&D, manufacturing, applications development and teaching. Salaries are attractive depending on employer profile and applicants’ competence and experience. From Rs.6 lakh per annum, remuneration packages could zoom to over Rs.50 lakh plus attractive perks at the CTO (chief technology officer) level. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE. “Specialised robots are being built in the laboratories of…

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Career Focus

Enviable profession To be in

With public, private and foreign investment pouring into infrastructure projects, there’s sustained demand for professionally qualified structural engineers The rapid urbanisation of India requires massive investment in highways, roads, power, construction, and infrastructure industries. Inevitably, demand for professionally qualified structural engineers needed to build the required infrastructure is set to skyrocket. Structural engineering is a specialised field within civil engineering. It’s the science and art of constructing huge, capital-intensive projects capable of withstanding the forces of nature and discharging their functions with safety, durability and economy. The field encompasses the completion of residential, commercial, educational and recreational buildings, besides bridges, stadia, ports, dams and aquaducts — just about every type of ‘structure’. A structural engineer manages technicians and workers on a project site and discharges the duties of planning and overseeing construction and/or maintenance of buildings, bridges and other structures, within budgeted periods and expenditure. The minimum eligibility for admission into a BE/ B.Tech in civil engineering study programme with specialisation in structural engineering is Plus Two science (physics, chemistry and maths). Entry into engineering colleges is usually on the basis of performance in entrance tests such as IIT-JEE, AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Exam) or competitive state-level CETs (common entrance tests). For admission into the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) formerly known as Regional Colleges of Engineering, success in JEE is a prerequisite. After graduation, students often continue their studies by signing up for the ME/M.Tech programme offered by most engineering colleges/universities including IITs and NITs. STUDY PROGRAMMES. The aggregate number of approved institutions offering undergraduate and postgrad engineering education in India is estimated at 3,500. Of them, 340 offer degree programmes in civil engineering (of whom about 100 offer specialisation in structural engineering). Together these institutions graduate nearly 18,000 structural engineers annually — a number far short of the demand for 100,000 civil/structural engineers. Among the most respected engineering colleges offering certification in civil engineering with specialisation in structural engineering are the 15 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs); BITS, Pilani; VJTI, Mumbai; Sardar Patel College of Engineering, Pune; Delhi College of Engineering, and University of Roorkee. REMUNERATION PROSPECTS. With public, private and foreign investment pouring into infrastructure projects, there is sustained demand for professionally qualified structural engineers within the economy, resulting in a quantum leap of over 40 percent in average remuneration during the past two years. Indian structural engineers are also in high demand in Asian, African and Middle East countries. Currently, professionally qualified structural engineers command starting salaries ranging between Rs.4-21 lakh per annum, depending on their qualifications and work sites. “There are excellent job opportunities for qualified structural engineers in the public and private sectors. Of late, several large multinational engineering corporates are mopping up available talent by offering huge pay packages which Indian companies can’t match. It’s an enviable profession to be in at the moment,” says Uday Chande, the promoter-proprietor of U.D. Chande Consulting Engineers, Surveyors & Valuers, a Mumbai-based firm promoted in 1979. Currently, professionally qualified structural engineers command starting salaries ranging…

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Career Focus

Multiplying opportunities for Social Workers

As society becomes sensitive to the needs of the disadvantaged this hitherto abnegating profession is attracting the young and idealistic In a country in which the majority of the population is poor and underprivileged, social work is a fast-growing profession which entails helping individuals — children, teenagers, adults, families, even whole communities and groups — to find solutions to problems with which they cannot cope on their own. And this hitherto abnegating profession is now attracting a growing number of the young and idealistic as society becomes more sensitive to the needs of the physically and socially disadvantaged. A social worker doesn’t have to take the first job that comes along, or be ready to tackle any problem. In practice, most social workers choose the group they would prefer to work with (e.g. teenagers or the aged), or avoid dealing with particular kinds of groups e.g. the mentally handicapped. The job opportunities of social workers are multiplying as they are being trained to take a much broader view of people’s difficulties. STUDY PROGRAMMES. Professional training in social work demands completion of a postgraduate study programme leading to a Master’s in social work (MSW) degree which is offered in more than 30 universities across the country. MSW study programmes are usually of two years duration and include a period of hands-on field training which equips degree awardees with practical experience after qualifying. Most postgraduate courses offer specialisation in family and child welfare, community development (rural and urban), psychiatry, criminology, and correctional administration. The admission requirement for MSW is a graduate degree in any discipline. Quite obviously there is no shortage of the young and idealistic because the competition for entry into MSW programmes is tough. For the 75 seats offered for the Master’s and bachelor degree courses by the Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work, Mumbai, it receives hundreds of applications. Usually a written test is conducted for admission into MSW programmes of all varsities. Some of the better-known institutes/universities for the MSW programme are: Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work, Mumbai Department of Social Work, Delhi University Faculty of Social Work, M.S. University, Baroda Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi Lucknow University Pali Samgathana Vibhaga (Institute of Rural Reconstruction), Viswa Bharati, Shantiniketan, West Bengal Department of Social Work, Bangalore University Amity Institute of NGO Management, Noida The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), a deemed university which confers its own degree, also offers specialisation in labour welfare, psychiatry, and community development. For those who want to do research work, TISS offers doctorate level facilities as well. JOB SATISFACTION. Job prospects for social work professionals are very good given the massive inflow of funds into the numerous socio-economic development programmes engineered by the Central and state governments, national and global NGOs, and international organisations such as the UN and its various agencies. The latter offer the best remuneration packages. For international NGO and UN assignments, knowledge of a foreign language is an asset. Other placements for…

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Rising demand for new genre home inspectors

With an increasing number of buyers insisting on best construction practices and sound titles, the demand for home inspection and certification services is zooming Paromita Sengupta Unlike the multi-billion dollar real estate industry in the US where every eight of ten homes for sale/rent/bank mortgage requires clearance from a home inspection audit team, professional home inspection and certification is a new concept in India. Essentially, home inspectors check out commercial and residential properties to determine if they satisfy global safety and quality codes, certify electrical/plumbing systems, and flag systemic faults for repair so that purchasers (and their financiers) are fully informed before sales contracts are finalised. With India emerging as a favoured property investment destination of non-resident Indians, and an increasing number of savvy home buyers demanding sound construction practices and titles before investing their life’s savings in a property, home inspection companies, firms and consultancies have mushroomed. Notable among them are MACJ — A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections (Kolkata); Homeinspektor (Bangalore); E-ghar (Ghaziabad); Meazurement Home Services (Mumbai) and CheckMyProp (Pune). Moreover, the recently legislated Real Estate Regulation and Development Act (RERA), 2016, whose prime objective is to protect home purchasers, has given the business of independent, third-party property inspections and certification a big boost. Given the imminent boom in real estate and rising awareness of the importance of best construction practices, the demand for home inspectors is set to grow exponentially — Yamini Sureka Study programmes. Arts/science/commerce/civil engineering/electrical engineering graduates are eligible to enroll for short-term certificate/diploma courses covering real estate principles and practices offered by the Mumbai-based Real Estate Management Institute (REMI) or the Pune-based India Institute of Real Estate (IIRA), among a few others. Ideally, this diploma programme needs to be supplemented by the online home inspection certification programme offered by InterNachi — the world’s largest association of property inspectors based in the US — or Inspection Certifications Associates (ICA), also US-based. Career progression. The remuneration packages of home inspectors vary depending on individual skills, size of projects and number of inspections conducted. Starting salary is in the range of Rs.30,000-40,000 per month. However, a senior/lead home inspector with three-five years experience can expect to earn Rs.60,000-100,000. Professional profile. “The real estate industry whose annual revenue is set to touch $180 billion (Rs.12.3 lakh crore) by 2020, is one of the largest contributors to the country’s GDP, providing livelihood to 52 million people. The industry is experiencing a fundamental shift towards professionalism, credibility, and transparency. It is also adopting international standards and cutting-edge technologies to change age-old practices. In the new-age real estate industry, home inspection, which is critical for ensuring buyer satisfaction, has emerged as an important function. Youth aspiring to explore this new vocation must be ready and willing to work long hours on sites, and develop the virtues of patience, time management and communication capability,” says Yamini Sureka, founder-director of the Kolkata-based MACJ — A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections Pvt. Ltd, and India’s first InterNachi certified home inspector. An English postgraduate of Rajasthan University…

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Stars augur well for astrologers: careers in astrology

Reading the position of stars and planets and interpreting their influence on human beings has become a lucrative vocation for millions of professional and amateur astrologers in India The formal teaching and learning of astrology received a boost with the UGC approving certificate, diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph D study programmes in jyotishvigyan in 2004. Though the introduction of astrology as a degree level study programme in Indian universities by Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, former Union minister of human resource development, aroused the ire of intellectuals and contributed to his ignominious defeat at the hustings, there is no gainsaying that there is widespread acceptance within Indian society in particular, of the science that is astrology. Like ancient emperors and potentates who governed according to astrological advice based on planetary positions, so also contemporary ministers and businessmen consult professional astrologers before taking momentous, even commonplace decisions. As a consequence, reading the position of stars and planets and interpreting their influence on human beings has become a lucrative vocation for millions of professional and amateur astrologers in India. Lucknow-based Dr. Ram Tripathi, popularly known as Shastriji, regards astrology as social service. “An astrologer comes into contact with a whole spectrum of people and builds up networks. It becomes possible to pull strings, get concessions, speed up clearance of files, influence transfers, postings and the like. And then of course if a reputed astrologer were to talk favourably about a young boy or girl, their chances of getting a good match for marriage are suitably enhanced,” he says, tongue firmly in cheek. Although popularly regarded as the parent discipline of astronomy, astrology is often rubbished by scientists for lack of credible causal theory and consistent rules. However, quite a few men of science including Tyco Brahe, Carl Jung, Kepler, Aldous Huxley, and Copernicus were renowned astrologers. Moreover astrology is recognised worldwide as a science with numerous institutes offering diplomas, Masters degrees and even doctorates in the subject. Though he tends to be jocular about his chosen profession, Tripathi has studied it thoroughly, having completed a 15-year study programme from the Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi, which entitles him to use the honorific acharya. After spending a number of years with Maharishi Mahesh Yogis Ved Vigyan Vishwapeeth he went solo and currently runs the SaiJyotish Kendra, Lucknow, which attracts clients from all sections of society. His computer equipped consultation chamber where the latest software is employed to draw birth charts and cast horoscopes employs eight software professionals. Tripathi was once a regular consultant and soothsayer of newspapers and popular magazines and a favourite guest on local broadcast channels. But with his clientele having expanded, he now has little time for these pursuits. Next on his list of must-dos is a periodical dedicated to promoting jyotishvigyan, that is, the science of astrology. Among the more renowned Indian institutes which offer diploma, degree, postgraduate, and doctorate level courses in the subject are: Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Udaipur (one-year diploma course in Bharatiya Jyotish) Maharishi Mahesh Yogi…

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Multiplying options for microbiologists

The high-potential biotech industry has a lot to offer youth interested in biology, environment and ecology studies. Career opportunities in industry and corporates are numerous Microbiology is fast emerging as a popular career choice for 21st century youth. Hardly surprising given that microbes affect every aspect of life — negatively and positively. The world around us is replete with micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa, too small to be seen with the naked eye. A microbiologist’s job is to study these microbes living in diverse habitats, ranging from hot springs to the human body, and even in the depths of oceans, and devise ways and means by which their beneficial qualities can be harnessed for human good, and their adverse effects on human health and well-being combated. But while microbial organisms often cause disease, they can also be used to develop antibiotics which build immunities to them. Moreover, while some micro-organisms cause food spoilage, others are essential for its production. Without yeast, there would be neither bread nor beer and without lactic acid bacteria, no yogurt. Microbes can also be harnessed to combat or reduce environmental pollution. Study Programme. Microbiology is quintessentially an interdisciplinary science which stimulates the learning of sciences of all types across the education spectrum. After completing Plus Two with physics, chemistry and biology, students are qualified for admission into the B.Sc microbiology programme offered by most colleges countrywide. However for successful careers in the multiplying number of biotech corporates and in research institutions, it is advisable to acquire a Masters degree with further specialisation in medical, food, industrial microbiology and microbial technology. Masters programmes in this subject are offered by several varsities in India, the reputed ones being Mumbai, Pune, and Calcutta universities, Banaras Hindu University, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Haryana Agriculture University, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, University of Madras and Osmania University. Career opportunities in biotech related industries and corporates are numerous and growing. Today, microbiologists are sought after by R&D labs of government and private hospitals, dedicated research institutes, and pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and chemicals industries. Moreover, there are big opportunities in formulations research, analytical development, clinical research and new drugs discovery. Microbiologists also have the option to teach in universities, colleges and schools. For teaching in colleges, a Masters degree is adequate, especially when supplemented with CSIR/UGC-NET qualifications, but a doctorate opens more avenues at the university level, as teaching and research jobs are multiplying. In non-academic research institutes, private industry and government agencies as well, there is sustained demand for microbiologists with Ph D and SET-NET qualifications. Simultaneously, a growing number of qualified microbiologists are going solo and setting up their own diagnostic labs. Remuneration Prospects. Although the biotech industry is not yet a high wage island, salary packages are set to expand substantially in the near future. Currently, a fresh B.Sc graduate is likely to start with a monthly remuneration of around Rs.30,000, an M.Sc with Rs.35,000-50,000 and a Ph D between Rs.50,000-100,000. However, prospects…

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