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Which institutes offer Chinese and Japanese language learning progra-mmes? Please advise.Neera Bajaj, MumbaiJNU, New Delhi (www.jnu.ac.in) offers a BA (Hons) study programme in foreign languages to students who have completed their Plus Two. The languages offered include Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Arabic and Persian. The University of Mumbai as well as several private language training institutes offer foreign language courses. For Japanese language classes contact the Indo-Japanese Association, Oricon House, 7th floor, 12, K.Dubash Marg, Mumbai 400 023 and K. J. Somaiya Centre for Buddhist Studies, II floor, Management Building, Somaiya Vidyavihar Campus, Vidyavihar (E), Mumbai 400 077. Career prospects are excellent for individuals proficient in Chinese given that trade between the two countries is booming.After acquiring my B.Sc degree I would like to study biotechnology. Please give me details of universities offering biotechnology and the eligibility requirements.Shalini Dalal, AhmedabadThere are two important entrance exams governing admission into M.Sc degree programmes in biotechnology: the joint admission test (JAM) of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) and IIT Roorkee (IIT-R), and the Jawaharlal Nehru University conducted combined biotechnology entrance exam (CBEE). The biotechnology exam of JAM 2005 will be held on May 7. Eligibility for admission into the M.Sc biotechnology programme of IIT-B is a bachelor‚s degree in any of the following subjects: biological/ chemical sciences/ pharmaceutical/ veterinary/ medical/ agricultural sciences or engineering subjects/ physical sciences with adequate exposure to chemical/ biological sciences. Admission into M.Sc biotechnology of IIT-R is open to candidates with a bachelor‚s degree in any branch of science/ agriculture/ pharmacy/ medicine/ engineering and related disciplines (at least 60 percent average). For details check www.iitb.ac.in/jam or www.iitr.ac.in/jam. Log on to www.iitb.ac.in/jam/syllabus.html for JAM syllabus.Look out for the admission notifications of JNU‚s combined biotechnology entrance exam in the press in February. On behalf of participating universities (including University of Pune, Gujarat University, MS University, Baroda, BHU Varanasi, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai etc), JNU conducts the CBEE every year in May for admission into M.Sc biotech-nology/ M.Sc (agriculture)/ MVSc (biotechnology) and M.Tech bio-technology programmes. Visit JNU website for details (www.jnu.ac.in). The test is usually of the objective type and sample questions are given in the information brochure. You can also write the entrance test of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (www.aiims.ac.in or www.aiims.edu) for admission into its M.Sc (biotechnology) programme. The University of Pune (www.unipune.ernet.in) also offers an M.Sc degree in bioinformatics.I want to study for a rural management degree programme. What are the job prospects in this career?Ashok Kelkar, PuneRural management graduates are mainly employed in development organisations, NGOs, government co-operatives, government development agencies and national and international donor agencies engaged in promoting rural development. You should expect to work in rural development.I‚m in second year BA and after graduation would like to do a course in events management. Please provide information about degree programmes and job opportunities.Seema Patel, Baroda Students who have completed Plus Two/ equivalent are eligible for degrees/ diplomas in events management. Most courses are of one-year duration, full or part-time. Among the reputed events management programmes are the one-year postgraduate diploma in public relations and events management offered by the Mudra Institute of Commun-ications, Ahmedabad Shela, Ahmedabad 380 058, and the one-year postgrad diploma in corporate communications and events management conducted by Pioneer Media School, II Floor, Link House, 3 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002. Mumbai also has several private institutes conducting short-term courses. For instance the International Institute of Events Management, University of Mumbai, Vidyapeeth Vidyarthi, Next to Sydenham College, B.Road, Churchgate, Mumbai 400 020, offers diploma programmes. Career opportunities are in events management, public relations, corporate communications and entertainment marketing companies, as well as in marketing and other communication driven businesses. Self-employment is also an option.I want to pursue a career in animation after I complete my bachelor‚s in computer engineering this year. Which colleges offer postgraduate courses in animation?Sridhar Iyer, BangaloreComputer animation requires you to be creative and familiar with new computer technologies. You also need to be fluent in the basics of art and computers. In India, animation programmes are offered by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad (www.nid.edu) and IIT-Bombay (www.ictb.ac.in). At IIT-Bombay admission into the Master of design in visual communication programme is through the Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED). At NID you can apply for admission into the postgrad software and user interface design, new media design, or animation film design programmes.NID and IIT-Bombay are premier institutions offering formal study programmes in animation. Admission to both these institutions is on the basis of entrance tests. Work opportunities in animation design are excellent with India becoming a major hub of the global animation industry.I would like to write IIT-JEE in 2006 after completing class XII in 2005. What kind of preparation is required?Colin Vaz, PanjimIdeally you should start preparing right now. However if you are not comfortable with preparing for your class XII exam and IIT-JEE simultaneously, you would be better off concentrating on the class XII exam. After this exam you should launch yourself into full preparation for IIT-JEE. To explore the option of tutorials, visit the offices of local coaching class providers and/ or attend their information/ counselling seminars. Moreover analyse your academic performance of the last few years to assess whether you have the potential and attitude for making a serious bid for admission in an IIT.