The Hindu : New Delhi News : Will Jamia break the glass ceiling?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 20, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Will Jamia break the glass ceiling?

IN THE upcoming new academic season Jamia Millia Islamia will not just have a whole new batch of students joining in but also a new head to lead the university. With the term of the current Vice-Chancellor, S. Shahid Mahdi, coming to an end in June, the buzz in the university is all about who will take over next.

Wednesday had Mr. Mahdi, who took over four years ago, conducting a meeting of the staff selection committee, clearly an attempt to fill in the vacant posts to make things easier for his successor.

The university has already recommended names for the Search Committee to the Visitor, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who would eventually approve the name proposed by the panel.

At least a section in the Jamia teaching community is hoping that the next Vice-Chancellor has the qualities of both an academician and administrator like Mr. Mahdi, who has experience of both the worlds. In a statement issued today, various deans, heads of department and professors of the university have urged the Visitor to appoint a Vice-Chancellor who would have both qualities.

Interestingly, although Jamia has never had a woman Vice-Chancellor, the names that are doing the rounds for the post include Jodhpur University's Naseem Bhatia, social worker Sayeeda Syedain and an Indian Revenue Service Officer, Parveen Takla, giving teachers here a reason to believe that they might just finally get a woman to lead the co-ed college. But who eventually gets to head this prestigious University will be known only after a wait of a few weeks.

***

OFFERING A new Masters course in International Business now is HECL, which has tied up with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT). Recognising the challenges of the new world economy, the new course (EMIB) provides an opportunity to middle and senior level executives to refresh and upgrade their managerial skills without interrupting their professional activities.

Adding to the advantages of the course are the class timings, that will be conducted at the various DirecWay Centres in different cities on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Specially developed to sensitise the participants to the complex issues of international business, the course also aims at developing the requisite analytical skills for managing international business operations.

***

THE INTERNATIONAL Centre for Event Marketing & Management is launching its new correspondence course to cater to students outside Delhi and in smaller towns who would like to take up event management as a definite career. Designed by event management guru Prince Singhal, the course is aimed at students, event managers, event coordinators, brand managers and marketing executives.

The first of its kind in the country, the course would be a one-year programme with a flat fee of Rs. 12,000 and will include CD presentations, written matter, live chats with Prince Singhal and other industry experts. An internship will also be provided at the end of the course.

Keeping in mind the new academic year, the course will begin on June 1 this year, with the minimum qualification being an undergraduate or a graduate degree with at least two years experience in the event or any allied industry.

Lakshmi B. Ghosh

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi