Q&A
From the corporate world to teaching
PHOTO: M. MOORTHY
RIGHT METHOD: Spreading knowledge and wisdom to students is what teachers are made for.
I am a MBA-Finance and Human Resources graduate and on the lookout for jobs in the corporate world. However, I want to become a teacher after a stint in the world of business. I would like to know the qualification required to teach in colleges (Government and private).
Which subject can I teach and is there a career path in the teaching profession?
I have heard about the NET examination that is conducted by UGC. Is this examination a must to become a lecturer?
Mujeeb Rahman
At the outset, you should try to join the company where you got your on-the-job training while pursuing the MBA. For this, you should take the support of your college Placement Officer.
You should also look into the Job Opportunities column that appears every Wednesday in The Hindu.
Teaching is a good option. After a stint in the corporate world, if you feel that you could pass on the knowledge to others and help them in their careers, then you should work for at least four to five years to get to know the corporate world and then proceed to the classroom, as the experience in the corporate world will help you to perform better.
The National Eligibility Test (NET) (http://www.ugc.ac.in/inside/net.html) conducted by the University Grants Commission is a must for the entry-level lecturers in a college or university. The examination is conducted twice every year: June and December. You should prepare for this examination as well.
As you have a dual specialisation in HR and Finance, you could select one among the two for the corporate world and the same for the teaching environment as well.
Career progress
The career path in the world of teaching is progression from Lecturer to Reader to Professor in the university environment. In Government and aided colleges, the nomenclature is Lecturer, Lecturer (Senior Scale) and Lecturer (Selection Grade).
The Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) have the nomenclature of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor. To be a successful teacher, you should have the aptitude for research, interaction with students and good communication skills.
"Teaching is leaving a vestige of oneself in the development of another. And surely, the student is a bank where you can deposit your most precious treasures". — Eugene P. Bertin
In the words of the President, A.P.J. Abul Kalam, "Socrates was an example of a good teacher. He considered himself a learner as well as a teacher. For Socrates, love and friendship were the proper contexts for the pursuit of wisdom and goodness. Socrates saw himself only as a catalyst. He felt it was not his teaching, but actually the power of the Divine which enabled the person he was talking with to improve himself".
PG exams
I am 37 years old. I completed MBBS from Bangalore Medical College in 1994. Due to some personal problems I could not pursue Post-Graduate education. Now I am in position to do so. I had mailed to reputed institutes, but they are yet to reply. Can you tell me whether I am eligible for Post-Graduate entrance exams?
Krishna Hariharan Achari Puthamber
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." — Winston Churchill
The Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2000 of the Medical Council of India (MCI) (http://www.mciindia.org/know/rules/rules_pg.htm) Section 8 (3) says, "Every student, selected for admission to post-graduate medical course in any of the medical institutions in the country, shall possess recognised MBBS degree or equivalent qualification and should have obtained permanent registration with the Medical Council of India, or any of the State Medical Councils or should obtain the same within one month from the date of his admission, failing which the admission of the candidate shall be cancelled."
Section 9 of the regulations speaks of selection of Post-Graduate students for studies in Medicine:
Students shall be selected strictly on the basis of their academic merit.
For determining the academic merit, the university/institution may adopt any one of the following procedures both for degree and diploma courses:
1) On the basis of merit as determined by the competitive test conducted by the State Government or by the competent authority appointed by the State Government or by the university/group of universities in the same State; or
2) On the basis of merit as determined by a centralised competitive test held at the national level; or
3) On the basis of the individual cumulative performance in their MBBS examination, if such examination has been passed from the same university; or
Combination of (1) and (3):
Provided that wherever entrance test for admission is held by the State Government or a university or any other authorised examining body, the minimum percentage of marks for eligibility for admission shall be 50 per cent for general category candidates and 40 per cent for the candidate belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
You could also get in touch with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) (http://www.rguhs.ac.in), 4th T Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore-560 041. Ph: 26961933, 26961934 for further clarifications on the matter.
The National Board of Examinations (http://natboard.nic.in) (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India), Ansari Nagar, Ring Road, New Delhi-29 conducts the Diplomate Examinations in Medicine and you could contact it as well to put things in a perspective.
Advertising
I am studying in II PUC in the Arts division (H.E.P.S.). I am interested in pursuing a career in advertising. I would like to know the different courses available.
Krithika R.
Advertising is the paid promotion of goods, services, companies and ideas by an identified sponsor. Marketers see advertising as part of an overall promotional strategy. Other components of the promotional mix include publicity, public relations, personal selling and sales promotion (Wikipedia).
To understand the nuances of advertising, one must appreciate the ideas of Apryl Duncan, a freelance copywriter, author and online career course instructor who's worked in advertising, television, marketing and public relations.
She has very succinctly spoken of advertising and the myths. She spells out the myths as follows:
Working in advertising is just like working in public relations.
You'll finally be able to put all those great ideas to good use.
It's a glamorous, fun-filled career. Every day is a day at the beach.
Advertising is an unethical and dishonourable profession.
Everyone in advertising makes a fortune.
It's really hard to get started in advertising.
If you want to join an advertisement agency after studies, then it is better to understand its functioning, which normally includes: Account Services Department, Account Services Department-Traffic, Media Services Department, Research Department, Creative Department-Art Direction, Creative Department-Copywriting, Creative Department-Production, Specialty Advertising Department, Internet Advertising Department, Outdoor Advertising Department, Direct Response Advertising Department.
On completion of the pre-university examination, you should pursue a Bachelor in Business Management (BBM) or even Communicative English which will help you to decide on the future course of action.
Computer programming
I am studying B.Sc. (Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science). I am interested in computer programming and want to build a career in IT. Which computer courses will help me and which are the institutes offering them?
Srikanth N.
The IT and ITES industry appreciates students who have good qualifications. In fact, the corporate world has made efforts to bring in the best through campus recruitments. It is always good to have add-on qualifications in different areas.
You have to graduate at the Bachelor-level. A Master's degree in Computer Applications (Master of Computer Applications) would help you to augment career prospects and help in your growth.
You should join accredited institutions for the programmes in the field of computers, whether it is MCSE, Java, C++, HTML or any other. Some of these programmes are also available online which could be of benefit, if you do not intend to go to the institution itself.
SHAHEED KHAN
Shaheed_khan@yahoo.co.in
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