CareerConnect October-November 2016 by Surecom Media: CareerConnect magazine

October - November 2016 Vol 5 Issue 02

Postal Registration No. : DL(S)-01/3496/2016-18 Posted at IPMBC on the 9th & 10th same month RNI No: DELENG/2012/43525 Published on the 5th of the same month

The Million Dollar Estate Deal

EDU-TECH: Opening New Vistas in Indian Education

Social Animals Can “Bumble” Their Way Into Networking

Career Made with Passion

2 < CAREERCONNECT < October - November 2016

October 2016 < CAREERCONNECT < 2

Contents

52 Pages including Cover October - November 2016 I Volume 5 I Issue 02 I `40

18 Cover Story

The Million Dollar Estate Deal

When the rich and famous wish to buy a home, they simply pick their 24K gold cell phones up and call their real estate consultants. They personally hop in and out of million dollar properties in a Maybach, consultant in tow. Some are quick with “this is what I was looking for” while others take months and even years to sign on the dotted line.

Special Feature EDU-TECH: Opening New Vistas in Indian Education.......................................................14

Feature l Career Made with Passion...............................................................................................08 l DNA of Every University....................................................................................................28

Lifestyle l Social Animals Can “Bumble” Their Way Into Networking...........................................34

Success Story l From Bihar to Washington DC........................................................................................50

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Letters to the Editor........................................06 Events..............................................................46

Interview l Kanchan Kaur, Vice Dean, IIJNM................................................38 l S K Gupta, Chairman, Roorkee College of Engineering............40 l Beas Dev Ralhan, Co-founder & CEO, Next Education Pvt Ltd..........................................................................................42

l Shobhit Bhatnagar, CEO & Co-Founder, Gradeup.....................44

Guest Column Dr. D.J. Pati, Dean, Academics, Institute of Management Studies, Noida, .......................48

The link to your future February 2016 Vol 4 Issue 6 January

BEST INDIA'S

July 2016 Vol 4 Issue 11

B LS SCHOO

Postal Registration No. : DL(S)-01/3496/2016-18 Posted at IPMBC on the 9th & 10th same month RNI No: DELENG/2012/43525 Published on the 5th of the same month

Cover Story Distance Education in India: Bridging the ‘Open’ Gap

The ABC of Indian B-Schools

MBA Aspirants: Master Your Career with Caution

MBA: Time for Sensible Choices

Special Feature Foreign Education : In Search of Greener Pastures Course Review Evolving Logistics Sector Seeks Skilled Professionals Feature Covering the Mile Between Native and Global Language

May 2016 Vol 4 Issue 09

Best Distance Education Institutes of India 2016

August August2016 2016Vol Vol44Issue Issue12 12

Inside: Best BBA Colleges in India: P.31

Postal Registration No. : DL(S)-01/3496/2016-18 Posted at IPMBC on the 9th & 10th same month RNI No: DELENG/2012/43525 Published on the 5th of the same month

Best Professional Colleges of India 2016

FEATURES

Let Your Dreams Take Flight A Career to Break on the Red Carpet The ‘Judicial ‘ Commandments Lend Your Voice to the Masses

EXHAUSTIVE COVERAGE OF THE BEST PROFESSIONAL COLLEGES / UNIVERSITIES

Best Mass Communication Colleges of India 2016 Print Journalism: An apt career choice?

Enlisted: What is India reading?

Industry Ready: The new catchphrase

Consistent high quality editorial and products The variety and scope of articles carried every month is unmatched Read by educated, young audience 64,000 copies published 250,000 plus Readership Contact Us for Advertising & Subscription 4/23B, First Floor, Jangpura-B, Mathura Road, New Delhi- 110014 +91-11-2437 3365/3465, +91-9810962016; +91-9811494498; cargoconnect@gmail.com, ajeet@surecommedia.in

Letters to the Editor

Editor and Publisher Smiti Suri Executive Editor Samaya Chhabra Principal Correspondent Ritika Arora Bhola Special Correspondent Sana Husain

Best Law Colleges of India Being a law aspirant, the last edition was really important to me. The cover story gave me a detailed insight into the world of law education in India. I am thankful to the writer for bringing out an issue covering all the frequently asked questions I earlier had. Keep up the good work! Rakesh Choubey, Tughlakabad

Feature Writer Tariq Ahmed Nikhil Mishra Nicin Varghese

Breaking the Code

I was so happy to finally see an entire article about CLAT. I have re ce ntly completed my LLB course and looking to pursue my career further in the field of law. The article gave me some really good knowledge about the intricate details that needs to be taken care of if someone wants to make it big in the field of law. Pronami Ghosh, Durgapur

Director Marketing Ajeet Kumar Manager Marketing Niti Chauhan Marketing Executive Chetan Pathak Rajesh Basu Asad Mohammad Mehuli Choudhury Marketing Support Sheetal Singh Administration Vipin Marwah Lavish Thakur

Law: An Honourable Career Choice

Designer & Visualiser Mayank Bhatnagar Shaique Ahmad

There is always this confusion about the thin line that differentiates Civil Law and Criminal Law. For a student who is dreaming about the black coat, it is very important to know what lies ahead if they choose a particular path. Also, I got to know about the options I will have if I choose Corporate Law as my subject. Aman Saikia, Gurugram

All material printed in this publication is the sole property of CAREERConnect All printed matter contained in the magazine is based on the information of those featured in it. The views, ideas, comments and opinions expressed are solely of those featured and the Editor and Publisher do not necessarily subscribe to the same.

Approach the Mirror before Resume

CAREERConnect is printed, published and owned by Smiti Suri, and is printed at Compudata Services, 42, Dsidc Shed, Scheme–1, Okhla Industrial Area Complex, Phase–II, New Delhi-110020, and published at 6/31B, Jangpura–B, New Delhi-110014. Editor–Smiti Suri

Good gracious, someone just realized that we students need to look stylish too. Also, now I know what I should wear on the f irst day of my internship (at IBM). It’s impressive to see someone talking about power dressing. Good job, author. Sarah Mynsong, Bengaluru

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September 2016 Vol 5 Issue 01

Postal Registration No. : DL(S)-01/3496/2016-18 Posted at IPMBC on the 9th & 10th same month RNI No: DELENG/2012/43525 Published on the 5th of the same month

BEST LAW COLLEGES OF INDIA 2016

Approach the Mirror Before Résumé

Breaking the Code: CLAT

The Talking Books

I will be honest. I was not at all familiar with the concept of audio books earlier. Thanks for introducing me to this new, undiscovered, and amazing world of audio books. I am now learning French with the help of an audio book I purchased online. I can listen to it even at places like the metro or while waiting for the bus. Tanmay Raju, New Delhi

Defence Forces

This is the best thing about your magazine. You do carry an array of stories and features that actually makes sense to read. I am planning to appear for N DA a nd t h is a r t icle provided me with insights from Colonels and Majors, who have been there, done that (literally). I thank the author for deciding to write about this usually neglected career. Piyush Mehra, Kanpur

The Legal Specialities

Everybody loves to choose. A n d m o r e s o wh e n t h e choices you have in hand are all alluring and appealing. This article helped me know the different dimensions I can choose from, once I step into the world of law. After reading the article, my favourite is estate planning lawyer. Pooja Ahuja, Vizag

Write to:The Editor, CareerConnect, Surecom Media, 6/31-B, Jangpura B, New Delhi-110014 Email: surismiti@gmail.com CareerConnect reserves the right to edit letters for brevity and clarity before publication.

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FEATURE

assion Career Made With

Allowing your child to get involved in extracurricular activities at school is a wise choice and it can be very important in helping them develop many working skills and people skills. Schools nowadays, alongside academics, offer plethora of extracurricular activities to choose from like dance, music, drama, sports, athletics, yoga, etc. Ritika Arora Bhola in line with teachers and parents at various schools discusses the significance of co-curricular activities and how it help students become more confident, extrovert and self-disciplined

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FEATURE

Chinese proverb very aptly states, ‘Teach me, and I will forget. Show me, and I might remember. Involve me, a nd I w i l l neve r forget.’ Only academics cannot make a student successful, confident and strong enough to face the world. Extracurricular activities play a very important role in shaping student’s overall personality, life and career. Such activities like dance, music, drama, debate, sports not only hone their skills but also help them become mature and extrovert. Gone are the days when schools just used to focus on the academics but now special classes are organised, skilled teachers are called in and students are motivated to learn. Academic subjects and extracurricular activities complement each other and develop intelligent, socially skilled, and

talented students. There are so many activities to choose from which appeals to him or her personally like athletics, sports, scouts, girl guides, debating, music, dance, drama etc. Commenting on the same, Palak Chopra, Guest Faculty (Theatre), Seth Anandram, Jaipuria School Ghaziabad opines, “Students who are involved in extra-curricular activities tend to improve their academic grades as well. This may be due to increased self-esteem, motivation and better time management. They become organised in the classroom. They demonstrate a reduction of at-risk behavior and a heightened sense of belonging, resulting in better behavior. Theatre teaches students to communicate with masses. Students become extrovert. They don’t shy away from talking to people and learn the art of expressing themselves beautifully be it in school or outside world.” Obser ving the same, Sangeeta K harbanda , Dance Teacher, St Xavier’s School Delhi asserts, “I have been teaching dance in school along with other subjects since last 20 years. I feel extracurricular activities make them more energetic and content. We keep conducting classes for cocurricular activities like music, drama, dance, sports etc. We organise dance competitions, debates, sports programs from time to time and motivate students to participate in varied activities. Also, we make sure these activities don’t affect academics and there’s a balance between both. Extracurricular activities make students confident and positive. We also send them for inter-school or inter-state competitions.” Shivani Sharma, Teacher, Delhi Public School, Gautam Budh Nagar

agrees and says, “Extra-curricular activities help to develop overall personality of the student. We cannot just produce one-dimensional students in our schools. Many students use their skills in academic ability and extracurricular activities like dance, music or sports to gain dance or sports scholarships in various universities later on.” To a great extent, the theoretical knowledge is enhanced when a cocu r r icular activit y related to the content taught, is organised. Intellectual development of an individual is achieved to a great extent, in the classroom itself. But, the aesthetic development like character building, spiritual and moral values, physical growth, creativity and many more are backed up by co-curricular activities only. It also professes coordination, adjustment, and speech fluency, extempore and debating skills amongst students. Students learn useful new skills from their chosen activity, and in integrating these activities into their ever yday school lives, they lear n time management, critical thinking, teamwork and social skills. They develop life-long relationships with their peers and lear n how to lead others. These skills will be beneficial in later life and in the workplace. Extracurricular activities also foster a sense of commitment to a cause or purpose. Students become more active in the workplace. T h rough the avenue of ext racurricular activities, students find it much easier to gain admission into universities. Modern universities are more interested in recruiting students who have something to offer besides academic qualifications. They seek out

October - November 2016 < CAREERCONNECT < 9

FEATURE

Palak Chopra, Guest Faculty (Theatre), Seth Anandram, Jaipuria School Ghaziabad

“Students who are involved in extra-curricular activities tend to improve their academic grades as well. This may be due to increased self-esteem, motivation and better time management. They become organised in the classroom. Theatre teaches students to communicate with masses. Students become extrovert. They don’t shy away from talking to people and learn the art of expressing themselves beautifully be it in school or outside world.” students who can make a contribution in other areas to the university and the society at large. Many universities and some schools make money and gain prestige through their extra-curricular engagement in various arenas. When asked few parents about children developing interest in activities apart from academics, Rohit Gupta, father of a six-year-old, on a positive note said, “When my daughter was five-yearold, we recognised her dancing skills and interest in learning dance. From last one year she has been learning dance forms like Kathak and Contemporary in school itself. Her teachers are very helpful and motivating. Fortunately, she is doing well in studies also. We are

happy that our daughter is pursuing her passion from this young age. On a similar note, Radhika Jaswal, mother of 10-year-old shared, “My son has always been interested in sports especially cricket. Earlier I used to scold him for not concentrating properly on studies. But, when he won medals in sports at this young age, I realised that he has the caliber to do something. Even his teachers appreciated him a lot. His school coach provides him proper training and he is doing well in studies also.” Co-curricular activities help students develop a number of values like: • Educational value • Psychological Values • Development of Social Values • Development of Civic Values • Physical Development Values • Recreational Values • Cultural Values

Role of Co-Curricular Activities

1. Overall Personality: Extracurricular activities help students enhance t he i r ove r a l l p e r s o n a l it y. It makes them an all-rounder and strong enough to face challenges of the future. Experiences and appreciation gained through these activities assist students during internships and other sponsored programs. 2. Strengthened Self- Confidence: The goal of co-curricular activities is to pursue their passion along with education. Such activities develop and inculcate self-conf idence, a se n se of spor t sma n sh ip, leadership, competitive spirit, cooperation, patience, team spirit and meticulousness. 3. Developed Specialised Skills: Co-curricular activities help hone the talent of the young minds and give them an opportunity to develop their specialised skills. Competitions that are organised can create a competitive environment and helps them work towards their desired activity. It also helps them draw clear picture of their career. 4. Improved Academic Performance: According to various studies, students pursuing their hobbies

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achieve better results in their studies. Their academic performance goes way up as they learn to balance their co-curricular activities with their academic pursuits. They also understand better on how to manage their time efficiently and also increases their interest in the school. Such activities like participation in debates, drama, music, sports, etc., help in achieving the bigger pu r p ose of a ch iev i ng b et t e r education. 5. Sense of Responsibility: When students in their early teens are given a task to handle or some responsibility, their efficiency to handle such situations becomes much better. This fosters the sense of responsibility and accountability. 6. Exposu re to New Act iv it ies: Students are introduced to a whole new horizon of activities that gives them a better insight and let them choose what they enjoy and what they wish to learn. These activities improve painting, playing, drama, music, dancing and speak ing skills in students. There is a huge plethora of options that a student can choose from. 7. A St ronger M i nd: Aca dem ic

FEATURE

Sangeeta Kharbanda, Dance Teacher, St. Xavier’s School, Delhi

rigors such as in-depth reading and complex problem-solving go far to strengthen the mind, but extracur ricular activities will take this mind strengthening even further. High-endurance sports, for example, will train students to maintain patience and resilience in the face of intense difficulty. 8. Training in Professional Skills: These activities can also work to build professional skills that a classroom alone cannot always foster. A leadership - or iented club, for exa mple, w ill help students to learn essential skills in management and delegation, while a debate or speech club will provide additional public speaking practice for students. Sports most often have the effect of fostering strong team-building skills and training students in holding longterm goals. In short, extracurricular activities can arm students with many of the skills future employers will be looking for. 9. A W i d e r S o c i a l C i r c l e : Extracurriculars are not solely about imparting stronger professional skills and supplementing education. These programs are also fun and offer students the opportunity to

spend time with others of similar interests. Students can meet friends from different social groups by joining a sports team, student government or debate. 10. B e t t e r T i m e M a n a g e m e n t : Ironically enough, many students find that adding more commitments to their already course workfilled schedules has the effect of improving time management. The student who is busy with course work but also needs to balance two other extracurricular activities is more likely to plan out time dedicated to each activity and less likely to procrastinate during downtimes. An extracurricular activity might even have the effect of “recharging” the brain after a day of rigorous schoolwork, allowing students to return to homework assignments with a refreshed mind. 11. Exploration of Interests: Such activities allow students to pursue interests outside of a standardised academic context. A st udent with a flair for mathematics, for example, might become a member of the school’s math honou r society program. This decision could help them decide if math

“I have been teaching dance in school along with other subjects since last 20 years. I feel extracurricular activities make them more energetic and content. We keep conducting classes for co-curricular activities like music, drama, dance, sports etc. We organise dance competitions, debates, sports programs from time to time and motivate students to participate in varied activities.” will be something to pursue in higher education. Students can also use these activities to explore interests they’ve never encountered, exposi ng st udents to a more diverse range of interests in students.

Significance of Extracurricular Activities

1. The classroom teaching-learning environment gets strengthened by extracurricular activities. 2. No doubt, classroom teaching i s ve r y i m p o r t a n t fo r yo u r future career, yet for aesthetic development, physical and spiritual growth and character enrichment

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FEATURE

Shivani Sharma, Teacher, Delhi Public School, Gautam Budh Nagar

“Extra-curricular activities help to develop overall personality of the student. We cannot just produce onedimensional students in our schools. Many students use their skills in academic ability and extracurricular activities like dance, music or sports to gain dance or sports scholarships in various universities later on.”

7. 8.

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extracurricular activ“ityAnmight even have the

effect of “recharging” the brain after a day of rigorous schoolwork, allowing students to return to homework assignments with a refreshed mind.

“

ext racu r r icular activities are equally relevant. It improves your self-confidence. T he t r a it s a nd fe at u r e s a nd like speech f luency, extempore expression, communication and coordination, team work, adjustments etc, get empowered with co curricular activities. Extracurricular activities enable the students to express themselves freely. Inculcate the values of cooperation. It is a me a n s of developi ng competence and skills. Different extracurricular activities have their own significance like debate helps to generate ideas and give and counter-reasons, theatre helps to communicate effectively, music makes you more spiritual and calm etc. Sometimes, lear ning-teaching become monotonous; this can be changed into pleasant atmosphere by participating in extra-curricular activities. Co - cu r r icula r act iv it ies help to prepare you for your future challenges. Extracurricular activities enable to g room t he st udents for future leadership environment. Extracurricular activities comprise sports, singing, music, debate, dance, drama, social services, etc. Schools can play a pivotal role by channelising energy of both normal as well as physically challenged students into a fruitful direction of

personality development through extra-curricular activities. 9. To develop the various facets of personality of kids, children and students; curricula must be supplemented with extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities h elp i n t h e d e velo p m e nt of intellectual, emotional and moral development. Also, students should be free to choose their favourite activity.

Benefits & Advantages

1. Students get to socialise with different groups during these extracurricular activities and intermingling improves socialisation, s el f-id e nt i f ic a t io n a n d s el fassessment. 2. Extra-curricular activities groom your personality and make you confident. But you have to have the passion to learn your favourite activit y with patience and determination. 3. Extracurricular activities involve outings, field trips, travelling, which helps to know about other pla ce s, pe ople, cu st om s a nd cultures. 4. T he se a ct iv it ie s prov ide t he opportunities to adjust with other people. 5. It helps in the proper channelisation of physical health. 6. Extra-curricular activities make you an all rounder and a better person with knowledge on various subjects apart from education. 7. These activities like dance, music, art and painting etc refreshes you and reduces the burden of hard core education.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

EDU-TECH Opening New Vistas in Indian Education 14 < CAREERCONNECT < October - November 2016

SPECIAL FEATURE

With a number of educational options existing before the students at present, traditional system of education prevalent in India has been changing tremendously. IT has enabled the scope of education to reach the sky and beyond. Nicin Varghese elaborates the newer trends which are seen to emerge in the field of education.

ood, shelter and clothing once for med the basic needs of human beings. But with the development of industrial age, another impor tant need was added up to the list, namely education. C u r rently, educat ion i ndu st r y is definitely one of the most important industries worldwide. With a number of educational options existing before the students at present, newer trends are seen to emerge in the field of education that has entirely changed the traditional system of education prevalent in India. Many career alternatives, which were previously not regarded as important or popular are now among the most sought after career options for students. India has witnessed a steady rise in the sales of laptops, smart phones, tablets, iPads, ePads and other digital gadgets in the last few years. It shows that our country is slowly but steadily getting tech-savvy. According to a study, the number of mobile internet users in the country is expected to reach 730 million by the end of 2017. Indeed, various modern gadgets have brought a significant change in every sector, with the education sector being no exception. These technologies have unlocked a world of opportunities for st udents. And because of this technological boon, students find it easy to access various educational resources, connect with experts in just a few clicks, brainstorm with peers online from anywhere and at anytime, and most importantly, opt for hasslefree quality education.

Digital trends have changed the cou ntenance of educat ion givi ng prominence to creation and creativity so as to neutralise education standards. In other words, digitalisation of education is entirely a new phenomenon. It’s a ‘do it yourself’ style by exploiting new digital tools to make, share and learn across space and time. Education has just gone beyond class room teaching. CAREERCONNECT has identified the top six trends in Indian education sector.

Digital Learning

Digital lear ning is one of the top trends being witnessed in the Indian education sector. Nowadays, more and more schools are increasingly embracing digital learning. Teachers

can now reach the f ull classroom through digital screens, enabling each child to get the same base content. Student engagement is higher as it combines various instructional styles. And each student gets exposure to world-class education, something that was just not available in a chalk and talk approach. Digital learning has also given a renewed thrust to the country’s distance education sector. It has now been made possible, owing to scores of online courses provided by almost all premium universities. If you have a good internet connection, you can easily pursue an online course from anywhere. Besides, digital learning has facilitated the availabilit y of various vocational courses and training

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SPECIAL FEATURE

M learning

Mobile devices show a d ra mat ic d e p a r t u r e f r o m o l d - f a s h i o n of comput i ng plat for m s a s t hey no more re present a st at ic or f i xed notion of context, where changes are small, absent, or predictable. With the expansion and continued evolution of modern mobile devices, an opportunity has arisen for much more comprehensive integration of these modern devices into educational environments. Mobile learning is a new research area that has become an emerging tool for our education system. The mobile learning can be used to enhance the overall learning experience of our students and teachers. As per reports, over 150 million students in our country access internet using their mobile phones. Given this whopping number of mobile internet users, most of the websites are now available in a mobile-friendly version, with their resolution and interface being reduced significantly. Further, the availability of free Wi-Fi facility has led to an increase in the number of

mobile internet users. The best part of M- learning is that it facilitates learnercentric learning. More specifically, it enables students to access information as per their individual requirements in order to meet their own educational objectives. In rural India, where many people cannot afford computers and laptops, M- learning through smart phones is empowering them to access online educational content without any hassles.

Online Educational Forums

Wit h t h e r a pid d e velo p m e n t of computer-mediated communication, online educational forums have become more involved in classroom settings to promote critical thinking, knowledge construction and language learning autonomy. Computer-based online discussions or online for ums have been used in a wide range of higher education setting to provide major learning environments for distance education or to supplement face-toface discussion. These forums facilitate a close collaboration between students and teachers. Here, students can easily con nect with teachers to discuss various subjects. Further, students can share and exchange ideas with peers and gain better understanding of any topic. Above all, these forums have

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in rural India are also â&#x20AC;&#x153;Schools harnessing the benefits of

interactive whiteboards, animated and quality contents and various digital teaching and learning tools.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

programs, such as soft skills training programs, foreign language courses and executive education. But, this trend is no more confined to metros and tier-II cities only. Schools in rural India are also harnessing the benefits of interactive whiteboards, animated and quality contents and various digital teaching and learning tools.

given a facelift to the age-old concept of collaborat ive a nd cooperat ive learning.

Video Based Learning

Visuals speak a thousand words. So, ideally, videos speak a million or a trillion words. As learning experts have also rightly pointed out, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better to show than to tell the learners. It has been proven by most of the researchers that visually demonstrating a new skill or behavior can be an important component of multi-modal instruction. Video-based learning makes education engaging, entertaining and exploring. The interactive preface of this segment ignites learning with a pedigree of learning out of leisure with creativity, fun and entertainment on cards via immersive apps, podcasts, videos, interactive software, e-books and online interactive electronic boards. While making videos for lear ning purposes, there are a few things which

SPECIAL FEATURE

should be kept in mind. They are: • Keep them short • State clear objectives • Include voice over in the video • Incorporate captions

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)

Many educational i nstit utions are coming up with various interactive selfassessment solutions. Mainly available in CD and DVD formats, these solutions comprise a vast repository of academic papers of previous years. Considered as great self-learning tools, these solutions enable students to prepare themselves for exams and evaluate their performance on their own.

India is the second biggest market for MOOCs i n the world , af ter the USA. It is however expected that India in the coming years will supersede the USA. In addition to traditional course materials such as f ilmed lectures, readings and problem sets, many MOOCs provide interactive user forums to support com mu n it y i nter a ct ion s a mong students, professors and teaching assistants. MOOCs are recent and widely researched development in distance education which were first introduced in 2008 and emerged as a popular mode of learning in 2012.

Te c h n o l o g y a l s o p r o v i d e s a s assessment of strong and weak areas of the student. So it helps the student to focus on weaker areas to work on. Student can appear for a multiple number of exams or test series to analyze individual performance over a period of time. Such assessment process is the easiest way to understand one’s performance and benchmark it against any selection criteria.

MOOCs have opened the gateways for a lot of Indians in terms of being part of an educational revolution. It gives a great opportunity to avail high quality learning with the help of internet connectivity. Two foremost reasons as to why MOOCs is a good idea in India are: firstly, millions of Indians live in poverty and are unable to afford or gain access to a higher

Interactive Self Assessment

education and secondly there are more applicants than seats in the Indian universities.

The Other Side of the Coin

Technological advancements have made the world a great and convenient place to live in. But, like most things, technology also has its drawbacks. In fact, some of the more recent inventions are now being categorised as lazy aids, and are considered major contributors of obesity and a generally unhealthy population. Tools, such as computers, mobile devices and the internet are integrated into the educational system. While they are beneficial in certain academic aspects, they also have

negative implications such as poor studying habits, lazy attitude towards education, diminishing overall value of in-person education, etc. So, i nteg rati ng tech nolog y i n educat ion ha s it s a dva nt age s and disadvantages, but proper implementation might help keep the d rawbacks to a minimum. Better planning is necessary.

October - November 2016 < CAREERCONNECT < 17

COVER STORY

THE MILLION DOLLAR ESTATE DEAL When the rich and famous wish to buy a home, they simply pick their 24K gold cell phones up and call their real estate consultants. They personally hop in and out of million dollar properties in a Maybach, consultant in tow. Some are quick with “this is what I was looking for” while others take months and even years to sign on the dotted line. Sana Husain outlines the real picture behind this fancy façade of the real estate universe.

s it not sur pr ising that the consult a nt end s up hav i ng breakfast with a well-known business baron on Saturday and dinner with another on Sunday to discuss homes? Most clients are available on weekends, so a working week may sometimes be unstructured or would be up seven days straight. Coming straight from the horse’s mouth, a consultant says that he signed up with the real estate advisory because it gave him an opportunity to work with an array of clients across a wide spectrum of businesses and cater to their diverse needs. Typically, real estate assets comprise 30 to 40 per cent of an HNI client’s wealth portfolio. When a top corporate honcho or business magnate signs up a large business deal, he may let it happen under the watchful eyes of his senior colleagues at work. But when it comes to picking up a home, he himself will roll up his/her sleeves and walk the mile

with you. No wealth manager gets as up close and personal to a HNI as a real estate consultant does. Property management deals with the management of personal, commercial or industrial real estate. They can be vacation properties, warehouses of some company or residential buildings. The growing population, overall economic growth of the country, rising income levels and increased foreign investment has led to a heightened need for improved infrastructure across urban, semi-urban and rural India. The real estate industry in India is slated to be a 180 billion USD opportunity by 2020.

The Anglosphere sets the bar higher

The Anglosphere countries continue to dominate the upper echelons of the transparency hierarchy – accounting for six of the world’s ten ‘Highly Transparent’ markets. The United

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Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States hold the top positions. These traditional standard-bearers are taking transparency to a new level; making improvements that go beyond other ‘Highly Transparent’ markets, particularly in areas of performance measurement, market fundamentals data and valuation practices. In these markets, property data is increasingly available at the city sub-market level and by property type; and further i mprovements i n per for ma nce measurement and market data are on the horizon, especially in tracking niche property sectors. They are setting a high bar for transparency and are showing the way for other markets to follow. The world is looking to these ‘Highly Transparent’ markets to take the lead in introducing greater transparency on beneficial ownership disclosure and on tightening up anti-money laundering legislation and procedures in the wake of the

COVER STORY

revelations from the Panama Papers. As the global real estate industry emerges from the financial market crisis, industry leaders must become more adept at identif ying and capitalising on new opportunities, while maximising resources and designing more innovatively. The work of a real estate or property manager includes: • Maintenance and routine cleaning of the property, while preserving its value • Budgeting expenses of the property • Managing renters and securing new ones with proper screening process and legal entailment • Maintenance of all tax-related and other financial and legal records of the property • C o r r e c t i v e m a i n t e n a n c e o r development of the property • Working as a link between the seller and the buyer when real estate changes hands The property manager is paid a percentage of the rent or a separate fee for their work. At times, real estate brokers also act as property managers. Shubika Bilkha, Business Head of Real Estate Management Institute (R EMI) elaborates fur ther on the current employment scope in real estate and the skills required to make it big. With about 7.8 per cent contribution to India’s GDP, the real estate sector plays a vital role in driving the Indian economy. It is also the second-largest employment generator in the country, and its increasing prominence is boosting more job opportunities than ever before. India has also moved up the rankings in the recent Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Global Real Estate Transparency Index. This sector will demonstrate significant growth over

The real estate industry in India is slated to be a 180 billion USD opportunity by 2020 (Ibef August 2015 report).The real estate sector in India has typically been unorganised, fragmented and lacking in fundamental best practices. The government’s impetus to boost urban development and meet the ‘Housing for All’ agenda, together with the forthcoming implementation of R E R A ( Re a l E s t at e a nd D evelo p me nt Ac t 2016 ) wh ich i nc r e a s e s t he ne e d for transparency and accountability on the part Shubika Bilkha, Business of builders or developers, while regulating the Head of Real Estate process of marketing or sale of properties, has heightened the need for skilled professionals across Management Institute (REMI) job functions in the sector. The growing population, overall economic growth of the country, rising income levels and increased foreign investment has led to a heightened need for improved infrastructure across urban, semi-urban and rural India. This increased demand for real estate, together with increased regulatory vigilance, is leading to an unprecedented manpower requirement in the space. The ‘Top of the Pyramid’ manpower requirement can be categorised into three segments: 1. Specialised professionals include valuers, quantity surveyors, facility managers and sustainable development experts 2. Core professionals include engineers, architects and planners 3. Non-core professionals include management/business administration/ chartered accountants/finance analysts, lawyers and electrical engineers The supply of core and non-core professionals remains low currently as compared to the soaring demand. The current shortfall of core professionals is estimated to be around four million. 1. The total expected shortfall of skilled professionals in the Built Environment is estimated to be around 150 million by 2022 (IMaCS, Aon Hewitt and NSDC). Impact of manpower shortage in the real estate space Skill gaps, as the existing recruits do not have the requisite skills required to complete tasks efficiently 2. Sub-standard quality of construction 3. Lower production levels and delays in the completion of new projects 4. Difficulties in recruitment and retention 5. Increased cost of human resources, that has an adverse impact on development costs and the profitability of operations 6. A reduction in consumer confidence as a result of non-qualified or noncertified sales or property agents, who may not have the requisite understanding of the processes, documentation and regulations involved. October - November 2016 < CAREERCONNECT < 19

COVER STORY

which means that they subscribe to a strict code of ethics, and whose members are committed to maintaining the professionalism of the real estate business. A real estate salesperson is another way to say real estate agent. A real estate associate broker is a someone that has earned their broker’s license and has chosen to work under the management of a broker. In a real estate transaction, you may hear the terms “buyer’s agent” and “listing agent.” Most likely, these roles are held by a real estate salesperson or an associate broker, who is acting on behalf of either the “buyer,” the person that is buying the house in the transaction, or the “seller,” the person that is selling, or listing, the house. Some real estate professionals focus their business primarily one on aspect of the transaction, either the “buy side” or the “sell side.” Most will work with

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management deals “Property with the management of

personal, commercial or industrial real estate. They can be vacation properties, warehouses of some company or residential buildings.

“

the next few decades, driven by various government initiatives such as the Real Estate Regulatory Act (RERA), setting up of Real Estate Investment Tr usts (REITs) and Infrastr ucture Investment Trusts (InvITs). Real estate agent, realtor, real estate salesperson, real estate broker, real estate associate broker. Buyer’s agent. Listing agent. While consumers will sometimes use these titles interchangeably in describing a real estate professional, it’s important to note that there are differences between the roles of the various professionals, as well as the requirements needed to earn those titles. A real estate agent is a title that can be used by anyone who has earned a real estate license, whether the license is earned as a real estate salesperson, associate broker, or broker. A realtor is a real estate agent who is also a member of the National Association of Realtors,

clients that are interested in buying or selling, so their role in the transaction may change, dependent on what their client is looking to accomplish with their real estate goals. Whoever you choose to work with, in your next real estate transaction, it’s recommended to take the time to interview that agent. After all, regardless of their title, they will be representing your interests in, for most, the largest purchase of their lives.

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REMI The Real Estate Management Institute(REMI) has been established with a view to reduce the growing skill gap in the real estate industry and provide an international curriculum with global best practices to individuals in India, through REMI’s collaboration with IREM®- The Institute of Real Estate Management, USA. Promoted by The Annet Group (Annet™, RETransform™, and The Real Estate Management Institute™) - a global leader that provides technology, business management, consulting and education solutions to the Real Estate industry, REMI has been a forerunner in providing real estate education to students and executives, through an industry-oriented program, taught by certified industry experts and developed in line with the current requirements of the industry in India. REMI offers a variety of certification programs, executive courses and customized training workshops across different real estate functions. With centers in Mumbai that provide certification programs, executive courses and customised training workshops specially designed for the Real Estate Industry, REMI has launched a revolutionary ‘Earn While You Learn Program’ that provides students an opportunity to undertake a paid internship with one of REMI’s corporate partners, while the student is learning at the institute. Through the #HighRisers Scholarship Fund, REMI also provides a number of full and partial scholarships to students each quarter. “R EMI is a one stop shop which provides Resources (manpower) that have the Knowledge, Skills and Attitude which are essential to excel in the real estate industry.” Varun Shresht Senior Manager (Human Resources) Propp.com

“ We are very excited about this partnership not only because India is a major Global Player but because we have such confidence in the work and the vision of REMI. We know REMI, like IREM, is invested in providing quality Real Estate education to Indian Professionals.” Joe Greenblatt CPM Chairman, IREM International Management Board

“REMI is a platform where one can find skilled & knowledgeable human resources who are effective and enable students boost their career in the real estate sector.” Dilpesh Pandya Chief Branch Manager, Indiabulls Distribution Services Limited

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JLL JLL, India’s largest and leading property consulting firm, announced a strategic partnership with leading private university NMIMS to offer a new field of specialisation in ‘Real Estate Consulting & Transaction Services’ to Technology Management students. Delivered through MPSTME, the Technology Management School of NMIMS, the courses in this specialisation will be co-designed and integrated into the five-year MBA (Tech.) program. This Corporate-Academic initiative is also in line with the incumbent government’s focus on the Skill India Program. This program aims to provide ample opportunities for appropriate training to take advantage of the demographic dividend and plug the gap of high-quality, formal institutional academic program and pedagogy for the Indian Realty sector. Most of these skills have been historically acquired through ‘on-the-job’ learning. A nuj P u r i , C h a i r m a n a nd Country Head of JLL India, says, “As industry leaders, it has been JLL’s constant endeavor to identify path-breaking solutions t o t he real e st at e se ct or’s evolving demands. It is essential for candidates who intend to work in this sector to possess industr y-specif ic skill sets, which this innovative and highly customized specialization will provide. We are also extending scholarships and placement a s si s t a n c e t o m e r it o r io u s students emerging successfully from this program.”

Dr Sharad Mhaiskar, Dean of NMIMS’s Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management & Engineering claims, “We are excited to lau nch this specialisation in partnership with JLL India, with an aim to arm them with the skills for successful careers in the thriving real estate sector. This co-created management p r og r a m w i l l e n a ble o u r s t u d e n t s t o d i f fe r e n t i a t e themselves within the industry and assume growth-oriented role s i n t h is se ct or. T h is initiative fully reflects the vision of the Technology Management school of NMIMS”.

BOMI Fund managers and asset managers expect their property managers to have a good understanding of the financial side of the business and how the leasing process contributes to the success or failure of a property. To give property managers a solid understanding of this process and the impact it has on the valuation of a property, BOMI’s Real Estate Investment and Finance course and its Leasing and Marketing for Property Managers course thoroughly examine the financial side of real estate. Leasing program elements The leases are generally five to ten years, when there is a market turn and the markets are slow to react. Students in these courses quickly appreciate that since a building space is the primary source of income, it is paramount to understand how to maximise rental rates. Students of the Leasing & Marketing for Property Managers course learn about the key elements of a solid leasing program, such as: Developing an approved budget that meets owner’s goals and objectives but also meets the financing requirements for the property. Creating a solid “expert” leasing team which includes an experienced leasing manager, real estate orientated attorney and reputable leasing agents. Establishing sound financial tools that can quickly calculate the negotiated deal’s “NER” (Net Effective Rental rate) and be adaptable to account for proposed changes in the deal’s terms. Presenting lease-ready space which shows the building in the best possible light. As the success of the property is tied directly to the success of the lease program, there is a lot of pressure to perform, both from the owners and potentially from the finance company to meet or exceed budget projections. Prior to the launch of a leasing program, all parties need to agree upon the budget. BOMI students learn the roles and responsibilities of the various parties involved in the leasing process, enabling them to properly navigate through various stages of negotiations to achieve a positive outcome. October - November 2016 < CAREERCONNECT < 23

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DREI Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI), the educational arm of Dubai Land Department (DLD), presents its first ‘MSc in Real Estate and Property Management’ in collaboration with the University of Salford, UK. It helps DLD to achieve one of its key objectives - the deployment and sustainability of real estate knowledge - achieved through the provision of sophisticated, high-quality programs with internationally recognised universities, and also to provide a world-class real estate environment within Dubai that ensures the rights of all parties, and contributes towards the development of society. The DREI prides itself on the provision of courses which are constantly updated to keep pace with new trends and regulations in the region. DREI is constantly evolving with new programmes in order to fulfil the ever-changing needs of the market and to anticipate future needs, in order to be fully prepared when they occur. DREI is highly regarded as one of the best Real Estate Institutes in the MENA region, and its partnerships with leading centres of academic excellence around the world have enabled it to provide an elite level of education and training to its local and international stakeholders. DREI’s mission is to develop internationally recognised courses and training sessions to match the ever-changing needs and wants of its stakeholders. Dubai Real Estate Institute partners with leading centres of academic excellence around the world to enable it to achieve only the best quality of education, and is this regard Salford University is a perfect partner.

Executive Director of Dubai Real Estate Institute, Mahmoud Al Burai, says, “This comprehensive programme is internationally renowned, accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and recognised in the UAE by the Ministry of Higher Education. This affordable degree provides all of the essential learning mechanisms to ensure students build an in-depth understanding of the complex dynamics and influences of the property market, property management, real estate laws, planning, development, valuation and appraisal techniques. This course carries our commitment to provide educational programmes that helps all of our partners to gain higher qualifications to enhance the market with elite specialists, as well as ensure graduates are equipped with all the prerequisite skills to gain job opportunities in their respective fields. This step comes in harmony with DLD’s vision and mission to provide a world-class real estate environment, and contributes to the development of Dubai’s society, especially since education is one of the cornerstones of the UAE and Dubai to achieve their long-term national strategic plans.”

REIC Ethics plays an important role in developing trust, transparency and greater confidence in how we conduct business. The Real Estate Institute of Canada’s Ethics in Business Practice course addresses ethical dilemmas commonly faced by today’s real estate industry professionals, and teaches strategies for resolving ethical dilemmas and adherence to the REIC Code of Standards along with other industry codes. “Quite often, we have the right to take certain actions, but we have to ask ourselves whether it’s the right thing to do,” says REIC faculty member Gareth Jones. The course challenges students to ask themselves the following questions when faced with a decision: Is my response, reaction and decision balanced and fair? Have I rationalised my decision, showing respect to all the parties involved? Is my decision legal? Does it comply with all existing codes of ethics, laws, policies and professional standards? How will this decision make me feel about myself? These questions act as a methodology of arriving at the right decision. “We find that we can rationalise a lot of our decisions, but what we neglect to demonstrate is respect to all parties involved in the decision,” adds Jones. Ethics and values are a cornerstone of REIC credential programs. The Ethics in Business Practice course creates discussion and dialogue around doing the right thing. It highlights the slippery slope of fuzzy ethics. The course deals extensively with ethical codes and management issues, and at the completion of the course, professionals will have acquired the tools and strategies necessary to maintain strict ethical standards in a business setting. Students say that while taking the course, they learn more about ethics and human behaviour beyond what they expected to. They especially enjoy the discussions and learning from other students’ perspectives. Making sound ethical decisions ensures you are acting in the best interest of all parties involved. A reputation built on trust – whether on an individual or corporate level – pays dividends in customer loyalty and business referrals.

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COVER STORY

HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL The Real Estate Management Program brings industry leaders together with real estate practitioners to examine realworld scenarios, best practices, resource and design innovations, and effective leadership techniques for competing successfully in an increasingly complex market. It is designed to help you better position your firm for short-term stability and long-term growth. In this program, you will explore new strategies for enhancing operational efficiency and improving your leadership skills. Topics will include: Unlocking new sources of real estate capital Understanding real estate benchmarking indicators Exploring leading-edge thinking in commercial real estate Teeing up your organisation to get to the next level Analysing emerging market opportunities Delivering projects on time and on budget Building and contracting with industry talent This program is designed for executives with substantial, long-term experience in real estate—including real estate owners, lending officers, and private real estate developers—and for real estate industry service providers, such as financial analysts, lawyers, architects, urban planners, and brokers. Typical participant titles may include: Chief executive officer Managing director/Managing partner President Chief operating officer Chief financial officer Senior vice president Principal Chief counsel General manager Others that offer a similar range of courses: CASS Business School, London http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/masters/courses/mscreal/index.html National University of Singapore (NUS) http://bschool.nus.edu.sg/TheNUSMBAold/ProgrammeInformation/Specialisations/RealEstate.aspx Cornell University, USA www.realestate.cornell.edu John D. Macomber FACULTY COCHAIR Real Estate Management Program, Harvard Business School “Faculty discuss the real estate industry and built environment trends. Its public-private partnership model can be applied to future urbanisation.”

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COVER STORY

Job options

HOW THE MARKET CAN CLICK WITH YOU? Responding to an increasingly well-informed consumer base and, bearing in mind the aspect of globalisation, Indian real estate developers have shifted gears and accepted fresh challenges. The most marked change has been the shift from family owned businesses to that of professionally managed ones. Real estate developers, in meeting the growing need for managing multiple projects across cities, are also investing in centralised processes to source material and organise manpower and hiring qualified professionals in areas like project management, architecture and engineering. The Indian real estate market is expected to touch US$ 180 billion by 2020. The housing sector alone contributes five-six per cent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In the period FY08-20, the market size of this sector is expected to increase at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.2 per cent. Retail, hospitality and commercial real estate are also growing significantly, providing the muchneeded infrastructure for India's growing needs. Private Equity (PE) investments from foreign funds in the Indian realty market increased at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 33 per cent to US$2,220 million in year ending December 2015. Deal sizes have also increased in 2015, and residential projects both luxury and affordable have attracted a substantial amount of capital. Private Equity (PE) funds and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in India are seen increasingly investing jointly in real estate projects, in order to hedge risk and undertake bigger transactions. Mumbai is the best city in India for commercial real estate investment, with returns of 12-19 per cent likely in the next five years, followed by Bengaluru and Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). Also, Delhi-NCR was the biggest office market in India with 110 million sqft, out of which 88 million sqft were occupied. Sectors such as IT and ITeS, retail, consulting and e-commerce have registered high demand for office space in recent times.

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Jobs directly related to your degree include: Building control surveyor Building surveyor Commercial/residential surveyor Land/geomatics surveyor Planning and development surveyor Rural practice surveyor Jobs where your degree would be useful include: Estate agent Facilities manager Historic buildings inspector/conservation officer Housing manager/officer Landscape architect Nature conservation officer Town planner Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience Relevant property-related experience is important, often gained through a year out in industry or summer placements. There are lots of ways you can gain experience to complement your degree. Look for opportunities arising within environmental conservation in the heritage and public sectors, or in the buildings and estates divisions of universities. Many property employers place a strong emphasis on extracurricular activities that demonstrate teamworking and leadership skills. These skills can be developed through sporting activities or by participating in clubs and societies run by your university or students' union. Undertaking a period of voluntary work in an area that will complement your degree in estate management will help show employers that you have relevant experience. This will be particularly useful if you were not able to secure a work placement during your studies.

Typical employers Employment opportunities are available with utilities services, in private practice, commercial organisations, for trusts and heritage organisations, the public sector and local and central government, in a range of activities including domestic, commercial and industrial projects. Typical employers include: • global property firms with interests in building surveying, corporate property, and investment, planning and development and residential work; • medium-sized companies and consultancies; • housebuilders and housing associations; • small firms offering opportunities for those with a rural specialism Self-employment is also a possibility for those with experience, involving, for example, activities related to commercial, industrial, residential and agricultural property or to land management and production, animal health and welfare and environmental industries.

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Skills for your CV Estate management is a multidisciplinary course where you learn about all aspects of property, from planning law to bricks and mortar. Practically, it tends to be taught by a combination of lectures and site visits in addition to a number of real-life projects and case studies The course helps you to develop a range of skills sought by employers in the property sector and beyond, including: l the ability to manage and analyse complex data; l effective communication (written, oral, visual and numerical); l team leadership; l time management; l presentation; l the use of information technology; l the ability to apply theory to practice.

Further study Some graduates choose to specialise in a particular area of estate management, for example, taking postgraduate courses in property development, property investment, surveying, real estate management, environmental conservation for the heritage sector, planning and environment, and town and country planning. O t h e r f u r t h e r s t u d y o p t io n s i n cl u d e postgraduate studies in banking or finance to enhance their knowledge of a different career area. It is also possible to undertake further vocational t raining, for example in law or landscape architecture.

What do estate management graduates do?

TAKE THE JLL ADVICE PB Nageshwar, Head - HR, Jones Lang laSalle Meghraj emphasises that all the aspiring real estate professionals need to educate themselves to the maximum extent possible on all aspects of the property sector and the business world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and, further, not to rely on knowledge alone but to avail of expert mentoring before actually venturing into the field. Negotiation skills are absolutely mandatory to succeed in this field, and these are best picked up by observing seasoned veterans. He or she must also have a firm understanding of sound business ethics, and must believe in them. The Indian real estate market is now adapting to international best practices, and the future belongs to polished professionals â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not mercenaries.

Almost half of the graduates employed in the UK are working as chartered surveyors, with five of the top ten occupations related to estates or property management and surveying.

The Payoff A trainee can earn a salary of Rs 3.5 lakh a month and a senior manager can expect a salary of Rs 12 lakh a month. The salary structure of the senior management and directors varies depending on the property advisory firm.

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FEATURE

DNA of Every University For an individual, a stupendous grade sheet, acceptance letter from any good college and finally a Letter of Intent from a top-notch firm will be the sole vision and mission once he/ she has chalked out a definite career path. But, to understand how a prestigious college and university shape up a typically good future for its students, so that they always carry that brand name anywhere they go, is essential. Sana Husain uncovers the myriad experiences of alumni hailing from the renowned set of educational institutions, their relationship with the faculty and how all of that matters as well as holds relevance in their life at present.

FEATURE

ith the cost of higher education climbing ever y ye a r, a n d s t u d e n t debt surpassing one trillion dollars, more and more young people will have to decide whether to make that trade-off. It begs the question: Does it really pay to go to an elite university, financially speaking? Researchers have been investigating this issue since at least the 1980s. And their findings tend to show that when it comes to future earnings, where you go to college counts.

DO THE RANKINGS MATTER AT ALL?

Yes. The more elite the school, the

better its alums’ paychecks. Fig u r i ng out t he payof f of a n elite education is a tricky task for econom ists because of t he sheer number of variables that can come into play. Some students are smarter than others. Some are richer, or more motivated. A few students may pick a lower-ran ked universit y to take advantage of a particular program -say, a science whiz who chooses to attend the Colorado School of Mines in the hopes at landing a lucrative engineering gig in the oil industry. For academics, controlling for all these factors is a bit like trying to rid mosquitos from a swamp -- pretty close to impossible. That hasn’t stopped them from trying. One of the earlier such

efforts was a 1999 paper in The Journal of Human Resources that looked at data on thousands students who went to college in the 1970s and 80s. The researchers grouped their subjects’ schools by reputation using old college guide books, then compared their postcampus wages. The rankings, it turned out, mattered a great deal. The more elite a school, the better its alums’ paychecks. The effect also increased over time. Among students who had graduated high school in 1980, those who had gone on to a top private university eventually made 20 percent more than their counterparts from bottom tier public school. For the class of 1972, the wage boost was just nine per cent.

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FEATURE Point At The Landmark For most of their histories, traditional colleges and universities have had no serious competition except from institutions with similar operating models. For the first time, though, disruptive technologies are at work in higher education as competitors are offering online courses and degrees. Clayton Christensen, Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School and Henry J. Eyring, Vice President for a dva nce me nt at Br ig h a m You ng Un ive r sit y— Id a ho, de sc r ib e t he evolution of the widely inf luential Harvard model, and note the disruptive potential of online degree providers as evidenced by their divergence from that model. They encourage institutions to commit to real innovation by changing their DNA from the inside out, and discourage them from trying to excel at too much as they attempt to climb ahead of their competitors. Instead, t hey r e c om me nd t he t r a d it ion a l universities to adopt a patter n of continuous innovation, focused on their unique mission—without undue concern for either tradition or what other institutions are doing. Fortunately, America’s traditional universities have unique competitive a dva nt a ge s. T hey p e r for m v it a l functions that other institutions do not. As Jonathan Cole has pointed out in his book The Great American University, they are founts of discovery—including many of the discoveries that make high-quality, low-cost online learning possible. Traditional u niversities also preser ve and refresh cultural memory, helping society build on the wisdom of the past as it embraces new possibilities. Perhaps most importantly, t h e y i nvolve you ng s t u d e nt s i n these processes of discovering and remembering, mentoring them in a special community of scholars. Two u n i q u e a s s e t s f a c i l i t a t e traditional universities in the jobs of discovery, memory and mentoring. One is their physical campuses, built up over decades at great expense. The other distinctive asset is the professoriate. The graduates of master’s and Ph.D. programs who enter academic life bring unusual skill and commitment to their work. They choose the pursuit,

preservation, and sharing of knowledge over greater financial rewards to be had elsewhere. The learning environment t hey create i n t hei r face -to -face classrooms, offices, and laboratories is uniquely valuable. But t he u n iversit y lea r n i ng environment is not invaluable in the strict sense of the word. There is a price to be paid by students, state and federal gover nments, donors, sponsors of research—and by the very employees whose sacrifice of higher pay elsewhere must be justified by the rewards of academic life. Increasingly, m a ny who pay t hose p r ic e s a r e judging them to be too high. Given new competitive alternatives, that puts traditional universities at a grave risk, their unique physical and human assets notwithstanding. The Tendency to Get Bigger and Better Re s p o n d i ng t o t h e r i s k s f a c i ng t r a d it ion a l u n ive r sit ie s r e qu i r e s understanding not only their current competitive environment but also their evolutionary behavior. Like most organisations, universities resemble living organisms in an important way: they seek not just to survive, but to grow and improve in scale, scope and prestige. Once the typical organisation has more than a few employees and has experienced a degree of success, predictable genetic tendencies switch on. These tendencies start to dominate planning and investment processes, driving the organisation to make things bigger, better or both. Diminishing in size or quality violates the genetic code—it introduces a mutation unlikely to survive the natural institutional response. Becoming bigger and better is “in the genes.” Members of the higher education community readily recognise this tendency. Wit h few i nst it ut ional exceptions, universities continuously increase the quantity and quality of what they do. Courses become more nu me rou s a nd more spe cial ised. New degree programs are created. New buildings are added and older ones upgraded. The university seeks more qualified faculty members and entry into more prestigious athletic conferences increases. Through a

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series of “sustaining innovations” the university’s quality and costs grow with time, as shown in Figure 1. Generally, t raditional colleges and universities (hereaf ter called “traditional universities”) haven’t considered themselves in competition with these new entrants, many of which operate as for-profit entities and emphasise marketable skills and degrees for working adults. However, the innovative learning technologies t he new ent r a nt s employ have significant potential to serve young students as well, especially given these “digital natives” comfort with online communication. The DNA of the Great American University T he challenge that t raditional u niversities face is not a lack of uniquely valuable assets. Even with the advent of f ully online degree programs, there is a vital need for their physical campuses and communities of scholars. The problem is that these assets are being deployed in ways that most universities cannot afford. Understanding how that has happened and what to do about it requires understanding the history of one of the world’s greatest universities, Harvard. Between 1870 and the mid-1950s, Harvard established the main features of the American research university. Until the middle of the nineteenth cent u r y, Har vard was essentially a small liberal ar ts college with associated professional schools that students could enter without a college degree. Other than the traditional summer break and a collection of small academic departments, Harvard bore little resemblance to the modern research university. However, three towering presidents, Charles Eliot, Lawrence Lowell, and James Conant, changed that by engineering the DNA of today’s Harvard University and setting the pattern that many American institutions have emulated. The institutional traits established at Harvard were widely copied, especially after the 1970 creation of the Carnegie Classification System, which placed the elite research universities at the top of what came to be seen as a ladder to be climbed. Significantly, certain critical

FEATURE

traits were not copied. One was the 1945 Ivy Group Agreement, which prohibited athletic scholarships first in football and later in all competitive sports. Another was Harvard’s house system, which ensured a supportive collegiate living experience even as the university increased its commitments to graduate programs and discovery research. A third trait that didn’t t r a n sfe r wa s H a r va r d C ol lege’s discipline in limiting the number of courses required by its concentrations, or majors; that curricular self-restraint by the faculty facilitates a four-year graduation rate of nearly 100 per cent. The Forum for the Future of Higher Education 51 consequence of the Harvard emulators’ failure to replicate these elements of its DNA is that they pay more for inter-collegiate athletics, provide less support for undergraduate students, and fail to graduate them as timely as Harvard does.

Harrison Ford Ripon College

Ashton Kutcher University of Iowa

Even Har vard feels the weight of it s ex p a n sive mo d el. H av i ng i nteg rated ver t ically w it h t he addition of research to teaching and of doctorate degrees to master’s and bachelor’s degrees, it continued to expand horizontally, adding subjects of study and corresponding faculty departments, programs, centers, and institutes. As each of these sub-units sought to become bigger and better, the cumulative growth of the institution a nd it s budget wa s expone nt ial. Conant’s successor, Nathan Pusey, who presided over Harvard from 1953 to 1971, found the university all but impossible to manage and thus focused

on funding it. Than ks to Pusey’s f u nd raising success, Harvard has sustained its mo d el. Howeve r, it s p r o d ig iou s f undraising capabilit y, which has produced a $27 billion endowment even after the disastrous $11 billion loss of 2008, is the most difficult trait of all to copy. Without financial might akin to Harvard’s, institutions that adopt its model struggle to attract “the best” students and scholars and to achieve academic excellence in so many subjects, degree programs, and research initiatives. Harvard’s great strength, which can be the strength of every university, is a pattern of innovation that is continuous and focused on the university’s unique m ission —wit hout u ndue concer n for either t radition or what other institutions are doing. Harvard steadily advances, heedless of any “ladder” or the crowd of would-be competitors.

Eva Longoria Texas A&M UniversityKingsville

is a significant impact of quality of education in the career growth of an individual. “It’s widely seen that professionals from certain branded institutes have an edge in gaining entr y to many marquee companies. Branding has become an important tool for colleges or Business schools to stay ahead of the curve by clearly communicating this differentiation to students as their USP,” Kelly Services India MD Kamal Karanth said. College brand plays an important role during initial five years of one’s career; in exploring new opportunities and sustaining in the corporate sector because till then the employers perceive employees to be superior due to one’s college brand, provided the expectation are fulfilled. According to the report, 57 per cent of respondents believe brand reputation of educational institute play

Ray Romano Queens College

Har vard prag matically climbs its own mountain. On a higher education landscape that needs institutions of many types, that is the one Harvard trait that all should emulate. The Formulated Brand Value Branding has become an important tool for colleges or business schools to stay ahead of the curve by communicating this differentiation to students as their USP, says a survey. According to staffing firm Kelly Services, 57 per cent of respondents believe brand reputation of educational institute play an important role in job placement. It further said there

Brad Pitt University of Missouri

an important role in job placement. The report further said that around 32.7 per cent respondents believe price to be the key factor while considering selection of an education institute/ college. Respondents also believed that the role of college brand and education are significant at the junior level, while at mid level domain expertise has more weight for career growth. Around 62 per cent of respondents agree that the alum ni of branded institutes have proven themselves in the corporate world throughout their career. Interestingly, almost 72 per cent of top-paid CEOs in India are from the

October - November 2016 < CAREERCONNECT < 31

FEATURE

Arnav Das Sharma, Doctoral Fellow, Delhi School of Economics I think it holds true for any college. Every institute I have attended has in a way left a mark upon me. In Hislop, long time back I first started to think independently. That same thing was carried on further. But I suppose I owe my intellectual maturity to two places in particular-ACJ and now Delhi School of Economics. At ACJ, I was encouraged to read widely and in particular my professors there taught me to not be scared of being independent. You see it’s a big thing, when you come from a small town like Nagpur and suddenly you find yourself at sea. It’s then that the institute fills that gap. Now, a t Delhi School of Economics, where I’m a doctoral fellow, I think it nurtured me the most. My professors here, in the wake of the JNU attacks, where the autonomy of an institute was challenged, stood up with JNU. We all participated in the strikes and went to the streets. My professors tell me that they did the same when the emergency was clamped down. In such dark times, I guess a university like mine taught me that the power of words and ideas cannot be clamped down. At present, I can say I owe my intellect to these places - ACJ and Delhi school of Economics. The way I think, what I believe, are inevitably shaped by these places.

Devika Lamba, Former Textile Designer at Pashma and Raw Mango Who’s now pursuing Graphic Design at MIT Institute of Design: As a designer, things are very different, in terms of what they teach and how they teach. Studying at Pearl mattered as a fashion institute, but usually the industry prefers students from NIFT and NID as the best for textiles. But, the problem with NIDians is that they work on their own sweet pace. They don’t have any submission dates. As an academy, Pearl added a lot of value because the education was great. When it comes to textiles, there’s nothing that they haven’t covered. With certification from Nottingham Trent University, the degree isn’t recognised by all institutes in India, but being a four-year course, one’s eligible for a lot of things. When I entered the industr y, I faced a lot of issues because not everyone was ready to take students from Pearl. Only when I was recommended by my faculty for a two-month internship at Raw Mango, they preferred me to fulfill basic tasks at hand. Within two months, they identified my potential and decided to absorb me in the firm, with a higher payscale than that of NIDians. Nevin Manjiyani, Account Executive, Gecko Worldwide Completing graduation in Bachelors of Mass Media from R. D. National College was something that I had never aimed of. BMM was recommended by my cousin, which piqued my interest and I decided of pursuing it. This journey of three years in BMM has been truly remarkable and with mentors who were supportive throughout was a life changing experience. BMM has helped me in becoming a person that I am today. With major focus on practical knowledge than theoretical, BMM has always kept our minds churning. This challenging journey of three years has evolved me as an individual. I still remember my first presentation when I was so under-confident about myself. Nevertheless, this mystic journey has made me capable to lead the presentations now. I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful faculty and friends who motivated me and encouraged me to learn from my mistakes to change for better. After graduating in BMM I was clueless as what to what I should pursue as my career. Eventually I got a call from WizSpk PR and I started my career in Public Relations. Now, I’m the Account Executive at Gecko Worldwide. Even though my journey of BMM has ended, but as rightly said, education is a lifelong process and I continue to learn each day with my experiences and enhancing my skills Yasaswini, MDI Gurgaon student, from the PGP-HR batch of 2016-2018 How a B-school shapes the future of its students Any candidate aspiring to begin a career in management has many expectations from the B-school he/she had worked so hard to get into. At MDI Gurgaon, these expectations are not only met, but surpassed tenfold by the amount of avenues one gets to explore. First, it’s the bottomless well of knowledge and experience the esteemed faculty bring to the table. The renowned faculty are from varied backgrounds, encompassing a wide spectrum of industry knowledge and excellence. To sit in class and listen to their experiences is a lesson cherished by all. The carefully chosen case studies and the unique andragogy that MDI employs helps one learn from the experiences of great leaders and ensure that we are industry ready in two years. MDI makes sure to equip one with theoretical knowledge and simultaneously allows opportunities to apply them in real time. “Unnathi”, which is a student-run mutual fund, offers a sneak peek of the many opportunities that one is exposed to. With a plethora of live projects, industry interactions and academic projects that involve networking with the alumni, MDI promises its students a fine mix of theory and practical applications. Also, one gets to interact with various stalwarts from industries on a regular basis which enables one to keep abreast with all the recent happenings and innovations in the market. And of course, MDI is a lot about fun and frolic too! The campus is permanently electric with excitement and where activity never freezes. Various clubs and committees keep one occupied and as a Mandevian, one is generally busy and perennially in lack of time. In a nutshell, MDI ensures a 360-degree development and nurtures every student to take responsibility, innovate and make a mark in their fields. It makes one ready to face the outside worldand that is what makes brand MDI what it really is. 32 < CAREERCONNECT < October - November 2016

FEATURE

S u h e e l H u s s a i n , P r i n c i p a l S o f t w a r e E n g i n e e r a t P r a g m a t i c s , I n c . , Wa s h i n g t o n D. C . I attribute my career success to University of Texas because when I went there, I experienced various cultural differences. The good part about it is that the overwhelming cultural differences make one grow up faster. The way one can consume more information and interact with people from different backgrounds not only improves one’s resume, but also improves one’s quality as an engineer or as an employee in the 21st century. During my Masters program, I met people from all over the world, which helped in networking while applying for a job. Yet, if someone gets to know that you’re going for a job, they might give you a bad reference. But, overall it was a positive experience for me. In India, the colleges are good, but the scope is very limited. One meets people from the same background, religion, or whatever it is. Studying in a small town like El Paso, Texas might bring you in terms with stereotypes. Although studying there never made me resent any bit of it, however I could’ve gotten a better job through a better college elsewhere. I’ve gotten the most out of my contacts. I’d not suggest anyone to go to Harvard or Yale, for the simple reason that it’s very expensive. They don’t have many scholarships. So, joining Texas University for law or pursuing the same at Harvard is an equivalent experience. Nevertheless, success isn’t guaranteed by only attending a good college.

branded colleges either from India or abroad. Employers prefer to offer 10-20 per cent more in terms of remuneration compared to a non-branded college pass out.

Bonus: RETURN ON INVESTMENT?

So speak ing ver y broadly, bet ter schools yield bigger paychecks. But does that mean they’re always worth the price? Bloomberg Businessweek has teamed up with Payscale, which collects self-reported earnings data from its users, to estimate the return on invest ment for more than 500 colleges. Topping the list: MIT, with lifetime ROI of about $1.8 million for graduates, or 12.6 per cent a year. It’s followed closely by fellow elite engineering school, Cal Tech. The upper ranks of the list is dominated by elite private colleges, though, on percentage basis, some of the best deals are top state colleges, such as Georgia Tech and University of Virginia. The report’s methodology might not be as exacting as the studies above, but it’s a good quick guide to what an education is worth.

Call For Public Or Private?

Ha r va rd h a s mor e money i n it s endowment than any other college by at least ten billion dollars, and the top 40 richest colleges and universities have seen their assets increase by as much as half in recent years despite the Great Recession. W hile these hefty endowments mean the ability to offer need-based scholarships to low-

income students, wealthy colleges and universities enroll low-income students at far lower rates than colleges with smaller endowments. Although the top ten wealthiest colleges have a combined endowment of about $180 billion, the share of lowincome students they enroll is quite small. Only 16 per cent of students enrolled in these top schools in 20122013 received Pell grants, according to federal data (that’s the median figure). Pell grants offer need-based federal aid to low-income students. Much of the large endowments held by these wealthy universities actually comes from public funds. The higher education research group Nexus indicated in an April report that rich universities get millions of dollars in public support through their

endowment gains and land holdings. And since the colleges are nonprofit institutions, none of the this money is taxable. O n e p ol ic y s ol u t io n , of fe r e d by Nexus, is to tax the wealthiest colleges on their endowments. This isn’t actually a new concept. In 2008, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) pushed to require wealthy universities to spend a certain share of their endowments per year on financial aid, instead of “hoarding” their funds. University representatives argue that instead of punishing wealthy colleges, talented poorer st udents should be encouraged to apply to elite c ol lege s. We a lt hy c ol lege s a l s o argue that they “do more” to support low-i nc ome st u de nt s t h a n ot he r institutions.

October - November 2016 < CAREERCONNECT < 33

LIFESTYLE

SOCIAL ANIMALS CAN “BUMBLE” THEIR WAY INTO NETWORKING By Sana Husain

34 < CAREERCONNECT < October - November 2016

LIFESTYLE

f you understand that life is a complex phenomenon of pursuing relationships, learning and getting ahead in every way possible, then you’re on the right page. For many of us, friendships consume a lot of our time and space. Similarly, the career domain is equally demanding. To declutter oneself from its consequent mess, there’s an application named “Bumble” that can sort things out for you, in multiple ways. Bumble app spells out fun networking for career enthusiasts. In this maledominated corporate work sphere, even females can relish the vantage point, by feeling secure about networking at just the right distance. Here, men can relax as the app will require women to initiate conversations. “BumbleBizz was always part of the overall vision – to enable people to connect at the key engagement points in life. For love, for friendship and now for network,” said Whitney Wolfe, Bumble’s co-founder and CEO. The ex-Tinder co-founder, Wolfe seeks to address the professional needs of its users with a new feature that amounts to a gamified version of LinkedIn. BumbleBizz will match Bumble users by industry and location. It’s a spin on the app’s existing functionalities — Bumble and BumbleBFF, which match people with paramours and

friends, respectively — only this time, the dream match is a new job or mentor. It will work a lot like the other two features, with a requisite mutual ‘yes’ swipe and ladiesfirst message for opposite-sex interactions. “As the first to bring the ‘swiping’ experience to professional networking, BumbleBizz is powered by the notion that a connection or simple exchange of information can lead to the opportunity of a lifetime,” the company touts in a description. The desire to combine every part of a user’s life (romantic, professional and platonic) into one neat little package makes some sense f rom the app’s perspective.

THE NEED TO BUMBLE

This app is wired and packed with an intriguing set of following features: • People will be able to toggle back and forth between finding dates on Bumble, career contacts on BumbleBizz or friends on BumbleBFF • Figure ways to let women and men opt to find platonic friendships • Change the way people treat each other when it comes to making new relationships on digital platforms • BumbleBizz, like Bumble, will require women to initiate conversations • Bumble retains users for the long term. Dating apps have been critiqued

•

as having a high chur n (when successful, people eventually abandon the platform because they’re no longer single). But friendships and careers have a much longer lifespan Bumble will also roll out the ability for people to tailor their profile pictures (fun, sexy or professional) depending on which service they’re using Tap that opportunity of meeting someone who works at your dream job or meeting someone who is your future co-founder, which can literally change your life

HOW DOES IT WORK?

BumbleBizz will be swipe-based, and let users create a new professional profile (which will exist separately from their dating profile) that holds information like what industry they work in, what their current job is, their education and more. The company will then use this information combined with geographical data to have an algorithm match with users whose professional lives may benefit from being connected. And while the algorithm won’t take gender into account (meaning professional matches can be comprised of two people from the same or opposite sex), Bumble will still keep with tradition in requiring that woman have to initiate the post-match conversation.

October - November 2016 < CAREERCONNECT < 35

LIFESTYLE

GOOD, BAD AND THE UGLY PICTURE

Samantha Melamed, Writer

“It’s like Tinder, but the woman must initiate the conversation. If she doesn’t do so within 24 hours, the match expires. If the man doesn’t respond in 24 hours, the match expires. In my experience, messages on Bumble, whether short or long, clever or straightforward, fetched about a 25 per cent response rate. Watching a thoughtfully written message sit unanswered for 23 hours until it expires is, by my estimation, somewhat less enjoyable than a trip to the dentist, but more pleasant than public speaking. (It is by no means the most uncomfortable experience I’ve had on the internet. I’m sure, for example, any online comments on this story will be worse.) I gave up on it after a week.”

Lara Loveless, Blogger

“For some reason, the quality of men on Bumble seems to be higher than that on Tinder. I found myself swiping right more often. However, most of them don’t respond. I have male friends who use Tinder who get frustrated when none of their matches reply to their messages. On Bumble, women get a taste of their own medicine. I’d say about 1-2 of every 10 matches actually respond. However, the main improvement I noticed with Bumble is the user interface. Instead of having to click to someone’s profile to learn more, you can simple scroll upwards to view more photos, and click on their name to view their bio. Sooo much nicer to use.”

36 < CAREERCONNECT < October - November 2016

STILL, NEVER FEAR A NEW IDEA The miniature sized applications have defined our lives in a compact form, as the techies have plunged into the next dimension of social networking, allowing different modes of operation, combined with its unique set of features. The Bumble services are all free, but Wolfe said they’ll start monetising it in a “non restrictive way” very soon. Another limitation for the Indian users is the non-availability of the app in the country at the moment. Dating back to the launch of BumbleBizz, in just a year and a half, the dating startup has more than 5.5 million users using its platform to find love, friendship, and now jobs or business deals. So, Bumble should be on your checklist, before you give up on social networking or run into unnecessary conflicts with yourself. It may work wonders for you!

LIFESTYLE

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INTERVIEW

Perfect blend of theory and practice

Upholding the reputation as one of the leading J-schools in South Asia, Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM) is ready to make further contributions to the profession. It not only reflects their commitment to a fair and independent media, but also the accomplishments of the faculty and past graduates. In association with Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York, IIJNM educates students in a broad range of practical skills and concepts involving the gathering, editing and presentation of information, and prepare them for a career in journalism. Sana Husain, in an exclusive interview with Kanchan Kaur, Vice Dean, IIJNM, explores the workflow of the J-school, set amidst the plush green surroundings in Bengaluru.

How would you describe IIJNM, in a sentence, if its main constituents are theory and practical knowledge, or something beyond that? IIJNM is the perfect blend of theoretical and practical learning. One of our USPs is the fact that our trainee journalists –we don’t say students – spend two days of the week working in the IIJNM newsroom. Trainees learn the news gathering and publishing process through experience and practice rather than a text book. Through their year in IIJNM they will run a newspaper, a news website, a magazine and a TV news channel. Have you set any roadmap, to stay afloat in today’s competitive education scenario? The most important goal for IIJNM and its founders is the improvement of the Indian media industry. Therefore, we do not see other education institutions

as competition; rather we see them as partners in achieving a free, fair and balanced Indian media by ensuring a high quality talent pool of journalists. These fresher journalists are the future of the country’s much maligned media and they should be trained to apply high standards of ethics to their journalistic output. The IIJNM website reads that its graduates are now working in CNN, CNN-IBN, CNBC, Times Now, Rediff, Google, Reuters, Press AssociationUK; major newspapers like Times of India, Indian Express and Economic Times and many other leading media houses. Further, IIJNM has also placed graduates in internship programs with the prestigious New York Times and Scripps Howard Program in the United States – an accomplishment that no other journalism college can claim. What sort of feedback have you received from these individuals?Have they been able to contribute to IIJNM in any way, so as to improve the curriculum and allow students flexible access to the international media industry as well? The feedback from these students has been overwhelmingly positive. The skills and education that they received at IIJNM has helped them hit the ground running in all these places. They have said that they had a headstart over their peers simply because of the way they were taught at IIJNM. We meet the

38 < CAREERCONNECT < October - November 2016

alumni regularly and get inputs from them. These inputs are pooled with the inputs we get from the industry on our graduates. All of these go into rewriting the curriculum—an exercise we undertake at the beginning of each academic year. Consequently, we have a dynamic, vibrant curriculum that is up to speed with the industry. After making the students chase stories in the most vulnerable spots of the cosmopolitan city, do you believe in reaching out to the affected parties and helping them achieve justice at the end of it? We have to examine the role and purpose of the media before one can answer that question. Though, most journalists and media houses have a slightly activist bend of mind, their core competency lies in digging out the truth and reporting it accurately. Doing just that opens up the doors for others—non-governmental agencies and the government itself—to not just bring in justice, but also longterm policy initiatives. Being an educational institution and an exceptional media critic, do you expect any policy reformations from the government, in favour of private universities? No t r e a l ly. B u t , a m o r e l i b e r a l atmosphere for private universities and colleges would go a long way in bettering the standards of education in the country.

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INTERVIEW

From Students to Global Citizens; A Journey of Quality Roorkee College of Engineering, spread over an area of 20 acres of land with most modern infrastructure, focuses on individual excellence by moulding their students into global citizens. S K Gupta, Chairman, Roorkee College of Engineering in an interaction with Nicin Varghese, discusses their academic strategies to impart quality education.

What sets you apart from other engineering colleges in terms of i n f r a st r uc t u re , ac adem ic s a nd extracurricular activities? I n f r a s t r u c t u r e i n RC E i s m o s t contemporary and dynamic in nature since it acts as a base for the effective implementation of the curriculum, con sequently ou r endeavor is to keep pace with the development. The classrooms are well maintained with latest teaching facilities. The laboratories are fully equipped with latest equipment. Library being the backbone of education is completely equipped with internet connection and latest books and national and international journals. The faculty is

Today engineering colleges face a cut-throat competition. But RCE is continuously maintaining its quality and winning prestigious awards in the field of technical education. How do you make this possible? RCE is continuously maintaining the quality among the engineering institution by providing world class infrastructure and a campus sprawling over 20 acres of land with pollution free environment. We have WI-FI enabled ca mpus, f ully f u r n ished hostels separately for boys and girls, well equipped gymnasium, spor ts facilities, counseling, pre-placement t r a i n i ng, qu al i f ie d , ex p e r ie nce d a nd dy na m ic facu lt y a nd t heor y classes with practical demonstration. Ultimately the education system is framed and designed in a way that it aptly complies with the present as well as future industry. Education should make students able to create some positive difference in the society. So, how does RCE mould

40 < CAREERCONNECT < October - November 2016

Library being the “backbone of education is

completely equipped with internet connection and latest books and national and international journals.

“

well qualified and highly experienced. The campus provides ample opportunities and facilities for sports and games. The college is proud of its endeavors providing the students with connected basketball court, football field, tennis courts, volleyball courts, badminton court, cricket field and gymnasium facilities. In addition the college also provides facilities for indoor games such as table tennis, carroms, etc. To groom and make the students fit for the industry, emphasis is laid on personality development, presentation skills and indust r ial training.

their students to become global citizens? For remembrance RCE aims to make students to create a positive difference in the society by developing academic integrity, empowered by commitment in fundamental values like honesty, tr uthfulness, fairness, respect and responsibility. We throw attention to issues of national relevance and of global concern. At the same time, individual excellence is also given priority by developing an unlettered s p i r i t of l e a r n i n g , e x p l o r a t i o n rationality and enterprise. RC E ha s won ‘B e st Pl acement Aw a r d - 2 0 1 5 . H o w d o e s t h e i nst it ut ion g uarant e e ef fe c t ive employability to its students? Having win the ‘Best Placement Award – 2015’, the RCE makes successful efforts for effective employability to the students. To achieve the objective RCE emphasizes on student development programme through regular seminars, i ndust r ial projects, i ndust r ial visits, t raining i n i ndust r ies and placement drives. How does the alumni association support RCE? The students of RCE join our Alumni

INTERVIEW

Please tell us about RCE ‘s unique teaching pedagogy which emphasise on practical learning? T he t e a ch i ng p e d a gog y at RC E is unique. The vision is aimed to inculcate right attitude, right from the beginning. Through seminars, special guest lecturers from educationists and top industrialists provide the students a chance to have a glimpse of the world where they would join after graduating. Guidance is provided through regular industrial visits and training with focus on personality development and presentations skills. How far has RCE been able to promote entrepreneurial d e ve l o p m e n t a c t i v i t i e s b y i t s students? Roorkee, having a blend of engineering instit utions, research cent res and industrial units provide opportunities

for industrial growth development and instr umentation for upcoming engineers. The feedback is provided through industrial visits. The student’s projects are accordingly identified to move for entrepreneur centre and efforts are being pursued to achieve the objective. Apart from the traditional engineering degrees, RCE offers a wide variety of emerging engineering streams such as nuclear engineering, metallurgical engineering, mining engineering, etc. What are the scope and challenges in these new fields of engineering? The common streams of engineering t hat a re k now n t o eve r yone a re me cha n ical, ele ct r ical, chem ical and civil engineering. Mechanical engineering is a f undamental engineering discipline which covers various aspects of other disciplines such as f luid mechanics, computer programming, etc. Although mechanical engineering still continues to be the driving force of the industry modernism and the advent of technology have led to the development of far seeing engineering disciplines. Some of these include b r a nche s l i ke me ch at ron ics a nd

pedagogy “atTheRCEteaching is unique. The vision

is aimed to inculcate right attitude, right from the beginning. Guidance is provided through regular industrial visits and training.

“

Association soon after they pass out. The Alumni provide good linkages with their almamater through frequent visits during official functions, close interaction with st udents th rough motivational discussions and lectures. The senior alumni having attained senior positions in companies help the new entrants for placements.

robotics engineering, aeronautical engineering, automobile engineering and waste management engineering. Me ch a n ic a l e ng i ne e r i ng i s a blend of mechanical, electronics and software engineering. Its purpose is to study the automation of various mechanical equipments and control the new age advanced hybrid systems. Job opportunities for mechatronics engineering are endless. T hey a re ne e de d i n d ia mond cutting industries, manufact uring i nd u s t r ie s , che m ic a l pl a nt s a nd also in industrial robotics and space research.In a similar manner there are opportunities for engineers who study the core branches, know the fundamentals and join the industry in the upcoming new specialisations.

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INTERVIEW

“We should be asking children what they want and what inspires them” Staying true to their motto, Next Education Pvt Ltd has launched several initiatives that are aimed towards creating a brighter tomorrow for today’s students. With innovative solutions like digital classrooms, school ERPs and comprehensive lesson plans, Next Education is sure to keep you ahead in life. Tariq Ahmed finds out more in a candid interview with Beas Dev Ralhan, Co-founder and CEO, Next Education Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad.

Tell us about the Next Learning Model Education is a fundamentally slow business. You have to plan in decades, not years. So keeping that in mind, Next Education has divided itself into three parts. The first aspect is very traditional in its support in terms of providing hardware and its support because schools need infrastructure and there are very few credible support agencies out there. There are a lot of people who want to sell hardware to schools but very few who want to provide support. Our second line of business is to provide all the technology solutions t o schools. Schools ne e d ER Ps, c om mu n icat ion mo d u le s , le s son plans etc. So there is a whole degree of a basic tier for schools requiring communication model with the parents who are talking about schools that would require a learning platform. So we have technology solutions that cater right from the bottom that include basic SMS services to really having a leaning platform. The third line of solutions that

Next Education started in 2007, and has made a mark in the country’s digital education landscape within a short span of span of time. Next Education’s TeachNext has changed the idea of classroom teaching and learning with the use of innovative technology. How effective are digital classrooms when it comes to learning as opposed to a traditional classroom with textbooks? This whole concept of digitisation has two aspects. The first aspect is the fundamental one which is to do with increasing the productivity of the teacher. That aspect is a no-brainer. It is a no-brainer in the sense that involves basically converting a green board into an interactive board. It is a widely accepted thing that a teacher needs an interactive board because you can draw on it easily, you can put images into it easily and you can make some concepts come alive on an interactive board. So this basic aspect of teacher productivity is something which not a point of debate anywhere in the world. If at all it is open to debate, then I think it is so only in our country. Nowhere in the world people are thinking that making a classroom means putting a green board today. They think they need to put up some sort of an interactive activity in the classroom. Now an interactive activity might be achieved through a tablet, or a computer, an interactive board or a projector. But

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in the world people “Nowhere are thinking that making a classroom means putting a green board today. They think they need to put up some sort of an interactive activity in the classroom.

“

we are providing involves providing content. Content – whether it is in the form of a book, or digital or whether it is in the form of assessments.

an interactive screen for a teacher is something that is definitely required. Is there evidence or testimony that shows digital classrooms offered by Next Education are preferred widely? We have enoug h usage d at a a nd st atistics that tells us that ever y classroom we install on an average is used from hours in a day. This means at least in four to five lectures, schools are using it. Our usage data, repeat business and collection of sales proves to us that people are using our services. Do you thi nk d ig ital educat ion enhanced the quality of learning in India? Children always remember novels, stories and characters that are more audio-visually relatable and connected to them. The digital medium makes t h e m b o u n d t o b e e xc i t e d a n d assimilated. In the education sector, the biggest problem is not that of explaining concepts to students, but that of drawing them into it. Without doubt, the child associates and draws

INTERVIEW

Do you think that the modern age of Internet and New Media has led to a decline in the concentration levels and reading habit among the youth? See, the world is getting distractive and one cannot do much about it. As a service provider, I have no control over how parents are trying to raise their kids and cannot put on a value judgment on it. In today’s age, a parent himself is focused on doing something, whether it is an average span of work in a company or the number of goals we want to achieve in our lives. So this is a world-wide problem across all generations today. In fact, audiovisual media is a boon for individuals with lesser attention spans. You can convey more using the audio-visual media in less time. If you have a habit of reading, you will read more. But digital media makes you stay far more connected and informed with the world through Twitter as far as news events are concerned. We are far more attuned today even though you might be reading news from a distractive media rather than waiting for that news bulletin in Doordarshan. Tell us about Next Books. Has Next Books made reading a more engaging activity among the students? Our attempt at Next Books is to get the child drawn more towards real life scenarios. One of the reasons why we believe that the children would read these books is because these books are very contextual. Today if you pick up a Math textbook, it starts with a set of theorems and exercises. If you look at our Math textbooks, most of the schools criticise them by dismissing them as English textbooks because our books convey concepts through a lot of stories. For instance, it has a story about a father and a son going to a shop to buy a shirt. The father tries to explain the concept of measurements a nd conversion to t he son wh ile buying the shirt as the child needs to know why there are different units of

measurements for different goods. So the idea is to make the child engaged in the concept right from its contextual aspect. Getting a real life context is very important so that when the child is reading about it, he get the content. And then reinforcing the content with the audio-visual medium which can be understood in a short span of time, you give him a better understanding of the concept. So this is how one is trying to draw the child into reading and learning better.

Do you thi nk a cer tai n sor t of content presentation in Indian school textbooks is one of the reasons why textbooks put off the student? There might be multiple reasons that puts off the student from pursuing textbooks. One of the reasons is the poor production quality of textbooks. If you look at any leading publication, they print on 70 GSM or sometimes 68 GSM. When the child looks at the other books available to him in the market like Crossword, he tends to start associating the textbook as an inferior book, as a chore. When the child watches television today, he watches content of high production value, when he goes to a bookstore, he finds novels of high production value and when he is given something from school, he is really turned off. So schools have to understand what kind of products they are competing against to get the child’s attention. If they continue to make certain kind of

media is a boon “forAudio-visual individuals with lesser

attention spans. You can convey more using the audiovisual media in less time.

“

more towards the audio-visual medium. In this medium, if the content is great and the teacher is nice, the child will learn. One can only bring the horse to well, and that is happening a lot with digital education.

cartoons on TV channels, and the child has access to PS4 games, which one will he obviously consume? Whether the content consumed is important or not is not the idea, it is the sheer visual quality of the content that needs to be addressed first. Secondly, the academic quality of setting the contexts for concepts in these textbooks must be addressed. Most of our important subject textbooks are not story-based; t hey a re a lot more fact s-based , especially Maths and Science. How do virtual labs like Next Labs help in the practical learning and application? Tell us how Next Labs aim to impart knowledge? Just like audio-visual media helps the child draw and learn, another line of thought says that unless children going to start doing things, they are not going to use what’s on their minds. The whole purpose of creating Next labs was to let children do things, apply all the things they have learned in different subjects and build something that they can do. The idea of such labs is to start enforcing to the child from an early life that what you learn in the class is relevant. In India, children think their life is going to start after school gets over. This is so because our schools are not doing the right job of making the children implement what they are learning, and implement them in such a way that their passion comes through. In a new college in Singapore, where when you take admissions, they ask you what you want to do. Similarly, we should be asking children what they want and what inspires them. So that experiments can be conducted in labs according to what interests the children because they should be able to explain a science project as that is also a part of the lab experiment. We need to tell people that we need to make children do things and not just learn things.

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INTERVIEW

“Our team is laser-focused on building rich experiences” In the education space, two major movements deal with democratisation and personalisation of learning. At Gradeup, these trends, when combined with the power of online communities, make learning process significantly more collaborative and engaging, and hence believed to be much more impactful. Developed by GradeStack Learning Pvt. Ltd. in October 2015, Gradeup is a mobile-based community for students preparing for examinations such as IBPS PO, SBI PO, SBI Clerk, government sector jobs, SSC CGL, RRB, CTET Hindi - English, GATE, ESE and PSU Exams. With a team of young, zealous entrepreneurs, Shobhit Bhatnagar, Vibhu Bhushan and Sanjeev Kumar, it has gained widespread acceptability among students, being one of the most highly rated and widely downloaded apps. In an interview with Shobhit Bhatnagar, CEO & Co-Founder, Gradeup, Sana Husain learns why this platform enjoys preference from a whopping figure of 12 lakh users.

What made you to come up with the Gradeup App? Why an Edu-Tech app only? Education is something that we, the all three founders (of Gradeup) are passionate about. We see education and learning as the most fundamental approach to empower people. As technology and product folks, we se e t he p owe r of t e ch nolog y i n democr at isi ng a nd per sonalisi ng education and learning. We had worked on couple of more edu-tech ideas before coming up with the idea of Gradeup. How would you like to define the USP of the Gradeup App? Gradeup aspires to become the largest and most engaged online community

of students for all age groups who a re st udy i ng i n schools, college or a re prepa r i ng for compet it ive examinations. We aim to evolve into a place where students can interact with each other and help each other, can access study material and other resources relevant to them, and ask doubts/seek guidance from experts. We started with exam-prep space in India focusing on students who are preparing for banking, SSC, GATE, and TET (teaching) exams. In the last ten months, we have crossed 12 lakh (1.2 million) downloads and are now a deeply engaged community of students, monthly attempting over 50 million (five crore) questions on the platform. We plan to extend our offering to entire exam prep space in India including UPSC, CAT and JEE by March 2017. What’s your success story? The success of our platform is most clearly testified by the engagement of our students and our rating on play store. With a rating of 4.6, we are the highest rated Indian education app on Android (at this scale). But for us, more than success, our efforts get their true meaning when we receive encouraging and thankful feedback from students telling us that we’ve been able to make a difference in their lives. The best

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part is that this feedback comes from students in all parts of the country. Those who hail from the metro cities, having access to the best coaching facilities and those who are living in remote towns/villages are benefited from our platform. Clearly, we have to thank the accessibility of mobile technology and internet which is a precursor to the impact we are aiming to create. Have any recent features been added to the app? Our constant attempt is to make the app more suitable for learning and build a vibrant community. Firstly, we strive to keep the study material most relevant a nd i nterest i ng for st udents. We have static study material describing concepts, daily updated content and practice quizzes where students can test themselves. We constantly try to identify high quality content that is shared by the community and feature it to all our users. Spam handling is another aspect that we work on to keep the community clean and relevant for students. In addition to this, general performance improvements in terms of data consumption reduction, speed i mprove me nt a nd u se r i nt e r fa ce improvements are consistently being worked upon.

INTERVIEW

Exam preparation space- Focusing on Banking, SSC, GATE, TET (teaching) exams, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll soon cater to Engineering and MBA entrance examinations. The Banking and SSC communities are biggest in the country and are growing at a fast pace.

Gradeup has already received great feedback from students and has humbly contributed to the success of thousands of students in less than a year. Students living in top cities having access to coaching facilities and students in remote areas having limited access to quality teachers are equally benefitting from this platform.

In this free to use platform, students can learn from existing resources, share new content with each others, ask doubts, and seek guidance from mentors on various topics.

It aims to leverage the massive data that is being collected on the platform to make learning more personalised for students so that they can seek better guidance and improve faster.

G r a d e u pâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s h a s m a t u r e d to 1 million st rong user c o m mu n it y o n A n d r oid platform, which is soon going to be complemented by a web version of the app. The Gradeup team is laser focused on building powerful and rich experiences delivered through technology. This has earned them great testimonials from students. October - November 2016 < CAREERCONNECT < 45

EVENTS

Arun Jaitley inaugurates StartUp School at Lovely Professional University

on’ble Union Minister of Fi n a nc e a nd C or p or at e Affairs, A r u n Jaitley inaugurated the Start-Up School at Lovely Professional University campus on 18th of September. He also inaugurated three-day International Day of Peace amid rich cultural diversity of 30,000 LPU students from 29 Indian States and 50+ countries studying at the campus. Launching the Startup School Minister Jaitley and Governor of Punjab, VP Singh Badnore rang the first bell of the first of its kind incubation center. Addressing the students & staff members, Minister Jaitley talked about startup environment and invoked the LPU students to adopt startups as this is the right age for them to possibly lead the world. LPU has realised this and has come up with the prestigious school for the innovative students. Appreciating LPU as a big private university, Minister Jaitley affirmed that in times to come Indian private universities are sure to take a prominent place in education sector, as happened in the US.

“I wish to see many ‘disrupter’ entrepreneurs from LPU.” - Arun Jaitley

VP Singh Badnore, Governor of Punjab and Chandigarh Administrator, presided over the celebrative occasion. Br inging for ward the example of Yale University of the US, he invoked university students to be innovative in their approach. He also appreciated LPU initiative for observance of International Day of Peace when there is visible turmoil all-around. He asked that LPU should

also adopt time needed new courses like Conflict Resolution. Many other high-profiled guests including Vijay Sampla, Minister of State for Social Justice, Shwet Malik, MP Rajya Sabha, Barjinder Singh Hamdard, Editorin-Chief Ajit Group of Publications, Ba r ji nde r Si ng h Ha md a rd , Som P r a k a sh , M L A , R a me sh M it t a l , Lovely G roup Chai r man, Naresh Mittal, Vice Chairman, Ashok Mittal, LPU Chancellor, Rashmi Mittal Pro Chancellor, MP Singh, Additional General Secretary and many other distinguished guests and administrative officers also graced the occasion.

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“Reaching the present levels, LPU has become an example for many others in the field of education.” - Governor of Punjab VP Singh Badnore

EVENTS

Samvaad organised by Young India 2016 to be held in 100 cities MDI Gurgaon

anagement Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon, one of the leading B-schools in the country, has announced the successful conclusion of the second edition of its annual leadership conclave, Samvaad. The event, themed ‘Success through Synergy’, took place on October 1 at MDI Auditorium and was attended by senior executives from a spectrum of industries. Samvaad is an annual business symposium organized by the students of MDI Gurgaon which provides an opportunity for the exchange of ideas among the brightest minds in the country. Panelists at the latest event comprised leading entrepreneurs, company heads, leadership gurus, academicians and industry stalwarts from various sectors and start-ups who shared their views and experiences of the corporate world. This year’s theme, ‘Success through Synergy’ was selected keeping in mind the need for emerging leaders to achieve a higher quality and quantity output with synergy, and gave an opportunity to the students to get an insight on the strategy, leadership, innovation, and creativity in the current business ecosystem.The conclave began with a welcome speech from Prof J K Jain, Chairperson, NMP and EM, and was followed by a panel discussion on ‘India on the Rise – Purpose, Passion and Leadership/Path to Synergy’ with Sanjiv Navangul, MD, Janssen India. Highlighting about Samvaad 2016, Prof CP Shrimali, Acting Director, MDI Gurgaon, said that Synergy is building leadership, thoughts and focus.

L Educate and Kestone held the fourth edition of Young India Challenge (YIC) 2016, an innovative quiz platform, that was conducted across schools and colleges. The event witnessed about one million students from 100 cities. With PAN India reach, one lakh students from about 5000 plus colleges from 80 cities competed against each other. Not only that, around 2.5 lakh school students from more than 15,000 schools showcased their skills and aptitude. YIC also encouraged corporates and entrepreneurs to facilitate the budding nextgen entrepreneurs. The initial round of YIC 2016 was f lagged off in August. City/Regional rounds was held in September followed by the finale in October. The winners were awarded prizes worth ten lakhs rupees including mentorship, learning and business.

IMS DIA organise workshop on Jewellery Designing

esign and Innovation Academy (IMS DIA) one of the pioneering Design Institute of the country, organised a school workshop on Jewellery design and making to nurture the creativity of the aspiring students. The aim of the workshop was to provide the students an inspiring environment to draw out and create their own designs in jewellery. The workshop was conceptualised by the faculties of Jeweller y Designing Depar t ment, Surbhi Jain and Ashok Mondal. The workshop brought together the students of Police Moder n School to provide a vibrant insight on jewellery design as well as learning the process of

jewellery making. Aimed at enlightening the school students on the immense career possibilities in creative industries, this workshop witnessed the participation of students with ample interest of creating and displays of their own creations and designs. Expressing his views, Ankur Gulati, Dean Marketing and Branding at IMS

DIA said, “This unique workshop with the budding students of Police Modern School on Jewellery design was an excellent effort focused on the aspiring young minds on the possible career opportunities in design and making of jewellery. This will be an excellent opportunity for the students for choosing a promising new age career which not only have a global appeal but also in demand too.” The workshop took place in the campus premises of IMS DIA, wherein all students of Jewellery Design Department and the students of Police Modern School gathered together and created their individual designs and showcased them too, which made this a successful event.

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GUEST COLUMN

An Emerging Career with flying colours

By Dr. D. J. Pati

he moder n age can be refer red to as the age of c om mu n ic at ion . T he Communication industry and technology has exceptionally bloomed in the past few years. The world, because of advancement in the communication technology, has been unified as a whole beyond question. This is where Mass Communication has digged into the situation, bringing up br i l l ia nt a nd pa r a d ig m ca r e e r opportunities for the aspiring students who are looking forward to working in the dynamic fields offered by this sector. Mass communication comprises of an integral part which is Journalism. T houg h jou r nalism hold s a major proportion in Mass communication but it is not limited to journalism alone. Talking about mass communication that works predominantly on mass media, is the reality of the moder n world covering all aspects of human life. Students can explore to the farthest levels of their creativity working as a media person or journalist as that value flows from its purpose, to provide people with verified information they can use to make better decisions. It also brings along the most important and systematic process of discipline of verification that journalists use to find not just the facts, but also the truth about the facts.

W hat makes journalism different than other forms of communication? The theory of the interlocking public: The splintering of mass media audiences and the migration of information to thousands of niche web sites catering to audiences in bulk is further evidence that everyone is interested, and expert, in something. The diversity and magnitude of the public, in fact, is its strength. A mix of publics is usually much wiser than a public comprised of just the elite or one segment of special interest. The wisdom of decision-making by an interlocking public is embedded in the notion that gove r n me nt by t he p e ople me a n s citizens have the duty to keep themselves informed. This vision of governance is central to the notion that journalism has to be pluralistic. Discipline of verification: Journalists often describe the essence of their work as finding and presenting the facts and also the truth about the facts. The Elements of Jour nalism have a scientific approach to get the right facts. Called the Discipline of Verification, its intellectual foundation rests on three core concepts of transparency, humility and originality. • Transparency means show your work so readers can decide for t h e m s e l ve s w h y t h e y s h o u l d believe it. The journalist’s job is to provide information in such a way that people can assess it and then make up their own minds what to think. By giving the audience the background on how you arrived at a certain conclusion, you allow them to replicate the process for themselves. • Humility refers to keeping an open mind. Being in this field, one needs to keep an open mind not only about what they hear but also about their own ability to understand what it means. A career like journalism

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•

welcomes utmost modesty without giving a room to arrogance. O r ig i nalit y i nd icates work i ng honestly for oneself. This requires the ability to research and the desire of knowing more about eventualities in order to generate the best of the results.

T he jou r na l i s t i s a ‘c om m i t t e d observer’: Even the most conventional situations s h o u ld b e s e e n w it h a d i f fe r e n t perspective by the jour nalist as an observer. Being a part of this sector, you need to be equally clear about their role, both to themselves and to the public. What is the purpose of journalism? The purpose of journalism is not defined by technology, nor by journalists or the techniques do they employ. Rather, the principles and purpose of journalism are defined by something more basic: the function news plays in the lives of people. News is that part of communication that keeps us informed of the changing events, issues, and characters in the world outside. Though it may be interesting or even entertaining, the foremost value of news is as a utility to empower the uninformed. The purpose of journalism is, thus, to provide citizens with the information they need to make the best possible decisions about their lives, their communities, their societies, and their governments. A p a r t f r o m Jou r n a l i s m , M a s s Communication offers the youngsters a g re at deal of ca re e r opt ion s t o choose from accommodating to their creative side. Adver tising is one of the most innovative mediums of communication. The advertising industry in itself is an ocean of opportunities. It provides a scope to ever yone ranging f rom Visualisers, Copywriters, Researchers, Client Servicing Professionals Brand

Consultants, Designers, etc. Public Relations also called PR is an influential sphere of mass communication. Both traditional and digital PR is currently f ly i ng h ig h a s a n i ndu st r y. Ma ss communication is the route to many of the avant garde industries such as Alter nate media, Photo jour nalism, Photography, Radio Jockeying and many others. Below the Line activities, Out of Home and Digital Marketing have also emerged as the new communications and marketing trends Here are a few things you should know about this industry, to help you choose the right career path for you, and start developing all the skills you’ll need to succeed. All that glitters is not gold: First, a word of caution, If you want to pursue Mass communication just thinking of it as a glamorous job, you might want to stop right there. The news anchors you admire, the bylines that amaze you and the reporters who you believe get to meet a lot of superstars and celebrities, do plenty of much less dazzling work behind the scenes. One has to be on toes all the time to meet the pressure of being as aware as possible about everything, even if it is happening in the other sphere of the earth. For the people working in media and related sectors, there is no limitation to the work. It can start early in the morning and can go on till late at night. They might have to work through weekends and holidays. All in all, it is not a cakewalk.

Playing with the words: You must develop your writing skills right from day one if you want to be successful in this play. Be a wordsmith, the one that everyone would love to have in their organization. Other than writing for newspapers, developing your writing skills can take you forward in various fields like copy writing for advertisements, blog writing, writing for online media, generating press releases in Public Relations, writing scripts for T.V programs and news. Last but not the least, writing skills can help you set a full f ledged career in the print media. Get that Tech: Keep yourself updated about the latest technologies and get them right. This can place you excellently in the electronic and the online media. Knowing about the latest advancements and tools used in various fields in prior can help you clear your thought about their final implications. Due to the emerging trends of online media and electronic media, it is very effective and helpful to have the knowledge of how to handle a camera and edit audio and video recordings. Though, all this is taught if you pursue mass communication, but being well informed would be a cherry on top. There are a few important things to note here. Many students aspiring to work i n a nd for med ia a re not naturally very good with words or voice but a scope of i mprovement is

always there and everything can be worked upon. A degree in Mass Communication can get you the most glorified and well paid jobs as this sector doesn’t seem to slow down anytime sooner. “Global entertainment and media revenues will continue to grow slightly behind the global GDP, as it always has. Yet, i n t h is seem i ng sa meness dichotomies abound.” Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) quoted. PWC report or FICCI reports must be highlighted to invigorate the trend analysis of the media growth perspective also. These are just basic guidelines about what you can do with a degree in Mass Communication. There is much more to it. For instance, we haven’t even touched the marketing aspect. There is a lot more to this profession, but hopefully this will serve as a helpful reference point for early-stage planning. Pursuing Mass Communication with strongest of the passion and desire will boom your career for sure. This industry has seen growth in a multi faceted way and does not believe in any retard age belief. (The author is the Dean, Academics, at Institute of Management Studies, Noida, one of the leading management institutes in the country having a specialised course in Journalism & Mass Communication.)

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SUCCESS STORY

From Bihar to Washington DC The journey of a young entrepreneur who has been invited by Obama to the White House By Tariq Ahmed

reatness is how much one can do for others, and when their work h el p s c r e a t e g r e a t people, it deser ves recognition. Sharad Sagar’s Dexterity Global has won acclaim for the same. Apar t from making it to the prestigious Forbes’ list of Young Entrepreneurs under 30, he now has another laurel to boast of. The 24-year old entrepreneur has been invited to the White House to be a part of an event being hosted by President Barack Obama that will bring together creators and innovators from around the world. Sagar was nominated and has been selected to participate in the prestigious event. Sharad is one of the ver y few innovators, entrepreneurs and change makers to be attending the special event hosted at the White House in Washington DC. The event titled “South by South Lawn: A White House Festival of Ideas, Art and Action” will be held on 3rd of October this year. T he W h ite Hou se ha d ea rlier received thousands of nominations from global leaders who are creating an impact through their innovative approaches. Of these nominations, a few were selected and invited. Sharad, according to a press release, is the only Indian who has received this prestigious invitation. According to the official White House statement, “the event will bring together creators, innovators, and organisers who work day in and day out to improve the lives of people around the world. It is a celebration of the great work these people have already accomplished.” “Dexterity Global was founded the same year President Obama assumed office and he has had a great influence on me as a leader. It’s a great honour for me to be invited for this special gathering at the White House and

meet the world’s most powerful leader personally,” Sharad said. Ea rlier t h is yea r, Sha r a d ha d become the first ever person from the state of Bihar to be listed in the prestigious Forbes’ List of Young Entrepreneurs under 30, alongside the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and Malala Yousafzai. Sharad is also the highestranked Indian on the List of the World’s Most Powerful Young Entrepreneurs, and was listed among the “100 Next Century Innovators” by the Rockefeller Foundation in 2013. Where Sharad grew up in India, 84 per cent of people are living below the poverty line. Education, a vehicle meant to drive individuals toward success, was failing. At 13 years old, however, a homeschooled Sharad was deter mined to t ransfor m the ailing system. This realisation really shocked and i nvigorated Sharad, who banded together with other likeminded teenagers in 2006 to launch his first nonprofit, We Aim High, an organisation working actively with youth in a variety of fields, including education, environment, human rights, policy and social change. Sharad founded Dexterity Global in 2008, when he was just 16. Today,

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Dexterity Global impacts over 1.2 million children annually in India and other parts of South Asia through its ecosystem of educational platforms. Sharad went on to represent India in more than a dozen international conferences and competitions. He has been listed among “50 Heroes of Bihar” and “Change Maker of India” by renowned publications in India. Sharad is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Dexterity School of Public Speaking, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship, India’s first school of its kind, where high school kids are taught by TED fellows, Ashoka fellows, P resident ial Awa rdees a nd ot her reputed change makers and leaders. In the past five years, Dexterity Global has engaged over 250,000 students in more than 46 countries across six continents. Sha r a d ha s helped more t ha n 10 0 , 0 0 0 yo u n g p e o pl e t h r o u g h Dexterity Global’s three platforms: DexChallenge, DexGlobe and DexSchool. Sharad Sagar is not just a social innovator. He is a hero to thousands of students across the world and proof that hard work and moral character can bring about great impact for the better.

ADMISSIONS 2017

Admissions Open 2017-18

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