I’m in final year MA and would like to teach in a college after graduation. What qualifications are required for this job?
Shilpa Sule, Pune
After postgraduation you need to clear the National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by UGC (www.ugc. ac.in) or the State Eligibility Test (SET) to be considered for a permanent lectureship. Postgraduates and M.Phil degree holders, however, can apply for temporary vacancies for lecturers without clearing NET or SET. Alternatively you could pursue a Ph D degree which makes you automatically eligible.
After Plus Two (science), I would like to opt for a course in forest or rural management. Please advise.
Deepak Rao, Bangalore
You have the option of studying for a B.Sc in forestry after class XII. However, study courses in forestry and rural management are available only at the postgraduate level. The Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal (www.iifm.ac.in) and the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (www.irma.ac.in) are premier institutes for these professions. You can be a graduate of any discipline to qualify for admission into these programmes.
After my Plus Two (science), I want to pursue a degree in aircraft maintenance engineering (AME). What are my career prospects?
Ravi Krishnamurthy, Chennai
AME is a training programme which qualifies students to write the licensing exams (Basic Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Certificate — I, II and III) conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Hence, it’s not an engineering degree. If you do well in the exam and the institution you are studying in is able to place you, then your career prospects are bright. However, should you fail the exam, then your scope for employment is restricted. Therefore it’s a better idea to pursue a regular engineering degree programme and keep your employment options open.
Although I averaged 90 percent in the class XII (science) board exam, I fared badly in the MBBS entrance exam. Should I give it another shot or pursue a B.Sc or physiotherapy certification programme?
Sujata Sippy, Mumbai
Physiotherapy or pharmacy is a good choice especially if you secure admission into a reputed college. You could also pursue a B.Sc degree in home science or agriculture, horti-culture, fisheries science, food science, etc (these subjects are usually offered by state agricultural universities).
Please provide information about the business management degree programme offered by the University of Western Ontario and its admission procedure.
Raul D’Souza, Panjim
The University of Western Ontario is among the top universities in Canada with its business school rated as one of the best worldwide. Admission is very competitive with foreign students also required to clear English proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL. The completed application form must include officially attested mark sheets of class X and XII board exams, two academic reference letters from teachers, a statement of purpose explaining your career goals, and any other academic transcripts. For further information visit www.uwo.ca.
After getting my BA degree next year, I would like to pursue an MA in psychology. What are my career prospects?
Sushmita Chatterjee, Kolkata
A postgraduate degree in psychology leads to careers in therapy or counselling and related work. For instance clinical psychologists treat people with psychological problems, devise therapies for people experiencing psychological crises (such as grief) or suffering from chronic psychiatric disorders.
Counselling psychologists discharge the same functions as clinical psychologists though they tend to focus on persons with adjustment and behavioural problems, rather than people suffering severe psychological disorders.
Industrial/organisational psycho-logists are primarily concerned with relationships between people and their work environments. They devise solutions to increase organisational productivity and could be involved in personnel selection.
Postgraduates in psychology (with a B.Ed degree) are qualified to teach in junior colleges/senior secondary schools and in colleges as lecturers on the basis of performance in national/state eligibility tests. A Ph D after MA would lead to better long-term prospects in teaching, research, private practice or consultancy.
I want to do a postgrad management course with finance as a specialisation. I’ve been working in the corporate sector for the past two years and have a bachelor’s degree in management studies.
Suresh Mehta, Mumbai
The University of Mumbai and Alkesh Mody Institute for Financial and Management Studies, Joravar Bhavan, Vidyanagar, Kalina, Mumbai 400 098, offer a three-year part-time MFSM. Also worth considering is the MBA (finance) or CFA or the two-year full-time postgrad (financial engineering) study programme offered by the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR), Chennai (http://ifmr.ac.in/lp).
I’m keen on qualifying as an Indian Air Force pilot after completing my Plus Two (science) in 2009. Please give details of the National Defence Academy’s eligibility requirements and selection process.
Satinder Singh, Chandigarh
Admission into the air force wing of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla is open to male students completing Plus Two (with physics and maths). Selection is based on performance in the NDA entrance exam and personal interview.
The notification for the NDA exam to be held in April 2009 will appear in Employment News. The notification will stipulate the physical and medical standards required for various services including the air force. Alternatively, please study the relevant sections of the notification posted on www.upsc.gov.in.