I’m a second year B.Com student. I want to make a career in banking. Please provide information about postgraduate courses in banking.
Shilpa Desai, Ahmedabad
After graduation you are eligible to write the probationary officers’ examination conducted by commercial banks for selection and recruitment as a probationary officer. Another option is to enroll for an MBA in banking and finance, offered by some B-schools.
However the best bet is to sign up for the two-year postgraduate banking and finance study programme offered by the National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM), Pune (www.nibmindia.org). You could also become a banking professional after getting a Masters (economics) or qualifying as a chartered accountant.
I’m keen on a career in biotechnology. Should I sign up for a plain vanilla MBA or an MBA in biotechnology? Please suggest some colleges offering this programme.
Subhash Kerkar, Pune
An MBA in biotechnology prepares graduates for employment in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. On the other hand, a general MBA qualification gives you a wider choice of employment opportunities. The admission process for MBA and MBA (biotech) is common. Among the institutions offering an MBA degree programme in biotech are: University of Pune, Department of Management Sciences (PUMBA), (www.dms.unipune.ernet.in); SIES College of Management Studies, Navi Mumbai (www.siescoms.edu); Univer-sity Business School, Punjab University, Chandigarh (www.ubschandigarh.org); and MITCON Institute of Management, Pune (www.mima.edu.in).
I’m a commerce graduate interested in stockbroking. Please advise on courses offered in stock trading.
Jiten Shah, Mumbai
The BSE Training Institute (www.bseindia.com), Mumbai offers a three-month, part-time certificate programme on capital markets in partnership with the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies. The programme is conducted at the BSE Training Institute’s Dalal Street office on weekdays from 6 p.m to 7.30 p.m.
I hold a diploma in mechanical engineering and am working presently. To improve my career prospects, what professional courses would you advise?
Ashok Rao, Bangalore
You could enroll in a bachelor’s degree programme in engineering through AMIE (www.ieindia.org) or IGNOU’s B.Tech mechanical engineering programme (www.ignou. ac.in). Or you could sign up for a degree programme in a non-professional discipline. By completing an engineering degree programme, you’ll have better opportunities in the engineering industry while a non-professional degree will enable your entry into business, commerce and academia.
I’m a second year B.Com student. I require information on careers in human resource development, operations and logistics management.
Geeta Anand, New Delhi
Hr professionals tend be patient, tactful, diplomatic, and enjoy working in teams. The career prospects of HR executives/managers are excellent, following growing awareness within corporates of the vital role of human resources in the success of any organisation.
Operations managers are involved in product creation and development, purchasing, plant organisation, production efficiency, quality control and inventory management. They are needed in manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries.
Logistics is about supply chain management. All activities involved with moving raw and intermediate materials and semi-finished and finished products to and from where they are made or grown, to where they will be used, fall under ‘logistics’. Supply chain management or logistics management is offered as a module or specialisation in some MBA programmes.
After completing my B.Pharm finals in 2010, I want to enroll in an MBA programme with a specialisation in pharmaceutical management. Please advise.
Subroto Mukherjee, Kolkata
Pharma graduates are eligible to enroll for an MBA in pharmaceutical management or biotechnology. Some of the reputed institutions offering MBA/postgrad programmes in pharmaceutical management include the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Mohali (www. niper.gov.in); NMIMS University, Mumbai (www.nmims.edu); Institute of Health Management Research, Jaipur (www.iihmr.org); SIES College of Management Studies, Navi Mumbai (www.siescoms.edu); MET Institute of Medical Sciences, Mumbai Educational Trust (www.met.edu); Apeejay Institute of Management & Information Techno-logy, New Delhi (www.apeejay.edu).
I’m a second year liberal arts student keen on a postgraduate degree in mass communications from a US or UK university. Please suggest reputed colleges in these two countries, their eligibility requirements and average tuition fees.
Shalini Rajan, Chennai
Degree programmes in media studies, journalism, and advertising are offered by Leeds and Brunel universities in the UK. The University of Illinois at Urbana Champagne and Boston University in the US also offer highly reputed mass media (communi-cations) programmes. Please check with short-listed universities about their specific admission requirements. Tuition fees vary and living expenses depend on lifestyle and housing choices. However the estimated average annual tuition fee is US $30,000-$35,000 with living expenses averaging US$10,000 (Rs.5 lakh) per year.
Do diploma courses in management — pgdbm, pgdba or pgdm — carry the same weightage as an MBA?
Nilima Fernandes, Bangalore
AICTE-recognised PGDBM/PGDBA or PGDM diploma programmes in business management enjoy the same market value as an MBA from a recognised university. However, the quality of placements offered to individuals with diploma qualifications in business management depends entirely on the reputation of graduating B-schools.