After completing my B.Tech (computer science) degree in 2010, what study programme would you recommend — M.Tech or MBA?
Vijay Raghavan, Chennai
Both degrees — M.Tech and MBA — are stepping stones to successful careers. However, if you’re not enjoying the B.Tech curriculum, you should opt for an MBA which offers a great future, particularly with your computer science background. The best course of action would be to complete your B.Tech, acquire some work experience and then enrol in an MBA programme.
I’ll be completing my Plus Two (science) next year and want to make a career in biotechnology. Please advise.
Neelam Kothari, Bangalore
Since biotechnology is a knowledge intensive industry, career opportunities are mainly in research and development, teaching and consulting. You could chart out a career path by enroling in a B.Tech programme or an integrated five-year M.Sc programme in biotechnology after class XII. Another option is to sign up for a bachelor’s degree in biotech, followed by M.Sc in the subject. Graduation from a reputed institution and a consistently good academic record will attract good job offers. The biotech industry offers a variety of employment options in the agriculture, food, waste management, environment pollution control, health and medical sciences sectors.
Please suggest colleges/universities which offer an MBA in agri-business management.
Vijay Kelkar, Pune
Institutions offering an MBA in agri-business management or equivalent programmes include: Institute of Rural Management, Anand (www.irma.ac.in); College of Agri-Business Management, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (www.cabm.ac.in); Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management, Pune (www.vamnicom. org); Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (www.iimahd.ernet.in/pgpabm); IIM Lucknow (www.iiml.ac.in); Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Pune (www.siib.ac.in); National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad (www.manage.gov.in); Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bangalore (www.iipmb.edu.in); Garware Institute of Career Education and Development, University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus, Mumbai (www.mu.ac.in/garware/pgagri.html).
Moreover a certified analyst diploma programme in global commodity markets and derivatives is offered at the Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development by the FT Knowledge Management Company Ltd (www.ftkmc.com) in association with the Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited. A three-month diploma in commodities markets is also offered jointly by the Multi Commodity Exchange of India, FT Knowledge Management Company and Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai (www.mcxindia.com).
After graduating next year, I want to enrol in a postgraduate course in human resource development. Please recommend some reputed business schools and universities.
Neeta Fonseca, Panjim
Well-reputed schools for HRD are TISS (Mumbai); XLRI (Jamshed-pur); MDI (Gurgaon); IISWBM (Kolkata) and UBS (Chandigarh).
I’m keen on a career as an airline pilot. What are the eligibility requirements? Can you also suggest institutes offering training programmes?
Sunil Puri, New Delhi
You need to have completed Plus Two with physics and mathematics, and possess a PPL (private pilot’s licence) with flying experience of at least 60 hours including three hours solo in the past three years, to qualify for admission into the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy (IGRUA), Rae Bareli 229310, the premier flying school in the country administered by the Union ministry of civil aviation. It has a training programme which results in the grant of a CPL (commercial pilot’s licence). Other well-known pilot training schools include Nagpur Flying Club; Delhi Flying Club; Government Flying Training School, Bangalore; Gujarat Flying Club, Baroda; West Bengal Flying Training Institute, Calcutta; Sahara India Aviation Academy, New Delhi; Flytech Aviation Academy, Secunderabad; and Orient Flight School, Pondicherry.
The 250 hours of flying required for a CPL can be completed through various flying clubs situated across the country. It usually takes around 18 months to log 250 hours of flying. The cost of training in India for a CPL is approximately Rs.25 lakh.
The website of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (www.icao.int) has a directory listing around 300 training institutions worldwide.
I will complete my B.Sc degree next year. Apart from an MBA and M.Sc, what other higher study programmes will boost my career prospects?
Shilpa Reddy, Hyderabad
You could consider enroling in a Master’s programme in journalism/public relations/social work or a B.Ed; bachelor of library and information sciences; PG diploma in travel and tourism. Choose a course which suits your aptitude and interests.
Please provide details of institutions offering Master’s programmes in clinical research in India and abroad.
Sumit Agarwal, Mumbai
In India, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai and the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Mumbai offer postgrad degrees in clinical research. The Nanyang Technological Institute, Singapore also offers an excellent postgrad programme in clinical research while Max Planck Institute for Physiological and Clinical Research; Harrison Clinical Research Institute and German Cancer Research Centre are some well-known clinical research institutes in Germany.
ICRI Global Research is a UK-based organisation specialising in providing training in clinical research. Currently it offers programmes with an option to study partly in India, UK, Singapore and USA, and spend up to one month in the ICRI Global Research simulator unit in the UK. For details visit www.hs-esslingen.de/in/30361.