Lopsided rules
By Varinder Walia
LOOPHOLES in instructions for residency certificates must for appearing in Punjab Medical Entrance test, has benefited students of other states, particularly Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, at the cost of aspirants from Punjab.

Campus scene
Fund-starved varsity to go slow
From M. L. Kak
JAMMU: The Jammu University authorities have decided to adopt a go-slow strategy regarding taking in hand new programmes and projects because of severe financial constraints. Notwithstanding escalation in prices of construction material and in the wage bill, the state government imposed a cut in the current year’s Budget allocation to the university.

Greece to set up Chair
NEW DELHI: Greece has expressed its desire to set up a Chair in civilisation, history and languages at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

DIARY

DEADLINE

Gurgaon ITM offers external programme
By Ranee Sahaney

Indian students aspiring to pursue qualitative external programmes offered by foreign universities/colleges on the home territory never had it so good. The academic world of Australia, America, the UK and Switzerland has in the past couple of years opened up considerably for India with many institutions woo Indian students not just at the postgraduate level but even at the undergraduate level.

The numerous education fairs organised in the Capital by these countries are prominent indicator not just of the potential of the Indian market for these foreign schools and universities, but also the growing interest of the Indian student in acquiring a foreign certification to enhance his educational profile.

One of the most prestigious, internationally recognised courses available to Indian students in the country at the undergraduate level is the external programme of the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London. What is exceptionally attractive about this particular course is that a student can after Class XII, pursue the course in India itself at the Gurgaon-based Institute of Technology and Management.

The other critical factor is that a student has the option to pursue the course at a fraction of the price in the India currency and within a familiar cultural environment.

The University of London, founded in 1836, is one of the oldest universities in the United Kingdom and, as a federation of colleges and institutions varying in size and academic profile, enjoys national and international reputation of excellence. Its external programme is one of the earliest examples of a university making its degrees accessible to students who are unable to register for a conventional course of study. The external programme now has approximately 22,000 registered students worldwide.

In line with its agenda to empower its students with effective tools for a competitive corporate world, the ITM has been ruthless in the culling process of its first batch of students for the one-year diploma course in economics from the LSE equivalent to the first year of a University of London B Sc degree in Management, Economics and Banking and Finance. On successful completion of the full-time Diploma, the student can transfer directly to the second year of a degree of University of London.

Students, on successful completion of the diploma course, can also opt to complete the second and third year at the ITM. Alternately, they can seek admission at numerous colleges/universities in the U.K, USA or Canada, which give full recognition to this certification. No other programme offers this kind of flexibility to students at the undergraduate level.

For a student to pursue such a programme in India, it is imperative that he/she studies for it at a college or institute recognised by the University of London through its ‘Lead’ college, The London School of Economics and Political Science, to teach this programme. Not only does the LSE regularly monitor the programme at ITM, the examinations are set and marked by the LSE exactly as it would be done for their own students at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Recognising the pressures of conducting and studying the LSE course in India, both faculty and students have remodelled their working methods and approach to the programme to ensure its successful completion. Total dedication, long study hours and an agile mind make up the core of this work agenda.

The Institute of Technology and Management (ITM) was founded in 1996. It offers four-year bachelor of engineering degrees in computer engineering, mechanical engineering and electronics and communication engineering recognised and approved by the AICTE, Ministry of Human Resource, Government of India, and the Directorate of Technical Education, Government of Haryana, and is affiliated to Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak.

In a recent move, the Institute has tied up with Futuristic Technologies, specialists in software training and development, to offer students a value-added course — a MICROSOFT/ORACLE certification, which can be pursued along side their regular engineering course.

This is intended to arm the student with the competitive edge they would need when he/she enters a working environment. MICROSOFT will provide expertise in software training and development, resource management, data base management services and other related fields.

The ITM campus, spread over 10 acres of prime land, offers hostel facilities and is equipped with excellent computer facilities, a library and a in-house cafeteria.

Lopsided rules
By Varinder Walia

LOOPHOLES in instructions for residency certificates must for appearing in Punjab Medical Entrance test, has benefited students of other states, particularly Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, at the cost of aspirants from Punjab.

The list of those who cleared the PMT in 1998 has revealed that as many as 34 candidates were from Haryana. These students also appeared in the entrance tests conducted by the State of Haryana.

However, due to a cumbersome and foolproof system adopted by Haryana and other states on domicile certificates, candidates from Punjab could not appear in the tests conducted by these states. Students from Haryana who succeeded in getting admission in MBBS also appeared in the entrance tests conducted by the Haryana Government last year.

So much so that students from Bhopal, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Delhi appeared in the PMT conducted by Punjab last year.

Resentment prevails among parents and aspirants for MBBS/BDS of Punjab and they demand parity in conditions with other states on-domicile certificate.

The parents are of the view that candidates from other states succeed in getting admission to MBBS and BDS courses easily while residents of Punjab are unable to appear in other states.

The conditions for getting a domicile certificate from Haryana are tough. Candidates who have studied upto class X and the plus two level as regular candidates in a recognised school in Haryana or Chandigarh are eligible for appearing in the PMT.

Under such conditions, no candidate from Punjab can appear in Haryana or Chandigarh while there is no such “ban” for candidates of other states to appear in Punjab.

It is felt that the place of birth alone should not be enough for a domicile certificate.

The feel before allowing a candidate to appear in PMT the candidate\parent should produce an affidavit that he or she has not appeared in the PMT conducted by any other state/union territory.

Campus scene
Fund-starved varsity to go slow
From M. L. Kak

JAMMU: The Jammu University authorities have decided to adopt a go-slow strategy regarding taking in hand new programmes and projects because of severe financial constraints. Notwithstanding escalation in prices of construction material and in the wage bill, the state government imposed a cut in the current year’s Budget allocation to the university.

Against an annual allocation of Rs 1.19 crore, the university has been allotted only Rs 1.5 crore, forcing the authorities to abandon new schemes and extend the period of completion of ongoing projects and programmes.

The authorities have earmarked funds on projects and programmes which they have clubbed in the priority sector. However, the financial constraints have not prevented the university from setting up centre for National Security and Regional Studies which will start working in the next three months. The Departments of Sociology and Psychology will start working in the next academic session.

Two factors have come in the way of rapid expansion of the campus. The resource crunch has forced the authorities to keep under the carpet the plan for construction of more buildings for housing new departments and for removing congestion in some of the existing faculties. Second, the campus premises need to be expanded for raising buildings including hostels, residential quarters for the faculty members.

The government had already earmarked the 17 acre area adjacent to the university for the expansion programme. But the area, which is under the Army, has not been vacated by the Defence Ministry. The university authorities have now requested the Governor, Mr G. C. Saxena, who is also the Chancellor of the university to take up the matter with the Defence Minister.

* * * *

Though the Vice-Chancellor, Prof R. R. Sharma, has been engaged in the task of improving academic atmosphere in the university, he seems to have been influenced by some “vested interests” with the result, posts lying vacant in different faculties are not being filled with the speed these deserve. Interviews for the post of teachers in several faculties were not held on time and these posts were readvertised. Some posts in the Departments of Economics and Mathematics have been filled but in the faculty of English, a deliberate attempt is being made to delay the filling of three posts.

The Department of English is said to have received a raw deal from the university authorities allegedly because of machinations of those who have been running the Centre for New Literature within the faculty premises. The centre has taken away several rooms, thereby causing inconvenience to teachers and students. The centre has a library but no books relevant to the subject taught, including Australian, Canadian and African literature.

The university continues to be plagued by ad hocism and reemployment to retired officials. Whether it is the administrative wing or the teaching faculties, departmental heads are functioning on an ad hoc basis. One finds even the Registrar, Librarian and other department heads officiating in the absence of the procedure for regularising their promotions.

In addition to this, a section of students feel upset over the vacant post of Director, Sports. The extra-curricular activities on the campus are said to have suffered after the post of Director, Youth Welfare, was abolished.

What seems to have caused irritation among the university employees is the way officials in the administrative wing and in some faculties have succeeded in getting reemployment. One Deputy Financial Adviser has remained in chair even after he retired 15 years ago. One Deputy Registrar and Assistant Registrar, Examinations, have been reemployed after their superannuation at the age of 60. In the Department of English, a senior teacher has ensured himself an endless “tenure” after he floated Centre for New Literature.

Greece to set up Chair

NEW DELHI (PTI): Greece has expressed its desire to set up a Chair in civilisation, history and languages at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

This has been conveyed to Union Minister for Human Resource Development Murli Manohar Joshi by Greek Ambassador to India Yannis Alexis Zepos.

The Chair is expected to become operational by July this year.

The Ambassador also informed Mr Joshi that his country would be increasing the number of annual fellowships offered to India from 50 to 100 by next year.

The two leaders exchanged views on a variety of subjects and agreed that interaction between the two countries should be increased.

DIARY

World’s oldest writing
Clay tablets uncovered in southern Egypt from the tomb of a king named Scorpion may represent the earliest known writing by humans. If confirmed, the discovery would rank among the greatest ever in the search for the origins of the written word. Gunter Dreyer, head of the German Archaeological Institute, said the tablets record linen and oil deliveries made about 5,300 years ago as taxes paid to King Scorpion I, reports Seattle Post-Intelligencer, USA. He said the tablets have been carbon-dated with certainty to between 3300 B.C. and 3200 B.C. The discovery opens for debate a widely held belief among historians that the first people to write were the Sumerians of the Mesopotamian civilisation sometime before 3000 B.C. The exact date of Sumerian writing remains in doubt.

Babies’ instinct
Babies use a previously undiscovered instinct for rules to master the building blocks of language, according to scientists at New York University. The discovery is persuasive evidence that the ability to think in terms of formulas and rules is not just something that must be learned through schooling, as some scholars have argued, but is also a fundamental characteristic of every human mind. Working with seven-month-old infants, NYU researchers determined that even the very young can make sense of speech by figuring out on their own simple rules about the patterns of language structure and grammar. Babies appear to deduce these formal rules well before they can understand what words mean or how to say them. The research, published in “Science,” broadens the understanding of what may be built into every human brain at birth.

Small classes, better scores
Students participating in California’s class size reduction programme did better on last spring’s state reading and mathematics tests than those who did not. In third grade, for example, 41 per cent of students in classes limited to 20 pupils scored at or above the national average in reading, compared with 33 per cent in larger classes. The findings were encouraging to advocates of a state programme that has consumed billions of dollars since 1996 to reduce the size of classes from kindergarten through third grade. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin, a long-time proponent of smaller classes, called the results from the Stanford 9 achievement tests “a positive sign that we are moving in the right direction,” according to a report published in The Seattle Times, USA.

Deadline

Govt jobs

Jan 23 Indian Air Force, Post Box No. 001, DHQ Post Office, New Delhi 110011.

Recruitment of male officers in Permanent Commission and female officers in Short Service Commission for ground duty jobs.

Eligibility:

• For administrative branch: 3-year graduation with First Class (above 60%) and born between 2 Jan. ‘77 and 1 Jan, ‘80 or Postgraduation with Second Class (above 50%) or Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (2-year, full-time or 3-year, part time) and born between 2 Jan, ‘75 and 1 Jan, ‘80 or 3-year LLB with Second Class (above 50%) and born between 2 Jan, ‘74 and 1 Jan, ‘80.
• For logistics branch: 3-year graduation with first class (above 60%) and born between 2 Jan, ‘77 and 1 Jan, ‘80 or postgraduation with second class (above 50%) and born between 2 Jan, ‘75 and 1 Jan, ‘80.

Selection Procedure: Psychological tests, group tests and interview conducted by the Air Force Selection Board.

Application Form: See Employment News dated 2-8 Jan, ‘99.

Jan 27 Indian Army, Additional Directorate General of Recruiting (Women Entry Section), West Block-III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi 110066.

Recruitment of women as Officers

Eligibility:

• Unmarried females/issueless widow/issueless divorcee.
• Age limit: 19-25 years, i.e. must not have been born earlier than 1 Sept, ‘74 and later than 2 Sept, ‘80. Age limit is relaxable to those with postgraduation in Biochemistry/ Microbiology/ Organic Chemistry/ Physics/Maths/ English/ History: 21-27 years, i.e. must not have been born earlier than 1 Sept, ‘72 and later than 2 Sept, ‘78.

For non-technical entry: BA/B. Com/BCA/B.Sc (PCM) with 60% aggregate (50% for those possessing NCC ‘C; Certificate with ‘B’ or higher grade).

For technical entry: BE/B Tech in Civil/ Electrical/ Mechanical/ Electrical/ Computer Science/ Telecommunications engineering.

For specialist entry: Postgraduation in Biochemistry/Organic Chemistry/ Microbiology with 50% aggregate.

3-year diploma or degree in Hotel Management with 50% aggregate.

Postgraduate diploma in Mass Communication/Journalism/Public Relations.

Postgraduation in Physics/Maths/English/History.

Selection Procedure: Psychological tests, group tests, interview and medical examination conducted by the Service Selection Board.

Physical Standards & Application Form: See Employment News dated 26 Dec, ‘98-1 Jan, ‘99.

Jan 31 Indian Coast Guard, Recruitment Cell, Coast Guard Headquarters, National Stadium Complex, New Delhi 110001.

Recruitment of Naviks (General Duty) and Naviks (Domestic Branch).

Eligibility:

• Males
• Age: 17-22 years as on 1 July, ‘99. The upper age limit is relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC.

For General Duty Branch: Pass in Class X (under 10+2+3 scheme) with 55% aggregate (45% for SC/ST.

For Domestic Branch: Pass in Class VIII with 55% aggregate (45% for SC/ST).

Application Form: See Employment News dated 26 Dec, ‘98-1 Jan, ‘99.

Management

Jan 18 Guru Nanak Institute of Management, Road No. 75, GHPS Complex, Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi 110026.

Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (2 years, full-time).

Eligibility: Graduation in any discipline with 50% aggregate.

Selection Procedure: Entrance test, group discussion and interview. Test on 30 Jan, ‘99. Those clearing MAT and INDOMAT will be exempted from written test.

Application Form: Send Rs 450/- by DD in favour of “Guru Nanak Institute of Management” payable at New Delhi, or Rs 400/- in cash at counter.

Jan 30 G.H. Patel Postgraduate Institute of Business Management (MBA) (affiliated to Sardar Patel University), Vallabh Vidyanagar 388120, Gujarat.

Application Form: Send Rs 300/- by crossed DD/postal order in favour of “The Registrar, Sardar Patel University” payable at Vallabh Vidyanagar 388120.

Feb 01 FORE School of Management, B-18, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi 110016. (Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM) — 3years, part-time)

Eligibility: 3-year graduation with 2-year work experience as an executive after graduation.

Selection Procedure: Entrance exam, group discussion and interview.

NRIs/NRI-sponsored candidates/foreign students are exempted from appearing in the entrance exam.

Application Form: Send Rs 950/- by DD/Pay order in favour of “FORE School of Management” payable at New Delhi, to the Chairman, Admissions, or Rs 900/- in cash at counter.

Statistics

Jan 31 Indian Statistical Institute, 203 Barrackpore Trunk Road, Calcutta 700035. (Senior Diploma in Statistics (SDS) and Junior Diploma in Statistics (JDS) examinations.)

Examination: At Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

Application Form: Send Rs 70/- by DD in favour of “Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta” along with a self-addressed envelope (25 cm x 20 cm), to The Secretary, Examinations Committee, or in cash at counter.