Chandigarh, Monday, January 11, 1999
|
Chandigarh, Monday, January 11, 1999 |
Industry captains must
play role |
Decision irks
NET-qualified
|
 |
Industry
captains must play role TECHNICAL education is an important adjunct to economic development. It is estimated that globally almost 50% of economic development in attributed to technological progress. Rapid industrialisation coupled with liberalisation and globalisation for the economic development of the country calls for a matching supply of technical man-power. No doubt, the capacity of technical education system has increased manifold over the recent years, yet it involves less than 1% of the total student enrolment in the entire higher education. The main reason behind this inadequacy is that till recently technical education was zealously guarded by state and central governments through the support provided by them. The number of technical education institutions for engineering and technology at diploma and degree levels in the country has risen to 7,000, with an increase in intake from about 1,000 to 3,00,000. Besides we have over 80 institutions providing architecture education at the undergraduate level with an intake capacity of 3,500 and another 500 institutions providing pharmacy education with an intake of 25,000. Management education is imparted in 500 institutions with an intake of 45,000. Yet manpower in this sector remains about 0.3 per thousand of population as compared with almost 40 per thousand in developed countries. Although we have a wide base of science and technology education with adequate infrastructure and trained human resources, it happens that every time we move a step forward, the global scenario hops 5 to 10 steps ahead. As a result, the number of scientists and engineers in the country remain meagre, keeping in view the large population. Also associated with global dynamics is our demographic pressures which make our problems more intricate. We have demonstrated significant achievements in the fields of agriculture, energy, electronics, telecommunications, space, missiles, bio-technology but we do measure up to the global standards of performance in many and technological achievements and depend heavily on import of technology. Borrowing out-of-date technology from abroad will always keep us trailing. With the liberalisation of economy, the protection enjoyed by industry is fast disappearing. Global players are able to retain their hold on the market by continuous innovations through in-house R&D leading to performance enhancement in addition to new features and reduction in cost of production and other operations. Research and development for industry can be divided into three categories: basic or exploratory research; applied research; and development. Development is an integration of research findings of one or more research projects with already existing knowledge, resulting in formation of new or modified products or processes. In the USA, nearly 65% of the R&D budget in Science and Technology is spent in the industry, out of which nearly 75% is in the development category. It is important that while the industry in the USA bears about 65% of the total expenditure, Indian industry does so to the tune of less than 25%. Unfortunately, there have been a lot of quick-fix R&D efforts in producing duplicate products i.e. low quality and cheaper substitutes, which bring a bad name to the industry in particular and the country in general. How long can we survive with such negative efforts in the present day open economy? The capacity to act rather than to think and innovate becomes the sole aim of industry leaders. The emphasis is on increasing today’s business rather than tomorrow’s industry. This call for quality technical education. Investment in technical
education makes a vital contribution to economic growth
in terms of high rates of growth of economy’s
productivity. The returns to such specialised human
capital are estimated to be very high. It was found that
a mere 1/8th of growth in the USA was due to increase of
inputs of labour and capital and a majority of
unexplained productivity was due to technical progress,
attributable mostly to investment in technical education.
|
Decision
irks NET-qualified The year could not have started on a worst note for NET-qualified research scholars. Barely two days after the December 27 UGC-NET exam, the UGC decided to make it optional for the universities to exempt Ph.D. holders from qualifying the NET for appointment as lecturers. “Time-pass research” rose like the proverbial sphinx from the ashes just when everyone thought that it had been given a surreptitious burial and campus corridors, which had for long remained bereft of research scholars’ humdrum jived with activity. Postgraduate unemployed students have started knocking at the doors of probable guides and modalities for being enrolled as research scholars have begun. Even those faculty members who were “nobody” in academic circles a few days ago are facing anxious queries (from such students) more than they can handle. Hopes for merit getting its rightful due have been dashed. “The decision will prompt backdoor entries in the faculty and capabilities will be bid adieu,” feels Dr Anuj Sawhney, a NET-qualified DAV College lecturer. Even senior faculty members are not impressed. Prof R.C. Kanwar feels that the standard of research will deteriorate. “NET acted as a perfect filter,” he says. He is of the view that probably because there is a dearth of NET-qualified persons the UGC had to relax the rules. The university authorities are not in a mood to act in haste. Prof V.K. Bansal, who was the coordinator of the recently concluded UGC exams, says the circular is still awaited. “Only after going through the exact language of the notification will I be able to comment,” he says and adds that he is not very clear about the ‘option’ part of the commission’s decision. The situation is as foggy as the weather these days. What would be the PU’s decision, only days ahead will tell. Right now, confusion and suspicion reign supreme and the research scholar strata is divided into non-NET and NET-qualified factions. Ostensibly, the non-NET qualified scholars are jubilant and feel that the decision will promote quality research. “I think that now a bright career prospect lies ahead and we will not feel discriminated,’ says Mr Onkar Singh. But what about those who
toiled to clear the NET in the hope that they would end
up as a teacher because they were brighter than the rest?
“We feel cheated,” a NET qualified scholar puts
in succinctly. |
| campus |
Sangma
to address seminar ROHTAK: Maharshi Dayanand University plans to introduce a course in Bachelor of Computer Application in affiliated colleges from the next academic session. The three-year full time degree programme will be on the pattern being followed by Delhi University. The university already runs this course in the University College. The course is on a “self-financing” basis and no additional staff is needed for the same. ******* The university has revived December exams for students in affiliated colleges after a lapse of five years, despite opposition from a section of students. Though holding of the exams was a statutory obligation, it was discontinued following disturbances on the campus. The university statutes provide that a student who has not taken the December exams will not be allowed to appear in the annual examination. ******* The non-teaching employees association has demanded restoration of university autonomy and abolition of the provision that envisages that the university shall not create any teaching and non-teaching post or revise the pay scales of its employees, including teachers, without prior approval of the government. It has also demanded representation in the Executive Council (EC) to non-teaching staff. Academic atmosphere has been restored on the campus. This has been possible, according the Vice-Chancellor, due to various steps including controlling entry to the university, demanding proper functioning by the security staff, strict supervision and vigilance by security officers and ensuring that no unauthorised vehicle entered the university campus. ******* The Dr Ambedkar Students Front and Research Scholars Sangh have decided to hold a seminar on January 16 on “Constitutional and fundamental rights of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes and their social and economic conditions after 50 years of Independence”. The former Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr P.A. Sangma, MP, will be the chief guest. Interestingly, the seminar will not be held on the university campus but in the Sir Chhottu Ram Park situated in the heart of the city. The presidents of these organisations, Mr Ranbir Gulia and Mr Ashok Arya, are among the students who have been expelled from the university. ******* The university has decided to constitute a committee to examine anomalies in pay scales of different categories of employees. It has also decided to nominate a representative of the non-teaching employees in the proposed committee. The Non-Teaching Employees Association has demanded the implementation of the reservation policy according to the directives of the state government. Besides introducing a five-day week for the security staff, the association has sought a 100 per cent internal promotion in the ministerial and supervisory posts upto the level of Deputy Registrar. The association has
further demanded full fee concession and weightage in
admission to the employees and their wards in all regular
and distance education courses. |
| career |
Arpita Kumar, Chandigarh Making a career decision is not the easiest thing in the world. But please don’t let mere statistics guide your choice of career. Numbers don’t count. Your calibre does. While there may be relatively fewer women in the traditional branches of engineering like civil or mechanical which involve working outdoors, on site, or on the factory shop floor, there are any number of hot-shot electronics and computer engineers who are women. And the same goes with doctors. If you are keen on medicine but do not savour the prospect of being on call round-the-clock, you may opt for fields like dentistry, ophthalmology or dermatology for instance which pose fewer emergencies.
Doni D’Cruz, SAS Nagar A Master’s course in Tourism Management is offered through correspondence by Madurai-Kamaraj University, University Buildings, Palkalai Nagar, Madurai 625021. You can even do a 1-year postgraduate diploma in Tourism Management through correspondence from any of the following universities:
Employment opportunities exist in Government tourism and information departments, ITDC and hotels run by the state departments of tourism, airlines and other commercial transport services, travel agencies and as tour operators in the ticketing & reservations department, documentation, publicity and sales departments. The immigration and customs departments also offer avenues for those with a background in travel and tourism. Of course, you could also consider opening your own travel agency or specialise in tour operation, cargo handling or branch into special interest tourism like adventure travel, planning conference and convention itineraries.
Deepak Arora, SAS Nagar Only nationals of European Economic Area countries can work in the UK without obtaining permission. For others, it might be possible to obtain permission to work part-time or during vacations. However, it is often difficult to find suitable work, and therefore, you should not expect to finance your studies by working in the UK. In any case, you are required to convince the immigration officers that you can fund your studies without relying on work in the UK. In most cases, the wife of an international student will be allowed to work, part-time or full-time, without obtaining permission. If the husband of a female student is admitted to the UK as her dependent, he would however not be permitted to work. If your partner accompanies you as your dependant and you are admitted to a course for a minimum of 12 months, your spouse will be able to work without a work permit. Postgraduate students can undertake teaching and laboratory demonstration work without a work permit, only if the work does not exceed six hours a week.
Neelima Dutt, Chandigarh The following institutes offer postgraduate courses in Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering.
Admission to all the
above-mentioned IITs and the Indian Institute of Science
is on the basis of performance in GATE which is conducted
on an all-India basis. However, for those without a
degree in Engineering/Architecture/Pharmacy, and M.Sc is
essential. |
| admis |
|
 |
 |
| | Nation | Punjab | Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu
& Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sports | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
