JNU entrance test date extended

Pervin Malhotra
email your queries to [email protected] 

Q. I’m a Class XII student and am really keen on studying in JNU. What are my chances of getting into this institution? — Komili Sen

A. Well, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) offers plenty of varied and diverse options at the postgraduate level, but the choice is limited at the bachelor’s level to language courses. You can opt for BA (Hons) in Foreign Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Pashto and Russian).

• The good news is that the entrance exam for admission to all undergrad and PG courses JNUEE that was earlier scheduled for December 27 has now been postponed to May 2019. This will give you sufficient time to prepare after you’re done with your Board exams.
• Starting this year, the computer-based MCQ-based exam will be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
• To enable students to get a hang of the new online pattern, multiple mock-test centres are being set up all over the country.

Course for social entrepreneurship

Q.After completing my BTech (Agri Tech), I am currently working in a consulting firm. However, I am very keen to start my own venture on the lines of social entrepreneurship. Preferably, something related to environment. What are the steps towards starting up? If I design a product or idea, that I am currently working on, how can I ensure it reaches a wide audience and gets proper recognition? — Rohan Prakash

A. Social entrepreneurs are individuals like you who look at using innovative solutions to tackle society’s most pressing social problems. Ambitious, passionate and persistent, they tackle major social issues and offer new ideas to bring about wide-scale change.

Rather than leaving societal needs to the government or business sectors, social entrepreneurs find what’s not working and try to solve the problem by changing it 

If you can view the unmet needs and problems around you as opportunities, you have a major role to play in reshaping society through your realistic, innovative, and effective problem solving strategies. What India needs is an army of social entrepreneurs and change makers, trying to solve the issues across our villages and cities, and resolving to build a vibrant and shining India. 

Even if you don’t pursue a formal programme in social entrepreneurship from any of the institutes listed below, I suggest you get some help (albeit informal) from profs at any of the institutes that have special Departments/courses in social entrepreneurship e.g. 

• IITM, Chennai (www.iitm.ac.in)
• Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, Hyderabad, Tuljapur, Guwahati (www.tiss.edu); M.A in Social Innovations & Entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI), Ahmedabad (www.ediindia.org)Centre for Social Entrepreneurship & CSR. Also offers Open Learning Programme in the subject 
• NMIMS, Mumbai, Bangalore, Shirpur, Hyderabad etc (www.nmims.edu)MBA (Social Entrepreneurship) etc
• Ashoka Foundation (www.ashoka.org). If you get selected as a “Fellow” of the foundation, they will give you all the necessary guidance and assistance.
• Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), Anand (Guj), (www.irma.ac.in)

PG in Rural Management, Fellow programme in Rural Management.

This is merely an indicative listing. There are several others. 

Should I opt for home science in graduation?

Q. I have taken home science as one of my subjects in Class XI and find it rather interesting. Does it make sense to pursue it at the bachelor’s level? What kind of jobs does it offer? — Shamalee Thapar

A.  Why not! Gone are the days when Home Science was considered a ‘soft option’ for ‘girls-only’. Modern-day careers in home science extend to sectors such as education, FMCG, healthcare, hospitality, counselling, child development and extension services.

• These are besides the multitude of other career options – food and nutrition, clothing and textiles, interior design and furnishing, merchandising, marriage and family relationship, rural development, community health and hygiene, and community resources management.
• If you’re a ‘people’ person and enjoy sales and marketing you can specialize in promotion of food, healthcare and wellness products. You could even specialize in Dietetics or Food and Nutrition, or opt for working at child-care centres or old-age homes. 
• To let your creative juices flow, you may explore the fields of fashion, textile, accessory or interior design. Similarly, if you have flair for management and supervision the hotel industry also offers opportunities in house-keeping departments at resorts, hotels, spas, restaurants and in the growing field of facilities management. 
• And if you are inclined towards entrepreneurship, you could even set up your own bakery or organic food outlet or service. 
• Those who are more academically inclined, can always take up a teaching role or research work.

So, all said and done, and regardless of its somewhat misleading nomenclature, home science offers a plethora of varied and interesting career options.