Dated 1st November, 2000

I am a student with PCM in my Intermediate (+2) pursuing my BCA from IGNOU. I am also preparing for IIIT, Hyderabad (four year graduate diploma). What percentage of IIIT students get a placement? Which option is better, MCA or IIIT diploma to secure placement in IT industry? Could you suggest a few recognised colleges for MCA degree?Satyendra Kumar Pandey

Patna

The Indian Institute of Information Technology established in Hyderabad, offers courses in IT. While MCA is a course that is established and recognised, the courses offered by IIIT are accepted in the mainstream despite being a new course. Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University and University of Hyderabad in Hyderabad, and the Regional Engineering College, Warangal in Andhra Pradesh; University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Indira Gandhi National Open University in Delhi; Pondicherry University; University of Bombay and Pune in Maharashtra; University of Madras, Anna University, Regional Engineering College in Tamil Nadu and BITS Pilani are some of the better known Universities that offer MCA.

I am student of BA (Economics) final year and I want to pursue my higher studies in MA (Economics). Please give me the details of the examination conducted by JNU and Delhi University for the same.

Lok Priya

Patna

Jawaharlal Nehru University offers MA in Economics with specialisation in World Economy. You need to be a graduate in Economics, Statistics or Mathematics. Admission into the University is regulated through an All India Entrance Exam held at forty centres spread over the country. Advertisements with regard to admissions are carried out in leading publications in February and March. Delhi University also offers a Master's program in Economics. For further details you can correspond directly with the University and apply for the prospectus.

I am in my final year of graduation (commerce). I am confused about my career and I don't know what to opt for in the future. I am interested in proof reading. Are there any training institutes for that? What are the eligibility criteria? Please advise me what to do.

Ajeet Kumar

Ranchi

There are no institutes that offer training in proof reading. To get into this profession you need to have an excellent command over the language. It would be an added advantage if you possess a degree in a language. It is imperative that your skills in grammar, sentence formation and checking the text for errors and rectifying them for easy reading be perfect to secure a good job.

I have been reading with interest the various articles published in the weekly supplement, `OPPORTUNITIES,' of TheHindu. I am particularly interested in your article on teaching special children. I am forty-five years old, a B.Com, B.Ed and Montessori trained teacher. I would like to undergo training for teaching special children. I shall be highly obliged if you could inform me about this. I would also like to know new career options in the teaching line, in view of the technical boom.

Mrs. G. Kannamal

Trivandrum

There are various institutions that provide training in special education. Institutes offering a course in special education need to be recognised by the RCI (Rehabilitation Council Of India). The duration of the courses vary from a one-year diploma to a three-year degree course. Diploma courses for special educators are offered by the Karnataka Parents Association For Mentally Retarded Citizens, (KPAMRC), Bangalore and the National Institute for Mentally Handicapped (NIMH), Secunderabad. There are other specialised courses such as a BSc degree in Speech and Hearing being offered by the Institute of Speech and Hearing, Bangalore and a course for Instructors of the Disabled is offered by Spastic Society of Karnataka, Bangalore.

The utility of computers has extended even into the realm of education. Options such as online teaching and student counselling, teaching in the classroom using the computer as an aid to assign homework or project work, conducting interactive sessions at educational institutes etc are some of the innovative methods to enliven a regular session in the class room. You can take up a basic course in computers and specialise in whichever area you wish.

I am a student of +2 non-medical (PCM). I have opted for astronomy as the subject for higher study. Is there is any university in the country which offers a graduate course in astronomy? Which is the best university for Physics (Honours)?

Megh Shyam

Haryana

Presently there are no institutes or universities offering a graduate course in Astronomy. St. Stephen's College, Delhi is a premier institution that offers Physics in Delhi University. Other well known institutions that offer the same are Aligarh Muslim University, U.P.; Assam University, Assam; B.B.R. Ambedkar, Bihar; Banaras Hindu University, U.P., Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan are some of the universities that offer a graduate Honours course in physics.

I am a PGT in English in a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Assam. I've done CTE from CIEFL and was selected for M.Phil. I have a few questions regarding my further studies. I want to do a course in creative writing. Could you please suggest some the institutions that offer a course in creative writing? Could you please tell me whether diploma in teaching of English (DTE) is equivalent to B.Ed? Which institution offers a correspondence course for B.Ed. and when do I have to apply for it? I know about the course offered at IGNOU's but I would like to know when the course starts. Kindly give me the required information.

Shivapriya Dash

Assam

U.P. Rajarishi Tandon Open University, U.P. and IGNOU offer one- year diploma course in creative writing in English and Hindi. The minimum eligibility criterion is to possess a ten plus two certificate. PGDTE is equivalent to a B.Ed only in teaching English and not any other language. Postal B.Ed is frowned upon and is not looked at favourably by any of the institutions from the last three years. University of Madras and the Madurai Kamaraj University offer B.Ed through Distance or Correspondence Education.

Which are the best colleges and universities that offer MCA and M.Sc. in Information Technology in Tamil Nadu?

S. Ahilan

Tuticorin

Most universities in Tamil Nadu offer a course in MCA and M.Sc. Anna University, College of Engineering, Guindy, Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, T.Nagar; Madras University, Chepauk; Alagappa University, Karaikudi; Bharathiar University, Coimbatore are some of the well known universities that offer MCA and M.Sc. courses.

I am a postgraduate in sociology and serving as social health educator for the past 22 years. At present I am pursuing a PG diploma in journalism and mass communication. Kindly guide me as to how to enter the field of Information Technology with my experience and qualification. Should I do a PGDCA leading to MCA for multimedia, DBA or visual communication? I am also interested in C, C++, VC++, and Java; kindly guide me in this regard.

J. Santha Rao

Orissa

With the present boom in the IT sector, there are many avenues available that are lucrative enough to be a viable career option. You can also consider applying for the post of a content writer or analyst in a dotcom company, with your background and experience. This could prove to be a natural progression, especially since you are pursuing a diploma course in journalism and mass communication. Choosing to specialise in information technology through intensive courses may prove to be a difficult task to accomplish. Possessing excellent programming and communication skills are an essential requisite to progress in the field of IT. You can get an MCA degree and also take up a course in C, C++ and Java if you are keen on pursuing a career in IT. Be forewarned that you will be treated as a fresher, and will have to face stiff competition from better qualified and more experienced people.

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