I am a working professional. I have completed my BCA from IGNOU. I have also done PGDCA which is helping me in my career. I want to pursue a postgraduation course in Human Resource Management (HRM). Please suggest the best university where I can take up this course through distance mode.

Girish

Most of the Universities that offer MBA through the Distance Learning Programme (DLP) offer Human Resource Management (HRM) as a specialisation. Some of the options that you should assess and confirm are as follows (the list by no means is exhaustive):

MBA programme of the School of Management Studies, IGNOU (www.ignou.ac.in), New Delhi. It is offered through study centres across the country.

The two-year, Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (PGDHRM) of the Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL) (www.scdl.net), Pune. It is conducted through e-learning methodology and is very popular with the corporates. Check with your Human Resources/Training Department if they have a tie-up with Symbiosis.

You should also assess the two-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management (PGDPM) that is offered by the National Institute of Personnel Management (NIPM) (www.nipm.in). It is very popular with the HR professionals.

I would like to enrol for the M.Sc. Microbiology programme of Acharya Nagarjuna University in Andhra Pradesh through distance education. I have a B.Sc. in pure sciences and hence the interest. Are the programmes of Nagarjuna University approved by UGC, DEC and other statutory bodies in India?

Mahesh Kandepedu

Acharya Nagarjuna University (www.nagarjunauniversity.ac.in) is an affiliating University established by the Andhra Pradesh Legislature in 1976. It has a NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) grade of B ++ and comes under the ambit of and is funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The University is also a member of Association of the Indian Universities (AIU). The distance education programme that you propose to take up is conducted by the Centre for Distance Education (CDE) (www.anucde.com) of the University, which is recognised by the Distance Education Council (DEC).

I am interested in Women Studies at the postgraduate level. I would like to take up the programme by regular mode in Bangalore. I completed graduation in 1996 in the Science field. Would this be an obstacle for the same?

Ratna I. Kumar

The NMKRV College for Women with PG and Research Centre (Autonomous) conducts the two-year, four-semester Post-Graduate Programme nomenclatured as Master of Arts in Women Studies.

Each semester will have a total of five papers. NMKRV College has been one of the pioneers in Women Studies and a lot of research has gone into the programme. The course is open for graduates of any discipline with 55 per cent marks. For more details, you should contact the Department of Women Studies, NMKRV College (Autonomous), Jayanagar 3rd Block, Bangalore-560 011. Ph: 22449635.

My two sons have been focusing on hardware in the field of computers. One has completed B.Com. with Computer Science and the other has pursued BBM. Can you give details on the scope of this field?

Shankar

Computer hardware engineers design, develop, test and assist in the manufacturing of computer components, products and systems.

Indian Institute of Hardware Technology (IIHT) (www.iiht.com) is India's No.1 training organisation and it offers internationally certified training programmes in Hardware, Networking, Security and Telecommunications. IIHT works with global leaders such as HP, Microsoft, Sun, Oracle and Comptia.

The certifications are industry oriented, conducted with state-of-the-art training infrastructure with certified and experienced faculty. To benefit from IIHT, you should pursue the Advanced Computer Hardware and Networking Professional programme.

Jetking (www.jetkinginfotrain.com), Computer Hardware and Networking Institute conducts the popular Jetking Certified Hardware and Networking Professional (JCHNP) course which is divided into four modules.

The eligibility criterion is qualification in the higher secondary or senior secondary course.

The 13-month Jetking Certified Hardware and Networking Professional Premium programme gives 650 hrs of in-depth knowledge to a student in Basic Electronics and Computer Applications, Computer Hardware and Peripherals, MCSA and Network Administration.

A special module has also been developed to cater to students with a technical background. B.E. / MCA / M.Sc. /B.Sc. / Diploma holders can take up a Master's in Network Administration from Jetking.

You can contact the Jetking office at 13, 2nd Floor, Bhashyam Circle, Sankey Road (Ph: 23613107, 2361448).

I am in Plus Two (ISC) (Delhi Board) and I want to become a Physicist. I would like to go through the Engineering curriculum rather than the Bachelor of Science mode. Please suggest a good course in engineering that would help me for a career in research in Pure Physics or Atomic Physics.

Narender

There are numerous branches of physics and each has its corresponding specialists. The undergraduate curriculum generally includes the following courses viz., Theoretical Physics, Astronomy, Electricity, Optics, Quantum Physics, Nuclear Physics, and Solid State Physics.

At a later stage you can specialise in the areas of Astrophysics, Atomic Physics, Molecular Physics, Bio Physics, Chemical Physics, Geo Physics, Material Science, Nuclear Physics, Particle Physics, and Plasma Physics.

At the engineering level (viz., Bachelor of Technology or Engineering) the Universities do not have programmes that focus on Physics but have a compulsory paper that will take you through the basics. Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) Bangalore-560 012 (www.physics.iisc.ernet.in), Bangalore, is a wonderful place to be in for the area of Physics.

You can pursue the Integrated programme leading to Ph.D. after graduation. The areas of research are exponential. You can contact the Chairman of the Department at Ph: 2293 2315. E-mail: chairman@

physics.iisc.ernet.in

Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) (www.jncasr.ac.in) is another place that is worth considering.

You should contact The Coordinator, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bangalore-560064. E-mail: academic@jncasr.ac.in