I am currently studying in Standard 12 in the Science stream. Can you give me inputs about pilot training courses in India and abroad (SPL, PPL, CPL, Command Instrument rating, multi-engine endorsement)?

Kiran Rao

Flying is one area that has enamoured children. There are many opportunities in today's world. The following are the qualifications: Those with +2 in Science and those who have completed 17 years of age should acquire the Student Pilot Licence (SPL). Then start flight training to get Private Pilot Licence (PPL). This includes a total of 60 hours of flying comprising dual flying and cross-country flying. Some of the examinations that are to be cleared are: Air Regulation, Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Aircraft and Engines.

After getting the PPL, with another 190 hours of flying one can acquire the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). In the CPL training the candidate gets exposure to a range of aircraft and fulfils other conditions such as specified hours of flying (solo), cross-country flying and height flying. You can get in touch with the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) (Training Section), Technical Centre, opposite Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi-110 003.

I want to apply for the UGC-JRF examination that is to be held in June. I am scheduled to write the test for Management and Business Studies/Administration. I have been preparing for about two months now but do not feel confident. What should I do in order to clear the examination?

Margaret Chidanand

The National Educational Testing Bureau of the University Grants Commission (UGC) conducts the National Eligibility Test (NET) to determine eligibility for lectureship and for award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) for Indian nationals in order to ensure minimum standards for entrants in the teaching profession and research. The test is conducted in Humanities (including languages), Social Sciences, Forensic Science, Environmental Sciences, Computer Science and Applications and Electronic Science. NET has now become compulsory for anyone who wants to teach at the college level. Getting the NET certificate may seem as an elusive dream for many and has been considered as an examination that tests the thinking power of the candidates and ability to apply what has been learnt over a period of time, but a little bit of preparation may turn it into reality.

To attempt the examination you should assess the syllabi that has been provided by the UGC. The Management curriculum encompasses Human Resources, Finance, Marketing, Production Management, Statistics, Business Economics, and Corporate Strategy.

Think out of the box and answer questions from the industry perspective and focus on the issues as it would happen in an organisation. Wide, intensive learning and understanding the nuances along with a focus on the corporate happenings will help in your preparation as and when you take the examination.

I have done the three-year Diploma in Computer Science (after +2) from the Technical Board. I want pursue M.Sc. Computer Science from the Open University in Karnataka. Does it have recognition? Please give details of the M.Sc. programmes being offered by other universities as well and if they are approved for I have realised the importance of the approval through your columns.

Santhosh Biradar

The Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) (www.ksoumysore.com) permits Diploma holders to pursue the Bachelor in Science (Information Technology). Diploma holders will be allowed admission to the second year as they will be exempted to appear for the first year.

The reading of the statute is as follows as far the admission process for B.Sc (IT) is concerned:

A pass in 10+2 examination or equivalent

Those who have completed DIT can directly join the II semester of B.Sc (IT)

Under the lateral entry scheme, those who have passed 10+2 or equivalent and also passed a six-month computer course from any government/approved institute may enter the II semester of B.Sc (IT) straight. However, they have to clear the first semester examination to get eligibility for the award of B.Sc (IT)

On completion of B.Sc (IT) you can enrol for M.Sc (IT) at KSOU or any other University viz., Annamalai University, Madurai Kamaraj University and even Manonmanian Sundaranar University.

I am a counsellor with a business school (graduation/BBM, B.Com and BCA). Most of the students are with agriculture background as we are located in a rural area. They have shown keenness to join Agri-Business Management programmes. Please give me the names of leading schools in India which cater to the same.

Preeti Nachappa

The following two programmes are conducted on campus and are very popular. Pursuing them from IIMA and IRMA would help you juxtapose the hardcore agricultural scientist in the students and the dynamics of business and the corporate world to help make a career of choice.

India, being an economy where agriculture plays a dominant role, needs individuals and students to have the farmers focused on the issues they do best.

Post-Graduate Programme in Agri-Business Management (PGP-ABM) of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) (www.iimahd.ernet.in) offers specialisation in Agri-Business Management for students interested in rural and agricultural management.

Institute of Rural Management (IRMA), Anand, offers Post-Graduate programmes in Rural Management (PGDRM), and Development. Placements are good in both the institutes.

I have heard about the short term computational engineering course in IIT-Chennai. I completed B.E. in 2009. Please provide me details of the programme that is available in this institute.

Trupti

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Chennai (www.iitm.ac.in) conducts the one-year fulltime programme titled Certificate in Computational Engineering which encompasses Computational Fluid Dynamics – CFD; Computer Aided Design – CAD; Finite Element Method – FEM; Continuum Mechanics; Design of Piping, Heat Exchanges & Pressure Vessels and project work. Some of the software tools that are put to use during the programme are Pro/E, CATA, ANSYS, CFX, PV-ELITE, ABAQUS, CAESAR, and ALIAS, I-DEAS.

The programme is conducted by IIT through the School of Advanced Engineering and Information Technology (SAEIT) (www.saiet-tiruchi.com) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Tiruchirapalli.

The one-year programme incorporates a six-month major engineering project under the guidance of the faculty members of IIT and engineers from BHEL.

One-year programmes in Welding and Energy Engineering are also available.

For more information you should contact the Director, SAEIT, BHEL, Tiruchirapalli-620 014. Ph: 0431-2577891/846