I have heard about the short-term computational engineering course in IIT, Chennai. I completed B.E. in 2002. Please provide me the details of the programme.
Abhijeet

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai (www.iitm.ac.in), conducts the one-year full-time programme entitled 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, ALIAS, and 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. It includes a six-month major engineering project under the guidance of the faculty members of IIT and engineers from BHEL.

For those interested in similar programmes of IITM-BHEL, besides Computational Engineering, the centre also conducts one-year programmes in Welding and Energy Engineering.

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

I have completed M.Sc in Mathematics in the regular mode. Kindly advice if I can pursue the Statistical Quality course at the Institute of Statistics, Bangalore. What are the minimum qualifications?

Tejeswini Bharat

The Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore (www.isibang.ac.in), conducts the part-time certificate course in Statistical Quality Control (SQC) with a motive to provide the learner intensive training in the theory and practicalities of Statistical Quality Control.

This six-month programme is conducted in two sessions: January to June and June to December. The course covers statistical techniques for the focused areas of International Standards Organisation (ISO) and Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and even has additional inputs in Six Sigma.

Admission is open to individuals from the scientific, industrial and commercial organisations. The following are the minimum qualifications for the programme:

Degree/Diploma in any branch of technology

Bachelor's Degree with Mathematics at the Pre-University or any equivalent qualification

Candidates should be under 35 years of age

Should have one-year experience

The course will be conducted on the Institute premises. For more details, contact the Programme Coordinator, Part-Time Certificate Course in SQC, Indian Statistical Institute, 8th Mile, Mysore Road, Bangalore-560 059. Ph: 28483002. E-mail: sqcor@isibang.ac.in

My aim is to graduate in B.E. Metallurgy and make a career in that field. Please provide me information about institutes which offer this course.

Rafeeq Ahmed

The Department of Metallurgy (www.met.iisc.ernet.in), Indian Institute of Science (www.iisc.ernet.in), Bangalore-560 012. Ph: 080-23600120, 22932259; and National Institute of Technology (NIT) (www.nitk.ac.in), Surathkal, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka offer programmes in the field of Metallurgy.

The IISc's Department of Metallurgy was established in 1945 and is dedicated to the advancement of education and research in metallurgy and materials engineering. It had initiated teaching programmes at the bachelor's degree level and master's degree level in 1947 and 1964 respectively.

The department has been recognised as a “Centre for Advanced Study” by the University Grants Commission since 1990. You can contact the Chairman of the Department of Metallurgy, and get to know the area of study better.

The Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, is one of the oldest departments which has created a niche for itself. You can contact the Head, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, on 0824-2474059 and get information on the curriculum and syllabi so that you can plan a career of choice with NIT.

I have done Diploma in Computer Science from the Technical Board of Karnataka. Most of the institutions ask for Plus Two for enrolment in the B.Sc or M.Sc programme.

I want pursue M.Sc. Computer Science from the Open University in Karnataka.

I am confused about the eligibility criteria. Please give me details of the M.Sc. programmes being offered by other Universities as well.

Sagar Datar

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 from appearing 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) from KSOU or any other University viz., Annamalai University, Madurai Kamaraj University and Manonmanian Sundaranar University.

How is the field of Food and Nutrition at this juncture? After completion of graduation in 2005 I started work in a field that is not related to it. Is it feasible to pursue a good programme in Karnataka at the Master's level?

I do not mind moving out of my present location, stay in a hostel and ensure that I get a good qualification that will help me achieve my ambition.

Lina Desai

The science of Food and Technology is exclusive and one that impacts a large segment of society. Situated in the beautiful Cheluvamba Palace in Mysore, the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) (www.cftri.com) came into existence in 1950. The five decades of service to the nation that CFTRI has rendered can be looked at with pride.

Being a graduate in the field of Food Technology you can take up the two-year, four-semester programme of Master of Science (M.Sc) Food Technology. The detailed eligibility criteria are as follows:

Minimum qualification for applying to the course is a Bachelor's Degree in:

Science with Chemistry as one of the major subjects with 55 per cent in optional subjects of B.Sc. pass course (50 per cent for SC/ST category) / 50 per cent for B.Sc.(Hons.) course (45 per cent for SC/ST category)

Agriculture with minimum second class

Engineering / Technology with minimum second class

Mathematics at the Higher Secondary/PUC/+2 level is compulsory.

Admission to the programme is based on merit as evidenced by academic records of the qualifying degree exams and on the performance in the entrance examination conducted by CFTRI. You can contact the Director, CFTRI, Mysore-570 020, for any other information. Ph: 0821-2514310.

I am an engineering (Civil) student and would like to know about the finer aspects of Geographic Information System (GIS). I want details of the courses offered. Please provide information on the job opportunities.

Venkatesh Shetty

Powerful new technologies have emerged in recent years that greatly improve our ability to collect, store, manage, analyse, and utilise information regarding the features of the Earth's surface and to combine these with other types of economic, social and environmental information. These technologies include geographic information system (GIS), global positioning system (GPS) and satellite-based remote sensing, and they penetrate every aspect of our lives. In fact developed countries have put them to maximum use.

The focus of the GIS and GPS degrees is to train high quality application specialists with practical skills in a variety of commercially viable software that includes Arc Info, ERDAS Imagine, ER-MAPPER, Arc View 3 and ArcGIS.

GIS is an electronic information system that analyses, integrates, and displays information based on geography. GIS systems have powerful visual display capabilities that present the results of analysis on maps on a wide variety of scales, ranging from very large (accurate to within inches) to very small (accurate only in broad overview). GIS is regarded as the best technology to understand and solve problems associated with government information which has a geographic dimension — a street address, a transportation corridor, a river, a city line.

Indian space research has been considered as one of the best in the world and it is unparalleled in the developing nations' category. In fact, in India it is estimated that there are about 150 GIS companies.

Many States have realised the potential for GIS and GPS, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat. Hyderabad has become the GIS capital of India.

The starting point in building a successful career in GIS is good education. This involves taking classes in cartography, GIS, database management and programming.

There are a lot of GIS certificate courses emerging that help solve the confusion as to which classes to take, but any department offering GIS coursework is a great starting point.

One of the well known places for GIS and GPS learning is the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTU) (www.jntu.ac.in). You can also contact the GIS Institute (www.gisinstitute.net) located at Noida for information on various courses.

Besides these a few Universities conduct Geology programmes, wherein the component of GIS and GPS is also included.

Contact the Department of Applied Geology, Kuvempu University (www.kuvempuuniversity.org) for further details, as it has excelled in the field of GIS and GPS.