Category: Article

Audition for the noblest of all Professions

Teaching. Yes, this work is the most important these days. Especially in times when technology wires our emotions, climate change pervades our lives and information overload our brains. In such a scenario, a sift is required. This can be done only by a teacher. To build the skills that will take us into the 22nd century, we need teachers with the training and support to ignite curiosity and foster creative problem-solving.

For all those who wish to join this noble profession, here is a shout out for the upcoming PSTET ie Punjab State Teachers Eligibility Test. It is conducted by the State Council of Educational Research & Training, Punjab for the post of teachers in state government, Mandal Parishad, Zila Parishad, Municipality, Private Aided & Un-aided Schools for the class I-VII. Applicants can apply for the PSTET exam by registering themselves through the Online Application Form, from the official website.

The PSTET Exam will be organized by the PSEB under the guidance of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Punjab. The Punjab Board has termed the December 2019 exam as “PSTET 2018” which will be conducted on 15 December 2019. The PSTET Registration/Application link is now active on the official website pstet.net. The Punjab STET online application process will go on till 25th November 2019. The PSTET Paper-I is for Class I-V teachers; while the PSTET Paper-II is for Class VI-VIII teachers.

Eligibility Criteria:  

Candidates should have following qualifications as prescribed by the NCTE:

Educational Qualification

For Paper I (Primary Teachers – Classes I To V)

• Applying candidates must have passed Senior Secondary (or it is equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed OR appearing in the final year of 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education 
• Applicants need to obtain 50% minimum marks in Senior Secondary or its equivalent examination & finalized or appearing in final/ last year of 4-year Bachelor in Elementary Education.

For Paper II (Secondary Teachers – Classes VI To VIII)

• Applicants must have passed in graduation or final year of a 2-year diploma in education elementary education.
• Aspirants must have qualified graduation with minimum 55% marks or appearing in 1 year Bachelor Degree in B.Ed

Essential Qualification

Candidates should be passed/appearing in B.Ed/Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks for both sections.

How to apply

You can apply via Online /Offline mode by filling up the application forms on the Official Website of the Department i.e. www.tetpunjab.com.Participants will be shortlisted by marks scored in the Entrance Exam. and would also have to go for the Final Round Personal Interview.

Application Fee:

Can you guess which college major is one of the most popular among undergraduate students all over the world? Do you know which subject you can dovetail in almost any career you get into whether it is doctor, engineer or a lawyer. The answer is Psychology. The knowledge of this subject would not only land you with a job in the same field but also if you are already settled in your career and wish  to accelerate your performance by upscaling your understanding of how human minds think and work, the answer is Psychology.

Psychology has many practical applications outside of academic research, including uses in therapy, education, business and many other fields. Some psychologists work with legal professionals to understand and predict criminal behavior; others help businesses run more effectively by studying employee interactions with each other and their work environment.

In case you do not have the time for a regular course or wish to enhance your career with a knowledge of Psychology per se, distance education is the option for you. In fact, it is more affordable and time & place is as per your comfort. Today, Distance education psychology courses are commonly available through undergraduate and graduate degree programs. These courses allow students to explore concepts and theories in a wide variety of subjects, such as developmental, forensic and social psychology, and they also prepare students to be able to conduct research of their own. Aspiring psychology students can find a wide range of coursework available through online learning. Course topics running the gamut from cognitive and child psychology to biopsychology and theories of personality can help you explore your interest in the field.

Who should go for a distance learning degree in Psychology?

Earning a degree in psychology can be a great way to prepare for a range of different professions. The skills that you acquire during your study of psychology such as analyzing data, communicating complex information and understanding human behavior are all abilities that are highly prized by employers.

According to Complete Psychology by Graham Davey (2007), only about 15 to 20 percent of Psychology majors go on to become professional psychologists or counselors. So what do the estimated three-quarters of psychology majors end up doing with their degrees? Many put their knowledge of Psychology to work in various professions including marketing, business, advertising, criminal justice, education, sales, public affairs, health services, human resources, and numerous other areas.

Time can also be a dictating factor. Shift work and the deadlines of contracts can make on-campus courses impossible, even if the college is right next door. Families and the other commitments of life can be influential. Care of aging parents, illness or accident, and many other personal situations cause responsible adults to seek distance education programs.

Institutes providing distance education programs:

For those with significant commitments to work or family who wish to earn a degree in psychology, an online psychology degree program can make a lot of sense. Most online degrees are designed with working adults in mind, allowing far more flexibility than a traditional degree program and eliminating the need to move or travel to campus for class. Students pursuing their psychology degree online can complete their coursework and other assignments at the time that is most convenient for them and from any location with an internet connection. Most of the best online psychology schools allow students to complete any required internships or practicums in their hometown.

• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
• Annamalai University
• University of Mumbai
• Andhra University
• Madras University
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University
• Osmania University
• Tamil Nadu Open University
• Karnataka State Open University
• Nalanda Open University

Course Cursor:

Undergraduate courses

• Bachelor of Arts Honors in Applied Psychology
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology

Post graduate courses

• Master of Arts in Applied Psychology
• Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
• Master of Arts in Psychology
• M.Sc. in Psychology
• M. Sc. in Psychological Counseling (Self Financing Course)

Diploma courses

• P.G. Diploma in Psychological Counseling (PGDPC)
• PG and advanced diploma in psychology

Career Pathways:

Earning a degree in Psychology is an excellent way to gain a greater understanding of people. In addition to satisfying your own interest in human nature, having a solid understanding of what makes people do certain things can be a very marketable skill in a wide variety of job settings, including social services, advertising, marketing, education, health care, and politics.Psychology is certainly not a one-size-fits-all career choice. In fact, one of the greatest strengths of a psychology degree is the enormous variety of career paths that are available to graduates. You can tailor your education and degree to focus on specialty areas that appeal to their interests. Some of these potential professions include:

• Clinical Psychology
• Sports Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Human Factors Psychology

The Road Ahead:

According to a research, the employment of Psychologists is expected to grow at a rate of about 19 percent through the year 2024. This is considered much faster than average growth. This is good news for those interested in earning a degree in psychology online. The demand for psychological services in schools, hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers, and social services agencies is expected to fuel the demand for trained professionals. Three job areas expected to be in high demand are in clinical psychology, school psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology.

Therefore, if you wish to pursue a career in Psychology or wish to dovetail your skills in understanding human behavior in your current career, tune in for a distance learning program in Psychology.

Over the past few years, the onset of winter is accompanied by a thick layer of smog that covers the atmosphere leading to worsening air pollution. This leads to a sharp rise in cases of chest and throat diseases. The rise has occurred despite steady improvements in medical care and nutrition, as well as a shift away from using wood as fuel in rural areas. Together this has mitigated many factors long blamed for the high levels of respiratory diseases in India.

This has been primarily due to  the unprecedented decline in air quality across India.There are tens of millions of people suffering from lung disease who are in immediate need of medication. This has increased the requirement of trained Pulmonologists.

What is Pulmonology?

Pulmonology or chest medicine and respiratory medicine is the branch of internal medicine concerned with diseases of lungs, respiratory tract, bronchial tubes, upper respiratory tract and heart as well. Treatment includes oxygen therapy, medication of most diseases either by inhaling bronchodilators, steroids and in oral form. The branch of medicine that deals with the causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases affecting the lungs.

Pulmonary medicine is also sometimes called pulmonology which is the science concerned with the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the lungs. It  is considered a branch of internal medicine, and is related to intensive care medicine and  involves managing patients who need life support and mechanical ventilation. Pulmonologists are specially trained in diseases and conditions of the chest, particularly pneumonia, asthma, tuberculosis, emphysema, and complicated chest infections. 

Who is a Pulmonologist?

Pulmonologist also known as Pulmonary Disease Specialist is a medical practitioner specialized in the field of pulmonary (Lungs) medicine – a subspecialty of internal medicine. These specialist doctors are trained for diagnosis and treatment of diseases, disorders and abnormalities of the lungs and cardiopulmonary system consisting of heart, lungs, blood vessels and all the organs that work together to help a person breathe, in order to take in oxygen required for the oxygenation of the blood.

What does a Pulmonologist do?

Pulmonologists are involved in the treatment of breathing disorders. However, they are also capable of prescribing medication for problems like sleep disorders, severe allergies, and other lung conditions and diseases besides providing critical care medicine while treating patients in the ICU.

Aspiring candidates with good knowledge and capacity to work at odd hours along with genuine desire to treat the patients are the right kind of persons to become successful Pulmonologists by acquiring required qualification.

How to Become a Pulmonologist?

Undergraduate

Candidate who has completed the age of 17 years of the year of admission to the MBBS course. H.S.C. / (+2) or equivalent qualification with English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Botany & Zoology with minimum marks as per MCI norms. Eligible NEET (UG) score as prescribed by MCI.

MD After MBBS:

After completion of this four and half years of MBBS degree course and one years and six months compulsory training one has to go for M.D. (Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine).

M. D. in Pulmonary Medicine is a two year postgraduate program that focuses on interstitial lung disease, pulmonary vascular disease, heart- lung and lung transplantation and nontuberculous mycobacterial disease. It also provides preoperative evaluations and comprehensive pulmonary functional testing. While doing the course, you would learn whole range of diagnostic and therapeutic and procedures associated with the practice of pulmonary and critical care medicine: flexible fibre optic bronchoscopy with all ancillary procedures, thoracentesis and closed pleural biopsy, endotracheal intubation,arterial and central vein line placement, bedside pulmonary vein catheterization and chest tube placement. 

Doctor of Medicine Colleges and Universities:

Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College

Tamil Nadu, Dr M.G.R Medical University Chennai

AIIMS, New Delhi

Career Prospects:

Rapid increase in the number of patients inflicted by Pulmonary diseases has created the need for spurt of careers in Pulmonology in the recent past. There is a need for Pulmonologists in the Government hospitals like PGI and AIIMS but also in private hospitals like Apollo, Fortis and the like. You may also go in for teaching and research in Medical Colleges. 

You may also carve a niche for yourself in Interventional pulmonology (IP) – a maturing subspecialty of pulmonary medicine focused on advanced diagnostic and therapeutic pulmonary and thoracic medical procedures for a variety of illnesses. This rapidly growing field requires highly specific knowledge and skill sets beyond its parent specialty. While the future of IP will continue to show growth, we postulate on a few upcoming technologies which may influence the field and discuss some of the challenges associated with growth in IP.

Summing up:

Therefore, if you wish to get into a  career that rides high on the environmental hazards and also is one of the most in demand careers, Pulmonary Scientist is the right option for you.

March 10 and 11, 2018 gave aspiring and budding  entrepreneurs an opportunity to connect and collaborate as the best and brightest minds came together and brainstormed on on how to fuel their business growth. The conference at IIT Mumbai brought together the best breed of entrepreneurs, innovators, venture capitalists, business model creators, consultants, policy-makers, academicians, and business practitioners to present and discuss innovation and success under the aegis of entrepreneurship for Small and Medium Businesses. 

Over the past decade or so, in the dilemma between joining family owned businesses and higher studies, the scales have been tipping towards entrepreneurship and joining family owned businesses. 

Let us explore the genesis and the reason why:

The Genesis:

Today, family-owned businesses account for two-thirds of the world’s  businesses and generate most of the world’s economic output, employment and wealth. In many regions of the world, family companies dominate the economy. “Family-controlled firms now make up 19% of the companies in the Fortune Global 500,” states The Economist. In India alone, 67% businesses are family run. McKinsey forecasts, that by 2025,there will be more than 15,000 companies worldwide with at least $1 billion in annual revenues, of which 37% will be emerging-market family firms.

The need:

There is a need for Family Business Management Programs whether you are in a successful family business or you are into  a business facing challenges and trying to bring about a changeover.

Successful family business:

Successful family businesses are successful because families see important changes in their industry and adapt by diversifying into new activities that can grow. Simply put, successful families are entrepreneurial. Also,families succeed because they invest in productive activities, emphasize growing assets, and consume relatively little of their wealth. These families maintain a culture that encourages family members to create things of lasting value. It’s not surprising that these families encourage entrepreneurs. Furthermore,successful families remain reasonably united, keeping supportive members loyal to one another and to the family’s mission. Over generations, as families become more diverse, it is likely that only a few relatives per generation will directly work in the business. Outside-the-business members might still support family philanthropic efforts or social activities, and sometimes that level of involvement is enough to maintain family unity. But investing in family entrepreneurs can also keep talented members contributing to the broader family’s wealth and mission.Investing in family entrepreneurs has to be done objectively based on the feasibility of their business plans, and also fairly within the family. Even if some entrepreneurial projects don’t succeed, these investments will help you spot talent to keep your business growing. And you are sending an important message: this family is committed to creating value.

Family businesses facing challenges

While family businesses on average are stronger performers than other types of enterprise, they face distinct challenges that need to be managed. This constraint often kills the family business.

This creates the need for a course of study in Family Business Management that  helps students understand how to capitalize on the strengths, navigate the challenges, and guard against the weaknesses of the companies and the families that own them.

How is Family Business Management program different from an MBA in Entrepreneurship?

Both Family Business Management and an MBA in Entrepreneurship prepare you for setting up and gearing your own business. However, there is a subtle difference. Unlike MBA in Entrepreneurship which prepares students for a setting up a business, the Family Business Management programme is targeted at family business owners looking to sustain, scale and grow their businesses. The content and pedagogy includes concepts of entrepreneurship, business sustainability, market trends which thereby lead to portfolio expansion and business growth. The program would help you evaluate the state of your family businesses and gear you towards accelerating your business to the next level.

Colleges/Institutes for Entrepreneurial Management

Xavier School of Management (XLRI),Jamshedpur, offering a full-time six-month Post Graduate Programme for Certificate in Entrepreneurship Management (PGPCEM).

Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Gandhinagar,offering a two-year, full-time, residential Post Graduate Diploma in Management-Business Entrepreneurship (PGDM-BE).

SP Jain Institute of Management and Research – Mumbai,Start Your Business Certification Program (SYB), Grow Your Business Certification Program (GYB), The Entrepreneurial Manager (TEM).

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies,Mumbai,M.B.A in Social Entrepreneurship

Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship – Bangalore, offering one year Entrepreneurial Development Programme (EDP)

Nirma Institute of Management,Ahmedabad,offering regular two-year MBA specialising in Family Business & Entrepreneurship.

Amity Business School ,Noida, offering two year M.B.A in Entrepreneurship

IIM , Bangalore, specialization in Entrepreneurs & Family Businesses.

IIM Udaipur,  Management Development Program for Women Entrepreneurs.

National Institute for Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Delhi

The NIESBUD is an apex institute in the area of entrepreneurship and small business development under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India. It oversees the activities of various institutions and agencies engaged in entrepreneurship development, particularly in the area of small industry and small business. It also provides numerous training and development courses for budding entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Making the right choice:

In the world of family business, the entrepreneurs we celebrate are usually founders of companies. If you wish to be a founder of a company, start your new venture and learn how to navigate, go in for a pure MBA in Entrepreneurship. However, if you wish to join your family business and are supposed to take care of and grow the founder’s creation, you are not expected to be entrepreneurs but to understand and carry forward the vision of the founder,an MBA in Entrepreneurship would be more helpful. 

Therefore, it is imperative that you make the right and informed choice…

Are these mutually exclusive?

If this makes you think that family business management programs are incompatible to entrepreneurship because they are for students who are in family businesses that are usually tradition-bound, multi- generational, let me tell you, we need to blur the lines here.  The family businesses need to be more entrepreneurial. They need to  pass on the entrepreneurial mindset and capabilities to create new streams of wealth across many generations- not just pass the business on from one generation to the next. We need to come up with the concept of ‘family entrepreneurship’. When a leadership transition occurs in a family business, the new generation of leadership should be careful to maintain and build on the networks and knowledge of the former leaders, while expanding their own networks. This will insure that the business can continue to be entrepreneurial into the future.

And when they do, the distinction between Entrepreneurship and Family Business Management studies would begin to blur…

All human relationships experience stress and conflict and couple relationships are no exception to this rule. When couples experience relationship problems, many seek professional help through counseling and therapy services. Couples counselor  evaluates relationship problems and offers strategies for resolving them using psychotherapy (also called “talk therapy”).

Couple’s therapy (or relationship therapy) is a subset of relationship counseling. It may differ from other forms of relationship counseling in various regards including its duration. Short term counseling may be between 1 and 3 sessions whereas long term couples therapy may be between 12 and 24 sessions. An exception is brief or solution focused couples therapy. In addition, counseling tends to be more ‘here and now’ and new coping strategies the outcome. Couples therapy is more about seemingly intractable problems with a relationship history, where emotions are the target and the agent of cha

Marriage counseling is a fast emerging field and taking into consideration the lack of certified, educated professionals available in the city, we thought of coming up with this course. Marriage is one of the most important event in one’s life and in India, counseling is looked upon as a domain that can be taken up by anybody without prior education and understanding of the topic.

Marriage counselors are licensed therapists who treat couples and families. Also known as marriage and family therapists, or MFTs, they may provide counseling to adults, teenagers, and children in group or individual settings. To become licensed, MFTs must have master’s degrees in marriage and family therapy, psychology, or related mental health fields; however, some marriage counselors also pursue doctorates. Schools offering Marriage & Family Therapy degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

Getting in

The first step toward becoming a marriage counselor is to earn a bachelor’s degree with coursework in behavioral sciences. A marriage and family therapist career generally involves a good deal of education, much like other mental health and therapy careers. Individuals interested in pursuing marriage and family counseling careers will typically start by earning bachelor’s degrees in areas such as psychology, social work, or counseling. While earning this degree, students should focus taking courses on marriages and family situations.

Prerequisite classes in statistical analysis are also required for admission to many psychology and marriage counseling master’s degree programs. After earning a graduate degree, licensure is required. Marriage and family therapists help people work through various relationship issues and clinical problems, such as mood disorders, depression, and anxiety.

Though a master’s degree is the minimum educational requirement for licensure, some MFTs also pursue a Doctor of Psychology. Most master’s degree programs take 2-3 years to complete; doctoral programs may take 3-5 years or longer. Master’s-level coursework often includes Interview and research techniques, Principles of parent-child counseling, Couples therapy and Chemical dependency and substance abuse.

Commonly, there are three options are available for those who wish  to enter the field as a marriage and family therapist:

• Master’s degree: 2-3 years to complete
• Doctoral program: 3-5 years to complete
• Postgraduate clinical training programs: 3-4 years to complete

Post Graduate Diploma in Counseling and Family Therapy (PGDCFT)

Minimum Duration:  1 Year
Maximum Duration: 4 Years

Eligibility:

Bachelor’s degree with specialization in subjects like Human Development and Family Studies, Child Development, Human Development and Childhood Studies, Child Development and Family Relationships, Home Science, Psychology, Social Work, Medicine or other allied disciplines.  “Allied disciplines” include Anthropology, Sociology, Education, Philosophy, MBBS or equivalent qualification in Ayurveda, Unani, Sidha or Homeopathy Medicines, Nursing etc. from a recognized University.

 Or

Bachelor’s degree with a higher degree in any of the above mentioned subjects or Bachelor’s Degree along with a Post Graduate Diploma in Guidance and Counselling from a recognized University.
Master of Science in Counseling and Family Therapy (MSCCFT)

Minimum Duration: 2 Years
Maximum Duration: 5 Years

Eligibility:

Bachelor’s degree with specialization in subjects like Human Development and Family Studies, Child Development, Human Development and Childhood Studies, Child Development and Family Relationships, Home Science, Psychology, Social Work, Medicine or other allied disciplines.  “Allied disciplines” include Anthropology, Sociology, Education, Philosophy, MBBS or equivalent qualification in Ayurveda, Unani, Sidha or Homeopathy Medicines, Nursing etc. from a recognized University.

 Or

Bachelor’s degree with a higher degree in any of the above mentioned subjects or Bachelor’s  e along with a Post Graduate Diploma in Guidance and Counselling from a recognized University.

Medium: English

Institutes offering online degree program in US:

• Walden University  offers online master’s (MS) in Marriage, couple and family counseling.
• Regent University offers online master’s (M.A.) in Marriage, couple & Family counseling.
• Capella University offers MS in marriage & Family counseling / therapy degree program
• Amridge University offers an online program in Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy 
• Touro University Worldwide (TUW) offers an online graduate degree in marriage and family therapy
• Northcentral University offers a COAMFTE accredited Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy 

Institutes offering online degree program in India:

• Royale Institute, Pondicherry offering online certificate in Marriage and Family Counseling for 3 months duration   
• Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai offers Certificate Programme in Couple and Family Therapy
• Urban India Ministries Bangalore offers post Graduate one-year Post-Graduate Diploma course in Family & Marriage Counseling and 6-months certificate program in family and marriage counseling
• Indira Gandhi National Open University Delhi offers Master of Science in Counselling and Family Therapy (MSCCFT)
• Pune City-based Baya Karve Women’s Study Centre (BKWSC) has introduced a certificate course in marriage counseling.

What Does a Marriage and Family Therapist Do?

Although most families have problems and many of them have frequent arguments, it can often be hard to pinpoint the underlying causes of these arguments. This, however, is often one of the first duties of a marriage and family therapist. In order to do so, a marriage and family therapist will first need to meet and talk with all members of a family involved in the therapy. Most of the time, the therapist will meet with the couple or family together. Depending on the nature of the problem and the family situation, they may meet just with a married couple or with the family as a whole. This can help them see how each family member reacts to the others. In some circumstances, however, a therapist may choose to meet with members of a family separately.

During therapy sessions, talking is usually the job of the family members rather than the therapist. A marriage and family therapist will often do more listening than talking during these meetings. The therapist will also watch the members of a family closely for non-verbal body language, or clues to where certain problems may lie. For instance, a marriage and family therapist that witnesses a teenager rolling her eyes might deduce that actions such as these might make her parents feel disrespected.

After discovering some possible underlying causes of major problems in a family, a marriage and family therapist can then help the family as a whole work through their issues. The therapist will often offer guidance and advice to frustrated family members, for instance, or he might teach them how to communicate more effectively.

If you’re looking to become a marriage and family therapist, keep in mind that you won’t be the magic cure that ends all arguments in a household. Arguing is part of being in a family; it just comes with the territory. Instead of teaching families how to stop arguing, as a marriage and family therapist, you’ll help them learn to communicate more effectively, work through their differences, and become a stronger family unit – even if that does involve an occasional argument.

Where would you work?

Marriage and family therapists might work in a number of different settings. This might include social service offices, or community and mental health facilities.Many marriage and family therapists, however, choose to open their own private practices. In doing so, married couples and families can seek out their services and meet in the therapists’ offices. A few marriage and family therapists might even make house calls, which involve visiting a household to observe the living situation.

The Road Ahead:

It is being predicted that  career employment for marriage and family therapists is expected to grow much faster than average as more people turn to professionals to help them cope with relationship and family issues and the stress of daily obstacles such as depression, substance abuse, behavioral problems and infidelity, among others.Employment of marriage and family therapists is expected to grow 20 percent through 2026, which is much faster than the national average for all occupations. National long-term projections of employment growth may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.

Therefore, if you are interested in helping couples and families strengthen their bonds and build healthier relationships with each other, a career in marriage and family therapy may be the right choice for you. So, step up and make the choice to build relationships…

About GPAT

GPAT 2020 Eligibility Criteria

One sector that disrupted the world economy is Railways. Over the years, it has become  so competent that it has transformed the way we move. We have not only graduated from steam engines to diesel engines to electric trains but are also looking at futuristic technologies like the Hyperloop, a futuristic train concept that could travel at more than 1000 km/h with renewable energies. More than a year ago, SpaceX (Elon Musk’s company) launched a competition in which the team Hyperloop UPV, won the prizes for “Top Design Concept” and “Best Propulsion Subsystem. The Hyperloop creates a loop of career options in rail engineering from operations to product design to mechanics of railway.

Back home, in India with general elections just a year away, the railways has set monthly targets for the completion of its major projects with an aim to finish work in time for the country to go to polls in 2019. In a letter sent to all 16 zones, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani set such targets for zonal railways for timely commissioning of new lines, gauge conversion and doubling projects announced in the budget this year.Needless to say, the timely commissioning of these projects calls for meticulous planning in respect of preparatory works and also the need for qualified engineers who can translate the dream projects into reality.

Who are Railway Engineers?

The railway engineers look after the works like bridge construction, permanent way development, Signal and interlocking, Fittings and fastenings, etc. They are the ones who maintain and develop the efficient engineering systems and solutions in an integrated manner. 

As a railway engineer, you’ll have a wide range of jobs, which will include building new engines and carriages,fitting out new carriages with upholstery, lighting, control panels and communication systems,inspecting bodywork, roofs and under-carriages for wear and tear or damage,repairing or replacing parts,making new parts,carrying out regular maintenance checks on systems such as brakes and couplings,taking apart and testing mechanical, electrical and pneumatic systems besides writing reports and updating maintenance records.

What is Railway Engineering?

Railway Engineering is a multi-pronged discipline, dealing with the design, construction, production and operation of all types of a railway system. It encompasses a wide range of engineering disciplines, including Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Production Engineering. It covers many other sub-disciplines of engineering and management. There is an urgent need for having a specialized group of Railway Engineers capable of dealing with the unique problems associated with railways. 

Institute scape:

 Sir Padampat Singhania University Udaipur, Rajasthan has pioneered to introduce a 4-year B.Tech degree programme in Rail Transportation Engineering interweaving the relevant contents of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering & Computer Science & Engineering. A graduate from this discipline will have career opportunities in Indian Railways & its associates as well as in large number of ancillary industries, both private & public sector. The knowledge gained from this programme will also provide enough confidence to start-up entrepreneurial ventures

Programme Objectives

• To impart knowledge in relevant fields so that the students are acquainted with all aspects of rail transportation.
• To complement the theoretical knowledge through laboratory practices as well as industrial exposures in India & abroad.
• To apprise students about the laws & regulations governing railway professionals & to make them aware about their ethical & societal responsibilities.
• To introduce the component of research so that the students having proper attitude can pursue research as a career.

Eligibility

• Pass in 10+2 Science from a recognised board (Preferably above 60%)

Across the globe:

Sheffield Hallam University, UK offering 3 year B.Sc in Railway Engineering( Hons)

University of Birmingham, UK offering 3 year B.Sc in Electrical and Railway Engineering

University of Illinois, Railway Engineering M.Eng

Manchester Metropolitan University, offering M.Sc in Rail Engineering

Career Pathways:

There are various jobs after Railway engineering. Some of  them are:

Senior Section Engineer

Sr. section engineer is the post under railways who looks after the permanent way development, signaling system, wagon wheel etc. the exam is conducted by the railway recruitment boards of various regions. 

Train light Engineer

This is a separate and challenging department under the engineering head of the railways, which deals with the train light development and maintenance.

Truss Engineer

For the development of the stations and for the building of various superstructures around the bridges, truss engineers are employed to the site. This job offers you the heavy but smart working conditions. 

Surveyor

Railway engineering works are totally based on the surveys conducted by the surveyors. Thus surveyors in the railways are assigned the tedious tasks and hence are highly paid with other railway facilities.

Junior Engineer

Junior engineer is the common post inside the railways in various heads like Water treatment plant, Permanent way, Signals, and interlocking, etc.

Quality Control:

You can beef up your degree with artificial Intelligence and get into a Quality Control role. While Indian Railways is already using this technique to detect flaws or problems in the signalling system, the national transporter will now reportedly use artificial intelligence (AI) to control air circulation, signages, supervision and maintenance work in the 10.28 km-long tunnel in Imphal, the capital of  Manipur. The Artificial Intelligence  system will control air circulation and alert the passenger in case of fire. AI will help the Indian Railways in taking care of management and maintenance. It will also help run trains safely through the tunnel.  The AI will track circuits, monitor signals, axle counters and their sub-systems of interlocking.  Besides that power supply systems, timers collect the data on a predetermined interval and send them to a central location. AI technology would help you collect and analyse data on tunnels. To predict future tunnel deterioration patterns and corresponding maintenance needs,  the results of this data can then be evaluated. 

Virtual Ticketing 

Ticketing has been amongst the most innovative areas within rail and metro, perhaps most visible in smart-card systems overtaking paper tickets in a growing number of the world’s transport networks. The next development could well be Virtual Agents, essentially an at station computer offering a combination of ticket office, vending machine and call centre. A passenger using the Virtual Agent is able to talk a ‘real person’ in ‘real time’ offering a similar experience to being a the ticket window except over a video link. The ticket agent you speak to would be likely at a central ticket office hub.For rail companies this would enable a central pool of staff to be deployed across the network and be able to be focussed at certain peak times. It would also potentially offer the opportunity to offer ticket advice in different languages and even link staff from quiet stations into helping at busier stations at peak times. For passengers it offers a human contact but also the immediacy and speed of a ticket machine. 

The Road Ahead:

With passenger numbers generally increasing and demands and expectations changing, the need for a railway engineer increases and offers a lot of potential. Ensuring that large numbers of travellers can move freely and efficiently to, through and from a station is essential to maintaining the operational effectiveness of the transport system as a whole.

Station developments now consider ergonomic and human factors, in particular looking in a scientific way at people and their needs, and then providing analytical evidence based on psychological, behavioural and physical factors to improve experiences. For example, in the development of stations experts can be used to analyse passenger movement and behaviour and then plan the station layout to encourage them to do the things you need them to do, for example travelling one the correct side of the escalator or arriving at gate lines with their tickets ready. Other areas of growth in this sector including the development of new technologies and smart ticketing and also the place for retail and catering opportunities within the station.

With the advent of new technologies and the developments that are taking place all over the world, there is a dire necessity of having  more institutions in India, fully devoted to this particular discipline of Railway Engineering, so that well qualified, competent manpower is available to take up the challenges including speed, vibration, track renewal, maintenance, signaling, structural analysis and design, coupled with efficient and effective management of the railway system in its totality. 

Once you step in the right institution, your career would be on the right track.

Futuristic STEM 

Today, Education hinges very heavily on courses in STEM, an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This is due to the fact that it churns out critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and next-generation innovators. Taking into consideration that India is one of the countries that produces the highest number of scientists and engineers, the growth of STEM has picked up significantly over the last few years. Governments across the globe are taking several initiatives to take education a step ahead. Take ATL( Atal Tinkering Labs) by NITI Aayog for example. NITI Aayog is the premier think tank of the Government of India whose primary goal is to increase the level of efficiency in progressing sectors like Education and Health.

Therefore, in case you have a  scientific bent of mind, you should be exploring courses and programs that fuel your scientific temper apart from being offbeat.

Science Curriculum and skill set:

Science curriculum demands an understanding of subjects like Maths, Technology, and Physics. In Maths, you need to deep dive into Calculus and Algebra. In case you wish to make a career in Science, an understanding of basics is essential. Algebra is everywhere, so instead of rushing through calculus without taking the time to really get comfortable with algebra, concentrate on problems that require symbolic manipulation. Also, the second discipline that will hold you in good stead is Statistics. Knowing something about probability and statistics is absolutely invaluable for understanding modern science, and finds applications in other fields, as well.

While you might think you love science based on your experience in classes, classwork is a pale imitation of actual science. In classes, you are only asked to attack problems that can actually be solved in a reasonable amount of time– your homework sets might take hours to write out, but they won’t contain problems that can’t be solved with the techniques you’ve discussed in class.

What would make you employable is your ability to push beyond the curriculum. Your ability to solve problems, innovate, explore and experience what your curriculum would hitherto have not prepared you for.

B.Sc at bay?

If you are deeply interested in pursuing a career in academics or research, B.Sc (Hons) in subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Zoology or Botany will help you do just that. Do not keep it at bay feeling that B.Tech is more professional and hands on. You can further your prospects by doing a masters degree and then moving on to research and working as a junior research fellow in any reputed research institute. You can also pursue a career as a lecturer in any university or get jobs in the chemical industry, the pharmaceutical industry, or in government organizations like ONGC.

Forking Pathways:

Pharmacy:

Pharmacists, today play a significant role in the healthcare industry. Their contribution goes beyond a pharmacy as they take up more challenging roles such as research and drug discovery. To be a Pharmacist, you need to be a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), which is a four-year undergraduate degree course. To get admission into the Pharmacy course, students have to complete their 10+2 education & apply for national level or state level The national level entrance exam is the Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test(GPAT). After the completion of this degree, you can practice as a Pharmacist and can work in a range of industries related to the prescription, manufacture & provision of medicines. 

Where to study:

• NIPER (National Institute of Pharmaceutical education & research), Mohali.
• Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research
• University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chandigarh
• Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
• LPU, Jalandhar

BioInformatics:

Bioinformatics is the application of computer technology to get the information that’s stored in certain types of biological data. Bioinformatics provides central, globally accessible databases that enable scientists to submit, search and analyze information. It offers analysis software for data studies and comparisons and provides tools for modeling, visualizing, exploring and interpreting data. If you are a 10+2 in the science discipline, you can pursue bioinformatics at bachelor’ s(B.Tech or B.Sc).

Job prospects are in all sectors of biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and biomedical sciences, in research institutions, hospital, and industry. Some of the specific career areas that fall within the scope of bioinformatics include Sequence assembly, Database design, and maintenance, Sequence analysis, Proteomics (the study of protein, particularly their structures and functions), Pharmacogenomics, Pharmacology, Clinical pharmacologist, Informatics developer, Computational chemist, Bio-analytics and Analytics. 

Institute scape:

• Punjab University Chandigarh
• DAV College, Chandigarh
• Amity University, Noida

Bio-Technology:

Biotechnology Engineering is a part of engineering that involves the technology and biological science for development in the field of medical, agriculture, security and bio-research.

For doing Biotechnology Engineering, you need to have mathematics, chemistry, biology in XII. For admission to B.Tech/B.E. courses, you have to apply for JEE Main is the national level entrance exam. Admission into IITs & NITs is done through JEE Advanced which is the second stage of JEE Main.

Vetinerary Sciences:

Veterinary medicine is a branch of science that deals in prevention, diagnosis, and prevention of disease, disorder, and injury in animals. Vetinerary Sciences is a fast growing field for students who have passed XII with Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. You have to qualify the NEET exam to get admission in Veterinary courses.

Veterinary Courses:

• Bachelor of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc & AH) – 5 years
• BV. Sc. in Animal Genetics and Breeding
• BV. Sc. in Animal Production & Management
• BV. Sc. in Veterinary Surgery & Radiology
• BV. Sc. in Veterinary Medicine, Public Health & Hygiene

Institute Scape:

• Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana.
• Indian Veterinary Research Institute, UP

Agricultural Sciences:

B.Sc in agriculture is an undergraduate course in agricultural studies and processes. The minimum eligibility for this course requires passing class 12th/ Higher Secondary Examination in Biology, Maths, and Chemistry. Admission to various Agricultural Universities in India is based on All India Entrance Exams conducted by ICAR. Other state-level agricultural universities conduct their own entrance exams for admission to various courses.

• B.Sc in Agriculture.
• B.Sc in Genetic Plant Breeding.
• B.Sc in Agriculture Economics and Farm Management. 
• B.Sc in Animal Husbandry.
• B.Sc in Forestry. 
• B.Sc Soil and water management. 
• B.Sc in Horticulture. 
• B.Sc Agriculture and Food Business.

Institute Scape:

• Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
• Chandigarh University, Chandigarh.
• Chitkara University, Chandigarh.

Tips for choosing the right college:

Small scale examination: 

You may look to college rankings to help make a decision, but don’t forget that academic prestige can be examined on a smaller scale. A school that excels in biology, for example, may have a less regarded history department. Do some research or reach out directly to faculty members in your prospective department. Give extra consideration to a college whose faculty members are still actively engaged with employers in a given field, as this can open doors to internships, research opportunities, and jobs. 

Placement Record:

Life is not just fun and games. At the end of the day, most of us would want to become employable and financially independent, and good placements can give a kick start to one’s career. So do your research, and figure out in which colleges the companies of your interest come for placement and whether they offer profiles which suit you. You never know, maybe your dream company doesn’t even go to the college whose cut off you missed by 0.25%.When you look at placement data, do not just look at the data that shows you the highest placement, look for overall strike ratio. At times, the placement data may be window dressed to showcase only the highest packages. 

Small College Bias:

Other things being equal, when it comes to a choice between an elite college and a small one, gravitate towards The faculty and staff are not without influence, though, so it’s very important to make sure that you’re comfortable with them, too.So, if you know roughly what you want to study, make sure to visit that specific department, or a few departments in the right general area, and get a sense of that environment as well. Are the faculty willing to talk to you, as a prospective student, and make you feel welcome? More importantly, are they making the students who are already enrolled feel comfortable? If you visit a department and see students hanging around working together or working with faculty, that’s a great sign. If you go there on a weekday afternoon and the place is a ghost town, that suggests that students aren’t comfortable being there, which should make you concerned about whether you’re going to be comfortable being there.And make sure the resources that a prospective college or university provides will be available to you. Having world-class research labs is a great thing, but if they’re entirely controlled by grad students and post-docs, they’ll make very little difference to your experience as an undergraduate.

Summing up:

We are now at a stage where the number of STEM jobs is growing at a fast pace and currently outstripping the number of STEM graduates. According to the National Science Foundation, it is predicted that 80% of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of math and science skills. Despite having the top quality talent, the exam-focused education model of the past has limited these students when it comes to innovation, problem-solving and creativity. 

This is where YOU, as a STEM player, can fill the gap.

Back then… If I had REIT’s, I could  afford to sleep …in peace. (S!P)

REIT’s aka Real Estate Investment Trusts are the most coveted assets Singapore investors have been attracted to owing to their high yields ( as much as 6.5 % per annum) outsmarting and outperforming their other cousins viz FD’s, shares and bonds.

Now, these days, I have invested in REIT’s, and please do not preach, coz I am losing sleep.

May they rest in peace(RIP)

Let us take a look at current  S REIT report card.

In the year-to-date, the SGX S-REIT Index, comprising all REITs listed in Singapore, has declined close to 6.3% on average. This is offset by its 6.5% per annum yield that the REITs pay out on average.

A similar decline was witnessed in all three REIT ETFs listed in Singapore – the Lion-Phillip S-REIT ETF (declining 6.8% in year-to-date 2018); Nikko AM-Straits Trading Asia Ex Japan REIT ETF (declining 6.3% in year-to-date 2018); and the Phillip SGX APAC Dividend Leaders REIT ETF (declining 5.5% in year-to-date 2018).

Does it mean that experienced investors should ditch them for more enticing options? Does it head towards the epitaph of  Singapore REIT’s? As an experienced investor, should you look beyond S REIT’s?  Is there a wayout or wayup? 

Will the market buck  the trend? Would they rise like a Phoenix?

Many investors are thinking of going the global route. Before you decide to join the bandwagon, think it over. We live in volatile times, times of political instability, Governments get married and then divorced in no time. Taxation rules vary. Will you be able to keep a tab?

So, what should you do? 

There is an epigrammatic response to that. Cliched as it may sound, 

Ignore the report card. S REIT’s are here to stay.

# REIT’s – Invest and rest.

While it pertains to life in general and investment in particular, while investing, always ditch instant gratification for delayed gratification. Do not let their short term performance break your heart.  REIT’s are for the future. Especially for REIT’s ,passive investing with an eye on the bullish market for long term is the key. The real estate may be the tortoise in the game these days, but the future is quite starry. The economy is on the path to growth with a demand for more office spaces, hiked rents and higher occupancy rates. When it gains momentum, you as an experienced investor may want to ride on the strong operating fundamentals. Under Singapore REIT market, REIT’s have to give back 90% of their taxable income to shareholders as annual dividends, you would ride the crest at that point in time. 

Now, if you think that economies grow at different rates and there is an advantage in investing in an international REIT, let me tell you, when the economy grows as a whole, we cannot decouple ourselves. 

# REIT’s – Look backward and step forward

When it comes to REIT’s, use your hindsight and foresight both. Look at historical data. Compare the dividend yields with returns from other fixed income securities like corporate bonds etc. REIT’s have always performed well during similar economic conditions, better than their counterparts. Singapore-REITs  have provided an annualised total return of 8.4 per cent over the past five years, nearly double the 4.4 per cent return of the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI).

# Cherry pick the best performing REIT’s

The overall REIT equity returns  might not be something to boast about, a closer look shows that some of them have outperformed the others. 

Healthcare is one. Retail is another. 

Cherry pick these.

According to Lee Brenan, principal,Cuningham Group ” A silver tsunami” is coming. The growing numbers  of aging seniors is going to change the face of housing and health care. The ripple effect is going to be on Singapore too. The statistic shows a projection of the aging population in Singapore from 2015 to 2035. In 2035, the percentage of the population of Singapore above the age of 65 is forecasted to be at 31.74 percent. And this population would not like to grow old just looking at other people. They would like to live in the same houses they live in and also expect care outside of a hospital setting. This calls for a boom in real estate at a very different level. A confluence of ambulatory services on  a retail strip.  This would also accelerate the demand for senior living, assisted living and communities that encompass movie theatre, residential complex and wellness and prevention centres. 

If you are an avid investor, you can ride this Tsunami wave and cherry pick your REIT’s. 

A pinch of salt though. 

Do not put all your eggs in one basket. Add an international REIT to diversify your portfolio.

# Diversify by going global.

Real estate is a comparatively local business. While it may be in doldrums in one country, it may be galloping in the other. Also, it can hedge against inflation. Real estate would always build value over time in spite of secular currency depreciation. Observe and understand the dynamics.

Minimise the risk by shopping across the globe. Since global REIT’s  not only have a low correlation with the rest of your portfolio but also with your current real estate ownership, they are the best bet in case you wish to diversify your portfolio.Owing to their ease of use and global acceptance, they are a compelling opportunity for you to get more return for every unit of risk you take. When you are riding red on some REIT’s, there would always be some green color on your portfolio making you sleep in peace.

Learning Curve:

The ‘will they won’t they’ wave that the Singapore REIT’s seem to ride on these days would end in favour of ‘they will’. 

The moot point is, like all other investments, you have to manage them well.

A Basic Guide To Investing In STI ETF 2018

Someone said, first you work for money and after a certain point, make money work for you.

I confess.

I understand what it means but do not quite understand ‘how’ it is done..

Do you?

Cliched as it may sound, how do you make it happen? Let’s say, you saved close to $5000 five years ago and felt that someday you would sit on a pile of cash. 

Well, fast forward 2018. Your money is virtually the same.  The gain has been close to nothing. Whatever you saved was eroded and corroded by inflation.

What is it that factors in inflation and makes you ride on its cusp? There is a slew of wonder wizard apps talking about a rich array of financial instruments  to choose from and robo advisors talk talking it all.

It is the good old STI ETF.

What is STI ETF

Potent and passive

STI ETF is potent, passive form of investment that holds promise…

Like their cousins, stocks and unit funds, STI ETF’s are securities specially created by fund managers to track the performance of a specific market index. Now, there are different types of markets you can choose to track. In Singapore, the most common market is the Straits Times Index (STI). 

The STI is a blue chip index of 30 of Singapore’s best and biggest companies listed on Singapore Stock exchange. 

The money smart blog describes STI ETF as such. With a history dating back to 1966, the STI tracks the performance of the top 30 companies listed on the Singapore Exchange. The 30 STI stocks represent five different sectors and 19 different industries, chosen to best depict Singapore’s diverse economy. The STI is represented by some of the largest businesses incorporated in Singapore, such as DBS, UOB, Singtel, Keppel Corporation and CapitaLand Limited. Of course, the tides change every year and some companies may be removed from the list while others are included.

If you are planning to work and also make your money work for you and are not ready to see saw the financial horizon, one of the cheapest and robust ways to do so is to invest into a mix of STI ETFs.

STI ETF gives you a twin delight

It is an index fund that trades on a stock exchange.

How do you invest?

From food to funds

If you are  a beginner and feel that you would be a novice, hold on. It’s not all that difficult. While investing, keep in mind- diversification is key. Tap into the wisdom of crowds. Let me give you an example.

A few days ago, I had gone to Italy. While going to  a restaurant, we found that even after reading the ingredients, it was difficult to make out what would a particular dish contain. Some food were good to the palate, some were harsh. The best solution was to order a full three or five course meal. The nasty foods could be offset by the good food. 

What applies to food also applies to funds.  

Simply put, it means rather than cherry picking a few companies, invest in all of them to earn an average return- a loss in one may be offset by the profit in the other. You feel that you are blindly investing but you are not.For a company to qualify to be among the 30 blue chip companies, it has to be really good in terms of revenues and profits. In case the company you invested in today does not do well tomorrow, an automatic rebalancing would be done in a way that companies that lie at the fringes would be knocked out of the list. Thus, there is a self weeding out function and you need not worry even if you are a novice in the game.

STI ETF’ s  

From toe hold to foothold

For beginners who want to toe test before putting they put their  foot in the water, ETF’s are the best option. Unperturbed and unshaken by any clouds that may loom at the financial horizon, ETF’s romp romp and trot ahead. The resilience of ETF’s defies market logic as it offers a bi- pronged pathway- investment at macro level and investment for long term. 

First, when you invest in an ETF, you are investing at  a macro level, in the country’s economy, since you are investing in the major blue chip companies of Singapore. The market predictors say that 2018/ 19 sets Singapore on the road to recovery. According to  a report by DBS Ltd, https://www.dbs.com/aics/templatedata/article/generic/data/en/GR/122017/171212_insights_singapore_in_201819_better_times.xml, there is potential in the year ahead for the index to challenge its previous high and the recovery is set to be sustainable into 2018/19 as a global synchronised recovery gains further momentum. Better earnings growth should also be seen across all sectors to support further upside in the index as the economic recovery becomes more broad-based.

Second, if you are a beginner and cannot make sense of the bulls and bears of the market, STI ETF’s are again a good option as they give you the chance to invest – long term. STI ETF’s are not for people in the’ get rich quicker’ game.They are attractive as investments because of their low costs and the ability to buy and sell them on the stock market, making them the most popular type of exchange-traded product. You do not need to pay an initial fee upfront nor do you pay an annual management fee.

So, let us sum it up this way.

If you wish to protect yourself from selection risks, and invest effortlessly without much review or revision, STI ETF should sit comfortably nestled in your core portfolio. 

I again confess.

STI ETF’s are a complex ball game. 

But, who said investment was easy?

Follow us for future deep dive into the world of saving and investing.