College is an important step for many and it is crucial to choose what you wish to study based on your aptitude and interests. Students chosing a particular stream for it guaranteed a job is a thing of the past now. With more choices than ever before, there are a myriad of exciting study options to choose from for the present generation. As the admission season is almost at a close, edex presents interesting and developing areas of study that students can still opt for.
Cyber Security
Cyber Security is a design of processes and systems that enhances safety and integrity of computer networks and data. It helps in blocking malicious software, programs, spyware, etc, from intruding into a system or a server. It is also known as Information Technology Security. Its main aim is to protect computers, networks, programs and data from unauthorised access. The rate of crime growing through cyber space, as people are using more of the internet, has increased exponentially in the past few years. This includes banking and financial services frauds, intellectual property thefts and other crimes. Cyber security includes safety of private and public computer networks and also the whole of the internet.
Career prospects: “Cyber crimes are growing everyday and we have fewer professionals to deal with this situation. In a recent report, it was revealed that 82 per cent of organisations experience cyber attacks and some of them feel their cyber security team is unable to detect the threats. Though organisations are aware of this menace, monetary concerns prevent some of them from investing in infrastructure that could prevent such crimes. We have to spread awareness about the ongoing cyber crimes to make the workforce alert to the threat. There is an urgent need to educate people about Cyber Security,’ says Kent D Thomas, Assistant Vice-President, International Programmes, Missouri State University, US on the growing need for Cyber Security experts.
The risk to cyber security being high, there is also a corresponding high demand for professionals in the field. The demand for cyber security skills is expected to expand 3.5 times faster than the demand for other IT-related jobs in the world. Almost every organisation suffers cyber attacks, and to prevent this, security professionals are required. The Indian government anticipates that the demand for cyber security professionals will be 470,000 by end of 2015. Many universities have developed a course on cyber security.
Where to study: Institute of Information Security, which has branches in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Chandigarh (www.iisecurity.in). IFS Education provides online courses in Cyber Forensics, Cyber Crimes, Cyber Security and Cyber Law (www.ifs.edu.in/cyber.forensics.crime.security.html). ITM University, Gurgaon offers a Master’s degree. More details on Page 13.
Green Engineering
With increasing awareness on the need for conservation, environmental engineers are in demand to help institutions and companies comply with environmental regulations. Environmental Engineering is the application of science and engineering to improve the environment — air, water, land resources and so on. Environmental engineering helps combat water and air pollution by recycling and following good waste management methods; it also plays a role in preventing public health problems. An environmental engineer undertakes research for environmental projects and analysis of scientific data. Those who have studied Physics and Mathematics in Class XII, along with Chemistry, Biotechnology, Computer Science or Biology, can get admission into professional degree courses — BTech or BE — in Environmental Engineering. After graduation, they can opt for an ME or MTech and thereafter PhD.
Where you can study: Anna University, Chennai; Indraprastha University, Delhi; Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; Nirma University, Gujarat and Jadavpur University, West Bengal.
Other options: You can also opt for Civil Engineering at the graduate level and specialise in MTech Environmental Engineering. One needs to get a good score in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) while pursuing BTech to get admission to the MTech course.
Career prospects: Job opportunities for environmental engineers are available in local self-government institutions such as municipalities and in the manufacturing industries and Pollution Control Boards. They can also work as consultants. Those who obtain an MTech degree could also look at teaching in engineering colleges as a viable option.
Speaking about the scope of this upcoming field, Rajkumar Samuel, Director of Hubert Enviro Care Systems Pvt Ltd (HECS), an environment management company, says, “We have deployed around 10 to 12 environmental engineers in our firm, who majorly deal with Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and risk analysis. Candidates with BE/BTech in Environmental Engineering could receive an initial remuneration of between Rs 18,000-30,000 a month and those with postgraduate degrees could earn between Rs 35,000-55,000, depending on their experience.”
Energy Law
The need to preserve the fast depleting non-renewable resources including petroleum, coal and minerals has led to new and emerging courses, which help mould individuals into professionals, like engineers and lawyers who can contribute to the growth of petroleum and natural gas industries. Statistics reveal that the petroleum and natural gas industry is one of the six core industries in India and contributes to over 15 pc of GDP.
Where to study: Courses on Petroleum and Energy studies are covered under various streams including Management, Engineering and Law. University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), India’s first energy university, offers an integrated five-year programme in Energy Law, approved by the Bar Council of India, currently being offered at Dehradun under College of Legal Studies. The five-year integrated programme, LLB with emphasis on Energy Laws, familiarises students with the latest laws and judgments connected with this sector. Eligibility is a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate in Class X and XII followed by clearing the UPES Law Studies Aptitude Test (UL-SAT), Group Discussion and Personal Interview. Another six-year integrated LLB+ MBA (Energy Management) is designed to develop a new generation of legal professionals who will improve their effectiveness as managers, policy makers, and legal advisors, by providing them with strong management skills and an in-depth specialisation in Energy law. Eligibility is minimum 60 per cent marks in Class X and XII.
The University also offers LLM with specialisation in Energy Laws, which is focused on the legal aspects pertinent to the Energy sector and aimed at developing competent legal practitioners with expertise in the field of energy law. Working professionals can choose to opt for the online LLM courses through www.upes.ac.in. Shaleen Srivastav, an alumnus of the college who is currently employed with a Delhi-based private law firm says, “This is a relatively untapped area and a law graduate would fetch anywhere between Rs 5 -7 lac per annum. Several law firms in Delhi and Mumbai have a separate department to handle legal issues relating to oil and energy. ” Some of the recruiters at UPES include Schlumberger, Halliburton, ONGC, Shell India, Cairn Energy India Ltd, Total SA, Baker Hughes, Petrofac, Accenture and L&T, the lawyer added.
Besides this, overseas institutions also offer LLM degrees in the petroleum and energy sector. University of Houston, University of Tulane, University of Denver, University of Dundee, Scotland and University of Calgary, Canada are some of the options. Although such courses are an expensive affair, they ensure that those who complete it get lucrative jobs.
Career prospects: One can find employment with foreign oil companies in West Asia, South East Asia, China, and Russia, and as technical service providers in the tertiary sector (Insurance, Information Technology, Banking, Business Advisory and Consulting), apart from the associated industries such as Petrochemical, Paints and Dyes.
European Studies
Europe is one of the biggest trade partners of India, and it thus makes sense to study about European business, the political climate, culture, and so on, which is what European Studies encompasses. “There are hundreds of European companies in India and vice-versa. You need people who can understand both sides,” says Neeta Inamdar of Manipal Centre for European Studies. Specialisations in Manipal include economics and business; international business and social and cultural studies.
Career prospects: “A majority of European Studies graduates aspire to work as critical analysts, which in a nutshell is about diplomatic relations. Some find work as translators and interpreters. Most major European Studies programmes incorporate study of languages like French, Spanish and German into the curriculum. There is also scope in education, research, cultural organisations and NGOs. There are a lot of MEP (Members of European Parliaments) offices in India that also require local support staff. If you specialise further, you can also become a legal advisor,” says Inamdar.
Where you can study: Manipal University, Karnataka and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Mechatronics
A multidisciplinary field, Mechatronics involves the study of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, telecommunications engineering, control engineering and computer engineering. The aim of mechatronics is to improve the functionality of technical systems and the creation of new concepts of machinery and equipment with built-in artificial intelligence. “Though introduced a few years ago, Mechatronics continues to be in its nascent stage in India,” says Prof G Murali of SRM University, Chennai.
Career prospects: Admittedly, there aren’t many companies that go for mechatronics engineers, says Prof Murali. “The problem is that everything has been decentralised. If someone wants an automobile engineer, they want an automobile engineer. Someone who’s been a jack of all trades and master of none wouldn’t do. However, a lot of our students have been taking further studies abroad and are doing well in their careers. I would advise this route for aspirants,” he says.
Where to study: SRM University, Chennai; Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology, Haryana; Bharath University, Chennai; Chhatrapati Shivaji Institute of Technology, Chhattisgarh; Ganpat University; Gujarat and MM Engineering College, Haryana.
Communication for Development
Time and again, communication has proved an effective tool in resolving issues, be it at the community level, national or international level. To bring about change or transformation, dialogue is essential. It is necessary to expose issues, voice concerns, discuss solutions, bring a consensus between people or communities and share ideas. With this in mind, the Communication for Development programme has been introduced. This course aims to bring people together and help them make informed decisions that change their lives for the better.
Where to study: Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai.
Syllabus: The postgraduate diploma programme includes subjects like Development: History, Concepts, Theories, Models and Media, Understanding Environmental, Social and Human Development, Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, Communication and Social Psychology, Participatory Models and their Importance for Development, Situation Analysis and Research for Communication Strategy, Art and Craft for C4D; Information and Communication Technologies, Strategy design and Campaign Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (M and E) and Programme Management.
Career prospects: Graduates of this programme can be employed in advertising agencies, media houses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives of companies.
Mobility Science
One of the major challenges that people with disabilities face is the restriction of mobility or the inability to move about and be independent. However, with recent advancements in technology, there are numerous devices, techniques and treatments that help improve mobility. With a focus on visually-impaired people, a new course called Mobility Science has been introduced. The Bachelor’s programme aims to train people with disabilities, teachers and specialists who are passionate about working with them.
Where to study: YMCA College of Physical Education, Chennai.
Syllabus: “The syllabus includes theory subjects like principles of training, techniques and methods of training, vision rehabilitation training, audiology and ophthalmology, rural mobility, and practical training such as biomechanical movement, indoor games, outdoor games and adventure sports, daily living skills, housekeeping, cooking and using public utilities, ” says Johnson Prem Kumar, Assistant Professor, YMCA.
Career prospects: After completion of this course, students can become Orientation and Mobility instructors or specialists for the visually impaired in special schools, hospitals, vocational and rehabilitation centres, crisis management units for the lately blinded, placement agencies, community-based Rehabilitation locations, early intervention units, etc. They can also function as master trainers in the Orientation and Mobility sector.
Packaging
Packaging comprises study of packaging activities such as package manufacturing, packaging machinery manufacturing or user industries like food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and others. Most of the courses come with a heavy practical component including laboratory exercise, industrial visits, project work, industrial training and involvement in R&D activities.
Career prospects: With experience, you can aspire to be a self-employed professional/entrepreneur. “With the growth of e-commerce companies like Flipkart, packaging professionals will play a critical role in the future of e-commerce, a growing sector,” says NC Saha, Director, Indian Institute of Packaging.
Where to study: Indian Institute of Packaging, which has centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad. Details at www.iip-in.com.
— edex@newindianexpress.com
