Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Students get insight into latest trends in academics, job market

— Photo: R. Ashok

Apt guidance: Human Resource Trainer Soma. Valliappan addressing students and parents in Tiruchi on Saturday.

TIRUCHI: Informed career decisions call for adequate exposure to the state of the economy, the current academic trends, and the likely future scenario.

The Hindu Education Plus Pre-Counselling Session 2009 presented by SASTRA University here on Saturday, provided plentiful opportunities for a large gathering of students and parents to interact with distinguished academicians and consultants, and gather valuable insights into the latest developments in academics and job market. The outcome was students could identify the direction to attune their initiatives to the ground realities.

The bottomline was that parents should confine their roles to facilitating their children to determine their careers in accordance with aptitude. The day-long session also served the purpose of presenting a clear idea of the utility of several courses against the backdrop of the economic slowdown, and providing a comprehensive picture of the opportunities in different areas.

Jayaprakash Gandhi, Career Consultant and Analyst, who made a presentation on ‘Career Planning’, emphasised that where and how one studies was more important than the subject of study. He did not agree with the prevailing notion that there will be a decline in demand for IT and Computer Science courses. What actually matters is the job scenario at the time when the students complete the programme. There were already indications of a turnaround in the economy of USA, Mr. Gandhi explained, to assure that the outsourcing activities will not be hampered.

His advice to students was to seek the opinion of final year students before settling for a college, to ensure that there are opportunities for developing extra skills.

According to Mr. Gandhi, going by the possible job market scenario in four years from now, the demand for programmes must be in the order of Computer Science, Information Technology, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

Speaking on ‘Options and Decisions’, S. Vaidhya Subramaniam, Dean – Planning and Development, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, too, felt that the demand for Computer Science and IT courses will not diminish since IT companies were still on the growth path, despite the slowdown.

While describing the utility of integrated five-year M.Tech. and M.S. programmes, Mr. Vaidya Subramaniam referred to the importance India has been according for development of basic sciences and life sciences through the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Biotechnology.

The career prospects of students pursuing their programmes in an enriching research ambience is bound to be high. Sound infrastructure, quality of faculty and ideal research environment are the aspects that should be considered before seeking admission to an institution, he felt.

V. Sivashankaran, Principal, Valluvar College of Science and Management, Karur, dwelt on the emerging opportunities in Civil Services and banking sector. The success rate of Tamil Nadu in UPSC examinations was on the rise, he noted, and explained the vibrancy of financial institutions in a dynamic economy.

S. Sathikh, former Vice-Chancellor, Madras University, said a strong foundation in domain areas will put candidates in an advantageous position. Sufficient knowledge and life skills combined with sincerity, and the zeal to make use of available opportunities were vital for success. At present, students have enormous opportunities to take informed decisions, Dr. Sathikh observed.

Handling a session on ‘Winning Habits’, Soma Valliappan, HR Trainer, urged students to have a burning desire to achieve, and to work on areas on which they are interested in so that they will be in a position to put in extra efforts on their own volition. In the current situation, people were able to bank on their individual talents for a living. He complimented The Hindu for organising the programme as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

Making a presentation on ‘Employability Skill Sets’, P. Suresh Kumar, Regional Deputy Director of Employment, Tiruchi Region, said acquisition of the right skill sets is necessary to bridge the gap between domain knowledge and practice. The skills must be customised depending on exigencies and a proper delivery mechanism should be arrived at.

Explaining the difference between academic examinations and competitive examinations, Mr. Suresh Kumar said personal traits such as will power and tolerance quotient determine the success of an individual in a chosen career. Parents, he emphasised, must realise their role as facilitators and refrain from making career choices on behalf of their children.

The students were presented with a free career guide.

The Associate Sponsors were Valluvar College of Science and Management, M.A.M. College of Engineering, Parisutham Institute of Technology and Science, and K. Ramakrishnan College of Engineering. ARC Aqua Pura was the water sponsor.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

“People looking for alternative development model”
Special sessions on memory power mark summer camp
Students get insight into latest trends in academics, job market
Training in banana fibre extraction for women
Mutt to start arts and science college
“Gajendra Moksham” rituals performed
Introduction of Braille ballot paper evokes good response
Free consultancy on reducing use of Carbon Tetrachloride

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu