The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), which now offers company secretaryship course on distance education mode, plans to introduce fulltime courses in cities where it has the infrastructure, including Bangalore.
Announcing this at a press meet here on Friday, ICSI president R. Sridharan and senior members said a 21,000-sq. ft building of the institute was coming up in the city. Once ready, the institute would consider offering a fulltime programme on the premises. The company secretaryship course comprises the foundation, executive and professional programmes. The institute recently launched a fulltime three-year Integrated CS Course at ICSI-Centre for Corporate Governance Research and Training in Navi Mumbai.
On the changes on the anvil to the existing courses, Mr. Sridharan said the institute had decided, towards leveraging technology, to introduce computer-based education for foundation programme from next month.
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The institute, Mr. Sridharan said, had also decided to introduce open book examination (OBE) in all the five elective subjects in Module III of the professional programme. Of the five, which includes banking law and practice, and insurance law and practice, the student has to opt to study one subject.
ICSI vice-president V.Y. Khare highlighted the demand for company secretaries.
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On the number of students clearing the examinations hovering between 20 and 30 per cent, central council member Gopalakrishna Hegde said quality of company secretary was very important.
Bangalore chapter chairman S.C. Sharada said company secretaryship as a profession was suitable for women as it offered flexibility.