Choices on a platter

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">Many career pathways open up for students towards a glorious future, as they pass out of school.<br /><br />As students take a breather after the sweat and toil of the 10+2 Board examinations, another test awaits them. It’s time for every student to think about the career choice he or she has to make. Some may opt for conventional courses, some for vocational and professional, while most of them would be looking for correct guidance to make their final choice, after 10+2.<br /><br />Education Times highlights some of the likely career choices that a student would make.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Engineering</span><br /><br />A vintage profession, engineering continues to figure among the top preferred options after 10+2, for students. At the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), students learn the basics of engineering and science and how to pursue courses in humanity and social science and even programmes in management. The dean, undergraduate studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, H M Gupta says, ‘‘Our programmes encourage self-learning through seminars, term papers, colloquiums which help a student know what is hot in the world of technology. Options abound for engineers particularly in manufacturing in different sectors and many engineers pursue MBA programmes. Many join the civil services, IT-related jobs and research and development laboratories.’’<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Medicine</span><br /><br />One of the other good old career choices from time immemorial, apart from engineering, is medical sciences. ‘‘The society needs both good general practitioners as well as specialist doctors. The health care in rural India still needs strengthening for which medical personnel are required in large numbers,’’ says Dr B K Jain, dean, faculty of medical sciences, University of Delhi and professor, Surgery, Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital. Jain remarks, ‘‘The medical graduates can start practising medicine after getting registered with the State Medical Councils.’’ The work areas include joining medical services under the government, corporations, autonomous bodies, armed forces, railways or corporate hospitals. One can practice privately or opt for further studies or training as resident doctors.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Architecture</span><br /><br />In view of the growing population and the increasing demand for shelter, architecture is the career of the future. The dean, School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Subir Saha says, ‘‘Unlike other professions, architecture is a profession of creativity, imagination and originality.’’ SPA, he claimed, was the topmost institute in Asia offering both bachelor’s and master’s courses in architecture. Besides mainstream architecture, there is scope in landscape design and digital architecture that is helpful in presentations.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Chartered accountancy</span><br /><br />Chartered accountancy has always been a high-status profession and a passport to challenging and rewarding careers in business and industry. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) enrols students for professional education (PE) course as well as the final course of chartered accountancy (CA). The president, ICAI, R Bupathy says, ‘‘The CA course involves a unique blend of practical training under a practising chartered accountant for a period of three years and simultaneous theoretical education.’’ Besides working in the private and government sectors, chartered accountants can set up independent practice as well or join an established firm of chartered accountants as a partner.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Company secretary</span><br /><br />Another good option after 10+2, a course in company secretaryship (CS) trains students in corporate laws as well as in accounts, to equip them with more flexibility in the ever changing business environment. According to the president, ICSI, Pavan Kumar Vijay, ‘‘The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has formed a ‘perspective planning group’ to achieve short, medium and long-term objectives of the profession of CS.’’ Vijay remarks, ‘‘The scope for practising company secretaries has enlarged with the coming up of the National Company Law Tribunal, Competition Act, Pre-Certification, IPRs, WTO, international trade and the changing face of the capital market due to the amendment in the SEBI Act.’’<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Hotel management</span><br /><br />For those interested in joining the hotel industry, flair for service is the basic requirement. In fact, hotel management-trained students are even picked up by call centres and banks. The growth opportunities are promising. According to the director, National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (NCHMCT), N S Bhuie, ‘‘Hotel management is increasingly becoming popular with more people travelling in the country. The government of India is promoting tourism in every state. Moreover, multi-cultural cuisine is gaining popularity.’’ The three-year B Sc programme in hospitality and hotel administration offered by the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, is a multidimensional course that trains students in becoming a good hospitality professional.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Mass communication</span><br /><br />The effect of media on the cultural and social life of the society is for all to see. Hence, mass communication can be counted among the elite career choices of the present times. The director, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), B P Sanjay says, ‘‘Mass communication is the effective use of different kinds of media be it print, radio, television or internet for carrying information, education and entertainment to the masses.’’ Mass communication opens up avenues in newspapers, magazines, journals, research organisations, television, radio, production houses, internet, film, production, photography, corporate writing and publishing among others.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Nursing </span><br /><br />With the ever increasing pressure on the health sector, the demand for qualified nurses is on the rise. So a career in nursing can be extremely rewarding. Apart from jobs in India, a good future awaits nurses in foreign countries as well. The acting principal of Rajkumari Amrit Kaur College of Nursing, (RAKCN) Asha Sharma says, ‘‘Apart from the hospitals, the scope has widened to include pharmaceutical firms and other private organisations.’’ A nurse can earn between Rs 6,000 per month and Rs 30,000 per month depending upon the experience. Abroad, they can earn triple the salary being paid to nurses in the country.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Delhi University courses </span><br /><br />Want to take a shot at the traditional courses? A plethora of choices await one at the Delhi University. They can go for BA Pass courses in science, commerce and humanities. BA Honours courses in many streams are available.<br /><br />The dean of students’ welfare, Delhi University, Hema Raghavan remarks, ‘‘All vocational and honours courses are immensely popular among students. Although confined to toppers, economics, both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels is still in demand for students looking for opportunities abroad. Pass courses are in demand.’’ According to the principal, St Stephen’s College, Anil Wilson, ‘‘St Stephen’s imparts classical education and have started a school of music, a centre for mathematical science, an American studies centre, a school of languages, and a school of media studies. These courses are open to the students of St Stephen’s.’’<br /><br />List of websites<br />IIT, New Delhi www.iitd.ernet.in ICAI, New Delhi www.icai.org ICSI, New Delhi www.icsi.edu NCHMCT, New Delhi www.nchmct.org IIMC, New Delhi www.iimc.ac.in Delhi University www.du.ac.in School of Planning and Architecture www.indiawatch.org/spa</div> </div>