sounak, Author at Adamas University

Microbiologist: A prominent career choice for biology students

Biology aspirants at School level:

While the interest in studying biology at School level starts with understanding cells, both plants and animals, it takes a peak during the study of human system. While traditional zoology, botany and physiology creates the base for understanding biology, advancements in the form of microbiology, immunology, biotechnology, recombinant DNA technology etc. paves the path of inquisitiveness among the biology lovers at the school level. This lead to the selection of medical or non-medical biological subjects as career option for the aspirant biologists.

Exploring the less known world:

Microbiology has always been frontrunner among the choice of such biology-aspirants for their studies at undergraduate level beyond medical education (Refer: https://adamasuniversity.ac.in/microbiologyplus-the-most-promising-career-path-beyond-medical-education/ ).

‘Knowing the unknown and seeing the unseen” has been the trend of human acumen since the inception of human race. Microbiology stimulates this, with the challenge of finding novel microorganism (bacteria, virus, protozoa, algae etc.) and a plethora of their magnificent properties. Till date the share of known microorganisms has not even reached 1% posing immense prospect for the future. The microbial world extends from the hottest region of the world to the coolest, from the top of the Everest to the Mariana trench and from the gut of human to the solar panel. Diversity of microorganisms holds the key and charm to study the subject.

Knowledge, Skill and Competency development:

Striking balance between diversity as well as specialization is important during the selection of stream/ subject to be opted for career. The three major focus on the 3-4 year undergraduate degree as well as 1-2 years of post-graduate degree lies in the development of theoretical knowledge, technical skills and more importantly competency as life-long learner. Studies in microbiology provides a well-balanced blending of these enhancing theoretical knowledge to strive for innovation, hands-on skills to work in an industry/ research as well as gain like skills and competency to remain relevant and updated despite rapid technological evolution.

Curriculum:

Studies in microbiology at undergraduate as well as post graduate level is generally divided into several courses as mentioned in the following:

Fundamental Courses: Bacteriology, Virology, Biochemistry etc.
Advanced Courses: Immunology, molecular Biology, microbial genetics etc.
Applied Courses: Food and Dairy Microbiology, Medical Microbiology, Agricultural Microbiology, Industrial Microbiology etc.
Skill Enhancement Courses: Quality Control & Quality Assurance, Vaccine Technology, Bioinformatics, Intellectual Property Right (IPR)

Most academic institutions follow a Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) to design their curriculum of Microbiology. However, a few institutions also offer ‘Outcome Based Education’, a student centric educational model employed to maximize learning outcome of the enrolled students.

Infrastructure, facility and Instructors:

Studies in microbiology requires sophisticated instruments, well-equipped laboratories and well trained instructors to create a strong base for the students. Unfortunately, many institutions lack these facilities and treat it alongside other conventional subjects. The major requirements in supporting all round development of a microbiologists includes (not limited to):

Laboratory Facility (Basic): Laboratory with Bio-Safety Level: I (BSL-I)
Instruments (Basic): Microscope, Autoclave, Laminar Air Flow, Centrifuge etc.
Instruments (Sophisticated): -80°C freezer, Phase contrast microscope, UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, HPLC etc.
Facility: Animal Cell Culture, Plant Tissue Culture, Animal House etc.
Cocurricular Facility: Tinkering Lab, Incubation Centre, Fabrication Lab etc.

Along with the physical facility and infrastructure there has to be faculty members and technicians trained in microbiology. However, most of the institutes run the UG and PG program in microbiology employing faculty members from other domain of biology (e.g. botany, zoology etc.) not having requisite exposure and expertise in the core domains of microbiology. The emergence of microbiology as a specialized field of biology also demands the involvement and guidance of personnel from the field of microbiology for proper dissemination of knowledge and skill of aspirant microbiologists. People having relevant industrial exposure adds on significant weightage in terms of leveraging benefit to the students.

Career path:

Despite of the abundance of open source information and higher digital access/ literacy, career path remains unclear to most students at the entry level to graduation. Over rated courses, glorified outcome and rationalizing odd success stories make students a victim during admissions. The following career path of microbiologists are stated to uncover the potential strength as well as challenges to be faced:

Teaching: ‘Teacher shapes the future of the coming generation’ This still motivates a lot of students to take up teaching at various level viz. school, college or university as their preferred profession. Microbiology graduates are not only eligible to appear for most of the school level recruitment process (e.g. School Service Commission, WB) they find it ease during exam and highly relevant during teaching. Joining colleges (both govt. or private) after the completion of M.Sc. in Microbiology is a lucrative option while clearing NET (National Eligibility Test) is highly competitive. Teaching at university level having independent research career, guiding Ph.D students is also highly sought after career.
Researcher/Scientists: Most of the students of microbiology aspire to pursue Ph.D on completion of their M.Sc. and conduct research for creation of knowledge towards human and societal development. There are plenty of research institutes, universities offering position of Junior Research Fellow (JRF), Senior Research Fellow (SRF) in the domain of microbiology (e.g. IISER, IIT, Bose Institute, NIBMG, IACS, IICB etc.). Research funding is mostly obtained from government through Department of Science & Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) etc. The researchers receive good amount of fellowship during the Ph.D tenure, through these schemes. After completion of Ph.D, students join institutes as senior researchers or scientists. Alternatively, they continue their research as Post-Doctoral Fellow in India or Abroad. The offer of fellowship at this level is attractive and often higher than the salary offered through regular employment.
Industry: While knowledge is created at the university level, its implementation is seen in the industry. There is a boom of biotechnology and allied industries that require trained microbiologists at various level. UG level students are employed as Trainee, laboratory technicians etc. in the Quality Control, production department. While students completing M.Sc. are recruited as QC executive, microbiologists etc. Students having Ph.D are mostly employed in the R&D division. It is to be emphasized that all pharmaceutical, food, biotech industries have definite requirements of microbiologists as a part of regulatory compliances. Hence, there lies a constant need of microbiologists at various industries.
Entrepreneurship: The present generation of students have found a suitable solution to the problem of unemployment by the creation of start-up employing their domain knowledge or interest. Several innovative ideas in the form of product or service has led to the development of enterprise making the students ‘job creators rather than job seekers’. Microbiology has enough scope of developing products related to medical, agricultural and also of inter-disciplinary nature that can be nurtured in the incubation facility in creating a start-up. The Govt. is constantly encouraging such activities with various financial and regulatory support through creation of proper start-up ecosystem at the higher educational institutions.

Thus, Microbiology offers enough scope of quenching thirst for knowledge, ignition towards innovation and having a successful career. However, the success highly depends on the quality of training obtained during academic tenure and perseverance.

BBA in Digital Marketing-Unique Aspects

Digital Marketing is a booming industry in India as well as across the globe. Almost all businesses are going online in their marketing activities to survive in the market for a long term, the demand for digital marketers is increasing at a rapid rate and is opening doors for plenty of job seekers.

Recent study shows that the employment sector has seen a major share of jobs generated by the Digital Marketing Industry, in recent years. As per various media reports, the year 2016 saw over 1.5 lakh job opportunities in the Digital Marketing domain. 2017 threw a major surprise by marking around 8 lakh job opportunities in the field. In India, this number is expected to grow rapidly with the advent of Digitalisation in the country.

When small businesses get started, their focus is often on how to get their first group of customers through the door. They may rely on traditional forms of advertising, such as print ads and coupon mailers or even big signs on the side of the road. They may trust that since they know they offer a good product or service, it’s only a matter of time until customers will find their way to them. While this strategy may bring in a trickle of business, there is a better and easier way. Small businesses should consider the huge marketplace of prospects online. No small business, no matter how new, should overlook this vast marketplace. The group of potential customers that are found online is a much larger group of people than you are likely to be able to attract locally. Using digital marketing, you can reach an enormous audience in a way that is both cost-effective and measurable.

Digital Marketing simply defined as an umbrella including all internet or online marketing activities that helps in the brand promotion or lead generation in such a competitive business environment. More and more customers are advancing towards a digital era, which also influences the business to incorporate digital marketing platform to reach maximum audiences within a short period. Digital Channels simply described as various mediums or paths that help the organization or marketers to promote themselves among various customers (new and existing both) within domestic as well as international market. Digital Channels combines Google search, display, email, social media (Facebook) and websites.

Digital Marketing program presents helps to boost a strategic use of e-commerce and related information technology from three perspectives: business to consumers, business-to-business, and intra-organizational. Examination of e-commerce in altering the structure of entire industries, and how it affects business processes including electronic transactions, supply chains, decision making and organizational performance.

New Avenues of Digital Marketing Program

The career scope in the industry is attracting the masses, and this is one of the reasons various professionals are learning the course to enter the industry. The current market status of Digital Marketing shows that it is at its peak, and is going to stay so for obvious reasons. According to Payscale.com, the average salary package of a digital marketing manager is Rs 5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh annually, as of 2019. Professionals with experience earn in the range of Rs. 15- 25 Lakh.

As an entrepreneur or running a business, competition is an integral part, where comes a digital marketing platform that helps in driving more traffic. It helps in implementing strategies, to measure the approach that helps in reaching more customers. It also drives better ROI than traditional or offline marketing approach while maintaining better product awareness and promotion.

As a marketing professional, for marketing and sales professional, those who are in the traditional marketing segment, this is the high time to be a successful digital marketer. With an increase in demand for hiring digital marketing professional by business units, there is also lacking proper digital marketing trained professionals. Trained professionals in online marketing are in high demand for various sectors and industries.

As a student, 1st job opportunity is the most important factor that mostly drives career path as well as opportunity. Among various options to choose from, opting for digital marketing career not only helps in shaping your salary structure but also a career-defining factor. It also increases future opportunity in various sectors and industries.

Keeping in mind of above emerging opportunities School of Business and Economics, Department of Management, AdamasUniversity has introduced a Bachelor of Business Administration in Digital Marketing. Various Specialized Courses are like :

Digital Marketing
Social Media Marketing
E-Commerce
Digital Supply Chain Management
Customer Relationship Management in Digital age
Cyber Security and Cyber Law
Digital Business Strategy
Data Mining and Intelligence
Sales and Distribution in Digital Age.

Career Prospects for Master of Computer Application (MCA)

Why should you pursue MCA?

Master of Computer Application (MCA) is a professional post-graduation degree program of duration two years. This program is a perfect blend of domain-specific knowledge and industry-standard application. Students can opt for the MCA program if they have successfully completed a Bachelor degree in Computer Application or any relevant bachelor’s degree in computers as a subject. This program provides all-around development of students in the computer application domain with the help of modern technical and industry-specific skills.

Eligibility Criteria for MCA

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Application is the prerequisite for pursuing MCA.

Graduates from other streams like Commerce, Arts, Science, and Computer Science as well are also considered eligible to get admission in the MCA program.

Scope of MCA in India

MCA candidates are in great demand in the Indian job sector currently. They have the opportunity to work in the public sector as well as in the private sector. Right now, India is considered to be one of the growing IT destinations of the world. MCA has a lot of scope in India considering our nation’s penchant for IT. MCA is considered as one of the technical and professional degrees, leading to a successful and bright career.

Career and Job Opportunities after completing MCA

Adamas University is providing the best career opportunities to students by enhancing their IT and soft skills at the nascent stage. This is the most promising factor for each and every pupil. Adamas University nurtures pupil’s skill set very minutely and provides a clear visualization to each student as per their skill set. It moves forward their career in the right direction and paves the way for them to contribute to the growth of the technical domain.

Some of the job roles after MCA degree to consider:

1. Software Development

If software development is the driving factor for an aspirant, it would be perfect for the aspirant to pursue an MCA degree.

2. Hardware and Networking

Hardware and networking are one of emerging sectors nowadays. If we do a reality check, it can be found that hardware engineers grab jobs more quickly as there is a scarcity of networking professionals.

3. Software Consultancy

It is one of the booming professions nowadays, hence most of the aspirants can go for freelancing and consultant job to make their career successful.

4. Computer System Analyst

It is one of the demanding career options of any software industry as computer systems are used in most of the industries today.

5. Project Manager

Project Manager is another lucrative job profile after MCA completion which enables an aspirant to supervise a team of IT professionals working under them.

How to select a good institution offering MCA

As a first step, students should select the proper institution which offers MCA. So, students must ensure that they are doing this course from the right Institution to extract the best out of their education. In this perspective, Adamas University is the right decision as it is one of the best private universities in India which ranked in the Times Engineering Survey 2019. Here, we list down some of the parameters to be considered why you should choose Adamas University as your destination.

Top 5 parameters of Adamas University that will help you to move forward in your career:

1. Curriculum

The curriculum adopted in MCA is designed according to industry-standard skills. It covers core Computer Science related papers in the first year of study along with advanced and emerging subjects in the final year of study. Adamas University delivers one of the most well-crafted MCA curriculum which will equip you with the right mix of industry-standard and corporate skills.

2. Faculty Profile

Adamas University boasts of its experienced and qualified faculty strength to impart quality education to the students. They mentor their students with care to show them the right path. A good teacher can nurture the best minds in the world with sound attributes. So, Faculty Profile is an influential parameter that validates the decision of choosing Adamas University as a student’s career destination.

3. Placements

Here at Adamas University, an impressive number of students get placed every year. A lot of renowned organizations or companies visit our campus like HCL, Cognizant, INFOSYS, JARO Education, WIPRO and many more. The placement drives are organized and managed by the specialized Career Development Cell of the university.

4. Your Destination

Your destination is the result of your detailed and informed decision-making process. Though you have decided up your mindset to make your career in MCA, it is must to have precise thinking of which college you would choose. Adamas University quenches your thirst for knowledge and shapes your career for a better future.

Forensic Science and its scope

The application of science and technology in connection with the detection of crime is the Forensic Science. ‘Forensic science’ word has been originated from the Latin word forēnsis, which means “of or before the forum”. During Roman times, criminal charges were presented before a group of public individuals in the forum. Both the individual accused of the crime and the accuser would give dialogue in their favour. The judgement was taken granted in favor of the individual who could produce the best argument and delivery. Thus, the word ‘forensic’ was used in a two-fold way – as a legal evidence, and as a sort of public presentation. Forensic investigation was marked in 16th-century, when European medical practitioners started to gather information on the cause and manner of death. It is reported that two Italian surgeons, Fortunato Fidelis and Paolo Zacchia, established modern Pathology. They studied the structural changes of the human body after death. In 18th century, criminal investigation passed through a major paradigm shift, it became a more evidence based than the use of torture to force confessions of the accused. In retrospective point of view, the use of fingerprint was found in ancient kingdom of southern India in the eighteenth century. During the nineteenth century, the cases of death due to poisoning had raised issues to the law enforcement agencies. As a result, it was felt for isolating, detecting and estimating various poisons absorbed in the human body. The fact initiates the establishment of the first Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory at the then Madras Presidency during 1849. More such laboratories were set up at Calcutta (1853), at Agra (1864) and at Bombay (1870). Later on, it was felt to keep record of anthropometric identification of criminals and Anthropometric Bureau was established in 1892 at Calcutta. Edward Richard Henry established world’s first fingerprint bureau at Calcutta in July 1897. In this way the personnel identification is being assisted on the basis of fingerprints in India. The importance of Forensic Serology was also felt as well. As a result, an institute named as Serology Department was set in Calcutta in 1910. Many other forensic bureaus were established in the then Calcutta during early twentieth century in the British time. For example, in 1915, a Footprint Section was established under the CID, Government of Bengal, to recognize criminals over the examination of footprints collected from the crime scene. During 1936, a Scientific Section was established under the CID, West Bengal to provide facilities for examination of bullets, cartridge cases, firearms, etc., used in criminal activities. Later on, a number of state forensic laboratories were established throughout the country. The first state forensic science laboratory in India was established in the year 1952 at Calcutta. The Legal medical Section of the Chemical Laboratory was taken into this laboratory. Also the Physics and Chemistry unit was developed into a full-fledged laboratory in 1957. The Footprint and the Note Forgery Sections of Criminal Investigation Department were brought to this laboratory later on. During late twentieth century, a number of Central Forensic Science Laborites (CFSL) are established throughout the country. They include CFSL, Calcutta; CFSL, Hyderabad; CFSL, Chandigarh.

Given the crime rising in the nation and statistics going through the roof, the demand for professionals in the forensic science field is growing exponentially. Thus, Forensic science remains to increase its possibility and variety. Also highly specialized disciplines are enforcing to be included in the forensic science. As a result, there is a growing necessity for education in all aspects of the field of forensic science. A properly focused education in forensic science is essential not only for future forensic scientists, but also as a means to keep current practitioners abreast of emerging new technologies. To meet up the situation, more forensic science departments are necessary to be incorporate in the educational institutions along with the forensic research laboratories. This is potentially felt as because of the endless career opportunities in this field due to the increase in the number of crimes in the world. So, job opportunities in the field of forensic science are also endless. One can find a job anywhere in India or foreign countries after the completion of forensic academic programmes.

The first step one need to take to become a Forensic Expert is to opt for a bachelor’s degree in Forensic. There are various undergraduate degrees offered in education sectors, after which the candidate can opt for a career as a Forensic Expert. Some of these are B.Sc. Forensic Science, M.Sc. Forensic Science. Many universities and institutions are established in the country. But very seldom is found in the eastern India, whereas the initial initiative for the establishment of Forensic Science laboratories started at Calcutta. It is worthy to be mentioned that only Adamas University has established Forensic Science Department to run the Forensic Science academic programmes in this region. With an increasing demand, many sectors in forensic science are being opened. They include Forensic Biology, Forensic Serology, Forensic Ballistics, Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Botany, Forensic Entomology, Forensic Toxicology, Forensic Psychology, Clinical Forensic Medicine, Cytology, Dactyloscopy etc. There are many recruiters in the country also. For examples, Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Hospitals, Police Departments, Law Firms, Defense/Army, Central Govt. Forensic Sciences Labs, Private Detective Agencies, Quality Control Bureau, Banks, Universities, and many more.

A gateway to clean and green energy

India’s economic revival post the two-and-a-half-month lockdown period could be channelized into searching for cleaner sources of energy that would benefit both nature and its inhabitants. To start with, the central government should look for ways to utilize abundant solar energy available in most parts of the country. In this case, the focal point should be to energise the nearly 39,000 non-electrified healthcare centres as well as numerous primary and secondary schools in the Indian countryside.

As of now, the Indian government hands out heavy subsidies to the fossil fuels sector. Instead of this, in an effort to kick-start the much needed clean energy revolution, the government may transfer the subsidies to the renewable energy sector, thereby enabling it to take small strides that could lead to giant leaps in the coming decades. United Nations climate body chief Patricia Espinosa said on April 22, “With this restart, a window of hope and opportunity opens, an opportunity for nations to green their recovery packages and shape the 21st-century economy in ways that are clean, green, healthy, safe and more resilient”. In fact, India’s own energy research centres, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), echoed similar views. A research fellow at CEEW, Karthik Ganesan, said, “There is a phenomenal opportunity for India in re-thinking if there is a better way of spending these (coal and oil and gas) subsidies to make them investment-worthy”.

Utilization

The present realities exhibit that organization enrichments for limitless power have trebled over the last five years to Rs 9,930 crore in 2019 from Rs 3,224 crore in 2014, as it were, driven by India’s assurance of setting up plants that could help generate an estimated 175 Giga Watt (GW) by 2022, according to the CEED report. In comparison, India spent more than Rs 80,000 crore towards subsidies for the coal, oil and gas industry. It is, therefore, apparent that, at present, India is spending an enormous amount of money towards non-renewable energy sources, which needs to change soon. In fact, the subsidies for the non-renewable sources exceed by seven times when compared to the renewable sources. Unless this is reversed, it will be extremely difficult to promote clean energy in India.

As of now, 56% of India’s electricity needs are generated from coal, 36% from oil and gas while about 3% is obtained from cleaner sources. However, India has made rapid strides in terms of utilizing renewable sources of energy – Renewables now amount to around 20% of India’s total installed power capacity, up from just 13% in 2014.

A good time to promote the use of renewable energy is now, after the resumption of industrial activities, post removal of lockdown, in an effort to meet any shortfall through renewable energy. Decisions and strategies made now will define the future since the benefits from these decisions will be visible only after 1-2 decades from now. Therefore, judicious use of fossil fuels on one hand and aggressive promotion of renewables are a good way forward.

Volatility of fossil fuels

Industries that are mostly run from power generated by coal and other fossil fuels had a period of nearly 10-15 years that were quite stressful. Case in point is the underperformance of the Indian coal-mining and coal-fired companies. In December 2018, Greenpeace reported an average loss of 10% per year from 2013, costing a total of Rs 25,000 crore in losses.

One among several research set-ups that study the usage and financial benefits of renewable energy source, Matt Gray from Carbon Tracker estimated the economic feasibility of countries that have invested their energy dependence on coal and also in order to recover from the effects of the lockdown imposed by COVID-19. In fact, he specifically cautions India against using coal to spur its industries back after the lockdown and cites a reason for it to support his claim. In India, 2% of the current 222 GW coal fleet is running at a loss; an additional 66 GW is in the pipeline anyway 23% of this will enter the market with a negative cash flow, the Carbon Tracker report said. Matt Gray’s report also adds, “51 per cent of operating coal power costs more to run than building new renewables”.

Setting up the renewable energy network

In order to effectively distribute the benefits of renewable energy, small units of solar power supply units may be supplied to small and medium scale industries as well as small residences in towns and cities. On the other hand, in remote rural areas of the country, electricity generated from solar cells could be used to power small rural schools, hospitals, etc. Although relatively higher initial capital costs tend to deter people from using solar or other renewable energy, funding for these may be allotted from government agencies as well as from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds in order to popularize such schemes. In fact, massive funding schemes, called KUSUM (meant to promote solar pumps), have been launched in order to promote the use of solar power in far-reaching areas of the country.

Some caveats must also be mentioned which deal with strengthening the existing electricity grid so that the grids are able to absorb the introduction of electricity supply from renewable energy sources. Moreover, it may take at least a few years before tangible benefits from renewable energy are financially visible. In addition, adequate training needs to be provided to workers who would be at the forefront of this massive changeover from conventional energy sources to unconventional sources. Ultimately, these actions could help steer India towards a path of recovery, make the air cleaner and, make sure that the inhabitants may experience clean, breathable air in the recent future.

Worldwide coal use in power generation must fall 80% below the 2010 levels by 2030 in order to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, as per an examination conducted by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The hitherto unexpected benefits obtained from a prolonged near-global lockdown will go to a complete waste unless coal and fossil fuel usage is limited and more and more renewable energy sources are promoted at an aggressive rate. It would only be possible if more countries realise the benefits as well as the urgency of the situation in tackling the disastrous effects of global warming and, therefore, take necessary steps that can mitigate damages done to the environment from unabated use of fossil fuels.

Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology: A Guide to Skilled Technicians

What is Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology (BSc MLT) Program?
Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology (BSc MLT) is an undergraduate course of 3 years, which is divided into six semesters (two semesters per academic year). It is a paramedical program that offers practical and theoretical knowledge related to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of various kinds of ailments and health problems through various clinical laboratory tests. Students will get an exposure regarding how to perform the analysis of different body fluids during their course of study which includes haematological, bacteriological, immunological, chemical, histopathological and microscopical evaluation.

Admission Criteria:
Students must have scored a minimum of 55% marks in their higher secondary examination in science stream and should have Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology as their compulsory subjects in 12th standard to be eligible for admission. Adamas University offering BSc MLT courses provides admission to the students on the basis of entrance examination conducted by the institute. However, students are also eligible for direct admission based on merit.

Objectives:
The main objective of the course is to provide a comprehensive knowledge to the students with respect to various techniques of testing that are conducted as a part of diagnosis of various diseases such as blood test, blood typing, urine analysis and other tests without any errors. The course includes the study of diagnosing a disease by utilizing a clinical laboratory. It also involves a proper analysis of the reports of laboratory tests required to treat a particular disease using the best medical procedures and facilities. In the modern era of medical science, treatment for any disease is completely reliant on the diagnostic tests performed in the laboratory. This highlights the significance of this program in the medical and health sector. For various job positions after completion of this course, the average annual salary ranges from INR 2 Lakhs to 6 lakhs per annum. However, the salary keeps on increasing with experience and expertise.

Course Highlights:
• Program- Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology
• Abbreviation- BSc MLT
• Level- Graduate
• Duration- 3 year
• Eligibility- 10+2 from any recognized education board
• Admission Process- Entrance exam and merit-based
• Possible Job Positions- Medical Laboratory Technician, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Clinical Laboratory Technician, Lab Technologist, Biochemist, Phlebotomist, Medical Phlebotomist, Clinical Laboratory Technologist, etc.
• Expected Average Salary- INR 2 lakhs to 6 lakhs per annum.

Why study BSc MLT?
BSc MLT is one of the perfect courses for those students who want to make themselves skilled professionals in medical field because in this course the students will go through the relevant training and gain the required skill set to work efficiently in medical sector. Medical science is one of the finest areas which is in high demand and a career in the same is chosen by candidates with an interest in the healthcare sector. Medical lab technicians play a crucial role in the conduction of various activities related to the diagnostic and pathology laboratories. BSc MLT syllabus consists of subjects that inculcate the skills in the students required to handle advanced equipments so as to perform accurate laboratory tests. This course empowers the students to go for various educational, hospital, governmental sectors as they can run a laboratory, consultancy services as well as health care centres. This enables the graduates to opt for higher degree programs in various specializations which can include any of the following:
• Master of Science (M. Sc) in Medical Technology.
• Master of Science (M. Sc) in Nuclear Medicine Technology.
• Master of Science (M. Sc) in Medical Imaging Technology.
• Master of Science (M. Sc) in Nuclear Medicine Technology.
• Master of Science (M. Sc) in Medical Lab Technology
• Master of Science (M. Sc) in Medical Lab Technology.
• Master of Science (M. Sc) in Medical Technology.
• Master of Science (M. Sc) in Medical Imaging Technology.

Scope:
Graduates have immense opportunities to establish their career in different spheres after completion of the course. The academic and technical proficiencies of the technician determine the job opportunities in this area. Graduates have numerous scope of working as Phlebotomist, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Clinical Laboratory Technician, Lab Technologist, Biochemist and Medical Phlebotomist, Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Medical Laboratory Technician. A skilled and efficient graduate in this field is liable to acquire challenging positions in different hospitals in public or private sectors such as emergency centres, blood donor centres, laboratories, etc.

The scope of this course is very wide. After BSc MLT course, candidates have ample of great opportunities in many fields anywhere in the world. The scope linked to the course includes the following:
• A career in this field is amongst the most challenging and satisfying careers in today’s market. Everyday, a technician/technologist gets to learn something new, which is great for their career.
• A number of Medical Laboratory Technicians can find employment in pathology labs, research labs, urology labs, pharmaceutical sector, hospitals and in many other areas.
• Apart from the above opportunities, an aspirant can also pursue a career in the education field as a lecturer. With passing years, the course has multiplied in terms of what a student learns during the course, thereby multiplying the scope as well. The scope has significantly expanded and a number of opportunities have been on the rise.
• The Medical Laboratory Technology field includes areas such as blood banking, clinical chemistry, haematology, immunology, microbiology, cytotechnology, urine analysis, blood sampling, etc. There are innumerable fields that can serve as suitable career options for the graduates.
• BSc MLT provides ample job opportunities in the healthcare sector. Every hospital and healthcare sector needs clinical lab technicians to detect problems and diseases affecting the patients. Hence, it is creating more job opportunities for the graduates of BSc MLT. Medical Laboratory Technology profession has a positive impact on people’s health.

#AU4CHANGE: A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT WITH PARTICIPATORY AND COLLECTIVE LEARNING

Covid-19 is no longer just a virus-induced infectious disease. It is much more than that. In fact, it wouldn’t be an overstatement if we were to dub it as an unprecedented phenomenon. While acknowledging its disastrous consequences, we should have no qualms in accepting that it has been the biggest catalyst of instantaneous changes that we have encountered in our daily lives. As the second wave of the disease continues to ravage India, our lifestyles have turned upside down.

The sweeping changes due to Covid-19 have gripped all areas of human life. The field of academics has been one of the biggest areas of change. The nature of the virus is such that it requires people to stay indoors and interact with each other virtually. Thus, technology-mediated virtual learning has become the alternative for physical learning. Classroom-centric learning has given way to app-based remote learning.

Although, online interactions constitute the only way to continue learning at this juncture, the absence of personal touches and the monotony of continuously sitting in front of the computers have created a peculiar negative inertia among learners. Across the world, the euphoria that was associated with online learning towards the beginning of the pandemic is hardly there. Teachers, therefore, are having a tough time maintaining the interest level of the learners.

Like every other academic across the globe, yours truly, being a humble media teacher at the School of Media and Communication (SOMC) under the Kolkata-based Adamas University (AU), was finding it an uphill task to retain learners’ attention during online classes. It was contingent on me to try an alternative mechanism. This is where I thought I would pass the buck to the learners themselves so that the intensity and quantum of their involvement could be significantly enhanced.

On an experimental basis, I applied this decided reversal of roles for a course entitled ‘Contemporary Media Issues’, which is taught to the fourth-semester students of Bachelor of Arts [B.A. (Honours)] in Journalism and Mass Communication (J.M.C.). According to the deal that I had with the students, the entire class of 45 students was divided into three groups. Each group was given the responsibility to take care of two modules out of a total of six that were included in the course curriculum. Each group has a name, a captain and a vice-captain. Therefore, on a given instructional day, the captain of the assigned group would pick up a topic from the two decided modules and initiate the discussion. It is worthwhile to mention that the captain of a group is responsible for informing the topic in advance to me so that I can also prepare accordingly. During the class, each member of the assigned group would speak for a certain amount of time so that the entire topic is covered in a nutshell. I would also add my inputs to the discussion and invite members from other groups to contribute their ideas.

Initially, the quality of discussions wasn’t up to the mark and many learners couldn’t express their ideas owing to an inability to speak English. However, with sustained motivations, learners slowly started coming out of their shells. With some confidence, now I can say that the classes are a lot more interactive than what was the case earlier.

Additionally, each group is responsible for finding out all the resources pertaining to their assigned modules and distributing the same amongst all the learners. Not only does it enhance the researching skills of the learners, it also significantly adds to their repertoire of knowledge.

This technique had a significant bearing on enhancing the collective attendance of the learners. Additionally, all of them felt responsible for the course thereby inspiring collective learning. Learning essentially needs to be a democratic process and this procedure significantly added to the democratic fervour.

Participatory and group learning is the order of the day. As a teacher, it was my honest attempt to introduce the same at my school.

While depression among learners is at an all-time high subject to an uncertain future and reduced career opportunities, it is equally true that teachers have an inescapable responsibility to uplift their spirit. I am sure that a little bit of innovation can go a long way in reviving the confidence of learners on the teaching-learning process. The rest, they say, is history.

Why Computer Science?

“The Computer was born to solve the problem that did not exist before” – Bill Gates.

As a machine reduces the work effort, so does a computer for a typical complex computation. Computer science forces you to deal with a problem in a slightly different way which is a skill that can be applied to life itself. In the era of data, a computer is the most indispensable thing we can think of. Computer science gives you an opportunity in working and understanding hands-on the aspect of data.

Computer Science is the study of principles and the use of computers. The classical areas for a computer science course include discrete mathematics, data structure, theory of computation, compiler design, analysis and designing of Algorithm. The advanced study includes artificial intelligence (AI), computer networks and security, database management systems, computer vision and graphics, numerical analysis, software engineering, bioinformatics.

Apart from this, a computer engineer is supposed to be known as a fluent coder. Coding is the ‘Bread and Butter’ for all computer engineers. Programming or coding is an intriguing sector as it gives us the superpower to regulate computer programs on the go. The main goal for a computer engineer is to make a problem understandable to a machine so that it could solve the problem obligingly. The fluency and smoothness of an application are solely based on the way you design the code. C, the mother of all programming languages, is a general-purpose programming language that is extremely popular, simple, and flexible to use. It helps a programmer to build the base of designing a program. It is a structured programming language that is machine-independent and extensively used to write various applications, Operating Systems like Windows, and many other complex programs like Oracle database, Git, Python interpreter, and more. Java, a high-level programming language, is also the most popular language for its design structure using object-oriented concepts (OOP). When it comes to the web, Java is unparallel. Most of the web-based applications are based on java. Apart from this, there are several programming languages like c++, python, Matlab, R to name a few.

There are innumerable and varied specialization and career options for a computer engineer. After completing his/her B.Tech degree a student may get absorbed in the software industry or may opt for higher studies. There are multiple sub-division and specializations in Computer Engineering which require applications in various sectors. Student can also pursue B.Tech degree in various applied fields:

AI/ML: Artificial Intelligence (AI) are emerging fields that will shape and dominate the future of this universe. Data is one of the most important assets of a company or government agency. It helps us to predict the future based on past experiences. AI has the potential to vastly change the way that humans interact, not only with the digital world but also with each other, through their work and other socioeconomic institutions – for better or for worse. A vast volume of data can be analysed by using a smart alternative, Machine Learning. It can produce an accurate result by designing a fast and efficient model for real-time data.
Blockchain: The duration of the course for B.Tech with specialization in blockchain is four years. Blockchain is currently booming and one of the most popular technologies that have invaded to almost every industry in the world. The world is changing its shape towards cryptocurrency. In near future, Bitcoin will be one of the popular transaction media. The main technology behind this is the blockchain. The technology will help the student to learn different algorithms and to curate the bitcoin on their own.
Cyber Security: Cybersecurity provides an expertise insight analysis on global security threats. In the world of web, to provide a secure web service is one of the main goals. The course on Cyber Security will help to learn different algorithms along with the expertization on ethical hacking, penetration testing, digital forensics. There are immense career avenues open for specialization in cybersecurity. This includes Security software developer, security analyst, security architect etc.
M.Tech Degree in Computer Science: Apart from doing graduation and going for an early job, a student may go for a master’s degree in computer science and engineering along with the specialized degree discussed above.

With the knowledge and concept in the domain, a computer science engineer can be eligible for an immense variety of job opportunities. Some of them are jotted below:

Computer Science engineers are the primary resource of the software industry. With a sound concept in the subject, a student can crack any of the big houses easily.
Government sectors such as I.S.R.O, B.H.E.L, etc are recruiting computer science engineers having a good GATE score.
Interdisciplinary research is a new trend for Computer Science students. Inter-disciplinary subjects such as IoT, Bioinformatics provides a huge contribution in research for computer science students.
Apart from interdisciplinary research, mainstream research in computer science also provides a huge scope for the student both nationally and internationally.

As a computer science engineer, there are plenty of opportunities in Government sectors as well as private sectors. A focused, sincere and conceptual student has all the possibilities to touch the sky.

MINDS AND CRIMES: STUDYING THE LAW AND MIND BEHIND A CRIME

Crime in today’s era is one of the most growing factors in the world. In such an hour of need, we need more people who have an understanding of the criminal law. In our everyday life, we hear about murder, rape, people getting attacked, robbed, and many other criminal offences against people. The suffering of the victims is increasing day by day. Criminal Law is the one that protects people against such offences. Understanding the law does not only mean finding a way to punish the person committing the crime but also protecting the person who has been falsely accused.

Criminal Law consists of rules, regulations, and statutes which define the action of a person which violates public rights and also disrupts public safety and welfare. In India, one of the oldest branches of law in Criminal Law. It protects people against crime as well as punishes the one who commits such crime. One of the main focus of Criminal Law is to determine the guilt of the person as well as the consequences of such conduct and what punishment such person deserves who committed such crime.

Criminal Law Honors also includes various other fields of study such as Criminology which teaches us how the mind of criminals works and how to proceed further with it. Also, about different kinds of crime and offences in the society like White Collar Crime, Manual Scavenging, Food Adulteration, etc. With these different views and knowledge, it becomes quite interesting to stud and implement in reality. It covers all the areas and perspectives of crime as there is in society.

A Candidate may study Ba.LLB, BBA.LLB or BSc.LLB after passing his 10+2. In this 5 Year of the Course, all the law subjects mentioned in the law curriculum are the same in the above-mentioned courses. Any Candidate can choose Criminal Law Honors as their specialization in this 5-year course along with other specialization available in the course. Though, eligibility criteria for the course of Criminal Law may vary from one college to other. A candidate may apply to a different college and university after clearing their Higher Secondary.

Even with the introduction of various kinds of specialization in the field of law, Criminal Law stands as one of the most preferable courses. Candidates can pursue Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) in the field of Criminal Law. To pursue Criminal Law, the inspiring candidate needs to pursue integrated law programs in UG and directly pursue Criminal Law specialization in PG level law. There are different kinds of courses offered in the PG level Criminal Law are LLM in Criminal Law, LLM in Criminal and Security Law, LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice and Administrative Law, LLM in Criminal and Business Law, LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, etc. Candidates can also pursue diplomas and certificate courses in the field of Criminal Law.

The course includes not only the subjects relating to Criminal Law but also many extra co-curricular activities like Moot Courts, Court Room Exercise, Debates, Judgment Writing, etc. These extra co-curricular activities provide the candidates a diverse mindset and prepare them for their future endeavours. These practices teach the candidates about Court Room and its etiquette and prepare its students for their future practices, make them better at argumentation and how to present themselves in the courtroom. These practices also focus on the overall personality development of the candidates.

The Students also get the opportunities to do internships which give them exposure throughout their course. The students are required to at least do One Internship every year. Students can do an internship under Advocates, in NGOs, Law Firms, Judges Etc. Internship helps the students understand the work before fully-fledged. The goal of the internship is to give the students to experience practical working and see firsthand the application of the law. This also helps the students to decide what sector they wish to work in after graduating.

After the completion of the course at the UG level, the candidate can go ahead with their study in Criminal Law at PG level or opt for a job. There are many job opportunities available for Criminal Law students. Some of those are Criminal Litigator, Legal Advisor, and Judicial Officer and also can appear for various government jobs entrance exams. The opportunities are many; a person can also join Law Firms or private companies for work.

Hence, increasing criminal cases in India requires more people with knowledge of criminal law. Criminal Law Honors has a very wide perspective in the field of law. As mentioned earlier, it is not only about punishing the wrongdoer, but also protecting the ones who are innocent. Benjamin Franklin said that “it is better 100 guilty Persons should escape than that one innocent Person should suffer”. This can be achieved by the people having proper knowledge of the law. So, our society requires people not only with the knowledge of Criminal Law but with all the extra expertise they carry.

CYBER SECURITY AND FORENSICS

If a student is looking for a job that is truly recession-proof even during the current economic upheaval, he/she need not look any further. There is indeed a specialization that is now ranked 4^th largest among all technology domains and boasts of zero unemployment. This specialization is none other than Cyber Security.

As technology progresses, an ever-higher percentage of humanity is relying on computers and computer-aided devices to carry out their daily activities. Right from simple web browsing to e-commerce transactions, banking / financial activities, social networking and other specialized tasks, we use our computers for a large part of the day. This trend is steadily going up and computer usage is ever increasing. In India, 23% of urban households and 4% of rural households owned a computer in 2019. Over 350 Million Indians (26% of the population) own a smartphone.

However, the crooks are getting smarter as well and are getting armed with an ever-increasing arsenal of complex and consistent tools (like viruses, Trojans or other forms of malware) to wrest control of online activities and data in an unfair manner. As per CybersercurityVentures.com data, the total value of cyber crimes is expected to touch a mind-boggling USD 6 Trillion in 2021. This is where Cyber Security comes in – experts in this technology work as online policemen to prevent, detect or repair cyber attacks or its effects.

An interesting case in hand is that of Antivirus developers like McAfee, Norton or Quick Heal. Malicious software gets released into the system in a regular, almost continuous, basis. These companies have to be on their toes – bringing out a solution almost immediately and push it to all users to prevent any damage. The turnaround time is very short – often in minutes – for these engineers. Thus, a complete command on the technology is expected.

Students who would like to make a career in Cyber Security can also branch out to the related field of Ethical Hacking. Professional ethical hackers use their skills to benevolently identify and penetrate security loopholes in computer systems to pre-empt malicious attacks. These professional are hired with very high pay packages by all application development companies to make their product secure and tamper-proof.

Cyber Security professionals have other specializations to consider as well. One popular option is computer forensics. Specialists in this area collect and analyze data from computing devices and store them in an acceptable format so that they can be presented as evidence in case the security of the machine is breached. Then, there are specialists associated with particular domains like internet security, network security, data security and information security who deal with the safety of systems and users in specific areas. All in all, the primary job of a Cyber Security engineer is to identify risks, prevent attacks and ensure the safety of online users.

But then, if someone wants to become a Cyber Security engineer by professions, what are the study options available? Based on a study of the various options available for students in India, there seem to be two broad choices:

Study a basic engineering course in any discipline (preferably related to computer science) followed by a specialized training in Cyber Security.
Study a specialized course of Cyber Security at UG level.

Upon careful comparison, it turns out that the first option is costlier and takes a longer duration than the second one. Cyber Security typically does not have a significant presence in the undergraduate syllabi of Indian universities and may be offered as a 1-semester course. Post-graduation, the student needs to enrol in a specialized course mostly offered by private players, which is time-consuming and costly. Keeping these difficulties in mind, AICTE has allowed Indian universities to offer undergraduate courses specializing in Cyber Security wherein the student gains the entire knowledge within the UG course duration itself without having to spend any extra time or money to meet the expanding market demand.

As of now, almost all of the undergraduate courses in Cyber Security are offered as an Engineering stream. For example, Adamas University in Kolkata offers a B.Tech course in Computer Science, specializing in Cyber Security, which allows a student to gain the complete expertise within a period of 4 years. The student can directly approach relevant companies for suitable placement after completion of this course.

So, what does a student learn in a typical Cyber Security course? In addition to the normal course structure in B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering, these programs have specialized semester-long courses on:

Data Security (Theory & Lab)
Network Security & Governance (Theory & Lab)
Ethical Hacking (Theory & Lab)
Digital Forensics (Theory & Lab)
Internet Security

And more courses depending on the curriculum structure defined by the University. The students learn the technology of blocking threats, creating and implementing a firewall, mitigating risks and ensuring the well-being of the computer user. With the popularity of mobile smartphones and their extensive usage for communication and transactions, security of these devices are also an important requirement and are a part of any course on Cyber Security.

Thus, if one wants an interesting, dynamic and recession-proof career with a high pay package and has a willingness to fight against malicious intentions, then cybersecurity may be just appropriate.