#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:

  1. 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.
  2. Government sectors such as I.S.R.O, B.H.E.L, etc are recruiting computer science engineers having a good GATE score.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 4th 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:

  1. Study a basic engineering course in any discipline (preferably related to computer science) followed by a specialized training in Cyber Security.
  2. 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.

Scope of Life Sciences and Biotechnology: Understanding Various Specializations and Career Opportunities

Biotechnology, Microbiology and Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary field of applied Biology that encompasses all realms of life sciences, as well as related fields of technology, offers topics based on Genetics, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Biophysics, Plant & Animal Biotechnology, Microbial Biotechnology, Fermentation Technology, Bioinformatics, Genetic Engineering, Medical Biotechnology, and many others. The course also provides ample scope of skill development through appropriate laboratory training in different areas of Biotechnology. SoLB’s mission and vision is to prepare the students to undertake multi-disciplinary research and entrepreneurship in biotechnology and related areas in engineering, medicine and life sciences to provide solutions for human and animal health, agriculture and environment. In addition, our aim is to develop consultancy and community services to establish a thoroughly industrialized nation committed to the virtues of quality and relevance to contribute to the dynamic socio-economic development of the nation.

Key features of SoLB

  • Course structure based on UGC approved Choice Based Credit System (CBCS).
  • A dynamic curriculum that was designed and constantly updated while consulting stalwarts from industry and research institutes.
  • Highly experienced faculty members with PhD from national and International institutes offers teaching in diverse areas of applied biosciences.
  • Technology-based pedagogy including blended learning, flipped classrooms, think-pair-share, peer learning and video lectures.
  • Holistic learning through the development of human values and professional ethics, design thinking, venture ideation and entrepreneurship skills.
  • Seamless interdisciplinary learning and projects across the field.
  • A highly interactive and informative teaching atmosphere where students learn while discussing the relevant topics
  • Adamas Biotechnology Club offers a perfect platform to learn about entrepreneurship, career development and ideation.
  • Student Mentoring System to provide a personalized care for each student.

Why SoLB is your destination for career development in biological sciences

SoLB with its infrastructure of several state of the art labs offers a very interactive and innovative way of teaching. Practical understanding of theories always pave the way for a firm base of our students. Currently we have Molecular Biology lab, Recombinant Technology lab, Bioprocess lab and Plant Biotechnology lab. Additionally this year we have developed three more research labs to perform cutting-edge science in our campus. The new labs are Microbial Genetics lab, Cancer Biology lab and Stem Cell Biology labs addressing the current needs of scientific research. These labs are going to provide a golden opportunity for our graduate and postgraduate students to learn important techniques and building a challenging career. Several professors of SoLB with their strong background in scientific research provide their guidance to our students in shaping their mind to conduct a fruitful research.  

Skill development for industry-ready students

The course structure for several disciplines in SoLB has designed to cater the needs of skilled workers in the bioscience industry. To serve this purpose we have several eminent professors from industry and academia as a member in our Board of studies. Some notable members are Dr. Salavadi Easwaran – Dean, Biocon Academy, Prof. Ramakrishna Sen – HoD, Dept. of Biotechnology, IIT Kharagpur. We also have several courses on innovation, ideation, design & thinking to shape our new minds for innovative creations. These courses will help our students to develop ideas and design their steps to achieve them as a successful commercial product. Further, Adamas University Biotechnology club is offering a platform for our students to materialize their new ideas in the form of products required for betterment of society. The industry internships for students are arranged by our University’s Career Development Cell (CDC) and faculty members. The industry internships are mandatory for course completion.

Achievements of SoLB

The session of 2020-21 proves to be a very successful year for SoLB. Several students of B. Tech Biotechnology qualified GATE exams required to pursue M. Tech degrees in prestigious institutions of India. Among them Anwesha Bose scored GATE All India Rank- 48 becomes a momentary achievement for our school. There are few students from B.Sc. Biotechnology qualify JAM exams conducted by IITs and required to pursue M.Sc. in prestigious institutions of India. The year also marked with very good number of placement of our B. Tech and M.Sc. level students in several reputed companies with attractive salaries. Two professors from Department of Biotechnology and Department of Microbiology receives prestigious research grants from Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.

 

Courses offered by SoLB

SoLB is among one of several schools of Adamas University creating vibrant innovative minds for tomorrow’s need of India. There are mainly three departments in SoLB offering twelve knowledge and research-based programmes:

Department of Biotechnology

  • B.Tech Biotechnology (Four-years duration)
  • B.Tech Food technology (Four-years duration)
  • B.Sc. Biotechnology (Three-years duration)
  • M.Tech Biotechnology (Two-years duration)
  • M.Sc. Biotechnology (Two-years duration)
  • PhD Biotechnology (Five-years duration)

Department of Microbiology

  • B.Sc. Microbiology (Three-years duration)
  • B.Sc. Genetics (Three-years duration)
  • M.Sc. Microbiology (Two-years duration)
  • PhD Microbiology (Five-years duration)

Department of Biochemistry

  • B.Sc. Biochemistry (Three-years duration)
  • M.Sc. Biochemistry (Two-years duration)
  • PhD Biochemistry (Five-years duration)

 

Eligibility criterion

B.Tech Biotechnology and B. Tech Food Technology

  • Minimum 60% marks overall in 10 + 2 level with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics
  • Qualify Adamas University Admission Test (AUAT) conducted annually.

B.Sc. Biotechnology/ Microbiology/ Biochemistry

  • Minimum 50% marks overall in 10 + 2 level with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics
  • Qualify Adamas University Admission Test (AUAT) conducted annually.

M.Tech Biotechnology

  • Minimum 50% marks overall in B.Tech/ M.Sc. (Biotechnology/ Biochemical Engineering/Chemical Engineering) level.
  • Qualify Adamas University Admission Test (AUAT) conducted annually.

M.Sc. Biotechnology/ Microbiology/ Biochemistry

  • Minimum 50% marks overall in B.Sc. (Botany/ Zoology/ Physiology/ Biotechnology/ Microbiology/ Biochemistry/ Agriculture/ or in allied subject) level.

Qualify Adamas University Admission Test (AUAT) conducted annually.

Choosing career during challenging time!

What do we learn from a challenging situation like this? Well, one of the take-home messages for all of us that by taking appropriate measure one can fight an adverse situation and turn it into a favourable one. Likewise, you need to take charge of the career of the ward and turn it into a successful one. The definition of “success” being debatable, you all must try to do something which leaves footprints on the path of development of society through technological breakthroughs.

 What is the best in you?

 The most common question one face during his school days is probably “what do you want to become in your life?”. It is asked with the intention to support your career. The most common applauded answer is probably as per traditional mindset such as doctor or engineer. But is it the only question that one should ask? Let’s take a lesson from the life of accomplished people. If we look at the life of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Acharya J. C. Bose, Prof. C. V. Raman, Prof. Homi Bhabha, our president Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, then we find they are all known for their work and contribution towards society. They are not merely recognized by the career they choose. It’s their intention and actions rather than career options. Whichever field you choose, making an impact is most important.

So, you can say to your child, “what do you want to do in your life” is a more basic and pertinent question rather than “what do you want to become in your life”. If you concentrate on that question and explore what you want to do in our life then it would tell you what stream you should choose, what career you should choose and many more.

It is not an easy question and takes time to find an answer. The most common guiding line by the seniors is “pursue your dreams”. But dreaming without full information about the future possibilities is not an option you should go for!! In today’s world, where the job market and job roles are changing so fast, you should choose a stream that offers flexibility. Flexibility in terms of further study areas and flexibility in the career options. Science is the only stream that has the potential and diversity to offer this much flexibility.

Why Basic Science still today?

I hope, there is no doubt whatsoever in anyone’s mind about the importance and usefulness of basic science, even today! In fact, all the aspects of the development of humankind is marked by the progress of science. Because today’s science will create tomorrow’s technology. So, the question is not really about the utility of science but the prospect of a career in science. Somehow one misconception is there in the mind of common people that there is a limited job available to students of science disciplines. But in reality, this is just the opposite. If you take the example of any advanced country then the economic model they are following is that of the knowledge economy.

This knowledge economy is propelled by the rapid advancement of scientific innovation. Rapid innovation in science is only possible if you have a skilled workforce capable of carrying out cutting edge scientific research. In India, slowly and steadily we are also moving towards a knowledge-based economy. That is why one can see every company has its own dedicated R&D wing which seeks to employ thousands of employees trained in science. India’s transition to a knowledge-based economy is also reflected through various government initiatives like Atal Innovation Mission, Startup India etc. But that is about the high-end job. Traditional jobs like jobs in the government sector, teaching job in schools, Colleges and Universities and private sectors mostly employ people from science background. So we can say if you are talking about a job in science then it is limited only by your imagination. The possibility is limitless.

School of Basic and Applied Science (SOBAS) at Adamas University is committed to delivering quality education in science and applied areas of Science and at the same time to create world-class scientific knowledge.

To meet our objectives, we have created an ecosystem that focuses on three main areas:

(i) Teaching-Learning pedagogy (ii)  Intellectual capital (iii) Infrastructure.

Let us briefly tell you about the features of these three areas:

(i) Process of delivering education:

  • Outcome-Based Education followed in major National and International Universities.
  • Choice Based Credit System for all programs.
  • Freedom to Choose an area of Specialization based on individual choice in Postgraduate program.
  • Regular monitoring of Syllabi by renowned external experts from Academia and Industry.
  • Learner-centric pedagogies.
  • Healthy Student-faculty ratio.
  • Equal attention to Theory as well Practical classes.
  • Uninterrupted class in every situation including pandemic (Online class, Smart Lab)
  • D2P: Every student (UG & PG) is encouraged to publish their dissertation in reputed peer-reviewed journals.
  • Academic & Industry Internship program in reputed organizations.
  • Number of Value Added Courses
  • Co-curricular Activities like National & International Conferences in Technical collaboration with reputed International Publishing Houses like IOPScience, Elsivier, Springer, AIP Publishing etc. , Seminars, Webinars, Field visits etc.
  • Various Extra-curricular Activities through different club activities like Writer’s club, Environmental Club, Film Club, Dance Club etc.
  • Adamas Comprehensive Excellence (ACE) scorecard to track the holistic growth & development of each student – regular monitoring by individual mentor
  • Special classes for competitive academic examinations (JAM, NET, GATE)
  • Special guidance for higher studies in abroad through Study Abroad Program
  • Special guidance for entrepreneurial & innovation activities through SOBAS Innovation & Incubation cell
  • Improvements of soft skills through various programs organized by Career Development Cell (CDC).
  • Regular career guidance and campus interviews organized by Career Development Cell
  • Single window grievance cell for students through SOBAS care.

(ii) Intellectual capital

  • Experienced Faculty Members with specializations in a wide range of Science & Applied science subjects.
  • Publication with major International journals
  • Experience in conducting high-quality research in India & abroad.
  • Experience in conducting sponsored research from Government agencies & Industry.
  • Regular update of knowledge through various Faculty Development programs, online courses.
  • Knowledge exchange and research collaboration through physical/online seminars, academic visits

(iii) Infrastructure

  • Smart Classroom with projector facilities
  • State of the Art Laboratories
  • High-End Computation Facility with many software like Mathematica, Matlab, R, Python, QGIS, SAGA, GIS, tnt MIPS etc.
  • The flexibility of conducting activities through online/offline mode.
  • Digital infrastructure like Canvas, Smart Lab, TCSion, Microsoft Teams, digital tablets etc.

Currently, we are running our programs through six domains – Chemistry, Environmental Science, Forensic sciences, Geography, Mathematics & Physics. Various Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral courses offered by these departments can be accessed through our website – https://science.adamasuniversity.ac.in/. Also, any queries regarding our school can be addressed to sobascare@adamasuniversity.ac.in.

Finally, to all our prospective students we would like to say, we harvest knowledge in its pure form, come join us in our quest and try to make a difference in tomorrow’s world!

School of Pharmaceutical Technology: The Centre for Pharmaceutical Excellence

Adamas University, the largest award winning University in Eastern India, is the perfect destination for aspiring students who wish to pursue excellence in their chosen field in a secured, nature friendly, vast campus which can truly be their second home. The School of Pharmaceutical Technology (SOPT) was established amidst a lush green campus at the Adamas Knowledge City on Barasat-Barrackpore road, about 13 km away from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport, Kolkata. SOPT was set up with a vision to create and disseminate knowledge for producing quality health care professionals with a global standard.

Vision and Mission:

  • Inspiring and educating the future pharmacists and scientists with contemporary knowledge and skills to build up a strong platform for a healthcare system, matching the global standards.
  • Creating a potential student pool by provision of dynamic educational experience embedded with contemporary knowledge and technical skills thus empowering them to become future leaders.
  • Development of tie-ups with the experts in the field, pharmaceutical technologists in the industry and regulatory bodies to meet the existing regional and global needs.
  • Organization of conferences, workshops, seminars and special invited lectures with the participation of experts from academic institutions, research institutions, industries and regulatory authorities.
  • Shaping the undergraduate, postgraduate and research scholars to emerge as the next generation scientists, advanced practitioners and educators.
  • Investigation of innovative research in pharmaceutical sciences while embracing the value of interdisciplinary networks.
  • Escalation of the performance level of students and teaching methodologies at par with the global standards.
  • Promotion of professional skill development for students to enhance their employability potential.
  • Bridging the gap between University’s educational curricula and the knowledge and skill requirements of pharmaceutical industries which is concurrent to the goal of the University.

Salient Aspects:

  • Outstanding and experienced faculty members from diverse areas of pharmaceutical field with industry as well as academic background.
  • State-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure equipped with all the necessary instruments to acquire hands-on training experience.
  • Mentorship program with an aim to monitor and improve the attendance and performance of students in the class, discussing the areas of strengths and weaknesses, consultation to address the weak areas.
  • Mentor-student meets, Dean-mentor meets, Dean-student meets, Parent-mentor meets.
  • Inclusion of wide variety of extra-curricular and cultural activities favouring holistic development of the child backed up psychological counselling/ one to one mentoring as and when needed to monitor the stress window of the student.
  • Speculating industry and institute interaction.
  • Strong research oriented team with large number of papers published in journals and conferences of repute.
  • Focusing on academic growth of students and faculties by conducting conferences, workshops, seminars in collaboration with industry.
  • Incorporation of a strong teaching-learning process with an objective to improve the pharmaceutical skills of students.
  • Constitution of various committees including faculties and students to streamline the administration of the entire university which in consultation with the Dean, plan and execute various programs for the smooth functioning and general development of the institution.
  • Nomination of student members by the respective mentors based on academic and overall record.
  • Organization of frequent industrial visits and internships at some of the best pharmaceutical companies in India to emphasize on the application of knowledge from a practical perspective.
  • 6 of our students have qualified Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) which is a national level entrance examination for entry into M. Pharm programmes. Additionally, two students have qualified NIPER Joint Entrance Examination conducted by National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) which is one of the most renowned and prestigious pharmacy institutions in the country.
  • About 60 of our alumni have opted for higher education programs such as Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of Pharmacy.

Training and Placement Cell:

  • Arranges industrial training/ internships/tours for students. Students have completed internship from various reputed organizations like Alkem Laboratories, Zuventus Healthcare Ltd., Lupin Ltd., Mankind Pharma, Pure and Cure Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Ipca Laboratories.
  • Invites various pharmaceutical companies for campus recruitments. Students have been selected by top pharmaceutical recruiters like Cipla Limited, Wipro Limited, Apollo Hospitals, Medopharm Pvt. Ltd., APCER Life Sciences, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
  • Organizes programs like mock interviews, group discussions, case studies, etc. to make the students prepared for the industry.

Why Pharmacy?

Pharmacy is the science and technique of preparing and dispensing drugs. It is a health profession that links health sciences with chemical sciences and aims to ensure the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical agents. The role of pharmacist, nowadays, is not only restricted to mere traditional roles, such as compounding and dispensing medications but is much more than that. The advances made in pharmaceutical technology in past few decades has expanded the horizon to include more modern services related to health care such as clinical services, reviewing medications for safety and efficacy, providing drug information, employing modern techniques for manufacture of formulations, designing delivery systems, meeting quality assurance demands and its control. Today, the qualified pharmaceutical technologist skilled with modern techniques and knowledge is required to be engaged in the manufacture, distribution, marketing, quality control and assurance, regulatory authorities and in post marketing operations like pharmacovigilance, clinical trials, etc. A career in the pharmaceutical sciences is full of opportunities. There is a high demand for skilled, competent and motivated workforce and manpower which will continue to be at the pinnacle of importance, both in safe and effective delivery of healthcare as well as in fueling the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in India.

What is the Scope?

The need of skilled manpower in the pharmaceutical industry ranges widely from research and development, quality assurance, intellectual property, manufacturing, sales and marketing. Today, the pharmaceutical industry is, in fact, struggling to retain talent in all these areas, even with lucrative compensation packages, talent development programs alongwith offering a bright career path. This is mainly because the demand for talent outweighs its supply. With several health issues on the rise, the requirement for pharmaceuticals is a never ending process which mandates the continual demand of skilled professionals in this field. Pharmaceutical industry has the potential to attract a large number of talents even during any global financial meltdown, as the industry is virtually recession proof.

Programs Offered:

The programs offered by the school are Diploma in Pharmacy (D. Pharm), Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) and Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology (BSc MLT).  The Diploma in Pharmacy is of two academic year duration, while Bachelor of Pharmacy is a four year course and Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology is a three year program. Additionally, Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm) program in Pharmaceutics will also be implemented from the upcoming academic year.

School of Business and Economics: Unique Aspects

On 29 July 2020, the Government of India, through its renamed Education Ministry (erstwhile MHRD), launched the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), the first education policy of the 21st century, based on the foundational pillars of access, affordability, equity, quality, and accountability, and aligned to the aspirations of the citizens of the era. For Adamas University, this path-breaking policy presents the perfect setting of its cherished aims and objectives. Since its inception, Adamas University, through the general notion of academic freedom, benchmarking with the best of the world, unshackling the quality framework, has been nurturing all its constituent schools and helping them realize the aspirations of the millennial population they serve as students and scholars.

In spite of the raging pandemic, the School of Business and Economics (SOBE), is well poised with its robust work practices, frameworks, strategies and tools to understand and manage the challenges of building a modern, international, relevant centre of excellence, catering to the unique needs of the students and the corporates that it considers as primary stakeholders. The School rests on three strong unique pillars (USPs, if one may call them):

1. Deep connect with the corporate:

In the most canonical way, business is a practice-driven field, so the deep connectivity with the corporate world is imperative, and a real differentiator in this red-ocean of management or business schools, the vast multitude of institutions operating with essentially no difference, leading to commoditization of business education in India. At SOBE, we believe that business is going to transform the world for the good of all by facilitating more and deeper communication between management professionals, scholars, and students. SOBE with most of the faculty either having substantial corporate experience or having worked as consultants to the corporate world, try to mimic through modern online teaching methodologies how the real world works to ensure employability of its students.

Ever alert to the dichotomy between what is taught and what is needed in the job place, SOBE bridges the perceptual gap between the corporate world and the world of academia collaboratively. A few programs, in cutting-edge sunrise sectors like logistics, analytics, and entrepreneurship, offered by the School are actually conducted in tandem with industry partners. The proverbial parallel worlds of the academics and the practitioners are not only divergent, but also mired in deep mutual suspicions. In these and other programs offered by SOBE, corporates are involved not just delivery of content, but in almost every facet of the scholastic activity – curriculum design, planning of evaluation methods, internship design and execution, student assessment, apart from the usual delivery of content through industry speaker series, guest lectures, best practice or case study discussions by corporate professionals.

2. International curriculum:

One clear area that the prevalent situation has brought to the fore, and compelled humanity to take note of is the fundamental assumptions behind much of our business practices. Business is integrated, supply chains cover the entire globe and borders do not restrict exchange of ideas, products and people, just like they have not been able to do with the virus! Globally, corporates are waking up to the wasteful nature of business processes, a general lack of concern for human values (echoing the maxim of end justifying the means), apathy towards the environmental and climate issues, considering any goal other than profit (and the few other variants of the notion with sugar-coated nomenclatures) as tick-in-the-box items to have to look good, rather than to be good, and many such ways in which business have been running for quite some time now.

SOBE, in tandem with its partner institutions and universities across the globe, notably from Europe, USA and South East Asia, exposes its students to the imperatives and challenges of global business with all its covenant human and world issues. 

3.Digitally enabled:

The pandemic time is perhaps an opportunity to once again revisit the question of what we teach, why we teach, who must teach, how we teach, and where we teach the future business and management professionals. But the physical restrictions that it brought about forced academia to shift from the conventional classroom lectures pedagogies to digital online learning systems and processes. SOBE, along with the other constituent schools of Adamas University, made an effective move, which was endorsed and vindicated by none other than QS, and we were awarded the QS e-Lead certification, one among the early few to get it in the entire East and NE India.

Developing a scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of enquiry and reform among students in the digital environment, though challenging, is the mainstay of SOBE faculty. Gravity of the pandemics on people will humanize business schools by bringing society in their cross-hairs when it comes to research agenda, teaching curricula and outreach. With the entire World Wide Web at one’s disposal as teaching-learning tool, creativity and ingenuousness of faculty members enable multi-faceted learning among students. Unique digital pedagogies, like flipped classrooms, are being constantly developed by the faculty members to enhance student engagement and learning.

SOBE believes that education is a transformative process. How to we transform ourselves? Essentially, it is a matter of mindset and courage to buck the trend. While the rest of the business schools keep zigging the way they have been for some time now, few torchbearers need to zag and stand the ground at least for a reasonable amount of time for the business school environment as a whole to go through this transition by unlearning the old way, and relearning the new. SOBE wants to be among the pioneers to shed the image of an also-ran, easy-going, mostly local, average-placement oriented program to a unique, rigorous, global, good placement oriented force to reckon with. The best part of this is that as a nation, we know what needs to be done. It is in execution that we fail. The National Education Policy, NEP 2020, as a whole, urges us to take the plunge into this new world of excellence.

School of Engineering and Technology: Striding with Excellence

The School of Engineering and Technology (SOET) at Adamas University is esteemed for its high-end delivery of engineering education, robust infrastructure in the form of well-equipped laboratories with equipment and courses designed for the holistic development of an individual. SOET had ranked among the top Engineering schools in Bengal and East India in the Times Engineering Survey 2019.

The School has an enormous experience in imparting engineering education and has six Departments: Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Bio-Medical Engineering. The School currently offers B.Tech, BCA, B.Sc in Computer Science, MCA, M.Tech and Doctoral Programs. Apart from the regular UG and PG programs offered by the School, new cutting edge specialized and new generation programs were introduced in the year 2020 in emerging areas like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), IoT and Embedded Systems, Gaming and Animation, Cyber Security and Forensics and Robotics. The School emphasizes on the development of competent skills among its students in order to make them industry ready. To achieve this objective, the Specialization programs are clubbed with Project Based Learning in big ticket areas like Autonomous Electric Vehicles, Aerial Robotics, Smart City, Design Thinking, etc.

The Project based study approach is accomplished through the following innovative techniques:

  1. Beautiful Mind: It is a parallel learning system in which the students learn all by themselves. Here the resources for learning the technical concepts are the laboratories with equipment, library and internet facility only. The learning is based on the development of projects in a specific domain. This helps the students to learn outside their curriculum.
  2. Design Thinking: This module focuses on innovative methods where students get to learn about various technologies, how to implement them and execute those in real life. It helps to nurture the thinking power of students and lead them to implement innovative ideas for solving the real world problems.
  3. Capstone Projects: These projects have to be undertaken by the students as a part of their curriculum in their academic degree program. They have to choose one of the projects namely Autonomous Electric Vehicle, Smart City, Aerial Robotics, where they learn both the theoretical base of these emerging technologies and hands-on knowledge for implementation.
  4. EQ Labs: Managing one’s emotions while dealing with a group of team members in an organization is of utmost importance. Emotional quotient plays a major role along with Intelligence quotient in grooming a successful manager. This subject covers study of Communication and Collaboration skills, Leadership skills, etiquette and body language etc.
  5. Center of Bio-Computing: This center has been set up mainly for the development of collaborative research or inter-disciplinary research. It provides training in Bio-Computing and support for Bio-Computing projects running under Adamas University.
  6. Center of Waste to Wealth: This center caters to the study of techniques involved in effective waste management to protect our environment and paving the way towards a greener future.

Now, let us have a glimpse of the Programs offered by the various Departments at School of Engineering and Technology at present.

  • The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE): The Computer Science and Engineering Department offers the following academic programs of study:
  • Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in CSE: It is a four year graduation degree program. Here the program covers core and applied courses in Computer Science. The core subjects include subjects such as Programming, Algorithms, Compiler etc. and applied courses such as Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Deep Learning etc.

There are three Specialization programs offered under the category of B.Tech in CSE:

  • Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) with Specialization (Hons.) in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)
  • Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) with Specialization (Hons.) in Cyber Security & Forensics and
  • Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) with Specialization (Hons.) in Blockchain

The above mentioned Specialization programs cover the study of advanced subjects in the niche areas, hands-on learning in well-equipped laboratories and opening up of attractive job roles.

  • B.Sc in Computer Science: It is a three year graduation degree program. In this program, the primary focus is on delivering the core theoretical and practical aspects of Computer Science. The subjects covered range from Programming languages, Data Structures, Computer Networks and advanced subjects of Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things etc.
  • Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA): It is a three year graduation degree program. Here the program covers core courses of Data Structures, Python Programming, Operating System, Computer Networks etc. The program equips students with Professional skills of Web Designing also. This program also has two specialized streams:
    • BCA with Specialization in Gaming and Animation: This new generation Specialization program offers a perfect blend of core Computer Application and Gaming and Animation. Courses such as Game Development-I and II, Drawing for Animation etc. are offered in the curriculum.
    • BCA with Specialization in Banking, Financial Services and Insurance: This is yet another new generation Specialization program which offers specialized courses of Financial Accounting, Banking and Economy etc.
  • Master of Computer Application (MCA): It is a two year post graduation degree program. Here the students are imparted knowledge and competent skills in Programming, Data Structures, Mobile App development, etc. and a basket of electives such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Fundamentals of Cloud Computing, Game Design and Cloud Storage etc. are offered in the final year of study.
  • Master of Technology (M.Tech) in CSE: It is a two year post graduation degree program. The students would learn about the most advanced courses of CSE, paving the path for research and other challenging job roles in Machine Learning, Data Science etc.
  • The Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE): The Electronics and Communication Engineering Department offers the following academic programs of study:
  • Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in ECE: It is a four year graduation degree program. Here the program covers the courses in such a way that it encompasses the entire GATE curriculum. Some of the courses taught here are Digital Electronics, Microprocessor and Microcontroller among many others.

There are three Specialization programs offered under the category of B.Tech in ECE:

B.Tech with Specialization (Hons.) in Robotics, B.Tech with Specialization (Hons.) in IoT and Embedded System and B.Tech in ECE with Specialization (Hons.) in Electric Vehicles Engineering. These programs offer the knowledge and competency in cutting edge technologies which equip students with profound skills in these niche areas.

  • Master of Technology (M.Tech) in ECE: It is a two year post graduation degree program which equips students to learn about advanced fields of communication and VLSI etc. It offers two areas of Specialization programs: M.Tech in VLSI Design and M.Tech with Specialization in IoT and Embedded System. These programs emphasize on imparting technical and advanced skills in the Specialization areas.
  • The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME): The Mechanical Engineering Department offers the following academic programs of study:
  • Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in ME: It is a four year graduation degree program. The course curriculum has been designed as per the recommendation of Industry Personnel. It covers courses such as Engineering Mechanics, Machine Drawing etc. The Lab infrastructure is robust and equipped with new and modern tools and equipment for experimentation.

There are two Specialization programs offered under the category of B.Tech in ME:

B.Tech in ME with Specialization (Hons.) in Design Engineering, which emphasizes on aspects of Design in System Engineering, Manufacturing and Engineering Management.

B.Tech in ME with Specialization (Hons.) in Electric Vehicles Engineering, which emphasizes on aspects of design and manufacturing of electric vehicles.

  • Master of Technology (M.Tech) in ME: It is a two year post graduation degree program. The customized curriculum is inspired by the programs of well-repute offered in universities across the globe.

There is one Specialization program offered under the category of M.Tech in ME:

M.Tech in Design Engineering, which has been designed as per the recommendations of National Design Policy and Indian Design Council encompassing Design enabled Indian industry.

  • The Department of Electrical Engineering (EE): The Electrical Engineering Department offers the following academic programs of study:
  • Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in EE: It is a four year graduation degree program. It offers the aspirants the knowledge on electrical components, devices and systems. It offers stress on special thrust areas such as Electrical Machines and Power Systems, etc. along with related hands-on knowledge.

There are two Specialization programs offered under the category of B.Tech in EE:

B.Tech in EE with Specialization (Hons.) in Sustainable Energy, which imparts knowledge about sustainable energy to build budget-friendly wind turbines and solar panels.

B.Tech in EE with Specialization (Hons.) in Electric Vehicles Engineering, which emphasizes on aspects of design and manufacturing of electric vehicles.

  • Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Power and Energy Systems: It is a two year post graduation degree program. The well-designed curriculum focuses on concepts and systems related to electric power and energy.
  • The Department of Civil Engineering (CE): The Department of Civil Engineering offers the following academic programs of study:
  • Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in CE: This 4 year graduation degree program offers all the relevant courses as per the industry requirement and it is designed with a great intention of fabricating prominent engineers who are competent and committed to the high professional standards in the arena of engineering and technology. It is embracing of structural Design & Analysis, surveying, geotechnical, environmental, water resource and irrigation, transportation etc. This is basic to any kind of construction as industrial, commercial, residential in general.
  • B.Tech in CE with Specialization (Hons.) in Smart Infrastructure Management: By seeing the current days’ requirement in society, the Department of Civil Engineering has introduced this specialized program that consist of all modernized courses related to Civil Engineering. The courses are as Rural and Urban Planning, Intelligent waste management, Smart materials and infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence in Infrastructure, Intelligent Transportation System.
  • Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Structural Engineering: Civil Engineering is generally well known for structure and construction. Candidates, who will enroll this course, during 2 years of this program, get awareness about the materials used to design structure and educate individuals on superior concepts of structural engineering through projects and dissertation effort.
  • Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Environmental Engineering: Students who are fond of advanced course that focus on Environmental challenges and remedial measures can opt this program for 2 years. This program is mainly designed for waste management, Water, Air and Noise pollutions, renewable energy and sustainable development. Research and Development sector mainly recruits candidates from this specialization.
  • Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Construction Engineering and Management: This professional discipline covenants with the designing, planning, construction, and management of infrastructures. Planning with time management skills is compatible to each other that can helpful to complete a task within time bound. By this specialization, student acquires both Engineering and Management skills.
  • The Department of Bio-Medical Engineering: The Bio-Medical Engineering Department offers the following academic program of study:

Bachelor of Technology in Bio-Medical Engineering: It is a four year graduation degree program. It imparts knowledge on sought after courses of Mathematical Biology, Biochemistry etc. The Computing laboratories are well-equipped with essential software tools and interfacing kits. It offers career paths in computer-assisted surgery, cellular and tissue engineering, orthopedic engineering etc.

Apart from the above mentioned programs, Minor Programs and Doctoral programs are also offered by the departments at SOET. All the programs have been designed according to the needs of industry and based on emerging technologies to match up to the high-end job profiles. The aspirants have a plethora of options to choose from the above well-crafted programs and to be a part of the SOET family. It is the perfect destination for bright future and career building of the aspirants.

Creative Folks: Have Your Best Pick Now

Education Often ‘Killed’ Us

Everyone remembers how, when we were of 10 or 12 or 14 years of age, our parents and teachers almost gloated on our tiny abilities to draw, paint, dance, sing or write a poem; how we were paraded before our relatives to ‘show our talent’ or perform on school stage on Annual Day/s.

As we turned 16 till 18 and faced two Board exams of X and XII standards, all these great abilities took a back seat, were dubbed as ‘hobbies’ and declared not to be pursued much for the moment. We must rather focus on our careers, education that will give grades, make us logical and rational, and put us on a great professional track as the best engineers, doctors, lawyers or stock-brokers of the world.

We even thought that anything which is creative, which is right-brain, which is aesthetic or artistic is for appreciation, admiration, a tool to break ice with others, for social charm, and only that much. They are not to make money, create careers, be valued in the economy.

Exceptions to the Order of the Day:

There were exceptions though. Someone’s piece of art sold at thirty lacs you hear. Someone sang for almost half a crore one night. Someone wrote a story whose film rights went for twenty lacs you got to know. And many more. But these were not enough for your ‘security’ seeking parents and would-be parents-in-law to consider you having a recipe of ‘success’ ahead.

Security? Sustainability? Career? Money? Fame? Name? Network? Recognition? You name it and it is there for the taking. But only for those who would go the full hog to turn their die-hard dogged passion into a marketable sustainable admired profession. Dog is my favourite animal indeed.

Today, the media and entertainment industry is pegged at Rs.1.7 lacs crores (some 22 billion dollars) in India, according to FICCI Frames annual report of 2020, with some 2.4 million people working, and till 2019, it was growing at 13% annually on revenue and 11% in new work-force addition (with some 9% falling to attrition as well). The figures are far higher than the GDP growth rate of the nation. Surely, pandemic has caused a havoc in these figures, details of which are still not known till we have the next FICCI Frames white-paper on the industry. The digital revolution is sweeping across the world of creative expressions bringing forth web entertainment on the internet and through OTTs, mobile and online journalism, reputation and branding online, radio online, et al. Lower entry barriers are making digital media almost a cottage industry, though the revenue models for all digital media properties are still not in place, which is a question of time to evolve.

Bold New Path Ahead:

So, the storytellers around, stand up and choose your medium and audience to tell your story. Tell it in audio through podcasts and radio. Tell it in pictures through photo features and creative photography. Tell it visually through your computer-generated graphical or animated visuals. Tell it audio-visually through short stories, feature films, web series. Tell it for-profit and not-for-profit organizations through branded content. Tell it on streets, tell it on stage. Tell it in whispers, tell it in small groups, tell it to many, tell it to all, tell it loud and clear. Tell it in silence, tell it with sound. Tell it in tears, tell it with laughter. But tell it with all your charm and boldness. And making good money in the process. No one thought that a 400 crores investment in story-telling on celluloid over five years can bring in 3500 crores. Bahubali did. Or that a 90 crores investment can bring in 2200 crores back. Dangal did. Even Marathi and Bengali films have crossed the 100 crores mark.

But know the right techniques to tell it effectively, know your right audiences to tell it with the best-desired impact, know how to be resourceful in your work without chasing just the mundane. And, above all, know not just how to produce great content, but how to monetize it seamlessly across all media, and more particularly, in the digital medium.

For the dancers, the singers, the composers, the writers amongst us, we have a world of opportunities knocking on our doors. There are some sixteen types of professional writing, for example, that can make money: fiction, non-fiction, journalistic, web-writing, branded content, screenplay, dialogues, playwriting, copywriting, jingle writing, technical writing, and a lot more. You want to tell what you see, or what you imagine, or what you believe in, or what you observe: you have takers for all.

Media and communication domain has three broad pathways: journalism, entertainment and brand communication, and then several specialization areas within each of these. While specialized skills and knowledge are must, one must begin from a broad base of understanding the entire gamut of communication, its technology and its business, before specializing in one segment.

Tech-driven Story-telling Ahead:

Those creative geeks with penchant for technology more than others: you have a longer path of fun and success. We are now in a world of fantasy visualized into animated images, characters and stories, or into engaging games and play-stations. The stories you cooked up all your life, with some observation of your sample audiences, can be evolved into video games that engage them. Today, virtual reality (creating the make-belief world which is not in front physically) or augmented reality (extending the physical reality to a larger canvas) are storming the creative space. They are breaking all frontiers of imaginative story-telling.

And to get this knowledge right, with a portfolio that can command a price, and acquiring technical skills that will hold you for long in the marketplace of talent, choose an institute which is hands-on, which is intricately industry-connected, and which is strong in technical infrastructure and intellectual capital.

Learning Hands-on, the SOMC Way:

But you cannot get it all right unless trained well and trained by professionals with high academic and industry accomplishments. That is where Adamas University School of Media & Communication (SOMC) comes in with two Bachelors degrees (BA in Media & Communication, BSc in Media Technology), and five focused specialized Masters degree programs (MA in Journalism or Entertainment Studies, MSc in Media Technology, MBA in Communication Management or Events & Entertainment Management). And to get you strong on fundamentals, all the programs bring in Media Literacy, Computer Operations, apart from learning photography, film & television production, radio, et al. All of these with a detailed film and television production studio, sound studio, and in-house radio. A plethora of initiatives (e.g. MediaNext event, SOMC Blogspot, YouTube channel, international film festival, etc) engage you within the School, and IndiCommS, Jaipur Literature Festival, International Film Festival of India at Goa, FICCI Frames, PRSI Engage et al involving the learners outside the campus. With faculty drawn with backgrounds of Symbiosis, Asian College of Journalism, SRFTI, Roopkala Kendra, Amity, MIT, and with international experience in European and Asian nations, the School has a decidedly global perspective.

Come and interact with the School, the learners and the counsellors to know more, to know better. Bon Voyage in your creative journey.

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