I complete my BA next year and would like to explore a career in digital humanities. Which universities abroad offer this specialisation and what are the job opportunities?
Subhash Iyer, Chennai
Digital humanities is a transdisciplinary field that involves creation and dissemination of knowledge in the networked age mediated by digital culture and technology. Course modules include study of internet technologies, digital resources in the humanities, introduction to programming, server programming and structural data, digital publishing, the social life of big data, communication of cultural heritage, management of content industries, digital media/marketing etc.
Reputed universities abroad offering this specialisation are Georgia Tech and Florida State University, USA; University College and King’s College, London, UK; Australian National University, Canberra; University College Cork, Ireland and University of Atlanta, Canada. Job opportunities are exciting and rewarding. After graduation, you could work as a digital product manager, director of marketing, senior strategy analyst, data engineer, journalist, research associate, web marketing executive, senior curator, and/or digital assets and media manager.
After completing my final CA exam in India, is it advisable to pursue CPA (Certified Public Accountant) certification in the US?
Sunil Kulkarni, Pune
CPA deals with the accounting and taxation structures of the US and consequently will not help your accounting practice in India. CPA has value only if you are planning to work with organisations which need to conform with US accountancy protocols.
I’m a final year B.Sc (IT) student. I want to switch to a career in graphic design or film-making. What are my options?
Neena Rao, Bangalore
You could sign up for certificate/diploma programmes in graphic design offered by several private computer institutes countrywide. Many media/mass communication institutes also offer courses in film-making. You need to be creative and tech-savvy to do well in both these fields.
Which institutes in Mumbai offer a course in the Bharatnatyam dance form? Also which is the best fashion design institute in India?
Shalini Desai, Mumbai
You could sign up for the bachelor of fine arts (dance) programme of University of Mumbai at the Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai. Bharatnatyam is one of several classical dance specialisations offered in this programme. For further information, visit nalandadanceeducation.com.
India’s premier fashion design institute is the National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi which has a branch at Navi Mumbai. If you have the aptitude and passion for fashion design and qualify in the competitive admission process, good career prospects await you.
Will an MBA with an engineering degree offer better job prospects than a B.Sc degree followed by an MBA?
Amit Puri, New Delhi
What really counts for placement is the reputation of the B-school from which you graduate. Most recruiters give weightage to the MBA programme score-cards and bachelor’s degree (engineering or otherwise) and extra-curricular activities. Demand for business management graduates is good but campus recruitment is usually offered to the Top 20 percent of each graduating batch, and that too of premier B-schools. Other B-school graduates have to find suitable employment on their own. Nevertheless, irrespective of your bachelor’s degree choice, I recommend you sign up for an MBA programme.
I’m a B.Sc graduate with an MBA in marketing and five years of work experience. Student counseling has been my area of interest and now I want to make it my profession. Please suggest colleges offering this specialisation.
Sheila D’Souza, Panjim
Study options include a postgraduate diploma or degree in counseling and/or vocational guidance. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (www.ncert.nic.in) offers a one-year diploma programme in guidance and counseling through the hybrid model (distance/online and face-to-face sessions). Study options are at NCERT headquarters in New Delhi and Regional Institutes of Education in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysore and Shillong.
The programme is targeted at teachers, teacher educators, education administrators and aspiring counselors from India, SAARC and Afro-Asian countries. You could also consider signing up for an MA in counseling psychology or in developmental counseling offered by Mumbai and several other universities.
I complete my BE (mechanical) degree programme at Pune University this year. I want to make a career in civil aviation. Please advise.
Shirish Patil, Pune
You can keep track of the recruitment notifications of various airlines and apply for suitable vacancies. Visit airline websites, check vacancies and apply. If you don’t want to work on the technical side, you should plan to complete your MBA and join the management side of the civil aviation industry.