After completing my BTech, I have worked in sales for three years. I now wish to go to the US for higher studies. Should I opt for an MS or an MBA? What is the difference between the two? Om Pansari
When considering a business education option, particularly in the US, one often confronts the dilemma of choosing between an MBA and an MS. If you are planning to go for higher studies (ie a PhD), teaching, research or consulting (for a large business lobby, think tank or quasi-governmental outfit), then an MS programme will give you more depth and a wider range of options within your chosen domain.
For example, if you wish to research how accounting practices differ between India and the US, then the MS programme may be more appropriate. On the other hand, a general MBA programme will give you a more rounded education in the business scenario. It will include components of marketing, finance, HR, business accounting and business maths, organisational behaviour, systems, IT, etc. Of course, you could choose to major in a specific area, if you wish. In short, an MBA trains you to assume the role of a functional business head.
I have also come across several Indian MBAs, with three-five years' industry exposure, taking a year or so off on unpaid leave to pursue an MS abroad in a specific area (such as banking or software management) which gives them a definite edge upon return. Similarly, with a good international MBA under his/her belt, an engineering graduate working on business development in an IT firm could target the VP slot.
Typically, most MS programmes do not mandate prior work experience while MBA programmes do. After working for another year or two, you could even look at a one-year executive MBA programme.
Whichever option you choose, I suggest you carry out a cost-benefit analysis before proceeding further. Foreign MBA degrees come at a hefty price, ranging from anywhere between Rs 50-125 lakh). So, often, in a tight employment market, one may not be able to offset the cost incurred. To this, add the loss of income during the study period. Can you afford it? Is it worth the effort? There are no easy answers.
Although I have scored good marks in my MSc exams, my spoken English is not up to the mark. Will it be a problem in finding a job? How should I speak the language fluently and enhance my GK? Please guide me.
Like it or not, English is the most widely spoken language in the world besides being the lingua franca or global link language of education, technology and trade in most parts of the world. As a result, those who cannot speak and write good English find it tough to survive in the modern information age.
And propelled by the business process outsourcing (BPO) boom, India is fast emerging as the country with the world's largest share of English speakers. No wonder, English is considered a passport to upward mobility (social and financial) in aspirational India.
The best way to improve your verbal skills would be to make an effort to master the spoken language. This is possible by consciously listening to English programmes on radio and TV, and paying attention to correct pronunciation and intonation.
Practise reading aloud from newspapers and periodicals (in private, of course!). Try this as a simple exercise to improve your GK as well. Read five pages of the newspaper: front, business, international, edit and sport. Make bullet points on the edge capturing the gist of the articles. Read it aloud and record it. Review your process.
Grab every opportunity to converse in English. The more, the better! Ask a well-meaning friend to help you out and correct you wherever necessary. Do not be afraid of making mistakes. English is not our mother tongue. So, it is but natural that we are not 100% fluent. However, practice makes perfect.
Once you overcome the initial hesitation, you will be pleasantly surprised how quickly your vocabulary and conversational skills improve. Just try and see. Log on to http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/
The British Council's free website helps one strengthen their English language skills through fun games and interesting exercises. Similarly, visit Voice of America's website: http://learningenglish.voanews.com.
You will find its broadcasts and word list useful. There are plenty of online videos and audio tutorials as well.
What is epidemiology? How does one become an epidemiologist?
Just as a crime remains a mystery until it is solved (with the help of forensic and criminology intelligence), the outbreak of a disease remains unclear until it is solved by epidemiology intelligence (EI). Cures for several outbreaks like SARS or Ebola remain elusive precisely due to inadequate EI. Outbreaks of diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, dengue, haemorrhagic fever and leptospirosis occur frequently but often public authorities fail to predict or prevent them.
Epidemiology seeks to study the patterns and causes of diseases to prevent, control and treat them. Epidemiologists collect and interpret data on disease. Major discoveries in public health have been possible due to detailed epidemiological analyses of outbreaks and diseases.
Thanks to epidemiologists' work, small pox and polio have been eradicated, and the link between smoking and lung cancer established. As opposed to the curative emphasis of mainstream medicine, epidemiology focuses on preventive medicine.
You need an inquisitive and analytical mind with a deep focus on minute details to succeed as an epidemiologist. The trick lies in quickly identifying the mode of transmission and taking preventive measures. For instance, the transmission route of a deadly strain of encephalitis virus was traced from fruit bats (flying foxes) to pigs to humans and then to other humans.
In India, epidemiologists have traditionally had MBBS degrees, specialising in preventive medicine. Now, several government and private institutions offer postgraduate courses to train epidemiologists.
Among the major institutions in this field is the Public Health Foundation of India (and the Indian Institutes of Public Health under its purview), the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Delhi (now called the National Centre for Disease Control, www.ncdc.gov.in); National Institute of Epidemiology (www.nie.gov.in) and the Tata Memorial Hospital's research & academic wing (ACTREC).
Besides serving as health officers and project coordinators in the government, epidemiologists work with non-profits, research institutions, universities and international organisations, such as the WHO and UNICEF, as well.
I am a science graduate, but do not wish to go for further studies in science. I am now thinking of pursuing a Bachelor's in library and information science (BLISc). Could you tell me about the jobs in this field?
A BLISc degree will give you a range of options. As a librarian, you can find openings in government and public libraries, universities and other academic institutions, cultural institutions, information centres, museums and galleries, photo and film libraries, digital libraries, besides corporate houses and organisations with large informationhandling requirements.
With computerisation playing a key role in information management, one can diversify into hi-tech areas like systems analysis, research assistance, database operations and management, printing and publishing, documentation, corporate and even freelance consulting and information marketing.
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