A choice in time

We are in the midst of the admission season, when students across the spectrum are battling high cut-offs to pursue the college/ course of their choice. The time is not to worry over securing a seat, but to look for a tangible course that will help you make informed academic decision. Here is some good news for students who are yet to begin the academic year. The arts, science and technology, departments at the University of Mumbai, have got clearance from the state government to offer new courses at both the undergraduate and post graduate level. Termed as 'innovative courses' this is a part of the University's strategy to offer job-oriented programmes that develop skilled graduates ready for employment."Introducing new courses is a learning process for both students and faculty. Besides imparting knowledge, education, today is about providing employment-oriented training," says PG Jogdand, Faculty of Arts, University of Mumbai. The arts section has introduced six new courses like culinary arts, media and business economics to offer (see box). Faculty members from various sub-departments have put together a syllabus which promises to prepare graduates of these programmes to be problem-solvers at work.This year, engineering students too are spoiled for choice. The University's Academic Council has approved niche specialisation programmes both at the bachelors and masters level. Ten new courses—two for undergraduate and eight for postgraduate have been desgined (see box). SK Ukarande, dean, Faculty of Technology, University of Mumbai, explains, "Just like medicine, engineering and technology also need to offer super specialised courses that ensure skill-based placement of students." Keeping this in mind courses like construction engineering and management; and signal processing have been introduced. The former, being derived from civil engineering and the latter is a niche designed from the electronics and telecommunication field. "These subjects have been chosen as speicalisations because there are jobs in the industry and because they directly affect the society," he informs.Keeping up with the need for renewable energy experts and wildlife conservationists, BSc and MSc aspirants also have five new courses on the list (see box). "BSc graduates are known to take up jobs in teaching and banking sectors. However, they are not exactly job ready, since they have knowledge only of the sciences," says Madhuri Pejaver, dean, Faculty of Science, University of Mumbai. To overcome this shortcoming, the department has introduced a BSc Interdisciplinary programme, wherein one can study on choice-based credit system. Under this system, a zoology student can also pursue law, psychology or accounts. Similarly, though there is a lot of talk on conserving environment, there is no specialisation or research being conducted in the field. "A masters programme in the subject can serve as a head start for this," signs off Pejaver.Arts Courses1. BA/BSc (Human Sciences)2. BA (Film, TV and New Media Production)3. BA (Culinary Arts)4. MA (Business Economics)5. MA (TV and New Media Productions)6. MA (Entertainment, Media and Advertising)Science Courses:1. BA/BSc (Human Sciences)2. BSc (Inter - disciplinary)3. MSc (Renewable Energy)4. Msc (Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation and Management)5. MSc (Hotel and Hospitality Administration)Faculty of Technology:Bachelor of Engineering:MechatronicsElectronics and electrical engineering

Masters of Engineering:Signal processingPower plant and energy managementProduction design and developmentEnergy system and managementAdvance communication and information systemComputer network and Information securityPackaging TechnologyConstruction Engineering and Management