Top 10 IT Certifications for 2012

Global Knowledge, a US-based IT and business skills training company, releases an annual IT Skills and Salary report. Based on their latest release, they have come up with Top paying IT certifications that open up several job opportunities for certified professionals.

Certain certifications like CCIE (Cisco Certified Internet-working Expert) and VCDX (VMware Certified Design Expert) have not been included in the report because of their exclusivity.

Top 10 IT Certifications for 2012 are as follows:
1. PMP (Project Management Professional): Project Management is meant to complete a complex project in a cost-effective manner and on time. From planning to hiring resources to delegating tasks and delivering the final product, project managers have to handle multiple tasks. In this field, the certifications offered by Project Management Institute (PMI) certifications are widely respected worldwide. See details

2. CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional): If you have at least five years of experience in the field of Information Security and want to be a globally recognised expert in the field, opt for CISSP. CISSP professionals define and implement the architecture, design and management of the security of business environments. See details

3. CCDA (Cisco Certified Design Associate): CCDA is a CISCO certification for network professionals who have verifiable skills needed to design routed and switched network infrastructures and services involving LAN, WAN, and broadband access for businesses and organizations. Valid for three years, the CCDA certification curriculum encompasses designing basic campus, data center, security, voice, and wireless networks. See details

4. ITIL v3 Foundation (Information Technology Infrastructure Library): ITIL certification denotes Best Practice in IT Service Management. It covers documented, proven processes to cover the entire Service Lifecycle of the quality IT services, which makes it easy for organisations to learn, modify, and implement it to suit their corporate aims. See details

5. MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer): The MCSE is the most recognized industry certification in the world. It helps professionals expand their skills both on-premise and in the cloud. Constantly in touch with the latest industry trends, MCSE professionals are thought to be forward-thinking industry leaders in IT certifications. See details

6. VCP (VMware Certified Professional): Certifying IT professionals for their skills in datacenter virtualization, VCP certification is recognised by the industry. It signifies completion of a VMware-authorized training course and at least six months of hands-on experience with VMware technologies that teaches professionals to successfully install, deploy, scale and manage VMware vSphere environments. See details

7. CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional): CCNP Certification is for those who have at least one year of networking experience and would learn the necessary skills to work on complex network solutions. This IPv6 Forum Gold Education Certification validates the professional's ability to plan, implement, verify and troubleshoot local and wide-area enterprise networks. They are apt for enterprise roles such as network technician, support engineer, systems engineer or network engineer. See details

8. CompTIA Server+: CompTIA Server+ certification is a vendor neutral certification for professionals that have at least 18 to 24 months of experience in the Information Technology field. It validates knowledge of server hardware and software. The certified professionals possess skills and knowledge in the field of server issues and technology, including disaster recovery and troubleshooting. See details

9. MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional): MCITP certification assesses the individual's skills for a particular job role in IT, such as database administrator or enterprise messaging administrator. The certifications are not updated for future versions of Microsoft products. However, MCITPs are eligible for special upgrade paths to new Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certifications, which access an experienced professional’s ability to design and build technology solutions in the cloud and on premise. See details

10. CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate): Validating the professional's ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-sized route and switched networks, CCNA curriculum includes implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN, basic mitigation of security threats, introduction to wireless networking concepts and terminology, and performance-based skills. It also includes various protocols like IP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay, Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2), VLANs, Ethernet, and access control lists (ACLs). See details

Expert Advice
Rutul Naik from Jetking Infotrain Ltd points out, "CCNA, CCNP, MCSE, MCITP, and RHCE are some certifications which are most popular among Indian students who wish to pursue a successful career in IT. The first four are there in this list too. Students who wish to make a career in Networking can get Cisco certifications (CCNA or CCNP) and students who wish to make a career in server on Windows platform, can go for Microsoft certifications (MCSE or MCITP)."

At Jetking, top companies have approached the institute to specifically ask for CCNA certified students even at fresher levels. Naik says, "Recruiters always prefer someone who is certified. Advanced Certifications are quite helpful in career progression too."

CMAT to judge your emotional intelligence

AICTE chairman, SS Mantha talks about CMAT and his plans to include a test that will judge a candidate’s emotional IQ. Here are some edited excerpts from the interview:

How has the student community responded to CMAT this year?
The response has been good. We have received around 61,000 registrations for CMAT this year.

How are the B schools reacting to this?
As days progress, the number of B schools accepting CMAT scores will keep rising. For the first exam of 2012, 10 states have agreed on accepting CMAT scores and the others will follow suit, it is just a matter of time. Some states have responded while the others are yet to respond on CMAT, which is being held from September 27 till October 1, 2012.

Was there a strategy behind starting the management season with CMAT?
The only intention was to give students time for their semester exams. Had we held the exam a month later, it would have clashed with their semester exams. And, if we held it towards the end of year, it would have clashed with the end-term examinations. Also, in that case (latter), we did not have a suitable time-gap for the second CMAT test. By holding the test in Sept/Oct we are also ensuring that students get enough time between the first and the second exam which will be announced in February 2013.

How do you view the format of CMAT?
This format allows students to save time, energy and money by institutionalising online testing. This also saves a lot of hassles for the colleges by facilitating one time testing for a lot of colleges put together. We are happy to innovate in the conventional pattern of such exams and drive it successfully. The scores of current CMAT and the next, to be announced in February 2013, will be used for admissions in academic year 2013-2014.

What was the need to hold CMAT twice a year?
A lot of people have asked me this question. There are two reasons for holding the exam twice a year. One is to provide freedom and an option to the student to plan when they want to take the test. If a certain student falls sick on the day of the exam, at least s/he doesn’t have to lose a year in the process. And the other is the fact that the students can choose their best score in the two exams to apply to institutes, also makes it a win-win situation for them.

As CMAT gains popularity, do we see some improvisations happening in terms of the paper pattern?
Changes and improvisations can happen in a certain framework. We cannot make drastic changes to the exam format, but within the larger test, we would like to include a test that can gauge a candidate’s intelligence quotient vis-à-vis pursuing a management programme. We would like CMAT to have a section where a candidate’s aptitude along with his/her emotional maturity can be judged. The test should be able to probe the various facets one is good at. Through hypothetical situations, the test will determine the disposition of a candidate to a certain event. We are looking at a test that can figure out if you are level-headed, stable, shy, patient, because your traits influence what kind of a manager you will be.

What is your vision for CMAT? Do you envision it as the leading management test in India in future?
It will be very difficult to say what will happen in the future. However, gauging the situation as it stands today I would say that we have a problem of plenty. There are too many colleges offering too many programmes, holding too many exams. In a situation like this, a student has to spend a lot of money to appear for as many tests, and live in the fear of missing out on some exam. Because of these reasons, we have seen that most students ultimately take a handful of exams to succeed. The vision for CMAT is to provide a single window to our students, so that they can perform their best.

One hears of various B-schools closing down every year. Does the situation worry you?
Closure is a matter of consolidation. So far we have seen 138 closures this year, out of which 65 have been in management. In Andhra Pradesh alone we have seen 40 schools shutting shop. However, solely looking at the schools shutting down presents an incomplete picture. Over the last five years, we have seen a 35% increase in the number of seats available to students. This year, 80 new B schools have received approvals from AICTE.

Trends in management education point towards a paradigm shift

Trends in management education point towards a paradigm shift in as far as the tendency in rise in applications amidst an improving economy is concerned.

Unlike historically, when MBA applications trend countercyclical to economic conditions, this year, data collected by Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) suggests a significant change from previous post-recession patterns. Even as the global economy shows signs of recovery, applications to MBA programmes are rising after a slump of three years. According to the 2012 Application Trends Survey, 51 per cent of graduate business and management programmes surveyed confirmed receiving more applications than last year. Though the growth is displayed in applications across a variety of programme types, including part-time, online as well as specialised master's degrees, it has majorly been fuelled by application gains among online and distance courses.

Region-wise, programmes in Asia-Pacific and Central Asia reported the strongest growth in volumes for full-time MBA programmes. Ashish Bhardwaj, regional director, South Asia, GMAC, elaborates, "Looking at different regions of the world, 32 per cent of full-time two-year MBA programmes in the US reported application increases, 37 per cent in Europe reported application increases, 80 per cent of all MBA programmes in China reported application increases and 83 per cent of all MBA programmes in India reported application increases. Clearly, the relatively stronger economic growth in India and China, the two most significant markets in Asia Pacific, builds a strong case for investing in management education."

He adds, "Demand for MBA programmes in India is also driven by the financial, personal and professional development the degree offers. These multidimensional advantages were reported by Indian citizens in a separate survey by GMAC, the 2012 Alumni Perspectives Survey where 92 per cent of Indian alumni agreed their graduate management degree is personally rewarding and 88 per cent said their degree is professionally rewarding."

This upswing in demand for MBA among Indians is witnessed across regions as worldwide Indians account for the greatest number of foreign applicants for 43 per cent of MBA programmes. Across Asia, 34 per cent of MBA programmes indicated that Indian citizens accounted for their greatest number of foreign applications. For Europe and US, this number stands at 59 per cent and 44 per cent respectively.

Another point to be noted is apart from showing the strongest growth in overall increase in applications Asia also reported the greatest growth in female application volume for fulltime one-year MBA programmes at 77 per cent. This compared with 32 per cent in Europe and 47 per cent in the United States. Says Bhardwaj, "In terms of women candidates, 73 per cent of management programmes in India surveyed reported more applications from women candidates than last year. While it is difficult to clearly pinpoint the relative contribution of the outreach efforts made by top schools in attracting women candidates and the 'market effect', what is evident is that schools and corporate recruiters are both working towards greater gender diversity in the management pool and women candidates in greater numbers are seeing the value in investing in management education."

The survey also reveals special efforts made by programmes to recruit entrepreneurs (16 per cent), pre-experience candidates (13 per cent), and members of the LGBT community (9 per cent). The annual survey also indicates that specialised master's programmes in management, finance, and accounting continue to show robust growth.

744 programmes, including 527 MBA programmes, 24 business doctoral programmes (PhD/ DBA) and 193 specialised master's programmes, from 359 B-schools in 46 countries participated in the survey this year.

MAAC Manifest 2012

Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC) recently conducted an educational seminar, MAAC Manifest 2012 in Mumbai. The seminar catered to over 900 students, informing them about the various facets of animation as a career.

Experts from the industry including Arnab Chaudhary, Creator of Arjun - The Warrior Prince, Arpan Gaglani, Creative Director at Krayon Pictures and Kirtish Tharthare, Lead Lighting Artist, at Rhythm and Hues Studios graced the event. Providing insights on the use of modern software to bring life into characters, Chaudhary and Gaglani took students through the making of Arjun and glimpses of the movie, Delhi Safari. The use of images of digital paintings in the making of films caught the audience's attention.

The event was followed by an interactive session with students that focused on the scope of Indian animation industry and how India at par with international counterparts.

Ram Warrier, business head, MAAC said, "We have entered the 3D age of animation and this is clearly visible from the kind of animated movies being created. Through the event, we plan to educate and create awareness of the ample job opportunities that the sector provides."

Tough time for med aspirants after admission round limit

The worries of students and their parents in securinga seat in a private medical college has taken a different form this year.

A Supreme Court order says the Association for Private Unaided Medical and Dental Colleges (APUMDC) can conduct only two admission rounds and not three like before. Students who did not get seats in the two rounds are now seeking admission individually to the state's nine MBBS and 19 BDS private colleges.

Divya Sagar (name changed), a Mithibai College student, is planning to drop a year and try for the course next year. However, she is also worried about the difficulty level of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, to be introduced from 2013. "One college claimed they have no vacant seats, but the association's list shows it has nearly 30 vacant seats. We will have to approach individual colleges in a week's time. I approached colleges in Khed, Jalgaon and Navi Mumbai but could not check with others as they had closed admissions."

Ajaz Rawoot, a parent, said, "After the two rounds, colleges had to issue advertisements or display vacancies on their website. Not many have followed the Pravesh Niyantran Samiti (PNS) rules. Colleges were supposed to give us time till September 21 for application and counselling but several closed admissions on September 18." Another student said she would have got a seat if there would have been a third round. She said colleges are claiming there are no seats and asking for donations.

APUMDC chairman Kamal Kishore Kadam said, "After the two rounds, the association had sent the procedures to be followed to all the members and a letter asking them to follow the SC verdict. If colleges fail to do it, it will amount to contempt. Students can approach the PNS or even the court."

"After the centralized process, colleges have to put up a merit list and get it approved by PNS. If students' ASSO-CET scores are higher than the cut-offs listed, they can approach the authorities," added Kadam.

Some students have approached Forum For Fairness in Education for help.

Those who could not secure a seat in two rounds have been seeking admission to institutes individually.

IIT, Bombay launches certificate programme

The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) and Applied Materials, Inc. have announced the launch of India's first certification course in semiconductor technology and manufacturing. The course will address a critical need for developing a trained, high-tech workforce in India to help meet the country's growing demand for electronic devices.

The seven-day course will start from November 19 to 25 and will be offered twice a year. Course modules will include semiconductor technology, including very large-scale integration (VLSI), a semiconductor equipment overview and lab equipment user training.

According to Ajay Kumar, joint secretary, department of electronics and information technology, government of India, the programme synergises with the efforts of department of electronics and IT, to promote electronics system design and manufacturing.

"IIT Bombay has strong research, development and education initiatives in the area of semiconductor technology to support semiconductor manufacturing in India. Training a specialised workforce for such an industry is a priority. The semiconductor technology and manufacturing certification course is a fine example of industry and academia working together to help build a strong talent pool for the high-tech industry," says Devang Khakhar, director, IIT Bombay.

A 2011 study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India and Frost & Sullivan on the electronics industry in India sheds light on the country's dire need for trained professionals in the industry.

The study estimated that Indian electronics consumption will grow to USD 400 billion by 2020 and if the industry's manufacturing rate does not improve, it would be able to produce only 20% of the projected requirement. The study indicated that it is critical to develop a skilled workforce to meet the high demand for manufacturing electronic devices.

Talking about the course, Omkaram Nalamasu, chief technology officer, Applied Materials, says, "The semiconductor technology and manufacturing certification course will provide an understanding of semiconductor technologies, processes and the basic concepts of microelectronics manufacturing, combined with hands-on training on some of the semiconductor industry's most widely-used process equipment from Applied Materials."

Faculty members from IIT-B and experts from Applied Materials will participate in training students. Upon successful completion of the course, a Continued Education Programme (CEP) certificate will be awarded by IIT-B.

The last date to apply for this course is October 19. For more details, visit www.iitb.ac.in/~cep/

10-year term soon for college principals

College principals are likely to have a fixed term of 10 years. The review committee set up by the University Grants Commission (UGC) has made this recommendation at its last meeting on Friday. If approved, all new appointments for college principals will be for 10 years. The principals can, however, have a second term of five years. At present, the principals retire at 65.

The UGC, in June 2010, had limited the tenure of the post of a college principal to five years in its new regulations for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges. The regulations on fixed term for college principals were opposed and the committee was asked to review the norms.

The UGC's regulations say that "the term of appointment of the college principal shall be of five years with eligibility for reappointment for one more term only after a similar selection committee process". In its final meeting on Friday, the review committee chaired by vice-chancellor of Delhi University, Dinesh Singh, recommended that the term of appointment of the college principal shall be of 10 years with eligibility for reappointment for one more term of five years only.

Allahabad University celebrates 125 years

A string of special programmes were organised at Allahabad University on Sunday to celebrate 125 years of establishment of the varsity.

The vice chancellor, Prof A K Singh, along with senior faculty members cut a cake in the presence of students and teachers to mark the occasion. He exhorted the students and faculty members to strive towards maintaining the high standards of academic excellence at the university which was earlier known as the 'Oxford of the East'.

He then visited the department of Fine Arts to have a look at the 125 feet long painting prepared by undergraduate students of the department. The VC lauded the efforts of the students who worked round-the-clock to achieve this feat.

Speaking on the occasion, HOD, Fine Arts, Dr Ajay Jaitley said the year holds special significance for the department in light of the fact it is also starting the Masters of Fine Arts course for students this year. The 125 foot long painting would be kept at the department for viewing by students and teachers, he said.

Later in the day, a variety of cultural programmes were organised at the music department where the performances by students were much appreciated.

Greener pastures

Horticulture today is more than just planting and maintaining trees. With a range of opportunities in both the public and private sector, this could be the right time to pursue a career in this field, says Nishant Kumar.

Horticulture , the science and art of gardening, has today emerged as a field, which offers a range of job options. Thanks to the green consciousness and due attention from the government on food security and productivity, the scope for employment and entrepreneurship in horticulture is growing.

"India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. Today, horticulture alone accounts for 30% of India's agricultural GDP from 8.5% of the cropped area. It is playing a pivotal role in strengthening the country's nutritional security besides generating employment avenues," says KR Dhiman, vicechancellor , Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Himachal Pradesh.

>> Career Prospects
Be it cold storage chains, ripening chambers or horti-clinics , ample prospects are available for horticulture graduates. Several schemes initiated by the government through National Horticulture Mission, National Horticulture Board, Horticulture Technology Mission for North-East and National Mission on Food Processing have opened up new avenues. Besides, the entry of private players has increased the scope manifold.

"Every year, more than half of the fruit and vegetable produce in India goes waste due to lack of proper retailing and adequate storage capacity. To deal with post-harvest losses, government agencies and corporate houses are setting up cold storage chains, which demand skilled manpower for operations. In addition, several environmental-friendly ripening chambers are being set up across India," says Navin Nainwal, assistant director, Amity Institute of Horticulture Studies and Research.

Another important aspect is the change in consumption patterns. Dhiman points out, "Owing to high nutritional value, health components and vitamins , non-cereal items are getting preference over grains, thus increasing its share in the food basket. This has put the spotlight on horticulture."

>> Fertile Ground
Huge potential in this field lies in plantation, nursery, orchards, contract farming, seed production, pest management , procurement, landscape designing , green houses, botanical gardens , post-harvest management, food processing, teaching, marketing and research.

"Research is an important aspect of this field. A trained horticulture professional has to work to improve plant quality, food safety and health benefits from fruits and vegetables. This is one of the best paid areas in the field," says HR Gautam, senior horticulture scientist.

Work profile in public sector includes maintenance of parks, botanical gardens , official lawns, etc, with employment opportunities in departments like PWD, forestry, irrigation, town planning , archaeology, banks, cooperatives and community centres, etc.

>> Growing Opportunities
With time, several new segments have emerged in horticulture. For instance, therapeutic horticulture has emerged as a popular career choice. Floriculture is another emerging area. Likewise, the growing fondness for ayurveda, naturopathy and aromatherapy has opened new vistas for horticulture graduates.

"Today, there is a lot of scope for students in floriculture, food processing , landscaping, orchards, and tea and coffee gardens. Also, there is a demand for skilled manpower in countries like Ethiopia and Kenya, which are focusing on floriculture," says N Kumar, dean, horticulture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Mustaq Mohammad, who did his MSc in floriculture and landscaping, is a leading horti-entrepreneur with an annual turnover of Rs 1.25 crore from protected cultivation of lilium, carnation and rose.

"While protected cultivation is a profitable venture for horticulture professionals , polyhouse cultivation (protected cultivation) and tissue clinics are futuristic prospects," says Dhiman.

The growing concept of green homes and urban landscaping has changed the outlook of horticulture as a career choice. Ritika Bansal, a horticulture graduate, who works as a landscape designer says, "If outdoors and greenery is what fascinates you, a career in horticulture may be a perfect fit for you. From landscaping to setting up nurseries , there are several options in the market."

>> At a Glance
Students can opt for a BSc in horticulture after they have cleared their +2. Those looking for specialisation in any of the preferred subjects can go for an MSc. And if you are looking for a career in research, PhD programmes are on offer at several universities. TNAU, Coimbatore, Kerala Agricultural University , Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (MAU), Parbhani, College of Agriculture, Mysore, Akola, Pune, Hyderabad and Bangalore, and Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, are amongst the popular institutes in India to pursue horticulture education.

Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) also conducts a common entrance exam for admission into various institutes . Over the years, new courses like BTech horticulture and MBA horti-business have been introduced . Horticulture courses are also on offer at several private institutes.