Conference held on higher studies opportunities

KOCHI: A conference on higher studies opportunities was conducted at the Collectorate office in Kakkanad on Tuesday. The conference discussed at length the various professional courses and job opportunities awaiting the students other than in engineering and medicine which are chosen by most students. In Kerala, the common belief is that if the student does not qualify for engineering and medicine, there is no other option available to him to get a decent living.  The conference threw light on the other options available for a student who passes tenth standard.Food craft institute is one of them. It trains the student in food production, front office management and offers placement in catering institutes. Ayurveda and nursing course has a duration of 12 months and requires only 50 per cent marks in class 10. The course boasts 100 per cent immediate placement. The two-year Data Entry Operator course, trains the student in typewriting and stenography. Polytechnic and Pharmacy certificate are some other courses.A student passing 12th standard also has a lot of options. He can opt for engineering courses like Mechanical Engineering, Bio Medical Engineering, Agriculture Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Polymer Engineering.  Another job oriented course is law. Now there is a Common Law Admission Test for National Law Schools. The students are offered placement in big corporate and law firms. Another course is ayurveda along with paramedical courses like nursing, optometry, cardio vascular technology, radiation technology, cytology and dietician which are in high demand in foreign countries. There are many more options available like hotel management, teaching and National Defence Academy (NDA). A lot of job opportunities are there in the railway and bank sector as well. After finishing the degree, the student can also opt for civil service posts like IAS, IPS and IFS.The conference also talked about fake institutions offering various courses. The seminar stressed that before joining for a course, the student should ensure whether his course is a recognised one.