Our lives are dictated by devices - the mobile, the iPod, laptop, TV, etc, all programmed by computer technology. This is a field that is continuously growing. So, if this is where your heart is, chances are that after a good engineering degree in computer science, IT or electronics and communications, you should be able to get a good placement with favourable prospects.

Computer science and IT is a field that demands professionals with a variety of computer-specific qualifications and jobs which vary according to the different requirements of IT companies. If you have a strong aptitude for computing, possess logical skills and are interested in an IT career, you can take up a career in this field. To design and develop computer software, you would require to do a degree in computers or technology such as a BE, BTech or a BCA which will prepare you to deal with development of applications for different operating systems, as well as some of the new areas such as e-commerce.

If you are not too confident about your ability to handle such courses, you can pursue diploma or certificate courses at a computer institute offering training in different computer languages and technologies like C, C++, Java, Cobol, UNIX and many others. --- Usha Albuquerque

Admission requirements for MSc in zoology at the University of Delhi (DU) is 50% or above marks in aggregate and 50% or above marks in zoology in BSc (hons) zoology, or BSc (hons) biological science from the same university or other recognised university. The eligibility requirement for BSc life sciences is 60% or above marks in aggregate and 60% or above marks in zoology from DU or any other recognised university. You will also have to write an entrance test. Most universities offer the MSc degree in zoology, the basic eligibility criterion for which is 50% marks and above, so you can check the websites of those in the cities where you wish to study.
The following are some of the institutions offering master’s in zoology through distance-learning:

• Annamalai University
• Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
• Kakatiya University School of Distance Learning and Continuing Education, Warangal
• North Orissa University, Bhubanesswar    --- Usha Albuquerque

These days cooking has stepped out of the traditional kitchen and become a high-flying career giving good chefs celebrity status. These chefs command high salaries and are amongst the highest paid professionals in the hospitality industry. So, this is a good career choice as the growth of the hospitality and catering business has indicated an enormous demand for trained people in this field. There are different kinds of courses – certificate, diploma and degree level – in culinary arts or food production, which you can do after your degree in hotel management. Your course in hotel management must have also included a specialisation in food service, or chef training, and many of the hotel management institutes also offer diploma courses in food and beverage service and bakery and confectionary.  There are also short-term courses of six months to one year’s duration - conducted by the government-run Food Craft Institutes in most state capitals. These courses in food and beverage service, cookery craft, bakery and confectionary are geared towards training candidates for direct entry into the industry.

In addition, there are private institutes which offer diplomas in culinary arts, as well as shorter courses in baking, pastry arts, and other related areas.

There are many more courses in culinary arts and specialised cuisines at institutes abroad, where fine dining and ‘haute cuisine’ has been perfected to a fine art. The Cordon Bleu Institute in France offers certification in this premium style of cuisine. Cornell University in the United States, and the Salzburg and Vienna Schools are among the most coveted in the world for specialist cuisines.

In India some of the institutes providing such training include:
Culinary Academy of India in Hyderabad - it offers a postgraduate diploma in culinary arts, as also an 18-month craft certification course in food production
www.iactchefacademy.com
Indian Institute of Hotel Management and Culinary Arts, affiliated to Osmania University, also in Hyderabad - it offers a one-and-a-half year certificate course in food production and patisserie
www.iihmca.org
Goa College of Hospitality and Culinary Education, which offers a one-year postgraduate diploma in chef management as well as certificate courses in food production and F&B service at the popular Cidade de Goa hotel
www.goahospitalitycollege.com
ITM School of Culinary Arts in Mumbai - it offers a two-year full-time diploma programme focusing on advanced culinary techniques and skills
www.itm.edu
Redcarpet Institute of Hotel Management and Culinary Courses India at Pune - it specialises in providing training in culinary arts and food production
www.redcarpetacademy.edu.in     ---- Usha Albuquerque