For the sake of quicker results

Mangalore University VC details the reforms process

The Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University, T.C. Shivashankara Murthy, has completed more than a year in office.

Since he took charge on March 3, 2010, the University has executed examination and academic reforms and is improving its infrastructure. He spoke to The Hindu EducationPlus recently about this process. Here are excerpts of the interview.

Q: Which are the main student-oriented examination reforms done in the last one year?

A: We now issue computer-generated examination admission tickets. Each such admission ticket contains a photograph of the student with his/her signature, signatures of the Registrar (evaluation) and principal of the college, and the time table of the course for which the student is appearing.

We have done away with issuing multiple answer sheets to students. Instead, only one answer book is being issued. The answer books have bar coded stickers which ensure the confidentiality of a student who appeared for an examination. Coding, decoding and recoding are done using bar coded stickers.

Form A (on which an evaluator enters marks after valuation) has been replaced with OMR sheets. There are no more ledger books having details of marks of students. They have been replaced with computer-generated ledger sheets.

How do the ledger sheets help?

Ledger sheets contain details of marks of students. The University sends a copy to each college with the marks cards. In case of clarification, colleges can refer to the ledger sheets. Earlier, college authorities had to come to the University to look into the ledger books for clarification.

What about announcement of results?

Now we have been able to declare results within two to five days after completing the regular evaluation of a course. Revaluation of results is being announced in a month. Earlier, announcing revaluation results used to take eight to 10 months.

Which are the other examination reforms?

A central valuation method has been adopted for evaluating answer scripts of postgraduate examinations. Under this, postgraduate teachers cannot take answer scripts home.

Both internal and external evaluators have to evaluate them at a designated place in the University. Earlier, the method was adopted for evaluating answer scripts of undergraduate examinations.

We will revise our examination manual. A committee had been constituted for the purpose. The manual has not been revised since the University was constituted under Mysore University.

We will have our own examination manual.

Could you tell us about major academic reforms?

We introduced the choice-based credit semester system for postgraduate courses, except four, from 2011-12.

It helps students to handle inter-disciplinary subjects. Mobility of students to study choice-based subjects between colleges offering postgraduate courses and between colleges and the University will be allowed.

The University gave affiliation to 14 new colleges in 2010-11. In 2011-12, it gave affiliation to two new colleges and in addition has recommended affiliation for six new colleges.

It has brought out a comprehensive prospectus for admission to post-graduate courses.

New courses have been introduced in the University College in Mangalore and Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College at Madikeri.

Both are constituent colleges of the University.

What about research and infrastructure development?

Different rating agencies have ranked the University from the first slot to the 24th slot in different research areas.

The University is building a Pareeksha Bhawan, a building to house different study centres, a humanities block building and a building for commerce courses.

The University has received grants from the Union government and the University Grants Commission for research activities.

It is planning to open a Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe.

Expanding its horizon in engineering research

Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute offers assistance to industries in the form of feasibility studies, research, training, and consultancy.

Mechanical engineering is one of the most versatile disciplines among the wide spectrum of engineering studies. Some of the areas in mechanical engineering such as production automobile, aeronautical, marine, industrial, tool and die engineering have developed as independent full-fledged disciplines. Any industry requires inputs from mechanical engineering. There is substantial research work in the diverse fields of this broad discipline.

We import a lot of technology. It is estimated that mechanical engineering technology accounts for nearly half of the total technology imported. This points to the need for intensive research in this discipline, for ensuring self reliance. A key player in the field is the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Mahatma Gandhi Avenue, Durgapur – 713209. Web site: www.cmeri.res.in.

CMERI

CMERI, which was established in 1958, is the apex R&D institute for mechanical engineering, under the aegis CSIR. The institute facilitates innovative studies utilising Indian talent. It is poised to expand its horizon of research activities so as to steer the country forward in cutting-edge and sunrise fields. It offers assistance to industries in the form of feasibility studies, research, training, and consultancy.

The institute aims at product / process development, import substitution, export promotion, waste recovery, quality control, and standardisation. It tries to provide complete technology package comprising design and manufacturing know-how, consultancy, and training. CMERI has an extension centre at Ludhiana, the Mechanical Engineering Research and Development Organization (MERADO).

Let us look at the various activities of research and development undertaken by the institute.

Robotics and mechatronics: CMERI has expertise in the field of robotic systems, control engineering, and other related areas.

It has undertaken the development of a vacuum mopping system for spilled heavy water for atomic power plants.

It has developed the first indigenous 60kg payload SCARA Manipulator. The first indigenous remotely operated vehicle for a depth of 200m for the Department of Ocean Development, Government of India, also came from this division.

Energy and process plants: The institute conducts studies in the broad field of thermal and fluid engineering. It offers technical support to the industries.

Heat power engineering: The essential focus is on process design and development in the area of thermal / fluid systems in power and process plants, drying for agro industries, and advanced energy conversion. Other areas of work includealternative energy, fuel cell, hydrogen generation from biomass and other sources, and application and improvement in drying system for grains and seeds.

Process plant engineering:Design, development, installation and commissioning of different kinds of process plants. Executing national mission programmes. Life assessment of process plants structures.

A significant contribution of the group is thedesign and development of carcass utilisation plant in Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai. Meat is processed as noodles. Tallow is used in the soap industry, bone powder as fertilizer, and the processed meat as poultry feed.

Chemistry and biomimetics: Biomimetics refers to man-made processes, substances, devices, or systems that imitate nature. It involves the application of biological systems found in nature to engineering and technology. The research in the chemistry and biomimetics group focuses on mechanistic studies of thermal reactions in solution, and photochemical studies. Modern kinetic and analytical techniques are applied for elucidating the molecular nature of the investigated reactions.

Some of the other areas are

Use of ion-exchange-membrane materials to emulate the operation of biological muscles

Miniaturisation in the chemical, biological and engineering sciences at both the micro- and nano scales.

Design methods, manufacturing techniques, and analytical methods that can be used to create and evaluate products based on bio-inspired concepts.

Metrology: It is the science of weights and measures, determination of conformance to specification or technical requirements, and development of standards. It hasapplication in all areas of science and technology including automation, robotics, space, and satellite communication. Metrological accuracy is an essential requirement for quality assurance.Any testing and calibration activity depends on good metrology.

The metrology laboratory of CMERI is a leading test centre recognised by the Bureau of Indian Standards for carrying out testing and calibration work. CMERI has links with national standards of the National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, which is the custodian of measurement standards. The high level of professional competence and stringent adherence to procedural norms ensure excellence in the service provided by CMERI in the field of dimensional metrology. Further, the laboratory has accreditation, from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration of Science and Technology, Government of India, in dimension, mass, density, and volume. It gives timely and cost effective solutions to industries.

Tribology: This is the science of the mechanisms of friction, lubrication, and wear of interacting surfaces that are in relative motion. Bearing and lubrication in machines are the major tools that help to fight the problems from friction.

Even centuries ago man had evolved bearings, though of a primitive nature. There are great innovations in the design and making of bearings that have enormous impact on the efficiency of machines.

Reduction in wear can bring down wastage of materials as well as loss of energy. The consequent savings will enhance the economy in the operation of plants and machinery. The significance of this process may be appreciated, if we remember that nearly one third of the world's resources are being wasted in overcoming friction in one form or another. Tribology applies operational analysis to problems of great economic importance such as reliability, maintainability and wear of technical equipment ranging from household appliances to spacecraft. Many cases of machine break-down, failure, and stoppage are associated with interacting moving parts such as gears, bearings, couplings, cams, and clutches. These vital issues are constantly subjected to studies and analysis that lead to desirable solutions to various problems in industrial operations.

Manufacturing technologies: Hard prototypes have to be made for product development with high grade capability for manufacturing precision.

The development of reliable components is also important.To facilitate these, CMERI has equipped its workshop with state-of-the-art machinery. Equipment including advanced CNC machines and heat treatment furnaces helps to carry out research in this area. The manufacturing facilities are adequately supported by design, metrology, foundry, heat treatment services.

Spin casting and investment casting: The institute has modern foundry facilities with computerised operation.The rapid prototyping system helps the RP models to be converted quickly into functional components. Spin casting and investment casting assist in producing net-shape and near-net-shape functional components in the desired ferrous and non-ferrous metal specifications.

Casting that is ideally suited for producing intricate and precise components of small batch size is available.

It's a new, improved CAT

Non-engineers and those with weaker English skills may benefit, say experts

The Common Admission Test (CAT), the qualifying exam for admissions to the Indian Institutes of Management, is arguably among the toughest and most popular exams in the country. Known to spring surprises in format, questioning patterns and number of questions – understandably, to retain the edge in these times of coaching centre chains – this time, the IIMs have decided to announce changes in pattern in advance.

The tweaks are minor; yet, experts welcome it as a move towards a better examination process. The changes, as announced by the CAT committee, have to do with time and section topics. First, candidates are being given an extra five minutes to take the same number of questions. Unchanged at 60 questions, however, the number of sections has been changed from three to two, which means each section will consist of 30 questions.

A more important change, and one that will call for some realignment of approach and strategising for the examination, is that a section-wise timer system will be introduced. That is, candidates will not have the freedom of moving back and forth between sections and will have to complete each section within 70 minutes.

The regrouping of topics into two sections may not make an obvious change to students. However, experts point out that this is fairly significant given that section-wise cut-offs do play a significant role in the admission process.

What the IIMs have done is taken the third section, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and clubbed it with the two other sections, Quantitative Ability and Verbal Ability. So, in the new format, the two sections will be Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, and Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning.

So, while an increase in the duration of the exam will hardly matter since the exam is a comparative process, the rejuggling of sections may be seen as a positive sign by some students. For instance, the fact that Quantitative Ability (a section that requires higher and deeper mathematical skills) will now be clubbed with Data Interpretation will mean that the emphasis will be taken off higher mathematics, points out Ajay Arora of the Triumphant Institute of Management Education.

Presure is off

“Similarly, for students from the hinterland, whose English skills may not be as good, having that clubbed with another section means it takes the pressure off them. After all, section-wise cut-offs are important. This new format could end up benefitting these students, and thus increasing the diversity of students making it to the IIMs,” he explains.

While there is nothing different content-wise, Mr. Arora points out that some amount of reorientation while practising could take candidates a long way. That is, when they take mock tests, they must time themselves to ensure they stick to the section-wise cut-offs. “That is something that students who are preparing for CAT will have to get used to. But in some sense it makes their task simpler, for now they do not have too many decisions to make on which section to go for first.” As for choosing the least time-consuming questions first, that's a strategy that will remain important even within the sections.

Final year students can also take CAT

I am pursuing my B.Tech in Biotechnology. I am in the final year. Am I eligible to take CAT this year?

The eligibility criterion for CAT is graduation, though final year students of various bachelor's degree courses can also take the test. However, you will be admitted into the course, only if you clear your graduation with at least 50 per cent marks and fair well in the different stages of selection process of the specific institute.

Along with IIMs, there are several other institutes that require CAT score for admission into their MBA/ PG Diploma programmes in Management. You have to apply to them separately. Getting a good CAT score is only the first successful step towards securing a seat in a good B-school.

A typical selection process includes group discussion and personal interview also.

Some institutes consider marks obtained in the qualifying examination and work experience also as assessment factors.

So you have to keep all these in mind during your preparation for the exam.

Also give a thought to what specialisation you would like to go in for. Though you are eligible for all the common specialisations like HR, finance, marketing or IT, coming as you do from a biotechnology background, you have the option to take up MBA in Biotechnology. The following are some institutes offering the course:

Amity Institute of Biotechnology, New Delhi offers MBA Biotechnology. The eligibility criterion is graduation in Life sciences with minimum 50 per cent marks. For details, log on to www.amity.edu

The Department of Management Science of the University of Pune, Pune (www.pumba.in) also offers this course.

The eligibility criterion is Bachelor's or Master's degrees (in Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Botany, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Zoology). The admission is based on score attained in AIMS Test for Management Admission conducted by Association of Indian Management Schools. For details about the same, log on to www.atma-aims.org. The candidates selected through the test are also assessed at group discussion and personal interview.

I have done my B.Tech in Computer Science and now working as a senior network engineer. I have seven years of work experience. Now I want to study further and do an MBA. Can you give me any suggestions as to what course and institute should I opt for?

As you have seven years of work experience you must have a fairly good idea as to what kind of career you want to pursue in future. An MBA degree qualifies you to assume higher and more managerial roles in an organisation. If you do well in your MBA and learn all that the course has to offer you, you can succeed easily in any new role and grow quickly in your career.

With your kind of work experience, you are eligible to take up either a full time MBA or an executive MBA. You can purse the course either full-time, part-time or in distance mode.

Make a choice based on your requirements and convenience. Personally, I feel that you should go in for an Executive MBA from a good institute as you already have the requisite work experience.

The following are some of the courses you can consider:

Osmania University, Hyderabad offers MBA in Technology Management. For details log on to www.osmania.ac.in

Symbiosis Centre of Information Technology, Pune offers MBA in IT Business Management. The eligibility criterion is graduation. The admission is based on performance test, and interview. For details, log on to www.scit.edu

Anna University, Centre for Distance Education, Chennai offers MBA with Technology Management as specialisation, in distance mode.

The eligibility criterion is graduation in any discipline. The admission is based on performance in the entrance test. For details, log on to www.annauniv.edu/cde/

Alagappa University, Directorate of Distance Education, Karaikudi offers MBA in Project Management. The eligibility criterion is graduation in any discipline. For details, log on to www.alagappauniversity.ac.in. Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai offers Executive MBA. The eligibility criteria are graduation in any discipline with at least 50 per cent marks and minimum three years work experience in an Executive capacity, post graduation. The admission is based on personal interview and group discussion. For details, log on to www.nmims.edu

Some more institutes offering Executive MBA (or equivalent programmes) are SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai (www.spjimr.org), Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad (www.imt.edu) and Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad (www.ipeindia.org).

TMI Network

Oxygen molecules detected in Orion constellation

For the first time, molecular variety of Oxygen has been discovered in space in Orion constellation of stars which forms clouds.

While atomic oxygen has been long known in warm regions of space, previous missions looking for the molecular variety — two atoms of oxygen bonding together — came up largely empty—handed.

NASA’s Submillimetre Wave Astronomy Satellite and Sweden’s Odin mission have both searched for molecular oxygen and established that its presence is much lower than expected.

Paul Goldsmith, NASA’s project scientist at Jet Propulsion Lab, California, and an international team of investigators went looking for it with European Space Agency’s Herschel project, according to a NASA statement.

They used Herschel’s HIFI far—infrared instrument and targeted Orion, where they reasoned that the forming stars would heat the surrounding gas and dust.

Using three infrared frequencies of the instrument, the Herschel Oxygen Project team was successful. They found one molecule of oxygen for every million hydrogen molecules in Orion.

“This explains where some of the oxygen might be hiding,” said Goldsmith.

“But we didn’t find large amounts of it and still don’t understand what is so special about the spots where we found it. The Universe still holds many secrets,” he added.

Oxygen, in all its forms, is the third most abundant element in the Universe and a major ingredient of our planet.

Bacteria can destroy toxins in polluted groundwater

Bugs can safely destroy dangerous toxins in groundwater, leaching from solvents in plastic effluents.

A trial by researchers has shown that they could be used to clean up similarly polluted sites anywhere in the world by injecting them into the polluted source.

The trial involved cleaning up chlorinated solvents that leaked many years ago from a former Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) chemical plant into the Botany Sands Aquifer in Australia, creating large plumes of contaminated groundwater.

“With present technology, it was expected that it might take decades or perhaps centuries before these toxic solvents are removed from the aquifer,” said associate professor Mike Manefield at the University of New South Wales, who led the research.

“Our tests showed that these bacteria effectively breathe these pollutants the way we breathe oxygen,” added Manefield, according to a New South Wales statement.

“It’s a big step forward. These cultures represent a greener and cheaper tool we can use to clean up some of our contaminated sites,” he added.

Researchers collected bacteria occurring naturally in the Botany aquifer and isolated three bacterial communities that live off the breakdown of pollutants, including the first one known to degrade chloroform — a possible carcinogen that has been banned in consumer products.

Don’t fear the penguin - there’s a Linux package for every taste

The Linux computer operating system turns 20 in August. But, despite having reached that fine age (in computer terms), it remains on the fringe, with relatively low usage levels.

Mostly, it has suffered from its reputation for being complicated, with many thinking it’s exclusively for geeks and nerds who know each line of code by heart.

But the reputation is undeserved. Linux hardly makes any special demands on users and is about as simple to use as Windows or Mac OS.

Indeed, the most daunting prospect with Linux is choosing between the variety of versions available — and the ability to dive beneath the user interface and get deep into the software, if you’re so inclined.

There are other hurdles for Linux, which uses a penguin as its symbol. Most computer users find it a step too far to switch to Linux when their computers come pre—installed with Windows, says Novell manager Holger Dryoff. “Personally, I haven’t used anything but Linux on my computer since 1994.” Novell has close links with one of the classic Linux versions, OpenSuse, which basically consists of the core of the system, along with a few other freely distributed programmes.

Suse, the affectionate name of OpenSuse’s predecessor, “did the pioneering work for the distribution of Linux in Germany,” says Nils Magnus, co—founder of Linux Day.

If you understand Windows and want to switch, OpenSuse is the way to go, thanks primarily to the accessible graphical interface from KDE.

But OpenSuse is no longer the most popular Linux variation. That honour belongs to the Ubuntu project, founded in 2004 and now with an estimated 25 million users worldwide.

Its version 11.4, for the first time, no longer comes standard with the Gnome desktop, but a new interface from Unity. The launcher is no longer at the bottom, but on the left, leaving more space on displays — which predominantly use a 16:9 ratio — for contents running from the top to the bottom of the screen.

“This is a new and very interesting attempt to design the desktop differently than before,” says Magnus.

Ubuntu is a version based on Debian, which has been around since 1993 and also consists predominantly of freeware. Other versions include free commercial programmes like Acrobat Reader.

“Debian is clearly the biggest Linux line,” says Ladislav Bodnar, who operates the website distrowatch.com. “The latest version requires eight DVDs.” The most compact Linux that still contains a graphical interface is Tiny Core Linux, which takes up all of 11 megabytes. Bodnar, a Slovakian Linux aficionado, lives in Taiwan and has 689 versions of the software in his database. Of those, 323 are still actively managed and under ongoing development.

“More than ever, there’s this heated debate about the graphical user interface,” says Bodnar, explaining trends in the Linux scene.

Ubuntu’s Unity desktop, a well as the new Gnome Version 3, orient themselves more towards use on a touchscreen.

“They can also be used on a desktop or a laptop, but they demand a radical rethink of expectations.” That has forced a lot of Linux users to consider alternatives, says Bodnar, like graphically intense user interfaces such as Xfce or LXDE. “Of course, there are naturally those who like the new desktop design from Unity or Gnome 3.” Installing software and downloading updates has become simple with most versions.

“All big distributors are coming along with package management,” explains Magnus. Finding appropriate drivers is no longer a problem either. There’s support for all kinds of hardware, from USB sticks to UMTS modems or even finger touch sensors on notebooks.

Magnus recommends Ubuntu, OpenSuse or Fedora — produced by Red Hat for home use — for beginners. “Debian is not so useful for first—time users,” he says, noting that this modularly built system can sometimes be complicated to install on a PC.

The variety of Linux versions is especially useful for specialists, who tend to use their computers for specific tasks. That means there’s Edubuntu, an Ubuntu version for students, or Mythbuntu, for recording videos. Backtrack also relies on Ubuntu, as it provides special tools for security checks of computer networks.

Even if using Linux doesn’t require any particular computer knowledge, it’s still fun to play with software like the thorough word processor Emacs, which offers a lot more options than Microsoft Word.

Of course, sometimes things don’t always work right away. But that, says Dryoff, “naturally creates an urge to get it working.”