Date:29/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/29/stories/2008072959190300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Scope of electives broadened

Staff Reporter

Credits from IECD programmes

PHOTO: R. M. RAJARATHINAM

DISCUSSION: M. Ponnavaikko, Vice-Chancellor, Bharathidasan University, having a word with Renuka Mohan Rao, Chief Regional Manager, Indian Overseas Bank, in Tiruchi on Monday. N. Manimegalai, Director, CWS, is also seen. —

TIRUCHI: Bharathidasan University has broadened the scope for integration of sequentially graded skills-based electives into undergraduation curriculum in affiliated colleges that are short of facilities and faculty to offer programmes warranting hands-on-training.

The university will transfer credits accruing from the programmes the students could pursue at the University’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and Career Development (IECD) and the Centre for Women’s Studies (CWS) during weekends and vacations.

Students can choose from a list of about 37 certificate programmes and 50 diploma programmes at the Institute. Hands-on-training in vocational areas will be imparted at the proposed incubation centre, Vice-Chancellor M. Ponnavaikko said on Monday.

Self-employment training programmes of governmental agencies, if attuned to university requirements, would also be considered for credits, Prof. Ponnavaikko said addressing a function at the Bishop Heber College organised by the Department of Economics and the University’s Centre for Women’s Studies to mark the inaugural of skill-based elective course. The event also marked the inauguration of the Industrial Motivation Programme sponsored by the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Institute, Government of India, Chennai, and a six-week entrepreneurial skill development programme.

K. Jeyachandran, Deputy Director, MSMEDI, exposed students to the enormous scope for self-employment after studies.

Twenty five persons would undergo the six-week programme at the end of which they would be equipped to formulate business plans to the standards expected by banks, and start their own units, he said.

Renuka Mohan Rao, Chief Regional Manager, Regional Office, Indian Overseas Bank, Tiruchi, said banks were eager to sustain their support to customers serious about repaying loans.

General Manager of District Industries Centre, Tiruchi, Baskaran explained the attractive subsidy-linked loans for self-employment under the State Government’s recent policy on MSME.

College Principal Marcus M. Boominathan spoke of the need for students to upgrade skillsand Director of CWS N. Manimekalai said only those vocations with high marketing potential were chosen for self-employment training.

S. Shanthi Getzie, Head, Department of Economics, and M. Sivalingam, Assistant Director, MSMEDI, also spoke.