Enormous opportunities
I have just completed my bachelor's in Life Sciences. I would like to study and work in Public Health but I am not sure if I stand a good chance, as I come from a non-medical background.
- Kaveri Das, Patna
Career opportunities in this domain are enormous, particularly in India, due to the triple burden of health problems such as communicable and non-communicable diseases and environmental health problems, disasters/calamities. The ongoing Covid pandemic is a case in point.
Depending on your interests, they can range from research, healthcare delivery, monitoring & evaluation, health & financing, general and oral health practice, monitoring and evaluating policies and programs, advocacy, health communication and journalism, insurance, public health laws, health economics, CSR - both in the public as well as the private sector in addition to working with international organizations, foundations and the development sector.
Besides these, you could even be looking at niche areas such as disease modeling, policy analysis, advanced demographics, statistical analysis, or even grants writing to name a few.
Opportunities in academia and research are available at institutions offering courses in public health. Jobs in academic and research institutions are likely to increase in the near future.
There is a serious shortage of public health professionals in the country for sure. Over 25 institutions in India offer MPH programs and incidentally, 75% of MPH graduates are from a non-medical background.
Scholarship option
I am currently in class XII. Is there any scholarship that fully supports undergraduate studies? My parents cannot support my higher education financially.
- Yasser Hamid, Hyderabad
It is always better to start planning well in advance as it gives you more time to explore all the available options. And believe me, there are plenty. Among others, you could look at the Vahani Scholarship which is a pan-India merit-based scholarship for undergraduate studies across disciplines.
Meritorious class XII students like you who have scored 85% and above in the Class X board exam and in-class XI with a family income below Rs 2 lakh per annum can apply. The scholarship sponsors a full college academic fee, along with the hostel fee, books, laptop, and smartphone in addition to one-on-one mentorship and skill training workshops.
Apply online on www.vahanischolarship.com by December 1, 2021. (There is no fee attached).
Foreign MBA
I have been working with a bank for 4 years. Now, I want to pursue a foreign MBA. The B-school programs in the US are two-year, while many of those in the UK/Europe are one-year programs. What is the difference and how should I go about choosing them?
- Sharan Awasthi, Mumbai
Doing an MBA from a reputed global B-school will definitely provide you unparalleled exposure, networking opportunities with an international student body. and an excellent springboard to launch your career.
However, choosing between a one-year and two-year program depends on several factors. Regardless of which you opt for, the admission procedure and requirements are quite similar Both will take into account your application package (essays, of purpose and recommendations), GMAT/GRE score, academic merit, and work experience. Both programs will essentially cover similar topics in the classroom. The fee and placements too would be fairly similar.
The choice of format must eventually hinge on the applicant's profile. The one-year MBA course is better suited for mid-career professionals, preferably with 5 or more years of experience. The shorter duration also means lesser time away from your job, and thus a lesser opportunity cost. It is ideal for professionals who have chosen their area of specialization. It further helps fine-tune their managerial skills to boost their career prospects in the same industry or specialization.
The two-year program is better suited for professionals with less than 4-5 years of work experience. The structure of this format provides a better grounding of the fundamentals of management and then depending on your personal interests and preferences you choose a specialization in the second year Most two-year courses also have a period assigned for training or internship that may well turn into a full-time job after MBA.
Even for professionals with 5+ years of work experience, a two-year program makes sense if they are considering a career shift.
From - The Times of India
Published on - 22 November 2021
