posted by Shaila Kagal

I am shell shocked and stormed with sadness at the mayhem in the frontyard of the commercial India.  It is just unbelievable what one group of human beings with deep-set hatred can do; to what extent they would go and get trained to devastate another land and kill innocent people.  Mumbai  is not just an Indian city… a micro India and major hub of business and finance…..a showcase of India… hit by this madness!
 
Yet, my heart swells with pride at what our forces have done to rid the beloved Mumbai of these demons! We salute them!
 
Mumbai… I mourn for you! Hope for a better, safer Mumbai, a better, safer India!
 

posted by Shaila Kagal

Well, this was a question put to me by a parent, some time back when a laptop cost around Rs.50000 plus.  Frankly I had to take this call not knowing the background about who the student was or why this came up suddenly.
These days, a laptop is considered an essential accessory to be savvy and go about managing.   But this question genuinely stirred my thinking because SCIT never used to prescribe a laptop to an aspirant student for its MBA programmes. Nevertheless, the hostel rooms have requisite facilities to connect a desktop although the campus is wi-fi.  I also see many students lugging around laptops when they really do not need to, just to ensure its safety.  Truly it is a 3-kg burden weighing heavily on the student shoulders as well as their pockets, specially, when it is not being put to use.  And quite often I have to ask the students in my class to close their laptops while a session is on…..(sometimes wi-fi can have distinct disadvantages, particularly when a professor is labouring over a point). When I ask students to show their work, invariably they come with an open laptop although just an oral brief is good enough.
Frankly, I must admit, I cannot work without my laptop and sometimes when my thinking is stagnant my laptop opens the doors to ideas. Trying out becomes so much easier than doodling on a paper. Connectivity just takes me everywhere and I am normally not lost.  Searching, exploring, finding, analysing, putting things together, presenting and just organising what I do are all at my finger tips.  And yes, even entertainment or pure time-pass!  So can I be without my laptop?
So, I would say, a laptop is created to make one process-oriented, information-based and presentation- savvy!  Just the qualities a future manager is expected to have! And if one aspires to manage a business in IT, probably there is more to IT!  In this age information is power and a laptop gives it at your finger-tips.
Yet, it is a call that a student needs to take.

posted by Shaila Kagal

NAAC, is rather unknown to those who are outside the Education Sector, but for us in the higher education, it is a ‘value’ mark. 
 
In 2003, when SCIT was still an autonomous unit, we at SCIT felt that the education that we conceptualise, design and deliver should be assessed for its quality although there was no compulsion whatsoever that we should do so.  At that time, SCIT happened to be one of the very few autonomous institutes, assessed and accredited by NAAC (National Assessment & Accreditation Council), an agency set up by UGC.
 
Getting assessed is really a self-discovery of sorts… strengths that we were unaware of come to light and what we considered right things would require a total makeover.
 
As a constituent of Symbiosis International University (SIU), this year SCIT is going through this rigour once more … I would say rediscovery.
 
One of the interesting points was our “IT-Entrepreneurship & Leadership Forum”, a mouthful of a name but like everyone in IT we depend on jargons.. call it IT-ELF.  This is an initiative by SCIT students with the guidance of the SCIT faculty.  Students have organized themselves to support any flicker of an idea and see how it could be converted into a business proposition.  I am really proud that a couple of students have turned entrepreneurs  and have been financing their own tuition fees through this endeavour. What other stamp does this need?
 
I wish all the students success with their efforts. In this economic meltdown, a spirit of entrepreneurship is perhaps the winner!

posted by Shaila Kagal

The short lull after holidays is not really a hangover but an over-occupation of time after a break.  I am back now to blog.
 
This Divali made my cup of joy fuller with greetings from several alumni.   With the greetings came a stream of memories about them that I would love to share.  SCIT is truly delighted to see all the alumni excelling in their careers. Each one is the pride of SCIT. Year after year we find our graduates going beyond expectations and this is what makes SCIT the institution that it is.
 
Let me talk about Gopinath Catram today although there are many other Gopies in the field SCIT is greatly honoured to have had. Gopi, a graduate of Batch 2006 and a gem of a person.  His unique honour at SCIT, is the Best Student Award; an award truly coveted.  Because, it is not just the grades but an overall performance that makes the grade as Best Student of the Batch in the eyes of SCIT. It includes everything; high consistent academic performance, participation in activities, team building, leadership, contribution to the institute, and above all winning over the hearts of the faculty and staff by his behaviour. Gopi had it all and was declared the Best Student! Need I describe Gopi any further?
 
What is more, I am delighted that our choice is also the choice of ICICI Bank which recruited Gopi at our campus and where he is a Manager. Today he is among the chosen 25 across the world in ‘Leadership Talent Pool’ at ICICI Bank.  We all wish Gopi success in his life!

posted by Shaila Kagal

From Babita: hi mam, i am very thankful that you have started very informative blog for poor people. we r getting lots of information.. i have one question… i will be happy if u u reply please. i am working with one of the leading corporation as a manager i want to do part time MBA with your esteemed organ my final year percentage is 63 can i get admission there where your insitute are. what r the eligibility creteria let me know mor abt you your part time mba cousrse
Reply: SCIT presently offers fulltime residential MBA programmes.  However, please check for announcements in early 2009 for Executive MBA programme designed for working professionals.

posted by Shaila Kagal

From Purnima: i am purnima jain ..i just completed my B COM from delhi university i want to join MBA can u help me to get prepare for CAT MAT XAT .. PLease mail me in  give me any help line no please
Reply: Preparing for SNAP is no different from any other B-School entrance.  Except that it has General Kknowledge section which any keen reader of what is happening in socio–economic-business environmen can answer. For SNAP details visit www.snaptest.org

posted by Shaila Kagal

The short lull after holidays is not really a hangover but an over-occupation of time after a break.  I am back now to blog.
 
This Divali made my cup of joy fuller with greetings from several alumni.   With the greetings came a stream of memories about them that I would love to share.  SCIT is truly delighted to see all the alumni excelling in their careers. Each one is the pride of SCIT. Year after year we find our graduates going beyond expectations and this is what makes SCIT the institution that it is.
 
Let me talk about Gopinath Catram today although there are many other Gopies in the field SCIT is greatly honoured to have had. Gopi, a graduate of Batch 2006 and a gem of a person.  His unique honour at SCIT, is the Best Student Award; an award truly coveted.  Because, it is not just the grades but an overall performance that makes the grade as Best Student of the Batch in the eyes of SCIT. It includes everything; high consistent academic performance, participation in activities, team building, leadership, contribution to the institute, and above all winning over the hearts of the faculty and staff by his behaviour. Gopi had it all and was declared the Best Student! Need I describe Gopi any further?
 
What is more, I am delighted that our choice is also the choice of ICICI Bank which recruited Gopi at our campus and where he is a Manager. Today he is among the chosen 25 across the world in ‘Leadership Talent Pool’ at ICICI Bank.  We all wish Gopi success in his life!