September 10, 2006

Transferring to India
My daughter is doing her four-year B.Sc degree in IT in Dubai. She has completed her first year and would like to get admission from her second year in Calicut, Kerala. Is there a requirement for an equivalency? And where will I get it? Can the Indian Embassy help me? Will she get admission for B.Sc or B.Tech in IT in Calicut University or any other college in Calicut as she is currently doing her American Board? If so, could you please list colleges in Calicut?
- A reader, Abu Dhabi

Let us first talk about the general transfer of a student from a foreign university into an Indian university: The universities in India are autonomous and are free to establish regulations of their own related to acceptance of qualifications from countries other than India.

The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has been accepted as an accredited agency at the national level for undertaking the assessment of foreign credentials. Visit http://www.aiuweb.org/activities.htm for more details.

Here you will also find an equivalence application form that can be downloaded and filled up.

To procure admission to any other university in India, it is mandatory to obtain the equivalence certificate from AIU, which can issue the certificate only if the university under discussion has been evaluated.

For the purpose of establishing equivalence of other foreign qualifications, AIU undertakes a detailed evaluation process. You could contact them on the following numbers/mail for more details.

- Association of Indian Universities
AIU House, 16, Comd. Indrajit Gupta Marg
Kotla Marg, New Delhi - 110002, India
E-mail: info@aiuweb.org

The Government of India has recently expanded the definition of 'Non-Resident Indian'.

- Colleges allowed freedom to fix quota for foreign students within 15 per cent ceiling

- This is likely to help managements mobilise resources for subsidy

- A few colleges may be allowed to admit foreign students in excess of the quota.

Thus, you need to do an institution-to-institution survey to get more information about the quota and availability of seats.

The engineering institutes in Kerala are as follows:

- Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering and Technology
Sankar Nagar, Kalady-683 574

- Amrita Institute of Technology and Science
Amritapuri, Vallickavu, Clappana PO, Kollam-690 525.
E-mail: aitec@amritapuri.org
URL: www.amrita.edu

- Co-operative Institute of Technology
Palayad Nada, Maniyar, PO, Vadakara, Kozhikode-673 530

- College of Engineering
Manassery PO, Mukkom (Via), Kozhikode-673 602

- College of Engineering, Thalasserry, Eranholi PO, Kannur-670 107

- Government Engineering College, Kerala Government Polytechnic Campus
West Hill P.O, Kozhikode-673 005

- Government Engineering College
Ramavarmapuram, Thrissur-680 009

- Institute of Engineering and Technology
Calicut University Campus, Tenhipalam, Malappuram

- Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology
Rajagiri Valley, Kakkanad PO. Cochin-682 030

- Sree Narayana Gurukulam College of Engineering
Kolancherry, Ernakulam

- Sri Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering
Pappanamcode, Thiruvananthapuram-695 018

- St. Joseph's College of Engineering and Technology
Choondacherry PO, Bharanamganam, Palai

- TKM Institute of Technology
Musaliar Hills, Ezhukone, Karuvelil PO, Kollam-691 505

- TOCH Institute of Science and Technology
Arakkunnam PO, Mulanthuruthu, Ernakulam-682 313

- Travancore Engineering College, Ayoor, Kollam

- University College of Engineering
Kerala University Campus, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram-695581

- University College of Engineering, Muttom, Thodupuzha-685 584

- Veda Vyasa Institute of Technology Ponnempadam, Malappuram

- Vidya Academy of Science and Technology, Thrissur

- Vimal Jyothi Engineering College, Chemperi PO 670 632

- Vishwa Jyothi College of Engineering and Technology
Vazhakulam, Ernakulam-686 670

- Younus College of Engineering and Technology
Pallimukku, Vadakkevila PO, Kollam-691010

Universities in the US
I would be grateful if you would send me a list of American universities that offer biotechnology, microbiology and biochemistry at the undergraduate level.
- Sharang Biswas

Biotechnology is technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine.

It is any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.

One section of biotechnology is the directed use of organisms for the manufacture of organic products (examples include milk products and skin). Biotechnology is also used to recycle, treat waste, clean up sites contaminated by industrial activities (bioremediation), and to produce biological weapons. There are also applications of biotechnology that do not use living organisms. Examples are DNA microarrays used in genetics and radioactive tracers used in medicine.

Some of the leading universities in the US offering courses in biotechnology are:

- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey/Cook College
www.cookcollege.rutgers.edu

- Worcester Polytechnique Institute
www.wpi.edu

- Elizabeth College
www.eliz.tased.edu.au

- Rochester Institute of Technology
www.rit.edu

- University of Delaware
www.udel.edu

As 21st century medicine and healthcare become increasingly sophisticated, the demand grows for highly skilled biochemical scientists capable of performing and analysing a battery of technical procedures to screen, maintain and improve human health.

Typically, the professional biochemical student works in a hospital laboratory, and may be called on to analyse metabolic disorders, perform HIV testing, blood typing or genetic tests, diagnose tumours or identify an infectious micro-organism.

In doing so, the biomedical scientist requires an understanding of medical biochemistry, microbiology, clinical and medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, cell and molecular biology, anatomy, physiology, pathology and/or cytology.

They must also be well-organised, meticulous and able to communicate their findings to medics delivering treatment. If you enjoy science and its practical application, particularly in health care or related research, a degree in biochemical sciences could be just what you want.

Biochemical Science is a continually changing, dynamic profession with long-term career prospects including management, research, education and specialised laboratory work.

Most biomedical scientists work in hospital laboratories to support the work of clinicians and general practitioners, but some are employed in public health (water, foodstuffs), veterinary laboratories (disease monitoring), blood banks, forensics, pharmaceuticals development.

Some of the leading universities offering courses in biochemistry are:

- Barnard college/Columbia University
www.barnard.columbia.edu

- Bates College
www.bates.edu

- Boston college
www.bc.edu

- Brown University
www.brown.edu

- Claremont McKenna College
www.claremontmckenna.edu

- Colby college
www.colby.edu

- Dartmouth College
www.dartmouth.edu

- Georgetown University
www.georgetown.edu

- The higher education responses have been provided by Subramanian K.,head of the Dubai branch of Career Launcher, one of India's largest education companies.