New-age courses see huge rush

Updated on: Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Kolkata: More and more students are taking up subjects in emerging fields like microbiology, biochemistry, environmental science and electronics.While these subjects had become quite popular in other parts of the country, Calcutta University was quite conservative about allowing these courses at the undergraduate level.

Finally, in 2003, these “new” subjects were introduced.

Even traditionally conservative and top-ranking colleges like Presidency, Lady Brabourne and Scottish have started offering such courses. Microbiology course is very popular at Presidency, Lady Brabourne and Scottish Church, and biochemistry has many takers at Presidency and Asutosh.

Biochemistry was introduced three years back,” said Presidency principal Sanjib Ghosh.

Lady Brabourne is already treating microbiology as a prize subject. The focus has somewhat shifted from tech courses and medicine and Lady Brabourne College principal Sanghamitra Mukherjee says: “Every year, there is a shift in the popularity of subjects. The choice is influenced by market forces.” The demand for microbiology is extremely high in Maulana Azad College.

“All our teachers for the subject are fulltimers,” said principal Shubhashish Datta. St Xavier’s College has also started several certificate courses like videography alongside degree courses in emerging areas like mass communication and computer science, journalism.

The problem with many other colleges that also offer the courses is that they have accepted these as “self-financing” courses and do not have full-time teachers. Principals of top colleges warned students against taking up a new course if the teachers are not full-timers.

The hindu

New-age courses see huge rush

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