Professor Bruce Milthorpe, Dean of the Faculty of Science, UTS, tells SANGEETA YADAV about their roadshow in India and career options in the field of science
What was the agenda of your India roadshowIJ
Indian colleges have witnessed a steady increase of students keen on taking up science courses. Demand for pure science courses at the undergraduate level has increased as there are more job opportunities for students now. The University of Technology Sydney (UTS), which is one of Australia’s leading universities and popular for science studies, aims to encourage Indian students to studying science in Sydney.
Thus we had organised seminars in various cities of India to talk with the students and address their queries related to job and career prospects in the science field and the new emerging sectors.
Tell us about the new opportunities that are there in the field of scienceIJ
There is a plethora of opportunities for pure and applied scientists in the world. Pure Science or Practical Science mainly concentrates on the discovery of unknown laws and studies the basics of force and movements. Whereas Applied Science refers to the practice of taking the knowledge that you gain from science and using it in real life situation.
There has been a rise in the students studying subjects like molecular and cell biology, structural biology, bioengineering and nanotechnology. Various combination of courses and interesting job opportunities have come up like traffic engineering, financial analysis and computer software.
Any new aspect in the courses offeredIJ
Science as a subject is more than working in a laboratory. It’s about over all communication skills, critical thinking and project management. Careers in science, engineering and information technology is interlinked and one can study various courses according to their interests.
Institutes have become more flexible and adding new concepts with the changing time and requirement. Even the tie-ups with international science institutes and researchers are giving a lot of opportunities and exposure for the students to the work-field.
What’s the scope of science in IndiaIJ
According to India’s Government reports: ‘The 12th five-year plan calls for up to 1,00,000 more researchers and scientists by 2017, including a significant increase in biotechnology experts.’
With an aspiration to become one of the world’s top six scientific powers, India required good quality education in this sector and international exposure in the scientific research works that would open up various avenues for job and further studies.
What is it’s USPIJ
Graduates from UTS are highly regarded by employers. 92 per cent of science graduates were employed within three months of graduation. Over the past 20 years, 338 Indian students have successfully entered UTS via UTS INSEARCH, its pathway college undertaking higher education diploma courses.
What is UTS Insearch all aboutIJ
We aim at empowering students to achieve their academic and career goals. International students who wish to take admission can go through this diploma programme that would familiarise them with the course structure and meet the senior students for guidance.
Over 3,000 students from 75 different countries come to us every year to prepare for university. In 2012, 91 per cent of our diploma students achieved the marks required to articulate directly into UTS.
Students get to meet highly qualified teachers and student advisers who care deeply about their success.