ICET is Integrated Common Entrance Test conducted for admissions to Master of Computer Applications (MCA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) courses offered by various Universities in Andhra Pradesh, India. A candidate who wishes to join in the course in the University or its affiliated Colleges has to qualify the examination.

This year’s ICET deserves a special mention as it invited 40,000 applicants more than what it  did last year (2008 has 2.13 lakh applicants).
 
For long, engineering has been the much-sought after course in the state and the country as well. It does continue to be so. However, winds of change are blowing. Whatever may be the reason, there seems to be a change in the  thinking of the people. And, after engineering the much-liked course is, of course, MBA/MCA. As the conduct of the ICET-2008 gaining importance, ‘The Career Guide’ sought an interaction with … the convenor of the ICET-2008.    Bei ng the head of the crucial entrance test, … is trying his best to conduct the test without any hiccups.  Following are some of the excerpts of the interview. 

Career Guide: How does it  feel to  be  head of the ICET-2008?

Convenor: It’s a great feeling at the same time it’s a challenging task for me.   In fact, a huge task awaits me in the form of the test. Once we are through with the test, I will be a much-relieved man.

TCG: How is the response from the students for ICET-2008 ?

Convener: We got good response from the students for both MBA and MCA.

TCG: How many applications were registered for I-CET-2008?

A. Approximately 2. 13 lakh applications were sold this year and we have received 2, 12,000 applications. This year, we got better response from the applicants. As many as 40,000 students have additionally applied for the ICET-2008 than last year. Last year, 1, 71,461 have sent in their applications for I-CET while 1,41,902 students qualified to get admissions into MBA/MCA.

TCG: When will you be sending the hall-tickets?

A. We are planning to dispatch hall-tickets from April 8 onwards. Applications will be directly sent to the student’s address. Besides, we have decided to upload all the hall-tickets in our official website of ICET-2008 (www.icet2008.net) for the benefit of the students. Through this website, students can download their hall-tickets and appear for the test.

TCG: Online application submission has been introduced in ICET-2008 from this year. How many students have availed it?

A.  We had decided to introduce online application submission from this year.  Students can download application from the ICET-2008 official web site. Approximately 3,000 students have availed this facility by sending applications online for ICET-2008.

TCG: What kind of arrangements have been made for the ICET-2008?

A. We made all kind of arrangements for the smooth conduct of ICET and as many as 370 centres were deployed while 20 regional centres were arranged across the State. We would organize tele-conferences with all regional centre officials to navigate the system to dispatch the hall-tickets and other issues.

TCG: How many centres were set up in twin cities?

A. We have set up 100 centres at different parts in the twin cities like Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Approximately, 62,000 students would be appearing for ICET-2008 from the twin cities. The number has gone up by 10,000 compared to last year.    

TCG: What is your advice for students attending for ICET-2008?

A. I am advising the students to stay cool and not to have any sort of pressure-like situation. There is no change in the test pattern. We prepared the questions in the test based on Class X subjects and its syllabus. Meanwhile, students should be careful while they attempt answers on the OMR sheets, which will be given to them during the test. I am advising the students to attempt questions which they know best as soon as they start the test. By this, you can save time for yourself.

TCG: What is the qualification mark for ICET-2008?

A. Actually, the ICET Officials had decided to reduce the qualify marks to 20 percent than existing of 25 percent. This year, students can get 20 percent of marks of total of the test; they would qualify to get admission into MBA and MCA respectively.
 
TCG: Can you elaborate more on this and explain the reasons for the change?

A. This was taken in view of the State government’s decision to give an opportunity to all kinds of students even if they get 20 per cent of marks in the test. As per the decision, many students are likely to get admissions whichever be the course, either MBA or MCA courses in the State.  

TCG: Can you tell me the tentitive date for the annoucement of the  ICET-2008 results?

A. We are planning to release the results of ICET-2008 after 15 days of completes the test. Before that releasing the results, we would put the key of the test on the official website of ICET-2008 to clear the objections, if any.

TCG: As a principal of engineering colleges of Osmania University, what are  your views on the recent demand of the some private college managements to hold entrance tests on their own for admissions?

A. There is a direction from the apex court that any private college management can conduct separate entrance tests for admission into the engineering courses.  A few states have been pursuing this kind of method to take students into respective colleges. Coming back to our state, before the private engineering colleges going for their own entrance test, they should make proper arrangements provide facilities including infrastructure, laboratories as well as qualified and talented faculty.

TCG: Recently, the AP Govt had planned to start three IIITs in the State. How they help for aspiring students?

A. Definitely, many students can make their dream come true by getting selected for these IIITs, which are being introduced by the Andhra Pradesh Government at Idupalapaya (Kadapa), Nuzvid (Krishna) and Basara (Adilabad). The State Government planned to start these IIITs with an intention to provide more and more opportunities for the rural area students.
 
TCG: How do you foresee the future for the students, who want to pursue Information Technology (IT) course as there are rumours of slump in the IT sector?

A. IT industry may be undergoing through  a rough patch at present.  But, there is no doubt about that the IT industry will definitely overcome this current crisis and emerge stronger once again in a short span of time. The IT industry and IT-enabled services would provide more and more opportunities to the students. Many students are keen to appear for the ICET and get admission into MCA to navigate their career towards IT and IT-enabled services.
 
TCG: Is there any help-line to give suggestions to students?

A. The ICET-2008 officials already launched a helpline to reach the students and clarify the queries of the students and their parents. If students have any doubts regarding the test and other things related to ICET-2008, they can do call to the Convener, ICET-2008 at Ph: 040-27682358, 64538254 or can email at convener@icet2008.net for further details.