In these days of competition, entry to any course is through Common Entrance Test conducted by various academic committees. ICET is one such entrance test. It is an integrated common test for enabling a student to seek admission to MBA or MCA. 2.5 lakh candidates are expected to take this test in 2009, which is going to be conducted on May 9, 2009.
The Career Guide speaks to Prof. P.S.N Raju, Convener, ICET 2009.
Prof. P.S.N. RAJU
Principal,College of Engineering (Autonomous), Andhra University, Visakhapatnam - 530 003,
Andhra Pradesh, INDIA.
The Career Guide: How many Applications have you received for I-CET 2009?
P.S.N. Raju: 2,11,555 applications have been received for I-CET 2009.
TCG: Is there any segregation of applications between MCA & MBA courses?
P.S.N. Raju: No, I–CET does not segregate the applications as such. The reason for this is that the test is based on SSC Standard.
TCG: Is there any improvement in the receipt of applications, compared to last year?
P.S.N. Raju: There is marginal improvement in the receipt of applications for I-CET 2009.
TCG : How many seats are added (New Colleges) for MCA & MBA?
P.S.N. Raju: That part will be looked after by the A.P. State Council for Higher Education. My business is to conduct the exam and announce the results. That’s all.
TCG: When is the exam conducted for I-CET 2009 and when do you announce the result?
P.S.N. Raju: I-CET 2009 will be held on 11th May 2009 and the result will be announced at the end of May 2009.
TCG: In how many Test Centres is I-CET 2009 going to be conducted?
P.S.N. Raju: I-CET 2009 has set up 20 Regional Centres in all Major Cities and Towns to hold the Test in 375 Test Centres.
TCG: How about distribution of Hall-Tickets to the candidates ?
P.S.N. Raju: We have started mailing the Hall-Tickets from 23rd April 2009 onwards. However, those candidates who fail to receive their Hall- Tickets can have access to their Hall-Tickets through the website: www.icet09.net.
TCG: When is the counseling scheduled for admission into MCA & MBA Programs?
P.S.N. Raju: The counseling process for admission into MCA and MBA will be scheduled in the month of June 2009. This year, there will be web-counseling process adopted for admission into MCA & MBA courses.
TCG: Can you explain the process of webcounseling?
P.S.N. Raju: The candidates, who are successful in the I-CET 2009, should opt for colleges and
course ( MCA or MBA )through Internet. Whatever web-counseling process is in force for B.Tech, even for MCA and MBA Courses also similar kind of process will take place.
TCG: Is there any difference in the pattern of Test in I-CET 2009?
P.S.N. Raju: No, there is no difference in the pattern. The test pattern is the same.
TCG: What additional precautions have been taken by you to overcome the previous flaws?
P.S.N. Raju: This time we have made a fool-proof model to identify the impersonation cases at the time of test. There is no scope to impersonate someone in I-CET 2009.
TCG: In view of the Economic Recession, how do you find the trends towards opting MBA or MCA by the candidates?
P.S.N. Raju: This trends will come to limelight once the admission process commences. However, last year many opted Management Course more than MCA. It appears that very soon the effects of the recession are moving out, but it is too early to predict the trends. So let us see how the students think, it is wise to opt MCA or simply rely on MBA.
TCG: Do you have plans to modify the syllabus to make it more suitable to the Industry trends?
Have you received any guidelines from A.P. State Council for Higher Education in this regard.
P.S.N. Raju: The Universities are doing a lot of exercises to make the syllabi more appropriate to the Industry Trends and this year also, we have focused on this activity to make the syllabi more relevant to the practicality.
TCG: How do you find the role of the Deemed Universities, which are also offering MCA and
MBA Courses?
P.S.N. Raju: The Deemed Universities are flexible to change their methodology, design course curriculum etc. But I do not see any difference, they can make revolutionary changes in the system.
TCG: But the Deemed Universities are claiming that their syllabi are more dynamic that explores the practicality etc...
P.S.N. Raju: Even the syllabi adopted by State Universities are also more practically related. Some of the members hailing from the Deemed Universities are members in the Academic Bodies of the State Universities, then how can we say that syllabi of the State Universities are
static and the Syllabi offered by the Deemed Universities are dynamic. According to me, there is nothing like dynamic and static. It is only application part that should be given equal importance along with theoretical part.