Book Review

CAREER SENSE: Guide on Higher Education and Skill Development

Dr R. M. Prasad,
C. Achutha Menon Study & Research Centre, Thrissur,
680003, Kerala, India,
pp 315, Price; Rs 250/-

A comprehensive compendium, scoping higher education and skill development avenues, is in the wish-list of students and parents. Those seeking admission to higher educational courses and parents who want their children to pursue job–oriented courses in the institutions of repute in India are the target audience of Dr. R. M. Prasad’s book. Presented in a systematic manner under nine chapter heads, this publication “Career Sense: Guide on Higher Education and Skill Development”, is to be complimented for its topicality and timeliness.

After a brief introductory chapter, the author has succinctly outlined the higher education scenario in India and Kerala in the second and third chapters, respectively. The fourth chapter contains the details of three main streams of study after tenth class – Science, Arts and Commerce. An overview of the important applied and professional courses is furnished with a list of institutions in India and abroad in the fifth chapter. Chapter six deals with new and emerging courses with high employment potential globally. Taking into consideration the significance of skill development, the seventh chapter is devoted to highlighting the skills required for augmenting employability in the Indian context. The eighth chapter focuses on the skill development efforts initiated by the Government of Kerala. Competitive examinations conducted in the country are detailed in chapter nine. The list of research and educational institutions in India under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the University Grants Commission along with their contact addresses is provided as Annexure in the book.

Dr. Prasad was a faculty in the Kerala Agricultural University and was an Advisor to Government of Meghalaya. This rich experience has stood him in good stead in researching and writing comprehensively on the twin and interconnected subjects of higher education and skill development. Amidst a score of publications available on these subjects in India, this book stands out significantly as a useful guide for selecting the right stream of study after class X and class XII. The 60–odd applied and professional courses and the comparative analysis of the institutions offering these courses in India are explicated in great detail. The chapter on New Generation Courses is also equally voluminous and indicative of the assiduous appraisal made by the author in this regard.

In the chapters on Skill Development, Dr. Prasad has succeeded in espousing the cause of combining the preventive and curative approaches. The focus of this chapter is on effectively alleviating the unemployment problem in the country in general and in Kerala in particular. The outline provided in chapter nine about competitive examinations is yet another valuable reference section for (1) students seeking admission to educational courses and (2) candidates aiming at better job placements. Inclusion of Websites and references related to the subject can add more value to the present publication.

This book deserves adulation in that it has attempted to provide a perspective as well as specific career options in Higher Education and Skill Development with telling impact. This publication must top the order list of libraries in schools, colleges and universities in the country. The Higher Education Councils should ensure the availability of the contents of this publication in the form of an e-book to enhance its reach to the needy.

Dr C Bhaskaran

Dr C Bhaskaran retired as Professor and Head (Agricultural Extension), from the Kerala Agricultural University, India (email: drbhaskaranc@yahoo.co.in)

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