Curriculum Ideates

My Ideates on Curriculum are;

• In today’s world the academic institutions need to be revamped in as much as is feasibly possible.
• Towards this the institutions must be prepared to undergo a change
• The change that is being sought is one that spans across the institution.
• Every change must have a beginning whose end is the beginning of another change.

Towards this one must have the necessary vision besides the compatibility, capability in inducing the change.

The Department of Management Studies needs to be a scientific community established for education and research on administration, management, strategic thinking and marketing and present day H.R.
The subjects offered in the Department needs to span the spectrums of Administrative Science, Marketing, and Management and Organisation. The Department also must provide facilitation in security management, and in management and finance in higher education. Facilitation and research must address both public and corporate expertise.
What are the pre-requisites?

A Mission statement of its own – This must individually dove-tail into the corporate or university’s mission statement.

A Vision statement that drives the department towards all the levels of the stake holders in the community at large is the need of the hour.

Flexibility: - In terms of the ability of being able to realign itself with the sweepingly changing winds of business trends and scenario in the global village. It must be able to raise the bar for industry to deliver. Challenges set by the industry and global incidents must be addressed in its laboratories.

Be SMART: - Be / Have; Smart Achievable Realistic Tangible.
Build / Create its own Brand Image:-
Build / Create its own Brand Equity:-

Towards this it must have the courage and the capability to be choosey enough to screen its potential future stakeholders who come as students.
It must be able to showcase its achievements from the first year.
It must be able to attract talented resources from a pool that is fast diminishing.


The secrets of success:-

 Warm local culture and global class profile making, “the University”, the top pick among students.
 One-year program may be intense, but the international student body will make it worthwhile.
 Is as seen in small size and team-oriented high achievers who make for a nurturing environment.
 Innovative curriculum that makes for a rigorous experience and a strong alumni base which helps in the job hunt.
 The international diversity and desirable location make it a top choice for the globally minded.
 Individual and group coaches give the program a personal touch.
 Sterling reputation and strong faculty.
 A small size offers flexibility and sense of community in a globally diverse student network.
 Students applaud liberal arts focus and ability to take classes throughout the university.
 Teamwork is at the school's core, and the yearlong format makes for a great value.

To be able to successfully do so, it must be more pro-active than it has been.

It must have the ability to move swiftly by bringing in changes in its curriculum without going back and forth.

It must be lean and composed of faculty who have the ability to multi task.

Multi tasking must mean beyond conducting a few traditional events which all b-schools do.

It goes beyond evaluations and the traditional and accepted span of chores that any reputed management studies and department would discharge.

The team must be dynamic and driven as in their commitment towards delivering.

However there are two crying needs that need to be addressed.

They are:-

The need for a continuous faculty development programme is a must whose importance and value cannot be underscored.

A qualifying bench mark in terms of the faculty being self - driven to, “excel”, at all times in everything.



Academics:

Academic Calendar:-
The academic calendar needs to be well laid out through a semester based system.
However there must be adequate tests and assignments to ensure the students are toughened and their quality is sharper. This will also ensure that the students start addressing their tenure in the institute more seriously than as is seen now.
Giving of notes must be done away with.
The faculty must approach and deliver in a manner to facilitate the learning process and encourage the student to search for information and knowledge in relation to the practical world and real-life experiences from the corporate arena.

“When the Student is Ready, the Master Appears”, is an old saying which needs no explanation.

Most institutions have pride in the different and varied student bodies and clubs that adorn their academia.
Some of the suggestions here are;

Placement Cell: - A pro-active 24X7 proactive cell is of utmost importance.
This would ensue that the students needs for being suitably placed is met.
The earlier it is begun the later it is.

Toast masters Club: - This would ensue and enable the students get an opportunity to hone their vocabulary skills besides enabling them to rid themselves of their stage fright which is prevalent in many students given their backgrounds and upbringing.

The Activities Club: - An activities club provides opportunities for students needs like theatre, writing competitions, seminars and guest speakers being called to address the students is taken care of.

Sports Club: “The world wars were won on the play fields of Eton”, is by now a famous adage.
The importance of sports can hardly be underscored.
There needs to be a dedicated sports body or club with a coach and executive / manager wherein and with whom students can register themselves in terms of the sports / games they would like to pursue during their pursuit of academics.
After all a, “Healthy Mind that Exists in a Healthy Body”, is one of the keys to a successful human being.

Counselling Cell:- Given today’s world where stressors and their levels are besides being rampant, also fatal on a young brain of a young and budding human being, the need for a proper and well laid down counselling cell can hardly be diminished.

Such a counselling cell must be well established and staffed with qualified psychologists and counsellors. It would be but natural to have members of both genders present as psychologists and counsellors. They must have the ability and latitude to be present when the call comes, besides realizing that given the Indian scenario a counselee or a caller will never walk into a counsellor. Crisis never knocks; it just lands on your doorstep irrespective of age and gender.

The traumas that can ensue from an unattended or ill-attended case are too huge to be depicted here. Even a classroom driven student faculty interaction can plunge the student into a need for the immediate attention of a counsellor or a psychologist.
Whilst accepting the fact that times are different today and the attitude of many amongst the population has undergone a change, it stills call for a respectably adequate amount of discretion to be ensured in favour of both the caller and the counsellor.

Alumni Networking Club:- This is important as it helps the alumni to stay in touch with their alma mater as well with their colleagues. This needs a database to be maintained very vigorously and efficiently.

Alumni Clubs in Different Cities:-These are the brand ambassadors who could be talking on our behalf in the cities that they are based out of on account of their vocation.

Programs:
Under Graduate Programme:

Objectives: - To ensure that the graduating students are well equipped and mettle enough for taking their place in the corporate world.

Curriculum: - Must include a subject / paper on;

Critical and Analytical Thinking :-> CAT.
A programme on soft skills for students in all the years with an OBL for students of every academic year
A course / subject / couple of modules on;

 Etiquettes and Manners in the Corporate World,
 Inter Cultural relations - Surprises and Shocks.
 Psychological tests
Grooming and Self Presentation.
Besides this a real industrial visit across organizations in foreign locations is a necessity.

Eligibility: Minimum 5o % cut off as passing mark.

Career Opportunities: They range from entry – level executives positions to understudies in organizations.
Spanning across the entire spectrum of the industry, opportunities are available for the deserving and persevering students.
However a well placed management department can render effective student placement with the corporate world making a bee-line for the institute’s students.

Post graduate programmes:-

Objectives: - To ensure that the graduating students are well equipped and mettle enough for taking their place in the corporate world.

Curriculum: Subject / Modules on CAT, Soft Skills, Psychological Tests, are the crying need of the hour.

Eligibility: Graduates of any discipline with minimum 60 % marks and clearance of Entrance exam / Screening test with minimum 60 %.

Career Opportunities: - Range from Management Trainees to candidates already in jobs being considered by their respective organization s for a promotion [subject to their doing well in their respective organizations].

Certificate Programmes ( If any):

Management Education Programs.

Building Strategic Partnerships for Social Responsibility:- Building Strategic

Partnerships for Social Responsibility ,or,
Building and leveraging partnerships with non-profit organizations.
Attendees / Target Audience:-
General Managers who are seeking to enhance their company’s investment in social responsibility

SR managers or CSR committee members

Senior marketing managers

Public relations managers

Public policy officials.

Participant’s Benefits:-

Understand the role of social responsibility in forging a corporate or brand image

Choose the right non-profit partner.

Establish open and effective communication with non-profit organizations

Clearly define objectives and strategy for your partnerships.

Organizational Benefits:-
Demonstrate a sense of social purpose for your corporation
Build corporate or brand equity through socially responsible initiatives
Maximize the business and financial outcomes of strategic partnerships.

Curriculum: Case Studies and Classroom Discussions;

The strategic purpose of CSR

Developing the business case for social responsibility and partnerships with non-profit organizations

Guidelines for authentic social responsibility initiatives

Establishing objectives and measuring the value of your non-profit partnership

Understanding the people, priorities, decision-making processes and culture of non-profit organizations

Choosing a social-community issue that is appropriate and meaningful to your employees and external stake-holders

Crafting a partnership plan including identifying and negotiating with potential partners.

Designing strategies for effective execution

Positioning and communicating partnership programs to maximize impact and authenticity while minimizing the risk of being seen as opportunistic.

Engaging internal and external stake-holders through the process of partnering.



• Developing Your Leadership Presence
• Finance for the Non-Financial Manager
• Governance
• Human Resources
• IT Management
• Leadership
• Planning For Economic Recovery
• Marketing
• Operations Leadership
• Project Leadership
• Sales Management
• Strategy
• Strategic Analytics
• Tackling Challenging Conversations .

Senior Executive Programme: - For senior leaders who are one or two levels from CEO, Regional Director or Country Manager of their organisation. Participants typically bring more than fifteen years' management expertise and have responsibility for determining the future direction of their organisations, managing complexity, transforming their organisations and inspiring the individuals with whom they work.

Accelerated Development Programme:- Designed for those who have recently made, or are about to make, the transition from technical or functional specialist to a broader, more general management role. Participants typically have 10-15 years' relevant management experience. The ADP has a strong international flavour, with participants drawn from a diverse range of industries around the world.

NEW Tomorrow’s Economy: Opportunities and Pitfalls:- This programme looks at the impact of the financial crisis on the economy, financial markets and organisations in the immediate future and to the years beyond. It examines possible recovery patterns and equips participants with a practical tool-kit to minimise risk and maximise opportunities for their businesses in tomorrow's economy.

Corporate Governance: Managing the Board of Directors:- This two-day programme will provide you with an increased understanding of the legal, economic, managerial and behavioural decision making processes associated with corporate governance in times of calm and crisis.

NEW Changeability:- This can be a two day programme that is designed to give insights into companies that have successfully responded to change and the techniques used by their leaders. It also equips you with an action plan which can be immediately implemented to manage through adversity and give you a winning edge.
Training Programmes for the Corporate world: - In Classroom setting or in an OutBound Learning Mode.

Five Strategies to Engage Today's Students.

Incivility in the Classroom.

Award-winning educator Dr. Christy Price believes that, the new Five R's to reach Generation Y are as given under. My tu pence is as added in italics.

1) Relaxed learning environments.  It is of prime importance to, “Create a Relaxed Learning Environment. Hardly any Learning worth its name can take place if the environment is far from relaxed and more so if the learners themselves are anything but relaxed”.

2) Rationales for course goals, activities and grading.  Establish rationales. This should be done early on into the programme. They should be simple, easy to understand, meaningful and the participant must be able to make and visualize the sense in them. Only when this is done will it become easy to devise activities and accord grades if they are at all to be given. In my independent thinking grading as a system should be done with.

3) Relevant material linked to students and their future.  Learning material should be linked to each individual student’s future. It must make sense for the student to pursue. The student must be able to see the link between what he is studying and his chosen future, as he visualizes it for himself.

4) Research-based approaches.  Here it is not just research based. It has to be search based. This means it needs to be meaningful, individual student’s future based.

5) Rapport and Relational opportunities with fellow students and professors.  This is indeed very critical and meaningful. The facilitator must endeavour early on itself to establish a rapport with the participants and also with colleagues. Through this collective and cooperative based approach only will the programme and the delivery of the programme by all facilitators make sense and be a success.

It must be remembered that only when the team [here team refers to both participants and faculty as both are stakeholders in the drive] bonds well, will it pull together in unison for and towards success.

In case any faculty is weak in pulling his / her, own weight for any reason or on account of any ground whatsoever, it must be quickly covered by the others and the weak faculty given an opportunity to address it, through counselling, or even being given a time-out.

Adequate care must also be taken to ensure that the concerned facilitator is not castigated or made to feel hurt or impoverished on any account. In case this happens this would effect the morale of others slowly yet surely and thereby weaken the team, the cause, the efforts and the end result.

Perhaps it may be relevant say that over 90 % of the human souls are fractured souls in some way or the other. Sensitivity to others and sensitizing others is a critical area that could spell the difference between success and failure.
Thus this would enable and empower the faculty to return with zest and better, with stronger drives to deliver and make up lost ground.

Brief History:

The origin of carnatic music dates back to the 13th century A.D. with a book named Sangeetha Rathnakara written by Saranga Deva. It was spread and popularized with significant contributions by composers like Purandaradaasar (15th century A.D.) and the trinity of carnatic music Sri Thyagarajar, Sri Muthuswami Dikshithar and Sri Shyama Shasthry (18th century A.D.) who were contemporaries. Their compositions are filled with devotion and are unique in their own way. They have a universal appeal across all sections of connoisseurs of classical music, language being no barrier.

Key aspects of Carnatic Music:

The two main aspects of carnatic music are: Shruti (Pitch) and Laya (Tala).
There is a popular saying that elucidates this: “Shruti Maata Layaph Pita”, Shruti personified as Mother and Laya as Father

i. Shruti:

Shruti refers to the scale or the pitch on which music is rendered keeping its frequency as the foundation. Each shruti has three octaves or staayis namely: Madhyama Staayi , the normal octave, Mandara staayi and Taara staayi being the lower and higher ones respectively.

ii. Laya (Taala):

Taala refers to the rhythmic cycles in which the swara (notes) and the saahithyam (Lyrics) are set. Carnatic music is set to any one of the seven Taalas which are: Dhruva, Mathsya, Rupaka, , Jhampa, Thriputa, Ata and Eka.

c) Sapthaswaras:

The seven swaras S,R,G,M,P,D,N are the building blocks of the ragas and they cover one octave.

The swaras are denoted as follows:

S – Shadjam

R – Rishabham

G – Gaandaaram

M – Madhyamam

P – Panchamam

D – Daivatham

N – Nishaadam

Of these, S and P are called Prakriti Swaras (one that does not change) and the rest are called Vikruti swaras (one that changes).

The Vikruti swaras have sub-types.

R (Rishabam) is of three types namely: Shuddha Rishabam, Chatushruti Rishabam and Shatshruti Rishabam.

G (Gaandaaram) is of two types namely: Sadhaarana Gaandaaram and Anthara Gaandaaram.

M (Madhyamam) is of two types, Shuddha Madhyamam and Prathi Madhyamam.

D (Daivatham) is of two types, Shuddha Daivatham and Chathushruthi Daivatham.

N (Nishaadam) is of two types, Kaakali Nishaadam and Kaishiki Nishaadam.

A Raaga is characterized by a combination of a sub set of these Swaras.

Though some of them overlap in terms of frequency of the note, one can not replace the other nor can both of them co-exist in a particular raga.

The ascending order of the swaras in a raga is called Arohanam and the descending order of the swaras is called Avarohanam.

d) Raga Classification:

Main Ragas that have all the seven swaras in both Arohana and Avarohana are called Melakarta Ragas and the ones with fewer swaras of each of them are called its janya ragas.

If there is a retrograde step in Aarohana or Avarohana of a raaga, the raga is called a vakra raga.

e) Paddhathis:

Paddhathis or compositions are of many types.

They are:

Varnams, Krithis, Padams, Javalis, Thillanas and Viruthams.

Varnams are compositions which depict the varna or color of the raga.

Varnams are further classified as Adi thala varnams, Ata Thala Varnams and Pada Varnams.

Krithis are refined forms of compositions.

Their basic structure includes 3 parts, Pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam.

Some Krithis have a pallavi and Samashti charanam (without an anupallavi) .

Some krithis have madhyama kala saahithyam and chittai swarams.

Padams are compositions which are descriptive.

Javalis are abhinaya types of compositions.

Thillanas are compositions which have sollukattus / jathis which are sung for dance recitals.

Viruthams are usually hymns of gods sung in ragas at a slowpace or within thala at the end of a concert.

i. Gamakas:

Gamakas refer to the variation of pitch of a note using heavy oscillations between adjacent and distant swaras.

These are made use of in sangathis(modifications) in krithis and in manodharma sangeetham (creative music).

ii. Mudhras:

Mudhra represents the unique signature of the composer used in their works. E.g. Guruguha for Sri Muthuswami Dikshithar.

f) Advanced concepts in music:

These are the ones that are sung in concerts.

They include: Alapana,Kalpana Swaram,Neraval, Ragam Thanam Pallavi etc.

They constitute Manodharma Sangeetham.

Alapana refers to presenting a sketch of the raga usually sung using akara prayogams or allowed phrases in the ragas which are called classic pidis in the carnatic music jargon.

Kalpana swaras are those sung by an artiste using their imagination along with some mathematical calculations called kanakku.

Neraval is elaboration of a single line using one’s creativity. It is usually sung in two speeds.

Ragam Thanam Pallavi is the most advanced concept in carnatic music.

Ragam refers to the Alapana.

Thanam is rhythmic version of the alapana which is sung using the syllables aa nam thaa nam.

Pallavi derives its name form the following words. Pa – Padam la – layam vi – vinyasam (variations) because it has saahithyam (padam), thalam (layam) and neraval (variations).

g) Vageyakaras (Composers):

The word vageyakara means one who gives a beautiful blend of swara and sahithya. The composers are mainly classified as pre-trinity and post-trinity composers.

STAGES IN LEARNING CARNATIC MUSIC:

As one commences learning carnatic music, the growth curve includes the following stages:

Abhyaasa gaanam (Varisais, Alankarams), Geethams, Varnams, Krithis, Manodharma sangeetham and finally Ragam Thanam Pallavi.

Learning in theory happens side by side along with the various stages or the levels.

Lord Sri Hari,Please Reside In My Heart Always-Vijayadasaru.

Let Sri Haridasaru Antharkatha Sri Vayu Antharkatha Sri Panduranga Vitthala Bless All.


“Munchae Maadiri Neevu ManchaleYatre”



“Deva Swabhaavo DivijaDrumoyaam Ishta Pradomae Satatam Sa Bhooyaat is perfectly correct .Satya and Nitya..”“



nAham kartA hariH kartA tatpUjA karmachaakhilam.h| taThaapi matkR^itaa pUja tatprasaadhEna naanyaThaa|
tadbhakti tadphalam.h mahyam.h tatprasaadaat.h punaH punaH|karmanyaasO harAvevam.h vishNOsthR^iptikaraH sadhA||
*******
Meaning:
I am not the doer, shri Hari is the doer, all the actions that I do are His worship. Even then, the worship I do is through His grace and not otherwise. That devotion and the fruits of the actions that come to me are due to His recurring grace

If one always practices to do actions with a dedicated spirit to Hari, in this way, it pleases Vishnu.

-Quote by Jagadguru Sriman MadhvAchArya in GitA tAtparya


|| Kumbakonam vaasi Sri Sri Vijayindra Tirtha Gurubyo Namaha ||



Ajaya Sri Sri Vijayindra Tirtha-Paramaguru of Mantralaya mahaprabhu Sri Sri Raghavendra Swamy.He is one of the greatest saints of Sri Madhwa parampare. Let the holy abisheka water which comes from his brindhavana remove all our fears and give us Gyana,Bhakthi,Vairagya!!