Plan Your Journey Well

A journey needs to be planned well in advance. It is more important in the context of foreign tours as it involves issuance of passports and also issuance of visa in due time before the departure period. One also should get accustomed to the conditions in the traveling country beforehand to make the trip most pleasurable and exciting.

Alternative Modes of Travel

Air travel is the primary mode of travel between India and the United States. Sea routes are generally opted to ferry vast manufactured products and raw materials. However, a person interested to travel by sea shall explore gorgeous views, get a chance to socialize with a dash of adventure that is hard to find anywhere else. Luxury liners and cruises operate between India and USA via European countries.

Acclimatizing Yourself with the New Weather Conditions

Tourists/Travelers generally opt to go to America during the summer season. Autumn or spring seasons are also commonly preferred.

The climatic condition in most parts of US is temperate. Southern parts of US are hot and northern parts are more seasonal. Surprisingly, when the beaches of Florida and Miami are warm, winters in the northeast can dip to a freezing point.

As it is known that the USA is also a big country with variations in temperature, it is recommended to find out the climatic condition beforehand of the place where you will be staying.

Courses of hotel management

Courses of hotel management
Course areas include Food Processing, food and beverages service, accommodation operation or front office, Hotel Accountancy, Business Communication, French Language, Hotel Engineering, Computer, Nutrition and Food Service, Hotel Laws, principles of management, sales and marketing management, human resource management.

• BHM - Bachelor of Hotel Management
• DHM - Diploma in Hotel Management
• BHMCT - Bachelor of Hotel Management and Catering Technology
• DHMCT - Diploma in Hotel Management and Catering Technology
• PGDHM - Post Graduate Diploma in Hotel Management

Hotel Management courses at all institutes offer a combination of theoretical and practical training. Students are given hands-on training in running a hotel.
Duration of course

• Certificate courses - 6 months to 1 year.
• Bachelor and diploma courses – 18 months to 3 years. Some degree courses may have longer duration of 4 years.
• Post graduate diploma courses -1 year.

Personal attributes for Hotel Management

Good organizational skill

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

You must be an extrovert, co-operative, polite and respectful to guests, have patience to deal guest criticism even when you know you are right, willing to work hard even at odd hours and have a cheerful disposition.

Selection Criteria and Test Format

Selection to most government recognized institutes is based on common entrance test.

Test Format

The test comprises objective type questions on English, Reasoning, General Science and General Knowledge. The test duration is around 2 hours and exams are held around April every year. The test is followed by a group discussion and interview.

Note: Private institutes also conduct tests of their own, the pattern of which is almost the same.
Some of the prominent schools that conduct courses in this area are:

• The Oberoi Centre for Learning and Development, 1 Sham Nath Marg, New Delhi- 110054;
• Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Rauza Bagh, Aurangabad- 431001;
• Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration
• Valley View Hotel, Manipal- 576119,
• National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Pusa Road, New Delhi

Learn Hotel Management

The Indian hospitality industry, which is growing at a rate of 12% per year, offers a wide range of opportunities to students specializing in Hotel Management. The Commonwealth Games in 2010 will further add to the growth. For Hotel Management aspirants, there couldn’t have been a better time to join the cadre.

Eligibility

You can enter Hotel Industry either directly or through Hotel Management institutes. For direct entry, openings are generally advertised in newspapers or job sites. The minimum education qualification required is 50% marks in graduation. But a diploma or degree in Hotel Management is always preferred.

Education qualification: 10+2. For Certificate, Diploma and Bachelors courses 10+2 is sufficient.

Qualifying Examination

• Plus two level examination in the 10+2 pattern of Senior Secondary examination of any recognised Central/State Board, such as Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi and Council for India School Certificate Examination, New Delhi.
• Intermediate or two-year Pre University Examination conducted by a recognised Board/University.
• General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination conducted by a recognised Board/University.
• High School Certificate Exam of the Cambridge University.
• Any Board/University Exam in India or in foreign countries recognised by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to 10+2 pattern of the Senior Secondary Education.
• H.S.C. Vocational Examination.
• Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects.

Age Limit for Hotel Management Course:

• 22 years for General/PH and 25 years for SC/ST candidates.
• In the case of Scheduled Tribe candidates, upper age limit is relaxed by 3 years.

Physical Fitness

All qualified candidates have to submit a physical fitness certificate form a Registered Medical Practitioner in the prescribed format given in the Information Brochure of the Council.

Travel Insurance for Safety

To avoid unpleasant situations arising out of sickness, injury, theft or accident, it is relatively safe to be adequately insured before traveling to a foreign destination.

Travel Insurance provides a person with protection cover in case of cancellation of travel plans arising due to accident, injury or illness. A local insurer will guide you best whether to opt for domestic travel insurance or international travel insurance, in consideration with unique needs.

Travel insurance plans are available on the web. However, only a few insurers provide a wide array of travel insurance plans.

UK and Australia for journalism education

Cardiff School of Journalism Media and Cultural Studies, UK enrols post diplomas, post graduate degree and research students. But you need to have good academic qualifications in research and media criticism. The school also offers undergraduate courses in journalism.
The school of Journalism and Communication at the University of Queensland is Australia's oldest journalism school, and among the oldest in the world. Students have access to the latest technology, and are trained in all aspects of media production.
Programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels cover practical and theoretical aspects of journalism which allow students to follow career objectives or obtain greater insights into the media in general and journalism in particular.
For admission into undergraduate programs at The University of Queensland, applicants must have:

• Completed recognised upper secondary or equivalent Year 12 studies to the required standard. Note that some programs have a limited quota for students. In these instances the required standard is a minimum and a higher standard may be required to gain entry.

• Satisfied English language requirements

Students planning to go on to higher research (e.g. Master of Philosophy, PhD), are usually required to complete a bachelor program with honours. To qualify for honours, students must achieve good results in their bachelor degree.

Journalism education in Singapore

Nanyang Technological University's The Wee Kim Wee School of Information and Communication, Singapore, is one of top most university in Asia. It offers varieties of courses which include Master of Science in Information Studies, Master of Science in Information Studies, Master of Science in Knowledge management and Master of Mass Communication. A prestigious four year Bachelor of Communication Studies (Honours) degree is also on the offer with a focus on print journalism, photo journalism, online information services and media management, research and analytical techniques.
Eligibility

• A distinct academic record
• Excellent oral and written linguistic skills.
• Admission procedure is usually completed by last week of September. You need to appear for a written test and an interview.

Duration of course

• Under Graduation courses: 4 years
• Master courses: 2 years

Fees
Fees for international students are around Singapore $ 15,000 and Singapore $ 20,000.

Buying Suitable Clothes for Journey

Extra worm clothes, Warm clothes, thermal jackets, leather gloves ad warm inners are needed to keep one-self warm during winters in USA. Light clothes may be opted for moderately warm summers except for the hotter South during summers.

Summers may be hot with temperatures reaching 100 °F in extreme South. The northeast part experienced heavy snow and freezing rainfall in the winter. Summers in this part are pleasant.

The mid-west region is moderately dry with excellent conditions in summer and chilly winters. Temperatures may even dip to -50° F.

Other parts of USA have a mild temperature all around the year with temperatures averaging around 40° F.

Educational Accreditation

Educational accreditation is a process through which a third-party agency judges an educational institution to determine whether it conforms to certain defined quality and service standards. Institutions can seek accreditation from governmental or private crediting bodies, depending on the laws of the land. Education accreditation can be categorized into:

• Accreditation of an institution: Whole institution is accredited by the agency
• Accreditation of a specific discipline/course: Only a specific program in an institution is accredited
• Accreditation of both the institution and the specific program: Both the education program and the institute is accredited

Accreditation is not a way to rank an institution. Rather, it is a process that validates the integrity of an educational institution. It is an indication that the institution or program meets certain standards of excellence. Accrediting agencies require that institutions engage in constant self-assessment in order to keep their programs up to date.

Accreditation meaning

• For Students: Accreditation increases the popularity of an institution as a destination for students. Higher education in most countries across the world is steeply priced. Accreditation insures students against being cheated and guarantees value for money
• For Educational Institutions: Accreditation offers the most direct advantage to the institution by building a brand value for it, as a preferred organization to be associated with
• For the Discipline: Accreditation helps popularize a discipline among prospective students. It is especially beneficial for new and upcoming disciplines, useful to industries that face a shortage of skilled manpower.
• For Employers: Accredited institutions and disciplines provide national and international employers a good idea of the skill levels of a prospective employee even before any actual assignment is done at the workplace. Accreditation provides an assurance to employers that program graduates are competent for entry into the workplace.
• For Business: Recognition by international accrediting bodies opens up borders and facilitates free movement of skilled labor across countries.
• For Nations: National and International accreditation, based on stringent quality parameters, potentially builds the image of a nation as a destination for students seeking higher education, and boosts educational tourism.

Institutions for Journalism

Degree courses in Journalism (Bachelors)

• Chennai University - B.A. with Journalism
• Ravi Shankar University, Raipur - Bachelor in Journalism
• Benaras Hindu University,- B.A. in Journalism
• Kashi Vidyapeeth, - Bachelor in Journalism
• University of Delhi, - Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication in Hindi
• Pune University, - Bachelor of Journalism
• University of Mumbai

1. B.A. with Mass Media Communication as a component group subject
2. B.A. in Script Writing and Diploma in Journalism & Mass Communication
3. B.A. in Journalism (BJ)

• Pioneer Media School -Bachelor of Journalism (BJ)
• Degree courses in Journalism (Masters)
• Chennai University

1. M.A. in Communication & Journalism &Certificate course in
2. effective communication
3. M.A. in Journalism

• Rabindra Bharati University, Calcutta- M.A. in Mass Communication
• Benaras Hindu University, - M.A in Journalism
• Kashi Vidyapeeth, - M.A. Journalism and Mass Communication
• Kurukshetra University, - M.A. Journalism
• Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi - M.A. in Mass Communication
• Pune University, - Master of Communication Studies (MCMs)
• University of Mumbai - M.A. in Communication & Journalism
• Diploma course in Journalism
• Mudra Institute of Communication ( MICA) AHMEDABAD

1. Diploma in Management (Communications)
2. Post Graduation Certified courses in Retail Communications, Creative Communications, Visual Merchandisin

• Pune University

1. Diploma in Journalism

• Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore

1. PG Diploma in Television, Radio, Print and Web Journalism
2. Diploma in Television, Radio, Print and Web Journalism

• Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi

1. Journalism (English)
2. Journalism (Hindi)
3. Radio and Television Journalism
4. Journalism (Oriya)

• Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai

1. Journalism & Mass Communication
2. Television & Video Production
3. Digital Media

• Bharti Vidya Bhawan, New Delhi

1. Course in Mass Communication and Journalism
2. Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism

Study Abroad
You can explore various foreign locations for a course in journalism. A degree or diploma from some of the good institutes brightens your chances of getting a good job in the Indian media. Studying abroad gives you good exposure and a global perspective, which is highly desirable in the job market. Some of the locations that you can explore are the US, Singapore, Australia, and UK.