Bank Job IS Preference OF Undergraduates

Banking sector beckons undergraduates, says study--Times of India
LUCKNOW: Banking profession is alluring undergraduate students of non-professional courses. A research conducted by a degree college (associated with Lucknow University) teacher shows that 37% UG students pursuing Science aim to become bank officers. 52% students in the Commerce stream and 19% pursuing humanities look forward to a job in banking.

Recognised by the NIFM Journal of Public Financial Management, the study is conducted on 1,200 UG (300 each of BSc and BCom and 400 BA) students studying in conventional courses and covers Central UP, including Faizabad, Lucknow, Kanpur and Barabanki, Rae Bareli. Data from some students of degree colleges and universities in Bareilly and Allahabad is also included.

The UGC-sponsored research project aims to measure the vocational interest in of UG students. The study has categorised students on the basis of 10 vocational interest areas-Literary (poet, writer, journalist, dramatist, novelist), Scientific (engineers, health officers, astrologer, scientists) Executive (district administration jobs), Commercial (accountant, shopkeeper, income tax officer, salesman), Constructive (goldsmith, radio mechanic, bookbinder, carpenter, pottery, toy maker), Artistic (singer, picture artist, painter, photographer, dancer) Agriculture (animal husbandry, farmer, dairyman, tractor driver), Persuasive (advertisement manager, religious preacher, tourist guide), Social (scout and guides, social worker) and Household (embroider, nurse, cooking expert, home decorator).

According to the study, 32% students in the Arts stream aim to become teachers, 19% in banking sector and 14% fashion designers. In the Science stream, 26% students are interested in teaching, 37% wants to work in banks and 5% students have shown their desire to become bureaucrats. Surprisingly, only 6% students from Science stream aspire to become engineers. In Commerce stream, 22% want to get into teaching, 52% in banking sector and 15% as Chartered Accountant.

The study is by Archana Sinha assistant professor, department of statistics at Navyug Kanya Degree College along with research fellow, Divya Singh who collected data from various districts. An interesting trend the study highlighted was that 11% of Arts students, 27% of Science students and 11% Commerce students were pressurised by their parents in choice of UG subjects.

Computer classes emerged an additional area of study for all students though the percentage varied-43% of Science students, 23% of Commerce and 13% Arts students attended computer classes. "Students are also inclined towards English speaking courses and competitive exam coaching,'' said Sinha. 27% of Commerce respondents attended bank coaching and 35% Science students went for competitive exam coaching.

"By and large, over 50% students believe their aim will be fulfilled by choosing a particular subject combination which isn't true. Immediate intervention on part of the government is required to make modifications so that students are employable after they graduate,'' said Sinha.

Though the findings show that the aim of majority of students is equivalent to their first and second vocational interest areas, students are not much aware of the applicability of the chosen subjects and to what extent their choice of subjects will lead them to pursue their passion. Moreover, maximum students hail from low income group (where a single member earns) and can't afford the comparatively higher fee structure of science, commerce stream, so their dreams are limited to areas that do not require heavy financial investment by the family.

The study stressed shortcomings such as no career counseling centres to provide proper guidance to students regarding choice stream and subjects matching with their aim. In fact, teachers at secondary and higher level lack awareness of the applicability of Science subjects and that students aren't performing well because they are confused with their actual vocational area interest.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Banking-sector-beckons-undergraduates-says-study/articleshow/22671391.cms