Vivekananda Global University (VGU), Jaipur, in association with All India Forensic Science Entrance Test (AIFSET) will be conducting a Forensic Science Immersive Experience Programme for the students who are interested in pursuing a career in Forensic Science but are still not sure about their choice.
The program is timely as career exploration is as significant as career selection. Students have traditionally selected courses based on brochures, counselling sessions or research online but immersive learning programmes are now becoming a new way for students to find out first-hand what it is like to work in a particular profession before deciding on their academic choices.
A Growing Trend in Career Exploration
The programme at VGU is a follow up to a successful programme earlier this year at Shimla University (APG) in collaboration with AIFSET. The two day programme was a gathering of aspiring forensic science students from various parts of the country and offered hands-on experience of crime scene investigation, evidence collection, forensic laboratory work and forensic reporting.
The participants at the Shimla edition participated in a crime scene investigation simulation, met with the forensic science experts, visited the forensic science laboratory facilities and visited the State Forensic Laboratory in Shimla to see how the scientific investigations are carried out in real time.
The feedback from the programme was overwhelmingly positive, indicating a strong desire among students to engage in experiential learning that connects the theoretical and practical aspects of their studies.
Why Students Want to Experience a Career Before Choosing It
The most difficult thing for students to do these days is to select a career without knowing what it entails. Many students choose courses because they are popular, influenced by others, or because they have limited information, and then find out later that the course is not what they expected or interested in.
To overcome this, immersive experience programmes are created to provide students with the opportunity to meet with professionals, visit industry environments and get hands-on experience without committing to a long-term academic program.
Forensic science is especially significant in this regard as it involves several disciplines such as biology, chemistry, criminal investigation, cyber forensics, toxicology, digital evidence analysis and analytical reasoning.
These experiences will help students gain first-hand knowledge of the profession and help them make informed decisions about their future studies.
What Students Can Expect from the Forensic Science Immersive Experience Programme
The Forensic Science Immersive Experience Programme is designed to give students a taste of what the field of Forensic Science is all about.
The programme at VGU will expose the participants to different aspects of forensic science through practical demonstrations, interactive learning and exposure to investigative methodologies.
Students will learn about the work of forensic scientists, how evidence is used, how crime scenes are analysed and how they can help in modern criminal investigations. The programme will also introduce students with new career paths in fields like cyber forensics, digital investigations, forensic biology, toxicology and forensic laboratory sciences.
These experiences can give students a view of the profession that is not available in the classroom and can help them appreciate the scientific and investigative aspects of the profession.
VGU Event Highlights
- Crime Scene Investigation Simulation
- Examination of evidence
- Report writing sessions
- Event summarisation and course presentation
- State forensic lab visit
Students attending the immersive experience will be provided with accommodation, food, and travel support, which makes it a free of cost career exploration event. The initiative has been planned immaculately by AIFSET team to make the experience more accessible and comfortable for students travelling from different locations
A new initiative being adopted by select universities
Career Immersion programmes are still a relatively new phenomenon in the Indian higher education landscape. Although industry visits and orientation sessions are prevalent, structured programmes where students can gain experience of a profession before taking up a degree programme are still limited to a few institutions.
The growth of the Forensic Science Immersive Experience Programme is part of a wider trend towards experiential learning and career awareness programmes to assist students in making informed decisions about their education.
Increasingly, experts in the field of education are convinced that exposure-based learning can help to lessen the uncertainty associated with career choices and increase student engagement by providing a better understanding of the real-world aspects of the career of interest.
AIFSET Expanding Career Awareness in Forensic Science
The initiative also highlights AIFSET's increasing efforts to promote forensic science education and awareness of career opportunities in forensic science in India. AIFSET has been working with universities and educational institutions to provide opportunities for students to learn about forensic science in new ways, outside of the classroom and counselling setting.
These programmes are helping to bring students to the interdisciplinary nature of forensic science and demonstrate the growing opportunities in fields from crime scene investigation and forensic biology to cybercrime investigation and digital forensics.
The next edition of VGU will be following this trend, offering a valuable opportunity for aspiring students to gain insight into one of the fastest-growing scientific fields in India.
Learning Before Choosing
With the growing specialisation and industry focus of career options, programmes like the Forensic Science Immersive Experience Programme are becoming more relevant to students and parents.
These programmes are not about letting students make a decision based on a prospectus and a presentation but about allowing them to experience a profession first-hand, understand the demands of that profession and explore the possibilities of that profession before making an academic commitment.
The partnership between VGU and AIFSET is another step towards assisting students in making informed career decisions based on their experiences. Forensic science is an area of growing interest for young learners and will continue to be a subject of interest in the future.
