Miscellany

When students ask, “What’s different about GLS University?”, the answer is simple: almost everything! GLS University isn’t just an academic institution in Ahmedabad, it’s a thriving ecosystem where potential meets endless possibilities, blending tradition with global aspirations and modern technology.

1. Clubs That Actually Matter

Forget dull afternoons. At GLS University, every student has access to vibrant, student-driven clubs that spark creativity, friendships, and fun. From culture enthusiasts and tech wizards to business brains and sports buffs, these clubs give you a real taste of community. Events, fests, and competitions turn campus life into a non-stop celebration of passion and talent helping you unwind, express, and connect across backgrounds.​

2. Not Just Libraries 

Whether you’re a night owl prepping for exams or a research junkie diving into data, GLS University’s rich library and online resource centre have your back. With an ocean of physical books, state-of-the-art digital resources, and staff who actually love helping you, your learning never hits a wall. It’s knowledge, upgraded for 2025.​

3. Tech That Goes Beyond Buzzwords

Here, “latest technology” isn’t just a phrase for the brochure. GLS University’s modern infrastructure, smart classrooms, and competitive labs let you tinker, innovate, and prototype. Students compete (and win) on global platforms because the university is committed to turning you into a tech trailblazer who’s ready for a world without boundaries.​

4. Mentorship That’s Not a Buzzword

At GLS, the student-mentor bond is more than just a policy, it’s a way of life. Unique mentorship programs pair every student with academic guides and life coaches to nurture both career and character. Whether it’s academic support or real-life advice, you have mentors who care about your growth inside and outside the lecture hall.​

5. Skills, Not Just Syllabi

GLS University’s academic orientation is all about making you job-market ready. Innovative, skill-based courses with practical, industry-linked curricula mean what you learn actually matters. Regular workshops, industry sessions, and project-based learning ensure you’ll walk out ready to ace interviews and thrive in your chosen field.​

6. Global Exposure; No Passport Required

In a world that’s always connected, GLS University opens international doors. With exchange programs and strategic global partnerships (like its tie-ups with Leeds Beckett University and Seneca Polytechnic), students earn global exposure, broadening their perspective, network, and career options.​

GLS University isn’t just preparing you for exams, it’s preparing you for everything after. With a NAAC A+ grade, forward-thinking faculty, and a campus culture that feels like home (and a launchpad), GLS stands out for students who don’t just want degrees, they want transformation. So if you’re looking for more than lectures, if you want mentors, tech, global exposure, and memories for a lifetime, GLS University is the place you should prefer.

Safety, equity, and respect for all are some of the most important commitments workplaces are supposed to undertake in a world that's constantly changing. The POSH Act, 2013, is a legislation in India that takes cognizance of this very fact. "Compliance with POSH is not just a legal formality; it forms the bedrock on which an inclusive and fair work environment can be built, where everyone feels safe and valued," says Pratik Vaidya, Chief Vision Officer and Managing Director, Karma Management Global Consulting Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Protection of working women under the POSH Act

But every organization with 10 or more employees has to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee which shall assist and inquire into the complaints of sexual harassment. "ICC plays a very important role, not only a reactive one but also a preventive one, as through continuous sensitization, awareness, and support, it makes the workplace safe for everybody," Pratik Vaidya says.

In the case of smaller organizations, a Local Committee is established under the district officer. Both bodies are empowered to inquire into complaints, examine the evidence produced, and recommend the disciplinary action from fines to dismissal from service.

In serious cases of assault, threat, or passing obscene material, the complainant can also go to the police by filing an FIR. "It’s important that employees know the law backs them wholly administratively and criminally, depending upon the severity of the act," says Vaidya.

With the shift to remote and hybrid working, the boundaries of the workplace have become blurred. Though the Act itself is silent on virtual environments, the definition of a workplace, as provided under Section 2(o), is broad: "any place visited by the employee during the course of employment."

Explains Vaidya, "This means that virtual meeting platforms, digital communication channels, and even home offices fall under the POSH framework. Harassment over chat, email, or video calls is as actionable as physical misconduct."

The employee should preserve the digital evidence through emails, screenshots, or chat logs and submit a written complaint to the ICC within three months, extendable to six months, on sufficient cause shown. It must be followed by an inquiry and recommendation of suitable action by the ICC.

Why Awareness Matters for Young Professionals Understanding the POSH Act is critical for the young adults that have started entering the workforce. As Vaidya says, "Awareness is the first step toward prevention. Educated employees-men and women-can identify misconduct early, respect boundaries, and foster a culture of mutual respect." Many cases of workplace harassment are never reported simply because of ignorance. "We've seen cases where young professionals didn't realize that inappropriate late-night messages, unsolicited video calls, or unwanted social media interactions linked to work fall under sexual harassment," shares Vaidya. He recalls one case where a young employee put up with sustained WhatsApp messages from her manager but didn't complain because she thought that since the behavior was remote, it didn't count. "That's exactly why awareness training is so important; it gives young professionals clarity and confidence to speak up," he adds. The real strength of the POSH Act finally lies in awareness and education.

When it comes to students in Kolkata who are eager to advance their careers, selecting a university to pursue postgraduate studies is crucial. The University of Engineering and Management (UEM) Kolkata has become a destination of choice due to its combination of excellent education, advanced facilities, and its close ties with the industry. The following are the five reasons why UEM Kolkata would be the best choice to pursue a master's:

1. Range of Specialized Master Programs.

At UEM Kolkata, students have a wide range of master's courses designed to meet the diverse needs of various industries. Offering flagship courses such as MBA (with specialisations in Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Digital Marketing, Supply Chain & Logistics, Event Management, and others) and MCA in Computer Applications, students are provided with a modern and career-relevant education that enhances employability across all fields.

2. Known and Recognized Organization.

UEM Kolkata, part of the prestigious IEM-UEM Group,  is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC), NAAC, and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) have accredited this university. Such accreditations will guarantee that your degree will be recognized both nationally and internationally, as well as improving your career opportunities on an international scope.

3. Advanced Infrastructure and Learning Environment

The university’s campus in New Town features state-of-the-art labs, world-class library facilities, spacious classrooms, and an innovative learning environment that fosters creativity and technical skills. The blend of academic rigour and practical exposure prepares students for real-world challenges effectively.

4. Strong Placement Record with Industry Tie-Ups

UEM Kolkata boasts impressive placement records, with industry collaborations offering internships, live projects, and recruitment opportunities. Graduates from the MBA and MCA programs consistently find rewarding roles in reputed firms, supported by dedicated career services that guide students from campus to corporate.

5. Flexibility in Entrance Exam and Smooth Process of Admission.

UEM Kolkata participates in numerous national-level exams, including CAT, GMCAT, GCSET, MAT, WBJEMAT, and conducts its own entrance examination, IEMCET. Moreover, the university can administer entrance tests and interviews to candidates who fail to attend these exams, and hence admission can be easily granted to them. This makes the process of obtaining admission student-friendly and easy.

To aspiring master's students in Kolkata, the University of Engineering and Management Kolkata offers a unique blend of academic excellence, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and strong industry connections. Both those desiring to take up leadership positions in business and those desiring to develop expertise in technology, the postgraduate programs offered by UEM present the student with competencies and connections that can make them successful. UM Kolkata offers a smart decision to be made and a successful career because of its variety of admission options and good placements.

Tip: Refer to the official UEM Kolkata site to get more information about the courses, fee structures and the admission schedules

In the fast-changing job scenario of India, traditional qualifications are gradually giving way to the relevance of practical skills. In a country where academic qualifications have been a guaranteed way to get jobs, today it is competencies required to meet specific industry needs that employers want. All this has been triggered by technological development, change in employer expectations, and increased consciousness about the worth of experience.

THE CONVENTIONAL VALUE OF DEGREES

A degree has conventionally served as an entry ticket to a well-paying job in India. Certain fields have conventionally been associated with employability and social respect, such as engineering and medicine. But with every evolution of the industries, questions have been raised over the relevance of certain degrees.

India Skills Report 2024: Only 51.25% of its youth are employable, while states like Haryana and Maharashtra top the chart with a higher employability rate, underlining a big gap in skills overall. Mercer-Mettl's India Graduate Skill Index 2025: Employability has come down to 42.6%, with the sharpest decline in non-technical streams comprising HR and digital marketing, while technical domains buck the trend, with AI and machine learning leading the charge at 46.1% employability reported in such streams. Economic Survey 2024-25: While as many as 50% of the graduates are underemployed in low-skilled jobs, only 8.25% had jobs matching their qualifications. This mismatch brings forth the dire need for the alignment of education with industry requirements. BRIDGING THE GAP: INITIATIVES AND SOLUTIONS To bridge the widening skills gap, a number of initiatives have been launched: National Internship, Placement Training, and Assessment: NIPTA, recently launched by IIT Madras, is intended to provide a standardized benchmark on job readiness in the country and enhance relevance between education and industry requirements. Vocational Training Centres: Centres such as Unnati Foundation offer skill development programs and guarantee placements in a job in 35 days or even less. Such centers train small-town youth in BFSI, BPOs, and telecalling. Government Schemes: The scheme Yuva Nidhi and other such schemes launched in Karnataka provide financial assistance to unemployed youth to train in skills for enhancing employability, hence reducing underemployment. THE FUTURE OUTLOOK With India marching toward a knowledge-based economy, the focus is bound to shift to skills. As per the World Economic Forum, this is a trend most likely to continue, with 63% of the Indian workforce needing to be retrained due to new technologies by 2030. As a matter of fact, this underlines an increasing need for continuous learning and adaptability within the workforce. While degrees are going to remain important in certain fields of study, the future of employment in India will be accomplished by skilled professionals. Both educational institutions and employers must join hands in making sure that curricula are matched with industry demands and individuals are provided with those skills needed to thrive in a dynamic job market.

India's population census will finally take place in 2027 — six years too late. The mammoth exercise requires an army of temporary staff — officers, enumerators, supervisors. Once again, the government's go-to workforce will be schoolteachers.

Section 27 of the Right to Education Act, 2009 allows the deployment of teachers for "non-academic" purposes, but only for elections, census, and disaster relief. The statute was meant to be narrow. In practice, it has become the standard catch-all reason to saddle teachers with administrative chores. The effect of this is that teachers - overworked and often underpaid - are being made to do the State's paperwork at the cost of their students' right to learn.

In Manyar Hasina v. Election Commission, a parent complained that election duty was disrupting her child's education because teachers were absent. The Bombay High Court simply rescheduled polling to holidays. That solved the attendance issue, but only on paper. The judgment ignored what should have been obvious: when teachers spend their holidays as booth officers they return to school exhausted, and unprepared. Education suffers not just when teachers are absent, but also when they are overburdened.

This is not something that started yesterday. In Election Commission v. St Mary's School, the Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that teachers could be assigned non-academic work only on days when teaching was not assigned. But the Court left some questions open: What is "non-academic"? What if it interferes with teaching? And what if the exception becomes the rule?

The situation further deteriorated since the Supreme Court, in Executive Engineer v. Mahesh 2022, ruled that “relating to non-academic work” should be given a wide interpretation. The floodgates opened to force any activity remotely connected to elections, census, or disaster relief upon teachers. The fallout has been immediate. In Nirbhay Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh 2022, the Court upheld the practice of assigning teachers electoral roll revisions.

States have exploited this interpretation, and teachers in Andhra Pradesh have been sent as personal assistants, whereas in Assam, they were deployed to update the National Register of Citizens. In effect, teachers have been legally made to abandon classrooms. This mismanagement does not come at an abstract cost. In the 2021 Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections, for example, it is reportedly estimated that over 1,600 teachers died from Covid-19. Teachers' associations have time and again protested non-teaching burdens, warning that they cannot finish syllabi or maintain teaching quality. The children who suffer most, apart from those of teachers, include children from often the poorest households attending government schools. When teachers go missing or burn out, learning stops. Each census, election, or verification drive may last only weeks, but its after-effects stretch over several years — in unfinished courses, poor results, and lost futures. Teachers are supposed to teach, not carry out State's logistic burdens. The right to education is not a mere slogan; it is a constitutional promise. That promise breaks the moment the very people responsible for discharging it are burdened and diverted. The lesson is simple but urgent: every hour a teacher spends collecting data or manning a polling booth is an hour stolen from a child's education. Teachers are not census clerks or election staff-they are the backbone of the right to education. Counting citizens means little if we stop teaching them first