Mangalore: Balaraj from M.Sc Software Technology and Paiva Clinton Edwin from MCA are finalists at the National Creativity Aptitude Test 2014 conducted across India by IIT Delhi. This is the second time AIMIT students have made it to the National level of this contest.
AIMIT is a premier institute of St Aloysius College, Mangalore which offers Management and IT Education that focuses, not on the routine, but on creativity and Innovation.
The Incubation center at AIMIT supports the startup companies by young and talented professionals.
Balraj and Clinton spoke exclusively to Newskarnataka about their journey at AIMIT, the support they received from AIMIT, and the experience of participating in the National Creativity Aptitude Test 2014 and reaching the final.
Balraj:
Q : How do you feel being a part of AIMIT for the past 1 year?
I am very happy being part of this college. The very first college I remembered when I took a decision to do my PG course was AIMIT. Of course, that was the right decision. I feel very much privileged to study in this college that is providing me ample number of opportunities in achieving my goal. Very good infrastructure, updated library, experienced faculty support, very much loving and encouraging classmates are the success factors in this college. Apart from the regular MSc Program, we have add-on courses, extracurricular activities, rural immersion exposure program, National Level Certifications, Industry Academia Certifications and Collaborations and College fests, all of which, brought me closer to my goal. One among these extra curricular activities is NCAT- 2014(National Creativity Aptitude Test) in which I have secured All India Rank 13.
Q : You were selected in the final round of NCAT 2014 for the course on “Creativity and innovation”. What was your motivation and how was the preparation?
Of course, my Lecturers and my classmates, and the college management were the biggest motivating factors. The encouragement I received from my family is another motivational factor. Before we attended the first round our lecturer, Laveena Ma’am helped us prepare well by providing us practice tests on various topics of Aptitude in the Lab. After I was selected in the first round, I found the zeal to go into the second round. I was devoting everyday sometime for the NCAT preparation alone. I was eager to write the Test. I wanted to be in the top position. However, most importantly, I wanted to get selected to the course offered at IIT Delhi and interact with students of various insttutions rather than just win the prize.
Q : What are the learning outcomes from the course at IIT, Delhi and how will it help you in your future endeavors?
The course on “Creativity and innovation” provided me with a new dimension of thinking. During the course, we learnt about what are the executive success factors, what is creativity, what stops a person from being creative, various creativity tools, and different methods of creativity, Team work, lateral thinking and many more. We also had a lecture about branding and marketing. If I have to pen down all the outcomes of this course it would be difficult as it is a long list. However, a few of them are: being creative, understanding the social responsibility and finding the solution for the day to day problems of the society, having positive thinking, working in a team, and being the first person to give a solution for the problems of the world that are yet to be faced.
Q: You were privileged to meet students from all over the country. How was your interaction with them?
Being part of the course was one amazing experience, and more amazing was meeting lot of students all over the country. Not just students, they were the smartest brains of the nation. During the course, we were supposed to do a project in groups. Working in my team of 6 members gave me ultimate happiness. The fun, laughter and learning in the team made me more creative and have a multi dimensional way of approach. Not just my team, but also interactions with other friends gave me a new experience. The togetherness we had in a short time is unbelievable. I also learnt a lot of personal life lessons by interacting and being with them.
Q : What would you like to suggest to your juniors after attending the course?
Make complete use of all the opportunities offered by the college. Take part in all the events, certifications and activities even if it is optional, never give it up even if it is tough, think in a new way of achieving, even though that is unimaginable because there is nothing impossible. Most of all, be thankful and have gratitude to God and other persons who help you to be the person who you are.
Clinton:
Q : Share your experiences at AIMIT …
Being part of AIMIT for the past year has been a pretty interesting experience. The infrastructure, campus and syllabus are the main reasons for me joining this college. Being an autonomous college, the college has the ability to set their own syllabus, which is at par with the current industry.
The hostel and other facilities are also practically up there with the best international colleges.
Within a few months of being a part of this college, I got a chance to attend my first inter college event which was in Udupi, followed by another event in Bangalore. Later on we organized our own event where teams from across the whole country attended. So yes, the past year has been pretty much fun and amazing and certainly not as stressful as most people may claim.
Q: You were selected for the second round of NCAT. How did you prepare yourself for it?
Well, the college provided us with sample aptitude tests for which I’d sit in the labs after class and solve, plus try out some logic puzzles online as well. Lavina Ma’am helped out a lot and was a supporting pillar the whole time.
Q: What strategy did you use during the physical activity round?
The second round of the NCAT exam consisted of two rounds, a physical round followed by a general aptitude test. The physical activity round was the first round that was organized.
For this round we were given a task where in we had to throw rings onto a pillion that was kept at a particular distance, we had two chances.Distances were marked and labelled with numbers (1-8), you had to choose a number and stand at that distance and throw the ring. For the second chance you could either take a step back or a step forward. So start off I chose 4 since it was in the middle and then reduced to three to throw the remaining rings.
Q: What would you suggest to your juniors who are taking up MCA course?
Frankly speaking the course being an IT course is basically logic based and if you’re able to think logically and have common sense, you’ll have absolutely no problem here.
Compared to other colleges that are following syllabus’s that are 5-10 years old, St Aloysius sets their own syllabus’s based on the current requirements of the leading industries, thus giving the students an edge when it comes to job placements. And for those who want to become entrepreneurs, the college has an incubation centre which helps out.
Q: How is the college guiding you towards accomplishing your goals in the IT field?
As I have mentioned earlier the college provides us with a syllabus that is in tune to the current industry, which in the ever changing IT world is extremely important. State of the art labs, libraries and infrastructure are an added bonus. As I am very much interested to work on Android, I am now busy with Certifications from IIT, Bombay on Open Source Technologies..
Training in terms of mock interviews, aptitude and group discussions also indirectly contribute to achievement of my goals.
