Guest lecture on Influence Maximisation

The Department of CSE & IT organized an expert talk and interactive session with Mr Akhil Arora, alumnus CSE&IT2010 Batch, on 9 September 2016.Mr Arora is currently working as a Researcher in the Text & Graph Analytics group at Xerox Research Centre India (XRCI). His research interests include databases and data mining, graph mining and machine learning. At XRCI, he works as a leading contributor in designing novel graph algorithms for real-world problems. He holds a Masters degree in computer science from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur. 

Mr Arora delivered a talk on‘Influence Maximisation’which is a new research area in the data mining field. He supported his talk with real time examples. The session was attended by Engineering students of 3rd and 4thyear and some faculty members of CSE and ECE departments. Faculty members showed their interest in the area and asked various questions. Students enquired about GATE exam and how should they prepare for the technical interviews. Mr Arora has also shown his interest being a part of Data Mining group at the University and in guiding students in this domain. The event was coordinated by Ms Jyotsna Singh.

Workshop on Positive Psychology

A workshop on Positive Psychology and Permanent Well-being was conducted by MsSrividyaRajaram on 10 September 2016 at the University. The objective of the workshop was to document the role of judgement, perception and other related processes in our lives and to spread the awareness that these processes are the filter through which we look at the world, people, emotions, our environment and everything. The workshop was very informative, enlightening and interactive in nature with practical applications.It attempted to engage the audience through the use of audio-visuals to learn about psychology of perception and judgement, how these affect our decision making,how these are reflected in larger issues like politics, religion, gender etc. and how to work on these processes. Around 100 participants benefited from the workshop who learnt the practical tools of judgement and perception and how these can be honed and sharpened so as to become more equipped in handling our day-to-day issues. The workshop was organized and coordinated by Ms Nikita Kapoor,Psychologist-cum-Counsellor,NCU.

The Accidental Mathematician – Journey from “Why Maths” to “Maths you Beauty”

Prof. Kalika Srivastava

Dept of Applied Sciences

The NorthCap University, Gurgaon

My blog is not an effort to make look Mathematics easy because it isn’t. The blog is not about advocating how Maths makes sense because it certainly does.

This blog is my contribution to narrowing the gap between Theory and Practice in Mathematics. It is the connecting bridge between teaching & learning which shows relevance of Mathematics to all the young Gen Z Students.

Looking at life from a student’s eyes, we realize that Mathematics becomes ‘prime enemy’ for most of the students from the moment books are given to their hands. The scare of Maths grows exponentially with age as they realize all the Xs, Aplhas, Betas & Gammas compound against their interests. This is the “Why Maths” stage of our life as we feel Maths and common life are mutually exclusive sets.

But what we all fail to understand is that Maths lays the foundations of all our achievements. As Einstein once said, “Go down deep into anything & you will find Mathematics in it.”

A student of mine working as a Game Analyst for a major ISV pointed out how Mathematics actually shapes every day in our lives:

• Mobile Phones: The whole of mobile calling & Internet capabilities revolves around Mathematical algorithms & frameworks.
• Banking: Today everyone is a user of handling accounts & at least personal finances. This would not have been possible without the habits of permutations, combinations & huge number analysis inculcated into our minds by Maths.
• Arts:Maths is even used by artists while making paintings, designing collages as well as during dance performances. In all these cases, the size of the canvas, size of the stage, space required, etc. play a very important role. Deciding all these aspects is literally impossible without knowledge of Maths.
• Kitchen Work: Every ingredient is measured to precision to bring the perfect taste in the dishes. This precision taste has been inculcated into our mind, set through learnings from Maths.
• Shopping: This would be a no brainer as we plan to manage our expenses while shopping but end up failing in Maths by underestimating our ability to spend.

Being an MBA from a premier B-School, my student pointed out that during his preparations he realized that all the top examinations give focussed attention to mathematical capabilities, be it global examinations like GMAT or domestic ones like Civil Services, CAT etc.

Some traits inculcated into these stars of the future through Mathematics which these examiners look for, are:

• Problem Solving– Every sphere of professional & personal life poses numerous questions. It has been Mathematics which has equipped us to not get bogged down by the problems, instead move step by step towards the ultimate solution.
• Logical Thinking – A logical mind will always succeed in life as every step it takes, every decision it makes, will have a purpose or a reason towards the ultimate goal. This trait can also be credited to the logical thinking capabilities cultivated in us through Maths.
• Adaptive Reasoning – Adapting to the situation & reasoning with every step have made us not only good managers but also proactive decision makers in both professional & personal sphere of life.
• Eye for Criticality–Mathematics inculcates the human mind with the ability to access & judge critically what would be the correct or wrong. This goes a long way in creating a balanced personality of an individual.  
• Creativity – All the better artists in the world credit mathematics for their acute precision & creativity which has helped them in progressing towards achieving their goal.

When we realize the important role played by Mathematics in our lives shaping us as distinguished individuals and credit Mathematics for laying the foundation of our successful journey to the peak of our careers then we are sure to exclaim “Maths, you are a beauty!”

How one of the top private universities in India plans to contribute towards forecasting and measuring weather conditions in Gurugram

Prof. (Ms) Pramila Goyal

Distinguished Professor Emeritus

Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering

The NorthCap University, Gurugram

Knowing when to expect heavy rain, high temperatures, air pollution levels and other kinds of weather conditions will not take us unawares but will help us be better prepared for coming eventualities. Heavy rainfall lashed Delhi-NCR in July and August 2016 and caused massive traffic jams where people were stuck for hours and often all night. Schools and offices remained closed for a couple of days. The local authorities and government faced strong criticism because of poor preparedness.

Severe weather conditions like heavy rainfall causing disastrous water logging and floods are an outcome of global climate changes and are predicted to increase in the future. Technology that can accurately predict well in advance,extreme weather conditions and weather hazards like severe air pollution levels that can shut down the city, have the potential to mitigate hardships of people, save lives and minimize damage to livestock and infrastructure.

In this situation it is imperative to continuously measure and monitor rainfall, pollution levels etc. and take necessary measures to regulate them. The Indian Meteorological Department, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt of India is installing an Automatic Weather Station (AWS) at The NorthCap University (NCU), Gurugram, for monitoring of various weather parameters (temperature, humidity, rainfall etc.)and follow up with research. The data will be used for research and model development activities related to Atmospheric Studies. The University will display various weather parameters on a display board on daily basis. AWS at NCU will be the only weather station in Gurugram and will provide accurate and real time weather data that will benefit the public and enable them to prepare for weather conditions specific to this area. As the saying goes ‘forewarned is forearmed’.

Secondly, air pollution in Gurugram, soon to be developed as a Smart City in NCR, has become an issue of public concern, since Air Quality Index (AQI), determined by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) and others has revealed that PM10 and PM2.5 are 256.36 and 114.52µg/m3 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) respectively in Gurugram during the period September 2015 to February 2016. These figures are indeed high. Amongst all air pollutants PM2.5 causes severest health threats, since it consists of ultra-fine particles that can get lodged in the lungs and reduce their capacity over time. They are linked to cardiac conditions like strokes and heart rhythm disorders. Their motion and occurrence are initiated and caused by meteorological conditions. Thus a meteorological tower and air quality monitoring station for continuous monitoring of air quality and meteorological parameters are necessary for Gurugram and neighbouring areas.

Motivated by the desire of making a weather-ready nation and avoiding unmitigated disasters, certain research groups/institutions propose to collaborate with The NorthCap University, Gurugram, one of the top private universities in India, to studyand analyze AWS data for atmospheric research and development. Bigger the team better will be the achievements!

Internship – The Key Driver to Placements

Prof. Ravindra Ojha

Director, School of Engineering and Technology

The NorthCap University, Gurgaon

With the service and industry sector contributing approximately 90% to GDP in India coupled with the aggressive initiatives being taken by the government in the form of Make-in-India, Skilling-India, Digital-India and increasing FDI, the job market is likely to accelerate for the youth in coming years. Therefore, industry would soon need students from Universities with industry-ready competencies: those of critical-thinking, structured problem solving, application orientation of technical tools/techniques, team work, and effective communication skills. 

The University ought to take cognizance of the aspiring students and initiate their profile assessment in the 2nd year of study. Thereafter student grouping would fall mainly into four categories – industry related job seekers, research/(technical) higher-studies oriented, entrepreneurs/ family business preference. The successful students would envision their future career right from day one at the  University. It is imperative that they identify faculty counselors/guides to support them. This step is moving from mass-production to mass-customization.

A significant majority there in is looking for jobs immediately after completing their professional programs. One of the key drivers in successful placements is industry engagement. This can easily be accelerated by involving industry experts in diverse fields to share their experiences through the teaching-learning process with students. This should facilitate an exposure to live case studies for our students and present a real understanding of issues and identification of solutions.

There is no substitute to live industry project handling during the summer internship followed by its continuation as a major project, for a good placement. This methodology is a win-win situation for the industry and the academia. To the industry it provides a budding resource and establishes an excellent exposure for the student.  The internship also reveals the holistic competency of the students to prospective employersand subsequently aids in placement. The higher institutes for learning thus, need to catalyze partnerships with industry. A mandatory internship after the 3rd year of study completed in the industry with a defined problem would greatly benefit the students towards their placement.

One could crystallizeinitiativesin order to increase industry engagement as:

• Meaningful value-addition in curriculum modification using inputs from industry experts
• Facilitate  getting industry based live-case studies
• Alumni engagement in project based learning
• Mentoring of selected faculty by industry leaders
• Industry driven conclaves in the university

An Internship provides valuable understanding of the industrial environment and develops skill sets for a kick start engagement there after.It impacts student confidence positively, in stills work habits, fosters motivation, builds networking and finally enriches their personality. In conclusion, let us progress towards an industry engagement process that is meaningful and one that culminates inmutually beneficial placements.

HR Conclave I - 2016

School of Professional Attachment (SPA) organized a ‘HR Conclave’ followed by the annual group discussion competition ‘SochVichar III’ in association with Aarohan Club, NCU on 23 August 2016. The HR conclave targeted an important issue of ‘Scaling Employability’ during which experts presented their views and opinions on the topic. The event was graced by the presence of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Brig SK Sharma (Retd); Director SPA, Mr BK Gupta; Mr Subhodh Saluja, Head North India, Manpower Group; Mr JS Jangra, retired Chief Judicial Magistrate; Mr Chetan Soni, serial entrepreneur; Ms Yoshika, Socialist and Femina Miss India 2014 Finalist; Mr Ashwini Kumar Dhingra, Sr Manager HR, Omniglobe Internationals; Mr Anil K Gaur, entrepreneur and owner, Cybergurukul; Mr Satya Prakash, Director Tricore Solutions Pvt Ltd; Mr Puneet Khanduja, Asst Manager, Startbeans; Mr Chetan Singh, Placement Officer SPA and a large gathering of faculty and students of the University.

Mr Subhodh Saluja gave tips on how to become a successful employee and stressed on three major requirements in the corporate world - skills, attitude and knowledge. Further, Mr JS Jangra encouraged the students to have right attitude and grab the opportunities to get the best out of them. Mr Chetan Soni shared his experience regarding his entrepreneurship expertise and focused on how our peer groups influence our personality and self-growth. Ms Yoshika encouraged students to follow their dreams and stay confident. She focused on the fact that networking is the key aspects to grow rapidly in professional life. Mr Ashwini Kumar Dhingra urged students to believe in themselves and be self-motivated. Mr Anil K Gaur encouraged the students to follow their dreams and not to let others influence their career choices. Mr Satya Prakash stimulated the students to have out of the box thinking and encouraged them to be constantly updated with the changing trends. Mr Puneet Khanduja discussed about the common issues faced at workplace.

The discussion was followed by question round, where in the queries of students were aptly answered by the experts. The session concluded with the address of Brig SK Sharma (Retd). He thanked the experts for taking out time from their busy schedules and guiding the students of the university. He stated that marks are not everything, learning is equally important. 

Our alumnus, Mr Vineet Gupta (IT 2012-2016 batch) shared his experience at the HR Conclave, “The Aarohan team led by Banya and Pranav is awesome and very impactful. It was a great experience and the participants were enthusiastic and full of energy. I thank Aarohan Club and SPA for organizing these events and giving us an opportunity to interact with the students. I look forward to meeting the students again and sharing my journey from classroom to the office cubicle.”

E-commerce vs E-business : Stepping into the digitized world

Dr Ruchi Nayyar

Assistant Professor & Head Of Department

School of Management

The NorthCap University, Gurgaon

Broadband connectivity and increased usage of credit cards have provided a favourable infrastructure for the growth of online shopping in India.Continued liberalization in the telecom sector has shown positive effects in the past few years. The Indian Telecom Policy recognized the convergence of different media and permitted direct inter-connectivity amongst various service providers. Presently full – duplex communication for transmission of voice, data and information services is permissible under the telecom policy. Today, internet services can be conveniently obtained from telecommunication providers at affordable rates. Internet has reached common individuals, thanks to sprawling cyber cafes, inexpensive broadband connections and government initiatives of e-kiosks.

E-commerce offers customers maximum convenience. They can visit the websites of multiple vendors in the comfort of their homes and offices and are able to compare prices and make purchases. It is also easier to negotiate price and terms of delivery as the internet can help companies efficiently obtain competitive bid information. From the sellers’ perspective too, e-commerce increases sales opportunities of the sellers. They do not need to build, staff, or maintain a physical store or print and distribute mail order catalogs. Besides, use of automated order tracking and billing systems can cut additional labor costs Sellers can also enjoy the benefit of selling on international platforms and are therefore not limited by the physical location of a store. Internet technologies also help sellers to capture the consumer buying behaviors on the internet which could be used to build an ongoing relationship with the customer by customizing products and services to meet the customer's needs.

Despite providing innumerable benefits to the customers, e-commerce has its limitations too. There are a number of businesses (such as involving perishable foods and custom- designed jewelry) that cannot be successfully implemented on the internet. These products, regardless of the technology are difficult to get inspected from a remote location. There is also a universal standard of e-commerce. Taxation and data transmission over the internet cause a lack of trust in e-commerce. Technically speaking also, companies face problems while integrating their existing databases and transaction-processing software designed for traditional commerce into the software that enables electronic commerce. This resists a number of firms to invest into e-commerce.

E-business refers to the transformation and streamlining organizations value chain activities through the use of internet technologies. Sometimes e-business is equated with e-commerce but many contend that e-commerce is only a part of a much bigger picture. Although the terms e-commerce and e-business are used interchangeably, they are distinct concepts. In comparison to e-commerce, e-business is a more generic term as it refers not only to information exchanges related to buying and selling but also to B2C perspective. E-business enables companies to link their internal and external processes more efficiently and flexibly, work more closely with suppliers and better satisfy the needs and expectations of their customers. Besides, while e-commerce utilizes information and communication technology (ICT) in inter-business transactions, e-business deploys ICT to enhance the business in terms of production, customer relationship management and internal management. Therefore E-business is a key component of Higher Management Education to enable students to best utilize the power of the internet to improve customer delivery.