With a top-of-the-line course like this, DSC focusses on providing theburgeoning communication and media industry with management professionalswho are academically and professionally trained to be tomorrow's leaders inthe industry.

DSC's course curriculum includes 32 comprehensive courses in generalmanagement, marketing and communication. ``We seek to provide a holisticunderstanding of the role and working of contemporary mass media andmarketing organisations within the dynamic global socioeconomic structure.

The size of each class in limited to around 30 students so as to provideindividual attention and nurture a student towards maximising his genius,''says Prof. Surojit Lahiri, principal of the school.

But it is what Lahiri calls ``the concept of theory-practice interface'',which really is at the heart of DSC's programme. According to Lahiri, DSC isthe only institute in the world that offers guaranteed institutionalisedapprenticeships as an integral part of the course. Students are assessed bythe organisations where they work and their performance is graded by them inthe final assessment.

Through a combination of apprenticeships (work during the forenoon) andinternships (full-time work for a total of approximately six months), eachstudent undergoes a sum total of over a year's work experience acrossvarious professions within the communication industry.

Lahiri adds, ``DSC places incoming students as apprentices even before thefirst day's classes begin.''

Thus, students from DSC typically work in premier media houses, such as theIndian Express group, Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB), The Times ofIndia group, McCann Erickson and Zee News in the morning and undertakeclassroom study from 2:30 pm to 8 pm. In addition, each student has tosubmit a thesis and proof of original research undertaken.

``It's an amazing course. In the past two years, I have studied 32comprehensive courses ranging from journalism to organisational behaviour tooperational research to statistics to creative writing! On top of this, wehave a cumulative total of approximately a year's work experience,'' saysPriyanka Deb, who passed out last year with a plum job in a majorinternational hotel group.

Abha Kushwaha, another student, won the employee of the year award in hervery first year at McCann Erickson. Nikhil Nehru, president, McCann Erickson(India) Ltd, says, ``The students (from DSC) have projected commitment,dedication and a maturity far above their years. They have fitted into theteam exceedingly well and today are an asset to our organisation.''

Typically, a DSC pass-out's starting salary ranges from Rs 7,000 to Rs15,000 per month. DSC alumni are currently making their way up the corporateladder by joining leading organisations such as McCann Erickson, STAR TV,Sony TV, Rediffusion, DY&R, IPAN, Perfect Relations, Imagine Advertising,Amway, RK Swamy BBDO, MAA Bozell and Maadhyam Advertising, among severalothers.

DSC operates in the afternoons from the Father Agnel School building inGautam Nagar, New Delhi. Through an arrangement with the Father Agnel Schoolauthorities, DSC is entitled to the use of classrooms, office space andselect campus offerings, including the extensive computer facility.

Each student, thus, has the benefit of the use of a computer. DSC'swell-stocked library offers reference books and textbooks as well as anenviable collection of classics. It subscribes to all the major nationalbusiness and general interest newspapers and magazines.

For admission, DSC accepts scores of MAT, G-INDOMAT and GMAT. It also runsan independent examination in case any applicant has not taken any of thesetests. The selection process also includes a psychological test andpersonality interview.

For further information, contact The Dean, The Delhi School ofCommunication, Father Agnel School Building, Gautam Nagar, New Delhi-110049, between 2:30 pm and 6.30 pm; Tel: (011) 686 7734, 652 6378 after 2:30pm.