Rotary club shows India’s future bio-techies the right career formula
By Ryan Hyland
Rotary International News - 26 October 2007
Leaders in biotechnology provided career tips to more than 700 college students in Hyderabad, India, at a September seminar hosted by local Rotary club members.
In observance of Rotary’s New Generations and Vocational Service months (September and October), the Rotary Club of Secunderabad West organized an all-day careers seminar for college students interested in the biotech industry, one of India’s fastest growing job markets.
Six leading biotechnology experts spoke about keys to success in the field and the vast scope of opportunities in science, medicine, food production, agriculture, and information technology.
Keynote speaker K.I. Varaprasad Reddy, founder and managing director of Shantha Biotechnics, set the tone by opening with an inspiring speech on the state of the biotechnology industry in India. Reddy said local governments are encouraging biotech development to help keep India atop the sector, providing a bright career outlook in the field.
“We chose biotechnology as the topic for its lucrative nature across the globe,” says S.V. Suryanarayana, the club’s director of vocational services, who served as seminar moderator. “Students aren’t always aware of opportunities that are out there or how to start a career process. We thought the best way to help our youth was to incite them about their options even before they left college.”
Club members produced a handbook for attendees that included resume tips, job hunting pitfalls, and lists of current job opportunities with Indian biotech firms.
For years, the club has helped college students with their future by organizing more than 80 career awareness seminars at campuses around India. Previous topics have included accounting, civil service, air piloting, and fashion technology.
“Our biotechnology seminar was a great example of Rotary’s commitment to our youth and their future,” says Suryanarayana. “Students walked in unsure but walked out confident in making early and realistic career decisions.”