5 SUPER COOL courses you should pursue in 2020

Did you know that ethical hackers earn anything between Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 per hour?

Usually students wait for class 12 to pick a course that will increase their employment opportunities. 

While engineering, medical, science, hotel management continue to dominate the list of popular career choices, one cannot ignore the advent of new courses.

These unconventional courses may not be immensely popular, but in the next 5 to 10 years, will slowly create new avenues for young graduates in India and abroad.

Ruchir Arora, co- founder, CollegeDekho lists five such offbeat courses you can consider after class 12.

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

The main objective of BTech AI course is to produce students with a perfect understanding of the basics/ fundamentals of theory and practice of machine learning and artificial intelligence.

The graduates of BTech AI course meet the demands in the areas of AI and machine learning.

As artificial intelligence and machine learning are the future of India, there is a great demand for experts in this field.

AI is being used extensively in healthcare, education, industrial sectors, ecommerce

Where to study

• Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad
• IIIT, Hyderabad
• Loyola College

Average starting salary: INR 8 to 9 lakh per annum

2. Urban Planning

Urban Planning course, also known as town Planning course, is usually offered by institutes that are affiliated to the ITPI (Institute of Town Planners of India).

Institutes with the affiliation of the AICTE can also offer a course in Urban Planning.

Most Indian colleges offer master’s level courses in urban planning.

It is offered as one of the courses in Masters of Planning (MPlan)/ MArch/ MTech.

Where to study 

• Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagapur
• School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi
• Anna University, Chennai

Average starting salary: INR 4 to 5 lakh per annum 

3. Ethical Hacking

Hacking, in general, is termed as the activity to gain unauthorised access to data in a computer system.

When this activity is carried out with the knowledge and permission of the person whose data is being accessed as well as within the ambit of the legal framework, it is termed as ethical hacking.

Despite being a lucrative career option for students, not many colleges and professional institutes offer courses in ethical hacking in India. 

Where to study

• Institute of Information Security, New Delhi
• University of Madras
• SRM University, Kanchipuram

Average starting salary: INR 800 to 1,000 per hour 

4. Sports Management

 The sports industry in India has flourished over the years and offers ample career opportunities for aspirants who want to make a career in the sports management domain.

With various Indian institutes now offering courses in this field, you can pursue this career and enhance your skills to get a good job in this field.

For those of you who are aspiring to make a career in this field will have to develop skills like planning, budgeting, organising, controlling, directing, leading and evaluating a sports activity or event.

You may also be required to manage a sports team or institution.

Some of the popular specialisations under Sports management include sports marketing, sports finance and business, sponsorship etc. 

Where to study

Average starting salary: INR 2.5 to 3 lakh per annum

5. Food Flavourist/Chemist 

Flavour is the sensory impression of food or other substance and is determined mainly by the chemical senses of taste and smell.

Flavourists are chemists who create flavours for the food and other products and make food taste good.

This job involves not just mixing various ingredients to create artificial and natural flavours; but also requires an in-depth knowledge of aroma chemicals, essential oils, plant extracts, etc.

Research and development; experimentation is an important part of the job.

Food flavourists are employed mainly by industries, in food-processing and ingredient supply. They are also inducted by the tea, coffee and wine industry.

Some flavourists work for food production companies, as also in flavour houses - companies that create flavours in a lab for numerous purposes.

You can opt for BSc or MSc in chemistry and biology along with as vocational food technology courses.

Where to study

• Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore
• Loyola College, Chennai
• Fergusson College, Pune

Average starting salary: INR 35,000 to 40,000 per month

Ruchir Arora, an alumnus of Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology and Indian School of Business (ISB) is co- founder, CollegeDekho, an education start-up.He can be contacted onga@rediff-inc.com.