At first, I thought bhai yashvin’s post: No Handshaking please! would be a kind of cool joke!

Until I realise today in the fine Monday morning, when entering in the office: “Ahh pas de bises et de handshake. Lavez vous les mains!”

Then we get to hear from UoM:

All students are required to consult their emails regularly for the latest information and directives.

Students who show symptoms of flu or feeling unwell are strongly requested to stay at home until they recover.  Kindly inform us of the progress of your health status at reportflu@uom.ac.mu.

Students showing symptoms of flu whilst on campus are requested to proceed immediately to one of the two First Aid Posts (one behind the MCB and the other at the Gym).

Additional info regarding AH1N1 will be posted as from tomorrow on the UoM website.

Ag VC

There is also an interesting powerpoint forwarded by the Registrar:

Then some interesting info on preventing to have Swine flu in Mauritius:

What is swine flu?

• Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by Type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs.

• Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

Is the current swine flu virus contagious?

• Various international agencies (US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, World Health Organization) have determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

• WHO has escalated the world Pandemic Phase from Phase 3 to Phase 4 (in a 6-scale Phase), indicating that a worldwide pandemic due to swine flu H1N1 is possible.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?

• The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

• Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people.

• Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?

• Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads.

• Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza.

• Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with live flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How are human infections with swine influenza diagnosed?

• To diagnose swine influenza A infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus).

• However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer.

• Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus requires sending the specimen to a hospital laboratory for testing.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?

• Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick.

• That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?

• People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset.

• Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

Is there a vaccine for Pandemic Flu?

• Because the virus is new, there will be no vaccine ready to protect against pandemic flu.

• Vaccine against Swine Flu virus H1N1 needs at least 6-12 months to be produced.

• Seasonal flu vaccine or past flu immunization will not provide protection.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?

• Yes. The US CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses.

• Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body.

• If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications.

• For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?

• The virus can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with the virus and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

• Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. The virus can then be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk, doorknob, child’s toy or phone handset and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?

• We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.

• Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. The virus can spread this way.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• If you get sick with influenza, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

• If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket.

• Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?

• Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner.

• When you wash your hands — with soap and warm water — that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores.

• If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn’t need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?

• If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

• If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

• If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs (next 2 slides), seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing

• Bluish skin color

• Not drinking enough fluids

• Not waking up or not interacting

• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

• Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

An interesting read from the book: Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager

Here is a Book Review and Here is a Google Preview of the book. Managing Humans is a selection of the best essays from Michael Lopps web site, Rands In Repose. Drawing on Lopp’s management experiences at Apple, Netscape, Symantec, and Borland, this book is full of stories based on companies in the Silicon Valley where people have been known to yell at each other. It is a place full of dysfunctional bright people who are in an incredible hurry to find the next big thing so they can strike it rich and then do it all over again. Among these people are managers, a strange breed of people who through a mystical organizational ritual have been given power over your future and your bank account. Whether you’re an aspiring manager, a current manager, or just wondering what the heck a manager does all day, there is a story in this book that will speak to you. You will learn:

• What to do when people start yelling at each other
• How to perform a diving save when the best engineer insists on resigning
• How to say “No” to the person who signs your paycheck

Among fans of Michael Lopp is the incomparable Joel Spolsky, cofounder and CEO of Fog Creek Software:

“What you’re holding in your hands in by far the most brilliant book about managing software teams you’re ever going to find”.

This book is designed for managers and would-be managers staring at the role of a manager wondering why they would ever leave the safe world of bits and bites for the messy world of managing humans. The book covers handling conflict, managing wildly differing personality types, infusing innovation into insane product schedules, and figuring out how to build a lasting and useful engineering The Author: To read more of Michael Lopp try his Blog or follow @rands on Twitter. Some of my favourite quotes from the book:

A manager’s job is to take what skills they have, the ones that got them promoted, and figure out how to make them scale. They do this by building a team that accentuates their strengths and, more importantly, reinforces where they are weak. Managers who don’t have a plan to regularly talk to everyone on their team are deluded. Ideas will not be discovered, talent will be ignored, and the team will slowly begin to believe what they think does not matter.

Real work is visible action managers take to support their particular vision for their organisation. The question you need to answer for your manager is simple: does he do what he says he’s going to do? Does he make something happen? The CEO in question is not a prick. Good guy. Straight talker. Good financial sense. Many failing companies did a lot worse than ours, but that isn’t the point. The reason we sat there drunk and uncomfortable was because we had absolutely no connection with this guy. He was the mechanical CEO.

What if the stress level is higly elevated at the office tomorrow just as  shown in the video clip?

Simply lol – “I don’t want to work today!”

Something interersting to read on Stress at the workplace..

Deductive Reasoning- Cause and Effect

The Merovingian, also known as the Frenchman is a fictional character in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, portrayed by Lambert Wilson in both films.

Here’s is a quote from The Merovingian:

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Merovingian: Something to eat? Drink? Of course these things are contrivances, like so much here, for the sake of appearances.
Neo: No thankyou.
Merovingian: Yes, of course. Who has time? Who has time? But then if we never *take* time, how can we have time?

Merovingian: I love French wine, like I love the French language. I have sampled every language, French is my favorite. Fantastic language. Especially to curse with. Nom de dieu de putain de bordel de merde de saloperie de connard d’enculé de ta mère. It’s like wiping your ass with silk. I love it.

At work the atmosphere within the team is cool and special! Special, one aspect of it is because the French Managers (including mine)  are not less funny than Gad Elmaleh. Just as the Merovingian love the french expressions for cursing, the managers do the same. Consequently, within their company, we got to hear in their jokes  very frequently terms as:

mettre/foutre le bordel

On s’fait chier!

Putain…….

du connerie

bull shit – in french accent

on aura gallérer à faire…

merde…

The point is that despite the work pressure on each team member, we keep time to crack jokes and share fun moments.

Posted in Practical Training 2009, That's Life! Tagged: corporate ]]> http://asheshr.wordpress.com/2009/06/13/merovingian-likes-french/feed/ 2 curiousEngine The merovingian http://asheshr.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/uom-practical-training-2009/ http://asheshr.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/uom-practical-training-2009/#comments Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:44:13 +0000 Ashesh http://asheshr.wordpress.com/?p=668 ]]>

Finally, here is the much awaited blog post on Practicums. It all started with describing sandwhich courses, the opportunity to work with 2 private telecommunication company until the biggest Competitor in the field, Orange Business Services came up with another interesting intern proposal. However, there came more offers. Yes, the another ones were during the “End of Exams” party organised by our class (Boys’ Squad). http://twitter.com/asheshr/status/1881673872

The party was indeed necessary to unwind from exams stress (or recover from #examflu). It would be fun to watch the final of Champions League: Manchester United v/s FC Barcelona with loyal fans supporting Man U and Liverpool/Arsenal Fans converting into Barca.

The another 2 ones comprised of 4) working with open source technologies under the supervision of a web consultant 5) the second company just had an interviewing session over the phone. I was asked to describe software/web development projects on which I have worked and formed part of a team.

Just after a brief moment of relaxing at home a bit, came the start of month June. Time to jump from the world of academia and be ’sur le terrain’! Currently I have chosen company 4. My job responsibilities include administering open source web applications like wordpress, integrating the designed template obtained for UK designers, working on the problems obtained by the editing team and implement solutions to the technical glitches that may have occured during installation.

Today is the first week I have been enjoying the team work and its absolutely cool till now! Let me describe a bit the enriching experience of the first days of work:

1 June, Day 1: Phew, the view of all these people working in cubicles as I enter. My supervisor(French) introduces me to the team. After much “Nice meeting you!”, then presentation of the our office space for Development work. There meeting with programmers and the Project Manager (French).

Then a personal meeting with the Project Manager outside the office to introduce me personally. Damn, his questions were the best of all the interviews that I have been yet. As usual I was honest and tried to answer the technical questions as well as the management questions. Then came the CEO of the company. Damn! He is apparently a very serious guy (French) and the conversation started by describing the purpose of the internship. After the meeting, then back in the office. I got the required documents to work on and I had to install the required software.

Tweets:

http://twitter.com/asheshr/status/1994422206

http://twitter.com/asheshr/status/1991627479 – This is very important for the company since it is in the Travel Industry.

2 June, Day 2: Not working from the office but a bit in the ‘teleworking’ style.

3 June, Day 3: Administrative tasks at the office -> filling of MRA’s Employee Declaration Form (EDF), obtaining access card to the office, obtaining employee rules and regulations. The CEO is also a cool guy, he sometimes get to crack jokes and interact with employees. However his assigned task should be done in time.

Tweets:

http://twitter.com/asheshr/status/2016108326

http://twitter.com/asheshr/status/2018459564

Was damn tired this day!

4 June, Day 4: Conference with a new collaborator in China. New tasks added in the workspace.

Well, here it is a bit of the first impresssions of the few starting days of the ‘real work experience’. The fun has just begun. Still more lot to go. To get started, today I have to return the placement form which has been filled by my Manager to my Programme Coordinator at uni. Excited to walk in the campus this time as a Sandwhich student enjoying the curry in the sandwhich!

This is a follow-up post from Sandwich and Olive Salad and which has been placed in the new category Practical Training 2009.

Well, I nearly had made up my mind to go for Olive Salad for the Practical Training 2009 and was preparing the form to be submitted to our Programme Co-ordinator. All of a sudden, we grabbed the attention of Orange! The latter was the third offer and the pending one.

At the last minute, there was the possibility of setting up an appointment at a very cool location Damn driving during the night is not fun and especially when there are Police Traffic people everywhere telling you to give priority to the damn VIP people going to Domaine Anna.

Finally we reached our destination (despite the small deviation to Albion Lighthouse , eihhh) and we were on time (pat on the shoulders)!

At the reception, we were welcomed by the Manager and we had a seat to start the meeting. Well, there was description of what is the role and function of the backoffice services and the intention to implant the corporate service in Mauritius. The key terms were: Corporate services, KPI, Business Intelligence, Availability, Best Practice, date warehouse, reporting, supply chain, inventory control, Nokia, Wal-Mart, competence, global company, Romania, Germany, France Telecom, Orange Business Services

There was a high level of business jargon being used (in French). The theory from Operations Management, which we learnt at University was applicable. Below are some videos related to the main topic of the meeting:

RFID in Supply Chain

Service Performance Mgt

The main stuff that impressed me was that the profile of the Manager was something that I am -> Business acumen complemented with knowledge in the IT industry. Having a look at my CV, he told me that for the setting up of the team, candidates with such profiles are required. Then my question: Are we expected to work with the technicalities of networking (CCNA stuff)? Happily the answer was No.

The decision

Now that I have all three very good Practical Training opportunities, I have to choose one. Its a choice difficult to make since each one would provide a different career path. I asked my ‘chauffeur’ : If you get three love letters from girlfriends which each one possess the required qualities that you desire, which one would you choose?

Sandwich students have to apply for a company of their choice in order to undergo the practical training. Personally, I maintained a list of companies and the contact persons with whom I can send the application:

Dear Sir/ Madam,I am a second year student studying Management with Information Systems at the University of Mauritius. As part of the course, I have to pursue a 6 months practical training in a company.

As part of the practical training, I would like the seize the opportunity to tackle business challenges by applying the learnt concepts from Academia. I aspire to get a real experience of the work environment to broaden my thinking as well as enhance my professional development.

I enclose a Curriculum Vitae and a reference from the Head of Department of Management of the Faculty of Law and Management. I am enthusiastic to enhance my professional development during the internship period and would like to be given the opportunity for challenging assignments.

Best wishes and kind regards,

Ashesh Ramjeeawon

My personal advice is to use an email address drafted professionally and avoid email addresses like sweetangel@host.com (My Research Method. lecturer says so). The objective is to have a first impression which will permit you to create interest for the HR executive to forward your mail for departments for processing and match their database for available placement opportunities.

Interestingly, for most of the companies we do not get replies. Excitingly, for interested companies, they get back to us. So was my case and today ended with two opportunities for me to eat sandwich and olive salad!

Amongst the questions that was asked:

• Which type of person are you?
• Why should the company take you as intern/ What can you contribute to the company?
• Do you have any planning during the intern period?
• What do you know about the company?

It was nice interactive sessions with Finance Manager, CEO and Managing Director. The way they talk, they mean business. I am happy because owing to the module human resources management, I was able to talk in the appropriate human resources mgt jargon. Its definitely true from the Last lecture which the lecturer said: “I am happy because now you are someone who is able to think and talk. You are not someone who has learnt the ‘bookish’ style of advantages and disadvantages”

Currently I have to choose between the company offers which I admit, is a bit difficult.

The first one will development my practical experience in the telecommunications industry. My CCNA and Freelance experience cummulate to empower me to deliver my best during the intern at Company 1. Interestingly, I always wanted to go to hotels and work there and given the opportunity for going at clients’ site (5 – star hotels), waow, mesmerising. In brief, the conversation was to the professional level. They nearly convinced me to ’serve’ them despite there’s much to travel (of which I am fed up!).

The second company, unexpectedly, is something that all intern students should be getting! I have the golden offer of working under a Consultant for a very interesting project involving the advancement of the organisation. During the explanation of the project objectives, I was simply stunned, dumbfounded. I did not even think that such unique opportunity would knock at the door. As explained by the Managing Director, the task is a challenging one, the key is to use one’s best intellectual ability and business acumen, delivering state-of-the-art business reports supported by recommendations. Excellent- you get to learn about the organisation as a whole!

So here we are with the Sandwich and salad part. Now we have to wait to see the offer of the biggest competitor in the Telecommunications industy in Mauritius. What better can you propose you, ein?

What is a Sandwich Course?

A sandwich course is essentially a degree course that combines traditional education at university with real subject experience based within industry.

Financial concern in Industrial Placement

Here’s a quote from a ’sandwiched’ student from University of Manchester:

I found the opportunity to earn real money a rewarding experience it was so nice not to be getting into any further debt. After the year I had even managed to save enough to cover my final year fees and some of my rent!

Possible Final Year Sponsorship

In addition to the salary paid during the placement year, there is also the possibility of the company sponsoring the student throughout their final year. Such sponsorship is normally offered with the condition that the student returns to the placement firm subsequent to graduation.

Real Experience

For many sandwich students, the opportunity to gain “real experience” is considered of greater significance than the short-term financial rewards on offer. In today’s competitive graduate employment arena, sandwich students generically have a genuine competitive advantage, with real experience being very highly valued by prospective employees. The industrial placement enable students to develop skills other than those associated with academia.

Generation of Career Focus

The industrial experience that a sandwich course provides typically assists students in making vital career choices. Many students thoroughly enjoy their placement work and thus return to university with a defined career goal to attain a graduate position in the field they experienced. Related to career paths is the possibility that sandwich course students may be offered graduate positions by their placement firm. Although this practice is not widespread those fortunate enough to be offered such positions will have experienced the firm and will be able to make a highly informed decision regarding their future employment.

How do I prepare for an Internship?

In order for students to attain their “ideal” industrial placement experience a considerable amount of time and effort is required during the placement application process. It is imperative that students apply to firms that are able to meet their expectations and that such applications are of an exceptional standard so that the possibility of disappointment is reduced.

Here’s an interesting article which can be outlined as follows:

• Start doing research based on career interests, strengths, skills, personality and values.
• Prepare your Curriculum Vita
• Find internship positions and contact organizations of interest.
• Get your resume, cover letter, and application ready.
• Apply for the internship
• Do a follow up
• Prepare for interview (I’ve blogged on it.)
• Internship Agreement
• Contact Programme Co-ordinator to submit training details filled by the supervisor at the company. Details include: Give a brief detail of short assignment/tasks/ problem solving that will be allocated to the student within their training period
• During the training, complete the work that is required of you and always do it to the best of your ability
• During the training, Be sure to network with all of the professionals you meet. (LinkedIn.com is an ideal site)

Conclusion

The opportunity to earn a reasonable remuneration whilst gaining valuable experience, developing a wide range of skills and increasing your graduate employability is a highly desirable package. Furthermore, it is apparent that a well-constructed industrial placement will almost certainly enhance a student’s degree experience.

So, Question Pour un Champion (:D), If you have been during an industrial placement, how was your experience at the organisation? If your course is not a sandwiched one, would like to eat enjoy the possibility of real experience and return to Reduit Campus after 6 months?