The government's plan to impart compulsory sex education in primary school classes has sparked a row in Britain, with family campaigners claiming that the views of parents and teachers are being ignored.
Government advisors argue the basic sex education that children receive in science classes does not go far enough. It has been revealed that children as young as four are set to be given compulsory sex education in primary school classes.
The FPA (formerly the Family Planning Association), Brook and the Sex Education Forum are recommending the introduction of compulsory lessons, the Mail online of Britain said.
It would bring sex and relationship education on to the curriculum alongside other compulsory subjects such as maths and English, the report said.
"All the evidence shows that if you start sex and relationships education early - before children start puberty, before they feel sexual attraction - they start having sex later," Simon Blake, Brook chief executive said.
"The steering group, jointly chaired by Schools Minister Jim Knight and a member of UK Youth Parliament, will make recommendations to Government later this month," a spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said.
However, the recommendations have caused a storm of protest, with family campaigners claiming that the views of parents and teachers are being ignored. "What this is really all about is the sex education establishment trying to force schools to do something many parents - and many teachers – are uncomfortable with," said Norman Wells, director of the pressure group, Family and Youth Concern.
"Schools already have to have a sex education policy, but that policy must be developed in close consultation with parents, and schools must be sensitive to the wishes of parents. But the FPA want to take parents out of the equation and remove discretion from schools," he stressed.
Opioids are administered for treatment of moderate to severe pain and are among the most widely prescribed drugs. But its use has also raised concerns about potential abuse.
Despite these concerns, characteristics of opioid use within the non-institutionalized US population are not well known, particularly for recent years.
The researchers conducted a phone survey of randomly selected US households; there were 19,150 subjects aged 18 years or older interviewed from February 1998 through September 2006.
Information was gathered on all prescription and non-prescription medications taken during the preceding seven days. For each recorded medication, information was obtained on reason for use, type of administration, number of days taken in the week before the interview, and total duration of the current use.
The researchers found opioids were used 'regularly' by two percent of those surveyed. An additional 2.9 percent used opioids less frequently. Regular opioid use increased with age, decreased with education level, and was more common in females and in non-Hispanic whites.
The prevalence of regular opioid use increased over time. Among regular users, almost half had been taking opioids for two or more years and nearly one-fifth had been taking opioids for five years or longer.
There was also a much higher prevalence of other medication use among regular opioid users compared to nonusers.
According to the researchers, given the large number of individuals affected, the recent increase in public health concern for safe and effective pain management is appropriate.
These findings will appear in the Aug 31 issue of the journal Pain.
Chandigarh: Veer Singh, professor emeritus from the department of law of the Panjab University, on Monday took over as vice-chancellor of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University (NALSAR), Hyderabad.
A notification to this effect was issued by the NALSAR University registrar and was received by Panjab University here.
The notification stated: "The chief justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and chancellor of NALSAR University of law, Hyderabad, has appointed Prof. Veer Singh as vice-chancellor of the university for a term of five years with effect from July 21."
Veer Singh joined Panjab University in 1970 and has held many prominent positions including dean of university instruction and chairperson, department of law. He was also director of the National Law Institute, Kurukshetra University and director of the army law school, Mohali.
A notification to this effect was issued by the NALSAR University registrar and was received by Panjab University here.
The notification stated: "The chief justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and chancellor of NALSAR University of law, Hyderabad, has appointed Prof. Veer Singh as vice-chancellor of the university for a term of five years with effect from July 21."
Veer Singh joined Panjab University in 1970 and has held many prominent positions including dean of university instruction and chairperson, department of law. He was also director of the National Law Institute, Kurukshetra University and director of the army law school, Mohali.
New Delhi: The Education sector must be provided with appropriate tax exemptions that would help it attract more investment, said an industry lobby report released on Sunday.
In its recommendations for reforms in higher education, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has said India's education sector requires huge investment. According to the chamber, the 11th plan allocation for higher and technical education, which is Rs.849.43 billion ($19.75 billion), is not sufficient to meet the needs of the country.
"The Government has allocated Rs.306.82 billion for establishing 16 central universities, 370 colleges, eight Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), seven Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), 10 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), 20 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), five Indian Institutes Of Science Education and Research (IISERs), and 50 centres for training and research in frontier areas," the report said.
"However, according to estimates by the Planning Commission, this fund is not enough and the required resource gap will remain Rs.2.22 trillion," FICCI said.
"As per the Planning Commission, the country needs an additional 200 universities. It is thus clear that, public resources would not be sufficient to meet the ever-growing demand for quality in higher education, and increasing private sector investment and participation will be required to meet such demands," it added.
In order to attract private investment and public-private partnership opportunities, the Government has already asked the FICCI to identify private partners for developing 20 IITs during the 11th plan period.
According to the FICCI, the Government's decision to accord deemed university status to foreign universities in India and de-link the quality assurance mechanism from the regulatory authority was in sync with the chamber's recommendations to the Government on giving a face-lift to the higher education system.
In its recommendations for reforms in higher education, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has said India's education sector requires huge investment. According to the chamber, the 11th plan allocation for higher and technical education, which is Rs.849.43 billion ($19.75 billion), is not sufficient to meet the needs of the country.
"The Government has allocated Rs.306.82 billion for establishing 16 central universities, 370 colleges, eight Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), seven Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), 10 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), 20 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), five Indian Institutes Of Science Education and Research (IISERs), and 50 centres for training and research in frontier areas," the report said.
"However, according to estimates by the Planning Commission, this fund is not enough and the required resource gap will remain Rs.2.22 trillion," FICCI said.
"As per the Planning Commission, the country needs an additional 200 universities. It is thus clear that, public resources would not be sufficient to meet the ever-growing demand for quality in higher education, and increasing private sector investment and participation will be required to meet such demands," it added.
In order to attract private investment and public-private partnership opportunities, the Government has already asked the FICCI to identify private partners for developing 20 IITs during the 11th plan period.
According to the FICCI, the Government's decision to accord deemed university status to foreign universities in India and de-link the quality assurance mechanism from the regulatory authority was in sync with the chamber's recommendations to the Government on giving a face-lift to the higher education system.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Becoming a Chartered Accountant :: Course Structure + Compulsory Practical Training
Labels:
CA,
Common Proffeciency Test,
ICAI
There are two levels at which a student can start pursuing this course.
- After 10 + 2/Senior Secondary/intermediate or
- After Graduation (10 + 2 + 3).
A student pursuing the course after 10 + 2 has to get through three academic levels to complete the course while a student starting the pursuit after graduation has to get through only 2 academic levels skipping the first level.
Note:
There is a minimum % marks specified for entry to PE - II. Those who do not have the minimum requisite % marks in 10 + 2 + 3, also have to start at the PE - I Level.
| Start here after Inter/(10 + 2) |
PE - I
Professional Education - I
[6 subjects arranged into 4 papers of 100 marks each.]
↓
Professional Education - I
[6 subjects arranged into 4 papers of 100 marks each.]
↓
| Start here after Graduation/(10 + 2 + 3) |
| PE - II Professional Education - II [7 subjects arranged into two groups of 3 papers of 100 marks each.] | SCC Student Computer Course A course of 250 hour duration to be completed before joining the final course |
↓
Articleship
Practical Training
[Apprenticeship under a practicing chartered accountant for a period of 3 years]
↓
Final
Final Academic Level
[First exam after two and half years of articleship]
[8 subjects arranged into two groups of 4 papers of 100 marks each.]
↓
GMC Course
[Compulsory General Management Course]
↓
Associate Membership
Becoming a Cost Accountant :: Course Structure + Compulsory Practical Training
Labels:
Cost and Works Accountant,
CWA,
ICWAI
There are two levels at which a student can start pursuing this course.
↓
Final
↓
Grad. ICWAI
Temporary Status till membership is acquired.
(This is not a kind of membership)
↓
Practical Experience/Training [3 Years]
Can be acquired either before or after or during the course period.
↓
Associate Membership
- After 10 + 2/Senior Secondary/intermediate or
- After Graduation (10 + 2 + 3).
A student pursuing the course after 10 + 2 has to get through three academic levels to complete the course while a student starting the pursuit after graduation has to get through only 2 academic levels skipping the first level.
Note:
There is no minimum % marks specified for entry to Intermediate| Start here after Inter/(10 + 2) |
Foundation
[6 subjects arranged into 4 papers of 100 marks each.]
↓
[6 subjects arranged into 4 papers of 100 marks each.]
↓
| Start here after Graduation/(10 + 2 + 3) |
Intermediate
| Academic [12 subjects arranged into two stages of 4 papers of 100 marks each.] | Practical Training 1) Computer Course 2) Group Discussion 3) Business Communication Seminar |
↓
Final
| Academic [8 subjects arranged into two stages of 4 papers of 100 marks each.] | Practical Training 1) Computer Course 2) Dissertation 3) Modular Training 4) Audit/Industrial Training |
↓
Grad. ICWAI
Temporary Status till membership is acquired.
(This is not a kind of membership)
↓
Practical Experience/Training [3 Years]
Can be acquired either before or after or during the course period.
↓
Associate Membership
Becoming a Company Secretary :: Course Structure + Compulsory Practical Training
Labels:
Company Secretary,
ICSI
There are two levels at which a student can start pursuing this course.
- After 10 + 2/Senior Secondary/intermediate or
- After Graduation (10 + 2 + 3).
A student pursuing the course after 10 + 2 has to get through three academic levels to complete the course while a student starting the pursuit after graduation has to get through only 2 academic levels skipping the first level.
Note:
There is no minimum % marks specified for entry to Intermediate.
Start here after Inter/(10 + 2) Foundation
[8 subjects arranged into 5 papers of 100 marks each.]
↓
| Start here after Graduation/(10 + 2 + 3) |
Intermediate
[8 subjects arranged into two groups of 4 papers of 100 marks each.]
↓
Final
[9 subjects arranged into three groups of 3 papers of 100 marks each.]
↓
Licenciate ICSI
Temporary Status till membership is acquired.
(This is not a kind of membership)
↓
Practical Experience/Training [3 Years]
Can be acquired either before or after or during the course period.
↓
Associate Membership
[8 subjects arranged into two groups of 4 papers of 100 marks each.]
↓
Final
[9 subjects arranged into three groups of 3 papers of 100 marks each.]
↓
Licenciate ICSI
Temporary Status till membership is acquired.
(This is not a kind of membership)
↓
Practical Experience/Training [3 Years]
Can be acquired either before or after or during the course period.
↓
Associate Membership
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (NITK)
KARNATAKA, SURATHKAL
POST SRINIVASNAGAR, MANGALORE-575025
Grams: NITKS, Ph: (0824)2474000. Fax: (0824) 2474033
NIMCET-2008
(NIT MCA COMMON ENTRANCE TEST)
ENTRANCE TEST FOR ADMISSION TO MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (MCA) PROGRAMME FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY (NITs)
National Institutes of Technology (NITs) are premier Technical Institutions of National importantance. The NIMCET is a National Level Entrance Test conducted by NITs for admission to MCA programme ofered by the following NITS:
MNNIT Allabhabad, MANIT Bhopal, NIT Calicut, NIT Durgapur, NIT Jamshedpur, NIT Kurukshetra. NIT Raipur, NITK Surathkal, NIT Tiruchirapalli, NIT Warangal.
Applications in the prescribed format are invited for NIMCET 2008 for the session 2008-2009.
ELIGIBILITY:
Indian Nationals having minimum 60% aggregate marks (6.5/10 CGPA) in each of the examinations of
(i) 12th level and
(ii) Bachelor’s Degree of Full Time 3 year duration from a recognized University
with Mathematics/Statistics/Business Mathematics as one of the subjects in any one semester/year in all the above (i) and (ii) mentioned courses, are eligible to apply. SC/ST Candidates with minimum 55% aggregate marks (6.0/10 CGPA) are eligible. The candidates who are appearing for the qualifying examination are also eligible to appear for NIMCET-2008. Such candidates shall have to furnish the proof of fulfilling the eligibility criteria of NIMCET-08 preferably at the time of Counseling/Admission but not later than 31st July, 2008, failing which, their admission may be cancelled by the respective NITs.
MODE OF SELECTION/ADMISSION:
Admission to the MCA program at the above mentioned NITs is based on the rank obtained by the canidates in the NIMCET-2008 only.
TEST CENTRES (TENTATIVE LIST)
All NITs located at Agartala, Allahabad, Bhopal, Calicut, Durgapur, Hamirpur, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Jamshedpur, Kurukshetra, Nagpur, Patna, Raipur, Rourkela, Silchar, Srinagar, Surat, Surathkal, Tiruchirappalli, Warangal.
HOW TO APPLY:
Cadidates can download the application form, syllabus and information brouchure from the following websites: www.mnnit.ac.in, www.manit.ac.in, www.nitc.ac.in, www.nitdgp.ac.in, www.nitjsr.ac.in, www.nitk.ac.in, www.nitkkr.ac.in, www.nitrr.ac.in, www.nitt.edu, www.nitw.ac.in.
Duly filled in application should sent to The Chairman, NIMCET-08, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore – 575 025 along with an application fee of Rs.700/- (Rs.300/- for SC/ST) in the form of crossed Demand Draft drawn on SBI, Surathkal or any other Nationalized Bank in favour of “The Chairman, NIMCET-08”. Candidates can alo apply online ONLY at www.nitk.ac.in. For Online registration, please read the instructions given in the website carefully.
IMPORTANT DATES:-
Availability of Online Application form: 20th Feb.‘08
Last date for receipt of filled in Application form along with requisite DD by post / hand: 31st March ‘08
Dispatch of Admit card: 18th April ‘08
Date & Time of Examination: 18th May ’08 10 A.M to 12 Noon
Date of Publication of Result: 31st May, ’08 (tentative)
Counseling Dates: 19th to 21st June,’08 (tentative)
KARNATAKA, SURATHKAL
POST SRINIVASNAGAR, MANGALORE-575025
Grams: NITKS, Ph: (0824)2474000. Fax: (0824) 2474033
NIMCET-2008
(NIT MCA COMMON ENTRANCE TEST)
ENTRANCE TEST FOR ADMISSION TO MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (MCA) PROGRAMME FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY (NITs)
National Institutes of Technology (NITs) are premier Technical Institutions of National importantance. The NIMCET is a National Level Entrance Test conducted by NITs for admission to MCA programme ofered by the following NITS:
MNNIT Allabhabad, MANIT Bhopal, NIT Calicut, NIT Durgapur, NIT Jamshedpur, NIT Kurukshetra. NIT Raipur, NITK Surathkal, NIT Tiruchirapalli, NIT Warangal.
Applications in the prescribed format are invited for NIMCET 2008 for the session 2008-2009.
ELIGIBILITY:
Indian Nationals having minimum 60% aggregate marks (6.5/10 CGPA) in each of the examinations of
(i) 12th level and
(ii) Bachelor’s Degree of Full Time 3 year duration from a recognized University
with Mathematics/Statistics/Business Mathematics as one of the subjects in any one semester/year in all the above (i) and (ii) mentioned courses, are eligible to apply. SC/ST Candidates with minimum 55% aggregate marks (6.0/10 CGPA) are eligible. The candidates who are appearing for the qualifying examination are also eligible to appear for NIMCET-2008. Such candidates shall have to furnish the proof of fulfilling the eligibility criteria of NIMCET-08 preferably at the time of Counseling/Admission but not later than 31st July, 2008, failing which, their admission may be cancelled by the respective NITs.
MODE OF SELECTION/ADMISSION:
Admission to the MCA program at the above mentioned NITs is based on the rank obtained by the canidates in the NIMCET-2008 only.
TEST CENTRES (TENTATIVE LIST)
All NITs located at Agartala, Allahabad, Bhopal, Calicut, Durgapur, Hamirpur, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Jamshedpur, Kurukshetra, Nagpur, Patna, Raipur, Rourkela, Silchar, Srinagar, Surat, Surathkal, Tiruchirappalli, Warangal.
HOW TO APPLY:
Cadidates can download the application form, syllabus and information brouchure from the following websites: www.mnnit.ac.in, www.manit.ac.in, www.nitc.ac.in, www.nitdgp.ac.in, www.nitjsr.ac.in, www.nitk.ac.in, www.nitkkr.ac.in, www.nitrr.ac.in, www.nitt.edu, www.nitw.ac.in.
Duly filled in application should sent to The Chairman, NIMCET-08, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore – 575 025 along with an application fee of Rs.700/- (Rs.300/- for SC/ST) in the form of crossed Demand Draft drawn on SBI, Surathkal or any other Nationalized Bank in favour of “The Chairman, NIMCET-08”. Candidates can alo apply online ONLY at www.nitk.ac.in. For Online registration, please read the instructions given in the website carefully.
IMPORTANT DATES:-
Availability of Online Application form: 20th Feb.‘08
Last date for receipt of filled in Application form along with requisite DD by post / hand: 31st March ‘08
Dispatch of Admit card: 18th April ‘08
Date & Time of Examination: 18th May ’08 10 A.M to 12 Noon
Date of Publication of Result: 31st May, ’08 (tentative)
Counseling Dates: 19th to 21st June,’08 (tentative)
Please visit http://nimcet08.nitk.ac.in/ OR http://nimcet.nitk.ac.in/ for details. server also be accessed by the external world as 210.212.194.6/nimcet08
Access difficulties if any may be mailed to macs@nitk.ac.in / nimcet@gmail.com. For any further information, Contact here
Thursday, August 7, 2008
'India has a potential to lead the world' - Management Guru at NMIMS
Labels:
Education News,
NMIMS
Mumbai: Leading management Guru Prof. C. K. Prahlad, visited the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) recently to lay out his vision for India@75.
The event was organized by NMIMS in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Yi.
Prof. Prahlad, while addressing faculty members and students of NMIMS and other distinguished academicians, corporate executives and members of CII and Yi, emphasized on acquiring Economic Strength, Technological Vitality and Moral Leadership of the country.
He said that, "India has a potential to lead the world in 2022 with its predicted largest pool of manpower consisting of 200 million college graduates and 500 million trained and skilled workforce. It could be home for at least 30 of the Fortune 100 companies of the world and generate over 10% of the world trade, by nurturing a vibrant renaissance of world-class contemporary art, science, research and education could have at least 10 Nobel Prize Winners. This is possible in next fifteen years provided leaders focus on this goal as a priority."
He emphasized that this position is possible only when India works on all three fronts- economic growth, technology development & moral leadership.
He said that, "As a country, India must have high and shared aspirations like it had in 1929 when the leaders of the then Congress party declared their ambition as Poorna Swaraj. Since then, India has never had a national aspiration which every Indian could share."
Prof. Prahlad, while speaking about his vision, also shared the key drivers of the developmental context for India to achieve the above goal in next 15 years.
"They relate not to abject poverty but income inequality, changing life styles, urbanization and emergence of universal aspirations, a dramatic change in price-performance relationships, economic development and ecological crisis and finally the role of governance and the rule of law."
Elaborating these key areas, he said that India has reduced abject poverty dramatically during last decade. However, a more difficult problem will emerge in its place.
"An important consequence of rapid economic development and globalization of the economy are the lags and asymmetries in the benefit results. Some sections of society will benefit and some will lag behind. These asymmetries will create multiple new divides in society - divides between educated and the uneducated, the urban and rural populations, between regions of the country as well as between ethnic groups. As a consequence, income inequality will emerge as a source of social tensions", he added.
"When people come to the cities, their aspirations change dramatically. They look at the rich as a benchmark. Their income may not change as a rapidly as their aspirations change. Therefore, it is the lag between increasing aspirations and incomes that can fulfill those aspirations can lead to a significant increase in social unrest", Prof. Prahlad highlighted.
"With the changing life styles of poor class and emergence as consumers has altered the Price-Performance envelop dramatically. This increasing capacity to create life style equality can provide antidote to increasing income inequality. This trend is likely to be further supported by the changing nature of high technology markets around the world."
"The rate of the cost/unit of functionality is changing in high technology implies that the poor can afford products and services incorporating the latest technology. The consequence of this rise in affordability is going to create explosive growth in consumption. This huge market opportunity will also have significant implications to the environment and the demands it will put on it."
"The current development models for energy, water, packaging, waste per capita are inappropriate and we have to develop fundamentally new ideas. We have to find better use of resources and support new innovations in this area for uninterrupted inclusive growth with ecological sensitivity."
Talking about Focus on Governance, Prof. Prahlad explained the relationship between country's human development index and the quality of governance, he said that a nation does not get rich first and then become less corrupt.
"A nation becomes less corrupt before it gets rich. The explicit, quantifiable price we are paying for corruption and the neglect of human resources in the country is staggering and should be the focus of national debate."
Prof. C K Prahlad picked eight faculty members from NMIMS as his vision ambassadors, who will create a multiplier effect oh his vision, create excitement and a movement amongst people in the state.
The theme proposed especially for the youth is Play For the event, here they will be motivated to play matches against corruption, creating a greener city etc. The vision ambassadors will play an "aspirational role" and facilitate India's transformation to a global leader by 2022.
While speaking to faculty members, he spoke about emerging issues in India and the need for research.
Mumbai: Extenuating its spirited campaign 'Dare To Think Beyond the IIMs', the Indian Institute of Planning & Management (IIPM) surpassed the performance of all the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to be rated as the No.1 Business School in India for the extensive 'Global Exposure' it provides to its students, followed by IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore at rank 2 and rank 3 respectively.
The ranking was conducted by 'Zee Business Best B-School Survey', a first of its kind on Indian television in association with leading international research firm, Synovate.
IIPM also achieved Rank 7 (ahead of 2 IIMs) as the Best B-School overall, Rank 8 for Best Industry Interface, Rank 9 for Best Placements (ahead of 1 of the IIMs) and Rank 9 for Best Course Content.
"IIPM's rank as the No.1 in the B-School with best global exposure category only justifies its unique and biggest such initiative it undertakes for its students not just in India but anywhere in the world! As part of its Global Outreach Program (GOP), professors from top Ivy League universities like Harvard, Yale, Wharton, Stanford, London School of Economics, Oxford etc. visit IIPM to conduct joint workshops with IIPM faculty for Indian corporate fraternity and teach IIPM students. World renowned gurus like Philip Kotler, Zig Zigler, Stephen Covey have also taken exclusive sessions with IIPM students in India", an official at the institute told NNE.
Under the aegis of IIPM's Global Opportunities & Threat Analysis (GOTA) program, all of IIPM's more than 3000 students visit Europe or America or other developed nations for 2-3 weeks to get first hand international exposure of how the best in the world work.
IIPM students have visited hundreds of world organizations like the World Bank, ILO, United Nations, WTO, big corporations like Nestle, Honda, IBM, BMW, FIAT, Citigroup, and universities like IMD and many more in the recent past.
Under its Global Students Exchange Program (GSEP), students from top international universities also visit IIPM to undertake a specialization semester.
In 2007-08, twelve international institutions from France, Italy, Russia, Denmark, Austria and Germany sent their students to study a module/ trimester at IIPM.
IIPM's international placements this year have been only second to IIMs.
While IIMs placed 249 of its students abroad this year, IIPM placed 165 followed by ISB with 111.
The next best international placement figure by any other B-School did not touch even 35.
"While IIPM believes that it is by far the best B-School in the country that is constantly setting new benchmarks in management education, the time is not far when IIPM will surpass all the IIMs in all the rankings", the official added.
The ranking was conducted by 'Zee Business Best B-School Survey', a first of its kind on Indian television in association with leading international research firm, Synovate.
IIPM also achieved Rank 7 (ahead of 2 IIMs) as the Best B-School overall, Rank 8 for Best Industry Interface, Rank 9 for Best Placements (ahead of 1 of the IIMs) and Rank 9 for Best Course Content.
"IIPM's rank as the No.1 in the B-School with best global exposure category only justifies its unique and biggest such initiative it undertakes for its students not just in India but anywhere in the world! As part of its Global Outreach Program (GOP), professors from top Ivy League universities like Harvard, Yale, Wharton, Stanford, London School of Economics, Oxford etc. visit IIPM to conduct joint workshops with IIPM faculty for Indian corporate fraternity and teach IIPM students. World renowned gurus like Philip Kotler, Zig Zigler, Stephen Covey have also taken exclusive sessions with IIPM students in India", an official at the institute told NNE.
Under the aegis of IIPM's Global Opportunities & Threat Analysis (GOTA) program, all of IIPM's more than 3000 students visit Europe or America or other developed nations for 2-3 weeks to get first hand international exposure of how the best in the world work.
IIPM students have visited hundreds of world organizations like the World Bank, ILO, United Nations, WTO, big corporations like Nestle, Honda, IBM, BMW, FIAT, Citigroup, and universities like IMD and many more in the recent past.
Under its Global Students Exchange Program (GSEP), students from top international universities also visit IIPM to undertake a specialization semester.
In 2007-08, twelve international institutions from France, Italy, Russia, Denmark, Austria and Germany sent their students to study a module/ trimester at IIPM.
IIPM's international placements this year have been only second to IIMs.
While IIMs placed 249 of its students abroad this year, IIPM placed 165 followed by ISB with 111.
The next best international placement figure by any other B-School did not touch even 35.
"While IIPM believes that it is by far the best B-School in the country that is constantly setting new benchmarks in management education, the time is not far when IIPM will surpass all the IIMs in all the rankings", the official added.
Patna: Classes began at the new Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) here on Thursday, a day after the orientation programme.
The institute will operate this year out of a temporary campus - a polytechnic here.
"Classes of the first batch of IIT Patna have finally begun. The new institute will be supported by IIT Guwahati in all respects till it gets its own staff and full fledged director," said Gautam Barua, director of IIT Guwahati, which is the mentor institution of IIT Patna.
The formal inauguration of IIT Patna was deferred two days ago reportedly due to the illness of Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh.
India currently has seven IITs. Of the eight new IITs that are to come up, six will begin functioning during the current academic session. Besides Bihar, IITs are to be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
IIT Patna dean Samrendra Dandpat told sources on Thursday that as promised, the formal functioning of IIT Patna started on time.
All the 109 students from different parts of the country, studying in the mechanical, electrical and computer engineering streams were attending classes after Wednesday's orientation programme.
Barua told students during the orientation programme that IIT Guwahati may be low in the ranking of IITs but was more experienced in setting up new institutions.
"I am confident that gradually we will be able to bring it at par with others. This institution has to become independent. By September, we will have staff belonging to IIT Patna and a regular director will also be appointed in the next two months. Till such time IIT Guwahati will continue to support it in all possible ways," said Barua.
Earlier this year the state's science and technology department had identified the polytechnic in Patna for setting up the IIT campus. The polytechnic has two hostels and a new building, which can accommodate around 200 students.
The Bihar government has identified a site for the campus close to the state capital here.
The institute will operate this year out of a temporary campus - a polytechnic here.
"Classes of the first batch of IIT Patna have finally begun. The new institute will be supported by IIT Guwahati in all respects till it gets its own staff and full fledged director," said Gautam Barua, director of IIT Guwahati, which is the mentor institution of IIT Patna.
The formal inauguration of IIT Patna was deferred two days ago reportedly due to the illness of Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh.
India currently has seven IITs. Of the eight new IITs that are to come up, six will begin functioning during the current academic session. Besides Bihar, IITs are to be set up in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
IIT Patna dean Samrendra Dandpat told sources on Thursday that as promised, the formal functioning of IIT Patna started on time.
All the 109 students from different parts of the country, studying in the mechanical, electrical and computer engineering streams were attending classes after Wednesday's orientation programme.
Barua told students during the orientation programme that IIT Guwahati may be low in the ranking of IITs but was more experienced in setting up new institutions.
"I am confident that gradually we will be able to bring it at par with others. This institution has to become independent. By September, we will have staff belonging to IIT Patna and a regular director will also be appointed in the next two months. Till such time IIT Guwahati will continue to support it in all possible ways," said Barua.
Earlier this year the state's science and technology department had identified the polytechnic in Patna for setting up the IIT campus. The polytechnic has two hostels and a new building, which can accommodate around 200 students.
The Bihar government has identified a site for the campus close to the state capital here.
New Delhi: Recognising the excellence of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) combat aircraft manufacturing giant Lockheed Martin has chosen it for a $300,000 project of collaborative research in bio and nano-technology.
"We have already signed an agreement with the IIT Delhi. We are investing $300,000 for a collaborative project over a period of one year," Ray O. Johnson, senior vice president and chief technology officer of Lockheed Martin, said here on Wednesday.
"This is the first such collaboration with any institute beyond the US and Europe. The IIT is an institute of recognised excellence across the globe in this field of bio- and nano-technology and after the successful completion of the project, we may have some follow up projects," Johnson told sources.
He said Lockheed had been engaged in discussions with the IIT Delhi for nearly a year to "identify mutual areas of interest in technology collaboration and research".
With the broad spectrum of bio- and nano-technology, research will be carried out in the fields like nano-technology-enabled biological sensors, biodegradable nonmaterial for medical treatment and bio-filters for pollution detection.
"The partnership is an exciting prospect for advancing technology and establishing a long-term relationship with Lockheed Martin. We are surprised but happy about the collaboration," IIT Delhi director Surendra Prasad said in a select press meet.
When asked about the choice of of the IIT Delhi for the collaboration, Prasad said: "we are doing quite well in the field and they know the IIT Delhi is the best in India."
Eight professors from four departments of the institute and up to five experts from Lockheed will work together here to achieve success in the project and work out future collaboration.
Asked who will have the patent for the new products, molecules, Prasad said: "The intellectual property rights issues are yet to be finalised but no one can stop the IIT Delhi from publishing the research results."
Johnson said the objectives of the research partnership include "developing domain expertise in the nano-biological technologies for application to Lockheed Martin products, services, and adjacent market pursuits".
"It will also strive to achieve capabilities in modelling and simulation, virtual experimentation and conceptual designing of nano-biological systems," he added.
"We have already signed an agreement with the IIT Delhi. We are investing $300,000 for a collaborative project over a period of one year," Ray O. Johnson, senior vice president and chief technology officer of Lockheed Martin, said here on Wednesday.
"This is the first such collaboration with any institute beyond the US and Europe. The IIT is an institute of recognised excellence across the globe in this field of bio- and nano-technology and after the successful completion of the project, we may have some follow up projects," Johnson told sources.
He said Lockheed had been engaged in discussions with the IIT Delhi for nearly a year to "identify mutual areas of interest in technology collaboration and research".
With the broad spectrum of bio- and nano-technology, research will be carried out in the fields like nano-technology-enabled biological sensors, biodegradable nonmaterial for medical treatment and bio-filters for pollution detection.
"The partnership is an exciting prospect for advancing technology and establishing a long-term relationship with Lockheed Martin. We are surprised but happy about the collaboration," IIT Delhi director Surendra Prasad said in a select press meet.
When asked about the choice of of the IIT Delhi for the collaboration, Prasad said: "we are doing quite well in the field and they know the IIT Delhi is the best in India."
Eight professors from four departments of the institute and up to five experts from Lockheed will work together here to achieve success in the project and work out future collaboration.
Asked who will have the patent for the new products, molecules, Prasad said: "The intellectual property rights issues are yet to be finalised but no one can stop the IIT Delhi from publishing the research results."
Johnson said the objectives of the research partnership include "developing domain expertise in the nano-biological technologies for application to Lockheed Martin products, services, and adjacent market pursuits".
"It will also strive to achieve capabilities in modelling and simulation, virtual experimentation and conceptual designing of nano-biological systems," he added.
New Delhi: Visiting Japanese Foreign Minister, Masahiko Koumura today offered assistance in setting up a new Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Hyderabad.
Koumura offered help in setting up the elite institute during a meeting with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee here today.
Press Secretary of Japan's Foreign Ministry Kazuo Kodama said, "We are willing to support the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Hyderabad by providing the best of technologies."
Kodama added that both the ministers emphasised the need to have more Youth Exchange Programmes in order to strengthen the educational ties between the two countries.
As many as eight new IITs are being set up in the country during the current academic session to impart high quality technical education.
The new IITs are coming up in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Koumura offered help in setting up the elite institute during a meeting with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee here today.
Press Secretary of Japan's Foreign Ministry Kazuo Kodama said, "We are willing to support the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Hyderabad by providing the best of technologies."
Kodama added that both the ministers emphasised the need to have more Youth Exchange Programmes in order to strengthen the educational ties between the two countries.
As many as eight new IITs are being set up in the country during the current academic session to impart high quality technical education.
The new IITs are coming up in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
New Delhi/Ahmedabad/Kanpur: India on Saturday opened two new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) as part of plans to add eight such institutes, though both will have to wait for a permanent campus.
While the IIT Rajasthan will initially function from the IIT Kanpur campus, the IIT Gandhinagar will function from the Government Engineering College in Chandkheda, near Ahmedabad.
Since land is yet to allotted for the new institute in Rajasthan, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has asked IIT Kanpur to serve as its mentor institute for the time being.
Addressing the first batch of IIT Rajasthan students in Kanpur, Minister of State for Higher Education D. Purandeswari said: "The IITs have enjoyed the three basic freedoms of an educational institution - freedom to choose whom to teach, who will teach, and what to teach. The IITs also enjoy full cost budgetary support. The IITs remain successful so long as these amenities continue."
The minister also mentioned that in the past few years, the IITs have been ranked as the top educational institutions in India and Asia by national and international magazines. "This is indeed a matter of great pride."
Lamenting the shortage of quality teachers, she invited the academic community to come forward to give suggestions, proposals for solving the problem of "increasing quantity with quality in higher education".
Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal said: "There is an urgent need to set up an apex institution for imparting vital and important education to strengthen security of the country."
He called upon IIT Kanpur director Sanjay Dhande come up with plans for offering degree courses on security management.
Dhande, who will also serve as director of IIT Rajasthan, and Higher Education Secretary R.P. Agarwal were among those present on the occasion.
India currently has seven IITs. Besides IIT Rajasthan, five more will open during the current academic session.
For the IIT Gandhinagar, the first day of the academic year began with a welcome address by IIT Bombay director Ashok Misra for the first batch of students.
The IIT Bombay will act as mentor for the new institute.
Representatives of some of the leading industrial houses and senior Gujarat government officials including Education Secretary Anita Karwal, Revenue Secretary P. Panneervel and Director (Technical Education) Manish Bhardwaj were present on the launch function.
The new institute is short of faculty and the recruitment process is on. Until this process is over, seven professors and five research assistants from IIT Bombay have been requisitioned for it.
U.A. Yagnik, who teaches physics at IIT Bombay, has been appointed dean of student affairs and academic programme at the new institute.
The first batch has 103 students from different parts of the country, studying in the mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering streams.
In the next academic year B.Tech. courses in civil and computer sciences would be included.
The Gujarat government has spent Rs.7 million for upgrading the infrastructure of the engineering college to make it compatible to the IIT standards.
The central government's site selection committee headed by HRD Ministry's Additional Secretary Ashok Thakur is expected to inspect the new site for the proposed permanent campus on August 7.
As many as eight new IITs are being set up in the country during the current academic session to impart high quality technical education.
The new IITs are coming up in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
While the IIT Rajasthan will initially function from the IIT Kanpur campus, the IIT Gandhinagar will function from the Government Engineering College in Chandkheda, near Ahmedabad.
Since land is yet to allotted for the new institute in Rajasthan, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has asked IIT Kanpur to serve as its mentor institute for the time being.
Addressing the first batch of IIT Rajasthan students in Kanpur, Minister of State for Higher Education D. Purandeswari said: "The IITs have enjoyed the three basic freedoms of an educational institution - freedom to choose whom to teach, who will teach, and what to teach. The IITs also enjoy full cost budgetary support. The IITs remain successful so long as these amenities continue."
The minister also mentioned that in the past few years, the IITs have been ranked as the top educational institutions in India and Asia by national and international magazines. "This is indeed a matter of great pride."
Lamenting the shortage of quality teachers, she invited the academic community to come forward to give suggestions, proposals for solving the problem of "increasing quantity with quality in higher education".
Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal said: "There is an urgent need to set up an apex institution for imparting vital and important education to strengthen security of the country."
He called upon IIT Kanpur director Sanjay Dhande come up with plans for offering degree courses on security management.
Dhande, who will also serve as director of IIT Rajasthan, and Higher Education Secretary R.P. Agarwal were among those present on the occasion.
India currently has seven IITs. Besides IIT Rajasthan, five more will open during the current academic session.
For the IIT Gandhinagar, the first day of the academic year began with a welcome address by IIT Bombay director Ashok Misra for the first batch of students.
The IIT Bombay will act as mentor for the new institute.
Representatives of some of the leading industrial houses and senior Gujarat government officials including Education Secretary Anita Karwal, Revenue Secretary P. Panneervel and Director (Technical Education) Manish Bhardwaj were present on the launch function.
The new institute is short of faculty and the recruitment process is on. Until this process is over, seven professors and five research assistants from IIT Bombay have been requisitioned for it.
U.A. Yagnik, who teaches physics at IIT Bombay, has been appointed dean of student affairs and academic programme at the new institute.
The first batch has 103 students from different parts of the country, studying in the mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering streams.
In the next academic year B.Tech. courses in civil and computer sciences would be included.
The Gujarat government has spent Rs.7 million for upgrading the infrastructure of the engineering college to make it compatible to the IIT standards.
The central government's site selection committee headed by HRD Ministry's Additional Secretary Ashok Thakur is expected to inspect the new site for the proposed permanent campus on August 7.
As many as eight new IITs are being set up in the country during the current academic session to impart high quality technical education.
The new IITs are coming up in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
New Delhi: As plans to set up eight more Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) take off, the IIT Rajasthan was inaugurated on Saturday by Minister of State for Higher Education D. Purandeswari.
The new institute will initially function from the IIT Kanpur campus, a Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry statement issued here said.
Since land is yet to allotted for the new institute, the ministry has asked IIT Kanpur to serve as its mentor institute for the time being.
Addressing the first batch of students, Purandeswari said: "The IITs have enjoyed the three basic freedoms of an educational institution - freedom to choose whom to teach, who will teach, and what to teach. The IITs also enjoy full cost budgetary support. The IITs remain successful so long as these amenities continue."
The minister also mentioned that in the past few years, the IITs have been ranked as the top educational institutions in India and Asia by national and international magazines. "This is indeed a matter of great pride."
Lamenting the shortage of quality teachers, she invited the academic community to come forward to give suggestions, proposals for solving the problem of "increasing quantity with quality in higher education".
S.G. Dhande, director of IIT Kanpur and IIT Rajasthan, and Higher Education Secretary R.P. Agarwal were among those present on the occasion.
India currently has seven IITs. Besides IIT Rajasthan, five more will open during the current academic session.
The new institute will initially function from the IIT Kanpur campus, a Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry statement issued here said.
Since land is yet to allotted for the new institute, the ministry has asked IIT Kanpur to serve as its mentor institute for the time being.
Addressing the first batch of students, Purandeswari said: "The IITs have enjoyed the three basic freedoms of an educational institution - freedom to choose whom to teach, who will teach, and what to teach. The IITs also enjoy full cost budgetary support. The IITs remain successful so long as these amenities continue."
The minister also mentioned that in the past few years, the IITs have been ranked as the top educational institutions in India and Asia by national and international magazines. "This is indeed a matter of great pride."
Lamenting the shortage of quality teachers, she invited the academic community to come forward to give suggestions, proposals for solving the problem of "increasing quantity with quality in higher education".
S.G. Dhande, director of IIT Kanpur and IIT Rajasthan, and Higher Education Secretary R.P. Agarwal were among those present on the occasion.
India currently has seven IITs. Besides IIT Rajasthan, five more will open during the current academic session.
Patna: It's official now. Bihar's dream of setting up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is set to become a reality on Aug 6. Classes will begin from the next day.
Human Resource Minister Arjun Singh is scheduled to inaugurate IIT Patna here on Aug 6. The institute will operate out of a temporary campus this year.
"The formal functioning of IIT Patna is all set to start with classes on Aug 7," said dean of IIT Patna Samrendra Dandpat.
IIT Patna is one of the six new IITs being set up in the country.
Dandpat told sources here on Saturday that all the 109 selected students would attend classes from next week. "We will register the selected students on Aug 6 and classes will begin from next day," he said.
Dandpat said that preparation for setting up laboratories, hostels and classrooms were in the final stage. " IIT Patna will function from the polytechnic premises here now," he added.
Earlier this year the state science and technology department had identified the polytechnic in Patna for setting up the IIT campus. The polytechnic has two hostels and a new building, which can accommodate around 200 students.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who had shown keen interest in setting up IIT Patna, visited the temporary premises of the institute on Friday. Kumar said that IIT Patna will function from here for the next two to three years until its own building comes up.
The Bihar government has identified the a site for the campus close to the state capital here.
Human Resource Minister Arjun Singh is scheduled to inaugurate IIT Patna here on Aug 6. The institute will operate out of a temporary campus this year.
"The formal functioning of IIT Patna is all set to start with classes on Aug 7," said dean of IIT Patna Samrendra Dandpat.
IIT Patna is one of the six new IITs being set up in the country.
Dandpat told sources here on Saturday that all the 109 selected students would attend classes from next week. "We will register the selected students on Aug 6 and classes will begin from next day," he said.
Dandpat said that preparation for setting up laboratories, hostels and classrooms were in the final stage. " IIT Patna will function from the polytechnic premises here now," he added.
Earlier this year the state science and technology department had identified the polytechnic in Patna for setting up the IIT campus. The polytechnic has two hostels and a new building, which can accommodate around 200 students.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who had shown keen interest in setting up IIT Patna, visited the temporary premises of the institute on Friday. Kumar said that IIT Patna will function from here for the next two to three years until its own building comes up.
The Bihar government has identified the a site for the campus close to the state capital here.
IIM Calcutta to run financial reporting training course
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IIM Calcutta,
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Kolkata: The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM-C) and audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) have tied up to train professionals in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), according to a top IIM-C official.
The two organisations inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to provide this training to address the existing demand-supply gap in the country for IFRS-trained professionals.
"IIM-C will now run a specially designed executive programme on IFRS jointly with PwC in order to update working finance and accounts executives with IFRS, so that they can also be employed by global players," Saibal Chattopadhyay, dean, IIM-C said at a programme in the campus here on Tuesday.
The training would be divided into two parts - basic and advanced module.
The course module has been jointly developed by IIM-C and PwC and will be taught jointly by "our own faculty and by finance experts from PwC", Chattopadhyay said.
"Going further, training will be extended to professionals across the country through the distance learning delivery of training, which will be satellite based. The attendees would receive a participation certificate on successful completion of the programme," said Ashok Banerjee of IIM-C.
At present, training will be imparted only at the campus.
The training is scheduled to be rolled out from November.
Convergence with IFRS has gained momentum in recent years all over the world. More than 100 countries currently require or permit the use of or have a policy of convergence with IFRS.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has announced that IFRSs should be adopted for all public interest entities like listed entities, banks and insurance entities and large-sized entities from the accounting periods beginning on or after April 1, 2011.
Last week, IIM-C joined hands with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance to start a new course focussing on the insurance sector.
The two organisations inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to provide this training to address the existing demand-supply gap in the country for IFRS-trained professionals.
"IIM-C will now run a specially designed executive programme on IFRS jointly with PwC in order to update working finance and accounts executives with IFRS, so that they can also be employed by global players," Saibal Chattopadhyay, dean, IIM-C said at a programme in the campus here on Tuesday.
The training would be divided into two parts - basic and advanced module.
The course module has been jointly developed by IIM-C and PwC and will be taught jointly by "our own faculty and by finance experts from PwC", Chattopadhyay said.
"Going further, training will be extended to professionals across the country through the distance learning delivery of training, which will be satellite based. The attendees would receive a participation certificate on successful completion of the programme," said Ashok Banerjee of IIM-C.
At present, training will be imparted only at the campus.
The training is scheduled to be rolled out from November.
Convergence with IFRS has gained momentum in recent years all over the world. More than 100 countries currently require or permit the use of or have a policy of convergence with IFRS.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has announced that IFRSs should be adopted for all public interest entities like listed entities, banks and insurance entities and large-sized entities from the accounting periods beginning on or after April 1, 2011.
Last week, IIM-C joined hands with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance to start a new course focussing on the insurance sector.
IIML is already offering a management development programme (MDP) on corporate environmental management and carbon markets.
IIML had launched this course last year, aiming to sensitise professionals to various environmental issues and equip them with effective environmental management, officials said.
"The course, whose duration is three days, is meant for working executives only," said Sushil Kumar, coordinator of the programme at IIML.
"Our course covers environmental policy and law, environmental impact assessment, carbon markets and emission trading and several other issues," he added.
Going into more detail, the IIMA's forthcoming course on carbon finance has been divided into 14 sessions and will introduce the evolution of the global carbon market, the current state of international negotiations on climate change and developments following the Kyoto Protocol.
The three formal carbon finance instruments in Kyoto Protocol - the Joint implementation (JI Article 4), Clean Development Mechanism (CDM - Article 12) and Emissions Trading (ET - Article 17) - will be introduced.
Other carbon finance instruments and initiatives, such as those being implemented by the World Bank, will also be discussed.
"The course has a global focus with significant India centric economics and finance and practical case studies. Besides the financial instruments for carbon mitigation, the course also includes discussions on financial services to deal with the adverse impacts of climate change, such as climate change insurance and emergent adaptation funds," said Shukla.
Besides the financial instruments for carbon mitigation, the course also includes discussions on financial services to deal with the adverse impact of climate change, such as climate change insurance and emergent adaptation funds.
With many European countries eyeing the Chinese and the Indian carbon markets, the IIM-A expects a good turnout of foreign students for the course registration, which started in August.
"The term 'Carbon Finance' is used, in practice as well as in the course title, as a surrogate for 'Climate Change Finance' to cover wide ranging financial responses to mitigate and adapt to climate change," Shukla said.
Responding to climate change is a global venture, governed by international legal, regulatory and institutional framework, presently agreed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The market can be used for efficient economic response to climate change and like all environmental markets; the global 'Carbon Market' is a creation of regulations.
The dynamics of the global carbon market results from institutions, policies, instruments and the specific measures agreed periodically by the nations that are a party to the UNFCCC.
MIT project to introduce student laptops in Indian languages
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IIT,
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Mumbai: The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project, launched by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Nicholas Negroponte, will now introduce laptops with various keyboards in local Indian languages.
Speaking at a video conference on Monday, which was held simultaneously at 14 locations across India, OLPC & Co head David Cavallo said: "We have teams researching on introducing these laptops in regional languages like Urdu, Hindi and Bengali so that we can digitalise education, using these low cost laptops for children in developing countries."
The OLPC project aims to make available laptops at about $100 a piece, but the actual price still hovers around $188.
According to OPLC, at present a few laptops were given to students in Khairat village of Raigadh district, Maharashtra, under the project.
"The laptops have been localised and have come with Devanagari script," said Sandeep Surve, a teacher in one of the schools in the area.
"Initially these kids felt that education was not really important but now with laptop they feel like we have moved ahead, and they want to compete and work with their urban counterparts," he added.
Surve, who teaches children from Classes one to four, feels introducing such innovations has improved learning in school. "It's not only in school where they use the laptop but also at home and even get their parents hooked on it," he added.
Cavallo highlighted that in several African countries, the student attendance had increased to hundred percent after the project was launched.
The OLPC foundation in India along with other non-governmental organisation has already started talks with several state governments on starting this project.
Speaking at a video conference on Monday, which was held simultaneously at 14 locations across India, OLPC & Co head David Cavallo said: "We have teams researching on introducing these laptops in regional languages like Urdu, Hindi and Bengali so that we can digitalise education, using these low cost laptops for children in developing countries."
The OLPC project aims to make available laptops at about $100 a piece, but the actual price still hovers around $188.
According to OPLC, at present a few laptops were given to students in Khairat village of Raigadh district, Maharashtra, under the project.
"The laptops have been localised and have come with Devanagari script," said Sandeep Surve, a teacher in one of the schools in the area.
"Initially these kids felt that education was not really important but now with laptop they feel like we have moved ahead, and they want to compete and work with their urban counterparts," he added.
Surve, who teaches children from Classes one to four, feels introducing such innovations has improved learning in school. "It's not only in school where they use the laptop but also at home and even get their parents hooked on it," he added.
Cavallo highlighted that in several African countries, the student attendance had increased to hundred percent after the project was launched.
The OLPC foundation in India along with other non-governmental organisation has already started talks with several state governments on starting this project.
New Delhi: This August National Geographic Channel viewers are in for a refreshing new treat with the channel's new content, new look and new website.
"Viewers are guaranteed to get glued to their television screens with the fresh style and feel of the channel, while the new website would be a pool of interesting factoids, videos, pictures, games, information and much more thrilling content," a Nat Geo statement said.
"Expect change, expect all things new - an all new line-up of shows from action, adventure, and technology to the extreme wild," the statement said.
"Catch it all in an exciting new look - a refreshing new way to explore the world. Get more from the new Nat Geo website www.natgeotv.co.in - more interactivity, more information and more engagement," the statement added.
"We are extremely proud to launch the new avatar of our channel and website as it is a testament to our constant efforts to innovate," said Rajesh Sheshadri, senior vice president for content and communication at National Geographic Channel India, about the change.
"The revitalized look is guaranteed to make the viewer sit up and watch the channel with a whole new perspective. Our website will take the viewer to a whole new world of information, engagement and entertainment this August onwards," he added.
"The new on-air look is a perfect balance of simplicity and think again. Crisp, contemporary, clutter breaking and therefore aiding appointment viewing. The new animation on the channel is unpredictable and smart," the statement said.
"The channel has used still photography in a 3D-pan movement to give depth to its graphics and vectors for all technical or architectural images. So be prepared to view the unexplored world of Nat Geo in a much more appealing and high-tech fashion," the statement added.
"The new website has taken a big leap from being just a programme guide to a powerhouse of infotainment; an encyclopaedia of everything that makes National Geographic Channel," the statement said.
Extremely easy to navigate this exhaustive website boasts of a refreshing new look, exciting new features like a huge video section, discussion forum, games, monthly contests through the year, sections covering all key Nat Geo genres, more facts and lots more to keep viewers' curious minds entertained.
For the first time, the website will have a community and forum where viewers can post their views, take part in polls and get insightful answers across genres from Nat Geo Experts.
"What's more, there is also an exhaustive Nat Geo games section to keep users engaged and a local guide to all the happenings in your city on Nat Geo covering contests, on-ground events, and screenings," the statement said.
There is also an exciting offer up for grabs for Nat Geo fans. All they have to do is log on and register on the website before Aug 31 and they stand a chance to win Nat Geo t-shirts every day and an exclusive Nat Geo Collectors edition DVD pack every week.
"Viewers are guaranteed to get glued to their television screens with the fresh style and feel of the channel, while the new website would be a pool of interesting factoids, videos, pictures, games, information and much more thrilling content," a Nat Geo statement said.
"Expect change, expect all things new - an all new line-up of shows from action, adventure, and technology to the extreme wild," the statement said.
"Catch it all in an exciting new look - a refreshing new way to explore the world. Get more from the new Nat Geo website www.natgeotv.co.in - more interactivity, more information and more engagement," the statement added.
"We are extremely proud to launch the new avatar of our channel and website as it is a testament to our constant efforts to innovate," said Rajesh Sheshadri, senior vice president for content and communication at National Geographic Channel India, about the change.
"The revitalized look is guaranteed to make the viewer sit up and watch the channel with a whole new perspective. Our website will take the viewer to a whole new world of information, engagement and entertainment this August onwards," he added.
"The new on-air look is a perfect balance of simplicity and think again. Crisp, contemporary, clutter breaking and therefore aiding appointment viewing. The new animation on the channel is unpredictable and smart," the statement said.
"The channel has used still photography in a 3D-pan movement to give depth to its graphics and vectors for all technical or architectural images. So be prepared to view the unexplored world of Nat Geo in a much more appealing and high-tech fashion," the statement added.
"The new website has taken a big leap from being just a programme guide to a powerhouse of infotainment; an encyclopaedia of everything that makes National Geographic Channel," the statement said.
Extremely easy to navigate this exhaustive website boasts of a refreshing new look, exciting new features like a huge video section, discussion forum, games, monthly contests through the year, sections covering all key Nat Geo genres, more facts and lots more to keep viewers' curious minds entertained.
For the first time, the website will have a community and forum where viewers can post their views, take part in polls and get insightful answers across genres from Nat Geo Experts.
"What's more, there is also an exhaustive Nat Geo games section to keep users engaged and a local guide to all the happenings in your city on Nat Geo covering contests, on-ground events, and screenings," the statement said.
There is also an exciting offer up for grabs for Nat Geo fans. All they have to do is log on and register on the website before Aug 31 and they stand a chance to win Nat Geo t-shirts every day and an exclusive Nat Geo Collectors edition DVD pack every week.
New Delhi: Indian high school students will get an opportunity to show off their way with words and logic in UK early next year.
The British Council is bringing "Debating Matters", a popular national debating competition from the Institute of Ideas, Britain, exclusively for school students in India, a press communiqué issues by the British Council said.
Several schools across the country will register for an online debating module in September when the council sends out invitation seeking applications from schools. The aspiring contestants will have to clear the question rounds - a tough grilling session on an issue that affects their everyday life or have the potential to do so in near future.
Six schools will be short-listed from the preliminary round. They will be given two months to prepare on a topic and then quizzed by a panel of experts. Those with the highest scores will go to UK to take part in the real-time contest.
"Debating Matters" is the brainchild of the Institute of Ideas, Britain - a national debating competition for high school students in Britain on popular issues.
"The show which we are bringing here is the Indian version of 'Debating Matters'. We are in the process of developing a national debating competition on the lines of the 'Debating Matters' because very few national level contests for school children in the country have an intellectual element.
"Last year, we partnered the Airtel Scholar Hunt to send students to UK," Anjoo Mohun of the British Council told sources. The programme, Mohun said, would target Class XI students. "We do not want to disturb Class X and Class XII students," she said.
The contest will gradually be developed into a real-time television reality show.
The British Council will organise a brainstorming session August 4-5 in New Delhi to orient students about the nature of the contest.
Schools like the Gurgaon-based Salwan Public School, Springdales (Dhaula Kuan), Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Delhi Public School (Noida) and Modern High School (Barakhamba Road) have confirmed their participation. The schools from Kolkata include La Martiniere for Boys and Modern High for Girls.
The British Council plans to use its network of schools and education institutions across the four Indian metros and seven major cities to push the contest through.
The council will begin the contest with a detailed preparatory roster. It will offer 'On the spot' seminars to coach students who are not familiar with debating and are nervous to take part in competitions. A module, 'Friendly Fixtures', will allow new schools to test the waters by organising inter-school friendly competitions.
The council will also organise a debating 'master class' and a multi-media debate resource lab will provide resource and information to those directly involved in the competition and serve as a networking centre for "Debating Matters" participants.
Tony Gilland, the science and society director, Institute of Ideas (IOI), UK and Helen Birtwistle, press officer for the Institute of Ideas & Pfizer's Debating Matters Competition, will anchor the contest.
"Debating Matters" in UK has involved 160 schools and played host to some 100 debating events with more 2,000 pupils in over 300 individual school debates.
The British Council is bringing "Debating Matters", a popular national debating competition from the Institute of Ideas, Britain, exclusively for school students in India, a press communiqué issues by the British Council said.
Several schools across the country will register for an online debating module in September when the council sends out invitation seeking applications from schools. The aspiring contestants will have to clear the question rounds - a tough grilling session on an issue that affects their everyday life or have the potential to do so in near future.
Six schools will be short-listed from the preliminary round. They will be given two months to prepare on a topic and then quizzed by a panel of experts. Those with the highest scores will go to UK to take part in the real-time contest.
"Debating Matters" is the brainchild of the Institute of Ideas, Britain - a national debating competition for high school students in Britain on popular issues.
"The show which we are bringing here is the Indian version of 'Debating Matters'. We are in the process of developing a national debating competition on the lines of the 'Debating Matters' because very few national level contests for school children in the country have an intellectual element.
"Last year, we partnered the Airtel Scholar Hunt to send students to UK," Anjoo Mohun of the British Council told sources. The programme, Mohun said, would target Class XI students. "We do not want to disturb Class X and Class XII students," she said.
The contest will gradually be developed into a real-time television reality show.
The British Council will organise a brainstorming session August 4-5 in New Delhi to orient students about the nature of the contest.
Schools like the Gurgaon-based Salwan Public School, Springdales (Dhaula Kuan), Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Delhi Public School (Noida) and Modern High School (Barakhamba Road) have confirmed their participation. The schools from Kolkata include La Martiniere for Boys and Modern High for Girls.
The British Council plans to use its network of schools and education institutions across the four Indian metros and seven major cities to push the contest through.
The council will begin the contest with a detailed preparatory roster. It will offer 'On the spot' seminars to coach students who are not familiar with debating and are nervous to take part in competitions. A module, 'Friendly Fixtures', will allow new schools to test the waters by organising inter-school friendly competitions.
The council will also organise a debating 'master class' and a multi-media debate resource lab will provide resource and information to those directly involved in the competition and serve as a networking centre for "Debating Matters" participants.
Tony Gilland, the science and society director, Institute of Ideas (IOI), UK and Helen Birtwistle, press officer for the Institute of Ideas & Pfizer's Debating Matters Competition, will anchor the contest.
"Debating Matters" in UK has involved 160 schools and played host to some 100 debating events with more 2,000 pupils in over 300 individual school debates.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Kerala to get its second hospitality institute
Labels:
Education News,
Kerela
Kozhikode: Kerala's second Institute of Hospitality Management and Catering Technology (IHMCT) will start functioning from next month, state Tourism Secretary V. Venu said here on Wednesday.
The institute will start functioning from a temporary facility here on Aug 4. A five-acre plot in Kozhikode city has been identified to locate the institute and the work on the building is expected to be completed in three years.
The central and state governments together will spend Rs.156.5 million to set up the institute. Initially, the institute will offer three-year graduate course in hospitality management.
"The institute is a milestone in the effort of the tourism department to provide higher education in the field of hospitality management. The selection of the students will be based on the examination conducted at the national level," Venu said.
The tourism secretary said compared to the rest of Kerala, the six northern districts in the state are attracting only a limited numbers of foreign tourists.
"These districts lack in tourism infrastructure."
"Only six percent of the total available rooms in the state are located in these area. The foreign tourists visiting these districts constitute only five percent of the total arrivals in Kerala," he added.
The institute will start functioning from a temporary facility here on Aug 4. A five-acre plot in Kozhikode city has been identified to locate the institute and the work on the building is expected to be completed in three years.
The central and state governments together will spend Rs.156.5 million to set up the institute. Initially, the institute will offer three-year graduate course in hospitality management.
"The institute is a milestone in the effort of the tourism department to provide higher education in the field of hospitality management. The selection of the students will be based on the examination conducted at the national level," Venu said.
The tourism secretary said compared to the rest of Kerala, the six northern districts in the state are attracting only a limited numbers of foreign tourists.
"These districts lack in tourism infrastructure."
"Only six percent of the total available rooms in the state are located in these area. The foreign tourists visiting these districts constitute only five percent of the total arrivals in Kerala," he added.
Chennai: As many as 50,000 Indians take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) every year but many flounder - not because of lack of knowledge but because they are not used to taking computer based tests. Now, GRE training has gone online, enabling students to be better prepared.
The GRE is an online, timed test that qualifies a person to get admission to American universities and is considered a proficiency benchmark by several other countries and international institutions.
On Wednesday, Valued Epistemics Pvt. Ltd (VEPL) launched greedge.com, India's first online training for GRE aspirants.
"The online test was put on public domain after thorough research and development since 2005," says Anand Kannan, managing director of VEPL.
As many as 15,000 successful candidates have passed through its portals during its development process on its technology platform wizdom.in.
"The inherent advantage of an online platform is that students can learn at their own pace and convenience, making it truly an anywhere, anytime learning", he added.
The programme is supported by a feature called The Millisecond Technology, a software that captures information on how students answer questions, analyses the data and offers them feedback and recommendations to boost their score. This technology is pending patent.
"In an online test environment - where every millisecond counts for scoring, this technology plays a crucial role in helping students boost their scores," said Yogish Lavanis, director of students facilitation at VEPL.
Another key advantage of greedge.com is that the student counsellor understands the time available and the student's specific skills to customise a programme which both can adhere to easily. This mentoring facility is available in person as well as over the telephone.
Anyone who enrols in greedge.com is assigned a Student Facilitator and Analyst (SFA) who guides the student through the entire duration of the preparation for GRE.
"There are two aspects to the functioning of Millisecond Technology - data capturing and analysis. The most important difference is that it does the analysis in real-time," said Lavanis.
When students log on to greedge.com and start working on GRE model tests, the Millisecond Monitor, which is embedded on the page, records the way students select their answers. With the help of predictive analytics technology, the data is "sliced and diced".
The information the SFAs gather about the student's behaviour from this process is then crystallised into intelligent feedback on their strengths and weaknesses, helping them understand where they are losing time and help them in correcting it.
The GRE is an online, timed test that qualifies a person to get admission to American universities and is considered a proficiency benchmark by several other countries and international institutions.
On Wednesday, Valued Epistemics Pvt. Ltd (VEPL) launched greedge.com, India's first online training for GRE aspirants.
"The online test was put on public domain after thorough research and development since 2005," says Anand Kannan, managing director of VEPL.
As many as 15,000 successful candidates have passed through its portals during its development process on its technology platform wizdom.in.
"The inherent advantage of an online platform is that students can learn at their own pace and convenience, making it truly an anywhere, anytime learning", he added.
The programme is supported by a feature called The Millisecond Technology, a software that captures information on how students answer questions, analyses the data and offers them feedback and recommendations to boost their score. This technology is pending patent.
"In an online test environment - where every millisecond counts for scoring, this technology plays a crucial role in helping students boost their scores," said Yogish Lavanis, director of students facilitation at VEPL.
Another key advantage of greedge.com is that the student counsellor understands the time available and the student's specific skills to customise a programme which both can adhere to easily. This mentoring facility is available in person as well as over the telephone.
Anyone who enrols in greedge.com is assigned a Student Facilitator and Analyst (SFA) who guides the student through the entire duration of the preparation for GRE.
"There are two aspects to the functioning of Millisecond Technology - data capturing and analysis. The most important difference is that it does the analysis in real-time," said Lavanis.
When students log on to greedge.com and start working on GRE model tests, the Millisecond Monitor, which is embedded on the page, records the way students select their answers. With the help of predictive analytics technology, the data is "sliced and diced".
The information the SFAs gather about the student's behaviour from this process is then crystallised into intelligent feedback on their strengths and weaknesses, helping them understand where they are losing time and help them in correcting it.
New sex education module to stress on abstinence - NACO
Labels:
Education News,
Kerela Sex Education,
Latest News,
Tamil Nadu
New Delhi: Condom and safe sex are terms that will find no mention in the new sex education module being devised for school students in India. It will instead stress on abstinence, the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) announced Monday.
NACO director-general Sujatha Rao said the module would be adopted after intensive consultations with all partners, including parents and teachers.
"There will be no mention of condom or safe sex in the revised module on life-skill education programme. But we will be focussing on the aspirations of the youngsters and will also talk about being faithful to one's partner and abstinence. There should be no hypocrisy on the subject," Rao told journalists at a meet on Response to HIV/AIDS: Forging Partnership with the Media.
The decision to introduce sex education in India's schools was aimed primarily at creating awareness about HIV/AIDS since 2.5 million people in the country suffer from the disease. However, the module created a furore.
One of the main objections was a flip chart prepared for teachers jointly by the UN Children's Fund (Unicef) and the government-controlled NACO.
Educationists themselves turned against the programme and after states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka banned it, NACO formed a committee last year to make a new module.
After endless parleys, the committee managed to finalise a new tool kit that would not have any flip charts, Rao said.
NACO has undertaken a series of consultations, involving conservative as well as progressive people and groups before finalising the module.
"The youngsters need to get the right information. The children are growing in an unsafe environment. We have called a meeting of directors of NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) tomorrow (Tuesday) on the revised module," she said.
The current module would not have too many illustrations and drawings. Having burnt its hands earlier, NACO said this time it would first send the module to each state education department for a feedback.
Rao said that after the meeting with NCERT, secretaries of all states would be consulted, followed with consultations with teachers and parents.
"The youngsters need education and we should not forget that 15 percent of all pregnancies are those of teenagers," Rao added.
NACO director-general Sujatha Rao said the module would be adopted after intensive consultations with all partners, including parents and teachers.
"There will be no mention of condom or safe sex in the revised module on life-skill education programme. But we will be focussing on the aspirations of the youngsters and will also talk about being faithful to one's partner and abstinence. There should be no hypocrisy on the subject," Rao told journalists at a meet on Response to HIV/AIDS: Forging Partnership with the Media.
The decision to introduce sex education in India's schools was aimed primarily at creating awareness about HIV/AIDS since 2.5 million people in the country suffer from the disease. However, the module created a furore.
One of the main objections was a flip chart prepared for teachers jointly by the UN Children's Fund (Unicef) and the government-controlled NACO.
Educationists themselves turned against the programme and after states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka banned it, NACO formed a committee last year to make a new module.
After endless parleys, the committee managed to finalise a new tool kit that would not have any flip charts, Rao said.
NACO has undertaken a series of consultations, involving conservative as well as progressive people and groups before finalising the module.
"The youngsters need to get the right information. The children are growing in an unsafe environment. We have called a meeting of directors of NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) tomorrow (Tuesday) on the revised module," she said.
The current module would not have too many illustrations and drawings. Having burnt its hands earlier, NACO said this time it would first send the module to each state education department for a feedback.
Rao said that after the meeting with NCERT, secretaries of all states would be consulted, followed with consultations with teachers and parents.
"The youngsters need education and we should not forget that 15 percent of all pregnancies are those of teenagers," Rao added.
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