LPI, Potugese agency collaborate for promotion of Skills training and certification
A collaboration recently took place between the Linux Professional Institute Potrugal (LPI), the world's premier Linux certification organization, and UMIC, the Knowledge Society Agency of Portugal's Ministry of Science, Technology and Education. This collaboration is to promote training and certification of professional skills in the use of Linux, open source technologies and free software in higher education institutions in Portugal. Jim Lacey, president and CEO of the Linux Professional Institute mentioned that LPI's major objective is that its affiliate in the region would be providing TTT that is 'train-the-trainer' programmes in order to certify instructors within participating academic institutions under this initiative. The Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education through UMIC has also been working with Portugal's universities and polytechnics over the past five years to develop more than 60 professional training courses in ICT for more than 2,200 students.
Corporate education to be the focus of U21 Global
U21 Global, the online university promoted by a consortium of international universities, is one of the Manipal Group investee, is soon to get a facelift. To get into agreements with around 10 other institutions, U21 Global, mostly private universities in India. Its focus also lately, has been shifting to corporate education despite originally setting up an online university offering masters degree programmes. Established in 2001 as a joint venture of 17 member of international university consortium Universitas 21 and Thomson Learning, it was to offer online business degree programmes to students. Manipal Education Group, however, in 2007 acquired a 50 % stake in U21 Global by purchasing the holding of Cengage Learning and gradually upped it to 75 %. The Rest of the partners in U21 Global include institutions like the Universities of Melbourne,Nottingham, Birmingham and Virginia.
Corporate coach for getting maximum output from employees
Starting soon, Allegany College of Maryland through its popular continuing education course, will teach corporate coaching, practical skills that managers can use for work place results. Corporate coaching is to deal with the practical application of coaching and mentoring employees so that they deliver results, grow their capabilities and improve communication. Jeannette Rudy Fitzwater, a registered corporate coach, uses an interactive curriculum that allows for the discussion of real workplace issues and solutions. The aim of the course is to guide employees to think and do for themselves to deliver the needed results, motivating employees to take on responsibility and perform effectively, and growing employee capabilities that lead to future growth and success.
PepsiCo pledges not to sell sugary beverages in schools worldwide
On March 16, 2010, Pepsi Consumer advocacy groups announced that the company will stop selling full-sugar soft drinks to primary and secondary schools around the world by 2012, very happily. Kelly Brownell, Director of Yale's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, lauded companies action. The Center for Science in the Public Interest also applauded the move, which stems from a campaign led by CSPI called the 'Global Dump Soft Drinks Campaign.' Coca-Cola and the International Council of Beverage Assns. were also at negotiations that led to the PepsiCo announcement, these took place in Geneva, convened by the World Heart Federation. Earlier this month, the American Beverage Assn. released a report on school beverages, in which it reported an 88% decrease in total calories in beverages shipped to schools and a 95% decrease in shipments of full-calorie beverages.
School textbooks with e-Module from Encyclopedia Britannica
TIndian schools will be hit with Encyclopedia Britannica textbooks, along with an online study module from April 2010. These textbooks will cover matter in four subjects – computer science, mathematics, environmental studies and general knowledge, told President, Encyclopedia Britannica, Jorge Cauz. This information has been revealed after the knowledge giant made inroads into the school textbook business in India with a collection of 30 books, 10 knowledge CDs and nine teacher's manual. The Britannica books cover the National Council for Education, Research and Training (NCERT) syllabus from classes one to eight. The internet modules under Britannica Online School Edition (BOSE) have been created for three levels including elementary (primary), high school and senior high school, covering classes one to twelve.
