UIN project by UIDAI and IGNOU
A MoU was signed between Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) for implementation of the Unique Identification Numbers (UID) project. According to the MoU, IGNOU will collaborate with the UIDAI in conduction proof of concept (POC) studies; the university will also be a pilot to test the working of the technology and process of enrollment into the UID database and subsequently full roll-out of the UID project. The MOU was signed between UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani and IGNOU vice-chancellor VN Rajasekharan Pillai.
GSHSEB to support training of 600 teachers
The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) has come up with a pilot drive to train 600 teachers in the state of Gujarat. The aim of the initiative was to improve the quality of education and introduce advanced computerised teaching methods in classroom teaching. Under the project, instead of school principals who used to receive such training so far, teachers will undergo classroom reform training. Known as the ‘ICT Blended Design Learning Education Project’, the initiative will be implemented during the duration of November 22-27, on experimental basis in 60 schools of three districts — Vadodara, Anand and Surat.
KVS and US foundation sign MoU
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for reinforcement of their relationship. This MOU was a part of the ongoing International Education Week (IEW) celebrations across India. USIEF executive Director Adam J Grotsky and KVS Joint Commissioner OM Prabhakaran signed the MoU for the promotion of educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
41 students from SAARC nations felicitated by IGNOU
Held in August 2010, the Olympiad took place at 102 centres in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka, including 83 in India. A total of 4,384 students of the 11th grade participated. Out of these, 41 were selected for their outstanding performance. Twenty-nine prize winners were from India and 12 were from other SAARC nations. The winners received medals, awards, cash prizes and merit certificates. The function coincided with India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s 121st birthday, 25th anniversary of IGNOU and 65th anniversary of UNESCO.
UIDAI and HRD partner for education schemes
The Indian Human Resource Development Ministry has signed a MoU with Unique Identification Authority of India, realising the importance of Unique Identification Number. The partnership is to support education sector for better implementation of schemes, tracking student’s record and curbing menace of fake degrees. The proposed MoU would be helpful in tracking student’s mobility by creating an electronic registry of all students, right from primary/elementary level through secondary and higher education, as also between the institutions. The agreement was signed between Amit Khare, Joint Secretary, HRD Ministry and Anil Kachi, Deputy Director GeneraL, UIDAI.
IIM Kozhikode to partner with Chinese varsities
According to some officials, soon Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode will sign Memorandum of Understanding with top 10 Chinese universities. Recently, a tripartite agreement was signed by IIM-K with US’ Yale University. Debashish Chatterjee, IIM-K Director also mentioned that IIM-K was looking at other universities, beyond US, in the east. The institute presently has collaborations with 20-25 foreign universities which is likely to go up to 50 in a year’s time, said Chatterjee, who recently returned after a four-day visit to China. The tripartite MoU entered between the Yale University, IIM-K and IIT-Kanpur, to launch the Yale India Leadership Programme, would expose university and academia leaders in India at the level of Vice Chancellors and Deans to the best practices of academic institutional management in the US.
