The eINDIA 2013 education awards take the pride to celebrate and acknowledge unique and innovative initiatives in education sector across the country. Award nominations have been invited to share best practices that have created difference in the field of education. We have received total 76 nominations under various categories of School, higher education and private sector, Government and NGO. The special feature on eINDIA Award nomination 2013 intents to highlight how various stakeholders are taking initiatives to bring quality, employability, innovation in education and leading towards collaborative learning.
In subsequent pages digitalLEARNING highlights the nominated projects* and initiatives>>>

3-D Simulation and Virtual Reality Techniques

Organisation: Jaipur Engineering College and Research Centre, Rajasthan
Website: www.jecrcfoundation.com
Objective: Research and engineering education for students using the latest technology of 3D drawings and real-life simulation.
Description: JECRC is working on robotics, simulations, signaling at one edge, data mining, artificial intelligence on the other goal with a blend of cognitive sciences for therapeutics and neuro linguistic languages in a combination not only this the foundation is also busy in searching for novel leads for disabled.
Achievements
• Virtual Laboratory (V-Lab); Texas Instruments (TI) Laboratory
• Microsoft i-Spark Centre |JECRC Innovation Academy
• Robolab; DST Centre with Potentials for Excellence

M A M College of Engineering – WIPRO Mission10x Collaboration

Organisation: M A M College of Engineering, Tamil Nadu
Website: www.mamce.org
Objective: Building conducive learning environment through pedagogy training.To encourage innovations in engineering education through active sharing and by exposing students to industry relevant projects and environment.
Description: WIPRO provided training to faculty for use of technology for teachinglearning process and various technically-advanced methodologies like use of existing video lectures, involving social networking, webinars for teaching to increase the employability of students.
Achievements
• 140 teachers have been trained in pedagogy usage by WIPRO’s Mission10x – 47 advanced level
• TCS ion, the complete campus management solution involving cloud platform, for transparent teaching. The network created for sharing innovations through ULTP by WIPRO’s Mission10X through Webinars

Construction Skill Training Institute

Organisation: Construction Skill Training Institute, Abul khurana, Punjab
Website: www.cstiabulkhurana.org
Objective: To fill the gap of training standards among students and requirement of really skilled manpower by construction companies.
Description: This is an international level joint venture of Punjab Government and Larsen & Toubro Limited. It provides 100 percent placement and 100 percent fee reimbursement after successful completion of course from December 2008. The Punjab Government is now going to replicate this experiment all over the state.
Achievements
• 100 percent Placement in various international companies like L&T, Omaxe, DLF, etc
• Quality training as per demand of the industry, under the supervision of reputed experts
• 13 acre well-maintained 100 percent residential campus/ free hostel
• Fully accredited with DGE&T and Director Technical Education & Industrial Training, Punjab

Innovative Steps taken for Placement, Consultancy & Training

Organisation: SAL Institute of Technology Engineering Research, Gujarat
Website: www.sal.edu.in
Objective: To boost the career of students by giving them more opportunity for job, to bridge the gap between industry
and academics, and to encourage students to start their own firm.
Description: Students of final year are offered stipend from the industries for their innovation in industrial ‘Shodh Yatra’. 100 percent industry defined projects are done for all branches so that students can work on some real-life challenges. Encouraging entrepreneurship values in students through Entrepreneur Development Cell (EDP).
Achievements
• Initiative taken for this project has been highlighted & acknowledged by the award from GTU
• Many students have started their own organisations & signed MoU with EDP
• Collaboration with Wroclaw University of Technology, Poland, for higher studies
• Established the students’ chapter ACCE(1)- Ahmedabad Centre, Gujarat

Bridging the Industrial and Academia Divide at Hindustan University

Organisation: Hindustan University, Chennai
Website: www.hindustanuniv.ac.in
Objective: The main objective of this project is to bridge the gap between academia and Industry. Thereby, providing well-groomed, employable students to take up the challenges in the industry.
Description: BIADH (Bridging the industrial and academia divide at Hindustan University) project was started with an aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry and to increase the employability rate and to produce the industry-ready workforce. It also provides better teaching-learning ambience and increase the technical knowledge
of students and staff.
Achievements:
• Campus placement – steady increase in the placement every year
• Increased exposure to the developments in the industry for staff and students
• Reduction in overheads like, cost, space, time and resources
• Better skilled students are produced

ICT Enabled Initiatives by PIMR

Organisation: Prestige Institute of Management and Research
Website: www.pimrindore.ac.in
Objective: To be a leader in professional education, research and development.
Description: PIMR has been imparting professional education & stands among the top-level B-Schools. It has been accorded autonomous status & accredited by NAAC, AICTE, NBA, and IAO. It is having permanent affiliation with DAVV, Indore. PIMR promotes various activities, which serve professional & intellectual interests of students. It has a placement & corporate relations cell.
Achievements:
• Autonomous Institute by UGS in 2006, extended in 2012
• NBA accredited in 2000 for its MBA programme
• Institute is accredited with grade-A by NAAC, UGC
• International Accreditation by IAO
• Research Focus: Currently the institute has 101 research scholars and 21 PhD guides 

Skill Enhancement Programme

Organisation: NRI Institute of Information Science and Technology
Website: www.nrigroupindia.com
Objective: To train the students as per industry need.
Description: A four-year integrated programme is implemented for students to enhance skills of students to meet cut-throat competition and make them match the cutting edge technology. This programme enables them to meet PSU as well as modern industry requirements.
Achievements
• Students from six states are taking summer training in the institute for HP
• Students of five colleges are taking summer training in IIT – Resource Centre by Sine IIT
• As a result of vigorous training students have acquired packages of 24 & 10 lakhs
• Almost all students of the 2013 batch are placed with packages ranging two to 24 lakhs
• Students got selected in IES, ISRO, DRDO, BHEL, UPSC and many more PSUs

Highest Industrial Alliances

Organisation: Arya Institute of Engineering and Technology
Website: www.aryacollege.org
Objective: To create a progressive academic environment for the students to achieve quality techno-managerial skills and become innovative and creative professionals who can contribute to the development.
Description: Arya Institute of Engineering & Technology is the TCS iON which is biggest online examination agency in India has Certified Arya Institute as ‘A’ Category Institute possessing best IT Infrastructure and deeply appreciates the contribution of Arya Institute in hosting big prestigious online examinations.
Achievements
• TCS-iON certified best it infrastructure.
• Wipro’s first nodal centre for MTLC Labs
• CISCO certified labs & secured network
• Infosys Campus Connect partner college
• Unisys innovation & learning centre

Minimise Excesses Components in Engine Assembly

Organisation: KCG College of Technology
Objective: Consultancy to automotive industry
Description: The emerging era of science based collaboration between academia and industry offers advantages to both
entities. When academia industry partnerships work well they can facilitate research discoveries. It is an initiative to offer consultancy to BMW.
Achievements
• Knowledge about the automotive spare parts
• Knowledge of dismantling and assembling of an car engine
• Knowledge of world class assembly
• Knowledge of lead time in production
• Knowledge of logistics

Green Practices in Periyar Maniammai University

Organisation: Periyar Maniammai University
Website: www.pmu.edu
Objective: Green practices in the University towards zero carbon by 2025. Replicating the models in nearby 67 adopted villages under Periyar PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) project.
Description: The University is involved in many green campus practices like renewable and alternative energy, alternative building materials, rainwater harvesting, LED lights, etc, for achieving green campus since its inception.
Achievements
• Energy Efficiency: 500 m3 capacity biomethanation plant for generating power of 60kW/h per month
• Use of alternate building material saved 36,337 tonnes of wood & 746,980 cft of fertile top soil
• Rain water harvesting and waste water recycling is practiced since 1995
• Green agricultural practices-bamboo garden sequesters 240 tonnes of CO2 & produces 80 tonnes of O2 

Green Campus

Organisation: Siddaganga Institute of Technology
Website: www.niitnguru.com
Objective: Quick School has the objective to enable schools to manage information spanning all functional requirements and addresses the needs of all stakeholders within the school domain.
Description: NIIT Nguru Quick School (QS) is an integrated and comprehensive Education Resource Planning software developed specifically for schools. The software is designed to be easy-to-use and developed keeping in mind the  requirements of the school management in maintaining proper control over the functioning of the school, take better
informed decisions and enhance the image of the institution.
Achievements:
• 350+ satisfied customers using this application
• Robust technical and security architecture based on 4-tier architecture
• 24 modules that can be selected by a school to initiate automation in a school
• 25,000 + students and parents enabled on Cloud-based model 5. Reports can be generated
in line with CBSE – CCE formats

e-Suvidha (Digital University)

Organisation: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada
University
Implementing Agency: Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation
Ltd (MKCL)
Website: bamua.digitaluniversity.ac ; www.mkcl.org
Objective: Online management of complete student lifecycle
right from admissions to convocation.
Description: The BAMUA Digital University Framework is a fully web-based software framework to manage student
lifecycle in universities and colleges. This framework offers direct facilitation services to universities, its affiliated colleges and their students at very fast, affordable, high quality and with mass personalisation and configurability.
Achievements:
• Messaging system
• e-File management track system
• Distributed assessment marks entry system
• All UG results declared within 15 days after examination
• All information of students in one click with single PRN

Human Resource Development in Dairy Processing

Organisation: Sheth Mansukhlal Chhaganlal College of Dairy Science
Website: www.aau.in
Objective: To develop human resource for the Dairy and Food Industry.
Description: Sheth Mansukhlal Chhaganlal College of Dairy Science, Anand is a premier institute in the field of dairy education and research since 1961. It was recognised as ‘Centre of Excellence’ and is a pioneer national centre for dairy education in the country, producing qualified dairy professionals.
Achievements
• Best-in-class UG and PG facilities which includes e-learning, laboratory scale practical
exposure
• Regular practical exposure for milk and milk product manufacturing in model experimental
dairy plant and external training programme for dairy industry personnel

Advancing Academics Through Next Generation Identity Systems

Organisation: JNTU Hyderabad
Website: www.jntuh.ac.in
Objective: To use biometric access control as a means of combating truancy and ensuring
learner safety, convenient and security. To improve both the physical security,
informational security of the students.
Description: The practice of biometrics can create a unique form of identification that cannot be forgotten, lost, or loaned. The implementation of biometrics into an academic environment is beneficial to the institution by improving efficiency, security, and helping to decrease the ramifications of a student’s lack of integrity. Emergency identification as a result of a fire or other disaster is a critical issue.
Achievements
• Accepted as the best technology around the globe which identifies the academic fraud.
• Project framework published in ACM Proceedings 2012.
• AICTE sanctioned the Project based on the recommended proposals from UGC & DST.
• Provides an appropriate balance between the privacy and security of an individual.
• Reduces waste with respect to time and materials; there by increasing quality of education

Online Information System

Organisation: National Institute of Science and Technology
Website: www.nist.edu
Objective: To establish a welldefined,optimised, transparent, paperless system that will support organisation in measured and effective decision making through collected information and channelised feedback.
Description: Online Information System is a web-based ERP package specially designed for educational
institution to automate all its academic, administrative and accounting processes and make it paperless and transparent. These modules help us to bring all stakeholders into one platform for sharing information and knowledge.
Achievements
• Quality video and web-based study materials developed by the experts
• Easy access of information
• Able to keep teacher, student and parents happy with transparent information & flawless management
• Accumulation of huge set of historical data is helping in better short and long term decision making
• Parents are able to keep track of their wards while sitting at home

United College of Engineering & Research

Organisation: United College of Engineering and Research, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Website: www.united.ac.in
Objective: We aspire to reassert the significance of high quality education by producing competent professionals who can shape the destiny of our nation into a stronger and developed stature.
Description: The United Group, founded by late Shri Shiv Ram Das Gulati in 1951 emerged from a transport business to the giants in the fields of education, services,transportation and journalism. The Group made a mammoth leap in the education arena in the mid 80s by being the pioneers in computer education. This further lead to the establishment of United Institute of Management and United College of Engineering.
Achievements:
• Collaboration with AIT, Bangkok
• Collaboration with Missouri, University California
• Placement of students in companies like Infosys, HCL, Cummins, etc
• Winner of Aaj Tak Awards
• Academic Collaboration with EMC2

Jayoti Vidyapeeth Women’s University

Organisation: Jayoti Vidyapeeth Womens University, Jaipur
Website: www.jvwomensuniv.com
Objective: To provide ‘education for community development’ leading to women empowerment and awareness of women rights and law to all.
Description: The university has amalgamated IT tool all parts of learning- in academics like admission, teaching, mentoring,examination and library to non academics like finance, hostel and security and has enabled 100 percent ERP applicability.
Achievements:
• Awarded for e-Campus Initiative in Higher Education in World Education Summit 2013 organised at New Delhi
• National Award ‘India’s Best Private Women’s University’ on 13th April 2013 at New Delhi
• Recipient of Weal Award -2009 by the Confederation of Indian Universities
• Recipient of B-School Leadership Award-2010 by Dainik Bhaskar
• Received ISO 9001-2008 certificate for Quality Management System

Scholarship Disbursal System for UGC

Organisation: Canara Bank
Website: www.canarabank.com
Objective: Scholarship Disbursal System for UGC Scholars.
Description: University Grants Commission has designated Canara Bank for the disbursal of its various scholarships/
fellowships to the selected candidates across the country. For the efficient disbursal of scholarships/fellowships,
Canara Bank has developed a web-based scholarship disbursal system wherein the eligible scholarship amounts will be calculated and will be disbursed based on the criteria as specified by UGC.
Target Group: UGC Scholar Students.
Achievements
• Centralised credit of scholarships/fellowships to the candidate’s account on due dates without delay
• Instant and Online MIS reports to the UGC for proper monitoring
• Nodal branches are acting as single point of contact for the students regarding the disbursal of amount
• Established an easy and convenient mechanism to access the data including the scanned images
• Developed an interface with Central Plan Scheme monitoring System (CPSMS)

Digital University Framework

Organisation: Solapur University, Solapur, Maharashtra
Implementing Agency: Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited
Website: www.su.digitaluniversity.ac ; www.mkcl.org
Objective: To provide services to students, all affiliated colleges and University.
Description: Digital University Framework is a fully web-based software framework to manage student lifecycle in Universities and Colleges. This framework offers direct facilitation services to users at very fast, affordable, high quality and with mass personalisation and configurability.
Target Group: Services to students, universities, and colleges.
Achievements
• Personalised services at the doorstep of students
• Reduction in data duplication efforts at various levels due to single-time data entry
• System generated outputs with no errors because of reduction in student cycles to colleges
and University

Online Admissions System for Technical Education

Organisation: Higher and Technical Education Department, Maharashtra
Website: www.maharashtra.gov.in
Objective: To automate end-to-end admission process starting from the notification of admission process.
Description: Online Admissions for Technical Education was first initiated in 2000 – 2001 and since then has been expanded successfully such that the complete admission process for technical education has been automated end-to-end.
Target Group: More than four lakh students apply each year through online admissions into technical institutes.
Achievements
• Students can now fill the application form at comfort of their home or cybercafé
• Greater cost and time saving for both students as well as Directorate of Technical Education
• Greater transparency and reduced errors in the whole the admission process
• Greater productivity of resources: DTE no longer requires personnel for distribution of
forms, etc.
• Customisable real-time reports can be generated in quick;y with help of the system

ASB Online Academy

Organisation: ASB Online Academy (ASB OA) – The American School of Bombay
Website: www.asbacademy.org Objective: To provide an accessible, anytime and anywhere online learning environment that encourages collaboration, shared passion and a desire to develop 21st century skills that support lifelong learning.
Description: The ASB Online Academy is a platform where adults, students and education professionals can learn new skills, deepen existing skills and explore new areas of interests. Courses are regularly updated to stay in sync with trends and to better equip learners with relevant skills and knowledge. Personalised learning is provided through flexible small group instruction
Achievements
• Online Academy’s Digital Literacy courses have increased the number of parents who access and respond to online info
• The online courses make learning accessible for busy adults juggling work and home commitments

The Waldorf School

Organisation: The Education Renaissance Trust
Website: www.slokawaldorf.org
Objective: To create an alternative, child-friendly holistic system that can be replicated all over the country.
Description: Sloka is Waldorf School based on the pedagogy enunciated by Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian philosopher
and savant. Sloka is part of 1,500 Steiner schools worldwide. This alternative pedagogy puts less pressure on
children and is very age appropriate. The success of Sloka, ranked 14th among all day schools by education world.
Achievements
• Waldorf curriculum brought to India for the first time and teachers are trained in India and abroad
• Foreign mentors coming to Sloka regularly and Waldorf teacher training is given on a sustained basis
• Establishment of a 3.5 acres campus with no corpus to begin with

Shilp Greenergy

Organisation: Vidyashilp Academy
Website: www.vidyashilp.com
Objective: To make clean and green environment.
Description: Vidyashilp Academy is a primary and secondary international school based in North Bangalore in the Indian state of Karnataka. The school is affialied with Cambridge University’s International General Certificate of
Secondary Education(IGCSE) and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) from Grades I to X. The school has taken utmost care for educating students about the importance of green environment and conserving energy resources .
Achievements
• Green campus by reusing organic waste resulting to vermin compost
• Recycled and reuse paper
• Children emerged as young entrepreneurs
• Rainwater replenishing bore wells
• Reduction of LPG in school kitchen using solar panels 

Green School Initiative

Organisation: B Kanae School, Modasa, Gujarat
Website: www.b-kanae.edu.in
Objective: Sustainable School Campus.
Description: B- KANAE SCHOOL is first Green School in Gujarat. It is the first school that has introduced Green Curriculum, Green Games and Green Teachers, Green Energy,Green Water and Green Transport. The school is a member of Green School Alliance USA. It has received National School Sanitation Award 2012 from the Ministry
of HRD. The campus has one tree and one teacher against every 10 students.
Achievements
• Enhancement in school result
• Enhancement in participation of parent and community in school activities
• There is 80 percent reduction in electricity bill, water bill and operational cost
• Enhancement in teachers’ proficiency
• There is 100 percent fitness among students. No sick leave application received from
students

Green Campus

Organisation: O P Jindal School Raigarh CG
Website: www.opjsrgh.in
Objective: To develop awareness about environment.
Description: The OP Jindal School, Raigarh(CG) has taken immense initiative to work for environmental sensitisation among people. The school has launched several projects/ campaigns to make the campus green and to retain it.
Achievements
• Our Green Campus has been declared as lush green plastic-free zone
• Its community development programmes in adjoining areas have brought remarkable results
• Students have represented India in ‘Green Youth Exchange program’ at Denmark
• Continuous cleaning drive is making Teepakhol regain its original beauty

Planet Earth Transformation, Green Thinking

Organisation: Ryan International School, Mumbai
Website: www.ryaninternational.org
Objective: To sensitise students / teachers to the burning issues of degradation of the Earth
Description: Ryan has joined hands with Tata Power in its endeavour to save energy in the direction of greener and safer abode for its students. School organises and conduct workshops and activities to sensitise students and teachers alike to the burning issues of the ailing planet. Besides the school takes pride in adopting societies for tree plantation.
Achievements
• Reduction in school and home electricity consumption
• Students are sensitise about ecological problems
• The number of trees increased where plantation is done
• Visitors / guests who were given plants helped by planting trees themselves
• Various rewards and appreciation letters received by the school

US President, Barack Obama, and Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, at a meeting in Washington DC

The India-US Higher Education Dialogue 2013, held recently is evident of the world’s two largest democracies turning a new leaf in bilateral relations through cooperation in education. digitalLEARNING digs deeper into the multiple facets of this alliance By Monalisa Das, ENN

With more than 400 MoUs signed between various Indian and US universities, student and faculty exchange programmes, collaborative research projects, joint skill development courses, and online courseware, time wouldn’t have been more apt for the Indian education system to grab the global limelight. In this date and age where educational institutions the world over have woken up to the significance of global cooperation, India cannot afford to miss out.
The recently held India-US Higher Education Dialogue 2013 in New Delhi and the major announcement of second batch of eight joint research projects under the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative are steps in the right direction. Coupled with these are some recently signed landmark agreements.
The Governments of both India and the USA today acknowledge the significance of educational ties, so much so that “Education and Development” feature among the five essential pillars of the annual US-India Strategic Dialogue, being held since 2010. Both the Governments have formed various bilateral working groups that are instrumental in enhancing mutual partnerships in education and are initiating discussions on key issues related to this.
Turning point Educational ties between the America and India got a fillip after the meeting of Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and US President, Barack Obama, in November 2009 in Washington DC, USA, in which both the leaders put education at the top of their national agendas and jointly launched some major initiatives for strengthening US-India strategic partnership in education and development. Expansion of the bi-national Fulbright-Nehru Scholarship Programme and launch of Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative were among the announcements made. This was followed by the India visit of President Obama in 2010, US-India Higher Education Summit in October 2011, and the subsequent US-India Higher Education Dialogue in June 2012 .
The latest development has been the second round of India-US Higher Education Dialogue, held on June 25, 2013, in New Delhi, on the sidelines of US Secretary of State, John F Kerry’s visit to India. The Human Resource Development Minister of India, Dr M M Pallam Raju, and Secretary Kerry co-chaired the Dialogue.

Community colleges
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has finalised a framework for establishing communitycolleges in India. A high-level Indian delegation visited the US in May 2012 to study the community college system and in February 2013, the MHRD organised an International Seminar on Community Colleges in New Delhi, which was attended by a US delegation led by Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Tara Sonenshine. The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) continues to facilitate cooperation and overall capacity-building efforts between Indian and American partner institutions. The recently signed MoU between AICTE and AACC on Cooperation for Establishment of Community Colleges shall help crystallise India’s strategy for developing community colleges in India. “We need to create ground level opportunities at a vast level in order to cater to the needs of local businesses. Hence, developing a model of community colleges in India is very relevant. By aligning with the USA, we are not planning to mirror the education model of America. Rather, we are looking forward to exchange of knowledge base, best practices and collaboration in innovation and research work,” said Dr Pallam Raju during a press conference after the India-US Higher Education Dialogue in June 2013. “We look at the issues that are confronting American community colleges, such as how to readjust the skills gap, ensure quality education, and ensure that our students complete their educational programme. Interestingly India is also addressing similar issues,” says Alice Blayne-Allard, Associate Vice President, International Programs and Services, AACC, which represents more than 1,160 community colleges across the US. “One crucial point to be kept in mind is that community colleges are meant to address local issues and needs. In the US we work very closely with citizens of local communities to ensure that the courses and training that we are offering are relevant. The Indian education system shall also have to remember this,” she adds.
“Community Colleges will be very powerful for India. The community college model in the USA can help in many ways, such as curriculum development, faculty development, infrastructure requirements, and also help share specifics on how academia can connect with the industry to build partnerships,” says De- Rionne P Pollard, President, Montgomery College, Maryland, USA, which has recently entered into an agreement with the ITM Group of Institutions on Capacity Building.

John F Kerry, Secretary of State, USA, at India-US
Higher Education Dialogue 2013, on 25th June 2013,
New Delhi

People-to-people exchange is the glue that holds our partnership together. Thanks to the Fulbright- Nehru Programme, more than 18,000 scholars have participated in exchanges between our countries

Fellowships
Apart from the government-level dialogues and institution-level agreements, fellowships form an integral part of educational collaborations between India and America. The Fulbright Scholar Programme is the US Government’s flagship international educational exchange programme, which is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Department of State, and is supported by the people of the US and partner countries around the world.
As a part of this programme, the Fulbright Agreement for India was signed in 1950 by the Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the US Ambassador to India, Loy Henderson. The Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships enable the most outstanding students, academics and professionals in India and the US to study, research and engage in work experiences with greater potential benefit for both countries. It offers the largest number of grants worldwide, with more than 80 grants every year.
Over the years, the agreement has undergone many changes, the latest being in 2008, declaring both India and US as equal partners. Also, the amount of grant has increased from US $5 million to US $7.06 million in 2010-11. Since then, the Fulbright- Nehru Fellowships have nearly tripled, with approximately 330 students and scholars from the US and India participating annually.
C V Raman Post Doctoral Fellowship Programme is yet another initiative announced during the US-India Higher Education Summit 2011, held at Georgetown University in Washington DC. It aims to place junior faculty members and researchers from India for postdoctoral research in higher education institutions in the USA. The first batch of 126 Raman Fellows was announced during the India-US Higher Education Dialogue 2013 in New Delhi. These fellows have been sponsored by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in India, and are scheduled to join US institutions for post-doctoral research, beginning in August 2013.

4,345 Students from the us pursued studies in India (2011-12)

People-to-People Ties
Moreover, in order to enhance peopleto- people connectivity, the two nations have initiated new student programmes, such as Passport to India Initiative by the US and Connect India Programme by India. The Passport to India Initiative by the US Department of State seeks to increase the number of American students in India by expanding study abroad options including internships, hence, building the next generation of leaders with India expertise. Through partnerships with business and non-governmental oraganisations, the initiative promotes internships, service learning and study abroad programmes for US students in India.

Dr M M Pallam Raju,
Minister of Human Resource Development,
Government of India, at a roundtable discussion in May 2013, Washington DC, USA

US cooperation is needed in promoting skill building in India through community colleges. The cooperation should be supportive of ICT, promote quality research and boost vocational education system

It aims to promote India as a destination so that more American students have the cultural understanding and language skills that underpin effective diplomacy and foreign policy. The interns not only work on joint projects, but also get the opportunity to build a network that may prove to be beneficial for future collaborations for both the nations. Considering that internships are increasingly becoming an integral part of the US education system, with many colleges offering credit for internships, Passport to India Initiative seems to be a significant move. Companies too are gradually getting more receptive towards international internships, which are now viewed as a way to ensure a valuable pool of potential employees.
The Connect India Programme by the Indian Government was announced during the US-India Higher Education Dialogue, held in June 2012, and is currently in incubation phase. It aims at placement of 200 US undergraduate students at Indian education institutions for one semester of their studies. This will comprise 4-6 weeks of study programme in one of the 15 selected Indian universities. Total number of participants in any institution shall not exceed 30 in one course. Their course of study will be integrated with other activities, including exposure to Indian culture and economy, service-learning with corporate entities, short-term attachment with Civil Society Organisations, and interaction with political representatives. The details are being finalised by the UGC in consultation with various Indian universities.

1,00,270 Indian students were pursuing higher education in the USA, comprising 13.1% of total foreign student population (2011-12). India is the second largest sender of students to the USA, followed by China (Source: UGC)

Endless opportunites
A host of other initiatives are under process. For instance, the India-Support for Teacher Education Programme, worth USD 4.3 million, is a 30-month joint project between the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the MHRD to build the capacity of Indian teachers. These apart, the UGC has finalised guidelines for twinning arrangements between Indian and foreign educational institutions for greater collaboration between universities. Moreover, EducationUSA, a network of advising centres, offers a great resource for students in India with latest information about study opportunities at accredited institutions in the US. Supported by the US Department of State, EducationUSA has expanded its services in India through virtual advising, mobile apps, social media outreach, and a pan-India advising hotline.
Undoubtedly, the scope of collaboration is simply endless. It’s now up to the capacity and interest of the academia and the industry to respond to the current need and support the governments take this partnership to its apex.

Deepti Lamba, Senior Vice President, IL&FS Education & Technology Services Ltd, shares her insight on the need of portable solutions in classrooms for revolutionising education

IL&FS has been making many contributions to the area of education. Tell us about mandate of the education wing at IL&FS.
When we at IL&FS talk about the need for education and solutions that will revolutionise the space, we often start by asking ourselves one question. What is the backbone of the education system? The stakeholder who needs empowerment to be able to decide the success or failure of education delivery? For us the answer is – the teacher – and we get all other answers,ideas and solutions instantly.
Our portable solutions can be deployed easily in the classroom and are simple to use and maintain.
Today, we have teachers in over 25000 schools across India and in Africa using our solutions, in turn empowering their
teachers to do much more. The students get an opportunity to explore learning like never before. Imagine, students from a rural village in deep interiors of Gujarat , having the ability to touch and participate during a history class.

What should be the focus areas of quality education apart from technology?
We realise that there are three areas to be focused upon:
Teachers: How else will a program be imparted holistically? Like any professional a teacher also needs constant input and tools for improving at their tasks. Therefore, teacher training is an integral part of what we do.
Understand the needs of students: Selecting appropriate solution for the classroom is second. This requires an in depth understanding of the student group, interest, aptitude and often aspirations not only theirs but those of parents.
Content is king: Undoubtedly, technology as an enabler can only be successful if the content that goes with it is robust and based on strong research.We have a very large content and resource team, which works round the clock to innovate and produce best in class multimedia lessons.
When we have a combination of above three packaged with technology, in our case our innovative, patented technology K-Yan that is when a Knowledge Classroom (K-Class) is formed.

Not everyone is close to technology especially in the rural areas it must be a challenge to convince teachers that they should start using latest technology in classrooms?
All of these technology aids are only a facilitator and not the driver in the  classroom. Bigger challenge is mindset amongst the schools and the teachers. It is walking up with them in the path till they start owning them. Once they start owning them there would be no problem.
Please shed light on recent development of K-Yan.
Today in its 8th generation, the K-Yan (Knowledge Yan) is a compact ICT tool that has been developed by IL&FS Education in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. K-Yan is an integrated community computer, which combines the functionality of a high end computer, projection system, audio system, large screen TV and is internet ready. K-Yan supports multiple peripherals and enables interactive learning in various regional languages apart from English.
IL&FS has bagged few ICT@school projects from various state governments. Please share with us some details.
IL&FS Education has emerged as the market leader in ICT@Schools sector. Recently, we have bagged Rs 617 crore ICT@school project from the Government of Odisha which is the largest ever mandate in this space. Additionally, we are also executing similar large scale projects such as the Maharashtra ICT@ Schools project which is spread across 2560 schools. We will be deploying KYan as part of both these projects.
We focus on maintaining quality benchmarks during the implementation of our projects and balance the needs of all the stakeholders involved, which is why we have been successful and able to sustain in an area where others are exiting due to various reasons.