Emphasise adequately on the need for excellence in skill and knowledge: B K Chaturvedi

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October 22, 2012

It is a matter of serious concern that not a single Indian university figures in the list of top global institutions, underlining the fact that a lot still needs to be done on the front of higher education, Planning Commission member B K Chaturvedi said today.

In his speech at the 31st convocation of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, Chaturvedi warned against a possible “demographic disaster” if country’s vast youth population was not equipped with proper knowledge and skills.

“If we do not emphasise adequately on the need for excellence in skill and knowledge, this surplus young population would become a demographic disaster,” he said, adding that India will have a surplus youth manpower of over 47 million by 2020.

Chaturvedi said no Indian varsity figured in the recently released list of top-200 universities across the globe, neither do they find any place among top institutions in BRICS countries.

On economic front, he said if the country continues to grow at the same pace, it will improve the quality of life.

“If our country continues to grow at current pace, the quality of life will improve substantially in coming years,” he added.

On this occasion, many as 189 students of session 2011 and 2012 were honoured for their academic achievements and a total of 77 students, including 53 girls, were awarded gold medals.

Pragati Kushwaha, a Master of Science (M.Sc), grabbed 9 gold medals for her performance.

In his address, vice-chancellor PC Trivedi announced commencement of various new courses in the university.

Source: PTI

Only 27 % of engineering students have required skills in the eligibility test

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October 22, 2012

Only 27 per cent of engineering students have required skills in the eligibility test for government services in Tamil Nadu and other states, according to Chandrayan Project director Mylsamy Annadurai.

“This should be taken as a wake up call to improve the standard and quality of education. Distance education also should become a platform for innovation,” he said, addressing the Madurai Kamaraj University convocation here yesterday.

Edcuation Minister P Palaniappan said efforts are on to increase the gross enrolment ratio from 18 to 25 per cent by 2025. Government was taking efforts to improve higher education, he said, adding Rs 100 crore has been allocated for infrastructure development in government colleges.

Government was also supporting initiatives to support automomy in educational institutions and has allocated Rs 16.5core to 10 universities to set up curriculum development centre and smart classrooms. This year 35 institutions, including arts colleges, polytechnic and engineering colleges had been started.

A total of 138 students were awarded P.hd and 72 given prizes and medals for their academic achievements by Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah.

Source: PTI

Centre should intervene to scrap medical entrance test: M Karunanidhi

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October 22, 2012

Opposing the proposed National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical courses, DMK, a key ally of UPA, today sought the Centre’s immediate intervention to totally abolish the system of entrance test.

“There are reports that the Centre proposed to conduct entrance test for medical education. The Central government should intervene and take steps in scrapping the test. That is our stand,” DMK chief M Karunanidhi said writing in party organ “Murasoli”.

He also asked the Jayalalithaa Government to take constructive steps to safeguard the interests of students of the state instead of focussing on ‘vindictive action and filing defamation cases’ against DMK leaders.

Referring to the Andhra Pradesh high court’s recent order staying NEET in that State, Karunanidhi said the government in that state had acted ‘wisely’ in obtaining the relief.

Stating that it was during DMK regime that entrance test was abolished, he recalled his earlier statement that under the proposed NEET there was no provision for reservation to backward classes.

“I expect the Tamil Nadu government will also take constructive action to protect the state students instead of focussing on vindictive action and filing defamation cases,” he added.

Source: PTI

7 Govt Medical Colleges to Start in Karnataka Next Academic Year

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October 19, 2012

The State Cabinet on Thursday approved seven new government medical colleges in the State. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar presided over the meeting which decided that the proposed medical colleges at Gadag, Haveri, Chitradurga, Kodagu, Chamarajnagar, Tumkur and Koppal would start next academic year.

A sum of Rs 35 crore has been set aside for the colleges, Rs five crore for each college in the first year. Speaking to mediapersons, Shettar said the government intended to set up additional medical colleges wherever the infrastructure prescribed by the Medical Council of India was available.

The authorities concerned have been directed to prepare a proposal for a government medical college in Gulbarga where excellent infrastructure is readily available. “We will establish a government medical college in Gulbarga,’’ Shettar asserted.

IITs in State

The Cabinet decided to approach the Union government for the establishment of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Raichur as recommended by the D M Nanjundappa Committee on regional imbalance. There is also a demand for IITs at Bangalore, Hassan and Dharwad,’’ he added.

The Cabinet approved a number of proposals, schemes and programmes worth Rs 5,407 crore. It also decided to set up a Cabinet sub-committee to look into the issue of development and reservation in education and employment in the light of the introduction of Article 371 amendment bill in Parliament seeking to grant special status to the Hyderabad Karnataka region.

“Parliament is likely to pass the amendment bill in the next session. When it becomes a law, the State will have the responsibility of implementing it. Therefore, we have decided to constitute a Cabinet sub-committee to evolve guidelines,’’ Shettar said. The Cabinet also gave its nod for starting two government engineering colleges at Deodurga in Raichur district and at Chikmagalur. A sum of Rs 50 crore has been earmarked for them.

Soon, Online Typewriting Exam for 2.7 Lakh Maharashtra Students

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October 19, 2012

The Maharashtra State Council of Examinations (MSCE) has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Education to conduct online exams for typewriting. Although the ministry is yet to decide, the Maharashtra State Association of Shorthand and Typewriting has lauded the move.

Typewriting and shorthand exams come under the Government Commercial Certificate Examinations. “A proposal was sent from the examination council to the ministry in August. All people concerned from the ministry, the examination department and the typewriting association attended the meeting on August 28 where we discussed the software and syllabus and how to go ahead with the exam. We hope to get the approval within a year,” said Mahavir Mane, MSCE Commissioner. He said, “But before qualifying for the online exam, candidates must pass a typewriting exam of completing 30 words per minute.”

At present, there are 2,77,000 typewriting and shorthand students in the state, said Prakash Karale, president, Maharashtra State Association of Shorthand and Typewriting. On the occasion of golden jubilee celebration of the shorthand and typewriting association held in Ahmednagar last December, a demo of the software to be used in online exam was given. “The software that they have developed do not have the options of delete, auto correct or spell check. Hence students will not compromise accuracy for speed,” said Prakash Karale, association president.

Exams Panel for Online Systems in Maharashtra

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October 19, 2012

An examination reforms committee set up by the Maharashtra Government has recommended making of the examination process for higher education online.

“The process from admission to the issuing of degrees should be made online under-graduate and post-graduate students,” the committee’s secretary and Director (Examinations), Mumbai University, Subhash Deo said.

The report, which was made available online in public domain for feedback, was submitted to Chief Secretary Jayanth Kumar Banthia on Saturday.

Headed by State IT secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, the committee has also recommended a pilot project for starting technology-based examination in the universities.

“A pilot project should be done in one faculty to start with,” he said.

Vocational Education Students to Get HSC Certificates

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October 19, 2012

The Maharashtra state ministry of higher and technical education has decided to award higher secondary certificates (HSC) to students completing vocational education after Std X. They will also be eligible for admission to undergraduate degree courses.

At present, the HSC certificate is given by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education to students who complete the conventional 10 +2 degree courses in arts, science and commerce. The entire aim of drawing equivalence between HSC and certificate vocational courses is to bring these students into the mainstream so that they can pursue conventional degrees such as engineering and medicine, said Rajesh Tope, state minister of higher and technical education.

He said that close to three lakh students who pass vocational courses annually are set to benefit from this decision. The scheme will be implemented from the 2013-14 academic year (AY). The Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), a state board that regulates vocational education in the state, conducts two-year vocational courses through various affiliated institutes in the state. Students who qualify for certificate courses through DVET will receive the +2 HSC degree certificate. A total of 16 such courses are offered by DVET after completion of Std X. Subjects included are electrical maintenance, general civil engineering, carpentry, maintenance and repair of electrical appliances, building maintenance and office management, among others.

“The step has been taken to ensure that vertical mobility is created for these students after they complete their certificate course,” said Tope. “At present, students who undertake vocational education after Std X have limited options and are forced to pursue a career in the vocational segment. But, with an HSC certificate in hand, they can get into engineering, commerce, arts and other such fields. For engineering and medicine, however, they will have to sit for entrance tests like other students.”

Shiv Nadar University tie up with Annenberg School of Communication, Pennsylvania

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October 18, 2012

The Shiv Nadar University (SNU) on September 25, 2012, New Delhi, announced the launch of the School of Communication (SoC) to offer Undergraduate, Graduate and research level programs in Communication. The University also announced a new collaboration with the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania(ASC)through which ASC will assist SNUin designing the curriculum for its programs along with assisting SNU in identification and training of faculty. The partnership also established both faculty and student exchange programs whereby students and faculty from both institutions will have the option to spend up to two semesters at The Annenberg School for communication campus in Pennsylvania or at the SNU campus at Greater Noida.

The partnership also paves the way for the establishment of joint Center for Global Communication Research to be located at SNU. Faculty from both schools and across disciplines at both Universities would be affiliated with the Center whose objective is to undertake research on critical issues in global communication. .The Center will hold conferences and seminars and publish research reports as part of its mission to disseminate the findings of the research conducted at the Center.
Announcing the partnership, Nikhil Sinha, Vice Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University said, ‘The growth of communication and media in India has been exponential and India increasingly requires globally relevant research-led programs in communication. Annenberg is a globally renowned institution and stands at the forefront of education, research, and policy studies on the processes, nature, and consequences of existing and emerging media. We believe that this collaboration would help us leverage ASC’s proven track record of five decades in Communication Education and Research to create a world class communication program at the SNU School of Communication.”

Michael Delli Carpini, Dean, Annenberg School for Communication said, “The Annenberg School for Communication has been committed to responding to changes in both the nature of Communication as a social process and in Communication as a discipline. We see our partnership with the Shiv Nadar University as an opportunity help all aspiring communication professionals become better consumers and producers of public information, strengthen their understanding of the role of communication in their personal, professional and civic lives, and prepare them for private and public-sector leadership positions in communication-related and other fields. We look forward to an exciting partnership.”

Academic programs will commence in August 2013. Students completing the programs successfully will obtain a degree issued by Shiv Nadar University.

Rote Learning Stunts Thinking, Say Experts

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October 18, 2012

Classrooms need a makeover to be appropriate for children of this generation, experts told teachers and heads of schools in the state on Saturday.

Speaking about the challenges faced by schools today, Chitra Ravi, CEO of education service provider Ez-Vidya , said: “Today’s learners have a short attention span and are hooked to gadgets most of their waking time. Today’s careers and lifestyle demand different and diverse skills from individuals.” This makes it imperative for schools to create learning environments to meet these needs, Chitra Ravi added.

She was addressing around 150 teachers at a conference on ‘Creating 21Century Learning Environments – Transforming Schools in five distinct Areas’ . Based on research and feedback from schools, Chitra Ravi suggested that transformation needs to happen in student thinking, classroom dynamics , learning ambience, technology integration and teacher empowerment.

Schoolteachers said they found rote learning was the biggest reason for the dip in standard of students passing out of schools. Chitra Ravi said that the way to root out rote learning is by instilling higher order thinking skills in students.

Taurian World School Ties Up With Trinity College

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October 18, 2012

Taurian World School (TWS), which is among India’s top 30 boarding schools, has been conferred the Best Boarding School award in Jharkhand for the second consecutive year and has also entered into a tie-up with globally revered Trinity College, London for evaluating students’ communication skills and on how it can be improved.

The School provides two sorts of boarding facilities – week boarding and term boarding – and offers accommodation to students between Classes 1 and 12.

Taurian World School has also become the first school in Jharkhand to adopt the techniques of Trinity College in evaluating the communication skills of students. The test was conducted by Philip Thrupp and all the 27 students who undertook the test came out with flying colours with nearly 50% of them scoring more than 85% marks.

In a communication Trinity College said: “The children have all performed amazingly well. For a first appearance in the Trinity Examination the performance of all candidates have been remarkable.” Trinity also praised the teachers of Taurian world School for “an excellent job in preparing the students so well”.

Commenting on the occasion, founder-chairman of Taurian World School, Amith Bajla, said: “It re-invigorates our mind to march ahead. I feel very happy for the fact that despite being a new entrant in the field of education, our efforts are being noticed and acknowledged.”

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