Aptech Hungama Digital Education Paves mEducation In India

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May 3, 2012

The country’s mobile education sector is going to see a new revolution. Lately, Aptech and Hungama Digital Media Entertainment have joined hands with a ratio of 50: 50 joint venture. The limited liability partnership is named as Aptech Hungama Digital Education.

Speaking on the occasion, Ninad Karpe, CEO and MD, Aptech said, “About 18 months ago, a team of four people (two each from Aptech and Hungama Digital Media Entertainment) was formed to explore the possibilities of mEducation. Several pilot products were developed thereafter. Four verticals, namely English and personality development, entrance examinations, K-12 segment and vocational education were identified by the team, as potential fields”.

The company duo will launch its first set of products in the coming month. The initial product line will concentrate on personality development and has been launched only in India. Though in a due course of time the products will also be retailed in overseas markets.

As per Mr. Kapre, data based products will be launched in the top 20 towns in the initial phases. However, voice-based products will be launched in more regions. To offer the service, partnership has been formed with telecom companies. Furthermore, Aptech and Hungama plan to approach Direct to Home companies as well to offer similar services on television.

Roy also said the content could also be loaded into Intel devices, with which his company already has a partnership. The service will be available in Hindi, English and a few other languages like Tamil and Telugu and the JV entity will extend later to other languages.

Indian Education Congress 2012

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digitalLEARNING Network

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May 2, 2012

Indian Education Congress 2012, which was held on April 28 – 29, 2012, in New Delhi addressed some of the best practices, regulatory issues and future trends within the realm of fast-growing Indian education sector. The event was organized by Franchise India.

Speaking on the occasion Gaurav Marya, President, Franchise India said, “With the fast growth in education sector, the opportunity at hand calls for building of stable, consistent and progressive education services. The Indian Education Congress is an initiative by Franchise India that recognizes the need to think more boldly and broadly on how to strengthen and expand our existing initiatives within the growing Indian education sector.”

He opined that education sector offers potential business opportunity, which could become as big and popular for investors as IT, telecom and retailing. The two day conclave was attended by dignitaries like Pawan Aggarwal, Advisor (Higher Education Planning Commission, GOI), Dr S S Mantha (Chairman, AICTE), Vineet Joshi (IAS, Chairman, CBSE), Karan Khemka (Partner, The Parthenon Group), Sandip Somany (President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry) among others.

Association of Indian Universities (AIU) Says UK PG Degree Is Invalid

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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May 2, 2012

Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has taken stand in which they have nullified the validity of UK PG degree. Candidates holding such degrees are not eligible for higher studies.

The said degree, for which thousands of Indian students aspire for every year, is not recognized in India and candidates holding such degrees may be rejected by the varsities for higher studies like Ph.D.

The stand taken by the AIU and the British Council that guides Indian students on UK education too seem to corroborate this view. The AIU website clearly indicates that Master Degree programs of less than two years in duration of foreign universities will not be accorded equivalence and AIU does not issue Equivalent Certificates in such cases.

Interestingly, AIU is the only recognized body in India for granting academic equivalence of degrees and diplomas not only within the country but also to other similar bodies in foreign countries.

The website also indicates that the AIU has signed MoU with Arab Republic of Egypt, Russian Federation, Australia, Germany and Sri Lanka. As per the MoU provisions, the degrees and full time programs awarded by the accredited universities of these concerned countries that are offered on the campus of the country of origin are accepted for admission to higher courses in India on reciprocal basis.

Centre’s Higher Education and Research Bill Comes Under Threat

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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May 2, 2012

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has opposed the Centre’s proposed law for regulating legal education. The BCI said that the HRD Ministry wants to take over the power of the apex body of lawyers to make entry of foreign institutions and law firms easier. The BCI threatened to launch a nation-wide protest against the Higher Education and Research Bill, which seeks to establish the National Commission on Higher Education and Research (NCHER), an overarching body to regulate university education including legal education.

Manan Kumar Mishra, the newly elected BCI chairman said, “The BCI has convened its emergent meeting on May 4 to discuss the future course of action and if need be, the lawyers all over the country would organize protests in Delhi and all state headquarters to show their solidarity on this issue”.

He further said, “Legal fraternity is not at all going to tolerate these anti-people and anti-lawyer bills and the BCI and the State Bar Councils shall not allow the HRD Ministry to usurp any of the functions of these bodies, provided under the Advocates Act 1961”.

It is here to note that until date the legal education and profession is being regulated by the BCI. The BCI is also of the opinion that the bill is against the federal structure of the Constitution and gives a complete monopoly to the HRD Ministry in the matters of education.

Now e-Learning Courses from MICA

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May 2, 2012

The Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA) is offering Post Graduate certificate in Market Research and Data Analytics (PGCMRDA) in association with ivory education. The courses can be availed globally and across India through e-learning environment.

This one-year program will follow a systematic approach. For instance, case studies and practical implementations will be adopted for theoretical concepts. Sessions are designed to be interactive and participative. Program participants will be encouraged to use statistical packages for working on hands-on case studies.

Prof Vina Vani, Program Director, PGCMRDA said, “The institute has been designed keeping in mind the market research and data analytics requirements of the industry.”

Kapil Rampal, Director, Ivory Education Private Limited shared, “The participants can attend the classes with broadband connectivity at their homes, offices or any other place of their convenience. The classes are held twice a week on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00pm to 1:30pm. Answer to any queries about the program is available at mica@ivoryeducation.com.

The course is likely to commence from June 2012 and the program fee would cost Rs85, 000 for Indian students. Graduates in any field from a recognized university are eligible for this course. Ivory Education will also provide placement assistance to those who successfully complete the program.

Tax Relief for Foreign Varsities Offering Distance Education in India

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digitalLEARNING Network

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May 2, 2012

Foreign varsities offering distance education courses in India now can breathe a sigh of relief as recently the Delhi bench of the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has held that payment received by a foreign university for offering distance educational courses in India is not taxable.

The ITAT apprehended that in order to consider a payment as royalty, the transaction should have been in the nature of transfer of any right, title, copyright, patent, trade mark, service mark, trade secret and other intellectual property or proprietary rights, which was not the case in the transaction under consideration.

Moreover, the tribunal said the role of the Indian company was confined to registering students and providing infrastructure for accessing the course material offered by the foreign university.

Ma Foi Forays in Education

Corporate Updates

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digitalLEARNING Network

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May 1, 2012

K Pandia Rajan and Latha Rajan

Entrepreneur duo K Pandia Rajan and Latha Rajan, has launched new ventures that will operate in two of India’s fastest growing sectors — management consulting and education.

The new ventures will see investments of over Rs. 25 crore in the first three years. Speaking about this initiative, K Pandia Rajan, Ma Foi founder said, “When we started Ma Foi in 1992, we brought a value-driven approach and best practices to the HR space in India. Over the last two decades of India’s unprecedented growth, where talent has been the most important element and driver, we have consulted and worked with some of the largest organizations on managing their talent and human capital.”

“The global footprint on consulting engagements, an eminent panel of consultants and the collective experience gained over 20 years are the solid foundation on which we are building these new ventures.

Our in-house Research and Analytics capabilities would equip us in delivering best-in-class end-to-end consulting solutions, helping organizations manage their processes and data effectively. We will soon have a national presence with offices in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad and Kolkata,” he further added.

Mr. Pandia Rajan said under the education vertical, the company would set up two business management schools — one each in Chennai and Madurai. Both these management schools would be operational by the end of next year. The eventual plan is to start a chain of management schools on a franchisee model.

Core Education to Start Chain of Vocational Educational Institutions

K-12

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digitalLEARNING Network

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May 1, 2012

Core Education and Technologies Ltd plans to open a chain of vocational educational institutions focusing on skill development across the country with a proposed investment of Rs225 crore and train three million personnel over the next five years.

Sanjeev Mansotra, Chgairman and Chief Executive, Core Education said, ”India needs about 500 million skilled personnel by 2022, while there would be a requirement to upgrade skill or re-skill existing 140 million workers. We are looking at addressing this gap, and looking at providing skill-based training for blue- collar jobs across six sectors’’.

The company aims to start around 120 vocational and multi-skill institutions, on a company-owned company-operated model, in the country through its wholly owned subsidiary Core Skill Development and Careers Pvt Ltd.

The company expects revenues of about Rs600 crore by the end of five years. Core Education provides education continuum for K-12, higher education and vocational training and, currently runs 600 centers on a partnership basis in the country. It would impart training to personnel in sectors like automobile, construction, healthcare, hospitality, information technology and retail.

The firm will raise funds from either internal accruals, public-private partnerships or raise loans from National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), a government body set up to provide funds and foster private sector initiatives in skill development.

Lintas Initiative Gets Media Directive for Meritnation.com

K-12

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digitalLEARNING Network

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May 1, 2012

Meritnation.com a Infoedge group venture offering e learning for school students, has given its media duties to Lintas Initiative media. Speaking on this occasion, Raghav Subramanian, COO, Lintas Initiative Media said, “We are excited to work with Meritnation in the education space and we sure hope to add value to their business and help the brand grow through this strategic partnership. Lintas Initiative believes in mantra of ‘we grow when our clients/ partners grow’.”

Pavan Chauhan, CEO, Meritnation shared, “One of our biggest thrust areas is to grow the online K-12 education category in India. Lintas Initiative Media has done some great work in helping build businesses.

During our interactions with their team, we were quite impressed with their strategic thinking and by their commitment to help us grow our company. Education needs long term view and we are very happy to work with a partner like Lintas Initiative which is equally committed to be a part of our success story.”

US Helps India to Establish Community Colleges

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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May 1, 2012

As per Victoria Nuland, the State Department spokesperson, United States is working with India to set up hundreds of community colleges in India on the American pattern. Nuland said, “The State Department has been working with the Indian side to flesh out the initiative”.

Asked if the Indian degrees are accepted in the United States, she said that was on a case-by-case issue depending upon where they graduate from and where they are looking to be accredited.

“So obviously, if there’s a sister university relationship, sometimes those accreditation can be recognized, but it just depends on what they want to do” Nuland clarified.

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