Luidia Inc., a global provider of interactive solutions designed to capture and share digital content has announced appointment of Mohammed Ghouse as regional sales manager for south & western Asia. He has been working in the field of ICT & actively involved in promotion of Luidia Products for the region. The company will have special focus on the Indian region in both the segments Academic & Corporate.Luidia creates interactive solutions to capture and share ideas for organizations of all sizes, with hundreds of thousands of users across multiple industries and geographies. Headquartered in San Carlos, Calif., the company also partners with industry leaders who apply its eBeam technology in their latest products.
IGNOU
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) today announced the details of the virtual university for Africa, a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised such an institution at a summit in Addis Ababa. The proposal to establish the Indo-Africa Virtual University (IKAVU) was initiated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the IGNOU was entrusted with the formulation of the proposal. Following the suggestions from the MEA and MHRD, and extending the successfully executed Pan-African E-learning Network of IGNOU, the final proposal was approved by the MEA. “The mission of an India-Africa Virtual University is to create conditions that ensure special priority to furthering Indo-African relations by establishing an educational link,” said IGNOU Vice Chancellor Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai. The virtual university, he explained, will ensure Africa-oriented educational programmes are developed effectively in focus areas and fields such as health sciences, vocational education, food and nutritional security, and gender empowerment. “The India-Africa Virtual University will also augment the overall participation of African nations in the global educational development process and strengthen inter-regional cooperation between African member nations and India,” Prof. Pillai said. The headquarters of the virtual university is proposed in Ethiopia or Kenya and initial cost is estimated at Rs.150 crore ($3.5 million), with an annual cost or Rs.100 crore. It could take between six months to a year to implement. IGNOU authorities said, Africa has burgeoning numbers of youth, some seven-ten million of whom knock on the doors of the labour market every year, which is a huge opportunity. Yet, of today's unemployed in the region, 60 percent are youth. “Good quality, relevant education beyond the primary stage needs to turn out the types of skilled graduates and professionals that Africa so urgently needs. Only 5 percent of its relevant age group has access to university education compared to the world average of 25 percent,” Prof Pillai said. After the mandate from the Prime Minister, IGNOU has proposed within a period of one year, a plan of action at a continental level and an appropriate follow-up mechanism to implement the virtual university. “Following the success of the Pan-African E-Network Project, we propose to take the next step and establish an India-Africa Virtual University,” the prime minister had said at the India-Africa Forum Summit in the Ethiopian capital. “This will help meet some of the demand in Africa for higher studies in Indian institutions. We further propose 10,000 new scholarships under this proposed university will be available for African students after its establishment,” he added. As part of its objectives, the virtual university will formulate academic programmes, promote collaborations for distance education, coordinate special action plans and strengthen the consultation mechanisms on education between India and African nations.
Cellphones in Asian Classroom
The latest and seventh volume of the 'Digital Review of Asia Pacific,' released at a function here, highlights the power of new communication technologies in the field of education. In the Philippines, the cellphone and SMS are being used as the primary means for interactive learning. SMS is also being used to inform students of schedule changes, deadlines, examination regulations, grades, new courses and library resources. Student groups and organisations use the cellphone to publicise social activities, job fairs and book discounts as well as for voting in student elections. University administrators use cellphones to coordinate the admissions process to conduct marketing campaigns and announce grants, surveys, policies and emergency information like bad weather and suspension of classes.
In Indonesia, Mongolia and the Philippines, the focus of e-learning innovation is also the cellphone. The review, also called the DirAP, aims to 'serve as a guide for (information and communication technologies) ICT-related policy development, planning, research, and project implementation' in the world's most populous continent. It is put together by the Orbicom Network of Unesco Chairs in Communication (Canada), the International Development Research Centre of Canada, and SAGE Publications India at New Delhi. The report points to some interesting aspects such as studies show that while most students in South Asia use computers, very few have Internet access, ironically, the most important problem to Internet-based distance education in the Asia-Pacific region – the widespread lack of net access – has been discussed little, India, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, the Philippines and Thailand were found to be needing a distance education boost, Bangladesh, says the DirAP report, is a country giving considerable attention to linking literacy with economic affairs. But in China, it says, inter-sectoral coordination is critical for lifelong learning and linking education with poverty alleviation, the report says the Asia-Pacific region needs organisational upgrading, training to advance distance education in the region.
Indian Higher Education sector set to grow at 13 % CAGR
Indian higher education sector will surge at a CAGR of 15% by 2013 with increase in investment and ample opportunities, RNCOS acknowledged. According to a research report, “Indian Education Services – A Hot Opportunity”, education is the most crucial investment and an essential element for the development of India's economy. There exist ample opportunities for growth, diversification, and investment in the education sector. Moreover, with the increasing investments by both public and private players, we expect that, the annual student enrollments in higher education will grow at a CAGR of nearly 8.7% during 2010-11 to 2012-13. Further, the market size of higher education will witness a CAGR of approximately 15% to cross US$ 22 Billion by 2013. Our ongoing analysis found that, there are numerous factors, which can act as a catalyst for the growth of higher education in India. Availability of education loan, growing demand for skilled personnel, and e-learning are few of the growth areas. The country also faces challenges, such as low pedagogic quality and lack of investment funds in providing quality education. Additionally, economic growth will result into a surge in demand for more engineers and management graduates. Along with the quantity of graduates, the quality of education is anticipated to be another focus area for the Indian higher education system. Further, our report also presents an overview of the number of universities, technical education institutions, and colleges available and required in the country. The report has bifurcated the entire education sector into four main segments: Engineering education, Medical education, Management education, and Vocational education. Our report presents a prudent analysis of all these courses and concludes that they will remain in high demand during the next few years. Our report “Indian Education Services – A Hot Opportunity”, has analyzed numerous factors, which can act as a catalyst for the growth of higher education in India. The report facilitates current industry status and forecast for higher education segments, with focus on potential students' enrollments, and college's requirements during 2011-2013. Besides, it provides coherent analysis of the need for opening up of universities (particularly foreign) in the country during the next few years. In this regard, the report presents the entry and operation regulations for foreign universities/institutions providing education in India.
Stanford joins hands with Jaslok Hospital
To study possibilities of cooperation in medical services and training Stanford Medical Centre, an Ivy League institution in San Francisco, and Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai have signed an MoU. Stanford will provide the initial phase Teleconferencing Programmes to Jaslok doctors with top class education on “hot topics” to in turn offer best therapeutic options to Indian patients. There would also be opportunities to participate interactively with Stanford presenting and attending faculties. This could be expanded in later phases with visitations by Jaslok doctors to hospitals and clinics at Stanford and its affiliate hospitals in the US. “I firmly believe that Jaslok Hospital's multispeciality doctors will benefit greatly by educational engagement with world renowned faculty from one of US top Ivy league institutions like Stanford Medical Centre,” Dr Mukesh Hariawala, Boston based Indian American Cardiac Surgeon.
PMP Certification @SCIT, Pune
Project Management Certification (PMP) exam is a globally recognised and a most respected certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), which addresses all the major requirements of project managers in communication management, integration, quality, cost, human resources, risk and time. Symbiosis International University, Pune has a reputation for being a premier private university with its domain spread over the entire gamut of higher studies. MBA in Symbiosis is a coveted feature in the management arena and is perhaps a hot spot for MBA in Pune. Symbiosis' IT
IGNOU to organise workshop
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), discipline of Psychology of School of Social Sciences (SOSS) will soon organise a workshop on the Rorschach Inkblot Test Administration and Scoring (Exner Method). The practitioners of psychology do have an idea about this test but lack the necessary expertise in terms of scoring and interpretation. This workshop will provide an opportunity to develop an in depth knowledge about the test, develop necessary skill required in administration, scoring and interpretation of this test. The eligibility for participation is MA Psychology. The last date for registration is May 21. “Inkblot test is a psychodiagnostic test used in clinical setting for diagnosis and differential diagnosis. It is a projective test of personality in which a subject's interpretations of ten standard abstract designs are analysed as a measure of emotional and intellectual functioning and integration. “Various techniques of scoring the Rorschach inkblot test may be used. In the present workshop the Exner Comprehensive System of scoring Rorschach Inkblot will be covered,” said Dr Suhas Shetgovekar, reader, Discipline of Psychology, IGNOU.
Centum U announces admissions for academic year 2011 – 2012
Centum U, an initiative of Centum Learning – a Bharti Associate company, announced admissions for its academic session 2011-2012. Centum U, through its four campuses in New Delhi, Pune, Mohali and Hyderabad offers UG and PG programmes aimed at creating employable workforce for the country by converging professional skills with formal degrees. Students, at Centum U, acquire CCIE (Centum Certificate for Industry Employability) along with formal degrees, to be job-ready from day one. This certificate equips individuals with professional education & training, thereby addressing the macro-level challenge of manpower requirements for service sectors like Banking & Financial Services, Hospitality, Media & Entertainment, Automobile, Retail etc. Elaborating on CCIETM, Mr. Sanjeev Duggal, CEO and Executive Director, Centum Learning said, “While there are many job opportunities available in the service sector, about two million graduates and half a million postgraduates are unemployed in India at any point of time. Industry specific skills and domain knowledge are the need of the hour. The CCIETM or a workforce certification is designed to equip students with skills, aptitude & competencies needed to succeed in professional roles. As a Bharti Associate Company with immense expertise in the learning and development domain, we'll leverage our association with other group companies like Airtel, Bharti Wal Mart etc and our strong corporate connect to develop industry oriented curriculum, facilitate interaction with industry stalwarts and provide quality internships and placements. Our unique position & experience across 19 countries enables Centum U to offer its students adequate exposure to industry.” The workforce certification programme, which is offered with every formal degree programme, is delivered in two phases, a start up camp where students undertake an intensive industry immersion module in a sector of their interest like Banking, Telecom, Hospitality, Media & Entertainment etc. In the second phase of Industry Apprenticeship, students, under the guidance of an industry mentor, apply theoretical learning in a corporate environment, prepares reports and make presentations to the industry. Besides, the formal degree programmes include courses like Full time On campus MBA from IGNOU, MBA and BBA from Coventry University, UK and Graduate Programme in Media and Entertainment in association with Subhash Ghai's Whistling Woods International (WWI). The students at Centum U also have an option of pursuing their last semester at WWI (for Centum U's media courses) and the final year at Coventry University, UK subject to fulfillment of certain conditions.
Workshop on Rorschach Inkblot Test at IGNOU
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), discipline of Psychology of School of Social Sciences (SOSS) will soon organize a workshop on the Rorschach Inkblot Test Administration and Scoring (Exner Method). The practitioners of psychology do have an idea about this test but lack the necessary expertise in terms of scoring and interpretation. This workshop will provide an opportunity to develop an in depth knowledge about the test, develop necessary skill required in administration, scoring and interpretation of this test. The eligibility for participation is MA (Psychology). The last date for registration is 20th May, 2011. “The Rorschach inkblot test is a psychodiagnostic test used in clinical setting for diagnosis and differential diagnosis. It is a projective test of personality in which a subject's interpretations of ten standard abstract designs are analyzed as a measure of emotional and intellectual functioning and integration. Various techniques of scoring the Rorschach inkblot test may be used. In the present workshop the Exner Comprehensive System of scoring Rorschach Inkblot will be covered,” said Dr. Suhas Shetgovekar, Reader, Discipline of Psychology, IGNOU.
130 schools in Chandigarh participate for IGNOU quiz contest
Defying the scorching heat, a record 130 teams representing various city schools from Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula came all smiling at IGNITE 2011, a mutli-city, inter-school quiz contest organized by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) at the Chandigarh City Museum and Art Gallery. The contest ended with winners from Bhavan Vidyalaya (Surya Karan Sambyal and Kushaan Dosajh) while Pranav Kumar and Amanat Kang of DPS-Chandigarh were the runners-up in the event. Addressing the students, Chief Guest Dr. Asha Sharma, Regional Director of IGNOU, said that, “IGNOU is promoting school education where the stress is being given to enhance teacher training in schools. The idea of such events is to ignite students' interest in higher education and make them aware of the Open and Distance Learning System. IGNOU has a plethora of vocational and job-oriented programmes that cater to the students ready to join the college.” The quiz, hosted by the quizmaster Mr. Adittya Mobayi, started with a written elimination round of 20 questions in which all the students present in the hall were asked to participate. Out of these, six teams were selected for the next and final round. The final contest comprised of six rounds of questions, including one round on music and another on visuals. A few questions were put to the audience and those who gave correct answers were also rewarded with prizes. The winners got individual trophy, a school trophy, book vouchers and a gift hamper each, while the runners-up got individual trophies, book vouchers and a gift hamper. A panel exhibition and a flash presentation were also organized to make the students aware of various programmes being offered by IGNOU.
