On May 25, 2010, Rediff.com enabled the HSC exam results to be available to students who appeared for the exam results through its social media initiative MyPage, helping students avail their result online and on phone. Students were to follow the Exams page at rediff.com/exams and check their results after 11 am. Rediff.com took an initiative in association with Maharashtra State Board to provide a prompt relief for HSC students.
Intel CEO on Innovation Economy
Paul Otellini, Intel Corporation President and CEO, recently mentioned that innovation and investments in information and communications technology (ICT) will accelerate economic recovery and jobs growth worldwide, while addressing a gathering at the World Congress on IT in Amsterdam. Otellini also unveiled new Intel investments in education, and announced the 2010 Intel Challenge for a new generation of entrepreneurs-in-training.
In order to reach demand of world's innovation pipeline and prepare the next generation of entrepreneurs, Otellini announced the 2010 Intel Challenge, a competition that will provide prize money for the best business plans submitted by university students to help turn their ideas into entrepreneurial ventures. Judgement of the business plans are to check on their potential for positive societal impact and return to investors through the commercialization of new technologies in areas such as semiconductors, mobile and wireless, nanotechnology and life sciences. Entries will be drawn from a network of universities, including more than 150 colleges offering entrepreneurship classes led by professors trained by Intel through an innovation-focused curriculum. Participants will compete for $150,000 in prize money, and will receive mentoring throughout the competition from leaders in the entrepreneur community. Intel expects that the annual competition will receive more than 10,000 business plan entries over the next 3 years. Winners will compete in the Intel + Berkeley Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge at the University of California in November.
140 contracts for training to Kebili graduates
Recently, Mohamed Agrebi, Minister of Vocational Training and Employment, made available to 140 university graduates in the governorate of Kebili, Tunisia, a number of contracts for inclusion in various training programs. He also presided over a signing ceremony of two agreements with the Regional Office of Education and Family and the National Union of Tunisian Women in Kebili within the framework of voluntary public service program. 17 young executives are to benefit from these agreements.
His visit was seen as an opportunity to take cognizance of the activities of the training center and professional learning in Kebili which has a capacity of over 500 young people. The Minister visited the remote work centre center which operates 4 companies that generated 150 jobs in the ICT. He also visited an Italian company specialized in exporting polishing stone which provides 80 permanent jobs.
PEs US $140 million in education since Jan 2010
According to a report by education-focused private equity fund Kaizen Management Advisors, the venture capitalists and private equity players have pumped in excess of US$140 million so far this year, 50% more than what they invested in the whole of 2009. It is expected that the total VC/PE investment into the education sector is to touch $300 million this year, mentioned Sandeep Aneja, Managing Director of Kaizen Management Advisors.
There are about 25 PE/VC players in the market actively looking for good deals, and about ten deals have been done in the last few months. Lack of regulation in K-12 (kindergarten to class XII) segment and supplementary education has made education attractive for investors. Matrix Partners India too has invested INR 59 crore in Tree House in two tranches
Sibal says 20 lakh teachers needed to implement RTE
Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal mentioned that government needs to recruit 20 lakh teachers to successfully implement the Right to Education Act. The implementation of the act is difficult and the only solution would be to recruit teachers even if they did not have the required qualification.
Sibal also mentioned about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's commitment to build 6,500 'model' schools in backward areas; of these, 3,000 would be developed through public-private-partnership investment. The government was willing to look at possible economic models to implement it.
University18 to launch multi programs with Karnataka Sate Open University
Recently University18, an online education provider, announced the launch of multiple Online Degree Programs including an Executive MBA , and an Online MS Program, in collaboration with State run Karnataka State Open University. The Vice Chancellor of Karnataka State Open University, Prof KS Rangappa, commended University18 on its efforts at providing quality online education to the Indian masses. University18's was appreciated by the VC for onging contribution and commitment to the democratisation of Higher Education in the country, as well as the geographical reach of its programs.
University18 and Karnataka State Open University went on the announce their continued commitment towards providing Quality Higher Education to Indians across the nation, as well as around the world, and also announced the launch of 31 proposed programs in the coming two years. Amongst these would be an Online MS Degree Program, as well as an Online BBA Program. These programs would see an intake of over 8000 students, in each enrollment cycle.
Games important for Primary Education
In a research done by the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA), it was found that schools see technology such as games consoles and smartphones as playing an important role in primary-aged children's education. 406 schools were explored to find out about the ICT use by students at school and at home. The interesting results help to ascertain which technologies schools consider most beneficial to students, and to see which technology pupils enjoy.
While the majority of schools indicated internet access at home and at school as the most beneficial technology for pupils, three quarters identify home access to educational games consoles like Nintendo DS as being helpful to children's educational development. Teachers are more likely to prefer that pupils have access to a mobile games console over a mobile phone. It was also found about the educational computer use in the home that the majority of surveyed schools identify that home computers are used for personal revision work involving free online and parent-purchased resources, with 64 % of schools providing teacher-directed homework that requires computer access at home. Another third agree that PCs are used at home for teacher directed homework linked to learning platform. Interestingly, only a quarter of schools believe that the majority of pupils use computers for entertainment and social networking exclusively, and not for educational activities.
eLearning Portal at DU
Now students can pursue the disciplines at the Delhi University and avail the course materials on the web and even take tests online, thanks to the new e-learning portal launched by the varsity. DU Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental inaugrated the portal. The web portal www.illldu.edu.in hosts e-learning content in the form of e-Lessons, e-Quizzes, e-Labs and e-Lectures for 12 disciplines of the university. So far, around 110 e-lessons have been uploaded on the e-learning portal so far. This content has been developed in 12 disciplines for various undergraduate programmes and hundreds of teachers were involved in this initiative.
The e-lessons comprise of multimedia enriched content and value additions that make learning an interesting experience. Refuting the mechanical logic of rote learning, the e-lessons encourage creativity and promote both in the box and out of the box thinking.
INR 48 crores for Schools in Chandigarh
It was reported that the Chandigarh administration is to spend around INR 48 crore this fiscal to enhance the facilities and infrastructure in existing schools and construct new schools in this union territory. It was also reported that in the education department, over INR 10.5 crore will be spent on schools under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and more than INR 18 crore under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan in 2010-11. The officials have been apparently directed to maintain basic amenities in all government schools during the upcoming summer vacations by the administration.
India and UAE to discuss potential for developing knowledge economy
A panel composing of India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) is to discuss the potential areas of cooperation between the two countries in the pursuit of developing a knowledge economy at a conclave organised in UAE recently. This will be followed by an expert panel discussion comprising government officials, academics, businesspeople from both countries.
According to reports the platform is to focus on exploring diverse perspectives on knowledge economy and discuss the importance of evolving a sustainable economy. The strength and barriers of the two countries will also be deliberated upon and discussions will be held on new technology, innovation, business strategy, as well as changing social and economic conditions. They are to review the international experiences, explore opportunities for public-private partnerships in education in both India and UAE.
