Technical education, as the term suggests, is different from regular education. Its ambit, as per our laws, primarily comprises training and research programmes in sectors like engineering, technology, architecture, town planning, management, pharmacy, applied arts and crafts, hotel management and catering technology,etc. But How is technical education regulated in India? What are the important conditions institutions need to fulfill? What are the regulations governing the entry of foreign universities? Here is a closer look at some issues concerning technical education in India.
UGC to develop toxic waste disposal guidelines, suggests Sibal
The Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development (HRD) Kapil Sibal, asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Friday to develop rules and guidelines for obtainment, usage and disposal of unsafe substances by universities. The HRD minister took this step to prevent incidents such as the recent radioactive poisoning of scrap dealers in Mayapuri from happening again. A meeting took place between UGC Chairman Sukhadeo Thorat and Sibal recently to discuss the guidelines that should be developed for the methods of procuring, handling, storing and disposing off material that can be potentially harmful.
A set of guidelines have been framed by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) regarding how universities should store, use, handle and dispose such substances but the UGC does not have a policy regarding the matter.
Online French learning through Hindi
First of its kind, an online French learning manual was launched by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). This manual is to enable students to learn French via Hindi through distance education. The programme has been developed in support and collaboration with the Embassy of France. This was offically launched by J
IT Awards Business Systems Transformation Project to HCL
An announcement was made recently, by Melbourne regarding signing of a deal with HCL Technologies Ltd. (HCL), a leading global IT services provider, to support its Integrated Web Services (IWS) business transformation project. Supporting IWS, HCL is one of the partners of Melbourne IT. IWS, is a three year, US$18 million IT integration project which will allow Melbourne IT to fully leverage the value of the company's customer base by enabling the business to sell customers the full suite of services across business units and geographies.
Melbourne IT is to be provided by the project, improved revenue realisation through stronger billing processes and deliver productivity, efficiency and cost savings benefits by enforcing process consistency and reducing the number of systems requiring IT support. As part of the IWS project, Melbourne IT and HCL Technologies will also work closely with Oracle to implement a unified financial management system to improve billing processes across the company. The IWS project is now underway and is expected to be completed in 2012.
NIS Academy introduces NIS PG Programme in Management
NIS Academy, an educational initiative of NIS Sparta Ltd., Asia's leading Training, Education and Learning solutions provider, today announced the launch of 'NIS PGPM Courses' targeted at students who are seeking programs to make them 'Market Ready', provide placement assistance and also offer benefit of a recognized degree. NIS PGPM is a blend of Knowledge and Skills; Knowledge through the conventional UGC recognized degree such as BBA or an MBA, and Skills through an autonomous Program in Business Skills. In this context, Manoj Chawla, Executive Senior V-P, NIS Academy, said, 'The requirement for skilled professionals is always high. Companies are seeking individuals who are 'Market-Ready', equipped with right knowledge, skills, and attitude that make a difference. NIS PGPM is a blended program which exposes the student to the practical nuisances of a corporate world, focuses on building their work attitude and skills, while ensuring theoretical concepts through a university monitored degree program.'
The NIS PGPM with BBA for 10+2 is a 3-year course that gives students the benefit of Dual Qualification and that too with the backing of 100% placement assistance. Apart from the regular BBA Applied Management curriculum, this module also equips students with knowledge of high growth industry verticals such as retail, telecom or the BFSI sector. The NIS PGPM with MBA for graduates, a 2-year course, combines benefits of a DEC and UGC recognized degree and know-how on key industry verticals. The program aligns students to the market realities, builds their business skills, thus, paving the way for pursuing a good career. NIS PGPM program is delivered through a unique methodology that effectively equips the students with good knowledge, refined attitude, outstanding skills and winning habits along with 100% placement assistance. The module includes an industry overview of new age businesses along with industry-specific sales management. The UGC and DEC approved MBA and BBA degree is from Annamalai University.
Now London Biotechnology Network and ERBI work as one
ERBI, the not-for-profit membership company for international life science and healthcare companies, and the London Biotechnology Network (LBN), the business network for London-based life science organisations, have recently, announced a merger. To operate under ERBI name for a while, the combined group will launch a new identity soon at the ERBI Annual Conference on 2nd June. With the merger of the organisations a combination will be made comprising of ERBI's 350+ members with LBN's network of over 400 organisations across a wide range of life science industry sectors. The network represents a powerhouse of commercial, clinical and academic interests with at least 60% of the UK's life science industry base, four of the UK's five Academic Health Science Centres and three of the world's top six universities. The merger is to result in member benefits like a significantly larger pool of companies to support business-to-business interaction; a membership of a cluster of international size, relevance and visibility; and so on. The merged organisation is to have offices in both Cambridge and London, with Harriet Fear as CEO.
ICRI announces a Strategic Tie Up with Medical University of South Carolina, USA to offer Masters in Health Administration Global
After the approval of the Foreign Universities Bill by the government, ICRI, the pioneers in Healthcare and Clinical Research education, has entered into an academic/strategic alliance with Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to offer Masters in Health Administration-Global. Eminent faculty and administrative staff of MUSC were present during the launch. This alliance would help strengthen the roots of ICRI globally and further the cause of grooming professionals in upcoming healthcare administration Industry in India, to face exciting challenges posed by the Industry and also pave the way for new career opportunities in the field.
Shiv Raman Dugal, Chairman Board of Directors, ICRI commenting on this association said, 'The Indian Healthcare industry is seen to be growing at a rapid pace and is expected to become a US$280 billion industry by 2022. Consequently, there is a need for an appropriately skilled team of hospital administrators who can plan and carry excellent health services. We as an institute are constantly benchmarking ourselves to international best practices in our domain by offering various programs that would cater to the industry needs.' 'With the approval of the Foreign Universities Bill, students interested in Indian higher education are riding a wave of optimism and we aim to provide the right platform by getting into an alliance with MUSC, one of the finest universities in the field of medical health in the United States. The association with MUSC would help ICRI deliver on the growing demand for highly skilled healthcare professionals in India,' Dugal added.
The alliance would further establish domain understanding in the field globally and provide an international framework for structured education. MUSC would undertake responsibility for the quality academic orientation in healthcare management Industry, training methodologies, evaluative studies, project assessment along with the knowledge exchange. On arrival in India and speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mark S. Sothmann, Dean and Professor College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), said, 'I am sure the students will benefit tremendously from this course and we wish them the very best.
The ICRI – MUSC alliance has actually given us an opportunity to address the growing demand for professionals in India. I am delighted to enter into such a partnership. The perfect combination of Institute of Clinical Research (India)'s networking with the Indian healthcare sector and MUSC University's distinctive competences in healthcare management data studies bring immense potential to furthering the cause of healthcare management in India.' Major General Dr. M Srivastava, Director Health, ICRI said, 'With Healthcare Administration being a global industry serving global requirements, educational institutions involved with programs in Healthcare Administration need to have a curriculum which match the high standard requirements of Industry worldwide. This partnership is aimed at imparting such innovative education through an international exchange of knowledge dissemination in healthcare management Industry.'
According to the Investment Commission of India, the healthcare sector has experienced phenomenal growth of 12 % per annum since 2006. Also in accordance to another report by Yes Bank and ASSOCHAM, the healthcare industry in the country is projected to grow 23 % per annum to touch US$ 77 billion by 2012 from the current estimated size of US$ 35 billion. Rising income levels, growing elderly population, changing demographics along with shift from chronic to lifestyle diseases in the country has led to increased spending on healthcare delivery. In order to meet the widening gap between demand and supply of qualified professionals, ICRI aims to provide a global perspective on the health care environment, yielding graduates who would possess an understanding of the universal challenges facing health care managers and the requisite leadership qualities and skills required by a global society.
India News : May 2010
Education deal between India and Australia
Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal on 8th April 2010, made an agreement as the two countries India and Australia signed an education pact. Indian students continued to come to Australia for higher studies and the government had not discouraged them for doing so. An India-Australia Education Council comprising experts from both countries will now be set up. Sibal also reported that he believed the attacks on young Indians had declined. A media report said it was recently revealed that international student numbers were down nationally three percent and 12 % in Victoria.
IGNOU at London and Paris
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is now spreading its wings not only at national level but also internationally, as a part of its plan to spread across the message of education. The university is set to start its centre in London from July this year that aims to offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. According to the officials, after London, Paris would be the next destination for expansion. It was also reported that the London venture, despite the university's experience in running centres abroad, might not prove to be an easy task as it is expected to face a tough competition from the UK Open University (UKOU).
300 schools to be established by Zee across country
Zee group, known for providing entertainment and news, recently, announced that it plans to set up 50 schools in just one year across the country and aims to set up 300 schools by 2015. The Chairman of the group, Subash Chandra, mentioned in a statement that within a year the group has set up 50 schools and that it is a strong step being taken towards enhancement of the country's human capital by making children realise their own respective potential. The company had already laid out an investment of INR 350 crore for setting up schools and developing innovative learning content.
Jindal Global University and Cambridge University Signed a Revolutionizing Education Pact to improve the efficiency of Police Forces in India
O.P. Jindal Global University and Cambridge University signed a formal pact, at New Delhi recentally, to train and teach IPS officers for a knowledge based policing system in India. The course designed by eminent scholars, researchers, academicians from the field of Law and Crime from Cambridge University and JGU would be for the enrichment of the IPS officer which in turn would benefit the entire police force and the society at large. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has awarded this training contract to Cambridge University working with its Indian partner, O.P. Jindal Global University.
Sam Pitroda speaks on next ICT wave in India
While sharing his views on impact of ICT on Indian society and the next phase of ICT revolution, through a video link from Chicago, Sam Pitroda delivered a keynote at the recent conference Microsoft Tech.Ed developer, held in Bengaluru. He described that the ICT revolution in India is about to enter into its second phase that would be based on broadband, data, applications, processes and new infrastructure. This would change the nature of education, health, government services, public delivery systems available in India. He elaborated that in the next two decades information is to play a critical role in restructuring a lot of development in India.
New Director at BITS Pilani
With effect from April 16, 2010, Prof G Raghurama, Professor in the Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering at Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani has been appointed as the new Director of the Pilani campus of the Institute. He has completed his M.Sc from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), and PhD in Physics from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Later he joined BITS as a faculty member in 1987. He has been the Deputy Director (Academic) in the Institute since January 2007.
States push centre to expend for RTE implementation
The government is constantly facing demands from many states to pick up bulk of the multi-billion tab for implementing the landmark Right to Education Act, that includes other key challenges such as teacher shortage and infrastructure lacunae. It seems that most of the state governments want the centre to increase its proposed share from 55% to somewhere in between 75% and 90%. Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh want the centre to provide 100% funds.
Showcasing Innovations of the Future
Higher education in India has transformed over time. Till a few years ago, the focus was to create centres of excellence to churn out qualified and technical manpower. IITs and IIMs reflected this trend. Now, the sector is witnessing an influential transformation. The Foreign Educational Institutions Bill has proposed to allow 100 % Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in higher education thereby saving India billions of dollars in foreign exchange outgo. The Ministry of Human Resource Development also plans to set up around 14 Innovation Universities, aiming to promote a “brain gain” policy to attract talent from all over the world.
The recent trend has been for the government to promote the setting up of private universities. Entry of private players will probably pave the way for competitiveness in education delivery, although critiques view it with a skeptical eye. It has lead to wider choices for the students, the flexibility to choose and learn subjects of interest. The sector has started adopting and assimilating best practices, and is not shying away from experimenting with visionary ideas which are specific to the the needs of the learner and the market.
Industry front-runners are now paving the way for innovative and highly competitive, yet rooted and inclusive education models. Pioneers in the field, including Shiv Nadar – Founder and Chairman of HCL Technologies, Azim Premji Chairman of Wipro Technologies, Rajendra Pawar – Co-Founder and Chairman, NIIT Technologies, and other education ventures from Vedanta, Apeejay and Reliance bring with them an enlightened vision on education. The current digitalLEARNING issue brings a detailed coverage of the NIIT University based on the visionary leadership of its founders and seeking to establish an institute par excellence.N Jadhav, Member, Planning Commission, in his interview to digitalLEARNING, provides insights into the future of the education sector. He puts forth strongly that the reforms taking place in the higher education segment is going to place it on a higher pedestal and lead the way for the future. The NUEPA Vice Chancellor, Prof Govinda, elaborates on the role of technology in higher education research in policy and administration, and how NUEPA will be using the same for carrying forward its niche research on policy and practice. digitalLEARNING seeks to highlight new and innovative models in education. The current focus on higher education refl ects our commitment in exploring new ventures, dissemination of best practices, and providing a platform for unique innovations in the fi eld.
digitalLEARNING Education Investment Summit, April 23, 2010, New Delhi
The Education Investment Summit 2010, held on April 23, 2010, at The Claridges, New Delhi, brought together India's top-notch educational entrepreneurs, CEOs, private equity funders, venture capitalists, bankers, advisors and educational consultants to explore opportunities in private equity, venture capital and institutional investments in various streams of education sector.
The Education Investment Summit became a prolific interface between investors and entrepreneurs aspiring to be part of the emerging education growth story of the country. At a broader level, it also helped all stakeholders to explore newer potential for their growth and an opportunity to build new partnerships and refresh existing collaborations.
The summit witnessed high-level participation from leading Private Equity & Venture Capital Funds, Institutional Investors, Entrepreneurs, Policy Makers, Educationists, Senior Management from Schools, Colleges, Universities, Professional Training Centers, Education Technology Vendors & eLearning Companies, IT Solution Providers & Suppliers, Educational Consultants.
Some of the top issues that caught recent limelight includes – 'Right To Education Act'; the Cabinet Committee's approval for establishment of a National Knowledge Network (NKN) to be implemented by National Informatics Centre (NIC) of Government of India; announcement of the revised 'ICT in Education Policy' for introduction of computer-based education at secondary and senior secondary levels of nearly 108,000 government and government-aided schools across the country; and National Skills Development Mission.
Emerging Indian Education Sector
