Mexus Education, a Mumbai based education innovations enterprise, launches 'Iken Scientifica Workshops' where students get a chance to experience real-world situations in a simulated learning environment. The summer camps will be conducted from 15th April to 30th April in schools across Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai in two sessions for 3.5 hour everyday. At the summer camp, students work in teams in an open market of raw materials, tools, fabricators and knowledge experts to create useful machines. The educational objectives of the workshops in the summer camp are
Education ministry Azerbaijani works on a new pilot projects on ICT application
The Ministry of Education of Azerbaijani plans to utilise the given opportunities of information and communication technologies (ICT) in education. Highligting the same, head of department of education system informatization, Samir Mammadov mentioned that providing the schools with equipment is not highlight. The main objective according to him was to effectively implement utilistaion fo ICT and using it rationally.
He also mentioned that simoultaneously, other pilot projects will also be implemented in the current year. These plans included providing each student with a netbook for positive impact in each school. The pilot project is to support provision of 3,000 netbooks while Intel is to grant another 1,000.
Computer achievements at Norwich School, UK
One of the Norwich’s Schools has been appreciated for supporting students get a grip of the latest computer technology, marking the third national accolade it has secured in a term. The ‘Becta’ ICT mark in recognition for the school’s ICT work, which includes praise for giving seven to 11 year olds a laptop, and students setting up a lunchtime radio station, was awarded to Lakenham Primary School.
The school has invested heavily in new technology since it was opened in 2007, integrating that equipment into the way it delivers the curriculum, as well as school administration. Some of the steps that put Lakenham at the forefront of modern day learning included full wireless capability throughout the school, interactive whiteboards, video conferencing facilities, and students voting systems.
Assessors spoke with teachers, support staff, governors, parents and children when considering the award submission and were impressed with the way that the school had provided laptops for each child at the key stage-two level to help their learning.
High tech companies support new Scottish digital qualifications
Six of the world's best-known technology companies have agreed to support the introduction of a new Scottish digital and ICT curriculum and qualifications.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has signed up global technology leaders Apple, Avid, Cisco, Macromedia, Microsoft and Oracle, together with the computing industry trade association CompTIA, to participate in a ground-breaking three-year collaborative programme. The programme will benefit thousands of young people studying at schools and colleges who want to access the fast-growing IT industry. The plans include new awards in ICT and digital media and the development of new educational materials. Teachers will also be offered development opportunities to train in the latest technologies.
TechnoFuture for children in Abuja
President Olusegun Obasanjo has launched in Abuja an Information Technology Initiative (ICT) tailored for children from age four till they attain adulthood, aptly named TechnoFuture.
Technofuture is an initiative of New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD)
ICAS International Twinning Engineering Program Applications Invite for Batch 2010
Manipal Education has announced the opening of admissions to their International Centre for Applied Sciences (ICAS) Twinning Program, a collaborative arrangement with foreign universities. The course provides a great platform for students to pursue engineering programs overseas, at a fraction of the cost. ICAS is a unique Credit Transfer Program that enables its students to pursue the first two years of their degree program at Manipal and the last two years in a foreign university. The foreign university awards the degree. Based on the performance in the first two years, the credits can be transferred to Top league institutions like John Hopkins University, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Virginia Tech, University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign, Purdue University, University of California- Berkeley, University of Wisconsin- Madison, Texas A & M, Ohio State University, University of Southern California, University of Minnesota -Twin Cities, Case Western University among many others.
ICAS also has successful tie ups with universities in the U.S., Andrews University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Michigan Technological University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Russ College of Engineering and Technology, St. Cloud State University, The University of Missouri-Kansas, and North Dakota State University. In the U.K., ICAS has tied up with City University, Lancaster University, Sheffield Hallam University and University of Leicester. The ones in Australia are Deakin University and University of Queensland. The Degree will be awarded by that Foreign University after the successful completion of the course. The course curriculum, methodology & evaluation is based on the US University structure / pattern and is compatible with most of the US & UK Universities, thereby making for smooth credit transfers. The course also provides tremendous opportunities to avail paid internships in USA, UK and Australia. Universities also offer part or full tuition fee waivers and scholarships exclusively to ICAS students depending upon their performance & merit. It is also possible to finish the program in less than 4 years as it depends on the number of subjects chosen in each semester.
Bharathidasan University and ICT Academy of Tamil Nadu sign MoU
A deal was struck between Bharathidasan University with the ICT Academy of Tamil Nadu (ICTACT) to establish its function as a nodal institution in its jurisdiction comprising seven districts with 104 Arts & Science and Fine Arts colleges, and 13 approved institutions. 18 is the number of autonomous colleges and the student strength in the affiliated colleges is over 1.5 lakh, out of the above mentioned colleges and institutions.
The ICTACT, a consortium of the Centre, State and Confederation of Indian Industry, will provide industry relevant training programmes in the ICT spectrum to the faculty members of the university and its affiliated colleges. Various training programmes will be sponsored by the ICT industry. It is led by a governing body chaired by Lakshmi Narayanan of Cognizant Technology Solutions with members drawn from industry leaders including K. Jayaramakrishnan of TCS, Sameer Garde of Dell, Raghunandan of Redington, Gopal Srinivasan of TVS Capital Ltd., CII Tamil Nadu Chapter Chairman C.K. Ranganathan, and State Secretary of IT P.W.C. Davidar.
High Tech studies soon at Chandigarh
14 government and private colleges in Chandigarh are to provide their students with Digital libraries, audio-visual presentations and films, the new educational tools for students with the hope of taking learning beyond the conventional textbook experience. A document on 'Vision 2010' was circulated among colleges with focus on promoting learning through real-life situations exposure, besides introduction of the latest technology.
The document talks about improving infrastructure, proposes industry-community-based interaction, skill development and use of audio-visual aids, movies and documentaries for teaching in smart classrooms equipped with master CDs of eminent scholars.
Fundamental rights on Education to be availed by kids
Children in the age group of 6-14 years are to receive compulsory education with the notification of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, becoming a fundamental right, in April. While addressing the nation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh mentioned that the government is committed to provide all children education to strengthen the future of the nation further. While the notification is an important milestone, the government acknowledged that the real challenge lay in the effective implementation of the Act. The address also comprised of Shri Singh referring to the need for all stakeholders to work together to realize the Right to Education (RTE). The requirement of large funds and inadequate provisioning have been major reasons for the delay in the notification. Welcoming the notification, UNICEF representative in India Karin Hulshof mentioned that the effort will ensure quality education with equity for children, with opening doors for achieving great heights and brighter future.
While these are the initial steps, the government will need to ensure that allocations are made. The Thirteenth Finance Commission has provided for INR 25,000 crore to the states over five years for the implementation of RTE. This over and above allocations for centrally-sponsored schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-Day Meal, teacher education. For the current year, the central allocation is to the tune of INR 15,000 crore, and the centre will bear 55% of the burden. The ministry is keen that the Centre's burden is increased to 65% to ensure that states do not fall behind on implementation due to fund crunch. Work on RTE was started by the NDA government soon after Parliament passed the constitutional amendment in December 2002. The first delay came when the NDA was voted out of power in May 2004. Work on the RTE was then taken up by the Kapil Sibal (now Minster HRD, India) committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE).
ICT to rural Nigeria
All over the world, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is fast dictating the pace of development. From communication to banking, education to defence, oil and gas as well as health and agriculture, electronic technology has become the norm. Access to ICT remains low in Nigeria, despite liberalisation of the sector ten years ago. It was told that in parts of Africa where 70% of the population comes under the category of rural population, the people don't have interest in investing in businesses, not to mention the disinterest in terms of ICT.
It was estimated by CTO that only 10% (10 million) of Nigeria's 140 million population have access to the internet. In this scenario, the rural dwellers that constitute the bulk of the people are either totally cut off or under served in terms of ICT. The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), a federal government agency affiliated to the National Communications commission (NCC)has a five- year strategic plan 2007 – 2011 which consists of five broad goals to promote the widespread availability and usage of network and applications services throughout Nigeria.
