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September 14, 2009

Microsoft's Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 partnered with an Indonesian school was the world's first to sign up such an arrangement. It was mentioned by Microsoft at the Asia-Pacific Regional Innovative Education Forum, that it has made a deal with Bandung Elementary School in West Java, Indonesia for the school to be equipped with Microsoft's server OS product on HP hardware.

The Indonesian school, the Harapan Ibu Islamic School in Jakarta was the second to sign with Microsoft. Microsoft announced Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 last month, aimed at allowing educational institutions to stretch their computing dollar. Several manufacturers have signed up to build products based on the software, such as HP's MultiSeat range of computers.

Schools gets a fund to computer technology

News

digitalLEARNING Network

September 14, 2009

A state-of-the-art information and communication technology network is being set up in schools throughout Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes. Rosie Manins talks to those responsible for the project. Schools are using computer technology more than ever, and those in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes are ahead of most following an upgrade spearheaded by a $2.1 million Central Lakes Trust grant. All 24 schools within the trust's geographic area have received an upgrade of existing information and communication technology (ICT) facilities as well as connection to a high-speed wireless network. Mt Aspiring College and Logan Park High School are also involved in a trial to connect schools with a centralised computer server in Dunedin which would connect all schools targeted by the project. Central Lakes Trust chief executive officer Paul Allison said the project started about three years ago when the trust formed a vision to see schools in its patch use the best computer technology. The trust committed $2.1 million to realising that vision, the largest grant made for a single project in the trust's eight-year history and its first in excess of $2 million. Funding was allocated in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 financial years. Most went to upgrading school facilities, with $1.5 million for new and improved equipment and a further $300,000 for wireless installation and connection. Collectively, the schools involved contributed about $400,000 for the upgrade. The balance is being used for a professional development programme to train teachers and school staff in how to best use the technology, as well as for investment in the server trial. Allison said the trust's vision extended to seeing upgrades utilised, which was where the trial came in. Government funding for upgraded ICT in rural schools throughout New Zealand had not been fast enough for the trust, he said. This week, the Government announced a $300 million rural broadband project which would see 93% of rural schools receive fibre in the next six years, although funding has yet to be committed to the project. Entering the field of cutting-edge technology meant the trust had to seek advice. Former principal Charles Newton was chosen as a mentor because of his long-term involvement in schools and the upgrading of ICT.

Ma Foi K Pandia Rajan bags CII award during CII-ICICI Venture Connect 2009 Entrepreneurs Award

News

digitalLEARNING Network

September 14, 2009

In recognition of his exemplary contribution to information technology and technology-driven innovations in the sphere of Human Resources, Ma Foi Group and Randstad India Managing Director K.Pandia Rajan was conferred the coveted CII-Venture Connect 2009 Entrepreneurs award at a function attended by Industry captains, peers and policymakers. Pandia Rajan received the award from Honourable Minister of State for Information & Communications Technology Sachin Pilot.

This award recognizes Pandia Rajan's commitment in turning a 'fly-by-night' unorganised sector of human resource services into a burgeoning and credible industry. The eminent jury of Connect 2009 Awards bestowed the Connect 2009 Entrepreneurs Award to Pandia Rajan under the category of ICT Ecosystem for his dynamic and valuable contribution in creating an excellent ecosystem in the Information & Communication Technology Sector in Tamil Nadu as well as in India. Pandia Rajan founded Ma Foi Management Consultants Limited in 1992 with an aim to make it a one-stop shop for all HR needs that would provide integrated and professional HR services for clients, world over. Having begun with a capital of just INR 60,000, Pandia Rajan has built Ma Foi into the first Public Limited HR Service Provider in India. He has played a crucial role in the evolution of the HR Industry at a time when the HR industry was still at its nascent stage and has pioneered the concept of HR outsourcing in India.

Indian B-schools attract high commissions, embassies

News

digitalLEARNING Network

September 12, 2009

'Thanks to the meltdown, India looks better than other economies and has has caught attention of the foreign high commissions and embassies to look for tie-ups. Moreover, some also think that there was a lot of emphasis on China in the past and there needs to be a balancing act to understand other emerging economies which can be done through such academic collaborations,' says Prem Chandrani, faculty member at SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) who looks after international relations at the institute. The agencies, according to Chandrani, have been looking for opportunities in terms of short term courses, student exchange programmes as well as international immersion programmes. For instance, recently, the French embassy got in touch with SPJIMR for student exchange programme in collaboration with the AIESEC University in France.

Requests have been pouring in from foreign universities through high commissions and embassies at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A). 'It's all based on requirements of the industry. Usually, we receive requests for sponsors or short term courses focusing on areas like CRM, IT-based programmes, marketing, tracking organisational performance and corporate strategy,' said Shikha Garg, manager – MDP at IIM-A. Talking about other reasons for such increased involvement of high commissions and embassies, Chandrani said, 'India is now becoming a important market and these agencies want their students to be exposed to these emerging economies so that by the time they get into the market, they would be familiar with Indian market conditions.'

ICT policy by AP Government to be introduced Soon

Policy Matters

digitalLEARNING Network

September 12, 2009

Work is being done by the Andhra Pradesh government on a new information, communication and technology (ICT) policy to promote IT and allied industries. The existing policy expires on March 31. Inputs have been gathered from the industry already and the draft document regarding the same will be prepared in consensus with the finance department. This would be done to link the incentives for the industry and is to be circulated later amongst the stakeholders for final discussions.

It has also stressed on promoting animation and software products from big and small companies. Software exports from the state are now pegged at INR 32,000 crore and expected to touch INR 1 lakh crore in the next five years. According to Ramesh Loganathan, managing director of Progress Software, the growth in the coming years would be from Tier-II and Tier-III cities. This would help universities to have a greater say in training students and to aid the industry to work together with them for setting up and promoting incubation centres to nurture new ideas and foster entrepreneurship.

New challenges under discussion at schools

K-12

digitalLEARNING Network

September 11, 2009

The radical changes being proposed in the education system by the Centre pose a big challenge and we must carefully weigh the pros and cons, said minister, school education, Partha De at a seminar organised by the Association of Anglo-Indian Teachers in West Bengal (ATAIS) at the GD Shaw Hall in Buntain Education Centre of Assembly of God Church School on Wednesday. De was speaking on the topic Challenges in teaching today'. Other speakers included Sushmita Bhattacharya, councillor, Kolkata, Anwar Premi, honorary general secretary, Sir Syed Group of Schools and Barry O'Brien, Anglo Indian MLA. O'Brien spoke on the various challenges that busy parents face while ensuring good education for their children. He also elaborated on the importance of good education in society.

Sushmita Bhattacharya said that the professional atmosphere amongst teachers must be amiable. It is important to have a happy staffroom' the hub and centre of the school she said. Anwar Premi said education should not be treated as a money-making business. Professor Suman Mukherjee, director, J D Birla College moderated the lively seminar which was followed by the 51st annual general meeting of ATAIS. Principals, headmasters, teachers and staff of around 42 Anglo-Indian schools attended the programme.

Enrichment of Tamil Nadu’s Coastal regions through ICT

News

digitalLEARNING Network

September 11, 2009

Any technology or device has its own plus and minus aspects. However its efficacy depends on how much of its plus points we could turn to our advantage. That means it is for us to make the technology to serve us, not the other way round. This is just what Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society (PMSSS), an NGO, has done quite successfully. The society has virtually turned the tides in favour of the fishing community in Pondicherry and districts of Cuddalore and Villupuram in Tamil Nadu, by making best use of Information & Communication Technologies to reshape the daily life of fishing folk. It all started with the setting up of a main information hub, supported by ISRO, at the headquarters of the society at Pondicherry. The hub relays information to Village Information Centres (VICs) located in the villages. The identified villages are nine in Pondicherry, eight and three in Cuddalore and Karaikal respectively. The villagers in these 20 coastal hamlets are being provided information and knowledge that enrich their day-to-day life. Besides routine information, alert messages are flashed in case there is a possibility of imminent disaster. It was a pioneering effort by PMSSS to take technology to people in the area that bore the brunt of tsunami five years ago.

The setup is designed to make announcements through Public Address(PA) system thrice a day on weather, wave heights, wind speed, potential areas where fish could be found and the daily market price of fish. This information is also displayed on boards in each of these villages. However the reach of PA system is limited to one kilometer. This limitation too was overcome by the never-dying spirit of those at the helm of PMSSS. The society tied up with the Pondicherry station of All India Radio to air 'Pudhu Yugam Padaipom” (Let us strive for a new dawn), a programme targeting the fishing folk. This communication mode was thought of on the request of fishermen to know the weather conditions while in deep sea. The Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and the Chennai-based Indian Meteorological Department provide information on weather forecast and wave height. A digital display system has been set up at PMSSS' Headquarters in Puducherry with the help of ISRO that provides all details relating to ocean, to the fisher folk. This NGO has also deployed its own Wave Rider Buoy at Bay of Bengal, Chinnaveerampattinam, Puducherry in 2007 to measure the wave height, for the safety of the fishermen of these villages.

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