IGNOU and Indian army partner to provide soldiers with degrees

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September 7, 2009

A pact was inked between the Indian Army and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to grant degrees to soldiers during their service, a step aimed at providing the jawans with a second career option. Gyan Deep, the programme which aims to equip the soldiers who join the force just after school with a graduation degree is based on the US system of community colleges in defence cantonments. It is to benefit a majority of the 1.2 million soldiers in the army. Army chief General Deepak Kapoor and IGNOU Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai were present at the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) here. Every year nearly 50,000 trained soldiers retire from the army after an average of 15 years in service.

The programme will impart market-driven courses and soft skills to them. After retirement, a second career option is difficult to be sought by soldiers due to lacunae in the academic qualifications, required for the specific jobs in public and private sectors, where a formal degree from a recognised university or institute is mandatory. The IGNOU will register Regimental Training Centres, Human Resource Development Centres of the Indian Army and Army Schools of Instructions as ‘community colleges’. The Army-IGNOU Community Colleges will continue functioning as autonomous bodies conducting examinations and their courses as hitherto fore. The soldiers will need 92 credits for getting a graduation degree. The first 64 credits will be given to the soldier for his work within the army. He will also need to do some courses for which he will be awarded certificates. Thereafter he will go to the IGNOU programme to earn the remaining credits. For those soldiers who join after Class 10, the army will be organising bridge courses to bring them at par with those who have completed Class 12.

Digital CAT divide hits Small-town aspirants

Higher Education

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September 7, 2009

Making themselves well equipped the national institutes are prepared to provide computer-based coaching at least in their bigger centres, most of the hundreds of institutes that offer CAT coaching in small towns don't have the infrastructure to prepare students for the digital challenge. They are advising students to read e-papers to develop an online reading habit and practise navigation skills on the computer. Small things such as grasping the question after reading it on a monitor and the ability to navigate through questions can make a significant difference to the final results, they say.

Even the city-bred are not very comfortable with the idea of a computer-based test. This year, the exam will be held on 10 days, with separate sets of questions for each day, replacing the traditional one test for all. Students can choose the day on which they want to appear on a first-come-first-served basis. This has only added to the confusion. The CAT website, www.catiim.in, provides all the necessary support, including a demo test to help students as it brings about a generation change in the admission process for IIMs, taking it to the digital age where there is no place for pen and paper. However, unlike GMAT, the entrance test of international business colleges, and other global tests conducted online, the CAT score will not be available on the same day. The results will be out only on January 22, 2010. This will change over time and CAT may become a test like GMAT and GRE that can be taken any time of the year.

Collaboration for promotion of Science education

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September 7, 2009

SGPC Funds for 5 ‘true Sikhs’ for research at Cambridge

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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September 4, 2009

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) will sponsor five Sikhs to carry out research at the prestigious Cambridge University. However, the five will be required to maintain their 'Sikh identity', refraining from cutting their hair or trimming their beards, among other things, during the period of their study. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, explained that students can be from any part of the country and would have privilege of choosing any area for study. The only condition they are to follow is that of 'true Sikhism.' They are to maintain their identities as Sikhs and if they loose this identity while studying in Cambridge, then they will have to refund the scholarship amount.

An MoU between the SGPC and the Cambridge university was signed in Cambridge July 21. As per the MoU, every year five Sikh students of good academic background, who want to pursue Ph.D and M.Phil courses, will be sent to the university. After completing their studies at Cambridge, students have to come back and serve in SGPC institutions for at least five years, added the official.

Right to Education Act 2009 in action

Policy Matters

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digitalLEARNING Network

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September 4, 2009

Sixteen years after the idea was first mooted, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 has finally been notified, after receiving the assent of the President of India. Article 21-A, as inserted by the Constitution (Eighty-Sixth Amendment) Act, 2002, provides for free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of six to fourteen years as a Fundamental Right. Consequently, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, has been enacted by the Parliament. The salient features of the Right of Education Bill include free and compulsory education to all children of India in the six to 14 age group; no child shall be held back, expelled, or required to pass a board examination until completion of elementary education; a child who completes elementary education (upto class 8) shall be awarded a certificate; calls for a fixed student-teacher ratio; will apply to all of India except Jammu and Kashmir; provides for 25 % reservation for economically disadvantaged communities in admission to Class One in all private schools; mandates improvement in quality of education; school teachers will need adequate professional degree within five years or else will lose job; school infrastructure (where there is problem) to be improved in three years, else recognition cancelled; and financial burden will be shared between state and central government.

30 New Higher Education Colleges to come up in Rajasthan

Higher Education

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September 3, 2009

State government in collaboration with Union government has announced setting up of 30 model colleges across the state. The aim is to improve the standard and reach of Higher Education in Rajasthan. An investment of INR 8 crores has been fixed for each college, with the state government's contribution amounting to INR 2.67 crores. A sum of INR 270 crores would be initially pumped into the project. The project has been launched especially for the districts with a lower ratio of conscription in colleges. 30 districts will be covered under the scheme.

The model colleges will be equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities and would be spread over an area of 5-10 acres of land. NNE has compiled data on the current status of Higher Education institutions in Rajasthan, that describes that there are 14 government colleges; 13 private colleges; 8 Higher Studies colleges; 126 state colleges; 15 State Law colleges; 71 affiliated colleges, Research organization; 743 non-affiliated colleges; and 65 private law colleges. The state government has received proposals for 184 new colleges, 146 out of which are private co-ed colleges. Presently, only 24 out of total 241 Tehsils do not have a college.

Microsoft IT Academy to benefit 100 secondary schools in Anambra

Corporate Updates

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September 3, 2009

In a committed effort to empower its citizens, especially educational institutions with IT tools and knowledge, the Anambra State government is partnering with the software giant , Microsoft on IT education termed Microsoft IT academy aimed to enable institutions to offer a world-class curriculum to help students utilise the latest Microsoft technologies while learning about information technology and earning Microsoft technology certifications. The programme also links academic learning to real world job skills, thus allowing students to graduate with the IT skills that they would need to advance in their future careers with minimal adjustment in the working world.

The Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi who disclosed this recently to Anambra Journalist's Forum (AJF) shortly a facility tour of the state noted that very soon, the Anambra state will turn into a 21st century knowledge economy with a pool of students who will graduate with very best in software incubators. According to Obi who has been preaching capacity building, each school under the scheme will get 50 PCs which has not fully commenced. Karrox Nigeria will be responsible for the overall management the 6 new IT Academies. The organization will work closely with Microsoft to ensure that these Academies are ready and operational by ensuring that all hardware and software requirements are met and that the schools' teachers are fully ICT trained.

Zee Institute of Creativity Arts Celebrated its 14th Anniversary with Convocation Ceremony

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September 3, 2009

Zee Institute of Creative Arts (ZICA) completed its 14th anniversary on 4th September 2009. To add to the glory of its 14th anniversary celebration ZICA held the Convocation ceremony of its DAFM-9 (Diploma in Animation Film Making) Batch at Grand Sarovar Premiere, Mumbai. ZICA during the event unfolded its voyage from the time of its commencement; by presenting its journey through an Audio Visual. This event created a platform for alumni's of the institute who are associated with renowned organizations, production houses & studios to congregate and share their experiences. Showcased at the event were outstanding 2d & 3d films by the students of ZICA. 'ZICA has been the pioneer animation institute in the country and we are delighted that today we have completed 14 successful years in animation industry. Since we started out in 1995, we have grown by leaps and bounds. At ZICA we facilitate quality learning and provide the guidance of experienced and trained faculty with state of the art infrastructure. The alumni's success is the best witness to speak about ZICA's standard. We are proud of our alumni's remarkable contribution to the industry and their association with renowned & prestigious organizations,' said Subhadarshi Tripathy, Head- Youth Business, ZICA – Zee Learn.

ZICA's first center was set up in Hyderabad on (Date- 14th August 1995) i.e. 14 years from now, when Animation as an Industry had initiated spreading its roots in India. ZICA was one of the earliest centers that took up Classical and Digital Animation training. At present ZICA has 4 centers operating in Mumbai, Bhubaneshwar, Pune, & Lucknow and is soon coming up in Kolkata & Hyderabad. Present at the occasion Radhakrishna Sahoo, Co-Founder & Director, Animizm an Alumnus of ZICA,' said ZICA is a platform wherein many aspirants like me interested in Animation; Gaming & VFX have nurtured their potential & creative skills. The learning, guidance and support given to me by the institute are the key of my success. Uniting at the same foundation with all friends and sharing old memories is indeed a great pleasure. I am certain that ZICA will keep producing refined talented professionals in future as well. This privy is very vivid to me and my other mates present here; based on the impressive work showcased by the students of ZICA. ZICA, with its stimulating environment, distinctive training style and industry relevant curriculum has churned out a number of animation prodigies in the past 14 years. The institute with state-of-the-art infrastructure imparts practical training on pre-production/visualisation, production and post-production. The programs offered by this premier institute not only concentrate on all the technical aspects but also in core design and aesthetic skills. All the courses offered have been developed by practicing industry professionals.

Online Academic Certificates now possible

Policy Matters

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September 3, 2009

The Human Resource Development (HRD) minister, Kapil Sibal, announced for establishment of a national database of academic qualifications (degree/certificates from school to graduate/postgraduate level including professional degrees) to be created and maintained in an electronic format by an identified, registered depository.

He emphasised that the shift from traditional paper-pen method to a technology based solution for certificates would also ensure confidentiality, authenticity and fidelity, enabling online verification and easy retrieval of academic qualifications. At present two Depositories, National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) and Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) are registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Additionally, fraudulent practices such as forging of certificates and mark sheets could be eliminated by such a system. This is to be facilitated through encouraging online verification for which the Ministry has constituted a Task Force under Prof. Sanjay Dhande, Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. The other members of the Task Force shall include Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director, Indian Institute of Management- Kozhikode (IIM-K), Prof. S.S.Mantha, Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Prof. Ved Prakash, Vice-Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), Vineet Joshi, Chairman, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), a nominee of the Department of Financial Services not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India, the Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor, Ministry of Human Resource Development or his nominee from the Finance wing of the Ministry and a nominee of the Planning Commission.

US$20 million e-Asia and knowledge partnership fund at ADB

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September 3, 2009

The Government of the Republic of Korea has set up a US$20 million e-Asia and knowledge partnership fund at ADB. The fund aims to bridge the digital divide and promote access to information and creating and sharing of knowledge through Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in the Asia and Pacific region. < ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The fund, managed and administered by ADB, will support ADB's developing member countries in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and the World Summit on Information Societies declaration. The e-Asia program will support projects that aim to reduce and bridge the digital divide and the Knowledge Partnership program will support projects that aim to strengthen the capacity of developing member countries, such as by providing knowledge and sharing information and experiences for poverty reduction and social development through workshops, trainings, research work, and publications.

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