Offshore campuses by IIT, IIM: Suggested guidelines by Planning Commission

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July 31, 2009

The Planning Commission has suggested to frame guidelines to allow Indian universities and other government run institutions such as Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to set up their offshore campuses. The move has come at the time when India is encouraging foreign universities to set up campuses in the country. Till now, only private institutions can set up their campuses abroad. As of now, there are no rules and regulations to permit government-run institutions to set up offshore campuses. Private institutions like Symbiosis and BITS, Pilani have already opened campuses abroad.

After considerable legal and bureaucratic hurdles, Pune University in May this year became the first government run institutions to start its campus in UAE. Initially, HRD ministry did not approve the concept due to lack of guidelines to set up offshore campus but Pune university got it approved by PM office to become first government run institution to set up offshore campus.

25 Years of Telecom Education celebration by LIDO

Corporate Updates

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July 30, 2009

Celebrating its 25^th anniversary the LIDO Organization Inc., is the provider of telecommunication education, training, consulting and advisory services. The company celebrated the 25^th Anniversary by announcing its fall international training seminars and becoming a CompTIA Authorized Quality Curriculum (CAQC) for Convergence+ certification. Additionally, this year also marks the 10^th anniversary of LIDO Telecommunications Essentials online training which has demystified telecom concepts and terminology for numerous business and educational organizations. This concise and comprehensive program covers the principles, technology and infrastructure of the telecommunications industry; is to be presented in four parts online. In August, LIDO also will celebrate the 1st anniversary of LIDO Telecom Pvt. Ltd., which offers telecom content and eLearning solutions in India.

Telecommunications is the critical infrastructure for the 21st century. In a global economy with nearly every facet of a business touched by intersecting information and communication technologies (ICT), companies need to understand the fundamentals of telecom to make their businesses function more efficiently. Whether they are in healthcare, education, entertainment, government, transportation, finance, national security, defense or public utilities – these industries are dependent on ICT. LIDO helps them understand telecom fundamentals and close the widening skill gap between current industry technologies and professional knowledge. In October, business professionals can master telecom through LIDO's intensive seminar program in just three days. Offered October 7-9 in Singapore and October 19-21 in London, the program allows operators, service providers, regulators, financiers, lawyers and government authorities to gain a solid grounding in telecom technologies, applications, and regulations. Attendees will examine the impact of converged and new-generation networks and learn how to compete effectively as regulations change, opening up new market opportunities for their businesses.

Mobile users can now access Portal by University of Illinois

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July 30, 2009

An option can be viewed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's website, that is normally not expected to be seen on a higher education institutions website. This option enables access to a site specifically designed for lower-bandwidth, mobile device users, known as 'UI Mobile'. The option strips out most of the graphics and sticks to the basics so that Internet-enabled mobile phone users can get information (such as staff directories) while away from their computers. Jim Wilson, director of Web services for the institution, which has three campuses and about 40,000 students, said the mobile site was originally set up for the school's higher-level administrators about two years ago.

Based in New York, Usablenet helps organizations support their users of mobile and assistive technologies for Web access. Its solutions are deployed by about 300 organizations to achieve mobile Web accessibility. At the University of Illinois, the mobile Internet implementation was handled entirely by the vendor, which provides the solution via a hosted service. To determine what type of information would be displayed on the mobile site, the schools IT team came up with the top 10 topics that would be searched via a mobile phone, such as news, events, a campus directory, library search, and weather reports. The solution also handles the manufacturer-specific filters required to make the content useable on a cell phone. A student who has a Blackberry, for example, will be automatically routed to the site designed for the best display on that type of phone.

Funding advice for online learning

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July 30, 2009

As online learning continues to gain momentum across the country, education experts are warning that policies surrounding this popular learning option are shaky at best. A new report by the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) is calling for a better policy and funding framework to make sure students are getting the best education possible. The report, 'Policy and Funding Frameworks for Online Learning,' written by John Watson and Butch Gemin of Evergreen Consulting Associates, and published by iNACOL, is the fifth report of iNACOL's six-report series called Promising Practices in Online Learning, which explores some of the approaches being taken by 'practitioners and policymakers in response to key issues in online learning.' The series was commissioned by iNACOL, because interest in, and applications to, online learning institutions have increased. For example, last year iNACOL estimates there were more than one million students enrolled in online courses. More than 30 states have state-led online programs, and more than half of the school districts in the U.S. offer online courses and services.

However, even though online learning is growing at the rate of 30 % annually, access to online schools and courses is not keeping pace with the demand from students and parents. iNACOL estimates that more than 40 % of middle and high school students want to enroll in online courses, more than 20 million students. As online learning continues to gain momentum across the country, education experts are warning that policies surrounding this popular learning option are shaky at best. A new report by the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) is calling for a better policy and funding framework to make sure students are getting the best education possible.

267 MCD Primary Schools to see English Medium sections

K-12

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July 30, 2009

For inculcating a competitive edge in students from economically backward sections, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is starting English medium sections in 267in its primary schools. Within each of the 267 municipal wards, one MCD-run school has been identified by the civic agency for this purpose and they have been rechristened as 'Nigam Pratibha Vidyalaya', told officials. The list of identified schools will be placed before a Standing Committee meeting of the civic body tomorrow.

The 267 schools will have one English medium section for class-I in the initial phase while similar sections will be started for all the primary classes over the next five years. Depending on the success of the classes being started, further steps would be taken to expand the classes more widely, told MCD Education Committee Chairman Pritviraj Sawhney. The idea of opening these sections is to provide an opportunity for parents from economically backward sections who are very keen to provide English medium education to their wards but are being unable to do so as the fee structure in private English medium schools is too high. The MCD at present runs 1746 primary schools in which about 9.5 lakh children are studying.

Kuntanase schools to receive 10 computers from EVCO

K-12

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digitalLEARNING Network

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July 30, 2009

The Entire Village Computers Organisation Inc, a US based international Non-governmental (NGO) on Monday donated 10 computers and a printer to the Kuntanase Roman Catholic Primary and Junior High Schools, respectively. The computers which cost US$3500 are to enhance the teaching and learning of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) in the schools and the community as a whole. Making the presentation, Seth Owusu, President of the NGO indicated that the donation was to support the training of all school children to be computer literates since the world had become an ICT world. He added that since ICT had now become the gateway to education, it would be prudent for all school children to have access to computer, hence the establishment of the NGO to support the world in that direction.

The President said a total of 17 clusters of schools in Africa are suppose to benefit from the package, 15 in Ghana, while the remaining two are in Nigeria. Receiving the donation, William Awuni, Bosomtwe District Director of Education, commended the NGO for the donation, which he said had come to complement government's effort at providing schools with computers and other teaching and learning materials. He called on the school authorities and the Parent Teachers Association to form a monitoring group to ensure effective use and proper maintenance of computers. Nana Premoh Kwagyan, Krontihene of Kuntanase who chaired the function, called on parents to invest in the education of their children and make sure that the children spent time at home learning.

New courses for the Differently-abled at DU

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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July 30, 2009

The Delhi University-NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) resource centre will soon conduct a new certificate course in news reading, anchoring and voiceover for the differently-abled students. The DU-NTPC centre last year organised short-term certificate courses in sign language interpretation, communicative English, information and communication technology and disability and human rights.

'This new course will give a lot of confidence and the required exposure to these special students. Last year, there was a huge demand for a media-related course from among these students, so we have decided to start it this year,' said Komal Kamra, a faculty member at S.G.T.B Khalsa College, who is associated with the Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC) of the DU. The EOC on Tuesday organised a special orientation programme for the physically handicapped students who have been admitted to various undergraduate courses for this academic year. Addressing the disabled students, their caregivers and parents at a function organised on the North Campus, Pro-Vice-Chancellor S.K. Tandon said it was the University's responsibility to nurture all children into responsible citizens. Dean of Students' Welfare S.K. Vij said it was imperative to keep a track of differently-abled children, not just in terms of academics, but also with respect to their other requirements. Vandita Kaul, a Director in the Disabilities Division of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, told students that they ought to be aware of their rights and reservation for them in jobs in the government sector. The EOC Officer on Special Duty Chandra Nisha Singh informed that the University would provide signers or interpreters to the hearing impaired students if they so desired.

PSDP allocated PKR 8551.269 for Education

Policy Matters

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digitalLEARNING Network

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July 28, 2009

Under Public Sector Development Programme 2009-10, the government has allocated PKR 8551.269 million for execution of 76 ongoing and 26 news projects under. An official document described that PKR 8029.787 millions have been earmarked for the ongoing schemes while the new projects were would get PKR 521.482 million for the upcoming fiscal year.

The major allocations for the ongoing projects include PKR 2000.000 million for Establishment and Operation of Basic Education Community Schools, PKR 2000.000 million for Education For All (EFA), PKR 300.000 for capacity Building of teachers Training Institutions and Training of Elementary School Teachers in Punjab and PKR 225.000 million for Capacity Building of Teachers Training Institutions and Training of Elementary School Teachers in Sindh. Similarly, an amount of PKR 209.595 million has been earmarked for Capacity Building of Teachers Training Institutions and Training of Elementary School Teachers in Balochistan, PKR 198.398 for Establishment of Cadet College at Choa Saiden Shah, District Chakwal, PKR 185.585 million for Establishment of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Cadet College, Swabi, PKR 150,000 million for Cadet College Panjgur Balochistan and PKR 113.330 million for Establishment of Cadet College Okara.

High Court asked dental college not to change admission rule

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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July 28, 2009

The Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday asked the Goa government not to change the process of admissions to the Goa Dental College the state's only state-run dental institute – as the regulations of the Dental Council of India (DCI) were sufficient. Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari and Justice U.D. Salvi observed that since the admission process was covered by regulations put in place by the DCI, the Goa government had no authority to legislate in the matter. The new clause inserted by the state government 'was not in addition to the DCI regulations, but repugnant to it,' they said, also asking the DCI to step in to regulate and monitor the admission process of the college.

On a petition of dental student Gaurav Nagarsekar who sought court regulation and rationalisation of norms for admissions to the post-graduate course, the court asked the government to restart the admission process from scratch. Nagarsekar, who was eliminated during the admission process, argued that the state government had suddenly changed the selection criteria this year, by giving a 60 % weightage for the specialised subjects. The bench dismissed the government's argument that Nagarsekar had delayed approaching the court, and also rejected the state government plea to make prospective application of the judgement.

Rare books on display by AMU

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July 25, 2009

An exhibition of rare books on Seerat, Quraniyat and specimen of Quranic calligraphy at Maulana Azad Library was recently inaugrated by the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis. On display were the rare and illuminated copies of Holy Quran and calligraphic specimen at the Seerat exhibition.

A large number of students, faculty members and other dignitaries including Nawab Ibne Saeed of Chhatari and Prof. Shamim Ahmad were also present. Librarian-in-charge Prof. Shabahat Husain said that the exhibition shall remain open till February 27, 2010.

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