Bristol City Council has awarded a 5-year contract, worth an initial
Ethiopia receives help from IIT Delhi to become tech-savy
Many students in Ethiopia are studying engineering and technology in virtual classrooms, some of their teachers seating in the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) which is helping that country become tech-savvy. The idea to empower Ethiopia's university students was mooted by its ambassador to India and even its prime minister was eager to have an association with IIT Delhi. M. Balakrishnan, dean of post-graduate studies at IIT Delhi, explained that the Government of Ethiopia is working on rapid expansion in field of education but lacks the required infrastructure; and that the government is looking forward to this association.
He said that Ehtiopia has set a target of producing 10,000 science and engineering students at the higher education level in next five years or so, and for this it has availed of the expertise of the IIT-Delhi as one of the partners. It wants to become technology-savvy and that IIT Delhi is the facilitator. The elite institute is delivering the courses via a two-way video/audio link. At least 46 faculty members are involved in the project and the IIT-Delhi offers up to 70 hours per week of instructions. There are around 50 students in each semester in each course.
Three Universities for minorities part of Government plan
According to the officials, after allocating INR 25 crore (INR 250 million) for two more campuses of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), the government is planning to set up three more universities for the country's minorities. These universities will be set up in Mysore (Karnataka), Kishanganj (Bihar) and Ajmer (Rajasthan). According to the official, '50 % of the seats in these universities will be reserved for minority students to make them more competitive in the job market.' To be set up on land owned by Waqf boards, these universities will provide education in all modern subjects along with theological teaching.
However, officials said the biggest problem in establishing such universities will be to overcome the legal hurdles for providing 50 % reservation for students from minority communities. In a 1968 lawsuit, the Supreme Court of India scrapped the minority status of the AMU. Then prime minister Indira Gandhi restored the AMU's minority status through legislation in 1981. But in 2006, a division bench of the Allahabad High Court struck down the provision of the AMU Amendment Act, 1981. It rejected the central government's plea for restoring the minority status of the AMU and scrapped 50 percent reservation for Muslim students. This was challenged by the centre in the apex court, which is yet to take a decision on the matter. Minority affairs ministry officials said the government was trying to work out a new model to overcome such legal hurdles.
Manipal Education, City and Guilds join forces to launch IndiaSkills
Manipal Education, a pioneer & the largest higher education provider in India, and City & Guilds, UK's largest provider of work-related assessment & qualifications, today announced the formation of a joint venture – Manipal City & Guilds Skills Training Pvt Ltd, with 51% held by Manipal Education and 49% by City & Guilds. This pioneering new venture will provide its offerings under the name 'IndiaSkills.' IndiaSkills, which has been set up with the aim of redefining the way skills education and training is delivered in India, will enable students to obtain skills-based qualifications in a wide range of industries, starting with retail, hospitality, banking, and English language training. The joint venture will also provide graduates with job placements at companies which require 'work-ready' staff, enhancing their career prospects, while creating the opportunity for enterprises to increase their productivity through a trained workforce.
Speaking at the launch yesterday Shri. Harish Rawat said, 'I am happy to see that institutions such as Manipal Education & City & Guilds are in the forefront of closing out gaps in the system. One of the biggest challenges our nation faces today is the mismatch between the available skills and the required skills in terms of quantity, quality & relevance. In order to sustain the high rate of economic growth through inclusive growth, and also for socio-economic upliftment of our people, we need to pay serious attention to skill development in our country with an eye on emerging skills. With proper skills development strategy our youth can realise their potential to be a great national asset.' IndiaSkills Vocational Training Centres will begin opening in October across India. To ensure the highest quality teaching and assessment standards, the centres will enter into an operating agreement to deliver training according to benchmarks laid down in conjunction with City & Guilds. City & Guilds which has a portfolio of over 650 qualifications over 28 industry sectors, will provide the core curriculum for the content of the courses. Manipal Education will provide support on the ground to deliver the work-based training schemes while leveraging its existing links with employers in India to help ensure newly qualified students obtain employment in India's rapidly growing economy. IndiaSkills will work closely with the industry to make sure that the repurposed core curriculum and content are relevant to India's needs.
Launch of Networking Academy at South African State Information Technology Agency by CISCO
Recently, CISCO announced the launch of a Cisco Networking Academy programme at the South African State Information Technology Agency (SITA) in Erasmuskloof. Enabling the establishment of the total number of offered Cisco courses and certifications under the Cisco Networking Academy programme in South Africa to 65, the launch saw SITA joining the forces with Cisco in an effort to meet the growing demand for information and communications technology (ICT) skills in South Africa.
The aim of the Cisco Networking Academy programme is to enable a consistently enriching learning experience by partnering with public and private institutions to develop and deliver innovative ICT courses, improve the effectiveness and accessibility of the programme, and increase access to education and career opportunities. SITA and Cisco have agreed to work towards a common goal of expanding the programme into a SITA training academy initiative. South Africa is experiencing tremendous ICT growth. According to reports, at least 115,000 additional ICT jobs will be required to meet requirements for the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be hosted in South Africa this year.
First MultiPoint OS at Indonesian Schools
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.
USD 200mn approved for Universities at California
Education stimulus fund to receive a boost at California in form of over US $200 million, that will allow many campuses to admit new students, restore courses and retain faculty and staff. The University of California (UC) and California State University will each receive $106 million and the California Community Colleges will receive $5 million in one-time funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Schools gets a fund to computer technology
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
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
'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.'
