Joint Admission Board rejects HRD’s SC/STs privilege in IIT-JEE

Higher Education

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April 22, 2009

A recent proposal by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to provide more attempts to SC and ST students in the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE), conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) has been rejected by the Joint Admission Board (JAB) yesterday saying that SC/ST students are already being given special preference for admission to the elite institutes. JAB is the highest body to take decision on IIT-JEE. Currently, all students are given two attempts to crack IIT-JEE.

'We need to maintain the status quo. The JAB thought that what is given to SCs/STs is sufficient,' said an IIT Director. The members at the JAB were of the view that SC/ST students were getting separate merit list with relaxed cut-off was being drawn up for these students. Preparatory classes are conducted for SC/ST students whose level of competence is not at par with that of the general students.

Live training by Akshaya for online counselling programme

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April 22, 2009

A training programme organised by Akshaya, an Information and Communication Technology dissemination project in the Indian state Kerala, in association with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) on the Internet-based counselling evoked enthusiastic response from students. Nearly 350 students took part in the live demo-cum-training sessions held at the Malappuram Collectorate in Kerala in three batches.

P.K. Basheer Ahamed, district officer of the NIC, showed the students all steps involved in the online CAP. Even when asking the students to exercise vigil, he showed them how easily and effectively the CAP can be done through the Internet. He walked the students through step-by-step Internet pages required to complete their registration and options. The best thing, according to Mr. Ahamed, is to take a printout of the pages and work on them before one actually goes on line. Students should keep the entrance brochure with them to ensure the college and course codes.

He cautioned the students against disclosing the roll number, admission number and the key in the admit card to others. One can scuttle the chances of a student by setting a false password if one gets to know the key. Another vital point the NIC district head made was about entering options. A student who opts a subject as a fifth preference, for example, can never get sixth or seventh preferences. Rather the student can get a higher option like fourth or third preferences if seats are available.

Showing them how to navigate through the site, Basheer said there were two ways to complete the online formalities. While the first method can take one to courses and colleges, the second can take the candidate through categories. The NIC official pointed out that the data entered could not be retrieved from the computer or from the Internet history files by others. This makes the programme secure and unique. As many as 4,000 students have already booked and 1.3 lakh options entered as the online counselling began. Malappuram became the sole district in the State not only to provide training in online CAP but also to offer extensive facilities for students through the Akshaya network. Explaining the online facilities available at the 327 Akshaya centres with Internet link in Malappuram, M. Salim, Akshaya district secretary, called upon the students to make use of the Akshaya broadband connectivity.

Zee Learn to open Mount Litera Zee Schools

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April 22, 2009

Zee Learn Ltd is targeting 400-500 schools across the country in 5-7 years under the Mount Litera Zee School banner. The schools will be set up largely through the franchisee route while a considerable number will be management contracts and owned and operated institutions.

There are currently 42 operational schools with another 70 in the pipeline. Next year Zee Learn will add 24 schools followed by 35 more the year after. Sumeet Mehta, CEO, Zee Learn stated that in terms of signing the projects, we should cross 100 schools by next month. The plan is to add 30-40 schools every year under franchise system.

ICT symposium by IGNOU

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April 22, 2009

The relevance of open educational resources (OER) has been propelled by the ever noticeable presence of information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives in the higher education landscape, which simplify the search for inputs on a particular subject. It is now possible to get multiple inputs from various universities on the same subject, through an OER . The Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) organised a two-day symposium last week to draw an action plan to further the cause of OER. The action plan stressed the need to leverage existing ICT facilities as well as other untapped options for OER. The plan categorically stated that content repositories will be developed in as many subjects as possible and that content translation will be organised systematically. Enhancing the scope of community radios, creation of common access to OER through free softwares like Skype and creation of metadata formed the other points of the action plan.

While sharing thoughts at the symposium, Ashok C Kolaskar, former vice-chancellor, Pune University, reported that the full potential of open and distance learning (ODL) and open education (OE) in India has not been harnessed due to the lack of appropriate coursewares. He reiterated the need to develop a mechanism to create and make accessible standard quality, usable and appropriate coursewares for ODL and OE in forms of repositories. The symposium, among other things, emphasised the need to educate people about the educational scope and benefits of IT in general. It also resolved to develop community level partnership in relation to issues like general education, computer literacy and documentation of environmental and ecological stock.

Aspirants to bear expenses for training for online CAT

Higher Education

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April 22, 2009

It's not just the burden of the new online system of examination that the CAT aspirants across the country will have to encounter during the upcoming test for admission to management institutes including the IIMs. They will also have to shell out some extra bucks in getting trained on the new systems. Coaching institutes are planning to pass on the extra cost incurred in installing new training system on to the aspirants. Depending on the city and brand, coaching fee for CAT ranges between INR 20,000 and INR 40,000, is expected to go up by at least 20-30% next year, say those in the business. While coaching centres will have to invest INR 30,000 – INR 40,000 per work station for IT and software infrastructure as soon as CAT committee announces the modalities, preparation cost may swell for candidates who would prefer to purchase computers for CAT preparation.

Majority of the CAT coaching centres that have already enrolled students for CAT 2009 do not intend to revise fee structure this year. Also, they are waiting for competitors to take a lead on fee revision front. However, industry sources revealed that CAT coaching fees would go up considerably from next year. 'It's going to be an entirely new game for us now. We'll have to alter the way we operate and plan our batch smartly within limited investments,' said a CAT coaching class top official who is considering to revise fee structure upward this year.

Experts describe Indian examination as faulty

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April 22, 2009

Amit Kapoor, chairman of the Institute of Competitiveness who was one of the panellists, said that students in schools and colleges here choose to study at the end of the year with just examinations in mind – thus losing the whole purpose of learning. He said, 'Thus the fundamental flaw in the examination system in India is that it creates students with mugging minds instead of questioning minds. The semester system, therefore, is a better option because it's more regular assessment of what a student has learnt through the year.'

Most students, he added, limit their potential by studying only with the aim of securing a job. Educational institutes should instil a sense of confidence in students to study a subject of their choice and create a niche for themselves in a new field. 'Educational institutes make job-seekers, and not job creators. They should create entrepreneurs,' said Kapoor. Going a step ahead, Rajeev Katyal, director of education at Microsoft, said the most ideal way of linking education to employability is by encouraging vocational training. 'Vocational training is significant because it leads to more employability. Currently only seven percent Indians are getting vocational education,' said Katyal. Kelly Raj, counsellor, department of education, employment and workplace relations, Australia, added, 'Vocational education is the perfect link between education and employability.'

Research: Personality and grooming necessary for good school grades

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April 22, 2009

A study by researchers from the University of Miami Health Economics Research Group examined the effect of three personal characteristics – physical attractiveness, personality and grooming – on students' grade point averages (GPA) in high school. The basic goal was to determine which aspects of these personal traits are more strongly linked to academic achievement, said Michael T. French, professor of health economics at the UM College and study co-author. 'Several studies have found that physical attractiveness is significantly related to labour market earnings for men and women. Thus, we were somewhat surprised to find that physical attractiveness was not the most important non-cognitive predictor of grades,' said French. He informed that, 'Instead grooming and personality were stronger predictors of academic success in high school for boys and girls, respectively.'

Looking at GPA as a function of a long list of individual, familial, school, and environmental characteristics that are likely to affect academic performance, the researchers were able to make several significant observations. They found physical attractiveness had a positive effect on GPA for both genders, but only when considered alone. However, when tagged with grooming and personality, its effect on high school GPA turned negative for both genders. For male students, grooming delivers the biggest overall effect on GPA. For female students, personality is positively related to GPA. Physical appearance can be a way for adolescents to either rebel or accept adult's standards. However, whether the student is a “rebel” or a “conformist” does not have a bearing on GPA. The findings suggest that some degree of teacher bias is present in favour of, or against certain types of students. These findings are slated for publication in the next issue of Labour Economics.

More than 1.35 Lakh seats for Engg. at TN

Higher Education

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April 22, 2009

More than 1,35,000 seats will be available for students in 41 disciplines of B.E. and B.Tech courses in Tamil Nadu Engineering Colleges. According to P. Mannar Jawahar, Vice-Chancellor, Anna University, 'Around 85,000 seats will be allotted through counseling in the University.' he told that 'Tamil Nadu Engineering Admission (TNEA) forms along with an information booklet will be distributed from today onwards.' Nearly 1.5 lakh forms will get distributed in 58 counters all over the state.

'Even though dates for counseling has not been finalized but rankings will be ready by June 20 and counseling would commence after medical counseling,' he added. Overall 354 colleges that comprises of 333 self-financing colleges, 11 university colleges and 10 government and government aided colleges, will be a part of the counseling process. The prospectus of the 354 colleges is available online and students can obtain the forms at www.annauniv.edu/tnea2009 or through post or can even directly collect it from the counters setup by the university. The counters will remain open on all days from May 6, 2009 to May 30, 2009, except on May 12, May 13 (elections day), May 16 (counting day) and on Sundays, between 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The fees for the application form is INR 500/- for general and INR 250/- for SC/ST candidates. The payment can be made through cash or Demand Draft (DD) at the counters and if sending through post additional INR 200/- should be added to it. A Xerox copy of the community certificate should be brought at the time of admission in case of SC/ST candidates.

TERI partners with Suzlon Energy Ltd to offer M.Tech.

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April 22, 2009

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Suzlon Energy Limited, the world's fifth leading wind turbine maker, and TERI University for setting up and offering an MTech Programme in Renewable Energy Engineering and Management. This MoU will facilitate Suzlon Energy to contribute to the Programme through exchange of ideas and expertise, and guest faculty. The aim of this degree programme is to produce engineering graduates who have a strong grounding in the renewable energy engineering subject, and also equip them with a good understanding of the social and economic aspects of energy policy.

R. K .Pachauri, Chancellor TERI University and Director General The Energy and Resources Institute said, 'TERI University is a unique institution which is focusing on the challenges that humanity is facing today and would continue to face in the future particularly in respect of unsustainable use of natural resources. Against that background we are pleased and proud to receive support from Suzlon Energy, an organization which has been a pioneer in promoting and implementing renewable energy solutions in India and several other parts of the world. We believe the graduates of the TERI University who benefit from support being provided by Suzlon Energy will help take the world towards a sustainable energy future.' Speaking about this initiative Tulsi Tanti, CMD, Suzlon Energy Ltd. said, 'Suzlon today is the evolving face of renewable energy. By joining hands with TERI University we clearly demonstrate our vision and commitment towards green energy. We are proud to extend our support to this course that will give birth to a young dynamic generation of engineers who will inherit the challenge of creating a sustainable future.' Backed by an advisory committee constituting of a senior Suzlon executive, this programme will enable them to provide inputs to the curriculum, monitor the quality of the programme, determine and facilitate access to experimental facilities, equipment, etc., and oversee the proper conduct.

Teachers protest likely to delay DU exam results

Higher Education

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April 22, 2009

'Teachers need to come to the evaluation centers to correct the answer sheets instead of taking the copies at home. To check answer sheet teachers have to come to different evaluation centers,' said S.C. Panda, DU Executive Council member. Panda further said, 'A teacher has to invigilate for three hours during the exam and then go to the evaluation center for correction of scripts. In the little time that he or she has left he can correct only a few copies.' 'Teachers can adjust their timings. They can visit the evaluation center anywhere between 9am to 6 pm. Teachers can evaluate maximum of nine papers in a month,' said M.M. Rehman, Officer on Special Duty, Examinations.

Delay in submission of answer scripts by evaluators has plagued the DU examination branch for years. 'Evaluation of copies at evaluation centre will ensure that they submit the copies on time and maintain quality,' said a faculty member from Hans Raj College. But most of the time delay in result happens due to tabulation of marks and moderation of internal assessment marks by the examination branch.

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