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IIMC to set up Asia’s biggest audio-visual training centre

By
Akash
-

Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) will soon set up Asia’s biggest audio-visual training centre in Mumbai’s film city. IIMC’s Director General KG Suresh revealed the same while speaking at IFFCO Connections 2017-IIMC’s alumni meet. He said that the centre will be established in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and expected to be operational within two years.

According to media reports, Rs 200 crore has been allocated for the project. The audio-visual centre will be named as “National Centre for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics”.

Announcing the project, Suresh said, the centre will train 1600 professionals annually. He also said that various IIMC campuses will now work as regional centres. Jammu will be the centre for north India while Kottayam, Dhenkanal, Amravati and Aizwal will be the centres in south, east, west and north-east respectively.

Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association (IIMCAA) has scheduled 12 alumni meets this year – beginning in Delhi from February 19 and culminating on April 23 in Kolkata.

IIT Madras seen over 60% growth in foreign students in five years

By
Akash
-

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) has seen over 60% growth in the number of exchange students.  From 90 students in 2011 to 145 in 2016, the rise in number of foreign students is the indication of improved international relations and global impetus of the institute.

Presence of international students and faculties has helped the institute to improve its global ranking significantly in the surveys. IITM is also working on recruiting fulltime faculty members and increasing its research collaborations with foreign universities.

At present, the institute has exchange students and visiting faculty that account for the international crowd on the campus. “The student exchange programme works in two ways. One, where the student visits a foreign university to pursue one semester (four months), and in exchange a student from that foreign university visits IITM,” said, R Nagarajan, dean, international and alumni affairs. “The second possibility is for a student to visit IITM for research collaboration,” he added.

Majority of the international students are from European countries such as Germany, France, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy and Denmark. “We also have students from Asian countries (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia). Countries like Australia, Zimbabwe, Sweden and Finland have been active in sending their students of late,” Nagarajan said.

“Under the full time programmes, we have received two students (both Korean) who are doing their B Tech. From 2011 to 2016, students from Ethiopia, Romania and Mauritius have taken up M Tech, MS and PhD at IITM,” he said.

“The number of full time professors teaching on the campus is 10. The institute is also hosting nine visiting international faculty members who have come from Germany, Taiwan, the UK and USA. Recently, the MHRD had announced that IITs would be encouraged to recruit more foreign faculty members. IITM is in the process of implementing it,” said Nagarajan.

“We would invite potential faculty members for a visit to get an understanding of the campus atmosphere before bringing them on board. And, about the salary, with the implementation of the recommendations of the seventh pay commission, we will be able to match the salary offered by most countries,” said Nagarajan.

MHRD likely to make annual teacher training mandatory

By
Akash
-

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is planning to make annual teacher training mandatory for the teachers. In order to improve the quality of school education, mandatory teacher training is ministry’s latest step along with standardisation of assessment, examination and report cards, and ensuring most Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools subscribe to NCERT textbooks.

CBSE is also working on another plan of linking a school’s accreditation to teachers’ qualification and training. According to ministry officials, the reformative step will ensure to bridge the disparities between the “elite” (private unaided schools) and others.

Standardisation of education at school level will help the students to get quality and uniform education standards across all schools.

In this context, the HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said that from next year the ministry will “further strengthen the delivery of the National Council of Educational Research and Training books.”

The CBSE has approached the National Council for Teachers Education for a detailed blueprint on improving of teacher training while the National University on Educational Planning and Administration is working on online training modules for school teachers.

It is expected that the reforms will be rolled out by the midsession of the 2017-18 academic year. The ministry is likely to come up with plans so that majority of CBSE schools subscribe to NCERT textbooks, rather than those of private publications. “We have received complaints about how expensive the school textbooks are. So we made a start to supply the NCERT textbooks as demanded by the schools voluntarily. From next year we will strengthen the system so that students get quality and affordable books,” said Javadekar.

Now, IIT-Kharagpur to have supercomputing facility!

By
Akash
-

The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT- KGP), is going to be the first higher educational institute to get a supercomputing facility under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).

According to IIT-Kharagpur spokesperson, the facility will provide large computational support for carrying out research and teaching activities that involve state-of-the-art High Performance Computing (HPC).

Director of IIT-KGP, Prof P P Chakrabarti said “The Peta-Flop new system with both CPU and CPU-GPU based servers along with the already existing HPC equipment will provide about 1.5 Peta-Flop capacity support to several areas where the researchers of IIT-KGP are actively involved.”

In order to build, manage and operate the HPC facility, a new Centre for Computational and Data Sciences (CCDS) will be established around such a supercomputing platform, he added.

Prof Chakrabarti, referring the research areas where the facility will be of use, said “Faculty members and their research groups at IIT-KGP are already engaged in research in several areas of national importance requiring large computational (both hardware and software) support.

“The facility will cover cutting-edge research scope in different inter-disciplinary areas like bio molecular simulations, drug design and bio-informatics, climate change and digital earth, geo-scientific exploration, infrastructure design and sustainable cities,” he said.

“Other than research, CCDS will also focus on education and capacity building,” Prof Chakrabarti said adding, IIT-KGP had been chosen as a nodal centre for HPC-related educational activities by NSM.

The initiative at IIT Kharagpur is supported by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The objective of the mission is to build supercomputing capacity and capability in the country with an estimated budget of Rs 4,500 crore over a period of seven years, he added.

Computers to set board exam papers, a major technical reform

By
Akash
-

Soon the computers are going to set question papers at the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) and Pre University (PU) boards. In order to avoid the incidences of paper leak, Karnataka government will deploy technology to reform the two boards.

The two boards conduct Class 10 and Class 12 exams for lakhs of students every year. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has promised to reform the two boards as last year, II PU Chemistry question paper was leaked twice in a span of ten days, forcing the government to rework the exam schedule

Initially, computers will replace teachers in setting question papers. A virtual bank of 40,000 questions will be created to generate question papers. “For any subject, there’s no reason why a question paper should be set by human beings,” Additional Chief Secretary (primary and secondary education), Ajay Seth said.

Another major educational reform is that the marks gained by students in the two exams will be made public. “We are doing this because many fake SSLC and PUC marks cards are created with the idea of getting jobs. Employers can key in the name and date of birth of candidates to verify their marks,” he said.

The government has students’ marks data in an electronic format 2003 onward. The facility is expected to be ready in about four months. The government is in talks with the National Informatics Centre and Infosys Foundation-funded ICT Infracon for development.

“I’m more worried about the distribution stage because that’s where leaks can happen,” Vasavi Vidyaniketan Trust chief executive K Sheshamurthy said. Citing the example of the online question paper delivery system adopted by Visvesvaraya Technological University four years ago, he said that the passwords will be issued to exam centres to access a secure server. Exam centres will be allowed to print the question papers just 30 minutes before the exam.

The same process can also be followed for smaller exams, according to Nagendran Sundararajan, executive vice president at MeritTrac, a testing and assessments company .“Another area where there’s clearly a big room for technology to come in is evaluation. The likes of onscreen marking technology are being used globally. It cuts down totalling errors and ensures consistency,” he said.

International Curriculum Adding Value to the Future of Indian Learners

By
digitalLEARNING Network
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Cambrige

International curriculum is a popular choice among Indian learners. Broad academic opportunities as part of international curriculums equip children with not just a thorough knowledge, but also an indepth understanding of various subjects, along with highly competitive skills to meet the demands of 21st century life at university and beyond.

Cambridge International Examinations works with 400 schools in India – and over 10,000 schools in 160 countries – to provide a pioneering and coherent curriculum for students from primary to senior secondary. Cambridge is the only provider of international qualifications that is wholly-owned by a world-leading university, the University of Cambridge. Success with Cambridge has proven to opens doors to the best universities – in India and beyond – as these qualifications are trusted and valued by universities and employers worldwide.

Rooted in academic rigour and backed by the latest educational research, the Cambridge curriculum offers a wide choice of subjects – 75 subjects for Cambridge IGCSE (Class X) and 55 subjects for Cambridge International A Level (Class XII). Cambridge programmes are flexible which means that they can be taught alongside the national curriculum. This helps schools to offer their learners an international education, whilst still meeting local requirements. Schools are also free to tailor the syllabus content to suit their national context and ensure it is relevant to their learners.

Many exam boards offer qualifications which will help students get into university. However Cambridge qualifications go much further than that, as they also set students up for success in life. Cambridge learners develop higher order thinking skills – such as critical thinking, collaboration and creativity – as well as deep subject knowledge. Through active learning approach, students are encouraged to become confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged. These attributes help students succeed in tomorrow’s world and are valued by universities and employers across the globe.

Cambridge believes that examinations play an important role in recognising, rewarding and encouraging learning. Through the curriculum, Cambridge encourages innovation in learning, whether that’s new teaching methods or the technology used in the classroom.

There are a number of innovative subjects that are offered and taught across Cambridge schools. Subjects like Cambridge Global Perspectives, Enterprise and Media Studies provide opportunities for both teachers and learners to think out of the box, practise interdisciplinary approaches and bring creativity into the classroom. These subjects are aimed at enabling learners to take a hands-on approach, such as creating their own media products or setting up and running an enterprise – and this engages them in their own learning, enabling them to communicate in new ways and produce exciting work.

Cambridge continues to become increasingly innovative in using technology in assessment. The board introduced optional on-screen tests for lower secondary learners in 2016 and will consult with schools before introducing on-screen tests for Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS & A Levels. Cambridge understands that not every school is equipped to run computer-based exams and so will continue to offer paper-based alternatives. Any technology introduced into the classroom must have a positive impact on learning.

Cambridge believes that supporting teachers in their professional development leads to improved outcomes for learners. Keeping this in mind, Cambridge offers a range of professional development opportunities for principals and teachers at Cambridge schools, including online and face-to-face training courses and professional development qualifications. Cambridge’s approach to professional development supports teachers to become confident in their teaching, responsible for themselves and responsive to others, reflective in their practice, innovative and equipped to meet new challenges, and engaged intellectually and professionally. It also helps teachers meet their career development goals, schools’ objectives and values, and our standards.

Cambridge has a long history of working with governments and education bodies around the world. A respected partner of ministries of education and national examination boards in over 30 countries, Cambridge is currently engaged in a variety of education reform projects around the world. Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has provided equivalence to Cambridge qualifications in India.

There has been a marked increase in entries for Cambridge examinations in India in recent years, spurred by a growth in awareness of the benefits of international education and the introduction of a March series of exams for students in India. By taking exams in March, Cambridge students in India are able to meet local college admission deadlines – a significant benefit that has been warmly welcomed by schools and students alike. Cambridge exam series also take place in June and November.

There has been a substantial increase in the popularity of Cambridge qualifications in India and around the world, with a 31 per cent increase in Cambridge IGCSE entries in India in the March 2017 exam series and a 21 per cent increase in entries for Cambridge International AS & A Level. The largest number of entries for Cambridge IGCSE subjects in India have been for: Mathematics (Without Coursework), First Language English (Oral Endorsement), Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Some of the other popular subjects are business studies, economics, Art and design and Global perspectives.

Cambridge International Examinations works closely with schools, from the moment interest is expressed. All Cambridge schools have to meet determined quality standards in five key areas, including management of the school and quality of teaching and learning. Once a school is registered, Cambridge supports them to deliver its programmes effectively and administer exams correctly.

Being part of Cambridge means being part of a worldwide education community. Through events and discussion forums, Cambridge also encourages schools to connect with each other and share expertise – in their own country and internationally. Together with schools, Cambridge works to raise standards in education and prepare school students for life.

 

UGC to universities, include photograph and Aadhaar number in degree certificates

By
Akash
-
UGC

The UGC has asked all universities and educational institutions to introduce identification mechanisms in the degree certificates awarded to the students. The degree certificates will include students’ photos and Aadhaar numbers in the certificates.

“Having security features in the marksheets and certificates issued by varsities are useful for verification and curbing duplication. At the same time, they help in introducing uniformity and transparency within and across the system of higher education in the country,” UGC Secretary, JS Sandhu said.

“You are directed to include identification mechanisms like photograph and unique ID/Aadhaar number in students’ certificates. Further, you are also requested to inscribe the name of the institution in which a student is enrolled as well as the mode of study (regular, part-time or distance),” he said.

UGC has also asked the varsities to inscribe the name of the institution in which the student is enrolled along with the details of programme studied in and mode of study.

UGC has directed the universities to ensure that the identification details are mentioned correctly in the academic certificates. The Commission asked to implement the suggested changes at the earliest in the interest of students.

CBSE brings in uniform assessment structure from class 6 to 9

By
Akash
-

According to a circular by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the much-vaunted Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) for Classes 6 to 9 is out. The revised assessment structure is likely to ensure a smooth transition to Class 10 Board exams, which have been made compulsory from the next academic year.

“To increase the confidence among the students to start preparing for Class 10 Board examination when they join the upper primary stage in Class 6, the CBSE has decided to implement the uniform system of assessment, examination pattern and issue of report cards for Classes 6 to 7 also on the similar pattern,” said the circular by the Central Board of Secondary Education.

“This new scheme will bring the uniformity in the system of assessment and examination for classes 9 and 10 in all the CBSE affiliated schools,” said the CBSE.

It said that due to the disparities in the systems of assessment and examination among the various CBSE affiliated schools, students of Classes 6-9 face problems on migrating to another school.

The CBSE, which currently has 18,688 affiliated schools, said it was imperative to have a uniform system of assessment, examination pattern and report cards for Classes 6 to 9 for ease of students and other stakeholders.

A new experts’ group to guide education ministries worldwide

By
Akash
-

A new group of education experts is constituted to advise the education ministries worldwide. The group named as “Atlantis Group” will comprise of 20 former education ministers and heads of states. The group was launched in Dubai at the Global Education & Skills Forum (GESF) 2017.

Members of the global group include Arne Duncan, former United States Secretary of Education under President Obama, former United Kingdom Education Secretary Michael Gove, former Greek President George Papandreou, former Lebanese Minister Elias Bou Saab, and former Peruvian Minister and incoming Head of the World Bank Education team, Jaime Saveedra.

The group will act as an advisory body to the ministries and departments that are dealing with issues related to education in their respective country. Views and recommendations of the group members will help the countries to improve their education practices.

Irina Bokova (Director-General, UNESCO), Andreas Schleicher (Director of Education and Skills, OECD), and Professor Fernando Reimers (Faculty Director, International Education Policy at Harvard University) will be the advisors of the group.

Initially, the group will work on future of education leadership at all levels, including the political leadership.

Gaja Capital invests 20 million dollar in Kangaroo Kids

By
Akash
-

Gaja Capital, a private equity firm that focuses on mid-market deals, has invested about 20 million dollars (Rs 130 crore) in Mumbai-based Kangaroo Kids Education Ltd. Founded in 1993, Kangaroo Kids is one of the country’s largest preschool and K12 school chains.

The deal is the fourth investment made by Mumbai-based Gaja Capital from its latest fund—the $240 million Gaja Capital III. The PE firm made the final close of its third fund at $240 million in March last year after marking the first close in October 2014.

Gaja Capital primarily focuses on the consumption segment, with an emphasis on the education, financial services, consumer and healthcare sectors. In education, Gaja Capital’s portfolio includes EuroKids, CL Educate, TeamLease Services and SportzVillage.

Gaja Capital had made the final close of its third fund at $240 million in March last year after making the first close in October 2014.

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