Art of Giving

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January 2, 2014

Ashish Dhawan
Founder and CEO,
Central Square Foundation

An MBA with distinction from Harvard University and a dual bachelor’s (BS/BA) holder with Magna Cum Laude honours from Yale University, Ashish Dhawan ran one of India’s leading private equity funds, ChrysCapital. In June 2012, he left his full-time job. So, what drove a private equity investor to choose the education sector for philanthropy and start Central Square Foundation (CSF)?

VISION
All children in India, regardless of their social and economic status, will get a high quality school education that prepares them to be responsible and productive citizens

MISSION
To achieve transformational standards of excellence for the Indian school education system

A pioneer in introducing VC funding for non-profits, Ashish Dhawan’s work is largely focused towards ensuring delivery of quality school education. Forty-three year old Dhawan is also a celebrated name in the Indian private equity fraternity for being one of the most triumphant dealmakers for over a decade.
His brainchild, the Central Square Foundation (CSF) has adopted a unique way of doing so. While CSF doesn’t work at the ground level, it funds the organisations that do so. In Dhawan’s words, “CSF believes in backing new generation who has bright ideas and execution capability to bring about the change in the education sector. The newer generation has more adaptability and more willingness to change.” The group believes in bringing the change through a venture capital approach.

However, as Dhawan quickly points out, “We realise that no goal can be achieved at the ground level without bringing in changes from the policy level. Hence, we strive to create a platform for all the non-profit organisations and the reformers to come together and work on a common platform.” To address this need, CSF organises special programs like excellency seminars and also provide open education resources and conduct media workshops as a step to improving the quality of education. The organisation also interacts with policy makers and carries out extensive research and advocacy activities.

As Dhawan mentioned in one of his communications, “The journey has so far has taught us some valuable lessons – we have learned the importance of linking our investments to a larger policy objective, as well as aligning them with the current market conditions. While we continue to borrow global best practices, we also recognise the need to adapt and contextualise these models to fit the local Indian conditions.”

The Central Square Foundation team runs to raise the bar for education in the Airtel Delhi Marathon

Over the years, CSF has done a tremendous job in engaging with stakeholders to catalyse an education reform movement in India. It tied up with Centre for Civil Society to build awareness of around the RTE among key stakeholders and promote sharing of best practices related to on-ground implementation of the Act, and allow people to seek redressal of grievances when required. On similar lines of advocacy, it works in collaboration with INDUS ACTION to help them ‘create over 10 million seats for low-income children at private schools.’

CSF also enabled capacity building of school leaders through their partnership with The Akanksha Foundation and ASER Centre.
CSF has channelised a public-private partnership model in rural schools by funding 3.2.1. Schools, a start-up organisation with 227 children enrolled in KG and first Grade. Not only that, at the ground level, CSF works with India School Leadership Institute (ISLI) to encourage leadership in setting up high quality schools for students of lowincome communities, and establish the benchmark for school leadership training in India.
CSF and Pratham’s initiative Saajha aims to work with 35 municipal schools in North Delhi and 25 schools in East Delhi for formation and capacity building of School Management Committees (SMCs) for improved learning outcomes who in turn will help improve student attendance and parent participation in the learning process.

The Central Square Foundation consists of a team of experienced professionals united by the belief that quality education is the right of every child.

Apart from these projects, CSF has also launched the “Vision 2018 for Delhi’s School Education System,” to document the key targets, and action steps needed to create a world-class school system in Delhi. Following its commendation, the foundation is also working on “National Vision to Transform India’s School System,” to drive discussion on quality education in the 2014 National elections, a recent release of CSF said.
So, what makes CSF nobler than the rest in the segment? As Dhawan points out, “The Foundation has a similar objective as other stakeholders, that is, to improve the education scenario in India. The foundations like Azim Premji are sharply focused and are now bringing in their own projects in education sphere. The CSF group on the other hand, works on venture philanthropy approach and on building an eco system where collaboration happens among all the players in education sector. The CCF works in collaboration with other foundations to get the PPP model working.”

Indian Cyber Security – Threats and Jobs

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January 2, 2014

India a developing country, which is becoming a powerful nation in field of security. India has the second largest army in world. Even India’s nuclear power and security is also increasing. But is it enough? India is not even good in cyber security. Indian cyber security is falling behind in this internet era.
As Indian army is known for its bravery and dedication towards the nation. but this is not enough for full protection of nation. Army only protect nation from outside, physical attacks and helps when there is a conflict inside or outside nation. But what about the internal security of documents, the security of nation.
But most of all is that why Indian government is not having so much concern about this matter. Even in the countries like America, when they have very good cyber security. They still give an importance to cyber security matter.

About Indian Cyber security
Indian cyber security is not so much to be said as secure to be like other countries like America and Japan. China has experts about 1.25 lacks and America is having about more than 91 thousands professionals. Even Russia has experts about 7.5 thousands. But if we talk about Indian Cyber Security, India has only has a bunch of 556 people.
Indian Cyber security is under NSCS (National Security Council Secretariat) and it handle the whole architecture of Indian cyber security. One of its statement for security was ,”The existing combined strength of cyber security experts in all organisations in the government domain is 556, which is grossly inadequate to handle Indian cyber security activities in a meaningful and effective manner”.

Threats in Cyber World
Cyber security is necessary in every nation which is developing or developed. This is because in this world of Computer technology, every files is stored on computer. Every website of any organisation handles and stores all the information. This information may be confidential also. Just same like that every nation has some websites related to security, deals and foreign trade related documents.

Threats in cyber world
And every nation in this era is trying to make itself better than all others. Even the terrorists and unethical organisations tries to get the confidential data and sell to other countries. Or they try to leak into nation security matters. Even they can disturb the whole system.
In other words, all these things are known as hacking in general language. As we know hacking is crime, and many people or organisations are performing this. They do this either to peek into others confidential matter or to make them better then others.

What Cyber Security do?
Cyber security handles all these threats which may harm the nation security and data. Cyber Security keep eye on every action perform inside or outside the internet of nation. They handles every transactions, every data interchange, every single information on internet from the country to other or vice-verse.
If they found any thing harmful or not usual they start tracking it. They check the content and handles every step of the action. And then they take the required action. They track the I.P. of the host, and then they perform respective action.

Now what in Indian Cyber Security
As India is a developing nation and is developing at a fast rate. India also collaborating with other nation operation and technologies. At this time many information and confidential data are sent on internet from nation to nation or to intelligence centers. But this data may be tried by other people or organisation to be accessed and then misused. But does this team of 556 people is enough to handle every action on internet.
As many things are there on internet to handle. Like data interchange, files exchange, money transactions, even the chatting and email. Then how can this small team will handle all this. As there are not limited actions to observe, there are infinite actions to be observed.

Making of a Cyber Security Expert

Who can become a cyber security professional?
Engineering graduates in any stream can become a cyber security professional , through there is a greater demand for IT students. At lower levels, even non engineering students with a sharp mind and can be trained, are found suitable.

What does a student need to do to become a cyber security professional?
S/he has to take courses on cyber security as a part of specialisation. However, currently only a few institutes such as the IITs offer these courses. So a student can do specialised courses from private companies and IT training institutes.

Which IT companies offer cyber security courses?
Currently, companies such as Microsoft and Cisco offer specialised courses on cyber security, through franchisees. The government is working with institutes, industry and private training institutes to meet the need, which is much greater.

Jobs and Future in Indian Cyber Security
As because of all these things of internet and security. And many cases of hacking and spam which are coming daily, then to handle Indian Cyber Security department need much more people. NSCS is trying to make a new team and new organisation for security. Hence there are many jobs coming to vacant.
According to a news, till 2015 Indian Cyber security need around 5 lacks jobs. Hence there is a scope in future and present for all those who want job in cyber related posts. Indian Cyber security is going to take anyone who has any knowledge of computer related operations. And will train them according to their needs.
The proliferation of information technology across sectors is generating demand for a new kind of specialist: the cyber security expert.
The national cyber security policy sees India needing as many as 500,000 professionals in the field in five years.
“Currently, there are only about 556 cyber security professionals and there is a big gap between demand and supply,” said Amit Kumar President, cyberfort.
Information technology is already the lifeline of banking and telecom, and other sectors are becoming dependent on it as well. “With this increase, the threat of cyber attacks is also increasing. Hence, the need of cyber security experts is also increasing,” Kumar said.
The catch is that at present, not enough institutes offer courses on cyber security.
“We want private sector participation in training people in this field,” said Rai.
“We are closely working with the government to meet the requirement. We have also created some training programme,” said Kamlesh Bajaj, CEO, Data Security Council of India, an industry body.

For establishment of cyberfort study center contact – Dr Rajesh Kumar Mobile- +91 9031489275, 9973195996 email-rajesh@cyberfort.org

UGC declares June 1 deadline for institutions to seek accreditation

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January 2, 2014

In a public notice issued to the eligible higher education institutions and universities across the country, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has made it mandatory for them to apply for accreditation from an accrediting agency before June 1, 2014, if they are desirous of getting development funds from academic year 2015-16 onwards.
The notice has been issued after a commission meeting which discussed implementation of the Mandatory Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education Regulations, 2012. The regulation provides that any institution of higher education will have to compulsorily take accreditation from the designated agencies like National assessment and accreditation council (NAAC) or National Board of Accreditation (NBA) to receive UGC grants. The move is expected to bring the much-needed assessment and transparency in the routine operations of higher educational institutions. Currently, 1,054 colleges and 22 universities from Maharashtra are accredited by the NAAC. The prime mandate of assessment agencies is to assess and accredit institutions of higher learning, universities and colleges or one or more of their units, which is departments, schools, institutions, programmes, etc. The funding is provided by the commission for the developmental activities at the particular institution or university.

IIT Kharagpur sets a record with more than 1,000 students placed in first phase

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January 2, 2014

IIT Kharagpur creates record with maximum number of students getting jobs in the first phase of campus placements. Among all IITs, IIT Kharagpur is the only institute to have more than a thousand of its students already placed in the first phase of placements. Around 1,010 students of the Kharagpur campus accepted job offers in the first round of placements which ended in December 2013.

There were 900 offers at IIT Mumbai while IIT Delhi got about 750 offers and IIT Kanpur had around 700 offers. At IIT Kharagpur, companies like Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Shell, Deutsche Bank, ITC, Schlumberger, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Abbott, EXL, Flipkart and Housing.com made multiple offers in dual figures. The highest package offered was from a US based company which offered an annual salary of USD 1.25 lakh (around Rs 77 lakh). The highest domestic package was of Rs 37 lakh. Financial Engineering and Engineering Entrepreneurship, the two new dual degree programs proved to be a big hit with 85 percent students from these courses being placed in the first phase.

Shiv Nadar University announces School of Management & Entrepreneurship

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January 2, 2014

Shiv Nadar University (SNU) has announced the launch of the School of Management and Entrepreneurship (SME). Prof. Shekhar Chaudhuri, former Director, IIM Calcutta, has been appointed as the Director of the School of Management and Entrepreneurship.
The SNU School of Management and Entrepreneurship will be offering a two-year MBA programme in the academic session commencing in 2014. The postgraduate management programme is specifically designed to ensure that students become ‘industry ready’ and‘entrepreneurially oriented’. With the curriculum designed in consultation with Prof. Srikant Datar, Professor of Business Administration of the Harvard Business School and a co-author of “Rethinking the MBA”, the programme will help in building abilities for creative thinking and innovation, developing analytical rigour and inculcating appropriate attitude for leading organizations of the future.

Speaking on the occasion, Shekhar Chaudhuri, Director, School of Management and Entrepreneurship said, “Today’s world of business and enterprise is remarkable for its growing levels of uncertainty and unpredictability. The assumptions that underpin traditional management education are undergoing a paradigm shift. Gone are the days when corporate organizations were willing to wait for a couple of years for their new hires to start contributing significantly. Instead the new managerial recruits are expected to start performing immediately. Future leaders and icons of the corporate world will be those who would be hands-on in a dramatically dynamic business ecosystem. Management students today need significant exposure to real life business conditions that mandates an increasing focus on experiential learning. We intend to be a management school that develops professionals and leaders who understand this changing milieu and thrive in it.”

To drive emphasis on practical orientation in the curriculum and make it industry focused, the SME will invite practicing managers to teach 20% of functional courses. Additionally 15% of the academic term will be devoted to experiential learning including visits to companies; urban and rural markets; government departments, to municipal corporations, chambers of commerce and intensive skill development workshop.

In line with its focus on nurturing and developing an entrepreneurial mindset among future managers and leaders of Corporate India, the SME MBA program will have a compulsory course on “Starting and Managing a New Venture” and will also offer elective courses on different aspects of entrepreneurial organizations. The School will also provide interested and capable students opportunities to engage with entrepreneurs, venture capital firms, financial institutions so that they acquire a good understanding and appreciation of various facets of entrepreneurship. On a selective basis the school also intends to provide incubation facilities to MBA students to incubate their entrepreneurial ideas.

Need to improve quality of technical education: Pallam Raju

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December 31, 2013

Quality of technical education in the country should be improved and graduates should be given skill training to equip them to meet industry requirements said Union HRD Minister, Pallam Raju at the inauguration of the new regional office of All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE) in Thiruvananthapuram. He further added that ours is one of the largest technical education sectors in the world and a large number of engineering graduates pass out every year but the quality of the graduates passing out of colleges is not at par with international counterparts.
Pointing out the gap between industry and academia, the minister said the majority of the engineering graduates are not industry-ready and are unable to meet the expectations of the employers. In an attempt to bridge the gap, AICTE is looking forward to tie-ups with the industry and equip students with requisite skills. AICTE has recently had a tie-up with BSNL with the same aim. Palam Raju also emphasized that institutions in rural, backward and underprivileged areas should be given more focus as they may not be able to adhere to all stringent requirements of AICTE.

IIM B Professor in list of leading researchers in psychology

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December 31, 2013

Prof Ramadhar Singh, a distinguished professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM B), is the only Indian to be on the list of the United States-based Association for Psychological Science (APS) and The Faces and Minds of Psychological Science, a list of leading researchers in psychology.
Prof Singh wrote on ‘Inferring Missing Information’ in the ‘I’m a Psychological Scientist’ series contest. Through his study, Prof Singh has demonstrated how people take decisions by inferring the missing information. As per APS, Prof Singh’s work will help social and cultural-psychologists understand and investigate how people judge morality and achievements of others even without the needed information.
Prof Singh is proud that psychological research from India has been recognised. After his PhD from Purdue University in 1973, Prof Singh returned to India. He worked on ‘Inferring missing information’ from 1975 to 1991when it was first published as a chapter. Talking about the state of psychology education in the country, Prof Singh lamented by saying it needs a revamp. Also PhD Selection Committees need improvement in the quality of selection of PhD scholars. Prof Singh has taught at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, IIM Ahmedabad and National University of Singapore before becoming a professor at IIM B.

IIT M students kick off social initiatives in tech fest 2014

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December 30, 2013

With the objective of giving back to the society, students from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT M) have started a social initiative ‘computer literacy for all’ where students will donate old computers given by residents of the institute to the government schools. This initiative is a part of Shaastra, the annual tech festival of IIT M which receives a footfall of over 20,000 people every year.

The theme for the four-day tech fest beginning on January 4 is ‘Breaking Boundaries’. Apart from the major attractions every year like airshow, robowars, symposium, hackfest and lecture series, this year Shaastra will have a pan IIT research expo, a platform to showcase research undertaken by students across all IITs and research confluence which will have panel discussions and lectures by eminent speakers from the industry and academia. A total of 17 eminent speakers from India and abroad are expected to deliver lectures during the four day showcase event of IIT Madras. This year the fest will also have a techno-cultural show called Envisage and a couple of social initiatives by students of IIT M.

Need to strengthen university-industry interface: PM

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December 30, 2013

Expressing concern about the quality of higher education in the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that even Indian premier institutions do not figure among the best in the world.
Addressing the Diamond Jubilee function of the University Grants Commission (UGC), he pointed out the shortage of faculty in universities and colleges. He emphasized on the need for more research and enhancing the number and quality of doctoral programmes in universities. He further added that inter-disciplinary perspective is a must for research and should become a part of the culture of Indian universities. He also stressed upon the need for strengthening the university-industry interface to give a boost to research and development. He asked academics to make a detailed study of how this interface works in other countries so that the best international practices can be replicated in India.
On the same occasion, Union Minister for Human Resource Development M.M. Pallam Raju stated that a special drive would be undertaken to make teaching and research an attractive career option and announced the setting up of chairs in various universities in the name of Indian Nobel laureates.

IIT Bombay’s Techfest to begin from Jan 3

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December 28, 2013

Techfest, IIT Bombay’s annual science and technology festival that gives a platform to showcase talent, skill sets, display cutting edge technology and research will be held from January 3-5. The fest attracts more than 1 lakh people every year and has a reach of over 2,300 colleges across India and witness participation of over 500 colleges from overseas.
This year, the exhibits on display are coming from US, Japan, Berlin, Switzerland among many other countries. These exhibits include the most advanced social robot, BINA-48. The event will also see exhibits from Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). One of the biggest attractions this year is the supercars exhibition where cars like Ferrari F430, Potsche 911 and Mercedes E Cabriolet will be present. The Lecture series will observe participation of 15 world renowned leaders like recent Bharat Ratna awardee, Prof. CNR Rao, world famous computer engineer from India, Pranav Mistry, Kiran Bedi and Rajendra Pachauri among others.

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