Hero group launches new university

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November 30, 2013

The Hero Group announced the launch of BML Munjal University (BMU) on 29th November, a higher education initiative in collaboration with London’s Imperial College. The university aspires to nurture ethical leaders who are skilled and knowledgeable, and give its students practical knowledge of best global standards. The university will be providing multiple courses to transform higher education for the better.
The joint MD of Hero MotoCorp, Sunil Kant Munjal is of the view that the focus will be on practical oriented education and to foster employability and a range of life skills among students. A fully-residential university, the BMU, located at Sidhrawali village in Haryana’s Gurgaon district will be equipped with industry-promoted ‘Centres of Excellence,’ where the students will be exposed to the latest technology platforms, real-life projects and hands-on learning.
The School of Engineering and Technology will offer 300 seats in its BTech (honours) programme. The School of Management will offer 60 seats each in its MBA and BBA programmes. Admissions will also be based on ranking in government-conducted exams, Class-12 and Class-10 marks, essays, recommendation letters, and test of aptitude, attitude and hands-on capability.

IIM-A is one of the top 39 elite B-Schools in the world

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November 28, 2013

QS Global Business School Report 2013 ranks Indian Institute of Management Ahmadabad (IIM-A) in the top 39 business schools in the world named by the employers. It also ranked Indian MBA graduates as the most academically distinguished in the world.
The report lists 200 best B-Schools in the world, it highlights four distinctive categories of B-school in terms of employer recognition- Elite Global, Emerging Global, Elite Regional and Emerging Regional. The report also highlights that the students of IIM Bangalore (780) and IIM Ahmedabad (767) have the highest average GMAT scores in the world which is ahead of leading institutions like Stanford (730) and INSEAD (704). Apart from IIM-Ahmedabad, two Asian B-Schools to have made it to the Elite Global category are the INSEAD Singapore and NUS Business School, National University of Singapore.

Datawind and World Vision Partner to Supply Tablet in African Countries

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November 28, 2013

Datawind is now working with World Vision Canada to supply the UbiSlate Android powered tablets for trial use in the development agency’s projects in African countries. This initiative is happening through Datawind’s North American partner Canada International Trade Service Inc.

Various models of UbiSlate tablets have been launched for field testing at the community level in Niger and Rwanda with plans to roll out in several other African countries. World Vision is using the DataWind UbiSlate tablets to collect data and monitor change, in an effort to ensure their development work is effectively reaching children and families. Data collected will help World Vision to make significant improvements in healthcare and education, in addition to exploring teaching opportunities with these tablets.

“Datawind is honoured to partner with World Vision Canada in providing technology which will help field workers in Africa as they strive to provide healthcare and education to families and children in need,” said Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO, Datawind. “We are proud to be part of this project, as we are dedicated to creating and providing technology that will empower education and promote innovation and research globally.”

“In our field testing in Niger, these cost-effective tables have shown the potential to increase our aid effectiveness, monitor progress and react to health and economic challenges in communities quickly so that we are able to provide the best support possible to children and families,” said Josh Folkema, World Vision Canada.

Haryana’s Governor Appreciates MRCE Students’ innovations at the IITF

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November 28, 2013

Engineering students from Manav Rachna College of Engineering (MRCE) and Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET), Manav Rachna International University (MRIU) once again bagged an opportunity to showcase their selective unique innovations at the Haryana Pavilion-India International Trade Fair (IITF) inaugurated today in the capital city. Shri Jagannath Pahadia, the Governor of Haryana, on visiting the MRIU’s stall, congratulated them and appreciated their innovative concepts.

The students are displaying some of their most innovative project that have won laurels nationally and internationally namely, Driver Fitness Tester, Smart Skull Device, Pick n Place Robot, Tractrobot and The Blind Man’s Stick. These models are designed keeping in mind human interest and will be of help to the general public in some way or the other. On the accomplishment, Prashant Bhalla, Chancellor-MRIU, said “It is indeed a moment of pride for us to be a part of the International Trade Fair. This is the second time that we have been chosen by the Haryana Government to be a part of their pavilion and showcase the contribution that we intend to make towards society”. “A platform of this stature to showcase talent motivates students to do better each time they target something”, adds Bhalla.

The model ‘Blind Man’s Stick’ being the limelight of the pavilion has been specially devised for the visually impaired. It is fitted with a sound alarm, a voice navigator and an emergency SMS service. It is powered by GPS through smart phone. In fact, it can integrate with smart phone to provide voice based navigation for predetermined locations. The user can program the stick for various locations with its inbuilt Braille signals. On display at the stall was also a ‘Smart Bin’ which produces social messages when trash is thrown inside and encourages people to put all the garbage in the dustbin rather than on the floor. Another functional item was the ‘Pills Box’ designed to help patients take the right dose of medicine at the right time through audio visual reminders. The Pills Box is USB & Bluetooth Compatible and its scheduling can be done using Smartphone Application or PC.

‘Driver Fitness Tester’ is another innovation that caters to the much needed concentration on averting road accidents. The device assesses the driver’s ability to drive through the following, heartbeat pulse rate sensor, alcohol detector sensor, weight sensor and seatbelt sensor. If any of the tests result for the above shows positive, the car would not start. The installation of the device in the car is very economical, convenient and no huge alteration in the design of the car is required. The device’s usage is not only restricted for cars, it can also be alternately installed in buses, trucks, bikes/scooters and even in offices to keep a check on the employees. At the stall, ‘Pick n Place’ robot also garnered much attention What set the Pick ‘N’ Place robot apart was the fact that its arm could move 180 degree in both vertical and horizontal axis with a capacity to lift 500 gms of weight. It could perform autonomous operations like delivering documents and serving drinks.

‘Smart Skull’ is a life saving ‘in-helmet’ device for motor bikers and has a crash detection system which is paired with the rider’s smart phone. In emergence of an accident or crash, the device gets activated and through the smart phone can automatically make a call to the victim’s family/relatives and thus can inform them about the mishap. The ultra-light weight device consumes minimum power of about 3.3 volt and is equipped for an impact detection of up to 200 gm force. The device would help in decreasing the mortality rate and neurological disabilities relating to traumatic brain injury from road accidents as a result of inadequate safety protocol. The application has bluetooth connectivity, cloud connectivity, GPS interaction, sensor device communication, past history availability and user authentication too.

MHRD to Provide for 5000 Faculty Positions in Higher Education

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November 28, 2013

The Ministry of Human Resource Development proposes to provide for 5000 faculty positions in the higher education under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) during the current Five Year Plan, ending 2017. Support will be provided to fill positions in the category of Assistant Professors or equivalent cadre against vacancies. A fixed amount of Rs 5.8 lakh per year for each faculty position will be given by the Centre and any excess over and above this amount due to higher scales, grade pay or DA increase has to be borne by the State Government. The 99,000 crore rupee programme was approved by the Union Cabinet last month to boost the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) to 30% by 2020 from the present about 19%.

All the State universities will be eligible to receive grants under this programme. The recruitment process will have to adhere to UGC norms and regulations. The funding priorities are as follows:

• Commitments of States to take over the liability of faculty positions at the end of the scheme (after 5-8 years, depending on the year in which such positions are sanctioned).

• Priority will be given to those states where more recruitment has taken place in the universities and colleges during the last 3 years.

• Lowest number of unfilled faculty positions.

• Better student-teacher ratio.

• Priority will be given to new institutions.

• Second priority shall be given to those states which have a faculty-student ratio between 15:1 to 20:1.

• States with more than 20:1 ratio will have to first commit to sanction and fill positions to bring down the faculty-student ratio ration to 20:1.

Chennai to host Worlds Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) 2014

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November 27, 2013

Rajalaskmi Institutions, Chennai has won the bid to host Worlds Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) 2014 at Chennai. There are 371 Teams from 49 countries participating for the championship.

With its emphasis on critical thinking, effective communication, independent research and teamwork, debate teaches skills that serve the urban youth well in school, in the workplace, in political life and in fulfilling their responsibilities as citizens of democratic societies. For many, debate tournaments are a rare opportunity to connect intellectually with their peers and to have their ideas about important
issues considered seriously by adults.

Last year WUDC 2013 was held at Berlin, Germany and the coming year – Malaysia has won the bid to host WUDC 2015 in their country. This year Rajalaskhmi Institutions has won the bid to host the WUDC 2014 here in Chennai from December 29th, 2013 to January 2, 2015. Students from Oxford, Harvard and Yale to participate in the British Parliamentary Debating format here in Chennai.

RUSA gives a hope to North East

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November 27, 2013

States like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura have very few universities, colleges and institutes offering higher and professional education. The thick forest and lack of proper funding make things even more difficult for improving higher education system in these regions. These were some of the grievances raised at the recently All-India conference of higher education ministers on the Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). It is a tedious job to set up a college in these areas which is 60% covered by forest. Moreover it requires atleast two years to get approval for the land and the state government has to pay the market value for it, says Bipradas Palit, director, higher education, Tripura.
RUSA has come up as a ray of hope for various states grappling with the problem of higher education. The flagship scheme focusing on state universities and institutions through a central plan has brought together many stakeholders in higher education from various states. Naxal-affected states and states with a high percentage of SC, ST and tribal population will get the priority in fund allocation under RUSA.

Universities of UK campaign to attract Indian students

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November 27, 2013

The universities of UK are attracting Indian students to study in UK by launching a film on the process of applying for higher education in the leading universities of UK. The film aims to break the myth of both prospective international students and their parents about application process and the UK’s student visa system.
The film is a joint collaboration between the universities of UK, the British Council in Delhi and the home office for studies. It is made by the Indian filmmaker Ravi Lehki and directed by Nichola Carslaw an experienced BBC journalist and commissioned by The University of Sheffield. The film features two Indian students who are applying for student visa for higher education in UK. The film shows the student’s aspirations to study in UK and parent’s apprehensions for their children’s well being in a foreign country. At present both the Indian students are pursuing their education in the UK. The film will be made available to Indian students and their families via YouTube and through links from UK university websites, as well as from those of partner organizations.

HRD Minister proposes higher investment in education

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November 27, 2013

Emphasis should be given to substantially step up private and public investment in higher education and optimally utilize the resources to improve the quality of education, said Pallam Raju, Union Minister for Human Resource Development at the All India conference of higher education ministers. The minister also said that the state investment on higher education should be increased from 18%to 25% of the budget on education.
Talking about the new initiative Rashtriya Ucchatar Siksha Abhiyan (RUSA), the minister said that under the scheme greater autonomy would be provided to the state and central universities and colleges for equity based development and improvement in teaching and research. About 300 universities and 8,500 colleges would be covered under the scheme with 90% of funding from the central government to some of the needy states like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, North east states and Uttarakhand and 65% to other states and Union territories.
Addressing the conference, R.V.Deshpande, Minister of Higher education of Karnataka said that the states should formulate the perspective plan to qualify for the RUSA funding scheme which is an opportunity to set up more universities. He further added, RUSA fund should be used for introducing innovative projects in higher education.

HRD Minister asks Industry to Join Hands to Boost Skill Development

Higher Education

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digitalLEARNING Network

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November 27, 2013

The HRD Minster Dr MM Pallam Raju has asked the industry to participate more vigorously with government in skill development. Speaking at a conference on Government public initiative for skill building in information technology and telecom sector in New Delhi, he said that we have to provide necessary skill to one crore twenty lakh youth joining the work force every year to take full advantage of demographic dividend. He said that Industry has to contribute in achieving the target of skilling 50 crore youth by 2022.

Stressing the need for putting skill in education, he said we need to periodically revise curriculum to make it more industry friendly. Dr Raju said, it will also enhance the employability of our youth and their income. Speaking on the occasion the Communication and Information Technology Minister, Kapil Sibal said there has to be a paradigm shift in our education sector following fast paced technology changes. He said skill requirement cannot be adequately met through usual university system. Asking for a tripartite system for skill development, Sibal said that skill development system needs to work closely with all the sectors of the economy to meet their peculiar requirements.

Pushing for PPP model the Minister said the country has to be ready for cyber space. Speaking on the occasion, Secretary (Higher Education) Ashok Thakur said that all the centrally funded Institutions, right from IIT to polytechnique, will have to co-opt the community colleges to meet skill development at the community level by the end of current five year plan in 2017. Expressing satisfaction over development in community colleges area, he said that funds have been released to 120 community colleges this year. The Secretary said Universities have started implementing National Vocational Education Qualification Framework (NVEQF) guidelines and they will work with 200 medical colleges for skill development.

An MoU was also signed between AICTE and NIELIT – National Institute of Electronics and Information and Information Technology on the occasion to establish a new specialization under the IT/IITs sector of NVEQF namely NIELIT certified IT professional (NCITP). Under NCIPT, the NIELIT O & A level courses are proposed to be aligned to level 5 and level 7 of NVEQF.

The one day conference was organised by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) of Department of Information and Technology.

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