Australia eases student visa rules

New Delhi: Mired in negative publicity from the alleged racial attacks on foreign students, Australia has decided to make changes to its visa programme for students. This includes cutting down on financial requirements for some categories of visas.

Fiona Richard, COO at Oceanic Consultants, described the changes positive. “We are sure that the reforms will encourage genuine students and will see the return of Australia as a favoured desitination for education.”

The first phase of changes were announced on November 5. These focus on improving the competitiveness of Australia’s education sector among foreign students.

According to the release, the changes flow from the recent strategic review of Australia’s student visa programme Further changes, including streamlined visa processing arrangements for participating universities, are due to be implemented in 2012.

Aslo, student visa applicants will need to include a confirmation of enrollment (COE), issued by their intended education provider, as part of their student visa applications. This will improve processing time as students will no longer need to wait for a pre-visa assessment (PVA) letter to be issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) before arranging their COE.

Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Peter Varghese, said, “I strongly support these changes which will make Australia a more attractive study destination for high-quality students from India seeking to gain international education. Australia is a quality education destination and these changes will further strengthen that reputation.”

A new temporary entrant criterion has also been put into efect. This will assist Australia to ensure that students are intending a temporary stay only for the purposes of education.

Kapil Sibal to inaugurate 7th FICCI Higher Education Summit, Fri, Nov 11

The 7th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2011 is ready for launch. The two day global conference is all set to begin on Friday, November 11 at FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi. To be inaugurated by Union Minister for HRD Mr Kapil Sibal, the theme of the conference is ‘Strategies for Expansion in Higher Education in India’.

Some of the key topics that will be discussed are: Indian HE Expansion Strategies: Robust Realism over Dubious Dreams; Indian Universities in the Global Top-League; Encouraging Private sector participation; Developing National Knowledge Functional Hubs; Higher Education Growth Strategy in the 12th Plan; Cultivating Research Culture.

The Inaugural Address will be by delivered by Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Government of India. Dr David Naylor, President, University of Toronto will give the Keynote Address. The Theme Address will be by Prof M Anandakrishnan, Chairman, FICCI Higher Education Committee & Chairman, BoG, IIT Kanpur.

Special addresses will be delivered by Mr Michael Russell, Member of the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning; Dr. Lin Tsong-ming, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, Taiwan; and Dr Daniel C Levy Distinguished Professor, University at Albany & Director PROPHE will deliver the Special Address.

The Summit will also witness speeches by Prof Ved Prakash, Chairman, UGC; Dr S S Mantha, Acting Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE); Prof Pritam Singh, Director General, IMI; Prof Rajan Saxena, Co-Chair FICCI Higher Education Committee & Vice Chancellor, NMIMS University; Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, Principle Advisor, Symbiosis; Mr. Pawan Agarwal, Advisor-Higher Education, Planning Commission, GoI; Prof M Anandakrishnan, Chairman-FICCI Higher Education Committee & Chairman—BoG IIT Kanpur; Dr Narendra Jadhav, Member (HRD), Planning Commission, GoI; Ms Sushma Berlia, President, Apeejay Stya & Svrán Group, and Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University; Prof A S Kolaskar, Vice Chancellor, KIIT University and many other eminent educationists and policy makers from India and abroad.

In the past, FICCI Higher Education Summits have been graced by Dr John DeGioia, President, Georgetown University, USA and  Prof. Stephen J. Toope, President, University of British Columbia, Canada ( 2010); Prof Richard Levin, President, Yale University (2009); Prof Malcolm Grant, President, University College London, UK (2008); Lord Chris Patten, Chancellor, Oxford University, UK (2007); Prof. Lawrence H Summers, President, Harvard University, USA (2006) and Dr John L Hennessy, President, Stanford University, USA (2004).

FICCI is expecting more than 650 delegates from India and abroad, including University Presidents & Deans from Scotland, Canada, USA, Thailand, Brunei, etc. in the Summit. B2B facilitations will be organized to facilitate joint collaborations between Indian and foreign institutions. Exhibition at the conference is an additional attraction for participants to showcase their programmes and products to the school and colleges students from NCR region and the captive delegates. More than 2000 students visit the Exhibition every year.

MBAUniverse.com is the Online Partner of FICCI HES 2011. The Summit is an effort towards bringing together key policy makers, educationists and the corporate sector at both national and international level for deliberations, interactions, knowledge sharing, identification of policy and practice imperatives.

Naveen, 4 mantris named in FIR

The Naveen Patnaik government in Orissa on Thursday faced further embarrassment as an FIR was registered against four ministers, for availing lands and houses from the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) by “fraudulent” means.

The FIR also mentions the name of chief minister Naveen Patnaik as one of the “culprits” who facilitated the release of houses to his “tainted” ministers.
Petitioner Bhawani Parija filed a case with the capital police alleging that the former urban development minister Badri Narayan Patra had misused his power in releasing a house from his discretionary quota to the state rural development minister Bikram Keshari Arukh. Besides, he also named finance minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, panchayati raj minister Maheswar Mohanty and revenue minister Surya Narayan Patro as other beneficiaries of discretionary quotas.
“Despite the fact that rural development minister Bikram Keshari Arukh’s wife had obtained a house from the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) in 2008, the present higher education minister Badri Narayan Patra, who was then heading the urban development department, released him another house. It is a clear case of criminal conspiracy and needs to be investigated into,” Mr Parija said.

Child health and the 12th Plan

The Approach Paper to the 12th Plan sees the projected 32% increase in India’s labour force in the next two decades as a demographic dividend. But is the 12th Plan focusing sufficiently on the health, nutrition and education of the children who will form this labour force in the coming decades, asks Alex George
The draft Approach Paper of the 12th Plan was approved by the cabinet and presented to the National Development Council on October 22, 2011. The paper, which projects a growth rate of 9% for the 12th Plan, envisages that inclusiveness, an idea carried over from the 11th Plan, should lead to poverty reduction, increase in health outcomes and universal access of children to schools. It further states that inclusiveness should include providing opportunities for wage employment and livelihoods, and improved provision of water, sanitation and housing. All these have implications for improving child health and reducing childhood poverty.

Indian CEOs Who Entered Politics

Rajeev Chandrasekhar is a businessman and presently serves as an Independent member of the Parliament of India representing Karnataka and Bangalore Urban in the Rajya Sabha.

 He is the Founder and Managing Trustee of RC Foundation which is mainly focused on programmes aimed at primary education for poor children and has been at the forefront of raising finances and resources for important causes like support for Tsunami affected people, Kargil war and defense personnel, training of tribal’s in Kalahandi region of Orissa and rehabilitation of children impacted by the tragic burning of school in Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu.

In 2006, a year after exiting his telecom venture BPL Mobile, Chandrasekhar was elected as an independent MP from Karnataka, with support from both the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular), which was in an alliance back then in the state.

Top 10 engineering colleges in Bhubaneswar, Orissa 2011

1) University College of Engineering  - RANK 1
Burla, Orissa. Ph:                         +91- 663-2430211

UCE under Biju Patnaik University of technology is the top rated college in Orissa providing undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in engineering. Teaching mode and handling practicals are of high standards in the college.
Useful links: http://www.uceburla.ac.in

2) Institute of Technical Education & Research – RANK 2
SOA University, Bhubaneswar. Ph:                         +91-674- 2350181
ITER is the part if Siksha O’ Anusandhan University approved by UGC. The institute is dedicated to provide high quality education and is also known for their management system.
Useful links: http://iter.ac.in

3) College of Engineering & Technology (CET) - RANK 3
Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Ph:                         +91-674-2384110

CET possesses well equipped laboratory facilities and campus for students to deliver maximum outcome. Training sessions within the course curriculum is the most notable advantage for the aspirants.
Useful links: http://www.cetindia.org

4) Silicon Institute of Technology - RANK 4
Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Ph:                         + 91-674-2725448

This private institute is counted as top among private institutes in Orissa and one among the top list. They are destined to flourish this as centre for excellence in the field of engineering and technology.
Useful links: http://www.silicon.ac.in

5) CV Raman College of Engineering - RANK 5
Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Ph:                         +91-674-2460693

The college offers undergraduate programmes in various branches of engineering and technology. The placement cell is highly effective in creating opportunities for students.
Useful links: http://cvraman.org

6) National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) - RANK 6
Berhampur, Orissa. Ph:                         +91-680-2492421

This private institute provides best conditions for the growth of engineers and technologists. The industrial training and consultancy services help students to improve their future standards.
Useful links: http://www.nist.edu/

7) Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology - RANK 7
Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Ph:                         + 91-674-2725113

Top quality infrastructure and lab facilities in KIIT made it one among the top colleges offering engineering and technology courses. Eminent professors and lecturers deliver informative sessions and ideas for healthy discussions among students.
Useful links: http://www.kiit.ac.in

8 ) Aryan Institute of Engineering and Technology - RANK 8
BARAKUDA, PANCHAGAON, KHURDA, Orissa.      Phone:                        +91- 09776209535

The institute is affiliated to Biju Patnaik university of technology and B.Tech and lateral entry B.Tech courses. They are also conducting supplimentary coaching classes for better carrier options of students.
Useful links: http://www.aryan.ac.in

9) Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology (IGIT) - RANK 9
Sarang, Orissa. Ph:                         + 91-6760-240371

Eminent instructors and high tech lab facilities in IGIT made it as one of the prime choice among aspirants in engineering and technology field. They offers bachelor and degree courses in the subject.
Useful links: http://www.igitsarang.ac.in

10) Orissa Engineering College (OEC) - RANK 10

Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Ph:                         +91-674-2541340

The college, affiliated to B.P. University, stands for quality education to nurture talents for the society. They hope to create professionals with responsibility and dedication.
Useful links: http://www.oec.ac.in

National Education Day held

CHANDIGARH: National Education Day was celebrated at the department of political science, Panjab University campus on Friday. Deepak K Singh, chairperson of the department, highlighted the important role played by Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad in the freedom struggle as well his contribution to the cause of education in India.

On the occasion, the department also organized a debate and essay writing competition. The theme for debate was “The status of higher education in India today”. The topic for the essay competition was “Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?” Neerat Pandey, a student of MA Semester III, secured the first prize, while Gurjeet Kaur, a student of MA Semester III and Pavneet Kaur, a student of MPhil, secured second and third prizes, respectively. The results of the essay competition will be announced on Monday, the chairperson of the department said.