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.

Right to Education: Political parties in UP fight for credit

LUCKNOW: Poll-bound UP is now witnessing a war between political parties over Right to Education (RTE) with Congress, BSP and BJP trying to take the credit of this education-for-all scheme.

While Congress is saying that its government at the centre has passed the RTE Act, the BSP argues that it was dalit icon Babsaheb BhimraoAmbedkar who incorporated right to education in the Constitution of India, the BJP points out that Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government had in 2002 made free and compulsory education a fundamental right in the Constitution for all children upto the age of 14 years. Ironically, none of them have talked about the fact that November 11, which is celebrated as National Education Day, is actually held to mark the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first education minister, who laid the foundation of modern education in free India.

The UPA government has circulated a letter written by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which was read out to children in 14 lakh elementary schools in India on Friday. In the letter, Prime Minister has narrated his struggle for education and how, despite coming from poor rural family, he crossed all difficulties to acquire education. “I went to a school in a village that had no electricity. My village did not have a pukka road or fast vehicles. I would walk miles to reach my school…I worked as hard as I could and the nation has always rewarded me for my efforts,” the Prime Minister’s letter states. He also has stated that during his school days education was not free as it is now after implementation of RTE Act by the Congress-led UPA government.

To counter this, UP chief minister and BSP supremo Mayawati has issued a letter addressing children in three lakhs primary schools in UP. Mayawati has narrated how her grandfather Mangal Sen encouraged her to get education like her brothers and how she went on to acquire higher education, served as a teacher and social activist before joining politics. “Hard work and determination made me perform better than my brothers,” she has written. She has also stated that it was Ambedkar who as chairperson of the Constitution drafting committee had in 1950 introduced the provision of free and compulsory education in the Constitution for children upto 14 years of age. “Babasaeb fought castism and inequality to acquire education,” she said.

Significantly, now BJP has also joined the issue by giving credit to Atal Bihari Vajpayee government for amending the Constitution in 2002 to make free and compulsory education to all the children in the age group of 6-14 years as a fundamental right. “Right to education is a reality today because of the BJP-led NDA government under Vajpayeeji,” said BJP national vice-president leader Kalraj Mishra.

He slammed both Congress and BSP for trying to seek electoral gains by politicising education for children. Taking a dig at the `letter politics’ between the UPA and BSP governments, Mishra said that instead of fighting for credit, the focus should be on effective implementation of RTE. He added that the benefit of the RTE has not reached grassroots as yet.

CM sermon for kids, not PM’s

Lucknow, Nov. 11: When elections are round the corner, politics can find a way into school classrooms too in Uttar Pradesh.

Chief minister Mayawati today did away with a message by the Prime Minister which was supposed to be read out in all government schools on the birth anniversary of India’s first education minister Abul Kalam Azad, being observed as National Education Day. What children in the heartland state heard instead was a message from Mayawati that mentioned Dalit icon B.R. Ambedkar, not Azad.

Mayawati called Ambedkar an architect of education in modern India for guaranteeing free and compulsory education till the age of 14 in the Constitution.

Her message, read out to school kids today, said: “I too had studied in an ordinary government primary school like you…. I went to school because my grandfather Mangala Sen was a man of progressive thoughts. Along with his grandsons he sent his granddaughters to school as well.” She may have had in mind the 59.26 per cent female literacy rate in her state when the proportion of boys getting education is 78.48 per cent.

The Prime Minister’s speech, which was sent to the states about a week ago, mentioned his education in a village. But Manmohan Singh also said education was a “magical” thing that enabled “us to rediscover ourselves”. He mentioned that he had studied by an earthen lamp and walked miles to reach school.

Mayawati, on the other hand, mentioned she had done “better than my brothers in academics” and today “I am the chief minister of India’s most populous state for the fourth time”.

“Today, if all children have a right to free and compulsory education till the age of 14, it is only because of Baba Ambedkar who made a provision in the Indian Constitution for free and compulsory education.”

Asked about Mayawati’s move to junk the Prime Minister’s message, Subodh Srivastava, the Congress’s chief spokesperson in Uttar Pradesh, said: “Mayawati is merely playing cheap politics over education in an election year.” Uttar Pradesh will vote early next year.

BSP spokesperson S.P. Maurya saw nothing wrong. “The chief minister has every right to send her message to state-run schools but in primary schools run by the Centre, the Prime Minister’s message can be read out.”

Assam schools to be graded – Dispur to assess primary institutions

Guwahati, Nov. 11: Assam has decided to introduce the National Assessment and Accreditation Council-style gradation for the state’s primary schools.

Schools which get “A+” will be given awards by Dispur while those securing “A” grade will be awarded by the education department.

Schools getting “B” grade will be asked to improve while the rest will face censure.

Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while speaking at a function on the occasion of National Education Day in the city today, said like the NAAC, which assesses and accredits institutions of higher education in the country, the state education department would assess the performance and award grades to 35,000 primary schools in the state.

He said schools performing better would be given incentives and letters of appreciation.

The assessment process will begin from the current academic year.

“The provincialisation process of 95,000 posts in venture schools is on. There will be no shortage of teachers after filling up of 50,000 posts following the Teachers’ Eligibility Test. So I am hopeful that most of the primary schools in the state will be able to secure ‘A+’ and ‘A’ grades,” Sarma said.

He said the education department has tied up with the Indian Space Research Organisation for setting up an education centre in Guwahati linking about 5,000 Middle English (ME) schools to impart effective teaching skills.

“Teachings at the Guwahati centre can be viewed in all ME or upper primary schools by installing a terminal and television set. This will enable the teachers to improve their teaching methodology. It will also help us in overcoming the growing shortage of teachers in important subjects like mathematics and science at the primary school level by using the technology,” the education minister said.

Sarma said an access control system would be put in place to ensuring proper attendance of teachers under the Axom Sarba Siksha Abhijan.

“Fingerprints will be recorded when a teacher enters and exits a school. Those found short of a minimum of five hours of duty would be penalised by way of cuts in salary and other disciplinary action,” he said.

Sarma said the government would bring about a legislation to prevent backdated illegal appointments and those found guilty would have to undergo 14 years of imprisonment.

He also announced Rs 200 per month as allowance to teachers who are holding the charge of headmasters. “The notification to this effect will be issued today itself,” he added.

During the today’s function, an memorandum of understanding was signed by the government of Assam and the British Council to enhance the English spelling, reading and writing skills for primary teachers from Classes I to V.

Sarma said about 1,000 primary schoolteachers would be initially imparted training in English.

Earlier, chief minister Tarun Gogoi launched the Right to Education Mission in the function and said his government has laid emphasis on education right from the primary to the university level.

He said his government was contemplating awarding extra bonus and letter of commendation to teachers who have performed well.

Assam schools to be graded – Dispur to assess primary institutions

Guwahati, Nov. 11: Assam has decided to introduce the National Assessment and Accreditation Council-style gradation for the state’s primary schools.

Schools which get “A+” will be given awards by Dispur while those securing “A” grade will be awarded by the education department.

Schools getting “B” grade will be asked to improve while the rest will face censure.

Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while speaking at a function on the occasion of National Education Day in the city today, said like the NAAC, which assesses and accredits institutions of higher education in the country, the state education department would assess the performance and award grades to 35,000 primary schools in the state.

He said schools performing better would be given incentives and letters of appreciation.

The assessment process will begin from the current academic year.

“The provincialisation process of 95,000 posts in venture schools is on. There will be no shortage of teachers after filling up of 50,000 posts following the Teachers’ Eligibility Test. So I am hopeful that most of the primary schools in the state will be able to secure ‘A+’ and ‘A’ grades,” Sarma said.

He said the education department has tied up with the Indian Space Research Organisation for setting up an education centre in Guwahati linking about 5,000 Middle English (ME) schools to impart effective teaching skills.

“Teachings at the Guwahati centre can be viewed in all ME or upper primary schools by installing a terminal and television set. This will enable the teachers to improve their teaching methodology. It will also help us in overcoming the growing shortage of teachers in important subjects like mathematics and science at the primary school level by using the technology,” the education minister said.

Sarma said an access control system would be put in place to ensuring proper attendance of teachers under the Axom Sarba Siksha Abhijan.

“Fingerprints will be recorded when a teacher enters and exits a school. Those found short of a minimum of five hours of duty would be penalised by way of cuts in salary and other disciplinary action,” he said.

Sarma said the government would bring about a legislation to prevent backdated illegal appointments and those found guilty would have to undergo 14 years of imprisonment.

He also announced Rs 200 per month as allowance to teachers who are holding the charge of headmasters. “The notification to this effect will be issued today itself,” he added.

During the today’s function, an memorandum of understanding was signed by the government of Assam and the British Council to enhance the English spelling, reading and writing skills for primary teachers from Classes I to V.

Sarma said about 1,000 primary schoolteachers would be initially imparted training in English.

Earlier, chief minister Tarun Gogoi launched the Right to Education Mission in the function and said his government has laid emphasis on education right from the primary to the university level.

He said his government was contemplating awarding extra bonus and letter of commendation to teachers who have performed well.

Allow varsities to hire foreign faculty: Montek

The Plan panel on Friday supported changing laws to allow varsities to hire foreign faculty and said it is aiming an increase in enrollment ratio in higher education to 30 per cent in the next 15 years.

“Indian universities must have an international flavour, international students, international staff. This would not happen unless the government removes the restriction on employment of international faculty.

“Unless this is changed it will be difficult to make it to the top grade,” he said. Under the existing rules, Indian universities are not allowed to recruit foreign faculty.

The challenge before planners, policy makers and educationists, both in the public and the private sector, is of producing the world class Indian universities that could be counted among the top 200 rating list, he said.

“In the next 20 years we must see a significant number of educational institutions in that category,” he said.

He said the 12th Plan Approach Paper has laid special emphasis in making primary education more widespread and higher education more research-based.

Ahluwalia added that expansion of higher education has to be balanced with equality of access, especially for those living in areas where educational institutes do not exist.

“For higher education, the 12th Plan objective is expansion, equality of access and excellence,” Ahluwalia said.

“The objective is to raise the enrollment ratio in higher education from the current level of 15 per cent to 30 per cent over the next 15 years,” Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia [ Images ] said while addressing the FICCI Higher Education Summit 2011.

Ahluwalia also came out in support of awarding government scholarships to meritorious students from private institutes.

“We also need to do a lot more on research funding. We could do with more philanthropy but that will take time to come. So government funding has to increase,” he said.

According to estimates, the total public spending in education in India [ Images ] stood at $30 billion or 3.7 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product in the last financial year.

Meanwhile, private spending in education was estimated at $50 billion, which is expected to grow to $115 billion by 2018.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary for Education in Scotland, Michael Russel said, “We are looking at education in life sciences, biofuel and liberal arts as major areas where lot of exchange can take place. There are 4,000 Indian students in Scotland, the second biggest group of overseas students, and we are keen to increase the numbers and also send students from our country to India.”

The Scottish minister is here with a 35 member delegation for the FICCI conference. Lin Tsong-ming, Deputy Education Minister of Taiwan, said his country will be offering incentives, including scholarship to the tune of $1.5 million, for Indian students to come and study in universities in the East Asian country.

“Besides, we are willing to extend help in teaching of Chinese here, including providing study material and teachers,” Lin said.

There are around 450 Indian students in Taiwan at present and the aim is to take the number to 2,000, he added.

Education beyond Boundaries

The education system in India has always been a prime focus among the intelligentsia and educators. The role of the government in nurturing the system, the monopoly of private schools and the latest trend of luxury international schools are issues that keep coming back round the discussion table.

Addressing this, iDiscoveri’s Xseed organised the ‘School of Tomorrow’ conference inviting educators from across the state and innovators from the field of entrepreneurial education.

Happening simultaneously across four cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad – the conference addresses the hope that with a more efficient system in place, education across the country will get better and our society of children will make for a better and more responsible society.

XSEED, an academic plan that is devised to raise the level of class room expertise and efficiency, raises the very pertinent question that most seem to be asking – is improved resources or teaching methodology the more important key to a successful education system?

Speaking at the discussion were panelists Adilakshmi Chintalapati, principal of the Oakridge international school, Anoop Rao, chief operating officer of Naandi Foundation, Harimohan Paruvu, writer and cricketer and Vijay, joint secretary of the Sri Prakash educational society.

While it was agreed that resources and infrastructure do make a huge difference and play an important role in the overall holistic education of a child, it was pointed out that good education can still happen and good students can be coached and produced.

However in our quest for apparently improving, there’s been a discombobulation in the system.

Said Anoop Rao, “The focus on accountability has been lost. Irrespective of infrastructure, good students are there. But, teachers spend a lot of time doing administrative work. That is a problem. The environment has to be conducive for the facilitators to work in.”

Speaking on how schools rate themselves and what accounts for good education, Chintalapati said, “The measure should be action. How much of what is being done inside the class room is actually translated to action outside? A child’s development becomes the measure of that school.”

The audience which was an army of principals, educationists and consultants had a few interesting takes on the issue at hand.

Asked one principal, “Methods of training are abstract while infrastructure is concrete? In a school with average infrastructure but excellent teaching faculty, how do you get parents and students into the school?” Though the panelists skirted over, it was agreed that quality education is what really sustains a child in an organisation.

If a well-built school lacks quality, infrastructure isn’t necessarily going to keep them in. Anoop however had a story to share.

“We (the Naandi organisation) took over a government school in Mumbai with just seven students. By the end of the year, we had 500. The infrastructure was bare, yet children from private schools were coming back. It takes time; took us a few years. But quality any day is your answer.”

Another issue raised was the fact that despite our very idealistic theoretical conclusions that the system should be about creativity, what it finally boils down to is how many marks did a child score. That is the only tangible return. Parents also seem to have a problem as to trusting where to put their money. The common attitude among them is the willingness to spend extra on a private tuition but the unwillingness to pay that instead to the school in case of a hike in fees.

“There is a lack of purpose among teachers. When you look for the root cause as to why they’re even there, there is no answer. We need highly motivated facilitators. Also, understanding where a child comes from and what they want, giving them their space to learn is important,” added Harimohan.

A good entrepreneurial strategy, a fairly motivated facilitator and a creative space for a child to come to everyday is what our current education system requires.

As Anoop puts it, “Demographic puts 80 lakh students out of school. That is an enormous market potential for entrepreneurs to tap into. They have to get creative.”

Manipal Education set to add more courses, plans campus in Sri Lanka

The R1,100-crore Manipal Education is looking at expanding its corporate education and training portfolio beyond banking to newer sectors like healthcare, construction, transportation, media and entertainment amid plans to widen its international presence with a university campus in Sri Lanka.

 The company whose investors include IT czars Narayana Murthy and Azim Premji, expects its revenue from corporate training and education to contribute a fourth of overall revenue in the next four to five years from 15% at present. For Manipal Education, 60% of its revenue comes from outside India, while 40% is generated within the country.

“In India corporate education and training is a huge market. We are looking at technical areas like diagnostics and healthcare management. Construction is another sector we see large potential right from basic construction work to supervisory and managerial jobs,” said Anand Sudarshan, managing director and CEO, Manipal Education.

Education footprint

With the world’s second largest population, more than 50% of which is below the age of 35 years, India is at a critical juncture where its population, if properly harnessed, has the potential to turn the nation into a hub of trained manpower.

Indian higher education continues to suffer from a number of fundamental challenges like the need for better institutes, universities and centres of excellence, quality faculty, employability issues, need for industry-academia linkages and the importance of building research intensive institutions . With a view to address these issues , the ‘FICCI Higher Education Summit’ was held from November 11-12 in New Delhi, on the theme, ‘Strategies for expansion in Higher Education in India.’

The summit also witnessed several parallel sessions like ‘Indian universities in the global top league,’ on what the focus of Indian universities should be to be able to achieve global standards in teaching, research and employability of graduates; ‘developing national knowledge functional hubs,’ on FICCI’s new model of developing knowledge hubs to improve industryacademia linkages and develop curriculum in tune with industry needs, among others.

A strong pitch for tabling and passing the 12-odd Bills in Parliament for reform of higher education was made by Sam Pitroda, advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations.

Scottish delight

Michael Russell, Member of the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, speaks to Tirna Ray on how Scotland can be a key partner in Indian efforts to widen access to higher education

Traditionally , UK has always been an Indian student’s first choice. Hence, by default , Scotland was always part of the package. However, with India emerging as a knowledge economy , Scotland is well set in promoting itself as an independent brand, an academic destination with its own strengths.
Michael Russell, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, was recently in the Capital with a high-level delegation representing 13 of Scotland’s 16 universities including Edinburgh , Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Strathclyde, Stirling, Glasgow Caledonian, Edinburgh Napier , to mention a few. As to the purpose of his visit, Russell said, “I have been visiting India to help strengthen the links between Scotland and India, with a focus on academic collaboration, international student exchange and research partnerships, both academics and business. Scotland can be a key partner in Indian efforts to widen access to higher education.”
At present, there are 4,000 Indian students in Scottish universities and colleges, comprising eight per cent of the international students or 14% of the non-EU students studying in Scotland. However, Russell is eager that at a time when student mobility is the key word, students from Scotland should also come to India for an academic experience.
As to India becoming the favourite destination in recent times for student recruitment, Russell said that Scotland is looking at a deeper nature of collaboration rather than the mere structural aspect of collaboration. Also, as an academic destination, it is interested in undergraduate and postgraduate as well as research students. With India’s high-quality human capital, ‘joint PhDs’ is likely to be a strong area of collaboration.
Also, as part of the delegation’s visit, quite a few agreements were signed including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Aberdeen and and University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, and an MoU between Sikkim Manipal University and Edinburgh Napier University.

RULE BOOK

In reference to the latest changes to the immigration rules, Russell said, “My government does not have responsibility for immigration and we don’t support these changes; of course we plan to hold a referendum on Scottish independence , which could ensure Scotland is able to set its own, more welcoming, immigration rules.”
As far as costs are concerned, with the Scottish government paying the fees of all Scottish domicile students, it has the same fee structure as the rest of the UK for international students. Cost of living estimates are slightly lower than in England and range from around £400 to £600 per month depending on the accommodation and the city where the student is based.

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

Jan Lok Pal Bill or Hijacking of Indian Democracy

General Education Centre of the Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh held a very timely and meaningful symposium on “Democracy and Jan Lok Pal” which has sent an awareness wave in the campus on the much talked about issue. A galaxy of eminent persons from diverse fields dwelled upon the ticklish subject which is going to be affected not only Indian Parliamentary system but also lives of a large section of Indian citizenry.

Addressing the symposium, the Group Editor of Rashtriya Sahara, Aziz Burney strongly questioned the credibility of Anna Hazare and his civil society and dwelled upon multi-faceted corruption. He questioned why concentrate only on the financial corruption and why ignore political and philosophical corruptions? He asked why Anna Hazare is keeping deadly silence on the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who has turned down the whole Indian democratic system to make Gujarat a testing State for Hindu Rashtra?
Burney went ahead to point out that Jan Lok Pal Bill is heavily tilted towards a particular ideology. He pointed out that Jan Lok Pal Bill is only an excuse otherwise real motive is hidden behind the curtains.Elaborating on the fallouts of the Jan Lok Pal Bill and its proposed provisions, Burney pointed out that our Constitution drafters had foresight as they incorporated many provisions therein to deal adverse and diverse conditions. He said the Constitution of India has a well-defined system to deal with financial corruptions. He said the system should not be encroached upon by anyone because if you allow encroachment in one sector, you will certainly get some other sectors dented too and the whole concept of our democratic system and constitution, which is secular and socialist in character, will come tumbling down.

Presiding over the well-attended and thought-provoking symposium, AMU Vice-chancellor Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis said this great nation is presently reeling under corrupt practices in every walk of life and causing a large number of human rights violations. He said the Indian democratic system is based on the concept of equality and equity and the system allows every shade of opinion to be debated. He called upon the students to be aware of the burning issues and take their own stand with consideration of interests of the masses. He appealed to the students to truly follow the lifestyle recommended by Islam and urged them to translate the teachings of Sir Syed into their life. Prof. Aziz said it is very important to note that corrupt practices cannot bring excellence to an individual and no one could achieve greatness by adopting corrupt practices. He told the students that all sorts of corruption are slow poison and they should desist from.

Delivering the keynote address, former Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh and former Chairman of UP Minorities Commission, Mr. S.M.A. Kazmi disagreed that just by launching one movement aimed at solving only one of the problems among the numerous ones the nation has been facing a person may become Gandhi. He said that Gandhi had become Mahatma Gandhi after a prolonged war of independence, after making sacrifices and losing a lucrative career in law but some people have hatched a conspiracy to make a Gandhi out of one person and then legitimise their movement which is nothing but an agitational corruption, too.

Earlier, former Dean of the Law faculty Prof. M. Zakaria Siddiqui, elaborating on the topic of the symposium, said that the anti-corruption movement launched by Anna Hazare and his team was the largest mass based movement after the independence movement. But he disagreed that it can be called “Second independence”. He said the people who are calling for the so-called second independence forget that independence can be only one and that has been achieved. Secondly, he pointed out that Loknayak Jai Prakash Narain had also called his anti-Indira movement second independence. He said that we must ensure that in our zeal, we should not trespass the democratic space and must not invite another emergency-like situation.

Prof. Zakaria emphasised developing strong spirituality. He said dishonesty and corruption are all by-products of weak spiritualism. He pointed out that every religion has sanctioned good deeds and disapproved misdeeds. He said it is only spiritualism or in other words inner voice which stops a person to move towards greed or corruption. He called upon the students in particular and the youths in general to develop strong spiritualism to be clean and honest from within. He concluded his address with short comment that spiritualisation is the only way to wipe out corruption from Indian society and nation.

Continuing the theme of the symposium towards critical stages, Director CORD, Lucknow, Athar Hussain said there is no doubt that the movement against corruption is very important and everyone who loves society and the nation should participate therein. But before jumping on the bandwagon, one should get accurate knowledge about the issue and consider plus and minus points and then make a sound viewpoint and finally join or oppose a movement. He said unfortunately in the case of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement, the media began presenting larger-than-life images and numerous channels began competing with each other so much so that the tragic news of hunger deaths in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh got enveloped under the blown up anti-corruption movement of Anna Hazre which resulted in the half-baked information reaching to masses and a mass hysteria soon became evident. Husain pointed out that such trends of raising mass hysteria are not a positive sign for peaceful coexistence of citizens and survival of the democratic system at large.

Earlier, making opening remarks and conducting the analytical symposium, Coordinator of the General Education Centre, Dr. Shakeel Samdani addressed a number of silent points of the subject. Dr. Samdani wondered why in the civil society representation of minorities or Dalits has not been made. He said the Anna Hazare team has kept a deadly silence over political, religious and moral corruption. He pointed out that we find religious places built upon public lands like railway stations or bus stations and nobody dares to question them. It is religious corruption. Dr. Samdani said that Article 341 deprives certain religious groups like Muslims and Christians to get the fruits of reservation provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India while some other groups like Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs are allowed to reap rich harvest out of it. He drew the attention of audience towards this political corruption. He also pointed out that almost all Muslim concentrated parliamentary constituencies have been reserved and thus Muslims have been deprived of the representation in Parliament. He said it is another glaring example of political corruption heavily guided by the communal and biased elements.

Dr. Samdani said the Anna Hazare team is composed of only few people. Indian democracy will be hijacked by these few people if the Jan Lok Pal bill is passed. They are demanding to bring even the Prime Minister under the purview of the Jan Lok Pal Bill. He urged the audience just to consider a situation when they decide to dethrone a Prime Minister then they can easily do it or he will be blackmailed by them. In such a situation, it is the Indian democratic system which will collapse and it is the masses who will suffer. He pointed out that such a weak political system on the shoulders of only few people will send wrong signals to the international community resulting in the nosedive of Indian prestige and credibility.

Dr. Samdani again pointed out that a time may come up when the civil society would raise a demand to dismantle certain institutions like Minorities Commission and due to their interference a weak Prime Minister will obey their dictates; then what will happen? Dr. Samdani summed up that if the present Indian parliamentary system is allowed to be hijacked by few people, whose credibility is shrouded under doubt, then it will be the end of democratic system and the Indian state known for its secular and non-violence will certainly move to fascism which will ultimately put the nation to anarchy and the country will disintegrate, like the earlier princely states.

He concluded with an appeal to all the saner elements of Indian society to see the reason and do not go by emotions or hysteria generated by electronic and print media.

The organising secretary of the symposium Nayyer Rahman, a student of M.Com (Final) drew the attention of the gathering towards the fact that India is passing through a crucial phase and the nation is standing on the crossroads. On the one hand it is galloping to be a super power and on the other the number of hungry and deprived people is rising. He said the students of AMU must be aware of all developments and burning issues, because in one or the other way they affect our lives. He called upon them to express their opinions freely and fearlessly.

The hurriedly organised symposium successfully attracted the students from diverse disciplines. For the first time in the recent history of AMU, the Kennedy Auditorium was not only packed to full strength but was overflowing and a time came when a demand was raised to install T.V. screens outside. The Hall went to clapping several times.

In the end of the symposium, Dr. Samdani presented coveted Shan-e-Sahafat Award to Aziz Burney. While presenting the award, Dr. Samdani told the audience that the police firing on innocent Muslims in Gopalgarh (Bharatpur) would have gone unnoticed if Aziz Burney might not have visited it in the hostile atmosphere and might not have reported the fascist and communalised face of the police force there.

It is very important to point out that the positive impact of the symposium has been recorded within a few days. Anna Hazare has condemned Narendra Modi and also the arrest of Sanjiv Bhutt, the glorious police officer of Gujarat.

Textile traditions of the State on display

Pochampalli, Dharmavaram, Guntur, Mangalagiri, Chirala, Kuppadam, Uppada and Gadwal—these are the names that bombard you at the National Handloom Expo that is on at Swaraj Maidan. For a person who does not know about the rich textile tradition of the State these are just names of places.

For those who want to learn about the tradition and technique used by weavers of these places in producing one of the finest textiles, the Theme Pavilion at Expo offers a wonderful chance.

They should all make a beeline to the ‘theme pavilion’ established by the Vijayawada Weavers’ Service Centre (WSC).

Besides live demonstration of the backbreaking Uppada Jamadani weaving technique, Tie and Dye Jamadani and Kalamkari block printing, the WSC has put on display several traditional and experimental samples of saris, dress materials, bed spreads that have been neatly labelled which is education by themselves.

The WSC Technical Supervisor B. Govardhana Rao explaining about the speciality of the sarees on display said that they were woven at the Vijayawada WSC combining the weaving techniques used by weavers from different places.

“This saree was woven using the technique used in Gadwal, but the border was woven using the technique of Kuppadam (East Godavari) Weavers,” Mr. Rao said citing an example. Explaining the efforts that go into a the weaving of a Gadwal sari, he said that the weaver had to make three knots using yarn of different colour in a weft to create the saree and borders (top and bottom).

In the sarees developed and designed in the WSC were silk and cotton ones dyed with vegetable dyes and made using tie and dye technique. Uppada Sareethat look the same on both sides, Gunturu Butta saris with Gadwal borders and Kalamkari bed spreads printed experimentally using stencils instead of the traditional carved wooden blocks are available at the pavilion for the connoisseurs.

Interesting among the saris on display are the “Gollabhama” sari of Janagam, and the Ganga Jamuna sari with double coloured border of Dharmavaram.

The Chirala Telia Rumal bed spreads that are becoming very popular are made using tie and dye weaving techniques that are over 150-year-old.

“This technique of weaving was very popular a hundred years ago. The technique became very popular in Gujarat and from there it came back to the state and became popular in Pochampalli,” he said giving a little bit of history.

Also on display in the pavilion were sample saris from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Saris woven in the authentic tradition used in Kanchivaram, Kumbakkonam of Tamil Nadu, Mulkaimur of Karnataka and Sambalpur of Orissa are an education.