There is no news update in this category.

There is no news update in this category.

Entrance exam for PG medical may be scrapped

(18/2/09) ToI

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMDkvMDIvMTgjQXIwMTcwMg==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Medical students aspiring for post-graduate courses may no longer have to appear for an entrance examination. The department of medical education and research has mooted a proposal that students’ MBBS marks be considered for admitting them to the master’s programme and the decision is likely to be accepted by the Maharashtra government.

Medical Council of India regulations say students can be admitted to post-graduate courses on the basis of an entrance exam conducted by the Central government or the state government or on the basis of the MBBS aggregate if a particular state has one medical university. Maharashtra has 10 government colleges and three civic colleges in Mumbai. Admission to these colleges is conducted after a post-graduate medical entrance examination.

Medical Education Minister Rajesh Tope said that the proposal was under consideration and the state would soon go ahead and decide as to when it could start implementing this. The state can go ahead with the proposal from the coming year itself and inform fourth-year students that their final-year marks will be considered for admission to PG courses. Third-year students can be informed that aggregate marks of their third and fourth years will be considered when it’s time for them to join the PG course and so on.

Tags: Medicine, Entrance Exam, PG Medical, MBBS, Maharashtra

UP needs 2,813 docs, 766 pharmacists

(19/2/09) Tribune

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090219/nation.htm#20

In spite of shortage of doctors and other medical infrastructure, there has been an unprecedented surge in the number of institutional deliveries in the state. The institutional deliveries in the state had gone up from 1.25 lakhs to 10 lakhs per year.

This is a significant indicator as the state tops the list of maternal deaths in the country. 517 maternal deaths are recorded per one lakh live births in the state. Delivery through untrained persons is one of the main reasons behind the deaths.

Going by the national health standards, the state needs 2,813 doctors and 766 pharmacists.

The state government has already requisitioned the state service commission, the minister informed.

Compulsory rural postings for fresh medical graduates whose education was being subsidised by the government should be introduced.

Earlier in the state fresh medical interns were recruited on an ad hoc basis and regularised as and when permanent vacancies arose. The state government should make medical students sign a bond for compulsory rural posting at the time of admission.

There should be a provision to provide adequate residential, security and other infrastructure support in remote areas so that medical staff could stay there and not clamour for urban postings or opt for private practice.

Repeated GOs have been issued to Commissioners and District Magistrates to ensure the presence of doctors in the community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs).

In this concern, 38 doctors have got adverse entries in their service records, 12 have been transferred, five dismissed and 31 have been left after being warned. However, he made it clear that the government was not considering making private practice by government doctors a punishable offense.

Tags: Medicine, Doctors, Pharmacists, Institutional Deliveries, Job Trends

There is no news update in this category.

Board exams: CBSE opens helpline for disabled kids

(9/2/09) Tribune

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090209/delhi.htm#2

In an attempt to cater to the needs of disabled children, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), for the first time, has designated educators to answer to the queries of disabled students taking Class 10 and Class 12 exams. With the board exams beginning from March 2, examination stress is already building up among students.

Four special educators— three from Mumbai and one from Delhi— will help students and parents overcome anxiety and stress during the board exams. The special educators are available online as well as on telephone from centres located in Mumbai and Delhi from February 1 to April 2.

However, educators feel that maximum queries would start coming about 15 days before the exams. The basic idea is to make the child feel confident of taking the exams despite their disability. Educators try to ease the extra pressure on them by making them feel comfortable about the exams and then counselling them on their specific requirements. Children with special needs require patient handling and often a good amount of attention and this is precisely what we try to give them.

Special educators are extremely attentive and polite while dealing with disabled children. They also try to talk to the parents and inform them about the facilities provided by the CBSE to such children.

The CBSE offers certain concessions to physically challenged, spastic and dyslexic candidates taking the month-long board exams. These concessions include extra time (60 minutes extra to write the exam), a writer and flexibility in selecting subjects at the secondary level.

The CBSE has also given special training to teachers on the marking criteria for such children.

Another counsellor added that disabled kids tend to be very vocal and there is a need to understand their gifted abilities. Sometimes it can be difficult to completely understand the child on telephone.

The helplines for the disabled kids are: Abha Sharma, Mumbai, 9967800337; M.R Shipley, Mumbai, 9833950896; Hetal Sayla, Mumbai, 9819209623 and Shweta Khanna, Delhi, 9717882074. For online counselling, kids or parents can visit CBSE’s website www.cbse.nic.in.

Tags: Physically Challenged, Board Exams, CBSE, Counsellor

1081 posts to cater to NSG needs

(19/2/09) ToI

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMDkvMDIvMTkjQXIwMTMwMg==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

With the Centre taking a number of steps to strengthen National Security Guard (NSG) post 26/11, the home ministry has sanctioned 1,081 additional posts of different rank “ to meet immediate operational requirements” of elite anti-terror commando force.

These posts-meant for the Special Action Group of NSG- will be filled up by taking Army Personnel on deputation. All these personnel will be posted at the four new NSG hubs which are to be set up at Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.

More post will be sanctioned once the new hubs became operational. The existing plan was to add nearly 2,000 more personnel for these hubs in a phased manner by increasing the strength of NSG from over 7,500 to nearly 10,000 by the end of this year. New additions will be meant for the SAG which is the main unit of NSG. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has asked defence ministry to spare 1,081 Army Personnel for NSG.

Tags: Protective Forces, NSG, Job Trends, Special Action Group,

There is no news update in this category.

Soon, ‘private’ schools by Govt

Tags: School, Govt Aided Private Schools, Primary, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, Laxmi Bai Nagar

(19/2/09) HT

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=IndiaSectionPage&id=354ac7db-231c-4674- b6d3-1de32985d992&MatchID1=4924&TeamID1=4&TeamID2=2&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1244&PrimaryID =4924&Headline=Soon%2c+%e2%80%98private%e2%80%99+schools+by+Govt

Tired of running around private schools to get your child admitted?

Soon, you would be able to send them to a school with comparable facilities and education and at a lower fee. The city government is all set to open its own unaided schools.

The Govt is starting these schools since there is a constant complaint from middle-class and upper middle-class parents about the paucity of good public schools. They have identified two locations in Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg and Laxmi Bai Nagar. They plan to set up eight-nine such schools.

The board for these schools would comprise eminent educationists. A society headed by the chief minister would run these schools assisted by the education minister.

The education department is looking at setting up the pilot school at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. They have some land available near ITO. The school will come up with all the wherewithal of a top private school. Apart from giving parents a quality option, this will also help the department figure out really how much money one needs for running such an institution.

While Delhi government school students have done well in board exams and overall the results steadily climbing, officials felt there was still some resistance to sending ones children to a government school since they did not sound or look as posh.

No change in CBSE pattern

(21/2/09) Hindu

http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/21/stories/2009022161830300.htm

There will be no change in the question pattern this year for the Class XII and X examinations being conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education beginning March 2.

The CBSE had revised the design of question papers in all the major subjects of Class XII and X in 2008 to assess the Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) in children.

Over 14.60 lakh candidates have registered themselves for the senior school certificate examination (Class XII) as well as secondary school examination (Class X) this year, up from 13.13 lakh in 2008. The number of students appearing for Class XII is 636,322, and for Class X 823,887.

As many as 181,349 and 231,464 children from Delhi are scheduled to appear in the Class XII and X examinations.

The number of candidates has shot up from nearly 13 lakh last year to over 14.60 lakh this year for both the classes. They include 20,329 students studying in CBSE-affiliated schools in foreign countries. There will be 2,509 examination centres for Class XII and 2,713 for Class X across the country. In Delhi alone, 555 centres will be for Class XII students, while 568 have been designated for those studying in Class X.

There has been no change in the question pattern from last year. Only the number of pages in the answer scripts will be reduced. In the past few years we had been increasing the number of pages. But in our survey we found out that the numbers of pages were being left unused by the students.

The number of pages for the Class XII answer script has been reduced to 40 from 48. Similarly the answer script for Class X students now comprises 32 pages as against 40 earlier

Tags: School, CBSE, Higher Order Thinking Skills, Board Exams

14.5L students to take Board exams

(21/2/09) ToI

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMDkvMDIvMjEjQXIwMDUwNA==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Here is a breather for 14.5 lakh students appearing for the Board exams beginning from March 2. According to sources, CBSE has decided to stick to the same question pattern for class X and XII exams as in 2008, where the focus was on understanding and analysis rather than on memorising ability of students.

The Board had introduced 20% questions on ‘high-order thinking skills’. CBSE has already placed the sample papers on its website. The 15-minute time for students to go through questions which was introduced last year will continue. Meanwhile, the numbers of students appearing for the Boards have also increased by over 1.5 lakh this year.

The number of candidates has increased from nearly 13 lakh last year to over 14.5 lakh this year for both the classes. This includes the 20,329 students studying in CBSE-affiliated schools in foreign countries. The break up is 6,32,322 students for class XII and 8,23,887 for class X. The Board has also decided to check wastage of papers by reducing the number of pages of the answersheets. There will be 2,509 examination centres for class XII, of which 555 are in Delhi and 2,713 centres for class X, of which 568 are in the city.

Tags: School, CBSE Board Exam, Class 10, Class 12

There is no news update in this category.

There is no news update in this category.

Bihar dental college to pay for ruinous ad

(20/2/09) Hindu

http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/20/stories/2009022060461800.htm

Students aggrieved at misleading advertisements, given by unrecognised educational institutions that their courses are recognised, are entitled to refund of fees and compensation.

Such misrepresentation resulting in ruining the career of students and loss of academic years will come within the ambit of unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act.

The Bench upheld the order passed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission directing an unrecognised dental college and hospital in Bihar to refund the fees paid by 11 students who joined the institution believing that it was a recognised college and lost two academic years. The court directed the college to pay a total compensation of Rs. 22 lakh, in addition to refund of fees and a Rs. 30,000-penalty imposed by the Commission.

Bhupesh Khurana and 10 others joined the college during 1992-93 paying a huge capitation fee.

Later they came to know that the college was not affiliated and their course was not recognised, and so they could not sit for the examination. On their complaint, the Commission directed refund of fees and payment of compensation.

Appeal dismissed

Dismissing with costs the appeal filed by the college against this order, the Bench pointed out that its wrong claim that it was affiliated to Magadh University and its BDS course was recognised by the Dental Council of India amounted to deficiency in service under the CP Act.

The appellant-institute, by giving totally a misleading and false advertisement, clearly misled the respondents. The appellant institute has played with the career of the students and virtually ruined their career and the respondents have lost two valuable academic years. The Commission rightly concluded that this was a case of total misrepresentation on the part of the institute which was tantamount to an unfair trade practice.

Tags: Shame, BDS, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Dental Council of India

There is no news update in this category.

There is no news update in this category.

Dump expat pilots by 2010: Govt to airlines

(18/2/09) ToI

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMDkvMDIvMTgjQXIwMTkwMw==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

There’s some hope for scores of young Indian students who have spent lakhs on becoming a commercial pilot but are jobless. The government has set a deadline of July 31, 2010, for Indian carriers to replace their foreign pilots with Indian ones. The 1,000-odd foreign pilots working here have become a serious bone of contention with both their Indian counterparts over issue of pay parity and also with growing number of unemployed Indian pilots.

There is a shortage of type rated pilots which is being met by expatriate pilots. Airlines have been advised to adopt training programmes for Indian pilots who shall replace foreign pilots. Foreign pilots have been permitted to operate upto July 31, 2010.

The issue has assumed serious proportions as the falling passenger loads has led to all airlines reducing flights. This has affected the earlier projected boom demand for pilots that had led to middle class families taking loans for up to Rs 30 lakh to send their children abroad for pilot training. Many families are now finding it difficult to repay loans with their children jobless.

Tags: Travel & Transport, Aviation, Expat Pilots, Indian Pilots

Appraisals for University teachers?

(18/2/09) ToI

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMDkvMDIvMTgjQXIwMTcwMA==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Performance appraisal of professors and college principals? If the University Grants Commission (UGC) has its way, for the first time, lakhs of professors and principals in the 400-odd universities across the country will face evaluation. The UGC proposal includes compulsory stay on campus for five hours every day, 30 weeks of actual teaching (six working days), minimum six hours research per week and performance assessment. The vacation period too has been cut from 10 weeks a year to eight weeks.

The UGC’s draft notification on ‘revision of pay scales, minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers in universities/colleges and other measures for maintenance of standards 2009’ stipulates that everyone — from associate professors to principals — in all colleges/universities will come under the newly-introduced Performance Appraisal Scoring System (PASS) and Academic Performance Indicator (API). UGC sources said the regulation would be finalised in March after receiving feedback from universities and teacher associations.

Simply put, they will be evaluated on various criteria. For instance, a professor who excels in developing new technologies for teaching and satisfies the required number of hours for teaching will get 150 points. While 200 points has been earmarked for student mentoring, professional activities (being a member of board or committee) will earn him/her 50 points. And then there are points for familiarity with up-to-date teaching material too.

To ensure that the best get into teaching, direct recruitment will be only through merit and selection committees will be headed by the vice-chancellors themselves. On its part, the UGC will draw up a national subject expert bank and colleges/universities must include the expert while appointing a professor.

The idea is not aimed at policing the education system but to bring in quality in our higher education system. Universities can develop a weightage formula. But UGC will seek a compliance report every year from the universities on the performance. UGC have sought feedback from the stakeholders

Predictably, university teachers are not happy with UGC’s diktat. There are too many conditions, especially for recruitments at the college level. They are not practical. Some measures like performance indicators are needed but why is the teaching community targeted? Didn’t state and central government employees too benefit from the 6th Central Pay Commission?

Tags: University, Teachers, Performance Appraisal Scoring System, PASS, Academic Performance Indicator, API, 6th Central Pay Commission

Bill for setting up 12 Central varsities introduced

(18/2/09) Tribune

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090218/nation.htm#99

The government introduced two bills concerning education in the Lok Sabha - one to grant statutory powers to the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions and the other to set up 12 central universities in states having none to improve the low gross enrollment ratio of 11 per cent in higher education.

The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2009 seeks to amend the 2004 Act, which requires the commission to consult state governments when according minority status to any educational institution. The amended bill deletes this provision, saying in certain cases the state government or its agency may be a party before the commission.

If passed, this bill will grant overarching powers to the commission, which hears complaints of deprivation of rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

The Central Universities Bill 2009 proposes to establish central varsities in Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu and replaces the January 15 ordinance in this matter.

Minister of state for higher education D Purandeshwari introduced the bill amidst severe criticism by the Left which questioned the government’s urgency of promulgating an ordinance when the House was seized of the matter.

The CU Bill 2008 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on October 23 last and referred to the department related parliamentary committee, which submitted its report on December 17.

The government blamed the haste on states, saying since the proposal had been pending for long and led to heightened expectations among the concerned states for action on the part of the government. The government felt a number of preparatory steps were required for operationalising central varsities in time for the next academic session and incorporate amendments proposed by the parliamentary committee on HRD. The 2009 Bill also proposes to convert three state universities in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand each into CUs.

The bill incorporates seven of the 15 amendments proposed by the parliamentary committee. These include deletion of the clause vesting in the central government the power to give directions to the university, appointment of the first chancellor, vice-chancellor, registrar and finance officer by the visitor instead of the central government, provision for elected student representatives in the students' council and provision for at least two meetings of the students' council every academic year instead of one proposed in the bill.

Tags: University, Bill, National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, Central Universities Bill 2009

886 new Engg colleges, 1,084 B-schools on cards

(19/2/09) ToI

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/New-tech-business-schools-on-cards/articleshow/4152179.cms

A common wisecrack among engineering aspirants in Andhra Pradesh has it that every second building in the state is an engineering college.

That may cease to be a joke when institutes dishing out management and engineering degrees start mushrooming all over the country.

Global depression may have taken the wind out of campus placements, but the rush for starting professional institutions is at an all-time high. Data from the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the regulatory body for professional technical education, shows that the dash to start professional colleges is more pronounced when it comes to engineering and management as compared to other streams like pharmacy, hotel management and catering technology or architecture.

The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has received a total of 886 applications for starting engineering colleges and 1,084 applications for new management institutes. Five Indian states-Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala-account for almost 69% of the country's engineering graduates, indicating that these states also have most of India's engineering colleges.

Regional Imbalances

This year too most applications for starting new institutes have come from these states, causing worry among educationists about a regional imbalance creeping in. States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Orissa together account for a measly 14% of India's technological colleges.

Colleges that get the nod by June 30 will be allowed to start classes in this academic year, so officials expect even more applications to pour in. Several academicians feel quality is losing out in the race to expand seats. The Principal of Pune Engineering College asked “Can the country boast of even 100 engineering colleges that impart cutting-edge education?” “Then what is the point in a thousand new colleges every year?”

He also said that part of the problem lies in the fact that most trusts running professional colleges are backed by politicians who pay little attention to quality. But the AICTE feels that meeting the massive demand for professional education is imperative. Twenty years ago, merely 1% of aspiring engineers got a seat. Now nearly 70% manage to find a place.

AICTE chairman R A Yadav said that it may come as a surprise, but very few engineering seats were left vacant last year. There's also a yawning gap between management aspirants and the number of seats in Indian B-schools.

But how many management schools boast of full campus placement? And are even 30% of MBA institutes accredited by the NBA (National Board of Accreditation)?

There were 2,297 engineering colleges with a total student intake capacity of 8.19 lakh students and close to 1,500 management institutes with an annual intake of 1.5 lakh students (2008-'09).

Tags: University, IIT, Engineering Colleges, IIMs, B-Schools, Regional Imbalances

IGNOU starts e-programme in Agri policy

(18/2/09) HT Horizon

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com//artMailDisp.aspx?article=18_02_2009_601_006&typ=0&pub=47

Indira Gandhi National Open University's (IGNOU) School of Agriculture has started a six month certificate programme in agriculture policy The online programme covers various aspects essential for policy formulation to achieve overall economic development of the country. The curriculum is designed to address factors in agricultural development process in India, farmers' plight, their intellectual property rights issues in cases of plant-breeding and others, and research opportunities.

Professor B S Hansra, Director, SOA, said that In India, agriculture is rain-fed. Over 60 per cent of cultivation is dependent on rain. This and a bundle of other problems have made Indian agriculture a regular challenge. To address these, the programme on agriculture policy has been developed with four units and made available to all, particularly targeting researchers and extension workers.” If implemented in a proper perspective, the programme is likely to empower students with preliminary knowledge for gainful practices in agricultural extension work and policy implementation

Tags: University, IGNOU, Course, Agriculture Certificate Course, Six Months

IGNOU plans new courses

(18/2/09) HT Horizon

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com//artMailDisp.aspx?article=18_02_2009_608_002&typ=1&pub=47

The university plans to launch courses in design education.

Here’s the latest from Indira Gandhi National Open University.

Modular courses in design IGNOU has teamed up with IILM Institute of Higher Education (IILM) to jointly develop innovative and cost effective undergraduate and post-graduate design education programmes.

Besides promoting the design programmes under a suitable fee-structure, two institutes plan to contribute to groom technical professionals of designs in product, communication, animation, retail, textile and apparel sectors. They have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a four-year in-built modular degree programme in design education. The MoU will be in force for four years. Thereafter, it will be evaluated for future development. The unique points in the inbuilt modularity are: A student gets a certificate after successful completion of the first year, a diploma after the second year, an advanced diploma after the third and the degree after the fourth year. There are feelers that a slew of design education programmes will take off from this modular structure.

According to the MoU, IGNOU and IILM will jointly develop the content and courseware.

Vice Chancellor Prof. V N Rajasekharan Pillai said, “Design is an important area of creativity and development. There is a felt-need for developing such a programme.” Now see your answer scripts. From the 2008 December examination onwards, candidates appearing for various examinations in Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) can get a photocopy of their answer book, within 45 days of the declaration of results. Appropriate stationery charge of Rs 100 per paper may be levied from the candidate for this purpose. The procedure is for ensuring greater transparency and accountability in the evaluation of answer scripts. Return of the answer scripts will also give the learners an occasion to understand their mistakes and correct them through further study. The idea behind the practice is to start the question of transparency and accountability.

Tags: University, IGNOU, Courses, Design Education Programmes, IILM

UGC recognition for varsity cleared

(15/2/09) Tribune

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090215/haryana.htm#6

The long wait of teachers of Chaudhary Devi Lal Univeristy for its recognition by the University Grants Commission under section 12-B of the UGC Act seems to be finally over. The UGC took a decision to grant recognition to the local university at its meeting held recently. A formal letter of recognition would be sent to the university soon.

A seven-member team of the UGC had visited the university campus and inspected the facilities there on January 19 and 20 and submitted its report to the commission.

The recognition is crucial for the university, which will soon have to implement new pay scales for its teachers as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. If the recognition is not given in time, it will have to depend on its own resources for bearing the extra burden. 

The University has an establishment expenditure of about Rs 6 crore per annum on the salaries of its teachers and other staff members. These expenses will almost double once the new pay scales are implemented.

The UGC paid for a period of five years for the increased salaries of the teachers of universities which were recognised by it under section 12-B of the UGC Act.

A senior teacher of the university said that they cannot apply for any project of the UGC, grants, chance of post-doctoral research overseas and grants for career advancement till the university gets recognised by the UGC.

Tags: University, Chaudhary Devi Lal University, UGC

UGC lists fake varsities

(20/2/09) ToI

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMDkvMDIvMjAjQXIwMDUwNQ==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

The UGC came up with a state-wise list on fake universities. The alert on this has been made available on the UGC’s website. As per the list, Delhi has six fake universities. They are Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi (UP) Jagatpuri, Delhi, Commercial University Ltd, Daryaganj, United Nations University, Vocational University, ADR-Centric Juridical University, ADR House, 8J, Gopala Tower, 25 Rajendra Place, and Indian Institute of Science and Engineering.

State-wise List of fake Universities as on 18thJanuary, 2009

Bihar

1) Maithili University/Vishwavidyalaya, Darbhanga, Bihar.

Delhi

2) Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi (UP) Jagatpuri, Delhi.

3) Commercial University Ltd., Daryaganj, Delhi.

4) United Nations University, Delhi.

5) Vocational University, Delhi.

6) ADR-Centric Juridical University, ADR House, 8J, Gopala Tower, 25 Rajendra Place, New Delhi - 110 008.

7) Indian Institute of Science and Engineering, New Delhi.

Karnataka

8) Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society, Gokak, Belgaum, Karnataka.

Kerala

9) St. John?s University, Kishanattam, Kerala.

Madhya Pradesh

10) Kesarwani Vidyapith, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

Maharashtra

11) Raja Arabic University, Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Tamil Nadu

12) D.D.B. Sanskrit University, Putur, Trichi, Tamil Nadu.

West Bengal

13) Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, Kolkatta.

Uttar Pradesh

14) Mahila Gram Vidyapith/Vishwavidyalaya, (Women?s University) Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

15) Indian Education Council of U.P., Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

16) Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith, Prayag, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

17) National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

18) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University (Open University), Achaltal, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

19) Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya, Kosi Kalan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.

20) Maharana Pratap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.

21) Indraprastha Shiksha Parishad, Institutional Area, Khoda, Makanpur, Noida Phase-II, Uttar Pradesh.

22) Gurukul Vishwavidyala, Vridanvan, Uttar Pradesh.

Note:-

The matter of recognition of degrees like B.Ed/M.Ed.etc. awarded by the Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow and also its recognition is still subjudice.

Tags: University, UGC, Fake Universities

Defence varsity for Haryana

(20/2/09) Tribune

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090220/main8.htm

The Indian National Defence University (INDU) has finally come to Haryana with Binola in Gurgaon getting the nod of the Prime Minister’s Office.

With Binola getting the approval of the PMO, the state government would acquire the land for the university under an emergency clause which could take anywhere between one to six months.

Though Delhi was the first choice, it was rejected on account of space constraint. The ministry then turned its eyes to Punjab for setting up this university, which would run courses for the armed forces, the civil services and the paramilitary forces.

This makes India the third country in the world to set up National Defence University, the other two countries having been China and the USA. The university will be a multi-disciplinary centre of excellence in the country in education and research on national security issues. The president of the NDU will be a serving three-star general of the armed services.

On the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) Report on “Reforming the National Security System”, the government in 2001 set up a committee to examine the establishment of a National Defence University in India.

After interactions with the government and armed services officials, in-depth studies of the National Defence Universities in the US and China and visits to armed forces institutions in India, the committee has recommended the establishment of an Indian National Defence University (INDU).

Tags: University, Indian National Defence University, INDU, Binola

Railway stations to double up as virtual colleges

(20/2/09) HT

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=Video&id=6bfdd937-3e0a-458c-aedf-b0cbcb7776a8&&Headline=Railway+stations+to+double+up+as+virtual+colleges

The next time you see people rushing towards a railway station, many of them may not be catching a train. They could be distance-learning students unwilling to bunk classes.

In association with the government-owned Railtel Corporation of India Ltd, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has decided to set up study centres at 3,000 railway stations.

IGNOU will utilise Railtel’s high-speed optical fibre cable (OFC) network to provide educational content. At these virtual colleges, students will interact with teachers through the university’s distance learning modules and online tests.

Professor V N Rajasekharan Pillai had a meeting with Railtel where both IGNOU and Railtel decided to go ahead with the project. Hopefully by June 2009, IGNOU’s study centres will be ready at many railway stations.

The idea is to take IGNOU to the interiors of the country. They are looking at setting up study centres at railway stations in rural areas, apart from tier II and tier III cities.

Railtel, which has laid about 30,000 km of OFC network, is equally enthusiastic. Railtel has offered land, bandwidth and data centres to IGNOU.

According to Railtel general manager (marketing) Anshul Gupta, the company wants to set up study centres at 3,000 railway stations where they have connectivity.

Tags: University, IGNOU, Virtual Colleges, Railtel Corporation of India Ltd, Study Centres, Rural Areas

Free JNU prospectus for students from BPL families

(21/2/09) Hindu

http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/21/stories/2009022161820300.htm

Jawaharlal Nehru University here has decided to provide its admission prospectus free of cost to students belonging to economically weaker sections of society.

The decision was taken after the JNU Students’ Union led a campaign against the hike in the price of the prospectus from Rs.120 to Rs.200 this year.

As a rollback was perceived untenable considering over 45,000 forms have already been sold, the authorities decided to introduce this new clause.

The committee has decided to arrange for 100 per cent refund of the prospectus fee to applicants belonging to BPL who have already bought the forms this year. They just need to show the BPL card and they will be returned the entire amount.

Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor B.B. Bhattacharya will appoint a new committee for a comprehensive review of the entire matter pertaining to the pricing of prospectus, examination fees and expenditure on conduct of the JNU entrance examinations.

Tags: University, JNU, Free Prospectus, BPL

New research initiatives at DU

(9/2/09) Edu Times

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMDkvMDIvMDkjQXIwMzQwNg==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Delhi University (DU) has come up with a range of schemes to boost its research activities. Though funding for research in Indian universities has improved considerably in the last decade or so, there is a dearth of research motivation. This can be attributed to the fact that policies and guidelines for research have not been in tune with the times. Hence DU, as one of the leading universities, is taking initiatives to attract and sustain the best talent in research.

To encourage research in the domain of biotechnology, medicine and law, DU has introduced a scheme where students with a BTech, LLB or MBBS can directly pursue a PhD. One does not necessarily have to pursue a Master’s to register for a PhD. However, to avail of this scheme, a BTech student should have 70 per cent in the final aggregate, coupled with a good Graduate Aptitude Test (GATE) percentile score. For LLB students, the qualifying requisite is 60 per cent in the final aggregate.

Students who meet this criterion will further be interviewed by the university’s Department Research Committee (DRC). Based on its decision, selected candidates can join the PhD programme. This scheme, novel to DU, is applicable to students from across universities in India.

According to Mohan, potential research students of law, medicine and BTech lose their inclination to pursue research because unlike other disciplines (five years) they have to spend seven years of university education after completing high school. It is observed that a student who can secure 60 per cent in law is usually on a par with a student who has pursued Master’s from any other discipline. BTech students on the other hand are strong in mathematics, which is the bedrock of research in all spheres. They want to attract talent from these high potential domains.

Some of the other initiatives include extending university teaching assistanceships to deserving research candidates, introduction of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) cell and patent fund to help researchers cope with publication charges of their papers or to patent their work.

Tags: University, DU, Research, Biotechnology, Law, Eligibility, Department Research Committee, DRC