OBC students clueless about number of seats at GGSIPU and DCE

New Delhi: Several OBC students who have applied for admission at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) and Delhi College of Engineering now Delhi Technical University (DTU), are clueless about the number of seats reserved for them at the institute.

OBC students have not been called for counselling although the admission process for the general category is set to begin at both the campuses.

Most of the educational institutions have implemented the first phase of 27pc OBC quota in the last year. But, GGSIPU and DTU are still waiting for a green signal from the Delhi government.

GGSIPU and DTU can take any decision on the number of seats meant for OBC students will be decided only after the enactment of the Delhi Educational Institutes (Reservation in Admissions) Bill, 2009.

However, because of the delay, these varsities are forced to start the counselling process without the OBC candidates as the new session is expected to begin from the first week of August.

The faculty of technology (FoT) in DU, which conducted the admissions in DCE till it became DTU and Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology, expects the government's instructions for implementing the OBC quota before the new session starts.

"A separate result for the OBC students was declared by DCE in anticipation of the quota implementation. Counseling for OBC students will soon be started as the government decides," said Professor S K Singh, dean, FoT, DCE.

New session at DCE, now DTU will commence from August 1.
"The OBC admissions will then be done by increasing the seats over and above the present number,'' added Singh.

"We can not delay the counselling further as we have to commence our session on time. We still are not aware that we have to implement the 27pc quota in this year or in phases," said Pradeep Upmanyu, deputy registrar GGSIPU.

The new counselling schedule of GGSIPU can be accessed on www.ipu.ac.in

Want to earn a living without being stressed - Make a Career in Yoga

Bengaluru: Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines. The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

Yoga is being adopted and followed by professionals, students, parents, etc across the world. Especially in India, from where Yoga originated, the number of people following Yoga is increasing with the day.

Owing to its curative power, widespread awareness and campaigning by several Yoga Gurus, a career in the field of Yoga has become very popular.

As Yoga comes of age again, freshers and experienced candidates are looking to careers in Yoga for "job satisfaction".

A person looking for a Career in Yoga can opt for two major kinds of career - one as a Yoga Therapist and the other as a Yoga Trainer.

A vast number of courses are being offered in Yoga by institutions across the country.

These courses train individuals on every nuance of Yoga, its postures, curative power etc.

One such institution which is promoting Yoga education is SVYASA University.

Located at 32 kms away from Bangalore, SVYASA University has been pioneering Yoga Education for more than 25 years now. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has deemed SVYASA a University under Section-3 of its 1956 Act.

The yoga courses covered by SVYASA include degrees, diplomas and certificate programmes at graduate, post-graduate and doctorate levels. These yoga programmes include general awareness programmes to therapy courses to research programmes.

Orientation courses in yoga therapy for doctors, to incorporate the ancient wisdom of Yoga into their modern practices, are also conducted. This is taking forward the vision of the great seer Swami Vivekananda to "Combine the Best of the East with the Best of the West".

The curriculum at SVYASA is based on Bhagawad Gita and research facilities can match the best in the world. SVYASA is ICMR-CAR for Yoga research.

The campus is called Prashanti Kutiram, the Abode of Peace. Lying in the lap of nature amidst greenery, its campus is spread over an area of 110 acres.

"We are looking to provide students an opportunity at holistic well being while ensuring that their careers are rewarding", says Dr. R. Nagarathna, Dean, Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, SVYASA.

Prof. R. Venkatram, Registrar, SVYASA, adds, "While many of our students are getting placed in various parts of the world, careers in yoga in India too are attracting a large number of students as these jobs offer flexibility of time and more importantly, help in the upkeep of their own positive health. We see an increase in demand for our students as even the Corporates look to actively battle the stress related maladies of today's employee".

Dr. H.R. Nagendra, who quit NASA in 1971 to take up the Yoga life, is the leading force behind the SVYASA movement. Since, SVYASA has become synonymous with Yoga Education, Yoga Research and Yoga Therapy.

source:http://www.indiaedunews.net/In-Focus/July_2009/Want_to_earn_a_living_without_being_stressed_-_Make_a_Career_in_Yoga_8607/

Oxford, McGill universities tie up on brain research

Toronto: Two prestigious universities - Oxford in Britain and McGill in Canada- have joined hands for research on the human brain. The two universities are among world leaders in neuroscience research.

Montreal-based McGill University said on Friday that it is partnering with Oxford "to broaden understanding of the human brain and take research to new heights".

Under the collaborations in training and research in neuroscience, the two universities will have regular exchanges of students and professors.

"I am absolutely delighted to formalise this historic collaboration between our two great centres of learning in this important field," McGill principal and vice-chancellor Heather Munroe-Blum was quoted as saying in a joint statement by the two universities.

"Our respective distinguished records in neuroscience research on both sides of the Atlantic suggest that, in joining forces, we can have a powerful impact. Together, we will attract new funding, accelerate the pace of research and, most important, the delivery of results," he said.

Oxford vice-chancellor John Hood said: "The partnership will bring together the world-class research expertise of Oxford and McGill universities in one of the great challenges of this century: understanding how the brain works.

"By working together, we can increase the scope of our research and teaching and look forward to new advances in a wide range of conditions, from autism to Alzheimer's."

McGill University, which has 34,000 students from 160 countries on its rolls, runs one of the largest integrated programmes in neurosciences, aided by its Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute.

Oxford University has over 130 principal investigators conducting brain research. It also has about 250 research assistants and more than 200 postgraduate research students.

Its Centre for Functional MRI for the Brain offers the latest developments in brain imaging. IANS

IGNOU starts 'learning revolution' through 100 community colleges

New Delhi: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on Saturday started 100 community colleges to bring a "learning revolution" among under-privileged students across the country.

Launching the community college programme of IGNOU, Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari said: "This effort will empower the disadvantaged through appropriate skill development, leading to gainful employment of people in the grassroots.

"This will bring a learning revolution. This scheme will lead to inclusive education for most marginalised section of the society," she said.

A unique initiative, community colleges will impart education through private-public partnership to underprivileged students using the unutilised capacities of educational institutions across the country. The colleges will commence their courses from the coming academic session.

IGNOU Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said the present educational system does not match up to the skill requirement in the market. "These community colleges will impart vocational education to do away with the prevalent mismatch."

The students who attend these colleges shall acquire associate degrees, which will ensure them a lateral entry to the bachelor's programme for a formal graduation degrees. Initially 100 out of 800 applicant colleges have been selected to run the community colleges. Most of them are private institutions.

IGNOU's role will be accreditation, quality monitoring and evaluation, certification and course development. Each selected college has an average capital investment of Rs.150 million including land, building, equipment and other facilities.

The institutions have also tied up with local industries, both small and heavy. Ten to 15 teachers will be put on rolls in each college to conduct the classes for the enrolled students. Apart from use of information technology, there will also be personal contact and counselling to develop sound teaching-learning processes.

Pointing out that just five percent of labour force in India have vocational qualification, Pillai termed his initiative "a grass root movement for education".

Praising IGNOU, renowned agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan said community colleges will bring flexibility to learning and promote both "generic and location specific aspects of education".

He said while focussing on expansion, IGNOU must keep a close eye on quality. "There should be learning by doing method."

"I believe these colleges will work as transformational agent. The effort must be made to bridge the gap between vision and reality," the scientist said, adding these community colleges must give nutritional education to people in rural India.

IGNOU is the world's largest open university, with over 300 courses catering to more than two million students in India and abroad through distance education.

IANS

90 pc Mumbai students submit admission form online

Mumbai: Around 90 percent students from Mumbai, who passed their SSC examination recently, have applied for admission to the First Year Junior College (FYJC) through the online mode.

Nearly 2.36 lakh students filled up their application forms online by Wednesday evening.

Aatul Wadegaonkar, general manager, educational e-governance Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL) said, "1.64 lakh applications were not only submitted at the designated submission centres but also uploaded onto the website by the backend team working on the process."

The online admission site has been set up by the MKCL

Soruce: INDIA NEWS

Screening exam for foreign medical graduates mandatory

New Delhi: In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare said that it is mandatory for Foreign Medical Graduates to clear the screening exam conducted by National Board of Examination to register with Medical Council of India (MCI).

3143 candidates appeared in 2007 in which 536 have been declared passed, in 2008, 1326 were declared passed out of total appeared 4211 and 460 have been declared passed in 2009 out of total appeared 2289.

According to the National Board of Examinations, there is a welldefined and prescribed syllabus for examination which is contained in the information bulletin for the Screening Test.

Since, examination is not merit based and only qualifying examination, personal marks obtained by the candidates are not revealed. The examination system is transparent and papers are evaluated on computer and results generated and notified within few hours of conducting the examination.

Soruce:http://www.indiaedunews.net/Delhi/Screening_exam_for_foreign_medical_graduates_mandatory_8580/

India to contribute USD 239.390 million to South Asian University

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved payment of India's contribution of US $ 239.930 million to the South Asian University, which is around 79 percent of the total cost of the full establishment of the University until 2014.

"As part of India's asymmetric commitment to SAARC, India is ready to disburse the first tranche of its financial commitment of US $9.464 million to ensure that the University is operational in July-August 2010", the Cabinet said.

The University will be the first international University to be hosted by India. The objectives of the University are to disseminate and advance knowledge, wisdom and understanding by providing instructional and research facilities in such branches of learning as it may deem fit.

The South Asian University shall be a non-state, non-profit self governing international educational institution with a regional focus for the purposes set forth in this Agreement and shall have full academic freedom for the attainment of its objectives.

The jurisdiction of the University shall extend to whole of India and to campuses and centres established outside India in the SAARC region.

100 acres of land next to Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is being acquired by the Ministry of External Affairs from DDA for leasing to the University.

At the Thirteenth SAARC Summit held in Dhaka, in November 2005, Prime Minister proposed the establishment of a South Asian University to provide world-class facilities and professional faculty to students and researchers from SAARC member countries.

The Inter-governmental Agreement for the Establishment of the South Asian University was signed at the 14th SAARC Summit (April 3-4, 2007). The SAARC Member States also decided that the University would be established in India.

Cabinet approves Right to Education Bill

New Delhi: The union cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill that, among other things, envisages 25 percent reservation for weaker sections in private schools.

An official in the human resource development ministry told sources: "The bill was approved by the previous government, (and) was put up before the new cabinet today and was okayed."

The government plans to present the bill in the month-long budget session of the parliament that began Thursday and is on top of the human resource development ministry's agenda for the next 100 days.

The proposed legislation envisages free and compulsory education to children in the age group of six to 14.

The previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had approved the bill and placed it in the Rajya Sabha but was yet to be passed.

Earlier in the day, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal reiterated the government's commitment to implement 25 percent quota in private schools for weaker sections as part of the bill.

He told a group of 30 schools that "we all have our societal obligations and we must contribute towards this end".

Source:http://www.indiaedunews.net/Today/Cabinet_approves_Right_to_Education_Bill_8581/

IGNOU to start 100 community colleges for have-nots

New Delhi: In a unique initiative, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will start 100 community colleges to educate underprivileged students using the unutilised capacities of educational institutions across the country.

The scheme will be launched by Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal on Saturday and the colleges will commence their courses from the coming academic session, the varsity said on Friday.

The students who attend these colleges shall acquire associate degrees, which will ensure them a lateral entry to the Bachelor's programme for a formal graduation degrees.

"Initially 100 out of 800 applicant colleges have been selected to run the community colleges. Most of them are private institutions," IGNOU Vice Chancellor V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai said.

IGNOU's role will be accreditation, quality monitoring and evaluation, certification and course development. Each selected college has an average capital investment of

Rs.150 million including land, building, equipment and other facilities.

"The institutions have also tied up with local industries, both small and heavy. Ten to 15 teachers will be put on rolls in each college to conduct the classes for the enrolled students," Pillai added.

Apart from use of information technology, there will also be personal contact and counselling to develop sound teaching-learning processes.

"Migrant population in urban cities and people in villages and small towns will get good opportunities to hone their skills and get certificates which will empower them for better jobs and livelihood," the vice chancellor said adding that the varsity has submitted a proposal to set up a model community college with state-of-the-art facilities in each of the districts in the country.

The scheme was recommended by the University Grant Commission (UGC) for utilizing the idle assets of colleges and institutions after their normal work. The Scheme has also been approved by the Planning Commission and National Knowledge Commission (NKC).

"IGNOU's mission is of taking quality education to the doorsteps of people, building up capacities through job-oriented training and education and empowerment through certification," a varsity statement said.

The purpose of the community colleges is to provide skill-based livelihood enhancing education and eligibility for employment to the disadvantaged and under privileged like urban poor, rural poor, tribal poor and women.

IGNOU is the world's largest open university that has over 300 courses catering to over two million students in India and abroad through distance education. IANS

Kerala students vie for 250,000 dollar prize in global competition

Thiruvananthapuram: Innoz, a company floated by students of LBS College of Engineering at Kasargode in the state, is the only Indian start-up among 16 such firms vying for a $250,000 prize money Tuesday in a global competition for the best business plan.

The prestigious Global Business Plan Competition, co-sponsored by US-based venture capitalist Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) and networking and communications technology major Cisco, is for university and business school students.

In addition to the financial investment awarded to the winner, DFJ and Cisco will assist all the 16 finalists to take their projects forward.

The only other finalist with an India link is Husk Power, floated by students of Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. Their project relates to miniature power plants that cost-effectively convert rice husks into electricity, serving off-grid Indian villages.

"Clearly, global innovation doesn't stop for recessions," said DFJ managing director Tim Draper in a statement.

"These promising candidates are reminding us that there are pioneering companies out there, even in difficult times, and we hope that one of these teams creates the next Skype, Google, Facebook, Baidu or Cisco."

Since its founding in 1985, DFJ has backed over 500 companies including Hotmail (later acquired by Microsoft), Skype (acquired by eBay), Overture (acquired by Yahoo) and Feedburner (acquired by Google).

The Innoz project is an SMS text messaging interface for trivia and other information for 300 million Indian cell phone subscribers.

"People without an Internet connection or a dictionary can send an SMS, GYANYOUR SEARCH WORD OR TERM to 09894974926. The answer will appear on the sender's mobile," said Innoz co-founder and chief executive Deepak Ravindran.

"We will make a live presentation in a teleconference for 20 minutes from DFJ's Bangalore office," he added. The judges will be in the US.

Innoz Technologies was registered last August, and in November, Ravindran and three other students launched the text messaging interface. Innoz is the first virtual incubated company in Technopark, the information technology park here.

The capital for the company came from contributions of Rs.1 lakh each from the four partners. IANS