The Bangalore-based National Entrepreneurship Network (estb. 2002), a non-profit initiative of the US-based Wadhwani Foundation celebrated its first Entrepreneurship Week between February 24-March 3. “India offers amazing opportunities for entrepreneurs today although the culture and ecosystem still poses formidable barriers. Entrepreneurship Week has been initiated as both a celebration and a call to action — a week during which people come together to improve the climate and supports necessary for entrepreneurs’ success inside companies, in new ventures, government and academia. The spirit of E week is ‘We can. We will’,” says Laura Parkin, executive director of NEN. According to Parkin, NEN’s E-Week partners included leading corporates, associations and over 160 academic institutions across 25 cities and towns who have also planned a variety of activities to build on this momentum. Among the corporates and institutions supporting the E-Week initiative are HSBC, Symphony Services, Himalaya, Mahindra & Mahindra, TechTribe, Microland, PVR, Yahoo! India, and Business India as corporate partners. In addition, E-Week has also received support from associations including TiE and IVCA (Indian Venture Capital Association). Established in 2002 by the Wadhwani Foundation, NEN is a not-for-profit initiative working to inspire, educate and support new and future entrepreneurs in India. “NEN’s goal is to help launch thousands of new entrepreneurs who in turn will create hundreds of thousands of much-needed valuable jobs in India,” says Parkin. NEN is currently working with 160 top-tier academic institutes in 12 regions of India, reaching over 165,000 students. NES’ Connected Learning Programme The Mumbai-based NES International School, NES National Public School and NES Group of institutions have launched a Connected Learning Programme for the 43 education institutions in the 25-year-old group to enable them to implement modern systems and pedagogies, administration and teaching. The objective of this programme is to transform NES schools and colleges into centres of interactive learning which connect teachers, students and parents. “In a growing number of progressive schools and communities around the world , the concept of Connected Learning Programme is taking root. Today a multiplying number of schools around the world are getting connected,” says Subrajit Bose a spokesperson of the NES group of institutions. Adds Dr. R. Vardarjan the promoter chairman of the NES Group: “We will erase the traditional divide between student and school, teacher and parent, the insitution and community, technology and potential. Our schools will establish seamless communications within the learning community using new computing devices and powerful software to enable learning without limits.” Anti-reservation motion defeated At a full house at a debate sponsored by EducationWorld in St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore, the motion “Reservation for OBCs in institutions of higher education is not in the national interest” was overwhelmingly defeated. The motion was proposed by Aditya Sondhi, counsel of the Karnataka high court, while the lead speaker against the motion was Dr. G. Thimmaiah former member of the Planning Commission and author of Power Politics and Justice for Backward Classes in Karnataka (1994). These lead speakers were supported by four speakers of St. Joseph’s College — Jyothsna K.S and Rushil Fernandes for the…
