Prof. Eleanor Duckworth, a Harvard University-based theorist/psychologist, who has done extensive research in the field of learning and education will be conducting a series of workshops and seminars in Bangalore between January 6-9, 2006 under the aegis of Delhi-based iDiscoveri, a well-known experiential learning, teaching and research company. The three-day intensive workshop will be held on the premises of the Azim Premji Foundation (134 Doddakannelli, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore). “A former student and translator of legendary educationist Jean Piaget, Prof. Duckworth grounds her work in Piaget’s theories of the nature and development of intelligence. With experience of close to four decades in academia in the United States and Europe, Prof. Duckworth has worked on curriculum development, teacher education and programme evaluation in the United States, Switzerland, Africa and her native Canada. The main objective of Prof. Duckworth’s visit is to interact with teachers, principals and parents- all of whom can foster the ability to learn in a child- and help them understand how to create situations that get children excited about learning,” says an iDiscoveri spokesperson. Middlesex campus in India or Sri Lanka The London-based Middlesex University which has an aggregate enrollment of 22,000 students including 1,000 from India, is in the final stages of establishing campuses in South Asia and China. “We are working on the details and talking to potential academic partners in this region. Whether it will be India or Sri Lanka will become clear soon and as far as partners go it will be premature to say anything about it,” says Dr. Terry Butland, deputy vice chancellor of the university who was recently in Delhi in this connection. “Under WTO rules of engagement, India has to provide access to foreign universities and Middlesex University is determined to be the first to boost higher education here,” says Maroof Raza, the Delhi-based regional director (South Asia) of Middlesex University. Adds Butland: “Our experience in Dubai where we inaugurated our new campus early last year has been encouraging and in less than a year we have started 55 courses for 250 students. Our students now have the choice of completing some modules in Dubai and others in the UK and vice versa. This will apply to future campuses as well.” Meanwhile Middlesex University has commenced research activities in India under the name and style of Middlesex Research Initiative. This programme is headed by Raza, a defence strategist and former fellow of the Centre for Policy Research. SBMJC-CMS offers Careers with Professionals The Bangalore-based Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College’s (SBMJC) Centre for Management Studies (CMS) which offers undergraduate and postgraduate (BBA and MBA) business study programmes has introduced its Careers with Professionals counselling programme. Under the aegis of the programme on a designated day, students and parents get to interact on a personal level with professionals from the fields of science and technology, defence, medicine, design, management, liberal and fine arts. Top-level professionals in 24 vocations will advise students and parents on personality traits required for various careers, and employment trends. According…
