Athena Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, a Mumbai-based firm licenced by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) offers comprehensive advice relating to appropriate customised insurance coverage incorporating hospitalisation, personal accidents, loss of baggage and tuition fees due to non-attendance of classes to outward bound students. “There are a number of insurance products offered by insurance companies in India for students going overseas to pursue full-time studies. The several special features incorporated in these policies try to bridge the gap between university compelled coverage and requirements of students far from home. We can help students by clearing any misgivings in these matters,” says an Athena Insurance spokesman. The premiums range from Rs.700-15,000 per year and claims are processed by a reputed claims settling and medical and emergency assistance agency with 24-hour call services and rep offices throughout the world. Sona-GMU executive education programme The Bangalore-based Sona Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS) has signed a collaboration agreement with the School of Public Policy, George Mason University (GMU), USA to offer a first-of-its-kind postgraduate study programme — Master of new professional studies (MNPS): organisational learning and change management. The MNPS programme was established by George Mason University in 1996 to provide leadership education to working professionals. “This five semester part-time study programme for corporate executives, NGO and education leaders features an interdisciplinary curriculum ideal for professionals moving into positions of increased responsibility, including business process design, information technology implementation, knowledge management practice and specialised human resource management services,” says Prof. J.L. Gandhi an alumnus of IIT-Kanpur and IIM-Calcutta and incumbent dean of corporate education at SIAS. “Senior faculty of the School of Public Policy at GMU including Dr. Kingsley Haynes, Dr. Roger Stough, Prof. Mark Addleson, Dr. Tojo Thatchenkery and other distinguished faculty will be personally guiding the students from India to achieve the privilege of a prestigious professional degree from this top-grade American university based in Washington DC,” he adds. SIAS was recently (2004) established in Bangalore by the Sona Valliappa Group which has promoted and manages several education institutions in Salem (Tamil Nadu) including the Sona College of Technology, Sona School of Management, Thiagarajar Degree College and Arts College & Polytechnic. Bishop Cotton School’s Exquizite launch Bishop Cotton Boys’ School, Bangalore is all set to launch its annual quizzing event Exquizite 2004. This maiden inter-school quiz is scheduled for August 28 at the school’s new 1,400 seater state-of-the-art Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton auditorium. “Exquizite 2004 aims at fulfilling the need for a school quizzing programme following international standards. It will set a unique benchmark in testing the knowledge, speech and accuracy of participants,” says Dr. Abraham Ebenezer principal of Bishop Cotton. Exquizite is open to class VIII-XII students who will represent their respective schools in two member teams of two participants each. At the time of going to press, teams from 51 schools including several from Chennai, Gulburga and other towns and cities have confirmed their participation. The winning school will receive a cash prize of Rs.25,000 and the Dr. Ebenezer Rolling…
