Assam Microsoft teacher training initiative The Assam state government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd — a wholly-owned subsidiary of the US-based Microsoft Corp (annual revenue: $60 billion or Rs.342,000 crore) — to expedite adoption of new information and communications technology (ICT) in its schools. The year-long alliance will accelerate ICT usage in Assam’s school education system to improve learning outcomes by creating interactive classroom experiences. The MoU was signed by the state’s SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) mission director L.S. Changsan, and Ranbir Singh, country head (government engagements) of Microsoft, on June 13. The partnership will focus on the professional development of 5,760 school teachers and equip them with skills required for integrating information technology in classroom teaching. To improve students’ learning outcomes, teacher training workshops will be held at six state-run DIETS (District Institutes for Education and Training) under Microsoft’s Partners in Learning (PiL) programme. Introduced by Microsoft Corp in 2008, PiL is a global initiative designed to equip teachers with tools and know-how to integrate ICT into teaching and learning in a meaningful way. Arunachal Pradesh First private varsity gets going The Indira Gandhi Technical and Medical Sciences University (IGTMSU) — Arunachal’s first private university sited in Ziro, Lower Subansiri district — will be inaugurated shortly by chief minister Nabam Tuki, according to official sources in Itanagar. A public-private partnership (PPP) initiative, IGTMSU was established by a special Act of the state legislative assembly enacted in March. A site measuring 150 hectares donated voluntarily by villagers of Hong in the picturesque Apatani valley, has also been acquired for establishment of the university. Addressing the media in Itanagar on June 19, IGTMSU’s vice chancellor P.R. Trivedi said the university will immediately launch its bachelors and Masters degree programmes in the fields of medical laboratory technology, nursing, optometry, radiology, imaging technology, hospital and hotel management, IT, business administration and disaster management. Chief minister Tuki expressed optimism that IGMTSU would fill the void in technical education in the state. Punjab Major vocational education drive The Punjab government has approved a Rs.3,300-crore vocational education and training (VET) plan under which 43 new industrial training institutes (ITIs) and 2,500 skills development centres will be established in the state. “With the promotion of 43 new ITIs, which will cost the state’s exchequer Rs.1,200 crore, the number of seats in technical institutes will increase from the current 50,000 to 400,000,” an official spokesman informed the media in Chandigarh on June 18. Besides ITIs, 2,500 skills development centres will also be promoted with an aggregate expenditure of Rs.1,800 crore. The government has approved short-term courses in skills development and hospitality trades in the ITIs under a public-private partnership initiative. Haryana Rajiv Gandhi Education City progress In a further boost to the ambitious Rajiv Gandhi Education City project, Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda laid the foundations of ten educational institutions to be established on 167.74 acres in the Education City at Rai in Sonepat district, on the outskirts of…
