Himachal Pradesh
HPU-UFV collaboration agreement
Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) has concluded an academic cooperation and student exchange agreement with the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), Canada. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Prof. A.D.N. Bajpai and Mark D. Evered, vice chancellors of HPU and UFV in Shimla on November 6.
The MoU details articulations/transfer agreements, and organisation of co-operative academic activities such as conferences, seminars, symposia, lectures with faculty and other collaboration as institutional objectives. In addition, it paves the way for student exchanges, and development of an international mobility exchange to include exchanges of publications and other materials of common interest, and extensive exploration of common research projects.
According to Prof. Meenakshi F. Paul, director of the Centre for Canadian Studies at HPU, the MoU also paves the way for conducting short courses of Canadian Studies and expanding areas of co-operation between HPU and UFV.
Meghalaya
Performing arts education initiative
The Meghalaya government is set to introduce music and art into the curriculum of government schools to provide holistic education to children in the state.
The objective is to impart balanced education to children by schooling them in performing arts like music and dance in the interests of integrated learning, said a state government spokesman. This initiative will be infused into the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA or Education for All) programme as recommended by the National Curriculum Framework 2005.
Thirty five teachers and 25 children drawn from schools in the state are undergoing a training programme in Shillong and will serve as master trainers for integrated learning, Federick Kharkongor, secretary of the education ministry, informed media personnel in Shillong on November 23.
The state government’s programme will be aided by World Voice, an initiative of the British Council Arts Education programme launched in the UK earlier this year to promote cultural understanding through sharing of folk music and dance with India and Senegal.
Punjab
New education city plan
Addressing media personnel in Ludhiana on November 16, Punjab’s deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal announced an ambitious plan to build a mega education city near Chandigarh to give further impetus to higher education in the state. The education city will be constructed over an area of 1,500 acres at Mullanpura, he said, adding that the state government is determined to make Punjab the most literate state in the country. Badal addressed the media after inaugurating the new block of a commerce and management college in Ludhiana.
Badal also invited the Ludhiana-based Oswal Group to enter the higher education sector. “I invite the Oswal Group to help in establishing a world-class university in Punjab,” he said.
Haryana
BML Munjal University
The Munjal family, promoters of the Hero Motors Group — India’s largest producer of automotive motorcycles, scooters and bicycles — has finalised a plan for promoting a BML Munjal University in Haryana. The varsity is named after Brij Mohan Lal Munjal, the promoter-chairman of the Hero Motors Group.
Spread over 50 acres, the university plans to admit its first batch of technology and business management students next July (2014). The varsity’s School of Management has tied up with Imperial College, London to design its study programmes, facilitate student and faculty exchanges, and conduct joint research.
According to Akshay Munjal, director of BML Munjal University, the institution has received all necessary clearances from the state government with approvals from the University Grants Commission expected by end December. “The objective of this initiative is to nurture ethical leaders with practical knowledge emerging from a varsity benchmarked with the world’s best,’’ says Pawan Munjal, director of the group’s flagship company, Hero MotoCorp.
Jharkhand
US education development offer
Us ambassador to India Nancy J. Powell expressed interest in developing business and education links with the eastern India state of Jharkhand (pop.32 million). “The US is interested in aiding the development of the business and education environments of Jharkhand,” said Powell in an address to department heads of the Central Mine, Planning & Design Institute Ltd, Ranchi, on November 19.
After witnessing a brief presentation of the company which highlighted potential areas of collaboration, Powell offered that cooperation in commercial development of shale gas technology could be “a game changer for India’s energy scenario”.
Maharashtra
Indo-European collaboration concordat
An agreement signed between the officials of the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad (BAMU), will enable 142 Indian students to pursue higher education and research in European universities and higher education institutions. Thirteen European and 12 Indian educationists including BAMU officials, finalised Erasmus Mundus Scholarship norms for selection of candidates for higher education and research collaboration.
Addressing media personnel in Aurangabad on November 2, Vijay Pandharipande, vice chancellor of BAMU, said students, research scholars, post-doctorates, senior professors and administrative officers can avail opportunities under the agreement.
Moreover, a centre of research excellence benchmarked with the best in Europe will be jointly established on the campus of BAMU, the nodal agency for implementing the agreement.