Zamit’s skilling drive New Delhi, August 13. The India subsidiary of the UK-based Zamit, an edtech platform, claims to have empowered 59,000 students and 1,333 educators in India through its innovative e-learning solutions focused on skills development. According to a company statement, Zamit Quotient (ZQ), an AI-driven tool that assesses 60 future-readiness skills across nine dimensions, is currently being used in 209 schools, impacts 1,753 students, and “provides a comprehensive measure of a student’s preparedness for the challenges of the 21st century.” “Our goal is not only to equip students with the essential skills they need to thrive in an increasingly complex and dynamic world but also to empower educators with the tools and insights required to foster a nurturing and innovative learning environment. By combining cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of educational needs, we are creating opportunities for learners to unlock their full potential and for educators to elevate their teaching practices to new heights,” says Abhijeet Mukherjee, CEO of Zamit, in a company media release. IMU excellence centre Mumbai, August 8. Indian Maritime University (IMU) inked a MoU with R.K. Mehrotra Holding Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of the Foresight Group, under which the latter will invest $1.5 million (Rs.12.5 crore) to establish a Dr. R.K. Mehrotra Centre of Excellence of maritime research and innovation on the Kolkata campus of IMU. “I am excited to support IMU in its mission to advance research and innovation of the maritime sector. The Centre of Excellence reflects our commitment to foster innovation and create better opportunities for students and researchers. It is my mission to contribute to give back to my alma mater,” said R.K. Mehrotra, managing director of RKMHPL, speaking on the occasion. SIIC-Canara Bank agreement Kanpur, August 9. The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) signed a MoU with Canara Bank to provide comprehensive support to entrepreneurs, including co-incubation facilities, mentorship, technological assistance, and funding. “This partnership brings the strengths of academia and industry together creating a powerful synergy to support startups. We are excited to collaborate with Canara Bank to provide a robust platform for innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Prof. Ankush Sharma, professor-in-charge of SIIC, IIT-K, addressing a media conference. Under this agreement, SIIC and Canara Bank will jointly organise a series of seminars, conferences, and workshops, designed to offer startups valuable insights into the industry landscape and critical networking opportunities with key players. Moreover the partners will facilitate exchange of knowledge and best practices, providing startups with industry mentorship from experienced professionals. PW-SOS launched Noida, August 21. Physics Wallah (PW), a well-known edtech platform launched the PW School of Startups (SOS) for aspiring entrepreneurs to promote successful ventures. The prime objective of PW-SOS is to prepare individuals for the challenges of entrepreneurship by equipping them with essential skills, real-world experience, and a supportive community. PW SOS intends to foster innovation, creativity, and sustainable growth in the startup world. “I believe that progressing Bharat’s startup ecosystem can significantly contribute to…
IIT-K-SAIL MoU Kanpur, July 26. The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the public sector Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) for collaboration in research, development, and consultancy projects. “This collaboration with SAIL marks a significant step in advancing IIT-Kanpur’s engagement with industry. We also propose to strengthen R&D for technology innovation in the steel industry through promotion of an s.8 (non-for-profit) company with the steel ministry’s support. This will leverage our inherent strengths in digital technologies, modeling and simulation, to address critical challenges faced by the country in the steel sector,” said Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT-Kanpur, after the signing ceremony. Added Amarendu Prakash, chairman of SAIL: “SAIL will be the first customer for products developed by start-ups incubated at IIT-Kanpur.” Youth Ideathon 2024 New Delhi, July 24. ThinkStartup and the Management Entrepreneurship Professional Skills Council (MEPSC) of the Union ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship together with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) launched the 4th edition of Youth Ideathon (YI24). This innovation and entrepreneurship festival for schools intends to harness the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of youth across India. The theme of YI24 is ‘iStartup a Good Thing for India’. This is a five-stage competition that will be held online. It is open to all school students countrywide in two categories: Junior (classes IV-VIII) and Senior (classes IX-XII). Students will compete in teams of 3-5 members from each participating school. YI24 will culminate in a grand finale on October 6. In 2023, Youth Ideathon attracted over 1.5 lakh students from 8,000 schools. This year, over 2 lakh students from 10,000 schools are expected to participate. “If you have to build future job-creators, you have to catch them young, harness their creativity and introduce them to the power of innovation and entrepreneurship. Youth Ideathon endeavours to empower the next generation nurturing high-potential student ideas with incubation support,” said Shivani Singh-Kapoor, co-founder, ThinkStartup, speaking on the occasion. Scaler School scholarships Bengaluru, July 25. The Bengaluru-based Scaler School of Technology (SST) announced full scholarships valued at Rs.15 crore to 100 high school students who topped the recently concluded Indian National Mathematics Olympiad 2024 for enrolment in SST’s undergraduate programme in software development. Moreover SST will waive the entire admissions process for the Top 100 students, permitting them easy access to learning experiences at SST. “A serious incentive mechanism is needed to motivate more of our bright students to prepare seriously for globally reputed contests. We are doing our bit by empowering the Top 100 students in India to not only get direct admission into the Scaler School of Technology, but also providing them a 100 percent scholarship. I sincerely hope India climbs the ladder of globally prestigious contests, and attains #1 rank in the next few years,” said Abhimanyu Saxena, co-founder, SST. HCL-upGrad partnership Mumbai, July 22. The Noida-based HCLTech Ltd (annual revenue: Rs.1.1 lakh crore) announced its partnership with upGrad Enterprise, the corporate skilling and workforce development division of Mumbai-based…
Universal Ai-RDS joint venture Mumbai, June 4. Universal AI University, which bills itself as India’s first artificial intelligence university, signed an agreement with French design school Rubika to establish a Rubika Design School (RDS) on its Karjat campus. Rubika is a globally reputed French design school with campuses in France, Canada and Reunion Island. RDS will offer a four-year Bachelor of Design (B.Des), and integrated five-year Master of Design (M.Des) programmes in Transportation Design, Product Design, UX/UI Design, Animation, Video Games Art and Video Games Design. Under this joint initiative, RDS will provide its curriculum, pedagogy and share its world-class faculty with Universal Ai. The university’s students will also be able to access the state-of-the-art studio of RDS in Pune, India. “This partnership with RDS will provide exhilarating design careers to our students, with access to the best teaching-learning techniques worldwide, here in India. I believe there is a massive design talent shortage worldwide and Universal Ai graduates will be able to make a mark around the world,” observed Prof. Tarundeep Anand, Chancellor, Universal Ai University, speaking on the occasion. Tata Tech InnoVent hackathon Bengaluru, June 18. Tata Technologies launched the second edition of the Tata Technologies InnoVent hackathon in collaboration with Microsoft and Tata Motors. The objective of this initiative is to provide engineering students a platform to showcase their creativity and innovations to address challenges confronting the manufacturing industry. This year’s hackathon focuses on Generative AI-enabled innovations that deliver value across the product development value chain, including product engineering, manufacturing, and customer experience. Under this tripartite initiative, Tata Technologies will provide shortlisted project team/s with the tools and technologies required to develop scalable innovations with subject matter experts (SMEs) from the company mentoring them for project scaling. Microsoft will offer topper team/s complimentary access to Azure resources and project mentoring through the Azure community, and Tata Motors will define real-world manufacturing challenges and support the commercialisation of top projects. The hackathon is open to third and fourth year engineering students across India. The evaluation process will comprise three stages: initial review, virtual proof of concept (PoC) presentations, and final demonstrations. The top three winning teams will receive cash prizes of Rs.4.5 lakh with paid internship opportunities at Tata Technologies. The last date for project submission is July 31. For further details visit: https://www.tatatechnologies.com/innovent/. Pearl Academy-Tech Mahindra CoE Bengaluru, June 10. Pearl Academy and Tech Mahindra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) on the academy’s Bengaluru campus. The CoE will spearhead R&D in next-gen technologies, including artificial intelligence, generative AI (GenAI), augmented reality/virtual reality, robotics and Metaverse. Moreover, Pearl Academy students will have the opportunity to work on intellectual property ideated within Tech Mahindra’s Makers Lab, the company’s research and development division. “We will integrate AI and advanced technologies into the students’ curriculum to foster a tech-forward learning environment. This collaboration reflects our commitment to shaping future leaders and propelling the next wave of technological progress,” said Nikhil Malhotra, Global Head of…
Infosys-Ashoka MOU New Delhi, May 10. Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic and CSR arm of Infosys Technologies Ltd, announced an MoU with Ashoka University, Sonipat (Haryana) to augment scientific research at the university’s chemical biology lab. The foundation has committed a grant of Rs.27 crore for the upgradation of the laboratory into a world-class Advanced Chemical Biology Lab to enhance education and research opportunities for undergraduate students. “We are delighted to have Infosys Foundation join us in our mission to enhance science education at Ashoka University. This collaboration will equip our students and faculty with cutting-edge resources, empowering them to excel in research and sciences,” said Dr. Somak Raychaudhury, vice chancellor, Ashoka University, speaking on the occasion. Added Sumit Virmani, trustee of the Infosys Foundation: “Through this initiative, we envision a future in which chemistry and life sciences education will enable youngsters to realise their full potential in STEM-related fields.” Internshala–AICTE partnership New Delhi, May 27. Internshala (estb.2010), a Gurugram-based career-tech platform, and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Delhi, have renewed their strategic partnership to provide internship opportunities and enhancing skill development of graduate students. Under an MoU exchanged between Internshala and AICTE, the two organisations will cooperate to place students in internships that align with their academic interests and career aspirations. “Our goal is to enhance employability of millions of students nationwide, nurturing a workforce equipped to tackle the evolving demands of industry,” said Prof. T.G. Sitharam, chairman of AICTE, speaking on the occasion. Sarvesh Agrawal, founder-CEO of Internshala, expressed satisfaction with the Internshala-AICTE partnership. “This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to bridge the industry-academia gap and get 45 million college students countrywide career-ready by providing practical learning experiences to them,” he added. Studely scholarships Bengaluru, May 8. Studely, a French FinTech company specialising in supporting foreign students in France, announced the fourth edition of its Studely Scholarship Program for the academic year 2024-2025. This year the company will provide 30 scholarships, each valued at €1000 (Rs.91,000) under its Studely Scholarship program initiated in 2021 to support Indian students enrolled in higher education institutions in France to meet tuition and residential expenses. Thus far, the program has successfully assisted 90 international students with an aggregate of €90,000. Application forms for the scholarship can be accessed at https://www.studely.com/en/bourse/ and be submitted by midnight June 30, 2024. The scholarship will be disbursed in one installment directly into the student’s payment account opened in the student’s name after her arrival in French territory at the start of the academic year. The application and selection process for the scholarship is entirely digital. Successful applicants will be notified via email by September 30, 2024. “The scholarship program has been a great success for the past three editions. In Studely our aim has always been to provide students with support in their higher education journey abroad. With our expansion in India, we have identified an immense pool of talented students and we are eager to help them attain their academic and professional…
Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow initiative New delhi, april 10. Samsung India, the well-known subsidiary of the Seoul-based Samsung Eletronics Co Ltd, announced the third edition of its flagship CSR initiative — ‘Solve for Tomorrow’, in collaboration with IIT-Delhi, the Union ministry of electronics & information technology, and United Nations (India). The objective of the ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ programme is to “usher in a culture of innovative thinking and problem solving among the country’s youth”. This year, the ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ programme has introduced new School Track and Youth Track initiatives. School Track is designed for students aged 14-17, and focuses on the theme ‘Community and Inclusion’. School teams presenting the best project prototype for uplifting underprivileged groups, improving accessibility to health and social inclusion, will receive a Rs.25 lakh grant. Youth Track targets individuals aged 18-22, with a focus on ‘Environment and Sustainability’. The team presenting best prototype for reducing carbon footprint, protecting the environment and promoting sustainability, will be awarded Rs.50 lakh. “At Samsung, we strive to inspire and shape the future through innovative ideas and transformative technologies. Our mission revolves around fostering the next generation of innovators and catalysts for social change. Solve for Tomorrow is truly shaping up as a platform for India’s youth to come forward with meaningful innovations that can improve the lives of people,” said J.B. Park, president & CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia, speaking on the occasion. Exeter U Award Delhi, may 2. The University of Exeter, (UK) announced an India Global Leaders Award (valued at £3,000) which can be combined with the already established Global Excellence Award (£7,500) which has helped students worldwide study in the UK. This new scholarship means a student can potentially be awarded over £10,000 in scholarships to fund a Masters programme at Exeter, starting September this year. According to a university press note, these scholarships are offered for a range of programmes in business management, economics, accounting & finance, computer science, engineering, law, sports science, humanities and social sciences, health sciences, psychology, among others. “At the University of Exeter, we are proud to host students from over 150 countries, and we are fully committed to making studying in the UK as accessible as possible. We fully appreciate the value that students from India bring when they choose to study with us, and I am delighted we are able to offer additional support through our Global Leaders Scholarship to continue to attract the very best students,” says Victoria Isherwood, Director of Student Recruitment. Kulish School, Jaipur Jaipur, april 30. Patrika Group, publisher of the Rajasthan Patrika (estb.1956) and Patrika dailies in north India, launched the Kulish School, Jaipur (KSJ) in memory of Karpoor Chandra Kulish (1926-2006), founder of the Patrika Group of publications. The school was formally inaugurated by Jagdeep Dhankar, Vice President of India. “This school is Rajasthan’s pride, a priceless diamond and a lasting investment in the future and history of education,” said the Vice President, speaking on the occasion. “To Kulish Ji, education meant skilled and…
Airbus-IIM-Mumbai concordat Delhi, march 6. The Paris-based Airbus Group signed a contract with the Indian Institute of Management in Mumbai (IIM-Mumbai) to provide aviation education to professionals and empower them with industry-ready skills under the company’s Airbus Beyond programme. Under this contract, IIM-Mumbai will offer short-term aviation courses to aspiring and working civil aviation professionals to harness the power of the Airbus Beyond programme in aviation logistics, supply chain management, operations excellence, cargo handling, strategic procurement, business analytics and digitisation. “Through this partnership with IIM-Mumbai, we are combining our expertise and resources to create comprehensive programmes that will help advance the future of aerospace education and skilling in India. This will create a strong pipeline of industry-ready talent for the aviation sector in the country,” said Remi Maillard, president and managing director, Airbus India and South Asia, speaking on the occasion. Women’s scholarships program New delhi, march 7. DXC Technology — a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange — has announced 310 scholarships for meritorious women under its DXC Progressing Minds Scholarship Program. Of them, 260 are for women in STEM education, and 50 for women in sports training. Recipients in the STEM category will receive a one-time financial award of Rs.50,000, whereas women athletes will be granted Rs.125,000. The DXC Progressing Minds Scholarship Program is for encouraging inclusivity and empowering young women and transgender students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects. Additionally, the program acknowledges and celebrates exceptional female athletes who have achieved success in state, national, or international arenas. “The overwhelming number of applications and exceptional talent we encountered during the selection process has further motivated us to continue our efforts in fostering inclusivity and supporting the education of deserving girls from marginalised communities in STEM fields and sports,” says Lokendra Sethi, vice-president (human resources), India & Global Delivery Network, DXC Technology. Added Ashutosh Burnwal, founder-CEO of Buddy4Study: “We are proud to collaborate with DXC Technology. Through a robust implementation approach, the Buddy4Study team has ensured that the most deserving women scholars received scholarships under the program Drones Centre of Excellence New delhi, march 11. IG Drones, an Odisha-based drones tech startup and analytics company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Management- Sambalpur (IIM-S) for collaborative work in advanced applications of drone technology in business analytics, management strategies and public policy. This landmark agreement was formalised during the 100-Cube Start-up Conclave, staged by IIM-Sambalpur, and supported by the Union ministry of education. Under the agreement, IG Drones will establish a Drones Centre of Excellence at the Delhi campus of IIM-S. This centre will serve as a hub for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the drone technology space. “Partnering with a leading IIM of India is testament to our commitment to driving innovation and fostering advancement in drones technology. We believe this partnership will not only benefit our company but also contribute to the growth and development of the drone ecosystem in India,” said Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, founder-CEO of IG Drones,…
BITS-Pilani design school Mumbai, february 15. Certified as an Institution of Eminence by the Government of India, the multi-campus Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani, launched its BITS Design School (BITSDES), Mumbai. BITSDES combines technology, business, and entrepreneurship with the creative arts to nurture a new generation of future-ready design professionals. “Design is shaping the future of how businesses approach problem-solving and innovation. BITSDES will reimagine design education with a bold, trans-disciplinary, competency-based approach. BITS-Pilani, with its rich legacy of academic excellence and trans-disciplinary thinking, is uniquely positioned to do this. In the process, we will nurture a new generation of leaders who will use design to create value and solve problems for the world,” said Kumar Mangalam Birla, chancellor of BITS-Pilani, addressing media. BITSDES will introduce a four-year residential Bachelor of Design (Honours) programme in the academic year 2024-25, followed by a Masters degree programme and a faculty development programme for design educators over the next two years. Admissions commence on February 26. JK Tyre girls scholarships New delhi, february 9. JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has joined hands with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and Protean Vidyasaarathi to launch the JK Tyre Shiksha Sarthi Scholarship Scheme for daughters of heavy motor vehicle drivers in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The newly launched scholarship program provides financial assistance ranging from Rs.15,000-25,000 per annum for girl children of families associated with the road transportation sector. “At JK Tyre, we recognise the invaluable contribution of commercial vehicle drivers to the transportation industry. Our commitment to them and their families’ well-being extends beyond our business interests. We believe in the transformative power of education and this scholarship scheme is about empowering the next generation,” said Dr. Raghupati Singhania, chairman & managing director, JK Tyre, speaking on the occasion. The flagship company of the JK Group, JK Tyre is among the world’s Top 25 manufacturers of radial technology tyres for trucks, cars and automotive two-wheelers. MAHE-LabourNet agreement Bengaluru, february 7. To redefine the traditional boundaries of humanities education, the Department of Liberal Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (DLHS) of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bengaluru, announced implementation of the Centre for LabourNet’s Academic Research Endeavour (CLARE) programme of LabourNet Services India Pvt. Ltd, Bengaluru. LabourNet’s capstone project is to “build lasting relationships between academia and industry in real time and enable students to gain valuable insights from the world of work and apply their learning to solving current business challenges”. UoB-Symbiosis partnership Pune, february 15. University of Birmingham (UoB) and Symbiosis International University (SIU) signed a memorandum of understanding to build an education and research partnership. In addition to creating a pathway for SIU students to secure postgrad law degrees, the two universities will explore research collaborations, academic exchanges and student mobility opportunities. Students from Symbiosis Law School (SLS) who meet required standards in their Indian degree programmes, will qualify to apply for admission into postgraduate programmes at the Birmingham University Law School. Meritorious students will also be…
Mahindra-La Trobe concordat Delhi ncr/hyderabad, january 23. Mahindra University and La Trobe University, Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), for upgrading the education of civil engineering students. This strategic collaboration includes a four-year programme, a cohesive student exchange initiative, and faculty exchange programmes. It will offer Mahindra University students opportunity to complete the final two years of their undergraduate programme at La Trobe University, “immersing them in a world-renowned academic environment and unlocking valuable international experience.” La Trobe will offer scholarships valued at AUD 9,500 (Rs.5.13 lakh) per annum to Mahindra University students participating in the programme. Commented Dr. Yajulu Medury, vice chancellor of Mahindra University, speaking on the occasion: “This MoU is a milestone in our efforts to nurture future global leaders in civil engineering. The partnership will provide our students access to cutting-edge knowledge, industry-relevant skills, and a global perspective that will prepare them for successful careers on the international stage.” La Trobe’s Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) programme is accredited by Engineers Australia, ensuring the highest standards for students choosing the programme. CUTM outreach program New delhi, january 10. Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM) — the well-known Odisha-based skills university — successfully conducted a faculty outreach programme in Kanpur which attracted the participation of 150 teachers, educational experts, principals and proprietors of coaching institutes. “The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 mandates skill-based futuristic education in schools and universities. Therefore, it is essential that educators co-operate to make it a reality. For over a decade, CUTM has been imparting skills education through experiential learning in on-campus industrial enterprises. These enterprises are engaged in everything from chalk making to e-rickshaw production, and students learn from ideation to production to commercialisation while pursuing conventional study programmes. Such action learning models are urgently needed to develop an industry-ready workforce of the future,” said Dr. Sukanta Parida, director of admissions at Centurion University, speaking on the occasion. Wadhwani’s gift Chennai, january 30. The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras) announced commitment of an endowment of Rs.110 crore from US-based billionaire Sunil Wadhwani for establishing a Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI. Wadhwani is an alumnus of IIT-Madras and the co-founder of IGATE and Mastech Digital. Wadhwani’s gift is one of the largest endowed by an alumnus to establish a school at an education institution in India. Speaking on the occasion, Wadhwani said: “I see a strong need for a dedicated data science and AI school focusing on foundational and applied research. With advancements in science and technology, India holds immense potential to emerge as a world leader in AI and allied sciences. As a proud alumnus, IIT Madras holds a special place in my life, and I am gratified to be associated with it in this manner.” Added Prof. V. Kamakoti, director, IIT-Madras: “With the advent of industry 4.0, wherein AI and data science are the main movers, the need for a school for data science and AI is critical. IIT-Madras has started this highly interdisciplinary school…
HPS centenary celebrations Hyderabad, December 6. Hyderabad Public School (HPS), Begumpet officially unveiled plans of its highly successful year-long centenary celebrations at a Grand Finale event in Hyderabad. At the four-day Grand Finale held between December 24-27 a monumental fundraising drive was staged to raise Rs.17.5 crore for a state-of-the-art greenfield Multi-Utility Sports Center designed by renowned architect Hafeez Contractor. The school is also in the process of constructing an Innovation Centre at a projected cost of Rs.10 crore to stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation culture in HPS. Spanning 15,000 sq ft. this pioneer project makes HPS the sole school in the country to boast such an achievement, says an HPS press release, which adds that the school management has set a fundraising target of Rs.150 crore for institutional development. “The Grand Finale of the HPS centenary year is testament to our 100 years of legacy, leadership, and excellence,” said Gusti J. Noria, president of the HPS Society, speaking on the occasion. Amazon’s AFE programme Bengaluru, December 4. Amazon.in announced the expansion of its Amazon Future Engineers (AFE) programme to introduce advanced coding and artificial intelligence (AI) modules in 100 schools of the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KREIS), and also provide digital infrastructure enhancements for 30 schools. This expansion will impact over 13,000 classes VI-VIII students in 30 districts of Karnataka. Building on the success of a previous intervention which inspired students to explore the possibilities of computer science, the expanded module will enable students to learn complex computer applications incorporating advanced programming concepts such as control conditions, variables, and functions. Additionally, through project-based learning, students will also be introduced to the basics of AI. “The Amazon Future Engineer programme’s integration of advanced coding and AI modules aligns seamlessly with our vision to empower students with the proficiency required to navigate the increasingly tech-centric world,” said Manivannan P, principal-secretary of the Social Welfare Department, Government of Karnataka. Added David Zapolsky, senior vice president, Global Public Policy and General Counsel, Amazon: “We are excited to nurture the talents of students, regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds, and prepare them for the future. This project-based learning module will empower students with the skills and knowledge required to excel in a tech-driven world. Amazon is committed to democratising access to high-quality computer science education.” GradRight ShiftED conclave Hyderabad, December 2. GradRight (estb.2019), “the world’s first Ed-FinTech SaaS company,” pledged support to enable 300,000 Indian students affordable access to the world’s Top 500 universities over the next three years. The announcement was made at GradRight’s ShiftED 2023 Conclave on ‘Innovation for Sustainable Global Higher Education’ held in Hyderabad. The conclave focused on issues such as ‘Challenges and Innovative Solutions in Global Higher Education’ and ‘Way of the Future: Can AI Transform Global Mobility in Higher Ed’. “At GradRight, we are building a global education highway to democratise access to higher education for countless Indian students who would not otherwise be able to pursue their ambitions of studying at leading institutions abroad. ShiftED is a showcase…
Samsung digital skilling initiative Gurugram, November 23. Under its flagship programme — Samsung Innovation Campus — Samsung India Electronics, one of India’s largest consumer electronics companies, has upskilled 3,000 under-privileged students from eight cities countrywide. This programme trains them in future tech domains such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and Coding & Programming, to make them job ready, and get appropriate placements. In this programme, Samsung has partnered with the Union government to empower the country’s youth under the latter’s Digital India initiative. Over the past year, the Samsung Innovation Campus programme was executed by Electronics Sectors Skills Council of India (ESSCI) through its nationwide network of approved training and education partners. The final batch of 120 students of Samsung Innovation Campus are from the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow. “Through Samsung Innovation Campus, we want to empower the youth and create opportunities for them in future tech domains, to boost India’s growth story and strengthen our commitment to the country. We are elated to have witnessed such talent and potential in these students who are now ready and skilled to digitally transform the world around us,” said Hyun Kim, Corporate Vice President, Samsung Southwest Asia, speaking on the occasion. S2M-FGES concordat Bengaluru, november 2. Stones2Milestones (S2M), a Gurugram-based education technology company, signed a collaboration agreement with Finnish Global Education Solutions (FGES), a member institution of the Finnish National Agency for Education. Under the partnership agreement, the two enterprises are “set to revolutionise education worldwide,” by introducing Finnish pedagogies in Indian schools — with an initial focus on literacy and numeracy — and develop advanced technology solutions for global deployment. FGES expressed keen interest in adopting S2M’s fREADom reading app into their educational portfolio, given its proven success in enhancing English reading skills. “We are enthusiastic about launching S2M’s flagship product, the fREADom reading app, on the international stage. Together, our two companies are poised to introduce groundbreaking solutions that will benefit learners worldwide,” said Antti Kaskinen, CEO of FGES. Kavish Gadia, co-founder of Stones2Milestones, is equally enthused about this partnership. “S2M’s technological expertise and extensive reach in India will enable us to bring the best Finnish solutions to India while allowing us to jointly develop world-class technology solutions for FGES to take to the global stage,” he added. Mercedes Benz-IISc agreement Bengaluru, november 22. Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI, estb.1996) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (IISc, estb.1908) for advanced research collaboration. The objective of this agreement is an industry-academia partnership towards achieving Mercedes-Benz’s Ambition 2039, to manufacture a fleet of new carbon-neutral motor cars. The partnership will focus on driving engineering transformation and pursuing long-term research-oriented projects. Both organisations will leverage each other’s capabilities including infrastructure and academic programs to facilitate joint research, nurture talent, and promote collaborative innovation in sustainable mobility. “Leading industry players, premier academic institutions, and India’s world-class talent are poised to lead the EV revolution today. We are excited by the…
NYAF 2023 Singapore/New Delhi, October 6. BriBooks, billed as the world’s largest creative writing platform for school students, launched the 2023 edition of the National Young Authors’ Fair (NYAF) in India in partnership with EducationWorld. NYAF 2023 anticipates participation from over 1 million students in 10,000 schools. They will be writing, publishing, and promoting their books on the AI-powered BriBooks platform, the start of their journey towards becoming young entrepreneurial authors. “This event is the gold standard for nurturing creative writing in India. Our mission remains unwavering: to empower children to write, publish, and share their tales in the printed books format,” said Ami Dror, founder and CEO of BriBooks, speaking on the occasion. Added Bhavin Shah, CEO of EducationWorld: “It is essential that we encourage our children to unlock their creative potential. We are proud to offer this free-of-charge platform where aspiring young writers can share their stories with the world and realise their dream of becoming published authors.” OPJU–StockGro partnership Bengaluru, October 5. Chhattisgarh-based OP Jindal University (OPJU) signed an exclusive educational partnership with StockGro, a fin-tech platform, to teach students stock market investing. Under this two-year partnership, StockGro’s platform will be integrated into OPJU’s curriculum with learning assessment conducted on the StockGro platform. This programme will begin with seminars providing students insights into key financial issues, including basic finance, personal finance management, wealth management, and potential career paths within the financial sector. After attending these seminars, students can put their newfound knowledge and abilities into practice on the StockGro platform to enhance their knowledge of financial securities. “Our collaboration with OPJU, is dedicated to providing students with practical financial skills and knowledge that will serve them well throughout their lives,” said Ajay Lakhotia, founder & CEO, StockGro, speaking on the occasion. Dr. R.D. Patidar, vice chancellor of OPJU, is optimistic about this collaborative venture. “This partnership will equip our students with the financial acumen needed for their future success. Through initiatives like this, we aim to prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of the financial world,” he added. Finland Exploration Programme New Delhi, October 31. Suyash Bhatt, a University of Cambridge alum and founder-CEO of the UK-based Cambridge Education Lab, organised a Finland Education Exploration Programme to Helsinki and Turku for 24 Indian school promoters in collaboration with the Delhi-based NISA (National Independent Schools Alliance). School leaders from nine Indian states experienced an illuminating journey into the heart of the Finnish education system from October 22-28. “This six-day programme divided between the cities of Helsinki and Turku, provided a comprehensive understanding of the Finnish education model, celebrated worldwide for its innovative pedagogies and exceptional outcomes” says Bhatt. The programme included a visit to the Finnish National Agency for Education, where delegates were provided deep insight into the foundational principles of the Finnish education system. It included an overview of how Finland’s education system is uniquely structured within a robust two-tier national administration system. “One of the highlights of the tour programme was technology usage to create…
JGU scholarships Sonipat (haryana), september 4. To commemorate its 15th anniversary year, the Sonipat (Haryana)-based privately promoted O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU, estb.2009) announced the award of 2,000 scholarships to deserving students for the forthcoming academic year 2024-25. This initiative is for providing outstanding school-leavers with equal opportunities to access high-quality education. “We are delighted to announce this initiative to award 2,000 scholarships to our incoming students in 2024. JGU believes education to be a beacon of opportunity for all, regardless of their family background or economic standing. Our founding Chancellor Mr. Naveen Jindal has always recognised the importance of access to education for deserving students regardless of their financial circumstances. The most tangible expression of this commitment is our generous scholarship programme,” said Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, founding-vice chancellor of JGU, speaking on the occasion. According to Prof. Raj Kumar during the past 14 years, JGU has awarded scholarships valued at Rs.250 crore with almost half the students receiving scholarships of varying amounts. “It has been a life-changing experience for many of our students as they got access to world-class education, which they may not have been able to afford,” he added. Life skills training initiative Bhopal, september 25. The Madhya Pradesh government’s Department of Tribal Affairs, which oversees education in tribal blocks, has partnered with the Magic Bus India Foundation (MBIF), to train a cadre of master trainers and government school teachers, equipping them to deliver life skills education to nurture adolescents in 20 districts and 89 tribal blocks in the state. Under a memorandum of understanding, MBIF will train 18,000 government school teachers to impart life skills to 1,000,000 adolescents in 9,000 government schools. This partnership, supported by the Echidna Group, will span four years, with the initial phase encompassing 20 districts and 53 blocks. Dr. Pallavi Jain Goel, principal secretary, department of tribal affairs of the Government of Madhya Pradesh said the state government is committed to implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 into tangible action. “We firmly believe that equipping our adolescents with the right skills is the catalyst for unlocking their boundless potential and empowering them to become self-reliant,” said Dr. Goel. “We are committed to co-creating contextualised curriculum and building capacities within the system to train teachers to deliver life skills education in line with NEP 2020 priorities. In a fast-changing world with huge technological developments, adolescents need to think critically, problem-solve, use creativity, adapt to changing situations, collaborate and communicate effectively,” added Jayant Rastogi, Global CEO, MBIF, speaking on the occasion. Kotak Junior scholarships Mumbai, september 28. Kotak Education Foundation (KEF) — the corporate social responsibility implementing agency of the Kotak Mahindra Group — launched a Kotak Junior Scholarship scheme by awarding 750 scholarships valued at Rs.4.72 crore for meritorious class X students from economically disadvantaged households in Mumbai, to support their further education. With this programme, KEF aims to create a strong support system at the grass-roots level beyond financial aid, for the education and development of youth countrywide.…
Haryana-Magic Bus partnership Gurugram, August 9. Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad, implementing agency for Samagra Shiksha (secondary school programme) of the government of Haryana, has partnered with Magic Bus India Foundation to empower government school teachers to deliver life skills education for fostering holistic development of adolescents in Panchkula, Gurugram, and Yamuna Nagar districts. Under its teacher-led program, Magic Bus Foundation will train 1,400 teachers to benefit 80,000 adolescents in 700 government schools. These teachers will impart 21st century life skills including self-awareness, self-management, collaboration, empathy, decision-making, problem-solving, communication, negotiation, assertiveness, and adaptability to adolescents in classes VI-X. “The partnership with Magic Bus is a significant step towards providing life skills education to our adolescents, enabling them to become self-reliant and contributing members of society,” said Sanjay Kumar, consultant, Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad. Internshala-NSDC agreement New Delhi, August 1. Internshala, a Gurugram-based career-tech platform, has signed an agreement with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under which the latter has authorised Internshala to empower India’s youth with futuristic skills. The partnership will impact 300,000 learners over a period of three years and invest them with practice-based, new-age skilling including data science, electric vehicle, digital marketing, machine learning, programming, web development, UI/UX design, IoT, among others. The partnership will also facilitate paid internships for young learners and will encourage placement-linked skills training at affordable price with the flexibility to learn from anywhere and at any time. On successful completion of training, learners will get prestigious co-branded certification from NSDC and Internshala under the Skill India initiative. “Early exposure to the world of work through internships has empowered students to understand the importance of practical skills early on in their college lives to prepare themselves for enriching careers. Internshala and NSDC share a common vision to encourage career outcomes-based training and skill development in students to help them get the best start to their careers,” said Sarvesh Agrawal, founder-CEO of Internshala, speaking on the occasion. Cambridge-Edureka online courses Chennai, August 22. University of Cambridge Online has signed an agreement with Edureka, a subsidiary of the Chennai-based Veranda Learning Solutions, to bring three higher education online courses, led by Cambridge academics, to India. The three courses uploaded on the Edureka platform are: Human-computer interaction for AI systems design, led by Prof. Per Ola Kristensson, an expert in interactive systems engineering; Leveraging big data for business intelligence, under guidance of Dr. Russell Hunter, professor of computational neuroscience, and senior software engineer at Cambridge; Creativity, problem solving and design thinking, led by Prof. Nathan Crilly, a professor of design, department of engineering at Cambridge. “Upskilling is the real need of the hour. As we offer courses from the University of Cambridge Online in India, it exemplifies how committed we are to offering unparalleled world-class courses that blend academic brilliance with real-world applications,” said Vineet Chaturvedi, CEO of Edureka, speaking on the occasion. Avidii olympiad Mumbai, August 14. Avidii, an on-demand EdTech platform, announced the launch of an Olympiad for marginalised communities in association with…
India Today Best Colleges super portal New delhi, june 23. The India Today Group has launched a brand-new online portal for its Best Colleges Survey — “the most credible and exhaustive ranking of institutions of higher learning in India for over a quarter century” — featuring six years of ranking data as well as a wealth of granular information on thousands of institutes of higher learning. According to a India Today press release, the interactive portal offers easy access, analysis, and guidance to the Best Colleges of India survey results for 2,000 colleges across 14 major streams —Engineering, Architecture, BBA, Mass Communication, Hotel Management, Fashion Design, MSW, BCA, B.Com, B.Sc, BA, Law, Medical and Dental. Aside from the colleges ranking — which can be filtered by state and city — the site also allows cross comparisons on five major indicators of quality: intake & quality of governance, academic excellence, infrastructure & living experience, personality & leadership development and placement & career. It also provides a wealth of data about each college, from courses offered and eligibility requirements to admission fees, cut offs, placements, faculty data, and information on the institute’s industry connect, says an an India Today spokesperson. One of many USPs of this new portal is the Jobs in Demand section which offers insights on the positions and salaries on offer to graduates from different streams. A separate section on the Best Emerging Colleges presents new institutions of excellence while information on important exams, including JEE, NEET, CUET, LSAT and BITSAT is also available for easy reference. “We invite everyone to visit our website — https://bestcolleges.indiatoday.in — for some happy, productive surfing, and we wish aspiring students all the very best,” says the spokesperson. Primus-IRMA Excellence Lab New delhi, june 8. Primus Partners Pvt. Ltd (Primus, estb.2010), a Delhi-based consultancy firm, and the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA, estb.1979 in by Dr. Verghese Kurien), have jointly promoted PRIMA: Primus IRMA Excellence Lab. The objective of this initiative is to harness the industry expertise of Primus Partners and the academic excellence of IRMA to drive innovation, research, and knowledge sharing in rural management. Under this partnership, Primus will offer internship opportunities to selected final year IRMA students to acquire valuable hands-on experience of a career in management consulting. The PRIMA project will also facilitate guest lectures by industry experts and thought leaders, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas and experiences. “Our expectation is to drive innovation, develop impactful research, and empower the next generation of professionals in rural management and agriculture,” said Davinder Sandhu, co-founder and chairman, Primus Partners. Added Dr. Umakant Dash, director of IRMA: “The Primus IRMA Lab marks an exciting milestone in our journey of academic excellence to address critical issues in rural management and agriculture. We are eager to embark on this journey of knowledge creation and collaborative learning.” BITS-Pilani’s new Centre for Excellence Pilani, june 27. BITS-Pilani announced receipt of a donation of US $1 million (Rs.8.2 crore) from alumnus Ranvir Trehan, a technologist-entrepreneur.…
Griffith’s two coups Delhi, april 28. Griffith University, Australia signed MOUs with two of India’s top-ranked higher ed institutions — Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) — when its delegation led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Carolyn Evans visited India recently. The agreement with IISc will build on an existing collaboration between Griffith’s Australian Rivers Institute and the IISc’s Water Solutions Lab. The partnership will explore the potential for a dual postgraduate degree program, which will enable eligible Indian students to complete their postdoctoral degree at Griffith in Australia, enabling students to be certified by both institutions and acquire valuable international experience. The MoU with MAHE, initiated in 2007 is being renewed to focus on health, allied health sciences, environmental engineering and student exchanges and recruitment. Under the renewed agreement, the two institutions will launch a jointly supervised Doctor of Philosophy (Ph D) program at Griffith, which will provide a tuition scholarship as well as living stipends to two eligible MAHE doctoral candidates per year. “The fact that both these partners have been recognised by the Indian government as Institutions of Eminence is proof of their reputation for excellence. We are proud to be partnering with them,” said Prof. Carolyn Evans, speaking on the occasion. Oxford Big Read competition New delhi, may 9. Oxford University Press (OUP) India announced the launch of the 5th edition of its Oxford Big Read (OBR), a global annual reading competition designed to promote good reading habits among primary-secondary school students. OBR is open to all school students of classes I-IX across India. The competition is tailored to specific class groups: Level 1 (classes I-III): Children are required to design a new book jacket for an OUP book and write two sentences about the book. Level 2 (classes IV-VI): Pupils are required to write “something interesting” about a book, its title, author, type of story, setting, and main characters, indicating likes, dislikes and suggest story line changes. Level 3 (classes VII-IX): Children are obliged to write a critical review of an OUP book. Entries for the competition must be submitted through schools. Deadline for submission entries in each category: October 5, 2023. Individual entries from parents/children will not be accepted. National-level winners will be announced on October 30, and global winners on November 30. The submitted entries will be adjudged by an expert jury. BCI-Microsoft’s ESY New delhi, may 29. British Council (India) and Microsoft India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a co-developed three-year partnership programme titled English Skills for Youth (ESY). The programme aims to enhance life opportunities for youth aged 18-25, particularly women of socio-economically marginalised communities across India. According to a BCI statement, the prime objective of the ESY project is to enhance employability opportunities for youth. Microsoft and BCI have co-developed this programme to teach English language communication skills to students. The ESY solution will be integrated into rural engineering colleges linked to Microsoft’s existing NGO/partner skilling projects for the underserved. Under this…
Duolingo & Next Genius initiative Mumbai, april 26. The US-based Duolingo Inc, which has designed the global Duolingo English Test (DET), a modern English proficiency assessment for international students and institutions, and its India partner, Next Genius Foundation, are embarking on an Inspiring India Tour to visit 1,000 high schools across 50 cities in India over the next two years. The tour is an initiative to introduce DET and other educational resources to students and counsellors across India. Comments Dr. Neeraj Mandhana, founder of the Next Genius Scholarship Program: “English proficiency tests are mandatory for admission into most universities and colleges abroad. Next Genius is happy to partner with Duolingo to reach out to more students and schools, spread awareness about DET and our scholarship programme to support students’ academic and professional aspirations. India is the largest market for DET with people taking English proficiency tests in 1,200 cities and towns in the past year, making the Inspiring India Tour initiative timely and relevant.” “Our goal is to provide modern English proficiency assessment that’s accessible to the broader Indian population.” says Tara Kapur, India Marketing Head of DET. “DET is recognised by over 4,000 institutions in over 50 countries, and is trusted by top universities in the US, UK, Canada, Australia,” she adds. Semiconductor industry program Bengaluru, april 24. The Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering (E&C Engineering) at the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal, in collaboration with Semi-Conductor Laboratory, has launched a new course — B.Tech Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design and Technology). This programme is specially curated to support creation and scaling up of an ecosystem for manufacturing semiconductors in India. A four-year undergraduate programme, it will provide students with an in-depth understanding of the subject. The course curriculum covers a wide range of topics such as digital electronics, VLSI design and testing, analog and mixed-signal circuits. “Through this programme, students will not only gain knowledge, but they will also acquire hands-on experience of cutting-edge technology, allowing them to excel in their future careers. The semiconductor industry is expected to require 20,000 qualified professionals by 2025 and our programme aims to close this gap by providing students with the competencies to work in this thriving industry,” said Cdr (Dr.) Anil Rana, Director, MIT Manipal, speaking on the occasion. CleverTap-Barefoot partnership Mumbai, april 18. CleverTap, the world’s #1 Retention Cloud, announced a partnership with Barefoot Edu Foundation to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in budget private schools (BPS) in Mumbai. This partnership intends to develop fully operational STEM labs in 12 BPS citywide. These labs will enable students to demonstrate increased retention of textual subject knowledge through formative and summative testing. Six of the 12 STEM labs will be exclusively for girl children. Students will be given resources to demonstrate their creativity in applying textbook concepts to real-world problems through engaging activities like melas and competitions. “At CleverTap, we are true believers that ‘a brilliant mind can come from anywhere’ and hope our efforts can help…
NIFCO-NSDC initiative Delhi, march 29. The Yokosuka City (Japan)-based NIFCO (Nippon Industrial Fastener Corporation) Inc, a global manufacturing company and an IoT (Internet of Things) solutions provider with battery-less devices, and the Delhi-based NSDC (National Skills Development Corporation) International, a company engaged in building global job opportunities for Indians, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Under the MoU, the two companies will encourage migration of skilled human resources from India to Japan. “This MoU is signed to establish a cooperative framework to promote, enable opportunities for Indian professionals in Japan and contribute to support the education environment in India. The companies will also focus on conducting various hybrid and physical promotional seminars in India and Japan for knowledge sharing and skills mapping,” says a NIFCO Inc spokesperson. NSDC International is a 100 percent subsidiary of NSDC that is promoting Skill India international objectives to make India a global source for quality talent. High-powered GISA launch Gurugram, march 29. India’s estimated 340,000-plus independent (private) schools were urged to join forces with schools around the world in the first meeting of a worldwide representative body for the K-12 independent education sector — the Global Independent Schools Association (GISA). A critical objective of GISA is to improve education provision throughout the world by sharing knowledge. According to a press statement issued by GISA, this global association seeks to co-ordinate, represent, and give a voice to the global K-12 independent education sector — filling a “representation void” of schools that educate 350 million children around the world — including 52 percent of secondary school children in South Asia and 45 percent of primary school children in Latin America. “GISA gives us an excellent platform to promote the benefits of international schools in India and highlight how we can work alongside the national system to promote high standards and educate the next generation of leaders,” said Christopher Short, managing director, Nord Anglia Education, India, speaking on the occasion. Some of the biggest names in global K-12 independent education have united to form GISA’s executive board, which will shape its strategic direction. They include Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO of Nord Anglia Education; Sunny Varkey, founder of Gems Education; Nadim Nsouli, founder, chairman and CEO of Inspired Education; Frank Maassen, Group CEO of Cognita; Brian Rogove, Group CEO of XCL Education; and Dino Varkey, Group CEO of GEMS Education. The association was launched with a call to action to attract members from around the world, “whether they are a single classroom private school in a low-income country, a school run by a charity or foundation, or a school operating within a multinational chain”. NCERT-ETS-PARAKH treaty New delhi, march 29. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the US-based Educational Testing Service (ETS) to strengthen the PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) online platform for assessments. PARAKH was launched by NCERT in 2020 to assess the learning outcomes of students in classes III-X in schools…
MIT MoU signing spree Manipal (udupi), february 27. The Manipal Academy of Higher Education’s Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) has signed MoUs with Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Japan, and Institute of Defence Scientists and Technologists (IDST) and Elcom Innovation — both based in Bengaluru. The partnerships with UMP (Malaysia) and NARO (Japan) will enable students and faculty at MIT to collaborate on research projects, redefine pedagogies and enhance knowledge exchange. Likewise, the partnership with IDST and Elcom Innovation will integrate work-based learning into the curriculum. “Over the past decade, we have partnered with over 80 international institutions. Our association with NARO and UMP is aimed at building strong research capabilities and developing joint learning programmes. We hope our alliance with IDST and Elcom will generate skill-based learning opportunities for our students,” said Dr. (Cdr). Anil Rana, director, MIT, speaking on the occasion. TalentSprint Women Engineers program Bengaluru, february 22. TalentSprint, a global edtech company, launched the fifth edition of its Women Engineers (WE) program supported by Google Inc. The program aims to identify, select, train, and nurture 200 first-year women engineering students across the country to become globally competitive software engineers. The program offers 100 percent fees waiver and Rs.100,000 cash scholarship to every selected student. “We are pleased to continue supporting TalentSprint in its noteworthy efforts to create opportunities for students underrepresented in tech and place them on a path for successful future careers. We’re delighted to see the contributions this program is making towards improving gender diversity in tech, and look forward to welcoming these future women leaders into the ecosystem,” said Shiv Venkataraman, VP/GM, Google, speaking on the occasion. Santosh Trophy winners Bengaluru, march 4. The Karnataka state football team defeated Meghalaya 3-2 to bring the Santosh Trophy home after 54 years. This is India’s biggest tournament in senior national football and was played in Saudi Arabia. Shukla Bose, founder of the NGO Parikrma Humanity Foundation, which runs four free-of-charge schools with an aggregate enrolment of 2,000 children in Bengaluru, claims some credit for this win. “The coach of the Karnataka team is Ravi Babu, Head of Sports at Parikrma. He has built a formidable football team in Parikrma, and we loaned him to the Karnataka State Football Association for the Santosh Trophy matches. Our joy does not end there. One of the star members of the Karnataka football team is Nikhil, who is a Parikrma alumnus,” says Bose. Dual degree Masters program Mumbai, february 10. NMIMS University’s Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics, Mumbai announced the launch of a new dual degree programme in collaboration with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA (Virginia Tech). Under the two-year Master of Science (economics) degree programme, students will study one year at NMIMS, Mumbai and the next in Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg. Students will be selected on the basis of an admission test and personal interview jointly conducted by NMIMS and Virginia Tech. At NMIMS, students will cover foundational courses…
Bayer Fellowship Programme Mumbai, January 23. In collaboration with Bhubaneswar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster Foundation (BCKIC), the Thane-based Bayer Cropscience Ltd, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, Germany has launched the Medha Fellowship Programme, exclusively for students from economically weaker sections. Under this programme, Bayer will fund the education of 125 scholars engaged in agriculture and life sciences research. The company will provide financial assistance of Rs.20,000-40,000 per month to Masters and Ph D students for a period of two and three years. The company has pledged Rs.10 crore for this programme. “At Bayer, we are committed to supporting education, research, innovation, and providing inclusive opportunities for all sections of society. Through the Medha Fellowship Programme, we are extending our support to students from economically weaker sections and women scholars, encouraging and supporting them to play an active role in nation-building,” says D. Narain, president of Bayer Cropscience. DPS-Jaipur Tennis Academy Jaipur, January 10. Delhi Public School, Jaipur (DPS-Jaipur) announced the launch of the Devyani Jaipuria Tennis Academy (DJTA). Spread over 15 acres, DJTA was launched with the commencement of the Devyani Jaipuria Under-14 and Under-16 Tennis Championships staged between January 9-16. “This world-class training facility will equip young boys and girls from across the country with the skills required to compete in state, national and international tennis tournaments,” said Devyani Jaipuria, pro vice chairperson of DPS-Jaipur. The academy will be spearheaded by India’s Davis Cup coach Zeeshan Ali, former national tennis champion and Davis Cup player. “I am thrilled to associate with DJTA to usher in a new era of tennis excellence in India. Our vision is to equip students not only with skill training but also to guide them to attain peak mental and physical fitness through planned nutrition,” he added. IIM-U-Communeeti agreement Udaipur, January 3. The Centre for Development Policy and Management (CDPM) of the Indian Institute of Management-Udaipur (IIM-U) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Communeeti, a Delhi-based public policy think-tank and research organisation. Prof. Ashok Banerjee, director, IIM-Udaipur and Pratyush Prabhakar, founder-director of Communeeti, signed the MoU under which the two parties will engage in collaborative research and consultancy projects. “This MoU will enable us to build a foundation and drive focused research and policy-making related to the public policy and development sector. We will disrupt industries, the nation, and society towards a better future, and we will continue to collaborate in other areas of mutual interests in future,” said Banerjee, speaking on the occasion. Infinity 2023 Math Championship Mumbai, January 17. In association with the top-ranked Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS Pilani, estb.1964) and University of Waterloo (Canada), the Mumbai-based Aditya Birla World Academy (ABWA, estb.2009) successfully conducted Infinity 2023 — The Ultimate Math Championship. This annual transnational championship which attracts students from UAE, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, encourages students to demonstrate their math capabilities and creativity. The final round of the 2023 competition was staged on January 14-15 at Mumbai University. School teams declared Infinity Champions of the Year…
AM/NS–NSDC pact New delhi, december 14. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) — a joint venture of ArcelorMittal (UK) and Nippon Steel (Japan) — signed an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to provide digital skills training to youth countrywide. Under terms of the agreement, AM/NS India will fund the training of 1,600 youth of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra by NSDC to qualify as IT helpdesk attendants and data entry operators. “We are pleased to extend our partnership with NSDC on this important initiative to equip young people across the country with skills that will help them secure employment and a path to economic prosperity,” said Shingo Nakamura, deputy director (HR & Admin) of AM/NS, speaking on the occasion. “This partnership with AM/NS India will provide inspiration for large-scale participation by corporates in skill development. With promised resources in the second phase, NSDC will conduct digital learning sessions to train 1,600 bright students from various backgrounds to enable them to become valuable members of the country’s workforce,” added Ved Mani Tiwari, chief operating officer of NSDC. Hinduja Foundation initiative Mumbai, december 12. Hinduja Foundation (regstd.1968), the philanthropy subsidiary of the London-Geneva- Mumbai-based Hinduja Group, has partnered with Aspire Institute, USA, to provide leadership skills training to young adults (18-26 years) in India. The Aspire Leaders Program is a fully funded leadership skills development programme delivered online through self-paced courses and virtual classrooms. Aspire Institute (estb.2017) was founded at Harvard University by several faculty of Harvard Business School. “Through its several educational initiatives, the Hinduja Foundation has improved the lives of nearly 500,000 children and youth of India. This partnership with Aspire Institute will enable us to transform the lives of educationally under-served youth through a fully funded leadership development programme that will enable them to make a positive impact in their communities. The education programmes and partnerships of the foundation are aligned with the National Education Policy 2020,’’ said Namrata Hinduja, trustee of Hinduja Foundation, after signing the partnership agreement. Global Citizen Scholarships 2023-24 Noida, december 15. Global Indian International School (GIIS) invites applications for its Global Citizen Scholarships 2023-24 programme — an initiative that enables meritorious secondary school students to complete higher secondary education in Singapore. Students certified as class X graduates by any authorised examination board are eligible to apply. “GCS is an initiative to help meritorious students in India to pursue higher education abroad,” said Pramod Tripathi, Director (Academic) of GIIS Singapore. “Last year, 17 students were awarded GIIS Singapore scholarships and during the past four years, more than 100 Indian students have been awarded Global Citizen Scholarships.” Awardees of the scholarships are entitled to pursue CBSE or IB-Geneva curriculum at GIIS Singapore with full waiver of tuition and residential accommodation fees. Moreover, Global Citizen Scholarship awardees are also entitled to travel expenses and pocket money. The value of the scholarship amounts to approximately S$90,000 (Rs.55 lakh) per student. At the end of two years, the students will also be counselled…
St. Gobain-IIM-A concordat Ahmedabad, november 16. Saint- Gobain India — a subsidiary of the Paris-based St. Gobain — has signed an MoU with IIM-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) to conduct a study titled ‘Creating Biodiversity Habitat at the IIM-A campus’. The MoU has been facilitated with the support of the IIM-A Endowment Fund, a dedicated philanthropic and fund raising unit of IIM-A. The study will identify phased interventions required to improve the density of avian biodiversity and tree cover through the use of indigenous species, reinforcement of indigenous floral structure, enhancement of water retention capacity through passive measures, increase in soil permeability and improvement in air quality on the IIM-A campus. “Saint-Gobain has always been ahead of its times in terms of environmental protection by establishing urban forests in some of its large manufacturing entities. We hope this MoU will go a long way in meeting the proposed outcomes of the study while achieving our purpose of making the world a better place,” said P. Padmakumar, executive director of Saint Gobain India Pvt. Ltd, speaking on the occasion. Dassault design contest Delhi, november 17. The Paris (France)-based Dassault Systemes launched a nationwide product design contest for engineering, design and technology students in India. The objective of AAKRUTI 2022 is to provide students countrywide an opportunity to devise innovative solutions for long-standing technological and social problems. The challenge involves three stages — product design, design concept submission, and final product submission. Participants can submit their projects virtually through online collaboration enabled by Dassault’s cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform. A total of 1,384 teams from 302 colleges in 23 states have signed up for AAKRUTI 2022. Through this competition, contestants will become acquainted with the latest technologies offered by Dassault Systemes including 3DEXPERIENCE Works, SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE. “The 3DEXPERIENCE platform helps students to enhance their learning and problem-solving capabilities. AAKRUTI 2022 is part of our commitment to help students explore new technologies through hands-on experience,” said Deepak N.G, managing director (India), Dassault Systemes, speaking on the occasion. ABEA-RCCGETD-UC project Mumbai, november 11. The Aditya Birla Education Academy (ABEA), a teacher training institute promoted by the Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET) and The Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education, & Talent Development, University of Connecticut (RCCGETD-UC) announced a collaboration to offer a schoolwide enrichment programme (SEP) to Indian teachers. The eight-week, after-hours programme which will be delivered online, commenced on December 2. It is designed to train educators/teachers to develop the talents of all students, providing a range of advanced-level enrichment experiences, and follow-up opportunities for students based on their aptitudes and interests. All primary and secondary school teachers, special educators and counsellors are eligible to sign up for SEP. The faculty includes leading education experts including Dr. Joseph Renzulli, founder, Renzulli Learning Systems & professor, University of Connecticut; Dr. Sally Reis, professor, University of Connecticut; and Nicole Waicunas, SEM Outreach Coordinator at RCCGETD-UC. The eight-weeks after-hours programme is priced at Rs.5,900 per teacher. After successful completion, participating teachers will be awarded certificates by RCCGETD-UC. “We have been…
IITMIC-SSN iFound agreement Chennai, November 1. The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC) signed a partnership agreement with SSN Incubation Foundation (SSN iFound), Chennai, the incubation and innovation wing of the city-based SSN College of Engineering. Under the agreement, IITMIC will support SSN iFound to develop an ecosystem “that nurtures a culture of building things and provides incubation support to promising entrepreneurial ventures”. As a first step, IITMIC will support SSN iFound to establish a students managed Build Club to create a products building culture among students. Moreover, IITMIC and SSN iFound will select startups with potential for co-incubation. “India needs young entrepreneurs more than ever, to actively contribute to economic development. We want to nurture their entrepreneurial spirit from early stage through Build Clubs, which will encourage them to build products on their own. Through partnering with SSN iFound, we believe we can achieve this,” said Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, president of the IIT-Madras Research Park and IITMIC, speaking on the occasion. Plaksha U founding chancellor New Delhi, November 3. Plaksha University, Mohali (estb.2021), a new genre collective philanthropy technology and research varsity, has appointed Dr. S. Shankar Sastry founding chancellor of the institution. Dr. Sastry is currently Thomas Siebel distinguished professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley (UC) and previously served for over a decade (2007-18) as dean of engineering at UC. “Dr. Sastry is a globally respected academic leader and institution builder. We have been very fortunate to have him as chair of our Academic Advisory Board for the past five years. Now we are delighted to have him join as chancellor. He epitomizes the idea of reimagining higher education and building a vibrant higher education ecosystem that supports high-impact research. I am confident his in-depth professional experience, knowledge, and leadership will guide Plaksha University to craft a unique learning experience for our students,” says Neeraj Aggarwal, chairman (Asia Pacific) of the Boston Consulting Group and founder-chairperson of the Board of Trustees. “The opportunity to head Plaksha University that has a unique model of being a modern research university with new pedagogies and outlook, is a privilege and exciting challenge for me. I look forward to working with the team at Plaksha and steering this new 21st century university to greater heights,” said Dr. Shankar Sastry, speaking on the occasion. Koneru Rama Krishna Rao Building Visakhapatnam, October 31. Former vice president of India M. Venkaiah Naidu, formally renamed the main block of the GITAM School of Humanities and Social Sciences (GSHSS) of GITAM University, Vizag as the Koneru Rama Krishna Rao Building after the former chancellor of the university. An iconic Gandhian scholar, renowned philosopher, psychologist and educationist, Dr. Rao has endowed an unsolicited donation of Rs.4.5 crore to GSHSS. The committed amount will be used to conduct training programmes/workshops for students and teachers; support research projects that benefit society, promote rural literacy, and provide scholarships to needy meritorious students. “Koneru Rama Krishna Rao’s commitment to Gandhian values was one of the strong bonding…
IIT-M’s new programme Chennai, August 1. The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) announced that its three-year B.Sc degree course in programming and data science can be converted into a fouryear BS degree in data science and applications. Moreover while reading for the BS degree, students have the option of doing an eight-month apprenticeship or project with corporates or research institutes. “This unique programme is carefully designed to offer students multiple entry and exit options with learners awarded certificate, diploma and degrees on completion of one, two and three years. This provides flexibility to learners and empowers them to choose subjects of their choice to complete this programme. Students currently in class XII can also apply for admission into the programme,” explains an IIT-M spokesperson. “IIT-M’s contemporary BS in data science and applications degree provides access to high-quality IIT education to learners across the country. Data science is one of the emerging subjects of the future. It is a highly employment-oriented programme in a domain where there is high demand for skilled professionals,” said Prof. V. Kamakoti, director, IIT-Madras, announcing launch of the programme. ANU-Solv(ED) agreement Ahmedabad, August 8. Anant National University (ANU) announced that the university’s four-year Bachelor of Technology in Climate Change (BTCC) undergraduate degree programme has been accepted by the Solv(ED) community of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. Solv(ED) supports sustainable solutions of tech entrepreneurs to address the world’s most pressing problems. All ANU students signed up for the BTCC degree programme are eligible for microgrants and tailored support from the Solv(ED) community. Solv(ED) membership aids institutions that support young people practicing social entrepreneurship and innovation. According to an ANU spokesperson, in the first semester of the second year, students enrolled in the varsity’s BTCC programme will receive microgrants from Solv(ED) aggregating Rs.400,000 for initiating projects addressing climate change. Solv(ED) will disburse micro-grants funding to ANU students for developing projects under the Solv(ED) Youth Innovation Challenge. “MIT Solv(ED) is very excited to welcome BTCC students into our community. During the course of this year, ANU’s BTCC students will have access to workshops, events, challenges and funding opportunities to enable them to design climate change solutions of which they will be proud,” said Gaby Gonzalez, senior officer, Solv(ED) at MIT, speaking on the occasion. Added Dr. Miniya Chatterji, founding-director of the ANU School for Climate Action: “This is a highpotential, powerful collaboration between MIT Solv(ED) and ANU. It will motivate our students to dream big and equip them with tangible skills to implement impactful projects on the ground.” NU’s Campus Future initiative New Delhi, August 1. NIIT University (NU) Neemrana (Rajasthan) offers students who have completed class XII, opportunity to explore undergrad career programmes and experience life on the scenic NU campus in Neemrana. NU’s Camp Future programme invites students and their parents to become acquainted with the NU campus before entering higher education. Camp Future is an interactive programme designed to provide schoolleaving students and their parents a sample of NU life. “Meeting with the…
Jain U-Maldives agreement Bengaluru, July 12. The Bengaluru-based Jain (deemed-to-be) University and government of the Republic of Maldives signed an MoU under which a Chancellor’s Scholarship and JGI Aid Fund scholarships will be offered to Maldivian students. Under the terms of the MoU, ministry of higher education, Maldives will identify and select deserving students based on predetermined criteria set by Jain University for the latter to provide five fully-funded scholarships for its B.Tech programme; one scholarship for the Ph D programme (public policy and governance); 250 Chancellor’s Scholarships for undergrad and postgrad programmes; and 250 aided scholarships for miscellaneous courses. “This MoU doesn’t merely provide opportunities for Maldivian students to acquire higher education qualifications. It also strengthens the partnership between Jain U and the Republic of Maldives,” said Dr. Chenraj Roychand, Chancellor of Jain University speaking on the occasion. Anant School of Climate Change Ahmedabad, July 19. Anant National University announced the launch of Anant School for Climate Action, a first-of-its-genre institution in India. The school will begin with two foundational courses in the Anant School for Climate Action (ASCA) viz, a four-year B.Tech programme specialising in climate change, and a 12-month Anant postgrad fellowship programme for climate action. “Measuring, predicting, mitigating and adapting to climate change needs an influx of new technologies as well as people skilled in the use of existing and new technologies. ASCA’s objective is to equip students with the latest knowledge to mitigate and adapt to climate change,” said Dr. Miniya Chatterji, founding-director, ASCA and CEO of Sustain Labs, Paris, speaking on the occasion. 3M Inspire Challenge Bengaluru, July 15. The US-based global science company 3M launched the first edition of its 3M Inspire Challenge in India. Previously held in Southeast Asian countries, the case competition is now open for undergraduate college students countrywide. To help shortlisted teams finetune their ideas in preparation for the challenge finals, professionals from 3M will mentor shortlisted participating teams from September 2022 onwards. Kicking off with the country-level semi-finals, three shortlisted teams will compete with local peers in a live judging panel in October this year. The winning team will be awarded a cash prize of US $2,000 and secure internships at the 3M Innovation Centre in Bengaluru. In November, each country champion will proceed to the regional finals where the winning team will receive a US $5,000 cash prize. TCS-GEMS project New Delhi, July 19. TMRW, an education technology company promoted by the Dubai-based GEMS — “the largest private K-12 education provider in the world” — announced that the Mumbai-based IT major Tata Consultancy Services will support its all-in-one integrated platform. Through this partnership, TMRW will leverage its Learning Operating System (LearnOS) to provide the entire spectrum of education and institution management services under a unified umbrella. On its part, TCS will provide consulting, implementation, managed services, and system integration capabilities to schools throughout the world. The agreement includes establishment of a Center of Excellence within TCS, which will be a bridge between TMRW and TCS, utilising each…
Korea tourism invitation Bengaluru, June 23. Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO), India, an agency of the Republic of Korea (RoK, South Korea) under its ministry of culture, sports and tourism, organised a webinar in collaboration with EducationWorld to invite schools across India to visit Korea for education tours. “South Korea is an educationally advanced country which spends over 5 percent of annual GDP on education,” said Summiya Yasmeen, managing editor of EducationWorld. “It is also an emerging education hub of Asia with a highly developed kindergarten to university education system,” she added. Speaking on the occasion, Young Geul Choi, director, KTO, said the agency facilitates elementary, middle, high school and university students visiting Korea. “K-pop, food, cuisine and fashion have been attracting young tourists in recent years. RoK offers a safe and clean environment, four dedicated seasons, long history, rich cultural heritage and global peace tradition, and excellent tourism infrastructure,” said Choi. IIT-M’s unique course Chennai, June 6. The high-ranked Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M, estb.1959) has launched an ‘Out of the Box Thinking’ programme in mathematics. “Out of the box thinking is solving math problems through indirect and creative approaches, using reasoning not immediately obvious and involving ideas quite different from traditional step-by-step logic. In this unique course, such thinking is provoked by rediscovering known and unknown facts of mathematics logically, with an interesting broader perception of the manner of doing it,” says Prof. V. Kamakoti, director of IIT-M. The institute is targeting to enrol 1 million school and college students, and working professionals and researchers. Learning modules will be offered in online mode free-of-charge through IIT-M’s Pravartak Technologies Foundation, a s.8 company which will issue grade certification for students who take examinations at a nominal fee. The final proctored examination will be conducted at centres in select cities countrywide. The first batch of the course commenced on July 1. Unique MentorKart programme New Delhi, June 2. MentorKart, a technology-based platform of the Noida-based Tracxn Technologies Pvt. Ltd announced the launch of its Industry Mentorship Model Campus (IMMC). According to a company media release, IMMC is designed to train university/college students for myriad industry job roles based on their qualifications. MentorKart has already signed up with 50 universities countrywide for students to participate in the IMMC programme. It intends to achieve its goal of reaching over 200 universities in the next few quarters. With more than 1,000 highly experienced mentors, coaches, content creators, IMMC offers an e-learning and career acceleration ecosystem. “This initiative does not only provide or enhance college/university students’ technical and soft skills but also provides them guidance from our highly experienced mentors. It is a win-win programme for higher education institutions, students as well as industry,” says Vijay Sethi, chairman of the advisory board and chief mentor, MentorKart. Deakin-JGU tie-up New Delhi, June 8. Deakin University, Australia and O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), Sonipat (Haryana) invite applications for their joint Global B.Com (Hons.) + B. Business + MBA (International) integrated degree programme — the first in…
Jindal law school scholarships Sonipat, June 3. The Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), Sonipat will award 500 scholarships to students joining the school in the new academic year 2022-23. “JGLS has decided to award 500 scholarships to meritorious students who join JGLS with high merit in the entrance exam and whose annual parental income is less than the limit prescribed by the university, in the new academic year 2022-23. During the past 13 years since it was established, O.P. Jindal Global University has awarded scholarships valued over Rs.250 crore with almost half the students who graduated having received some scholarship amount. This is important to ensure equity and access while maintaining the highest standards of excellence in legal education,” says Dr. C. Raj Kumar, founding vice chancellor of the O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat (Haryana). According to Raj Kumar, JGLS scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit-cum-means. Students from households with annual income above Rs.30 lakh are ineligible. Merit is determined by scores in the national level entrance exam LSAT-India. “We strictly implement the household income criterion to ensure that the scholarships are awarded to those who need it most,” he said in a statement issued by O.P. Jindal Global University. In the EW India Higher Education Rankings 2022-23, JGU is ranked India’s #1 private liberal arts and humanities university. BYJU’s latest acquisition Bengaluru, May 11. Great Lakes E-learning Services Pvt. Ltd, a Delhi-based company of the Bengaluru-based edtech BYJU’s Group has acquired Singapore-based Northwest Executive Education (NEE), a global provider of executive education programmes. “NEE, with its portfolio of high-quality leadership programmes from some of the world’s best universities will augment the high quality, skill-based professional learning offerings of Great Learning to collaboratively realise the goal of becoming the world’s largest provider of executive education, continuing education and lifelong learning,” said Mohit Jain, founder-CEO of NEE in a media statement. Northwest offers executive education programmes of universities such as MIT, UC Berkeley, Yale, UCLA, University of Chicago, National University of Singapore, among others on business management, leadership, technology, healthcare, and innovation to executives in 50 countries. Great Learning collaborates with the best universities worldwide including Stanford and Northwestern universities (USA), National University of Singapore (NUS), Deakin University (Australia), IIT-Madras, IIT-Roorkee (India) and others to enable them to deliver degree, diploma and certificate programmes. “The guiding philosophy of both companies is to make high quality education accessible, and equip learners with the skills required to succeed in the new digital economy. NEE will augment Great Learning’s efforts to provide learners across the globe with best in-class learning opportunities from the world’s top universities,” says Mohan Lakhamraju, founder-CEO of Great Learning. Fynd’s new programmes Mumbai, May 24. Reliance Industries-backed Fynd, India’s largest omnichannel platform and multi-platform tech company, invites its fourth batch of students. The academy provides technical and practical skills training to freshers and working professionals. Applicants who clear the generic Fynd Academy Entrance Exam are eligible to enrol in courses of their…
AU-SoME venture Bengaluru, April 28. Ahmedabad University and the School of Meaningful Experiences (SoME, estb. 2018), Bengaluru, signed a collaboration agreement to provide management development programmes (MDPs) to corporate professionals, middle managers, and senior executives countrywide. The content of MDPs will be designed and delivered jointly by SoME and Ahmedabad University faculty. “These courses have been designed after assessing the gaps in MDPs offered by various business schools and online edtech companies. We believe the courses offered by these entities are of very short duration and lack depth and focus for upskilling business professionals because of insufficient attention to development of soft skills. Through the courses offered jointly by SoME and Ahmedabad University, we intend to address deficits in the continuous learning space for senior and middle level managers,” said Dr. Rakesh Godhwani, founder of SoME, corporate coach and communication professional, speaking on the occasion. Structured plumbing courses Delhi, April 14. The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA, estb.1993) to introduce plumbing education courses in engineering and architecture higher education institutions. Under terms of the MoU, students enrolled in engineering, architecture and interior design programmes and graduates with majors in civil, environmental, and mechanical engineering, architecture and interior design are eligible to sign up for a four credit course in ‘plumbing (water and sanitation)’. “There is urgent need to include plumbing in engineering and architecture curriculums as good plumbing is a priority health issue. IPA and AICTE have jointly designed a 50-hour study course that is 80 percent theory and 20 percent practice,” said Prof. Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, chairman, AICTE, speaking on the occasion. “This is a tremendous opportunity for plumbing industry stakeholders since the majority of plumbers who learn by doing will become more organised and structured after formal study of the vocation,” added Gurmit Singh Arora, president of IPA. Unacademy Scholarships programme Bengaluru, April 5. The Bengaluru-based Unacademy, which bills itself as India’s largest learning platform, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Backward Classes Welfare Department (BCWD) of the Telangana state government to identify and empower meritorious students from the state to prepare for competitive exams. During the next three years, Unacademy will conduct a series of aptitude tests in three phases to identify meritorious BCWD students in Telangana to prepare them for UPSC and college entrance exams. Under this MoU, 4,500 selected students will be awarded study scholarships plus exam fees by Unacademy. According to a Unacademy statement, all BCWD students of classes X-XII and in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are eligible to write these tests and apply for scholarships. Jaro-SRMIST concordat Bengaluru, April 28. The Mumbai-based Jaro Education, which offers executive education programmes, signed a partnership agreement with the Chennai-based SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST). Under terms of the agreement, the institute’s directorate of online education has empanelled Jaro to provide digital marketing services for SRMIST’s online bachelor’s and Masters degree programmes. Jaro Education will promote SRMIST’s online MBA,…
CEO for month programme Mumbai, March 22. The Bengaluru-based Adecco Group (India), a workforce solutions company, invites applications for its ‘CEO for One Month’ mentorship programme for the year 2022. Under this initiative, currently in its seventh year, the India winner gets an opportunity to be mentored by Vidya Sagar Gannamani, chairman and managing director of Adecco India Pvt. Ltd. Candidates in the age group 18-24 years can register and apply online at the company’s ‘CEO for One Month’ link. Registrations close on April 15. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview and further assessment for selecting an India winner. The selected candidate will get to shadow Vidya Sagar Gannamani, working side-by-side to experience the life of a senior business leader. Subsequently, ten outstanding candidates from foreign countries will be selected for a global bootcamp and one contender from this group will be chosen to work alongside and shadow the global CEO of the Adecco Group for one month. “The ‘CEO for One Month’ programme is a golden opportunity for aspirants to learn the ropes from senior business leaders who are at the top of their game. We welcome ambitious and hardworking participants to take this chance to learn and make their mark,” says Vidya Sagar Gannamani. The Switzerland-based Adecco Group is a Fortune 500 company which skills, develops and hires talent in 57 countries. AU-NUS concordat New Delhi, March 10. The Sonipat (Haryana)-based Ashoka University (AU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National University of Singapore (NUS). Under the agreement, the two institutions will exchange scientific, academic, and technical information, appropriate academic materials and other information of mutual interest. The MoU also obliges AU and NSU to identify areas for cooperation and joint research. “This MOU opens new opportunities for students and faculty to collaborate on various fronts with NUS, Singapore. I am excited about this initiative since I have been working on it for a few years,” said Vanita Shastri, dean of global education & strategic programmes at AU, speaking on the occasion. Added Loh Wai Lam, academic director at NUS: “This agreement is the start of a budding partnership between AU and NUS. We look forward to future opportunities for collaboration between our institutions.” IIT-M-TCS programme Chennai, March 22. Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) has partnered with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to launch a web-enabled industrial AI (artificial intelligence) programme targeted at upskilling corporate employees. This 18-month course, designed in consultation with TCS, will be offered by IIT-M online through virtual classrooms. The first cohort of students for the programme will be TCS professionals. “This programme will have strong theoretical courses and lab work covering important topics in data science and AI. It will be supplemented by applied courses covering implementation of AI solutions for industrial problems in case study formats. Put together, these courses are expected to provide a strong theoretical foundation and significant application perspective to participants in the course,” said Prof. V. Kamakoti, director, IIT-Madras, speaking on the occasion. Climate change…
GHI Presents L’Atelier Bengaluru, February 26. M. Venkaiah Naidu, vice president of India, and Thaawarchand Gehlot, governor of Karnataka, inaugurated the state-of-the-art L’Atelier — ensemble of fine arts and indoor sports arena — of the top-ranked Greenwood High International School, Bengaluru (GHI). Addressing students and parents of GHI, the vice president said: “A healthy body is essential for a healthy mind. Thus, sports and co-curricular education play an indispensable part in the growth and moulding of young minds.” GHI’s L’Atelier Centre for Sports Excellence (CSE) offers state-of-the-art facilities including a natural grass FIFA size football ground, Astroturf hockey field, tennis courts and cricket pitches with nets, 50-m swimming pool, world-class glass-backed squash courts, shooting range, indoor basketball and badminton courts, golf simulator with professional golf clubs and data analyzer. A separate block for arts, drama and music with globally benchmarked facilities including sound-proof music rooms with world-class acoustics; art room to conceptualize and paint artistic canvases; art gallery to showcase students’ artwork; drama, music and, design tech rooms for design thinking; music studio for sound recording; dance studio for choreography of classical and contemporary dance forms. “Inauguration of this complex is a step forward in our mission to enable our students develop in a holistic manner, with all-round education,” said Bijay Agarwal, chairman, GHI, speaking on the occasion. SIS Global Debates Bhubaneswar, January 29. SAI International School (SIS), India’s top-ranked co-ed day-cum-boarding school in the latest EW India School Rankings 2021-22, convened an online Global Debate Competition which attracted participation of 49 school teams from ten countries including China, UAE, Japan, Pakistan, South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Morocco and Kenya. The chief guests were Alex Ellis, British high commissioner to India, and Hemanth Bharatha Chakravarthy, chairperson, events of the Harvard College Debating Union. The topics of debate included, ‘The future of artificial intelligence (AI) and school education will go hand in hand’; ‘Development of AI will help humanity’; ‘AI has the potential to address some of the biggest challenges in school education today’; ‘Excessive use of Internet has led to unsafe learning’; ‘Is climate change already irreversible?’ among others. “The SAI Global Debate is an independent, non-partisan, progressive initiative seeking to develop confident communicators, critical thinkers, and empowered global citizens and leaders of today and tomorrow — equipped to shape a more just, inclusive, peaceful, secure and sustainable future for all,” said Dr. Silpi Sahoo, chairperson of the Sai International Education Group. Added Alex Ellis: “Global problems need global solutions and these can be addressed by deliberations and discussions as global solutions cannot be forced. They have to come about with a coalition of countries.” IIT–H-Suzuki contract Hyderabad, February 4. The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H) and Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), Japan, the parent company of Maruti Suzuki (India), signed a three-year contract to institute a Suzuki Innovation Centre (SIC) in IIT-H with the objective of “creating innovations for India and Japan” and providing a platform for exchange of knowledge between the two organisations. SIC will be a platform for…
New Delhi, January 5. The Union ministry of education has started registrations for its Vidyanjali Higher Education Volunteer Programme (VHEVP). The programme intends to build a robust team of volunteers to positively impact the nation’s higher education system by contributing with academic, training, and infrastructure support. To participate in this programme, volunteers and institutions can sign up at www.vidyanjali-he.education.gov.in. Volunteers can interact with higher education institutes directly and contribute to the institution’s academic services and activities with relevant knowledge and skillsets. Volunteers can also aid institutions by donating assets and equipment. VHEVP’s objective is to support students, faculties, and institutions of higher education through volunteerism by community, private and public sector NGOs, NRIs, and PIOs. “This is an important initiative of the ministry that will strengthen the country’s higher education system. Almost 40 million students are in higher education and our foremost task is to benefit them. India has a huge youth population and we want to convert this into a strong human resource for the country. We need to integrate every available resource in the country and pool them together to make this programme a success” says Prof. M.P. Poonia, vice chairman of AICTE. Yes Bank-Manipal BFSI initiative Mumbai, January 11. Yes Bank has partnered with the Manipal Academy of BFSI to launch its Yes Professional Banker program, a one-year postgraduate diploma in banking for college/university graduates who aspire to build a career in the banking and financial services industry (BFSI). The bank will provide education loans for the programme according to the bank’s student loans eligibility criteria. After candidates complete the program, they will be awarded a postgraduate diploma in banking by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and certification by Yes School of Banking. Diploma holders will be offered placement in Yes Bank with competitive compensation packages. On completing a predefined tenure with the bank and after they meet requisite performance standards, the entire program fee will be refunded. JARO’S Future Leader Program Mumbai, January 18. Jaro Education Pvt. Ltd (estb.2009) announced the launch of a six-months virtual Future Leader Program in collaboration with Deakin University, Australia and professional services firm KPMG India. This new age program enables professionals to develop required skills as they step into leadership roles in the VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world. According to Jaro Education spokespersons, this program will equip leaders to navigate dynamic business environments. “The pedagogy blends academic rigour and practical insights from corporate practitioners that will help students to develop the ability to lead nimbly and enhance value sustainably. Certification will enable professionals to lead in a disruptive VUCA world,” says Ranjita Raman, CEO of Jaro Education. Mindler’s transnational Talent Hunt New Delhi, January 27. Mindler Education Pvt. Ltd, the well-reputed career guidance company, has launched a ‘Mindler Scholarship and Talent Hunt’ for class XII students in India and the Middle East. Over 50,000 class XII students are expected to participate in Season II of the 2022 Mindler talent hunt. Of them 3,000 students from 1,000…
Fliplearn contest awards Gurugram, December 29. Gurugram-based Fliplearn Education Pvt. Ltd, the highly reputed e-learning platform which offers supplementary K-12 education to 550 schools and 500,000 students countrywide, announced winners of its FlipAheadWithFliplearn contest. Response was overwhelming and more than 50,000 students and around 2,500 teachers participated in the online contest. Winners were selected on the basis of maximum engagement and usage of the platform culminating in a lucky draw in which 215 winners were awarded exciting prizes including tablets, bluetooth headphones and free subscription of Fliplearn. The winners of the contest were felicitated at an impressive awards ceremony held virtually on December 4 and telecast live on Zoom and YouTube. Mindler Internship Program New Delhi, December 13. Mindler Education Pvt. Ltd, the well-reputed career guidance company, launched its Mindler Internship Program (MIP) for class XII students in India and the Middle East. This free-of-charge, student-centric initiative will provide students from over 1,000 schools in India and 70 from the Middle East, five weeks’ virtual experience of interning with fast paced corporate organisations in the two geographies. This initiative has been launched in collaboration with Afairs Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd — Asia’s leading education enabler for student-university outreach — and EducationWorld — The Human Development Magazine. All class XII students signing up for MIP will get access to the Mindler Navigate mobile app available on Google Play and Apple IOS stores. Students will also get access to a gamified leader board which will enable them to earn badges by completing various tasks and assignments and win prizes valued at Rs.10 lakh including Apple IPads, Air Pods and Amazon vouchers. Moreover, participants will receive offer letters, certificates of completion, letters of recommendation, and become eligible to win scholarships valued at Rs.25 crore from high-ranked universities while interning under MIP. IBS-KILA agreement Thrissur, December 28. ICFAI Business School (IBS), Hyderabad, a constituent of the ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education, signed an MoU with the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) for knowledge sharing. “It is an honour to be associated with KILA which has an excellent reputation for training local government officials. Knowledge-sharing will be in the form of workshops, symposiums, seminars leading to nurturing talent for public governance in Kerala,” said Dr. C. Shylajan, dean of IBS, speaking on the occasion. Added Dr. Joy Elamon, director general of KILA: “This MoU heralds a new chapter for knowledge management at IBS and will empower local administrations across the country to professionalise and enhance administrative efficiency.” Wild Wisdom Challenge 2021 Gurugram, December 8 Two Amity International School (AIS), Sector 46, Gurugram students — Siddhant Kaura and Chinmay Karwa (class VII) — were included among winners of the Wild Wisdom Global Challenge 2021 organised by the Delhi-based Wild Wisdom Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on the theme ‘Life on Our Planet — A Hope for Future Generations’. The final round organised online, attracted the participation of 250 teams from 38 countries worldwide. Awarded third prize, the AIS students…
Mindler acquires Immrse New Delhi, November 16. Delhi-based edtech startup Mindler, a career guidance platform for students and educators, announced acquisition of Immrse, a virtual career internship and simulation platform, in a cash and stock deal. Mindler expects to close the acquisition within three months. Promoted by Pratham Sutaria, an alumnus of Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, the Immrse platform enables students to access career internships virtually through experiential, immersive and self-paced discovery programmes. Virtual career internships allow students to deep dive into conventional and new age careers such as engineering, medicine, film-making, graphic design, law, psychology, ethical hacking etc. Immrse has already signed up 10,000 class VIII-XII students and has connected 100 counselors and edtech companies. Following this acquisition, Mindler will provide virtual career internships via schools/institutions, career counselors and edtech partners. “We are ready to tap the amazing opportunities which open up with this collaboration agreement. As the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is being rolled out, career guidance will become very important. We are strongly positioned to deliver personalised career guidance solutions to students and aid their overall development through integrated co-curricular solutions — a key mandate of NEP 2020,” said Prateek Bhargava, founder-CEO of Mindler, speaking on the occasion. Podar Innovation Centre Mumbai, November 2. The Podar Innovation Centre, which guides and supports all Podar Education Network schools through innovative resources, teacher development programmes, and school review processes, has designed ‘Evolve,’ an online self-driven professional learning programme for school teachers and leaders. “Evolve aims to foster a culture of professionalism in schools where learning is self-driven and focused on self-growth and peer growth of teachers, for overall change. Evolve differs from standard professional development programmes as it is student-teacher driven and self-paced rather than trainer-led. It involves activities including research, debate and knowledge and experience sharing within peer groups. Hence, it’s a ‘professional learning’ not ‘professional development’ programme,” explains Renee Bijlani, director of the centre. With over 94 years of experience within the educational space, the Podar Education Network comprises 136 education institutions countrywide with a combined enrolment of 165,000 students and 7,600 teachers. JGU-UTCS concordat New Delhi, November 17. The Directorate of Training (UTCS), Delhi Government has signed an MoU with O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), Sonipat, Haryana, under which JGU will provide academic training, knowledge and capacity building services to officers of the Delhi state government. “Through this partnership, our officers will be able to augment their skills and get new qualifications which will enable them to transform into exceptional public servants of the future,” said Vijay Kumar Dev, chief secretary of the Delhi government. Added Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, founding vice chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University (estb.2009): “Since 2009, JGU has endeavoured to establish the best learning programmes, partnerships, research and qualification systems. This MoU is a step towards upskilling the capabilities of our public servants who are changemakers in governance and polity. Our internationally and nationally qualified faculty and pedagogy is peerless and we are honoured to partner with the…
IIT-K-JKCL partnership Kanpur, october 26. IIT-Kanpur and JK Cement Ltd (JKCL, estb.1975), signed an MoU (memorandum of understanding) to collaborate in the construction of a super specialty hospital on the IIT-K campus. JKCL has consented to support the initiative with CSR (corporate social responsibility) funding of Rs.60 crore. The MoU is part of the IIT-K’s endeavour to catalyse a paradigm shift in medical research and innovation in India. Under the agreement, IIT-K will establish a School of Medical Research and Technology (SMRT) and centers of excellence on futuristic medicines as additions to the super specialty hospital. “We are very grateful for the generous contribution of JKCL towards establishing a super specialty hospital which will benefit the residents of Kanpur as well as people from other parts of the country. The proposed hospital will be associated with our School of Medical Research and Technology and will play an important role in driving IIT-K’s innovations in medical science and technology,” said Prof. Abhay Karandikar, director of IIT-K, speaking on the occasion. Pearson presents Digital Library Delhi, october 26. Pearson India — a subsidiary of Pearson Plc, UK which markets its products and services in 200 countries worldwide — has launched Digital Library, a comprehensive digital learning solution providing institutes, teachers and learners with a vast range of e-book collections and digital content across multiple disciplines. According to a company spokesperson, the new digital library offers online reading content and quick revision tools such as voice notes, highlights, hyperlinks and weblinks and access to study material 24×7. Students can access the digital library through multiple devices such as laptops, mobile phones and desktop systems. “Digital Library is a testament to our commitment to support the Union government in its mission to provide learners with the most affordable, flexible and student-friendly e-text solutions. With over 4,000+ e-book titles, we are certain that our vast repository of content by renowned authors will help us cater to the growing demand for quality resources and enable India to become a global study destination,” said Rajesh Pankajakshan, director of Pearson India, speaking on the occasion. EuroSchool’s nature school Bengaluru, october 22. EuroSchool is set to inaugurate its 14th school countrywide and fifth campus in Bengaluru early next year. Spread across five acres, the CBSE-affiliated EuroSchool, Bannerghatta, Bengaluru, is designed to accommodate 2,000 students — from Jr. KG-class XII. This new school will become operational in the academic year 2022-23. “Inspired by the world’s best teacher — Mother Nature — every aspect of the school is designed to encourage children to be one with nature. Classes will no longer be limited to the four walls of classrooms. Instead we will have learning in and outside school, enabling our children to learn from and around Nature — our first teacher,” says Rahul Deshpande, CEO, EuroSchool. Also read: EuroSchool hosts workshop with cricketer Jonty Rhodes Start-ups B-school New delhi, october 27. Stoa School — India’s first online business school focused on developing talent for the startup economy — has roped in Nithin…
Shycocan-EW webinar Bengaluru, August 27. Shycocan Corporation, a Bengaluru-based start-up engaged in the business of manufacturing, sales and marketing of the Shycocan a viral defence technology that provides safety and protection from the coronavirus with an efficacy up to 99.9% in enclosed spaces. Shycocan Corporation in collaboration with EducationWorld, hosted a webinar titled: ‘Empowering Education Institutions to Reopen Safely’ on August 27. Panelists included Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, director, CBSE; Alok Sharma, CEO, Shycocan Corporation; Dr. Muffazal Lakdawala, the reputed Mumbai-based surgeon; Dr. Swati Popat Vats, president, Early Childhood Association; Dr. Ashok Pandey, director, Ahlcon Group of Schools, Delhi and Neha Kare Kanabar, founder, UNIMO — Universe of Moms. The panelists debated the pros and cons of online education and in-class schooling, and highlighted the plight of children from low-income households dependent on free mid-day meals provided in government anganwadis and primary schools. Shycocan Corporation’s plug and play wall mounted device “produces trillions of photons that emanate electrons at the point of strike which disables the infectivity of the coronavirus, thus preventing the air and surface borne transmission. Hence a viral defence technology like Shycocan will play a crucial role in enabling education institutions to reopen safely”, said Alok Sharma, CEO, Shycocan Corporation. RV’s TIFA initiative Bengaluru, August 17. RV University, Bengaluru’s School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, announced a Teen Indie Film Awards (TIFA) competition for high school (classes IX-XII) students. Entries of short video films (3-7 minutes) in one of five thematic categories: Nature and Environment; Local History and Legends; My Hero (family, teachers, or community); Being a Teen, and Abstract Art, are invited. “With TIFA, our School of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers a unique opportunity to high school students to stimulate their creative thinking and develop the art of narration through the film medium. This contest will be a gateway into the world of cinema for talented, young individuals and help them showcase their creativity. The last date for submission is September 30,” said Prof. Y.S.R. Murthy, vice chancellor, RV University, speaking on the occasion. ABWA expansion plan Mumbai, August 2. The high-ranked Aditya Birla World Academy (ABWA), Mumbai, announced a major expansion of its campus in south Mumbai. Under a new infrastructure development plan, the school will add two new sections in class XI — for Cambridge ‘A’ level and IB students — and new sections in classes VIII and XI from the academic year 2022-23 onward. Under the expansion plan, the school will construct a new building, a science lab, design studio, 12 classrooms, innovation lab and swimming pool. “We believe every school’s infrastructure plays a significant role in the holistic and academic development of students and teachers. Investment in expanding and improving ABWA infrastructure will enhance the academic performance of our students,” said Neerja Birla, founder-chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, speaking on the occasion. JGU presents ADVANCE Sonipat, August 30. In a humanitarian education initiative, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat (JGU) launched a special Advancement of Afghan Nationals in Comprehensive Education (ADVANCE)…
IIT-G-Mizoram U concordat Guwahati, july 29. The Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT-G, estb.1994) has signed an agreement with Mizoram University to jointly develop academic programmes. The two institutions will also cooperate in pedagogy development and R&D activities, and promote exchange of students. Under terms of the agreement, IIT-G and Mizoram U will encourage contact and cooperation between their faculty members, departments and research facilities. The institutions will cooperate through faculty exchanges to deliver lectures, conduct seminars, discussions, research and supervise students’ projects. Students will be encouraged to attend courses offered by the partner institutions and collaborate in research projects. “Signing this MoU is an important step in enhancing the relationship of both institutes and provides a valuable opportunity for students of Mizoram U in teaching and research. It will help our students to get exposure in advanced instrumentation and facilities available at IIT-G,” said Prof. K.R.S. Sambasiva Rao, vice chancellor, Mizoram University, speaking on the occasion. AISECT-NSDC-Microsoft project New delhi, july 23. The skills development focused AISECT Group which includes the Rabindranath Tagore and C.V. Raman universities in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand has been commissioned by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Microsoft India to implement their rural development projects. In association with NSDC, Microsoft has initiated a project for developing women data entry executives in rural and peri-urban India. “The project’s objective is to develop ICT (information communication technology) skills of women residing in rural areas to generate employment. AISECT will implement the project in seven locations — Bemetara, Rajgarh, Narayanpur, Bijapur, Durg, Jhansi and Chitrakoot,” says an AISECT spokesperson. IDP-IELTS takeover New delhi, july 1. The Australia-based IDP and British Council, hitherto partners of IELTS, the world’s most popular English language proficiency test, have announced that the council will sell its IELTS business in India to IDP. This means that henceforth, all IELTS tests in India will be administered by IDP. Under terms of the agreement, IDP will acquire 100 percent of British Council’s India IELTS business for £130 million (Rs.1,341 crore) on a debt-free, cash-free basis. The agreement terms state that British Council employees employed in IELTS India will be absorbed by IDP. “This agreement will see us move forward with a bigger team of experts, a strong strategy and a larger geographic footprint across India,” said Andrew Barkla, chief executive of IDP, speaking on the occasion. “Distributing IELTS solely through IDP in India will simplify and improve the customer experience for IELTS test takers. As IDP already delivers IELTS in India, the high-quality service provided to IELTS customers will remain the same,” added Kate Ewart-Biggs, interim CEO of British Council. Coke’s India Case Challenge Bengaluru, july 28. More than 17,000 students from several B-schools and engineering colleges countrywide will vie for top three awards at the inaugural edition of India Case Challenge organised by Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB). The objective of this digitally-enabled competition is to write up case studies relating to HCCB’s business experience in India for use in B-schools and education institutions.…
Mumbai, June 29. Tata Electronics Pvt. Ltd (TEPL) signed an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with SASTRA Deemed-to-be-University, Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu) to develop deep domain expertise to enhance electronics design and manufacturing skills in collaboration with Asia University and Yuan Ze University, Taiwan. Under this agreement, students admitted to the two-year M.Tech degree programme in Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) design at SASTRA University will study for one year on the varsity campus, for the second year in either Asia/Yuan Ze campuses in Taiwan. The second-year curriculum will include practical experience in major lab facilities, a six-month industry internship programme in Taiwan’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing industry, and a basic Chinese language skills programme. TEPL will work with SASTRA University to design the course curriculum and provide financial support if required. “India has a critical role to play in global manufacturing, especially in areas like electronic manufacturing. Our collaboration with SASTRA U is an endeavour to ensure the human capital is industry-ready for this emerging opportunity,” said Ranjan Bandyopadhyay, head of human resources at TEPL, speaking on the occasion. Application forms are available online at www.sastra.edu from June 30, 2021. RNTU-EduSkills MoU New delhi, june 8. Bhopal-based Rabindranath Tagore University (RNTU, estb.2010) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bhubaneswar-based EduSkills Foundation, a non-profit organisation developing industry 4.0-ready digital professionals. “We are very happy to sign an MoU with EduSkills Foundation to design skilling and upskilling courses for the youth of our country,” said Siddharth Chaturvedi, executive vice president of RNTU. Under this partnership, EduSkills Foundation will provide experts to train and enhance students’ skills to make them job-ready. Moreover, RNTU and EduSkills Foundation will design a ‘Train the Trainers’ programme, and offer internships and job opportunities to students. Ashank Desai Centre at IIM-A Ahmedabad, june 18. The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) inaugurated its Ashank Desai Centre for Leadership and Organisational Development (ADCLOD). The new centre is endowed by IIM-A alumnus Ashank Desai, founder and former chairman of Mastek Ltd, a listed software technologies and services company (estb.1982). “I always wanted to give back to my alma mater, particularly because Mastek Ltd was incubated within IIM-A. I would like the centre to organise roundtables with leaders for a wide variety of themes by way of seminars on leadership issues, conduct cutting-edge research and create leadership paradigms that are global in terms of relevance yet deeply rooted in the Indian context — our history, traditions, and societal values,” said Desai, speaking on the occasion. KSPP-DAKSH agreement Hyderabad, june 7. The Kautilya School of Public Policy (KSPP) of GITAM Deemed-to-be-University, Hyderabad, signed an MoU with the Bengaluru-based DAKSH Society (estb.2008) to research better governance and improve India’s justice system. Both institutions will conduct mutually supportive and interdisciplinary research on various facets of the justice system, and devise inclusive, transparent mechanisms to encourage accountability in all branches of government. Moreover, KSPP students will serve in internships and capstone projects with DAKSH to research government and justice systems to recommend reforms. “India is at…
Mumbai, May 12. iSchoolConnect Inc, a US and India based AI (artificial intelligence) company, launched a series of products for education institutions to assist them in their battle against the Covid-19 pandemic. “After almost three years of effort, we have developed a suite of tools categorised under four primary verticals, viz, recruitment, sales/marketing, assessment, and engagement. These tools will help education institutions scale their business and automate operational processes. Because of the pandemic we will provide these digital tools at zero-cost for the next three months. I hope these products will assist education institutions worldwide to overcome the disruptions and difficulties caused by the pandemic,” said Ashish Fernando, founder-CEO of iSchoolConnect, speaking on the occasion. According to Fernando, these products will enable education institutions to resolve problems ranging from assisting high school counselors/advisors to guide students make better career decisions, to helping graduate and undergraduate students prepare for job interviews. EuroKids new avatar Mumbai, May 24. The Mumbai-based EuroKids International, which owns and/or franchises 1,200 preschools and 38 K-12 schools with an aggregate enrolment of 150,000 children and was recently acquired by the US-based global investment firm KKR, has a new corporate identity, viz, Lighthouse Learning Pvt. Ltd. “As we focus on a newly-emerged era we are embracing change in the form of a new identity. Lighthouse Learning will serve as a beacon in setting new standards in education and driving new strategic initiatives for the organisation. Like a lighthouse, we will strive to guide our students towards becoming change-makers of tomorrow,” said Prajodh Rajan, cofounder and group CEO, Lighthouse Learning, announcing the company’s new identity. The newly christened company provides high quality preschool to class XII education in institutions grouped under its portfolio of brands, i.e, EuroKids, Kangaroo Kids, EuroSchool, Billabong High International, and the Bengaluru-based Cambridge Public School. MAHE-UBC pact Bengaluru, May 11. The top-ranked Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and University of British Columbia (UBC) signed a partnership agreement to broaden and deepen academic and research collaboration between India and Canada. Research scholars of these universities will collaborate to address issues outlined in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Designated an Institution of Eminence by the Central government, MAHE has an excellent research record in drug discovery, diabetes and hypertension, personalised medicine, infectious diseases, climate change, energy, artificial intelligence and machine learning. UBC is renowned for excellence in health and medical sciences including global health and environmental issues. “This relationship with UBC will promote collaborative action and research opportunities involving students, academics and researchersfrom both institutions. It will result in a vibrant academic partnership,” said Lt. General (Retd.) Dr. M.D. Venkatesh, vice chancellor of MAHE, speaking on the occasion. Real estate MBA Mumbai, May 21. HSNC University, Mumbai, has introduced a two-year MBA programme to prepare graduates for careers in the real estate business under guidance of the Niranjan Hiranandani School of Real Estate (NHSRE). “Real estate is one of the fastest growing sectors contributing 7 percent of India’s GDP. It employs…
Manipal, May 7. Akshatha Kamath, a computer science and engineering student, and Dhruv Suri, studying aeronautical engineering at the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), have been awarded the prestigious Knight-Hennessy scholarship at Stanford University, USA for pursuing Masters’ programmes. This scholarship is awarded to emerging leaders from around the world to enable them to develop collaboration, innovation and communication skills to address the complex challenges of the 21st century. These two MIT students are among 76 from 26 countries awarded the scholarship this year. “These students have demonstrated excellence in education, entrepreneurial mindsets and genuine compassion to transform the lives of people — capabilities that we nurture in MIT and our parent Manipal Academy of Higher Education,” said Dr. H.S. Ballal, pro chancellor of MAHE in an official statement congratulating the two students. India’s first UAS programme Sonipat, April 13. O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat (Haryana) aka JGU, announced India’s first university administrative service (UAS) programme for its graduates. This unique postgrad programme offers graduate students direct access to well-remunerated and reputed career paths within JGU. “The purpose of the UAS programme is to enable highly skilled young leaders to work within administrative departments of JGU and provides a fast-track career path to selected talented individuals so they can assume administrative leadership positions early in their careers. Indian academia needs outstanding talent in high-level admin positions to formulate institution development policies and stimulate academic and research innovation to ensure that we offer the best global learning and knowledge options to our high-potential students,” said Dr. C. Raj Kumar, founding vice chancellor of JGU, speaking on the occasion. KSPP’s first scholarship awardee Hyderabad, April 22. Kolkata-based Ratnadeep Chakraborty, a journalism graduate of Christ Deemed University, Bengaluru, is the first awardee of a full scholarship from the Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad (estb. 2020) for its two-year Masters in Public Policy (MPP) programme. “We are glad to have talented graduates like Ratnadeep who has exhibited will power and academic rigour in this pandemic era on board. Creating an environment where policy education is accessible to all, is important for us at the Kautilya School of Public Policy,” said Prateek Kanwal, co-founder of the school. “I sincerely thank those who have selected me for this scholarship and look forward to contributing to addressing national development issues in the public interest,” added Ratnadeep Chakraborty. MS Tech for Good Challenge winners New Delhi, April 14. The US-based Microsoft Inc announced the winners of its global Tech for Good Challenge at its annual Microsoft Education Exchange forum. The 2021 edition of Education Exchange (E2) attracted 16,000 registrants from around the world to celebrate the achievements of educators who combine content, pedagogy and technology. This year’s E2 was a three-day event with daily keynotes, inspirational speakers and curated sessions for professional development focussing on issues ranging from social-emotional learning to STEM education. E2’s Tech for Good Challenge attracted 440 projects submitted by schools worldwide with educators and schools from India winning several awards in three of…
Bengaluru, March 4. Simplilearn — a San Francisco-based global digital skills training provider, announced a partnership with IIT-Kanpur to offer an exclusive Professional Certificate Program in Blockchain Technology. Delivered via Simplilearn’s learning model, this intensive program is designed to provide learners with a clear competitive advantage through an ideal blend of conceptual training and applied learning. “Given the enormous scope of blockchain, organisations across industries are now absorbing this technology. The global blockchain market size is expected to grow from US $3 billion in 2020 to US $39.7 billion by 2025, at an impressive CAGR of 67.3 percent during this period. In light of this, we are happy to collaborate with IIT-Kanpur to offer a comprehensive program on blockchain technology. This in-depth program will provide extensive knowledge of blockchain concepts and will enable learners to boost their career prospects in several industries,” said Anand Narayanan, chief product officer of Simplilearn. Imagine Cup India winners New Delhi, March 10. Microsoft Inc announced the India winners of the 2021 edition of the company’s Imagine Cup innovation challenge for students and technology enthusiasts. The India winners, Team Detected of the G.H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur, and Team Intelli-Sense from the Vellore Institute of Technology will proceed directly to the world finals of Imagine Cup scheduled to be held online in April. Imagine Cup is a global competition designed to empower students to apply artificial intelligence and other technologies to solve some of the world’s most critical social and sustainability problems. The 2021 India edition attracted 353 team and 10,000 individual entries from across the country. The knowledge partner for the India edition of Imagine Cup 2021 was the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). “Microsoft’s Imagine Cup competition is a commitment to create a culture of innovation among students, enabling them to use technology for solving critical social and sustainability problems. I wish our winning teams luck as they prepare for the global stage,” said Anant Maheshwari, president, Microsoft India, speaking on the occasion. Tejas teacher training initiative Mumbai, March 19. Tejas, an innovative teacher training project delivered by the British Council in association with Tata Trusts and the Maharashtra state government, has been successfully completed. The project’s objective was to train government primary school teachers across Maharashtra to improve their English language proficiency. The project trained 51,000 teachers in 36 districts of Maharashtra, teaching 1.4 million children in public schools. The Project Tejas completion ceremony was attended by Ms Varsha Gaikwad, minister of school education of the government of Maharashtra; Barbara Wickham, director (India) of the British Council; Dr. Jovan Ilic, director (West India) of the British Council; Amrita Patwardhan, head of education, Tata Trusts, among others. Women skilling initiative Bengaluru, March 9. The Beijing-based multi-national Lenovo Group Ltd announced a partnership with the Washington (USA)-based TechnoServe International Foundation (TIF) to empower women in technology by upskilling them in STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) subjects for careers in industry. With an investment of Rs.2.5 crore, they will provide holistic skills training…
