Nobel laureate Prof. Takaaki Kajita of the University of Tokyo called for continuous collaboration between Japanese and Indian scientists in his keynote address at the 64th annual convocation of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on November 1, when he was conferred an honoris causa degree by the university. “I am confident Tokyo University’s collaboration with AMU will increase by leaps and bounds in times to come,” he said. Delivering the varsity’s annual report on the occasion, AMU vice chancellor Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah, said the AMU Amendment Act, 1981 has obliged the university to work for the educational and cultural advancement of India’s Muslim minority. “We have fought for the minority status of AMU and we’re taking all suitable steps to safeguard it,” he said. Maharashtra LinkedIn’s online test Leading California-based professional networking service company LinkedIn (estb. 2002) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry to create more job opportunities for graduates of Indian universities. Under the terms of the MoU, LinkedIn’s ‘placements’ online test will be accessible free of charge to all institutions affiliated with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). LinkedIn’s online test can now be taken by students and graduates regardless of their location. “We’re excited about the Union HRD ministry and AICTE enabling undergrads and graduates to write our online test. This will make it easier for college students and graduates to land their dream jobs,” said LinkedIn (India) country manager Akshay Kothari, speaking on the occasion. Bihar Novel police initiative In a novel initiative, policemen posted in Bihar’s backward district of Purnea are doubling up as school teachers after duty hours in a shaam ki pathshala (evening schools) programme conducted by the Bihar state police in collaboration with several NGOs. The objective of the programme is to provide basic education to illiterate children and adults in remote areas of the district.The children (and adults) who attend these makeshift schools are provided with free-of-charge stationery, SP Nishant Tiwari and DIG Upendra Singh said, addressing media in Purnea on Children’s Day (November 14). Endorsing the liquor prohibition policy of the state government enacted earlier this year, a spokesperson of the Bihar police said: “The positive impact of the new prohibition law is clearly visible in evening schools as many adults who have given up drinking liquor, are now engaging themselves in teaching while others join our schools as pupils.” Punjab Widespread neglect discovery During surprise raids conducted by 136 special teams of the state education ministry, 21 absentee teachers, 47 latecomers and 26 long-time absentees were discovered in 1,045 government schools statewide, according to an education ministry statement released in Chandigarh on November 8. The teams swooped down on 390 schools in the Faridkot Circle, 354 schools of Nabha (Patiala) and 301 schools of the Jalandhar Circle in the exercise conducted to ascertain the punctuality and discipline of the state’s teachers community. . Delhi New chair at Amrita U The United Nations has instituted…
