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Showing posts from August, 2008

Gender no bar - Himachal varsity gets first woman president

Shimla: Gender consideration played no part in her historic victory, asserted Shikha Chauhan, the first woman to be elected president of the students' union in Himachal Pradesh University (HPU). Shikha Chauhan of the Left-backed Student Federation of India (SFI) won the president's post of the Students' Central Association on Thursday to become the first woman to be elected to the post in the 30-year history of the state university. Chauhan defeated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) candidate Amit Kumar by a margin of 47 votes. A law student, Shikha felt there was no gender consideration in her election as president. "Of course, there was no gender consideration. It is my ideology and style of working that gave me a chance to fight for the cause of students," she told sources. Her top priorities would be to fight against commercialisation of education and to make the university a profit-making entity. The SFI again dominated the university elections by wi

CS results on 25th August

New Delhi: Results of Company Secretaries (CS) examination, which was held in June this year are scheduled to be declared on Monday, August 25 at 12 pm, said Mr.N.K.Jain, Secretary & CEO ICSI. Results will be displayed simultaneously at headquarters, regional offices situated at Chennai , Delhi, Kolkata , Mumbai including 69 chapter offices and 66 examination centres located all over the country and abroad. Students can access the results at institute's website www.icsi.eduThe results will also be avilable at examresults.ne suource: http://www.chennaieducation.net/

CSIR plans research varsity to address faculty shortage

New Delhi: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is planning to set up a research university to address the faculty shortages that India's leading engineering and technology institutes face. CSIR Director general Samir Brahmachari said on Thursday the University Grants Commission (UGC) is evaluating the proposal. "It's in the process," he said during a panel discussion on engineering education at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) here. The leading scientist said India produces too few research scholars and by setting up a niche university, they will be able to produce quality faculty. Since CSIR is a science innovation institution with laboratories across the country, it cannot award degrees but by setting up a varsity, it would ensure quality education and award degrees. Suggesting an integrated approach to improve India's higher education standards, Brahmachari stressed on the need for reducing unemployability among engineering graduates.

Skin cancers give off unmistakable odours - Study

Washington: Odours from skin can help identify basal cell carcinoma, the commonest form of skin cancer, according to latest research. The findings may open doors to development of new methods to detect basal cell carcinoma and other forms of skin cancer. Researchers sampled air above basal cell tumours and found a different profile of chemical compounds, compared to skin located at the same sites in healthy control subjects. "Our findings may someday allow doctors to screen for and diagnose skin cancers at very early stages," said Michelle Gallagher. Human skin produces numerous airborne chemical molecules known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs, many of which are odorous. Researchers obtained VOC profiles from such carcinoma sites in 11 patients and compared them to profiles from similar skin sites in 11 healthy controls. Both profiles contained the same array of chemicals; the difference involved the amounts of specific chemicals - some were increased and others decreas

'Students trapped between CA and B.Com.'

Mumbai: Students pursuing Chartered Accountancy (CA) and B.Com. simultaneously are finding it difficult to reach the workplace for their mandatory CA internship on time, as it clashes with their regular college timings. Moreover, college principals have refused to sign the approval forms required by students to apply for internships. "The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) came out with this rule without consulting us or our colleges. While colleges insist on following the university rules regarding class timings, ICAI is also refusing to budge. We are caught in the middle. Only a few colleges have flexible timings that allow students to complete their internship without any problems" said Vinay Sanghvi, student of Sydenham College. "My lectures end at 10.40 am. It is very difficult for me to reach Colaba for my internship in 20 minutes" said a student of R.D. National College, Bandra. "Around 300 students have applied for the CA course. Our col

Temporary premises of IIT-Patna hit by waterlogging

Patna: The new Indian Institute of Technology-Patna (IIT-P) where classes began on a temporary premises on Aug 7, has been hit hard by waterlogging. "It is true, We have been affected by waterlogging for over a week," said Mantu Sharma, a peon at IIT-P. Sharma said the roads have been under two to three feet of water for days now. An official said rainwater has also entered the temporary premises of IIT-P. "Water is everywhere, it is more on the roads, but has also entered inside the institute," he said. A faculty member at the institute, who is from outside Bihar, told sources on condition of anonymity on Wednesday that it was tough teaching and living in waterlogged areas. "It is difficult to leave and enter the campus as the entire locality is submerged," he said. All 98 students from various parts of the country, studying in mechanical, electrical and computer engineering streams, have been attending classes from Aug 7 in the temporary campus in the h

Botanical Institute establishes India's first moss garden

Lucknow: The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) here has set up India's first moss garden, scientists said on Wednesday. The garden, which will be inaugurated soon, is only the third of its kind in the world. The other two moss gardens are in Japan and Poland, the scientists added. Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1-10 cm and grow in wet earth or on rocks, walls and tree trunks. Several mosses have commercial value owing to their therapeutic, medicinal and other properties. The garden will assist scientists in undertaking studies on mosses and exploring their medicinal potential, he added. At present, the moss garden has about 18 different species that have been collected from Nagaland, Pithoragarh, the Himalayas and parts of South India, scientists said. IANS Source: http://indiaedunews.net/Uttar_Pradesh/Botanical_Institute_establishes_India's_first_moss_garden_5701/

Prof. Medhi to be new VC of Gauhati University

Guwahati: Prof. Okhil Kumar Medhi, the senior most professor of Gauhati University, has been appointed as the varsity's new Vice-Chancellor. According to sources from Raj Bhavan, this has been confirmed by Governor Shiv Charan Mathur, who is also the chancellor of the University. Prof. Medhi has been working as the acting Vice-Chancellor of the university since June last year. He also served as the Dean of the Faculty of Science, besides being a former head of the Chemistry Department. Prof. Medhi has completed his Post Doctoral Research in a British University on a Commonwealth Fellowship. He also completed his project at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai on a National Fellowship sponsored by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Prof. Medhi will be considered as appointed Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University with effect from taking overcharge. Source: http://www.mumbaieducation.net/

IIT Kharagpur awards Nina Saxena Technology Award 2008

Kharagpur: The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-K) has awarded the Nina Saxena Excellence in Technology Award 2008 to three scientists from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur. Dr. Subhash P. Andey, Dr. Prakesh S. Kelkar and Dr. Madan V. Nanoti, all scientists with the Geo-Environment Management Division, NEERI, were presented the award for their contribution in the field of Healthcare. The award-winning NEERI-ZAR Water Purification System reduces the cost of providing safe drinking water during emergency situations and reduces the expenditure on medical treatment of water-borne diseases. It is also the most reliable water purification system which does not use electric power for water supply. Prof. Amit Patra, Dean, Alumni Affairs of the institute said, "Dr. Nina Saxena was a brilliant alumna of IIT Kharagpur who along with a successful career had the vision of alleviating poverty and boosting overall economic growth in India.

Study in India

There are a large number of Indian as well as foreign students who apply every year to Indian universities and colleges. For all those who wish to study in India, it is very important to get prior and correct information about the courses that you would like to undertake, the university you want to apply to and how to go about the application. Education in IndiaThe education system in India has savored a special bond between the teacher and the pupil since time unknown. In fact, India was the country to have established what we know as the 'gurukul' system of education. However, with the coming of the Britishers, English has become a part and parcel of Indian education system. Today English is the third major medium of instruction in India after Hindi and Marathi. Advantages of Studying in India: India is fast becoming a major economic power in the world today. And if its growth trend continues for some more years, it would soon be playing a major in the world economy along wi

Get both engineering & management degrees from IIT-B

MUMBAI: For long, the marriage of the engineering and management degrees, especially from a premier institute, was considered the passport to a successful career and high salary. The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay has now decided to allow engineering aspirants to pursue management alongside. It's the first IIT to make such a change. About 41% of the class of 2006 graduates from IIT-B took up managerial jobs, namely in finance and consultancy. Also, in case a student hasn't managed to get a seat in the coveted computer science and engineering or electrical engineering courses, there is another chance. The student can take up these courses alongside his core area as an additional specialisation. All this is possible from this year as the IIT-B recently revamped its academic year requirement by reducing the mandatory credits for the Bachelor of Technology programme from 330 to 252, thus allowing students to squeeze in a minor area of their interest during their stay at th

Bihar allocates Rs.586 million for NIFT branch

Patna: The Bihar government has approved the allocation of Rs.586 million for the setting up of a branch of the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) here, officials said on Wednesday. The state cabinet agreed to provide financial support for the establishment of the institute on Tuesday, cabinet secretary Girish Shankar said. "The amount will be spent on the NIFT's infrastructure, including building and equipment. Of the total amount approved, Rs.270 million will be spent in the current financial year," he said. In May this year, the cabinet had approved free-of-cost transfer of 10 acres of land from the agriculture department to the industries department for establishment of the NIFT branch, which will be the ninth in the country. NIFT has branches in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Rai Bareilly. Sources said classes at NIFT will begin this academic session. It will initially have a small batch of students and functio

IIM Calcutta to run financial reporting training course

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The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM-C) and audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) have tied up to train professionals in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), according to a top IIM-C official. The two organisations inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to provide this training to address the existing demand-supply gap in the country for IFRS-trained professionals. "IIM-C will now run a specially designed executive programme on IFRS jointly with PwC in order to update working finance and accounts executives with IFRS, so that they can also be employed by global players," Saibal Chattopadhyay, dean, IIM-C said at a programme in the campus here on Tuesday.The training would be divided into two parts - basic and advanced module.The course module has been jointly developed by IIM-C and PwC and will be taught jointly by "our own faculty and by finance experts from PwC", Chattopadhyay said."Going further, training will be

Lockheed Martin to invest USD 300,000 in IIT Delhi

New Delhi: Recognising the excellence of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) combat aircraft manufacturing giant Lockheed Martin has chosen it for a $300,000 project of collaborative research in bio and nano-technology."We have already signed an agreement with the IIT Delhi. We are investing $300,000 for a collaborative project over a period of one year," Ray O. Johnson, senior vice president and chief technology officer of Lockheed Martin, said here on Wednesday."This is the first such collaboration with any institute beyond the US and Europe. The IIT is an institute of recognised excellence across the globe in this field of bio- and nano-technology and after the successful completion of the project, we may have some follow up projects," Johnson told sources.He said Lockheed had been engaged in discussions with the IIT Delhi for nearly a year to "identify mutual areas of interest in technology collaboration and research".With the broad spect

Two new IITs launched, permanent campus awaited

New Delhi/Ahmedabad/Kanpur: India on Saturday opened two new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) as part of plans to add eight such institutes, though both will have to wait for a permanent campus.While the IIT Rajasthan will initially function from the IIT Kanpur campus, the IIT Gandhinagar will function from the Government Engineering College in Chandkheda, near Ahmedabad. Since land is yet to allotted for the new institute in Rajasthan, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has asked IIT Kanpur to serve as its mentor institute for the time being.Addressing the first batch of IIT Rajasthan students in Kanpur, Minister of State for Higher Education D. Purandeswari said: "The IITs have enjoyed the three basic freedoms of an educational institution - freedom to choose whom to teach, who will teach, and what to teach. The IITs also enjoy full cost budgetary support. The IITs remain successful so long as these amenities continue."The minister also mentioned that in t

British Council brings popular school debate to India

New Delhi: Indian high school students will get an opportunity to show off their way with words and logic in UK early next year. The British Council is bringing "Debating Matters", a popular national debating competition from the Institute of Ideas, Britain, exclusively for school students in India, a press communiqué issues by the British Council said. Several schools across the country will register for an online debating module in September when the council sends out invitation seeking applications from schools. The aspiring contestants will have to clear the question rounds - a tough grilling session on an issue that affects their everyday life or have the potential to do so in near future. Six schools will be short-listed from the preliminary round. They will be given two months to prepare on a topic and then quizzed by a panel of experts. Those with the highest scores will go to UK to take part in the real-time contest. "Debating Matters" is the brainchild of

AMU to tie up with several US varsities

Lucknow: Aligarh Muslim University will tie up with several varsities in the United States to establish international academic linkages, a university official said on Monday. "AMU vice-chancellor Prof P.K. Abdul Azis has already left on a 12-day US visit to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with varsities there," AMU spokesperson Rahat Abrar told sources on phone. According to the varsity officials, the vice-chancellor will visit several US universities located in Madison, Cleveland, Youngstown (Ohio), Atlanta, Washington DC, Boston and New York. "Chancellor of Wisconsin University John Willey has also invited Azis to sign an agreement for establishing a mutually beneficial academic partnership between the two varsities," Abrar said. The AMU vice-chancellor will also visit West Georgia State University and University of Massachusetts at Lowell (UML) to ink academic tie-ups for students' exchange and faculty exchange programmes, he added. IANS. Source: ;htt

Ahluwalia praises private sector role in education

Pune, Aug 2 (IANS) It was a feast of words and wisdom as economists, bureaucrats, educationists and lawyers got together to inaugurate the Symbiosis School of Economics here. Speaking on the occasion Friday, chief guest Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said liberalisation of the Indian industry came after prolonged efforts of industry representatives, and similarly education sector too needs some vocal stakeholders to bring about liberalisation. Responding to Symbiosis International University chancellor S.B. Majumdar’s remarks about the red-tape in the education sector, Ahluwalia said: “In 1991 (then finance minister) Manmohan Singh gave freedom to Lakshmi (goddess of wealth), I want to ask you when are you going to give freedom to Saraswati (goddess of knowledge).” At present, only 11 percent of Indians pursue higher education, which Ahluwalia said was not acceptable. The planning commission has set a target of raising this figure to 21 percent in the 11th