NSDC signs MoUs with Delhi University & UP govt
The University of Delhi and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will, for the first time in the country, integrate skill-based training as part of the graduation curriculum in the Indian higher education space. Under this MoU, 67 colleges of University of Delhi will offer graduate students with skill-based training as a part of applied courses in the regular curriculum. This training will impact approximately 60,000 students who are being admitted each year for study under the four-year UG programme (FYUP). These courses will be introduced to the second year FYUP students in 2014-15 and subsequently will be offered to both second and third year FYUP students. Skill-based courses will cover 4 semesters. In addition to FYUP, University of Delhi will also launch NSDC?s STAR scheme as a short-term programme.
Further, NSDC has also signed an MoU with the UP Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) that aims to align skills-based training imparted by a state government with industry-recognised standards. UPSDM has a target to skill 6.72 lakh youth by 2014-15 through its empanelled training providers. According to the MoU, NSDC & UPSDM will align training curriculum, assessment and certification based on National Occupational Standards developed by Sector Skill Councils.
The ongoing Google summer at BITS Pilani
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, has announced that 51 BITSians have been selected for the Google Summer of Code (GSoC) this year. These students represent different BITS Pilani campuses with the largest cohort from the Goa campus (30), followed by Pilani (18) and Hyderabad (3). GSoC statistics published by Google feature BITS Pilani at No 10 on the list of top institutes worldwide (2005-12). GSoC is a programme where Google awards a stipend of $5,500 to each student who successfully completes a requested free and open-source software coding project during the summer.
WISE?s one-stop-shop for innovation in education
The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) has launched digital services on its website to enable the education community to stay informed on the latest developments in the field. Visitors to the WISE website (www.wise-qatar.org) will discover the WISE ed.review and WISE ed.hub tools, dynamic platforms where audiences can read about the most innovative developments in global education, as well as directly discuss prevalent and emerging trends. WISE ed.review features especially chosen reports addressing the most relevant and pressing issues in education, offering leading education practitioners, opinion leaders and other audiences with insights and trends from around the world. An online extension of the WISE Summit, the WISE ed.hub service promotes innovative education projects and practices that have had a transformative impact. This provides grassroots practitioners around the world with a platform through which they can interact, share best practices and find solutions to common challenges. A dedicated moderator is available on the WISE ed.hub to guide the discussions.
Increased focus by IIHMR on health management
The Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) has now become the only health management research university in India. Established in 1984, IIHMR has made major contributions in health systems research, capacity building and creating a critical mass of professionally trained managers for health systems. On the occasion, SD Gupta, president of IIHMR University, said, ?IIHMR University has conducted over 500 research studies focused on management of health sector and about 1,500 alumni are manning hospitals and healthcare organisations in private and public sectors.?
UPES, Dehradun, holds its 12th convocation function
The 12th convocation of the University of Petroleum & Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun, was recently organised in New Delhi, where GM Rao, group chairman, GMR Group, delivered the address. He said, ?UPES?s vision of creating specialised professionals in the core sectors that can contribute in the economic growth of the country is highly admirable. With the rapid development of the country, our nation needs enormous skilled manpower and I am glad to say that is UPES Dehradun offering as many as 77 specialisation programmes in the fields of oil & gas, power, transportation, infrastructure, logistics and supply chain.? A total of 1,620 students were awarded degrees at the function.
Brindavan College?s holds meet on sustainability
The Dept of MBA/MCA, Brindavan College, Bangalore, recently organised a conference on ?Sustainable Development Through Global Business and Technological Advancement?. It was inaugurated by AH Rajasab, vice-chancellor of Tumkur University, and was presided over by vice-chairman, Brindavan Group of Institutions, R Mushtaq Ahmed. In his inaugural talk, Rajasab emphasised on the sustainability concept connecting it with business and technology. In particular, the sustainability of agriculture, preservation of water resources and pollution control were elaborated. He said that these links with the human life are crucial for development of healthy business practices and growth. He also pointed out that business and technological innovations go hand in hand.
