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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
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Our reason
for being
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They taught, they learnt AMRITSAR: Two Punjabi-speaking British graduates along with four Oxford University students, under the United Sikhs Oxford University Travel Air English Language Teaching Programme, interacted with the students and teachers of Khalsa College, Amritsar, and learned about the rich cultural heritage of Punjab. Inderjit Singh and Ramanpreet Kaur Baath, Sikh British students, and four Oxford University students—David Whiteside, Aiman Leung, Annie Mcdermott and Miranda Jones—led by Ms Harsharen Kaur, co-ordinator of the programme, interacted with the Khalsa College students and also taught students of the Standard Public High School in the village of Dhulka during their stay in the holy city. Annie Mcdermott told TNS that she was amazed that the students at the school wasted a lot of time memorising words but did not know the meaning of what they were learning. Initially they found it difficult to interact with the children, but were able to convey their message with the movement of their hands. She said the students in Khalsa College and at Dhulka were excited to meet the group and wanted it to be back again for teaching. She said teachers here had never expressed appreciation for the good work done by the students and reprimanded them on small mistakes. Aiman Leung said the team had an amazing and immense experience, as the people here were social and opened up to the strangers. She said, compared with the students in the UK, the children here were more disciplined and gave more respect to their teachers. The students here were ambitious and wanted to study in England and other countries. She said she liked Chandigarh as it was like another European city, free from pollution and the rush. The group also visited Dharamsala, Dalhousie and Anandpur Sahib. David Whiteside said the visit to the city had given the group an insight into the life in Panjab—its food, people and culture—which had broadened their knowledge through a cultural experience. The guests from abroad attended music classes and did community service at the Pingalwara charity. The team experienced the village life on the field trips. David found the students here to be intelligent, but shy of speaking in English. Ms Harsharen Kaur, co-ordinator, described the CAOF (Change Agents of the Future) and STARAE (Scholarship as a Tool to Accelerate Rural Academic Excellence) programmes under which students of Khalsa College, Amritsar, and Standard Public High School, Dhulka, had received tutoring in the English language. She said the students from the UK had acted as mentors and role models for the students here. She further said the programme would open the minds of the students in Panjab to education opportunities in premier institutions like Oxford University. She hoped that more students from Oxford University would come here next year, as the present batch would have good experiences to share with their friends in the UK. Ms Surjit Kaur Khanna, Head of the Department of English, Khalsa College, said the foreign guests had motivated her students to learn more about the language and programme had been successful as it had the support of Dr Daljit Singh, Principal, and the staff of the Department of English at the college.
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Our reason
for being The basic mission of our educational system, particularly technical education, is to equip people with technology of the immediate future. This technology will make use of the present-day scientific knowledge as well as new scientific discoveries. This calls for a constant effort from all of us who form a part of the educational system, so that our collective capacity to assimilate technological change exceeds the rate of change at all times. Tremendous external changes have taken place recently in the organisation and content of programmes at undergraduate level. The transformation of society by technological progress obliges the curricula to be more flexible, taking care that unlike general education, the curricula should provide for development as well as acquisition of requisite knowledge and skills essential to the needs of industry and society. Although post-graduate studies carry a greater weight within the universities, reforms need to come in so that the number of post-graduate students increases and the students will be of a higher quality. In this context, a campaign aimed at assessing the importance of the post-graduate programmes outside the academic world should be worked out. The hallmark of good quality institutions is a high quality of teachers. It is they who attract high quality students, greater societal support, larger industrial consultancy and ensure enhanced level of employment of pass outs. The majority of the teachers are instrumental in protecting the image of their fraternity. Nevertheless, we should be wary of excessive self-congratulation. The system expects teachers to create an academic environment conducive to developing scientific inquiry among the learners. Since with the explosion of science and technology, the conventional method of teaching from books and notes has become obsolete; we need dynamic assimilation of knowledge into teaching methodology. Teachers should learn and use different teaching, training and learning strategies. Best teaching can be done only by direct individual relationship between student and teacher, where the student discusses the ideas and thinks about them. It is impossible to learn by simply sitting in any lecture or even by solving problems that are assigned. A learning approach adopted by teachers will only be able to propel the education system into a new trajectory of progress and development. The writer is former Professor in the National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research, Chandigarh.
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NAWANSHAHR: The National Conference on Latest Trends in Tele-Communication (LTC-06) was organised at Rayat College of Engineering and Information Technology, Rail Mazra (Nawanshahr). Delegates from various reputed engineering colleges and industrial houses attended the conference, where research innovations in telecommunication were discussed in detail. Dr Pawan Kapoor, Director, CSIO, Chandigarh; Dr Shakti Kumar, Principal, HEC, Jagadhari; and Prof Jasvir Singh, GND University, Amritsar; presided over the different sessions. Research papers from SVIT, Indore; Hindu College, Sonepat; and GNDU, Amritsar; among others, were presented at the conference. — OC
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GND University, Amritsar With the placements of 13 more students in the Mothersonsumi Infotech and Design Ltd (MIND), Noida, an Indian global corporation into IT and engineering design, in joint campus placements here, 403 students of the 2006 batch of Guru Nanak Dev University have been placed in 52 companies till now. Dr Rajneesh Arora, Director (Placements) of the University, said the students would join their companies immediately and they would draw on an average Rs 2.20 lakh per annum each after a training of six months. Earlier, 155 students from 31 institutions affiliated to GND University, Amritsar; Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar; CSJM university, Kanpur; Punjabi University, Patiala; MDU Rohtak, Kurukshetra; and Avad University participated in the joint campus placements. Pharma giant picks up MBA students
Elililly, a multinational pharma giant, has offered a salary package of Rs. 2.80 lakh per annum to each student of the 2007 batch of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme who was picked in a campus placement recently. These students would join the company in June, 2007, as Trainee Territory Managers. — Contributed by P. K. Jaiswar
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Agriculture Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan, Pusa, New Delhi 110012 Agricultural Research Service (ARS) / National Eligibility Test (NET) Examination - 2006. Eligibility: Masters Degree in relevant subject Selection: Written Exam / Interview. Application Form & Details: Employment News (26 August – 1 September 2006) Application Deadline: 25 September 2006 Civil Service Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi 110011 Combined Medical Services Examination- 2007 Eligibility: MBBS. Those yet to appear for the final exam can also apply Exam: 21 January ’07. Application Form: Available at designated Post Offices / Head Post Offices: Rs 20/-. Details: Employment News (26 August – 1 September 2006) / Website. Application Deadline: 25 September 2006 IT University of Pune, Department of Electronic Science, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007 (Mah) 1) Diploma in Computer-Aided Product Design (1-year, FT) Eligibility: For 1 & 2: BE / BTech (Mechanical / Production / Automobile). Application Form: download from website. Details: Employment News (26 August- 01 September 2006) / website. Application Deadline: 21 September 2006 Management IIT-Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee, IISc, Bangalore Joint Management Entrance Test (JMET-2007) Eligibility: BE / BTech / Master’s degree in relevant area Test: 10 December ‘06 Application Form: Send Rs 800/- by DD favouring the institute concerned with 2 self-addressed slips to the Chairman – GATE of the concerned IIT / IISc. Ideally apply online at IIT-Bombay website by 3 October. Details: Employment News (26 August – 1 September 2006) / Website Application Deadline: 13 October 2006 XLRI, School of Management, C H Area (E), Jamshedpur 831001 (Jhar) XAT 2007 3 & 4: Only for working executives (Minimum. 5 years work ex for GMP and 3 years for Exec-PGP) Test: 07 January 2007 Application Form: For XAT Bulletin: Send Rs 750/- by DD favouring “XAT, Jamshedpur” payable at SBI, XLRI Branch, (4660) with the XAT PP Form (which must be downloaded. Also available at various SBI Branches) to the Admissions Office at the above address or download from website by November 30. Details: Website. Application Deadline: 30 November 2006 Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi 835215 (Jhar) (Deemed University) MBA Eligibility: Bachelors degree (60%) + Class 10 & 12 (60%) Selection: CAT-2006 scores / work experience / Group Discussions / Personal Interview: March 2007 Application Form: download from website. Details: Website Medicine National Board of Examinations, MG Marg, Post Box No 4931, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029 (Autonomous body of M/o HFW, GoI) DNB Final Exam & Centralized Entrance Test – 2006 Exam: CET: 10 December ’06, DNB Final Exam: 10 & 11 December ‘06 Application Form: Send Rs 500/-by DD favouring “National Board of Examinations,” payable at New Delhi to the Executive Director at the above address / download from website. Mention name of Bulletin required & your address. Details: Website Application Deadline: 30 September 2006 Protective
Services Directorate General Border Security Force, The Commandant, BSF STS Tigri Camp, MB Road, Madangir, New Delhi 110062 (Communication & IT Directorate) Recruitment of Head Constables in BSF Comn Set-up Radio Operator Fitter Eligibility: Indian males. For 1: Matric with 2-year ITI Trade Certificate (Radio & TV / Electronics) / 10+2 (PCM). Selection: Written Test / Physical Efficiency Test / Interview Application Deadline: 11 September 2006 Recruitment Staff Selection Commission, South Wing, Pratishtha Bhavan, Old CGO, 101, MK Road, Mumbai 400020 (Mah) Group ‘C’ (Non-Technical) Posts Details: Employment News (26 August – 1 September 2006) Application Deadline: 29 September 2006 Life Insurance Corporation of India, Central Office, “Yogakshema”, Jeevan Bima Marg, Mumbai 400021 (Mah) Recruitment of Assistant Administrative Officers (150 posts) Eligibility: Bachelors / Masters degree (55%). MBA / CA / CFA /ICWA / CS / FIIRM and other professional qualifications preferred. Selection: Written Test (all-India): 17 December ‘06. Application Form & Details: Employment News (26 August – 1 September 2006) Application Deadline: 23 September 2006 Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi 110069 Geophysicists (Junior) 75 posts Eligibility: Masters degree (Physics / Geophysics / Geology / Applied Geology) Or Diploma in Applied Geology of ISM, Dhanbad with 2-year work experience Details: Employment News (26 August – 1 September 2006) / Website. Application Deadline: 14 September 2006 Scholarships & Awards Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), D/o Atomic Energy, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, 4th Floor, Central Complex, Trombay, Mumbai 400085 (Mah) Dr K S Krishnan Research Associateship (KSKRA) in: Sciences: Physical / Chemical / Radiation / Environmental / Life / Medical / Agricultural / Electronics / Materials Eligibility: Indian Citizens with First Div in Masters/ Bachelors degree; List of publications in support of R&D work is mandatory. For Engineers: PhD in Engineering or MTech / ME with 2 years R & D experience after post-MTech / ME Age Limit: 32 years (on 01 January ‘06) Selection: Interview (December ’06) and Medical fitness. Scholarships: Rs 18,000/- p.m. for 24 months; Educational Material Allowance: Rs 10,000/- pa. Application Form: Send application in prescribed format with required attested documents, 3 self-addressed envelopes (5” x 7”) (one envelope for self and one each for the two referees who are familiar with your work) and Rs 100/- by DD favouring “Accounts Officer, BARC,” payable at Mumbai to the Deputy Establishment Officer (R-IV) by registered post with Acknowledgement Due Card to the above address. Details: Employment News (26 August - 1 September 2006) / Current Science Journal / Website. Application Deadline: 30 September 2006 SJ Jindal Trust, C-2, Green Park Extension, New Delhi 110016 Scholarships for Economically Disadvantaged Meritorious Students Eligibility: Indian nationals studying in India. Medical / Engg / MCA / Diploma / BSc (Agri) / PG (65%) Or Bachelors degree (60%). Also students getting more than 80% in PUC / Graduation will be considered for a 50% higher scholarship. Scholarship: Rs. 300/- pm - Rs. 2,200/- pm Details: Contact the Secretary at the above address / Website Shri Brihad Bharatiya Samaj, NK Mehta International House, 178, Backbay Reclamation, Babubhai M Chinai Marg, Mumbai 400020 (Mah) Scholarships for Academic Year 2006-07 Eligibility: Indians & overseas students of Indian origin pursuing Bachelor degree / PG course in Medicine (MBBS / BDS / Ayurveda / Homeopathy) / Engg / Technology / Pharmacy / Computer Science / Agriculture / Veterinary Science / Nursing / Education. First year students with minimum 70%, others with 60% in their last university examination and girl students (first-year or above) of Nursing / Education with 45% are also eligible. Guardians total annual income: below Rs 60,000/- Selection: 200 students on the basis of merit Application Form: Send a stamped (Rs 10/-) self-addressed large-sized envelope to the above address. Application Deadline: 30 September 2006 Hargobind Foundation, 261, Malkani Mahal, 43, 4th Floor, Dr AB Road, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400025 (Mah) Medical Fellowship-2007 Eligibility: PG in Medicine with minimum 3 years experience. Details: Apply at the above address / website Ministry of Environment and Forests, CS Division-I, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi 110003 EK Janaki Ammal National Award on Taxonomy Eligibility: Indian taxonomists engaged in Taxonomic research work on flora, fauna or microorganisms in the country Scholarship: Rs 1,00,000/- in cash with a citation, scroll & medallion Details: Website Nomination Deadline: 18 September 2006 University Panjab University, Department of Correspondence Studies, Chandigarh 160014 (Punj) UG & PG Courses Application Form: Send Rs 260/- by DD favouring “Registrar, PU, Chandigarh,” payable at Chandigarh at the above address / download from website. Details: Employment News (26 August - 1 September 2006). Application Deadline: 29 September 2006.
— Pervin Malhotra |
