The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

CAMPUS
Jamia staff up in arms against Model Act
Smriti Kak

The uproar over the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) proposed Model Act for Universities refuses to die down. After the teachers and the students expressing their reservations about the Act, it was the members of the University and College Karamchari Union, Delhi and the Jamia Administrative Staff Association (JASA) to register their apprehensions.

Both the associations protested outside the UGC office and submitted their memorandums. Association members were demonstrating against the “UGC’s unnecessary intervention” and “their bid to curb the autonomy of the institutions”.

JASA members pointed out that the academic council of the Jamia Millia Islamia has already decided to conduct a separate entrance examination and that they are not reconciled to the UGC’s proposed common entrance test.

In their memorandum, the JASA has pointed out that ‘holding of common entrance test for professional and engineering courses should be withdrawn as it amounts to snatching away the autonomy granted to Jamia and other universities by the act of Parliament. They also seek the removal of the ban on recruitment of the non-teaching staff.

The DUKU in its memorandum has also sought the removal of the ban and demanded the restoration of posts of sanitary guide, head cook, head mali etc in university colleges and TA in science departments of all colleges.

IGNOU convocation

The 15th convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will be held on February 21. Students who have appeared for the examinations in December 2002 and June 2003 will be awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates, the university officials pointed out.

The convocation venue will be the electronic media production centre on the IGNOU campus. The ceremony will be telecast live on Gyan Darshan, Doordarshan’s educational TV channel.

BIMTECH meet

Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) recently organised the annual convocation to award the post graduate diploma in Business Management.

Addressing the students, former Union Minister of Fianance, Mr P Chidambaram said, “The feelgood factor alone cannot drive growth. There is a lot of positive trends in the economy, but the few negatives cannot be wished away.” He said India “may be shining for the upper or middle class of society, but it is not shining for the most vulnerable sections of society, i.e. women, children, detainees, Dalits and patients”.

Mr Chidambaram said, “Development per se is not the need of the day, the betterment of people is the key.”

Director of BIMTECH, Dr H Chaturvedi highlighted the achievements of the institute during the last one year.

FMS one-up on competitors

Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) stole a march over their competitors at the second GE Capital Strategy Competition with their thesis, ‘Go to Market Strategy for Small and Medium Enterprises- the Next Growth Area for Lenders’.

Participants researched, analysed and developed growth strategies for three diverse industries, the BPO, Consumer Finance and Commercial Finance. The contest was held across 10 top business schools. Rajat Ranjan and Vivek Shah from FMS, Delhi were adjudged All India Winners while Nikunj Kedia and Manoj Fulfagar from IIM, Ahmedabad and Ritwik Ghosh and Manas Majumdar from IIM, Calcutta were the Runners-up.

Aptech and Academy of Learning

Aptech Limited and the Academy of Learning, Canada have announced a joint venture to address the developed countries market. Operations are expected to begin around April 2004. The equity pattern is 50:50 with equal investment-levels, which will be enhanced when required. A communiqué to this effect was released soon after the signing of the MoU between the two parties.

It was pointed out that the combined synergies of the two institutions would add new thrust to the IT and non-IT education space in the markets that both countries operate in. Students across various disciplines are expected to benefit from the joint venture.

Under the joint venture agreement, the following shared benefits will accrue, Aptech’s courses will be offered through Academy Of Learning, thereby providing Aptech access to Canadian and other developed markets and Academy Of Learning courses will be offered worldwide through Aptech centers, thereby increasing Aptech’s product basket. This apart, Aptech’s Learning Services division will develop specific content for Academy Of Learning, creating a revenue stream for Aptech as well as affording cost-advantages for Academy of Learning. New centres offering Aptech and Academy Of Learning courses will be set up in the US and other developed markets.

Mr Max Lacob, Co Chair, Academy of Learning, said, “With a combined history of having trained millions of students in separate geographies, Aptech Limited and Academy of Learning now come together to share their expertise and offer students access to world-class education.”

‘Milap 2004’

Bharati Vidyapeeth’s Institute of Management and Research organised its alumni meet ‘Milap 2004’ on the campus. Apart from being a reunion that took everyone on a journey into the past, the meet allowed the former students to share their experiences with the current batch of students.

The Chief Guest on the occasion was Prof. D K Banwet, Head of Department, Management Studies, IIT, Delhi. Speaking on the occasion Prof. Banwet feedback highlighted the importance of active alumni working towards common good.

He stressed upon the ethical and value systems that ought to be inculcated and applied both by the students and the industry in the present global scenario.

Director, BVIMR, Dr. S S Vernekar read out the achievements of the students and the institute. Cultural events were also presented on the occasion.

IItm’s china connection

Institute of Information Technology and Management (IITM) has collaborated with Hunan Business College, China to cooperate on the promotion of educational and academic exchanges and research between the two institutions.

IITM has been set up as a constituent college under the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University to impart value-based quality education in the field of IT and Management under various Under and Post Graduate programmes.

Hunan Business College is an accredited college in Changsha, the capital of the Hunan province. The agreement for the joint venture was signed by Mt. Tang Debin, Vice President HBC and Ravi Sharma, Executive Director, IITM.

The two institutions will co-operate vis-à-vis exchange of academic material and academic publications, exchange of faculty members for research, lectures and discussions, exchange of students for study and research and organising joint academic and scientific conferences.

Creating AIDS awareness

Ms Louise Frechette, the First Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations visited the NIS academy to comprehend the AIDS/HIV sensitising programme jointly initiated by NIS Sparta and UNDP.

The project initiated in 2002 is aimed at generating awareness on AIDS-related issues and addressing the inhibitions of the individuals through behavioural transformation. The pilot project initiated at the South Extension branch is being carried forward at all NIIT centres catering to about six lakh students.

The project, ‘Outreach’ has been started to create sustainable outreach awareness through peer education model among the students. Workshops are conducted for a group of 40 students who then become the peer educators and are sensitised to educate at least 10 peers. The teaching process is encouraged through debates, symposiums, essay writing and other such activities.

Ms. Frechette exchanged views with the students on the project and applauded their efforts.

ZED Professional Accountant

Zee Interactive Learning Systems Limited has announced the launch of Zed Professional Accountant, a comprehensive highend career course in accounting.

The course will be delivered through various media, including internet, multimedia, e-learning solutions and ground learning centres. Spread over 12 months the course features nine modules covering subjects such as basics in accounting, executive accounts and executive commercial.

Workshop of painters and sculptors opens
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, February 4
A painters and sculptors workshop that forms a part of the annual Surajkund Crafts Mela celebrations, was inaugurated by noted painter Shamshad Husain on Tuesday. Twenty students from the College of Art, Delhi, arrived to participate in the workshop.

The event is being held on the lawns, opposite the Sunbird Restaurant. The craft museum is worth a special mention, since the Mela authority has set up a display of some fine crafts, mostly selected from craftsperson coming to the mela.

Shamshad Husain is a painter of repute, who did his diploma in painting from the College of Arts, Baroda in 1968. He completed his post graduation in painting from the Royal College of Art, London (in 1980). Mr Husain has held many solo exhibitions in India and abroad. He has participated in group exhibitions taking his paintings to nearby and far-off lands. He has also completed many commissions like the creation of mosaic murals, monument sculpture, relief structures, wall and ceiling paintings to name a few.

The painters and sculptors workshop is held as part of the mela event every year so as to give students of the College of Art an opportunity to display, practice and inform visitors coming to the mela about the technicalities of these traditions. On the occasion, children from schools are invited to interact with the senior students at the workshop. A painting competition of 50 prominent students in the field of painting, 10 each from five prestigious school, is also held at the same venue.

The students of the College of Art are demonstrating two traditions. Ten students are displaying painting while the others are displaying various sculpture techniques being practised by them. The workshop will continue till February 9.