The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

PAU raises BEd seats to 40
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 19
Punjab Agricultural University has increased the number of BEd seats from 25 to 40 in the coming session. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the academic council, chaired by Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, here today. The members said since the students had been demanding an increase in the admission seats and as sufficient infrastructural facilities were available in the university to accommodate more students, 15 new seats could be added up this time.

Giving information about other decisions taken by the council, Dr V.K. Sharma, Registrar, said the seats for admission to one-year undergraduate diploma course in ‘Creche and nursery school management’ had also been increased from 10 to 15 this time. In contrast, due to decreasing interest of the students in M.Tech (sugar engineering), the course has been deleted from the list of master’s programme of the university this time.

The council also approved change in the name of the Department of Processing and Agricultural Structures to Department of Processing and Food Engineering. While earlier the department was offering M Tech and PhD courses in two subjects — Processing and agricultural structure and Agro-industrial processing — it would now offer the degree in just one subject Processing and food engineering. Subsequently, the number of seats for the courses had been reduced from 10 to 7.

The test for admission to MBA course for the coming session would be held on May 2 at locations that would be specified in the MAT bulletin. While earlier the university had been conducting independent test for the MBA course, this would be for the first time that the test would be conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA).

The council also announced the schedule for its new course, Master of Agricultural Business Management (MABM). The entrance test for the course will be held on June 17 while counselling and group discussion would be held on June 19. It was decided that only the students who passed BSc (agriculture) or four-year BSc (home science) from the university were eligible for the course.

The council also came out with the university calendar according to which entrance tests and interviews would begin from July 12. The new academic session would commence from August 4 and first semester would conclude by December 30. The new session for the students of veterinary sciences would, however, start from July 15.

The council also decided the names of the two student awardees. Harmandeep Singh Khurana from Department of Soils would get Dr Avtar Singh Atwal gold medal award for year 2002. Pooja Arora, a BSc agriculture student, would get Dr J.S. Pruthi Award for getting the highest grade points in her elective course in food science and technology.

The members of the council also discussed the memorandum of understanding signed by the university with the Iran Government. It was decided that the Iran Government would provide fee on behalf of its students, who will take courses in crop production, animal husbandry, agri-biotechnology, apiculture, sericulture and shrimp farming. The students would take courses from the faculty of the university while they would perform research work in their own country.

Conference on business challenges ends
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 19
The National conference on “Managing challenges of change and innovation in Indian business” concluded at Punjab College for Technical Education (PCTE) here today. Thirtyfive papers were presented during the conference.

While delivering his inaugural address, Mr Mahesh Munjal, Managing Director, Majestic Auto, said “We cannot ignore changes. It is better to anticipate the changes in advance and chalk out the strategies well before because managing the change has never been an issue. Real problem lies in managing the resistance to change” .

Mr G.S. Batra from Punjabi University and Dr A.K. Vashisht from Panjab University, in their joint keynote address said business could survive only if strategies and plans were made well in advance by anticipating the changes in the coming future. They stressed that one must welcome all types of changes in the environment to keep pace with fast round of developments taking place in the business all over world.

Mr V.K. Goyal, Chief Executive, Vardhman Spinning, while delivering his presidential remarks, said, ‘‘Changes are essential in all the spheres of life because change in one area of society at one time can create big mismatch in the development path’’.

The conference concluded with a valedictory session held in the evening. Dr K.N.S. Kang, Director of the PCTE, gave certificates to the paper presenters. He extended his gratitude to all participants, guests from industry and academicians for making the conference a success.

Management seminars from today
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 19
Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT), Gujarkhan Campus, Model Town, will organise two seminars on “Social responsibility of business” and “Career options in management and information technology” on March 20 and 21, respectively.

Prominent academicians, industrialists and experts in the field will present their experiences and research findings during the seminars. Both seminars will be organised under the Indian Society of Technical Education (ISTE).

Dr A.S. Bansal, Director of the institute, said management and information technology had emerged as fields of reckoning among various career options available today. Both disciplines offered multiple avenues of employment. But the students still seemed to lack knowledge regarding the complete spectrum of options offered by the two fields. He said teachers and students from various local and outside management and IT institutes and colleges had also been invited to listen to the eminent speakers and research workers.

Hike in school fund charges resented
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 19
Resentment prevails among parents of students of GMT Public Senior Secondary School, Jalandhar bypass, over the increase in some fund charges by the authorities.

Protesting outside the office of the school directors, the parents said annual sports and computer funds charged by the school had been raised unduly. They said the sports fund charges had been raised from Rs 100 to Rs 600 while the computer fund charge had been increased to Rs 1,000 from Rs 500. The parents said such charges were also being charged from kids taking admission to nursery class, which they claimed was unjustified.

Mr Kashmir Singh Thind, one of the directors, said the fund charges had not been increased by the school for the past seven years. He said due to increased expenditure on inputs by the school, the fund charges had to be increased.

St Xavier School celebrates annual day
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 19
Children of St Xavier Playway School celebrated their annual day today. Mr Balkar Singh, councillor, Municipal Corporation, was the chief guest. The outgoing batch of children presented an entertainment programme that included several group dances and songs.

Twenty children participated in the fancy dress competition. Later, all participating children were awarded prizes by Mr Balkar Singh. Ms Meenakshi Aneja, a senior teacher of the school, received the best teacher award for 2003-2004. Earlier, Prof V.M. Chopra, Director of the school, welcomed the chief guest. Ms S. Chopra, Principal, appreciated the performance of the little ones.

Farewell parties at GNN College
Our Correspondent

Doraha, March 19
Several farewell parties were organised at Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, during the past four days by students of second year of arts, commerce and postgraduate class to bid cheerful adieu to their seniors.

Mr Jaswant Singh Gill, Principal of the college, and Prof Balwant Singh Pangali, general secretary of the college management committee, and Mr Adarsh Pal Bector, treasurer, wished good luck to the outgoing students.

Initially, the students of MA-I(Punjabi) accorded farewell to their seniors. Gagandeep Kaur was declared ‘Miss Panjaban’, while Jaspreet Kaur was honoured for ‘Beautiful Smile’. Jatinder Kaur Gill got the honour of ‘Decent Walk’. Prof J.S. Grewal, Head of the postgraduate department, wished the students a successful life.

Welcome song was presented initially followed by a group dance, songs, skits and choreography. Jatinder Kaur Gill gave the farewell speech in the end.

Similarly, students of B.Com-II bade adieu to their seniors. Daljit Singh was declared ‘Miss Farewell’, while Kiranpreet Kaur was adjudged Miss Farewell. Rahul Sharma was declared Mr Well Dressed while Gurdeepak Kaur was adjudged Miss Well Dressed. Various items such as a group dance, bhangra, Malwai giddha, choreography and other events were performed by Kiranpreet Kaur, Daljit Singh, Jagroop Singh, Simal, Manmeet and party. Prof Gursharanjit Singh, Head of the Commerce Department, wished best of future to the outgoing class.

Boys of BA (III) was given a warm farewell by BA (II) boys. The stage was conducted by Ramwinder Singh of BA II. A mimickery item was presented by BA II students, and a song was presented by Gopi Chand. Gurminder Singh recited a poem and choreography was presented by Rajinder Singh, Gurinder Singh, Shehbaz Mohammad, Amit Sharma, Jarnail Singh, Manpreet Singh, Baljit Singh, Umesh Kumar and Aman. Rajinder Singh of BA II delivered the farewell speech. Girls of BA II bade farewell to their seniors in the most entertaining manner. Besides various items performed on the stage, Baljinder Kaur was declared ‘Miss Farewell,’ Renu ‘Beautiful Smile’ and Bhawanpreet Kaur was adjudged the girl in ‘Best Costume.’