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Technopak Education Round-Up

October 2011 Dear subscriber, Greetings from Technopak! You have received this newsletter as part of your interest in our Consulting Services. This is a quick round-up of the news and developments in the Education Sector over the last month from India and abroad. The source link is also enclosed, in case you wish to read the complete article. I sincerely hope you would find it of value. To know more about our Education Consulting Services, please feel free to get in touch with me and I shall be happy to take you through our portfolio and address the challenges you may be facing in your education or allied venture. With regards,

Rajesh Gopal Associate Vice President - Education Technopak Advisors E: Rajesh.Gopal@technopak.com M: +91-8826028822

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SCHOOL EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION EDUCATION INVESTMENTS VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING EDUCATION EVENTS

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SCHOOL EDUCATION
NO MINIMUM WAGE RULE FOR TEACHERS IN PVT UNAIDED SCHOOLS: HC Sep 29,2011 The Madras High Court has ruled that the state government's minimum wage norms cannot be applied to the teaching faculty in private unaided schools. Hearing petitions filed by Tamil Nadu's Tamil and English Schools Association, Justice T Raja said the labour laws cannot be applied to the private school teachers.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/no-minimum-wage-rule-teachers-pvt-unaided-schools-hc

TEACHER- FRIENDLY STEMPOWER EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY LAUNCHED IN INDIA Sep 29,2011 Texas Instruments has collaborated with CORE Education and Technologies, to launch STEMpower education technology solution in India, which promises to facilitate a better, tailor-made learning experience for students in classrooms across the country. The STEMpower technology aims to enable effective teaching and learning of math and science.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/teacher-friendly-stempower-education-technology-launched-india

KENDRIYA VIDYALAYAS TO INTRODUCE GERMAN AS THIRD LANGUAGE Sep 26, 2011 Kendriya Vidyalayas will introduce German language as the third language in all its schools. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Avinash Dikshit, Commissioner Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Heiko Sievers, Regional Director, Goethe-Institute/Max Mueller Bhavan.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/kendriya-vidyalayas-introduce-german-third-language

UNESCO TO TRAIN 10,000 PRINCIPALS Sep 23, 2011 UNESCO has announced the '10,000 Principals Leadership Programme' under which training will be given to 10,000 school principals in India, Kenya and Ghana. The programme will create a positive impact on thousands of teachers and at least 10 million children.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/unesco-train-10000-principals-india

72, 000 TEACHERS TO BE RECRUITED IN UP Sep 15, 2011 A state official has announced that as many as 72,825 new teachers will be recruited in Uttar Pradesh by Jan 1, 2012. He said that the process for the same will start shortly. The teacher recruitment will be done in the existing vacancies in the primary schools of the state.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/72-000-teachers-be-recruited

www.technopak.com BRITISH COUNCIL TO TRAIN 4 LAKH NAGPUR TEACHERS Sep 12, 2011 The British Council will train four lakh teachers from Nagpur in English. The council has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Maharashtra government in this regard. Officials in the education department confirmed the development and said the training program should start taking shape from October.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/british-council-train-4-lakh-nagpur-teachers

LITERACY RATE WILL REACH 80-85% BY 2015: KAPIL SIBAL Sep 12, 2011 Union Minister for Human Resource and Development Kapil Sibal has expressed hope that the country's literacy rate will touch 80 to 85 per cent by 2015. The minister said that the successful implementation of programmes like Saakshar Bharat mission has ensured that these targets become achievable.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/literacy-rate-will-reach-80-85-2015-kapil-sibal

LITERACY UNLOCKS CAPACITY OF INDIVIDUALS: UN SECRETARY GENERAL Sep 09, 2011 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that Literacy unlocks the capacity of individuals to imagine and create a more fulfilling future. It opens the way to greater justice, equality and progress and can help societies heal, advance political processes and contribute to the common good, he said in a message on International Literacy Day.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/literacy-unlocks-capacity-individuals-un-secretary-general

INDIA ON RIGHT TRACK TO ACHIEVE 100% LITERACY: PRESIDENT Sep 08, 2011 President Pratibha Patil has said that the country is far from achieving 100 per cent literacy rate, but its on the right track. She was speaking at the International Conference on Womens Literacy for Inclusive and Sustainable Development in the capital city. Stressing on the need to increase female literacy rate, she said consistent efforts are needed to push women's education as it was a "force multiplier" in achieving socio-economic development.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/india-right-track-achieve-100-literacy-president

EDUCATION SYSTEM SHOULD BE FREE FROM POLITICAL INTERFERENCE: KAPIL SIBAL Sep 05, 2011 The Human Resource and Development Minister Kapil Sibal has advocated the need of an education system that is free from political interference. He emphasized that all education policies should have support of all sections.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/education-system-should-be-free-political-interference-kapil-sibal

www.technopak.com NCERT TO GET UNIVERSITY STATUS: KAPIL SIBAL Sep 02, 2011 The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will now get university status announced HRD Minister Kapil Sibal. The status will enable NCERT to address diverse issues and challenges in the education sector and also help its teachers draw professor level salary.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/ncert-get-%E2%80%98university%E2%80%99-status-kapil-sibal

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HIGHER EDUCATION
ONLINE PhD TEST AVAILABLE AT MUMBAI UNIVERSITY Sep 29,2011 Mumbai University has decided to conduct online PhD Entrance Test (PET) after it was inundated with requests from students of foreign origin who want to conduct research from the prestigious institute.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/online-phd-test-available-mumbai-university

RESEARCH, FACULTY EXCHANGE HIGH ON INDO- US EDUCATION COLLABORATION AGENDA Sep 28, 2011 The India US collaboration on higher education will start in October 2011. The two year old initiative between the two countries will be discusses between Human resource development minister Kapil Sibal and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton in Washington on October 13, 2011.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/research-faculty-exchange-high-indo-us-education-collaboration-agenda

1,765 LECTURERS TO BE RECRUITED IN KARNATAKA Sep 27, 2011 The state government of Karnataka will be recruiting 1, 765 lecturers to government pre-university colleges. The appointment of lecturers will be done through Karnataka Public Service Commission.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/1765-lecturers-be-recruited-karnataka

IGNOU TO HONOUR AZIM PREMJI FOUNDATION Sep 26, 2011 The Indira Gandhi National Open University has decided to confer Rajiv Gandhi International Prize for Technology in Education to Azim Premji. The award will be presented by the Union Minister for Human Resource and Development and Communications and IT, Mr. Kapil Sibal to Mr. Azim Premji, the founder of the foundation.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/ignou-honour-azim-premji-foundation

40,000 PHDS BY 2020 IN IIT SYSTEM: KAPIL SIBAL Sep 26, 2011 Union Minister for Human Resource and Development Kapil Sibal has said that his ministry is looking at 40,000 PhDs in the IIT system alone by 2020. Speaking at the Idea Exchange initiative by Indian Express at St. Stephens College, New Delhi the minister said that research is our prime focus. We have increased money for fellowships in a big way.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/40000-phds-2020-iit-system-kapil-sibal

www.technopak.com DISTANCE LEARNING SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED: KARNATAKA GOVERNOR Sep 23, 2011 "Distance learning should be strengthened and institutes such as IGNOU should facilitate varsities on this score. There should be uniform distance learning system between central and state distance learning varsities," said Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj while inaugurating an international conference organized by Karnataka State Open University (KSOU).
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/distance-learning-should-be-strengthened-karnataka-governor

MALAYSIA APPEALS INDIA FOR MORE SEATS IN PREMIER INSTITUTIONS Sep 21, 2011 Malaysian largest ethnic Indian party MIC has requested the Indian government to allocate more seats for its diaspora in the country's premier educational institutions.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/malaysia-appeals-india-more-seats-premier-institutions

TECHNICAL EDUCATION EXPANSION BECOMING MINDLESS: IIT KANPUR HEAD Sep 20, 2011 The chairman of Indian Institute of Technology - Kanpur Dr. M Anandakrishnan has said that the expansion in technical education is becoming mindless day by day. The mushrooming of engineering colleges is affecting the quality of education being imparted.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/tech-education-expansion-becoming-mindless-iit-kanpur-head

BESU TO BECOME INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE Sep 19, 2011 The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) has given nod to upgrade Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU) into an Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/besu-become-institute-national-importance

MCI CHANGES ASSESSMENT NORMS TO CHECK DUPLICATE FACULTY Sep 16, 2011 The Medical Council of India (MCI) will be changing the assessment norms for the new colleges in order to ensure more transparency. "We have decided to change our system of assessment of new medical colleges. This will bring in more transparency and accountability. This will also rectify the problem of fraudulent faculty," said Dr Purshottam Lal, Board Member of MCI.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/mci-changes-assessment-norms-check-duplicate-faculty

UGC LISTS 94 UNRECOGNISED INSTITUTES IN 18 STATES Sep 14, 2011 The University Grants Commission (UGC) has come out with a list of 94 unrecognised private university campuses. Some of the private universities have started off-campus centres in violation of the UGC (Establishments of and maintenance of standards of private universities) regulation 2003. It lists 94 universities from 18 states across the country with their recognised campuses.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/ugc-lists-94-unrecognised-institutes-18-states

www.technopak.com ACCREDITATION OF UNIVERSITIES IS THEIR HEALTH CHECK-UP: NAAC CHIEF Sep 13, 2011 The director of National Assessment and Accreditation Council H A Ranganath has said that the process of accreditation of a university can be compared to a health check-up. He said that like the health examination of human body brings out areas of concern in the same manner accreditation help diagnose the academic loopholes in an institution
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/accreditation-universities-their-health-check-naac-chief

IGNOU TO ESTABLISH CENTER FOR DIASPORIC STUDIES Sep 09, 2011 A Centre for Diasporic Studies will soon be established at the Indira Gandhi National Open University announced IGNOU VC, Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai. He said this while inaugurating a two-day International Conference on 'Diaspora and Development: Prospects and Implications for Nation States.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/ignou-establish-center-diasporic-studies-0

PROF UDAY SALUNKHE OF WELINGKAR INSTITUTE RECEIVES BEST TEACHER' AWARD BY HIGHER EDUCATION FORUM Sep 09, 2011 Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, Welingkar Institute of Management has been awarded under a special category of Global Leadership by IndiaHigher Education Forum (HEF) - a voluntary non-profit group of individuals, passionate about bringing reforms in higher education. The award celebrates Salunkhe's immense contribution to create a global higher educational institution. The group also felicitated some of the most respected teachers of higher education.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/prof-uday-salunkhe-welingkar-institute-receives-awarded%E2%80%98best-teacher-award-higher-education-fo

MORE THAN HALF OF NIT COURSES NOT ACCREDITED: CAG Sep 07, 2011 A Comptroller and Auditor General of India report has revealed that around 80 per cent of the post graduate courses in the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) are not accredited by the National Board of Accreditation. The report also says that more than 50 per cent undergraduate courses were also unaccredited.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/more-half-nit-courses-not-accredited-cag

INDIAN UNIVERSITIES SLIP IN GLOBAL RANKINGS Sep 07, 2011 Indian universities have performed badly compare to last year in the current Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) global ranking with not even a single one making it to the top 200. The Indian Institute of TechnologyDelhi (IIT-Delhi) is the first Indian University that is ranked at 218th position in the list. It is followed by IIT-Bombay at 225th position. IIT-Madras follows at 281st position. The report was released on September 5, 2011.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/indian-universities-slip-global-rankings

www.technopak.com NEED TO INCREASE TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO, GER: PRESIDENT Sep 06, 2011 President Pratibha Patil has stressed on the need to increase teacher-student ratio. Patil said that the country needs well qualified teachers. She also favoured an increase in the gross enrolment ratio which stands at 73 per cent.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/need-increase-teacher-student-ratio-ger-president

WIPROS MISSION 10X TO TRAIN PRINCIPALS OF ENGINEERING COLLEGES Sep 06, 2011 Wipros non-profit trust, Mission 10X, has launched its advanced academic leadership programme for the principals of engineering colleges, in collaboration with Harvard Business School Publishing (HBSP). The aim of this programme is to help the principals of engineering colleges to enhance their leadership skill-sets so that they can improve the quality of engineering education.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/wipro%E2%80%99s-mission-10x-train-principals-engineering-colleges

USE OF IT WILL ENSURE TRANSPARENCY IN SYSTEM: SIBAL Sep 02, 2011 The Union Minister for Human Resource and Development Kapil Sibal has advocated increased use of IT to bring transparency and accountability in the system. The minister launched a web-based planning and monitoring information system and financial accounting monitoring system of 'Saakshar Bharat Programme'.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/use-it-will-ensure-transparency-system-sibal

UGC CAN IMPOSE CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE DEEMED UNIVERSITIES' QUALITY: HC Sep 01, 2011 University Grants Commission has the right to continuously impose conditions to make deemed universities maintain their quality as institutions of higher learning, ruled Madras High Court bench.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/ugc-can-impose-conditions-improve-deemed-universities-quality

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EDUCATION INVESTMENTS
VARKEY GROUP MAKES OPEN OFFER FOR EVERONN Sep 23, 2011 Dubai-based Varkey Group Ltd has made an open offer to buy another 20 per cent stake in Everonn Education, which may require it to shell out another Rs 237 crore. Led by the Gulf-based entrepreneur Sunny Varkey, who owns one of the worlds largest private school companies, the Varkey Group acquired nearly 12 per cent stake in Everonn for Rs 138 crore through preferential issue. It had also picked up another 4.19 per cent stake through markets, thus triggering the open offer.
Source : http://www.vccircle.com/500/news/varkey-group-makes-open-offer-for-everonn

MHRD SEEKS OUTLAY OF RS 2.3 LAKH CR FOR BASIC EDUCATION Sep 20, 2011 Union Ministry for Human Resources and Development has asked the Planning Commission to allot at least Rs 2.31 lakh crore for the promotion of elementary education during the five-year period ending March, 2015.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/mhrd-seeks-outlay-rs-23-lakh-cr-basic-education

PEARSON FOUNDATION PLEDGES RS. 1 CR TO SUPPORT MY SCHOOL' CAMPAIGN Sep 19, 2011 The Pearson Foundation has pledged a sum of Rs. 1 crore to the Support My School (SMS) initiative, a public-private partnership that aims to create a healthy environment for children to learn across India. The Support My School campaign was launched earlier this year with the goal of establishing learning environments and improving basic amenities in rural areas.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/pearson-foundation-pledges-1-cr-%E2%80%98support-my-schoolcampaign

ASCENT CAPITAL MAY INVEST RS 150CR IN OAKRIDGE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Sep 09, 2011 Private equity firm Ascent Capital Advisors is close to picking up stake in the Hyderabad-based Oakridge International School, one of Indias largest International Baccalaureate (IB) school. The deal will involve Ascent Capital investing Rs 150 crore in Oakridge, sources familiar with the development have said.
Source : http://www.vccircle.com/500/news/ascent-capital-may-invest-rs-150cr-in-oakridge-international-school

IITS LOOKING FOR CORPORATE FUNDING FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS Sep 08 ,2011 The Indian Institutes of Technology are looking towards big corporate firms for funding their research projects. The shift comes as IITs want to decrease their dependence on government research grants
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/iits-looking-corporate-funding-research-projects

www.technopak.com EDUCOMP TO IMPLEMENT ICT IN 582 GOVT SCHOOLS OF CHHATISGARH Sep 07, 2011 Educomp has bagged Rs. 60.72 crore project from Chhatisgarh government to implement ICT solutions in 582 Government High and Higher Secondary schools. With this project, Edureach (Educomps ICT Division) portfolio reached 11,154 schools.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/educomp-implement-ict-582-govt-schools-chhatisgarh

PM SEEKS TO INCREASE PRIVATE FUNDING IN RESEARCH TO 50% Sep 07, 2011 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has suggested increasing private sector funding in Research and Development to 50% from the current 20%. The suggestion was made during a review meeting of eight ministries related to scientific research. The meeting was attended by representatives from science and technology, space, atomic energy, earth sciences, biotechnology, defence production ministries.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/pm-seeks-increase-private-funding-research-50

DMC EDUCATION ACQUIRES 51% IN LIFELONG FINISHING ACADEMY Sep 06, 2011 DMC Education Ltd has acquired 51 per cent stake in Delhi-based training institute Lifelong Finishing Academy for an estimated cost of Rs. 1 crore, according to a company disclosure to the Bombay Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
Source : http://www.vccircle.com/500/news/dmc-education-acquires-51-in-lifelong-finishing-academy

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VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME OF HRD, LABOUR MINISTRY TO BE COMBINED Sep 21 ,2011 The Planning Commission is going to combine the two vocational education schemes the National Vocational Education Qualifications Framework (NVEQF) developed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF), led by the Ministry of Labour and Employment into a composite scheme in a bid to fast-track the governments efforts to sharp focus and upscale the vocational education system in the country.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/vocational-education-programme-hrd-labour-ministry-be-combined

INCENTIVIZE INSTITUTE OFFERING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: FICCI Sep 20, 2011 The institutes offering vocational education should be given incentives, said R.V. Kanoria, Senior Vice President FICCI. He was speaking at FICCIs Global Skills Summit.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/incentivize-institute-offering-vocational-education-ficci

GOVT PLANNING ISO CERTIFICATION, CREDIT FUNDING FOR VOCATIONAL COURSES Sep 16 ,2011 The Centre is planning ISO certification and credit funding for vocational education courses in order to promote skill development sector. The government is planning to make India a skilled manpower hub during the 12th Five-year Plan period that starts April 2012.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/govt-planning-iso-certification-credit-funding-vocational-courses

CII, TATA MOTORS TO TRAIN FACULTY OF ITIS IN UP Sep 05, 2011 The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Tata Motors have collaborated with the state vocational education department of Uttar Pradesh. Under the collaboration, a Faculty Development Programme for the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) has been launched.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/cii-tata-motors-train-faculty-itis

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EDUCATION EVENTS
INDIAN-ORIGIN SCIENTISTS IN WHITE HOUSE HONORS LIST OF 12 Sep 28, 2011 Three renowned scientists of Indian-origin figure in prestigious White House honors list this year. Out of the three luminaries, two are inventors and the third is a researcher. Two of them are IIT-ians, alumni of the academically elite Indian Institute of Technology.
Source : http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/news/indian-origin-scientists-white-house-honors-list-12

4TH EDITION OF THE FICCI GLOBAL SKILLS SUMMIT 2011 Sep 17, 2011 The 4th edition of the FICCI Global Skills Summit, held on the 15th and 16th of September 2011 at the FICCI Federation House, New Delhi served as a central platform for international dialogue on the modernization of vocational education and training (VET) in India. The theme of this year's conference was, 'Vocational Education & Training: Developing Strategic and Implementation Framework'.

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