Its web page is http://www.phfi.org/iiph/iiphb.html. Following is today’s screen shot of that page.
IIPH’s are developed by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). PHFI has a future faculty program. Following is an excerpt from the page http://www.phfi.org/careers/ffproramme.html about that program.
Under the Future Faculty Programme, PHFI is pleased to announce the following fellowships
WELLCOME TRUST PROGRAMME (2009-2014)
In 2009, PHFI, along with a consortium of 14 British Universities, was awarded a £ 5 million (pounds) capacity building grant for faculty development. This ambitious 5 year programme aims to develop the teaching and research skills of PHFI’s faculty members by supporting their growth at various career stages. This programme includes opportunities for graduate and doctoral studies, collaborative research projects and research fellowships, and faculty exchanges.
Under this programme, PHFI invites applications for :
Please click on the individual links above to know more about eligibility, application process, timelines and other details.
PHFI-DEAKIN FELLOWSHIP
PHFI is pleased to announce a PhD fellowship under the FFP, for professionals keen on doctoral studies in Public Health at Deakin University, Australia.
Please click here to know more about this.
Note: The deadline of the following two programs is September 30, 2010.
August 21st, 2010
The list is given below. As per a Times of India report NIT Goa has commenced operation.
Related Links:
August 1st, 2010
A pdf of the above ad and the application form is available at the following locations:
The Culture department of Odisha has many other library related schemes. Following is from the page http://www.orissaculture.gov.in/schemes.asp.
| 2 |
Name of Scheme |
Scheme Of Matching Assistance To Public Libraries To Acquire Computer With Accessories For Library Application and TV, CD Player, DVD Player For Educational Purposes |
| Description |
The matching scheme is intended to modernize the public library with modern technology and equip them with devices so as to satisfy the ever increasing thirst technology and equip them with devices so as to satisfy the ever increasing thirst for information of the reading clientele. |
| Valid upto |
01-01-2012 |
|
|
| 3 |
Name of Scheme |
Non-matching Scheme of Financial Assistance to Public Libraries towards of celebration of 50/60/75/100/125/150 years and the like |
| Description |
The objective of the scheme is to render financial support to a library towards organization of celebration of its existence of 50/60/75/100/125/150 years and the like. |
| Valid upto |
01-01-2012 |
| |
|
| 4 |
Name of Scheme |
Non-Matching Scheme Of Assistance Towards Establishment Of RRRLF Children Corner |
| Description |
The object of the scheme is to support and promote children libraries or children section of general public libraries all over the country to attract the children to the library for development of reading habit, to equip children with life-long learning and literacy skills, enables them to participate and contribute to the community. |
| Valid upto |
01-01-2012 |
|
|
| 5 |
Name of Scheme |
Matching Schemes of Assistance towards Development of Rural Book Deposit enters and Mobile Library Services |
| Description |
This scheme envisages the setting up of book deposit centers and development of mobile library Services for the benefit of both urban and rural reading public. District libraries and other selected Libraries are to serve as the base libraries from which books will be circulated to the book deposit Centers or Book delivery stations. The object of the scheme is to take library services to the disadvantaged sections of the people and to development reading habit among the people. This is a matching Scheme. |
| Valid upto |
01-01-2012 |
|
|
| 6 |
Name of Scheme |
Non Matching Scheme of Financial Assistance to Children’s Libraries or Children’s Section, Women Section, Senior Citizen Section, Neo-Literate Section of Generals Public Libraries |
| Description |
The objective of the scheme is to support and promote children’s libraries or children’s section, women section, senior citizen section neo-literate section of general public libraries all over the country directly by the RRRLF in order to develop reading habit among the children, women and also to provide services to the senior citizens of the society. It also aims to boost the literacy level of the neo-literates, in order to prevent possibility of regressing into the partial or total illiteracy. It is non-matching scheme. |
| Valid upto |
01-01-2012
|
|
|
| 7 |
Name of Scheme |
Matching Scheme Of Assistance To Public Libraries Towards Increasing Accommodation |
| Description |
The object of this matching scheme is to render matching assistance to Government run or aided libraries for increasing accommodation. This scheme is known as Matching Scheme of Assistance to Public Libraries towards increasing Accommodation. |
| Valid upto |
01-01-2012 |
|
|
| 8 |
Name of Scheme |
Matching Scheme of Assistance forwards purchase of storage materials, reading room furniture and library equipment like card cabinet, fire extinguisher etc., including copier |
| Description |
The object of this matching scheme is to render assistance to the libraries in order to equip them with storage materials, reading room furniture and other library equipment. The scheme is know as Matching Scheme of Assistance towards purchase of storage materials, reading room furniture and library equipment like card cabinet, fire extinguisher etc., including copier. |
| Valid upto |
01-01-2012 |
|
|
| |
| 9 |
Name of Scheme |
Matching Scheme of Assistance towards Organisation of Seminars, Workshops, Training Courses (Orientation/Refresher), Book Exhibitions and Library Awareness Programmes |
| Description |
The RRRLF has recognized the fact that the content and quality of library service need regular evaluation and improvement with the changing needs of the society. To cater to this requirement the RRRLF has adopted this scheme. This is a Matching Scheme. |
| Valid upto |
01-01-2012 |
|
|
July 29th, 2010
July 28th, 2010
From their web page at http://www.bhartifoundation.org/wps/wcm/connect/bhartifoundation/BhartiFoundation/Home we have the following.
BHARTI FOUNDATION, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises was established in 2000 with a vision "To help underprivileged children and young people of our country realize their potential". BHARTI FOUNDATION, is an organization established under the Laws of India with charitable status pursuant to a "Deed of Trust".
One of their flagship program is the Satya Bharti School program. Following is from their home page.
The Satya Bharti School Program is the flagship program of Bharti Foundation. With a goal to establish 500 Primary and 50 Senior Secondary Schools, this program, aims to create a replicable, scalable and holistic model of quality education in rural India
Following are excerpts from an article in Economic Times about Satya Bharti schools.
Harpreet is one of the 30,000 students who are now studying in Mittal’s free English-medium schools in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. This is likely to increase to 50,000 in two years. The plan is to eventually build 500 primary schools and 50 secondary schools which will enroll 100,000 students by 2013.
Not only is this one of the largest such direct interventions by a business house, but Mittal also claims this is one of the largest affirmative action initiatives in the country.
“More than 21,000 of the 30,000 or 70% of the students in these schools are from SC/ST and OBC categories. The ratio is the same among the 1,100 teachers now on the foundation’s rolls,” says Mittal. “We have not gone looking for SC/ST students, but we have gone into catchments that are very poor. And, by this very design, we have got them,” Mr Mittal adds. Moreover, 47% of the students are girls.
… Most of them have been set up as an alternative to poorly-run government schools. There is a world of difference between the two. Kirthi Sharma, a head teacher of one of the foundation’s schools near Ludhiana, points out that simple things like clean drinking water, working infrastructure, clean toilets were some of the things that the 191 students in the school cherished. A replacement teacher is also sent from a nearby school or from the foundation if a teacher goes on leave, ensuring that all classes are always staffed.
Each of these schools is built according to a blueprint drawn up by Delhi-based architect Navneeth Malhotra. The Foundation invited several architects to make a pitch for the project and were given a Rs 20 lakh cost cap for a school building. Finally, Sunil and brother Rakesh Mittal handpicked Malhotra.
Each school is located in half an acre of land and has five classrooms (for standard 1-5) and a staff room. Other facilities include toilets, a vegetable garden and a playground. Every school also has an internet connection. “We send weekly updates on attendance, books, and uniforms to Delhi on email. We also download teaching manuals, instructions and sometimes even additions to the menu amongst other things,” says Anamika Kappor, head teacher in a school in Ludhiana district Punjab. The schools run on two shifts and have between 5-7 teachers whose salaries start at about Rs 4,500. The head teacher is paid about Rs 7,000. On an average, the foundation spends about Rs 12 lakh per annum to run each school.
The Bharti group’s managerial skills are quite evident in the way these schools are run. Like every group company, the Bharti Foundation has a CEO in Vijay Chadda. He quit the army in 1992, held a string of high-profile corporate jobs, including that of CEO of Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Kuoni Travel, before he took a pay cut to join the foundation in 2008.
… He has a team of 1600 employees; 1100 are teachers, while the rest are involved in logistics, training, curriculum design, and other support roles. Three state-heads oversee the functioning of about 90 schools each, and report to the headquarters in Delhi.
The centralised training wing and a team of 10 trainers prepare the curriculum and coach the teachers. Training is a 365-days-a-year operation. “There are subject specific modules happening all the time — for instance, the maths or science teachers of all schools in that district will be called to a centralised location and taught new tools and skill sets,” explains Mr Chadda.
… Though it has 236 primary schools, the Bharti Foundation is planning to set up only 25 secondary schools, that too over the next 3 years. Mittal’s plan is to have each of these 25 secondary schools absorb all the students passing out from 10 primary schools in the vicinity. He chose this hub-and-spoke model for various reasons.
Foundation executives say it is impossible to upgrade all primary schools to secondary schools. “The latter would require labs for subjects like Physics and Chemistry and teachers for such specialised areas,” Mr Chadda said. Funding the infrastructure and finding the teachers for 236 such secondary schools would be a challenge. That’s why it settled for one secondary school as a hub for students coming out of 10 primary schools.
… The Rajasthan government is undertaking joint surveys with the foundation to convert many of the existing schools to senior secondary schools. The World Bank has also shown interest, Mr Chadda added. There are other problems too like 20% attrition amongst teachers. The foundation pays only a third of the salaries when compared to a government school. “Many teachers use this as a platform to get experience before moving on,” he says. “We pay higher than other private schools in the locality, but being a charitable organisation, we cannot match government salaries,” he adds. He believes attrition will come down once the secondary schools become operational. “Primary school teachers can be promoted — this will be an incentive,” he said.
… That was when Mr Mittal decided to do it himself. He started the Bharti Foundation in 2000 with a corpus of Rs 200 crore. The dream for 500 schools that would educate 100,000 poor children was taking shape in his mind.
… Soon, the Rajasthan government offered 49 schools in the Neemrana and Ajmer blocks for adoption. It moved existing teachers to other schools and gave the foundation a clean slate. The foundation then invested Rs 5 lakh to renovate each school and hired new teachers. It was a brave move considering the political ramifications of handing over state-owned and run schools to corporates. But, like his businesses, Mittal wanted to scale up fast here too.
They have recently started a Satya Bharti School in Murshidabad West Bengal. Odisha should contact them and offer them terms similar to Rajasthan.
Bharti Foundation also has a scholarship program. Following is an excerpt about it.
The Bharti Scholarship and Mentorship Program was instituted in the year 2006-07 to enable academically bright youth from financially weak families to complete their higher education. Currently the program supports 232 scholars across the country and covers courses in management, engineering and agriculture.
… Mentorship is an integral component of the Bharti Scholarship Program. Involving senior executives from the Bharti Group of Companies, the Mentorship Program looks at providing each scholar with a mentor who can help make the right career choices, provide them with relevant exposure and guide them in decisions which will shape their future. Today, 105 senior executives from Bharti Group of Companies are involved in the mentoring program.
The scholarship form is available at http://www.nitt.edu/www/uploads/861_bharti-form.pdf. An FAQ on the scholarship is available on the web. Google "Bharti foundation scholarship FAQ" to get a link to it.
July 23rd, 2010
Following is an excerpt from a report in Indian Express.
… Sibal had written to the PM seeking his intervention on three stuck schemes including the proposal to set up 20 new IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology) on PPP basis, which was shot down by the Finance Ministry earlier this month. Of the other two stuck projects, one is meant to finance state universities and colleges, and the second is a Rs 2,000-crore scheme to set up 2,500 vocational schools across the country.
The PMO has now asked the Planning Commission to re-examine the projects.
Sibal is learnt to have brought to the PM’s notice how these projects were key to increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education. India is looking at a GER target of 20 per cent by 2020 against a dismal 12 per cent at present.
… the ministry’s proposal — shared with all state governments last year — to incentivise states for setting up new universities and colleges has also hit a roadblock. The proposal is to provide Central assistance to state governments to the tune of 1/3rd of the capital cost for setting up of new universities and colleges and also for expansion of existing institutes. The state governments will be required to bear 2/3rd of the capital cost and recurring expenditure. In fact, states have already been asked to identify land and suitable locations for these new institutions and also prepare detailed project reports.
July 21st, 2010
The following is from http://iiser-admissions.in/marks/ which came from Table 1 of the INSPIRE application form of 2010.
| Board |
Class 10 % ( top 1% cut off in 2007)
|
Class 12 % (top 1% cut off in 2009)
|
| Andhra Pradesh |
91.10 |
82.30 |
| Assam |
77.60 |
73.40 |
| Bihar |
73.20 |
73.40 |
| CBSE |
93.60 |
92.40 |
| Chhattisgarh |
82.50 |
85.00 |
| Goa |
85.80 |
81.80 |
| Gujarat |
86.40 |
77.80 |
| Haryana |
87.00 |
82.60 |
| Himachal Pradesh |
76.30 |
79.40 |
| ICSE |
95.60 |
93.30 |
| Jammu & Kashmir |
84.40 |
79.20 |
| Jharkhand |
78.40 |
67.20 |
| Karnataka |
89.60 |
88.00 |
| Kerala |
93.90 |
91.80 |
| Madhya Pradesh |
85.80 |
82.60 |
| Maharashtra |
80.10 |
83.80 |
| Manipur |
77.00 |
75.80 |
| Meghalaya |
70.50 |
70.60 |
| Mizoram |
86.60 |
68.20 |
| Nagaland |
68.10 |
73.00 |
| Orissa |
81.30 |
76.10 |
| Punjab |
81.30 |
76.70 |
| Rajasthan |
79.10 |
82.40 |
| Tamil Nadu |
90.40 |
94.50 |
| Tripura |
68.80 |
68.80 |
| Uttar Pradesh |
72.50 |
72.60 |
| Uttarakhand |
70.40 |
68.20 |
| Viswa-Bharathi |
93.40 |
95.80 |
| West Bengal |
86.60 |
82.20 |
| This list is taken from the website http://www.inspire-dst.gov.in/Inspire-Advertisement.pdf (2007 class X and 2009 class XII) cut off Table 1. |
July 19th, 2010
Its website is http://inspire-dst.gov.in/. Following are important links:
Following are some excerpts from the application form.
Genesis of INSPIRE: Global competitiveness in the changing global knowledge economy calls for expansion and right-sizing of the Research and Development base of the country. Need for
special interventions for attracting youth to study of natural sciences and careers with research is recognized. Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) is a Programme launched by the Government of India to strengthen the National Science and Technology base. It is being implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
About INSPIRE: Programme includes three components namely Scheme for Early Attraction of
Talents for Science (SEATS), Scholarships for Higher Education (SHE) and Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC). The Scheme SHE is focused on attraction of talent to study of natural/basic sciences at the bachelor and master’s level education. SHE is currently limited to support for educational programmes at B.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc. and integrated master’s level course in sciences leading to MSc in any branch of natural and basic sciences namely mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, earth sciences and life sciences.
Call for Applications: Applications are invited from eligible candidates for `Scholarship for
Higher Education (SHE)’ component of INSPIRE. Total of 10,000 scholarships are available
annually under SHE starting April 2008. The scholarships are limited only to the candidates
studying courses in natural/basic sciences (B.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons), integrated M.Sc.) in any one of the recognized institutions in India. Eligibility criterion for the scholarships are a) performance in
board examinations within the cutoff threshold (of top 1%) for each state or central board
examination at the class X and class XII level and/or b) performance in any of the specified
competitive examinations within stipulated cut off ranks. The eligible applicant must be already
enrolled into degree level education in natural/basic sciences in any of the recognized institutions
in India.
Criteria for Eligibility for SHE:
a) Based on Performance in Board Examinations: The candidates should have obtained
aggregate marks in the top 1% in the board examination at both class X and XII levels. For
example, the candidates applying for INSPIRE Scholarship 2008 should have secured marks
within the top 1% in class X in the year 2006 and class XII in 2008 in the respective board
examinations and should have joined a degree course leading to B.Sc. or B.Sc. (Hons) or
integrated M.Sc. in natural/basic sciences in any institution in India. Cut-off marks for various
board examinations conducted in the years 2006 and 2007 for class X and corresponding year
of 2008 and 2009 for class XII are listed in Table 1. The cut-off marks of various Board
Examinations conducted in the years 2008 for Class X and 2010 for Class XII are being compiled and shall be up-loaded in Website in due course. Candidate securing top 1% marks only in class XII board examination can also submit the application form.
b) Based on Performance in Competitive Examinations (specified in Table 2).: Performance
within the top 10,000 ranks in Joint Entrance Examination of IIT, AIEEE (Engineering) and CBSE medical and joining degree level courses in natural/basic sciences in any recognized Indian
institution. The candidate may apply with a valid document of these examinations. The scheme in its current format does not include courses in engineering, medicine, technology and other
professional courses.
c) Based on Performance in Competitive Examinations (specified in Table 3): Clearance of
competitive examinations conducted by institutions listed in Table 3 and all candidates securing
admissions and joining integrated M.Sc/ MS courses in natural/basic sciences conduced by Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), in Indian Institutes of Technology, Department of Atomic Energy – Centre for Basic Science (DAE-CBS) and University from the academic years 2008-09, 2009-10 ad 2010-11 are eligible. Institutional coverage is being done for this category. Students in this category need not to apply.
Value and Type of Support: Eligible candidates will receive annually scholarship @ total value
Rs.80,000 per candidate. The cash value payable to the SHE scholarship holder is Rs.60,000 per annum. All the SHE scholars are undertake summer time attachment to an active researcher in recognized research centers in the country. A summer time attachment fee of Rs.20,000 will be paid to the mentoring institution for undertaking summer time project.
Duration of the Support: Selected candidates will be supported for a maximum period of five
years starting 1st year course in B.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons) and integrated course leading to M.S. or M.Sc. or the completion of the course, which ever is earlier. Continuation of the scholarship for once selected candidates is based on satisfactory performance of the examinations conducted and certified by the institution imparting education.
Format for Application: All interested and eligible candidates (as per Table 1 for Board
examination based eligibility or as per Table 2 or Table 3 for competitive examination based
eligibility) must apply in the prescribed format written preferable in English & Hindi only along
with attested copy of i) Mark sheets of Class X and Class XII and ii) Endorsement Certificate from Principal of the College/ Director or Registrar of the Institute or University where the applicant is presently enrolled. Candidate may please download this Advertisement and Application Format which is available at the website: www. inspire-dst.gov.in and submit the duly filled-in application with all necessary documents. Applications should be sent by Ordinary Post only within one month from the date of this advertisement in Newspaper and shall be addressed to the Director, National Institute of Science, Technology & Development Studies (NISTADS), Dr K S Krishnan Marg , New Delhi – 110012. The envelope should mention on top “Application for INSPIRE Scholarship – 2008, 2009 and 2010” program. For online submission of application, kindly also visit the Website: www.inspire-dst.gov.in. The online applicants should also submit a hardcopy of the applications with all attested documents.
July 19th, 2010
Following is an excerpt from a report in sify.com.
To bridge the gap between the available skilled manpower and demand from the upcoming industries, the Orissa government today signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with eight mega industries for setting up quality Industrial Training Centres (ITCs) in the state.
… The companies which inked the agreement with the government are Orissa Power Generation Corporation (Hemagiri), Tata Power Ltd (Banki), Emami Paper Mills (Balgopalpur), RSB Metaltech (P) Ltd (Kalyansinghpur), Surrendra Mining Industries Ltd (Bonei), Monnet Ispat and Energy Ltd (Teleibani), Uttam Utkal Steels (Jhumpura), Ind-Barath Energy (Utkal) Ltd (Lakhanpur).
Though twenty seven industries and public sector undertakings had evinced interest to set up ITCs in the state, eight have signed the MoU in the first phase.
The remaining industries are expected to sign MoUs with the state government in phases.
As per the MoU, the government would identify and transfer the land required for setting up the ITCs. The sponsoring companies would have to develop the required infrastructure in those centres as per the norms of National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT). However, the mega industries would have to pay for the land whether it is government or private land.
… the admission to the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), polytechnics and degree engineering colleges has increased from 30,000 to 1.2 lakh per annum in the last decade.
May 25th, 2010
Update: Following is from Samaja.
Following is an excerpt from a report in tathya.in.
Finally it seems Tarun Kanti Mishra has come to the rescue of thousands of citizens’ genuine demand for a Medical College at Rourkela.
Chief Secretary has taken up the issue with the Secretary of the Ministry of Steel.
Citizens were demanding for the ESIC Medical College in the Steel City for more than two years.
However ESIC decided to set up the Medical College here as the State Government offered land on the outskirts of the Capital City.
… While Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has proposed to up grade Bokaro Steel Plants’ hospital to a Medical College, similar move is needed feel, Mr.Mishra.
So the Chief Secretary discussed the matter with Union Secretary Steel to set up a Medical College at Rourkela under the aegis of Ispat General Hospital (IGH).
IGH is an excellent hospital and has lot of facilities along with top medical personnel.
Now the State Government will take up the issue with Chief Minister batting for the same, said sources.
Chief Minister is likely to discuss the issue with Union Minister Steel in this regard, said sources.
For long we have been urging the Odisha government to take up with SAIL for a medical college. Finally the Odisha government came to senses. I guess better late than never. In particular we pointed out that since SAIL is making a medical college in Bokaro, it should be pursued for one in Rourkela. Following are some pointers regarding the medical college SAIL is making in Bokaro.
(i) News articles that mention this: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070226/asp/jamshedpur/story_7441681.asp
(ii) The web page of the Bokaro Ispat Educational trust which talks about this: http://www.bietrust.com/
(iii) The site http://www.hsccltd.com/secured%20projects.htm which mentions that its is doing a pre-feasibility study for SAIl medical college in Bokaro.
| 21. |
June-08 |
Prefeasibility Report for establishing Medical College at SAIL, Bokaro |
Also, some time back there was news that SAIL Rourkela was looking for renewing its mining lease. If it is still hanging, then it makes it a perfect time to broach this topic with SAIL management and the Steel Ministry in Delhi. (http://www.orissadiary.com/ShowBussinessNews.asp?id=8891 )
Some of our earlier articles mentioning this point are at:
May 17th, 2010
Following are excerpts from a report in http://www.tathya.in/news/story.asp?sno=4070.
… The institution has been named as “Mahanadi Institute of Medical Science and Research, MCL”.
This will be a 500-bed Medical College and Hospital at Talcher in Angul district.
Earlier the Board of Directors of MCL has already approved for setting up of a Medical College at Talcher by the coal company.
The institution will be managed by a trust.
Accordingly a trust has been formed and registered in the name of “Mahanadi Medical Education Trust” under Registration of Society Act-1860.
The CMD,MCL will be the Chairman of the Trust.
… The Odisha Government recently gave its no-objection certificate (NOC), said a senior official in the Department of Health & Family Welfare.
The Medical College would be set up on a 60 acre patch of land along the same lines as Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow.
… Pending laying of Foundation Stone, all other activities required for the opening of the Medical College at Talcher are being taken.
In this regard a meeting of the Trust will be held very shortly to discuss the further course of action to be taken, said the release.
MCL will also upgrade its Nehru Shatabdi hospital to a super specialty hospital, said sources.
May 12th, 2010
The web page of this contest is at http://settlement.arc.nasa.gov/Contest/. The results of the 2010 page is at http://settlement.arc.nasa.gov/Contest/Results/2010/index.html. Following sentence is from that web page.
Prateeksha Das, Ispat English Medium School, Odisha, India’s entry "Paradise Reclaimed" won the inaugural Bruce Clark Memorial scholarship which goes to the top individual entry.
She is from the 11-12 grade.
Following is from Dharitri.
Last year a team from Bhubaneswar co-won the grand prize.
May 5th, 2010
Sources suggest that the Xavier University Bill is getting finalized and may be introduced in the Odisha assembly in the upcoming assembly session. There is plan that the proposed Xavier University (which will be established by the XIMB people) will have undergraduate programs including in Arts and Commerce.
This would be a Godsend. While Odisha now has top notch programs in Engineering (at IIT, NIT, VSSUT, CIPET), Science (NISER), Law (NLUO), Business (XIMB), Social Work (NISWASS), Public Health (AIPH, and soon IIPH) and Education (RIE), and soon will have a top notch program in fashion design (NIFT) and medicine (AIIMS-like Institute), it does not have top programs in Commerce and Arts. Thus the proposed Xavier University offering these programs will fill a huge lacuna. There are several reasons I believe that the Arts and Commerce programs at the proposed Xavier University will be top notch.
- They have track record in Odisha and India. Their XIMB is among the top ranked business schools in the country.
- The top ranked Arts and Commerce programs in the country include many other sister Jesuit institutions such as Loyola Colleges, St. Xavier’s colleges and St. Joseph’s colleges.
- Xavier University being a university will be able to modernize and revise its programs at will and thus will have advantage over other colleges that need to work with their universities. (Some of the top ranked colleges are now autonomous though.)
- Many of the other top ranked colleges are uni-disciplinary. Xavier University will be able to share faculty among multiple programs and thus able to create more multi-dimensional programs.
The proposed Xavier University offering top notch arts and commerce programs would help the other institutions to improve their arts and commerce programs and may even encourage other groups (such as KIIT and ITER) to establish good programs in Arts and commerce.
Thus the Odisha government should not delay and speed up the creation of Xavier University.
Following is from India Today’s 2009 list of top ranked Arts and Commerce programs in India.
May 2nd, 2010
Following is from the page http://rrrlf.nic.in/aboutfrm.htm.
RRRLF is a central autonomous organization established and fully financed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. RRRLF is registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961. It is the nodal agency of the Governemnt of India to support public library services and systems and promote public library movement in the country commensurate with the objectives as embodied in its Memorandum of Association.
… The Foundation works in close association and active cooperation with different State Govts. and Union Territory Administrations through a machinery called State Library Planning Committee (SLPC/SLC) set up in each State at the instance of the Foundation. To participate in Foundation’s programmes, a State Government/U.T. is required to contribute a certain amount fixed by the Foundation.
Since 2005-06 the Foundation has also taken up the initiative to develop the District Youth Resource Centre (DYRC) in collaboration with Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathana, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs.
The objectives of RRRLF, as listed in http://rrrlf.nic.in/objecfrm.htm are as follows:
RRRLF function as a promotional agency, an advisory and consultancy organisation a funding body for public library developement in India. Some important objectives are :
|
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to promote library movement in the country ;
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to enunciate a national library policy and to help build up a national library system ; |
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to provide financial and technical assistance to libraries ; |
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to provide financial assistance to organisations, regional or national engaged in the promotion of library developement ; |
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to publish appropriate literature and to act as a clearing house of ideas and information on library developement in India and abroad ;
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to promote research in problems of library developement ; |
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to advise the government on all matters pertaining to the library developement in the country. |
As per http://hkmsl.gov.in/librariesorissa.htm Odisha collaborates with RRRLF for its libraries.
April 25th, 2010
For additional background and the list of 123 EBBs in Odisha see http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/1689. Following is from the PIB http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=60782.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the setting up of 1000 additional model schools as a benchmark of excellence in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs) through State Governments, thereby taking the total number of model schools to be set up through the State Governments to 3500.
The financial requirement for setting up 2500 schools under State Governments, which were approved by CCEA in November 2008, was estimated as Rs.9322 crore during the 11th Five Year Plan, of which the central share is Rs.7457 crore. Requirement for additional 1000 schools (current proposal) has been estimated to be Rs.3304 crore with the Central share of Rs.2478 crore. Thus the estimated Central share for establishing 3500 schools in the Government sector is Rs.9935 crore during the 11th Five Year Plan.
Each school will have 560 students, the total beneficiary for 3500 schools therefore being 19.60 lakh students. The programme will be implemented through the societies set up by the State Governments for this purpose.
The present proposal is meant for 3500 EBBs in 27 States/UTs, although the model school scheme will cover 6000 blocks in all States/UTs.
The salient features of the Scheme are as follows:
(i) Every EBB will be eligible for one model school under State Governments.
(ii) These schools to have classes from VI to XII or from IX to XII.
(iii) These schools to have norms and standards equal to or better than Kendriya Vidyalayas
(iv) Medium of instruction and affiliating board will be decided by the State Governments.
(v) 75% of the recurring and non-recurring cost, subject to scheme norms, will be borne by the Central Government except for special category states, for which the sharing pattern is 90:10.
The major impact of the scheme will be to open up access to quality secondary education to talented rural students. The scheme is expected to provide a major fillip to availability of good quality schools in rural areas, thereby nurturing talent in such areas. These schools are expected to act as pace-setting institutions and to have a demonstration effect on neighbouring schools.
April 24th, 2010
Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard by Bishnu Das.
The state government, in its proposal, has proposed to convert the existing Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (IED) at Bhubaneswar, a nodal agency of the Orissa government, to a national level institute for MSMEs. The proposed national institute for MSME would be in line with National Institute of Enterprise and Business Development, Noida, National Institute of MSME, at Hyderabad and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship located at Guwahati. Since the Union government plans to set up three such new centres in the country, the state government intends to cash in on the opportunity. The state government has offered to provide the infrastructure including land belonging to IED for setting up this institute.
April 20th, 2010
Following is an excerpt from a report in Times of India.
The MSC Ed, an integrated six-year course (12 semesters), introduced in 2008 is the right way to master teaching skills. Offering quality teacher education programmes is the Regional Institute of Education that include innovative pre-service and in-service teacher training programmes and relevant research, development and extension activities.
The institute started as Regional College of Education in 1963, changed the name in 1994. It is one of the five such institutions established by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi. The other institutes are located at Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar and Shilong.
Prior to the six-year course, there was a two-year MSC Ed course for those who had completed BSC Ed, said Regional Institute of Education Principal GT Bhandage. "It had a good response and the students from all over the country would appear for the entrance exam. This course was conceived essentially to meet the demand of the higher secondary level in specific subjects like physics, chemistry and mathematics. Students who have passed out from this course were absorbed by Navodaya and Kendriya Vidyalaya," added Bhandage.
In 2008, MSC Ed course was introduced after completion of II PUC or equivalent. The idea was to catch them young and train them with pedagogic skills and develop adequate content competency crucial to a teacher education programme, said Bhandage.
The six years integrated course is a combination of BSc and MSC. The first four years, students study physics, chemistry and mathematics while in fifth and final year they can choose a specialization subject.
After completion of the course one can get into Higher Secondary Schools or can do research.
… The admissions are made on all India basis through an entrance exam. The selection will be based on the performance in the qualifying exam and entrance exam.
For details log on to www.riemysore.ac.in or call 514515/ 2514095.
RIE Mysore has a website at www.riemysore.ac.in. I have not been able to find a web site for RIE Bhubaneswar. I wonder if RIE Bhubaneswar offers such a course.
Considering the implementation of RTE, there is a big need for more and better trained teachers and educational administrators (headmasters, principals, vice-principals, etc.). To achieve that the government of India should upgrade the RIEs to National Institutes of Education and make them Institutions of National Importance. This will attract the attention of more good students towards a teaching and teaching administration career. The government should incraese the number of seats and number of programs in these institutes and intrdoce programs for creating top-notch Educational administrators.
April 14th, 2010
Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph:
The association’s board of governors has recommended the feasibility of 78 more Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV) as part of the process initiated by the HRD ministry for expanding the network of such central schools during the 11th plan period. The feasibility report included two KVs in Cuttack along with nine others across Orissa to address the educational needs of children of central government employees who are frequently transferred.
At present, there are 36 KVs in Orissa. While nine schools are in the project and defence sectors, the rest are in the civil sector.
The existing 36 Kendriya Vidyalayas are listed in http://kvsrobbs.org/DirectorKVs.html. As per that list the latest ones established in 2007 are in Rayagada, Parlakhemundi, Boudh, Malkangiri, Nawrangpur, Kandhamal, and Bhadrak. So the districts in Odisha that do not yet have Central Schools are:
- Deogarh
- Jajpur
- Kendrapada
- Nayagarh
- Nuapada
- Sonepur
I hope the new ones will cover these districts.
See our earlier articles on this topic at http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/556, http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/550 and http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/227.
April 9th, 2010
Following is from http://www.dst.gov.in/whats_new/whats_new10/fellowship10.pdf.Thanks to a reader for the pointer.
April 8th, 2010
Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard.
… The HRD Ministry is set to revise its vocational education scheme under which the students will have the option to pursue vocational studies as an exclusive stream on par with arts, science and commerce.
The revised scheme, modelled on the pattern of vocational education in Australia and Germany, is expected to be announced next month.
"Students can study exclusively vocational education at Class-XI and XII. This will be an additional stream to the existing streams of science, arts and commerce," a senior Ministry official told PTI.
The focus of the revised vocational education stream will be industry collaboration at all stages, starting with designing of the courses, teaching and work experience in industry.
It will ensure employability of the students. Students can join any job or pursue further studies in professional courses like B.Tech after completing vocational courses.
… The vocational stream will offer a number of courses in areas like hospitality, automobile sector, paramedics, cooking, truck driving, manufacturing, graphics designing and animation, the official said.
Under vocational stream, the programmes will comprise 70 per cent of subject specific studies and 30 per cent general studies like English and communicative skills.
The revised scheme will be implemented across the country with 100 per cent Central assistance. The government has earmarked Rs 2,000 crore in the 11th Plan for this scheme. The Ministry is preparing a note for approval of Expenditure Finance Committee. Then it will go for Cabinet’s approval.
This is a great direction. When mainstream colleges start offering vocational courses and these programs have tie-up with industries that hire the graduates in apprentice positions with good prospects, the stigma associated with vocational programs in the mind of a typical middle class family in India would significantly reduce.
April 6th, 2010
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