Schools, colleges and universities from across the UK can now apply for government funding from a 110-million pound to enable students to study and work across the globe, including in India, as part of the new Turing Scheme.
Named after celebrated English mathematician and code breaker Alan Turing, the new scheme marks a major post-Brexit move as it replaces the European Union (EU) specific student exchange programme called Erasmus, as a means to widen the network of students travelling to study abroad.
The Department for Education (DfE) confirmed that India, already a top source of international students to the UK, may well be among the leading list of countries with which UK universities seek to strike student exchange projects.
"The Turing Scheme is a truly global programme with every country in the world eligible to partner with UK universities, schools and colleges.
Tata Motors Launches 'Wheels of Love'
Tata Motors launched 'Wheels of Love', a holistic programme that supports new parents in the workforce.
This is a move to promote a progressive culture of care, inclusion and sensitisation within the organisation across levels. A specially curated book, also aptly titled, Wheels of Love, puts forth various beliefs to enable new and expectant parents to successfully manage the needs of a growing family while also fulfilling their career goals.
This guide book also provides valuable insights for managers to support their team members as they progress through the various stages of parenthood.
CBSE Launches Artificial Intelligence Platform
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) launched an artificial intelligence-driven platform- 'AI student community', in collaboration with Intel. Through this platform, students can participate together and share their experiences.
The platform will also focus on creating AI-enabled social impact solutions and spreading awareness of artificial intelligence. Through different types of programmes delivered on this platform, the students will be able to participate in national and international competitions, as per CBSE.
Interested students can register at the official website- cbseacademic.nic.in under the tab 'AI Student and Community'. They have to create their login id and password.
Maths, Physics, Chemistry not Compulsory for Engineering Admissions
In a major change in the eligibility criteria for engineering courses, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the technical education regulator, has made Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) optional for students who wish to pursue technical courses like biotechnology, textile or agriculture engineering at the undergraduate level. However, PCM remains mandatory for most engineering subjects like computer science.
In a virtual release of the handbook, AICTE chairperson Anil Sahasrabudhe said that the revised regulation is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) vision that encourages flexibility in the choice of subjects. "In 2010, AICTE made only physics and maths mandatory for nearly seven to eight subjects. We have been facing challenges as new disciplines have emerged where many students questioned why they have to study chemistry when they don't use it in their entire career. Similarly, many students demanded to study biology as they need to pursue biotechnology. Therefore, we are creating a new window for students who have either not taken maths or physics or chemistry but can enter into engineering," Sahasrabudhe said.
Mar 14, 2021
Anna University Pulled up for Giving Reservation to EWS
The Anna University was pulled up by the Madras High Court for allegedly providing 10 per cent reservation, within the 49.5 per cent reservation, to candidates belonging to economically weaker sections (EWS) in admission to M Tech Biotechnology and M Tech Computational Technology courses.
"The (earlier) orders passed by this court should be carried out in full and any deviation will attract the consequences. The newly introduced reservation clause has created unnecessary confusion," Justice B Pugalendhi said.
The judge made the observation when pleas from two aspiring candidates came up.
The university had suspended the two courses, following the insistence of the Centre that it should adhere to its 49.5 per cent reservation alone and not the 69 per cent quota policy of the Tamil Nadu government in the admission of students to these two courses.
The judge in February had directed the University to admit students to the two courses following the Central government's 49.5 per cent reservation for the current academic year.
IIT-Delhi, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Partner to Support for Interdisciplinary Research
Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi announced its partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (HUJI) to support collaborative and interdisciplinary education and research initiatives. Student exchange is another key partnership priority, which will help students get benefitted from the academic and entrepreneurial environments of the two institutions.
IIT Delhi lays great emphasis on international collaborations. Both the institutions have agreed to seed fund researchers in their respective institutions to collaborate with each other. These interactions will lead to long term partnerships between the two institutions benefiting the two countries.
Mar 13, 2021
Samsung Opens New Innovation Lab at Delhi Technological University
Samsung India has inaugurated a Samsung Innovation Lab at Delhi Technological University (DTU) under the Samsung Innovation Campus initiative.
At the lab, students and faculty at DTU will work on advanced technology training as well as joint research collaborations on domains such as Application Framework, Multimedia, Health and Security.
With this addition, Samsung now has eight technical labs spread across the country as part of its Samsung Innovation Campus initiative, which was earlier called Samsung Digital Academy.
As part of the lab, engineers at Samsung R&D Institute, Noida (SRI-N) will work on collaborative research projects with DTU students and faculty on smartphone domains based on technology areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Computer Vision. So far, over 200 students have worked with SRI-N engineers on research projects and have received training.
Mar 12, 2021
IGNOU Launches MA in Folklore and Culture Studies through ODL Mode
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) launched a post graduate (MA) programme in folklore and culture studies. The course is being offered by School of Inter-Disciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary Studies at IGNOU through open distance learning (ODL) mode.
According to IGNOU, the programme aims to find out the relation between folk culture and context through various frameworks borrowed from disciplines such as literature, history, sociology, anthropology, folklore studies and emerging disciplines such as culture studies.
The course will focus on time, geography, space and literature of the folklore and culture of the world in general, and of the country in particular. The programme coordinator is professor Nandini Sahu.
Canada Appoints First Woman to Number Two Military Post
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saluted the first appointment of a woman to Canada's second-highest military post, which came amid a shakeup of the top ranks over allegations of sexual misconduct.
Lieutenant-General Frances Allen has been named vice chief of the defence staff.
DBS Bank India Joins Hands with TRRAIN
In line with its commitment towards creating and preserving livelihoods, DBS Bank India announced its partnership with TRRAIN (Trust for Retailers & Retail Associates of India), a non-profit engaged in training and placement of youth in e-commerce & retail sectors.
The partnership will support youth from low-income households by providing them with long-term employment opportunities.
Through the partnership, DBS will facilitate the skills training and employment of individuals affected by the pandemic and persons with disabilities through a one-year-long pan-India programme, a combination of classroom and online training sessions. The training will be conducted at TRRAIN centres across major cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi-NCR region, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, among others.
Mar 11, 2021
Odisha Schools Start Smart Classes in Remote Areas
Students of a high school in a remote area of Odisha's Koraput district are experiencing an all-new method of teaching as the administration has converted their traditional classroom into smart classes.
The classes now experience high-speed internet, interactive screen, web cameras, digital podium, 3-D animation, graphs, interactive topographical sheets, animated videos, and virtual laboratories for science. Moreover, teachers of Kumuli high school under Borigumma block also learn about the level of students and their learning process.
It's an attempt to bridge the digital divide and to provide students with a better classroom experience. Undoubtedly, the smart classes will enhance the student-teacher interaction and will give students a better understanding of concepts.