Odisha HRD

IIT Bhubaneswar landscape in January 2011

January 30th, 2011

NISER Bhubaneswar boundary as visible from the Jatani – Khurda road

January 30th, 2011

Vedanta University – Its importance to Odisha and India. Version 1.3 (Report by Odisha World-Class Universities Support Group)

The report is at http://bit.ly/vu-report .

Current Members of “Odisha World-Class Universities Support Group” that are listed in that report are: 

Academics

1. Dr. Abani Patra, Professor, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, USA
2. Dr. Amiya Kumar Rath, Professor and Director, College of Engineering (CEB), Bhubaneswar
3. Dr. Arun Pujari, Professor, University of Hyderabad (Currently Vice Chancellor, Sambalpur University, Odisha)
4. Dr. Chitta Baral, Professor, Arizona State University, USA
5. Dr. Chitta Ray, Professor, University of Hawaii, USA
6. Dr. Dhanada Mishra, Chairman, Human Development Foundation, Bhubaneswar
7. Dr. Durga Mishra, Professor, New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA
8. Dr. Gautam Das, Professor, University of Texas at Arlington, USA
9. Dr. Manmohan Mohanti, Retired Professor (Emeritus), Geology, Utkal University (Currently at Nimapara near Bhubaneswar)
10. Dr. Nihar Ranjan Das, Research Fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi
11. Nitai Dhal, Trustee, Silicon Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar
12. Dr. Pranay Swain, UNICEF-OPEPA, ex-faculty IIM Calcutta (Currently at Bhubaneswar)
13. Dr. Prasant Mohapatra, Professor, University of California at Davis, USA
14. Dr. Rabi Mahapatra, Professor, Texas A & M University, USA
15. Dr. Rabi Nayak, Professor, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (retired), Currently at NISER Bhubaneswar
16. Dr. Ramakrushna Pradhan, Research Scholar, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi
17. Sahadeva Sahoo, Ex-Vice Chancellor OUAT, Ex-Chief Secretary Government of Odisha (Currently at Bhubaneswar)
18. Sanjeev Nayak, Trustee, Silicon Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar
19. Dr. Sumanta Swain, Senior Research Officer, International Institute of Health Management Research New Delhi
20. Dr. Siba P. Misra, Retired Professor and Director, Institute of Physics Bhubaneswar, Ex-President Orissa Bigyan Academy, Ex-President Orissa Information Technology Society (Resides in Bhubaneswar)
21. Dr. Sunil Sarangi, Professor, IIT Kharagpur, Ex-Director, NIT Rourkela, Odisha
22. Dr. Supriti Mishra, Fullbright Scholar, Professor, HDF Business School, Bhubaneswar
23. Dr. Trailokya Nath Naik, Ex-Deputy Director, National Institute of Cholera & Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, Currently at Bhubaneswar after a stint at NISER, Bhubaneswar.

 Others (some associated with academia)

1. Basant Barik, Credit Suisse, Singapore
2. Devasis Sarangi, Invest Bhubaneswar and the upcoming TIE Odisha Chapter, Bhubaneswar
3. Dhirendra Kar, Entrepreneur, North Carolina USA and Bhubaneswar
4. Nirakar Sahoo, NRO in Maryland, USA (VSSUT Graduate)
5. Pradosh Sahoo, Student at an IIT, Bhubaneswar
6. Priyadarshi Mishra, Chairperson, Skill Odisha Initiative, Bhubaneswar
7. Purna Mohanty, Technology Entrepreneur and SEED Investor, Silicon Valley, CA, USA, Member, TiE Silicon Valley, Member, Invest Bhubaneswar Silicon Valley
8. Sujeet Jena, Financial Controller, University of New South Wales Foundation, Australia
9. Surya Rath, Editor of Artfair, Bhubaneswar/Puri
10. Tejeswar Parida, President, Delhi Odisha Students Association (DOSA), Delhi
11. Umashankar Das, Entrepreneur Hyderabad/Bangalore  

(Note: A facebook site in support of Vedanta University has about 1200 “likes” and its companion facebook account has about 500 “friends”; about 300 of them are common. The site is http://www.facebook.com/vedantau and the account is http://www.facebook.com/vedantauniv.)

2 comments January 29th, 2011

India’s Supreme Court takes up the appeal by the Odisha government and Vedanta University against the high court judgment

Following is an excerpt from a report in Economic Times.

 

The Supreme Court on Friday admitted petitions of Anil Agarwal Foundation and the Orissa government challenging the Orissa High Court , which ruled acquisition of over 6,000 hectares for an international university in Puri was illegal. …

The state government and Anil Agarwal Foundation, in separate special leave petitions told the apex court that the appellant foundation is a public limited company under the Companies Act.

The state government argued that the land acquired for the mega university was not illegal. The high court had held that land acquisition was not permissible under Section 40(1)( a) of the Land Acquisition Act. Earlier, two different benches of the apex court refused to hear the case as one judge, each, was linked to the adjudication of the issue earlier. The petitions were admitted by a bench comprising Justice DK Jain and Justice HL Dattu.

… Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had made a statement in the assembly denying that an ordinance was passed to build the university. "The reference to the ordinance is baffling. The fact is that no ordinance has ever been promulgated by the government for establishing the proposed Vedanta University. Under the UGC Regulations , 2003, a university can be set up by an Act of Parliament or state legislature by a Section 25 company or a trust or a registered society. The promoter of the proposed university, the foundation is a "not for profit" company registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act" .

 

Following is an excerpt from a report in Indian Express. 

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Orissa government to maintain status quo on acquisition of 6,000 hectares of land for setting up an international university by UK-based Vedanta group in the holy city of Puri.

A Bench of Justices D K Jain and H L Dattu passed the order on appeals filed by the Orissa government and the Anil Agarwal Foundation against an Orissa High Court decision that land acquisition procedures for the proposed university project was illegal.

This has been widely reported in various media but most have not analysed the ruling properly. The best analysis is done in the Odia paper Sambada. Following are screen copies from its site.

January 29th, 2011

IIT Bhubaneswar gets the largest endowment for a chair professorship in India?

Following is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.

The State-based MGM Group, which is one of the oldest mines operators and setting up an integrated steel plant in Dhenkanal district, has upgraded its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the city-based Indian Institute of Technology in July last year, for establishing a chair professor of Eminence for five years to MGM chair professor on a permanent basis.

The revised MoU was signed here on Monday between director of IIT Bhubaneswar Prof M Chakraborty and MGM group chairman Dr RL Mohanty for establishing the MGM chair professor in Minerals, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering in the IIT on a permanent basis. For the purpose, the MGM group has agreed to raise the corpus of `1.5 crore promised earlier to `3 crore. It is the largest endowment for a chair professorship in India.

January 28th, 2011

International Management Institute New Delhi Requires Director for its Bhubaneshwar & Delhi Campuses

Following is from http://www.imi.edu/Admin/WhatsNew/Uploads/directorAD.pdf.

International Management Institute New Delhi Requires Director for its Bhubaneshwar & Delhi Campuses

Candidate should have

1. PhD/ Fellow in Management related Disciplines from a leading University/ Institute (India or abroad).

2. Age – 45 -60

3. Published research papers in Peer-reviewed Journals, e.g.: Journals of leading IIMs, referred International Journals, etc.

4. Experience – at least 15 years, teaching experience/ Research/ Industry Experience with minimum 10 years as Full Professor in a leading Institution.

5. Consultancy / MDP – desirable to have extensive experience in Consultancy and Training

6. Networking  — Should have done professional networking for business development with various professional bodies, Institutions, and or Government bodies.

7. High credibility in Education field and industry

Compensation is best in the industry. Interested applicants may apply by February 5, 2011 to director@imi.edu

January 22nd, 2011

Construction status of AIIMS-like institute in Bhubaneswar

Following is from a report in TOI.

A barren stretch of land interspersed with a few rickety structures, construction equipment and promontories of red earth are all that greets a visitor at the proposed site for AIIMS here. While in Bhopal, Patna, Rishikesh and Jodhpur, the construction work of the hospital is nearing completion, Bhubaneswar is still struggling with bricks and mortar, making its ability to meet the construction deadline of mid-2012 an unattainable target.

At Sijua village on the outskirts of the city, where the speciality health centre is coming up, only foundation work was visible. The residential buildings are only 30 per cent complete. Even engineers felt the deadline for the 978-bed hospital, under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, with 15 super speciality and 18 speciality wards, would be difficult to meet.

The civil work for the residential buildings, including type-2, type-3 quarters and bungalows for the AIIMS director, which started in the last week of May 2010, is supposed to be completed by August 2011 (in 15 months).

Similarly, work for the medical college and hospital buildings, which started in the middle of September 2010, is supposed to be completed by September 2012 (24 months from the commencement of work). "The deadline will be hard to meet," said an engineer. …

But deputy secretary, Union ministry of health, Sube Singh, is confident the project will be commissioned in time in the second half of 2012. "The initial hurdles have been removed. The work is going on at a good pace," he said.

A fortnightly progress review of the Rs 820.49-crore project is being done by the health ministry.

The progress in the past two months has been satisfactory, another senior health department official said. Procurement of medical equipment and allied work are being undertaken simultaneously to avoid delay in commissioning of the hospital, he said.

I went to construction site. Indeed there has not been a whole lot of progress. But I could see construction going on in a break-neck speed. The person in charge seemed very hard working and it seemed like things were under control. My impression was that they could do enough construction to start classes in 2012. 

January 21st, 2011

Odisha goverment must take timely steps to get one of the new IIITs in 2011-12

Following is an excerpt from a report in Deccan Chronicle about efforts in Andhra Pradesh.

The Union HRD ministry has written to the state government, expressing its willingness to allot one IIIT to the state. It has asked for proposals to be submitted immediately.

In response to this, Mr Damodara Rajanarasimha, minister for higher and technical education, said: “We have convened a meeting with officials of higher and technical education departments to discuss the Centre’s proposal this week. Initially, we will identify the suitable cities and about 50 acres required for the purpose of setting up the institute. Based on this, we will submit a report to the UMHRD after shortlisting the location.”

4 comments January 4th, 2011

Union Cabinet approved setting up of 20 new IIITs (December 2010)

Somehow we missed this news earlier. Following is from the PIB release http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=68209.

January 4th, 2011

IIIT bill to come up in Budget session of the parliament in March

Following is from a report in expressbuzz.com.

In order to set up 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) with a public private partnership (PPP) model, the Centre has decided to introduce the Institutes of Information Technology Bill 2010 in the Budget session of the Parliament.

The Human Resource Development Ministry has prepared the draft Bill to allow the setting up of institutes in PPP mode which can function with complete autonomy and at the same time with professionalism and integrity. The Bill also proposes to declare the IIIT, Kancheepuram, Pandit Dwarka Prasad Mishra IIIT, Jabalpur, Atal Bihari Vajpayee IIIT, Gwalior and IIIT, Allahabad as institutions of national importance, retaining the individuality and autonomy of each institute.

The new IIITs would offer under-graduate, masters and PhD programmes.

Each institute will have an intake capacity of about 1,000 students within a period of six to seven years of their functioning.

The capital cost of each IIIT would be `128 crore to be contributed in the ratio of 50:35:15 by the central government, the state government and the industry respectively. Land for the institutes would be provided by the states, for a completely integrated campus with science and technology parks.

Each institute will specialise on specific area of Information Technology and each IIIT would be a centre of excellence in that domain. The project would start from the financial year 2011-12 with setting up five to 10 IIITs depending upon the response of the state governments and private partners, according to sources.

The draft bill mentioned above is available at http://www.education.nic.in/Acts/IIITBill-2010.pdf.

January 2nd, 2011

XIMB University plans; the university may be at Sambalpur

Thanks to reader Jitu for the pointer. Following are excerpts from an interview in pagalguy.com.

Bhubhaneswar-based Xavier’s Institute of Management (XIMB) is in the process of turning into a university soon, its Director Fr PT Joseph, SJ tells PaGaLGuY. In this interview, he also speaks about the curriculum changes the institute is planning for its Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) and the PGDM Rural Management courses.

What changes can the incoming batch of 2013 look forward to benefitting from at XIMB?

From the point of view of the fulltime programme students, we will be revising the curriculum a little bit next year. Apart from that, although it doesn’t directly affect PGDM or PGDM(RM) students, but we have started a 1-year advanced management programme on Resettlement and Rehabilitation and Corporate Social Responsibility for 15 executives of Uttarakhand’s Tehri Hydro Development Corporation. This along with our other initiatives in the rural management and social sector will continue to be under focus in the coming year.

Are you looking at an increase in intake for any of the the two-year programmes?

We were looking at expansion in the number of seats but the proposal hasn’t gone past AICTE’s regulations. But we may become a university soon and therefore increase intake from a university perspective. That process might take one or two months to finalize, but we are in the process of becoming a university.

Would that mean that the PGDM degrees would be offered as full-fledged MBA degrees under the XIMB University?

The PGDM will still remain as an AICTE-approved course, it may not become a university degree for now. But after we get university status we may start some other type of programmes under the university. Right now we have gotten the government sanction of Rs 10 crores and are involved with acquiring the necessary land for the University in Sambalpur. Until land is acquired, which is priority for now, we aren’t in a position to share more details.

What is XIMB’s faculty strength now and how are you thinking about expanding it?

As of now we are 55 in total. One more is joining in December and another two may join in January 2011. We hire faculty whenever we come across somebody good. For example, one of the faculty joining next is a Cornell University PhD with lots of experience. Another person in the recruitment process has worked in Netherlands and has a PhD from Korea.

What kind of curriculum changes are you going to make in the PGDM and PGDM(RM) courses before the next batch joins?

We have already started a new course on Environment and Sustainability which is mandatory for all the 180 PGDM students. There’s another mandatory course on Emotional quotient and Leadership. Next, we are planning a meeting of all the faculty on the January 12, 2011. Before that meeting, a committee is preparing the background papers by looking at changes in the global and Indian economy. Only after the January 12 meeting will a clear picture emerge about the exact changes.

But speaking in general, we’ve been teaching management that is too bifurcated by specialization in our view. As you know, students choose to go for either marketing or finance or other specializations during the course. We are having a feeling that there should be some integration between these specializations by changing their content and give each course a holistic approach. For example, we know that there is a good market for inkjet printer cartridges. But inkjet cartridge production also generates a large amount of waste and affects the environment. So when we teach either of marketing or production management, we need to also bring awareness of sustainability in and show how both marketing and production are linked. If we can do this, we will not only make better managers but also better human beings. Apart from that, we would like to increase our connection with the bottom of the pyramid. We have a very strong programme in which all 180 PGDM students went and stayed in villages for 3 days. We want to increase their exposure to bottom of the pyramid and to leadership. We would also like to focus on ways to increase mentoring from faculty and senior students.

2 comments January 1st, 2011

Construction site pictures of IMI Bhubaneswar campus on 29th December 2010; suggests good progress towards 2011 opening

The following picture is taken near the main construction entrance looking to the left.

The following picture shows the main construction entrance and a distant look on the buildings on the left.

The following picture is taken from the construction entrance looking to the right.

The following picture is taken from the construction entrance looking to the far right.

The folloiwng picture is a close-up view to the right.

The following picture is taken from the inside of IIIT Bhubaneswar. The building on the left are the IIIT hostels. The faraway buildings in the center and the right are the IMI buildings. This picture shows that IIIT and IMI are adjacent to each other.

3 comments December 30th, 2010

A Compendium on Vedanta University in Facebook : bit.ly/vedantau

Following is the content from http://on.fb.me/vedantau.

In less than three months we have created a sizable compendium on Vedanta University, mostly based on information collected from the web. They are available in the page http://www.facebook.com/vedantau . Given below are the links to important parts of that collection.

Please share this with your friends in FB or otherwise and urge them to explore it. We need to spread this information so that more and more people (especially from Odisha and India) are aware of the benefits of this university and its importance to Odisha and India and are not swayed by misinformation spread by some vested interests. This is an opportunity of a millennium for Odisha and we must not miss this.

1. http://bit.ly/vedantau-radio : A radio interview of the main architect of Vedanta University. It was done by a radio station in the US in 2007. It will tell you everything about the university and the motivation behind it.

2. http://bit.ly/vedantau-video2 : A video interview of Anil Agarwal by Charlie Rose of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) of USA. He talks about the Vedanta University and how it came about. 

3. http://bit.ly/vedantau1 : A 43 page pdf document by me titled "Vedanta University: Its importance to Odisha and India." This document address the significance and importance of Vedanta University for Odisha and India through the following points.

• http://on.fb.me/vedantau1-1 : India currently does not have a single world class university.

• http://on.fb.me/vedantau1-2 : Vedanta University has a chance of becoming India’s first world class university.

• http://on.fb.me/vedantau1-3 : The role of private funding in making world-class universities in India; the advantage of Vedanta University

• http://on.fb.me/vedantau1-4 : Impact of Vedanta University on Bhubaneswar-Puri area, on Odisha and on India

In addition it addresses the following frequently asked questions (FAQs):

• http://on.fb.me/vedantau-faq0 : Why does Vedanta University needs so much land?

• http://on.fb.me/vedantau-faq2 : Why should we believe that Mr. Anil Agarwal will indeed keep his promise and donate $1 Billion for this university?

• http://on.fb.me/vedantau-faq3 : What progress has been made towards making Vedanta University?

• http://on.fb.me/vedantau-faq4 : Why is there opposition to Vedanta University in Odisha? What about the high court case verdict on land acquisition?

4. http://on.fb.me/vedantau-s1 : Why Vedanta University is important for Odisha? A statement by Dr. Dhanada Mishra, Bhubaneswar.

5. http://on.fb.me/vedantau-s2 : Vedanta University – Will You Gain? A slide presentation by Devasis Sarangi, Bhubaneswar

6. http://on.fb.me/vedantau-s4 : Vedanta University is an academic question. An appeal to Odisha academics by Professor S P Misra, Bhubaneswar.

7. http://on.fb.me/vedantau-s5  : Why we need Vedanta University in Odisha? A statement by Manmohan Dash, currently at Bhubaneswar.

8. http://on.fb.me/vedantau-s6 : Why Vedanta University is important for Odisha? A statement by Sujeet Jena, originally from Puri, Currently in Sydney, Australia. 

9. http://on.fb.me/vedantau-s7 :  I am propagating the project. What will I get? Umashankar Das (currently at Bangalore) answers questions posed to him on his support for Vedanta University.

1 comment December 23rd, 2010

Save Vedanta University in Puri Campaign in Facebook and beyond

Dear all:

By now most of you must be aware that the Odisha government as well as the Vedanta University authorities have gone to Supreme Court. One can draw two inferences from that.

(i) The Odisha government is standing behind its decision. [Some may consider that it did not have a choice. Perhaps. On the other hand, in the past, the CM had disassociated himself from people (ministers and officers) linked to controversies so that he does not get tainted. He could have done that here. But he seems to be standing behind the project and believe in it and its importance to Odisha. He seems to have taken a personal risk to his reputation by standing behind the project.]

(ii) The fact that the Vedanta University people also went to the supreme court means that they are still interested in having it in Odisha.

Now Supreme Court will take its time in giving a verdict. I am not sure if we can write to the supreme court or not. I am trying to find out as we do not want to take any missteps.

While hoping that the Supreme Court gives a favorable (towards Vedanta Univ) verdict, we should not just wait and do nothing. From past experience we know that the opponents will still try to create problems even after a favorable (towards Vedanta Univ) supreme court verdict.

So we must continue our efforts to spread the positives and virtues of Vedanta University and its impact on Odisha and India. We are doing that in facebook. Please help us there as well as through other channels of your choice.

The point is that the parameters of this project is unprecedented in India. Thus there is misunderstanding and opposition. The government is not doing that good a job in countering the misinformation. Nevertheless, the people who understand the project and its unprecedented implications to Odisha (that is we) must do our part. In the west when there is a controversial project, people from both sides speak. In Odisha the opponents are often small but make a lot of noise and drama while the supporters mostly keep quiet. With that happening repeatedly no wonder Odisha despite being resource rich it is at the bottom of most human development parameters. We need to break that pattern starting from this project.

We need to come out in the open and speak up.

To help in that we have consolidated various information on the issue at http://on.fb.me/vedantau . I am giving them below. Please read some of the statements in that list. It is very encouraging. If you have not done so, please write your statement and send them to me. I would still like to make a collection of those statements and give it to various people in Odisha.

Links to some of the statements:

4. http://on.fb.me/vedantau-s1 : Why Vedanta University is important for Odisha? A statement by Dr. Dhanada Mishra, Bhubaneswar.

5. http://on.fb.me/vedantau-s2 : Vedanta University – Will You Gain? A slide presentation by Devasis Sarangi, Bhubaneswar

6. http://on.fb.me/vedantau-s4 : Vedanta University is an academic question. An appeal to Odisha academics by Professor S P Misra, Bhubaneswar.

7. http://on.fb.me/vedantau-s5  : Why we need Vedanta University in Odisha? A statement by Manmohan Dash, currently at Bhubaneswar.

8. http://on.fb.me/vedantau-s6 : Why Vedanta University is important for Odisha? A statement by Sujeet Jena, originally from Puri, Currently in Sydney, Australia.

9. http://on.fb.me/vedantau-s7 :  I am propagating the project. What will I get? Umashankar Das (currently at Bangalore) answers questions posed to him on his support for Vedanta University.

Action Items:

(a) Please spread the word.
(b) Send me your statements (if you have not done so)
(c) Show support in face book: Click on "like" in http://www.facebook.com/vedantau

We now have more than 1200  well educated people (mostly Odias) openly showing their support in Facebook through likes and friends links. More than 70% of them are from India. So this is not an NRI thing. On purpose we focused on India.

(d) In general, lets not sit quiet; lets do our part as a well-wisher of Odisha.

best regards
Chitta Baral

December 23rd, 2010

NISER Bhubaneswar advertises for faculty position in Mathematics; first date February, 5th, 2011

Following is from http://www.niser.ac.in/notices/2010/Advt_FC_Math.pdf.

The National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) has been setup at Bhubaneswar by the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India as a unique institution of its kind pursuing undergraduate and post-graduate education in science combined with frontline research. NISER is being setup in a sprawling 300 acre campus about 3 km from Khurda Road Railway Station on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar overlook- ing Barunei Hills. It will be a fully residential campus with modern living amenities including children’s school and health centre. Presently NISER is functioning from its own Academic Building of about 5000 m2 area within the Institute of Physics campus. It is expected to move to the main campus by the academic session of 2012-13.

NISER invites applications for the following positions in the School of Mathematical Sciences from extremely motivated Indian scientists with a high-profile research agenda and a flair for teaching especially at the under- graduate level.

POSITIONS 1. Assistant Professor

• Pay Band -3: Rs. 15,600 – 39,100    Grade Pay- Rs. 7,600/-    Initial Basic Pay: 29,500*/-

• NISER has provision for advance increments maximum up to 5 to the selected candidates depending upon their post doctoral experience and quality of publications. Accordingly, the above initial basic pay may increase.

• Educational Qualification & Experience: A Ph.D. degree in the relevant discipline from a reputed and recognized university or institute. Three years of postdoctoral experience or three years teaching/research experience after Ph.D. preferably abroad with high quality publication in high impact journals.

2. Reader F

• Pay Band 4: Rs. 37,400 – 67,000    Grade Pay: 8,700/-
Initial Basic Pay: 46,100

• Educational Qualification & Experience: A Ph.D. degree in the relevant discipline from a reputed University or Institute. At least 5 years of postdoctoral/teaching experience preferably abroad with high quality publication in high impact journals.

• OTHER BENEFITS:

– In addition to the basic salary, NISER faculty member are entitled to the allowances as admissible to Central Government Employees stationed at Bhubaneswar.

– The Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS) of DAE is likely to be implemented in the NISER, under which, there is provision for monthly incentive of 20% of the basic pay.

– NISER Faculties are also be eligible for DAE’s update allowance, which is currently Rs. 10,000 to Rs.30,000 per year depending on the scale of pay.

– Provision of Relocation Grant:

a. The candidates who are in abroad and joining NISER from there only shall be paid relocation grant maximum up to Rs.90000/- subject to submission/ production of original receipts.

b. Candidates who are in Government service and joining NISER shall be paid Joining T. A. as per Government of India rule.

c. Candidates joining NISER neither from abroad nor from Government service shall also be considered for Relocation Grant on case to case basis subject to approval of Board of Governors, NISER.

– Reimbursement of telephone charges on monthly basis as per Institute rule.

– NISER is also providing financial support to the faculty members for attending National, International Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, etc. which is comparable to the best in the country.

– NISER has sufficient funds to provide seed money to the new faculty members to start their research programme. In addition the Department of Atomic Energy provides generous grants from its Prospective Research Fund to bright young scientists.

– The age of superannuation of faculty members of NISER is 65 years.

– NISER Faculty members are covered under New Pension Scheme as notified by the Government of India, Ministry of Finance.

Interested candidates may apply by enclosing:

• Curriculum Vitae
• List of Publications (with reprints of important papers as pdf files)
• Names and addresses (with e-mail and fax number) of at least three referees
• A statement of purpose and research programme

The qualification and experience prescribed are the minimum and mere possession of the same does not entitle a candidate to be considered for any position. However, the experience criteria may be relaxed for exceptionally meritorious candidates.

Applications should be sent by e-mail to vmuruganandam [at] niser [dot] ac [dot] in  marking ”Faculty application ” in the subject field.

This is an open rolling advertisement and the applications shall be accepted throughout the year and will be considered for selection at regular intervals. However, the first panel of candidates will be prepared for selection among the suitable candidates whom applications shall be received by February, 5th, 2011.

Candidates are advised to request the Referees to send their letters of recommendations (preferably signed versions as pdf file) directly to NISER at the above e-mail address. Those having regular job in any organization should also send a scanned copy of ”No Objection Certificate” issued by the current employer.

All correspondence should be addressed to the above e-mail address only. No postal correspondence is required at any stage. Enquiry regarding the outcome of the application is discouraged. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted further.

Those who have already applied need not apply again.

December 23rd, 2010

Best Western in collaboration with Ranjita Institute of Hotel Management and Catering (RIHC), has opened the Best Western India Centre For Hotel Management and Training in Bhubaneswar

Following is an from a report in hospitalitybizindia.com.

International hospitality chain Best Western in collaboration with Ranjita Institute of Hotel Management and Catering (RIHC), has opened of The Best Western India Centre For Hotel Management and Training in Bhubaneswar, Orissa. The new campus spread over 10 acres will train approximately 500 students. The centre will commence its next session from February 2011.

According to the company release, the institute campus will be fully residential and offer courses in hospitality and hotel administration, accommodation operation and management, food production, food and beverage service and other modular programmes.

Sudhir Sinha, President & COO, Best Western India said, “Best Western is probably the only international chain which has tremendous online certification and training resources available for all the key departments like front office, housekeeping, maintenance, food & beverage production, food & production service, sales for all its employees. These courses are all available online to the students of this training centre. The training and certification modules of Best Western helps to share the Global Best Practices identified across over 4,000 hotels worldwide.”

Ranjita Institute has the same Chairman as the C V Raman College in Bhubaneswar; so they are probably linked or part of the same group.

December 20th, 2010