Archive for October, 2008
Following is from the PIB http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=44324.
The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for presenting the South Asian University Bill before the Parliament.
At the 13th SAARC Summit held in Dhaka in November 2005, Prime Minister proposed the establishment of a South Asian University (SAU) to provide world-class facilities and professional faculty to students and researchers from SAARC member countries. An Inter-governmental Agreement for establishing the SAU was signed at the 14th SAARC Summit in April 2007. The SAARC member states also decided that the University will be established in India.
The establishment of the SAU in India would be the largest visible sign of transformation of SAARC from declaratory to implementation. It will also be the first international university to be set up in India. The University would have branches of learning in other SAARC member states. Its jurisdiction shall extend to whole of India and to campuses and centres established outside India in the SAARC region. It would have full functional autonomy, as per terms and conditions of the Inter-governmental Agreement of April 2007.
The SAARC member states have decided to set up a Project Office for the University that is being funded by India for two years. The Project office will be tasked to acquire land for the University, oversee its construction, draw up charter, byelaws, business plan, governance structure, course curricula etc. the Project office has started functioning on May 7, 2008, with premises identified near Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), appointment of Prof G.K.Chadha, as the CEO, and appointment of experts for the various tasks to assist the CEO, and appointment Directors to the Office of CEO. The Third Meeting of the Inter-governmental Steering Committee on October 20, 2008 will be appointing the Conveners to the Task Forces set up on these subjects.
The President and the Principal Officers would be from SAARC member states. The faculty and students would be mainly drawn from SAARC member states. The University shall grant the necessary diplomas, certificates and degrees, as it determines. It is expected to commence functioning in the second half of 2010, with 5,000 students and a postgraduate academic programme.
At the request of Ministry of External Affairs, Delhi Development Authority will be allotting 100 acres of land for the SAU at Maidan Garhi near Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). The cost of the land (approximately Rs 75 crores) would be borne by the Ministry of External Affairs. Contribution on other expenditure would be decided by the SAARC member states at the necessary intergovernmental mechanisms based on the existing participatory approach.
A Draft South Asian University Bill has been finalized in consultation with the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law for development of the legal contours of the University, according to the terms and conditions of the Intergovernmental Agreement, including full functional autonomy, grant of degrees, holding of examinations, collaboration with other universities and certain privileges and immunities for itself and its officials, as accorded to all SAARC bodies, based on the UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities. Ministries of Finance, Home, Human Resource Development, Law, and University Grants Commission have been consulted on it. The Bill will be introduced in the current session in Parliament.
The realization of this prestigious project on schedule would be a visible manifestation of India’s asymmetric commitment to SAARC contributing to SAARC’s transformation to implementation phase.
October 31st, 2008
From the various IIT sites, such as http://www.iitg.ernet.in/jee/.
October 30th, 2008
Following is from Business Standard.
After getting the approval from top-notch private institutes — including BITS Pilani, XLRI and Symbiosis — Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy has spoken to the managements of IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, to set up campuses in Hyderabad. It has also sent a proposal to the HRD ministry in this regard.
Reddy is understood to have spoken to the Chairman of IIM Bangalore’s governing council, Mukesh Ambani, to set up institute’s second campus in Hyderabad. Madireddy Pratap, Additional Secretary to the chief minister visited IIM Bangalore campus early this month and met the institute director Pankaj Chandra. The AP government is learnt to be gifting 100 acres of land towards this end.
“We have already got the approval of several top-ranked institutes in the country and are keen on bringing IIM-Ahmedabad and IIM-Bangalore in Andhra Pradesh. We have also spoken with the director of IISc Bangalore to set up their second campus here,” Pratap told Business Standard.
When contacted, Director of IIM-Bangalore Pankaj Chandra confirmed that officials from the Andhra Pradesh government had held discussions with him on establishing a campus in Hyderabad. “The Andhra Pradesh government has already sent a proposal for the same to the HRD ministry and is awaiting a response from them,” said Chandra.
Pratap further said the Andhra Pradesh government is working on offering 200 acres of land each to BITS and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), 40 acres to Symbiosis, 65 acres to Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), 90 acres to Narsee Monjee and 30 acres for IMT Ghaziabad to set up campuses in the state. He added the state would contribute in offering land, while the expense of setting up the campus would be borne by the institute.
The proposal assumes significance in the wake of the RC Bhargava committee’s observation that the IIMs should concentrate on expanding their presence within the country rather than abroad. It may be recalled that IIM Bangalore’s proposal to set up a campus in Singapore was shot down by the HRD ministry who asked them to change their Memorandum of Association (MoA). This might prompt IIM Bangalore to look at expanding within the country.
Institutes like IIM require an investment of around Rs 250-300 crore for a full-fledged campus. Similar is the case with private institutes. The BITS campus in Hyderabad, for instance, is being set up in an area of 200 acres and involves an investment of Rs 270 crore. Initially, the Hyderabad campus would induct 600 students but the intake is likely to go up to 2,500 in the next four years.
TIFR is planning to invest Rs 2,500 crore in the next 15 years in its proposed campus, which will come up at University of Hyderabad. Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has been granted land in Ranga Reddy district in Andhra Pradesh.
October 29th, 2008
Following is an excerpt from a report in expressbuzz.
Detailing the steps being taken to develop the education system in the State, he said a university in each district, five medical colleges across the State, IIT and BITS near Hyderabad and law colleges were being set up.
Orissa should do the same with respect to its undivided 13 districts.
October 28th, 2008
Following is from http://www.srisriuniversity.org/.
Taking care of the future
Sri Sri University is conceptualized on a vision of Holistic Inspired Education that aims to ready its students for the demands of the Industry and market economy, along with making them into well rounded human beings. Sri Sri University intends to do this by giving them deep roots in the supple and fertile earth of Indian Value Systems, its cultural history and philosophy while helping them look beyond the horizon towards a Global Perspective.
By doing this we hope to give them the strong foundation that they will need to grow sturdy and rise above the milling forest of humanity and be able to give shade to the teeming billions of tomorrow. In them we do not just see tomorrow’s richest but tomorrow’s leaders and pillars of society on whose shoulders the world of the future will be built.
Industry Relevant Courses
Higher education is critical to India’s aspirations of emerging as a major player in the global knowledge economy. The global competitiveness of Indian industry and also its employment generation potential is clearly dependent on availability of required skills and trained personnel. Higher education trains people to take up different economic roles in society and spurs technological innovation that drives economic growth.
After China and the USA,India has the third largest higher education system in the world. Given the sheer number of qualified professionals India produces, the possibility of finding people with the right skill sets should have been a lot stronger than it is in reality. But companies are finding it increasingly difficult to get the right talent, especially at the middle-management level. Only a small fraction of the qualified labor force can be considered suitable for employment in companies operating in the global arena.
This low employability could be attributed partly to the mismatch between the industry requirements and the academic curricula of most of the professional colleges.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision is to TRANSFORM THROUGH EDUCATION and this is specially kept in mind while putting together a curriculum of Global Standards in the Sri Sri University. Therefore, along with courses that will help the students to be "industry-ready" and make their mark on a Global platform, it will also provide them with all means of self-improvement – like access to yogic philosophy, Art of Living Courses in self realization and conflict resolution, etc. which will make them well rounded Global Citizens.
The Mission of the University is:
- To create, preserve and at the same time disseminate knowledge and understanding by teaching; research, training and extension activities by effective demonstration and influence; and to create centers of excellence for providing knowledge, education, training and research facilities of high order in the field of science, technical and other related professional education as per its current status and such other means as may develop in future, including continuing education.
- To develop training facilities in higher education including professional education and allied fields; provide for inter-relationships for national and global participation in the field of arts, commerce and science and technology and other fields.
- To function as learning resource centre.
- To provide for arrangement for national and global participation in the field of higher and professional education including technical education.
- To establish close associations with industry.
- To make teaching, research and training at the university relevant to the needs of the economy at a national and global level.
- To affiliate colleges with similar objects or willing to adopt similar objects in and outside the state to further the cause of higher learning with modern and global teaching techniques university may adopt time to time
- To Institute 44 courses in next 5 years across disciplines.
- To have 8 fully functional and completely equipped departments in next 10 years.
- To initially admit approximately 350 students and approximately 3000 students by its fifth year
- To Employ 35 faculty members in its first year and 145 by its 5th year.
The choice of courses in the Sri Sri University Curriculum will be guided by these factors:
- Growth in economic sectors, potential for employment within the sectors and commercially viability of the course.
- Current and anticipated demand trends for specific courses.
- These are not linked to any specific economic sector.
- Inspirations from His Holiness and foreseeable needs for further development of the state of Orissa.
- Certification Courses that are of short duration and impart quick and marketable skills.
Sixteen major sectors of the Indian economy were examined. They are:
i. Automobile
ii. Banking and Financial Services
iii. Construction
iv. Electronic Components and Assemblies
v. Health Care
vi. Insurance
vii. Textile and Apparels
viii. Retail Services
ix. Telecom Services
x. Transport Services – Shipping and Ports
xi. Transport Services – Railways
xii. Transport Services – Civil Aviation
xiii. Transport Services – Roads & Highways
xiv IT / ITES / BPO
xv. Machinery and Equipment
xvi. Media and Entertainment
For each of the above sectors the following aspects were considered:
• The size of the sector and its growth rate
• Key trends in the sector
• Projected employment
Projected sector growth rate was mapped to the projected employment growth rate. Based on this analysis, the high employment and growth sectors were chosen and courses were instituted according to what was felt would fulfill their needs.
Emphasis on soft skills and values
In the 21st Century every young individual stepping into the “Professional World”, pursues one common goal: Success And Money. From the first day these young minds get busy mapping out their roads, lanes and bye-lanes to the very top.
Lost in this rat race, busy running at their best speed to achieve the materialistic pleasures of our age, they lose out on what some consider the most important qualities of life: Peace of Mind, Ethics, Moral Values and Connection to their fellow being. Lost in the Machinations of life, they forget their place in the bigger scheme of things whether in the corporate world, in the families or even in the universe at large.
Can they really be blamed for following what they have been taught by the world around them, when the media and socio-political structure of our societies preach the creed of materialism? Where will they, our nation’s future, learn to follow the path of higher and finer values?
Corporate houses spend huge amount of money to impart soft skills in their work force which they think will help their employees to:
a) manage their own emotions
b) manage relationships
c) take responsibility of their own actions
Short term courses on soft skills do not change the attitude but just give an idea about them instead. It then depends on the person to practice and bring about the change. Building the course in curriculum will provide ample time and opportunities to bring about lasting shift.
Sri Sri University is fully conscious of its social responsibility to contribute towards the education that shape personalities in such a way that in the students, we do not just see tomorrow’s richest, but tomorrow’s leaders, and pillars of society on whose shoulders the world of the future will be built.
Sri Sri University intends to provide World-Class Holistic Education to its students which will facilitate Cognitive, Physical, Emotional, Social and Spiritual Growth. Its Philosophy on Education revolves around the overall development of a student and not merely academic excellence. The salient features of this philosophy are:
1. Be Child-centered, Culture and Tradition Rooted
2. Key trends in the sector
3. Integrate Love, Care and Compassion into the Education Process
4. Be Curiosity Driven rather than Information Based
5. Instill Self Esteem and Creativity
6. Individual Attention, based on the Uniqueness of Each Individual
7. Interactive Class-room Processes & Experiential Field Trips
8. Discipline through Self-Awareness
9. Teachers as Facilitators, not Instructors
10. Environment Develops Interest, Skill and Likings in the Student
11. Cordial and Friendly Teacher-Student Relationship Emphasis on soft skills and values
Benchmarks
The trend in Indian Education is for large sections of under-graduate and post-graduate students to leave the country for what is perceived as more integrated education in foreign shores. Even though a lot of initiative has been taken in the recent past in terms of private education, public opinion is still swayed by what they believe as the non reliability factor of unconventional private degrees.
To gain confidence of this sector, Sri Sri University intends to become a centre of Excellence matching International Standards in Education with participation of industries which are globally present and with academic experts from developed countries.
The Sri Sri University will match the best standards of the higher education sector for deeper penetration of information and individualized training and comfort for faculty and students alike. Some of them are:
Library 10 books per students
Printer 1 for every 10 students and 1 for each faculty
Computer 1 for every 3 students and 1 for each faculty
Space; 150 sq ft for each student in academic area
Students-teacher ratio 20 : 1
Journals per college 22
Workshop / seminars per academic year per discipline 54
Academic Facilities
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision is to TRANSFORM THROUGH EDUCATION, and this is specially kept in mind while putting together a curriculum of Global Standards in Sri Sri University.
Therefore, to facilitate its courses the following facilities are provided:
• Advanced laboratories
• Extensive libraries
• Student centers
• Technically advanced teaching aids
• Alumni association
• Hostels
• Hospital
• Housing and guest house
• Templeof knowledge
• Transportation
• Sports complex
• Meditation hall
• Residential complexes
• Married students accommodation
• Advanced communication and data management systems
• Community centre
• Art and creativity centre
October 26th, 2008
At present there are two Sri Sri entities in Orissa:
The first one offers the following courses:
1. Post Graduate Diploma in Bussiness Management (2 Years)
2. Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication (2 Years)
3. Post Graduate Diploma in Government (1 Year )
The first two courses run for about 20 months each while third is 1 year course. A wide range
of meaningful and purposeful elective subjects are offered in each of them.
The second one is the real deal. (I guess at some point the first one may become an extension center of the second one.)
Following is the layout map of the Sri Sri University, near Naraj overlooking Kathajodi river.
Currently the following programs are planned to be offered by the Sri Sri University.
Under Graduate and Post Graduate Courses
Contemporary Courses
These courses have a good demand in the market and are likely to be well received in the future due to the demand-supply gap. They are a mix of courses that have traditionally enjoyed a good demand (e.g. engineering and law) as well as those that would be successful in catering to the requirements of an increasingly liberalized modern economy e.g. entrepreneurship.
Inspirations from His Holiness
These courses cover a wide expanse of knowledge. On the one hand they include courses in Indology, Ayurveda and Vedic Sciences, while on the other they include courses for Advanced Research in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. This versatility is in keeping with the holistic philosophy of the University and what it hopes to achieve. This series of courses also includes courses in Government, which The University believes will help turn out future leaders for Orissa, India and the World.
School of Management
2 Years Degree courses in Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, and Banking and Finance.
School of Law
5 Years Undergraduate Degree course in Law.
School of Government
2 Years Post Graduate Degree course in Government.
School of Cultural Studies
2 Years Post Graduate Degree course in Tourism and Indology.
School of Engineering
4 years Undergraduate Degree courses in Electronics and Telecommunications, Computer Sciences, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation, Electronics and Electrical Engineering and Civil Engineering.
School of Biotechnology
2 Years Post Graduate Degree courses in Pharmacology and Biotechnology.
School of Sciences
2 Years Post Graduate Degree courses in Textile Designing and Transportation.
School of Ayurveda
4 Years Post Graduate Degree courses for Research in Ayurveda.
School of Vedic Sciences
4 Years Post Graduate Degree courses for Research and Development on Vedic Science.
School of Research Sciences
4 Years Post Graduate Degree courses for Research in Advanced Physics, Research in Chemistry and Research in Mathematics
The University also offers various certificate courses for the students. These would generate qualified employable individuals in a short period of time. They are also expected to be cost effective. These courses are projected to increase from 5 in the Second Year to 14 by the Fourth Year. Emphasis on soft skills and values
A student at the Sri Sri University would be able to aim for a certificate in the following subjects:
· German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Italian, French
· Computer Application, Multimedia and Graphic Animation, Computer Hardware Technology and Web Designing
· Welding, Electrician, Plastic Technology
Following is from the web page of Sri Sri University, which gives a broader picture of the vision.
Formal education trains people to take up different roles in the society in pursuit of economic growth and social order. With the Indian industry poised to take off as a global economic power, the demand for skilled youth to guide and carry on this pursuit can not be underestimated. Paradoxically, it is confronted with an ever increasing number of educated youth, with mismatched skill-sets: youth with an abundance of technical knowledge but clearly lacking in focus on inner joy, initiative and creativity.
Sri Sri University is an international initiative to address this anomaly by developing tomorrow’s leaders, managers of change, trained to the industry requirements, with an attitude and skill-set transcending specific disciplines. Inspired by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, students will look beyond their own limitations and share bigger responsibilities as worthy citizens and brim with confidence. In them we may see not just the smartest, but the leaders, the pillars of society on whose shoulders the future world will be built – Truly global citizens with traditional and moral niceties, broadening the vision… deepening the roots.
Under the aegis of the Art of Living, through its educational arm Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir Trust (SSRVM Trust), Sri Sri University, situated on the serene banks of the Kathjori River near Cuttack in Orissa, India, will be a multi-disciplinary university matching international standards on education. Amply responsive to the industry requirements and committed to all-round development of students’ personality and value systems, it will nurture professionals with relevant information, updated skill-sets and an attitude for understanding their social responsibilities and leadership roles in all walks of life.
As part of the overall university initiative, it is also proposed to set-up a separate world-class MedicalCollege within the campus to produce qualified doctors with a deeper sense of commitment and responsibility towards this noble service. The college shall also have an adjacent Super-speciality Hospital with the latest state-of-the-art facilities and equipments to facilitate total practical experience to the students to complement the excellent theoretical education, and also to provide comprehensive treatment facilities for the needy from far and wide.
October 26th, 2008
Following is from http://164.100.24.209/newls/textofdebatedetail.aspx?sdate=10/23/2008.
शà¥à¤°à¥€ राम कृपाल यादव (पटना) : उपाधà¥à¤¯à¤•à¥à¤· महोदय, मैं आपके माधà¥à¤¯à¤® से माननीय सà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤¸à¥à¤¥à¥à¤¯ मंतà¥à¤°à¥€ जी का धà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¨ आकरà¥à¤·à¤¿à¤¤ करना चाहता हूं। पूरे देश में छह अखिल à¤à¤¾à¤°à¤¤à¥€à¤¯ अनà¥à¤¸à¤‚धान संसà¥à¤¥à¤¾à¤¨ (à¤à¤®à¥à¤¸) खोलने की बात हà¥à¤ˆ थी। मेरे संसदीय कà¥à¤·à¥‡à¤¤à¥à¤° पटना में à¤à¥€ à¤à¤®à¥à¤¸ खोलने की बात कही गई थी। दà¥à¤°à¥à¤à¤¾à¤—à¥à¤¯à¤ªà¥‚रà¥à¤£ सà¥à¤¥à¤¿à¤¤à¤¿ है कि लगà¤à¤— पांच साल पहले इसका काम शà¥à¤°à¥‚ हà¥à¤† था, लेकिन आज तक केवल चाहरदीवारी का ही निरà¥à¤®à¤¾à¤£ हà¥à¤† है। शिलानà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¸ के समय à¤à¤®à¥à¤¸ को कारà¥à¤¯à¤°à¥‚प में शà¥à¤°à¥‚ करने के लिठवरà¥à¤· 2009 तक का समय रखा गया था। बिहार में कोई à¤à¥€ उतà¥à¤•à¥ƒà¤·à¥à¤ असà¥à¤ªà¤¤à¤¾à¤² नहीं है। इस कारण दिलà¥à¤²à¥€ के à¤à¤®à¥à¤¸ असà¥à¤ªà¤¤à¤¾à¤² में 60 परसेंट बिहार के लोग अपना इलाज करवाने आते हैं। बिहार में गरीबी है, फटेहाली है इस कारण कई लोग इलाज कराने के लिठदिलà¥à¤²à¥€ आ à¤à¥€ नहीं पाते हैं। बिहार के लोगों को सà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤¸à¥à¤¥à¥à¤¯ लाठलेने के लिठबहà¥à¤¤ दिकà¥à¤•à¤¤à¥‹à¤‚ का सामना करना पड़ता है। अगर बिहार में à¤à¤®à¥à¤¸ असà¥à¤ªà¤¤à¤¾à¤² खà¥à¤² जाà¤à¤—ा, तो न सिरà¥à¤« बिहार के लोगों को, बलà¥à¤•à¤¿ बिहार से सटे नेपाल, असम तथा आसपास के इलाकों के लोग à¤à¥€ लाà¤à¤¾à¤‚वित हो सकेंगे। कई बार हमने सदन के माधà¥à¤¯à¤® से माननीय मंतà¥à¤°à¥€ जी का धà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¨ आकरà¥à¤·à¤¿à¤¤ कराया है। आशà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤¸à¤¨ मिलने के बावजूद à¤à¥€ आज तक इस बारे में तेज रफà¥à¤¤à¤¾à¤° से काम नहीं हो रहा है। पता नहीं यह काम कितने वरà¥à¤·à¥‹à¤‚ में पूरा होगा।
उपाधà¥à¤¯à¤•à¥à¤· महोदय : आपने अपनी बात कह दी है। अब आप समापà¥à¤¤ कीजिà¤à¥¤ You are now repeating the same thing.
शà¥à¤°à¥€ राम कृपाल यादव (पटना) : कई लोगों के पास दिलà¥à¤²à¥€ इलाज के लिठआने के लिठà¤à¤¾à¤¡à¤¼à¥‡ के पैसे नहीं होते हैं। मंतà¥à¤°à¥€ जी यहां बैठे हैं, मैं आपके माधà¥à¤¯à¤® से माननीय मंतà¥à¤°à¥€ जी से कहना चाहता हूं कि वे इस बारे में उतà¥à¤¤à¤° दें कि कब से काम शà¥à¤°à¥‚ होगा और कब काम खतà¥à¤® होगा। बिहार जैसे गरीब देश में लोगों को इलाज कराने में बहà¥à¤¤ परेशानी होती है।
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN (BALASORE): Sir, hon. Minister is here. He should reply not only to the hon. Member’s question but other questions also. I have asked a number of questions.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I cannot compel the Minister to reply.
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS): Sir, under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana the Government of India intends to start six new AIIMS like institutions in States like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh. The CCA had given approval only in 2006. Since then we have been going through a lot of process. One tender was un-responsive. Another tender was a single bidder. We had to go through the project management consultants. In all we have to go through a lot of process and there was a delay. I accept the responsibility for delay on part of my Ministry. Nevertheless, I had again asked them to quicken the process. Finally, I could say that the construction work has started in five out of six AIIMS like institutions, including Bihar, Orissa and Rajasthan. Except Bhopal, work at other five sites has already begun and at Bhopal the work will start in the beginning of November.
I categorically assure that the work has started and the entire construction work will be over in another two-and-a-half to three years and it will be fully functional. Not only that, we also want to upgrade some more institutions in Northern part of the country. We have added some more institutions, which again after getting the approval we will inform the hon. House.
SHRI J.M. AARON RASHID (PERIYAKULAM): Sir, since the hon. Minister belongs to Tamil Nadu, he should see to it that Tamil Nadu also has such an institution.
SHRI P.S. GADHAVI (KUTCH): Sir, I would like to raise a very important issue concerning my constituency regarding the development of Jakhau Fishery Harbour Project.… (Interruptions)
शà¥à¤°à¥€ राम कृपाल यादव (पटना) : महोदय, मैं सà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤¸à¥à¤¥à¥à¤¯ मंतà¥à¤°à¥€ जी को तमाम राजà¥à¤¯ के लोगों की तरफ से धनà¥à¤¯à¤µà¤¾à¤¦ देना चाहता हूं, जिनको इनà¥à¤¹à¥‹à¤‚ने उपहार देने का काम किया है। सà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤ˆà¤‚ जी आप à¤à¥€ मंतà¥à¤°à¥€ जी को धनà¥à¤¯à¤µà¤¾à¤¦ दे दीजिà¤à¥¤
शà¥à¤°à¥€ खारबेल सà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤ˆà¤‚ (बालासोर) : मैं कई बार मंतà¥à¤°à¥€ जी को धनà¥à¤¯à¤µà¤¾à¤¦ दे चà¥à¤•à¤¾ हूं।
Orissa should push for the upgradation of MKCG Medical college to the level of an AIIMS.
October 25th, 2008
Following are excerpts from http://164.100.24.209/newls/textofdebatedetail.aspx?sdate=10/21/2008.
INDIAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY BILL
1729 hours
THE MINISTER OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI T.R. BAALU): Sir, I beg to move:
“That the Bill to establish and incorporate a teaching and affiliating University at the national level to facilitate and promote maritime studies and research and to achieve excellence in areas of marine science and technology, marine environment and other related fields, and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration.”
India has had a long maritime tradition and is the 20th largest maritime country in the world. The single largest contributing factor to this glorious tradition is the presence of a strong, dedicated, efficient and reliable reservoir of officer and ratings of the Merchant Navy in India. Presently, 27,000 officers and 55,000 ratings are employed on Indian and foreign flag vessels. The ever-increasing demand of Indian seafarers worldwide is a testament of the quality of education and training received in India. However, of late, India has been facing a stiff challenge to her position in this regard from countries like Phillippines, China and Bangladesh. Hence, there is a need to further upgrade our training capacity and capabilities so that India stays ahead of the other nations in this sector and is able to meet the projected global shortage of 27,000 officers by the year 2015. There is also a need to augment the share of India in the world maritime manpower fleet from the present level of around 6 per cent to at least 20 per cent.
(d3/1730/rbn/sb)
Further, the 29 per cent share of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries is dwindling rapidly due to lack of interest of their youth in this career and this presents an opportunity that we should exploit to our advantage. With the growth of the maritime sector in the country such as the port, shipping, ship-building, inland water transport and offshore exploration sectors, the need for development of manpower in new disciplines such as maritime security, maritime law, oceanography, marine insurance, ocean engineering, ship-building and other relevant areas has become imperative.
To meet the requirement of trained manpower in the merchant maritime fleet under the Indian flag as also foreign flag vessels, the Directorate General of Shipping, Department of Shipping imparts pre-sea and post-sea training in engineering and in the nautical discipline through the Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research, Mumbai, Training Ship Chanakya, Navi Mumbai and the Marine Engineering and Research Institute, Kolkata and Mumbai. For further strengthening the institutional framework for imparting maritime training in India, the Government decided to establish a Society namely the Indian Institute of Maritime Studies on 6th June, 2002 placing these four Government-run Maritime Institutions within the domain of this Society. The Government also set up the National Institute of Port Management now renamed as National Maritime Academy, Chennai and Indian Institute of Port Management, Kolkata as registered Societies for capacity building of personnel of port and shipping industry.
In order to encourage private sector participation in maritime training, the Government of India announced liberalised guidelines in 1997 and as a result, around 125 training institutes have come up in the Government and in the private sector, which impart both pre-sea and post-sea training. The Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, recognises the private institutes.
It has been seen that the present maritime training set up in the country does not ensure uniform standards and is inadequate in terms of its span of academic coverage, and thus it cannot cope with the future growth opportunities. Hence, there is a need to strengthen its training infrastructure including setting up a university immediately.
The Committee on Maritime Education and Training set up by the Government in 1991, had recommended the establishment of an autonomous body under an Act of Parliament, to be designated as the Indian Maritime University, to manage, control, supervise, direct and monitor the maritime training institutions, currently running under the Government control. An Expert Committee was constituted by this Ministry, which inter alia included representatives of the University Grants Commission, to look into the feasibility of the formation of an Indian Maritime University by an Act of Parliament under the aegis of this Ministry, which also strongly recommended the formation of Indian Maritime University. The Expenditure Reforms Commission in its Ninth Report had also recommended that the IIMS should be given the status of a deemed university or of an Indian Institute of Technology and should become totally autonomous.
Formation of the IMU will facilitate and promote maritime studies, research and extension work with focus on emerging areas of studies including marine science and technology, marine environment, socio-economic, legal and other related fields, and also to achieve excellence in these and connected fields. It will promote advanced knowledge by providing institutional and research facilities in such branches of learning as it may deem fit, make provisions for integrated courses in science and other key areas of marine technology and allied disciplines. As we have a sizeable number of private institutions imparting maritime education and training, the University will standardise the quality of such education and training through affiliation and academic supervision.
The Government had introduced the Indian Maritime University Bill, 2007 on 13th March, 2007 in the Lok Sabha. The Bill was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on 19th March, 2007 for examination and report. The Committee examined the Bill and presented its 132nd Report on IMU Bill, 2007, on 17th April, 2008. The Government has considered the Report of the hon. Committee and has accepted 24 of their recommendations.
One of the recommendations of the Committee is that there must be one Maritime University each in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Kochi. The Government is of the view that, to begin with, establishment of several Universities at the same time would create difficulties. It would require far greater skilled, human and financial resources than are available and would carry the danger of dilution of input
It would also deny the investment of learning and experience gained from setting up the first University into subsequent Universities. It would also be administratively premature, as the demand, location and jurisdiction issues would first need to be adequately studied to enable rational investment decisions. Further, much of the spadework for establishing the Indian Maritime University at Chennai has since been done. Based on the experience gained, the Government will review, at an appropriate stage, the requirement of more Universities and a decision would be taken keeping in view the enabling factors like availability of land, resources, presence of maritime institutes in the region, etc.
We, therefore, propose to establish the Indian Maritime University in Chennai with campuses in Kolkata, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam by an Act of Parliament.
The existing seven Government and Government-aided maritime training and research institutes, viz. Marine Engineering and Research Institute (MERI), Kolkata, Marine Engineering and Research Institute (MERI), Mumbai, Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research, Mumbai, T.S. Chanakya, Navi Mumbai, National Maritime Academy (NMA), Chennai, Indian Institute of Port Management (IIPM), Kolkata and the National Ship Design and Research Centre (NSDRC), Visakhapatnam will be merged with the IMU. The employees of the four training institutes under IIMS who will stand transferred to the IMU will have the option to continue on deemed deputation in the IMU on Government terms and conditions and also continue to retain/to be allotted Government residential accommodation on turn and avail of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) facilities till their retirement. The employees of the NMA, IIPM and NSDRC shall have the option to continue in the IMU on the existing terms and conditions of respective institutes, till their retirement. All the employees shall also have the alternative option to join the IMU as per the service conditions of the University.
Sir, with these words, I now move the Indian Maritime University Bill, 2007 for consideration.
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1834 hours
SHRI B. MAHTAB (CUTTACK): At the outset, I should say that I welcome the Bill. The Standing Committee has already discussed this and has recommended it to the Government for consideration. I hope that the Minister will reply — while giving his explanation — as to why certain recommendations have not been adhered to. In course of time we will also get the Action Taken Report that the Committee had submitted to the Government. Hence, we will know why certain recommendations have not been accepted. …
There is a need to have a regulator who could look after the standards. The Indian Maritime University in Chennai will have campuses, as has been mentioned in the Bill, in Mumbai, Kolkata and in Vizag. Orissa has been left in between.
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We have an Academy at Paradip for the last 25 years. You can extend a campus to Paradip. Our contention would be, as has been mentioned by my previous speakers, that the attempt should be to build up new universities in this aspect. This is a forward-looking Bill. A Central University may be a light post, a guideline. But attempt should be made by the Government to set up more such universities so that the trainers can also be trained and better faculty members can come in from outside and train our people. Autonomous institutions also should come up.
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1843 hours
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN (BALASORE): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I appreciate the requirement of setting up of a maritime training set up to develop a strong, dedicated, efficient and reliable reservoir of officers, . I also appreciate the need to bring in maritime technology, environment, legal and other related issues and to facilitate maritime studies and research. …
Lastly, I will appeal to the hon. Minister. Orissa is having a vast coastline; it is having a long maritime tradition. People went right up to Indonesia, Cambodia, and such other countries. So, in future, when he goes in for more and more campuses, will he consider opening up of another campus in Orissa? Thank you very much.
October 23rd, 2008
Following is an excerpt from a report in thaindian.com.
A new Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) coming up in Hyderabad will see close Japanese partnership at the post-graduate level in key areas, including setting up of a Japanese-style business management course, and increased funding for purchase of technical and research equipment to make it into an institution of excellence.A working group that has submitted its report for establishing such an institution with Japanese-Indian collaboration said environment and energy, digital communication, design and manufacturing, nano-technology and nano-science, and civil engineering would be fields that would given a fresh thrust.
Former prime minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had set up a working group in August last year to zero in on a new IIT that would see Japanese assistance.
… In addition courses on Japanese-style business management, a key strength of the country’s industry, will also be introduced. While faculty and student exchanges will happen regularly, the premier institute will also set up a Japanese language course for students that could help them find jobs in Japan in the future.
… "Collaboration on the new IIT will be implemented with a long term perspective in mind based on human exchange an joint work. This will be viewed possibly as a ten-year programme,” said a senior official.
October 22nd, 2008
Course materials for some classes at Stanford are available at http://see.stanford.edu/default.aspx.
October 21st, 2008
October 20th, 2008
In the following figure the red dots indicate where the current universities in Orissa are, including the ones that have been announced, such as the proposed central university in Koraput. As the map illustrates, all the existing and planned universities are in the periphery of the state and the interior districts lack university level higher education opportunities. This needs to be corrected by establishing state universities at the blue marked points: Bhawanipatna, Phulbani, Angul and Keonjhar. In addition, the Rourkela metropolitan area, the second largest metropolitan area in Orissa, needs a regular university. Neither BPUT nor NIT Rourkela serve the purpose. Thus a regular university needs to be established in Rourkela.
October 20th, 2008
Following is an excerpt from the news group http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/designindia/.
Dear Friends,
We are happy to inform you that we are in process of setting up NID Campus in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh from next academic year 2009-2010 wherein we plan to start Under Graduate Programmes.
We are looking for Design Educators and Design Managers who are interested in joining hands with NID in this endeavour of institution building, as envisaged in the National Design Policy announced by the Government of India in February 20082007. If this interests you, we would be happy to arrange a meeting with you at NID Heritage Campus, Ahmedabad, R & D Campus, Bangalore or NID – Delhi Centre.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Best wishes,
Pradyumna Vyas
Activity Chairperson – Education
National Institute of Design
Ahmedabad – 380 007
Mob: 098985 00033
In Feb 08 200, the Union Cabinet approved the establishment of four new National Institutes of Design. See http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=24647. As per the news items cited in https://www.orissalinks.com/archives/305 one of them was to be in Orissa. I wonder what happened to that.
As per https://www.orissalinks.com/archives/1241, the Orissa government recently (end of July 2008) recommunicated to Delhi about its interest to set up an NID in Orissa.
October 20th, 2008
Following is the recruitment criteria that is used at Orissa state Universities (except BPUT and OUAT) and perhaps in many other state universities across India.
(a) The Selection Committee shall consists of :-
(i) The Vice Chancellor. (ii) The DHE, (iii) 3 experts selected by the Vice Chancellor from a panel of six names prepared by the syndicate (iv) an expert nominated by the Chancellor in case of appoint to the post of Professor.
The quorum at a meeting of the Selection Committee shall be four of whom at least two shall be experts including the expert nominated by the Chancellor, if any.
(b) Evaluation of candidates
Evaluation of candidates for different teaching posts in the University (Professor, Reader, Lecturer)
1. GENERAL CAREER (30 MARKS)
(a) 1st Class 2nd Class 3rd Class
(i) HSC 4 2 1
(ii) Intermediate (+2) 4 2 1
(iii) Degree / Honours 8 4 1.5 (Pass)
(iv) Distinction 2 2 2 (Pass)
(v) P.G. Degree
75 – 100 % 12
65 – 74 % 9
55 – 64 % 6
45 – 54 % 4
(b) Marks for matriculation and Intermediate may be re-distributed as follows in the case of candidates passing Higher Secondary / Pre-University / Pre-Professional etc. in cases where Higher Secondary Examination is initial assessable examination. H.S.C. mark (of 4.2.1) be added to it making it 6, 3 and 1.5 for I, II and III divisions.
1st Class 2nd Class 3rd Class
(i) Higher Secondary 6 3 1.5
(ii) Pre-University 2 1 0.5
(iii) Pre-Professional 2 1 0.5
(c) In case of candidates from Universities / Institutions which follow the system of grades, their grades shall be converted to mark as under:
‘O’ Grade — 75 – 100 %
‘A’ Grade — 65 – 74 %
‘B’ Grade — 55 – 64 %
‘C’ Grade — 45 – 54 %
‘D’ Grade — 35 – 44 %
(d) In the case of candidates with more than one Bachelor’s Degree, only the Degree in the concerned ‘subject’ shall be awarded marks and the Division obtained will be treated at par with the Honours.
2. RESEARCH DEGREE (20 MARKS) :
M.Phil. — 03 Marks
Ph.D. — 10 Marks
D.Sc/ D.Litt. — 12 Marks
M.Phil + Ph.D. — 12 Marks
M.Phil + D.Sc./D.Litt — 14 Marks
Ph.D. + D.Sc./D.Litt — 18 Marks
M.Phil + Ph.D + D.Sc/DLitt — 20 Marks
3. TEACHING EXPERIENCE (10 MARKS) :
PG teaching — 1 Mark per year
Honours teaching — 0.75 marks per year
Graduate level — 0.50 marks per year
4. PH.D GUIDANCE (5 MARKS) :
One mark for each Ph.D awarded
5. RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS (15 MARKS)
10 marks for International Journals and
5 marks for National Journal
6. VIVA-VOCE (15 MARKS)
7. CCRS / PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL REPORT (PAR) – 5 MARKS
The above is ridiculous. May be it made sense in 1950 or 1960 when there were very few Ph.Ds. In the current situation it does not make sense at all. Fortunately, Ravenshaw University is trying to have a different criteria of evaluation than the above.
October 19th, 2008
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