Archive for February, 2010
Update3: From Samaja – 10% seats will be reserved for students from Odisha.
Update2: From Dharitri
Update: Business Standard has more details on this. Following are some excerpts.
Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik said, … “IIPH, in consultation with the state government, will impart training programmes for enhancing the capacity of the public health functionaries across all levels. The institute will offer Post-Graduate diploma programmes in Public Health Management, Health Economics, Health Care Financing, Health Policy, Biostatistics and Data Management. In addition, IIPH will conduct two-year diploma course in Public Health and Masters in Public Health”, he added.
… Reddy, the PHFI president, said, “Once the IIPH campus is fully operational, it will offer training short-term training programmes to 500 people and long-term training to 300 others.
As per the IIPH web pages currently the following courses are offered by the existing IIPHs.
- Delhi: PG Diploma in (a) Clinical Research (b) Public Health Management and (c) Health Economics, Health Care Financing and Health Policy
- Hyderabad: PG Diploma in (a) Biostatistics and Data Management
- Gandhinagar: PG Diploma in (a) Public Health Management
Earlier when it was announced that PHFI centers will open in Bhubaneswar and Balasore it was not clear what kind of center it would be. (See also here and here.) Following is an excerpt from a PTI report that says an IIPH will start in Bhubaneswar this July.
Orissa will soon get an Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) here which will start functioning from July this year.
An MoU in this regard was signed between the state government and the New Delhi-based Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) for establishment of an IIPH here at an investment of Rs 140 crore.
"The institute will deal in education, training and research on prioritised health problems of the state," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said while attending a function on the occasion.
While the state government had agreed to give 40 acres of land free of cost at Kumarbasta village near here to establish the IIPH, the PHFI would invest the money for the purpose, Patnaik said.
Considering the real need with respect to containing Cholera, Malaria and other diseases that frequently break out in the hinterlands the IIPH in Bhubaneswar must establish branches in the hinterlands of Odisha.
February 10th, 2010
I stumbled across this institute in the web. Its home page is at http://euclidtmp.com/index.html. The teacher at this institute is Mr. S. B. Panigrahi. Although it seems to admit students that have done very well in their earlier exams, the overall result of the institute sounds very good.
As per the page http://euclidtmp.com/our-achievements.html over the period of 9 years from 2001 to 2009 this institute has created:
- More than 160 IITians
- More than 460 NITians
- More than 23 students qualifying in the entrance examination conducted by the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) which offers the world’s best undergraduate and one of the world’s best postgraduate courses in Statistics and Mathematics
- More than 55 students qualifying in the Regional Mathematics Olympiad which selects about 25 to 30 students from Orissa to represent the state in the Indian National Mathematics Olympiad (INMO)
- 3 students having qualified in the Indian National Mathematics Olympiad (INMO) which selects about 30 students from India to represent India internationally in the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO)
Since this institute seems to only cover Maths, the above student must have had good background and/or good mentoring in Physics and Chemistry. Nevertheless, from the above results and the tributes paid by the EUCLID alumni this institute seems to be a good place in Bhubaneswar to get coached in Mathematics at the plus 2 level.
February 10th, 2010
Some of the institutions that offer Bachelors and/or Masters programs related to Biotechnology in the Bhubaneswar area are:
All of the above, except perhaps BJB College, are also engaged in research in Biotechnology. Some of the other institutes that are engaged in Biotech research in the Bhubaneswar area are:
- Institute of Life Sciences (ILS)
- Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI)
- Central Institute of Fresh Water Aquaculture (CIFA)
- Regional Plant Resource Center (RPRC)
- Regional Medical Research Center (RMRC)
Some of the institutions in other parts of Odisha that offer programs and/or pursue research in Biotechnology are:
- NIT Rourkela
- Sambalpur University
- Berhampur University
- MITS Rayagada
February 9th, 2010
February 8th, 2010
Following is an excerpt from his speech transcript in Business Standard.
It is in this dreary world of higher education in India that we have shining examples, such as St Xavier’s College. It was founded by the Society of Jesus. Long before Shri Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr S Radhakrishnan, Dr Zakir Hussain, Dr Humayun Kabir and my good friend Shri Kapil Sibal, there was an intrepid soul named Fr H Depelchin. Along with six Belgian Jesuits, he arrived in Kolkata and founded the St Xavier’s College.
The college has been in the service of the nation for 150 years. Not only in Kolkata, but in many other parts of India, the Society of Jesus has rendered yeoman service to the cause of education. Its 153 high schools, 38 university colleges, 14 technical institutes and five business administration institutes teach, at any given time, over 230,000 students belonging to every section of the society. St Xavier’s alone has over 4,000 students.
Like every Jesuit educational institution, St Xavier’s College has an admission policy that is biased in favour of the poor, especially the socially and financially marginalised, and I commend the college on its sense of social responsibility. We are beholden to the Jesuits for the unwavering dedication, the sense of duty, and the strict discipline they bring to their work and to the institutions founded by them.
I passed through a Jesuit institution and I fondly remember the great teachers: Fr Murphy, Fr Sequira, Fr Coyle, Fr Lawrence Sundaram, Fr Amascua and Fr Yedanapally. It surprises me even today how so many of them could leave such an indelible impression in a period of barely one year.
We are still debating the norms and values that must prevail in an institution of higher learning, and especially the place of the non-government sector in providing higher education. I recognise and support the role of the private sector in higher education, but I am absolutely clear in my mind that the private sector in higher education ought not to mean private business in higher education. As far as I am aware, no great university in the world was established for the purpose of profit. I believe that some activities in a society must stand outside the world of profit and higher education, in my view, ranks first amongst such activities.
For over 150 years, the Society of Jesus has done just that in Kolkata, in Chennai and in many other towns and cities. For that and for many other blessings that they brought to India, we thank them and we salute them.
(Excerpts from Home Minister P Chidambaram‘s valedictory address at St Xavier’s College (Autonomous) in Kolkata on January 17, 2010)
The above is very relevant to the proposal of a Xavier University in Odisha. The Odisha government should expedite that proposal.
February 7th, 2010
There are 48 manuscript resource centres and 33 manuscript conservation centres in India. The list is given at http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=57547. The ones in Odisha are as follows:
Two manuscript resource centers:
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Orissa State Museum Museum Building, BhubaneswarOrissa
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33
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Sanskrit Academy of Research for Advanced Society Through Vedic & Allied Tradition of India (SARASVATI),Sarasvati Vihar, Barpada, Bhadrak – 756 113 Orissa.
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Three manuscript conservation centers:
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INTACH ICI Orissa Art Conservation Centre, Orissa StateMuseum Premises Bhubaneswar – Orissa-751 014
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AITIHYA Plot No. 4/330, 1st Floor, Raghunathpur, P.O.Sisupala Gada (Near Gangua Bridge, Puri Road), Bhubaneswar-2 Orissa
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Sambalpur University Library Sambalpur University Burla – 768001
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February 6th, 2010
February 6th, 2010
Following is an excerpt from a report in Expressbuzz.com.
Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh today said improvement of educational infrastructure in Kalahandi district can help minimise regional imbalance. He was speaking at the inaugural function of Golden Jubilee celebration of Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna, which kicked off today. …
Bhakta Charan Das, MP, said there is a need to create educational environment and infrastructure in the college. He raised the demand for setting up a university in Kalahandi.
Following is an excerpt from an appeal by NRO Madhusmita Panda. It appears in Orissadiary.com.
Despite being located in a backward and underdeveloped region, Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna has established itself for maintaining high quality in education in this part of the state. Students of this College have been securing top ranks at the University level as well as state level in various fields of education. …
Being an autonomous college, this college has limited flexibility to introduce new courses on nursing, pharmacy, optometrist, agriculture, horticulture, banking and services, metal processing, information processing, computer science, medicine etc in the diploma, bachelor as well as postgraduate level course and carry out research work seriously to fulfill local demand.
A Unitary University, however, will give this institution independency to introduce new courses not only in the discipline mentioned above but also in the field of medicine, agriculture, technology etc based on local requirements. It will also improve the current deficiency in regular teaching positions and make the professor’s position non-transferable basis by directly encouraging research activities
… Based on location, available infrastructure, local & regional requirements, quality, and importantly merit Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna deserves to be a Unitary University in the state.
February 2nd, 2010
Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.
Former National Knowledge Commission (NKC) chief Sam Pitroda has proposed a $500-million dedicated fund to attract select global academic and research pioneers to India as part of the education reforms.
Pitroda has written to the Prime Minister’s Office proposing a Global Professors’ Fund to lure some of the world’s best brains to teach and pursue research in India, The Telegraph has learnt. …
The proposal, if accepted, will be the first time that India will dedicate a part of its national budget specifically to attract handpicked foreign faculty and researchers. It is likely that the select few will be winners of Nobels, Fields Medals, or other teachers and researchers globally renowned for path-breaking work in their subjects. …
The sum of $500 million Pitroda has proposed amounts to around Rs 2,300 crore at current dollar-to-rupee conversion rates. The amount is greater than the Rs 2,005-crore budget for the 15 Indian Institutes of Technology in 2009-10. …
The human resource development ministry, as a part of a “brain gain” policy, … The policy is a key component of wide-ranging higher education reforms the UPA government has proposed in its second term. Many of the reforms, such as creating a single, overarching higher education regulator and expanding higher education by encouraging private and public-private investments, are outcomes of the NKC’s recommendations during the UPA’s first term.
But Pitroda’s proposal for a professors’ fund effectively argues that mere structural changes — such as amending laws or policies — may be inadequate in luring some of the world’s best faculty and researchers.
February 2nd, 2010
Following is an excerpt from a report in Expressbuzz.com.
The Central University here will soon set up a medical college and hospital in Koraput. Vice-Chancellor Surobhi Benerjee announced this in a release today.
The university is now in the process of submitting the detailed project report (DPR) to the appropriate authorities.
She also said there would be a detailed discussion with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard tomorrow.
Moreover, the university is going to start a school for bio-diversity and conservation of natural resources in collaboration with M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai.The authorities of the MSSRF have agreed to provide all support in establishing the school and run collaborative PG programmes. …
COMMUNITY RADIO: Besides, the university will set up a community radio station in Koraput for the development of the tribal community. A proposal for commissioning the radio station had been submitted to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The university is also going to set up a centre for community welfare in Koraput.
SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCE: Further, the university will sign an MoU with Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, in the area of nursing and public/ community health for its proposed school of health science (Nursing, public health and community health).
February 2nd, 2010
Update: See also the reports in Deecan Herald, Zee News and Economic Times.
Following is an excerpt from a report in Indian Express.
Top educational institutes in the country could soon be converted to ‘Innovation Universities’ — complete with huge funds, unbridled academic freedom and linkages with foreign institutes.
Revising its views on the much-discussed 14 Innovation Universities and keeping in mind the long inception period involved in setting them up, the HRD Ministry has decided that it will alongside upgrade worthy institutes to Innovation varsities. The plan is said to have found PMO’s approval.
…In a new “Concept note”, now frozen by the HRD Ministry, it is proposed that India also recognise its national asset in the form of excelling educational institutes and facilitate — with marginal investment — their transition to match that of an “Innovation Varsity”.
Odisha needs to watch out this development and make sure it gets its fair share.
February 2nd, 2010
Following is an excerpt from a PTI report.
… The proposed Corporation will give loans on easy terms which will be repaid by the borrowers only after getting jobs, he told a news conference here.
Sibal, …, said talks are on with the Planning Commission and "we hope the Corporation will be set-up during the 12th Five-Year Plan".
He said approximately 22 crore children go to schools in the country, of whom only an estimated 2.5 per cent pursue higher education in universities.
In developed countries, the percentage of students pursuing higher education stands at 40 per cent, he said.
I think this is a very good idea. This will enable more students to pursue higher education and pay for it; It will enable government colleges to be able to charge for reasonable tuition that can be used towards improving the college infrastructure (note: The infrastructure in most government colleges is in shambles, yet they don’t dare to increase the normal tuition; the only thing they do to raise some resources is to start some self-financed courses); it will enable the establishment of more private colleges, and in general it will improve the quality and quantity of higher education opportunities.
While in the past there has been concern about repayment of such loans, with the creation and usage of unique ID for everyone in India, the loans taken can be made part of everyone’s record and its repayment can be easily tracked.
The government can also use these loans and their repayment as a tool to achieve its goal. For example, it can have a policy of (partially) waiving the loans for people who teach for 5 years and thus encourage more people to go into teaching.
For the kind of scheme that is needed for India, it will help to look at the scheme used in Australia. That kind of a scheme adapted to the Indian context will work well for India.
February 1st, 2010
February 1st, 2010
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