Odisha HRD

Disagreement on the WCCU and National university plans

Update: See also this article in Times of India.

Following are excerpts from a report in Telegraph.

The Prime Minister’s plans of setting up a new class of universities to specifically compete with global institutions are being held up by differences between key government arms.

The HRD ministry has proposed a category of “Navratna” institutes comprising 14 new universities and existing top state varsities, government officials have said.

These institutes would be on a par with “world-class” universities but would be known by the new name because some people are against the earlier nomenclature.

The universities of Calcutta, Mumbai and Chennai are being considered for Navratna status.

However, the University Grants Commission has opposed starting institutes with the specific mandate of competing with the world’s best, sources said.

… The UPA government had promised 14 new world-class universities, including one in Calcutta, under the eleventh five-year plan. But the differences have led to an impasse and the plans, though not yet shelved, are headed for the backburner, the sources said.

… At meetings with universities in July, September and last week, HRD ministry officials were questioned on how a new university stood a better chance of becoming “world-class” compared with established institutions.

So, the ministry — through higher education secretary R.P. Agrawal — suggested that instead of having just 14 new world-class universities, a new category could be created.

This could be called the Navratna category and it could include top state universities apart from the 14 new ones aspiring to world-class standards.

But UGC chairman Sukhdeo Thorat apparently said that creating another category would introduce a new Brahmin into an already layered “caste system” in higher education.

Under the “caste system”, central universities receive maximum attention from policy makers, followed by state universities. Deemed-to-be universities are a rung lower.

… Officials have also questioned the basis on which state universities would be given Navratna status.

“For instance, if Calcutta University is given the status, how can we refuse Jadavpur University?” an official asked.

The concept of “world class universities” is a part of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s plans to make India a “knowledge economy” — a global hub of myriad branches of education and learning.

The initial plan sees them as unified centres of excellence in engineering, the sciences, humanities, management and medicine — on a par with the IITs, IIMs and the AIIMS.

November 19th, 2008

Ravenshaw University in two years under the leadership of VC Devdas Chhotray

Following is excerpted from a report in tathya.in.

• With a heritage of 150 years, it has a vision to grow as a Knowledge Center for the South East Asia, with 25000 residents in campus, by 2025 AD.
• Mr. Chhotray, who joined as the first Vice Chancellor of the Ravenshaw University on 15 November, two years ago obtained UGC approval in a record time of 6 months.
• Ravenshaw has also been restructured into eight Schools of Studies and several Centers on the model of JNU.
• … the new administration has introduced semester system of course work, with flexibility in choice of subjects.
• The university has ensured uninterrupted academic sessions, timely results and excellence in performance.
• Ravenshaw has now opened up 153 new faculty positions for which 6500 applications have been received on line.
• Ravenshaw has started its flagship MBA program from the current year in collaboration with XIMB, Bhubaneshwar.
• In collaboration with ICICI Bank, Ravenshaw has launched a PG Diploma Course in Banking and Insurance Management.
• Activities have been intensified for establishment of School of Aviation Management, jointly with the University of Kremb, Vienna, School of Foreign Languages and Master’s Course in Development Management.
• Initiative for establishment of the Center for Contemporary Music, with a large scale of Music Library and Department of Sound, Center for Understanding Orissa and Spoken English Portfolio is yielding results.
• Government of India has funded Ravenshaw for making the first barrier free University in the State and introducing disability studies.
• Ministry of Tourism has consented to set up a School of Hospitality & Hotel Management.
• Ministry of Communication & IT are considering a project for Language Technology Center, and Ministry of Culture will support a Conservation and Documentation Cell in the Ravenshaw Library.
• The Ministry of External Affairs has set up a Regional Centre for ICCR inside the Ravenshaw Campus and the Ministry of I & B have licensed Ravenshaw to run a FM Channel, as ‘Ravenshaw Radio’.
• In the meantime the State Government has cleared the project for a second campus, ‘Ravenshaw II’, by granting 150 acres of prime land in Cuttack free of cost.
• On the co-curricular front, Ravenshaw has floated 30 forums for students including the Ravenshaw Film Society, and has taken measures to set up Art Centre, Heritage Museum, and Ravenshaw Choir, said sources.
• Writing of the History of Ravenshaw College (1868-2006), has been commissioned.
• Under the Project ‘Ravenshaw -200’, two hundred eminent and elderly Ravenshavians are being captured in camera while reminiscencing their college days, to create a base of oral history.
• Ravenshaw has reinstituted many prestigious events like ‘Borasambar Debate’ after decades of discontinuance.
• Ravenshaw has proposed to set up a publication enterprise, the Ravenshaw University Press (RUP), for serious academic works, as well as peer reviewed research journals.
• It is also negotiating with the Ginger Group of Hotels for a 100 room unit as a public private partnership and utilize a part of the facility as a University Guest House for visiting faculties.

7 comments November 17th, 2008

Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri to have 25 universities

The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri area will have 25 universities. Following is a slide on it from my presentation at the Invest India Symposium.

The color coding in the above slides is as follows:

• Red – Central govt funded universities/institutes
• Navy Blue: State govt. funded universities
• Light blue: PPP
• Green: Privately created universities and deemed universities
• Orange: Mention about colleges that are part of various universities

To compare this with the universities in the major metropolitan areas of the US and the state of California, please see: 

• Boston: 18 four year colleges and universities in the city and  24 in the surrounding areas, some listed twice as they have campuses in the city as well as in the surrounding areas.
• New York:83 colleges and universities in New York City, not counting the 22 individual colleges of CUNY.
• Los Angeles:
• Chicago: 43 colleges and universities
• California
  

The reason we use California as a reference point is that the population of California (34,600,463 in 2001) is close to the population of Orissa (2001: 36,804,660).

November 8th, 2008

XIM Bhubaneswar’s plans and status report

Following is an excerpt from a report in Business Standard.

…XIMB had sought 60 acres of land from the Orissa government in Bhubaneswar for developing its second campus but the B-school’s plans was marred by inordinate delay on the part of the state government in allotment of land.

“We have already taken up the issue of allotment of land with the state chief minister, industries secretary and other relevant officials. However, we are yet to receive any communication from the state government on allotment of land”, Joseph clarified.

The institute was open to set up its second campus in alternative locations of the state like Cuttack and Khurda if land was unavailable in the city.

Meanwhile, it had also started scouting for private land in Cuttack and Khurda apart from within the city owing to delay in allotment of land by the state government and the B-school was aiming to take possession of the land by the end of this year.

The institute aimed to make its second campus operational by 2012 to mark the 25th year of formation of XIMB.

In another development, XIMB is set to roll out the part-time doctoral programme in management in its existing campus from the next academic session.

This programme is being designed for those work executives who cannot pursue full-time doctoral course in management.

…  At present, XIMB offers Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) with an intake of 15 participants every year.

…  XIMB had recently entered into a MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the US-based Eastern Michigan University for offering dual degree programmes to its students.

According to the MoU, the students of XIMB will spend two semesters at the Eastern Michigan University and they will be awarded certificates in post graduate programmes like MS degree in Information Systems and MS in Organisational Behaviour apart from the conventional MBA course.

XIMB is awaiting the approval of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for offering the dual degree programmes to its students.

With an annual intake of over 1,000 students, XIMB currently has tie-ups with ten overseas B-schools in Germany, France and Spain.

Talking to some people who are in the know, the govt. is trying to give 60 acres of land to XIMB for its second campus. The delay is due to several reasons, but the govt. is definitely trying. The possible location of this is near Naraj Mundali in the area called Ramdaspur. This is within a km or two of the Sri Sri University location. That area is slowly becoming a knowledge hub with the following proposed institutions:

• Sri Sri University, Govindpur (near Arilo), Naraj side
• National law school, Brajabiharipur, Cuttack side
• XIM Second campus, Ramdaspur, Naraj side
• Ravenshaw University second campus, Bidanasi, Cuttack side

3 comments November 4th, 2008

Mission and vision of Sri Sri University

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:

1.  Growth in economic sectors, potential for employment within the sectors and commercially viability of the course.
2. Current and anticipated demand trends for specific courses.
3. These are not linked to any specific economic sector. 
4. Inspirations from His Holiness and foreseeable needs for further development of the state of Orissa.
5. 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

More details emerging on Sri Sri University

At present there are two Sri Sri entities in Orissa:

• Sri Sri Institute of Management Studies in Bhubaneswar
• Sri Sri University

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.

1 comment October 26th, 2008

Recruitment evaluation criteria at Orissa universities and perhaps in many state universities across India

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.

3 comments October 19th, 2008

Ravenshaw to house a regional centre of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)

Following is an excerpt from a report in expressbuzz.com.

 … The only unit of the pioneering institution of cultural diplomacy, furthering revival and strengthening of cultural relations and understanding between India and other countries, in Orissa would open up a sea of opportunities for the artists and performers of the State.

The regional centre would undertake all activities of ICCR at the local level and extend the benefits from providing assistance to the artists to scholarships to students for culture studies.  

Vice-Chancellor Devdas Chotray said the centre would provide the much-needed handle for showcasing the art and culture of Orissa on the global platform.  

Artists from here would be empanelled for the exchange programmes, exhibitions and performances abroad. Students would also be provided with scholarships to undertake culture studies abroad.  

 

---

Meanwhile, the university has also applied to the University Grants Commission for starting an Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMRC) to churn out audio-visual educational programmes for the benefit of the large number of students in remote regions of the State.  

The possibility of the GoI nod is very high and with it Ravenshaw University would become the 18th EMRC in the country. The St. Xavier’s Autonomous College at Kolkata, which has over 22 years of experience in the field, would provide the technological knowhow and attune the infrastructure, faculty and students to the system.  

The centre would be producing educational content meant to take knowledge and learning beyond classrooms, which would be telecast through EDUSAT. With approvals forthcoming, the facility would be up and coming by the year-end, the Vice-Chancellor said.

October 14th, 2008

Ravenshaw to set up “Akshaya Mohanty Centre for Contemporary Music”

Following is an excerpt from a news report in expressbuzz.com.

The initiative envisages establishment of not only one of the richest repository of contemporary music in the country but also offer educational programmes in niche areas relating to it. And, what better way of starting it than by naming it as Akshaya Mohanty Centre for Contemporary Music, after the legendary singer of Orissa. 

The project, in fact, would come up in association with the Akshay Mohanty Foundation (AMF) and entails an investment of Rs 1 crore. Both Ravenshaw University and the foundation would be pooling Rs 50 lakh each. 

 A provisional MoU was signed between the university and foundation here today. As per the agreement, the foundation would prepare a detailed project report on the basis of which work would commence. The music library would be up and running within a year, Vice-Chancellor Devdas Chotray said.  

The library would not only store and archive Oriya contemporary music but also other Indian languages like Hindi along with English, Japanese, African, French, Latin, Deutsch etc. ‘‘It would have listening boxes where students can listen to the music without disturbing each other. We also have proposals to enable community access to one of its kind facility in Orissa,’’ the Vice-Chancellor informed.  

The centre also plans to start Department of Sound and Department of Presentation to offer courses in the areas that are now considered integral parts of music and performance. The Department of Sound would train students in the best studio management and recording practices using the latest technology, while the Department of Presentation would arm the musical performers from singers to musicians to instrumentalists with a riveting stage presence.  

‘‘Today stage presence like proper posture and positioning along with placement of instruments and accessories is deemed a prerequisite at the international-level. The course which would be run by expert faculty drawn from across the country aims at preparing our artistes for the international audience. Further, both the departments would be used by students for in-house productions for Ravenshaw Radio and other performances,’’ he added.

October 13th, 2008

Layout drawings of IIIT Bhubaneswar

Site Plan

Administration Building:

Hostel:

Next phase:

October 9th, 2008

Orissa government issues tenders for IIIT, Parala Maharaj Engineering College and Construction Academy

In recent months the Orissa government has issued tenders for two state funded and one PPP based institute:

• IIIT Bhubaneswar: The tender is for construction of administrative and academic building, hostel and external services to be completed in 9 months and at an estimated value of work of Rs 15 crores.
• Parala Maharaj Engineering College in Berhampur: The tender is for construction of the College Building at Berhampur (Sitalapalli), Ground Floor and First Floor, to be completed in 15 months, and at an estimated value of work of Rs 7 crores.
• Construction Academy in Gopalpur, Cuttack: The tender is for construction of Administrative Block (Stilt, Ground & First Floor), to be completed in 18 months, and at an estimated value of work of Rs 5.6 crores.

The tender documents are currently available via http://tendersorissa.gov.in/.

2 comments October 9th, 2008

Foundation stone of Sri Sri University laid; web site unveiled

The website of the university is http://www.srisriuniversity.org. The courses that are on offer now (hope they start working on the engineering and medical school soon) are as follows:

Following is an excerpt of the news item from the Statesman about the foundation laying .

The foundation stone for the Sri Sri University was laid at Naraj in Cuttack district today. The University is going to be set up by Sri Sri Ravisankar Vidya Mandir Trust.

Speaking at the occasion, chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik said the world-class research-based University will have streams in basic science, arts, engineering, business management, law, art and culture, ayurveda and others.

… The government has provided 186 acres of land for the Sri Sri University and will bring a special law for it.
Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravisankar said the whole world looks to India for guidance in the present turbulence across the glove.

“The human values are the best gifts of our country to the world”, he said.

On the university he said that that this will be a common man’s university. “There is an urgent need to change the educational system and the prime necessity is the teaching of human values”, he added.

September 25th, 2008

Some central universities to come up earlier than the others?

The following excerpt from a news item from the statesman is confusing. It talks about MHRD starting 6 central universities. It is not clear what is happening with the other 24 proposed central universities.

The Human Resources Development (HRD) ministry has decided to allot Rs 6,200 crore to six states including West Bengal, for setting up Central universities. 

The funds would be disbursed to the respective states after the plots are identified. Funds will be provided under the eleventh five-year plan, HRD ministry officials said.  …

Other than West Bengal, universities will be set up in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Uttaranchal. These states have already identified lands for the proposed institute and have accordingly informed the HRD ministry. A senior official of the ministry said the universities are supposed to come up on 700 to 1,000 acre of land, which are easily accessible.

… The proposed residential university will lay more emphasis on courses in foreign languages such as Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Spanish and Italian. Subjects like engineering, medical science, computer science, arts and management will also be taught in the university. Students from Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Tibet and Singapore are expected to seek admission to the university. The university will also offer courses in Buddhist  philosophy, Chinese philosophy and Tibetan philosophy.

September 20th, 2008

153 Faculty poistions at Ravenshaw University, Cuttack

The details are at http://ravenshawuniversity.com/common/recruitment-for-faculty-positions.htm.

•    How to Apply
•    Details of Posts, Qualification, Specialisation, Scale of Pay etc.
•  Application Format

Following is from http://ravenshawuniversity.com/File/Recruitment%20for%20Faculty%20Positions.pdf.

a) It will be open to the university to consider names of suitable candidates who might not have applied. b) Merely fulfilling the minimum qualification does not entitle a candidate to be necessarily considered or called for interview. c) Applications received after the last date may be considered. d) University reserves the right not to fill up any of the vacancies advertised if the circumstances so warrant. e) Relaxation of any of the qualification may be made in exceptional cases on the recommendation of the selection committee. f) Separate application is required for each post. g) No deputation allowances shall be paid h) No TA / DA will be paid to attend the selection committee or to join the first appointment. i) Canvassing in any form by or on behalf of the candidates will be considered as disqualification.

5 comments September 7th, 2008

Update on the proposed university by Art of Living and Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidyamandir trust; Sri Sri Institute of Management Studies, Bhubaneswar

Following is an excerpt from a report in The Pioneer.

Volunteers of the Art of Living on Sunday organised a preparatory meet at Naraj, 30 km from here, … to serve as a prelude to the arrival of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on September 20.

… Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, during his stay here from September 20 to September 25, would lay the foundation-stone of the university and deliver a spiritual address to over 10,000 devotees expected to gather on the occasion, said AOL faculty Devjyoti Mohanty, adding that over 186 acres of Government lands have already been allocated by the State Government for the proposed university.

This is the first-ever university to be set up by the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidyamandir Trust, and it would be a regular university with a spiritual touch, he said. Local people have been mobilised for their fullest cooperation for the project, and the university would take into account the interests of the State while selecting the candidates, he added.

So far in their web page the only Orissa specific institute that is mentioned is the Sri Sri Institute of Management Studies. That is a good start and I hope soon the other schools will be launched. The web page for Sri Sri Institute of Management Studies, Bhubaneswar says the following.

SRI SRI INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES

Sri Sri Institute Of Management Studies, Bhubaneshwar is the the result of H.H.Sri Sri Ravishankar’s vision of blending high quality education with spirituality and human values. The courses are so designed to train the students in Self Management, Stress Management and Personality Development.

Courses Offered

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.

Salient features of the Institute

Courses with high job prospects are offered Curriculum to match demands of the industry Corporate bodies will be invited to conduct campus interviews Holistic Education to equip the student to compete with their counterparts at the global level Value based and stress free education Art of Living Courses to teach the students to manage their own emotions and interpersonal     relationships. Adequate Infrastructural facilities                                  :Address:         N-5/421         IRC village, Nayapalli,         Bhubaneshwar- 751012         :Contact         Dr. S.Ramaratnam 944916801 Qualified faculty

Their trust already has a management school running in Goa. It seems to be a good school with good faculty. Thus it is expected that the management school in Bhubaneswar will also be good. Besides offering a 2 yr PG Diploma in Business management (which is the only degree offered in the Goal school), the Bhubaneswar school will also offer a 2 year PG diploma in mass communication. This program is a longer program than the One year Post Graduate Diploma in Print Journalism & Electronic Media offered by the trust’s journalism school in Bangalore. The Bhubaneswar school will also offer a one year PG Diploma in Government which is not offered by any other school of the trust. Thus the proposed Bhubaneswar school will have more programs than the Goa school and Bangalore school combined.

The Bhubaneswar school page has the following information visible only at the html/php code level:

Address: N-5/421
IRC village,
Nayapalli,Bhubaneshwar-751012
Contact: Dr. S.Ramaratnam 944916801  

Perhaps that is the address until the campus is built near Naraj.

5 comments August 25th, 2008

WCCUs to be called National Universities?

Update: See http://knowledgecommission.gov.in/downloads/documents/Letter_World_Class_Universities.pdf for National Knowledge Commission’s take on this.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Indian Express.

An all-India common entrance examination, a student-count not exceeding 12,000, the best of faculty with incentives over and above regular pay, a curriculum revised every three years, a semester system, private sector funding, vice-chancellors with at least decade-long teaching experience, collaboration with universities and institutes in India and abroad, academic creativity free from red tapism — all this and more will go into the making of 14 World Class Universities (WCUs) very shortly.

And these sweeping changes are also likely to be applied to all existing universities and 16 Central universities that have recently been approved by the Cabinet. What will change, however, is the nomenclature for the 14 WCUs. Officials say these are now likely to be christened National Universities and the related legislation will be called the National Universities Act.

The basic blueprint for the WCUs has been formulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the first round of discussions, held in New Delhi today, involved academicians, experts, officials from the Human Resource Development Ministry, UGC and Planning Commission.

“There was a very interactive discussion on the WCUs and a major viewpoint emerged. Participants felt there should be a similar legislation for all Central universities, including the 16 which just got Cabinet approval, and all existing universities. The view was that there should be no hierarchy or disparity in standards amongst universities and the reforms and changes suggested for WCUs should be applied to all universities,” an official who attended the meeting told The Indian Express.

“There were strong reservations against the term ‘world class’ and it was decided they will be called National Universities instead,” the official said.

While more discussions will follow, sources said that the UGC and HRD Ministry hope to be ready with a legislation in time for the Parliament session. …

The WCUs are envisaged as unitary universities, like JNU, without any affiliation and multi-facility based, offering subjects ranging from natural sciences, social sciences and humanities to engineering, technology and medicine among others.

Promised autonomy in matters of admission of students and standards for selection, introduction and revision of contextual and innovative curricula, opening of new campuses and new programmes, intake of students, examinations and evaluation systems, faculty recruitment and national and international collaborations, the WCUs are planned as model institutes that will stand apart from existing universities.

That getting the best of faculty is high on the agenda for these new universities is apparent as the concept paper suggest that individuals with high quality research/training experience could be invited to join the faculty even if they have not applied for the job — as is also done in JNU. The universities, the paper says, should also be allowed to develop own hiring policies and pay higher emoluments and non-salary incentives over and above regular pay scales. The blueprint also recommends that private sector funding be permitted as long as it does not compromise academic integrity and autonomy of the university.

While the UGC’s earlier draft on WCUs did not quite impress the Prime Minister’s Office — it is keenly following the ambitious project — the new concept paper is said to have been found to be more “forward looking”. The legislation will also be so worded that it does not lead to rigid bureaucratic controls that stifle quality and creativity and spell out only “what to do” instead of “how to do”.

August 24th, 2008