Archive for September 2009
India keen on tie-ups with leading global universities
The Ministry for Human Resource Development (MHRD) is keen to tie up with the worlds leading universities to ensure that its innovation universities are a class apart from the pack. During his visit to the US in late October, the minister for human resource development Kapil Sibal would like to firm up MoUs with leading US universities to collaborate with the proposed innovation universities. Among the American universities that are being approached are Yale, Standford and MIT. The government plans to set up 14 innovation universities over the next few years.
The government proposes to set up these universities as global centres of innovation and would like to draw on the talent and expertise of leading universities. We are looking for a collaboration for two or three of the innovation universities, a senior ministry official said. India has had a history of collaborating with leading international universities to set up her own world class institutions. The Iits and Iims were set up in collaboration and partnership with leading international institutes. The nature of the partnership will be different. We are better equipped now than we were when the IITs were set up, the official said. The exact nature of the partnership is still being worked out.
Mr Sibal, who will be travelling to the US ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs state visit in November, will leading a delegation to put in place the India-US Education Council. As part of the preparation, last week Mr Sibal met with Timothy Roemer, the US Ambassador to India. Sources said that discussions centred on chartered schools, vocational education options and twinning programmes at the higher education level.
The human resource development minister has been actively seeking tie-up partnerships with foreign education institutions. Earlier this month, possible areas of collaboration were discussed by UKs trade and investment minister Mervyn Davies and Mr Sibal. The British minister had indicated teacher training as one of the possible areas of collaboration.
At last weeks meeting Mr Sibal and Mr Roemer are understood to have also discussed the legislation that would permit foreign education institutions and universities to set up campus in India. A legislative proposal detailing out the legal and regulatory framework for foreign education providers is pending with the Cabinet Secretariat for approval by the Cabinet. The ministry would like the Bill to be introduced in Parliament during the winter session, so that it can be in place by the next academic session.
Source: The Economic Times
India keen on tie-ups with leading global universities
The Ministry for Human Resource Development (MHRD) is keen to tie up with the worlds leading universities to ensure that its innovation universities are a class apart from the pack. During his visit to the US in late October, the minister for human resource development Kapil Sibal would like to firm up MoUs with leading US universities to collaborate with the proposed innovation universities. Among the American universities that are being approached are Yale, Standford and MIT. The government plans to set up 14 innovation universities over the next few years.
The government proposes to set up these universities as global centres of innovation and would like to draw on the talent and expertise of leading universities. We are looking for a collaboration for two or three of the innovation universities, a senior ministry official said. India has had a history of collaborating with leading international universities to set up her own world class institutions. The Iits and Iims were set up in collaboration and partnership with leading international institutes. The nature of the partnership will be different. We are better equipped now than we were when the IITs were set up, the official said. The exact nature of the partnership is still being worked out.
Mr Sibal, who will be travelling to the US ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs state visit in November, will leading a delegation to put in place the India-US Education Council. As part of the preparation, last week Mr Sibal met with Timothy Roemer, the US Ambassador to India. Sources said that discussions centred on chartered schools, vocational education options and twinning programmes at the higher education level.
The human resource development minister has been actively seeking tie-up partnerships with foreign education institutions. Earlier this month, possible areas of collaboration were discussed by UKs trade and investment minister Mervyn Davies and Mr Sibal. The British minister had indicated teacher training as one of the possible areas of collaboration.
At last weeks meeting Mr Sibal and Mr Roemer are understood to have also discussed the legislation that would permit foreign education institutions and universities to set up campus in India. A legislative proposal detailing out the legal and regulatory framework for foreign education providers is pending with the Cabinet Secretariat for approval by the Cabinet. The ministry would like the Bill to be introduced in Parliament during the winter session, so that it can be in place by the next academic session.
Source: The Economic Times
India keen on tie-ups with leading global universities
The Ministry for Human Resource Development (MHRD) is keen to tie up with the worlds leading universities to ensure that its innovation universities are a class apart from the pack. During his visit to the US in late October, the minister for human resource development Kapil Sibal would like to firm up MoUs with leading US universities to collaborate with the proposed innovation universities. Among the American universities that are being approached are Yale, Standford and MIT. The government plans to set up 14 innovation universities over the next few years.
The government proposes to set up these universities as global centres of innovation and would like to draw on the talent and expertise of leading universities. We are looking for a collaboration for two or three of the innovation universities, a senior ministry official said. India has had a history of collaborating with leading international universities to set up her own world class institutions. The Iits and Iims were set up in collaboration and partnership with leading international institutes. The nature of the partnership will be different. We are better equipped now than we were when the IITs were set up, the official said. The exact nature of the partnership is still being worked out.
Mr Sibal, who will be travelling to the US ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs state visit in November, will leading a delegation to put in place the India-US Education Council. As part of the preparation, last week Mr Sibal met with Timothy Roemer, the US Ambassador to India. Sources said that discussions centred on chartered schools, vocational education options and twinning programmes at the higher education level.
The human resource development minister has been actively seeking tie-up partnerships with foreign education institutions. Earlier this month, possible areas of collaboration were discussed by UKs trade and investment minister Mervyn Davies and Mr Sibal. The British minister had indicated teacher training as one of the possible areas of collaboration.
At last weeks meeting Mr Sibal and Mr Roemer are understood to have also discussed the legislation that would permit foreign education institutions and universities to set up campus in India. A legislative proposal detailing out the legal and regulatory framework for foreign education providers is pending with the Cabinet Secretariat for approval by the Cabinet. The ministry would like the Bill to be introduced in Parliament during the winter session, so that it can be in place by the next academic session.
Source: The Economic Times
Mutual Funds get step-motherly treatment from distributors
Distributors of mutual funds, are selling more of fixed income products, ever since SEBI (Securities & Exchange Board of India) introduced the abolition of entry load on mutual funds. Under the new norms investors must pay fees separately to the distributor as compared to the earlier practice where commission were paid out of entry loads charged by the mutual funds. If initial trends are anything to go by distributors are now earning more from selling fixed income products compared to mutual funds, in the changed environment .
Atom-powered devices to enter India in a big way
Intel Corp, the worlds top chipmaker, expects its Atom processor to power a host of devices in the Indian market, in addition to the no-frills netbook or the nettop. These could be a mix of mobile banking devices, mobile internet devices (MID), point-of-sales terminals to even outdoor display terminals. Intel confirmed that a multitude of vendors were developing a spate of new applications in India. Talking to the Economic Times, Intel Technology India director (Marketing-South Asia) Prakash Bagri said Atom has the potential to power products like MID, mobile banking devices, GPS monitoring devices, personal healthcare gadgets, point-of-sales terminals, and even outdoor display terminals. Atom fits well in the embedded space and devices which deliver internet-centric experience or needs to be powered by internet. A lot of such devices are under development and may hit India soon, Mr. Bagri said.
Relief for private foreign universities: Quota law not binding
Foreign universities and education providers setting up campuses in India are unlikely to be required to provide for reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other backward classes (OBC). Even as Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal said that reservation laws as applicable to Indian institutions would apply to foreign universities setting up campuses in India. Only government education institutions are required by law to provide for reservation quotas; private unaided institutions are not required to set aside seats for SCs, STs and OBCs. Reservation laws as applicable to Indian institutes will be applicable to the foreign institutes. There will be no discrimination, Mr. Sibal said. Mr. Sibal said that he favours 100 per cent ownership of the Indian campuses by the foreign universities, a clear indication that the Indian campuses of foreign universities are likely to be private entities. This would mean that the campuses of these foreign education providers are likely to be exempt from adhering to reservation laws.
Relief for private foreign universities: Quota law not binding
Foreign universities and education providers setting up campuses in India are unlikely to be required to provide for reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other backward classes (OBC). Even as Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal said that reservation laws as applicable to Indian institutions would apply to foreign universities setting up campuses in India. Only government education institutions are required by law to provide for reservation quotas; private unaided institutions are not required to set aside seats for SCs, STs and OBCs. Reservation laws as applicable to Indian institutes will be applicable to the foreign institutes. There will be no discrimination, Mr. Sibal said. Mr. Sibal said that he favours 100 per cent ownership of the Indian campuses by the foreign universities, a clear indication that the Indian campuses of foreign universities are likely to be private entities. This would mean that the campuses of these foreign education providers are likely to be exempt from adhering to reservation laws.
Relief for private foreign universities: Quota law not binding
Foreign universities and education providers setting up campuses in India are unlikely to be required to provide for reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other backward classes (OBC). Even as Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal said that reservation laws as applicable to Indian institutions would apply to foreign universities setting up campuses in India. Only government education institutions are required by law to provide for reservation quotas; private unaided institutions are not required to set aside seats for SCs, STs and OBCs. Reservation laws as applicable to Indian institutes will be applicable to the foreign institutes. There will be no discrimination, Mr. Sibal said. Mr. Sibal said that he favours 100 per cent ownership of the Indian campuses by the foreign universities, a clear indication that the Indian campuses of foreign universities are likely to be private entities. This would mean that the campuses of these foreign education providers are likely to be exempt from adhering to reservation laws.
The Cabinet is expected to take up the legislation allowing foreign universities and education providers to set up campuses in India shortly. Mr. Sibal said that some well known foreign universities had already approached the Ministry with proposal for setting up of campuses. The minister hopes that the foreign universities may start operations by next year. Foreign education providers will be required to take clearance from the accreditation committee for quality control before being allowed to set up campuses in India. All foreign universities will be required to be accredited in their country of origin and be in existence for at least 10 years before setting up campus in India. Mr. Sibal favours the idea of foreign universities having 100 per cent ownership of their campuses in India. If there is 100 per cent ownership of private sector here, why not 100 per cent ownership of foreign universities, the minister said.
The minister accepted that that there would be objections from political parties to the provision of 100 per cent ownership to the foreign universities. The Left has been among the most vociferous opponents of the proposal to allow foreign universities to set up campuses in India. Mr. Sibal said, “There will be objection. There is no process of change without objections. And I welcome objections. I welcome dialogue”.
Foreign education institutes will not be allowed to repatriate surplus income generated at their campuses in India. The surplus has to be spent for the expansion of the campus within the country. To ensure that no fly-by-night operators come to India, the aspiring institutes will have to go through the accreditation procedure of the country. The foreign education providers will be regulated by University Grants Commission (UGC) and any successive regulatory body.
Source: The Economic Times
>2 Indian Americans win $500,000 MacArthur fellowships
>Two Indian Americans, one a computer scientist and the other a mathematician, are among 24 winners of the prestigious MacArthur fellowships offering talented individuals unprecedented freedom and opportunity to reflect, create, and explore. Computer vision technologist Maneesh Agrawala, 37, and applied mathematics specialist L. Mahadevan, 44, will each receive $500,000 support over the next five years. MacArthur fellowships come without stipulations and reporting requirements. The unusual level of independence afforded to Fellows underscores the spirit of freedom intrinsic to creative endeavours.
2 Indian Americans win $500,000 MacArthur fellowships
Two Indian Americans, one a computer scientist and the other a mathematician, are among 24 winners of the prestigious MacArthur fellowships offering talented individuals unprecedented freedom and opportunity to reflect, create, and explore. Computer vision technologist Maneesh Agrawala, 37, and applied mathematics specialist L. Mahadevan, 44, will each receive $500,000 support over the next five years. MacArthur fellowships come without stipulations and reporting requirements. The unusual level of independence afforded to Fellows underscores the spirit of freedom intrinsic to creative endeavours.
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