>Sibal lays stone for IIT-Patna campus; worries about low GER

>The government was committed to the development of all new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal said in Patna Tuesday while laying the foundation stone of the IIT-Patna. The premier technology institute is coming up on 500 acres of land near Bihta, about 30 kms from Patna, the state’s capital. Sibal, who arrived here Monday night, said construction work would be completed within three years.

“The central government was committed to the development of all new IITs, including IIT-Patna,” Sibal said after he laid the foundation stone. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was also present on the occasion, said the state government had last year handed over 463 acres of acquired land. He formally handed over the papers for the 500 acres of land to IIT-Patna Director Anil K. Bhowmick. IIT-Patna has been running at a temporary polytechnic campus here since August 2008.

Mr. Sibal said the Centre would soon work out with the State Governments, the modalities of implementation of the Right to Education Act in order to provide compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years.

The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has chalked out a plan to provide an impetus to higher education and up the country’s gross enrolment ratio from a measly 14% to at least 20% by 2020. “It’s a major challenge. Developed nations report 50% to 70% gross enrolment ratio,” Mr. Sibal said.

Speaking as the chief guest after laying the foundation stone of the IIT-Patna’s new campus, Sibal said the country’s real wealth is intellectual property which can be created only if more IITs, IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) and universities are set up. The country today has 700 universities and 26,000 colleges, which are not enough. “We will require 40,000 to 50,000 colleges and 1000 universities and technical institutions by 2020,” he said.

Mr. Sibal said only 15% of the IIT products opt for foreign jobs while the rest of them are contributing to the development of the country. He hoped that IIT-Patna would also prove to be the country’s educational mainstay once it starts functioning from its new campus after two years.

Sibal regretted that only 14% of the country’s school passouts study in universities while 18% to 24% of children remain unschooled. Though the scenario is improving, it’s still poor compared to European countries where 50 to 70% students get university education.

The Union HRD ministry has decided to make all the colleges and universities of the country online under the “National Knowledge Network” scheme. It would be a boon for teachers and students as it would add value to their respective pursuits, Sibal said. Lauding the development work being carried out in Bihar under the leadership of Chief Minister (CM) Nitish Kumar, Sibal said the Centre is ready to help the state grow further in the field of higher education.

In his presidential address, Kumar pitched afresh the state’s plea to set up the Central University of Bihar in Motihari. It would be a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi who had started his ‘satyagrah’ from the West Champaran district headquarters in 1917, he said. “People are ready to make land available in Motihari, only 135 minutes away from Patna. Situated on East-West corridor, the place is also on the railway map. Yet, the Centre is insisting on opening the university somewhere near Patna,” the CM said and asked how inclusive growth will be achieved if all the educational institutions open in Patna.

Kumar said the state government is spending Rs. 8,000 crore (Rs. 80 billion) on education. “Bihar should be given special central assistance to implement the Centre’s Right to Education Act which involves a cost of Rs. 12,000 crore (Rs. 120 billion),” he said and added the state would not look up to the Centre for such expenses if it is accorded the special state status. Mr. Sibal, however, said that the present UPA government has given record funds for education sector to the Bihar government.

Sources: The Times of India & Indo-Asian News Service, April 20, 2011

>Nine Indian students for Intel show in Los Angeles

>Nine Indian students from different parts of the country will represent India at the 2011 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) to be held in Los Angeles, California from May 8-13.

These are students who are winners of the India Initiative for Research & Innovation of Science (IRIS), which is a public private partnership between the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Intel. The primary objective of IRIS is to promote science and scientific research amongst the young Indian innovators in secondary and higher secondary schools.

These students at ISEF will represent at the world’s largest pre-college science fair competition for students in grades 9-12. Bringing together more than 1,600 young students from more than 60 countries, ISEF 2011 is an opportunity for the best young minds in the world to come together to share ideas, showcase cutting-edge projects, and compete for more than US$ 4 million in awards and scholarships.

Over 1,300 IRIS project entries were received from across the country under 10 categories that included a range of solutions in the field of physical and life sciences, mathematics, engineering and social sciences. Out of these, 88 projects were showcased at IRIS 2010 held at the Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai, Maharashtra and six projects by 9 students were short listed to represent India at ISEF, according to a press release.

Mr. Ashutosh Chadha, Director – Corporate Affairs Group, Intel South Asia. “ISEF encourages students to tackle challenging scientific questions through authentic research practices to solve the problems of tomorrow.”

Source: Business Line, April 20, 2011

>Engineers, women retain strength at IIM-Ahmedabad

>Engineers have retained their strength at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A ) for the new 2011-13 batch. The percentage of women candidates, too, has been the same at 10.9% like last year in the 380-strong batch. The batch size for both the years has been the same.

IIMs traditionally see engineers dominating the list of candidates shortlisted for the two-year post-graduate programme (PGP) in management course. The flagship programme has 94% engineers this year, a marginal drop from 95% admitted last year. The institute has offered seats to 3.5% students from commerce background and to 2% from science stream.

The institute has given 380 offers and has asked the candidates to take decision on joining IIM-A till May 13. CAT (Common Admission Test) scores, performance in group discussion and personal interview apart from educational background form the basis for admission to the IIMs.

“This year too, engineers have performed better,” IIM-A admission chairperson Prof. Diptesh Ghosh told ET. The 2009-11 batch had 91% engineers and 2010-12 batch had around 95% engineers. IIM-A started its admission process on January 12 and interview rounds on February 23 that ended on March 24.

The institute has interviewed 918 students. There are 52 students who have been put on the waiting list. The institute released the list of its first offer to the students for the 2011-13 batch on Monday. For the 2009-11 batch, the institute had the highest proportion of 19% women students, a significant jump from the 6% admitted in the year before (2008-10).

“There would be a number of students who would secure offers from more than one IIM and those joining elsewhere will be replaced from the waiting list,” Ghosh said. This year almost 70% have work experience. The number of experienced candidates stood at around 60% in the previous two batches.

“The average age of the batch is 23 years and 19% of the students have experience of more than two years,” Ghosh said. This year, IIM-A , IIM-Bangalore and IIM-Calcutta coordinated with each other to hold interviews at the same centre for students who received interview calls from all the three IIMs. “Earlier, they had to visit their respective cities. This year, the coordination helped them save time and money,” he said.

Source: The Economic Times (Online Edition), April 20, 2011

>Walmart to buy website founded by IIT-Madras alumni

>The world’s largest retailer Walmart has announced acquisition of social media site Kosmix, a Silicon Valley firm founded by two alumni of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), as the global retail giant aims to strengthen its position in social and mobile commerce offerings.

“We are expanding our capabilities in today’s rapidly growing social commerce environment. Social networking and mobile applications are increasingly becoming a part of our customers’ day-to-day lives globally, influencing how they think about shopping, both online and in retail stores,” Walmart’s Vice Chairman Eduardo Castro-Wright said in a statement.

Founded by Venky Harinarayan and Anand Rajaraman in 2005, Kosmix has developed a social media technology platform that filters and organises content in social networks to connect people with real-time information that interests them.

Walmart has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Kosmix. The retail major did not disclose the financial details of the transaction. The deal, subject to customary closing conditions, is likely to complete during the first half of this year, it said. The founders and the Kosmix team will operate as part of the newly formed ‘WalmartLabs’ and will continue to be based in Silicon Valley.

“We are thrilled to join one of the world’s largest companies and combine our work with Walmart’s vast online and offline retail businesses,” Rajaraman said. Walmart plans to expand the WalmartLabs team and expects this new group to create technologies and businesses around social and mobile commerce.

Source: The Indian Express, April 20, 2011