Archive for the ‘Institutional Collaboration’ Category
Cambridge eyeing growth in postgraduate collaborations in India; Already has 270 active projects
University of Cambridge is eyeing growth in postgraduate collaborations with Indian institutions. Though the university Vice-Chancellor, Professor Leszek Boryseiwichz, emphatically rejects any plans of setting university campus in India in the near future, he says they are identifying new institutions in India to partner with. However, the collaborations would essentially be at the post-graduate (PG) level. The university in the near future is looking at creating a sustainable relationship with India through academic linkages. University of Cambridge already has 270 active projects with various institutes running in India.
The university also entered into collaboration with the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) institution, wherein five students from SGPC institution would be shortlisted for pursuing research studies in Cambridge. Under the scheme, the entire expenses of students would be shared equally by the SGPC and Cambridge University.
The university, with more than 240 Indian students studying at PG level and around 70 students enrolled for under graduate courses, has not witnessed any impact of weakening rupee, impacting the inflow of students to the university. “Till now, we have not observed any case wherein Indian students had to leave the campus because of the escalating cost of education on account of the depreciating rupee.”
The university, starting this year, has also allowed entry of Indian students in undergraduate courses , if they score 90% in the higher secondary examination. Boryseiwichz says the examinations system throughout the country varies. And to ensure meritorious students are not deprived of the opportunity to enroll themselves in the undergraduate courses being offered by the university, a couple of examination systems has been recognised by the university. This year the university has attracted 70 students from India, who have enrolled themselves for the various undergraduate courses.
Source: Business Standard, September 13, 2012
Hyderabad and Kolkata plan meta varsities
Following in the footsteps of Delhi, universities in Kolkata and Hyderabad will soon establish their own meta university — a network of universities which allow students to choose courses from across disciplines from different institutions. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has written letters to the vice-chancellors of the Kolkata and Hyderabad universities to explore opportunities for launching meta universities on the lines proposed by the leading educational institutions of Delhi.
For the first such university in the country, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI), Delhi University and Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) have come together and have initiated work of launching meta university and commencing courses from the next session. These institutions have identified three principal areas of climate change, public health and education with each institution utilising its existing infrastructure and capabilities.
The foundation of meta universities rides on the National Knowledge Network to promote multidisciplinary learning. “The broadband backbone linking institutions of excellence in specific fields of knowledge would provide the communication infrastructure while the open access movement and allied initiatives will form the knowledge base and content. The proposed meta university would be a collaborative platform for a network of universities to come together and offer courses in a variety of disciplines,” said a ministry official. This model would allow students and teachers to access and share teaching materials, scholarly publications, research work, scientific works in progress and virtual experiments thereby promoting trans-disciplinary research
In fact, Jadhavpur University, Calcutta University and the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C) are also mulling a meta university in West Bengal. Meta universities involve establishment of centres of inter-disciplinary research by creating a university in virtual space linking institutions of higher learning in physical space into a collaborative unit. PM Manmohan Singh had announced the first meta university in the country while releasing the first report of National Innovation Council last year.
Moreover, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has started the process of framing guidelines for meta universities which would delineate the institutional structure required and the framework and modalities for collaboration between different institutions besides the competence of these institutions to issue dual and joint degrees.
Source: The Financial Express, June 6, 2012
Canada varsity keen on library partnership with IITs
A Canadian university is moving towards library and research partnerships with two Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The University of Alberta (UA) is expecting to share digitised materials in diverse areas such as medicine, engineering and literature with IIT, Ropar, and IIT Roorkee, a university spokesperson told Business Line.
Ms Margaret Law, Director of International Relations with the university libraries, was in India recently. According to her, the institutions may work out specific ways in which they could share rare copies of digitised materials. “This will be with librarians from the IITs and their Canadian counterparts,” Ms Law said.
She felt the university library needed to support those beyond western perspectives on medicine, engineering, or any other fields. In her efforts to enhance research capacities at the University of Alberta, she felt the need to build an infrastructure base by helping develop expertise in librarianship and build library collections worldwide.
For example, IIT Ropar offers a course on Canadian literature but have a very limited collection. “We’re going to help them build a good Canadian literature collection”, Ms Law said. IIT, Ropar, in turn will help the Canadian university build a library of Indian traditional medicine. “We have a number of researchers in Canada, who are interested in global health issues and we have a special collection that’s specifically focused on indigenous traditions and health practices”.
Source: The Hindu Business Line, April 19, 2012
NIFT to join hands with Institute of Fashion Design, Lahore
Apart from giving a major thrust to liberal trade between the two countries, India and Pakistan plan to join hands in the field of fashion designing, textiles and footwear through collaborations between their fashion institutes. The attempt is to come up with challenging and innovative fusion of fashion from both the countries and open new avenues and markets for their designers, including the textiles and footwear industries. The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and the Lahore-based Institute of Fashion Design are working on extensive exchange of fashion knowledge and expertise.
“Our students and teachers can interact with each other and professional programmes can also take place in the future. There would be synergy between the two institutes. If plans work out, there will be collaboration between the two institutes,” Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said. Over 100 Pakistani top brands and fashion designers in categories such as fashion textiles, jewellery, designer furniture, handicrafts, home textiles and leather goods are showcasing their items at the four-day “Pakistan Lifestyle” extravaganza being held at the Pragati Maidan.
Apart from fashion and textile designing, the government is also looking at avenues for the footwear industry. “There is a need to develop the footwear industry. In India, we have a footwear design institute and it is the need of the hour that such designing institutes should have a common linkage. We need our fashion designers to constantly interact with each other for which a common ground has to be created to share the knowledge,” Mr. Sharma added.
Both the countries are even contemplating forming a common business council in the event of strengthening of economic ties. Zain Aziz of Sefam group, one of the largest fashion designing houses in Pakistan, said: “The collaboration would be good for business because a lot of youngsters are nowadays working in fashion houses.”
Source: The Hindu, April 14, 2012
Indian School of Business signs MoU with IBA in Karachi
The Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi to provide executive education in Pakistan. The collaboration brings together the Centre for Executive Education (CEE) at ISB, one of the largest executive education providers in Asia and IBA, the oldest business school outside North America, to provide executive education courses to senior management executives looking to fast track their careers.
The MoU was signed by Deepak Chandra, Deputy Dean, ISB and Dr Ishrat Husain, Dean and Director, IBA, Karachi, at the ISB campus. Deepak Chandra said in a release, “We are confident that this partnership will help generate tremendous opportunities for cross-collaboration between the two schools and sets the tone for many more future associations aimed at nurturing business leaders and entrepreneurs who would contribute to the growth of business and industry in Pakistan.”
The course offerings will include ‘open programmes’ or short-duration programmes that are driven by research, ‘custom-designed programmes’ or specialised courses devised to cater to specific needs of a particular organisation as well as workshops and seminars. For starters, the proposed programmes would focus on family business, entrepreneurship, business leadership, strategy and related domains. This would later be expanded to include programmes on Public Private Partnership (PPP) as well.
While ISB will focus on the design and delivery of the programmes, IBA will be responsible for their marketing and promotion. The programmes will be conducted by ISB’s faculty. The first programme is slated to commence in June, 2012.
Source: The Economic Times (Online Edition), April 13, 2012
University of Northampton (UK) signs MoU with University of Madras
The University of Northampton, which is among UK’s most prestigious teaching institutions, recently signed a MoU with the University of Madras to conduct its online MSc programme in international environmental management. Professor Nick Petford, who is the vice-chancellor of the University of Northampton met Dr VD Swaminathan, the Director of the University Centre for International Relations, University of Madras, and discussed about the course being delivered through a joint award arrangement. The two universities will now work together to validate and launch this degree for the January 2013 intake.
Professor Petford, who is a former Royal Society University Research Fellow and Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge, said, “Environmental management issues now feature prominently on national and international political agendas. The Indian subcontinent is particularly sensitive to climate variability, while its environment, society, industry and agriculture are potentially vulnerable to future climate change.” According to the professor, University of Northampton has specifically designed this course jointly with the University of Madras to meet the needs and ever growing sustainability demands of India and other developing countries.
Source: The Financial Express, April 9, 2012
Ivey ties up with MDI Gurgaon
The Richard Ivey School of Business (Ivey) is expanding its footprint in India through its partnerships in areas of case study preparation, research and executive education. The Richard Ivey School of Business today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon, for development of India-focussed business case studies and distribute them globally. Further, Ivey will also be developing an executive development programme for a large Indian telecom player.
The partnership with MDI will look at training high-potential faculty and case writers in case writing and case teaching process, developing a case writing and case teaching culture in Indian management schools, and expandiIn an interview with Business Standard, Carol Stephenson, Dean, Richard Ivey School of Business, said, “We are partnering with MDI Gurgaon to develop joint cases. I believe that case based learning is a highly effective and relevant teaching methodology to make management education more attuned to real world business challenges, particularly in fast-growing and emerging economies such as India.”
Ivey has a partnership with Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore, for research and Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, for developing case studies. The recent MoU is a step in that direction. At the Ivey campus in Toronto, around 10 per cent of students in its MBA programme are Indians. “We have been associated with India for a long time. The number of Indian students in our campuses is also increasing, especially after our alumni, an Indian businessman in Canada has announced 50 per cent scholarships for Indian students,” informed Stephenson.
She also said that the Indian students at Ivey, Toronto campus, were looking at coming back to India. “India has the opportunities — entrepreneurial and otherwise. That is why our students are looking at the country more than ever before. Moreover, our mandatory international business trip to India, as a part of the curriculum, is raising awareness among the students about the country, encouraging them to take up jobs here,” opined the Dean. In terms of executive education, Ivey has been working with several corporates for their internal programmes. Ivey has already worked with GAIL for the latter executive development programme. “Executive education has been our forte. We are thus looking at more partnerships with Indian corporates in this area,” said Stephenson.
The Dean said that the quality brought to executive education was of prime importance. Using its own faculty, unique case method, implementable solutions and getting industry practitioners to the executive education programme has been the focus of Ivey, according to her. “Companies are now realising that they cannot compromise with executive education. Talent is what makes a company and we hope to play a significant role in nurturing this talent among Indian organisations,” she concluded.
Source: Business Standard, February 23, 2012
Rajasthan university ties up with University of Houston
JK Lakshmipat University (JKLU) has tied up with University of Houston, Texas, for mutual cooperation in the field of education and academic activities. A memorandum of understanding for the purpose was signed here by Jerald W. Strickland, Assistant Vice-Chancellor, and William E. Fitzgibbon, Dean, College of Technology, on behalf of the University of Houston and Upinder Dhar, Vice-Chancellor of JK Lakshmipat University.
This is the fourth international tie-up signed by JKLU after similar agreements with Hanyang University, South Korea; St. Cloud State University, US; and University of Wales, United Kingdom.
The latest MOU allows academic cooperation in exchange of faculty, students and researchers; joint research, lectures, symposia and country visits for students; exchange of data, documentation and research material in the fields of mutual interest as well as working towards cooperative educational programmes for the future.
“The Indian economy is today globally integrated and growing. It is critical to keep in mind opportunities of joint research and sharing of knowledge with universities of international repute. This enables students and faculty members to compete at an international level,” said Dr. Upinder Dhar on the occasion.
As part of the industry-academia interaction, JKLU has also signed an MoU with IBM India for establishing a “Centre of Technology Excellence” to develop curriculum and courseware on next-generation technologies.
JKLU has been established under the Rajasthan Private Universities Act by the Lakshmipat Singhania Foundation for Higher Learning. The University of Houston, founded in 1927, is a leading American public research university.
Source: The Hindu, February 11, 2012
XLRI and Weatherhead launch a new programme
XLRI School of Business & Human Resources, Jamshedpur, in a strategic partnership with Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA, has announced the launch of a unique programme on organisational transformation and leadership skills christened Masters Programme in Positive Organisational Development & Change (MPOD). This programme is intended for executives who are interested in leading positive change, building sustainable institutions and shaping vibrant communities, and will be open to professionals from all management functional areas, provided they have at least 10 years of relevant work experience in organisations.
The 15-month programme will commence in November 2012 at XLRI and will be conducted in six modules spread over 15 months. The modules will be spaced 10-12 weeks apart, thereby making it flexible enough to accommodate the busy schedules of executives and enabling them to attend on-campus classroom sessions in India and the US without leaving their jobs.
“MPOD is the outcome of our continuous efforts to build responsible future leaders of tomorrow,” said Fr. E Abraham, the Director of XLRI. On the occasion, Dr. J. Singh, faculty, XLRI and co-director of MPOD, said, “MPOD will educate and develop business leaders who will shape an enduring socio-economic ecosystem that offers extraordinary value to all stakeholders, nourish the cooperative human spirit, and contribute towards ecological sustainability and global well-being.” Dr. Mohan Reddy, Dean of Weatherhead School of Management, said, “We are glad to offer this pioneering programme for students from the Indian subcontinent and beyond.”
Source: The Financial Express, January 23, 2012
‘We want more Indian students in Scotland’
Michael Russell, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, is visiting India at a time when Europe is going through an economic crisis and, on the other hand, strict student visa rules are threatening UK universities. However, Russell’s agenda is clear — he wants more Indian students in Scottish universities. In a chat with FE’s Kirtika Suneja, he explains the reasons for doing so. Edited excerpts:
Scottish institutes have been partnering with Indian varsities very aggressively for the last few years. What is fuelling these collaborations?
Almost 95% of Scottish universities have collaborated with Indian institutes and we are focusing on India and China for higher education and, hence, encouraging Scottish institutions for partnerships. With globalisation of education, business education has become important in the global economy. In fact, the Scottish delegation to FICCI this year is the strongest ever. Of the total of 230,000 students in our universities, 3,185 are Indian students; thus, they make up just over 1%. However, it is worth noting that they make up 8% of international students and 14% of non-EU students. We want to increase the number of Indian students in Scotland.
How do you plan to achieve this?
There are three parts of education — drawing Indian students to Scotland, developing partnerships between institutions and producing different models in higher education by promoting high-level research. In fact, we have set up University of Strathclyde’s first overseas campus in Greater Noida near Delhi in partnership with infrastructure company SKIL. We will have more such long-term partnerships.
But constantly changing student visa rules in UK universities maybe a deterrent in achieving this …
We have opposed the visa regulations and are openly welcoming international students. We want internationalisation of Scottish education and, as a matter of fact, international students get us good business.
Besides partnerships, are Scottish universities also interested in setting up campuses in India, as is proposed in the Foreign Education Bill, or are mentoring the upcoming Innovation Universities?
We are interested in setting up new campuses — not only in India but elsewhere also. Mentoring the Innovation Universities is a good idea, especially in the areas of energy, liberal arts, creativity and teacher training.
Scotland has invested in research pools to encourage research. Where does India figure in the scheme of things?
Scotland and India have the potential to create research polls and over 150 million pounds have been invested in 11 research pooling investments. India is good for mechanical engineering and energy research.
What about promoting skills and training …
I am also looking after further education in Scotland that is developing the skills potential and encouraging the skills providers. We have a strong system of validation and credit framework. We are reforming the system of further education in Scotland by reducing the number of non-departmental public bodies.
Source: The Financial Express, November 14, 2011
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