tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22577767656663514192023-11-16T17:04:27.049+05:30Higher education and researchThe blog has been created to express thoughts and exchange information on higher education. The individuals engaged in teaching, research, administration of higher education are welcome to contribute through comments.Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-79724000938249913942019-04-11T17:00:00.000+05:302019-04-11T17:00:52.812+05:30Fancy Engineering Undergraduate (UG) Courses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgPTcz0EyjL90rPgr5mvmh307dqZSNIFdpi8jWlBXsHwujLaBa4gK0FiD7xgRJgvGT7XJSj1k-KcpIt8SHJLdhVFy6UPVMHP-p5LoWvQlu65XxwUICLAiQK-o1lvdQ5vorv0erbZlZI4/s1600/CERDEC_math_science_summer_camp_2013_us_army_flickr.com_Creative_Cpmmons_License.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgPTcz0EyjL90rPgr5mvmh307dqZSNIFdpi8jWlBXsHwujLaBa4gK0FiD7xgRJgvGT7XJSj1k-KcpIt8SHJLdhVFy6UPVMHP-p5LoWvQlu65XxwUICLAiQK-o1lvdQ5vorv0erbZlZI4/s320/CERDEC_math_science_summer_camp_2013_us_army_flickr.com_Creative_Cpmmons_License.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Recently I came across some media reports which suggest
some new courses launched at undergraduate (UG) level (BE., B Tech) that are likely have huge demand in
next five years. Since I doubt that claim, this blog is specifically to express
my views on that subject. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some of the UG courses predicted to have huge demand and
job opportunities, in next five years are: robotics, automation, automotive
design, data analytics, polymers, biochemical engineering, mechatronics. I
would not like to mention any specific course, but try to put forward my view,
giving some examples.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Few years back, a new engineering UG course was launched
by a renowned university in Maharashtra (India), titled “Instrumentation Engineering”,
with much fanfare. At that time, large number of students opted for the course.
However, even before the first batch of UG students passed out in that course,
it was realised it has very few job opportunities. As a result, many private engineering
colleges that initially started the course backed out and closed the
Department. In my opinion, any graduate mechanical, chemical or electronics
engineer can fulfill the requirement of instrumentation engineer, after a brief
initial training. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The story is somewhat similar in case of Bio-Chemical
Engineering at UG level. Any UG chemical engineer can work in a biochemical
industry, perhaps better, because he is able to take a 360<sup>0</sup> view as
a chemical engineer. There can be no difference of opinion, if I say
mechanical, electrical or electronics engineer can work in robotics, automation,
mechatronics and so on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The point is, the job opportunities shall be much
limited for the graduates (BE, B Tech) passing out from narrow engineering
courses like biochemical engineering or robotics. To give an example, a
chemical engineer graduate can work in biochemical engineering and also in many
other chemical industries, but a graduate with biochemical engineering degree
will find it difficult or will not be accepted by other chemical industries. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I feel, while choosing the engineering branch, first
preference should be given to basic branches like chemical, civil, computer,
electronics, electrical and mechanical engineering. It is better to avoid
joining UG course with a narrow engineering scope, as discussed above. These
subjects should be left for PG (MS, M Tech, ME) qualification. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Image Source: CERDEC Math and Science Summer Camp, 2013,
US Army, @flickr.com Creative Commons License. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><a href="http://www.drjdbapat.com/engineering-education" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Visit Dr J D Bapat's website </a></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><a href="https://consultantbapatbiodata.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">View Dr J D Bapat's Brief Bio-data</a></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>Send your message to Dr J D Bapat: consult@drjdbapat.com</b></span></span></div>
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Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-31132793899945493762019-03-16T16:04:00.001+05:302019-03-18T14:06:43.368+05:30Adding Value to the Engineering Educational Institutions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCgDwmDHlodslJbfDbdZ5EhS-1zqeY5MhxS80J_WT2slTwpMc_vTktLr5oEPwTrJkpfr-No8wLLefakjCwv9foKyuZHUdu5iQiRAgBp69UOHNFeGvNoVNrsmdBtsQNnjDqTg8DTu3Ebg/s1600/ENGINEERING_EDUCATION_BLOG_IMAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="623" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCgDwmDHlodslJbfDbdZ5EhS-1zqeY5MhxS80J_WT2slTwpMc_vTktLr5oEPwTrJkpfr-No8wLLefakjCwv9foKyuZHUdu5iQiRAgBp69UOHNFeGvNoVNrsmdBtsQNnjDqTg8DTu3Ebg/s1600/ENGINEERING_EDUCATION_BLOG_IMAGE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Establishing and running an engineering educational institution is a capital intensive project. In India, the main source of income for the private engineering institutions is from the tuition fees collected from the students. The revenue outflow is mainly for salaries, establishing laboratories and the development of college infrastructure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All promoters wish that their institution should be preferred by the prospective students, to seek admissions. They also desire good faculty should join the institution. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Over the years, large number of engineering colleges have been established, as the number of students seeking engineering courses was equally large and kept growing, in the past. Since last few years, however, the demand for other faculties like commerce, law has increased. As a result, number of students seeking engineering admissions have not increased in the same proportion vis-a-vis the number of engineering colleges established. Large number of admission seats remain vacant in most engineering colleges, as per the current trend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The viability of many engineering institutions has come under threat. These institutions find it extremely difficult to gather resources to pay staff salaries and develop laboratories and infrastructure. The students and parents do not give preference to these institutions due to perceived bad quality. This is despite the fact that some of them have secured very good grades in accreditation by NAAC and NBA. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even in this difficult period, it is seen, some engineering colleges and universities are successful filling almost cent percent seats. Why do students and parents prefer these colleges?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dr J D Bapat helps the institutions solve this juggernaut. As a development professional and the adviser, he helps the engineering institutions build up strength in the following areas: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Resource Generation (other than tuition fess)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Marketing and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Image Building</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dr Bapat, advises the institutions how to build on own strengths. He helps faculty propose research projects to funding agencies and also set up research laboratories. He also identifies areas in which collaboration with the industry could be initiated. Marketing is always with respect to the product. Pass out degree holders are the products of engineering institution. The industry employing the fresh engineers on the one hand and the students seeking admission to the institution, on the other, are the customers. Dr Bapat gives systematic plan to market the achievements of the institution and also to build the image in the society. All these efforts are focused towards adding value to the engineering educational institutions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.drjdbapat.com/engineering-education" target="_blank">Visit Dr J D Bapat's website </a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://consultantbapatbiodata.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">View Dr J D Bapat's Brief Bio-data</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Send your message to Dr J D Bapat: consult@drjdbapat.com</b></span><br />
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Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-84869628350963641132018-08-27T17:09:00.000+05:302019-03-17T10:04:14.239+05:30Three Pillars of the Engineering Education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sGvHHg6zzxfUncnFv7949neg_fZx7m1RXde5k69Q7ZE8xWCr_dkxYkoCes6OyY-bUJJwd0AQXpYW6bixSe9E8aBnzPJ6DgckjKdeol-_Sbvjm1Os9edlprsq4ayKWsqDQpvasuLW7HI/s1600/P_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1443" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sGvHHg6zzxfUncnFv7949neg_fZx7m1RXde5k69Q7ZE8xWCr_dkxYkoCes6OyY-bUJJwd0AQXpYW6bixSe9E8aBnzPJ6DgckjKdeol-_Sbvjm1Os9edlprsq4ayKWsqDQpvasuLW7HI/s320/P_1.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was a principal of engineering college, students, parents often asked me what are the criteria to decide on the quality of engineering education. Some asked me, they see some institutions always in the the news; should they be treated as reputed?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through my over four decades of experience in industry, R&D, management, teaching and training, I understood there are three pillars of engineering education. Excellence is achieved only when all the three are taken care of, simultaneously:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Academics</span></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Industry and </span></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Research</span></b></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surprisingly, I found most engineering educational institutions in the glare of publicity, lack in the above criteria. In fact, those working silently are also better. I think, too much of anything is bad. After all if the management of an institution spends so much time and resources to gain press publicity, do they really get time and have any resources left to look into the academics, industry and research? There must be a judicious mix.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How do we know a certain institutions is good at academics? The simplest things to look into: just find how many students passed with first division in the first year. Second, how may got a place in the university top ten merit list, in the last tree years. How many appeared and scored well in GATE and GRE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How do we know a certain institution is good at industry interactions? Find out the industry sponsored R&D projects on which the institution is working. What are the forums in which industry experts participate regularly and in large numbers. Find out how many students fetched good jobs in the core industry to which they belong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How do we know a certain institution is good at research? Faculty with PhD are important and good but do not simply go by the number. Find out how many of them are actively involved in the research. The best way to to confirm is the number of publications in last tree years, in international journals (from reputed publishing houses), with impact factor above 2.0.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.drjdbapat.com/engineering-education" target="_blank">View Dr J D Bapat's website on the subject.</a></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://consultantbapatbiodata.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">View Dr J D Bapat's Brief Bio-Data</a></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Send message to Dr J D Bapat: consult@drjdbapat.com</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCRvDzOE2omkmlN2KPybpDYiz8eLzWLbSaCM4quOIayJgFIs02RaduyQ-wGW-ddT0YQeAlCda7WpWGJU8TVUeGd_2qOrp2cT-o4H7XJebQbeEvcYWbKR7FDVzq1ayL9-eWVlZMCZLcsE/s1600/P_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1200" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCRvDzOE2omkmlN2KPybpDYiz8eLzWLbSaCM4quOIayJgFIs02RaduyQ-wGW-ddT0YQeAlCda7WpWGJU8TVUeGd_2qOrp2cT-o4H7XJebQbeEvcYWbKR7FDVzq1ayL9-eWVlZMCZLcsE/s320/P_18.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-47890345009798933062015-09-02T16:56:00.001+05:302015-09-02T16:56:23.570+05:30Parents Choose Proper Engineering College<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR9X4bm_OHZWY3G5NPUtNKKepFBfseYtLiPDWFuGHi4FvwJcw6j" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR9X4bm_OHZWY3G5NPUtNKKepFBfseYtLiPDWFuGHi4FvwJcw6j" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">As a Principal of an engineering college, I met number of parents, especially while seeking admission for their ward, asking about which engineering college or engineering branch will be good. Here are some tips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b> Choosing a College:</b><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(a)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Read the information given in the brochure provided by the Director technical Education (DTE) and also that provided by the college</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(b)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Go to the website(s) of the college and click on the “Compulsory Disclosure” and read the information carefully. If the college has not disclosed the proper information, report to DTE</span><br /><br />(c) Ensure that the college/society does not run any unauthorised courses.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(d) Go through all 'Heads' displayed in the website</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(e)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It is necessary to visit the concerned college and the department where you intend to seek the admission. Look for the following information:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(i)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">College management and their track record</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(ii)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">College principal and his reputation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(iii)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Department head, his/her reputation, number of faculty and their qualification, teaching experience. As per the current AICTE norms, the engineering colleges are required to maintain 1:2:6 ratio among Professors:Associate Professors:Assistant Professors. Note how many faculty have Ph. D.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(iv)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Department laboratories, equipment</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(v)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Research currently undergoing in the Department and the involvement of faculty members and students in therein. This is important, as the quality of teaching is almost proportional to the quality of research.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(vi)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Research papers published by the faculty in the international journals. national events organised by the College for students and the professionals</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(vii)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">University Results and consistency: Students in the university merit list (first ten) for last three years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(viii)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">College fees: should be proportional to the reputation</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />Pitfalls:</span></b><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The following aspects speak good of an educational institution, however choosing an institution only on any one or two of these, ignoring the points given above, could be a pitfall: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(a) The college building and surroundings are highly impressive (Take a look at the college laboratories, class rooms and toilets)<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(b) The college name figures many times in the news channels<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(c) The college organises mega events (organising a mega social, sports or competition event, with budget more than INR 5 million, takes nearly 4-5 months organisational work by the college faculty and staff, which is likely to cause negligence towards academics)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Engineering Branch:</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">All engineering branches are good. The branch should be chosen without any gender bias. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In order to secure good job, it is necessary that your ward secures First Division, consistently. As a parent, you must ensure attendance of your ward in the college. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">All reputed companies, offering good job and salary, look for consistency in the academic performance (First Division).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana;">Seek admission for your ward, once you are satisfied with these aspects.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /><b style="color: #551a8b;"><a href="http://jdbapat-highereducation.blogspot.in/" style="color: #551a8b;" target="_blank">Read Blogs on Higher Education and Research</a></b></span></div>
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<br style="font-family: Verdana;" /><b style="color: #551a8b; font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.drjdbapat.com/" style="color: #551a8b; font-family: Verdana;" target="_blank">Go to Dr J D Bapat's website for more information on the subject</a></b></div>
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Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-3266990960714721132012-04-04T15:28:00.000+05:302012-04-04T15:28:19.161+05:30Washington accord is not a panacea for the ills in higher education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In recent meeting on the permanent membership of Washington Accord, the academicians expressed positive thoughts. It is felt that permanent membership of AICTE recognised institutions in the Washington Accord shall open greater job opportunities abroad for engineering graduates from India. The optimism is understandable but to look towards the accord as panacea for ills in the engineering education smacks of our penchant to look towards the west to solve our domestic problems. </div>
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Our politicains do not miss opportunity to criticise US for its so called capitalist policy but prefer to take treatment in the US hospitals, even for the smallest illness, at the State's expense. The same attitude is seen while shopping for the advanced equipment for the country's defense preparedness. If the same trend continues, one wonders whether the indigenous industry and the institutions shall ever achieve parity over the advanced countries. Now it is the turn of higher education.</div>
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Most Principals, Directors and Promoters of the Higher Educational Institutions were of the opinion that being a part of Washington Accord shall lead to better quality of infrastructure and education in our institutions. How?</div>
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Who stops us from improving our standard right away? The problem is not the lack of opportunities but the lack of will to improve. The educational institutions are viewed as private business by most Promoters. What kind of a business is that, where the customers (viz. students and parents) are left with practically no choice of the product. Just look at the way the promoters are trying to bring moratorium on establishing new institutions. In the captive market, no one is ready to face competition. </div>
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In fact it will not be proper to consider educational institution as private venture, because the institution is built and survives on the money received from the stakeholders (students and parents) but denies any right to them to decide about the management policy. Besides, the normal laws and economic criteria applied to any private venture are not applicable to the educational institutions. This issue needs serious consideration. </div>
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The great educational institutions of the world are not built by the criteria of accreditation. In fact accreditation only ensures the minimum standards, sky is the limit for quality.</div>
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<br /></div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-34079884354199017002012-03-02T15:05:00.001+05:302012-03-14T18:32:35.037+05:30Why AICTE protects non-viable engineering and management institutions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRkdJn7z0S0AkotfyNRSd7V1Gvb3eAWNzBR0wLAjGu6cBx70oY-bg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRkdJn7z0S0AkotfyNRSd7V1Gvb3eAWNzBR0wLAjGu6cBx70oY-bg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">In a <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/education/aicte-may-bar-new-engineering-management-colleges-from-2014/articleshow/12063911.cms"><b>recent decision the AICTE</b></a>, the apex organisation under the government of India, declared that they will not
give approval for new engineering and management institutions in the country
from the year 2014. As an educationist, I am surprised at the decision, for the
following reasons:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">(a)
Although it is reported that large number of seats in some institutions remain
unfilled, there are institutions which witness huge rush for the admissions.
The students do not choose some, just because these are not good institutions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">(b) Some
States have approached AICTE for imposing the ban. It is known that large
number of these institutions are controlled by the politicians. It is possible that
they pursued over the state government to take such decision. At least, the
general public is likely to have that impression. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">(c) The
quality of higher education in the country is not good. One of the reasons is
the customer (students and the parents) had no choice, as the number of seats
available in the colleges fell short of the demand, till recently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">(d) Now
since the number of seats available are more, the students and parents have
choice to approach good institutions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">(e) The
institutions will be required to continuously improve the academic quality,
failing which they will perish. That is what happens to a non-viable industry.
The same market forces should be allowed play, in case of educational
institutions also. There should be no protection given by the government. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">(f) The corporates
are beginning to enter the education field. It is a welcome development, as it
is bound to improve the quality. The AICTE imposing such a ban shall act as a
deterrent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Therefore
it is suggested, the government should revoke the AICTE decision.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.drjdbapat.com/"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Dr J D Bapat's Website </span></b></a></div>
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</div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-48349542652206362362012-02-14T07:46:00.001+05:302012-02-17T07:58:16.739+05:30Accreditation! is it a quality standard?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPIILxiRSb5_6ZtzVKlME2jYUuc2GjT-iIdKAAXMWD29sdECTxQQ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPIILxiRSb5_6ZtzVKlME2jYUuc2GjT-iIdKAAXMWD29sdECTxQQ" /></a></div>
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In India, all higher educational institutions are required to get there teaching courses (programmes) accreditated by a national organisation, namely National Board of Accreditation (<a href="http://www.nba-india.org/"><b>NBA</b></a>). Similarly the universities are mandated to obtain accreditation by another national organisation, namely National Assessment and Acreditation Council (<b><a href="http://www.naac.gov.in/">NAAC</a></b>). </div>
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The accreditation is only to ensure whether the educational institution or the university meets the minimum prescribed standard. However it is misunderstood as a quality standard and hampering the further growth of the educational institutions.<br />
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The educational institutions are required to submit an elaborate report on a prescribed format prepared by the accreditating organisations. The institutions spend months and sometimes even years, fulfilling these requirements. However in many cases, these requirements are fulfilled only on paper and does not lead to the improvement in quality of the educational institutions. The following are the visible indicators of the fact: <br />
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(a) The course content lies far behind the practical requirement of the industry.<br />
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(b) Despite the accreditation, many institutions are found actually lacking in fulfilling the basic requirements of land, instructional area, qualified faculty, laboratory facilities and library. <br />
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(c) Some Deemed Universities are accreditated and authorised to award PG and Ph D Degrees. However many such institutions have a few qualified regular faculty on the rolls and seriously lack in the laboratory infrastructure.<br />
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(d) None of the so called top ranking institutions and universities in India come even near to the world standards and ranking<br />
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</div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-57261862644393193472012-01-13T15:17:00.002+05:302012-01-13T15:17:28.084+05:30Free ACI Student Electronic Membership<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1326446486874401" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1326446486874400" style="font-size: x-small;">This free electronic membership is designed
to expose students, in a technologically-friendly manner, to the benefits of
ACI. In addition to access to journals and publications, the E-Membership provides
students with the opportunity to receive scholarships and create ties with the
community. It is important for the students in their
education. It will also help them create ties and gain knowledge from experienced
members of ACI and their community. </span></div>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Students can visit <a href="http://www.concrete.org/students/stu.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.students.concrete.org</a></span>
- <span style="font-size: x-small;">24 hours a day, seven days a week - for details
and to sign up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Inform
students about this free program and encourage them to become ACI Student E-Members. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Students are required to provide their professor's/advisor's name and e-mail
address in the application so that ACI may confirm student status. Students who
prefer to receive CI and Journals in the mail can still do so, for a fee. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">American Concrete Institute<br />
Phone: 248-848-3800<br />
E-mail: <a href="mailto:bkstore@concrete.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bkstore@concrete.org</a><br />
Online: <a href="http://www.concrete.org/general/home.asp?utm_source=email&utm_medium=eblast-jan+11&utm_content=home-page-link&utm_campaign=eblast-jan+11" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.concrete.org</a><br />
<br />
P.O. Box 9094<br />
Farmington Hills, MI 48333-9094<br />
USA</span></div>
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</div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-35922390405430217322011-12-22T07:30:00.002+05:302011-12-22T07:30:22.492+05:30Equity and access at UC Berkeley<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR75GGxzA_FPGTcXfQ6iX4WzxxpUfJ5cDOhub0_EgcikAB32iCa" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR75GGxzA_FPGTcXfQ6iX4WzxxpUfJ5cDOhub0_EgcikAB32iCa" /></a></div>
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Promising "disruptive progress," the engineering college at the
University of California (UC), Berkeley, has named an associate dean, Oscar Dubon, for
equity and
inclusion to help it increase the number of students and faculty
members from underrepresented groups.</div>
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The college's first step will be to improve its "yield"—the percentage
of students who actually enroll after being admitted into either the
undergraduate or graduate engineering program. The Dean Sastry believes
that more money would make a big difference. "Fellowship support is the
primary factor
in improving yield" at the graduate level, he says. Winning over
high school students is more complicated, he admits, and the college
plans to try
everything from overnight visits to summer research experiences.
The plan also discusses various approaches to improving student
retention rates, as
well as a long-term strategy for recruiting more minority and
female faculty members.</div>
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</div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-86870484461154471592011-12-06T13:51:00.000+05:302011-12-06T13:51:43.530+05:30US National Science Foundation model of university-industry cooperation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTdL1OzSEplSIrnspOxAZ0RWeaqXdvZh-a4aou0ryM6nzjoeF5e" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTdL1OzSEplSIrnspOxAZ0RWeaqXdvZh-a4aou0ryM6nzjoeF5e" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I recently came across an interesting programme conducted by the <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5501&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39&WT.mc_ev=click"><b>US national Science Foundation</b></a> to promote research cooperation between industry and university. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC) program develops long-term partnerships among industry, academe, and government. The centers are catalyzed by a small investment from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and are primarily supported by industry center members, with NSF taking a supporting role in the development and evolution of the center. Each center is established to conduct research that is of interest to both the industry members and the center faculty. An I/UCRC contributes to the Nation's research infrastructure base and enhances the intellectual capacity of the engineering and science workforce through the integration of research and education. As appropriate, an I/UCRC uses international collaborations to advance these goals within the global context.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This is a model that could be emulated by Indian universities. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">* </span></div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-75767857556233067642011-12-02T15:18:00.000+05:302011-12-27T16:53:21.049+05:30Body shopping in higher education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The media reports show that there is a spate of higher educational institutions in India (engineering, management) signing bipartite agreements with the foreign universities; mostly with those not known for high academic standing. Why this sudden increase in the Indian institutions? Does it help improve the academic standard of higher educational institutions in India?? I feel curious.</div>
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One thing is sure, the academic standard will improve only if the components of research and mutual faculty exchange are involved in such agreements. However the fulfillment of academic term by the students at Indian and foreign campus is prominently highlighted. Who pays for the cost? Parents obviously!</div>
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A word of caution for the students and parents: Check the academic standing of the foreign institutions, before you pay through the nose.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">*</span></div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-89214674367205963022011-09-24T08:27:00.000+05:302011-09-24T08:27:41.694+05:30IIT JEE's new avatar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcp_4n47uG4ipINndp9RLRdL5lwQIwu2KgtIBLXIlmHnGo7PiT" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcp_4n47uG4ipINndp9RLRdL5lwQIwu2KgtIBLXIlmHnGo7PiT" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It is high time, the State level CETs are abolished and all aspiring students appear for one national level examination, IIT JEE. According to the recent decision taken by the IIT council, the marks obtained in the State level Board examination shall be given due weightage. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: red; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://campus.yahoo.com/links/detail/jee-could-be-new-avatar-times-india-4b579d7e2b70060f550ce9daecd87ee4b4ccfa7befb44d20400fa335677f5325"><b>IIT JEE's new avatar</b></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-60554151773304145632011-09-20T14:52:00.000+05:302011-09-20T14:52:00.532+05:30Engineering colleges technical events<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQc8enG3yvuOAnU-p3W38I5AL_H-wuyHjz_ffTRnJ8wMP2tkx53dg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQc8enG3yvuOAnU-p3W38I5AL_H-wuyHjz_ffTRnJ8wMP2tkx53dg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It has become customery for the engineering colleges to organise some student-related technical event, annually. Such events mostly consist of paper presentation, model-making, project competitions and so on. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Recently I read one engineering college organised a conference on nano-technology. Nano is a very catchy word. How many faculty in the engineering college are carrying out research on the subject? Is there a laboratory available for the purpose in the college? All these aspects are overlooked. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It is high time the University looks into the quality of papers published by the faculty. Serious efforts are needed to guide the faculty to carry out fruitful research work. Most faculty think carrying out research requires huge money. That is not correct and there are ample examples to prove it is wrong. The research must have high impact value, in terms of solving the techno-economic problems faced by the industry, society and the country. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Besides, it is necessary to pay attention to the quality of projects carried out by the students at the undergraduate level. Providing proper guidance to the projects remains a largely neglected area in the engineering college. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The organisation of technical events mentioned in the first paragraph will be useful only when the institutions improve the quality of teaching and research and also play adequate attention to the students projects. After all we require competent faculty to evaluate the students performance in these events.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-10514774226879168662011-05-18T07:36:00.000+05:302011-05-18T07:36:54.580+05:30Purpose of education<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I think the most important purpose of education is to offer opportunity to individuals to discover their self. Continuous remediation of students' deficiencies is a very important aspect. Educators in India should take a cue from US experience. </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Flnkd%2Ein%2FMbCFwT&urlhash=ny-f&_t=NUS_UNIU_SHARE-lnk&trk=NUS_UNIU_SHARE-lnk" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" target="_blank">http://lnkd.in/MbCFwT</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>* </span></div><span> </span></div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-37557166445923714512011-03-11T10:55:00.003+05:302011-03-12T07:35:26.675+05:30Industry stint for teachers: Will that solve the problem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The Maharashtra State (India) minister for higher and technical education Rajesh Tope on Thursday said the <a href="http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIPU/2011/03/11&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00103&ViewMode=HTML"><b style="color: red;">industry experience</b></a> will be compulsory for teachers in all government run technical institutions. Changes would be made accordingly in the recruitment </span><span style="text-align: justify;">rules for teachers. The Minister added: </span><span style="text-align: justify;">“When an individual completes his/her graduation, he/she starts teaching immediately in institutions. If the teacher has some work experience in an industry, it would benefit the students and the </span><span style="text-align: justify;">faculty as well”. Yes! The standard of higher education has gone down. However, it is doubtful whether sending teachers to the industry will solve the problem. Having worked 36 years in the industry, research and teaching, I have got some idea of the problem. To be specific, the quality of teaching, especially in engineering, has gone down due to the following reasons:</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">(a) <b>Lack of research in the educational institutions:</b> It should be appreciated that the teacher engaged in research shall definitely become a good teacher in that subject. This is unlike the universities in US and other countries, where majority of the industry-oriented research is carried out in the Universities.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">(b) <b>Lack of competence:</b> It is generally observed that individuals go for teaching, when they do not get other jobs. Teaching requires devotion. An individual will do well in teaching only when he likes it. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">(c) <b>Inadequate remuneration:</b> The remunerations in the educational institutions are poor in comparison to the industry. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Understanding an industry takes years. Sending a teacher to industry for few months will serve no purpose. It will not add any value to the teaching. </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">As Abraham Lincoln once said, "Anything that you understand, you are able to explain". That is the problem with many teachers. They are poor at teaching because they do not understand the subject. Quite unfortunate indeed, but that is the reality. That problem is not going to be solved, visiting an industry for few months. We need to understand, students go to college to learn academics. Whole life is ahead to obtain industrial experience. <b>However they will not be able to relate with the industrial experience, if they remain poor at fundamentals. </b></span></div><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</span></div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-28284431154357284872011-02-08T09:43:00.000+05:302011-02-08T09:43:07.767+05:30Effective public speaking<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQj8jQbX1KYebEc6zk2ywUvQESDHVP7eAb3uz2ss9eUtwPZ1trM" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQj8jQbX1KYebEc6zk2ywUvQESDHVP7eAb3uz2ss9eUtwPZ1trM" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The students, teachers and researchers must remember the following aspects while presenting their case on the public platform:</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><ul style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><li class="yiv524927425bullets" style="text-align: justify;">Develop a clear and concise speaking style—especially for those for whom English is a second language</li>
<li class="yiv524927425bullets">Organize your points logically around a central key theme</li>
<li class="yiv524927425bullets">Understand your audience and determine the best way to make your case</li>
<li class="yiv524927425bullets">Use visual aids and body language to enhance the impact of your message</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> In order to obtain detailed guidance on the subject, read the following book:</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.mmsend2.com/link.cfm?r=646725239&sid=12186046&m=1225589&u=TaylorFran&s=http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439826034?utm_source=Real%20Magnet&utm_medium=Email" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Scientists Must Speak, Second Edition</a> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Author: D Eric Walters and Gale C Walters</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Publisher: CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Price: $ 24.95</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-57873928438413378872010-04-18T17:38:00.004+05:302010-04-18T17:55:25.386+05:30Reforming higher education<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=highereduca09-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002VPE1B6&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5C--%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C02%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><style>
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">“<i>There is no need for any government regulation. Let private institutions come up and students can make their choice based on the information on which institutes provide quality education.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is what Lord Meghnad Desai, Professor Emeritus, London School of Economics said at the fifth Oxford India Business Forum 2010, at New Delhi, on 25 March 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As a manifestation of the Central Government’s resolve to reform and restructure the higher education sector, the draft Bill on formulation of the National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) has been placed before the Indian Parliament. The Commission seeks to replace institutions such as the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Noted educationists all over the country have expressed concerns over the efficacy of the Bill bringing in the desired changes in the higher education system. As higher education is an area that concerns a large number of people, the Central Government should be more pro-active in seeking feedback from stakeholders and that should be the norm all the time. The major concerns expressed are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(a) <b>NCHER Bill undermines the autonomy</b>. It tends towards centralisation of powers and control over academic initiatives. The Preamble lays down two basic objectives, firstly, ‘to provide for the determination, co-ordination, maintenance of standards in and promotion of higher education and research' and secondly to ‘promote the autonomy of higher educational institutions, for the free pursuit of knowledge and innovation and for facilitating access, inclusion and opportunities to all'. There is a mismatch between what is proposed in the preamble and incorporated in the body of the Bill. The terms of the proposed Bill are such that they may not improve the quality of education or make much needed autonomy a reality.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The statement in the preamble is in favour of autonomy. Both academic and administrative autonomy are necessary if the universities are to become real centres of learning. But autonomy without democratisation is likely to lead to an authoritarian system. The Bill is silent about democratisation. Even the colleges should become autonomous, as the affiliating system is under severe strain. But the character of the Bill, despite the claims to the contrary, undermines autonomy rather than advancing it. The commission's powers to make regulations are likely to impinge upon autonomy rather than promote it. It has assumed powers far greater than what was exercised by the UGC. Moreover, UGC was essentially an advisory body in academic matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(b) <b>NCHER is not sufficiently rooted in academic imperatives.</b> NCHER is mainly a management remedy. The problems that higher education is facing are not essentially because of inefficient management but because of the inability of the system to ensure quality. Whether a new apex body which would exercise ‘national' control is the ideal solution for the problem deserves very serious consideration. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(c) <b>NCHER is not an umbrella organisation.</b> The resolution on the National Policy on Education (NPE) passed by the parliament few years back envisages creation of a single regulating organisation replacing as many as 13 different regulating organisations approved by the Parliament. For example, the education in agriculture and medicine still lie outside the purview of NCHER. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(d) <b>NCHER may remain organizationally inadequate.</b> The commission is a highly centralised body manned by a chairman and six members, supported by a collegium, consisting of core and co-opted fellows to ‘aid, advice and make recommendation to the commission'. The commission is a pretty isolated organisation without any window to the society. The collegium is at best a deliberating body and would not exercise any control over the commission. Eminent personalities like Nobel award winners, Jnanapeeth Award winners shall be appointed members of the collegium. Notwithstanding the eminence of these personalities, they may not be fully aware about the ground realities and problems faced by the higher education in the country. The management of higher education in the country would thus be left in the hands of a committee of seven who have no prescribed channels of feedback. Therefore, even if well intentioned, the commission would be starved of necessary democratic connection.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(e) <b>Compulsory accreditation as envisaged in the Bill may not be effective.</b> There are considerable reservations about the manner in which the accreditation system is working now. Whether a national system can function effectively is doubtful. After many years of the system being in operation, only a small percent of colleges have so far been graded. The National Knowledge Commission (NKC) has proposed the idea of licensing accrediting agencies, probably involving private agencies. It is not clear as to if the provision in the bill which refers to accrediting agencies registered under the commission would involve the implementation of NKC proposal. In principle, the authority to regulate and accredit should rest with public authorities. The process of accreditation should be participative and the purpose ameliorative rather than punitive. It is perhaps time to review the system. One possibility is an internal assessment with external participation at the State level. The accreditation today primarily looks into the ‘process’of imparting education. Rather it would be better to evaluate the ‘product’ of education. The product based evaluation shall call for total review of the methodology. That is what perhaps Meghnad Desai means (see quote at the top) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">To sum, the NCHER should be a single umbrella organisation at the national level with necessary monitoring and regulatory functions. ‘Autonomy at all levels’ should be the watchword while drafting the Bill. The collegium, with advisory role, should consist of eminent personalities from the field of education with a feel of local conditions obtaining in different parts of the country. An effective system should be established to seek sustained feedback from the stakeholders as well as to maintain adequate checks and balances over the functioning of the Commission. The accreditation today is ‘process’ oriented. It may be worthwhile making it ‘product’ oriented. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-826655249932697542010-03-27T16:32:00.002+05:302012-06-08T15:25:16.772+05:30Parents choose proper engineering college<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">As a Principal of an engineering college I met number of parents, especially while seeking admission for their ward, asking about which engineering college or engineering branch will be good. Here are some tips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b> Choosing a College:</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(a)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Read the information given in the brochure provided by the Director technical Education (DTE) and also that provided by the college</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(b)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Go to the website(s) of the college and click on the “Compulsory Disclosure” and read the information carefully. If the college has not disclosed the proper information, report to DTE</span><br />
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(c) Ensure that the college/society does not run any unauthorised courses.</div>
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(d) Go through all 'Heads' displayed in the website</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(e)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It is necessary to visit the concerned college and the department where you intend to seek the admission. Look for the following information:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(i)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">College management and their track record</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(ii)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">College principal and his reputation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(iii)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Department head, his/her reputation, number of faculty and their qualification, teaching experience. As per the current AICTE norms, the engineering colleges are required to maintain 1:2:6 ratio among Professors:Associate Professors:Assistant Professors. Note how many faculty have Ph. D.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(iv)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Department laboratories, equipment</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(v)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Research currently undergoing in the Department and the involvement of faculty members and students in therein. This is important, as the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> quality of teaching is almost proportional to the quality of research.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(vi)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Research papers published by the faculty in the international journals. national events organised by the College for students and the professionals</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(vii)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">University Results and consistency: Students in the university merit list (first ten) for last three years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(viii)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">College fees: should be proportional to the reputation</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Pitfalls:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The following aspects speak good of an educational institution, however choosing an institution only on any one or two of these, ignoring the points given above, could be a pitfall: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(a) The college building and surroundings are highly impressive </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(Take a look at the college laboratories, class rooms and toilets)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(b) The College name figures many times in the news channels</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(c) The college organises mega events </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(organising a mega social, sports or
competition event, with budget more than INR 5 million, takes nearly 4-5
months organisational work by the college faculty and staff, which is
likely to cause negligence towards academics)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Engineering Branch:</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">All engineering branches are good. The branch should be chosen without any gender bias. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In order to secure good job, it necessary that your ward secures First Division, consistently. All reputed companies look for consistency in the academic performance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Seek admission for your ward, once you are satisfied with these aspects.</span></div>
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</div>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-54813332292049522512010-03-16T20:00:00.005+05:302010-03-17T12:34:40.275+05:30India: Union cabinet clears foreign universities bill<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5C--%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C02%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536871559 0 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:595.45pt 841.7pt; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The Union Cabinet: India on 15 march 2010 cleared the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010, for introduction in Parliament. It seeks to allow foreign education providers to set up campuses in the country and offer degrees.
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<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said: “This is a milestone which will enhance choices, increase competition and benchmark quality. A larger revolution than even in the telecom sector awaits us.”</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The Foreign Universities Bill, 2010, has been pending for the last four years owing to opposition from various quarters, including the Left parties, over certain provisions. Last year, it was referred to a Committee of Secretaries, which brought modifications to certain provisions.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The Bill was approved by the Cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, without any change. It prescribes an eight-month, time-bound format for granting approval to foreign educational institutions to set up campuses. They will go through different levels of registration process during this period. Finally, they will be registered with the University Grants Commission or any other regulatory body to be put in place that will scrutinise the proposals of the aspiring institution as per India's priorities and advise the government whether to allow it to operate in India.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Though 100 per cent foreign direct investment through the automatic route is permitted in the education sector since 2000, the legal structure does not allow granting of degrees by foreign educational institutions here.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Three other reform bills, slated to be taken up in the Cabinet, were deferred to the next meeting. These are the Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill, the Educational Tribunal Bill and the National Accreditation Authority Bill. A Group of Ministers has already cleared the Bills.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Higher educational institutions, including IITs and IIMs, today hailed the government's go ahead for a bill to allow entry of foreign education providers in India and sought to allay any threat posed by the institutions from abroad.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Four years ago, when India first flirted with the idea of opening its doors to foreign universities, optimists said Harvard, Yale and Oxford would line up to get in. Now it seems few big-tags are interested in investing in India, although, Imperial College, Duke College, Georgia Tech and Schulich School of Business (York University) — are among those who have so far met senior officials in the HRD ministry and spoken of setting up a full-fledged campus.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">One thing is for sure, the foreign universities in India shall initiate a competition among educational institutions, give boost to the research activity in the universities. These universities will also be able to offer attractive pay package to the faculty to attract good candidates.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The establishment of foreign university campuses in India shall provide an option to the students going to foreign countries in large numbers to obtain higher degrees.
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">This Bill along with the three other related Bills (mentioned as above) will be an effective package after the approval of the Parliament.
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">As whole, it appears to be a good move. Three cheers to the HRD Minister !</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">*
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-91026014932410860712010-02-25T13:33:00.004+05:302010-02-25T13:39:41.646+05:30Relevance of MBA<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CPRINCI%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536871559 0 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Many engineers prefer to join MBA after BE. There is fundamental difference between MBA and BE. Whereas BE is knowledge-based, MBA is skill-based. For example an engineer wanting to design a reactor or design a structure must know and understand the mathematical formulae required for the purpose. On the other hand, there is no formula or a set path to manage a business. Managing a business is a skill till date. Every businessman evolves his style of management, based on the manpower (skill sets), equipment and materials required for the purpose. The structured training in management helps him manage better. The importance of work experience before joining MBA needs to be understood in proper perspective.
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">After graduation, one joins a job. The real nature of the job, say production, services, finance, marketing, etc., is known only after working in a particular area for few years. After some years (3 - 5) of working, one comes to know about the additional skill sets required to become efficient and successful in the profession. That is the stage when MBA course, with a specialization in the relevant area of management, should be joined.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">
<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> As an engineer, I would say, every graduate engineer joining the industry should go for postgraduate qualification in management. After some years of work experience, most engineers rise to the level of GM and above. At that stage, the management skills are more important than the technical knowledge.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">*
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-67569179520058628542010-01-19T14:25:00.005+05:302010-01-19T14:53:34.307+05:30Deemed doomed<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CPRINCI%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536871559 0 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The HRD ministry has decided to de-recognize as many as 44 "deemed universities", spelling uncertainty for nearly two lakh students enrolled with them. The ministry's decision amounts to an acknowledgement of irregularities in conferring the "deemed" tag to these institutions.
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The 44 "deemed" universities are spread across the country, including one promoted by a minister, three government-sponsored ones and some in the National Capital Region. These deemed universities were found deficient on many grounds -- ranging from lack of infrastructure to lack of evidence of expertise in disciplines they claim to specialize in, according to the findings of a high power review committee appointed by the University Grants Commission (UGC).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) emphasized that the affected students would be taken care of. The ministry's task force recommended that institutions not found fit for deemed university status revert back to the status quo ante as an affiliated college of the state university of jurisdiction, so that students complete their ongoing courses and obtain degree from the affiliating university. Similarly, medical and dental colleges not found suitable can affiliate to state university or state medical university. While these safeguards have been recommended, the students are nonetheless likely to go through a phase of uncertainty as they move from one university to another.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court of India, the HRD ministry said the review committee found only 38 institutes fit to have the deemed university status. Another 44 were found "deficient" in some aspects which need to be rectified over the next three years. With Supreme Court likely to approve HRD's action, it is unlikely that government will have to face any litigation.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The HRD ministry's review committee found the following glaring omissions in case of 44 deemed universities:</span>
<br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">
<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">* Undesirable management structure where families rather than professional academics controlled the functioning</span>
<br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">* Several institutions had violated the principles and guidelines prescribing excellence in teaching and research and were engaged in introduction of thoughtless programmes
<br />* Little evidence of noticeable efforts in case of emerging areas of knowledge
<br />* Little evidence of commitment towards research
<br />* Institutions increased their intake capacity disproportionately
<br />* Undergraduate and post-graduate courses were fragmented with concocted nomenclatures
<br />* Higher fee structure than prescribed
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">*<o:p></o:p></span></p> Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-24746616576863828842009-12-09T14:32:00.005+05:302009-12-09T14:40:12.954+05:30A model for academic-industry cooperation<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5C--%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C02%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536871559 0 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:595.45pt 841.7pt; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p>Collaborations among universities and businesses are crucial not only to making new discoveries but also to ensuring that breakthroughs in science and technology find their way to the people who need them. Academics have a history of either giving away too much of their intellectual property to corporate partners or of making it too difficult for companies to license the technology. The solution is to find a middle ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">James Weyhenmeyer, Senior Vice Provost for Research with the State University of New York (SUNY) shows the way. He sites an example of a deal signed in 2007 for the University of California Berkeley, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to work with energy producer BP on a <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7028142">US $500 million research program</a> to explore how bioscience can be used to increase energy production and reduce the impact of energy consumption on the environment. The following are the highlights:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(a) The intellectual property consisted of a "yours, mine and ours" model, which meant each party retained the rights to all of the work done at their campus facilities but had to share ownership of projects developed at joint sites (BP set up labs on both campuses)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(b) It included a clause that gave the energy company a royalty-free, nonexclusive license to commercialize the results of the collaboration<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(c) BP could buy exclusive rights by paying the other two parties US $100,000 per year per invention. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(d) In the event this group developed a blockbuster technology, Lawrence Berkeley and the universities could renegotiate with BP for a bigger piece of the pie.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This deal can become a model for others to follow<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ref: When universities and businesses collaborate, it's "yours, mine and ours" by Larry Greenemeier, Scientific American Observations, Dec 8, 2009</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">*</p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal">*
<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<br />Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-18640287744150486042009-11-23T07:41:00.003+05:302009-11-23T07:52:32.008+05:30Boost for research<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5C--%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C03%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536871559 0 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:595.45pt 841.7pt; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">India's apex industry chamber, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)), is set to sign three MoUs for cooperation with three leading US institutions. The MOUs will be signed by the Prime Minister during his visit to US. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The first MoU with IC<sup>2</sup> Institute at the University of Texas at Austin calls for the implementation of new, distinctive programmes in India with the aim of helping Indian innovators bring their ideas to the world. The interdisciplinary research unit of The University of Texas at Austin, the <a href="http://www.ic2.utexas.edu/"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">IC² Institute</span></a> has advanced the Theory and Practice of Entrepreneurial Wealth Creation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">With sponsorship from the Lockheed Martin Corporation, FICCI and IC<sup>2</sup> Institute teamed together in March 2007 to launch a first of its kind initiative "The India Innovation Growth Programme" with the prime objective of assisting Indian innovators across the country and across a diversified range of sectors to take their R&D work to global markets.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The programme has successfully completed three years and has signed 73 business deals in India and around the world. Major deals have been signed under the programme in the sectors of waste management, rural technology, life sciences, avionics and green technology. The <span style="">FICCI and IC<sup>2</sup> Institute have also jointly assessed 200 technologies from 26 DRDO labs across India and 7 licensing agreements have been finalised in India</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The second MoU with the Polytechnic Institute of New York University commits the organizations to a culture of innovation in India. Under this pact, NYU-Poly and FICCI will design and host activities to promote an understanding of how partnerships between government, industry, and educational institutions can spur advances in research and bolster economic activity in India.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The two organisations have agreed to bring their respective strengths to meet India's growing demand for world-class research and development facilities that attract global talent. NYU-Poly, New York City's most comprehensive engineering and technology institutions of higher education, will showcase the successes of American models of private-public partnerships at events in India.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">FICCI in turn will engage academic, research, government, and business entities in the cultivation of public-private partnerships.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The third MoU with the Institute of International Education, Inc. (IIE) outlines an agreement to partner to promote and facilitate educational and training exchanges between the United States and India. The IIE, a leading not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organization in the United States, will collaborate with FICCI to facilitate more student exchanges and build academic partnerships between the two countries.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
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<br />Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-14573407092068550642009-10-18T07:58:00.004+05:302009-10-18T08:06:51.436+05:30Teachers must research<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5C--%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C02%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536871559 0 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:595.45pt 841.7pt; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Teachers’ Participation in Research Programs Improves Their Students’ achievements in studies
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<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The Program advocates assert that program participation<sup> </sup>enhances teachers’ skills in communicating science to<sup> </sup>students. They measured the impact of New York City public high-school<sup> </sup>science teachers’ participation in Columbia University’s<sup> </sup>Summer Research Program on their students’ academic performance<sup> </sup>in science. In the year before program entry, students of participating<sup> </sup>and nonparticipating teachers passed a New York State Regents<sup> </sup>science examination at the same rate. In years three and four<sup> </sup>after program entry, participating teachers’ students<sup> </sup>passed Regents science exams at a rate that was 10.1% higher than that of <span style=""> </span>the non-participating teachers’ students.<sup> </sup>Other program benefits include decreased teacher attrition from<sup> </sup>classroom teaching and school cost savings.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The above results apply better in case of higher education. That is what experience shows.
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<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Ref: “Teachers’ Participation in Research Programs Improves Their Students’ Achievement in Science”,
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Verdana;" >Samuel C. Silverstein,<nobr> Jay Dubner, </nobr><nobr> Jon Miller, </nobr><nobr>Sherry Glied, </nobr><nobr>John D. Loike</nobr>, </span></strong><em><span style="font-style: normal;font-family:Verdana;" >Science,</span></em><i style=""> </i>16 October 2009, Vol. 326. No. 5951, pp. 440 – 442, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">DOI: 10.1126/science.1177344<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<br />Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2257776765666351419.post-4447887815699240812009-09-24T07:35:00.004+05:302009-09-24T07:52:34.270+05:30Indian ancestry<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The outcome of an extensive genetic research suggests that the population of India was founded on two ancient groups that are as genetically distinct from each other as they are from other Asians, according to the largest DNA survey of Indian heritage to date. Nowadays, however, most Indians are a genetic hotchpotch of both ancestries, despite the populous nation's highly stratified social structure.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A team led by David Reich of the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Lalji Singh of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad, India probed more than 560,000 DNA-letter differences, called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) across the genomes of 132 Indian individuals from 25 diverse ethnic and tribal groups dotted all over India.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The researchers showed that most Indian populations are genetic admixtures of two ancient, genetically divergent groups, which each contributed around 40-60% of the DNA to most present-day populations. One ancestral lineage — which is genetically similar to Middle Eastern, Central Asian and European populations — was higher in upper-caste individuals and speakers of Indo-European languages such as Hindi, the researchers found. The other lineage was not close to any group outside the subcontinent and was most common in people indigenous to the Andaman Islands a remote archipelago in the Bay of Bengal.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Indian populations, although currently huge in number, were also founded by relatively small bands of individuals, the study suggests. Overall, the picture that emerges is of ancient genetic mixture, followed by fragmentation into small, isolated ethnic groups, which were then kept distinct for thousands of years because of limited intermarriage — a practice also known as endogamy.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ref: </span><span style="font-family: verdana;" class="vcard"><span class="author fn">Elie Dolgin, "Indian ancestry revealed", <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090922/full/news.2009.935.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Nature</span></a>, 23 September 2009, </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">doi:10.1038/news.2009.935</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>Dr J D Bapathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08120903725911744477noreply@blogger.com0