Government of India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
ALL INDIA INSITITUTE OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION

Applications are invited for admission to the following courses conducted at All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai – 34 for the Academic year 2009 – 2010.

• Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics  (15 seats)

• Master in Science (Prosthetics and Orthotics)  (2 seats)

  ALL INDIA INSITITUTE OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION, ADMISSION 2009 Important Dates, Eligibility Criteria, Application/Entrance test fee
  

   

Government of India
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
ALL INDIA INSITITUTE OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION

Applications are invited for admission to the following courses conducted at All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai – 34 for the Academic year 2009 – 2010.

• Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics  (15 seats)

• Master in Science (Prosthetics and Orthotics)  (2 seats)

  ALL INDIA INSITITUTE OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION, ADMISSION 2009 Important Dates, Eligibility Criteria, Application/Entrance test fee
  

   

Bats can recognise one another by the nature of their sounds, says a new study carried out in Germany.

The study, conducted by the University of Tubingen, explains how bats use echolocation for more than just finding out where they are.

Researchers first tested the ability of four greater mouse-eared bats to distinguish between the echolocation calls of other bats.

After observing that the bats learned to discriminate the voices of other bats, they then programmed a computer model that reproduces the recognition behaviour of the bats.

Analysis of the model suggests that the spectral energy distribution in the signals contains individual-specific information that allows one bat to recognize another.

Animals must recognise each other in order to engage in social behaviour. Vocal communication signals are helpful for recognising individuals, especially in nocturnal organisms such as bats.

Little is known about how bats perform strenuous social tasks, such as remaining in a group when flying at high speeds in darkness, or avoiding interference between echolocation calls.

The finding that bats can recognise other bats within their own species based on their echolocation calls may therefore have some significant implications, said a Tubingen release.

More girls to benefit from Mayawati's scholarship scheme

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Friday decided to include married girls in a scholarship scheme for female students from poor families.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet here, an official spokesman told reporters.

The scheme provides for disbursement of Rs.15,000 to girls studying in class 11 and Rs.10,000 to those in class 12. They also receive a bicycle from the government.

So far the benefit was available only to unmarried girl students from below-poverty line families.

The cabinet also decided to extend the ambit of a scheme aimed at discouraging female infanticide.

"While an ex gratia amount of Rs.20,000 was so far payable only to the parents of a newborn girl child only in families bearing the BPL card, the facility would now be available also to other poor people categorised as holders of the Antyodaya card," the spokesman said.

Indians seek admission to Scottish universities

Promising jobs with partnering industries, Scottish universities have managed to triple the number of Indian students heading there for higher education in the last five years, university representatives said here Friday.

"Enrolment in Scottish universities by Indian students has tripled over the last five years," said Caroline Boddie, senior international officer for southern and central Asia at the University of Glasgow.

Boddie was addressing a press conference organised by Education UK-Scotland here Friday.

According to the British Council, the latest figures show that there are 3,625 students from India studying at the higher education level in Scotland's universities.

This accounts for nearly 13 percent of all Indian students studying in the United Kingdom.

Indian students have started taking a liking to Scotland and its educational institutions mainly because of the high quality research opportunities for post-graduate researchers and guaranteed job opportunities, said officials from four Scottish universities - Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee and West of Scotland.

"We have industry partnerships. What does that mean for Indian students? Jobs...Even with recession, companies are still recruiting the same number of graduates. They're a little more conscious about firing people as when they did last time, the economy picked up and they found out that they were understaffed," Boddie pointed out.

One scheme that encouraged this influx of Indian students is the 'Fresh Talent Scheme' in 2005 by the Scottish government which allowed foreigners to apply for a post-study work visa that allows them to work for two years after graduation.

Most Indian students apply for post-graduate degrees including business, management, finance, and economics at Scottish universities.

"They usually go for business and management degrees, but there's been a recent change. There is a growing realisation among Indians that there are more degrees out there," said Thomas Rattray, commercial director of University of Dundee.

Many Scottish universities have also developed partnerships with Indian universities. University of Glasgow created a joint degree in management with Gilam University in Visakapatnam, Andra Pradesh.

For Pooja Kalra, a 1999 alumni of Glasgow University, the international exposure she gained improved her job prospects.

"If you go to Scotland, you have international exposure so when you come to your own country, you have better job prospects," Kalra told IANS.

The Scottish government also offers scholarships to attract more international students.

The Saltire scholarship gives 200 post-graduate students from Canada, China, India and the US a hefty 2,000 pounds for a one-year post-graduate course. As many as 50 scholarships are for Indians.

Elements of racism possible in attacks: Australian envoy

Australia Thursday admitted that some of the attacks on Indian students in that country may have "elements" of racism.

"I think all attacks probably have different motivations. But primarily, they are criminal. In some cases hooliganism in others robbery. Racism may be an element in some of them," Australian High Commissioner John McCarthy told reporters after meeting Overseas Indians Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi here.

"There is racism in every country so it is not a total surprise that there might be an element in some of these crimes," he said.

Six Indians students are reported to have been assaulted in the last one month in Melbourne and Sydney that has led to diplomatic pressure from India and protests in Australia by Indian students.

Indian students form groups to protect themselves in Australia

The string of attacks on students from India while travelling on late-night trains has forced them to form groups to protect themselves in this Australian city.

Every night this week students and workers have gathered at the western suburbs station of St Albans to provide safe passage for Indian commuters, The Age reported Friday.

"Their action is in response to racist taunts and abuse on trains, and bashings while making their way home."

The community had no option after incidents of intimidation in which train inspectors failed to intervene and police failed to respond to calls for help, the newspaper quoted commuter Gary Singh as saying.

A group of 100 to 150 mostly Indian men meet outside the station.

The group waits at the station every night from 9.30 p.m. until the last train. Then it is divided into smaller groups that are assigned to street corners to prevent attacks.

On Tuesday night, a long knife was flashed at Singh and two of his friends.

Singh said he called police and pointed out the youths but "the police didn't check on them, they just told us to go home".

"We are not giving up," he said. "We are here to save our friends. We are not getting any protection from police or from the railways."

Another youth Amrinder Singh, 21, said his former housemate was badly beaten on his way home 18 months ago. Six months later he was punched in the eye by a group of five, including a girl. It took police 90 minutes to arrive.

Inderjeet Singh, 20, an automotive student at RMIT, spoke of arriving on the 1.05 a.m. train and as he walked home with four friends, a car with five men lay in wait for them, armed with a golf stick and baseball bats. They managed to flee.

Gary Singh said the Indian student community was fed up. "If Kevin (Prime Minister Rudd) can return everyone's money, we will go back. We're not here for any violence, we're here for study.

"He can return whatever we've spent on rent and fares."

There has been a spate of attack on students from India. In one of the worst attacks, Sravan Kumar Theerthala from Andhra Pradesh was stabbed with a screwdriver. He was in the ICU of the Royal Melbourne Hospital and is now showing signs of improvement.

South Asia Times quoted Gautam Gupta, leader and founder of Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA), as saying that Theerthala has now been shifted to the High Dependency Unit of the hospital from the ICU.

On June 3, an Indian student from Gujarat was attacked at the Newport Station in Melbourne.

He was attacked with a cricket and baseball bat at around 2 p.m. Another student who witnessed the attack was chased by the offenders.

The string of assaults on Indian students in Australia has now gone up to seven in over three weeks.

On Tuesday, N. Singh, 21, was attacked by a group of men in suburban Melbourne after they stopped him and demanded cigarettes and money.

Singh, a nursing student at Chisholm College, Dandenong, in Melbourne's east, was slashed with a box-cutter knife carried by one of five men who confronted him in a car park.

On May 30, Ashish Sood, studying at the Carrik Institute here, was badly beaten up by a group of 15 youngsters. The incident took place at the city's Chappel Street.

He, along with three others, was attacked by the group "who started teasing and bullying them for nothing and then pounced on them".

In Sydney, hospitality graduate Rajesh Kumar received 30 percent burns after a petrol bomb was hurled through the window of his Harris Park home.

The repeated attacks on Indian students in this capital of the Victoria province has led the provincial government to push for a plan that would have tougher sentences for hate crimes.

Two Indian students get Canadian scholarships

Two Indian doctoral students are among 37 international researchers who have been awarded Canadian scholarships.

The two Indian recipients for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship for 2009 are Niladri Chattopadhyay, who will pursue cancer research at the University of Toronto, and Atam Kapoor, who will work in the field of chemical engineering at the University of Alberta, an official statement said Thursday.

The awards will entitle them to $50,000 each per year for up to three years.

Once at full capacity, the programme will support up to 500 new students annually.

The scholarships were announced by the Canadian government in budget 2008 and are awarded to the world's leading doctoral students hailing from across Canada and abroad.

Announcing the scholarships in Ottawa, Canada's Minister of State (Science and Technology) Gary Goodyear, said: "The recipients of these scholarships are the world's leading doctoral students and the next generation of researchers, professors and industry leaders who will make considerable economic and social contributions in Canada and abroad."

The scholarship programme aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health, as well as leadership skills.

National Law University, Orissa, B.A.L.L.B. (Hons.) and B.B.A. L.L.B (Hons.), 2009

Applications are invited for five year integrated B.A.L.L.B. (Hons) and B.B.A. L.L.B (Hons.) Degree Programmes for the academic year 2009 - 10 commencing from 1st August, 2009.

National Law University, Orissa, B.A.L.L.B. (Hons) and B.B.A. L.L.B (Hons.), 2009, Important Dates

National Law University, Orissa, B.A.L.L.B. (Hons) and B.B.A. L.L.B (Hons.), 2009, Eligibility Criteria

Senior secondary school Examination (10+ 2 System) or equivalent examination with not less than 50% marks in the aggregate (those who have appeared for the examination in March / April, 2009 may also apply)

AGE LIMIT: Below 21 years  as on 1st august 2009 (23 years in case of Sc /ST Candidates)

Total seats” 60 seats each for B.A. L.L.B (Hons) & B.B.A. L.L.B (Hons.)

CATEGORY WISE SEATS: General 78 Scheduled Tribes-14, Scheduled Castes -10, Persons with disabilities -4, Foreign Nationals -4, NRI / NRI Sponsored – 10 Total Seats: 120.

National Law University, Orissa, B.A.L.L.B. (Hons) and B.B.A. L.L.B (Hons.), 2009, Application Procedure

Application Form can be downloaded from the website www.nluc.org.in.

The Application forms are to be sent along with a Demand Draft for Rs.1,500/- (Rupees One Thousand Five Hundred Only) for General Candidates and Rs. 1,000/- (Rupees One thousand Only) in case of Sc and ST Candidates, drawn in favour of “The Registrar, National Law University, Cuttack”, Payable at Cuttack along with copies of requisite  Caste/ Disability Certificate.

Applications  complete in all respects must reach The Registrar, National Law University, Protocol Wing, Orissa High Court, Cuttack- 753 001, Orissa, by post/ courtier on or before 6th June, 2009. Applications received after the last date shall not be entertained. The University will not be responsible for any loss or delay.

National Law University, Orissa, B.A.L.L.B. (Hons) and B.B.A. L.L.B (Hons.), 2009, Test Centre

Admissions will be strictly on merit through an All India Entrance Examination to be conducted at Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Gandhinagar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi and Patna.

If sufficient number of applications are not  received for a centre, the University reserves the right to cancel the said centre and shift the applicants of that centre to another centre.

For further information visit http://www.nluc.org.in/admission.html

Anna University Chennai, B.E. / B.TECH., 2009

Applications are invited for the unified single window admission for first year B. E. / B. Tech. Degree Courses 2009 to the University Departments of Anna Universities, Government and Government Aided Engineering Colleges and for the seats surrendered by the Self – Financing Engineering Colleges.

Anna University Chennai, B.E. / B.TECH., 2009 Important Dates

Anna University Chennai, B.E. / B.TECH., 2009 Application Procedure

1. In Person

Candidates can obtain the application form in person from the centres by paying Rs.500/- (Rs.250/- in case of SC/ST candidates belonging to Tamil Nadu) towards registration fee, by cash/demand draft.

2. By Post

Application forms can also be obtained by post from The Secretary, Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA), Anna University Chennai, Chennai - 600 025 by sending a requisition letter along with a Demand Draft for Rs.700/- (Rs.450/- in case of SC/ST candidates belonging to Tamil Nadu) and an address label written in capital letters to which the application is to be mailed.

3. Through Website

The candidates can also register through internet by logging on to www.annauniv.edu/tnea2009. After entering the required information in the application form, press the submit button, then take a printout, affix aphotograph and affix the signature at the appropriate spaces provided. The printout application along with the registration fee in the form of a D.D. only should be sent along with all the enclosures by Speed / Registered post to the address given below.

Anna University Chennai, B.E. / B.TECH., 2009 Special Reservations

Candidates seeking admission under Special reservation category should enclose a separate special reservation application along with the main application together with a DD for Rs.100/- for each special reservation with attested Xerox copies of relevant documents. The applications under Sports Quota should be submitted along with all the documents only in person.

Anna University Chennai, B.E. / B.TECH., 2009 Submission of filled-in applications

Candidates have to send the filled-in application along with attested xerox copies of Mark Sheet(s) and attested xerox copies of all other relevant certificates, to The Secretary, Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions 2009, Anna University Chennai, Chennai - 600 025 on or before 31.05.2009 (5.30 p.m.)

All Demand Drafts should be drawn in favour of “The Director, Admissions, Anna University Chennai” payable at Chennai, drawn on any Nationalised Bank dated on or after 05.05.2009. Candidates are instructed to write the name and address on the reverse side of the Demand Draft.

SC/ST candidates belonging to Tamil Nadu who want to avail Registration fee concession (Rs.250/-) should produce a xerox copy of the Community certificate obtained from competent authority.

For further details visit Anna University website http://www.annauniv.edu/tnea2009; Telephone No. 044 - 2220 3616, 2220 3617, 2220 3618 and 2220 3619.

University of Delhi
M.Tech. “Nanoscience and Nanotechnology” academic session 2009-2010

Applications are invited for admission to M.Tech. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology postgraduate programmes of the University for admission in the year 2009-10. Jointly offered by Department of Physics & Astrophysics and Department of Chemistry

UNIVERSITY OF DELHI M.Tech. “Nanoscience and Nanotechnology”  2009 Important Dates

UNIVERSITY OF DELHI M.Tech. “Nanoscience and Nanotechnology”  2009 Eligibility Criteria

•  B.Sc. General or Honours in Physical Sciences/Chemical Sciences/Biological Sciences.
•  Completed at least one year course in Mathematics.
•  Candidates must have qualified JAM Test conducted by Indian Institute of Technologies.
Short-listed candidates will be called for interview.
•    Selected candidates may be provided scholarship of Rs.3000/- p.m. (Sponsored by Department of Science and Technology (Govt. of India) or University of Delhi.)
•    Project work to be carried out at National and/or International Laboratories.

Reservation of SC/ST/OBC Candidates will be as per Delhi University norms.

UNIVERSITY OF DELHI M.Tech. “Nanoscience and Nanotechnology”  2009 Application Procedure

Application forms are available on DU Website only http://www.du.ac.in
Last date for the receipt of the application forms is 30th June 2009 along with demand draft of Rs. 250/- in favour of The Registrar, Delhi University, payable at Delhi.

For Further information, please visit Delhi University website. http://www.du.ac.in

Literally the most 'powerful' city, Delhi is a metropolis with its own inherent attitudes that set it apart from every other urban centre in India. Surviving in this cutthroat environment of powerbrokers and international conglomerates is a challenge every educated Delhiite conquers on a daily basis.

A hub where global business houses are flocking by the dozen, where super-malls are springing up at the rate of almost one a day, Delhi is the place to be at if you are looking at a truly global career. Which is why it is here that top Bschools and coaching institutes are setting up shop, with thousands of enthusiastic students turning the city into a knowledge super-mall!

Today, we see a whole new generation of youngsters in the race of global competition. They are researching brand new career avenues by breaking the traditional path of education. They want innovative alternatives and the best deals. They want more. It is to cater to these requirements that the
Times Education Boutique is about to make its presence felt in the nation's capital. An A-list national-level event, the Boutique has a track record of eight years of hugely successful education fairs in every corner of the country.

So, if it is education options or guidance, career counsellors or overseas consultants, or even experts from every imaginable field, the Boutique is where you will find it all under one roof. Allowing an opportunity for total interaction, the fair will even see institutes - from across the globe. Lastly, the talks and seminars by experts will even provide insights into various career choices.

To put it briefly, the Boutique is one special annual event no student, parent or educationist can afford to miss. So, Delhi, be there if you want to be 'with it'! Spread across 27 cities with an amalgamation of the best institutes, it is the biggest educational fair providing a perfect platform for Overseas Universities, Academic Studies, National and International Educational Institutions, Immigration Consultants, Call Centers, Residential Schools, Financial Institutions, Institutional Equipment suppliers, Study Loans, Jobs & Recruitment, Non-conventional professions, Professional Studies, Career Counseling and Others.

IN BRIEF

AAFT is one of the top institutes of the world today for aspiring professional film and video artists. Students in its short term and the other one year, undergraduate and post graduate film and video programs go through the rigors of a holistic training under a watchful eye of industry-renowned faculty, and have access to digital facilities that are an envy of most professional studios. It is one of the best-equipped film schools in the country with digital facilities that rival many professional studios. AAFT strives to see your personal vision pass
through all the phases of collaborative filmmaking, and then move as light through a lens onto a screen.

ACADEMY OF ANIMATION & GAMING (AAG) is among the first Animation Academy founded to address the demand for skilled professionals in the rapidly expanding visual effects, animation and gaming sector. Apart from affiliation with KSOU (Karnataka State Open University) for B. Sc. (Animation), AAG has collaboration with the University of Teesside, UK, which is ranked among the top twenty universities for animation studies in the world, for providing its students BA (Hons) degree. The AAG has the finest infrastructure facilities to offer to its students for training them in classical animation and high-end software training. AAG, presently has its training institutes at Noida and Gurgaon.

ACHARYA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT & SCIENCES (AIMS), Bangalore is nestled amidst greenery in the techno-entrepreneurial hub of the city, AIMS focuses on higher education in business administration, IT, hospitality, tourism and humanities. Healthy practices like the mentor system, career advisory cell, student health service and women’s cell come as a pleasant surprise to the freshers and parents. Student life is made smoother through scholarships and awards, banking assistance, separate hostels for boys and girls and a friendly administration. Freshers are provided bridge courses for smooth transition and the IT orientation in the environment is almost palpable. The institution has MOUs with foreign schools for student and faculty exchange programs, besides joint research projects and internships. Students from fifteen countries pursue their studies here. A strong Alumni network and a robust industry interaction are the big positives.

CHITKARA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY offers programs in Computer Science Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering and Civil Engineering. This constituent college of Chitkara University has been established with the vision to take the legacy of Chitkara Educational Trust forward by grooming graduates who would be highly sought after, productive, and well-respected for their work, and will be able to contribute to the productivity of their respective organizations. The academic scope for various domains at Chitkara University will be widened through faculty research, numerous specialized undergraduate and postgraduate programs, network of corporate relations and student exchanges throughout the world.
   
DSK SUPINFOCOM INTERNATIONAL CAMPUS, Pune, offers 4 years and 5 years integrated courses in Animation, Gaming and Industrial Design – Product Design, Transportation Design and Digital Design for the undergraduate and graduate students, in collaboration with the globally recognised French Institute. It has a track record of 100% placements. Supinfocom is ranked as world’s no. 1 institute in Animation. It is the 1st institute in France to give training in game design and production management.

SIEC was established in 1995 with the principle aim of recruiting and placing Indian students into Australian tertiary institutions. Now with a global reach, SIEC offers in-depth knowledge, information, guidance with expertise and the most transparent, honest and efficient services network spread over 24 cities in India and on-shore support offices in Australia and Singapore. With migration services also a part of SIEC now, the institute provides a complete overseas solution through enhanced services.

AURA is a leading educational group having 20 years of global experience in the education sector. At Aura, student success is given the top priority. Courses in Aura Institutions range from Certificate courses, Under Graduate Degree to Post Graduate level. These programmes are carefully selected to provide students with the skills and knowledge appropriate for the demands of today by making them professionals of tomorrow. Aura is empowering masses through the Hospitality, Business and Technology Schools. In order to enable India to take advantage of its youth, Aura has ventured into various spectrums like business schools and technology schools by producing quality driven industry specific manpower.
 
ZOOMTECHNOLOGIES INDIA PVT LTD. is a leader in network and security solutions. They were the first to set up an IPsec VPN in India , the first to set up a Linux based WAN ( the biggest network in South India), the first to set up a 24 X 7 antivirus and malware support center in India and the first to offer a comprehensive bundle of networking courses. The institute boasts of bringing rich real time experience into the class room to give the students a feel of actual issues involved in computer networking.

FRAMEBOXX ANIMATION & VISUAL EFFECTS, a versatile conglomerate with a focus on high quality Animation and Visual Effects training has more than 45 state of the art training facilities in India including 1 abroad. Frameboxx also has strong industry alliances with prestigious Institutes from across the World, viz. Cambridge School of Art at the Anglia Ruskin University, UK & Seneca Institute of Applied Arts & Technology, Canada. They recently tied-up with the world’s largest job board – CreativeHeads.net to enable its students to search and apply for jobs worldwide across a network of leading Animation and Visual Effects studios.

CG MANTRA is the first education venture in India which addresses the huge film making and animation market. The CG Mantra campuses coming up in Delhi and Hyderabad comprises of multi studio facilities and digital intermediate facilities, including Green Screen Studio, Live Action Studio, VFX Suite, Sound Studio, and Art & Sculpture Studio. An investment of over Rs 5 cr was made at each of these campuses. CG Mantra shall bring the much needed integration between VFX & Animation with Live Action Film Making (Film & TV) with programmes ranging from short term certificate to BSC and MSC.

LEEDS MET INDIA, Bhopal is a joint partnership between Leeds Metropolitan University, UK and JSWS Bhopal for the exclusive delivery of Leeds Met UK courses and awards in a contempory, state of the art purpose built 36 acres campus at Bhopal, India. Leeds Met India, Bhopal will offer the universally recognized management qualification in the field of International Business, Business Studies Management, Retail Marketing Management and International Hospitality management. An academic director will be seconded on a full time basis to supervise and ensure smooth functioning of the Bhopal Campus.

NSHM is one of India’s leading knowledge hubs that strive to impart practical skills in a real world situation. Being a new age school and not bound by convention, part of the experience of being a student here is to make discoveries about one self and making the most of one’s potential on the way to becoming a skilled, performance driven professional of Corporate India.

SHARDA EDUCATION (SGI) trust in last 14 years expended from 160 students in 1 college to 14 colleges, across 4 campuses, with strength of over 15,000 students and now collectively called Sharda Group of Institutions (SGI). SGI retains its numero uno position in placement year after year. SGI is one of the North India’s Largest Educational Group built upon 165 Acres in Greater Noida, Agra and Mathura. SGI has NBA Accredited Courses. The SGI’s Greater noida campus, which comprises of engineering, management, allied medical and dental courses, media and design courses, bio technology, and several other professional programmes, have now been given the status of Sharda University by Act no 14 of UP government.

VAG GROUP OF E D U C AT I O NA L INSTITUTE has been in the field of IT and Management education since 1996 with a mission of “Empowering the future professionals”. The institute strive to provide students with enormous opportunities and help in shaping the future of students by training and guiding them. VAG is running various courses in association with SMU, JAMIA HUMDARD, IGNOU, MDU, GLOBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, DOEACC, etc. It offers programmes like BBA, BCA, BSCIT, MBA, MCA, M SCIT. VAG is an award winning institute among 600 SMU centers all across India.

ABROAD EDUCATION CONSULTANTS (AEC) provide in-depth counseling and a personalised service to students seeking admissions abroad.

EMDI is a name synonymous with India’s best media and communication related vocational education. EMDI is an international institute which has globally accredited diploma courses in event management, advertising, public relations, radio, graphic design, journalism and related offerings industry stalwarts are aware and associated to the institute and this attaches a premium to the courses we offer in terms of content, student placements and pricing.

FLYING CATS, the complete air hostess training school introduces an individual to a whole new world of enriching experience as it unleashes the potential in each student and instills the confidence to believe that the sky is the limit. The institute offers the best career opportunities and training facilities by partnering with leading names like ASCG. All students are sent to Singapore to get practical exposure of onboard International flight experience, International Airport procedures training and Tourism and Hospitality experience in Singapore along with visa, immigration and custom handling experience.

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES, a leading professional overseas education consultancy providing quality advice on quality education, official representatives of almost 200 universities, trusted partner of British High Commission promoting education in the UK and in house IELTS coaching. Global Opportunities is the official representatives of several top ranking universities in UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Ireland and Singapore.

HIERANK GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS (Run by IIT, IIM Alumni) is running regular BBA, BCA & B. Sc (Biotech) affiliated courses with CCS University, Meerut. Campus placement is offered to all graduate students.

INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED MANAGEMENT (IAM), Kolkata, is one of the countries leading premier hospitality management institute. IAM has an outstanding reputation as a "Centre of Excellence" in the field of education, training and research in the hospitality management industry. The Institute offers 3 years fulltime Diploma & Degree Programmes, Diploma in Hotel Management & catering Technology from AICTE and B. Sc in Hotel, Hospitality and Tourism from Punjab Technical University

INTERNATIONA L INSTITUTE OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT (IIHM), a part of the famed International Group, is one of the leading hospitality management institutes in the country offering top class education in Hotel and Catering Management with a global vision. The Institute also offers 100% placement assistance in national as well as international positions in reputed hospitality and service industry.

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYSTS OF INDIA UNIVERSITY (ICFAI), Tripura has been approved by the University Grants Commission, under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956. The University offers the following Flexible Learning Programs – (Professional Programs) MBA Program, Executive MBA Program, The CFA Program, MCA Program, CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Program, CBM (Certified Bank Manager) Program, CRIM (Certified Risk & Insurance Manager) Program, PG Diploma Programs (1 Year), PG Certificate Programs (6 months), Master Degree Programs.

IIMT Gurgaon announces the admission for both undergraduate and graduate students. These are degree programmes offered by Oxford Brookes University, UK: B.Sc (Hons) Hotel & Restaurant Management (4 Year), BBA (Hons.) Business Administration (3 Yr & 4 Yr), BBA (Hons.) Retail Management (3 Yr), M.Sc International Business (1 Yr). IIMT is operated by Umak Education Trust, a trust that is part of a bigger business conglomerate with Real estate, Hotels and Hotel Management assets.

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF FINANCIAL PLANNING (IIFP) is one of the most eminent centers for professional financial planning/wealth management education in India. IIFP is authorized by the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB), India as an education provider for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional education programme in India. The Institute provides education that is contemporary, industry responsive and relevant to the current needs of the industry.

INNOVATIVE TRAINING PLACE (ITP), is one of the most respected and trusted brand in the field of class training for international tests like GRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEFL/ IELTS, and Admission Counseling and Visa Guidance for USA, UK, Canada and other countries.

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF FINANCIAL PLANNING (ICOFP) offers multiple career options owing to its specialized industry integrated programs in Banking, Investment Planning, Mutual Funds, Investment Advisory and Insurance.

JAIN INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL,Bangalore, one of the 32 premium institutions from pre schooling to higher education, of the almost 2 decades established Jain group (now a deemed university) is a high end school with state of the art infrastructure & unmatched sports facilities on a 300 acre serene pollution free campus, focusing on a overall holistic development of the child by providing a global education platform while growing up with high values of our culture & heritage.

KANGAROO STUDIES has completed its 13+ extraordinary years of service in the field of Overseas Education focused on Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, Dubai, Singapore, Canada etc. Some of our major achievements are: Recently awarded by the New Zealand Trade for overall improved performance of numbers for New Zealand students and reputed for providing excellent quality of service and personal individualized services.

KARROX TECHNOLOGIES LTD Is a pioneer in providing training in diverse education fields like Programming, Networking, Information/ Network Security, Database, Operating systems, storage management, Soft-skills, Training Curriculum for Schools and Colleges.

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY (KSU), USA is ranked amongst top 10 U.S.A. colleges. K-State has an enrollment of 23,520 students, including 1,431 International Students from various countries. KSU (India Office) has associates all over India, Nepal and Sri Lanka to facilitate all students for free counseling, free submission of forms and documents, instant information and guidance.

MAHARISHI ARVIND INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, The first private Engineering College in Jaipur functions under the aegis of Arvind Bharti Vidhlaya Samiti, a Non-Profit Organization. The Organization is engaged in promotion of professional and technical education and presently conducts 24 courses at Post Graduate and Under Graduate Level. B.Tech, MBA, Hotel Management Pharm, B.Pharm, M.Pharm, MCA, BBA, BCA and PGDM are approved by AICTE and also affiliated to Rajasthan Technical University, Kota.

MOD’A RT INTERNATIONAL (INDIA) provides educational techniques from Mod’ Art International (Paris) allowing Indian students to become creative designers giving an international culture with English taught programs. Mod’Art proposes 2 programs: Fashion Design and Fashion Management. Mod’ Art uses French knowledge in the Indian fashion field to fuel growth of indigenous design.

APTECH LIMITED, a global learning solution company, has been into the field of I.T. education for more than two decades. In association with Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), NPower has recently launched: 3-year B.Sc. degree in Hardware, Networking & Digital Communication and 1-year diploma in Hardware & Networking.

NIIT offers learning and knowledge solutions to over 5 million students across 40 countries. NIIT’s individual learning business offers a host of industry-endorsed IT training programs for students seeking careers in IT. Some of the offerings include: GNIIT, NIIT Engineers, a range of specialized programs to provide cutting-edge career for engineering graduates and IT professionals, NIIT Globalnet+, specialized programs on Networking and Infrastructure Management, SWIFT for training on basic IT skills.

NBA provides world-class holistic education in Mass Communication, Animation and Management. Its BBA and MBA programmes are geared towards realizing the highest personal potential of each student. NBA’s rigorous academic curriculum is augmented by hands-on practical training, using state-ofthe-art studios and interface with industry experts and exposure to real-life professional environments.

NDIMS is a B School with an Ultra Modern World Class a/c conditioned Wi-fi campus and internationally accredited faculty. NDIMS offers a 2 year full time Industry Integrated MBA degree that is accredited by NAAC and approved by UGC and GOI. The course being Industry Integrated, each student gets Industry Experience (3days a week) of one and a half year.

NETAJI SUBHASH INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES (NIMS) is a thoroughly modern and highly innovative B-school with a state-of-the-art-infrastructure, centrally air- conditioned and wi-fi enabled campus, having a mission to deliver first world quality management education at affordable prices.

NEW ERA INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES (NIPS) was established in the year 2000 under the aegis of the New Era Education Society (NEES) which was set up in 1963. The New Era Institute of Professional Studies offers excellent opportunities for higher learning in the field of management and professional courses like BBA, MBA, Certified Financial Planner and Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Financial Planning and Wealth Management.

OM CONSULTANTS is the admission office for European Medical and Aviation Universities. All Indians can get admission in MBBS, MS, MD, MDS and Pilot Training programs in European Universities through Om Consultants. With their European Degrees you can work anywhere in European Union and beyond.

RICHMOND - THE AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY in London, integrates international relations at all levels of academics and student life giving students a global perspective. Undergraduate degree programs built on the American liberal arts model offer a core curriculum leading to a strong foundation for leadership roles. Students use London as the classroom, bringing education to life.

THE R.K. INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND COMPUTER SCIENCE (RKIMCS) & THE KARNATAKA KAVERI EDUCATION AND CULTURAL SOCIETY (KKECS) were established in 1999 and 1993 respectively. All the institutes are unique, trusted and influential educational institutions providing knowledge and managerial competencies in both business and non-business areas with excellent infrastructure and unmatched trained faculty drawn from various sectors like business management, information technology, life science, computer science, law, nursing, education etc.

SKYLINE BUSINESS SCHOOL has been conducting MBA/BBA programmes since 1996 and is “Category A” B School by Business India for last 4 years and rank “54” by MINT C Fore Best B Schools survey 2008.

SOFTDOT HI-TECH EDUCATIONAL & TRAINING INSTITUTE is an innovative educational and training organization. With professional expertise under the belt, the institute offers excellent education in various streams viz. Management, Information Technology, Mass Communication, Travel & Tourism, Retail Management, Insurance, Hardware & Networking Computer Courses, CA Coaching etc.

TASMAC - One of the premier Business Schools in India is currently rated an A+ institution by Business India in their Best B - School ratings. TASMAC offer the MBA and BA (Hons) in Business Administration programmes.

THE APEEJAY INSTITUTE OF HOSPITALITY is an initiative of the Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels that operates its collection of Luxury Boutique hotels in India. The institute offers 3 years Bachelor’s Degree programme in Hospitality Studies (BSc-HS) affiliated to the University of Mumbai and is recognized by the University Grants Commission. The group's Management training Programme, Professional Development programme as well as consultancy projects for the hospitality industry are some of its additional core activities.

THE INSTITUTE OF C O M PA N Y SECRETARIES OF INDIA (ICSI) is a premier national professional body (imparting education primarily through distance learning) established by an Act of Parliament (Company Secretaries Act, 1980) to develop and regulate the profession of Company Secretaries in India. Career as a Company Secretary is not only prestigious and financially rewarding but also carries with it a high degree of job satisfaction. Examinations are held twice a year in June & December.

THE CHOPRAS is a study abroad education consultancy company that represents various elite universities in countries like UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada etc.

UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & ENERGY STUDIES (UPES) has emerged as a world class institution, dedicated to developing super specialized, ready to deploy professional managers and engineers across Oil & Gas, Power, Aviation, Aerospace, Automobile & Infrastructure Sector. UPES has and continue to set pathbreaking benchmarks in the field of education and training with more than 30 programs across Oil & Gas, Power, Aviation, etc.
   
WALL STREET FINANCE LTD. (WSFL) is a premier financial services company with foreign exchange and money remittance as its core activities. WSFL engages in the buying and selling of foreign currencies, traveller’s cheques and various forex related services. With AD-II license from RBI, WSFL is permitted to send remittances abroad for various purposes including remittance for students.

WELINGKAR INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT pioneered the most contemporary management education and training to not only its students but corporate alike. The Institute derives inspiration from design thinking towards business and management.

THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS (CIMA) is an international accountancy body with a sole focus on business. It is a leading professional institute that offers an internationally recognised qualification in management accountancy, focusing on accounting for business. It is the voice of 164,000 students and members in 161 countries.

DELHI FILM INSTITUTE'S sincerest endeavor is to impart the very basic grammar of this unique electronic language to its students and educate and inform them about the various technologies being used in communication - oral, pictorial and performed. The various Degress Course are awared by the Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar.

EDWISE, India’s Leading Overseas Education Consultants provides factual unbiased information regarding higher education in UK, USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore. Edwise is the ‘Trusted Partner’ of the British High Commission, promoting education in the UK, eVisa agent for Australia, AAERI, NZIER, Member of NAFSA (USA).

NEW DELHI INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (NDIIT), located in South Delhi, was established in 1999 as an affiliate of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Subsequently, NDIIT joined hands with Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, for conducting programs in MBA, MCA, BBA and BCA, which have been designed to offer students multiple specialization flexibility with research components.
   
CAREER BIRD WINGS combine academic and travel needs at the international and national level. The institute aims to promote education globally by offering professional counseling and guidance to help you choose the right course, university and country. They assist students in seeking admissions in U.K., Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and USA for Under-graduate, Postgraduate, Diploma and certificate courses.

BETA AVIATION PVT. LTD is a leading diversified Aviation Trainings & Solutions Organization based in India in conjunction with its International training partners. The institute aims at providing quality based D.G.C.A approved airline oriented commercial pilot training.

Entrepreneurship is the order of the day. And in order to lend support to budding entrepreneurs — who want to apply their business skills to critical social and environmental issues — the 10th anniversary of the Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC) was recently held at University of California (Berkeley), US.

This year, more than 300 plans were submitted from more than 100 universities in 23 countries. The business plans ranged from solar-powered pasteurisation for rural areas to solutions to counterfeit drugs to youth employment services. Nearly half of the plans were healthcare related.

Started by five Berkeley MBA students in 1999, the competition has grown into a global partnership with Columbia Business School, London Business School, Indian School of Business and Thammasat University (Thailand). The competition’s primary goal is educational and it has helped leaders in social entrepreneurship fine-tune the metrics for social impact evaluation.

Fifteen teams of budding entrepreneurs from around the world pitched business ideas with a positive social or environmental impact at the finals. This year’s finalists were from France, India, Indonesia, Mali, New Zealand, Thailand, UK and US.

Three Indian teams were at Berkeley for the final competition. Two competed for the grand prize of $25,000, and one from ISB competed for the best Social Impact Assessment Prize.

The winner of 2009 GSVC was EcoFaeBrick (EFB), Praseitya Mulya Business School, Indonesia. EFB, in conjunction with Faerumnesia, produces high quality and low price bricks by utilising the abundant cow dung in Godean and Sayegan. EFB builds a sustainable market demand to ensure an interesting financial return to investors through its business model, which involves housing developers, NGOs and local communities through cooperative unions.

The winner of the best social impact assessment was Click the Clam, University of Auckland, New Zealand. What won them the prize was an innovative game created to teach children on the autistic spectrum to recognise emotions.

Vocational education imparted at the school level is all set to move towards a modular pattern. Keeping in mind policy dimensions and suggestions for restructuring of the vocational education curriculum at the school level, the ministry of human resource development (HRD) has proposed changes in this regard. The PSS Central Institute of Vocational Education, Bhopal, a constituent of the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), has prepared a proposal on behalf of MHRD to divide vocational subjects into various modules and to assign credits to each module.

“We have proposed that vocational education should be imparted in a more flexible way. And the proposal has been prepared keeping in mind the National Qualification Framework (NQF) that talks about vertical and horizontal mobility in terms of acquiring qualifications,” said Poonam Agrawal, joint director, PSS Central Institute of Vocational Education. According to Agrawal the proposal has already been submitted to the Planning Commission by MHRD.

“It is time that we provided systematic, well planned and rigorously implemented programmes of vocational education in schools. If the proposal is approved, a student would have the flexibility to select the modules according to his/her own convenience. Each subject would be divided into various modules and would be assigned credits. A person can choose to take a module and collect certain credits. S/he can opt to work after completing the modules and return to pursue more modules. If a person completes a semester, s/he would be awarded a semester certificate. If a student completes only a few modules s/he would be awarded a competency certificate,” explained Agrawal. She said that this system would also promote multi-skills in vocational education and training. “For example, a person pursuing a course in horticulture would have the option to select certain modules in entrepreneurship too,” she said.

The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business offers a two-year MBA programme. The school recently announced the official signing of a collaborative agreement with Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) School of Business and Human Resources, Jamshedpur. The agreement will promote joint faculty research, joint case writing, reciprocal exchange programmes for graduate students, collaborative executive education programmes, the invitation of scholars for participation in conferences and lectures, and licensing of publishing materials.

“Through the collaboration with XLRI, we will offer students and faculty access to the latest research and innovative thinking in India — as well as the global marketplace,” said Peter Rodriguez, associate dean (international affairs), Darden School of Business. Rodriguez is also director of the school’s Tayloe Murphy International Centre.

The partnership will look to build on Darden’s tradition of global engagement. Nearly one-third of Darden’s student body comprises international students. Rodriguez stated, “Together with China, India is one of the undeniable economic powers of the 21st Century. We must learn from Indian businesses about how best to compete and innovate for the Indian economy and the rest of the world.”

The number of Indian students at Darden has more than tripled in the past five years, making India the school’s largest international market. Apart from XLRI, the school also has international partnerships with London Business School, IESE Business School, Melbourne Business School (Australia) and Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, among others.

The Indian Institute of Technology-Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE), which has approximately four lakh aspirants every year, is one of the most competitive entrance examinations in India. So, Education Times in association with Scholar’s Academy, a coaching institute, organised a counselling session for students titled ‘A Simplified and Systematic Approach to Crack IIT-JEE’ in North Delhi on May 3.

“Though most students spend laborious hours preparing for the entrance examination, few students are armed with the right approach,” said Sudhanshu Bajaj, academic director, Scholar’s Academy. “To optimise their preparation time, students essentially need the right guidance, a right attitude and most importantly, an understanding of the subject. The session was envisaged with the dual objective of equipping students with the right strategy in terms of preparation and dispelling various misconceptions that revolve around this examination,” he added.

According to Saurabh Kochhar, academic counsellor, Scholar's Academy, there is a proliferation of coaching institutes across the country today. He said, “Unfortunately, some of these institutes end up misdirecting students. Hence, students should be conscientious and conduct background checks of the potential coaching institutes that they are considering to enroll in.” Kochhar went on to add that students should choose an institute where they can be part of a medium-sized batch. “This is because in large groups, it is not always possible to give personal attention. But, it is also important to note that if students are taught in small groups or offered tuitions at home, they lose the competitive edge,” he explained.

Bajaj stated that teachers in coaching institutes should take the dual responsibility of teaching and mentoring. “Preparing for a competitive examination entails a lot of stress and anxiety. Particularly, given the fact that candidates for IIT-JEE are at an impressionable age; the importance of sustained mentoring cannot be undermined,” he informed. Bajaj added, however, that “it is also important to understand that this mentoring has to be in close understanding of the child’s individual disposition and abilities. In fact, it is this approach that distinguishes a coach in a coaching institute from a casual mentor.”

Speaking about the need for the right attitude, Kochhar said, “Many-a-time students are unable to cope with exam pressure and end up under-performing on the examination day. Hence, it is important to have a calm and relaxed approach. It is advisable for students to inculcate a co-curricular activity, like sports or music, during the preparation phase. These activities are not distracting and provide a much needed outlet from the regular study routine.” He also reiterated that students should be confident about themselves and not undermine their abilities.

According to Kochhar, many students find it difficult to accommodate their IIT-JEE preparations and CBSE preparations simultaneously. “Usually, students spend hours preparing for the IIT-JEE and are left with little or no time to prepare for their CBSE board examination. However, the right strategy would be allotting three hours of study time for each of these examinations,” he informed.

And the importance of the right knowledge? “Previous IIT-JEE results have revealed that students with the most enviable track records are not always successful in cracking this exam. In fact, there are instances of fairly average students successfully cracking IIT-JEE,” shared Bajaj. “This examination is actually a basic examination that tests one’s knowledge and ability to apply concepts in solving numerical problems. Consequently, more than anything, it requires thoroughness in terms of understanding that can be acquired through consistent study,” he added.

Also, students should be able to differentiate between the expectations of the CBSE examination and the IIT-JEE examination. “The former is concept-oriented and caters to students of varying aptitude while the latter is application-oriented and structured to test acumen that can predispose one to become an engineer. This understanding is crucial to tailor effective preparations for both,” informed Bajaj.

Bajaj also stated that most students aspiring to be engineers overemphasise theoretical knowledge and ignore the importance of soft skills. “Today, engineers across specialisations are presented with innumerable presentation opportunities in the course of their professional life. Therefore, while building their technical knowledge, students should also concentrate in sharpening their soft skills and this process should be initiated at the IIT-JEE preparation stage itself,” he said.

The field of robotics has not been adequately leveraged in the education system, particularly at the school level. To address this void, an alumni group from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay is instituting Robocamp, a six-day summer camp starting from May 25 in Delhi. Targeted at school children aged between 11 and 17 years, the camp has been envisaged to teach the fundamentals of assembling a robot. The Indian Innovators Association has certified the contents of this sixday course in robot programming.

Robotics is an interdisciplinary field with an amalgamation of vital principles of mechanical engineering, computer science engineering and electronic engineering. Talking about the importance of robotics at the school level, Gagan Goyal founder director, Robo.in, says, “Children are exposed to various concepts of mathematics and science like circle, diameter, force, velocity and so on at the primary school level. Since construction of a robot requires attention to all these aspects it aids their understanding at a practical level. Also, through robotics children understand the corresponding relationship between various concepts of maths and science. This can prove beneficial if they choose a career in engineering or scientific and technical research.”

Goyal informs that even in premier engineering colleges, students face a roadblock when they have to physically construct objects. “While they are fairly adept in making object designs through various software programmes they do not have sufficient expertise to work within the constraints and challenges imposed by the real environment. For instance, they do not know enough about fabrication techniques to create specific shapes and heights,” he says.

The camp will also see the launch of i-PITARA — a kit packed with 50 components including a basic electronic chip and sensors to take inputs. It also has a black box that can be connected to a personal computer. “We have also developed CiMPLE, a simplified programming software through which children can connect picture images in a logical sequence to create a robot,” shares Goyal. He adds, “The kit will be sold at retail outlets for Rs 10,000, and provides a lot of flexibility to the user; It can even be used to automate one’s toy car,”

Talking about future initiatives, he says, “We want to promote the knowledge and application of robotics at the primary school level.” Robo.in is also researching development of similar products and is working in the domain of image processing, artificial intelligence and wireless sensor network.

The National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, which will celebrate its golden jubilee next year, recently appointed a new director — Pradyumna Vyas.

Elaborating on his plans for NID, Vyas said, “My priority would be to sustain quality education and enhance NID’s leadership in the field of design through knowledge and research-based programmes.” Vyas brings with him over 25 years of experience in design.

PLANS FOR NID

According to Vyas, four new design institutes are on the cards. “There are plans to set-up four new independent campuses at Bhopal, Guwahati, Bangalore and one in North India, the location for which is yet to be decided. These design institutes would be directly under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), ministry of commerce and industry,” he added.

Besides curriculum development, Vyas plans to strengthen links with other institutions and integrate inputs from other disciplines such as technology, management, humanities and social sciences. “We need to understand that design education is not just about design but also deals with technology, sociology, management and the like, so there has to be a multi-dimensional learning approach. Thus, I would encourage that instead of working in isolation, students from institutes like IITs and IIMs should also come and work with our students to bring in new innovations in design,” he said.

As regards faculty development, he opined, “We are aiming to emphasise on creating quality faculty not only for NID, but also for the entire country. Besides, we would be strengthening our international ties to achieve a global perspective in design, develop educational programmes that are socially broad and technically deep and also, leverage intellectual property to our designs to generate knowledge capital.”

Further, to nurture young entrepreneurs, NID has set up the National Design Business Incubator (NDBI) that encourages students to start their own entrepreneurial ventures wherein they get full support in terms of infrastructure and resources. “We also welcome students from other design institutes besides those from architecture or engineering colleges to come up with innovative ideas and start their own ventures as part of NDBI,” he said.

Vyas emphasised that there is a need to foster a culture of responsible and value-centric design education, in aspirants, which is rooted in the country’s tradition and culture. For instance, he explained, “A product like a pen, which costs around Rs 2, works for maybe a few days. The consumer has a tendency to buy, use and throw and thus, the usage doesn’t last for long. Hence, there is a need to create sustainable products, even if they come at a comparatively higher price, but they should have a longer shelf-life. We have to look forward to innovations and develop business models wherein the product is costeffective and durable.”

DEMAND FOR DESIGNERS

Design is a way of thinking, said Vyas, adding that, “design adds value to a product and value gives better returns, hence it is imperative. The market demand for designers is high as they are needed almost everywhere — be it in real estate, engineering, management or even the social sector.”

Vyas feels that in the area of handicrafts, artisans have been designing products with a thorough understanding of materials and processes, which has evolved over generations and that shouldn’t be tampered with. “What needs to be done is to find innovative ways through which their productivity can be enhanced without disturbing their core understanding of handicrafts. So, the need is to introduce equipment design and tool design in a conducive environment that can enhance their productivity and promote them on a global platform,” he said.

Paul Myers, president, World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO), believes ethics is the fulcrum of all business practices.

At a time when the global economy is in a state of flux and the role of leadership is changing, Paul Myers feels that ethics is absolutely essential in business practices. As president of World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) — the global representative body of more than 350 organisations with a commitment towards offering a fair deal to marginalised producers — he should know.

Referring to the crisis around us, he says, it is because of lack of ethics that we are in this kind of a situation today. What concerns Myers is the depletion mentality, where one takes something but doesn’t feel obliged to replace anything. There has to be a balance somewhere, he points out.

The need of the time, Myers feels, is to incorporate ethics in a major way into the management education curriculum. He recalls, “I spoke to a good friend of mine a few years ago. At that point, I was importing and selling handicrafts. I asked him, what was the key point that I needed to make sure that people in the organisation understood? He promptly said that it was business ethics.” But with profitability the only target, it’s becoming harder and harder to follow the maxim. Myers points out that the time has come when the price should reflect the real cost.

As to whether ethics and profitability go hand in hand, Myers says that there is tension, but a healthy tension. Practically speaking, he says, a business can’t survive without profit and there’s nothing wrong with profit. But it becomes a problem when it is excess profit or when profit is the only goal. So there are two issues. First, is it excess profit? And secondly, what is one doing with all that profit? Profit can certainly be a good thing, he says, if one uses it to help solve the social needs of one’s community.

Considering the recession, one thing that educators across the globe can instil in their students is a sense of balance, of moderation. That doesn’t mean being conservative and cautious, explains Myers, but understanding something very basic — if you spend more than what you have, you will be in trouble.

For future management students and entrepreneurs, Myers has a message. “The critical ingredient in any institution or organisation is people. And you have to treat them as your most valuable resource,” he says. Also, he adds, an entrepreneur shouldn’t be afraid of taking a risk, and learn to treat one’s personal integrity as the most valuable capital.

Myers was in Delhi to announce the National level World Fair Trade Day celebrations.

‘Study at the Indian School of Business and Finance (ISBF) for an honours degree from the University of London (UoL) in association with London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE),’ read an advertisement in the newspaper. But, is there any catch? Do they provide education that meets the standards expected of UoL and LSE? Why is it that as an educational counsellor I have not heard of this kind of course being available in Delhi? With a whole set of questions like these in my mind I decided to visit the ISBF campus in Okhla.

This visit turned out to be a revealing experience for me — someone who has seen educational centres across India. I was impressed by the standards of the physical infrastructure. The size of classrooms, computer-aid facilities in each of them, a server-based computer lab, student access to a web-based facility for courseware exchange, a modern seminar room, a recreation room (called recreo) and other facilities caught my attention. The building was centrally air-conditioned as well.

I believe a fair measure of the quality of an educational institute is its library and ISBF has a fairly large and wellstacked library. I ventured to talk to one of the students studying there — Siddhant Saxena. Saxena is a topper of the first year class of 2008 at ISBF and was among the top seven students globally in the UoL examination held in May 2008. He has also been offered to transfer to LSE, but is awaiting confirmation for a scholarship from them. Another classmate of his was also offered to transfer to LSE but has decided to continue at ISBF until his graduation. Saxena told me that there are other first year students as well who have been offered conditional transfers to LSE and other UK universities for their second year of study.

Saxena also praised the school’s faculty and academic environment. On being quizzed about the standards at LSE vis-à-vis ISBF, Siddhant opined that “the standards of teaching are not inferior because students at ISBF have to be examined by the faculty at LSE, examination papers are set and marked there and the examination is held at the British Council in Delhi. Even then we have done relatively well.” He also mentioned a classmate of his, Neha Malhotra, scoring 100 in mathematics. Later, I met professor Sethi, the school’s dean, and other faculty members.

The meeting with Sethi and his colleagues was quite enlightening; they are all very experienced. According to Sethi, “at ISBF we are continuously reviewing our working as a team of teachers in order to overcome whatever shortcomings may come to our notice, we hope to make ISBF the preferred destination for the discerning students.” His colleagues and head-academic, H O Verma echoed the same sentiment. They said that they decided to work at ISBF for the work environment and the vision of the director, Jitin Chadha — whom I met later.

Chadha believes that the recent global meltdown has shifted the centre of gravity from the West to Asia and in particular India. “With her inherent advantage in skilled manpower pool and skill formation institutions India should look forward to becoming a hub of activity in the financial as well as servicing industries sectors. By providing quality education at a lesser cost than Indian students have to incur for study abroad, ISBF hopes to attract an increasing number of students,” said Chadha. Moreover, with increasing restrictions on work visas for students in US as well as UK, the existing trends of going abroad for study may be reversed. The advantage of studying at ISBF is that it has been given the ‘Permission to Teach’ by LSE. Also, the degree granted is recognised by Delhi University.

Chadha added that admissions are based on an entrance test, which will be held on May 17. Those interested can visit www.isbf.edu.in