BSNL to Open Technical University, will offer cyber-security training courses

Telecom giant BSNL is all set to foray into Indian education sector. BSNL is planning to open a Technical University. BSNL has already sent proposals to All India Council for Technical Education as well as University Grants Commission for formal approval.

Anupam Shrivastava BSNL Director (Consumer Mobility) exclaimed, "BSNL has sufficient infrastructure to meet AICTE guidelines for engineering and management education. We also have sufficient supporting staff to meet norms as laid down by UGC. Our staff is working on it. We should be able to send it for formal approval in 6-8 months." "Due to the initiatives of HRD Ministry, institutions running short-term courses such as Defence Institute of Advance Technology have been converted into formal and autonomous education institutions. We should also have no issues in getting approval," Shrivastava said.

"We have a centre in Ghaziabad which is aided by United Nations but is under-utilised. It has a capacity to train between 2,500-3,000 students. Similarly, we have a centre in Jabalpur. There are other 16 centres which have a minimum capacity of 1,000 students," Shrivastava said.

"Cybersecurity is an emerging concern. We have the infrastructure to train people. Today, we have a crunch of cybersecurity experts. This initiative will not only help us but also other organisations with skilled workforce. It will be a dynamic course and its format will decided after due deliberations," Shrivastava said.

Fine arts college for the disabled opened in Tamil Nadu

Senior sculptor and painter G Chandrasekaran has started a fine arts school for disabled in Tirunelveli. The school is named "Ovvai Mulari". The school is going to offer 3 years diploma in fine arts. The first batch is expected to start in August 2015. "There are a number of disabled students who are interested in art. The idea is to train them on various aspects of sculpture-making. The style is mainly based on our heritage and culture but with a modern touch," said Chandrasekaran. Ovvai Mulari, the fine arts school for the disabled students.

Punjab Technical University signs MOU with California University

Punjab Technical University has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) for setting up an Institute of Excellence in Chandigarh.

Kapil Sibal: Broadband can make education more accessible

Union minister for Human Resource Development, Kapil Sibal stressed that Broadband can revolutionize the education system. but for this to happen, the Broadband itself has to be affordable. Though we already have 3G and many operators are rolling out 4G services, they are still not affordable for comman man and thus affecting the students from weaker section of society. "Fast, affordable broadband can connect children who do not have proximate access to decent education resources to world-class online resources," Kapil Sibal said

UGC-NET should not be abolished: AIFUCTO

The All India India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisation (AIFUCTO) is strongly opposing any attempts to abolish the National Eligibility Test (NET) "We have already indicated to the regulatory bodies certain issues. If these are resolved, it would make the NET efficient. But an attempt to do away with the test will only increase corruption in recruitment and lower the quality of teaching. But I believe that the exemption from the NET given to MPhil and PhD teachers should continue," general secretary of AIFUCTO Ashok Kumar Barman said.

Maharashtra Governor advises Vocational Training University

While speaking at the inauguration of a symposium on 'Maharashtra: Past, Present and Future' as part of the year-long celebrations of the birth centenary of the first chief minister of Maharashtra Yashwantrao B. Chavan, K. Sankaranarayanan, Maharashtra Governor has advocated the need of setting-up a vocational training university in the state.