Updates

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) exam has introduced a new section named "integrated reasoning". This new section will measure a student's ability to convert data from multiple sources and in different formats into relevant information to solve problems. It will involve synthesizing data presented in graphics, text and numbers, converting data from multiple sources into meaningful information, organizing information to see relationships and solve multiple, interrelated problems and combining and manipulating data from one or more sources to solve complex problems.

Students from state board are finding it very difficult to complete with ISC and CBSE students. Admission to Higher Secondary is based on marks obtained. The cut-offs of many colleges end up in 90s. "We will soon send notifications to all colleges and inform them about the 10% increase in seats in all the departments," said education minister Bratya Basu.

While speaking at the second national convention of State Boards of Technical Education on 'Polytechnic Education and Achievements and Challenges Ahead', Union Minister for HRD Kapil Sibal told that Polytechnics can help in curbing the shortfall of skilled manpower in the country. "Polytechnics can generate skilled manpower for the country if they tie-up with Industry to upgrade their syllabus," said Kapil Sibal.

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) will be setting up state-of-the-art Stem Cell Research and Bone Marrow Transplantation Centre in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. "There are not many centres in the country that carry out such stem cell research. In Uttar Pradesh, though there is sporadic research going on, no such organized state-of-the- art facility is available," said Prof Lalji Singh, vice-chancellor, BHU.

Mumbai University is planning to launch 5 year integrated MBA program for Class 12 students from the 2013-14 academic session. Mumbai University already provides Bachelors and Masters Degree in Management studies, but an integrated MBA program that starts just after 12th will attract students from all corners of India. "The plan is at nascent stage which awaits academic council nod. We need to get UGC recognition for the course before launching it." Pro vice-chancellor Naresh Chandra confirmed

Kerala Government is planning to setup a Malayalam University in the state. Keral Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said while speaking to media. THe new university will be named after Thunchathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan - who is know as Father of Malayalam The university will focus on rich cultural heritage of Kerala state apart from study of linguistic, literature and cultural history, arts and music traditions.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) opens skill development centre in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh. Union Minister for Urban Development Kamal Nath inaugurated the centre. CII’s skill development initiative in the Madhya Pradesh state has eight companies on board.

The Goa University library went online on Wednesday May 30th 2012 - Online Open Access Catalogue (OPAC). OPAC will help students and public to search and locate from over 1.4 lakhs books and over 400 international journals. Goa University will upload PhD thesis submitted to it on the website soon too.

The Central Government will be spending close to Rs 600 cr for training teachers as part of 12th Plan. Forum on Teacher's Challenges for Education for All (EFA) in India and the Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD), Kapil Sibal, called for a system for continuous and comprehensive evaluation of teachers. Kapil Sibal stressed the need to impart training to teachers so that they can provide education to students. According to a recent study the level of teachers in school has been very low and immediate attention from HRD ministry is required to fix this.

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

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.

Vikram Chandra Goel has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut by the Uttar Pradesh Governor and Chancellor B L Joshi. Goel has worked as a lecturer in Philosphy in the Allahabad Degree College and Deputy Collector in Uttar Pradesh before his selection in the India Police Service. Vikram Chandra Goel retired as IPS officer few years back

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approved the request to shutdown around 150 colleges. The reason given by these colleges were their in-ability to fill the seats. According to HRD Ministry sources, more than 200 technical institutions submitted applications for closure of courses due to various reasons, including poor admission. Of these, 143 have been permitted. Andhra Pradesh - 56 Uttar Pradesh - 17 Rajasthan - 18 Gujarat - 13, Maharashtra - 7 Haryana - 6 Punjab - 6 Chhattisgarh - 6 Karnataka - 5 Madhya Pradesh - 5 Tamil Nadu - 2 Bengal - 2

Recently banks has started asking for PAN card of parents of students applying for educational loan. The PAN card will help in assessing family's income and track the student in case of default in repayment of loan. The banks now have start educating their customers and students about the process and requirement of PAN card. PAN Cards can now be easily obtained within a week. Students who are planning to approach banks for loan should apply for PAN just after their final exams.

Dibrugarh University is planning to install CCTV cameras in examination halls. This is the first such attempt to check cheating and unfair means in examination hall. A senior official of the varsity said, "The examination will be held in Guwahati, Silchar, Nalbari, Lakhimpur, Tezpur, Nagaon, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Bongaigaon in 27 venues and for the first time, CCTV has been installed in the exam centres."

Patna University has been planning to implement paperless exams from next session in its ambitious modernization steps. Patna University has already introduced computerized evaluation from this year for degree examinations. According to the Vice Chancellor, Shambhu Nath Singh, the university will be setting up a large hi-fi examination hall with a seating capacity of 6000 students. Each seat will have iPad fitted in it. The iPad will record the answers and upload to central server for evaluation purpose.

Noted biologist Wasudeo Namdeo Gade has been appointed as the new vice-chancellor of University of Pune. Pune University has been functioning without Vice Chancellor since last 8 months.

The state higher education department has sent a proposal to the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) for recruitment around 895 895 assistant professors . "The process to recruit 140 lecturers for college cadre has also started in the state," social justice and empowerment minister Geeta Bhukkal said today. "As Haryana is celebrating 2012 as youth year, the state government is making best possible efforts to provide quality higher education to youths," Bhukkal added.

The Indira Gandhi National Open University, popularly known as IGNOU, has launched a new online program Appreciation Programme on Sustainable Management of Biodiversity (APSMB) for July 2012 session. The programme aims to promote awareness and capacity building for sustainable management of biodiversity for mainstreaming biodiversity into the daily lives of individuals, recreating and securing linkages between people and nature and taking actions in a global context.

St Xaviers College, Kolkata has announced to introduce Bengali honors course in remembrance of their former student and president of alumni association in 1927. About the Bengali honors course, Rev Fr Dr Raj said "We want to keep the fees low since many middle-class Bengali families will want to enroll their wards into this course.". West Bengal Minister of Education, Bratya Basu, will inaugurate the Bengali Honors course at a function organized by college on Aug 5 & 5, 2012. The function will also have cultural stage drama based on Maheshweta Devi's Ajir.

A Parliamentary Panel has asked the Ministry of Human resource and Development (MHRD) to llok into the faculty crunch in universities across states. The panel reports that in 24 central universities across 16 states, on an average 35 per cent of teaching posts are lying vacant. "Either our young students are not attracted towards the teaching profession or the recruitment process is a prolonged one and involves too many procedural formalities," the panel says. Banaras Hindu University has 848 posts vacant, and Allahabad University has 285 vacant posts.

Central government has been working out various ways to attract private players and corporates to invest into education. In the recent meet, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman [ebharat.in:profile:Montek Singh Ahluwalia] has stressed the idea of funding students instead of universities and hiking university fees.

Kapil Sibal, the Human Resource Minister, has assured that children with all kinds of disability will be provided free and compulsory education, either in school or at home, under the Right to Education Act. "Children with all kinds of disability will be protected under the Act," HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said, moving amendments to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 in the Lok Sabha. Children suffering from all kinds of disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy and mental retardation are covered under Right to Education Act

India's fastest growing Pondicherry University has planned to add 15 more departments, taking the total to 55 departments. Pondicherry University will also be adding about 40 new Masters and PhD programme in 12th 5 years plan. The vice-chancellor of the university, JAK Tareen has informed the media. "After the addition of departments in the XII five year plan period, the total departments may touch 55 with 200 programmes" he said. Pondicherry University has witnesses exponential increase in number aspirants from across the company for admission to Masters and PhD programmes

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman [ebharat.in:profile:Montek Singh Ahluwalia] has stressed the idea of funding students instead of universities. "Stop funding the universities and just fund the students then they go to universities that are worth paying for. I am in favour of raising the fees across the board and giving scholarship that will enable students to go to universities which actually do a good job," he said while addressing a function here to unveil a report on corporate sector participation in higher education.