Education Briefs

The Mumbai-based S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) has promoted its first offshore institution — the S.P. Jain Centre of Management (SPJCM), Dubai. In mid-June this year 55 students from the UAE and abroad will be admitted into SPJCM’s one-year specially designed postgraduate diploma in management (PGDM). This unique programme offers specialisation in investment banking, wealth, hospitality and retail management.

SPJCM has the full academic support of SPJIMR which was ranked the seventh best B-school in South Asia in a survey of the Singapore-based Asia Inc. (which publishes Asiaweek) in August last year. According to the survey, SPJIMR’s improved ranking is the consequence of its "understanding of corporate needs and devising study programmes in accordance with industry requirements".

"International boundaries are increasingly becoming irrelevant in the contemporary world of global business. Today’s managers need to learn to lead in the global environment. The syllabus of SPJCM has been designed bearing this in mind," says Dr. M.L. Shrikant, dean of SPJIMR.

Universitas 21 global, the Singapore-based e-university has concluded a tripartite tie-up with the Mumbai-based Zee Interactive Learning Systems Ltd (ZIL) and the job portal www.naukri.com. Under the agreement, ZIL centres will provide admission and academic counselling services to Universitas 21 Global applicants with naukri.com offering global placement opportunities to graduates. The tripartite agreement was signed on February 16 by Dr. Mukesh Aghi, CEO Universitas 21 Global, Arun K. Khetan, CEO ZIL and Sanjeev Mirchandani chief executive of naukri.com.

"This is a landmark day for Universitas 21 Global. In the short period since our launch last year, India has emerged as our best performing country in Asia. These alliances will further help us to provide the best education and career planning facilities to students in this country," says Aghi.

Speaking on the occasion, Arun Khetan of ZIL was equally enthusiastic. "The offerings of the e-university are not only unique but also an opportunity for students to learn in a global business education environment. Our network of centres and rich expertise in offering high end courses, will facilitate students seeking Universitas 21 Global degrees," says Khetan.

Adds Sanjeev Mirchandani: "This is an advantageous move for us and students enrolled with Universitas 21 Global. I am confident our wide reach will provide Universitas 21 graduates adequate placement opportunities around the globe."

The Cavinkare Ability annual awards for 2003-04 were distributed in Bangalore by Karnataka governor T.N. Chaturvedi on March 5. Jointly promoted by the Mumbai-based CavinKare (P) Ltd and the Chennai-based Ability Foundation, these awards "recognise the exemplary service and achievements of disabled persons leading to greater awareness of their capabilities".

The CavinKare Ability Awards comprise the CavinKare Ability Award for Eminence consisting of a memento, citation and cash prize of Rs.100,000 awarded in recognition of achievement and service on the part of a person with disability; the CavinKare Ability Mastery Awards to two individuals comprising a memento, citation and cash prize of Rs.50,000 each, awarded in recognition of mastery in any area of their choice.

The CavinKare Ability award winners for 2003-04 are: S.M.A. Jinnah from Madurai, winner of the award for eminence. A person with vision impairment from an economically weaker section of society, he has established an outstanding institution that has transformed the lives of over 3,000 other visually impaired persons, through education, vocational training, self-employment opportunities and distribution of aid and appliances.

Prasad Nagesh Ghadi of Mumbai, one of the two recipients of the mastery award, suffers acute spinal muscular atrophy. This notwithstanding, this 16-year-old is a school topper in the Maharashtra state board exams, an accomplished artist, poet, orator and singer with several performances and accolades to his credit.

Preeti Chhatrapati of Mumbai, the other recipient of the mastery award, though hearing impaired, is a successful, confident and highly respected software programmer.

A special recognition award was also given to Boniface Prabhu of Bangalore — a paraplegic and the only Indian to represent the country in Wheelchair Grand Slam Tennis tournaments, winning a medal in every tournament.

The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hewlett-Packard India Sales Pvt Ltd to enhance the campus computing experience of students and to support the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Pharmacogenomics on the MAHE campus in Manipal.

The Campus Computing Memorandum signed on March 8, includes setting up ‘hotspots’ on the campus, new imaging and printing solutions and creating a network management lab at the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT). Under the agreement, HP will design and install wireless hotspots on the Manipal campus enabling internet access either through hand-held or other mobile devices including laptops. Moreover HP will establish a network management lab to monitor and manage the entire Manipal IT network customised for student training. A unique course is being designed to expand knowledge base in network management, leading to a Master’s degree at MIT, Manipal.

The Centre of Excellence in Pharmacogenomics is being built by the Kasturba Medical College. It will research new pharma and biotech products, using the genomics platform. Genomic research requires analysis of large amounts of clinical data, which is varied and in complex sets. HP’s contribution to the centre will include high performance servers, data storage devices, scientific software and professional consulting services.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ramdas Pai, president and chancellor of MAHE commented: "Manipal’s collaboration with HP, is similar to agreements leading computer companies have signed with research universities abroad. High-end computing programs in engineering and medical research will increase MAHE’s advantages in education."

Balu Doraiswamy president of HP is equally optimistic about this collaboration. "We’re pleased that MAHE has chosen HP to enhance the on-campus computing experience of students. HP looks forward to increasing its presence in the education sector by deploying HP technology which is easy to use, enhances the teaching process and helps cultivate strong learning environments in institutions of higher education," he says.