Education Briefs

The 13th India International Education Fair of Global Events & Expositions commences its five city tour from April 8-10 in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, and proceeds to Mumbai (April 13-14); Bangalore (April 16-17); Chennai (April 19-20) and will conclude in Kolkata (April 22-24). The fair featuring leading national and international education institutions will update visiting students on the numerous education and career options available in India and abroad and also offer free career counselling sessions and seminars for their benefit. This fair is organised by Global Events & Expositions — a pioneer education expo firm which has already organised 12 international education fairs in different parts of the country.

"With over 100 participants from all over the world and India, our 13th Education Fair is set to provide accurate and up-to-date information on professional courses and career options available in various streams including management, computer and medical education, fashion, multimedia, hotel management, tourism, graphic design, beauty care, language learning and call centre training, among others," says Siddharth Jain, chief (marketing operations) of Global Events & Expositions. The exposition is supported by C-Tech Enterprise (Canada), Education Planners and Planners Worldwide.

Moreover several universities, colleges and polytechnics as also educational consultants from Canada, USA, England, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Cyprus, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, China, Sri Lanka, Thailand etc will counsel students about professional education programmes and career prospects. Several Indian institutes from New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad, Dehradun, Punjab, Rajasthan, UP, Uttaranchal etc have also confirmed their participation in the 13th India International Education Fair.

For further information log on to www.eduworldwideindia.com.

Dr. Baba Amte, the Anandwan (near Nagpur)-based social activist was presented the 4th Paulos Mar Gregorios Award 2005 for Creative Compassion by vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on February 26. The Award was received by Dr. Vikas Amte as Baba Amte himself could not travel to Delhi for health reasons. The award has been instituted by the Sophia Society of the Indian Othodox Church.

Speaking on the occasion, the vice president recalled that Mahatma Gandhi had blessed Baba Amte as an abhay sadhak or ‘fearless seeker of truth’ and it is this fearlessness which has given Baba Amte the inner strength to treat leprosy patients with care, concern and compassion. The presentation of the Dr. Paulos Award to Baba Amte will inspire organisations and individuals to work for the amelioration of the poor, hungry and diseased, he said.

Earlier, in his keynote address, member of Parliament and former governor of Maharashtra, Dr. P.C. Alexander provided a historical background of the Indian Orthodox Church and the mission of Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios. He described Dr. Mar Gregorios as one of the great philosophers of the 20th century who was an authentic voice of the 2,000-year-old Indian Orthodox Church. He said that Dr. Gregorios took to the world the message of compassion and love which has flourished on Indian soil and always maintained that if Christians have survived in India as a minority without a minority complex, it is due to the tolerant and supportive attitude of the majority community of this country.

Speaking on behalf of Baba Amte in his award acceptance speech Dr. Vikas Amte described Baba Amte’s ministry to the leprosy afflicted as a three-pronged mission focused upon environment conservation, care for the weak and deprived, and strengthening the country’s unity.

The fifth convocation of the Ohio Manipal School of Business (OMSB) was held in Bangalore on Feb 27. Dr. Glenn Corlett, dean of the Ohio School of Business, conferred the degrees upon graduating students with Dr. Ramdas Pai, president of the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG) presiding over the function. Ramalinga Raju, chairman, Satyam Computer Services, delivered the convocation address.

Forty students in the marketing and finance streams were conferred the MBA degree of Ohio University following the conclusion of an 18-month intensive MBA program. Of the 40 students graduating, over 98 percent have been placed in India and abroad with renowned companies, while some are currently pursuing higher education in Ohio University. Also present on the occasion were 33 French students of Ohio School of Business, currently undertaking a joint consultancy research project with their Indian counterparts in Bangalore.

In his convocation address, Ramalinga Raju, chairman of Satyam Computer Services, observed that education has risen in importance to become a vital prerequisite of economic development. "Today, being a knowledge economy is critical, hence the focus on relevant education in all parts of the world. Virtual environments have made education a right and not merely a privilege. Collaborations like Ohio-Manipal not only recognise advanced technology but also the need to go beyond national frontiers in the cause of education. These courses make the students ready for the global market."

OMSB is a collaboration between Manipal Group, India and Ohio University, USA, which offers Ohio University’s MBA degree programme in Bangalore. Established in 1999, the institute has graduated over 250 students from the 18-month MBA programme.

Following the meeting of a national consultation workshop held in Delhi on February 26-27, the National Alliance for Right to Education and Equity (NAFRE) passed and forwarded an 11-point comprehensive resolution to the Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE) and the Union ministry of human resource development which are applying finishing touches to the Free and Compulsory Education Bill scheduled to be enacted by Parliament this year.

The NAFRE resolution or ‘alternative bill’ inter alia recommends a common school system; raising the annual outlay (Centre plus states) for education to 10 percent of GDP; transfer of ownership and control of schools to local government bodies in conformity with the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution; greater teacher participation in pedagogy and curriculum development; comprehensive coverage of marginalised children, and preclusion of privatisation and/ or commercialisation of education.

"The national executive of NAFRE has resolved to collect at least 500,000 signatures from people across the country to support our alternative bill. It’s vital that the Free and Compulsory Education Bill incorporates these non-negotiable principles," says Ambarish Rai, director of NAFRE.