The Indus Training and Research Institute (ITARI), Bangalore — an initiative of the Bangalore-based Indus Trust (estb. 2003) which has promoted the highly-rated Indus International Schools in Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad — announced the launch of the Keele Professional Graduate Diploma in International Education (PGDIE) programme in collaboration with Keele University, UK. “This will be India’s first-ever overseas accredited teacher certification programme,” said Kevin Mattinson, pro vice chancellor of Keele University, speaking to the media on January 5.
According to an ITARI spokesperson, PGDIE is a one-year fully accredited Keele University programme offered to graduates (tuition fee: Rs.2 lakh). “The programme will commence in August 2011 and will train and equip freshers/teachers to embark on a rewarding career as teaching faculty in international schools,” he says.
Comments Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray, PVSM, VSM and chief executive officer of the Indus Trust: “ITARI is the first training institute in India to offer a professional teacher training programme in international education, fully accredited by a university in the UK, thereby positioning itself as a pioneer in quality teacher training in India. ITARI understands that the quality of teachers is very critical for all educational institutions and therefore helps to bridge the gap between teaching and research by collating, analysing and applying scientific research findings into classroom practices.”
Advanced security management programmes
The Institute of Advanced Security Training & Management Pvt. Ltd (ASTM), Mumbai has introduced first-of-their-kind certificate and advanced courses in security management for students as well as security professionals. The institute offers comprehensive training related to security management with highly experienced and qualified instructors delivering industry-oriented content.
The training programmes are customised to meet the security needs of several industries and marketing verticals such as airports, power plants, heavy industries, hotels, malls, multiplexes, banks, IT companies, BPOs, and government. Comments Manohar Bidaye, director of the company: “ASTM offers corporate training programmes for already employed security personnel as well as educational training to build a cadre of competent security professionals. We also offer training programmes in electronic security technology for professionals working in the security systems integration business. Our objective is to build secure environments in India by imparting world-class training and education in security, safety and loss prevention.”
Zee Learn Gakken seminar
In another initiative to make science an enriching experience for children, Zee Learn Gakken Science Academy (ZLGSA), Mumbai organised a seminar on ‘Science & Spirit of Inquiry’ in the city on February 2, where Hirofumi Yumoto, head R&D, Gakken Educational Co, Japan and a well-known television personality in Japan, demonstrated simple scientific experiments. The audience comprised school principals and trustees from over 70 schools who observed how scientific aptitudes can be developed in children using simple and interesting tools.
The R&D centre of the academy is located in Tokyo, Japan. Gakken Educational Co, the Japanese partner of ZLGSA has acquired more than 65 years of experience in the field of science education and has earned a reputation for encoura-ging science learning by giving children the time, space, and materials to develop their scientific acumen and experience.
The purpose of the seminar was to demonstrate the capabilities of ZLGSA which is ready, willing and able to establish science learning centres in existing schools. ZLGSA conducts free demonstrations of its capabilities (www.zeelearngakken.com) in interested schools.
Principals and trustees who have witnessed the academy’s demo are more than impressed. Says Mahesh Desai, trustee, S.E. International School, Mumbai: “Hands-on experiential learning offered by ZLGSA allows students to learn new skills, new attitudes and even entirely new ways of thinking.”
Pearson Group acquires TutorVista
The London-based Pearson Group PLC, the world’s premier education company and owner of the Financial Times and Penguin Books, has acquired a controlling 76 percent stake in the Bangalore-based TutorVista Pvt. Ltd, an online tutoring firm, for a consideration of Rs.577 crore.
Founded in 2005, TutorVista has more than 800 employees and a roster of 2,000 tutors and provides online tutoring to school and college students abroad, as also a full suite of services including curriculum design, teacher training, technology solutions and school administration services to 11 schools serving approximately 5,000 students in India.
According to John Makinson, chairman of Pearson India, this acquisition underscores Pearson’s commitment to education and skills development in India. “The investment in TutorVista gives us control of the world’s largest online tutoring business and, crucially, a solid platform on which to build a leading presence in the Indian private schools sector,” says Makinson.
Krishnan Ganesh, founder-chief executive of TutorVista, is equally delighted. “Together with Pearson, the world’s leading education company, we can provide affordable education services and help millions of students achieve their education goals,” said Ganesh speaking at a media conference in Delhi on January 18.
ThinkLABS’ Robotics Championship
ThinkLabs Technosolutions Pvt. Ltd, a pioneer in hands-on science and technology education in India convened a seminar featuring some of the country’s most eminent educationists and academics as also 60 principals/school leaders on January 22 in Mumbai, to discuss and deliberate on ‘Pedagogy of 21st century schools’.
Lina Ashar, founder-chairperson of Kangaroo Kids Education Ltd; Dr. Shekhar P. Seshadri, professor of child and adolescent services, NIMHANS, Bangalore; Joy Townsend, co-founder, director and CEO of Destiny Education; Dr. Vijayam Ravi, chairman and managing director, Academy for Global Education Services Pvt. Ltd and Prof. C. Amarnath, professor-in-charge, SINE and mechanical engineering department at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay formed the distinguished panel which discussed the major challenges confronting K-12 education.
The convention was the curtain-raiser for a first-of-its-kind Robotics Championship held the next day (January 23) at IIT-Bombay. “The championship was staged to provide a strong platform to young robotics enthusiasts to think, ideate and come up with innovative and out-of-the-box solutions for important social issues such as saving the environment and driving safely. It provided school students with the unique opportunity to work in teams and also interact with students from other schools and cities,” says Gagan Goyal, founder-director of ThinkLABS Technosolutions.
TeamLease launches vocational varsity
TeamLease Services Pvt. Ltd, India’s largest staffing company, signed an agreement with the Gujarat state government on January 7 to promote India’s first vocational education university. TeamLease University (TLU) will comprise 22 community colleges across Gujarat which will offer two-year associate degree programmes in collaboration with employers. The 22 community colleges are likely to become operational over 36 months, with the first ten commencing within the next 18 months.
“Youth unemployability is a bigger problem than youth unemployment. The government of Gujarat has made development of human capital an important priority and we believe that community colleges offering programmes with strong employment linkages are an important part of the solution. We are happy that TeamLease is partnering with us to set up India’s first vocational education university,” said Hasmukh Adhia, principal secretary, education, government of Gujarat, speaking on the occasion.
“TLU synthesizes everything we stand for: strong employer linkages, learning-by-doing, vertical mobility of diplomas to degrees, taking training to students and quality at scale. We are proud to partner with Gujarat for this innovation in India’s university system because global experience shows that community colleges improve accessibility, promote inclus-iveness, lower costs and create vertical mobility,” explained Manish Sabharwal, chairman of TeamLease Services.
GNVA to launch American diploma schools
The US-based Northwest Accreditation Commission has accredited and authorised Gloriole New Vision Academy (GNVA), Noida, Delhi NCR, to promote a chain of international world schools in India to impart K-12 education culminating in award of the American High School Diploma. This diploma is the equivalent of Plus Two certification.
GNVA’s objective is to inaugurate 100 K-12 American high schools and 300 online learning centres through owned and franchised partners. “GNVA is looking for schools and academic institutions to collaborate with, to create a blend of flexible learning environments and individualised personal education plans. Students will develop life skills, be awarded the American High School Diploma and acquire career related skills,” says a GNVA spokesperson.