Education Briefs

Prof. Eleanor Duckworth, a Harvard University-based theorist/ psychologist, who has done extensive research in the field of learning and education will be conducting a series of workshops and seminars in Bangalore between January 6-9, 2006 under the aegis of Delhi-based iDiscoveri, a well-known experiential learning, teaching and research company.

The three-day intensive workshop will be held on the premises of the Azim Premji Foundation (134 Doddakannelli, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore).

"A former student and translator of legendary educationist Jean Piaget, Prof. Duckworth grounds her work in Piaget’s theories of the nature and development of intelligence. With experience of close to four decades in academia in the United States and Europe, Prof. Duckworth has worked on curriculum development, teacher education and programme evaluation in the United States, Switzerland, Africa and her native Canada. The main objective of Prof. Duckworth’s visit is to interact with teachers, principals and parents — all of whom can foster the ability to learn in a child — and help them understand how to create situations that get children excited about learning," says an iDiscoveri spokesperson.

The London-based Middlesex University which has an aggregate enrollment of 22,000 students including 1,000 from India, is in the final stages of establishing campuses in South Asia and China. "We are working on the details and talking to potential academic partners in this region. Whether it will be India or Sri Lanka will become clear soon and as far as partners go it will be premature to say anything about it," says Dr. Terry Butland, deputy vice chancellor of the university who was recently in Delhi in this connection.

"Under WTO rules of engagement, India has to provide access to foreign universities and Middlesex University is determined to be the first to boost higher education here," says Maroof Raza, the Delhi-based regional director (South Asia) of Middlesex University. Adds Butland: "Our experience in Dubai where we inaugurated our new campus early last year has been encouraging and in less than a year we have started 55 courses for 250 students. Our students now have the choice of completing some modules in Dubai and others in the UK and vice versa. This will apply to future campuses as well."

Meanwhile Middlesex University has commenced research activities in India under the name and style of Middlesex Research Initiative. This programme is headed by Raza, a defence strategist and former fellow of the Centre for Policy Research.

The Bangalore-based Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College’s (SBMJC) Centre for Management Studies (CMS) which offers undergraduate and postgraduate (BBA and MBA) business study programmes has introduced its Careers with Professionals counselling programme. Under the aegis of the programme on a designated day, students and parents get to interact on a personal level with professionals from the fields of science and technology, defence, medicine, design, management, liberal and fine arts. Top-level professionals in 24 vocations will advise students and parents on personality traits required for various careers, and employment trends.

According to CMS spokespersons, 3,000 students from 1,200 higher secondary schools and pre-university colleges in Bangalore district are expected to participate in the inaugural Careers with Professionals workshop on January 7, 2006 at the SBMJC-CMS campus in the city.

"Making right career choices has never been more important than it is today. In a rapidly changing economic scenario, success demands multi-skilled men and women. Job security is synonymous with relevant skill sets. Therefore selecting the right course of study has become a priority after high school. At this workshop apart from facilitating parent/ student interaction with top-level professionals, we will be providing a free careers booklet to all participants," says K. Dinesh principal of SBMJC.

The Manipal School of Nursing was awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification on December 10 at a function held in Bangalore’s Manipal Hospital. The certificate was presented to Ms. Saroja Jaykumar, principal of the school by Dr. C.M. Gurumurthy, chairman of the taskforce for paramedical education, government of Karnataka. R. Basil, CEO, Manipal Hospital and Manipal Health Systems and Dr. Nagendra Swamy, director of medical services and postgraduate studies were also present on the occasion.

Karnataka has 600 nursing schools and 300 nursing colleges. The Manipal School of Nursing is the first to receive ISO certification. Speaking on the occasion, Jaykumar commented: "Raising the quality of nursing education in Karnataka has been a challenge. We want to focus on ‘value based nursing’ in terms of the attitude of nurses and rise to international standards."

Complimenting the school management for qualifying for ISO certification Dr. Gurumurthy said: "Integrity of management and faculty will automatically bring in integrity to students."

On December 17, Dr. Vinay Jain, a Mumbai-based educationist presented ‘I’ & My Child, a two-and-a-half-hour audio visual theatrical presentation detailing various facets of effective parenting, at Mumbai’s Nehru Centre before a packed audience.

A medical graduate and a motivator by profession, Jain is the promoter-director of the Witty Kids chain of schools. In his capacity as a speaker and motivator, Jain has addressed audiences in more than 325 venues and over 153,000 parents have benefited from his programmes across India, which have received widespread media coverage. Comments Jain: "Love your child for what he is: not for the prizes, medals or marks he gets for you. Love is unconditional. Conditional love is business."