The Bangalore/Manipal-based Manipal University invites admission to its international engineering twinning programme known as ICAS (International Centre for Applied Sciences). In this programme, students study for the first two years in the engineering faculty of Manipal University (Manipal campus) and for the next two years in one of 74 universities in six countries with whom MU has signed twinning agreements.
“This unique programme is designed for students aspiring to graduate in engineering from the best universities in the world. With the increase in student flow to universities abroad, MU introduced the ICAS programme in 1994 to facilitate students aspiring for professional education in reputed universities in US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany and France as per their choice,’’ says a MU spokesperson.
During the initial two years in Manipal University, students are trained to meet eligibility requirements and develop a cultural understanding of the destination country, thus, providing them the foundation necessary for studying abroad. On completion of the first two years, students transfer to foreign universities of their choice, through a smooth credits transfer system to complete their degree programme and are awarded an engineering degree of the foreign university. In France and Germany, an integrated bachelors and Masters programme is offered under which students are awarded a bachelor’s degree in Manipal and Masters in Germany/France.
Among the prestigious universities abroad which have signed up for the ICAS twinning programme are University of Massachusetts; Ohio State University; University of Minnesota twin cities; Purdue University; University of Illinois Urbana Champagne and Illinois Institute of Technology.
Manipal University (estb.1953) was the first private institute in India to be granted deemed university status in 1993.
Ryan International wins Dubai accolades
The Mumbai-based Ryan International Group of Institutions (RIGI) sent the largest school delegation from India to the World Scholars Cup, Global Round convened in Dubai. School delegations from 33 countries and 1,600 students participated in this mega event held between June 20-23. The RIGI delegation comprising students from Ryan International schools across India participated in events including team debate, collaborative writing, scholar’s challenge and scholar’s bowl, covering subjects such as history, science, literature, music, art etc. RIGI schools have been winning accolades in this event staged around the world — Singapore and Bangkok in the past two years while the inaugural India Round was staged in New Delhi in 2009.
This year as well, RIGI was acknowledged the best team from India and won one of the five Best Rookie Team School Awards on the global platform. Parth Jain, Rajat Jain and Piyush Kukreti were conferred the Honorarium Award for junior debates. In the collaborative writing (juniors) contest, Nirmit Agarwal was adjudged third from among 900 juniors and Swarnika Dhingra was awarded the Honorarium Medal in the Scholars Challenge award. Rajat Jain and Shashrek Ambarder were adjudged the best scholars of the RIGI delegation in junior and senior categories.
Speaking on the occasion, Ryan Pinto, chief executive officer, Ryan Group said: “We are proud of our students and their achievements. They participated in the World Scholars Cup for the very first time in Singapore last year and brought laurels to the school.’’
The chairman of the group, Dr. Augustine Francis Pinto and managing director Madam Grace Pinto also congratulated and felicitated the delegation for their commendable efforts at the World Scholars Cup Dubai Round.
Anglia Ruskin-Galgotias agreement
Anglia Ruskin University, UK and Galgotias University, Delhi have signed an agreement under which Indian students can study three years of the B.Tech civil engineering programme at Galgotias University, and transfer to the third year of a B.Eng civil engineering at Anglia Ruskin. On successful completion of the third year, Anglia Ruskin University will award them a B.Eng (civil engineering) degree which will immediately confer incorporated engineer status with the Institution of Civil Engineers — the association which qualifies professionals engaged in civil engineering.
Michael Thorne, vice chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University, signed the agreement with Prof. Ashok Saxena, vice chancellor, Galgotias University, during the former’s visit to India. “This means that students can work towards chartered status at one-third of the cost of completing the degree programme at Anglia Ruskin University, viz, Rs.14 lakh including tuition fees, accommodation and subsistence. Students can then go on to achieve full chartered status by completing a postgraduate programme,’’ says Saxena.
Charterted engineer status is essential for students to acquire engineering work experience in the UK.
Parikrma’s 10th anniversary celebrations
The Bangalore-based Parikrma Humanity Foundation (PHF), which has promoted four free-of-charge K-12 schools in Bangalore (Sahakarnagar, Jayanagar, Nandini Layout and Koramangla) with the objective of enabling the “under-served child to break out of the severe limiting physical living conditions and live a meaningful life”, celebrated its 10th Annual Day with a major sports-cum-cultural extravaganza on April 12. Currently the four PHF English-medium schools have an aggregate enrolment of 1,500 slum children.
“It is sometimes difficult to believe it has been 10 years since a simple idea took root — the idea that every child must be able to access best opportunities; the idea that equal education is the key to change. This year 95 percent of our children got through their school final exams with 50 percent in the first class and 17 with distinction. Currently nearly 80 Parikrma children are in universities pursuing degree programmes in engineering, medicine, hotel management and law,’’ says Shukla Bose, an alumna of IIM-Calcutta and former chief executive of Resort Condominiums International — India’s first holiday time share company — and promoter-trustee of PHF.