Education Briefs

The Pune-based Dina Institute of Hotel and Business Management (DIHBM) has signed an agreement with the Academy of Carver Aviation Private Ltd, Mumbai (estb. 1997) to offer professional training programmes for air hostess/ flight stewards, and travel and tourism studies for undergraduates and graduate students.

"Many young girls dream of becoming air hostesses and enroll for courses with stars in their eyes. But not all have the aptitude, attitude or personality to become air hostesses. Our multi-skilled graduates not only join airlines but also travel agencies, tour and travel operators, five-star hotels etc," says Inderjot Oberoi, a former air hostess and currently managing director of DIHBM which has an aggregate enrollment of 400 students.

According to Oberoi the strategic alliance with the Academy of Carver Aviation will enable DIHBM to provide customised training to equip trainees with flexible career choice options. Students enrolled in air hostess and flight stewards training programmes will study an additional module on the global distribution system (GDS) for airline reservations.

Promoted in 1996, DIHBM has a track record of 100 percent job placements in the hospitality industry with its alumni being recruited by premier hotels in India, the Gulf countries, Singapore and New Zealand. Recently it has introduced a three-year B.Sc programme in business information systems; three-year bachelor’s programme in computer applications and a three-year Masters programme in computer applications.

Carver Aviation promoted by former airline professionals, runs a flying academy at Baramati, near Pune and owns a fleet of seven trainer aircraft.

The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), a self-financing deemed university has announced freeships to candidates who rank within the first 100 of its entrance test for undergraduate programmes. Moreover the university’s management will arrange loans for economically backward meritorious students through the State Bank of India.

Comments Dr. Ramdas Pai, chancellor, MAHE and president of the Manipal Education & Medical Group: "MAHE has constantly shown an interest and strong commitment to support genuine talent and merit. Through the scholarship and fee waiver system, we encourage students to perform better academically and bring laurels to MAHE."

MAHE is a deemed university (estb. 1993) with five professional colleges of medicine, dentistry, and nursing, with attached teaching hospitals in Manipal and Mangalore. The Manipal Education & Medical Group comprises two universities and 24 professional colleges with students from over 51 countries.

The India International School, Bangalore (estb. 2002) is all set to move to its new 30-acre, Rs.20 crore state-of-the art campus, with a built-up area of 1.35 lakh sq. ft by the beginning of its new academic year starting June 1. "We believe that with our reasonable tuition fees structure and high quality education, the India International School will make a major difference to the education scenario in Bangalore," says J. Alexander, chairman of the board of governors of IISB.

Currently affiliated with the Delhi-based CISCE examinations board, the school’s management has also signed an affiliation agreement with the Geneva-based International Baccalaurate Organisation to introduce its primary level programme from this academic year (2006-07). The middle and diploma programmes will be introduced next year.

The school management is also negotiating the introduction of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) programme in the near future. IISB is a co-educational institution with amenities for boarding students and day scholars.

For further information visit www.iis.edu.in.

Vacationer (estb. 2000), a Bangalore-based adventure and wildlife tourism firm providing in-bound and value added services to discerning travellers in India and abroad has initiated a national student awareness drive. "We offer students activities like rock climbing, river rafting, river crossing and team building exercises which prepare them for ground realities in communication, coordination, planning and implementation," says M.Shanmuganantham, tour consultant of the company.

Among the destinations organised by Vacationer are: Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Chinnar, Bandipur, Nagarhole, Badra and Muthodi sanctuaries for safaris, nature walks and team building exercises.

Moreover Vacationer also organises educational tours abroad to Singapore, Malaysia, China, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world where students get to visit local institutions of excellence. Among the institutions on Vacationer’s itinerary are MDIS (Management Development Institute of Singapore), Singapore Chamber of Commerce, Proton Car Manufacturing Plant (Malaysia) and Shougon Steel Plant, Beijing.

The New Horizon Public School, Bangalore inaugurated a ten-month silver jubilee celebration on May 23 to commemorate 25 years in the pursuit of academic excellence. During the next ten months this CISCE-affiliated K-X school will host a national conference of principals of CISCE schools, a national science and environment exhibition, a grandparents and alumni day and closing concert by an acclaimed artist.

Moreover while inaugurating the silver jubilee celebrations, Mohan Maghnani, chairman of the New Horizon Educational Institutions outlined a Rs.40 crore plan to transform the group into one of the largest providers of educational services in Karnataka. The plan includes promotion of a new postgraduate campus of the New Horizon Engineering College, inauguration of a greenfield CBSE affiliated school, and establishment of a full-fledged international school on the outskirts of the garden city.