Manipal University, Dubai which offers career-focused bachelor’s and Masters degrees and several certificate programmes in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), staged a special ceremony to announce its new exclusive campus in DIAC. India’s Union human resource development minister, Kapil Sibal laid the foundation stone of the dedicated campus on the allotted site on May 25. The minister was welcomed by Anand Sudarshan, chief executive of the Manipal Education Group and Dr. B. Ramjee, director of Manipal University, Dubai, faculty, staff and students. The special ground-breaking ceremony was also attended by Dr. Abdulla Karam, director general of the Dubai Education Council; Dr. Ayoub Kazim, managing director, (education cluster — TECOM Investments), and Dr. Warren Fox, executive director of Higher Education, Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), among others.
Addressing the gathering of distinguished dignitaries, faculty and students, Kapil Sibal said: “Manipal University is an institution of excellence. From the Himalayas to the Caribbean, from Malaysia to Dubai, Manipal has established a global brand in education. Laying the foundation for this new campus in Dubai is not only a proud moment for Manipal University, it is also a proud moment for India.”
Also addressing the gathering, Anand Sudarshan said that the Manipal Education Group has been inspired by the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, prime minister and vice-president of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who had identified access to high quality education, as a key driver in sustaining the UAE’s all-round growth. “We are happy with what Manipal University, Dubai has achieved, and will work hard to enhance it into a higher education hub in the Middle-East, in line with H.H. Sheikh Mohammed’s vision,” said Sudarshan.
A pioneer in professional education in India, Manipal University (estb.1953), which has affiliated campuses in Malaysia, Nepal and Antigua, established its first Middle East Campus at the Dubai Knowledge Village in September 2003 and moved to its current location in DIAC in 2006.
TeamLease-Gujarat government contract
TeamLease Services Pvt. Ltd, India’s largest staffing company, has been awarded a Gujarat state government contract to provide vocational and skills training in the state. The duration of the contract is five years and the expense involved will be incurred by the state’s tribal department, making TeamLease’s training services free for the selected youth. This pioneering project is expected to go live next month (July).
“With TeamLease having recently acquired the Indian Institute of Job Training (IIJT), we are uniquely placed to provide end-to-end services. IIJT will train and prepare the selected youth for industry, while TeamLease ensures their employment at the end of the spectrum. Gujarat is among India’s most industrially progressive states and there are growing opportunities for job seekers in the state. TeamLease-IIJT will accurately assess and provide sound training to these youth, thereby increasing their placement chances as well as productivity,” says Ashish Prasad, chief executive of IIJT.
Adds Neeti Sharma, vice president, TeamLease Services: “We are delighted to be associated with this progressive development project of the government of Gujarat. It will not just play a key role in the upliftment of tribal youth in Gujarat, but is an important element of the larger developmental paradigm in the country, particularly with regard to fringe communities.”
Khelo launches FitnessAIR
The Bangalore-based Khelo Communication Pvt. Ltd — a company promoted by four Madras, Bombay and Roorkee IIT alumni to encourage sports and fitness consciousness in K-12 schools — has launched FitnessAIR, a student-focused fitness assessment, improvement and reporting system.
“Fitness is a growing concern of children and parents these days. We have designed a system which can scientifically assess the endurance, body strength, speed, agility and various other physical fitness and psychological parameters of every student individually and prescribe a diet and exercise to improve their fitness. This system can also assess and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of each player in any sport or game and suggest improvements,” says Akhil Ravi, promoter-vice president of Khelo Communication.
According to Ravi, the company’s main objective is to develop grassroots sports fitness culture in India by promoting local tournaments in popular sports and athletics. Currently, the company offers its services to 77 schools across the country.
Growing acceptance of CIE certification
The National Law Institute, Bhopal has confirmed that class XII school-leaving students with University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) certification are eligible to write the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for entry into any recognised law college countrywide.
Ian Chambers, regional manager (South Asia) of CIE, welcomes the decision. “CIE certified students are already eligible to write medical and engineering entrance exams in India. I am delighted that the path has been opened for them to write CLAT as well. The legal profession is a popular career choice for CIE students, and this new ruling will open doors for them to study law in India,” says Chambers.
Currently more than 230 schools in India offer CIE curriculums culminating in IGCSE (class X) and the Cambridge International A level (class XII) certification. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) recognises Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International A levels as equivalent to CBSE/ ISCE certification for entry into higher education institutions in India.
According to Chambers, Cambridge International A/AS level is also a passport to top universities around the world. “In the US and Canada, academic credit is awarded by several universities for International A level which can mean up to one year less study for undergraduates. In addition, they are eligible for admission into top UK universities, including Cambridge, Oxford and the London School of Economics, without having to complete a foundation year,” says Chambers.