Education Briefs

Inventure Academy, a Bangalore-based internationally benchmarked CISCE affiliated class I-XII school promoted by the India Learning Foundation (ILF) is all set to admit its first batch of class I to VI students in the academic year commencing mid July.

"Inventure Academy has been conceived as an outstanding institution to fulfill certain need gaps felt by parents, students and the community as a whole. Our aim is to set up a school which provides the best that conventional and modern schools offer — focus on academic excellence and inclusiveness, while nurturing individuality and inventiveness in every student. Inventure Academy aims to provide this at a price that is affordable, and backed by infrastructure comparable with the best," says Nooraine Fazal, an alumna of Boston University and former senior Reuters executive who is the managing trustee of India Learning Foundation (ILF) and chief executive of the academy.

Spread over 20 acres meticulously developed and landscaped by the Prestige Constructions Group, one of south India’s most respected property developers, the school campus includes libraries, computer / multi-media labs, amphitheatres and perfoming arts and sports facilities as also a learning lab for students with learning difficulties. The curriculum from class I-XII will follow guidelines set by the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination (ICSE and ISC).

"Inventure Academy is drawing on the expertise of leading education consultants including IL&FS ETS and The Teacher Foundation, as well as a board of advisors whose combined experience is unparalleled. We aim to bring to both children and parents, learning that will enable them to become global citizens," says Irfan Razack, chairman ILF.

Coca-cola’s India representative for an Antarctic expedition with noted environmentalist Robert Swan is Bangalore-based Siddhartha Srivastav. Selected against nearly 30 applicants from across the country to be part of this expedition, Srivastav left in mid February for Argentina to join an international group on the third Inspire! Mission to Antarctica. According to a Coke spokesperson, Srivastav’s "commitment to environment protection, community service, deep understanding of environmental issues and past experience in community work" earned him this opportunity.

"The mission to Antarctica is one more opportunity for our company to demonstrate leadership. For it is only through such initiatives that companies like ours can help to contribute, in our own small way, to the challenging task of finding solutions to the dangers of environmental damage that face the entire world," says Sanjiv Gupta president and CEO of Coca Cola India.

The voyage which commenced on February 15, from the Ushuaia in southern Argentina will cross some of the riskiest waters in the world. The group will undertake several educational and learning activities on-board as well as assist the Russian team already engaged in clean-up operations in Antarctica. Today, nearly 70 percent of the world’s fresh water reserves are in the Antarctic region and protection and conservation of this reserve has been identified as a global priority by environmentalists.

Coca-Cola has been working with famed polar explorer and environment campaigner Robert Swan and his organisation for the past two years; this is the third expedition the company is organising with this group. Over 60 Coke associates from around the world took part in the 2003 and 2004 expeditions. On his return from the frozen continent, Srivastav will participate in an environment lecture series conducted in association with the SEARCH Foundation. In addition, he will devote time to generate awareness on environment conservation within the student community in association with organisations like TERI.

The Eureka Forbes Institute of Environment (EFIE), a non-profit organisation for environment protection conducted its third all-India inter-school Euro Enviro Quiz, between January 7 and February 20, 2005. Over 1.5 lakh students of classes VII and VIII from 156 premier schools across 14 cities participated in the event, conceptualised by EFIE with the mission of educating young minds on the importance of creating pollution free environments.

While initial rounds of the quiz were held in all 14 participating cities, the finals were staged in Mumbai with distinguished environmentalist Bittu Seghal officiating as quiz master for the evening. Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School (Mumbai), Frank Anthony (Bangalore), St. Andrew’s (Hyderabad) and Prabhuji School (Bhubaneswar) contested for the title, which was won by Prabhuji School, represented by Anurag Dash and Animesh Bastia.

"Earthquakes, droughts and other natural calamities have been frequent in the past years not to forget the recent tsunami, the worst universal catastrophe we have witnessed thus far. These are all signs of global warming. Hence at EFIE, we have created a platform to sensitise young people to environment issues and assist them to become proactive citizens who will safeguard the environment and save the universe for a better tomorrow," said S.L. Goklaney, trustee of EFIE, speaking on the occasion.

The first Global Education and Training Exhibition (GETEX), an extension of GETEX – Dubai, Asia’s largest Student Recruitment Exhibition — was flagged off on February 26 by Prof. K.V. Kodandaramaiah, director of collegiate education, government of Karnataka and concluded on February 28.

Karnataka chief minister Dharam Singh officially launched the catalogue of GETEX 2005 aimed at promoting higher education abroad and specialisation in respective subject domains. The event is jointly organised by International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E) and supported by the department of secondary and higher education of the Union HRD ministry.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Kodandaramaiah said: "Karnataka in general and Bangalore in particular, is ideally positioned for development of knowledge and education. Our formidable student cluster, impressive human resource pool and proactive government make Bangalore a powerhouse keen on the upliftment of youth."

"Our debut exhibition in India has been an instructive learning experience. GETEX 2005 attracted 50 participant exhibitors from over 12 countries including Germany, Canada, the US, Cyprus and UAE, including several education technology marketers. On the other side of the coin the exhibition attracted over 2,000 visitors including a large number of human resource development professionals. This is very encouraging and we will be back with a bigger and better exhibition soon," says Anselm Godinho managing director IC&E.

For further information, see www.gulfeducation.com.