Educational News Update

Visa Relief To Tri Valley University’s Students In US

Responding to India’s strong reaction to how US authorities have been treating Indian students enrolled at the ‘sham’ Tri-Valley University in California, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hinted that it would reinstate the visas of victimized Indian students through the I-539 form. I-539 form is used by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend the visas and change immigration status of foreign nationals visiting the US. However, the request for visa extension or change of immigration status will only be considered on a case by case basis.

 

B-schools Plan Legal Action To Seek Reprieve From New AICTE guidelines

Over 200 management institutes across India are in discussions to approach the Delhi or Bombay High Court as a consortium and seek reprieve from recent guidelines issued by the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Among other things, AICTE had asked for common entrance tests for all PGDM programmes across the institutes, not to start admission process before March 31 in any academic year, and the institutes to seek approval of their course from their state panel.

 

Post-Study Employment Curbs In The UK Can Hit Number Of Indian Students Going There For MBA

In the wake of growing unemployment in Britain, the UK government abolished the visa that allowed Indian and non-EU students to work in the UK for two years after the completion of their courses. However, the London-based Association of MBAs holds a view that the move will hit the number of international students from India and elsewhere enrolling for MBA in the country. India and China are the biggest markets for international students for the UK and restricting their access to jobs market after studies can threaten future viability of the business education industry. MBA courses have high fees and international students are a good source of income for UK universities struggling for funding.

 

US Varsities Assessing Asian Aspirants Holistically; Reducing Focus on Test Scores

US universities are now judging higher education aspirants from India and Asia more holistically and trying to reduce their dependence on entrance test scores such as SAT, GMAT and GRE. They are also taking exceptional credentials of the student, their professional experience, insightful essays, social work and industry contacts into account while accepting students into their academic programmes.

 

CBSE To Offer Courses In Media, Films, Geospatial Studies, And Hospitality

After the huge success of introducing vocational courses during the last session, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is all set to introduce courses in media, films, geospatial studies and food & beverages in 11,000 schools in India and abroad affiliated to it. The courses will be introduced in class XI from the academic session 2010-11 on pilot basis.

 

India Needs Regulatory Mechanism For Education Agents Working For Foreign Universities

Fake Indian education agents, working for lesser-known foreign universities, are to blame for students falling victim to fake universities like Tri-Valley University (TVU) in the US. If the Indian students had sought admissions through proper channels, they could have avoided being caught up in the visa and immigration scam at TVU, experts say. The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs will introduce a new bill in the coming session of Parliament that will make it mandatory for all education agents to register with the government.

 

Samsung Launches IT And Mobility Solutions For Educational Institutes In India

Samsung India Electronics has come up with some novel display solutions and customized applications for the education segment. The Smart Classroom offers large displays for showcasing digital content in the classroom; the Smart Teacher will be used to maintain course curriculum, plan attendance, and access an institute’s intranet for content; the Smart Student offers access to course syllabi and digital content over intranet; and the Smart School solution for professional course students, which includes notebooks and thin clients.

 

London Metropolitan University Professor Advocates Friendly Relations Between India And China

Prof. Mark Bickerton from London Metropolitan University suggested that India should improve its relationships with neighbouring countries, especially with China, in mutual interest of both the Asian Countries that are rapidly growing into powerful nations. He was speaking as a guest lecturer at the Institute of Management Studies (IMS), Noida on the topic 'Is 21st century Asian?'.

 

Students Suspended For Defaulting On Attendance Go On Rampage

MVLU College and Chinai College of Commerce, Andheri in Mumbai suspended about 320 students for defaulting on attendance. National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Yuva Sena and MNS students' wing are protesting against the move that has turned violent. The identity cards of these students have been confiscated and the hall tickets of 45 final year students have been withheld by the college authorities. Without the hall tickets, these students will not be able to appear for their exams that are to be held on February 14, and February 24.

 

Health Ministry To Open New Medical Colleges In India

The Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced on Friday that the Indian government will soon introduce 4,000 seats in medical colleges already run by the government as well as open new colleges to give an impetus to medical education in India. The ministry will also open 269 new nursing colleges to strengthen the paramedical structure in the country.

 

IIM-A Planning To Launch Academic Programmes In Dubai Or Singapore By 2013

The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) is looking to rent campuses in Dubai or Singapore or both, by 2013. Earlier, the institute had been hesitant to set up a campus abroad because of the shortage of faculty. IIM Bangalore (IIM-B), first of the IIMs to conceive of an international footprint in Singapore six years ago, said that it is still figuring out the demand for its MBA programmes internationally.

 

Gujarat Technological University (GTU) Is All Set To Overhaul Education System In Its Polytechnics

Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has made it mandatory for all its 86 polytechnic colleges to teach for at least 90 days in a semester, as per UGC guidelines; and use the 'case study method' that would initiate interaction and discussions between students. GTU will keep track of academic sessions in each of its diploma colleges through a monthly report system.