Category education

India’s premier online academia, The Class of One (TCO1), recently organized a Talent Show, “I am Ingenious – Talent Show”, for its primary school students from Standard 3rd to 5th. The students showcased their in-born and precocious talents in dance, vocal and instrumental music, painting, dramatics, poem recitation, public speaking and stand-up comedy. All the students participated in the program. They performed on Classical, Semi-Classical, Folk, and Patriotic music convivially.

The Talent Show professed richness and variety. Children displayed their unparalleled talent in playing a variety of wind, percussion, and string instruments like keyboard, Guitar, etc. Much to everyone’s amazement, the children also exhibited their skills in Acrobats, Karate, Martial Arts performance, shlokas recitation, and some magic tricks.

“We are immensely proud of all the participants and grateful to the parents who accompanied their children and supported them throughout the event. Young children have an ocean of hidden talent amongst them and we at The Class of One, believe in letting our budding enthusiasts come forward and shine. This activity provided limitless opportunities for the creative minds of TCO1. The talent show indeed proved to be a wonderful platform for the students to empower students to attain ingenuity, foster creativity and enhance their innate potential.”, Divya Jain, Founder, and Director, The Class of One.

The Talent Show participants received roaring applause from the audience, which gave them validation and recognition. ‘The Class of One has always endorsed equal importance to academics and extra-curricular activities which contributes in the all-rounder development of a child’s disposition and capabilities.” she added.

New Delhi, April 22: The last date of online applications for admission to five PG Diploma courses at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) has been extended from April 19, 2023, to May 5, 2023. Admissions will be done through the Central University Entrance Test (CUET), which will be conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). Aspirants can apply online at https://cuet.nta.nic.in/.

Admission to various courses will be subsequently held through a counselling process. Details of the same would be available in the IIMC Prospectus shortly. Admissions incharge Prof. Rakesh Goswami said that the entrance examination paper will have 100 questions, all of which will be mandatory. Question paper will be divided into two parts – Part A will have 25 questions based on language comprehension/verbal ability, general awareness, mathematical/quantitative ability and analytical skills; Part B will have 75 questions based on subject specific knowledge and will cover the following topics:

1. General Awareness of Indian Political and Economic Environment

2. International Developments (Political & Entertainment)

3. Awareness of Current Public Issues

4. Indian History & Social Science

5. Information Communication Technologies and its application in Media Industry

6. Mass Media & Society

Prof. Goswami said that students who have filled the CUET form earlier and did not opt for IIMC can opt for Indian Institute of Mass Communication when the correction window opens from May 6 to 8. If a student has previously opted for one of the courses affiliated to IIMC and now wants to opt for any other course, he can do the same during the opening of the correction window.

In the CUET (PG) information booklet, IIMC’s courses have been bunched under the ‘Common’ category and the question paper code is COQP17. The test paper codes of different courses at IIMC are at serial Nos. 1043 to 1047. Candidates are advised to keep visiting the NTA/IIMC website for latest updates.

Eligibility Criteria

He added candidates who have a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university can apply for admissions to the IIMC. Students who have appeared/are appearing for Final year/semester examination of their Bachelor’s Degree are also eligible to apply. If selected, their admission will be subject to their producing at least a Provisional marks-sheet/Certificate in original from their college/university latest by 30th September 2023, (extendable in genuine cases after ascertaining the reasons). On completion of the course, the Diploma will be awarded only if the Original Degree Certificate is produced for verification at IIMC office.

Age Limit

General Category candidates should be born on or after 1.8.1998 (maximum 25 years as on 1st August 2023). For OBC category, date of birth should be 1.8.1995 or later (28 years as on 1st August 2023). For SC/ST/PwD candidates, the date of birth should be 1.8.1993 or later (maximum 30 years as on 1st August 2023).

20 April 2023: Education ties between New Zealand and India are set to strengthen following one of Education New Zealand’s biggest events of the year, the India-New Zealand Education Week. Starting on 17th April 2023, this week will encourage a dialogue on research while fostering innovation culture exchange and cooperation in the context of international education. The week-long activities included a series of engagements between New Zealand and Indian institutions and academics.

Demonstrating New Zealand’s overall commitment to India, New Zealand has announced an investment of NZ$ 400K towards internationalization and student mobility initiatives. These include further engagement with the New Zealand Centre at IIT Delhi to include fellowship grants and the re-launch of the partial scholarships under the New Zealand Excellence Awards.

The New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) is a unique scholarship scheme designed exclusively for Indian students. The awards are jointly funded by Education New Zealand and all eight New Zealand universities. Since the launch of the scholarship in 2016, it has supported over 200 Indian students to pursue their overseas studies at world class universities in New Zealand.

Speaking at the event, Education New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Grant McPherson said, “New Zealand’s education system is future focussed and multicultural, offering students an opportunity to earn work ready degrees.”

“India is one of New Zealand’s priority partner countries for collaborations, exchanges and student mobility. We are excited that today’s announcements around the New Zealand Centre and the launch of the New Zealand Excellence Award scholarships demonstrate our commitment to India as an education partner.” Added Mr McPherson.

Adding to this, IIT Delhi spokesperson, Prof. James Gomes, Dean International added, “The New Zealand Centre embodies IIT Delhi’s efforts to embrace internationalisation, providing opportunities for new research collaboration and global exposure for our students. The first round of jointly funded Research Collaboration, awarded in 2022, has helped foster collaborative, sustainable and self-supporting research programmes.”

“Today’s Memorandum of Understanding has further enhanced the partnership and cooperation in research, teaching and fellowships between India and New Zealand and provides an opportunity to explore other innovative ventures,” added Prof. Gomes.

The announcements were made at a media roundtable session hosted at the New Zealand High Commission in the presence of: HE. David Pine, New Zealand High Commissioner to India, Grant McPherson, Chief Executive, Education New Zealand; Prof. Alister Jones, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Waikato, and Dr. Erik Lithander, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Strategic Engagement the University of Auckland.

Media Roundtable – Alister Jones, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of

Waikato; HE David Pine, New Zealand High Commissioner to India; Grant Mcpherson, Chief Executive, Education New Zealand; Erik Lithander, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Strategic Engagement

University of Auckland

The India-New Zealand Education Week has senior-level attendance from all 8 universities in New Zealand and focuses on high-level engagement between New Zealand universities and Indian institutions and partners.

The visiting senior delegates and academics from New Zealand universities include:

• Guy Littlefair, Pro Vice Chancellor, Auckland University of Technology
• Annie Goh, International Director, Lincoln University
• Christopher Gan, Head of Department Financial & Business System, Lincoln University
• Christopher Carey, Executive Director Global Engagement, Massey University
• Gaurab Sen Gupta, Deputy HOD Food & Advanced Technology, Massey University
• Erik Lithander, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Strategic Engagement University of Auckland
• Alister Jones, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Waikato
• Graham Wise, Director of International Development, University of Canterbury
• Anthony Ballantyne, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Otago
• Blair McRae, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Victoria University of Wellington
• Vasso Koutsos, Deputy Director of International Marketing & Recruitment University of Auckland

All the New Zealand universities have India based/responsible staff, who are also accompanying the delegation during the NZ-India week, these include:

• Fatima Sayed-Naqvi, Recruitment Manager Auckland University of Technology
• Linda Oostenrijk, Recruitment Manager, Massey University
• Ashish Suri, Recruitment Manager, University of Waikato
• Mohammed Hussain, University of Canterbury
• Victoria McEniery, Otago University
• Ankit Mehta, Victoria University of Wellington

Chennai, India – April 20, 2023: The LEAP Inter-Collegiate Open House, powered by the IIT Madras Incubation Cell was held at IITM Research Park, displaying the ingenious creations of 110 students from three colleges that underwent the LEAP approach of project-based learning. These students identified social issues, conceptualized solutions, and fabricated functioning prototypes during a single semester. Out of all the teams, the top seven were picked to participate in the Open House competition.

The student’s product concepts stemmed from personal experiences and keen observation of societal needs, resulting in a diverse array of innovations such as a bike accident detector, a robotic feeder for the elderly/disabled, and a CO-detector for cars. The product demos effectively showcased the team’s innovative thinking, with the guidance of LEAP-trained faculty and industry experts, who provided mentorship and conducted sessions on product design and development.

LEAP, or Learn Engineering by Activity with Products, founded by Prof. Timothy A Gonsalves, Founding Director of IIT Mandi, aims to revolutionize the way engineering colleges approach education by offering a unique reverse engineering-led learning methodology. LEAP also collaborates closely with colleges to train and empower faculty, ensuring a multiplier effect for knowledge dissemination.

The Open House event was attended by industry experts such as Ms. Damayanti Bhattacharya, CEO of Maker Bhavan Foundation, and Ms. B. Jayasri, Vice-President of HCL.

Speaking on LEAP’s approach, Prof. Timothy Gonsalves, Founding Director, IIT Mandi, said, “LEAP provides hands-on experience building useful products from 1st BTech onwards. Students in remote areas such as Idukki and Tirunelveli interact with industry experts to gain product-development skills on par with students from the best colleges in the cities and metros. We aim to impact 7000 students, 500 faculty, and 70 colleges over the next 3 years.”

“Projects shown today highlight the potential of budding engineers to create solutions for societal needs. This initiative is a part of IITM Research Park’s 10 X vision to foster technical skill development among young engineering graduates, particularly from tier 2 and 3 cities. The goal of the program is to equip, nurture, and encourage these students to emerge as leading technologists in the nation, and develop home-grown solutions to address India’s most critical challenges.”, added Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, President, of IITM Research Park & IITM Incubation Cell.

The LEAP initiative aims to continue to facilitate the participation of engineering students, including those from rural engineering colleges, in hands-on projects that address real-world challenges. This empowers them to engage in creative design and contribute towards solving practical problems faced by society.

Bangalore, April 19, 2023 – Lenovo, the global technology leader, has announced its Back to School (BTS) offers for students across the country. As the new academic session begins, the brand is offering a variety of discounts on laptops and accessories that help enhance the learning experience of students and educators alike. In line with Lenovo’s vision of providing Smarter Technology For All, it understands the demand for premium devices among students and delivers the most long-lasting and trusted solutions possible for today’s hyperconnected environment at accessible price points.

As per GFK, a global market research company, the BTS sale is the most important sale period for OEMs, coming second to only the festive period (September to November). This sale accounts for 15%-17% of the overall sales of the year. **(except 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions).

Lenovo’s BTS offers are currently live and will be valid until 15th May 2023 across all retail and e-tail channels. Additionally, with the new Lenovo PC Exchange Program, customers can sell their old laptop/ PC in exchange for a new device and get an Exchange Bonus of up to Rs 10,000 over and above the value of the old PC.

Apart from this, Lenovo is also offering attractive discounts on computer accessories during this period. Customers can purchase accessories like H100 Gaming Headset/ M300 RGB Gaming Mouse or Fire Pods Ninja G311/ 600 BT Silent Mouse at just Rs. 499, while buying any gaming PC or non-gaming PC respectively.

Bangalore, April 19, 2023: Star Sports, the official TV broadcasters of the TATA IPL 2023, has launched a brand-new initiative – The IPL School Quiz, which is set to grab the attention of kids across the length and breadth of the country. India’s leading sports broadcaster has been at the helm of taking fan centricity to a whole new level with the IPL School Quiz and aims to provide young fans with the most immersive experience possible for the TATA IPL 2023. With over 6,500 schools participating in the quiz in just the first week of the IPL, the initiative is gaining immense popularity already. This Quiz is testing the students’ knowledge about their favorite league and gives them the chance to become the first-ever IPL School Quiz Champions. The online leg of the quiz has been underway from 22nd March and will culminate on 30th April 2023, followed by the Zonal and National leg from the 7th to 15th of May, 2023.

To participate, students would need to log on to StarSportsQ.com every day, answer five quiz questions, and watch the TATA IPL coverage on Star Sports to answer a sixth bonus question. Schools with the highest participation and average score across the online leg will qualify for the Zonal finals. The Zonal finals will feature the top five teams from all four zones competing in an online round and the four winners of the Zonal round will then compete in the National finale.

The eight National finalists of the IPL School Quiz shall earn an array of exciting prizes, including an opportunity to feature on an IPL Pre-show and travel to the Mumbai Star Sports studios for the National finale, which will be aired LIVE on 19th May 2023. The IPL School Quiz is a great opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge about the league they’ve been in love with for 15 years, and win amazing prizes, all while having fun and enjoying the excitement of the IPL. Using refreshed technology, Star Sports has also onboarded Shreyas Iyer to send personalised invites to all school to increase the anticipation and excitement around the quiz.

Speaking about the IPL School Quiz, a Star Sports Spokesperson said, “We have always strived to create an unparalleled experience for our viewers and fans, and the IPL School Quiz is yet another step towards our fan-centric approach. The quiz is a fantastic platform for young minds to engage with the TATA IPL 2023 and showcase their knowledge, while having fun with their peers. We are thrilled to provide this opportunity to students across the nation and look forward to seeing the participants put their best foot forward in the biggest cricket school quiz.”

The TATA IPL 2023 has set off to a flyer with viewership on the Star Sports Network for the opening day of the marquee tournament recording a massive 29% growth in TVR as compared to the previous edition. With endeavors like the school quiz, Star Sports is changing the way young fans engage with the sport and bringing them closer to the game.

Bangalore, April 19, 2023: GrowthSchool, a fast-growing ed-tech platform, has launched ‘Project Rise Again,’ a $500,000 scholarship fund to help people who have been laid off in recent times acquire new skills and get back on their feet. GrowthSchool will provide 100% scholarships on their highest-rated upskilling programs to support affected people in overcoming their hardships.

Anyone affected by recent layoffs can apply for the scholarship, and the selection criteria include parameters such as CTC in the last company, number of dependents and household income, and time since the person was laid off.

Sharing his vision behind this initiative, Vaibhav Sisinty, CEO and Founder of GrowthSchool, said, “These are challenging times for the working professionals. The trauma and hardships of being laid off despite putting in the best efforts can be overwhelming. I have experienced this scenario twice in my career, and I fully understand the emotional and financial stress such incidents can cause. With the generous support of our esteemed mentors from top brands, we aim to empower the laid-off workforce by offering access to our intensive courses, expert-led guidance, and job assistance. Our goal is to provide a lifeline for those affected by mass layoffs, helping them regain their footing in the professional world and rebuild their careers. Together, we can rise again and build a brighter future.”

With more than 3.15 lakh people losing their jobs globally in the last twelve months alone as major tech giants and digital-first startups downsize their workforce, the trend of mass layoffs has caused severe financial instability, stress, anxiety, and affected all-round relationships and quality of life for many. Project Rise Again comes as a beacon of hope, providing an opportunity for those impacted to acquire new skills, enhance their employability, and rebuild their careers. It’s a much-needed step towards mitigating the adverse effects of mass layoffs and creating a brighter future for those facing this challenge.

As one of the mentors associated with the project, Arjun Vaidya Co-Founder, V3 Ventures, said, “Project Rise Again is a commendable initiative by GrowthSchool. In the current scenario of widespread layoffs, upskilling and reskilling are crucial strategies for tech professionals to regain employment. The commitment shown by GrowthSchool demonstrates their unwavering dedication to helping people during challenging times. As a mentor, my goal is to empower learners with the latest industry-relevant knowledge, and I am thrilled to be associated with this project. I wish the very best to all those who are part of Project Rise Again, and I am confident that it will make a significant positive impact on the lives and careers of those affected by mass layoffs.”

The courses under ‘Project Rise Again’ will be run by over 150 expert mentors who have demonstrated great proficiency and a successful track record in a diversity of roles.

Some of the mentors participating in this one-of-its-kind initiative include Abhishek G (Head of CLM Asia – OLX Group), Abhishek Nag (Partner, Lightspeed India), Aakrit Vaish (Co-Founder and CEO, Haptik), Kanan Rai (Director of Partnerships, Razorpay & Ex-Google), Ashish Singh (Senior Growth Manager, Google), Aadil Bandukwala (Senior Director of Marketing, HackerRank), Anudeep Ayyagari (UX Designer, Amazon), Siddhartha Kathpalia (Ex-Marketing Head VWO: USA)

Hyderabad 18th April: KL Deemed to be University, one of India’s leading private universities organized an International workshop on Autism in collaboration with APCOST-Vijayawada, SBI Regional Office, Mangalagiri, International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), France, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham at its campus recently. The Workshop was also supported by G20 with the theme of Innovations from Impairment. As the World Health Organization has declared the month of April as Autism Awareness Month, the university organized Autism International Conference at its campus.

The objective of this workshop was to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, to promote respect for their inherent dignity, and to explore the Innovations of these special kids and to give new knowledge on Mental Health issues to parents, students, and wider audience. The Workshop aimed to explain the root causes and create awareness about possible treatment for autism and bringing out the best in children.

The University also announced the establishment of The Autism Centre of Excellence at the campus which will offer all services required by children with autism spectrum disorders. Those dealing with autism expressed hope with the workshop of paving the way for professionals with different skills to provide a way forward. Dr. Pratima Murthy, a psychiatrist, and Director of NIMHANS lit the lamp and inaugurated the event, she is popularly known for her special services which she caters to mentally disabled patients all over the world. The event was graced by the membership committee of C20 of the G20 Dr. Prema Nendungadi.

Er. Koneru Raja Hareen, Vice President, KL Deemed to be University, said “KL Deemed to be University has undertaken extensive research on the functioning of the human brain under such dire circumstances to find a solution to the challenges of mental illness. People with autism often have unique skills and strengths that are not found in the general population. It is important for parents to recognize the early signs of autism and other mental disabilities so that appropriate interventions and support can be provided to them. As a society, it is our responsibility to embrace and support individuals with mental disabilities, and to create an inclusive and accepting environment where everyone can thrive. By working together, we can create a more equitable and compassionate world for all.”

Dr. K S Jagannath Rao, Pro-Chancellor of KL Deemed to be University informed that the objective of the Autism Workshop was to explain the root causes and create awareness about possible treatments for autism and bring out the best in children. By 2050, the number of mental health issues is going to increase by multiple folds; hence there is a need for more research to understand the human brain in a multidisciplinary fashion. Those dealing with autism expressed hope that the workshop would pave the way for professionals with different skills to provide a way forward.

Experts who spoke on the occasion were Prof. Samuel Abraham from Japan and Dr. B Srividya from VIMHANS, Vijayawada, Dr. K. Nagarjuna from Hyderabad. Eminent social personalities who are doing invaluable service to Autism children were awarded distinguished awards. Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director, NIMHANS was awarded the Distinguished Scientist award, and Autism Service awards to Dr. T. Venkateswara Rao, Dakshinya Foundation Guntur, and Dr. Shayama Chona, Tamana Foundation from Delhi. Prof. Y. Aparna from APCOST was given the Women Inspire Award and the outstanding collaboration awards by P.Visweswara Rao from the SBI Regional office, Mangalagiri, and N. Ratnakumar, Navajeevan Bala Bhavan, Chiguru. Autism children from different schools actively participated in activities like dance, games, quizzes, drawings, etc. Prizes and complimentary were distributed to the best participants. The University is also in the process to copyright the best innovative designs created by Autism children which is a unique model in India.

The workshop witnessed the presence of Dr. G P Saradhi Varma, Vice Chancellor, KL Deemed to be University, Senior management, Deans, faculty members, staff, Conveners Dr. M. Vasujadevi, and A. Pavani and P. Srikanth Reddy, and students who contributed together to make it a success.

Hyderabad, 17 April 2023: Orchids The International School Inaugurated the largest Polyhouse facility and a New Auditorium at its Bachupally branch.

The horticulture curriculum is titled ‘Little Green Fingers’. It will be taught to students from Grade 1 to 10 and will include both theory and practical classes. The students of each grade will have one class per week to learn about different aspects of horticulture.

The chief guest did a campus tour and interacted with the students and said “Students at Orchids The International School are highly talented and they are getting a good opportunity to observe, explore and learn such unique concepts like horticulture and robotics, which brings holistic development of the child and helps to build a confident personality. This is the first school in the city to open such a large-scale playhouse and I am happy to extend my support to this unique initiative.

While speaking about the program, Dr. N Aruna Rao, Principal, Orchids The International School, Bachupally said, “We aim to nurture a sense of sustenance and conservation among the students. The horticulture curriculum is a step in that direction. Apart from learning the science behind the growth of plants, children will also learn to harvest these plants and sell them in the market through our budding Farmer’s market. This gives them dual benefits of learning horticulture along with financial literacy curriculum. We are getting an overwhelming response from children as well as parents for our horticulture initiative.”

Adhering to the NEP 2020 norms, Orchids The International School is the first school in Hyderabad to implement horticulture as part of its curriculum. The playhouse at the Bachupally branch covers a land area of 1000 sq. ft. The students of each grade will have one class per week to learn about different aspects of horticulture. Students will be taught to monitor and maintain the horticulture setup. The course has been divided. into 10% theoretical and 90% practical learning. The students will also be taught to monitor and maintain the horticulture setup.

The school chain has collaborated with special science teachers and technical gardeners for the implementation of the curriculum. Students will also get to experience vegetation such as climbers, creepers, shrubs herbs, medicine plants, taproots, and fibrous root plants. Through the curriculum, they will also get the opportunity to learn about modern farming methods, the preparation of manure, usage of weedicides and insecticides as pest control.

Hyderabad, April 10, 2023….. Speaking about periods openly is no more taboo, Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi tells NBT Nagar, Govt High School for Girls.

Let us shun old ways of managing periods. You must change along with changing times. Use sanitary pads. Pay attention to personal hygiene. Periods are a natural and biological process. And every girl goes through this process. Pain is also attached to Periods. You must face it and you must also attend School, she said while addressing 100 plus girls of the school.

Earlier Gadwal Vijayalakshmi, the Mayor of Hyderabad inaugurated the Sanitary Pads Vending Machine and an Incinerator along with Ms. Ritu Shah, Chairperson of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO). Later she distributed pads to girls.

FLO under its ‘Sustain her health’ initiative donated both machines and pads. They will continue to provide pads free of cost for the benefit of the girls.

No one should skip school due to periods or periods related to pain, or uneasiness. Education is also equally important, said Ritu Shah while addressing the girls.

Later Dr. Sweta Agarwal spoke about menstrual hygiene, Physical Wellness, and Ms. Kanika Jain about Mental Wellness.

Dr. Sweta Agarwal told them to follow three rules of periods. One is to pay utmost importance to hygiene. Two always use sanitary pads. Three is to dispose of used pads hygienically.

No one needs to feel shy talking about periods. She asked them if they watched the Padman movie, and if not asked them to watch it. Please talk openly, she told them. She told them to eat such fruits which contain a lot of water such as Water Melon, Cucumber, etc.

Ms. Kanika Jain while talking about Mental Wellness I am sure you all are prone to menstrual-related stress, which is normal. You need to learn to cope with it, she told them. She suggested some home remedies. And asked them to use medicine when the pain becomes unbearable sometimes. She also told them to play outdoor sports to deal with stress.

Anita Headmistress of the school also participated in the function.