Category education

Bengaluru, 23 June 2025: In a move to foster environmental stewardship among the youth, Ryan International Academy partnered with Rotary Bangalore Orchards for a massive tree-planting drive across four of its Bengaluru campuses. Notable Rotarians and Ryan students, as part of the ‘Each One, Plant One’ program, planted over 1,200 fruit-bearing saplings this week. For students, it was an experiential lesson on ecological responsibility.

The programme aligns with the 12-point vision of Dr AF Pinto, Chairman of the Ryan Group of Institutions, derived from the international theme “Our Land. Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration,” highlighting the strength of afforestation and environmental restoration in prevention of climate change and land degradation. The plantation drives were conducted at Ryan International Academy campuses at Sarjapur, Kanakapura Road, Magadi Road, and Horamavu. Ryan Group will take this partnership with Rotary Club on a national scale across all its schools.

This massive greening effort was made possible by the support of Rotary Bangalore Orchards, with all 1,200 saplings generously donated by Mr. Ravishankar Dakoju. Each student is entrusted to caring and nurturing a sapling — increasing personal ownership and ecological consciousness on the part of the students.

A variety of fruit-bearing saplings were planted, including 200 each of Laxman Phal, Mango, Jamun, and Jackfruit, along with 100 each of Seethaphal, Guava, Gooseberry and Rose Apple.

The events were a collaborative community affair, with eight Rotarians participating across the four campuses. The activity at the Horamavu campus was attended by students, staff, and two distinguished Rotarians, including Mr. Neil Michael Joseph, who participated at all the four campuses.

Mr. Neil Michael Joseph, a green leader, social entrepreneur, and Director of Bhagirathi Group and Happiness in Transit, said: “While we are in the transport business, we are contributing to pollution, so we asked ourselves, how do we reduce our carbon footprint? And that led us to plants. As a Rotarian, I care about environmental renewal. What Ryan is doing with Each One, Plant One is truly visionary—getting children involved in tree planting creates a long-term emotional and ethical connection to nature.

I’m especially impressed with the idea of entrusting children with nurturing saplings—what a beautiful way to grow both a child and a tree together. We at Rotary are restoring 1,500 acres of barren land in Challakere as Dakoju Rotary Forest. We are happy to spread the same here, and we commit to taking this initiative to more cities.”

The plantation drive was a live classroom, where children learned about how trees clean the air, prevent soil erosion, and support biodiversity. Children also took a Green Pledge to take care of their sapling and embrace sustainable practices such as water conservation and plastic reduction.

This project underscores Ryan Group’s abiding commitment to integrating academic excellence with environmental values. As the plants find root, so does a deeper awareness among students of their place in preserving Earth for generations to come.

23rd June 2025: Students at the University of Southampton’s flagship Delhi campus will get opportunities for internships, placements and graduate employment, thanks to an agreement with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and foster work-ready skills among students, enhancing access to internships and industry placement opportunities.

Through this collaboration, students will benefit from Deloitte India’s deep expertise across technology and transformation, strategy, finance, and other critical services. The partnership will facilitate guest lectures, practical learning sessions, and career-shaping work opportunities at the University’s state-of-the-art campus located at the International Tech Park in Gurgaon.

The agreement aims to nurture future-ready graduates by connecting academic learning with real-world insights. In addition to student engagement, the partnership lays the foundation for long-term collaboration across innovation, civic and community initiatives, and joint research or knowledge-sharing platforms between Deloitte and the University.

Professor Andrew Atherton, Vice-President International and Engagement at the University of Southampton, said: “Our University prides itself on our excellence in education, our world-leading research and our strong global connections with business and industry. This triple helix of education, research and engagement sits at the heart of our strategy and is a defining feature of our Delhi campus.

“Our collaboration with Deloitte India will provide students at the University of Southampton Delhi with an exciting opportunity to connect with leaders in their fields to gain valuable real-life insights and experience, as well as work experience and employment opportunities.”

Kamlesh Vyas, Partner, Deloitte India added: “Quality higher education is the cornerstone of unlocking India’s demographic dividend. Internationalisation at home with entry of leading foreign universities marks an inflexion point for higher education in India.

“We are committed to supporting leading foreign universities entering India and Indian universities as they continue to strive for helping our students meet their aspirations. We believe that it will provide world class higher education and research opportunities to our students within the country.

“Our collaboration with the University of Southampton Delhi reflects Deloitte’s continued commitment to our higher education and to nation-building.”

Scheduled to open in August, the University of Southampton Delhi is the first international campus approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under India’s National Education Policy. The campus will initially offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in economics, finance, computing, and business—curricula specifically designed to prepare students for global careers.

In addition to receiving support within the campus, students will have access to the wider University’s market-leading employability development offering, consisting of online resources, regular workshops, one-to-one guidance and support with qualified careers professionals.

This partnership with Deloitte India adds to a growing list of strategic collaborations at the Delhi campus, including those with Investec and Comviva—further cementing the University’s commitment to integrating industry engagement into academic delivery.

June 23, 2025: VAHDAM® India, one of the country’s leading homegrown wellness brands taking India’s finest teas, herbs, and botanicals to the world, has announced the 2025 edition of the Nandlall & Savita Devi Sarda Scholarship under its flagship TEACH ME® initiative.

Launched in 2018, TEACH ME® is VAHDAM®’s long-standing social impact program that supports the education of farmers’ children. The initiative includes two key components — the establishment of Digital Learning Centres (DLCs) across rural India, and a scholarship program offering direct financial aid to deserving students.

The scholarship arm, formally launched in 2020, has now been significantly upgraded in the 2025 edition — expanding its reach and increasing the level of support through three structured programs: SPARK, ASCEND, and AIM.

The scholarship is open to students from key tea, herb, and spice-growing regions across India, including West Bengal (Darjeeling, Siliguri, Dooars, Terai), Sikkim, Assam, Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris), Himachal Pradesh (Kangra Valley), Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.

Key Programs Under the Scholarship :

SPARK – Foundation Program 10,000 scholarships for top-performing 10th-grade students.
Status: 20 students awarded in 2025

ASCEND– Preparation Program: Offers structured coaching and full or partial financial aid for students preparing for competitive exams including NEET, JEE, CAT, CLAT, and other government exams for Higher Education, in partnership with top coaching institutes. Applications for 2025 now open

AIM – Development Program Provides scholarships of up to 3 lakhs to students who have secured admission to recognised undergraduate or postgraduate institutions. 74 scholarships awarded to date

Bala Sarda, Founder & CEO, VAHDAM® India, said: “We launched the TEACH ME® initiative in 2018 with a simple belief — to support the very people who grow and nurture our teas, herbs, and botanicals with immense love, care, and passion.

We believe that every child from these farming communities deserves access to quality education, regardless of their background.

This scholarship is very close to our hearts. It’s our small way of giving back to the hands and families that make everything we do possible.

Through the 2025 edition, we hope to reach more deserving students and help unlock the power of education in shaping brighter futures.”

INDIA, 23 June 2025: Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) has announced the appointment of Prof. M. Satish Kumar, as first Dean of its new campus in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India. Prof Kumar will take up the role in July 2025 and will be based in GIFT City, providing academic leadership across the faculties for the new campus, which will welcome its first cohort of students in early 2026.

Prior to this appointment, Prof. Kumar was based in the School of Natural and Built Environment at QUB for over 25 years. He previously held role as Director of Queen’s Academy India and of Internationalisation, playing a pivotal role in enhancing the University’s global presence in South Asia.
In addition to his role at Queen’s, Prof. Kumar has also held several Visiting Professorships at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and the University of Calcutta, Kolkata.

Prof Kumar comments on his appointment: “I’m honoured to take on this pivotal role as we establish Queen’s University’s new international branch campus at GIFT City. This landmark development represents a signifcant step in our global engagement strategy – enabling us to extend Queen’s world-class education to new regions while forging deep, long-term partnerships with industry and academic stakeholders in India. Together, we aim to contribute meaningfully to the evolving transnational education and economic landscape of the region”.

Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor QUB, says: “I’m delighted to welcome Prof. Satish Kumar to lead Queen’s new campus in India. His leadership will strengthen our academic partnerships and foster collaboration with industry and government to deliver an enriching student experience. This marks a major milestone as we become the first UK Russell Group University in GIFT City. I look forward to working with him as we move towards our opening next year and unlock new opportunities for students, staff, and the wider community.”

Professor Margaret Topping, Pro-Vice Chancellor Global Engagement QUB, said: “We are delighted to appoint Satish as our first Dean of Gift City. This is a critical role which will set firm foundations for our staff, students and partners in the country. Satish brings with him a wealth of experience in developing intersectoral partnerships and a thriving collaborative learning environment.”

In addition to Prof. Kumar, we will soon be announcing the appointment of the academic staf who will lead on programme delivery on the campus. We will ofer a portfolio of fve postgraduate programmes initially, tailored to the specifc needs of the Indian economy.

20 June, 2025– BITS Pilani, an institute of eminence,  announces its exceptional performance in the newly released QS World University Rankings (WUR) 2026. The university has notably strengthened its distinction as the No. 1 private university in India for Employment Outcomes, a testament to its consistent excellence in preparing graduates for successful careers. BITS Pilani is the fastest-rising Indian university in the QS World University Rankings over the past four years. This achievement marks a significant leap forward in its global standing and reinforces its position as a premier institution for higher education in India.

BITS Pilani’s unwavering commitment to producing highly sought-after graduates is vividly reflected in its remarkable ascent in the Employment Outcomes metric. The university has made a substantial leap from a global rank of 461 in the 2025 rankings to an impressive 302 in 2026. This significant improvement underscores the institution’s robust industry connections, innovative curriculum design, and dedicated career services, all of which collectively equip students with the essential skills and knowledge demanded by today’s competitive global job market.

Speaking on the achievement, Prof Ramgopal Rao, VC, BITS Pilani said, “We are incredibly proud of our consistent recognition as India’s top private university for employment outcomes, a distinction we have held for many consecutive years. This achievement is a profound testament to the diligent work of our esteemed faculty, the unwavering dedication of our bright students, and the strong, synergistic partnerships we have meticulously cultivated with leading industries. Our core focus remains steadfast on providing an education that is not only academically rigorous and intellectually stimulating but also directly relevant and highly responsive to the evolving needs of the global workforce.”

Beyond its exceptional performance in employment outcomes, BITS Pilani has demonstrated significant progress across several other pivotal QS WUR 2026 metrics. The university saw a substantial leap in Citation per Faculty, improving from a global rank of 596 in 2025 to 480 in 2026. This remarkable advancement, coupled with an India rank of 2 among Private Universites, powerfully highlights the increasing impact and superior quality of research conducted by BITS Pilani faculty.

In the comprehensive QS World University Rankings 2026, BITS Pilani was rigorously evaluated among a vast pool of 8467 institutions globally, with 1501 institutions ultimately published across 106 diverse locations. Within this competitive landscape, and specifically among the 54 Indian institutions that were published, BITS Pilani achieved an impressive overall world rank of 668, reflecting its strong position among the world’s leading universities.

The institution remains deeply committed to fostering a truly global, inclusive, and diverse academic environment that attracts talent from across the world and promotes collaborative research.

Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, has announced the June 2025 edition of its flagship ‘Back to Campus’ program, set to run from June 21 to 27. The program aims to equip students across India with easy access to the latest technology and tailored offers on essential gear to support their academic goals. Alongside a wide assortment of student-focused selections, Flipkart aims to enhance the experience with convenient payment options and a range of products that add long-term value to every purchase.

Building on the success of previous editions, this year’s program offers a wider selection of tech essentials designed to meet the needs of today’s digital-first community. From high-performance laptops and versatile tablets to smartwatches, immersive audio gear, gaming setups, and everyday accessories, the range caters to diverse study, play, and lifestyle needs, empowering students to stay productive, entertained, and ahead of the curve.

Flagship launches such as the WHOOP 5.0 Smart Band, Lenovo LOQ Essential Laptop, and Mivi’s AI-integrated earphones highlight Flipkart’s commitment to equipping students with technology that’s fast, functional, and trendy. As hybrid learning and digitally driven lifestyles become the norm, this program bridges academic demands with everyday flexibility. By making advanced tech more accessible across student communities, Flipkart reinforces its commitment to delivering quality and seamless user experiences.

The ‘Back to Campus’ program unlocks significant savings across key tech categories. Students can avail attractive offers on laptops and tablets from top brands including Apple, ASUS, Acer, and HP. Gamers can redeem Supercoin rewards on a wide selection of gear, from consoles and gamepads to CDs and motion controllers. Brands have curated offers across IT peripherals like printers, monitors, and projectors. Meanwhile, accessories such as mouse, keyboards, and USB hubs come with offers of up to 10%, making essential tech more accessible. Additionally, exchange offers are available across all major laptop brands, making upgrades more affordable and accessible.

The smart audio lineup, including TWS earbuds, bluetooth speakers, and smartwatches, delivers both utility and convenience for students balancing learning and recreation. To support thoughtful purchase planning.

Top performing categories & key insights from the May 2025 edition

• Laptops and tablets sustained their leadership in sales value, reflecting continued consumer demand across segments
• The automobile category witnessed high growth, with 18–24-year-old students driving 20% of sales. Preferred brands included TVS Apache, Bajaj Pulsar, Ather 450X, and Jawa 42
• Samsung topped sales in both laptops and tablets, followed by OnePlus in tablets and Philips in audio devices
• Top brands that drove high demand include ZEBRONICS, Mi, SAREGAMA, Mivi, Nu Republic, PTron, and SONY, highlighting steady consumer demand and strong brand performance in the category
• Niche but high-demand segments like gaming tablets and laptop power banks saw increased traction, reflecting evolving academic and recreation needs
• Notably, over 55% of total sales originated from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, underlining the campaign’s broad appeal and effective penetration across diverse consumer demographics.

To enhance the student shopping experience, Flipkart has also introduced on-demand video assistance for real-time product walkthroughs and Gen-AI-powered chat support that helps students make informed buying decisions. The program includes various payment options, exchange deals, and enhanced customer support through video and AI-powered chat assistance.

Navi Mumbai, June 19, 2025 —In a move designed to align with the rapidly emerging global tech ecosystem, ITM Skill University is delighted to announce the launch of its next generation of M.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering(CSE) under the School of Future Tech. This new postgraduate program has popular specializations of Data Science, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Cyber Security. These will give students the skills required to be leaders in the current digital first world.

What sets this program apart is its deep integration with industry expertise, developed in collaboration with prominent tech leaders including Mr. Chennakesh Saka (Wells Fargo), Mr. Gaurav Shirude (PwC), Mr. Dipan Mehta (LogiNext), Mr. Mrinal Shankar (Beem), Mr. Ummed Meel (Grant Thornton Bharat LLP), Mr. Abhishek Dwivedi (Vista), and Mr. Ajay Kumar (JP Morgan Chase & Co.). Their involvement ensures the curriculum is aligned with current industry needs, blending academic excellence with real-world relevance.

Curriculum-based learning has been implemented in the program with live case studies, capstone projects, and internships to allow students an opportunity to solve business problems. The students will be nurtured through one-on-one mentorship from seasoned professionals, experiential workshops, and training to build deep skills and gain real-world readiness.

Dr. Ritu Jain, Head of M.Tech (CSE), commented “This program represents the perfect synergy between academic depth and industry relevance. At ITM Skill University, we’re not just preparing students for the workforce — we’re empowering them to become innovators, technology leaders, and entrepreneurs ready to lead the future of digital transformation.”

The program also provides Global Immersion Experiences in tech hotspots such as Dubai and Singapore boosting worldwide tech knowledge. Students can join over 40 tech groups giving them chances to take part in hackathons, workshops, and meetups both at home and abroad.

ITM Skill University supports this program with a strong career help system full placement aid through 700+ hiring partners, and complete job prep resources. People who want to start businesses can also try to win up to ₹1 crore in seed money, which makes this one of India’s most innovative M.Tech programs for future tech leaders.

CHENNAI, 19TH JUNE 2025: Veranda IAS, a Veranda Learning enterprise, has announced the launch of the first fully residential and intensive Mains Answer Writing Programme for UPSC CSE 2025 aspirants. Tailored specifically for candidates who have cleared the Prelims, the programme will offer a focused and immersive environment that sharpens answer-writing skills, crucial to cracking the Mains stage of the Civil Services Examination.

With over 600+ high-quality questions, daily practice of 15+ model questions, and focused sessions on Essay, Ethics, and Current Affairs, the programme offers an academically rigorous and result-oriented path for serious aspirants. Participants will also receive interview preparation support in case they qualify for the Personality Test round.

All selected students will benefit from completely free residential accommodation and meals until the Mains exam, allowing them to concentrate fully on preparation. Additionally, a stipend of ₹25,000 will be provided to each selected candidate as financial support during the programme.

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Bharath Seeman, CEO of Veranda IAS, said, “This initiative reflects our commitment to serious UPSC aspirants who need not just guidance but an environment of discipline, focus, and expert support. We believe answer writing is both an art and a skill that can be sharpened with the right mentorship and consistency. This residential programme is our way of investing in the potential of every determined candidate.”

June 19, 2025 — Noida International University (NIU) successfully hosted an impactful Educator’s Meet and Felicitation Ceremony at Hotel Grand SR, Azamgarh, with educators, academic leaders, and students to celebrate & felicitate the achievements and contributions in their respective fields.

The event was graced by Mr. Shiv Govind Singh, Chairman of Vedanta International School, Baukat, Azamgarh, as the Chief Guest, who graced the event with his auspicious presence and said, “Educators are the true architects of our nation’s future. Their dedication, guidance, and vision empower budding minds to dream big and achieve greater heights. In every classroom, they lay the foundation for a stronger, more enlightened society. Today, I’m honored to be a part of this event where Noida International University is encouraging educators and students with awards to educate themselves and have a bright future.”

Mr. Avaneesh Kumar Rai, Manager of Naval’s National Academy, Dohrighat, served as the Guest of Honor, shared his valuable insights on the evolving role of educational institutions in today’s world. He said, “Educational institutions today are more than centers of learning; they are catalysts for innovation, inclusivity, and global readiness. In a rapidly changing world, they must nurture critical thinking, adaptability, and values, preparing students not just for jobs, but for life.

Over 400 educators and counselors from across the region participated in the ceremony, where several distinguished teachers and mentors were felicitated for their commitment to academic excellence and student development. Also, Dr. Vinay Kumar, the Director Academics, Naval’s National Academy Group of Schools, Gorakhpur, Coordinator, Bar Council of India (cell), shared his valuable presence, which served as a platform for academic exchange, collaborative opportunities, and insights into NIU’s progressive initiatives in higher education.

NIU officials highlighted the university’s mission to bridge the gap between regional talent and global opportunities through inclusive and quality education. The meeting reaffirmed NIU’s dedication to building strong relationships with schools and educators across Uttar Pradesh and beyond.