SGT University Inaugurates Advanced Study Institute of Asia (ASIA)

SGT University Inaugurates

Gurugram: SGT University inaugurated the Advanced Study Institute of Asia (ASIA), an autonomous center that will work with academic bodies of the university while pursuing research of its own. Padma Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, Chancellor of SGT University, inaugurated the institute. Smt. Madhupreet Kaur Chawla and Shri Manmohan Singh Chawla, Chairperson and Managing Trustee respectively, also graced the event.

ASIA will be chaired by Dr. Najeeb Jung, an energy expert and erudite scholar of Urdu who also served as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Indu Bhushan, a well-known public health expert and former CEO of Ayushman Bharat, will also serve as the institute’s vice chairperson. The former CEO and MD of Deutsche Bank, Sandhya Vasudevan, as well as Rajat Nag, the former MD of the Asian Development Bank, will also be a part of ASIA.

Najeeb Jung, at the inauguration event, said that the institute is a big achievement of SGT University and will provide an excellent opportunity for its students to pursue advanced scientific research. He added that “The world is a sea of knowledge, and with ASIA, students will get the opportunity to explore and learn more about it.”

According to Ram Bahadur Rai, “Asia makes up one-third of the world and sixty percent of its population. This makes it important for countries in Asia to organize, share their ideas, and do collaborative research to become future leaders in technological advancement.” In a moment of brevity, he also remarked on how he would want ‘Asia Day’ to be celebrated on the 6th of August, to mark the tragedy of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki

Amrita School of Ayurveda launches online portals for Panchakarma and clinical e-learning

Mumbai 14th March 2023: Amrita School of Ayurveda, a part of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, has launched two online portals for the Ayurveda community. While e-MAP is an e-module application for Panchakarma, AyurCel is tailor-made for clinical e-learning. The projects have been funded by the Rashtriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India.

The portals were launched at a high-powered event at Amrita University, attended by dignitaries like Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, Chairman, NCISM, and Dr. Kousthubha Upadhyaya, Advisor, from Ministry of AYUSH; Dr. Tanuja Nesari, Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda; Dr.Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh, Provost, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Dr. Venkat Rangan, Vice Chancellor, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham; and Swami Sankaramirtananda Puri, Dean, Amrita School of Ayurveda.

The e-MAP project is an interactive portal that provides comprehensive information related to Panchakarma. It includes a learning module featuring lesson plans, sloka recitations, illustrative animations, and self-assessment aids on UG and PG Panchakarma syllabi. It also offers standardized videos of various clinically practiced Panchakarma procedures and a directory search for information related to faculties, postgraduates, publications, dissertations, and colleges offering Panchakarma PG, Ph.D., and equipment suppliers. The project is led by team Dr. Parameswaran Namboothiri, Professor, Panchakarma, School of Ayurveda, Amritapuri.

The AyurCel project is a clinical learning tool to make the clinical experiences of successful Ayurveda clinicians available in a digital format to facilitate continuous clinical learning. It offers case studies, modules for post-publication review of published case reports, and a preprint server for fast-track publication of the first draft of case reports. The doctors can use the portal to share their treatment experiences. The project is led by a team under Dr. P Rammanohar, Research Director, Amrita Centre for Advanced Research in Ayurveda (ĀCĀRA), School of Ayurveda, Amritapuri.

Delivering the inaugural address, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, said: “Ayurveda has a wide range of research possibilities, and we should utilize them to the full. I welcome the launch of these two authentic digital reference initiatives related to studies in Ayurveda. The Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth of the Ministry of AYUSH collaborates with Amrita School of Ayurveda in various fields related to Ayurveda treatment and research.”

Swami Sankaramritananda Puri, Dean, Amrita School of Ayurveda, said: “We are excited to launch the e-MAP and AyurCeL portals for the Ayurvedic community. These will help students, practitioners, and researchers access the latest information related to Panchakarma and Ayurvedic clinical practice. Our goal is to facilitate learning and innovation in Ayurveda through digital tools and platforms. These two portals are part of the Amrita School of Ayurveda’s commitment to promoting excellence in Ayurvedic education and research. They are accessible to anyone interested in Ayurveda and are designed to be user-friendly and easy to navigate.”

Dr.Prema Nedungadi, Director, AmritaCREATE, Amritapuri | Chairperson, School of Computing, Amritapuri (Chair, EDT C20 Working group), said “The aim of the joint project by Amrita Centre for Advanced Research in Ayurveda (ĀCĀRA) and Amrita CREATE is to develop a clinical e-learning platform. This platform will gather the real clinical experiences of physicians, transform them into data, and organize them in a structured manner. The result will be an interactive learning environment that will undergo a rigorous review by an expert team. The platform will provide continued clinical education in the field of Ayurveda through the contributions of experts, including the Panel of Contributors and Clinicians of Amrita School of Ayurveda Published Case Reports. Essentially, this project aims to create an ecosystem for the domain and for future generations of clinicians, practitioners, and researchers.”

The Shri Ram Universal School celebrates India’s rich cultural heritage, by replicating a microcosm of ancient India!

The Shri Ram Universal School celebrates

Hyderabad, March 13th, 2023: The Shri Ram Universal School, Hyderabad became a microcosm of the ancient Indian towns and villages at its premises at Nanakramguda today. It enabled students and parents to revisit and bring back the rich ambience of indigenous traditional attire, Indian cuisine, native games, architectural marvels, languages, in short everything that Indian culture epitomises. The event was All About Culture and was witnessed by the awestruck visitors comprising of students and parents. A signature event of The Shri Ram Universal school, it was a culmination of the year long journey, which had students being part of immersive experiences such as ‘Form Evenings’, celebrations and events. Guests of honour Ms Sujata, IPS, IDES officer and Mr L N Ramaswamy, sculptor, graced the occasion and were amazed by the ingenuity of the students.

The event had breathtaking performance of a unique Sand Art, traditional and lesser-known dances such as puppet dances from across India including kathputli, choir performance and much more. ‘Shriites’ stole the limelight with their Nukkad Natak and Flash Mob.

A showcase of the traditional dresses and weaves was displayed by parents and teachers. The Director of Education and Founder Principal, Dr Jyothi Reddy and Vice President of Operations joined in for the showcase. Parents were astounded by the student’s initiative to showcase their learning in creative ways. Visitors savoured the traditional food and enjoyed the special performances. For the students, it was indeed a true evaluation of learning happening outside classrooms.

IBDP Students at Oakridge International School, Bachupally, take on the challenge of building a sustainable city



IBDP Students at Oakridge International School,

Hyderabad, 11th March 2023: Oakridge International School Bachupally’s IBDP1 students have created five innovative sustainable products for their Group 4 project, showcasing their dedication to creating a better future for urban communities. Their passion and months of planning have resulted in exceptional projects aligned with the theme of “The Sustainable Cities.”

The Group 4 Project empowers students to apply their academic knowledge and develop the necessary skills to create a sustainable future through collaboration and critical thinking. With this year’s theme of Sustainable Cities, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program highlights the significance of environmentally conscious urban planning in society.

Students have produced innovative solutions to promote sustainability. The first group developed BioWrap, a 100% biodegradable eco-friendly plastic aimed at advocating for sustainable packaging. Sustainablock, a sustainable cement manufactured from recycled coconuts, was developed by the second group. The third group produced organic batteries with aloe vera using their product EcoCell. AquaGenie, a gray water recycling irrigation system, was developed by the fourth group, and the fifth group developed Solar sprout, an integrated solar irrigation system. All of these solutions are practical applications of theoretical concepts, enabling students to implement interdisciplinary ideas in innovative ways.

The Group 4 Project experience has been a rewarding journey for students, allowing them to learn new concepts and develop skills necessary to create a sustainable future. The project encourages students to work collaboratively and think creatively, promoting innovation and dedication. The project’s success lies in its ability to integrate the sciences and enable students to explore various scientific disciplines, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of real-world issues and empowering them to make a positive impact.

“It took a lot of hard work and collaboration to get to where we are now, and we’re all determined to keep working and make the best version of our product!”, states Isha, another group member from “Sustainablock”.

“It was an interesting project to take part in because we could explore all of the sciences as a group and come up with innovative new ideas on our own,” says Krishna, one of the group members from AquaGenie..”

Akshith from the group Solarsprout says “It’s normal for a science fair to explore the sciences that we’ve taken and are studying but the group 4 project is much more than that integrating all 4 sciences allowing us to practically implement solutions that we’ve only learnt in theory in an interdisciplinary manner.”

Ms. Baljeet Oberoi, the principal of Oakridge International School, Bachupally, was thoroughly impressed by the exceptional projects presented by the students. She praised their efforts and said, “The students truly put in a lot of effort to address the global issues. I would like to see these projects be developed further and patented. These projects were truly exceptional.”

Mr. Saikrishna Pammi, Head of the IBDP Department, was equally delighted with all the presentations. “Knowledge has limits, but Imagination has no bounds. Class of 2024 has demonstrated their excellent creativity and imagination to tackle issues pertaining to sustainability. It was great to see the students collaborate across the disciplines to come up with working models. All the science teachers’ hard work and best teaching strategies are evident in shaping important attributes like curiosity and perseverance in students.”

The students have brilliantly presented their final plans and prototypes, aspiring to ignite a sustainability-focused mindset in urban planning policies. Their innovative ideas have garnered widespread acclaim and appreciation from all the school stakeholders. This remarkable achievement underscores their dedication to creating a better and more sustainable future for all.

India’s largest Study Abroad Fest across major Indian cities

iSchoolConnect,

March 10th, 2023: iSchoolConnect, a leading AI-enabled EdTech firm that assists study abroad aspirants, is hosting the much-awaited Study Abroad Fest across major Indian cities. Being held across Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad on 11, 12, 18, and 19th March, respectively, the event will feature representatives from 30+ global institutions from 11+ Study Abroad destinations who will interact with and counsel students. During the events, students will have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with 100+ courses and programs and avail an unlimited array of on-the-spot offers and recommendations.

Ashish Fernando, Founder and CEO iSchoolConnect, said, “We are excited to hold the study abroad fest, especially at this juncture when a large number of students in our country are aspiring to study abroad in the institutions of their choice. The event will provide an opportunity for students to interact with university representatives of renowned global institutions. Students are registering in large numbers for the event, and we expect a footfall of approximately 800 to 1000 students in each location.”

“The presence of university representatives from popular study abroad destinations is a key crowd magnet as students will get to weigh their options under one roof, “Ashish adds.

A prominent delegation of university representatives from the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Europe, Singapore, and other nations will provide students with invaluable advice at this event, assessing their prospects of admission and outlining the application and admission procedure.

Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to interact with the company’s in-house study abroad counselors, who have an average of 10+ years of experience, our test prep instructors, who have trained at least 200 students each, and our service partners for loans, travel, accommodation assistance, etc.

Ashiana Housing Leads the Way in Senior Living with Educational Conclave for India’s Elderly Population

New Delhi, 9th March 2023: Ashiana Housing Limited recently organized its Senior Living Conclave at The Grand in Vasant Kunj. The event aimed to educate people about Senior Living and its benefits and featured expert speaker Mr. Ankur Gupta, Joint Managing Director of Ashiana Housing Limited and a Senior Housing expert.

The conclave showcased the lifestyle senior living communities’ offer, including the finest amenities and engaging social activities. The event also brings out the benefits of senior living, inspiring attendees to explore the possibilities of this exciting industry.

“Senior Living is a new concept in India, and we are thrilled to be able to share our expertise and experience with those who are considering this lifestyle option,” said Mr. Gupta. “We believe that Senior Living communities offer a range of benefits, including socialization, security, and access to care when needed. We look forward to sharing our knowledge and helping people make informed decisions about their retirement lifestyle.”

In India, metro cities can be crowded, which makes them less than ideal places for retirees. Senior Living communities offer a better place to live in after retirement, as they are more secure and free from pollution and noise. These communities are very well connected with metro cities, and seniors in these communities can avail themselves of quality facilities and other amenities that may not be available in smaller towns.

“The need for Senior Living communities is growing in India, especially in metro cities where seniors face challenges,” said Mr. Gupta. “Our communities offer a solution that provides a safe and secure environment for seniors to live in, without sacrificing access to a stressful lifestyle and other essential amenities.”

The conclave also discussed the right age to move into Senior Living, how to select the right community, and how Senior Living communities can help overcome loneliness and depression problems that can affect seniors. The event was informative and engaging, and attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and learn from the experts.

Mr. Gupta added, “Our aim is to help people understand that Senior Living is not just a housing option, but a way of life. It’s about enjoying your golden years, pursuing your passions, and being part of a supportive community.”

Ashiana Housing Limited is the pioneer of senior living in India, and currently has senior living communities in Bhiwadi, Jaipur, Lavasa (Pune), and Chennai. The brand has been awarded for its senior living communities for the sixth time in a row.

Orchids The International School wins the ‘Best Emerging School of the Year – North’ award at the Indian Education & Edtech Summit 2023

Gurugram, 9th March 2023: Orchids The International School (OIS), the leading chain of CBSE schools in India, has proven its excellence in evolving the education system by clinching the ‘Best Emerging School of The Year – North’ award at the Indian Education & Edtech Summit 2023.

Dr. Kavita Nagpal, Academics Chief of North Zone, Orchids The International School said, “We focus on a holistic education system by constantly bringing innovative learning solutions. Orchids The International School is helping its students nurture various skills at an early age. This will help them adapt to a dynamic world and bring about a change that we would like to witness. We are happy that we have been recognized for the circle of knowledge, the loop of learning, and the ring of hope and positivity. We train children in the practical application of the concepts taught.”

Indian Education & Edtech Summit 2023 is an initiative by Brand Honchos to create and offer such a platform for the veterans of the education sector to share their expertise, viewpoints & thought process with respect to the current status of the Education sector in India, its future prospects and some of the most crucial aspects with respect to the education system to create new benchmarks to turn India into an education Hub for the rest of the world.

50 school dual desks worth Rs One Lakh Eighty Five thousand donated by to a Govt School

50 Dual Desks donated worth Rs 1.85 lakh to MPPS Govt School at Vattinagulapally. Seen in the pic are Sumanth, RenukaHyderabad, March 08, 2023…. Secunderabad Round Table 33 and SLC 17 (Secunderabad Ladies Circle) wings of Round Table India and Ladies Circle India, donated 50 school dual desks worth rupees one lakh eighty five thousand on Monday to MPPS (Mandal Praja Parishad School), Vattinagulapally in Golconda Mandal, in Hyderabad. These dual desks were provided with the financial assistance of NRI Vasavi Association, the USA.

Secunderabad Round Table 33(SRT 33) a part of Round Table India, represented by its Chairman Suman Vemuri; SLC 17 of Ladies Circle India Chairperson Mamta and its Secretary Bhavana and Shisham Sabharwal, National Secretary, Ladies Circle India formally handed over the benches to the school headmistress Ms. Avasti Renuka Devi and to the school.

In a press statement issued in the city today, Round Tabler Suman said dual desks are a basic need and provide comfortable to students. He asked students to study well and come up in life.

Shisham Sabharwal said the time spent in school lays a strong foundation. If the foundation is strong, the future will also be strong.

Ms. Mamta added that they were always ready and willing to develop infrastructure in government schools. Today’s students are tomorrow’s citizens. She asked students to study will, secure good job and reciprocate by way of helping less fortunate.

Bhavana urged students to keep the desk neat and pass on to future students so that they will also make use of them.

Headmistress Renuka Devi thanked of NRI Vasavi Association, Secunderabad Round Table 33 and Secunderabad Ladies Circle-17. for coming forward to help the school. She put forth a request, to construct two classrooms. Because of the lack of them, some classrooms are being from administrative office.

The shcool has 1st to 5th classes and has 130 strength. Children Vanipriya, Nandkishore and Ajay spoke and thanked the three different organisations who made these desks possible.

Open-source eLearning giant Moodle taps into $30 bn Indian EdTech market with India launch

Kolkata/New Delhi/Pune, March 7, 2023: Moodle, the world’s most customizable and trusted eLearning solution, today launched its Indian subsidiary – Moodle India, that will help it tap into the forecast $30 billion Indian EdTech market and extend its social impact.

The launch of Moodle India follows the acquisition of eAbyas Info Solutions in December 2022, which has now been fully integrated into the global Moodle ecosystem. This will be the first time that Indian customers will be able to directly access a comprehensive range of services from the local subsidiary of Moodle.

“Moodle supports 41 million courses in 42 languages globally and our open source software has helped thousands of educational institutions and organisations around the world deliver more than 1.8 billion course enrollments so far. India, with its great history of education, is key to our mission of empowering educators to make quality online education accessible for all. With the launch of Moodle India, we plan to solidify our lead in online education and also help upskill India by partnering corporates in their Learning and Development objectives for employees,” said Martin Dougiamas, CEO and Founder, Moodle.

The launch of the Indian subsidiary will help Moodle have improved communication and support for its established client base, faster response time to issues and help it develop stronger relationships with clients. “With a physical presence in India, we can offer more personalized services that meet the specific needs of Indian universities and businesses. This is a key customer segment for us as Moodle is already being used by 60% of the higher education institutions here,” added Mr. Dougiamas.

Additionally, being close to its clients can help Moodle better understand the Indian market and tailor its services accordingly, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty. “The launch of Moodle India provides us the opportunity to grow a larger domestic business, which supports educational institutions and corporates,” said Sushil Karampuri, CEO, Moodle India. He added that India is undergoing a digital transformation that’s driving increased demand for online learning. “Moodle, the most widely used open source learning system, can now extend the reach of learning and training across India,” said Karampuri.

“Our Indian presence provides the opportunity to tap into the local engineering and developer talent that India can provide as part of the broader Moodle ecosystem,” said Bill Anderson, Global Head of Services, Moodle.

India is now one of the largest global EdTech markets driven by the uptake in digital learning, increasing internet access, mobile penetration and a large and growing number of children and young adults in education. The country has seen rapid adoption of learning management platforms across the corporate, higher education and government sectors. As a leading global learning management solution, India is one of Moodle’s largest growing markets based on the number of Moodle sites registered.

Moodle’s focus in India is on three areas:

o Educational institutions

o Corporates for learning and development programmes for their employees

o Government institutions around certification, deployment of content, and activities that facilitate large-scale availability of digital tools to the largest number of people possible, which also covers Moodle’s social mission.

As a Certified B Corp company, India is key to Moodle’s social objective of empowering educators to make quality online education accessible for all. “Since our foundation in 1999, we have been democratising education the ‘open source’ way. We believe that free and open access to education technology is fundamental to creating a more equitable world where everyone can pursue a quality education,” added Mr. Dougiamas. Having a meaningful presence in the world’s largest democracy helps Moodle better serve a social purpose in terms of broadening access to cutting-edge digital tools and services.

Moodle Learning Management System has constantly evolved while being committed to pedagogy, open source philosophy, and a collaborative global community of like-minded educators and technologists. As a company that exemplifies the principle of using technology as a force for good, Moodle has been honoured as a member of Open Education Global and the UNESCO Global Education Coalition.

Tennessee Dept. of Health awards Southwest Tennessee Community College $500K grant to fund COVID-19 testing sites and prevention services

(Memphis, Tenn.) – The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) awarded Southwest Tennessee Community College a $500,000 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) State Colleges and Universities grant last month to fund the college’s COVID-19 testing and community outreach efforts. Southwest will hire staff and redesign spaces on campus and outfit them with equipment designed to help the community engage in disease prevention.

“These funds are critical to our ongoing efforts to help protect the Mid-South from COVID-19,” Southwest Tennessee Community College President Tracy D. Hall said. “During the pandemic, we helped vaccinate nearly 40,000 residents at our Whitehaven and Gill centers. Our commitment to fighting COVID-19 continues with this effort to help fellow residents avoid infection through education and testing.”

Southwest will use the funds to hire three full-time health educators and two part-time support staff members who will operate free testing sites at the Macon Cove and Union Avenue campuses and the Whitehaven Center. All three locations will offer drive-thru and drop-in testing for Southwest students, faculty and staff and the greater Memphis community.

Health and Natural Sciences Dean Shelia Bouie says health seminars will begin as soon as this summer. “Our goal is to promote a healthier Memphis by providing access to accurate information about COVID-19 and other infectious diseases,” Dr. Bouie said. “A healthy community makes for a healthier college.”

President Hall says the funds will help the college address health disparities. “All of us have been touched by COVID-19 in some way, and communities of color were hit particularly hard,” President Hall said. We are grateful for these funds and intend to use them to address the health disparities surrounding infectious disease in our community,” Hall added. “The ultimate goal is to support our students and employees and greater community to stay healthy and strong.”

For more information about Southwest’s public health efforts, contact Dr. Shelia Bouie at sbouie@southwest.tn.edu.