Night flight to Nasa

The first Pathways-Atlantis Space Camp was organised at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (Nasa) Johnson Space Centre in Houston, the US, in December 2008. Twelve students from the Pathway World School, Gurgaon, participated in the six-day event during which they learnt about developing rockets and robots.

The students presented their own rockets and robots that were launched and test-driven in the competitions held for various categories. They also won prizes for the same. The Gurgaon group was adjudged the most enthusiastic group of students from the world over to attend the space camp.

HYDERABAD

Better learning

Educomp Solutions, an education company, signed an agreement with the US-based private charitable foundation Michael and Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF) that includes establishing a model to transform the learning levels of underprivileged children of private schools in Hyderabad.

MSDF recently launched Gyana Shakti, a project aimed at assessing the effectiveness of teaching methodologies developed by Educomp Solutions Ltd. Educomp will manage the project on behalf of MSDF. The company will select six unaided private schools that serve lower income families in Hyderabad, and pilot and evaluate innovations in education in them. The interventions will blend the use of technology and pedagogy. Students will be exposed to subject enrichment, reading and speaking, cognitive development, study smart and physical fitness programmes.

MSDF hopes that the data from Project Gyana Shakti will help improve educational outcomes in these children. Sustainable models for improved learning could then be developed and implemented throughout India.

BHOPAL

Key course

The Jagran Institute of Communication and Management (JICM), Bhopal, invites applications for its two-year postgraduate diploma in management (communication) for 2009-2011. To be eligible, you need a bachelors degree, with a minimum of 50 per cent marks, or equivalent in any discipline. Selection is based on a candidate’s performance in the JICM entrance test (JICMET). It will be an added advantage if he or she has appeared in XAT, CAT or MAT. Forms are available at select branches of IMS, Career Launcher and AXIS bank for Rs 1,250. Students can also fill in the form online and pay through credit / debit cards or Internet banking at www.jicm.edu.in.

CALCUTTA

Just Japanese

The ministry of education, culture, sports, science and technology (Mext), Government of Japan, is offering a 1,70,000 yen (Rs 90,000) per month scholarship to school teachers who wish to conduct research on school education at Japanese universities. The training course will be conducted in Japanese from October 2009 to March 2011. The courses mainly consist of educational administration, educational methods, specialised subject research and observational tours and practice.

Those who have taught in an elementary or secondary school for at least five years and fulfil other requirements are eligible to apply. Applicants must also learn Japanese for six months and receive research guidance in the language. Scholarship recipients must apply the results of their research to their teaching after they return to India.

Selection will be on the basis of language tests (English and Japanese) and an interview at the Japanese Consulate office. For details contact the Cultural and Press Department, Consulate General of Japan, 55 M.N. Sen Lane, Tollygunge, Calcutta-700040, or email to cgjkol1@dataone.in. The last date of submission of forms is February 14.

Going global

IBS International recently organised a seminar on the topic International Careers for Global MBAs at Hotel Senator, Calcutta. Global management aspirants should take advantage of opportunities available in the globalised business environment, said K.V. Iyer, head of the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India International Division.

Indian companies too are venturing abroad. The emerging Indian MNCs too need “multinational” employees. However, there are few MBA programmes in India that provide such a global orientation. IBS International now offers a two-year “global” MBA programme with the advantage of international exposure. The degree will be jointly given by IBS and a participating international university. A one-year “global executive” MBA programme is also being offered.

IBS International has campuses at four centres of business and commerce — Adelaide (Australia), Luton (near London), Neuchatel (near Geneva) and Ras Al Khaimah (the UAE). The participating universities are the University of Southern Australia, University of Bedfordshire (Luton), University of Neuchatel and University of Wollongong in Dubai. Admission bulletins for the programmes can be obtained from ICFAI CPAD Calcutta, 224 A.J.C. Bose Road, 812 Krishna Building, Calcutta-700017.

Mobile matters

Nokia, the global mobile giant, conducted a campus interview at the Gariahat branch of the Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training on January 14. Nine of 17 students were shortlisted. The process began with self-introductions, followed by group discussions and the interview. The selected candidates are looking forward to their flight into the corporate world.

Sangita Purkayastha,
Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training, Gariahat Branch

Food for study

Helping Hand, the social club of the J.D. Birla Institute, organised an orientation programme in association with Akshaya Patra, a not-for-profit trust that sponsors mid-day meal schemes for poor children. Ensuring that children get a free meal at school is not only a powerful tool for combating malnutrition but also an effective education strategy. The students were informed that besides financial assistance they could render their support by volunteering to work for such schemes. “It is not about charity but social responsibility,” said the principal of the college.

Hetal Udani,
IIIrd year, BCom, J.D. Birla Institute

Checkmate, champ!

January 15 would remain forever in the minds of the 50 odd finalists of the NIIT Challenge the Champ — Inter College Chess Tournament. That’s because the youngsters got a chance to play against Viswanathan Anand. As Anand moved from one board to another, wrapping up each game in just a few seconds, his opponents smilingly accepted defeat.

“I realised that I loved playing chess when I was only six. I guess that recognition helped me reach where I am,” said Anand. The Grandmaster said that he practises the game for up to 10 hours a day. The participants were selected from colleges across West Bengal. They had to undergo a preliminary contest to qualify for the finals.

Career guide

The Telegraph Careergraph Education Directory 2009 was launched at the Infocom Conference and Exhibition 2008-09 by Debesh Das, minister of information technology, Government of West Bengal. The event was held on January 17 at ITC Sonar Bangla. Also present on the occasion were Ingit Kumar Mukhopadhyay, director general, National Council of Science Museums; Biswadip Gupta, joint managing director and CEO, JSW Bengal Steel Ltd; Ajoy Mukherjee, vice-president, Human Resource, TCS; and Ashok Dutta, director, Indian Institute of Management, Shillong.

The directory was a huge success last year and went out of stock within 10 days of hitting the stands. This year it will hit the stands during the book fair. The edition contains information about reputed institutes across the country and the courses they offer. The 256-page student’s guide comes with a CD containing all the information.

CALCUTTA

Art for heart’s sake

The annual students’ reunion of the Government College of Art and Craft, Calcutta, was held on January 14 on the college premises. It was huge gathering of artists — old and young — with some travelling all the way from abroad just to attend the event. It was wonderful to see the people sway to music like they would when they were students. Upal Sengupta of Chandrabindoo, also an ex-student of the institution, belted out some lovely numbers and principal Kamalaksha Gangopadhyay surprised everyone by joining the jive.

There were stage performances too. Some presented songs while others recited their favourite lines. Let’s hope that next year’s event will be even more huge and heart warming.

Azder Ali Mirza,
Government College of Art and Craft

WRITE IN Do you have any experiences or anecdotes to share with us? Send your contributions to
Campus Buzz, Careergraph, The Telegraph, 6 Prafulla Sarkar Street, Calcutta-700 001;
Fax: 2236 1208, 2225 3142;
e-Mail: career@abpmail.com