Four students of the International Institute of Advanced Studies (IIAS), Calcutta, recently went on an eight-day trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, accompanied by three faculty members. The trip was sponsored by the Initiative Fund of the UK Prime Minister and was part of the Faculty-Student International Cultural Exchange Programme. A team of six students and two faculty members from Edinburgh’s Telford College had visited the IIAS in February and participated in the Kolkata Book Fair, which had Scotland as its theme.

The team from IIAS celebrated a belated Holi in Edinburgh, besides participating in other events. An elaborate Indian meal — which included dishes from every part of India, such as phuchkas, samosas, thandai, Kashmiri chicken, parathas, rasmalai and so on — was spread before the guests on the day. The students also smeared their hosts with colours which created the ambience for a perfect Holi away from home.

JAMSHEDPUR
Bond with the best

The School of Business and Human Resources of the Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur, has entered into a collaboration with the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. The relationship will promote joint faculty research, joint case writing, reciprocal exchange programmes for graduate students, collaborative executive education programmes, invitation of scholars for participation in conferences and lectures, and licensing of publishing materials.

“India — along with China — is one of the emerging economic powers of the 21st century,” said Peter Rodriguez, Darden’s associate dean for international affairs. “We must learn from Indian businesses how best to compete and innovate for the economy, and much of the rest of the world,” he said.

SRINAGAR
Skill pill

Kashmir University has tied up with Global Talent Track (GTT), a Pune-based skills assessment and training company, for a project aimed at enhancing the employability of youths across the state through assessment and skills training.

GTT had earlier worked with Pune University, partnering with Cisco to provide skills programmes to students in 100 colleges. “The partnership with Kashmir University will bring employable skills to a very deserving part of the country. GTT may also consider opening a centre in Srinagar,” said Uma Ganesh, CEO of GTT.

MUMBAI
Be a journo

Senior journalist Shishir Joshi has launched a mentorship-based training programme for aspiring journalists. Joshi has joined hands with Aloke Thakore, a senior journalist with a doctorate in mass communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the US, to launch Journalism Mentor (www.journalism mentor.in) in Mumbai. While the inaugural offering that begins in August is a one-year mentorship programme for those aspiring to be journalists, plans also include shorter courses for working journalists and professionals.

Graduates in any discipline are eligible. Twenty-five students will be selected for the course, which costs Rs 2,00,000. However, no student who qualifies for admission will be denied entry because of inadequate financial resources. Also, the course is designed in a way that those who want to practise journalism in regional languages can apply to the course as well as pursue it in the language of their choice. This would allow them to develop their journalistic skills independent of the medium of instruction.

GURAGON
B for business

The School of Inspired Leadership (SOIL), Gurgaon, is a new business school that has been set up by an industry consortium comprising ABB, Anand Group, Aditya Birla Group, Avantha Group, BPCL, Dabur, Dr Reddy’s Lab, GSK, Hindustan Unilever, J&J, Kohler, Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra, Max India, SAS, Schneider Electric, SRF, Symphony, TVS and Tata Steel. The first session of SOIL begins in July 2009 with two programmes — HR leadership and business leadership. The consortium members will add to the curriculum design, and review the quality of teaching, industry research and placement process. Aspirants will have to take the Calipher profile test. For further details and application forms, visit www.soilindia.net.

CALCUTTA
Life and style

Persona, a Calcutta-based career and lifestyle skills training centre, has announced the launch of a new course. The aim of the programme is to help students identify and develop their strong points as well as deal with their weak points, turning some into assets rather than liabilities. Topics covered include understanding one’s personality, mastering the art and science of self-motivation, setting and achieving goals, building self-esteem, gaining confidence, managing time, managing stress, managing anger, grooming oneself, learning etiquette, communicating effectively, and facing interviews.

The course, commencing on May 25, is certified by the TEFL Academy, Singapore. For details, contact 9331033491 / 9830058226, or visit 34, Dr Sarat Banerjee Road, Calcutta-700029.

NIS Academy, an educational initiative of NIS Sparta Ltd, has launched a new course called Programme in Business Skills. This is aimed at making students “market ready” for fast growing industries such as finance, retail and telecom. The course is designed to sharpen the attitude, business skills and habits of students besides enhancing their business knowledge. The curriculum will have three offerings — APBS, a two-year programme for Plus Two students; GPBS, a three-year programme for Plus Two students and undergraduates; and PGPBS, a two-year programme for graduates. For details, visit www.thenisacademy.com.

NComputing, a provider of low-cost computing, has announced a special pricing scheme, effective until June 20, to encourage private educational institutions to avail of its services. NComputing has already helped more than 5,000 schools in Andhra Pradesh, some of them being PS Senior Secondary School, Bharat Higher Senior School, American International School, KFI School and John F. Kennedy Public School. The special price delivers computing seats for as low as Rs 3,750. For details, visit www.ncomputing.com.

SECUNDERABAD
Quick to care

The Emergency Management and Research Institute has announced an advanced two-year postgraduate diploma in emergency care, designed by the Stanford University School of Medicine, the US. The curriculum has been framed with an aim to deliver high quality pre-hospital education and comprehensive training in the field of emergency care. The course fee is Rs 1,84,000. It is open to graduates in life sciences (botany, zoology, chemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry), nursing, physiotherapy and so on. For details, visit www.emri.in/edu or contact Somayajulu at 09701777108.

NEW DELHI
Green guide

Publishers Pearson Longman and The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) have launched a series of green books for children, with an aim to sensitise them towards the environment.

The USP of the new books is that they are printed on recycled paper. The books are meant for children between five and 16 years, and supplement the environment education curriculum followed in schools worldwide. They are beautifully illustrated and attractively designed, and give out important and relevant information to young minds and have a higher recall value than most others. Some of the titles in the range are Green Genius Guide: What are Wind Power, Solar Power, Hydropower, and more…, The Amazing Journey of a Soda Can, Nature’s Fury: Earthquakes Volcanoes and Tsunamis and Reduce. Refuse. Recycle.

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