The theme of this year’s edition of the IIT Madras Symposium is “Education in Rural India”. The event aims to create a tangible solution to the issue as well as implement it. In fact, it will be used as a case study to give authority to and support the policy changes that the symposium brings out. The solution with the policy changes will then be presented to various governmental bodies and NGOs. Fifty participants will be chosen through a rigorous screening process. Participants must be in their undergraduate or graduate courses. The symposium requires participants from different backgrounds — economics, engineering, governance, social entrepreneurship and engineering design, and so on. Queries can be sent to symposium@shaastra.org.

Distance mode

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai, invites applications to its two-year postgraduate diploma and one-year diploma in management through distance learning. To know more about the courses and how to register online, visit www.nmimsonline.org or call (022) 42355555 / 65273623.

Business deal

ICFAI University, Mizoram, is offering an industry-oriented MBA programme for corporates through distance mode. The course can be pursued only through a corporate tie-up. Applicants must have a bachelors in any discipline. Interested candidates may visit www.iumizoram.edu.

TEST FOR THE BEST: Educational Testing Services (ETS) recently announced the winners of the 2010 TOEFL® Scholarship Program in India, which received more than 300 applications. Three $10,000 and four $5,000 scholarships were awarded. Of the seven winners, three will be attending universities in the UK, three in the US, and one in Canada. The winners demonstrated an outstanding ability to communicate in English, effective leadership skills and a balance between strong academic performance and extra-curricular activities such as community service.

Foreign shores

The Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal, has announced admissions to its MBBS programme for the batch commencing in August 2010. Entry will be based on merit. Applicants should have at least 50 per cent marks in physics, chemistry, biology and English (PCBE); 50 per cent in PCB (physics, chemistry, biology) and PCBE; and a minimum aggregate of 50 per cent at the Plus Two level.

There will be no entrance exam. The last date for submission is July 31. To apply, log on to www.manipal. edu.np, write to admissions@manipalu.com or call (080) 64500466 / 40789113.

Pearson’s English test

PTE Academic, an English language proficiency test developed by Pearson — a global media, education and publishing group — has been granted acceptance by the Harvard Business School. Other top B-schools such as Stanford, Yale, INSEAD and ISB, Hyderabad, too accept PTE Academic scores. Launched last year, the test is recognised or is in the process of being recognised by more than 1,500 programmes worldwide. It is endorsed by the Graduate Management Admission Council, administrators of the Graduate Management Admission Test. PTE Academic negates the biases of an American or British language / accent. Aspirants can take the test anytime on a 24-hour notice. Results are delivered in two business days.

Free GRE material

Educational Testing Service (ETS) is offering free test preparation material for the GRE ® revised General Test. Aspirants may practise the new question types and try out some of the new computer-based functionality on the GRE website. The free material includes sample questions for verbal and quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing; GRE POWERPREP® II Software, that gives students a simulated test-taking experience; and The Practice Book for the Paper-based GRE® revised General Test.

ETS also announced the launch of three TOEFL value packs. For details, visit www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/prepare/valuepacks.

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