Classes were hardly filled to the brim once colleges and Patna University opened on Saturday after a week’s holiday courtesy the second phase of polls in the state and Good Friday.

Students though were spotted lazing on the grounds of Patna College, Patna Science College and Magadh Mahila College in the absence of classes. On Saturday, even the teachers were seen sitting in the staff room chatting with their colleagues about the general elections.

The Patna College teachers were engrossed in discussions on the likely winners from the Pataliputra and Patna Sahib constituencies. If one faction — after all it’s election time — favoured the BJP for both seats, the other strongly batted for RJD’s chances in Pataliputra.

Sikha, a second-year history student at Magadh Mahila College, said on Monday: “Classes were much more regular from Monday.”

Colleges under Magadh University, except AN College, also resumed on Saturday. AN College would open on May 23. The EVMs for Patna Sahib and Pataliputra have been stored on the premises and the institute would be off limits till May 16.

Biz acumen

A course in business analytics, one of the key areas to increase a company’s productivity, has come to the Central University of Bihar. The university’s statistics department has added the course as an elective in the master’s programme for 2014-16.

Arun Kumar Sinha, the head of department, said: “These days, statistics is referred to as data science. The new (master’s) programme aims at providing students facilities that would get them acquainted with the latest areas in the subject and data analysis techniques.”

The statistics department was one of the first postgraduate courses established at the Central University of Bihar. This new academic session has added several state-of-the-art programmes, including business analytics.

Use of time

Ordinary people only think of spending time. Great people use it.

Kriteshwar Prasad, the pro-vice-chancellor of Magadh University, told the students of Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) as much on the 27th convocation ceremony of the institution. The event was organised at Premchand Rangshala on April 16.

Prasad told the students that although everyone has 24 hours in a day, the person who would use it in a meaningful way would win in life. “Very few people understand the value of time — be it students, teachers or policy makers. Everybody should value time and only then, time will value them,” he said.

While Prasad and other dignitaries spoke to the students, the main function of Ignou from Delhi was also aired at the venue through video-conferencing.

Kasimuddin Haider, regional director, Ignou, spoke on the new courses launched in the past year.

At the occasion, Kumari Sangita, who pursued her postgraduation in Hindi, and Akansha Singh, who did bachelor in tourism studies, were awarded gold medals for their performance. Overcoming hurdles, the girls have come a long way. Sangita had left her studies around 2007 after getting married. She decided to enrol herself in Ignou when she realised it would not hamper her family duties.

Akansha, too, left her studies in 2001 because of poor health. Later in 2010, she took admission in bachelor in tourism studies at the university.

Model skills

National Institute of Fashion Technology, (NIFT), Patna students held up their creative side at an event last Wednesday.

They made 3D models of the city’s iconic structures, including Patna Museum, Golghar, Padri-ki-Haveli, SK Science Centre and Hanuman Temple, as part of assignments on environmental science.

Supriya and group prepared a model of SK Memorial Hall with ivory sheets among other materials. “We decided to make the model of SK Memorial Hall because it hosts the major functions in the city,” said Supriya.

Priyanka and group made a model of Padri-ki-Haveli, complete with the cathedral bell.

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