UNICEF Applauds National Stamp Designs for Child Rights...

The Department of Posts, in association with UNICEF on the occasion of Children's Day in India (Nov 14) announced the winners of the 2019 Stamp Design Competition, whilst also commemorating thirty years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The top two winning entries have been adapted as stamps.

More than 14,000 children from across India participated with stamp designs in the annual competition run by the Department of Posts, this year in partnership with the Ministry of Communication, the Government of India and UNICEF. The theme for this year’s competition was child rights.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations on 20 November 1989, and is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. India ratified the CRC in 1992, committing to protect and promote all rights of children. In partnership with Government, civil society, communities and children across India, UNICEF is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the CRC and 70 years in India working for the rights of every child. 

Speaking on this year’s stamp design competition, a senior official from the Department of Posts said, 

“Every year, the Department of Posts holds a Stamp Design Competition on Children’s Day inviting drawings, paintings and sketches from children on a particular theme. The theme of this year’s Children’s Day Stamp Design Competition was ‘Child Rights’.” 

On the partnership with UNICEF, the Department official continued, 

“The partnership with UNICEF this year has served twin objectives: on one hand, it is generating awareness about philately and on the other hand, it is creating awareness about child rights. Children have sent us excellent art work on what the CRC means for them. Today, children clearly identify new challenges facing them as well as available opportunities. Young people are speaking out for their right to education, demanding an end to discrimination, calling for end to violence, striking for action on the climate crisis, campaigning for digital reform and calling on leaders to protect their future.”

The winning entries – three winners and five consolation prices – will be awarded at a national event in New Delhi on 20 November 2019, World Children’s Day. While the top two designs on child rights are adapted as stamps, the remaining are used for preparing various philatelic items including first day cover, brochure etc. The 1st prize winner will win a cash prize of INR 50,000. The 2nd and 3rd prize winners will receive INR 25,000 and INR 10,000 respectively. The five consolation prizes are worth INR 5,000 each. 

Congratulating the winners and all children who participated, Foroogh Foyouzat, Deputy Representative for UNICEF in India said, 

“Indian children have brought the Convention on the Rights of the Child to life with their inspiring and beautiful stamp designs. Every child who participated is a winner in our shared responsibility to work tirelessly so that every child in India realizes all of his or her rights. In their entries, we can see girls and boys dreams for themselves and for all children. At a time when children and childhood itself are faced with new challenges in a rapidly changing world, these powerful images by children are a great reminder that we must all do more to put child rights at the heart of India now and for all future generations.” 

The following children have been declared as Winners:

First prize winner              :     Ms. Nidhi Rahul Mhatre (15), Boisar, Maharashtra

Second prize winner          :     Ms. Vibhushi Agarwal (12), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Third prize winner            :      Ms. Deepali Midha (17), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Consolation prize winners:      (i) Master Rupam Mahanty (10), Jamshedpur, Jharkhand

                                                 (ii) Ms. Vaidehi Vikas Shirsath (17), Bengaluru, Karnataka

                                                 (iii) Ms. Arya Thapa (14), Tadong, Sikkim

                                                 (iv) Master Sarvesh Suresh Joshi (07), Parbhani, Maharashtra

                                                 (v) Ms. Kratika Chittoriya (14), Nagra, Rajasthan

Franchising With ExpanGlobal...

With a view to bringing over 100 leading brands and key delegates from around the world under one roof, ExpanGlobal hosted India’s Largest International Global Franchise Show at Le Meridien this week.

Throughout the show, attendees were encouraged to take advantage of the expansive display of franchise opportunities, explore and network with industry-leading franchise brands, and attend comprehensive programs.

Global Franchise Show offers guests the chance to learn strategies for success with over seminars and in-depth workshops. The show acts as a mediator that provides the best of both worlds. While for the franchisor, it brings the best form of capital that is equity free and debt free, for the franchisee it provides a guided opportunity to own and operate a business. The franchisees focus on the operations while the franchisor concentrates on enhancing the core competencies.

This being ExpanGlobal's first show in India, the event featured brands across Food & Beverage, Retail, Education, Health & Wellness, and Service Sectors.

Speaking about the event, Mr. Raghav Khattar, President Marketing and Communication, ExpanGlobal said,

“We’ve always supported the National Event shows and believe strongly in the concept of franchise expositions, although we recommend a variety of marketing channels to franchisors, the Franchise expos are consistently part of new and existing franchise marketing plans. We appreciate the consistency and professional relationship that National Events has always shown
us and our clients who exhibit with them.”

On the other hand, Mr. Mrinal Srivastava who is President Global Expansion and Strategy at ExpanGlobal was of the following opinion

“As economic optimism continues to rise and the franchise industry grows to new heights, many businessmen and women are turning to franchising to transform their lives. Each year, exhibitors who come to Global Franchise Show have the opportunity to shine a spotlight on their franchise brand, introduce their investment opportunity to hundreds of qualified individuals, attract new leads, and connect face-to-face with existing candidates all over a two-day period. The show generates massive amounts of foot traffic – allowing the franchisors on-site to be introduced to quality leads who will allow them to break into new regions and/or further develop their reach in existing markets.”

All in all, it was a great opportunity for stakeholders in the franchise world. :)

A Decade of British Medical Journal In India...

It is just yesterday that British Medical Journal (BMJ) India celebrated its ten years of operations in South Asia.

BMJ started out in South Asia with the commencement of its operations in India. With a multitude of educational initiatives, some of which include Journals from BMJ, including The BMJ, BMJ Learning, BMJ Best Practice, Course in Diabetes, provision of high quality, evidence-based resources to clinicians in South Asia has always been on BMJ's radar. The commemoration of a decade marks BMJ's way of thanking all their partners, customers, stakeholders and collaborators in India over the past decade.

By the means of its numerous events such as The BMJ Awards South Asia, Healthcare Improvement Summits and The BMJ Conclave, BMJ has aimed to provide the best platforms to its delegates in South Asia.

BMJ has perseveringly trained nearly 9000 doctors through BMJ Masterclass and received a cumulative of 5000 entries in the BMJ Awards since its launch in 2014. In merely four years, the organization has trained 300+ doctors through its courses in Diabetes & CKD.

With accreditation from the Maharastra, Delhi, and Goa Medical Councils, and its Research To Publication initiative, BMJ is also fostering credible scholars from India's vast think tank.

To mark the occasion Mr. Prashant Mishra, Managing Director BMJ India & South Asia announced a charity initiative in partnership with Smile Foundation under which BMJ and Smile Foundation plan to jointly conduct health camps in Delhi-NCR through a programme named Smile Health Camp with the objective of providing primary health care services to the underserved women and adolescent girls in our society.

While sharing his vision and the help extended by BMJ, Mr. Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said, “India is witnessing a rising demand for immediate medical facilities across urban and rural areas as a major part of the population continues to reside in urban slums or remote and hard-to-reach rural areas, and are also suffering and fighting the worst kind of ailments. In such a scenario a mobile healthcare service delivery system is the most practical mechanism that can deliver immediate relief to the needy. We are thankful to the British Medical Journal for their support in ‘Smile on Wheels’ programme. We are pleased to share with you that our partnership has facilitated the delivery of quality healthcare services to the very doorsteps of the needy, besides promoting healthcare awareness among the underprivileged.”

Commenting on the occasion and applauding BMJ India's achievements, Mr. Prashant Mishra, Managing Director, BMJ India & South Asia, said,

“It gives me great pleasure to see BMJ India reach this milestone. We’ve covered a long journey ever since we established the first office for the South Asian region in New Delhi. I can assure all our stakeholders that we will continue to demonstrate our commitment towards creating a healthier world through our evidence-based educational resources: courses, journals, e-learning programs, and CME content.”

All in all, BMJ India hopes to continue scaling heights in the medical and academic arenas, renewing their faith in the mission and vision of BMJ. :)

Introspection At XIN Philanthropy Conference 2018...

The Alibaba Foundation jointly with UCWeb hosted the Global Forum of the XIN Philanthropy Conference 2018 on the occasion of UN International Day of Charity in remembrance of Mother Teresa (September 5).

Launched in 2016, it is the first conference of its kind to be held out of China. The biennial conference is an important representation of Alibaba Group’s commitment to encouraging inclusive, universal and sustainable growth for businesses and communities alike.

Alibaba Group regards India as a major part of its philanthropy roadmap, while UC’s philanthropic mission in India is to bridge the Digital Divide as much as possible. In tune with this vision and under the theme of ‘Love and Infinity’, the Global Forum held in Delhi advocated for a wide public awareness and actions on Education, Children Protection and Women Empowerment.

Hosted by Indian actress and Founder of Col. Shamsher Singh Foundation Gul Panag, the Global Forum of Xin Philanthropy Conference has become a prominent gathering of renowned Indian philanthropists and public welfare advocates.

While this year's conference held in the heart of the city had popular Hindi film actress Kangana Ranaut sharing her personal experience of being a frontline advocate for women equality, a multitude of speakers within the global welfare and business domains included Robin Raina, the Chairman, CEO & President of Ebix Inc. and founder of the Robin Raina Foundation, Abha Singh, lawyer, social activist and founder of Rann-Samar Foundation, Meagan Fallone CEO, Barefoot College International among others.

The current status of women equality and education, innovative solutions with “Internet plus philanthropy” model were discussed, given the trend that internet has brought disruptive change to every aspect of our lives.

In accordance with Alibaba’s philosophy of philanthropy, technology can help to lower the barrier for each individual to participate in philanthropy and unleash “The Power of Small” to drive big change for public welfare.

“As the world’s first Internet company that integrates philanthropy into its core strategy, Alibaba’s philanthropy is without a border. That’s why we take the XIN Philanthropy Conference out of China for the first time, here in India. It shows the importance of India for Alibaba. This is also the first time our Internet plus Philanthropy Model has set its foot on the global path.”, Shunyan Zhu, President of UC, Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group, stated on the occasion.

Arunima Sen, Programme Analyst for Governance, UN Women India MCO, Soha Moitra, Regional Director of Child Rights and You, Saurabh Jain, Vice President of Paytm and Head of Paytm Build for India Initiative and Alex Li, Managing Director of Alibaba Cloud India, joined Shunyan to officially kick off the 5th September Philanthropy Week during which different business units of Alibaba Group will have multiple philanthropic programs for public participation on a global scale.

A business within Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group, UC has rooted in India for 7 years, amplifying Alibaba’s charitable efforts with the global breadth and Indian depth along with its business influence and brand reputation. With its new mission of Bigger We-Media, Bigger You, UC Browser, a leading content platform with 130 million monthly active users, will work with Indian content creators to build a responsible content ecosystem.

“We will use Internet technology to bridge the inequality gap, and eliminate poverty with knowledge and information,” said Mr. Shunyan Zhu.

Apart from empowering local charitable organizations, UC strives to empower the women in India. As the second most populated country, India possesses unexplored power from women. Based on the belief that the Internet is an equal platform, UC Browser established the UC Women’s channel, firstly in India, that provides knowledge in lifestyle, fashion, and career, it allows women to focus on self-growth and self-realization.

In addition to that, UC kicked off #SheDeservesToKnow campaign led by the well-known Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut.

“I pride myself on being a fearless woman who believes that women empowerment is a movement that has to take over the world. It has been a pleasure for me to be here to witness a brand like Alibaba and UC encouraging women and providing us with a platform where digital literacy and empowerment are primary focuses,” said Kangana, who is also associated with the #SheDeservesToKnow empowerment project.

In light of the positive result of UC Shiksha, UC determines to fully utilize the influence of its platform for philanthropy. In collaboration with ten charitable organizations and philanthropic advocates in India, UC Browser is about to launch the UC Hope, a charity channel for local charitable content. The channel aims to increase users’ awareness on the social issues in India and to nurture empathy by news-feeding the philanthropic content.

All in all, it was an insightful time at the XIN Philanthropy Conference 2018. :)

Re-imagining Hospitality Education At Indian School of Hospitality...

Indian hotels are known around the world and India boasts of a rapidly growing service industry, but we do not have a matching standard of hospitality education. 

To bridge the gap, Indian School of Hospitality, a world-class hospitality education enterprise established off Sector 83, Gurgaon has opened its doors in order to reimagine hospitality education. Helmed by Mr. Dilip Puri and boasting of some of the most premier names on its advisory and faculty panels, ISH is the new kid on the block to watch out for. 

With its sound understanding of nuances of the hospitality, travel and tourism industry- as well as the needs of the millennial student, ISH believes that these fields are becoming the fastest growing worldwide, and require talent that’s more versatile and flexible than ever before. 

Facade at ISH

With their aim is to provide students with the relevant skills, mindset, and spirit to succeed as the leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators of tomorrow, the ISH philosophy is to impart lifelong skills to students to help them succeed as the innovators of tomorrow - giving them the tools they need to shape one of the most dynamic industries worldwide. 

Avenue at ISH

The course structure at ISH is aimed at providing the ideal foundation for managerial and leadership development, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning. Backed by the academic accreditation of Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, ISH has inducted its first 'Class of 2022' fired by the dedication to providing educational excellence to its students, upholding of international hospitality education standards, and their strong connection to the industry. 

The curriculum at ISH brings together both traditional hospitality concepts and modules and intertwines them with some of the most in-demand streams of today’s corporate world. While students will be learning food & beverage and housekeeping, they’ll also build a strong portfolio of marketing, law, ethics, human resource management, accounting and entrepreneurship and more. 

In-House Cafe 'Delish'

Throughout their journey with ISH, students will experience active learning – not just passive listening. The curriculum has a strong focus on independent research and critical thinking, as well as practical experience through business internships and business model creation – meaning students will actually experience real-world scenarios while they still have the support and guidance of ISH – giving them an exceptional head start once they graduate and begin their real careers. 

ISH's Food Hall

Every part of the campus was tailormade with a unique philosophy in mind. While creating it, ISH wanted to bring together two very important facets of their vision – to build a space for students to be able to gain hands-on, real-world expertise, while also preserving their mission to spark joy in learning and discovery. The campus is an amalgamation of both a colorful, interactive space that enables students to exercise the practical aspect of the curriculum, while at the same time giving them a space to socialize, have fun, flourish and just enjoy some of the best years of their life. 

Student Learning Centre

ISH is currently opening doors to their first batch of students, and are offering the following programmes: 

• Bachelors in Hotel Management (with a Certification in Hospitality Management) 
• Bachelors in Travel & Tourism (with a Certification in Culinary Arts) 
• Intensive Culinary Arts Certificate 

In the near future, they will begin offering postgraduate and executive education programmes, as well as shorter duration culinary arts programmes with a unique focus on entrepreneurship. 

On the whole, I had an enriching experience on my recent visit to the ISH campus that continues to be a work in progress for times to come. :)

A New Me With #DefinitelyPTE...

‘When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.’ 

Clifton Fadiman hit the nail on the head with this quote of his, and I am not sure whether he the same perspective in mind that I do but this statement fits like a puzzle piece in the jigsaw of the higher education or professional pursuance scenario.

Come to think of it, settlement in foreign lands is certainly not a piece of cake, more so in the nascent stage, even if one sets foot on non-native land by virtue of learning or career.

Migration is not an alien concept to mankind, given the fact that our lifestyle today stems from a nomadic beginning that delved gradually into long-term settlement ever since the stone age.

The scenario hasn't changed much, even today, since the reasons for such an exodus are largely attributed to individual want for an enhanced standard of living coupled with the unsaid yet prominent manifestation of an enriched culture.

 ~~~ 

While overseas education is very much the 'in-thing', it is the 'behind-the-scenes' action that an individual's peers often overlook as spectators. The move is often viewed as an element of pride to be boasted about in circles more often than not, by one's immediate relatives. However, it is the preparation for the switch that is sapping on more fronts than one for a person who firmly decides to 'just do it'.

A similar fate unfolds for an individual who attempts to sap foreign lands for liquid gains on the professional front, be it a short-term or long-term avenue.

It is a commendable decision nonetheless, to let go of the homeland, even if for a few years at a stretch for the aforesaid forks in the road.

 ~~~ 

More often than not, it is a steadfast positive attitude that makes the journey smooth-sailing. Being capable of adjusting to peculiar situations not only provides strength to the character but also enhances the world-view perspective. 

After all, life begins where the comfort zone ends and exploration of the self begins when one is subjected to unfamiliar terrains, is it not? 

Given the fact that self-reliance leads to self-realization in such a scenario, it comes as no surprise that distance makes the heart grow fonder. 

 ~~~ 

While zeroing in on the subject of specialization and the institute of interest is itself an insurmountable task, accustoming oneself to the variation in student culture (and otherwise also)

is also no child's play. 

On the other hand, most of the application processes are also intellectually taxing in terms of drafting a Statement of Purpose and ensuring that all relevant documents are in place for the most part. 

To add to these is the woe of ascertaining a dependable source to finance one's scholarly sojourn. 

As if these weren't hurdles aplenty, the elephant in the room - passport validities and associated visa applications - are yet to arrive. 

To top it all, deducing the nitty-gritty of student accommodation in a foreign land is no mean feat if that were to be a consolation at all! After all, you can't call it a day within the four walls of a classroom, can you? 

 ~~~ 

Unless you've devised your way of coping with the absence of home-field advantage (read homesickness), keeping a diary entry provides a seasoned way to preserve memoirs of that half-a-decade adventure, as well as facilitating a means to cope with sudden emotional outbursts. 

On the other hand, the culture shock can be coped with to a certain extent, thanks to the thriving presence of social media, is it not? After all, being prepared is key. 

While we feel that we are going to find a pot of gold at the end of each rainbow, the reality presents a stark contrast as patience would be of utmost importance to balance most, if not all aspects. 

After all, devising a fresh routine in accordance with a brand new time zone can take a few practice sessions. :)

 ~~~ 

However, the most effective means to bridge the gap on all fronts in life is, you guessed it, communication. As much as we may resent it, English is a foreign language for us, Indians. As a result, it is the most critical avenue to master before stepping out in the sun. For, if you're not careful enough, you'll be burnt to a crisp for sure. 

While TOEFL and IELTS take precedence as the most prevalent and popular English Language Tests across the globe, the folks at Pearson India have attempted to ease the hassle to a certain extent by professing #DefinitelyPTE - a smart alternative for students and professionals alike - to manifest their proficiency in the English language on a global platform.

In accordance with the norm for competitive exams in the nation, PTE Academic (short for Pearson Test of English Academic) is a single, three-hour, computer-based test that assesses candidates on the four pillars of the language - namely -  Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening - in three parts with twenty question types, coupled with an optional scheduled break of ten minutes. 

Backed by data forensics of the likes of palm vein scanning, coupled zero bias towards the background of test takers, and an accurate and consistent test score curve, it is #DefinitelyPTE all the way as PTE Academic emerges as an English Language Test of choice for aspirants. 

With a wide recognition sphere across the globe as far acceptance for study applications by institutions worldwide is concerned, Pearson India scores on this front as an increasingly viable option. Be it Asia, Europe, America, or Australia, #DefinitelyPTE is gaining greater acceptance by the minute. 

In order to aid familiarization towards the test pattern, Pearson India has also made available a means for the best immediate study material for the same. With a variety of preparation packages at their disposal, students have one less reason to fret over. :)

While the scored practice tests are a direct indication of an aspirant's readiness for the test, thus enabling them to decide when to take the giant leap towards their dream course or job, the means to registering for the test is also as seamless as the experience of the test itself, with registration rendered open for up to 24 hours in advance either over phone or the world wide web. Moreover, tests are held for over 360 days a year, up to five days a week, with multiple time slots daily. 

Assessed on a granular scale of 10-90, providing a detailed breakdown of performance based on skills, the scorecard presents an accurate assessment of a test taker’s proficiency. What's more, results would be made available typically within five business days via the score report module. Students can further submit their scores (valid for a period of two years) to an unlimited number of varsities. 

While there is no dearth whatsoever of test centers over the globe with over fifty countries in the offing, a few prominent and prestigious institutes that accept scores awarded by PTE Academic are Stanford University, Imperial College London, University of Canberra Australia, University of Illinois Chicago, Tokyo International University Japan, and Harvard University. 

 ~~~ 

On the whole, it is of the essence to remember and constantly remind oneself that the power of the purpose must be greater than the pain we experience along the journey. For it is a mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. :)

P.S. All embedded visuals have been credited to Pearson PTE. 

#CelebratingTomorrowTogether With GMR Varalakshmi Foundation...

GMR Group is one of the most well-known infrastructure enterprises in India, having a foundation spanning close to four decades and a diverse portfolio of projects focusing on constructing state-of-art facilities ranging over Airports, Energy, Transportation and Urban Infrastructure. 

In fact, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) is a consortium of GMR Group, Airports Authority of India, and Fraport. Apart from providing the country with world-class infrastructure to boast about, GMR Group also has its CSR initiatives going strong with Varalakshmi Foundation as its CSR arm. 

In conjunction with Varalakshmi Foundation's silver jubilee and DIAL VTI's ten-year-long efforts and on the occasion of Teacher's Day yesterday, I was delighted to accept an invitation from GMR Group to pay a visit to Varalakshmi Foundation's Vocational Training Institute here in Delhi and witness the Foundation's best efforts at the grassroots level in critical scenarios of Education, Primary Health and Hygiene, Empowerment and Livelihoods (particularly of youth and women), and Community Development in keeping with GMR's seven core values and beliefs. 

Seven Core Values and Beliefs of GMR Group

GMR, in keeping with the core philosophy of working hand in hand with the community, and as elucidated by Ms. Meena Raghunathan, Director, Community Services at GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, explored Skilling as avenue beginning 2003. Focusing primarily on unemployed youth (school/college dropouts) from underprivileged families, GMR VF set out to provide a first step into some skilled vocation for many, rather than informal work. Once trained, trainees across a total of twelve currently running courses (ten vocations and two - Personality Development and Communication Skills) could express interest for a job for which the VTI works with their Industry Partners of the likes of Voltas, Volvo, Schneider Electric etc. or self-employment. 

Apart from two other such training facilities in Hyderabad and Bangalore, ten have been established in rural backdrops. So, that makes for a total of thirteen such training centers across the length and breadth of the nation. While VTI Delhi offers ten vocations, there are a variety of thirty courses being offered across all such centers. 

It was overwhelming to know that five of the ten vocations are making girls capable enough to be employed, those being: Computer Data Entry, Nursing, Tailoring, Garment Quality Checking, and Retail. While the gender ratio is a bit skewed towards boys i.e. 55 is to 45, it is still heartening to acknowledge the effort of girls coming forward to support their families amid testing waters. 

It was also comforting to interact with seven trainees currently pursuing courses at VTI while applauding their efforts to carve their identities by attempting to acquire plausible skills and encouraging them to egg on with their positive spirit. 

Whilst touring VTI to acquaint ourselves with some of the ongoing courses, their duration, the eligibility criteria for trainees to seek admission, and the relevant Industry Partners, we were also let known of the fact that word-of-mouth was of utmost importance while mobilizing such youth who could benefit from the foundation's initiative. 

VTI is well-equipped with classrooms, hostel, mess, work shed, library, seminar hall, and a playground for trainees. The significant features of the Vocational Training Program were elucidated to us as under:  

• Provides skill training in 10 different trades in collaboration with credible industry partners.
• Available training for candidates of fifth-pass to graduate level.
• Since inception in 2009, a total of 4000 youth have been trained and about 3374 have been placed. Around 15% trainees are working in IGI Airport in Delhi through different vendors.
• Residential vocational training center having the capacity to train approximately 750 youth each year with a settlement success rate of 84%
• Industry partners are engaged for all ten channels to ensure settlement of the trainees
• Integration of soft skill training and English speaking to ensure the job readiness of trainees.
• The center has a well-developed system for mobilization of youth, counseling, training on soft skills, placement and post placement support. 
  
  

In addition to such an initiative by Varalakshmi Foundation, EMPOWER – 'Enabling Marketing of Products of Women Entrepreneurs' facilitates training, production, and marketing of a range of artifacts made by self-help groups comprising of women from underserved communities across India, including Delhi. Training in making jute products, hand-made paper products, weaving and embroidery, stitching and tailoring are some of the activities undertaken as a part of EMPOWER. 

Depending on the orders, women earn anywhere between ₹4000 to ₹8000 per month. The initiative is almost close to breaking even for the entire value chain, but the support it gets from GMR VF in terms of training, equipment, spaces, etc. subsidize the cost of the enterprise, thus helping it to move towards sustainability. 

Women working at VTI Delhi to manufacture Jute Bags

As an educator myself, it was overwhelming to witness first-hand, and appreciate the heartfelt efforts being put in by GMR Group as a realization of their presence as an agent of constructive change in society by enhancement and creation of value through Corporate Social Responsibility. :)

Sparking An Interest In Maths With SEAMO India...

Maths could easily be conferred as 'The Most Interesting Yet Frightful Subject' for a majority of students across the globe. Most students detest the subject owing to a variety of reasons.

It is also a reality in India that most brain drain happens because there is a dearth of resources and right opportunities or the means to utilize those opportunities in our country.

SEAMO, short for South East Asian Mathematical Olympiad, after having discovered minds with a mathematical bent in across twelve nations of South East Asia, namely Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Jakarta, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste has now stepped foot in the Indian academic arena, with the mission to dispel the fear factor associated with Mathematics as a subject whilst providing a platform to creative and brilliant minds by the means of a friendly competition.

SEAMO was conceptualized by Terry Chew, is managed by noted mathematicians and experts of Terry Chew Institute of Mathematical Olympiad (TCIMO), headquartered in Singapore. Established in 1991, TCIMO has been engaged in path-breaking research in designing mathematical questions to assess a child's inherent and problem-solving skills. It encourages all categories of students to think about the solution approach to a problem.

SEAMO India is going to debut in the country on 6 August 2017, registrations for which close on July 31, 2017 and is an objective test (with no negative marking) comprising 24 questions (eight each spanning three levels - Easy, Moderate, Difficult) spanning across a two-hour time frame, aiming to promote excellence among students of Class V-XII across fifty-five cities and in more than hundred test centres. The registration fee for students wishing to participate in SEAMO India is INR 1150 for Class V-VIII and INR 1350 for Class IX-XII. Sample question papers are available on SEAMO's Indian chapter's website.

Apart from encouraging analytical thinking, by presenting a platform which assesses the logical thinking and problem-solving approach of a student by compelling them to think deeply, SEAMO also enhances the "High Order Thinking" ability of a child and recommends a learning style by the means of a personalized report.

There are multiple advantages for a student who decides to appear for SEAMO in the following manner.

• Early exposure to an International Olympiad (especially for Class V – IX) helps to nurture the mental faculty and thinking ability of the students, which ultimately boosts their confidence.

• Relative evaluation, wherein students will be able to benchmark their performance with respect to other participants, by the means of National Rank (amongst students of fifty-five cities) and International Rank (amongst students of twelve countries). 

• Performance Analysis Report based on performance in SEAMO will be a unique take away such that each student identifies their own weaknesses; improves upon them, and has an urge to perform better in the successive conduction of the competitive exam. 

• SEAMO enables the charting out of a career path suitable for a child, taking into consideration, possible career options available, though not directly but by giving an insight into the skill base of a child. 

• SEAMO encourages all categories of students to experience, assess their skill base and benchmark their performance, whereas most of the other Olympiads follow a filtration process wherein only the best students progress to the subsequent stages and others are required to exit. 

As opposed to other countries where SEAMO is being conducted in November each year, for India, it is exceptionally being conducted in August, thus SEAMO India results will be declared on 25 August 2017 along with All India Rank and personalized report for each participant, while the International Rank will be declared sometime in December 2017, once SEAMO publishes the results of all other Asian countries.

While there are participation certificates for all students, the Rewards associated with SEAMO are detailed as follows.

• Gold Plated Medal & Certificate: Top 0.025% of students 
• Silver Plated Medal & Certificate: Next 1% of students 
• Bronze Plated Medal & Certificate: Next 2% of students

All in all, SEAMO comes across as an appreciable platform for young minds to nurture their mental faculty, sharpen their problem-solving, logical, and analytical skills and enhance a positive competitive spirit. 

Education 4.0 With Auronya College...

‘Education 4.0’ – a revolutionary focus in education that will be defined in the coming decades through the conduit of technology, as it infuses itself into every sphere of humanity; be it biological, social, environmental or economic is being pioneered in India by Auronya College at Pondicherry.

Mr.Abhaya Kumar Jain – Founding Executive Chairman, Auronya and Dr.Indira J Parikh – Founding Chairperson, Auronya; the renowned education experts in the country are the driving thought leaders behind Auronya College.

Auronya College aims to answer the unknown future by proving an all-encompassing curriculum of programs to impart Education 4.0.Addressing the burning question of ‘What it will be’ in the 21^st Century; as the world is at the dawn of the new industrial revolution, Auronya College has conceptualized and will be realizing Education 4.0, for the very first time in India.

The unique disruptive system of Education 4.0 not only focuses on ‘what is taught’ but it takes a more nuanced approach to ‘the way it is taught’; an education model which is aligned with future trends, so as to develop and enhance individualized education that would go on to  define the way that youngsters of tomorrow work and live.

Supported with a heady mix of high-end technology directed towards a ‘future-centric’ knowledge, the full-bodied curriculum aims to embed timeless values and culture and as it throws light on our connections to nature, thus paving a strong path to lead humanity.

Designed by architect Padmashri B V Doshi, the campus will be state of the art and have amenities like Virtual & Augmented Reality studios, 3D printing facility, think spaces, amphitheater, smart classroom, sports facilities, gymnasium, swimming pool etc; the sprawling campus of Auronya will have six departments   - School of Design & Sciences; School of Humanity & Art; School of Business & Economics; School of Social Science; School of Research & Intelligence and School of Media & Communication. The event also marked the launch of Antariksh - one-year post graduate diploma program in New Age Management & Leadership (PGDNAML), beginning in October 2017.
Antariksh is designed to prepare Future Leaders, who are ready to lead in the 4^th Industrial revolution; it will focus on complete transformation and not a singular improvement in the skills and abilities of an individual in interconnected ecosystems.

Eligibility for Antariksh was elucidated as follows:

• Candidates who have a minimum of 2-5 years of full-time work experience at any level in external or family business can apply for the program
• Candidates without any work experience can also apply and will have to go through a specially designed screening process for fresh graduates
• The introductory fee for the year-long program is Rs 15, 00,000,  inclusive of resort style accommodation & food, global immersion, national immersion, boot camp, personal growth lab and spiritual immersion
• The management will provide scholarships for students on a need cum merit basis

Speaking at the event, Mr.Abhaya Kumar – Founding Executive Chairman, Auronya said, “Auronya College aims to bring a paradigm shift in the education system to align ourselves with the fourth industrial revolution by redesigning the 20th century model of education to meet real-time needs of internationalized, technology driven fast changing the 21st century. Auronya is built with a foundation of creation and contribution embracing the spirit of liberal education, invention, intelligence, globalization and entrepreneurship.”

Speaking about Auronya, Dr.Indira Parikh - Founding Chairperson, Auronya said, “This millennium has created a major discontinuity in the existence of human beings. The generation born in this decade and those yet to be born will be confronting a revolution in technology and as a consequence in the life and living and relationships amongst people. Education and employment will undergo change not available in the history of mankind. In order to meet the unfolding of this New Age Change the country needs to prepare an education which will be the real agent for the times and meaningful to the generation of students... the country will also need to prepare leaders who will take the responsibility to shape this change in a most dignifies human manner.”

“AURONYA is one such academic institution which is starting a pioneering Post Graduate Program in New Age Management and Leadership. The courses offered at AURONYA are designed based on the technology just in the making, impact of technology in occupation, at work, in the family and the human existence. These are courses which are futuristic and envisaged how the world will be shaped by these technologies.  Education at AURONYA will prepare students to be ready with domain knowledge of BioSciences, Nanotechnology, Digitisation and similar other subjects. When these technologies emerge there will be students ready with knowledge and clarity of taking the leadership roles. They will all be ready to respond to the changes in the human phenomenon so that people can cope with and give shape to these changes.” added Dr. Indira.

Mr.Anuj Sharma, Founding Dean, Auronya said “Auronya’s learning environment is designed to infuse human connection with nature and harmony while immersing the experience with future technologies. At Auronya, knowledge, and technology represents the “What” while human insights represent the “Why.”Auronya College is committed to expanding its learning universe in the coming years for unique Undergraduate, Masters and Post Graduate programs.”

Auronya College is thus a pioneer in the conceptualization of Education 4.0, a paradigm shift to align Education with the fourth industrial revolution.  It is led by academician Prof. Indira Parikh, former dean of IIM-A and industrialist S. Abhaya Kumar Jain, former MD of Strides Shasun. It has upcoming state-of-the-art campuses in Pondicherry with new age facilities such as virtual reality studio, 3D printing, augmented reality lab etc apart from smart classrooms, amphitheater, tennis court and fully furnished residential facility with a gymnasium, swimming pool and more. Auronya’s first program Antariksh is one year Post Graduate Diploma in New Age Management & Leadership (PGDNAML) and will start in October 2017.

Universities Of The Future With Pranab Mukherjee...

Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India today inaugurated an international conference themed as “Universities of the Future: Knowledge Innovations and Responsibility’’ at O. P.  Jindal Global University (JGU). The 3-day conference hosted by the university is being held from 18-20th of March 2017.

The conference which seeks to examine the future of Indian universities in the 21st century is being organized by the International Institute for Higher Education Research and Capacity Building (IIHEd), O. P. Jindal Global University. It recognizes that while individual scholars have reached global excellence, the Indian university, as an institution requires essential reforms to acquire the intellectual status and eminence.

The inaugural was a landmark event graced by a host of distinguished guests notably Professor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Governor of Haryana; Shri Rambilas Sharma, Minister of Education, Government of Haryana; Smt. Kavita Jain, Minister for Women and Child Development; Shri Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Member of Parliament, Sonepat and other eminent personalities.

Speaking on occasion, Shri Pranab Mukherjee said, “Knowledge mobilization through quality higher education is pivotal to the socio-economic development of a nation. Innovation and futuristic universities are the driving force behind this. There is an urgent need to improve the education system in terms of the quality of instruction, faculty, research and capacity building.”

The President lamented that no Indian university figures in the top 200 universities in the world. Transforming universities into centers of excellence is the key challenge policy-maker and academic leaders face. Educational institutions have to gear up to face the socio-economic challenge the country is facing in terms of job creation. The ‘demographic dividend’ in our country has to be tapped with the help of these educational institutions, which will have to be holistic, value-based, skill-intensive and technologically advanced. He stressed that the future of higher education lies in the increased use of IT through innovation and futuristic teaching.

The President said, “Quality, affordability, and accessibility are the three cornerstones of higher education which need to be understood in the Indian context. Our universities need to actively pursue linkages with the best universities in the world to ensure student mobility, collaborative research, and joint projects.” He also emphasized on the linkages between education and industry and said, “Innovation should be linked to the market.  Through collaborative work and international knowledge exchange, educational institutes can build a larger influence in the international education arena.’’

Speaking to an eminent gathering Shree Rambilas Sharma, Education Minister, Haryana said, “Knowledge, innovation, and responsibility have been Indian patents since ancient times. Knowledge is not only our past but is our future.”

Welcoming the first citizen of India to the JGU campus, Mr. Naveen Jindal, the Founding Chancellor, of the University said, “We are proud and honored to have the President of the country inaugurate this conference. It is a rare fortune for us at JGU to have him in our midst. He is at our campus for the second time today. His first visit was in March 2013 for the Conference on ‘The Future of Indian Universities,’ a moment vividly remembered as one of the most inspiring in the institution’s history”.

Talking of Universities of the Future, Naveen Jindal said, “In this context, three reform initiatives are imperative. First is to debate the option of a four-year undergraduate programme. Even as our universities churn out thousands of graduates every year, serious questions are often raised about their employability. The four-year undergraduate degree provides an opportunity to gain additional knowledge and skills and goes a long way in improving the quality of education. It gives flexibility through exit points at the end of 3rd year and 4th year, better combination of major and minor courses.

Secondly, he suggested, “The traditional models of classroom based learning are challenged by e-learning and massive open online courses (MOOCs). Social media is changing the way learning takes place. We must fully harness the technological potential for building a university of the future. His third suggestion was interdisciplinary and professional approaches to higher education.

Talking about the pertinent need of the conference, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, JGU said “The Indian higher education system is facing many challenges, as issues related to quality, quantity, accessibility, and equity are simultaneously being addressed.  While there has been an effort to address the challenge of expansion and provide opportunities to access higher education, a lot more needs to be done. O.P. Jindal Global University aims to overcome these challenges in a sustained manner to become a truly world-class institution.

This is a defining moment for the Indian Higher Education with the political leadership aligned with institutional aspirations. With substantive and sustained regulatory reforms, and significant funding made available to the Indian Higher Education sector, we can realistically hope that the next decade can have a few Indian Universities to become truly world class”.

The Conference is a culmination of a range of ideas and perspectives that aim to shape India's aspirations of building world-class universities through comparative and international dimensions. It is a recognition that the future of Indian universities and their ability to seek global excellence will depend on three critical paradigms, first, need for creating a vision for higher education that will focus on research and knowledge creation, institutional excellence and global benchmarking as the indicators for standard-setting; second, the need for pursuing substantial reforms relating to policy, regulation and governance of higher education; and third, is the need for investigating a paradigmatic shift for promoting interdisciplinary in higher education with a stronger and deeper focus on the pedagogy of teaching and learning in different fields of inquiry.

Through a series of perspectives from noted academics and scholars from around the world, the Conference will attempt to discuss these three strings of thought across various sessions, including sessions on research and innovation, regulation and policymaking, financing of universities, internationalisation of higher education and subject specific sessions on science and technology, medicine, law, management, social sciences and humanities, journalism, international affairs and public policy.

The goal is also to create higher education opportunities that will enable the future generations of students to pursue a world-class education in world-class universities in India.