CSIR UGC test

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has invited applications for joint CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) to be held on June 19 for determining the eligibility for the award of junior research fellowship (JRF) and for appointment of lecturers in science subjects in universities and colleges across the country.

A candidate may apply either for JRF and lectureship or for lectureship only. Two separate merit lists will be prepared for JRF and lectureship. Candidates who qualify in JRF are eligible to receive scholarships or fellowships for their research studies leading Ph.D.

The test will be held in the following subjects:

Chemical sciences

Earth sciences

Life sciences

Mathematical sciences

Physical sciences

Eligibility: Those who have passed M.Sc. degree in any of these subjects with at least 55 per cent marks are eligible to apply for the test. Final year M.Sc. students can also apply. The upper age limit for the JRF is 28 years. There is no upper age limit for the lectureship examination.

Complete information of this test can be had from the website www.csirhrdg.res.in.

source:http://www.hindu.com/edu/2011/03/21/stories/2011032150650100.htm

UGC-NET launches e-certificate

Candidates appearing for the UGC-NET will get the qualifying certificate within six days now with the University Grants Commission launching the e-certificate. The Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) Kapil Sibal launched the service recently.

The process of issuing the UGC-NET qualification certificate to successful candidates normally takes around six to eight months, a cause of concern both to UGC and to the students. However, these E-certificates will cut down the time lag for issuing the certificate to just six days. Similarly, whenever an institution writes to UGC for verification of authenticity of the NET certificate presented by the candidates, the authenticity of the certificate can now be done within a span of 24 hours as against the earlier four months.

The UGC has already initiated steps for online registration of the NET examination so that all the necessary information with regard to the candidates is captured, including their photographs, at the time of registration itself. The information thus captured is proposed to be used for the award of these e-certificates once the results are announced.

The UGC has also released a compendium of UGC schemes where the 63 schemes of the UGC have been synoptically profiled, covering the objectives of each scheme, the criteria for becoming eligible to receive financial assistance from the UGC, the operational tenure of the scheme, process of selection followed in approving the proposals, and finally the quantum of financial assistance that can be provided to execute the scheme.

source:http://www.hindu.com/edu/2011/03/08/stories/2011030850040100.htm

Sibal inaugurates E-certificate for UGC-NET qualifying candidates

New Delhi: Union Minister for Human ResourceDevelopment Kapil Sibal on Thursday inaugurated the 'e-certificate' for the University Grants Commission - National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) qualified candidates.

The minister also released a compendium of UGC schemes. The UGC has initiated steps for online registration of the NET examination so that all the necessary information with regard to the candidates is captured, including their photographs, at the time of registration itself.

The information thus captured is proposed to be used for the award of these e-certificates once the results are announced.

These e-certificates will cut down the time lag for issuing the certificate from 6-8 months to 6 days. Similarly, whenever an institution writes to UGC for verification of authenticity of the NET Certificatepresented by the candidates, the authenticity of thecertificate will now be done within a span of 24 hours as against the earlier 4 months.

The process of issuing the UGC-NET qualificationcertificate to successful candidates normally takes around 6-8 months, a cause of concern both to UGC and to the students.

Also, institutions wrote to UGC for verifying the authenticity of the NET Certificates being presented by the candidates at the time of admission to Ph.D. or at the time ofappointment in a College/University for the teaching assignment. This verification currently takes around 4 months another matter of great concern for all stakeholders.

In the compendium, 63 schemes of the UGC have been synoptically profiled, covering the objectives of each scheme, the criteria for becoming eligible to receive financial assistance from the UGC, the operational tenure of the scheme and the process of selection followed in approving the proposals, and finally the quantum of financial assistance that can be provided to execute the scheme.

The University Grants Commission conducts the national level test, viz-a-viz the National Eligibility Test (NET) twice in a year; in June and December to determine the eligibility for the recruitment of teachers as Assistant Professors in Institutions of Higher Learning and for the award of Junior Research Fellowships (JRFs).

The Test is conducted in 77 subjects at 74 Centres spread across the country. While the examination for the award of JRF is being conducted since 1984, the examination for determining the eligibility for Assistant Professorship is being conducted since 1989.

The number of Fellowships under the NET scheme has been increased from 2,000 to 6,400 per annum since 2010. In June, 2010, 10,433 candidates successfully qualified the NET for Assistant Professorship, including JRF.

source:http://indiaedunews.net/Today/Sibal_inaugurates_E-certificate_for_UGC-NET_qualifying_candidates_13636/

Symposium on trends in biochemistry inaugurated at AMU

Aligarh: Inaugurating a National Symposium on 'Current Trends in Biochemical, Biomedical andEnvironmental Sciences' organized by the Department of Biochemistry, Vice Chancellor P.K. Abdul Azis of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) said that it is quite appropriate in the present day scenario where interdisciplinary research is the norm and boundaries between various disciplines are getting blurred.

Prof. Azis said that the Department of Biochemistry has produced distinguished scientists and entrepreneurs and these alumni are working in theUnited States. He pointed out that AMU had decided to establish central instrumentation facilities with modern equipment to boost more research activities. 

Prof. Azis emphasized that the university needed biomedical, bio-engineering and environmental sciences departments and urged the faculty members to submit proposals for the same to theUniversity Grants Commission (UGC). 

He hoped that the symposium will promote scientific exchange and also encourage more collaborative and inter-disciplinary research at AMU. 

Organizing Secretary of the symposium Qayyum Husain, in his welcome addresses said that the first batch of M.Sc. Bio Chemistry passed out in 1959. "Since, then 56 students have obtained M.Sc. and more than 200 candidates awarded have gone to developed countries on post-doctoral assignment," he said.

He further added that the research activities of the department have been founded by national and international funding agencies. 

Faculty of Life Sciences Dean Masood Ahmed said that teaching of biochemistry had regained and affirmed the status of a foundation course on medical sciences. Health and disease of living organisms including human beings as well as of ecosystems are empirically assessed by biochemical parameters. 

He said that the product of the department has proved its worth in the developed world including USA, Canada, England, France and Germany and this department is considered as flagship department of this university. 

Prof. Rajiv Bhatt of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) said that AMU is a vibrant campus. He said that Bio Sciences will be leading the future.

Prof. Bilqees Bano, Chairperson of the Department of Biochemistry proposed a vote of thanks and Ms. Maria Salman conducted the inaugural session. A large number of delegates from all parts of the country participated in the deliberations.

source:http://indiaedunews.net/Uttar_Pradesh/Symposium_on_trends_in_biochemistry_inaugurated_at_AMU_13577/

Anna University Coimbatore announces UG, PG Examination Results 2011

Coimbatore: The Anna University of Technology (Coimbatore) has announced the results of the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Examinations conducted in November / December 2010 and January 2011.

The results can be accessed on the following websites:

www.ExamResults.net

source:

http://www.indiaedunews.net/Tamil_Nadu/Anna_University_Coimbatore_announces_UG,_PG_Examination_Results_2011_13562/

Making progress in academic reform

Despite many odds, the University of Calicut has made gains on the academic and administrative fronts during the last four years under the stewardship of its Vice-Chancellor Anwar Jahan Zuberi, reports ABDUL LATHEEF NAHA.

Making progress: In the last four years, the university sanctioned 65 new affiliated colleges as well as 161 courses; a view of the university's administration block.

The University of Calicut is set to launch some prestigious and ambitious initiatives, even as its Vice-Chancellor Anwar Jahan Zuberi is preparing to pack her bags. She will complete her tenure on February 25.

Prof. Zuberi led the university to newer heights of academic excellence in the last four years. According to her, the last four years have been a time of unparalleled progress for the university. The university saw many academic, infrastructural, administrative and social initiatives. But seldom did the university succeed in cashing in on the good work it did.

When only two of the universities in Kerala went for NAAC re-accreditation in 2010, Calicut University got top score, pushing Mahatma Gandhi University to the second position.

In the Budget presented by Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac last week, the State government allotted Rs.15 crore for Calicut University — an increase of more than 50 per cent from last year. The university is all set to introduce a ‘school system' which will convert various disciplines and departments into cohesive units and bring them together under an academic roof. “This reorganisation is designed to facilitate inter-departmental cooperation, inter-disciplinary teaching and research, and the pooling of resources and expertise for greater academic effectiveness,” Prof. Zuberi said.

All teaching departments of the university are being restructured into 12 schools. They are the School of Bio-Sciences, the School of Business Studies, the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, the School of Information and Communication Studies, the School of Education, the School of Language and Literature, the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, the School of Performing Arts, the School of Legal Studies, the School of Social Sciences, the School of Engineering and Technology, and the School of Earth Sciences.

When the university introduced the new Departments of Nano-Technology, Environmental Studies, Computer Science and Political Science last year, it is going to open three new centres such as Inter-University Centre for Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Tribal Studies and Research, and Centre for Classical and Traditional Studies. “Some of them will be the first of its kind in the country,” said Prof. Zuberi.

Some of the new courses the university launched this year include Master of Hospital Administration, MA in functional Hindi, M.Sc. aquaculture (Lakshadweep), M.A. in Arabic (Lakshadweep), and M.Sc. in mathematics (Lakshadweep).

In the last four years, the university sanctioned 65 new affiliated colleges as well as 161 courses. It opened overseas centres in countries such as Kuwait, Ras-al-Khaima, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Above all , the university takes pride in the introduction of choice-based credit semester system (CCSS) in a time-bound manner. “It is sure to bring greater academic choice and curricular flexibility. Thus it will be an immense benefit for students,” Prof. Zuberi said.

First, the university introduced CCSS for postgraduate programmes in the university teaching departments in 2008. In the next year, the university introduced CCSS for undergraduate programmes in affiliated colleges. The following year saw the introduction of credit semester system (CSS) for postgraduate programmes in colleges.

And the coming academic year will see lakhs of private and distance education students taking CCSS — an achievement no other university in the country can boast of. According to the Vice-Chancellor, we got to wait for some more time to gauge the results of the academic reforms.

Even when the university filled almost all teaching vacancies by hiring 75 new teachers and promoting 50 teachers to higher posts, three new Chairs of study and research are being opened up on the campus. The Vaikkom Mohammed Basheer Chair is sponsored by the State government. The UGC sanctioned Moulana Abul Kalam Azad Chair. And the

C.H. Mohammed Koya Trust has sponsored the C.H. Mohammed Koya Chair for the Study of Developing Societies.

Prof. Zuberi was fortunate to sign the Ph.D. certificates of 613 scholars as well as to host some major international lectures and seminars. When Frontier Lecture series crossed 90, the recently introduced Erudite Scholars in Residence Programme did 10 in a row.

The Departments of History, Education, Philosophy and Chemistry have won the Special Assistance Programme (SAP) funding from the UGC for their research and developmental activities.

The Vice-Chancellor was happy that she could set up a Board for student grievances, providing a platform for students for redressal of their problems. Student grievance cells too have been set up in all departments.

The university will soon have a renovated guest house and a refurbished Senate House. The State government has sanctioned enough funds for it.

The opening of a large multi-purpose building at the entrance of the university on February 25 by Education Minister M.A. Baby will be yet another feather in the cap of the current administration. It will be a building exclusively meant for the well being and comfort of the students.

The ongoing modernisation of the Examination Wing has already had encouraging results for the university. Registration for examination has been made online. Distribution of hall-tickets is also online. Calicut has become the first university in the State to introduce bar-coded answer scripts, greatly reducing the delay in the publication of results.

“Examination results are now available to our students through SMS,” Prof. Zuberi said, explaining how the modern technology was used for the benefit of the students. Similarly, the university is making use of the mobile technology to inform employees of their monthly salary details.

The C.H. Mohammed Koya Library of the university has undergone a facelift in recent months. The library has an ICT centre for the visually-challenged. Among the other reforms the library underwent were the beginning of a digital resource centre with UGC funds, and introduction of a master catalogue system.

All teaching departments on the campus have smart classrooms with laptops, projectors, large LED screens and teacher interface. The University Botanical Garden has grown to newer fames in recent years, especially with the setting up of a Ginger Villa and Poly House.

The university campus saw Wi-Max communication even before BSNL introduced it in Kerala. “Extensive digitization of palm leaf manuscripts collected in the Thunchan Manuscript Repository is under way with the expertise of Keltron,” Prof. Zuberi said. The university is on a mission to preserve 60,000-odd ‘taliyola' records for posterity.

“We have made great strides in international academic collaboration too,” Prof. Zuberi said. MoUs have been signed with Charles University of Prague and Tubingen University of Germany.

IFHE offers B.Tech. programme

The Icfai Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE) is offering four-year full time B.Tech programme in five disciplines for the academic year 2011-12 on its campus in Shankerpally.

For admission into the programme, applicants have to provide any one of the test scores of IIT-JEE, AIEEE or EAMCET-2011. The IFHE Vice-Chancellor J. Mahender Reddy said classes would commence from August 2011.

The five disciplines include civil engineering, computer science engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, electronics and communications engineering and mechanical engineering. “We are offering the courses acceptable in any part of the country and world,” he said. The IFHE is a deemed university established under Section 3 of UGC Act-1956.

source:http://www.hindu.com/edu/2011/02/15/stories/2011021550150300.htm

Court questions university on 'illegal' study centres

New Delhi:  The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the University Grants Commission (UGC) and  the Sikkim Manipal University on allegations that the private varsity was illegally running 52 study centres in   Delhi.

The division bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna also issued orders to issue notices to the respondents UGC, the All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE) and the Sikkim Manipal University. The notices are returnable by March 15.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by Bhupendra Chaturvedi against the private university, alleging that it was not authorized by the UGC to open campuses outside the territorial jurisdiction of Sikkim.

"The university has 52 unauthorized study centres in the national capital alone," said senior advocate Arvind Nigam appearing for Chaturvedi.

The UGC, through its notifications issued in April and June 2009, had disapproved of the Sikkim Manipal University's move to open centres outside its campus, he said. IANS

source:http://www.indiaedunews.net/Universities/Court_questions_university_on_%27illegal%27_study_centres_13454/

Symposium on digital libraries

The Department of Library and Information Science of the University of Madras holds the distinction of being one of the oldest departments of studies in the field in India.
Over the period, the department has expanded its programmes, content, infrastructure and facilities to such an extent that it became the first in the country to be recognised and funded under the Special Assistance Programme (SAP) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 1997.
Under the programme, a series of seminars and workshops are conducted annually to benefit library and information science professionals, scholars and students.
A two-day UGC-SAP symposium on digital library initiatives in India was organised by the department recently.
The symposium coincided with the golden jubilee celebrations of the department.
The symposium focussed on discussions and deliberations by eminent persons on the digital library initiatives at various libraries in the country. The objective was to help the participants understand the concept, design and development of a digital library and the success stories through the presentation of case studies of some of the completed and ongoing digitisation projects in India.
Tools and formats
The symposium tried to empower the participants with the confidence and skills necessary to build a digital library at their institutions and equip them to understand the many tools and formats, preservation, intellectual property rights and so on involved in the development and management of digital libraries.

source : http://www.hindu.com/edu/2011/02/01/stories/2011020150030100.htm