HRD ministry to launch massive higher education survey

New Delhi: The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has decided to launch a huge survey on the state of higher education in India, owing to the inadequacy of information that is available about the subject.

The ministry has assigned the task of conducting the survey to the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA). The survey will be completed in one year's time. 

An official from the ministry said that the higher education sector in India has been marred with a lack of reliable data which has hindered the implementation of policy initiatives that are required. 

"The information on Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) does not get updated properly keeping in mind the increasing intervention of the private sector in higher education," he said.

The decision to carry out the huge task of conducting the survey was taken by a task force that was headed by a senior official from the HRD ministry. The collection of the data will begin in a short period and the NUEPA will be seeking assistance for the survey from educational institutions throughout the country.

The main aim of the survey will be to collect and provide reliable information regarding higher education in the country. The survey would be covering all public and private institutions of higher education.

The institutions to be surveyed would include universities, deemed universities, institutions of national importance and other institutes of university level, general and professional/technical such as medical, engineering, dental, veterinary, computer, management, agriculture, pharmacy, law, teacher training, etc.

Other institutions that would also be included in the survey are colleges and institutes that offer post secondary education like polytechnics and industrial training institutes.

The HRD ministry official said that the survey of the institutions would give the government a clearer perspective about the higher education sector in India. 

The exercise will be based loosely upon the model of survey of elementary education that is conducted by the NUEPA every year.

The official further added that once the ministry had a basic data of the higher education in the country, it had planned to update the information on an annual basis the way that it is done for elementary education.

The information that will be collected in the survey would include data on the basic profile of institutions like management, affiliation status, courses offered, income and expenditure, enrollment, faculty, etc.

source:http://indiaedunews.net/Today/HRD_ministry_to_launch_massive_higher_education_survey_13746/

Bangalore most preferred job city for engineering students

NEW DELHI: Seven out of every 10 engineering students in India prefer Bangalore as their 'first job' city, ahead of the capital Delhi, reveals a survey.

According to employability measurement and recruitment firm Aspiring Minds Research Cell, about 72 per cent of the engineering students surveyed voted for Bangalore as the most preferred destination to work in.

"In India, Bangalore is the engineers' Mecca. It offers growth, options and a community of like-minded people. Bangalore has undoubtedly the largest base in terms of IT companies, opportunities and an existing engineering population," Aspiring Minds Founder and Director Himanshu Aggarwal said.

Bangalore was followed by Delhi, which was preferred by 32 per cent of the respondents, while Hyderabad was the favourite among 30 per cent of the students surveyed.

At fourth place is Pune, with 30 per cent of the respondents voting for the city, followed by Chennai, which was favoured by 23 per cent of students.

Mumbai was sixth in the list of preferred cities for engineers.

Regional preferences emerge strongly, as students from the South, West and North of the country voted for Bangalore, Pune and Delhi, respectively, as their favourite city. For easterners, Bangalore was the favourable option. Chandigarh and Mysore also emerged as preferred destinations for engineering students in the survey.

The survey took into account the views of 19,000 engineering students across India. It was undertaken to determine the city preferences of students and allowed the respondents to specify up to three cities. 

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/careers/job-trends/Bangalore-most-preferred-job-city-for-engineering-students/articleshow/7610463.cms 

Paid internship in professional studies in Haryana

The Haryana government has decided to provide paid internship to students of professional courses in different sections of the school education department in the state.

Officials said internship would be provided to students studying engineering and post-graduation in management, social welfare, journalism and mass communication at recognized universities and institutions in Haryana.

"Students, who complete their studies in April 2011, will be absorbed as interns for projects such as quality initiative coordinators, community mobilizers and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Coordinators," Haryana education minister Geeta Bhukkal said here. 

"Working within the school education system will provide wide exposure to interns. We have 16,000 schools, 105,000 teachers and 26 lakh school children. No other organization could match the volume and scale of the school education department," she said.

All the interns will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs.15,000 and their internship will be extended up to one year. The students will also be provided a laptop and internetfacility from the department.

Interested students can forward their applications on the prescribed format either through e-mail at edusecondaryhry@gmail.com or through post to joint director (education). Application form can be downloaded from www.schooleducationharyana.gov.in.

Bhukkal said a selection process would be conducted to finalize the interns and after selection they would be provided induction training.

"The interns will be exposed to various aspects in human resource development like quality initiatives and manpower requirements, budgeting and financing, community mobilization training programmes and management during the induction training," Bhukkal said.

source:http://indiaedunews.net/Haryana/Paid_internship_in_professional_studies_in_Haryana_13530/

Rebuilding Indian students' faith post Oz attacks - Varghese

New Delhi: The Australian government is trying its best to rebuild the faith of Indian students after the 2009 "racist attacks" on students studying in the country, the Australian High Commissioner to India Peter Varghese said here on Wednesday.

"We know the attacks have left a deep scar on the minds of the students, but we are trying our best to rebuild the faith," Varghese told the sources. 

"We have come up with inter-cultural engagements to make all the international students feel better while they study in Australia," he added.

The spate of "racially-motivated attacks" on Indian students in 2009 drew flak from all across the globe after several students were injured and some even lost their lives.

"We don't dismiss that the students were not affected by all that had happened, but we are doing every possible thing to assure safety and quality education at the same time," Varghese said at the 'Australian Education Excellence Showcase 2011' here. 

"Parents are less apprehensive about sending theirchildren to Australia now," he added. 

Nearly 25 Australian universities participated in the fair that saw interested students from all quarters -- business management, technology, engineering, science and hospitality.

"In the recently-conducted International Student Survey in Australia, Indian students turned out to be the most satisfied with our services," Varghese said.

source:http://indiaedunews.net/International/Rebuilding_Indian_students'_faith_post_Oz_attacks_-_Varghese_13531/

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

Entrance process on steady course

While the scrutiny of the applications received for the State engineering/ medical entrance examinations 2011 is under way, the State government has expanded the normalisation committee, which plays a crucial role in the preparation of the engineering rank-list, reports G. MAHADEVAN.

— File Photo 

Hassle free: More than one lakh applications for the State engineering/ medical entrance examinations 2011 were sold by the end of the first week of February.

Now that the process of selling and getting back the application forms for the engineering/ medical entrance examinations 2011 is well and truly on track, officials in charge of the smooth conduct of these examinations are a relieved lot, albeit for now.

By the end of the first week of February more than one lakh applications were sold and close to 30,000 completed forms were received at the office of the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE). By then, the task of scrutinising the forms was also in full swing at that office.

While the CEE's office is busy answering anxious queries from parents and candidates —there were a flood of queries to begin with — public attention is also slowly beginning to shift to the level of preparedness of the government to carry out the ‘normalisation' of marks across different boards. This statistical exercise which would precede the preparation of the engineering rank-list is critically dependent on the availability of the data relating to ‘mean' and ‘standard deviation' of the marks/ grades of a batch of students.

What has the government done to ensure that such data would be available and that too on time? To begin with it has expanded the ‘normalisation committee' by inducting among others the director of the State Council Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and the directors of the higher secondary and vocational higher secondary departments.

According to government sources who have participated in the meetings of this committee and in meetings chaired by the Education Minister on this issue, the game plan is to task the SCERT to convene a meeting of representatives of boards prior to the conduct of the entrance examinations.

“Once we know the boards from where students have applied for the engineering entrance, we would invite them over for meetings and impress upon them the need to give us all the marks-related data we need. We would also stress the need for them to do all this before May 31, which is the cut-off date for submitting marks to the CEE,” a senior official present at various meetings of the committee, told The Hindu-EducationPlus. If need be, a government representative can also travel to various States to collect such data, the official pointed out.

The cut-off date is crucial to the preparation of the engineering rank-list. Once all the marks-related data is in, the CEE would then normalise these scores using the software developed by the National Informatics Centre (the same software used till now for carrying out allotments, but modified suitably for the engineering stream). This naturally would require more time. So, if the marks scored by candidates in the qualifying examinations keep shifting, this process would be thrown out of gear.

The cut-off date also implies — though the prospectus does not say so in as many words — that for all practical purposes the marks/ grades scored in any improvement examinations of any board of in the Save A Year (SAY) examinations of the State would not matter in the normalisation procedure and in the subsequent preparation of the engineering rank-list. Members of the normalisation committee have also, repeatedly, told the government that the cut-off date should be sacrosanct if there is to be any meaningful ‘normalisation' for the engineering stream.

Since the marks scored in the qualifying examination would play a pivotal role in this year's engineering entrance examination, the office of the CEE has decided that it would allow one more chance for candidates to submit these marks and/ or to correct the marks they have submitted now. “There was some confusion and anxiety among parents and candidates over how candidates who are appearing for this year's qualifying examinations would submit their marks in the application form.

Whatever, the candidates have submitted now is alright. At the appropriate time all candidates would be given an opportunity to submit/ correct their marks online. So they need not worry at all now,” an official associated with the entrance examinations told The Hindu-EducationPlus.

Moreover, once all the data relating to marks is finally in, the CEE may also publish these scores online so that candidates can verify whether the marks entered against their name is correct. “This step is very important,” the convener of the normalisation committee Rajoo Krishnan explained. “The correctness of the normalisation depends on the correctness of the data relating to the marks. If the mark of a candidate captured by the system is not the same as what he scored in the examination, it will have a bearing on that candidate's position in the rank-list. So, as a final safeguard, these marks need to be published prior to the normalisation.”

From the time all the required data is received by the CEE to the preparation of the engineering rank-list, it would take close to three weeks. This is assuming that there would not be disruptions/ interventions of any kind in this process. Needless to say, all this would not affect the preparation of the medical rank-list this year. That list would be prepared solely on the basis of a candidate's performance in the entrance examination.

Among the many anxious queries received by the office of the CEE, one relates to the tagging of the income certificate with the application form. Though the prospectus does lay down the rules for this, sources in the government say it would be a nice idea for candidates belonging to low-income families to submit an income certificate along with their application form. “There is a tuition fee waiver scheme of the AICTE. Other fee concessions may also apply,” an official pointed out.

Seat-fee talks

So what about the seat-fee talks between the government and the managements of private self-financing colleges which have become an ‘integral part' of the entrance process?

Would the managements want to seal a deal before the elections or even before the model code of conduct comes into play? Or would they prefer to wait and deal with the next government? What if a deal is sewn up now and that is deemed unacceptable by the next government?

So far neither the government nor the managements have aired their stand on this. The president of the Federation of Associations of Private Unaided Professional Colleges in India G. P. C. Nayar told The Hindu-EducationPlus that the Education Minister M. A. Baby has broached the idea of seat-fee talks for 2011. “I told him that the managements are ready for such talks,” Mr. Nayar said. Though Mr. Nayar says he sees no harm in seat-fee talks even when the model code of conduct for elections is in force, he also does not discount the possibility that the managements may also have to talk fees with the next government.

The last word on the engineering / medical entrance examinations 2011 is far from being said

source:http://www.hindu.com/edu/2011/02/08/stories/2011020850030100.htm

UPSC

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi, has invited online applications for the Indian Engineering Services Examination 2011, to commence on May 14 across the country. Engineering or technology graduates in the 21-30 age group as on August 1 may apply. Last date: February 7. Apply online through www.upsc.gov.in.

source : http://www.hindu.com/edu/2011/02/01/stories/2011020150070200.htm

Options in automobile engineering

Specialised job: Automobile engineers who specialise in design can find jobs in the research and development wing of major automobile manufacturers.

I would like to know more about automobile engineering courses. Please also detail the job opportunities in this field.

PRASHIBH KUTTAN, EMAIL

Automobile engineering is one of the options available for graduate level study in engineering. In Kerala, the selection is based on the rank obtained in the entrance examination and the marks scored in Plus Two examination. In Tamil Nadu, there is no entrance test and students are admitted on the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying examination. Deemed Universities conduct entrance test for admission.

The discipline involves understanding the mechanics of vehicle chassis, internal combustion engine, electrical systems, design and maintenance of automobiles.

Aspirants should have passed Plus Two examination with at least 50 per cent marks in mathematics and 50 per cent marks in mathematics, physics and chemistry/ computer science/ biotechnology/ biology put together. Those who are appearing for the qualifying examination can also apply.

To become an automobile engineer, one should opt for BE/ B.Tech. course in automobile engineering or mechanical engineering, and further specialise in transportation and automobile design at the postgraduate or postgraduate diploma level.

A few engineering colleges offer B.Tech./ BE degree courses in automobile engineering. In Kerala, Sree Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering, Pappanamcode, Thiruvananthapuram (affiliated to University of Kerala) offers B.Tech. course in mechanical (automobile) engineering. The total number of seats is 60. Fifty per cent of the seats fall under the government merit seats. Phone: 0471-2490572.

KMCT College of Engineering, Mukkam, Kozhikode (phone: 0495-2289227); Nehru College of Engineering and Research Centre, Pampady, Thiruvilwamala, Thrissur (phone: 04884-283484); Matha College of Technology, North Paravur, Ernakulam (phone 0484-2672291); SCMS School of Engineering and Technology, Karukutty, Ernakulam (phone: 0484 -2450330) offer B.Tech. degree course in automobile engineering.

The total number of seats in each of these private self-financing colleges is 60.

The selection is based on the rank obtained in the State-level engineering entrance examination and marks obtained in the qualifying examination.

Outside Kerala

The following colleges/ institutes/ universities offer degree course in automobile engineering. The list is only indicative.

Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (Hindustan University), Chennai. Web site: www.hindustanuniv.ac.in.

Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Thandalam, Chennai.

SRM University, Kattamkulathur, Chennai. Web site: www.srmuniv.ac.in.

Bharath University, Selaiyur, Tambaram, Chennai. Web site: www.bharathuniv.ac.in.

Noorul Islam University, Kumaracoil, Thuckalay, Kanyakumari. Web site: www.niceindia.com.

Aaru Padiveedu Institute of Technology, Chennai. Web site: www.avit.ac.in.

Shanmuganathan Engineering College, Arasampat, Tamil Nadu.

PES College of Engineering, Mandya, Karnataka.

SJM Institute of Technology, Chitradurga, Karnataka.

SJB Institute of Technology, Kangeri, Bangalore

BLDE Association's Dr. PG Hallakati College of Engineering, Bijapur, Karnataka.

Basaveshwar Engineering College, Nigalingappa, Vidyanagar, Bagalkot, Karnataka.

Malanad College of Engineering, Hassan, Karnataka.

List of more engineering colleges and institutes can be collected from the engineering handbook published by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, which will be available for reference in university employment information and guidance bureaux functioning under all universities in Kerala.

Before seeking admission to private engineering colleges or institutes, students should ascertain whether the institutions have the approval of the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and are affiliated to a university.

Higher study facilities

BE/ B.Tech.degree holders in automobile engineering or mechanical (automobile) engineering can opt for M.Tech. degree course in automobile or automotive engineering.

They can also opt for postgraduate diploma course in transportation and automobile. The selection to the M.Tech. degree course is based on GATE score/ admission test and interview.

The following are a few institutes that offer M.Tech./ ME degree level course in disciplines related to automobile/ automotive engineering:

IIT Madras, Chennai, offers M.Tech. degree course in automotive engine technology. Web site: www.mech.iitm.ac.in.

Anna University offers M.Tech. degree course in automotive electronics. Web site: www.annauniv.ac.in.

Jadavpur University, Kolkata, offers Master's degree course in automobile engineering. Web site: www.jadavpur.edu.

Bharat University, Selaiyur, Chennai, offers M.Tech. degree course in automobile engineering.

At NID

The National Institute of Design (NID), Paldi, Ahmedabad, is a prominent Institute that provides an opportunity for meritorious B.Tech. degree holders in automobile and mechanical engineering to pursue a postgraduate diploma in transportation and automobile design (10 seats).

The course duration is two and a half years. The selection is based on an all India entrance test and interview.

In Kerala, Kochi will be the entrance test centre. This programme is a very good option for those who desire to become a professional designer in the automobile industry.

Job opportunity

Automobile engineers who specialise in design can design models of vehicles by joining the research and development wing of auto companies. Automobile maintenance engineers are entrusted with the general supervision of mechanics in a workshop, factory or garage.

Automobile industry giants provide job opportunities to qualified engineers in their production plants.

source: http://www.hindu.com/edu/2011/01/25/stories/2011012550120300.htm