Manipal, May 7. Akshatha Kamath, a computer science and engineering student, and Dhruv Suri, studying aeronautical engineering at the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), have been awarded the prestigious Knight-Hennessy scholarship at Stanford University, USA for pursuing Masters’ programmes. This scholarship is awarded to emerging leaders from around the world to enable them to develop collaboration, innovation and communication skills to address the complex challenges of the 21st century. These two MIT students are among 76 from 26 countries awarded the scholarship this year.

“These students have demonstrated excellence in education, entrepreneurial mindsets and genuine compassion to transform the lives of people — capabilities that we nurture in MIT and our parent Manipal Academy of Higher Education,” said Dr. H.S. Ballal, pro chancellor of MAHE in an official statement congratulating the two students.

India’s first UAS programme

Sonipat, April 13. O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat (Haryana) aka JGU, announced India’s first university administrative service (UAS) programme for its graduates. This unique postgrad programme offers graduate students direct access to well-remunerated and reputed career paths within JGU.

“The purpose of the UAS programme is to enable highly skilled young leaders to work within administrative departments of JGU and provides a fast-track career path to selected talented individuals so they can assume administrative leadership positions early in their careers. Indian academia needs outstanding talent in high-level admin positions to formulate institution development policies and stimulate academic and research innovation to ensure that we offer the best global learning and knowledge options to our high-potential students,” said Dr. C. Raj Kumar, founding vice chancellor of JGU, speaking on the occasion.

KSPP’s first scholarship awardee

Hyderabad, April 22. Kolkata-based Ratnadeep Chakraborty, a journalism graduate of Christ Deemed University, Bengaluru, is the first awardee of a full scholarship from the Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad (estb. 2020) for its two-year Masters in Public Policy (MPP) programme.

“We are glad to have talented graduates like Ratnadeep who has exhibited will power and academic rigour in this pandemic era on board. Creating an environment where policy education is accessible to all, is important for us at the Kautilya School of Public Policy,” said Prateek Kanwal, co-founder of the school.

“I sincerely thank those who have selected me for this scholarship and look forward to contributing to addressing national development issues in the public interest,” added Ratnadeep Chakraborty.

MS Tech for Good Challenge winners

New Delhi, April 14. The US-based Microsoft Inc announced the winners of its global Tech for Good Challenge at its annual Microsoft Education Exchange forum. The 2021 edition of Education Exchange (E2) attracted 16,000 registrants from around the world to celebrate the achievements of educators who combine content, pedagogy and technology. This year’s E2 was a three-day event with daily keynotes, inspirational speakers and curated sessions for professional development focussing on issues ranging from social-emotional learning to STEM education.

E2’s Tech for Good Challenge attracted 440 projects submitted by schools worldwide with educators and schools from India winning several awards in three of four categories, viz, Innovative Designer, Digital Citizenship, Global Collaborator and Creative Communicator.

Winning entries from India were from DPS International School, Gurugram (overall winner); Bal Bharati Public School, Dwarka, Delhi; DAV Public School, Sreshtha Vihar, Delhi; Delhi Public School, Sector 84, Gurugram; Udgam School for Children, Ahmedabad; Vikas Bharati Public School, Delhi; The Sanskaar Valley School, Bhopal and Waghire High School, Pune.

Vidyashilp University debut

Bengaluru, April 20. A greenfield Vidyashilp University has been established under special legislation (Act No.20 of 2021) of the Karnataka legislative assembly. The university’s prime objective is to create a community of empowered students and faculty who will evolve into conscientious leaders, through its integrated multi-domain, interdisciplinary programs. The university will commence its first academic year in September 2021.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Dayananda Pai, chancellor, Vidyashilp University, said: “The Vidyashilp Education Group has shaped generations of young minds, and now extends its vision to impact the higher education space through this initiative. We are committed to creating meaningful and collective learning experiences to nurture conscientious leaders who will be beacons of change for a progressive and sustainable society.”

Vidyashilp Education Group (VSEG) consists of the Bengaluru-based flagship K-12 Vidyashilp Academy, Vidyasagar preschools and the Vidyashilp schools. VSEG has an aggregate enrolment of over 10,000 students mentored by 300 faculty in its five education institutions.