Coca-Cola India announced the launch of its Olympic Torch Bearer nomination programmes to select 42 torchbearers and seven escort runners to represent India in “one of the most far-reaching participatory events in human history” — the first global relay of the Olympic Flame, on February 24. These programmes include an essay competition for school children, a radio phone-in nomination programme and key account activation in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad.

“We are overjoyed about providing people in India the once-in-a-lifetime experience of being part of the first truly global Olympic Torch Relay,” says Sanjiv Gupta, president and CEO, Coca-Cola India.

Coca-Cola India’s programmes for selecting torchbearers are designed around the theme of ‘Recognise Inspiration’. The company is looking for candidates who are an inspiration to those around them through their celebration of fundamental values such as friendship and peace; or by encouraging the participation of others; or by dedicating themselves to “making a difference”; or by keeping traditions alive for a better world.

Participating students will be required to write an essay on the person who inspires them most. The same goes for the radio activation, where listeners can call in FM radio stations like Radio Mirchi and nominate a person of their choice. The nominations will be screened by a panel of distinguished judges and short-listed candidates will be invited to New Delhi by Coca-Cola to participate in this historic event.

The Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay will begin in late May to effectively circle the earth.

Fourth convocation of Ohio Manipal School of Business

The Ohio Manipal School of Business (OMSB) celebrated its fourth convocation in Bangalore on February 1. On the occasion, 40 graduates of the 2003 batch were awarded their Master’s degrees by Ohio University. Soutgata Bannerjee was the valedictorian of the outgoing class.

Dr. Stephen Kopp, provost, Ohio University, Dr. Glenn Corlett, dean, Ohio College of Business and Dr. Ramdas Pai, chairman of the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG) were present on the occasion. “To date 180 students have graduated from OMSB which is poised to emerge as a business school of standing comparable with top rung management institutions anywhere in India and abroad. The global learning benefiting the students is credible for a promising future. We are delighted to contribute to the all round development of the leaders of tomorrow,” said Kopp speaking on the occasion.

The Ohio Manipal School of Business was promoted in 1999 by MEMG and Ohio University, USA. The School offers a full time MBA degree in India from the College of Business, Ohio University. The MBA programme is accredited by AACSB and the International Association for Management Education.

Kellogg School’s super class of 2005

The MBA programme of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, USA has been adjudged the No.1 business management study programme in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), London. Currently the class of 2005 includes 23 Indian citizens. From over 50,000 applicants, 524 men and women were enrolled in the Kellogg School’s full-time MBA programme ending next August.

With an average score of 703, the class of 2005 boasts the highest mean GMAT score in the history of Kellogg School. On average, the current batch has 5.2 years of full-time work experience and an average age of 28 years. The class is drawn from more than 230 colleges and universities around the world, with women constituting 28 percent. Non-US citizens from more than 35 countries constitute 28 percent of the class, including 23 students from India. The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University was founded in 1908 in Chicago.

PGP Group’s biosciences conference

An international conference on ‘recent advances in Biosciences’ was convened at the PGP College of Arts and Science, Namakkal (Tamil Nadu) on February 12-14. Dr. Palani G. Periasamy, chairman of the PGP group of institutions of higher education presided over the two-day conference inaugurated by Prof. S.R. Thiagarajan, vice-chancellor, University of Madras. “Within the next two decades India’s population will have more youth content than any other nation in the world. We should ignite the nation’s youth and motivate them to achieve scientific expertise in the fields of biosciences, as we have done in information technology,” said Thiagarajan speaking on the occasion.

Eighty five universities, colleges and institutions from across India participated in the conference during which 140 papers were presented in 11 scientific sessions. Four plenary lectures were given by eminent biosciences scientists including T.J. Pandian, national professor of Madurai Kamaraj University; Prof. M.R. Chandran, director (retd) of the School of Engineering and Technology, Bharathidasan University; and R. Dinakaran Michael, director of the Centre for Immunology of Lady Doak College, Madurai.

At the end of the two-day conference a souvenir consisting of abstracts of 194 papers submitted for the conference was released by Dr. Periasamy.

Zee Interactive accountancy study course

The Mumbai-based Zee Interactive Learning Systems Ltd (ZILS), the education arm of Zee Network, has launched its Zed Professional Accountant, a comprehensive, high-end career course in accountancy. “With India emerging as a major hub for outsourcing activity, attractive career options are becoming available to people proficient in finance, accounts and commercial functions,” says Arun Khetan chief executive of ZILS.

The Zed Professional Accountant course will be delivered to students through various media viz, ground learning centres, multimedia, internet and e-learning solutions with chartered accountants, MBAs, advocates etc constituting the faculty. ZILS’ ground learning centres christened Zed Career Academy are easily accessible with the company having established over 300 centres across India.

Spread over 12 months, the course offers nine modules covering subjects such as basics in IT, executive accounts, executive taxation, executive commercial, financial transaction processor, among others. Admission to the Zed Professional Accountant programme is open and attractive instalment schemes are available from the company. For further information visit www.zcaonline.com or e-mail zca@zils.esselgroup.com.