The Symbiosis Institute of International Studies, a constituent school of Symbiosis International University, Pune, has scheduled an international relations conference titled ‘India and Development Partnerships in Asia and Africa: Towards a New Paradigm’ on December 14-15 at Symbiosis’ Lavale campus in Pune.

“The conference will provide a platform for academicians, researchers, corporates and policy makers to examine multifarious aspects of development partnerships. The key objectives are to find meaningful and sustainable solutions to development issues, and explore India’s increasing capabilities and potential for development work in developing countries in the areas in which the latter need it  most,’’ says an SIIS spokesperson.

The conference will feature six tracks — development partnerships administration; trade and finance; social sector capacity building; partnerships for inclusive development; role of culture in development partnerships; and post-MDG 2015: the evolving agenda.

Central Square progress report

In a progress report (July 12), the Delhi-based Central Square Foundation (CSF, estb. 2012) has outlined the foundation’s several initiatives to make quality the focus of education policy and practice in India. “During the past few months, we have met numerous elected leaders and senior bureaucrats focused on education at various levels of government. Their interest in improving the quality of education inspires optimism and we are working on a number of policy initiatives to improve quality,’’ says Ashish Dhawan, the promoter-chairman of CSF.

Among these initiatives are the FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry)-sponsored National School Education Committee (chaired by CSF) with 25 corporate members and use of the FICCI platform to call the attention of policymakers towards critical education reform issues; an agreement with a group of like-minded civil society organisations to draw media attention towards ‘Making Learning the Priority in RTE’; and a partnership in education with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. Moreover the India School Leadership Institute (ISLI), promoted by CSF with a group of international foundations, admitted its first batch. The Akanksha Foundation is currently incubating this programme in partnership with Teach for India and KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program).

CSF has also promoted five Mindspark learning centres in Delhi with an enrolment of over 400 children, which blend technology with traditional learning. 

Tata Tech-BITS concordat

The Pune-based Tata Technologies Ltd has signed an agreement with the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani under which the company will design and deliver special education programmes for skills develop-ment of engineering professionals, students and faculty.

Under the agreement inked, in Pune on July 15, Tata Technologies will support BITS’ industry interface programmes such as Practice School I & II for internships, and industry immersion for faculty refreshers. BITS will run special programmes incorporating industry perspectives and inputs from Tata Technologies. Moreover, BITS will award specific degrees through its off-campus Work Integrated Learning programmes.

“Industry relevant education delivered in close collaboration with industry, has been a cornerstone of the educational philosophy of BITS, Pilani for over four decades. I am confident that the exciting multidimensional engagement that we are entering into with Tata Technologies will grow in strength, and prove mutually beneficial,” said Prof. G. Sundar, senior deputy director (off-campus programmes), BITS, speaking on the occasion.

Commenting on this significant development, Gopinath Jayaraj, president (global delivery) of Tata Technologies added: “We are confident that our deep engineering and design, PLM and manufacturing IT domain knowledge combined with BITS, Pilani’s renowned professional educational framework and methodologies will help us develop industry-aligned progra-mmes that will significantly benefit students and industry.”

As the first step, a select group of employees of Tata Technologies will enroll for a specially designed online Masters programme in automotive engineering from BITS, starting August.

CIE annual schools conference

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), the well-known international exam board offering certification in over 160 countries, has convened its annual schools conference in Singapore on October 16-17. “The conference will explore the development of confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged learners through effective use of technology,’’ says Katharine McCamley, spokesperson of CIE.

Keynote addresses will be delivered by eminent speakers including Ayesha Khanna, chief executive of Urban Intel; John G. Hedberg, professor of ICT and education, Macquarie University, Sydney; Dr. Phil Kirkman, teacher associate, University of Cambridge, and Tristian Stobie, director of education, Cambridge International Examinations. 
                          
VidyaShilp conferred eINDIA award

Vidyashilp Academy (VSA), Bangalore, was conferred the ‘Innovation in Global Collaborative Learning Award’ at the 9th edition of the eINDIA conference convened in Hyderabad on July 23-24. The award acknowledges the achievements of education institutions which have made use of ICT (information and communications technology) to globalise education.

“VSA has a long history of innovation in education delivery. Given our de-emphasis of textbooks, homework and examinations until class VII, there is considerable emphasis on visual and auditory representations of different concepts and development of multiple intelligences. Extensive use of the internet, personalised tablets and e-learning labs ensures that VSA students are engaged in cross-cultural exchange collaborations with teachers and students around the world,’’ said VSA principal Kalpana Mohan, while accepting the award.