Pearson Education which bills itself as the world’s largest education company “educating 100 million people worldwide”, launched MyLabs, described as the most sophisticated and advanced teaching resource in the world, in Mumbai on November 26. According to a Pearson Education spokesperson, MyLabs is currently being used by instructors and students in over 233 countries.
“MyLabs brings value to instructors and enables delivery of educational experiences through teaching aids such as video cases, mini cases, lecture videos and management simulations, while facilitating teachers’ access to rich, scholarly material available with the likes of Discovery Channel, Ebesco etc, and even in local libraries,” says a company press note.
Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Vivek Govil, chief executive of Pearson Education (India) said: “Mylabs is expected to significantly augment the teaching resources of instructors. Pearson Education has consistently strived to improve the quality of instruction and learning through use of modern technology for the benefit of students and the education fraternity. Pearson Education has packaged several media-rich and effective teaching resources, such as video, case histories, cassettes, lecture videos, management simulations and games into MyLabs, to bring more value to teachers’ classroom experiences.”
Manipal International University, Kuala Lumpur
Manipal Education Group (MEG), India’s transnational higher education services provider, is all set to establish Manipal International University (MIU) in Kuala Lumpur on the invitation of the government of Malaysia. The charter to establish MIU was formally awarded by Y.B. Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, minister of higher education, Malaysia to Dr. Ramdas Pai, chairman emeritus of MEG in the presence of the prime ministers of India and Malaysia on October 27.
Manipal International University is the second MEG institution of higher education established in Malaysia after the Melaka Manipal Medical College (estb. 1997). With a projected investment of up to RM 650 million (Rs.800 crore) over the next five years, Manipal International University will be multi-disciplinary, catering to the needs of Malaysian as well as international students from ASEAN countries, North Asia, India, the Middle East and Central Asia, choosing Malaysia as their education destination. MIU will admit its first batch next year. With special emphasis on engineering and business management education, MIU will also provide undergrad and postgrad programmes in diverse disciplines including law, animation and design, hospitality and tourism.
Commenting on the initiative, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Malaysia’s minister of higher education said: “We are delighted to welcome Manipal International University to Kuala Lumpur. MEG is among India’s leading higher education providers. Our aspiration is to become a major higher education hub — we already have nearly 100,000 international students studying in Malaysia — and world class universities such as MIU will help expand this number.”
“It is an honour and a moment of great pride for us at MEG to be invited by the Malaysian government to establish MIU. We have the greatest regard and respect for the Malaysian government for having considered us for this initiative,” said Anand Sudarshan, managing director and chief executive of MEG, speaking on the occasion.
Manipal International University, Kuala Lumpur, will commence its operations on an interim campus, and will move to a new campus within three years. MIU will have a significant network of academic collaborations with international universities including Manipal University, India.
Zee Learn Gakken Science Academy
In association with Japan’s Gakken J. Holdings, the Mumbai-based Zee Learn Ltd has launched the Zee Learn Gakken Science Academy for schools. The partnership agreement was sealed by Subhash Chandra, chairman of the Essel Group (which owns Zee Learn) and Tetsuya Onodera, chairman of Gakken J. Holdings, Japan in Mumbai on October 20.
The objective of the partnership is to improve the conceptual understanding and scientific aptitudes of K-12 students by providing hands-on learning experiment tools. The programme is a three-step systematic methodology based on the ‘observe, explore and reflect’ pedagogy developed by Gakken J. Holdings in Japan. “Zee Learn Gakken Science Academy has given us an opportunity to bring our expertise to schools in India. We are thrilled by the overwhelming response received from schools and students during our demonstration workshops. I am confident this partnership will enable students to acquire better conceptual understanding of science subjects,” said Tetsuya Onodera speaking on the occasion.
New INSEAD program for India
The Fontainebleu (France) and Singapore-based INSEAD, recently ranked No. 1 in Businessweek’s 2010 ranking of international business schools, has designed a special 12-month diploma programme for senior managers in Indian industry. Christened the INSEAD Leadership Programme for Senior Indian Executives (ILPSIE), it will become operational from the next academic year in August 2011. ILPSIE will be conducted at INSEAD’s global campuses in France and Singapore together with “seamless immersions” in India.
Addressing the media in Mumbai on November 24, Prof. Paddy Padmanabhan, John H. Loudon professor of international management at INSEAD and co-programme director of ILPSIE, said: “The launch of ILPSIE demonstrates our commitment to work with India’s future business leaders. With unmatched international experience, the programme will enhance the leadership skills of senior executives and help them face the challenges generated by huge business opportunities in India.”
Under the supervision of 18 outstanding faculty led by programme directors Padmanabhan and Prof. Bala Vissa, the programme will also leverage work done by INSEAD’s Global Leadership Centre in enhancing leaders’ effectiveness.
Adds Prof. Bala Vissa, associate professor of entrepreneur-ship at INSEAD and co-programme director: “ILPSIE has been tailored to address the relative scarcity of general management and leadership skills in fast growing Indian companies. This programme aims to transform the thinking and behaviour of participants to accelerate and drive effective change.”
Ahlcon International science workshop
At a science and technology workshop titled ‘Synergy between human and material technology’, organised by the Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar, Delhi on November 27, over 25 science teachers from schools in the NCR (national capital region) were counseled by Samar Bagchi, former director of National Science Museum, Kolkata on how to conduct science experiments with simple instruments.
The workshop featured several low-cost experiments conducted by Bagchi to explain scientific principles. Well-known educator Shomie Das recommended computer modeling and simulation as tools to develop a scientific mindset and innovation, and Ashok Pandey, principal of Ahlcon International School, explained that science education is “true to the child, true to life and true to science”. In his closing remarks Solil Chatterjee of Unified Learning, highlighted the importance of merging both “real world learning” and “virtual learning” on one platform.
Deloitte-Everonn collaboration
At a press conference called in Mumbai on November 26, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India Pvt Ltd, Mumbai and the Chennai-based Everonn Education Ltd announced a joint programme to offer training in IFRS (international financial reporting standards) and enterprise risk management. Two courses (IFRS Basic and IFRS Advanced) are planned to be rolled out this month. “Individuals skilled in IFRS will be among the most sought after professionals in the global marketplace. With new accounting standards set to be applied from April 2011 onwards, it is imperative for individuals and corporates to invest and develop the talent needed to support the IFRS conversion. Deloitte in India is committed to deploy the best tutors from its highly experienced and talented pool of professionals to achieve our objective,” said Jim Brady, leader of Deloitte’s risk consulting practice, speaking on the occasion.
Added P. Kishore, managing director of Everonn Education: “Everonn has a presence in more than 1,800 higher education institutions across India, and with Deloitte India’s corporate clientele reach, this programme is expected to receive excellent response. The joint IFRS training programme gives an opportunity to a large number of students and professi-onals to be equipped with the required IFRS knowledge.”
Mexus invites IKen ScientificA Season IV entries
Mexus Education Pvt Ltd (estb. 2007) — the well-known Mumbai-based company which offers a wide range of education products and services for the K-12 sector — invites entries for its annual Iken ScientificA Season IV science and technology competition for school children. Over 200,000 students from the country are expected to participate in India’s largest sci-tech competition scheduled to be held early next year.
This competition is open to students from class V-VIII and comprises three rounds viz, school round, city finals and national finals where students will vie for the title of ‘Student Icon of India’. The competition comprises scientifically designed quizzes and activities which test the participants’ ability to put scientific knowledge into practice. The company awards handsome prizes to students who top the competition. The student icon of India will win a trip to NASA, USA and other toppers will be awarded Apple i-Pods and laptop computers among other prizes.
“Our constant endeavour has been to combine entertainment and education to enable a joyous learning experience for students. Iken ScientificA is a platform for students to explore new and interactive ways of hands-on learning. This talent hunt acknowledges and celebrates students who have the potential to think innovatively and apply scientific theories beyond conventional norms. After receiving an overwhelming response for three consecutive years, we are glad to present Iken ScientificA 2010 which supports our vision to pioneer unconventional methods of learning,” says Saurabh Saxena director of Mexus Education.
Henkel Innovation Challenge in India
At a press meet in chennai on november 29, Henkel India Ltd announced the Henkel Innovation Challenge 2010 for “creative minds with a keen business sense and a passion for innovation”. Hitherto restricted to B-school students in 14 European countries, the challenge is now open to business graduates in the Asia Pacific region.
“The challenge is to develop a concept for a product from the Henkel brand portfolio which will meet the needs of people in the year 2050. The authors of the most innovative and viable idea will win an air ticket round the world plus Euro 1,000 (Rs.60,000) in travel vouchers. The top teams making it to the international final will be invited to experience an exciting day at Henkel’s headquarters in Düsseldorf, Germany and meet Kasper Rorsted, chief executive of Henkel, Germany,” explains a company spokesperson.
The competition begins with the submission phase, in which students in teams of two or three members should submit their project on the Henkel Innovation Challenge website. Deadline: December 13. In March 2011, four teams from China, Australia, India and Malaysia will square off in Shanghai to impress a regional jury with their innovative proposals to qualify for Berlin — the last step on their way to become champions of the Henkel Innovation Challenge.
In the international final in Berlin scheduled for April 2011, the regional team and winners from 14 European countries will make their final presentations to a jury over three days. Teams will be evaluated on analytical, communication, business and presentation criteria.
“We are delighted to bring the Henkel Innovation Challenge 2010 to India. This is the first time this event has been brought to India providing students a platform at a global level to compete and learn from each other. Mentoring, feedback and support are provided to selected teams by the Henkel management. This will also help students develop insights into the functioning of a global organisation,” says Jayant Singh, managing director of Henkel India.