Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
11 April 2011

What Counts At The Civils Interview


Ake Ravi Krishna

Ake Ravi Krishna, who cleared the Civil Services in 2006 and is now working as Assistant Superintendent of Police, Chinthapalli, Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, writes on the interview he faced. It gives an insight into the kind of questions asked.

The interview started with Mr. Navalawala, Chairman of the Board, asking questions. He initially glanced through my bio-data and started reading out my service preferences — IAS, IFS, IPS, Indian Audit and Accounts Service. (Looked at me for a second) and said, fourth choice Indian Audit Accounts Service (I answered “Yes, sir”). He then started reading my hobbies — playing chess, writing letters to the editor, writing, acting and directing drama. And then the interview began.

Why do you write letters to the editor?

Sir, I believe the press is an important medium in a democracy to bring social change. I want to become part of that social change. I started this in a simple manner by writing letters to the editor. I am planning to write articles in future.

Can you name a few old papers in India?

Sir, The Hindu, Anand Bazaar Patrika, The Times of India...

Do you read Times of India?

Sir, I read The Hindu regularly.

What do you like in that?

Editorial column sir...

Have you read today's paper? What is the major issue on front page of The Hindu?

Sir, it is regarding Ms. Medha Patkar. She has been taken to…

Yes, she has been taken to AIIMS. Do you support government action?

Sir, I do not support government action…

But why? She is almost committing suicide…

Sir, (highly polite) I think she is not committing suicide. She is using the weapon of Mahatma Gandhi — non-violence and satyagraha, and she is fighting for a valid cause.

But government is saying that they have done rehabilitation. How do you support Ms. Medha Patkar...

Sir, government is saying that they have rehabilitated but the real issue is that government has rehabilitated people by giving cash. But tribunal award clearly says it should be given only in kind. That is land for land. Besides, we should not build dams on broken lives. This is Ms. Medha Patkar's stand, sir…

So, are you against big dams....what about Nagarjunasagar and Hirakud dams…

Sir, I am not against big dams per se... What I believe is that rehabilitation and resettlement should precede construction of big dams. Besides, Ms. Medha Patkar has also said that they will accommodate the cause of Narmada dam, if proper rehabilitation is done.

Second member: You are a gold medallist in Geology.

(nodded my head)

Can you name some famous ancient singers from Andhra Pradesh…

Yes, sir… Tygayya, Annamayya…

Contemporary persons?

(Thinking…not able to recollect...) I am not aware sir…

What is the famous South Indian music?

Sir, it is Carnatic music…

Did it originate in Karnataka?

Sir, it is Carnatic. It is not exactly from Karnataka…

OK. Can you name some mineral resources in Andhra Pradesh?

Yes sir, we have coal resources in Singareni Collieries. We have barites in Mangampeta, gold reserves are found in Ramagiri, diamonds are found in Vajrakarur.

(Interrupted in middle…)

What is the quality of Singareni coal?

Sir, it is Gondwana good quality coal but ash content is a bit high.

If you have coal reserves why are you importing coal from Australia for steel plant at Vizag?

(In a polite voice) Sir, I have already said that Singareni coal has some ash content. I think for making coke which is essential for steel manufacturing, that coal is not fully suitable. That is why we are importing coal from Australia.

What is Singareni coal used for?

Sir, it is used for power generation....we have a thermal power plant at Ramagundam.

Do you support Indo-US nuclear deal?

Yes, sir.

Why?

Sir, our energy security is under threat due to increasing global oil prices. We need to diversify our energy sector and for that nuclear energy is essential.

What is the total power generated in India?

Sir, I cannot recollect the figure.

Guess...

Sir, I think it is around hundred million megawatts.

(Mr. Navalawala corrected it saying it is hundred thousand MW.)

What is the future nuclear energy generation capacity in India?

Sir, presently it is 3 per cent. We are planning to make it 20 per cent. Besides, it depends on our installing of new reactors.

OK. How do you estimate some minerals beneath the earth?

Sir, first we do reconnaissance survey. After finding intimations about mineral presence, we go for advanced methods like drilling etc.

Recently, they found gas in KG Basin. Why didn't they find it earlier?

Sir, previously some work was done in this regard. ONGC has been operating in and around this place for a long time. However, exploration activity increased in recent times due globalisation and liberalisation. More private players and investments are coming into this. Reliance recently found gas reserves in KG Basin.

Is there any chance of oil and gas being found together in some places?

Sir, I think there is a great chance to find oil and gas together in some places because both form due to decomposition of fossils.

Member (from northeast India): Coming back to your hobby of writing letters to the editor, what is a caveat?

Sir, I cannot recollect. (He said it is special column that appears in some papers. I admitted my ignorance politely).

Will you go to NE if selected?

Yes sir, NE is a part of India. I am ready to work in any part of the country.

Do you know the problem of Nagaland?

Sir, it has great insurgency problem. There is fight for greater Nagaland.

There is a beautiful word regarding Nagaland, can you name it?

Sir, I cannot....

Which is the State which is close to China?

(After a bit of thinking) Sir, it is Arunachal Pradesh.

What happened in 1962?

Sir, Indo-China war took place during that time. China occupied some of our territory.

What about its stand on Arunachal Pradesh?

(Due to his different accent I could not fully understand it)

Pardon, sir.

Arunachal Pradesh is not considered as part of India by China.

Yes sir, China is considering whole of Arunachal Pradesh as a disputed area.

Fourth member: You are working in SBI.

Sir, (in a polite voice) I am working in RBI.

What is difference between RBI and other banks?

Sir, RBI is the central bank of this country. Banks are essentially organisations which accept deposits and lend to the public.

But RBI accepts deposits from the public, taxes collection etc., so there is no difference between banks and RBI.

Sir, I beg to differ with you….(Chairman interrupted and cracked a joke saying, “You don't beg, it is your right to differ, that is why you are here”. There was laughter in the room. I also smiled a bit).

Sir, we accept deposits on behalf of the Government since we function as bankers to Government based on the RBI Act, 1934).

What are the other functions of RBI?

Sir, our functions are currency management, we act as banker to the banks, and we are regulators and supervisors of banking industry. Besides, we are the authority to issue monetary and credit policy.

What is the similarity between government's fiscal policy and your RBI's monetary policy?

Sir, the objectives of RBI's monetary policy are to ensure price stability and credit availability. The objectives of fiscal policy are growth and employment. In one way both the policies try to bring economic development in the country.

From which denomination RBI release notes?

Sir, it is five and above.

Are you sure... what about two rupee notes?

Yes sir, RBI releases two and above notes (I corrected my answer).

Why are one-rupee notes printed on the guarantee of Government?

Sir, presently the printing of one-rupee notes is dispensed with.

But why did they print separately on the behalf of Government...

Sir, I am not aware about it. (Actually I knew the answer, but it did not strike me at that point of time).

Why did RBI increase interest rates recently?

(Politely) Sir, as far as my knowledge goes, RBI has not increased interest rates recently but it increased repo and reverse repo rates.

OK. Generally there was an increase of interest rates of bank deposits in the recent period. Why?

Sir, it happens because of supply and demand gap. Last year, the total deposits raised by banks was Rs. 2.99 lakh crore. But the total demand for credit is around 3.46 lakh crore. There is a huge demand-supply gap, hence interest rates go up, sir.

Do you think it adversely impacts our economy and people?

Sir, I think it will not affect our economy and people because at present our economy is strong.

What is difference between SBI and other banks?

Sir, I cannot recollect.

When were the banks nationalised and what about SBI?

Sir, nationalisation happened in 1969 and 1984. The Imperial Bank was converted as SBI in 1949.

You are right, that is the difference. The SBI was formed due to a Parliament Act while other banks are based on Company's Act. Do you know Company's Act?

Sir, I am not aware of it.

Will you read it after going home?

Yes sir, I will read.

Why does RBI harass commercial banks?

(After taking a few seconds' gap, I answered politely). Sir, it is not harassment, In fact, we are regulators and supervisors of the banking industry. We are facilitators of banking in the country.

Can you name two private sector banks?

Sir, ICICI and HDFC.

Why they are called private banks?

Sir, it is because majority of shares are held by public.

If majority shares are held by the public why can't they be known as public banks?

Sir, I think since management of these banks is under the control of private people, they are known as private banks.

What are the reasons for growth of Naxal movement in Andhra Pradesh?

Sir, Naxalism breeds on the grounds of underdevelopment. Andhra Pradesh is divided into three regions - Telangana, Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra. Naxal movement is prevalent in Telangana region because of....(interrupted.).

You tell reasons one, two like that...

Yes sir, underdevelopment and lack of land reforms.

Fifth member: You are a geologist. Is there any similarity between Geology and Pedology?

Yes, madam. Geology studies formation of various rocks. Pedology talks about the various soils. When rocks get weathered, soils are formed. This is the major similarity.

What are the factors of soil formation?

Temperature, rainfall, sunshine and slope.

What do you know about exfoliation?

In hot places, during day time there is an expansion of outer layer of rocks and night time there is contraction. This will lead to breaking of outer layer of rocks.

Are we producing geothermal energy anywhere?

Yes madam, I think it is at Manikaran.

How do you explain to a layman about geothermal energy?

Madam, inside the earth there is lot of heat. Liquids will be very hot and due to pressure in layers this hot water comes out of the earth. The heat in the hot water is converted into...(interrupted).

Can you name some of the fauna and flora of India?

Madam, Gondwana flora...

You tell class, subclass and genus of some flora and fauna.

Madam, I cannot recollect.

Tonsure is famous in Tirupati. What do they do with that hair?

Madam, I think they auction it every fortnight. Hair is exported after this auction.

What is its use?

They use it for manufacturing of wigs.

People come to Tirupati and drop lot of money in hundies. If it is given to the poor, it will be more useful. What do you say?

Madam, even Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam spends that money doing good things like providing free meals to devotees and people need not spend anything on Tirumala.

But if it is directly given to people don't you think more benefit will be done?

Yes, madam, if directly given, there will be greater benefit.

Why do people in Andhra eat more onions? They use onion in all curries.

Madam, there is a Telugu saying, u lli chesay melu talli kuda cheyyadu. Ulli means onion and t alli means mother. Our ancestors rated the help of onion higher than that of mother. That may be the reason why more onions are used in Andhra Pradesh.

Any geographical reason for more heat in the region?

I am not aware, madam.

(Chairman asked second member to ask questions. Second member looked at me....and said, “I think I have already asked you questions”. I replied politely, “yes, sir”)

Chairman (Mr. Navalawala): I will ask two questions and leave you, are you ready?

Yes, sir.

What is the famous scale to measure earthquakes?

Sir, it is Richter scale.

What is range of the scale?

Sir, it is from 0 to 9.

Are you sure? It is 0 to 10.

Sir, as far as my knowledge goes, it is 0-9.

OK. If on the scale one earthquake has 4 and another 8. Does it mean earthquake 8 is double the power of 4?

It is different, sir. If earthquake four is 10 units powerful, 5 will be 20 units powerful and 6 will be 40 units powerful.

What is that scale known as?

Sir, it is logarithm scale.

What is the unit of measurement on this scale?

Sir, it is magnitude.

But there is something also...

Sir, I cannot recollect.

Is energy released?

Yes, sir.

Do you know North-East?

Yes, sir.

Can you name all seven States and capitals?

Yes, sir...Arunachal Pradesh-Itanagar, Tripura-Agartala, Manipur-Imphal, Nagaland-Kohima, Meghalaya-Shillong, Assam-Dispur...(I got only six and was searching for seventh in my mind).

One board member: “Sikkim”.

(Mr. Navalawala: Sikkim is not part of this seven States. But you tell the capital)

Gangtok.

Another member: “Mizoram has not come in your list. Can you name the capital”.

Yes, madam. It is Aizawl. (North-east member said it should be pronounced as ‘Oizawl')

Mr. Navalawala: Thank you.

While coming out I could not open the door as it was a bit different. Mr. Navalawala asked me to pull the door. I gently pulled the door and came out. . I was smiling and maintained eye contact with the members during the interview.

Duration of interview: 48 minutes. Result: 189/300

Final result: All-India rank 117.

07 April 2011

MBSE Mizoram HSLC (Class X) Result 2011 Out

mbse-mizoram-hslc-class-x-result-2011Mizoram Board of School Education (MBSE), Aizwal, Mizoram, has announced the results of HSLC or Class X examination 2011 results. Results are made available online in the Board’s official website: http://mbse.edu.in.

Candidates can check the MBSE Mizoram HSLC or Class X Exam 2011 results by logging in the aforementioned website. In order to get the results, candidate must Enter their Roll Number in the space provided and Click in the View Results button in the given link: http://mbse.edu.in/result/result.php.

In addition, one can also download the MBSE Mizoram HSLC or Class X Exam 2011 results in the pdf format by clicking on the link given link: http://mbse.edu.in/result/download/10.pdf.

For any further queries one can visit the MBSE Mizoram Boards aforementioned official website.

http://mbse.edu.in

08 March 2011

Apex Court Nod For Common MBBS Entrance Test

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday paved the way for implementing the Medical Council of India's (MCI) notification providing for a common entrance test for undergraduate medical courses leading to the award of MBBS degrees.

Apex court nod for common MBBS entrance test

An apex court bench of Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice A.K. Patnaik, while giving the go ahead to the MCI, said that anyone aggrieved by the notification can challenge it in court.

"If you (MCI) think you are independent and don't require any approval from the centre, then you can go ahead with its implementation and if you think you need approval from the government, then go to it (government)," the bench said.

The court further told the MCI that if it has already obtained the approval of the health ministry for issuing the notification providing for common entrance test for undergraduate medical courses, then it could go ahead with its implementation.

Apex court nod for common MBBS entrance test

The MCI Oct 21, 2010 issued a notification providing for common entrance test for undergraduate medical courses all over the country. However, this notification was kept in abeyance in the face of stiff opposition by the Tamil Nadu government.

The state government subsequently obtained a stay against the notification from the Madras High Court.

The apex court said that it could not continue hearing the matter. It said it will not say anything in the matter and if the apex body regulating medical education in the country thinks that it can implement its notification, then it can go ahead and do so.

Source: IANS

02 March 2011

Delhi's Slum Children To Get Australian Degrees

New Delhi: Delhi's slum children will now be able to study in Australia under an exchange programme between the University of Melbourne and voluntary organisation Asha, officials said here Tuesday.

Delhi's slum children to get Australian degrees

"This is going to be the first-of-its-kind Asha model as we focus on urban poor, mainly slum children, to give them access to higher education from a country other than India," Asha founder Kiran Martin said.

A new India-Australia partnership to support the needs of Delhi's urban poor will operate in three areas - research, education and community engagement.

"This is going to be a unique programme in terms of catering to the needs of the urban poor, who can't even afford the basic education. We also aim at finding solutions to the needs of urban poor as we begin interacting with the students," said Amitabh Mattoo, director of the University of Melbourne's Australia India Institute.

The collaborative programme will fund 40 projects during 2011 across areas such as resource and environment, contemporary India, regional relationships, health, education, economics and business.

"A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Australia India Institute, University of Melbourne, and Asha community health and development society has also been signed," added Martin.

The programme will be launched by Human Resource and Development Minister Kapil Sibal here Wednesday.

Source: IANS

13 February 2011

Max plans med education institute, may invest up to Rs 1000 cr

New Delhi: Max Healthcare is likely to invest up to Rs 1,000 crore over the next three years to set up a medical education institute at Greater Noida.

Max plans med education institute, may invest up to Rs 1000 cr

"We expect the investment on total infrastructure to be in the range of Rs 700 crore to Rs 1,000 crore. The institute will include a medical college, a nursing college and a college for allied health services," Max Healthcare CEO and Managing Director Pervez Ahmed told PTI.

While the nursing and allied healthcare colleges will become functional this year, it will take nearly three years to start the medical college, he added.

As per the company's plans, the medical college will have 50 seats to start off with, which will eventually go up to 150.

Max plans med education institute, may invest up to Rs 1000 cr

The nursing college will have 100 seats and the allied healthcare institution will have 300 seats for various certificate and diploma courses.

The company will fund the project through a combination of debt and equity, Ahmed said.

Apart from the institute at Greater Noida, the company also plans to set up another three nursing colleges over the next three years.

"We have plans to start three nursing colleges at Dehradun, Noida and one in Punjab. For the Dehradun one, we have already identified the location," Ahmed said.

Max plans med education institute, may invest up to Rs 1000 cr

The company will commission four new hospitals this year taking its in-patient bed capacity to 2,000 beds from 800 at present. It expects the total bed strength to go up to 5,000 in the next five years.

"The majority of the addition would be through mergers and acquisitions. There are a few players with whom we are having discussions," Ahmed said, without disclosing details.

Max Healthcare expects its four hospitals at Mohali, Bhatinda, Delhi and Dehradun to become operational this year.

Source: PTI

01 February 2011

Oz College on Verge of Closure, Fate of 4000 Indian Students Uncertain

Melbourne: A Melbourne-based private institute is on the verge of financial collapse, threatening future of over 4000 students, including from India.

Oz college on verge of closure, fate of 4000 Indian students uncertain

Private college giant 'Carrick' has now sought financial help from Victorian government to guarantee its future. The institute is relying on a USD 10 million deal with Victorian public TAFE Holmesglen, The Australian reported. The deal, likely to be finalised by today, could result in Holmesglen securing up to 80 per cent of Carrick, it said.

Carrick runs several vocational courses including hospitality, tourism, events, community welfare work, business marketing and hairdressing besides other bachelor degrees and English programmes.

Its collapse would threaten more than 500 employees and 4000 students, including its inter-state operations in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney.

Financial results for the holding company Carrick Institute of Education, lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission earlier this month, revealed a USD 13.8 m loss in 2009-10 as it was hit by the collapse in the permanent-residency-driven market for international students.

It follows on from a USD 43 m loss the previous year, driven largely by a near USD 38 m impairment on the value of its intangible assets.

The unnamed party is believed to be Holmesglen, which The Australian revealed last Thursday had taken out a fixed and floating charge over Carrick's assets of up to USD 10 m.

Carrick had previously been in talks on forming an alliance with the US-based Washington Post's education arm Kaplan, which appear to have fallen through.

Victoria's Ted Baillieu government said it was in dialogue with Holmesglen on the deal.

"The government has sought assurances from the board of Holmesglen that appropriate steps have been taken to protect student welfare and the taxpayers' interests," a spokeswoman for Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall said.

Source: Indian Express

28 January 2011

ISB to Offer Management Programme With Rs 7 Lakh Annual Stipend

New Delhi: Looking to churn out high-quality faculties, the Indian School of Business (ISB) will soon offer a fully-funded Fellow Programme in Management, that will also provide students with an annual stipend of up to Rs seven lakhs.

ISB to offer management programme with Rs 7 lakh annual stipend

The Hyderabad-based ISB is planning to start the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) in September 2011.

" FPM would be equivalent to any PhD programme (in management) worldwide... The programme would be fully-funded and students would receive a stipend of up to Rs 7 lakhs every year," ISB's Dean Ajit Rangnekar told PTI.

A full-time programme, FPM would be for a period of four to five years. With this programme, ISB would focus on creating research-focused people, who would qualify for faculty positions in top business schools.

According to ISB's Senior Associate Dean Sanjay Kallapur , FPM would be introduced from September this year and the first batch is expected to have about 10 to 15 students.

ISB to offer management programme with Rs 7 lakh annual stipend

An excellent academic record as well as a good score in GMAT or GRE are among the pre-requisites FPM. Graduates, post graduates and those without any work experience can also apply, he noted.

The academic year for the programme would be divided into five terms, each having a duration of two months. FPM would be offered in seven areas -- Accounting , Financial Economics , Information Systems, Marketing, Operations Management, Organisational Behaviour, and Strategy.

The programme incorporates knowledge and best practices from global business school INSEAD. Regarding expenses related to FPM, Rangnekar said that ISB is expecting to see a cost of about Rs 2 to 3 crore, including stipend to students and salaries to teachers.

Source: PTI

13 December 2010

The World's Top 10 Universities, 2010

Harvard forfeits first place to the University of Cambridge in a league table of the world's top institutions, the first time in the list's seven year history that the Ivy League university has been knocked off the number one spot

The QS table is based on measures of research quality, graduate employability, teaching and how international the faculties and student bodies are.

Harvard was still most popular among the 5,000 employers polled worldwide, but Cambridge was voted best for research quality in a survey of 15,000 academics and took overall first place. The rankings also use citation counts from a database of academic publishing.

So here are the top 10 universities in the world.

First up: Cambridge University

The world's top 10 universities, 2010

Name: University of Cambridge
Score: 100.00
Location: Trinity Lane, Cambridge CB2 1TN United Kingdom

History
The University of Cambridge (informally Cambridge University, or simply Cambridge) is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second oldest university in both England and the English-speaking world and the seventh oldest university globally.

Academically, Cambridge ranks as one of the world's topmost universities, as well as the leading university in Europe, and contends with Oxford for first place in UK league tables. Affiliates of the University have won more Nobel Prizes than those of any other institution in the world - with 88 Nobel Laureates as of October 4, 2010 - the most recent one being Robert G. Edwards for the prize in physiology or medicine. The University is a member of the Russell Group of research-led British universities, the Coimbra Group, the League of European Research Universities and the International Alliance of Research Universities. It forms part of the 'Golden Triangle' of British universities.

Courses offered
There is a variety of options for studies at Cambridge - undergraduate studies, graduate studies, conferences and part-time courses for adult learners and executive education and training are just some of the numerous learning opportunities available here.

Most well known for/Specialises in
Although diversified in its research and teaching interests, Cambridge today maintains its strength in mathematics.

Prominent faculty (including Indians)
Prominent current members of the Faculty of Economics include Sir Partha Dasgupta, who has been President of both the Royal Economic Society and the European Economic Association and Professor David Newbery, who has also been President of the European Economic Association. Other current Faculty members are closely involved in a number of governmental and international advisory panels and research groups.

Famous Alumni
Among the most famous of Cambridge polymaths is Sir Isaac Newton, who spent the majority of his life at the university and conducted many of his now famous experiments within the grounds of Trinity College. Sir Francis Bacon, responsible for the development of the Scientific Method, entered the university when he was just twelve, and pioneering mathematicians John Dee and Brook Taylor have also studied at this prestigious university.

Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
Graduate students operate on the basis of the academic year which extends beyond the end of the Easter Term. The Academic year commences on 1st October and finishes on 30th September each year. Dates for General Admission (the degree ceremony mainly for undergraduate awards) and other degree ceremonies are listed separately. Graduands should check with their College's Praelector to find on which of the dates their College will be represented.

Tentative cost of courses
£3,290 per year. Details of the costs expected are available from the University Graduate Studies Prospectus.

Scholarships offered
The Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and the Cambridge Overseas Trust offer part-cost and a limited number of full-cost awards to overseas (non-EU) students, including affiliated students, who have been accepted for admission by a Cambridge College. To apply for funding through the Trusts, you must have been offered a place at one of the Colleges, at which point the College will ask you to complete an application form. All awards are allocated based on academic merit, and are means-tested.

Presence in India
For over 150 years, Cambridge has been attracting students and scholars from India, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in their fields of arts, humanities, science, politics to name but a few areas. The connections with India are not however only one way and there are numerous instances of Cambridge academics and students spending time in India on their own for fieldwork visits or with their collaborators and partner institutions. Detailed information about the University's long-standing connections with India can be found at the 'Cambridge India Partnership' website.

In addition to the academic linkages, the University is also present in India through its two subsidiary businesses - namely Cambridge Assessment and Cambridge University Press - as well as the network of alumni societies.

Next: Harvard University

-------------------------------2

Name: Harvard University
Score: 99.18
Location: 1350 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge 02138 United States

History
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. It was named after its first benefactor, John Harvard. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation (officially The President and Fellows of Harvard College) chartered in the country.

Harvard employs over 2,000 faculty to teach and advise approximately 6,700 undergraduate and 13,600 graduate and professional students. Eight U.S. Presidents have graduated from Harvard and 75 Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with the university as students, faculty, or staff. Harvard is also the alma mater of sixty-two living billionaires, the most in the country. The Harvard University Library is the largest academic library in the United States, and the second largest library in the country.

Courses offered
Harvard's searchable catalog lists over 8,000 courses offered at Harvard University from over 100 departments.

Most well known for/Specialises in
Although it covers nearly all conceivable courses under its roof, Harvard is primarily known for its law and business degrees.

Prominent faculty (including Indians)
Among its most famous current faculty members are biologist E. O. Wilson, cognitive scientist Steven Pinker, physicists Lisa Randall and Roy Glauber, chemists Elias Corey, Dudley R. Herschbach and George M. Whitesides, Shakespeare scholar Stephen Greenblatt, economists Amartya Sen, N. Gregory Mankiw, Robert Barro, Stephen A. Marglin, Don M. Wilson III and Martin Feldstein, political philosophers Harvey Mansfield and Michael Sandel, and sociolinguist Anne Harper Charity Hudley. Since 1974, 19 Nobel Prize winners and 15 winners of the American literary award, the Pulitzer Prize, have served on the Harvard faculty.

Famous Alumni
Notable graduates of Harvard include Theodore Roosevelt, George W. Bush, Benazir Bhutto, Al Gore and Michael Crichton, to name just a few. Seventy-five Nobel Prize winners are affiliated with the university.

Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
Harvard's academic programs operate on a semester calendar beginning in early September and ending in mid-May. Detailed information on their admission procedures can be found at Harvard's website.

Tentative cost of courses
$53,950 - $56,750. Financial aid is awarded to help with all of these expenses, including an additional standard allowance for travel expenses. In addition, health insurance coverage is required at a cost of $1,788 unless the student is covered under the family's health plan.

Scholarships offered
Harvard does not award merit scholarships. However, students last year brought with them to Harvard more than $13 million in scholarships from outside resources, thus enhancing their own financial flexibility during their college years.

Presence in India
Harvard Business School (HBS) has opened a new India Research Center (IRC) in Mumbai as part of its ongoing commitment to creating intellectual capital for use worldwide as well as to building and strengthening relationships with leading companies, universities, and other organizations around the globe.

Next: Yale University

The world's top 10 universities, 2010

Name: Yale University
Score: 98.68
Location: P.O. Box 208236, New Haven 06520 United States

History
Yale University is a private Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States.

Incorporated as the Collegiate School, the institution traces its roots to 17th-century clergymen who sought to establish a college to train clergy and political leaders for the colony.

The University's assets include a US$16.3 billion endowment, the second largest of any academic institution, as well as the second largest academic library in the world, with some 12.5 million volumes held in more than two dozen libraries. 49 Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with the University as students, faculty, or staff.

Courses offered
Yale University comprises three major academic components: Yale College (the undergraduate program), the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the professional schools. In addition, Yale encompasses a wide array of centers and programs, libraries, museums, and administrative support offices.

Most well known for/Specialises in
The undergraduate school, Yale College, is the heart of the University. More than 2,000 undergraduate courses in the liberal arts and sciences are offered each year by over sixty-five departments and programs, forming a curriculum of remarkable breadth and depth. The faculty is dedicated to undergraduate teaching, and many of Yale's most distinguished professors teach introductory-level courses.

Prominent faculty (including Indians)
Yale's English and Comparative Literature departments were part of the New Criticism movement. Of the New Critics, Robert Penn Warren, W.K. Wimsatt, and Cleanth Brooks were all Yale faculty. Later, the Yale Comparative literature department became a center of American deconstruction. Jacques Derrida, the father of deconstruction, taught at the Department of Comparative Literature from the late seventies to mid-1980s.

Famous Alumni
Yale has produced many notable alumni, including five U.S. Presidents, nineteen U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and several foreign heads of state.

Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
To be accepted to study at Yale, interested applicants must apply directly to the school, college, or program where the degree will be awarded: Yale College for undergraduate degrees; the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for doctoral programs and some master's degrees; or one of the professional schools.

Tentative cost of courses
Tuition and fee rates vary for each school, and are established annually. The actual rates are generally available in the spring from a financial aid office.

Scholarships offered
Most financial aid is in the form of grants and scholarships that do not need to be paid back to the University, and the average scholarship for the 2006-2007 school year was $26,900.

Option 1: While Yale does not award merit-based awards, its students often qualify for merit awards from other organizations. Check out the new CAPFAA scholarship for undergrad and graduate students, as well as other opportunities, on the university website. Yale admits students for their academic and personal promise without regard to ability to pay. Its new financial aid policies increase the number of families who qualify for aid. Yale maintains that concern about cost should not keep students from applying. 100% of demonstrated need will be met.

Option 2: Procedures for applying for financial assistance are set by the individual schools. Refer to the university's website for details on your school of preference.

Presence in India
Yale shares its tradition of leadership and service by partnering with the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Government of India to commemorate the nation's achievements and to look ahead to the opportunities for India to realize its immense promise and capacity.
Next: University College London

The world's top 10 universities, 2010

Name: University College London
Score: 98.54
Location: University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK

History
UCL was established in 1826 in order to open up education in England for the first time to students of any race, class or religion. The idea was bold, radical, and responsive to the needs of the world -- three qualities that the college believes passionately in to this day. Its founding principles of academic excellence and research, aimed at addressing real-world problems, inform the university's ethos to this day.

Although UCL voluntarily remains a constituent college of the University of London, it is in most ways comparable with free-standing, self-governing and independently funded universities, and it awards its own degrees.

Located in one of the most metropolitan cities in the world, the college has always believed that excellence should go hand-in-hand with enriching society.
Whether designing the iconic parks or buildings of tomorrow, or grappling with issues such as global health or climate change, the challenges of daily life inspire each generation of UCL students and academics.

Courses offered
UCL offers degree programmes at undergraduate and graduate (postgraduate) level. It also has short courses for adult learning and professional development. UCL's departments offer a growing range of programmes designed to meet both specific professional development and more general interest. Attendance may be through short courses, summer schools or evening seminars. Stand-alone modules, for which academic credit may be awarded, can be taken from certain graduate degrees and Postgraduate Diplomas.

Most well known for/Specialises in
UCL is a major centre for biomedical research, besides offering a variety of regular courses.

Prominent faculty (including Indians)
Notable former UCL faculty and staff include Jocelyn Bell Burnell (co-discoverer of radio pulsars), A. S. Byatt (writer), Lucian Freud (painter), Francis Galton (founder of psychometrics and father of fingerprinting), Sir Frank Kermode (literary critic) and John Stuart Mill (philosopher). All five of the naturally occurring noble gases were discovered at UCL by Sir William Ramsay, who was a professor of chemistry and after whom Ramsay Hall is named.

Famous Alumni
There has been at least one Nobel Laureate from the UCL community every decade, Rabindranath Tagore being one of them, since the establishment of the Nobel Prizes in 1901. There are currently 21 Nobel prizewinners amongst UCL's alumni and former staff.

Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
For graduate courses, applications are made direct to UCL. There are three options to apply -- online, through a downloadable application form (pdf format), or through a graduate application package (which will be sent to you on request). Applicants who need to meet funding deadlines should submit their applications in good time and certainly no later than five weeks before a funding deadline or 1 March, whichever is the earlier. Although UCL does not have a general deadline for the receipt of applications for graduate study, closing dates are specified for a limited number of programmes (details of which can be found at the college's website).

All undergraduate applications to UCL are made online through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. In order to ensure that all applicants are treated equally UCL asks that, regardless of where you are applying from, you submit your application to UCAS by 15 January 2011 at the latest (if applying for Medicine, apply by 15 October 2010). Applications made after these deadlines cannot be guaranteed equal consideration, and will be considered at the discretion of individual departments.

Tentative cost of courses
The fees vary according to the course selected. A detailed break-up on costs that can be expected, including tuition fees, can be found at the college website.

Scholarships offered
Funding schemes include scholarships, awards, prizes, medals, bursaries, and loans.

UCL defines scholarships, awards, prizes and medals as schemes which award funding on the basis of applicants' academic achievements and potential; scholarships will normally be of a higher value than prizes and medals. Prizes and medals are usually awarded to current students only.
Bursaries, grants and loan schemes take account of applicants' financial circumstances.

Presence in India

A small public library supported by UCL Library Services was opened in the Barabanki area of Uttar Pradesh in India in 2009. The library was set up in a room of a village school. The main idea of establishing rural libraries is to combat illiteracy. The project that founded this library has scope to be stretched to found more libraries.

Next: MIT

The world's top 10 universities, 2010

Name: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Score: 98.19
Location: 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307

History
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research institute located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded by William Barton Rogers in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States, the institute adopted the European polytechnic university model and emphasized laboratory instruction from an early date. Its current 168-acre campus opened in 1916 and extends over 1 mile along the northern bank of the Charles River basin. MIT was elected to the Association of American Universities in 1934 and researchers were involved in efforts to develop computers, radar, and inertial guidance in connection with defense research during World War II and the Cold War. In the past 60 years, MIT's educational disciplines have expanded beyond the physical sciences and engineering into fields like biology, economics, linguistics, political science, and management.

Courses offered
Spanning five schools -- architecture and planning; engineering; humanities, arts, and social sciences; management; and science -- and more than 30 departments and programs, an education at MIT covers more than just science and technology.

Most well known for/Specialises in
MIT is known best for a strong emphasis on scientific and technological research.

Prominent faculty (including Indians)
MIT faculty members, including ones in the past, have won a total of 27 Nobel Prizes, the majority in Economics or Physics. Among current faculty and teaching staff, there are 80 Guggenheim Fellows, 6 Fulbright Scholars, and 29 MacArthur Fellows.

Famous Alumni
Many of MIT's over 120,000 alumni and alumnae have had considerable success in scientific research, public service, education, and business. 76 MIT alumni have won the Nobel Prize, 44 have been selected as Rhodes Scholars, and 55 have been selected as Marshall Scholars.

Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
Students normally enter the Graduate School in September, but some departments allow students to enter in February or June. Notification about admission for September is sent as soon as action is taken (normally before April 1). For February and June applicants, notification is usually sent as soon as the application is complete. The deadlines for the institute's different departments, along with the entrance dates, can be found at the MIT website.

Tentative cost of courses
The estimated average budget for a single graduate student enrolled at MIT for the academic year of nine months is approximately $66,276. A calendar year budget is about $87,692. These figures include tuition (nine months), books and supplies, hospitalization and accident insurance fees, with an allowance for a reasonable standard of living.

The estimated living expenses assume that a student will live frugally. Little is allowed for clothing, travel, and incidental expenses. The budget does not include the purchase or maintenance of an automobile or other such major items. It may be possible with careful budget planning to reduce the allowances for housing and food, but not by more than two or three hundred dollars. Round trip transportation costs and travel insurance are not included.

Scholarships offered
Scholarships, grants and fellowships are types of funding you receive that do not have to be paid back. The main differences lie in the criteria used to award this gift aid and which students are eligible to receive them. In general, scholarships and fellowships are awarded based on academic merit and grants on financial need, although MIT refers to need-based grant money awarded to undergraduates as a scholarship. Scholarships can be awarded to undergraduate or graduate students, grants are awarded primarily to undergraduates, and fellowships primarily to graduate students. The most important thing for you to know about gift aid is how to apply for it.

MIT provided 76 per cent of all aid to its undergraduates in 2008-2009. Of this MIT financial aid, 92 percent took the form of scholarships, less than1 percent was loans, and about 7 percent employment. The average amount per student in 2008-2009 was $29,891.

Presence in India
The institute, among its global initiatives, has an MIT-India Initiative, which is a partnership between MIT and visiting academics and prominent public figures from India. The Initiative facilitates collaborative research ventures in order to foster India's economic growth and enhance global understanding of the new, emerging India. It supports an ambitious portfolio of activities.

Next: Oxford

The world's top 10 universities, 2010

Name: University of Oxford
Score: 98.2
Location: University of Oxford, University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JD, United Kingdom

History
Oxford was the first University in the English-speaking world. Its aim is to remain at the forefront of centres of learning, teaching and research.

Students from more than a 140 countries and territories make up a student population of over 20,000, including 11,765 undergraduates and 8,701 postgraduates. Over a third of the student population comes from outside the United Kingdom.

But it is not just longevity and global reach that mark Oxford out and give the University its special character. There is also the distinctive college and tutorial system which underpins a culture of close academic supervision and careful personal support for its outstanding students. The colleges and halls of which there are more than 40 also help to foster the intense interdisciplinary approach that inspires much of the outstanding research achievement of the University and makes Oxford a leader in so many fields. It is an approach especially suited to confronting many of the hugely complex challenges in life.

Courses offered
Oxford offers a huge variety of undergraduate and graduate courses, which are alphabetically listed at its official website. Each year thousands of people take up lifelong learning opportunities through Oxford University. Oxford University also offers online and distance learning options.

Most well known for/Specialises in
Oxford is a world leader in science research and education, but 2010 is a particularly special year for science. It marks a number of key anniversaries that link the University of Oxford with major scientific milestones.

Famous Oxonians
Throughout its history, Oxford has produced gifted men and women in every sphere of human endeavor who have studied or taught at the University. Among these are 26 British Prime Ministers, including the current one, at least 30 international leaders; 47 Nobel Prize winners; 7 current holders of the Order of Merit; at least 12 saints and 20 Archbishops of Canterbury; and some 50 Olympic medal winners. Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was educated at Oxford.

Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
Candidates must check to see if there is a written test for their subject and ensure that they have registered where required. Oxford starts accepting UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) applications for undergraduate courses from September 1 to October 15 every year.

The University requires online applications for the majority of postgraduate programmes. Paper applications are only acceptable where there is no option to make an online application to the course or in other exceptional cases where it is not possible to apply online. Courses that do not accept online applications are listed in the Oxford website. Application deadlines vary according to the course selected.

Tentative cost of courses
The Oxford website provides information and advice to prospective and current undergraduate and graduate students about fees payable for University tuition, to the college, living costs and sources of funding at the University of Oxford.

Scholarships offered
There are a limited number of undergraduate scholarships available to both UK and international students. More information including details on eligibility and how to apply are available on the official website. A wide range of graduate scholarships is offered by the collegiate University. Performing a search by answering simple questions in the website will yield results that link directly to relevant scholarship web pages containing full information about eligibility and how to apply.

Presence in India
The Indian branch of Oxford University Press, established in 1912, has a proud tradition of publishing its own distinguished scholarly list. Oxford University has started a new postgraduate degree in Modern South Asian Studies, including language studies, and the new MSc in Contemporary India welcomed its first intake of students in 2008. Building on its annual Oxford-India Business Forum, the Saïd Business School is establishing the University of Oxford India Business Centre, co-located in India and in Oxford. Elsewhere, Oxford scientists are connecting with their Indian counterparts through unique networks in physics and cancer research.

Next: Imperial College London

The world's top 10 universities, 2010

Name: Imperial College London
Score: 97.8
Location: Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ

History
Consistently rated among the world's top university institutions, Imperial College London today is a globally positioned science-based university whose reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts 11,500 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality.

At the heart of the College's strategic intent is the commitment that Imperial will continue to develop its academic activities to meet the changing needs of society, industry and healthcare.

Medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries and new technologies conceived at Imperial College have helped shape the last 100 years. Imperial researchers are now tackling the issues of the next 100 years and beyond.

Courses offered
Imperial College offers over 110 undergraduate and 120 postgraduate courses.

Most well known for/Specialises in
Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research.

Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
For all full-time undergraduate higher education courses, you must make an online application via UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). All applications which include choices for medicine must be submitted by October 15.

Applications for postgraduate taught programmes open on November 22. Only online applications are accepted.

Tentative cost of courses
The fees depend on the course selected. A detailed fee structure (course-wise) has been provided at the official website.

Scholarships offered
Imperial College offers undergraduate scholarships that reward academic excellence. The eligibility depends on the achievement. Scholarships available from the College do not have to be repaid.

The Student Financial Support team administers a variety of scholarships and award schemes to support postgraduate study. Details can be found at the official website.

Next: University of Chicago

The world's top 10 universities, 2010

Name: University of Chicago
Score: 97.5
Location: 5801 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637

History
Founded in 1890 by the American Baptist Education Society and oil magnate John D. Rockefeller, the University's land was donated by Marshall Field, owner of the legendary Chicago department store that bore his name. Rockefeller described the donation as "the best investment I ever made."

Located in the community of Hyde Park on Chicago's South Side, just 15 minutes from the city center, the University of Chicago is uniquely positioned to contribute to, and draw from, the strength and diversity of this world-class metropolis. It has also made an indelible mark on the world at large.

Courses offered
Besides offering undergraduate graduate courses, the university also has professional schools and continuing education options (for persons with a bachelor's degree).

Most well known for/Specialises in
The University of Chicago is a pioneer in economics, sociology, literary criticism, and legal education, and is the home to the country's largest university press.

Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
The University of Chicago accepts the Common Application for undergraduate courses. It also requires the University of Chicago Supplement, which can be found and submitted online. First-year applications can be sent starting from November 1, right through till January 3.

All of the graduate divisions accept applications through the Online Application for Graduate Studies. For more information on program-specific application deadlines, refer to the official website.

Tentative cost of courses
The average expense budget for an academic year is available at the university's website. Entering first-year and transfer students must also pay a College Class Fee in their first year.

Tuition for full-time graduate or professional study varies by academic unit. There are also several required fees. In addition, unless you have medical insurance comparable to the University's policy, you must carry the health insurance plan available through the University.

Scholarships offered
The University of Chicago awarded more than $75 million in grants and scholarships in 2009-10. The University of Chicago offers a number of its own merit scholarships to first-year applicants.

Graduate students at the University receive various levels of financial support and a wide range of student privileges. For more information, visit the university's website.

Presence in India
University of Chicago scholars are at the forefront of research and scholarship on South Asia. In addition to working with these scholars and having access to one of the world's leading private South Asian libraries, students can take part in a quarter-long study program in Pune, India.

Next: Princeton University

The world's top 10 universities, 2010

Name: Princeton University
Score: 96.0
Location: Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA

History
Princeton University is a vibrant community of scholarship and learning that stands in the nation's service and in the service of all nations. Chartered in 1746, Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the United States. Princeton is an independent, coeducational, nondenominational institution that provides undergraduate and graduate instruction in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering.

As a world-renowned research university, Princeton seeks to achieve the highest levels of distinction in the discovery and transmission of knowledge and understanding. At the same time, Princeton is distinctive among research universities in its commitment to undergraduate teaching.

Today, more than 1,100 faculty members instruct approximately 5,000 undergraduate students and 2,500 graduate students. The University's generous financial aid program ensures that talented students from all economic backgrounds can afford a Princeton education.

Courses offered
Undergraduate students at Princeton benefit from the extraordinary resources of a world-class research institution dedicated to undergraduate teaching. Students graduate with either the Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) or the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.).

The Graduate School offers advanced degrees spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering.

Doctoral education available in all disciplines emphasizes original and independent scholarship, while master's degree programs in architecture, engineering, finance, public affairs and public policy prepare candidates for careers in public life and professional practice.

Most well known for/Specialises in
One of the world's great research centers, Princeton University is the site of pioneering work across all academic areas, from nanotechnology to politics.

Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
Before preparing an application for undergraduate admission, Princeton strongly recommends a review of its publication on how to apply, which is available in PDF format at the official website.

The application deadline for Princeton's graduate school varies according to the department being applied to. Details of the deadlines for different departments is available at the official website.

Tentative cost of courses
The estimated cost of attendance for an undergraduate course in 2010-11 is $52,180. The cost of attendance for the graduate school is available in PDF format at the official website.

Next: Columbia University

The world's top 10 universities, 2010

Name: Columbia University
Score: 96.0
Location: City of New York

History
Columbia University is a private research university in New York City and one of the eight members of the Ivy League. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.
Today, the University operates four global centers overseas in Amman, Jordan; Beijing, China; Paris, France; and Mumbai, India.

From its beginnings in a schoolhouse in lower Manhattan, Columbia University has grown to encompass two principal campuses: the historic, neoclassical campus in the Morningside Heights neighborhood and the modern Medical Center further uptown, in Washington Heights. Today, Columbia is one of the top academic and research institutions in the world, conducting path-breaking research in medicine, science, the arts, and the humanities. It includes three undergraduate schools, thirteen graduate and professional schools, and a school of continuing education.

Courses offered and admission procedure
To obtain information about degrees offered and admissions procedures, please contact the individual schools listed on the website, or explore their listing of academic departments and programs.

Tentative cost of courses
The fees vary according to the course opted for. A detailed structure of the tuition & fees, as well as financial aid is available at the university's official website.

Scholarships offered
Columbia University's educational financing options consist of federal, state, institutional and private sources of funds that will help meet the diverse needs of the student population .

Presence in India
The University has a global center in Mumbai.

Source: India Syndicate

25 November 2010

MBA Seats For Cash: This is India

IT dept raids Welingkar's Director

MBA seats for money: IT dept raids Welingkar's DirectoIn raids that stretched for almost 48 hours, the Income Tax (IT) authorities over the November 20 weekend searched the residences and office of Dr Uday Salunkhe, Director of Welingkar Institute of Management, Matunga, Mumbai. While it is learnt not a lot of cash was found, documentary evidence has been seized to help with further investigation.

The raids that started on Saturday were apparently spurred by a lone complaint filed by a student last year, that of being charged illegal capitation fee for a seat in the institute's MBA-equivalent program. However, this complaint was made a year ago during the 2009-10 admission season but for want of time and other pressing matters, no action was taken then. "This student was persistent over the months and so the decision to raid was finally taken," said an IT official on the condition of anonymity.

The Income Tax raid was spurred by allegations that Dr Salunkhe, an engineer-MBA and a PhD who holds important positions at the Mumbai University, was charging capitation fees and admitting students through the backdoor instead of through the normal process of entrance exams and interviews. IT officials were not willing to admit or deny that Salunkhe's bank lockers in both Pune and Mumbai had been sealed. One IT official told us that the Director had totally denied amassing any ill-gotten wealth and had claimed that whatever wealth was seized from his residence or the Welingkar campus belonged to the trustees of the institute. IT officials have also questioned some more staff of the institute.

MBA seats for money: IT dept raids Welingkar's Directo

According to sources, the board of trustees of Welingkar Institute of Management have been embroiled in bitter rivalry since some time. "There is already an issue brewing among the trustees and some licenses were revoked a couple of years ago when similar raids were carried out," added the IT official. In 2004 and in 2008, the IT department had carried out similar raids and discovered irregularities in the trust's functioning.

Both the IT officials as well as sources from Welingkar Institute of Management told us that the raids were linked to the internal rivalry among the institute's board of trustees. "For years now, there have been factions in the trust and all these raids have happened at a time when elections in the trust are round the corner," said an official from the college, implying that such tipoffs to the IT department were part of the rivals' gameplans against each other.

"It is easy to target Dr Salunkhe since Welingkar Institute is the most famous of all the institutes run by this particular board of trustees and nets in the highest revenue. Those who want to gain control will naturally want to target Dr Salunkhe," the official added.

MBA seats for money: IT dept raids Welingkar's Directo

LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research is part of the Shikshana Prasaraka Mandali, Pune. The charitable trust SP Mandali manages 43 educational institutions in Maharashtra including the well-known Ruia College and Poddar College in Mumbai.

While media reports have stated that huge sums of money were found in the residences of Dr Salunkhe and some of the other Welingkar staff, IT officials refused to confirm or deny it. "We cannot tell you what we have found or its quantity but it is enough for us to investigate further." IT sources told us that had the raids been carried out during the admissions season, may be the find would have been different.

For now, the IT officials are concentrating on unearthing clues from documents and email correspondences of the institute. Further evidence garnered through such investigation will decide the future course of action.

"Emails and other important correspondence is usually stored in servers abroad which make our job difficult. But we have learnt to combat these issues as well," said the IT official. The IT person adds that what they have got as evidence until now could probably be just the tip of the iceberg.

MBA seats for money: IT dept raids Welingkar's Directo

The IT official, from his experience in dealing with such issues, said that in IT violation cases related to education, things get complicated as so many educational institutes are run by politicians or influential people who find it easy to flout the law. "And besides, there are those institutes not run by government and do not get government aid. If these want to start something new or advance the existing facilities, they don't see any way out but to charge capitation fees. Since capitation fees are not legal in our country, people find alternative ways to collect them."

Rajasthan-based Atul Bapna, who is a career counsellor and is also in the business of facilitating management quota seats says that except for very few b-schools, most in the country charge capitation fees.

"There is a management quota in every b-school and use is made of that quota to get in the revenue for the college. It is a well-known fact. These things become an issue only when some student or parent does not get the admission at the discussed rate and decides to take action. Such raids does not affect the functioning of any institute. Capitation fees are here to stay," he says.

Bapna adds that the process of admission via the capitation fee route is carried out behind closed doors in these colleges. Lack of transparency in b-schools' functioning aids such activities.

MBA seats for money: IT dept raids Welingkar's Directo

The day the raids were carried out, was also the convocation day for Welingkar Institute of Management's 2010 graduates. Apparently, Welingkar officials had discussed this with the IT officials who first agreed to let the convocation happen. However, the institute and the officials could not sustain that agreement and the convocation got cancelled. "We had students coming from all over the world. They had to just go back. When we were told that we had to cancel so we sent SMS, called and emailed as many as we could to not come to the institute that evening, but so many still did," said an official from the college.

We spoke to students on the Welingkar campus at Matunga. One of them said that while there was a concern among the students about the IT raids, it had not affected their lecture schedule or studies. "Yes, we are wondering what is happening but we are not directly affected by it. Our lives as students are going on as usual."

There has been no official mail from the institute to the students explaining the current situation. Officials from Welingkar said that any such communication is sent out only by the Director.

When we visited the campus on Wednesday, it seemed its usual busy self. There were no hushed tones to be heard nor any alarm on the faces of students. Only the security officials seemed extra cautious and kept me waiting at the security office for a while till the institute gave a green signal for me to enter. Guess, the security guards may have been given strict instructions post the raids, not let in unknown faces, lest they turned out unfriendly too.

Source:pagalguy.com

11 November 2010

Traps at MBA Entrance Tests: Learn How to Dodge Them

The last time, I focused on few of the commonly faced dilemmas at the various B-School entrance tests. A management entrance test is designed so as to bring out the ability of an aspirant to perform under immense pressure. To subject the students to a bit of stress so as to observe how good they are at handling it, is one of the main objectives of any entrance test. In order to ensure this, the test designers set a few traps in the papers which, an under-prepared aspirant (or sometimes even a well prepared aspirant) can fall into. I will elaborate on a few of those traps here:

Traps at MBA entrance tests: Learn how to dodge them

Well begun is half done

Visualise this. You have started your test. The first question is a scorcher. You cannot do anything but just scribble the same bit of information which is given. After fighting it out for 2-3 minutes you finally give up. Question two, the same thing again. About 10 minutes into the test and you aren't going anywhere.

You might have been through this a number of times. One of the commonest traps set in any paper. The first DI set, the first RC passage, the first few Quant questions are sometimes, the most difficult compared to the rest of the paper. Reasons are two:

  1. It makes you panic as it eats into your time and,
  2. It somehow makes you believe that the paper is indeed difficult thus making you score a bit less than what you would.

The best thing would be to get rid of such questions as soon as possible and go to the next one. It is always a great feeling to nail that first question which helps soothing your nerves to a large extent.

The converse of this is also true many a time. The final few questions will be the easiest ones. It is just to make sure that a 'prepared' aspirant goes through all of them and scores to his best ability without getting stuck anywhere.

Too many cooks spoil the broth

Plenty of information. Pretty much useless. You read and read and read some more. End of the day, a simple question awaits. You rue wasting so much of your precious time. The motive is the same old time wasting tactic.

People who took the FMS test last year might recollect the huge RC that was offered. People who have the habit of reading the entire thing first and then answering the questions would have ended up wasting a lot of time. Few questions in DI, have much more info than what is required to solve the questions. An RC might seem to be highly philosophical but could have some sitters for questions. Just looking at the main question and leaving the sub-questions after being disappointed, is one of the frequently used traps.

To get through, one can take a look at the questions first so as to know which part of the information to focus on and then go about reading/skimming through the data and go slow at the relevant portions.

Not to call a spade a spade

Now this has a few variations. They will say that there is a rectangle or a rhombus or a parallelogram. Then there will be a generalised question with some options in variables. One can always assume it to be a square and do it quickly. Similarly with triangles. One can assume it to be an equilateral triangle and get over with it. Similarly with the questions where a series is given, if one cannot solve it completely, one can always put in a few values which satisfy the conditions and check with the options if there is some pattern.

'Its' a bad thing to 'loose'

Notice the errors? These are few of the most common errors in English. In fact there are few questions designed so as to make people pay for the wrong habits. In this case a simple spelling mistake you have not bothered to correct for so long that you can almost challenge anyone that whatever you are saying is right.

Right ya wrong

Under pressure in a moment of madness, one tends to overlook what is asked. The instructions for a question are designed so as to confuse even the most vigilant of the aspirants. You can see an instruction which reads as "Following is a group of sentences amongst which some are not grammatically correct. Identify the sentence(s) which are incorrect in terms of English, usage and grammar. Then choose the most appropriate option." Now, the trouble starts when you get confused between 'incorrect' and 'appropriate.' You must have faced this a lot of times, when instead of picking the incorrect sentences, you end up selecting the correct sentences and because you get an option (obviously a trap), you mark it and forget about it.

The other variations of this trap are found in RC passages and sometimes in DI caselets when a test-taker gets confused between, say the number of wins and the number of matches not lost (which effectively means the number of matches won plus the number of matches drawn).

Shock value

This involves catching a test-taker unaware. There might be some new type of question, a simple logic which is twisted in a such a way so as to give it the 'look' of an entirely new type of question. Or say, maybe a new type of question altogether. Or maybe the pattern won't be revealed till the time you get the booklet. Maybe there will be progressive negative marking. If you notice in last year's XAT, the negative marking was -0.2 for the first five incorrect answers and -0.25 thenceforth. What seems to be a 'harsh' negative marking scheme is actually better than other entrance exams wherein you get a straight -0.25 for every incorrect answer.

The point here is to throw an aspirant off his premeditated strategy and make him panic. At the end of the day, the basics remain the same - "attempt what you know correctly, leave what you don't and start preparing for the next stage."

The art of misdirection

Sometimes, there is information which seems unnecessary, which often 'seems' to contradict the first few statements. This is mainly to misdirect you. More or less similar to a magic show where the magician makes you believe that the trick is what you are looking at but actually it is something else. This is because you are made to think that a particular piece of information is important when in reality isn't. There was a question in one of the mocks in which one of the statements said that 'X was satisfied with the money he had won.' This is designed to make you believe that actually X is the winner though it was nowhere mentioned. This can be one of the seemingly 'wrong' questions. The above statement was just put there to introduce the character X i.e. just to say that the one person about whom nothing has been said is X.

Another variant is commonly seen in the RC passages where, the question asked about what the author does not state in this passage and all the option sentences are present in the passage. The right answer in this case will most often than not have someone else's quote and so not necessarily what the author says. A simpler variant of the same will be when one of the statements is slightly altered (not entirely wrong but not entirely right either).

These are just few of the traps which test-designers commonly set in the entrance tests. If you know of any more of them, do tell us in the comments section.

Source: www.pagalguy.com - India's biggest and most trusted portal and community for cracking MBA entrance exams.

IIM Shillong: We Want to Carve Our Own Identity

By Lajwanti Dsouza

iim-shillong campusIIM Shillong campus

Having begun operations only in July 2008, the institute has come a long way. Read how IIM Shillong attracted the best of the talent to its campus.

If you want to take a picture postcard of Shillong, all you have to do is click a photograph of the IIM Shillong campus with its palatial building and regal drive-in. If you have a wide lens, you can get the bounteous flowery gardens on either side of the sloping drive-in and the pine trees lining the campus. Try squeezing in the quaint and archaic guest house at the extreme right into the photo frame to make the picture complete.

And if you really want a great shot, stay up till 4 am, when most IIM Shillong students go to sleep, and click the glorious sun rising beyond miles of wooden rooftops and mist-clad hills.

For students of IIM Shillong, the picturesque environment plays a big role in their academic journey to becoming qualified managers.

Teething problems

Having begun operations only in July 2008, the institute has come a long way. According to Prof Ashoke Dutta, director of IIM Shillong (which is actually named Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management), when the first group of 63 students were recruited in July, there was practically nothing on the campus. "There was not even a chair or table, forget other furniture. There were no stairs to places, no pathways. The students helped me put up their entire institute. We worked from scratch. From every nail on the wall to every flower in the garden. It was all set up by the first batch who worked with me."

Dutta adds that the first batch of students worked in groups to set up the place. One group worked as the director's 'secretary', another group looked after maintenance, still other looked after IT solutions, one worked on the library and one looked at admin issues.

"We did not look at any other IIM or want to be like any other. We wanted to carve our own identity, so decided to do things our way and the first batch of students really did a good job due to which things are how they are today," adds Prof Dutta.

The director's words make sense given the fact that not only were the entire first batch of 63 placed but last year IIM Shillong won practically every tournament they took part in. Be it IIM Indore's two flagship events Ashwamedha and Kalpavriksha, IIM Ahmedabad's Masterplan or WagonR Think Big Challenge, organised by Maruti Suzuki.

It was not the easiest getting students for IIM Shillong since admissions began after they had closed at other B-schools. The first batch did not come through the centralised CAT process either. Advertisements for admission were put out way after the CAT announcement.

"We conducted interviews in March. J Shah from IIM Ahmedabad and Samir Barua were the two people who helped me look at admissions, faculty, infrastructure. The three of us looked at everything from point zero and started our way up," says Prof Dutta.

10 November 2010

51 Canadian Fellowships For Graduates Students

51 Canadian fellowships for graduates studentsNew Delhi: Canada will give over 50 fellowships and funds worth more than $4 million to Indian graduate students and institutional partners as part of its steps to boost educational ties between the two countries.

Meeting their their Indian counterparts in New Delhi at a roundtable, 15 presidents of various Canadian universities, who are currently in India on a seven-day mission, announced up to 51 graduate fellowships worth $3.5 million for Indian students to pursue studies in Canada.

Announced under the new Globalink Canada-India Graduate Fellowship Programme, the fellowships will benefit undergraduate Indian students who went to Canada on summer internship this year under the MITACS Globalink programme.

The Globalink programme instituted by the Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (MITACS) - a Canadian research network - links industry and international students with Canadian universities.

51 Canadian fellowships for graduates students

One and hundred and five undergraduate students from India attended three-month research projects in computer sciences, engineering, mathematics and business at 14 Canadian universities this summer. "We all recognize the importance of a deeper engagement with India, for the individual Canadian universities that form this delegation, and also more broadly for the entire Canadian higher education sector,'' said Stephen J. Toope, president of Vancouver-based University of British Columbia, in making the announcement on behalf of the delegation.

"The mission has been an effective catalyst, inspiring universities across Canada to create new awards for Indian students and form new partnerships with Indian universities and institutes.''

Canada's top eight universities - McMaster University, Simon Fraser University, The University of British Columbia, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, University of Victoria, University of Waterloo and The University of Western Ontario - will provide funding for these fellowships.

51 Canadian fellowships for graduates students

Canadian science and technology minister Gary Goodyear, who attended the roundtable along with his Indian counterpart Kapil Sibal, said,"Canada is becoming a destination of choice for international research talent. We will continue to vigorously pursue the tremendous opportunities for scientists and businesses to conduct research and invest in innovation in Canada.''

Paul Davidson, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) which has organized the mission to India, said, "These new investments are a concrete demonstration of Canadian universities' commitment to partnering with Indian universities and supporting Indian students in the spirit of international education.''

Since Canada gets only about 3,000 Indian students among 90,000 foreign students who join Canadian institutions each year, it is trying to ramp up enrollment from India.

Source: IANS

07 November 2010

Kendriya Vidyalaya's New Course

Kendriya Vidyalayas to offer skill developmentKendriya Vidyalayas to offer skill development

New Delhi: Kendriya Vidyalaya campuses will now be available for skill development courses after school hours, the human resource development ministry said Wednesday.

The decision was taken by the board of governors of Kendriya Vidyalayas Sangathan, chaired by Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal, following the recommendations of the Academic Advisory Committee of the HRD ministry.

"The minister directed the Kendriya Vidyalayas to prepare a detailed policy, especially with regard to preference to be given to school children for the courses and the skills that may be permitted," a ministry official said.

"The policy would also incorporate the provision of an exit clause in case evening shifts are required," he said.

The guidelines for transfer of Kendriya Vidyalaya staff was also revised.

Kendriya Vidyalayas to offer skill development

According to the ministry officials, the new system will "provide a fair chance to every employee of getting a choice posting and will be done in a transparent manner.

"Posting to hard stations will be done only after 40 years of age, both for ladies and others, and minimum three years of tenure will be given at the place of first posting," the official said.

"This will provide a uniform ground for all employees and stop favouritism," he said.

Other decisions taken by the board include in-service training course for teachers, regional incentive awards and commencing foreign language classes.

Source: IANS

26 October 2010

ICFAI Students Boycott Classes

ICFaiShillong, Oct 26 : Students of the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India University (ICFAI), Meghalaya on Monday decided to boycott classes and examinations after coming to know that the institution is an autonomous body and “not a Central university as announced earlier”.

“During our admissions we were told that ICFAI is a Central university which is affiliated to ICFAI, Hyderabad but recently we came to know that ICFAI here is just an autonomous university,” a student of the university, Donphang Gallong said.

The university has been witnessing a row of issues for a couple of weeks.

Vice Chancellor of ICFAI Meghalaya Professor YK Bhushan on Monday held a meeting with the agitating students who sought an explanation from him on ICFAI’s status, “non-fulfilment” of assurances on quality and service made by the university, qualification and behaviour of faculties, finalization of new education system, infrastructures and time schedules.

Prof Bhushan admitted that ICFAI Meghalaya is an independent body and that ICFAI, Hyderabad is only promoting and supporting the university here.

“We will take all corrective steps and even identify qualified teachers from outside as demanded by the students,” he said.

Source: The Shillong Times