News from the world of education – December 26, 2024

vivo Technology and Innovation Initiative

The third edition of vivo Ignite: Technology and Innovation Initiative invites students from classes 8 to 12 to present tech-driven innovative solutions to address pressing social challenges. Winners will receive scholarships and other rewards. For details, visit http://www.vivoignite.com

Lodha Genius Programme

The Lodha Foundation has launched the Lodha Genius Programme in partnership with Ashoka University for students from Classes 9 to 12. This multi-year initiative includes an annual four-week campus experience at Ashoka University and is designed to help students from middle school through to their first job.

Deadline: January 15, 2025

Visit www.lodhageniusprogramme.com for details

WSFx Student Pay

WSFx Global Pay has launched WSFx Student Pay, a Visa Forex Card specifically designed to cater to the needs of Indian students studying abroad. Features include zero forex conversion charges, Tap and Pay technology, and one free ATM withdrawal per month among others. For details visit https://www.wsfx.in/#

Career Navigation Assessment

HireMee has introduced the Career Navigation Assessment, a tool to assist students in Classes 11 and 12 make informed decisions about their academic and professional futures. For details, visit https://t.ly/HzjS2

Admissions

École Intuit Lab Delhi, managed by JS Institute of Design, invites applications for its UG and PG design programmes in Game Art and Design, UI/UX Design, Visual Communication, Animation & Motion Design, and Advertising, Design and Digital Communication. Applicants must take the Creative Intelligence Test, designed to assess creative potential, spatial reasoning, and general knowledge. For details, visit

Strate School of Design has launched undergraduate design programmes for the academic year 2025-26 in collaboration with Alliance University, Bengaluru. The four-year Bachelor of Design (B.Des) degree has six specialisations in Product Design, Transportation Design, Interaction Design, Visual Communication & Brand Identity, Game Design, Interior and Space Design. For details, visit https://strate.in/

International School of Business and Media, Pune, invites applications for its AICTE-approved two-year full-time PGDM programme.

Eligibility: Indian nationals with a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with minimum 50% for General category or 45% for Reserved category. Valid score in CAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT, or MAT.

Last date: January 20, 2025

More information at https://t.ly/CitR0

Vignan Online, the online learning arm of Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research (Deemed-to-be-University), has introduced a two-year online Master of Business Administration programme in Information Technology.

Eligibility: Minimum 50% in a Bachelor’s programme (at least three years) in any stream from a UGC-recognised university.

For more details, visit

Events

Cambridge University Press and Assessment has launched the Cambridge Connection Bridge Course for students from Classes 9 to 12. The course bridges the gaps between the IGCSE and national curriculum in STEM subjects and reinforces core concepts for learners aspiring for competitive exams.

The University of Chicago celebrated the 10th anniversary of its centre in Delhi with the India launch of its Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth. This will be a platform for UChicago scholars to work with local partners on climate and sustainable growth economics and policy, energy technologies and climate systems engineering.

Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, supported by alumnus Bob Dykes, has established the Bob Dykes Chair in Generative AI to lead interdisciplinary research, mentorship, and innovation in AI and address critical challenges like ethics, policy, and societal impacts while fostering collaboration with government, industry, and startups.

The ARISE Annual School Education Conference 2024, held in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), brought together government officials, educators, industry leaders, and innovators to discuss the current challenges and opportunities in the education sector.

eVidyaloka hosted a virtual employee volunteering initiative with KPMG in India to promote cyber awareness among students of Classes 7 to 9 in rural government schools across 12 states. Conducted via eVidyaloka’s digital classroom platform, KPMG in India employees spoke about identifying cybercrimes, understanding online risks, and adopting protective measures.

FOSTIIMA Business School, Delhi NCR, hosted the Margdarshak 3.0 Awards for renowned HR professionals in honour of the founding faculty of IIM-Ahmedabad. Dr. Shashi Tharoor was the chief guest and guests of honour were S.Y. Siddiqui, Kiran Karik, Rajiv Dubey, and Dhruv Prakash.

The Department of Chemistry at the Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN) hosted a six-day online Faculty Development Programme (FDP) titled Organic Semiconductor Innovations: A Faculty Development Initiative, sponsored by the AICTE Training and Learning (ATAL) Academy. Nearly 200 young researchers and faculty members engaged with the latest advancements in the field.

IM-Sambalpur, in collaboration with NSE (National Stock Exchange) Academy hosted a Roundtable Discussion on Beyond the Brand: Rethinking Strategies in the Era of Technology-Driven Disruption to connect student and industry leaders and discuss how brands can redefine their branding strategies, market positioning, and customer relationships using tech while being inclusive.

Target Publications conducted a workshop for Balwadi teachers from Save the Children India (Vipla Foundation) on the theme Holistic Learnin,. It included interactive discussions and hands-on activities to foster skills like communication, empathy, and mutual respect.

The Manipal College of Health Professions under the umbrella of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, has been conferred with Institute of Eminence by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The institute is celebrating its silver jubilee in the current academic year.

JS Institute of Design (JSID) is part of the result-sharing institutes for UCEED 2025 for UG Digital Design, as per the updated list shared by IIT-Bombay.

i-merit, a programme of Scholars Merit Online, has introduced Nova courses to support students during the upcoming placement seasons. i-merit will collaborate with over 100 colleges across North and Central India, aiming to empower 50,000 students.

Indian School for Design of Automobiles (INDEA), in collaboration with XLRI-Delhi NCR, hosted The INDEA Debate 2024, on the topic Does India Need a Design DNA? The debate was inaugurated by Sasmit Patra, Rajya Sabha MP, and Retd. Justice Indira Banerjee, Father Casimir, and Avik Chattopadhyay.

MDI Gurgaon hosted Delphiquе’24, a two-day event that included intellectual debates, creative performances, and inspirational speaker sessions. Events included a Model United Nations (MUN); a talk by Vineeta Singh, Co-founder and CEO of SUGAR Cosmetics and Shark Tank India judge; an entrepreneurship challenge; a panel discussion; a debate; and more.

The Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Bengaluru — in collaboration with Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, Dr. TMA Pai Endowment Chair, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) which is sponsored by Schneider Electric — organised HACKNOVA 2024, a 48-hour Cybersecurity Capture the Flag (CTF) Challenge. Powered by the institution’s Innovation Council (MAHE) and hosted by the MITB ACM Student Chapter, the event brought together more than 40 teams from across India. The team of Sumedh Kashyap, Debashish Tripathy, and Archit Chadalawada won the challenge.

Nest Academy of Event Management and Development (NAEMD) hosted an intercollegiate fest on the theme Adhyay: AI (Ancient Innovation Meets Artificial Intelligence), which brought together over 200 colleges and 2,500 participants from across Mumbai and Maharashtra. Master Marzi Pestonji, choreographer and television personality, was the chief guest for the finale.

Vikasa Parva, an entrepreneurship and design thinking workshop led by Excel Public School and Excelsoft Technologies, aided 36 government schools from the Mysuru district to craft innovative projects and present them at the TiE Global Summit in Bengaluru. The six-week workshop saw participation from 186 students and 36 teachers and the top 10 projects were presented at the ‘Rural Youth Innovators: What is an Innovation Mindset?’ session.

Zoho announced the strengthening its upskilling initiative, Young Creators Programme (YCP), with a new ‘Train the Trainer’ module and a revamped course curriculum to include AI capabilities in low-code application building, ensuring students are taught modern, tangible skills.

KJ Somaiya Institute of Management (KJSIM) hosted a conference on Shaping the Future of Sport in India: Innovation, Inclusion and Integrity in association with the Indian Sport Management Association (INSMA). Industry veterans, professionals, and MBA Sports Management students participated in the event. Christos Anagnostopoulos, UNESCO Chair on Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport, gave the keynote address.

Crack Academy conducted a career counselling session at Government Degree College, Solan, Maharashtra, for over 500 students, guiding them to make informed career decisions.

The Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, hosted the 17th ISB Accounting Research Conference 2024 and also launched Journal on Accounting Theory and Practice during the event. Dr. Ajay Bhushan Prasad Pandey, Chairperson, National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA), and Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, ISB, launched the journal, which included original research articles in the areas of accounting, such as financial accounting, management accounting and control, auditing, and taxation. The conference saw experts from Columbia University, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Northwestern University, Cornell University, University of Toronto, Southern Methodist University, IIM-Bengaluru; University of Connecticut; Frankfurt School of Finance and Management; Hong Kong University; Aalto University; and Chinese University of Hong Kong participate.

Research studies

VdoCipher released a study on The Changing Landscape of Online Education and Course Piracy in India. Key highlights: nearly 58.4% people across the country expressed a preference for offline education, compared to 41.6% favouring online platforms; the existence of over 5,000-course piracy groups on Telegram, with at least 1,000 having more than 10,000 members; only 26.4% people believed online learning is better than offline education. The report can be accessed at

Internshala released its Annual Internship Trends report for 2024, showcasing a remarkable 25% growth in internship opportunities compared to the previous year. Key highlights: internship opportunities for Indian students increased by 25% in 2024; top hiring fields are Management (42%), Engineering (20%), Media (13%), Education (4%), Design (4%), and Others (16%); average stipend was ₹8,000 a month.

Unstop unveiled the Unstop Hiring Kart: Skills and AI Report 2024. Key highlights: 95% of students want to be assessed through skill assessments, 46% want these assessments to take place even before resume screening; 73% of HRs think the best solution to the skill gap is mentorship; Only 13% of HRs believe graduates are very well prepared to work with AI, but 68% of Gen Zs think they’re competent in AI; 85% of Gen Z want workplace training.

IIT-Guwahati, in collaboration with IIT-Mandi and the Centre for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru, released a report. District-Level Climate Risk Assessment for India: Mapping Flood and Drought Risks Using IPCC Framework, which underscores the urgent need for tailored, region-specific adaptation strategies to enhance resilience.

A recent survey of ed-tech by TeamLease found that less than 2% of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) offer work-linked degrees despite high demand, whereas 80% of students believe work experience on their CV significantly enhances their chances of securing high-paying jobs and 40% prefer work-linked degrees for the financial independence they offer.

College Vidya has shared key findings from its latest study on trends in online education in 2024: 40% of freshers opted for online courses compared to 20% in 2023; Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar, and Rajasthan account for over 70% of total enrollments in online learning; MBA, BCA, MCA, BBA, and BA have emerged the most popular programmes, among others.

Partnerships

Ashoka University has launched a state-of-the-art imaging facility in partnership with ZEISS India. The Ashoka-ZEISS Core Imaging Facility will provide invaluable support for research in diverse fields, including cell biology, biophysics, soft condensed matter studies, and structural biology.

The Design Village (TDV) has signed an MOU with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to establish a framework for long-term collaboration by co-organising collaborative activities, including seminars, workshops, and exhibitions, to facilitate discussions on design, culture, and societal issues.

Veranda XL has signed an MoU with SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Chennai, to deliver professional Chartered Accountancy (CA) coaching classes on campus under the brand of JK Shah Classes (JKSC). This will provide SRM students with specialised CA coaching classes.

Convocations

International Management Institute Delhi (IMI New Delhi) hosted its 40th convocation ceremonywith 426 graduating students, including two scholars from the Fellow Program in Management (FPM), receiving diplomas. Rajiv Mirwani, Managing Director, South Asia, Bloomberg, was the Chief Guest.

Alliance University, Bengaluru, hosted its 13th convocation with 1,145 students receiving UG, PG and PhD degrees in multiple streams. P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Goa, was the Chief Guest. Guests of Honour included Basavaraj Shivalingappa Horatti, Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council; Priyank Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, IT and BT, Government of Karnataka; and Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman, Aeronautical Development Agency.