Trivandrum - Education and Research Thread

[AAJACOB]

Babu,

I think Kasargod district.

[jaleelmalik]

Originally Posted by AAJACOB

Babu,

I think Kasargod district.

Arun,

don't think - lol.
It is at Kasaragod only..

Cheers
jals

[BabuCS]

It has been a dream run for us as far as higher education is concerned .. the most important one is of course the establishment of IISER ..then IIST, upgradation of RGCB and NIIST, and this central university. We surely will get an IIT .. it is just a matter of time. GoK must bargain hard for one of the proposed NRI universities as well.

[Kannan46]

Originally Posted by jaleelmalik

Arun,

don't think - lol.
It is at Kasaragod only..

Cheers
jals

Sometime in July last year the chief minister stated in the Assembly that the location of the central university will be in Malabar. It can be Kasargod.
But the central govt has certain criteria for the establishment of the university. Apart from communication, transport and other requirements, they want nearness of important research centers so that the university can attract good students including those from foreign countries and the quality of education can be at the maximum level.
Trivandrum or Quilon being near to Tvm can satisfy the requirements to a good extent.
Let us see what the final decision is.

Cheers!!!

[BabuCS]

Originally Posted by Kannan46

Sometime in July last year the chief minister stated in the Assembly that the location of the central university will be in Malabar. It can be Kasargod.
But the central govt has certain criteria for the establishment of the university. Apart from communication, transport and other requirements, they want nearness of important research centers so that the university can attract good students including those from foreign countries and the quality of education can be at the maximum level.
Trivandrum or Quilon being near to Tvm can satisfy the requirements to a good extent.
Let us see what the final decision is.

Cheers!!!

Unlike other centers, a central university needs a large area (at least 1000 acres) and so GoK will be hard pressed for land, especially near urban areas where good facilities already exist. So it may be thinking remote areas as well.

[Tri Man]

Originally Posted by BabuCS

Unlike other centers, a central university needs a large area (at least 1000 acres) and so GoK will be hard pressed for land, especially near urban areas where good facilities already exist. So it may be thinking remote areas as well.

Thrissur is most likely to get this university as it has both the land and infrastructure.

[karunakaranashok]

Originally Posted by Tri Man

Thrissur is most likely to get this university as it has both the land and infrastructure.

I hope the new central university will not be modelled on the pattern of other universities that are currently existing.I am not sure if sufficient thought has yet been given to the type of courses that are going to be taught at these new Universities. If the university is going to conduct courses that are going to equip the students with skills required to earn a living then it would be fine. Such courses could be related to technical subjects(including IT and other related subjects) , medical/paramedical, law, business administration (including the many variants ) . If the bulk of the funds are going to be devoted to establishing departments that churn out BAs/MAs/BScs/and MScs etc as other universities already existing are doing, I don't see any purpose .

[BabuCS]

Originally Posted by karunakaranashok

I hope the new central university will not be modelled on the pattern of other universities that are currently existing.I am not sure if sufficient thought has yet been given to the type of courses that are going to be taught at these new Universities. If the university is going to conduct courses that are going to equip the students with skills required to earn a living then it would be fine. Such courses could be related to technical subjects(including IT and other related subjects) , medical/paramedical, law, business administration (including the many variants ) . If the bulk of the funds are going to be devoted to establishing departments that churn out BAs/MAs/BScs/and MScs etc as other universities already existing are doing, I don't see any purpose .

Very true ....

Everything depends on the quality of faculty they choose and the rest will take care of itself. The BAs and BSc s produced must be employable and for that a quality education is a must.

[BabuCS]

Ever since the realization of our IISER, I have been thinking about a suitable design that is appropriate for a science building. One of the shapes that struck my mind was that of 'PSI', the wave function in Quantum Mechanics. Since the wave equation and the wave function are the most fundamental ones to any existing science, I thought 'PSI' should be the appropriate shape our architects of IISER should be thinking.

However, I am surprised to see a building already incorporating this idea, coming up in a place where such a thing is least expected ..Soudi Arabia. See the design of Princess Norah University for Women, Riyadh, that would be the biggest university for women when completed!!



Image from the university web site

[AAJACOB]

Originally Posted by BabuCS

Unlike other centers, a central university needs a large area (at least 1000 acres) and so GoK will be hard pressed for land, especially near urban areas where good facilities already exist. So it may be thinking remote areas as well.

Originally Posted by jaleelmalik

Arun,
don't think - lol.
It is at Kasaragod only..

Cheers

jals

Yup Babu & Jaleelji ,

The central university is gonna be in Kasargod district & Dr. Jancy James would be the first VC.

[jaleelmalik]

Originally Posted by BabuCS

Ever since the realization of our IISER, I have been thinking about a suitable design that is appropriate for a science building. One of the shapes that struck my mind was that of 'PSI', the wave function in Quantum Mechanics. Since the wave equation and the wave function are the most fundamental ones to any existing science, I thought 'PSI' should be the appropriate shape our architects of IISER should be thinking.

However, I am surprised to see a building already incorporating this idea, coming up in a place where such a thing is least expected ..Soudi Arabia. See the design of Princess Norah University for Women, Riyadh, that would be the biggest university for women when completed!!



Image from the university web site

Over the years, Saudi has changed a lot.
Now a days they give more importance for Higher Education & Research.
Just have a look at www.kaust.edu.sa

This is King Abduallh University of Science & Technology, the global univeristy that shall be functional from the fall of September this year.
May be it is hard to belive; the entire activities from design to commissining is going to happen in less than 24 months.

This is a very dream university in reality.
The students shall not be levied any sort of fees - instead they would get scholarship plus free accomodation (if married & has got a family, they will get a family status accomodation too) - Quite unbelievable right?
But it is reality.

And... it is an "Equal Opportunity" organization, where people belonging to different nationality, religions etc are treated as equal. You can see its reflections in Recruitment and Admissions. Many Indian students shall also be joining KAUST by September.

Over and above, KAUST is the best employer as of now - not only in the region, but also on a global basis. Because of this, Faculty comprise of the best professionals from the US, UK & everywhere. Some of the IIT Faculty from India shall also be joining KAUST shortly.

Please go through the website for more details.

Cheers

[BabuCS]

Originally Posted by jaleelmalik

Over the years, Saudi has changed a lot.
Now a days they give more importance for Higher Education & Research.
Just have a look at www.kaust.edu.sa


Cheers

Truly amazing ...

[jaleelmalik]

Originally Posted by BabuCS

Truely amazing ...

Infact, I am proud to be the first Indian to be the part of this great Organization.

Cheers

[vinodtnt]

BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (BATL), born from the takeover of state-run KELTEC a year ago, is eyeing possibilities of participating in the country's nuclear programme, BrahMos Aerospace CEO A Sivathanu Pillai said. "BARC needs remote-operated systems - they are highly sophisticated equipment. The BARC chairman had also visited our Thiruvananthapuram unit. This is going to open up new markets,'' he said.

Currently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) comprise BrahMos' main clientele. BrahMos is on speedy expansion mode with the second phase expansion to be launched by the defence minister, A K Antony, followed by the third phase in six months to one year's time. Its management is planning the second phase of development on seven acres of land adjacent to the existing unit at Chackai. This is for augmenting existing infrastructure for large-scale production of the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic missiles.

The first missiles will roll out of the Thiruvananthapuram unit by 2011 as planned. Thiruvananthapuram will be one of the two units in India - the other being the BrahMos unit in Hyderabad - where the missiles are to be integrated. Some of the missiles will be integrated in Russia also, he said. Under the Rs 125-crore expansion planned in the second phase, Rs 75 crore will be for integration of the missiles and Rs 50 crore for adding new machinery to the unit. For the third phase development, which includes wholesale integration of launch vehicles for the ISRO, BrahMos has sought 50 acres of land in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The government is reportedly eyeing land at Koliakkode near Thonnackal. The third phase is expected to take three years for completion.

www

[Kannan46]

Ravi Varma centre at KU


Source: Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The annual budget of the Kerala University
for 2009-2010 presented on Friday promises, among other things, four new study centres, including one for fine arts named after Raja Ravi Varma and faculty appointments to strengthen academics and research.

The budget envisages in the non-plan fund category an income of Rs 120.15 crore, expenditure of Rs 132.19 crore and a deficit of Rs 12.03 crore.

Presenting the budget, University Syndicate Finance Committee convener Adv A.A.Rasheed said that academics and research would be strengthened. For this, vacancies in university departments are to be filled, and eminent scientists and researchers have to be appointed as visiting faculty, he said.

Of the four new centres, the centre for fine arts studies is the major one. The centre will lay thrust on research in fine arts studies. The university will use the Rs 1 crore given by the State Government for setting up the centre.

A centre for translation studies will also be set up. As a first step, certificate and diploma courses will be started in IT-based translation studies in Hindi, Arabic and Russian.

A resource centre for research into the La Tex programme used for publishing books and documents on mathematics will be set up under the Department of Mathematics. An extension centre of the Institute of Management in Kerala (IMK) will be opened at Kundara, Kollam. New batches in MBA will be allotted at the centres at Alappuzha and Adoor.

A sports complex, which can house 1,000 athletes, will be set up ahead of the 2010 National Games. The University Stadium will be renovated and the synthetic track opened to athletes this year.

Other major projects include the establishment of a digital archives for conserving research theses and other documents and a ‘Raga’ library and art gallery under the Music Department. The publication wing will bring out 100 books under the series ‘Kerala Kalapratibhakal’ to memorialise the stalwarts in the arts sector of the State. First among the books would be on Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and Mani Madhava Chakyar.

The budget also envisages a slew of renovation and construction schemes. This include the renovation of the Senate Hall at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore (the estimate has been submitted to the Government). Rs 2.27 crore has been set apart in the non-plan fund category for construction works and Rs 3.5 crore in the plan fund category.

Cheers!!!

[vinodtnt]

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The TKM Institute of Management (TIM), in association with the National Institute of Personnel Management (NIPM) Thiruvananthapuram chapter, is conducting a one-day international seminar, titled ‘Igniting Young Minds’ on Friday at Travancore Hall in Park Centre, Technopark.

The seminar intends to focus on the necessity for the youth to be aware of the opportunities for becoming entrepreneurs and job creators.

Federal Bank CEO and MD M. Venugopalan will inaugurate the seminar. TKM Trust chairman T.K. Shahal Hassan Musaliar will preside.

Andrew Wong, president, National Incubation Network Association, Malaysia, will deliver the keynote address.

link

[Ajaypp]

Kerala's premier private B-school is expanding.

Asian School of Business to have own campus next year

Sankar Radhakrishnan

Thiruvananthapuram, April 15 The city-based Asian School of Business (ASB) will move into its own campus only by early next year.

ASB, which currently operates out of leased space in Technopark Thiruvananthapuram, was originally scheduled to move into its own 16-acre campus in the city’s suburbs by the middle of this year.

Mr G. Vijaya Raghavan, Member-Secretary, Board of Governors, ASB, told Business Line that the b-school is waiting for one more approval from the State Government before starting work on the new campus. “The funds for building the campus have been tied-up and we have even finalised the tenders for construction. All that is required is a final ok from the government,” he said. Once the government’s approval is received, the first phase of the ASB campus should be ready for occupation in 10-12 months, he added.

Rs 63-cr investment

Total investment in the ASB campus is expected to be around Rs 63 crore, spread over three stages. Investment in the first stage will be approximately Rs 30 crore. Once this stage is completed, the campus will have classrooms to accommodate up to 200 students, conference facilities, a library, a hostel to accommodate 150 students, a cafeteria, a guest house and recreation facilities.

When the second stage of the campus is completed in about 3-4 years, ASB will have more classrooms and additional accommodation for students and staff.

Meanwhile, ASB has decided that from the coming academic year all students in its two-year, full-time post-graduate programme in management will do a one-month, district-focused project in Kerala, Mr Vijaya Raghavan said.

The projects will endeavour to identify the opportunities that exist in each district of the State and develop plans to tap these opportunities. Student projects need not be commercial and can even look at socially-oriented opportunities, he added.

The idea behind introducing these projects into the curriculum is to get students interested in entrepreneurship, particularly social entrepreneurship, he explained. These student projects will also fit into ASB’s plan to start an entrepreneurship development centre in a couple of years, he said. And once its new campus is complete, ASB also intends to set up a business incubator, he added.

Link

The ASB campus is located within the Technocity project and looks like the very first component of Kerala's largest IT project to commence construction.

The idea of the community focused programmes is quite laudable as is the plan to start centers for entrepreneurship and incubation.

[vinodtnt]

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mohanlal’s Vismayas Max Animation Academy has announced admissions for the new batch of its animation course. The course will start in May and applications
have been invited for the aptitude test, on the basis of which admissions will be made.

The course will be of 18 months duration and 30 candidates would be admitted to the course. Those selected will be given script-to-screen syllabus along with 24 hours’ classroom facility. Hostel facility will also be provided. Candidates will also have the opportunity to get trained in production through the Academy’s international projects. Those interested should contact the Academy for prospectus and application form. Address: Vismayas Max Animation Academy, TC 11/267, Keston Enclave, Kowdiar PO, Thiruvananthapuram-695 003 or call 9946687727. Log on to www.vismayasmaxanimations.com

url

[Kannan46]

Third phase of training for ASHAs begins

Source: thehinduonline

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The third phase of training for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), who are engaged as health volunteers in the district, began on Monday.

About 1,200 ASHAs are being given training in batches of six at the CSI Youth Centre in Kovalam.

The first two phases of training concentrated on information on various diseases and the services that ASHAs are expected to offer, while the third phase will focus on problems of adolescents, sexually transmitted diseases, use of contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies and HIV/AIDS.

The district programme manager of National Rural Health Mission has directed all ASHA volunteers to report for the training programme at 8.30 a.m.

Cheers!!!

[Ajaypp]

A small request to everyone, please post only news relevant to major education and R&D institutions in this thread. This is to avoid clutter. Thanks.