Kochi | Education & Research

[mohammedirshad06]

Woww!!!! Kochi gets more Professional seats and new technical courses

The All-India Council for Technical Examination (AICTE) has sanctioned new courses for several engineering colleges.

Approval has been given to commence in FISAT

1. PG programme in Power Electronics and Power Systems at Federal Institute of Science And Technology Angamaly. The total intake is 18.

2. BTech in Civil Engineering with an intake of 60 and

3. An additional batch of 60 in MBA. Arrangements are being made to start the courses this academic year, said P V Mathew, chairman, FISAT.


The AICTE has approved and sanctioned two new engineering courses at TocH Institute of Science and Technology, Arakkunnam— Fire Technology and Safety in BTech and Wireless Technology in MTech. Sixty students can be admitted to the course in BTech programme and 18 students in MTech. Now TocH is the only engineering college in Kerala to offer MTech programme in Electronics and Communication Department with Wireless Technology as a specialisation.

Other than School of Engineering (Cusat), only TocH offers BTech programme in Fire Technology and Safety.

A new batch of Post-Graduate Diploma in Management in Rajagiri Business School will commence soon following the AICTE approval.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/...es/290909.html

[mohammedirshad06]

കൊച്ചി ശാസ്ത്ര സാങ്കേതിക സര്*വകലാശാലയെ ദേശീയ പ്രാധാന്യമുള്ള ഇന്ത്യന്* ഇന്*സ്റ്റിറ്റ്യൂട്ട് ഓഫ് എന്*ജിനീയറിങ് സയന്*സ് ആന്*ഡ് ടെക്നോളജി (ഐഐഇഎസ്ടി) ആക്കി മാറ്റുന്നതില്* സര്*ക്കാരിന്റെ താല്*പര്യം അറിയിച്ചു മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ഉമ്മന്*ചാണ്ടി കേന്ദ്രമന്ത്രി കപില്* സിബലിനു കത്തയച്ചതോടെ കുസാറ്റിന്റെ പ്രതീക്ഷകള്*ക്കു വീണ്ടും ജീവന്*വച്ചു. ബംഗാള്* എന്*ജിനീയറിങ് ആന്*ഡ് സയന്*സ് യൂണിവേഴ്സിറ്റിക്കൊപ്പം കുസാറ്റിനെയും ഐഐഇഎസ്ടിയാക്കുന്നതിനു കേന്ദ്ര മാനവ വിഭവശേഷി വകുപ്പ് എടുത്ത മുന്* തീരുമാനം നടപ്പിലാക്കുന്നതിനു നിര്*ദേശം നല്*കണമെന്ന് ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു ജൂണ്* 23നാണു മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി കത്തയച്ചത്.

ഐഐഇഎസ്ടിയാക്കുന്നതിനു മുന്* സര്*ക്കാര്* മുന്നോട്ടുവച്ച അതേ നിര്*ദേശങ്ങള്* തന്റെ കത്തില്* മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ആവര്*ത്തിക്കുക മാത്രമാണു ചെയ്തിട്ടുള്ളത്. കുസാറ്റിന്റെ മുഴുവന്* സ്ഥാവര ജംഗമ വസ്തുക്കളും കേന്ദ്രത്തിനു വിട്ടുകൊടുക്കാന്* തയാറാണെന്നു മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി കത്തില്* സൂചിപ്പിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. സംസ്ഥാന സര്*ക്കാര്* പിന്തുടരുന്ന സംവരണ പാറ്റേണ്* നിലനിര്*ത്തി 50 ശതമാനം സീറ്റുകള്* കേരളത്തില്* നിന്നുള്ള വിദ്യാര്*ഥികള്*ക്കു നല്*കണം. ഐഐഇഎസ്ടിയുടെ ഭരണത്തില്* സംസ്ഥാന സര്*ക്കാരിന്റെ പ്രാതിനിധ്യം ഉറപ്പുവരുത്തണമെന്നും മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്.

കുസാറ്റിനെ കേന്ദ്രത്തിനു കൈമാറുന്നതിനു സമ്മതം അറിയിച്ചു 2008 ഫെബ്രുവരി 26ന് ഉന്നത വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ വകുപ്പ് ഉത്തരവിറക്കിയിരുന്നതാണ്. കേന്ദ്രസര്*ക്കാര്* നിയോഗിച്ച എസ്.കെ. ജോഷി കമ്മിറ്റി കുസാറ്റടക്കം ഏഴു

സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളെ എന്*ഐടി നിലവാരത്തില്* ഐഐഇഎസ്ടിയാക്കാന്* ശുപാര്*ശ ചെയ്തതിനെത്തുടര്*ന്നാണ് ഈ നടപടിയുണ്ടായത്. പ്രാരംഭ ചെലവുകള്*ക്കായി 20 കോടി രൂപയും 2007ല്* എംഎച്ച്ആര്*ഡി കുസാറ്റിനു നല്*കി. സംസ്ഥാന സര്*ക്കാര്* മുന്നോട്ടുവച്ച മുഴുവന്* നിബന്ധനകളും കേന്ദ്രം അംഗീകരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തിരുന്നു. 2008-09 ബജറ്റില്* കേന്ദ്രം 518.83 കോടി രൂപ കുസാറ്റിനായി നീക്കിവച്ചിരുന്നു.

എന്നാല്* മാസങ്ങള്*ക്കു ശേഷം കുസാറ്റിന്റെ കൈമാറ്റവുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടു ഡല്*ഹിയില്* നടന്ന യോഗത്തില്* കുസാറ്റ് വൈസ്ചാന്*സലര്* ഡോ. ഗംഗന്* പ്രതാപ് തങ്ങള്*ക്ക് ഐഐഇഎസ്ടി വേണ്ടെന്നും ഐഐടി മതിയെന്നും വ്യക്തമാക്കിയിരുന്നു. കുസാറ്റിനെ പൂര്*ണമായി കേന്ദ്രത്തിനു കൈമാറുന്നതു നഷ്ടമാണെന്നു ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടി ചില സംഘടനകളാണ് ഈ നീക്കത്തിനു ചുക്കാന്* പിടിച്ചത്. ഇതേത്തുടര്*ന്നു കുസാറ്റിനെ കൈമാറാന്* ഇടതുസര്*ക്കാര്* ഇറക്കിയ ഉത്തരവ് കേന്ദ്രത്തിനു നല്*കിയില്ല. കുസാറ്റില്* നിന്നു മറുപടിയൊന്നും ലഭിക്കാതായപ്പോള്* കുസാറ്റിനെ ഒഴിവാക്കി ഒപ്പം പരിഗണിച്ചിരുന്ന ബംഗാള്* എന്*ജിനീയറിങ് ആന്*ഡ് സയന്*സ് യൂണിവേഴ്സിറ്റിക്ക് (ബസു) 592.2 കോടി രൂപ അനുവദിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു.

ഇതില്* 300.3 കോടി രൂപ വികസനത്തിനും 291.9 കോടി രൂപ ശമ്പളം, പെന്*ഷന്* മുതലായവയ്ക്കും ഉപയോഗിക്കാനാണു തീരുമാനമുണ്ടായത്. കൂടാതെ പ്രതിവര്*ഷം 50 കോടി രൂപ ആവര്*ത്തനച്ചെലവായും ബസുവിനു നല്*കിവരുന്നു. കുസാറ്റിനു ലഭിക്കുമായിരുന്ന വികസനഫണ്ടും കേന്ദ്രപദവിയും നഷ്ടപ്പെടുത്തിയതിനെതിരെ കുസാറ്റിലെ ബഹുഭൂരിപക്ഷം അധ്യാപകര്*ക്കും ജീവനക്കാര്*ക്കും വിദ്യാര്*ഥികള്*ക്കും പ്രതിഷേധമുണ്ടായിരുന്നുവെങ്കിലും ഇടതുസര്*ക്കാര്* ചെവിക്കൊണ്ടില്ല.

യുഡിഎഫ് സര്*ക്കാര്* അധികാരമേറ്റ ഉടനെ കുസാറ്റിനെ ഐഐടി നിലവാരത്തിലുള്ള ഐഐഇഎസ്ടി ആക്കി മാറ്റാനുള്ള തീരുമാനം തങ്ങളുടെ നൂറുദിന കര്*മപരിപാടിയില്*പ്പെടുത്തുകയായിരുന്നു. ഇതിന്റെ സര്*ക്കാര്*തല ഏകീകരണത്തിനായി മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി, വിദ്യാഭ്യാസമന്ത്രി , ചീഫ് സെക്രട്ടറി, ഫിനാന്*സ് സെക്രട്ടറി, ഉന്നത വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ സെക്രട്ടറി എന്നിവരടങ്ങുന്ന കമ്മിറ്റിയും രൂപീകരിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്.

Hopes again for CUSAT to convert into world class Indian Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology- IIEST.

In a letter send by Kerala CM Ommen Chandy on June 23rd to Kapil Sibal- Union HRD Minister, the CM expressed in intense in old proposal which was hijacked by LDF to protect interests of few academicians.

In new proposal, Kerala wants 50% reservation to Malayalee students and a representation of Kerala Government in new body.

The proposal is part of 100 days program. Hopes surely Kochi will get a world class institute on international level

[mohammedirshad06]

TeamLease Services, India's largest staffing Solutions Company and Indian Institute of Job Training (IIJT) enters Kerala with its first vocational training centre in Cochin. The satellite enabled centre will offer a wide range of services from registration, assessments, counseling, training, placements and will improve job market access to the youth of Kerala. This center can accommodate 550 candidates at any given point and is IIJT's first Company owned and managed center in Kerala, among 120 such centers in India, making IIJT one of the largest organizations in the vocational skills training space.

Shri K. Babu-Honorable Excise Minister, Government of Kerala inaugurated the state of the art centre located in Edappally-Vytilla Bye Pass.Shri Benny Behanan, Honourable MLA, Thirkakkara Constituency, inaugurated the VSAT enabled classrooms at the new centre. IIJT Cochin which will offer Career courses in Finance like Complete Business Accountant, Integrated Business Accountant, Certified Financial Course and Modular courses like Tally 9.0 Computer fundamentals ,Accounts ,Taxation ,Banking & finance and Stock Market Programs, in Hardware and Networking. The centre will offer courses in PC –Next, G-Next and Infrastructure Management Courses. Apart from that it will also offer courses in Red Hat certification, CCNA and CCNP certification MCITP and A + and N+ Courses. The IIJT Cochin centre is an authorized partner of all the global certification bodies like Microsoft, Cisco, Red Hat and Comptia. The centre will also offer courses in cloud Computing and Infrastructure management.

The centre will also provide scientific Career Skills Assessment for individual candidates to determine their readiness for a job and identify their training needs to improve their employability potential. The assessments are based on the proprietary TeamLease National Employability Framework (TNEF), which has researched and documented over 15,000 Ideal Candidate Profiles (ICPs) across various industries in India.

Speaking during the occasion Shri K. Babu-Honorable Excise Minister, Government of Kerala said, "With IIJT's state of the art training institute coming up in the city, we are sure that the training will help improve the employability and employment potential of the youth in Kerala and this initiative will truly help the people of the city to equip themselves with the right skills for the right job".


Shri Benny Behanan, Honorable MLA under whose constituency the IIJT centre will function welcomed the move stating that recruiting companies in cochin and Kerala would now get trained manpower .

Mr Tony Chammany Honorable Mayor of Cochin congratulated IIJT by saying that IIJT with its superior learning methodology and under the banner of Team lease would offer high quality training and Placement opportunities to the students of Kerala.

Speaking during the occasion, Mr. Shajan Samuel, Divisional Head IIJT Education said "The objective of the of IIJT's venture in Kerala is to prepare the students of Kerala to be Job ready, with access to more than 1,200 corporate clients due to the lineage of its parent company TeamLease, we will offer adequate placement opportunities to the trained candidates. The courses are structured in such a manner that the students can study at flexible times, we also have relevant programs for working professionals, undergraduates, graduates and post graduates. The center will ensure structured entry and exit gate assessments for the candidates which will dramatically alter the chances of success for the candidates "

Mr Shajan Samuel added that in the wake of the smart city MOU now beginning to take shape ,there would be more than 1,10,000 Jobs in the offering out of which 90 % Jobs would be in IT and ITES and ,therefore all the more reason for students to get trained in Skills .

http://indiaeducationdiary.in/Shownews.asp?newsid=9532

[mohammedirshad06]

The first International Conference on Advances in Computing and Communications (ACC-2011) will be organized by Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology (RSET) in association with Computer Society of India (CSI), Div IV & Cochin Chapter, The Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE) and The Institution of Engineers (India) during July, 22-24, 2011 at Kochi, Kerala, India.



ACC2011 focuses on Advances in Computing and Communications, and it will provide a forum for sharing insights, experiences and interaction on various facets of evolving technologies and patterns related to Computer Science, Information Technology and Electronics. The conference provides the most relevant opportunity to bring together students, researchers and practitioners from both academia and industry. The conference will include a peer reviewed program of technical sessions, workshops, tutorials, and demonstration sessions.

[mohammedirshad06]

The much-hyped university dedicated to overseas Indians appears to have become a more distant dream with the proposal to establish it at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) reportedly being scrapped owing to legal complications.

It was recently reported by the Business Standard newspaper that the project had been challenged by one Charitable Educational & Welfare Society (Kadammanitta), Pathanamthitta district, in Kerala, and Kerala state, which filed a writ petition in the Kerala High Court seeking a direction from the court quashing the letter on the university and such other directions.

According to the report, the Ministry of Overseas Indians Affairs has written to the MAHE Trust that the project cannot go ahead under the current legal provision, ie, Section 3 of the UGC (University Grants Commission) Act. Under Section 3 of the UGC Act ‘deemed-to-be-university’ status is granted by the central government to educational institutions of repute that meet prescribed standards and comply with various requirements laid down by the UGC.

The UGC Act stipulates that “for private universities belonging to a separate category altogether, a suitable regulatory mechanism is essential by way of laying down the conditions specifically for the establishment and operation of such universities for safeguarding the interests of the student community with adequate emphasis on the quality of education and to avoid commercialisation of higher education, etc.”

Accordingly, the advisory board set up for the purpose opined that the proposed PIO/NRI University (at MAHE) as also more such universities which may be envisaged, should be established under an act of parliament. Business Standard quoted from the ministry’s letter to MAHE, which said: “After the bill is enacted, a fresh expression of interest would be invited for the proposed PIO/NRI University, as also more such universities which may be envisaged. Hence, the invitation of expression of interest and letter informing MAHE Trust about the decision to entrust the task of establishing the proposed PIO/NRI University become infractions and government does not propose to proceed with this.”

The legislation being referred to is the Innovation Universities Bill, which has been introduced in the parliament. Senior officials have said that the government of India plans to set up five PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) universities that will exclusively cater to the diaspora students of Indian origin. Didar Singh, secretary at the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, told a gathering at the recent mini Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Toronto, Canada, that the PIO universities would be established in different cities including Bangalore. These full-fledged universities will be built in public-private partnership and half of their seats will be reserved for students from the Indian diaspora.

The PIO University, as per plans, will be established by a private organisation under the Innovation Universities Act (once it is approved), where support to the said university would come in the form of research support and student scholarships. The Innovation Universities Bill has been forwarded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The proposed structure of the ‘Universities of Innovation’ would have the advantage of a world-class institution coming up through the private sector where PIO students could gain admission through the scholarship scheme of the ministry. The arrangement would be in line with the Indian government’s reservation policy.

Singh was quoted by agencies as saying that this was an interesting concept as the focus of these universities will be on innovation. Students won’t be bothered about exams or marks.

Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal has said that with this legislation, there will be only 14 nationally-funded innovation universities, but the statute will allow for any number of private institutions.

Since innovative universities will be set up around a theme, it was felt that they should be multi-disciplinary in nature. It was suggested that while a theme could be a good idea for the university to start with, gradually it can develop a multi-disciplinary approach.

According to the minister, themes for innovation universities will be decided not by the government but by the institutions.

The government will set up 14 fully-funded Innovation Universities in Greater Noida, Amritsar, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, Mysore, Gandhinagar, Jaipur, Kolkata, Bhopal, Kochi, Guwhati, Patna and Pune. But the number of universities to be set up by the private sector has not yet been decided.

Each university will be based on a different model and concept with a distinctive financial, academic and research structure.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/ind...s-indians.html

...

[mohammedirshad06]

Each development in the marine industry should be in tune with the welfare of the fishing community,” Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal said on Friday.

He was inaugurating the National Consultative Workshop for the preparation of vision document and strategic plan of Kerala University of Fisheries and Oceanic Studies(KUFOS).

“If properly tapped, the marine industry can be the greatest boon to the state.

The traditional fisherfolk community is a treasure trove of indigenous knowledge.

Hence, to come up with fruitful results, we must formulate projects and programmes that can blend the traditional knowledge of the fisherfolk and modern technology for integrated development in their lives,” the minister said.

He also said that the medicinal values of marine life still remained untapped and aquaculture was yet another area in the industry that remained under-utilised.

Hence, focus should be given in those areas too, he said.
The minister also said that the unscientific construction of harbours was yet another grave issue that posed a lot of threat to the community.
Such blatant mistakes should be identified and rectified at the earliest. Though the Central Government was allotting funds to promote the industry, the state government was unable to tap the funds that had been allocated for the purpose.

“Fishermen are lagging behind in everything. A comprehensive development of the fishing community should always be kept in mind while formulating programmes or projects,’’ he said. Former Kerala Agricultural University Vice- Chancellor E G Silas launched the website of the university, www.kufos.ac.in, on the occasion.

KUFOS Vice-Chancellor B Madhusoodana Kurup, who presided over the inaugural session, said that by 2025, the manpower requirement in the fisheries sector would be around 32 lakh.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/...re/292479.html

[mohammedirshad06]

Giving an indication that all is not well with the teenagers in the state, the adolescent clinics set up by the government in three districts have started reporting cases of substance and sexual abuse, homosexuality and criminal behaviour.

The teaching community and the health workers in the schools are alarmed at the ‘experiments in sex’ among schoolchildren, which include homosexuality.
“It is when we sit through the counselling sessions that we come to know about how badly teenagers need help. Many of them are carried away by peer pressure and those who get into these groups don’t know how to handle themselves,” says

Dr Gracy Thomas, Medical Officer, Adolescent Reproductive Sexual Health(ARSH)programme, Ernakulam district.

‘’The complaints and doubts are shocking. The teachers are aware of it, but most of them don’t know what to do,” says Dr Gracy.

So, when the ARSH medical unit team led by Dr Gracy, a counsellor and a primary healthcare nurse visit schools across the district, the children come crying for help.

“Some of them wait to just talk to me and ask me to help them. We identify such cases and try and make sure that they come for counselling at the adolescent clinics,” she explains. After hearing the stories, it doesn’t look surprising that Paravoor, Kothamangalam and Vettichira incidents happened.

“The mobile phones have been responsible for introducing the children to experiment in perverse acts after watching blue films and SMSes,” Dr Gracy Thomas said. After the sex education class which explains to them that the changes in their body are all part of growing up, the medical team warns them of the health consequences of acquiring habits beyond their age.

“We show them pictures of diseases caused by free sex, tobacco and alcohol abuse and drugs,” she explains.

“Most of them are shocked and even the most unmanageable children listen attentively. The reaction from the kids indicate that most of them do not know the harsh realities behind the fantasies.”

“Now, we are working on strategies to bring all problem children into these clinics.

‘‘The seven clinics in the district have started getting a good response. We hope to bring in new methods to address the psycho-social and reproductive health problems among adolescents,” says Dr K V Beena, District Manager, National Rural Health Mission. “The state government, as part of the 100-day programme of the Health Department, has okayed `50 lakh from the Child Development Centre for the clinics, says CDC Director M K C Nair.
“The fund will be used for the welfare of adolescent girls. ‘‘We haven’t planned anything for the boys yet, though we are aware of problems like homosexuality and sexual abuse among them,” says Nair.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/experimen...15-60-116.html

======================================================

SHOCKING!!!!

[mohammedirshad06]

Their task is a tough one.

Teaching special children to cope with the test of life, making them well-equipped to meet the challenges that every day throws up to them, and helping them learn a few lessons in living on their own, on their own terms.

For those who run schools for children with special needs, education is something much beyond books and exams. It is not alphabets, geometry and history that are given the focus in these classrooms, but the lessons in living as differently abled persons in a society that caters to normal people.

Kochi, in Kerala has around 20 special schools that admit specially abled children —those with physical and mental handicaps.

As public schools are still reluctant to admit specially-abled children, hearing-impaired, visually-challenged, autistic, or mentally-challenged, such schools are the only option for parents who want their children to have access to good education and skills training.

Yet, these schools are not given the due recognition, and even the financial assistance from the government does not reach them regularly. Running a special school is not an easy job.

The majority of schools are run as charitable organisations, banking on their own funds and financial support from the government, individuals or agencies and there is always a shortage of funds. Special schools, which once came under the Ministry of Social Welfare is now under the Ministry of Education.

“Salary for teachers, maintenance for the school bus and physiotherapy for students account for the major part of our expenses. For one student, the expense would come to Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 every month."

“Some organisations come forward to support us, but we can do better for the students with more support from the government,” says Sr. Sheeba, principal of Snehanilayam Special School in Kochi.

The school which has 125 students provides them vocational training to make them financially independent in the later years.

The schools are run with the help of trained teachers, speech therapists, psychologists and volunteers to offer the best facilities.

Some schools such as Adarsh in Tripunithura have Open Schooling that enables students who cannot undertake the pressure of normal schooling to study up to Class X.

Though parents prefer mainstream schools that offer inclusive education, not many in the city admit children with special needs.

“My son had a speech problem, and though I put him in a regular school, he could not adjust with the teaching methods there. The problem worsened. Now, I have enrolled him in a special school, and his whole personality has improved,” says Radhika Padmakumar, mother of seven-year-old Siddharth.

Controversies too surround the special schools often. Recently, a school in Kochi was in the midst of financial allegations. Yet, many schools have to struggle to keep up the standards and provide the best for their students.

“We do everything to make them self-sufficient, and give them training in making cards and carry bags. There are only 40 students because we have space constraints. But the government is yet to give us any kind of assistance,” says Shobha Thampy, president of Ernakulam Women’s Association, which runs Sradha Special School.

From teaching them how to brush their teeth to operate a computer, from boarding a bus to launching their own small-scale business, special schools are doing something we conveniently forget — help someone in need and make a difference to their lives.

Too special

*Kochi has around 20 special schools that admit specially-abled children.

*Some schools have Open Schooling that enables students who cannot undertake the pressure of normal schooling to study up to Class X.

*The National Institute of Speech and Hearing in Thiruvananthapuram has started degree level programmes for deaf post-secondary students.

*According to statistics, up to 20 per cent of children in schools will need special-education intervention at some point in their school life.

[mohammedirshad06]

In an effort to enhance retailing skills, a two-day workshop on Excellence in Store Operations (ESOps) will be held here from tomorrow. ESOPs has been conducted successfully in various parts of the country, which focuses on the means of achieving great retail performance by virtue of enhancing store productivity and store profitability.

The Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry and RAI(Retail Association of India), are jointly organising the workshop. ESOps is a learning platform for retailers who have a desire to imbibe and adopt proven best practices. The workshop is a learning platform for Independent Retailers & Retail Managers who have a desire to imbibe and adopt proven best practices.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfee...ow/755622.html

[mohammedirshad06]

The newly formed Kerala University for Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) will focus on ocean engineering, shipbuilding and climate change. Vice-chancellor B. Madhusoodhana Kurup said the programme was decided after a series of discussions with experts in fields such as ocean sciences and technology, climate variability and aquatic ecosystem.

KUFOS, established in February with Kochi as its headquarters, has readied a draft for higher learning. The courses would start this academic year and there would be facilities for research, Kurup said. It is expected to be a centre of excellence with a lead role in human resource development in fisheries and ocean study and will foster entrepreneurship. The campus would include Panangad College of Fisheries and the fisheries research stations at Puthuvypeen and Thiruvallam in the state capital.

There would be separate schools for aquaculture and biotechnology, fisheries resource management and harvest technology, ocean science and technology, ocean engineering and underwater technology, fishery environment and management and entrepreneurship. The fishery environment and management school would look at hot topics such as climate variability and aquatic resource management, coastal zone management, meteorology and disaster management, Kurup said.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...rts-course-442

[mohammedirshad06]

The humble sardine (Chaala or Mathi in Malayalam) will soon get ‘VIP status’ and will adorn the menu of star hotels. Though sardine is ubiquitous in Kerala and is highly nutritious, the elite usually look down upon it. Not everyone enjoys eating them because of their strong flavour and spines. Also, because of the small size, the fish has not attracted chefs.

All that is about to change as The Central institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi, has developed a variety of value added products and snack food varieties from sardine. They include Sardine Kebab, Momos, Fritters, Tsumire and many other mouth-watering varieties. The innovative initiative was part of a project taken up by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and funded by the World bank. “The snacks we developed from sardine are very nutritious and will not have the problems of fast food,” said Dr S. Ashalatha of CIFT. “Sardine is the world’s best natural source of Omega-3 fatty acids. The fish is rich in vitamin D also.” “Once the products we launch become popular, sardine will become the favourite not just of Malayalis but people all over the world,” she added.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chann...s-vip-menu-626

[mohammedirshad06]

I think, many of the people browsing this forum, may look for reputed schools in the city of Kochi. I think, we can start a series of famous schools of Kochi to allow people know more about premium schooling facilities of our city

To start this this series, I selected

Global Public School in Choothanikara, near Tripunithara.



Global Public School is one of the few schools in Kerala that offers international curiculum. The school is affiliated to University Of Cambridge International Examinations board, UK. They offer the globally recognised and valued International General Certificate for Secondary Education (IGCSE)Curriculum of the University of Cambridge for Grade 9 and Grade 10. The Senior School students further sit for their AS and A level (+1 and +2) exams from the University of Cambridge.



The school follows ICSE and ISC (both Indian NCERT approved ) syllabus for classes from Grade 1 to Grade 8.

The school was founded by a group of prominent industralists of Kochi under leadership of Manorama's Philip Mathew and several leading business faternity occupies the board of trustees and governors of the school

The school is a day residential school with hostel facilities. It also has premium facilities like indoor stadium, swimming pool, art galleries, state-of-the-art library and convention center.

[mohammedirshad06]

Dawn International Public School of Arts and Academics- Puthencruz;Ambalamedu







Dawn Public School is one of the first International schools of Kerala, based in upcoming Suburb area of Puthencruz. The school offers International curriculum, affiliated to UK's University of Cambridge International Examinations- IGCSE from Grade 8 to Grade 10; GCE A and AS curriculums for Grade 11 and 12. The school follows ISC syllabus (NCERT) from KG to Grade 7.

The school is founded a group of UK based NRIs under the patronage of Jim Laughlin, a reputed teaching professional from UK.



The school has one of the highest level of facilities for its students, which includes fully air-conditioned state-of-the-art classrooms, all fitted with Smart Class technology, satellite linked remote educational instructional facilities and video conferencing, apart from various activities rooms, day and full-time residential facilities, sporting facilities which includes swimming pool, indoor basketball and volleyball court and outdoor cricket cum football stadium. The school has 3 e-libraries facility, apart from dedicated libraries for each broad age group; hi-tech labs and a fine-arts center.






The school also boosts a number of UK trained faculties apart from professional expat faculties with international expertise. The school and hostel is completely wi-fi and 24 hour dedicated IT resource center.

The school has a dedicated sports training center for training students in professional sportings like Badminton, Tennis, Volleyball and Basketball and a dedicated Art school where students can specialize any 2 items of their choice like Western dance, Bharatanatyam, Guitar, Western rock, Indian Classical music and Violin.

[Jayesh Joy]

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cial-deci...38-60-116.html
[
B]CIAL decides to close down AME School[/B]

The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) on Monday decided to close down its Aircraft Maintenance Engineering School (CIAL AME School), within a year. The decision has caused apprehension among the students who had already joined the institution.The CIAL AME School, launched in September 2010 by Cochin International Aviation Services Limited (CIASL), a subsidiary of CIAL, was considered as one of the major attractions in the development of the airport. However, CIAL had entrusted Kairali Aviation Private Limited, a Bangalore based institution, to run the AME School. Parents complain that this was not intimated to neither the students nor to the parents.More than 30 students joined the first batch of the school. But following an inspection, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) decided not to renew the recognition of the school. It also denied permission to admit the new batch of students to the Basic Diploma course in AME. The course fee was `5 lakh and the students who joined had remitted Rs. 1.77 lakh by this time.After getting information on the derecognition of the course and the decision to close down the School, the students and parents stormed the school. They met the senior officials of the CIAL including the Managing Director and lodged complaints.The CIASL has reportedly informed the parents that the students would be given admission in AME Institutes in T'Puram, Kochi and Coimbatore since it is not possible to run the institute further. But the parents have not accepted this change and have threatened to resort to legal action against the compulsory transfer. Now, the plight of the faculty is not much different. It is alleged that the faculty was not paid their salary for the past couple of months. They might also approach the court.Meanwhile, CIASL is reportedly planning to invoke legal proceedings against Kairali Aviation Ltd.

[mohammedirshad06]

The 7 year old, mother of all Indian Business quizzes, TATA Crucible comes to Kochi as part of its 8th edition, the TATA Crucible 2011 !



Registrations are categorised into two tracks – one for the Tata Employees and the other for Non-Tata employees. Reional winners will be iven away with Rs. 75,000/- and runners up would get Rs. 35,000/- ! There would be an all-India final quiz battle, between all the regional winners, at the end of the season at Mumbai, when the winners can take away with them a whooping 4 Lakh Rupees in cash.

To register for the TATA Crucible 2011 and for more details, lo on to www.tatacrucible.com OR call 97460 37371

[mohammedirshad06]

The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) has signed an MoU with the Hyderabad based Uniloids Biosciences. The MoU will provide Uniloids Biosciences access to technology developed at CIFT, to convert process waste to Chitin and Chitosan,considerably versatile and promising biomaterials with wide use in various industries such as pharma, food processing and cosmetics.

Also, Uniloids Biosciences will receive support from Zonal Technology Management Business Planning and Development Unit, an agribusiness unit and the Fish Processing Division and Quality Assurance and Management Division for commercialising the technology. CIFT director T K Srinivasa Gopal said: "The CIFT is prepared to facilitate transfer of commercially viable technologies and extend expertise in the field. We urge industries cutting across all domains to access the institute to understand and commercially exploit such technologies developed in our labs."

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cift-sign...65-60-122.html

[mohammedirshad06]

A few generations ago, in the 1960s, when there were no Harry Potters and Frodo Baggins around, children grew up with Brigitta and Curt, Marta and Liesl — with the von Trapp children.

Year after year, kids began their music lessons with Doe a dear.. and so and so.

The magic of The Sound of Music never faded away. On Friday last, parents held their breath as the students of Choice School, Kochi, recreated the magic once again on stage as part of the school’s 20th anniversary celebrations.

The end of the 30-minute-long play, however, saw them all standing up and applauding, drowned in pride by the level of excellence achieved by the children. It was no run-of-the-mill school play but a professional show.

Veteran singer Usha Uthup, who was present on the occasion, even suggested to Jose Thomas, president of the school, that they should travel around the country with the play for it was ‘absolutely brilliant’.

Suzanne Kurian wore a brown frock and ran around the stage, bringing alive before the audience a really young and sprightly Maria, who sang about the hills and birds and brooks till she remembered her duties at the abbey.

The nuns at the abbey sing about ‘solving a problem like Maria’ before she runs into them, late and out of breath. Ankita and Rachel as the nuns did a lovely job, looking every bit the serious looking Mother Abbess and Sister Margaretta and singing beautifully.

All seven von Trapp children — played by Anjali, Jacob, Zeba, Antony, Sarah, Anjolie, and Arya — leave you in no doubt that you are watching a beautiful classic unfold before your eyes, as they sing and dance to Doe a dear and So long, Farewell. Pranav Govind as Captain von Trapp gave a beautiful rendition of Edelweiss.

Abry Sunny as Zeller too played a short but convincing role of the antagonist.

Says Suzanne, an eleventh standard student, “We got about three weeks to prepare for the play and we all stayed back after school to practise. Our professor, Jerry Amaldev, helped with the music while our principal, Molly Cyril, did most of the direction. A few teachers also helped us put it all together. It was a wonderful experience for me because I am very passionate about theatre and this was a big opportunity for me. I also love to sing.”

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tablo...ound-music-604

[mohammedirshad06]

A project titled “Save Our Ailing Planet” was launched at Hira Public School, Panangad, to drive home the point that afforestation is essential for the survival of the human race. Assistant Conservator of Forests, M.K. Manomohanan inaugurated the project. He spoke about the need for planting trees, especially in cities like Kochi where the oxygen level in the atmosphere is reducing alarmingly.

At the function, saplings were distributed to all students. Each student was asked to maintain a record of the growth of the sapling and to submit it to the school at the end of the academic year. Out of them, five best records will be selected by a team of teachers, who will also visit the houses of these children to adjudge the best-nurtured plant.

[mohammedirshad06]

The job fair organised by TeamLease IIJT in Kochi on Saturday saw over 500 candidates checking out employment opportunities. The job fair was conducted with an aim to connect job aspirants with employers, assessment counsellors and training professionals. TeamLease Services is a leading staffing solutions company and Indian Institute of Job Training (IIJT) is its vocational skills training arm.

Top companies like First Source, Northgate Arinso, SBL Infotech, PCS Technologies and Quest Innovations participated in the day long job fair. Major openings were seen in sectors like Finance and Accounts, Payroll processing, Customer Service, Hardware and Networking. Around 15 candidates were short listed after the job fair.

Candidates were taken through assessment and employability evaluation conducted by TeamLease and IIJT counsellors. Based on assessment tests results, IIJT counsellors suggested requirements of necessary vocational skills training to the candidates. This is the first job fair happening at the newly launched IIJT centre in Cochin.

According to Shajan Samuel, Divisional Head, IIJT Education, the Job fair at Cochin coincided with the Commitment of IIJT to bring jobs to people. “We launched the Cochin IIJT Company centre earlier this month with the objective of providing trained manpower to the industry, if candidates are already job ready then we will provide access to companies to make them employable but wherever there is a void we fill that gap through our structured training and then get them placed”, he added.

http://keralaitnews.com/news-outside...-good-response

[mohammedirshad06]

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has sanctioned Rs 2.5 crore for a project to be taken up by a Cusat research team. The project is part of developing low cost thin film solar cells using eco-friendly and abundantly available semi-conductor materials with the help of simple techniques.

The research group, consisting of K P Vijayakumar (physics department), P Sudha Kartha (Physics) and K Rajiv Kumar (instrumentation) is working on preparing thin film solar cells using “spray technique”. The technique is quite simple and good for large area deposition of films.

Sudha Kartha is also engaged in another research on recording of images on polymer film. A team from MNRE cleared the project after several visits to Cusat and the project was modified as per suggestions made by MNRE. The group has been given three years to complete the research work. According to Vijayakumar, head of the group, efforts will be made to complete it within this time. If the research is not completed, MRNE will be approached for getting it extended. This will also involve more investment, he said.

The centre would require sophisticated equipment from US, Japan or other developed countries. Due to absence of the machines, it now sends the samples to its collaborators in US and Japan. The research group has been working on thin film solar cells for the last 25 years. The group is developing solar cells without using Silicon. On completion of successful research, the MNRE will fund the development of the Centre for Alternate Energy Research which is involved in research and development of non-silicon thin film solar cells.

The centre was set up about a year ago. The development of thin film solar cells is still in its infancy and the country can take a lead if research begins now.

The research assumes importance as the country, especially South India, gets abundant sunlight and we are still short of electricity.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mnre-fund...27-60-122.html