Allahabad University to hold entrance exam (2016-2017) both online and offline

At an emergency meeting held in Allahabad University on May 11, a decision was taken on holding the entrance exams in the university in both online and offline modes. This will be applicable for admissions in 2016-2017.

More on the entrance examination (AU):

• The union ministry of human resource development stated that it received a letter from the Allahabad University that said it had no objection to the offline option for the exams

• The process for admission shall only be online from 2017-2018

• The undergraduate courses will have their entrances as per the announced schedule, i.e. on May 25, 2016 and May 26, 2016

• Dates for post graduate entrances will be announced later

The controversy:

• The Allahabad University vice-chancellor, RL Hangloo had threatened to quit along with stating that there was immense political interference in the administrative machinery of AU

• He sarcastically also proposed for MPs and MLAs to take over as the V-C

• Hangloo was rather disappointed with the working of administration in AU and said that he would rather return to his parent institute (Hyderabad University). He termed politics as the main hurdle

• On Wednesday, May 11, Smriti Irani, in a political discourse with Samajwadi Party's MP in the Rajya Sabha accused the party of unnecessary intervention in the administrative issues

• According to Irani, the HRD ministry received a letter of threat from the university

Source:- Indiatoday

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Irani unveils web platform for inclusive higher education

NEW DELHI: The HRD ministry has unveiled an ambitious plan to facilitate web-based learning, involving applying for courses and accessing material online, to increase the reach and quality of higher education.

HRD minister Smriti Irani in a tweet outlined the structure of Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (Swayam) which promises linkages and assistance for web-enabled learning.

The massive open online courses (MOOCS) platform will aim to create a student experience that begins with creating learning plans and providing information to prospective students about the courses that are available. The Swayam flow chart will allow students to check their eligibility and then proceed for preview and availability of teaching in fields of their interest.

The next step is contact with course coordinators for more detailed information. Application and successful registration lead to access to course materials as the learning process gets under way and now, as students begin following schedules, they can network with other learners to set up a shared workspace. These workspaces can be homes or any available public space and the interaction can go up with online communication with other course-takers.

Mid-module assessments and guidance from supervisors are intended to keep students on track and up to the mark in their academic work that includes self-assessment. Successful course completion will lead to earning credits followed by a course review exercise and the next level of learning in the programme will get under way. Completion of requisite number of modules will lead to qualification at par with regular learning.

The elearning programme has been structured to deliver results and improve inclusion as the admission processes to colleges and schools are unable to accommodate a growing number of applicants.

Source: TOI

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‘Focus on 10 institutions will be a game changer’

Education Vijay, NEW DELHI: Claiming there has been a substantial hike in budget allocation for higher and school education, HRD ministry on Friday said proposals to establish Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) and turning 10 public and private institutions into world class educational institutions could be a game changer.

Education secretary Vinay Sheel Oberoi said the broad framework of how 10 institutions each from public and private would be selected will be worked out in the next few months. "The idea is to create enabling environment for these institutions. These institutions should be multi-disciplinary.

Also it should not only have foreign qualified faculty but even foreign faculty," he said, giving instance of how under Global Initiative of Academic Network (GIAN) more and more institutions are availing foreign teachers. HRD minister Smriti Irani said, "Framework for each institution will vary. We are not in favour of one-size-fits all policy." Identification of these institutions will take some time, Oberoi said.

As for Uchchatar Avishkar Abhiyan, additional secretary R Subramanyam said, "It has been very successful as 160 proposals have come. They are worth Rs 623 crore of which industry will contribute Rs 156 crore. In the first year only IITs were involved. This will give a big push to government's Make in India programme."

In school education, Irani said opening of 62 new Navodaya Vidyalayas — 11 in Chhattisgarh —will give a big push to taking quality education to rural India Asked about the discontinuation of highly successful Mahila Samakhya programme, school education secretary Subhash Khuntia said, "Mahila Samakhya will be taken over by the National Rural Livelihod Mission of Rural Development ministry." However, when told that rural development ministry has refused to make it a part, a senior official later said, "We will bring it back in HRD then."

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