March 26, 2023
G-20 Higher Educators Forum
— India’s Foreign and Education Ministers to Participate in World Universities Summit
Sonipat, India, March 24, 2023 — O.P. Jindal Global University announced that India’s Foreign and Education Ministers would participate in the upcoming G-20 Higher Educators Forum’s “Universities of the Future” Summit. The Theme of the Virtual Summit is Building Institutional Resilience, Social Responsibility & Community Impact in G 20 Countries.
The Chief Guest, V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India, will deliver the Inaugural Address. Dr. Subhas Sarkar, Minister of State for Education, Government of India, will give the Valedictory address.
The five-day Summit, which starts on March 27, 2023, will bring together 160 national and international participants from all G20 countries across six continents and will involve the following:
- 100 universities
- 160 university leaders
- 30 plus thematic sessions
- Three keynote addresses
Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor O. P. Jindal Global University, will deliver the welcome address. Professor (Dr.) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities, will give a special address.
Announcing the inauguration of the World Universities Summit, Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar said, “It is a rare occasion for such a high-level gathering of globally recognized academics and educational experts from G20 countries to come together to discuss issues that directly impact the future of education. As part of the five-day conference, we will discuss and analyze higher education’s needs, challenges, and requirements across renowned institutions of G20 countries. Under India’s presidency of the G20, we endeavor to contribute towards cooperation, collaboration, and the development of higher education partnerships. Our sessions will address key issues, aim to find solutions, and build a new educational foundation amongst countries comprising the G20 group.”
As part of the 30 thematic sessions, there will be several particular addresses and discussions on important themes, some of which include high-level talks on topics like:
India’s Aspiration to Build World-Class Universities: A Reality Check. Professor (Dr.) Philip G. Altbach, Founding Director & Research Professor Center for International Higher Education, Boston College, USA and Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar. Founding Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University, India, will conduct this session.
No Room Of One’s Own: Redefining Work-Life Balance in A Post-Pandemic World, conducted with Professor (Dr.) Victoria Jones, Senior International Officer, University of California, Irvine, United States of America;
A keynote address and discussion Building World Class Universities In India: One Rank at A Time, By Dr. Ashwin Fernandes Regional Director - Mena & South Asia, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), India;
Building World-Class Universities: The American Imagination For Higher Education, by Professor Peter H. Schuck, Simeon E. Baldwin Professor Emeritus of Law, Yale Law School, Yale University, USA, and Dr. Geoffrey M. Cox, Senior Associate Dean, Finance & Administration, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, USA.
Other sessions have themes that include:
Being Glocal: University as a Site of Local Innovation & Meaningful Community Engagement;
Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Universities Promoting Equality & Nurturing Future Women Leaders;
Academic Freedom & Democratic Leadership: Autonomy versus Accountability;
Holistic Higher Education: Role of Interdisciplinary Studies in Overcoming Challenges of the 21st Century
Professor (Dr.) Mohan Kumar, Dean and Director, Jindal Global Centre for Studies, O. P. Jindal Global University, said that the Summit was an opportunity for India’s cooperation with the world as part of its spiritual and abiding theme of building global relationships. “There will be a special session on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: Values Of Global Citizenship & Role Of Higher Education Institutions with Professor (Dr.) Kim Brooks, Provost & Vice President, Academic, Dalhousie University, Canada, Professor (Dr.) Lucas S. Grosman, Rector, University of San Andres, Argentina, Professor (Dr.) Samantha Kelley, Associate Director, Global Programs, Temple University, United States of America, and Professor (Dr.) Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President, International, Engagement & Service, Kings College, London, United Kingdom, amongst others.”
In an unprecedented gathering of leading educational leaders from G20 countries, there will be participation from luminaries like
- Mr. Phil Baty, Chief Global Affairs Officer, Times Higher Education, United Kingdom,
- Professor (Dr.) Paul Flather, Former Secretary-General Europaeum & Fellow, Mansfield College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom,
- Professor Ian Johnstone, Professor, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, USA
- Dr. David Kennedy, Dean, Digital Education, Newcastle University,
- Professor Suparto Suparto, Assistant Rector, International Relations, University of Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia,
- Professor (Dr.) John Dewar Ao, Vice Chancellor, La Trobe University, Australia,
- Dr. Luis Enrique Palafox Maestre, President, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexico,
- Professor (Dr.) Kathy Hogarth, Associate Vice President, Global Strategy, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada,
- Professor (Dr.) Miki Sugimura, Professor, Department of Education, Sophia University, Japan,
- Professor Eduardo M. Peñalver, President of Seattle University, USA,
- Professor Mark E. Smith, Vice Chancellor, University of Southampton, United Kingdom,
- Professor (Dr.) Wilma Vialle, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global University of Wollongong, Australia,
- Professor (Dr.) Matthias Middell, Vice Rector, Internationalisation, Leipzig University, Germany,
- Dr. Damiano Pinnacchio, International Relations Affairs, University of Rome Tor, Vergata, Italy,
- Professor (Dr.) Vera Zabotkina, Russian State University for the Humanities, Russia,
- Professor (Dr.) Fady Fadel, Chancellor, American Business School of Paris, France,
- Professor Paul Dangerfield, President & Vice-Chancellor, Capilano University, Canada,
- Professor (Dr.) M. Sondan D. Feyiz, Rector, Kadir Has University, Turkey
Academics from all G20 nations will participate in the Summit.
Source: O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, India
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:35 AM | View the original post
March 25, 2023
Panjab University Chandigarh is looking for a new Vice-Chancellor.
— UPDATED —
Chandigarh, India, March 20, 2023 — Panjab University, Chandigarh, listed by UGC as a “State University” under “Chandigarh,” is seeking a new Vice-Chancellor. So, on February 25, 2023, it released an “Internal Advertisement” for that post per the instructions from the Secretariat of the Vice-President of India, who is the University’s Chancellor.
Its previous Vice-Chancellor had resigned after several authentic reports of diverse underhand malpractices thriving in the academic institution appeared in the media and severely tarnished its image. Earlier, the prominent members of its Governing Body (Senate), the Panjab University Teachers’ Association, and a Students Organization had filed separate complaints with the Higher Authorities, including the Local Police, Central Vigilance Commission, and the Chancellor’s Office in New Delhi.
Additional Particulars:
Panjab University, Chandigarh, is an offshoot of Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan.
It does not have NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) Accreditation.
It survives on an Annual Grant from the University Grants Commission.
A lady, hailed as its First Officiating Woman Vice-Chancellor, is successfully leading it, making its fans and well-wishers look forward to and believe that the coming Vice-Chancellor, too, would be a Woman!
Panjab University has not designated a regular Registrar since 2018. The previous VC (the one who resigned) had appointed the current Registrar on an ad-hoc basis. The institution is yet to complete the Registrar’s selection initiated through an Internal Advertisement issued last year.
Sources: Panjab University, UGC, NAAC, Agencies
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:44 AM | View the original post
March 23, 2023
American Association of University Administrators appoints New President and Chief Executive Officer.
Philadelphia, Pa, March 22, 2023 — American Association of University Administrators (AAUA), currently based in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, has chosen Dean Hoke of Bloomington, Indiana, to serve as its next President and Chief Executive Officer. His appointment is effective July 1. The current President & CEO, Dan L. King, has been operating in that position for the last nineteen years.
A highly successful and internationally recognized higher education administrator, Mr. Hoke was first affiliated with the Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates in 2009 as Head of Marketing and Institutional Development. He followed that experience with four years at Khalifa University with the UAE Advanced Network for Research and Education. In 2014 he became Co-Founder of a new educational management consulting firm, Edu Alliance Ltd., based in the UAE. Edu Alliance Group opened its US office in Bloomington three years later with Mr. Hoke as the Managing Partner.
Mr. Hoke has extensive experience in higher education, marketing, communications, and e-Learning. He has held many senior higher education administrative positions; and co-founded the Connected Learning Network, a provider of online educational services for educational institutions. In broadcasting, Mr. Hoke served as an executive and CEO of four public broadcasting stations and executive vice president of a cable network. He serves on the Advisory Board of the School of Education of Franklin University in Ohio and is a member of the Advisory Board of Higher Education Digest. He recently served as president-elect for the United States Distance Learning Association and chaired its Global Partnership Committee.
Mr. Hoke currently produces and co-hosts the podcast series “Higher Ed Without Borders.”
When interviewed, Mr. Hoke remarked, “It is a great honor to get selected as the AAUA’s next President and CEO. I am grateful to the Board for their unanimous support and to Dan King, who has led the organization for several years.”
He continued, “AAUA sees a high percentage of administrators leaving the higher education profession. They are frustrated over the lack of opportunities for advancement, work challenges, and readily available professional development. The AAUA board of directors and I will work with our membership to build new and innovative professional development programs and services which will address a higher level of training and increase retention of our higher education administrator colleagues.”
Departing chief executive Dan King remarked, “I had planned to leave my AAUA responsibilities over two years ago, but the COVID pandemic delayed my departure. However, the delay turned out to be fortuitous because, during this time, I developed a closer professional tie with Mr. Hoke and was able to recruit his candidacy for this position. AAUA is ready for a new direction, and Mr. Hoke has the perfect personality, vision, and enthusiasm to lead it to new heights. I look forward to watching the Association improve and grow.”
The American Association of University Administrators (AAUA) is a non-profit professional organization for higher education leaders and administrative personnel in the USA.
Its mission is to develop and advance superior standards for the profession of higher education administration.
Through its policy statements, programs, and services, the Association stresses the responsibility of administrators to demonstrate moral and ethical leadership in exercising all their duties.
Source: AAUA
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— The Editor is an AAUA Member.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 11:43 AM | View the original post
March 22, 2023
QS announces World University Rankings by Subject 2023
Top universities in 54 academic disciplines revealed
LONDON, March 22, 2023 — Global higher education analyst QS Quacquarelli Symonds has released the thirteenth edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject, revealing the top universities in 54 academic disciplines, including three brand-new additions: Data Science, Marketing, and History of Art.
QS compiles these rankings by an independent comparative analysis of over 15,700 individual university programs taken by students at 1,594 universities in 93 countries and territories.
This most significant student-oriented subject ranking consists of these indicators:
- Academic and employer reputation based on a global survey of 151,000 academics and 99,000 employers
- Research citations per paper
- H-index (a metric for evaluating the cumulative impact of an author’s scholarly output and performance)
- International research network
The rankings were consulted over 120 million times in 2022 on TopUniversities.com and referenced 117,000 times by media globally.
Ben Sowter, QS Senior Vice President, said: “Our largest-ever subjects rankings provide a deeper understanding of how global higher education excellence is achieved. Sustained targeted investment and international collaboration are key pillars upon which progress can be made. In addition, improving relationships with industry correlates with better employment, research, and innovation outcomes.”
The United States boasts the highest number of top-10 programs (256), followed by the United Kingdom with 145 and Switzerland with 32. US universities lead in 32 subjects, with Harvard ranking first in fourteen and MIT in eleven.
British universities take the top spot in 15 subjects, with the University of Oxford leading in four, while Cambridge, UCL, and the Royal College of Art lead in two each.
ETH Zurich is the top university in continental Europe, achieving number-one spots in three subjects. Furthermore, Switzerland ranks first in four academic disciplines, while The Netherlands leads two and Italy one.
According to H-index, Australia ranks fourth globally for the most ranked subjects and is among the top three most impactful research locations.
China (Mainland) boasts the fifth-highest number of top 50 programs.
India is the second-most improved country in Asia, with its overall performance rising by 17%.
Japan’s systemic decline continues, with 43% of its universities falling down the table while 8% improve.
Canada’s University of Toronto boasts the most “top 50” in subjects globally, with 48.
Universidad de Chile achieves Latin America’s highest rank in Engineering - Mineral & Mining (8th). On the other hand, Brazil is the most represented country in Latin America, with 291 programs and among the top 100 (55), while Mexico has the region’s most “top-20” subjects (3).
South Africa enjoys Africa’s two highest ranks: Mineral & Mining Engineering and Development Studies (both 12th).
Source: QS Quacquarelli Symonds
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:12 AM | View the original post
March 16, 2023
University Grants Commission (UGC) India invites Stakeholder Comments on Draft Guidelines for introducing Courses based on Indian Heritage and Culture.
New Delhi, March 16, 2023 — University Grants Commission (UGC) India has issued the following Public Notice inviting Stakeholder Comments on Draft Guidelines for introducing Courses based on Indian Heritage and Culture.
Source: University Grants Commission (UGC) India
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:35 AM | View the original post
March 15, 2023
Amritsar is hosting the G20 Education Working Group Meeting.
Photos: Khalsa College Amritsar, Punjab, India. G20 Education Working Group Meetings. March 16, 2023.
Photos: Khalsa College Amritsar, Punjab, India. G20 Education Working Group Exhibition. March 16, 2023. G20 delegates, students & guests visited a technology exhibition where they experienced creative & cutting-edge solutions for a sustainable future.
Photo: Khalsa College, Amritsar, Punjab, India. The Venue of the G20 Education Working Group Meeting. March 15-17, 2023.
Amritsar, Punjab, India, March 15, 2023 — The Ministry of Education, Government of India, is hosting the 2nd Education Working Group (EdWG) meeting in Amritsar, Punjab, from 15th-17th March 2023. G20 member countries, guest countries & invited organizations (UNESCO, OECD & UNICEF) are participating in the three-day event consisting of seminars/exhibitions and working group sessions.
Khalsa College, Amritsar, in collaboration with IIT Ropar, IISc Bengaluru, IIM Amritsar, and TISS Mumbai, is hosting the seminar on “Strengthening Research and Promoting Innovation through richer Collaboration.” The panel discussion will see participation from France, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Oman, South Africa, UNICEF, China, and UAE.
The Education Ministry will also organize a multimedia exhibition on the sidelines of the seminar. It will provide the participating countries, industries, and academia with a physical format to present the best practices in Research, Innovation, Collaboration, and Partnership. There will be 90+ stalls at the exhibition, with prominent participation from UAE, China, Saudi Arabia, NSDC, NCERT, National Book Trust, Indian Knowledge Systems Division (IKS), and several start-up initiatives. The exhibition will also be open to local institutions, students, academicians, and researchers from 16th-17th March 2023.
The two-day meeting on the 16th -17th of March will provide a platform to deliberate on the four priority areas. They are:
- Ensuring Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, especially in the context of blended learning
- Making Tech-enabled learning more inclusive, qualitative, and collaborative at every level
- Building Capacities and promoting Life-long Learning in the context of the Future of Work
- Strengthening Research and promoting Innovation through rich collaboration and partnerships
The Secretary Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India, would chair the meetings. More than 55 delegates from 28 countries are attending the conference and seminar, where they will share their best practices for strengthening Research and Innovation. The outcome document will serve as a guideline for developing numerous educational and employment opportunities. The meetings will also allow participating countries and organizations to strengthen academic cooperation and discuss new collaboration opportunities.
Delegates will attend cultural events and visit the Golden Temple on March 17, 2023.
Source: Ministry of Education, Government of India
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:26 AM | View the original post
March 9, 2023
Australia's Deakin University will be the first to establish an International Branch Campus in India.
Photo: Deakin University, Australia, will be the first to establish an International Branch Campus in India.
NEW DELHI, March 9, 2023 — Deakin University, Australia, says it has created history by spearheading a pioneering initiative to establish the world’s first-ever international branch campus in India.
“This bold move is a testament to the university’s unwavering commitment to providing world-class higher education to students worldwide while simultaneously elevating Australia’s reputation as a global academic leader. With this groundbreaking initiative, Deakin University will propel its ‘in India, with India, for India’ philosophy of engagement to exciting new territory, support the ongoing development of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and further strengthen the Australia-India education partnership,” an announcement from Deakin said.
At an event in Ahmedabad, Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia, lent his distinguished presence to this initiative led by Professor Iain Martin, Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University. Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat; Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat; Deakin’s Chancellor John Stanhope AM; Mr. Sudhir Mankad, Chairman of GIFT City; and Ms. Catriona Jackson, CEO of Universities Australia, joined the occasion.
Deakin’s world-class course offerings on campus will initially include the Master of Cyber Security and Master of Business Analytics before expanding to degrees from the faculties of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, and Business and Law.
Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia, said, “It gives me enormous pleasure to acknowledge that Deakin University will be the first university to establish a branch campus in India ever. It is quite an achievement! It is an exciting beginning for stronger educational, commercial, and cultural relationships.”
Deakin will operate the international branch campus with the standards and requirements equivalent to those at the home campus in Australia. The courses offered will be identical to what is currently being provided by Deakin in Australia. Students will receive the same standard of higher education as at Deakin in Australia. Academic standards will be based on Deakin’s standards frameworks and manuals and aligned with the national accreditation body in Australia, “Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency” (TEQSA).
Deakin’s commitment to engagement has opened doors for global collaborations and partnerships, and its pioneering efforts have set a benchmark for other institutions to follow.
Source: Deakin University
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:25 PM | View the original post
March 2, 2023
Dictionary.Com adds over 1,500 New, Updated, and Revised Words to the World's Premier Catalog of the English Language.
• The dictionary’s new terms and meanings reflect the multiverse-like complexity of modern life: they are at once serious (self-coup, rage farming, trauma dumping), amusing (petfluencer, hellscape), and everything in between (liminal space)
OAKLAND, Calif., March 1, 2023 — Dictionary.com, the leading online and mobile English-language educational resource, announced 313 new entries and 130 new definitions for existing entries today, and 1,140 revised definitions as the dictionary works to keep pace with the ever-changing English language.
Some of the key themes and words in its update include a multiverse of vocabulary (cakeage, nearlywed, hellscape); modern problems (pinkwashing, cyberflashing); identity (WOC, latine, anti-fat); pop culture and slang (petfluencer, fan service, tifo); politics and current events (self-coup, woke, cakeism); health (988, subvariant, microdosing); gaming (render, asset, spec); and even bread (dosa, bhakri, paratha).
One of the most notable updates includes the adjustment of the primary headword, anti-Semitism, to antisemitism. As explained in the new usage note at the entry, Dictionary.com’s decision to use the closed (no hyphen) and entirely lowercase spelling antisemitism for the primary headword reflects the widely preferred single word form that Jewish groups, and many style guides, including those of leading publications, have also adopted. This change does not involve a new definition; the word always means “discrimination against or prejudice or hostility toward Jews.”
Other vital additions include various new terms that have emerged to capture the specificity of phenomena shaped and accelerated by online culture and digital discourse, especially for behaviors considered toxic or harmful, including rage farming, trauma dumping, and queerbaiting.
“Language is, as always, constantly changing, but the sheer range and volume of vocabulary captured in our latest update to Dictionary.com reflects a shared feeling that change today is happening faster and more than ever before,” said John Kelly, senior director of editorial at Dictionary.com. “Our team of lexicographers is documenting and contextualizing that unstoppable swirl of the English language—not only to help us better understand our changing times but how the times we live in change, in turn, our language.”
Words define every aspect of our lives, from ideas to identities. Dictionary.com aspires to empower every person of every background, to express themselves, make connections, and open the door to opportunity through the power and joy of language. Dictionary.com is the premier destination to learn, discover, and have fun with the limitless world of words and meanings. The brand helps you make sense of the ever-evolving English language so you can put your ideas into words—and your comments into action.
Source: Dictionary.Com
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 11:46 AM | View the original post
February 26, 2023
President of India graces the 99th Annual Convocation of the University of Delhi.
Photos: The President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu graced the 99th Annual Convocation of the University of Delhi in New Delhi on February 25, 2023.
New Delhi, February 25, 2023 — The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu addressed the 99th Annual Convocation of the University of Delhi on February 25, 2023, in Delhi.
The President said Delhi University reflects India’s richness and diversity. There is also a bit of Delhi University in every area of excellence in India and abroad. However, no institution can rest on its laurels. In today’s world of rapid changes, an institution must continuously reinvent itself. The Delhi University community should feel duty-bound to lead other Universities in the country on parameters of excellence and, thereby, earn a place among globally comparable institutions of higher learning.
The President said that the main aim of education is to make a better human being. It is good to get big in life, but it is better to be a good human. Discovering life on Mars is a good thing, but searching for well-being in life with good thinking is even more critical. She urged the students to dream a new dream and dream big to build a new India and a new world.
Source: Secretariat of the President of India
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:00 AM | View the original post
February 23, 2023
Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies becomes the Only Private University in Delhi-NCR to receive "NAAC A++" Grade Accreditation.
“NAAC A++” is the Highest Grade awarded to Top Performing Universities in India
Manav Rachna is first with “NAAC A++” Accreditation amongst the Government and Private Universities in Haryana
Received full marks in 14 key indicators
Photo: Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies has received “A++,” the highest NAAC Grade. Image credit & copyright © Manav Rachna International Institute.
Faridabad, Haryana, India, February 23, 2023 — National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has accredited Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS) with NAAC ‘A++’ Grade. The recognition makes MRIIRS the only private university in Delhi-NCR with that coveted Grade. It also places MRIIRS at the top amongst Haryana’s Government and Private Universities.
Out of 7 Categories and 34 key indicators, MRIIRS scored full marks in one Category, i.e., Institutional Values and Best Practices, and 14 key indicators that include Curriculum Design and Development, Curriculum Enrichment, Feedback System, Student Enrolment and Profile, Catering to Student Diversity, Evaluation Process and Reforms, Extension Activities, Collaboration, Physical Facilities, IT Infrastructure, Institutional Vision and Leadership, Institutional Values and Social Responsibilities, Best Practices, and Institutional Distinctiveness.
NAAC evaluates the institutions for their conformance to the standards of quality in terms of their performance related to the educational processes and outcomes, curriculum coverage, teaching-learning processes, faculty, research, infrastructure, learning resources, organization, governance, financial well-being, and student services. NAAC ‘A++’ accreditation is the highest Grade awarded to high-performance universities in India.
Manav Rachna has evolved into a global institution with more than 82 international academic collaborations and pathway programs with several eminent universities in the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand in the last seven years.
“It’s been a journey of unwavering commitment and dedication for quality education and deliverance. Attaining new statures with a persistent attitude of improvement keeps the approach of each member of the Manav Rachna family directive. From the start, the aim to achieve the uppermost rank in the educational institute was set, making us work towards it every moment. I am grateful to each member of the Manav Rachna family who has left no stone unturned to take Manav Rachna to greater heights,” remarked Dr. Amit Bhalla, Vice President of Manav Rachna Educational Institutions.
Source: Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:04 AM | View the original post
February 21, 2023
University Grants Commission (UGC) India issues Public Notice asking Universities to comply with its Regulations on awarding Ph.D. Degree Certificates
New Delhi. February 20, 2023 — University Grants Commission (UGC) India has issued a Public Notice asking universities to comply with its Regulations on awarding Ph.D. Degree Certificates to successful candidates.
Source: University Grants Commission (UGC)
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:04 AM | View the original post
February 14, 2023
India's Education Ministry informs the Parliament that over 690 Universities and 34,000 Colleges are operating without NAAC Accreditation.
New Delhi, February 14, 2023 —The Education Ministry of India has informed the Parliament that over 695 universities and 34,000 colleges across the country are operating without accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
• 418 Universities and 9,062 Colleges have NAAC Accreditation
The Union Minister of State for Education, Dr. Subhas Sarkar, shared this data in response to a written question in “Lok Sabha” (Lower House of Parliament). “As per information the UGC has provided, out of the 1,113 universities and 43,796 colleges, NAAC has accredited 418 universities and 9,062 colleges,” he said.
Dr. Sarkar added that NAAC has considerably reduced the fee structure for assessment and accreditation to bring all educational institutions, universities, and colleges under the accreditation system.
Dr. Subhas Sarkar further informed the “Lok Sabha” that NAAC has also extensively decreased the metrics and questions in the manual for self-study reports for affiliated and constituent colleges. He elaborated that the number of colleges operating without NAAC accreditation is 34,734, and the number of universities operating without NAAC accreditation is 695.
The new National Education Policy (NEP) envisions all higher educational institutions aiming to attain the highest level of accreditation over the next 15 years through their institutional development plans.
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is an autonomous body established by UGC to assess and accredit higher education institutions in the country. NAAC assesses and accredits higher educational institutions that apply for NAAC accreditation, using seven identified criteria to serve as the basis of its assessment procedures, viz., Curricular Aspects; Teaching-Learning and Evaluation; Research, Consultancy, and Extension; Infrastructure, and Learning Resources; Student Support and Progression; Governance, Leadership, and Management; and Institutional Values and Best Practices.
Sources: Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education; Lok Sabha
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:06 PM | View the original post
February 12, 2023
Chandigarh University (CU) launches 'VChandigarhians' Community Group to "pay back to" the City Beautiful.
— It is time to “pay back to” the City Beautiful through ‘Connect, Celebrate and Contribute,’ says CU.
CHANDIGARH, India, February 12, 2023 — Chandigarh University (CU) launched the ‘VChandigarhians’ Community Group to “pay back to” the City Beautiful, Chandigarh. CU has a strong alumni network of over 10,000 ex-students in Chandigarh city. The newly launched community group will provide a platform where the city’s youth can connect and share their innovative ideas for improving the ease of living of Chandigarh residents belonging to every section of society.
While addressing the gathering, Chandigarh University Chancellor Mr. Sandhu said, “Our institutions, Chandigarh University and Chandigarh Group of Colleges, named after this city, have delivered quality Education and set the highest of benchmarks in the field of Higher Education. Over the years, we have received so much from the city. Now it is time to pay it back. Through ‘VChandigarhians,’ we will connect with city youth’s strong force and celebrate the City Beautiful’s spirit.”
He further added, “Through VChandigarhians, we will all work together as a team to contribute to various social development initiatives in the field of Education, healthcare, women empowerment, environment, sustainable development, entrepreneurship, renewable energy, smart city, child healthcare, and most importantly, Higher Education. Therefore, we invite our former students to be part of the initiative and contribute to making Chandigarh a world-class sustainable city.”
Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University located near Chandigarh in Punjab. It is the youngest university in India to be awarded A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).
Source: Chandigarh University
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:27 PM | View the original post
February 10, 2023
University Grants Commission (UGC) India notifies the Results of Single Girl Child Fellowships 2022-23 leading to the Award of the Ph.D. degree to a Single Girl Child of the Family.
New Delhi, February 9, 2023 — University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced the Results of Single Girl Child Fellowships 2022-23, leading to the Award of the Ph.D. degree to a Single Girl Child of the Family.
UGC has published an extensive list of provisionally selected candidates from all States and Union Territories of India. At the same time, it has cautioned that it would take strict action against any candidate who furnishes wrong/misleading information to get the fellowship.
• The concerned university has to upload the candidate’s ‘Joining cum Verification Report’ and link the candidate to the UGC Scholarship Payment Portal after satisfying itself with the genuineness of the claim and verification of all facts.
• Consequently, UGC has forewarned that it would “blacklist” the university and its officials if they uploaded any erroneous or deceitful information.
Source: University Grants Commission (UGC)
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:37 AM | View the original post
February 4, 2023
UNESCO leads the Global Dialogue on regulating Digital Platforms and combating Disinformation and Hate Speech
Photo: UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. A Session of the Unesco Executive Council. October 12, 2022. Image provided by & Copyright © UNESCO/Cyril Bailleul. [File Photo]
Paris, February 3, 2023 — As part of its Mandate, UNESCO has launched a global dialogue to provide guidelines for regulating digital platforms, fighting disinformation and hate speech, and protecting freedom of expression and human rights. The high point will be an international conference organized at the Organization’s Paris headquarters on 21-23 February. It will result in the presentation by UNESCO in mid-2023 of Global Guidelines for Governments, Regulatory Bodies, and Digital Companies.
“The call is now coming loud and clear from all quarters. It is time to address one of the defining questions of our age, with implications for democracy and human rights worldwide: the challenge of how to support States in developing principles and rules for digital platforms so that they enable freedom of expression and promote the availability of accurate and reliable information,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay remarked.
• A flawed Business Model needs Correction.
Social media and other digital platforms have empowered people worldwide to communicate, share information, and transform their societies. But increasingly, these platforms are breeding grounds for disinformation, hate speech, and conspiracy theories. In recent years, the issue of monitoring and moderating content has been essential in violence, insurrection, marred elections, and democratic transfers of power in scores of countries, UNESCO said.
Studies show that people often prioritize engagement at any cost. It leads to algorithms favoring the most controversial content because it triggers the most reaction, despite the evidence that this content can damage the fabric of the societies, sowing distrust, helping to seed extremism, and undermining fundamental human rights. Moreover, there appear to be vast imbalances between regions and languages, with moderation resources sometimes distributed based on financial or political interests or far too late in response to public outrage once violence or election meddling has already occurred, UNESCO explained.
• Global Issues require Global Guidelines.
Many countries are advancing regulations to respond to these issues, but this needs to be coordinated and more cohesive, with some countries outside the international norms on freedom of expression. Given the global dominance of a limited number of players, the need for a consistent global approach has never been more pressing than right now.
As the United Nations agency for communication and information issues, UNESCO is leading global consultations on this topic, involving governments, regulatory bodies, digital companies, academia, civil society, and UN agencies. This international Dialogue will culminate in the first global conference specifically focused on guidance for regulating digital platforms from February 21 to 23, 2023. Thousands of representatives from these groups are already registered to participate.
UNESCO experts will then incorporate the feedback received during these discussions and engage in new consultations to finalize and publish the first global guidelines on the topic in mid-2023. With UNESCO’s expertise and support, governments, regulators, digital companies, and other groups would use these guidelines to implement policies and tools as needed.
UNESCO’s initiative responds to the call from the UN Secretary-General in “Our Common Agenda” to address the spread of disinformation and the denial of scientific facts, which poses “an existential risk to humanity.”
• UNESCO’s Mandate to provide Guidelines for Regulation.
UNESCO has a global mandate, enshrined in its constitution, to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image. It leads UN action to promote freedom of expression and access to information. It includes a decades-long history of providing guidance to and promoting cooperation between broadcast regulators and press councils, advancing international standards.
The Windhoek+30 Declaration on Information as a Public Good in the Digital Age, endorsed by UNESCO’s 193 Member States in 2021, calls for increased transparency of technology companies, support for the long-term viability of news media, and teaching media and information literacy to citizens everywhere.
Under the leadership of its Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO is explicitly working to improve the transparency of digital platforms, including by developing a series of principles for transparency and accountability in the digital age. UNESCO also established the first global standard on the ethics of artificial intelligence, adopted unanimously by its Member States in 2021, which includes a specific call for “appropriate frameworks, including regulation.”
Source: UNESCO
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:58 AM | View the original post
February 3, 2023
First G-20 Education Working Group Meeting concludes in Chennai, India
— Collaboration with Universities across the globe for enhancing technology-enabled learning is among the significant outcomes of the 2-day conclave.
Photos: Glimpses from the First G-20 Education Working Group Meeting in Chennai, India. Images provided by G20 India 2023.
Chennai, India, February 2, 2023 — The India Chair of the G-20 Education Working Group and Secretary of Higher Education, Mr. Sanjay Murthy, said that collaboration with Universities across the globe is the primary outcome of the deliberations at the Chennai Meet.
Addressing Media persons after the conclusion of the two-day 1st G20 Education Working Group in which 80 delegates from 30 countries, international organizations, and special invitees participated, Mr. Sanjay Murthy said, “the meeting discussed best practices in Tech related education in member countries in a major way.”
International organizations made intensive presentations at the two-day conclave. Mr. Sanjay Murthy said members expressed their willingness towards the goals and the priorities, including capacity-building measures for promoting life-long learning processes in the context of the future of working atmospheres. They also discussed long-term sustainable solutions to similar educational challenges member countries in different geographies face.
The meeting also discussed inclusive, equitable, relevant, quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Mr. Sanjay Murthy further said there would be three supplementary educational group meetings before reaching a broad consensus in the last meeting scheduled for June this year.
He said the G-20 Education Working Group had documented the outcome of this meeting, which the group will take forward to the next meeting to be held from March 15 to March 17 in Amritsar in Punjab, India.
Sources: G20 India 2023 & Ministry of Education, Government of India
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:57 AM | View the original post
February 2, 2023
Leading Foreign Universities setting up Campuses in India — UGC extends the Deadline to receive Comments from the Stakeholders on its Draft Regulations.
UPDATE
February 2, 2023
UGC Public Notice regarding Extension of the last date to receive comments from the stakeholders on the draft University Grants Commission (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023.
New Delhi, January 05, 2023 — University Grants Commission (UGC), India, has issued a Public Notice seeking comments/suggestions/feedback from the stakeholders on the draft University Grants Commission (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023.
Soon, the world’s top universities (such as Harvard, Oxford, and Stanford) will set up their campuses in India, and one of them may choose your city!
Source: University Grants Commission (UGC)
|GlobalGiants.Com|
India takes a step toward allowing leading foreign universities such as Yale, Oxford and Stanford to set up campuses and award degrees as part of an overhaul of the South Asian nation’s higher education https://t.co/BnH3crC0qv
— Bloomberg (@business) January 5, 2023
Editorial: "UGC's decision to allow foreign universities to set up campuses in India could herald long overdue transformations in the country's higher educational milieu".
— Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) January 7, 2023
Courtesy: The Indian Express pic.twitter.com/78Im0XwDlk
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:28 AM | View the original post
January 31, 2023
IMF (International Monetary Fund) reports World Economic Outlook January 2023
Photo: People walk past the flags outside the IMF building during the 2022 Annual Meetings at the International Monetary Fund. October 12, 2022. Washington, DC, United States. Image provided by & Copyright © IMF. IMF Photo/Ariana Lindquist. [File Photo]
Washington, DC, January 31, 2023 — The global economy is poised to slow this year before rebounding next year. The IMF announced on Monday, January 30, 2023, that it expects global growth to slow from 3.4% in 2022 to 2.9% in 2023. The press briefing was held in Singapore to mark the launch of the January update of the World Economic Outlook report.
“The global economy will slow down this year before rebounding in 2024. But a global recession is not in our baseline. The important factors shaping the outlook are: On the downside, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the global fight against inflation. On the upside, the reopening of China’s economy. Overall, we have a mild upward revision to our projections. The global economy has shown a lot of resilience. Labor markets are tight, household spending and business investment remain strong, and European economies have proved quite resilient against the energy crisis. Global growth is expected to slow from 3.4% in 2022 to 2.9% in 2023. The slowdown will be more pronounced for advanced economies. China and India will account for 50% of global growth. Global headline inflation is expected to fall from 8.8% in 2022 to 4.3% in 2024. Core inflation, however, is more persistent and remains too elevated. To sum up, barring new shocks, 2023 could be the year of turning points, with growth bottoming out and inflation decreasing,” said Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, IMF’s Chief Economist.
However, the risks to the outlook remain tilted to the downside, even if adverse risks have moderated since October, and some positive factors seem more relevant.
“The balance of risks to the outlook remains tilted to the downside but is less skewed toward adverse outcomes than in the October WEO. Some upside risks have become more relevant. On the downside, China’s recovery could stall with spillovers to the rest of the world. Inflation could persist at high levels, requiring even tighter monetary policy. An escalation of the war in Ukraine remains a major risk to the global economy. A sudden market repricing could deteriorate financial conditions, especially for emerging and developing economies. On the upside, strong household balance sheets amid tight labor markets and robust wage growth could help sustain private demand. Easing remaining supply bottlenecks and easing labor market pressures could also allow for a soft landing with less monetary tightening,” added Gourinchas.
Gourinchas stressed that the global economic outlook hasn’t worsened, but the road back to a full recovery, with sustainable growth, stable prices, and progress for all, is only starting.
IMF’s Chief Economist concluded that the fight against inflation has started to bear fruit, but the battle is far from won:
Central banks need to raise actual policy rates above the neutral level and keep them there until inflation is on a sustained declining path.
Central banks and prudential authorities must closely monitor the buildup of risks and vulnerabilities, especially in the housing and non-bank financial sectors. Countries should also roll back the broad and untargeted support they provided households and firms to counter the cost-of-living crisis and instead adopt targeted measures to conserve fiscal space, allow the energy price signal to reduce energy demand, and avoid overly stimulating the economy.
More progress is needed on orderly debt restructuring through the Group of 20’s Common Framework. Non-Paris Club and private creditors have a crucial role to play.
Supply-side policies should reduce growth bottlenecks, improve resilience, alleviate price pressures, and accelerate the green transition.
Urgent action is needed to halt the forces of geoeconomics fragmentation and strengthen multilateral cooperation in areas of common interest; international trade, the global financial safety net, public health preparedness, and the climate transition.
Source: IMF
|GlobalGiants.Com|
— The editor is an IMF (IMF Institute for Capacity Development, Washington, DC) certified Financial Market Analyst.
Global growth is projected to fall from an estimated 3.4% in 2022 to 2.9% in 2023 before rising to 3.1% in 2024. Watch IMF Chief Economist @pogourinchas summarize the key findings of our latest World Economic Outlook Update: https://t.co/4ifKc9qi4j #WEO pic.twitter.com/HOCfdAl2mz
— IMF (@IMFNews) January 31, 2023
Global growth is slowing in 2023 but should rebound in 2024. China reopening, a strong US labor market with cooling inflation, and a mild winter in Europe have all helped avoid the worst. Read our latest #WEO: https://t.co/4ifKc9qi4j pic.twitter.com/f41UeRtHFW
— IMF (@IMFNews) January 31, 2023
What is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and why should you care? Check out this Back to Basics video. https://t.co/TL2AKWizok pic.twitter.com/89qG2AYcni
— IMF (@IMFNews) January 26, 2023
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:22 AM | View the original post
January 29, 2023
Oxford leads Nature Positive Universities Alliance to reverse Biodiversity Decline.
Oxford, UK. January 29, 2023 — At the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15), the University of Oxford and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) announced the launch of the Nature Positive Universities Alliance. It is a global network of universities that have officially pledged to advance efforts to halt, prevent and reverse nature loss by addressing their impacts and restoring ecosystems harmed by our activities. This push is part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a movement to avert climate catastrophe and mass extinction.
The Nature Positive Universities Alliance brings higher education institutions together to use their unique power and influence as drivers of positive change. Universities already carry out environmental and conservation research to help inform government and company activities. However, by publicly tackling their supply chains and operational impacts on nature, universities can help guide the broader community on a path to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
“The University of Oxford has an environmental sustainability strategy with dual targets of net zero carbon and a net gain in biodiversity by 2035. These targets for large institutions are challenging to achieve. But through collaboration and idea-sharing with other universities via the Nature Positive Universities Alliance, we can collectively progress towards achieving net biodiversity gain,” said Harriet Waters, Head of Environmental Sustainability at the University of Oxford.
The initiative, a part of the UN’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, was initially launched by 117 universities from 48 countries, which made individual pledges to address their impacts on nature. University pledges include four key elements:
- Carrying out baseline assessments;
- Setting specific, time-limited, and measurable targets for wildlife;
- Taking bold action to reduce biodiversity impacts and protect and restore species and ecosystems while influencing others to do the same;
- Transparent annual reporting.
The initiative builds on the University of Oxford’s experience setting an ambitious target for net biodiversity gain by 2035 alongside net zero commitments.
E.J. Milner-Gulland, Tasso Leventis Professor of Biodiversity at the Department of Biology, University of Oxford, and co-founder of the Nature Positive Universities Alliance, said: “As universities, we occupy a unique position in educating future leaders, researching solutions to environmental challenges, and influencing our communities and governments. By addressing our own institutions’ environmental impacts, we can be powerful thought leaders while directly contributing to restoring nature.”
All the founding universities announced that they have pledged to assess their impacts to determine the most impactful initiatives to introduce and to report on their progress. Examples of initiatives so far have included:
Establishing nature-friendly infrastructure such as ecological corridors at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the University of Campinas, Brazil, and new green walls at the UK’s University of Lincoln to support pollinators.
Contributing to afforestation and restoration by developing institutional forests at Government Dungar College in Bikaner, India, and the University of Aveiro, Portugal.
Completing university-wide surveys and audits of biodiversity at the University of Turku, Finland, and increasing biodiversity at the all University of Melbourne campuses.
Improving supply chain through sustainable catering, such as reducing food waste and more sustainable menus at the University of Oxford and producing high-quality farmed produce on its land to supply university canteens at Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria.
Commitments to improve operational footprints, such as achieving Green Lab accreditation across the all University of Exeter laboratories.
Establishment of regional hubs of universities collaborating towards a nature-positive goal in Algeria, Nigeria, India, and Canada.
People from 408 different universities are:
- Already a part of the more comprehensive network.
- Playing their role in bringing their universities closer to meeting environmental targets by developing research.
- Lobbying their senior management.
- Sharing case studies of their activities.
The network also includes a Student Ambassador Programme, which totals over 100 students from across 35 countries who are taking action toward nature-positive awareness and approaches on their campuses. In addition, they are encouraging their universities to make an institutional pledge through advocacy and organization of nature-positive activities such as volunteering for nature restoration, establishing sapling nurseries, and using their studies to advance their institutions’ sustainability further.
Sam Barratt, Chief of Youth, Education, and Advocacy at the UN Environment Programme, said: “Universities live at the heart of cities, at the crossroads of students’ futures and provide ground-breaking research that educates and informs society. We are delighted to see Universities will be joining hands to reset our relationship with nature so that, through this Alliance, we create new actions and possibilities. The virtue of higher education has come from a reappraisal of the present to steer the world to a new future. So we look forward to seeing how the Nature Positive Universities Alliance does just that for this agenda.”
The Nature Positive Universities Alliance calls on other universities worldwide to join its collaborative network and make institutional pledges.
Universities that have recently joined include, among others, the University of Helsinki, Finland; University College, Cork, Ireland; Durham University, McGill University, Canada; Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India; University of California UCLA, USA; University of Bremen, Germany; Universidad Autonoma de Madrid; Universite de Geneve; UNSW Sydney, Australia; Carl von Ossietsky Universitat Oldenburg; The University of Faisalabad, Pakistan; University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan; Independent University, Bangladesh; UC Berkeley, USA; University of Melbourne, Australia; Punjabi University, Patiala, India; Panjab University, Chandigarh, India; OP Jindal Global University, Sonepat, India; and Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi, India, for example.
Source: University of Oxford
|GlobalGiants.Com|
— The editor is an “Oxford University Associate Alumnus.”
Nature Positive Universities
The Nature Positive Universities Alliance is a global network of universities prioritizing nature restoration. Launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the University of Oxford in partnership with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:16 AM | View the original post
January 12, 2023
UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO) Governing Board meets for the Future of Educational Planning
Photo: UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. Conference on Transforming Education through Regional Collaboration. Photographer: Lily CHAVANCE. Image provided by & copyright © UNESCO/Lily CHAVANCE.
Paris, January 12, 2023 — The Governing Board of the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO) met in Paris, France, from 13 to December 14, 2022, to take stock of recent achievements and to chart a path forward for the Institute as the 60th anniversary of IIEP draws near.
Members of the Board (currently chaired by José Weinstein and representing all regions of the world) stressed that equitable access to education and equal opportunities for learning and skills development could only be achieved through solid planning and management of education systems. And this lies at the heart of IIEP’s mandate, established in 1963.
Six decades on, this remains more relevant than ever as countries worldwide strive to recover learning losses arising from the pandemic and transform education and foundational learning in a rapidly changing world.
To accompany UNESCO Member States on this journey, the Board welcomed IIEP’s recent reflections and adjustments to its core offer to countries. It includes a new global training strategy, which aims to sustainably meet the capacity needs of educational planners and systems across the globe.
Additionally, IIEP will launch a new Global Learning Academy in 2023 with a refreshed course catalog, a hybrid blended approach offering greater flexibility for professionals, and enhanced harmonization across the Buenos Aires, Dakar, and Paris offices. It will come amid a year-long celebration of IIEP’s 60th anniversary, which will also involve deep reflections on the future of planning and its place in a world facing evolving global threats and challenges.
Adding to the momentum, the Board welcomed IIEP’s new Resource Mobilization Plan as the Institute seeks to maintain and grow its funding base. In addition, a donor mapping is underway to identify opportunities that align with country demand and IIEP’s critical priorities on data, governance and finance, management for learning, equity and resilience, and skills and flexible learning.
The 12-member Board also congratulated IIEP for its substantial achievements in 2022 and its contributions to global solution-building, echoing the spirit of the Transforming Education Summit this past year.
In 2022, several planners and other education professionals received training from IIEP, and 19 countries benefited from IIEP technical assistance. Hence, it increasingly emphasizes the importance of implementing and monitoring plans and policies for tangible system transformation.
IIEP lent its support beyond the traditional education sector analysis and plan development to include a more comprehensive and diverse offer to countries.
Today, IIEP emphasizes applying a gender and crisis lens throughout the planning cycle to protect the right to education for all and to build system resilience.
Finally, in 2022, the Institute launched its new Knowledge Management and Mobilization team. It also generated and shared new evidence and knowledge on various topics, including flexible learning pathways, open government initiatives, ministry of education leadership, digital education policies, and gender dynamics.
Source: UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO)
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— The Editor is an IIEP-UNESCO certified “Independent Appraiser” of Government Education Plans.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:57 PM | View the original post
