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 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
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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
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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
January 11, 2023
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023: Cooperation in a Fragmented World, Addressing Pressing Crises, Tackling Future Challenges
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 will convene under the theme, Cooperation in a Fragmented World
It calls on world leaders to address immediate economic, energy, and food crises while laying the groundwork for a more sustainable, resilient world
Meeting will convene more than 2,700 leaders from 130 countries, including 52 heads of state/government
Photo: World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023, Davos, Switzerland. Photographer: Mattias Nutt. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum/Mattias Nutt. [File Photo]
Photo: Participants at the World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders Alumni Gathering, Geneva, Switzerland. October 20, 2022. Photographer: Pascal Bitz. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum/Pascal Bitz. [File Photo]
Photo: World Economic Forum Global Shapers Annual Summit, Geneva, Switzerland. September 3, 2022. Photographer: Pascal Bitz. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum/Pascal Bitz. [File Photo]
Geneva, Switzerland, January 10, 2023 - The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023, taking place 16-20 January in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, comes as multiple crises deepen divisions and fragment the geopolitical landscape. Leaders must address people’s immediate, critical needs while laying the groundwork for a more sustainable, resilient world by the decade’s end.
“We see the manifold political, economic, and social forces creating increased fragmentation on a global and national level. To address the root causes of this erosion of trust, we need to reinforce cooperation between the government and business sectors, creating the conditions for a strong and durable recovery. But, at the same time, there must be the recognition that economic development needs to be made more resilient, more sustainable, and nobody should be left behind,” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of World Economic Forum.
The program of the 53rd Annual Meeting focuses on solutions and public-private cooperation to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. It encourages world leaders to work together on the interconnected issues of energy, climate, and nature; investment, trade, and infrastructure; frontier technologies and industry resilience; jobs, skills, social mobility, and health; and geopolitical cooperation in a multipolar world. Particular emphasis is on gender and geographical diversity across all sessions.
Switzerland is the host country for the Annual Meeting. More than 2,700 leaders will participate this year, with a strong representation from all key regions of the world. Top political leaders taking part include:
- Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor of Germany;
- Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission;
- Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament;
- Yoon Suk-yeol, President of the Republic of Korea;
- Cyril M. Ramaphosa, President of South Africa;
- Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain;
- Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation 2023 and Federal Councillor of Home Affairs;
- Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
- Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium;
- Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego, President of Colombia;
- Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
- Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland;
- Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece;
- Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach of Ireland;
- Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova;
- Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Government of Morocco;
- Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands;
- Ferdinand Marcos, President of the Philippines;
- Andrzej Duda, President of Poland;
- Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia;
- Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania;
- Najla Bouden, Prime Minister of Tunisia.
As well as:
- John F. Kerry, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate of the United States of America;
- Avril Haines, US Director of National Intelligence;
- Martin J. Walsh, Secretary of Labor of the United States;
- Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative;
- Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Canada;
- Christine Lagarde, President, European Central Bank.
Heads of international organizations taking part include:
- Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General;
- Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund;
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General, World Trade Organization;
- Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General, North Atlantic Treaty Organization;
- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organization;
- Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency;
- Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF;
- Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President, International Committee of the Red Cross.
This year will bring about the highest-ever business participation at Davos, with over 1,500 leaders registered across 700 organizations, including over 600 of the world’s top CEOs from the World Economic Forum’s Members and Partners, with top-level representation from sectors such as financial services, energy, materials and infrastructure, information and communication technologies. They come as governments increasingly look to businesses to implement big ideas quickly and inclusively. There will also be a strong representation of Global Innovators who are transforming industries, with more than 90 mission-driven leaders from the Forum’s Technology Pioneers and recently launched Unicorn communities.
Leaders from civil society taking part in the Meeting include:
- Seth F. Berkley, Chief Executive Officer, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance;
- Stephen Cotton, General Secretary, International Transport Workers’ Federation;
- Christy Hoffman, General Secretary, UNI Global Union;
- Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, President, Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad;
- Azza Karam, Secretary-General, Religions for Peace;
- Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize Winner 2022 and President, Centre for Civil Liberties;
- David Miliband, President, International Rescue Committee;
- Luisa Neubauer, Climate Activist, Fridays for Future Movement;
- Kirsten Schuijt, Director-General, WWF International;
- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, Art of Living Foundation.
Among the new initiatives at the Annual Meeting is the Global Collaboration Village. This purpose-driven metaverse fosters more sustainable public-private collaboration and spurs action to deliver impact at scale. In addition, the first-ever metaverse multilateral meeting hosted by the Forum will bring together experts and leaders from finance, food, and retail to drive action on ocean health and seafood waste.
More than 160 of the Forum’s civic-minded young leaders will join as members of our Global Shapers, Young Global Leaders, and Social Entrepreneurs communities this year. WEF will also welcome nine Indigenous leaders bringing the knowledge and expertise of their communities to advance regional and global efforts in ecosystem restoration, inclusive trade, and sustainable development.
More than 125 experts and heads of the world’s leading universities, research institutions, and think tanks will join the Meeting, bringing the latest facts, insights, science, and data into the program and the Forum’s work.
The Arts and Culture program features several sessions and immersive art installations on preserving coral reefs, displaced peoples and the global refugee crisis, gender equality and female empowerment, and global sea-level rise. In addition, it will include the 27th Annual Crystal Awards and Cultural Leaders.
This year is the 20th anniversary of the Open Forum, which welcomes diverse people worldwide to listen and share experiences with experts and leaders on pressing issues. The theme is Our Environment: Lessons, Challenges, and Opportunities.
The 53rd Annual Meeting will also be climate-neutral for the sixth consecutive year. New initiatives to boost resource efficiency and reduce emissions will build on the Forum’s 2018 ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management.
Source: World Economic Forum
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:17 AM | View the original post
January 4, 2023
Tata Sons and New York Academy of Sciences Announce Prize to Honour Scientists in India
— The Tata Transformation Prize will recognize Indian scientists for research to solve societal needs and promote economic competitiveness.
MUMBAI, India, January 4, 2023 — Tata Sons and the New York Academy of Sciences announced the Tata Transformation Prize to recognize and support promising scientists in India who are developing innovative technological solutions to critical societal challenges.
The new prize will be awarded yearly to three scientists for innovations in food security, sustainability, and healthcare. Each winner will receive INR 2 crores and will be honored at a ceremony in India in December.
“This prize will accelerate breakthrough innovations by the Indian scientific community,” said Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of the Board of Tata Sons. “We hope this prize will help bring the transformational work of Indian scientists to light, reward them appropriately, and encourage them to take solutions to market. The Tata Transformation Prize is one small way in which we will promote science and scientists to solve India’s national problems.”
Applicants for the prize must be active researchers with a doctoral degree or equivalent and employed at an eligible university, institute, or other research organization in India. Applicants must propose technologies addressing food security, sustainability, or healthcare challenges with a focus on digital and technological transformation. Prize winners will be scientists whose proposed innovations re-imagine traditional practices and business models, transform technological paradigms, improve public trust, and promote an open and connected world.
“Pathbreaking research takes place in India, resulting in important advances in science around the world,” said Professor Nicholas Dirks, President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences. “This prize is focused not only on science but on innovative discoveries that put science to work for the betterment of society, to solving major global challenges in three core areas. We are so pleased to be working with Tata, and Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, to support scientific and technical innovation in India. In addition, it will raise national and international awareness of India’s scientific research and development strengths.”
The Tata Transformation Prize is the latest in a series of prominent awards and scholarship programs the Academy and its partners present each year to accomplished early-career and established scientists worldwide. These initiatives and education and professional development programs for students and young scientists reflect the Academy’s broader commitment to strengthening and diversifying the pipeline for skilled and talented scientists globally.
Founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, the Tata Group is a global enterprise headquartered in India, comprising 30 companies across ten verticals. The group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with a mission ‘To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust.’
Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its board of directors. There are 29 publicly-listed Tata enterprises with a combined market capitalization of $311 billion (INR 23.6 trillion) as on March 31, 2022. Tata Group Companies include Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, Tata Consumer Products, Titan, Tata Capital, Tata Power, Indian Hotels, Tata Communications, Tata Electronics, Air India, and Tata Digital.
The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that, since 1817, has been committed to advancing science for the benefit of society. With over 20,000 Members in 100 countries, the Academy promotes scientific and technical knowledge, addresses global challenges with science-based solutions, and sponsors various educational initiatives.
Source: New York Academy of Sciences
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Announcing the Tata Transformation Prize
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 11:17 AM | View the original post
December 27, 2022
University Grants Commission (UGC), India, invites all State & Private University Vice-Chancellors to join its program on implementing the Academic Bank of Credits.
— New Delhi, December 27, 2022 — The University Grants Commission (UGC), India, has invited all State & Private University Vice-Chancellors to join its program on implementing the Academic Bank of Credits.
Source: University Grants Commission (UGC)
|GlobalGiants.Com|
(Already submitted to the UGC on March 15, 2022)
• Efficient Mobility of Credits between Institutions
The proposed Transformation of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) into Multidisciplinary Institutions by the UGC hinges on one critical common factor: Efficient Mobility of Credits between Institutions. Therefore, it is essential to pay special attention to the operation and utilization of the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) platform and the Digilocker Framework under which it works. Thus, an HEI may not be authorized to transform into a Multidisciplinary Institution unless —
(a) It has joined the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC).(b) Its administration has constituted a separate section that looks after its Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) and Digilocker affairs.
© GlobalGiants.Com
— The Editor is a UNESCO—IIEP (International Institute for Educational Planning, Paris) readied “Independent Appraiser” of Government Education Plans.
UGC directs universities to register with Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) programmehttps://t.co/BN0LA1FCpj pic.twitter.com/kdYgyG0o5c
— Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) December 28, 2022
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:19 AM | View the original post
December 18, 2022
National Testing Agency (NTA)), India, issues its Calendar for Academic Year 2023-24 through a Public Notice.
— National Testing Agency (NTA)), India, has issued its Calendar for Academic Year 2023-24 through a Public Notice.
Source: National Testing Agency (NTA)), India
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:25 AM | View the original post
December 11, 2022
American Association of University Administrators (AAUA) announces its Call for Nominations for Awards [USA].
The American Association of University Administrators (AAUA) has announced its Call for Nominations for Awards [USA].
January 15, 2023, is the deadline for receipt of Applications.
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
|GlobalGiants.Com|
— The editor is a member of the AAUA.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:35 AM | View the original post
December 10, 2022
At UNESCO, World Education Leaders call for Environment Education and Digital Access to be part of Learning for All.
— The High-Level Steering Committee on Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Education, convened by UNESCO, called on countries to adopt new indicators measuring the implementation of green Education and digital access to learning for all.
Photos: UNESCO Headquarters Paris. SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee Meeting. December 9, 2022. Images provided by & copyright © UNESCO/Christelle ALIX.
Paris, December 09, 2022 — To advance its priorities, on December 8 & 9, UNESCO convened a meeting of the High-Level Steering Committee on Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Education. The meeting took place at UNESCO Headquarters, under the chairmanship of Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s Director General, and Julius Maada Bio, the President of Sierra Leone.
Following the Transforming Education Summit (TES) on September 2022 in New York, the UN Secretary-General mandated the Committee to ensure and monitor the effective follow-up of countries’ commitments at the Summit.
The Committee called on world leaders to endorse the six calls to action at the Summit:
- The green and digital transitions
- Advancing gender equality
- Foundational learning
- Education in crisis contexts
- Equitable and efficient education financing
“Ensuring all children and youth are climate-ready, improving schools’ digital connectivity and students’ access to online learning contents are critical goals. We appeal to world leaders to accelerate progress in these areas following the agreements reached by the Transforming Education Summit,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said.
The Sustainable Development Goal benchmarks will measure each country’s progress by 2025 and 2030, representing the transformation countries want to see from the Summit. For example, governments could count how many schools are green-accredited and how much national laws, policies, and standards cover climate education. On digital transformation, countries could measure the extent to which every school and child is connected to digital solutions.
The High-Level Steering Committee (HLSC) comprises principals of United Nations and education partner agencies, civil society and donor representatives, and Ministers of Education from 12 countries.
HLSC follows the Transforming Education Summit (TES) that took place in September 2022 in New York. TES was the largest global education summit in recent decades. It led to national commitments from 133 countries to recover learning losses from the pandemic and transform their education systems to make them more inclusive, relevant, and resilient to future shocks.
Source: UNESCO
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— The editor is a UNESCO—IIEP readied “Independent Appraiser” of Government Education Plans.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:20 PM | View the original post
December 8, 2022
Chitkara University Signs MoU with NEC Corporation India to Transform Learning in the Field of AI/ML
Photo: Dr.Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor, Chitkara University, and Mr. Deepak Jha, GM & Head, NEC Corporation India, at the MoU signing ceremony.
Chandigarh, India, December 08, 2022 — Chitkara University announced its collaboration with NEC Corporation India, a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, for a comprehensive academic program for aspiring students to facilitate them with hands-on training and research facilities in the area of Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (Al/ML) and High-Performance Computing (HPC).
NEC Corporation India and Chitkara University signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement will allow the University to upskill its students, faculty, and academic researchers in AI. It will also enable students to obtain certifications for being job-ready and finding suitable employment opportunities within and outside NEC.
Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor, of Chitkara University, said, “The realm of technical education has constantly been evolving and at great speed. This MoU will equip young graduates with analytical capabilities, including using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to help unlock the benefits of digitalization and innovation.”
Deepak Jha, General Manager & Head of Artificial Intelligence Platform, NEC Corporation India, said, “AI/ML and HPC will be the drivers of technological and social change in the coming years. This joint certification program will create industry-ready professionals. We at NEC India strive to build state-of-the-art solutions focused on overcoming complex technological & business challenges. Above all, we believe in sharing our knowledge, skills, and expertise with future generations.”
Over the last two decades, the world has seen a radical transformation in AI research and High-Performance Computing (HPC), transforming from a small, relatively niche domain into an extensive web of pioneering innovations, empowering almost every facet of life. To accelerate India’s vision to enable a technologically empowered nation, NEC India will co-create a state-of-the-art education program to help students achieve outstanding performance across diverse workloads by establishing a dedicated AI/HPC lab on the campus.
As part of this agreement, NEC India will also provide a vector engine system, namely SX-Aurora TSUBASA, to the University. With the establishment of NEC SX-TSUBASA computer system-driven lab, NEC aims to equip Chitkara University with the technology infrastructure required for the course and project work, job-oriented and hands-on training, and research facilities.
NEC Corporation is a Japanese multinational information technology and electronics corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
Chitkara University, with more than 25,000 students and 1,700 staff from over 100 different countries, has the mission of making every student “industry ready.” As a result, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), India, has awarded Chitkara University the coveted A+ Grade.
Source: Chitkara University
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:31 AM | View the original post
December 7, 2022
Chandigarh University launches Mobile Science Bus; aims to cover 100% of Schools in Chandigarh.
Investment in science will lead the nation to become self-reliant in technology, says Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chandigarh University.
Chandigarh University launches Science Bus in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.
Photo: Adviser to Chandigarh Administrator, Mr. Dharam Pal, took a tour of the newly inaugurated Mobile Science Bus. Chandigarh University Chancellor, Mr. Satnam Singh Sandhu, and Ms. Purva Garg IAS, Education Secretary, Chandigarh Administration, accompanied him.
CHANDIGARH, India, December 7, 2022 — With a mission to motivate students to choose sciences as a career after schooling, Chandigarh University launched a Mobile Science Bus today. It is equipped with state-of-the-art research and practical-lab facilities that can help students perform advanced practices that are part of their course curriculum. The Science bus project is of the Government of India’s Mobile Science Exhibitions (MSE) mission. It is a joint effort of Chandigarh University and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the Adviser to Chandigarh Administrator, Mr. Dharam Pal (IAS), along with Mr. Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar (PCS), Director of School Education Chandigarh; Mr. Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor of Chandigarh University; Ms. Purva Garg, Education Secretary Chandigarh; and Mr. Rajeev Kumar, Principal, Govt. Model Senior Secondary School Sector-22 Chandigarh.
The science bus, designed with modern equipment and relevant facilities worth one crore, aims at covering all the schools across the union territory of Chandigarh. A team of 20 faculty members will lead the bus. In addition, four research scientists from Chandigarh University will be on the bus. The bus will showcase projects and help students perform more than 150 experiments from up to Class 12 in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, along with providing information about various devices, tools, and developments in the sector. The bus carries additional kits for students to perform experiments. A multimedia projector screen is also present for conducting experiments in a group.
Mr. Dharam Pal, Adviser to Chandigarh Administrator, said, “This Science Bus will become a milestone in school education and learning as it will reach out to every student where they can perform science practicals to enhance their learning. Some government schools in the periphery of Chandigarh are still establishing laboratory infrastructure. Hence, the Science Bus designed by Chandigarh University will reach their doorstep. The Department of Education, Union Territory of Chandigarh, will also help in this project by sending their teachers for training in new technology to get equipped with the skills needed to teach the students.”
Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “The bus aims to cover all schools in Chandigarh within six months. Starting December 7, the bus will visit the model schools in Sectors 20 and 35 of Chandigarh, followed by the government schools in rural areas.”
Source: Chandigarh University
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:53 AM | View the original post
