Category Archives: Education

When kids led delegations to the ‘UN’

Education, World Opinion
Student delegates at the sixth Model United Nations at Chettinad Vidyashram
Student delegates at the sixth Model United Nations at Chettinad Vidyashram

Chennai :

The valedictory of Chettinad Vidyashram’s 6th Model United Nations (MUN) was held on Sunday. The event saw the participation of over 25 schools.

This year, two delegations — The Union of European Football Association and the League of Nations — were introduced.

“The students are very enthusiastic and creative, they come up with a set of new delegations or new ideas as years pass by,” said principal Amudha Lakshmi.

This year, the MUN, saw participants from Maharashtra, Bengaluru and even the UAE.

“I came to know about MUN through my friend Pradeep, whom I met in Chennai six months ago. Most delegates in Economics and Finance council were first-timers, and teaching them was a learning experience,” said Abhishek Verma, a student from Vidya Niketan, Bengaluru, who also chaired EcoFin.

The crisis discussed in the MUN ranged from foreign military bases in sovereign nations to communal violence and child rights.

“It’s wonderful to see children passing interesting resolutions. I have learnt so much from them, their confidence and creativity impresses me,” said Dr Meena Muthaiah, correspondent, Chettinad Vidyashram.

The delegation from the US won the maximum number of awards for their hard-hitting resolutions and debates. PSBB Nungambakkam grabbed the best school delegation award.

“I’ve been a part of MUN since the time it started. I am goin to miss it next year as I will be entering college. It helped me to read newspapers, something I had long-forgotten,” said a chirpy Shreya Shriram from CV.

The function finally ended after the secretary general declared it ‘closed’.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / July 22nd, 2014

Success stories from slums

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Chennai :

For professional courses in Tamil Nadu, the number of applications increases every year, leading to greater competition for jobs and a raised benchmark for an employable graduate. Considering the scramble for jobs among those who had pursued professional courses, graduates from other streams need to go the extra mile to equip themselves.

Twenty-two-year-old Selvi, a graduate in Botany from Pulianthope, narrated her success story which landed her a job at Data Mark, a BPO.

“After my graduation, I couldn’t get a job. With three months of training in Tally and spoken English, I was made employable. As the eldest of my siblings, I can support my family now,” she said at a graduation function held in Kolathur by Aide et Action, a non-governmental organisation.

Along with Selvi, 473 graduates aged between 18 and 35 received their certificates on Sunday.

They had successfully completed their MAST – iLEAD course conducted by Aide et Action for students and dropouts from slums in the city.

Since 2005, the NGO has been training students in batches, in automobile engineering, ITES, data entry, tailoring etc..

“We have our faculty reaching out to slums and other places with below poverty line (BPL) people through ‘Community Mobilisation Hive’. They visit homes with success stories of the previous batches and find students for the new batch. After that, an employability assessment test to gauge the student’s abilities will be conducted and appropriate training will follow in the trade they are good at,” said S Martin, programme officer, and Manikandan P, a trainer.

They also said that the organisation provided holistic training, equipping students with technical and soft skills needed to excel at their work place. The students would be given comprehensive training with industrial visits that facilitate a clear understanding of the industry’s needs.

With these skills imparted, the organisation produces employable graduates who are poised to deliver and exceed the expectations of the industry and society.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / July 22nd, 2014

Parents’ Day at Don Bosco

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education
Students and faculty with the chief guest at the Don Bosco Parents’ Day celebrations | D SAMPATH KUMAR
Students and faculty with the chief guest at the Don Bosco Parents’ Day celebrations | D SAMPATH KUMAR

Chennai :

The mood was jubilant as the primary section of St Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School gathered for the Parents’ Day festivities on Friday.

The festivities were in sync with the mood of the crowd, keeping students, parents and teachers tapping their feet.

Siddharth Sonthalia, AGM-TN, The New Indian Express, an alumnus of Don Bosco, was the guest of honour at the event. He acknowleged the contribution of parents in moulding the character of pupils in the institution.

“All students have the potential of being a politician, sportsman or whatever they desire in life — the motto is simple; the three  qualities – honesty, integrity and tolerance would make each one an achiever that this institution would produce,”  said Siddharth, speaking at the event.

Siddharth recollected his days in his alma mater when he strolled  through the corridors of the institution and said that  childhood days were one of the most nostalgic moments. Those moments moulded him to what he is today.

Students from classes one to five received certificates from the chief guest for their achievements for the year, as their parents looked on with  happiness and anticipation when their kids were on the stage . The school choir with all boys dressed in Turquoise shirts and navy blue ties, kept the crowds swaying to the tune of ‘No love, no power’.

The bi-centenary birth logo of St Don Bosco was unveiled at the event by Siddharth and the administrative team of the Don Bosco School.

Father John Alexander, correspondent, St Don Bosco School, said, “It is time for a spiritual renewal of the educational system that the school is so well known for, as 2015 is the bicentenary birth anniversary of Saint Don Bosco.”

He further added that the upcoming DB Converge and Global reunion, to be held on the campus on July 26 and 27  is expected to bring together over 1,000 students who passed out of the Don Bosco school, from across the globe.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / July 21st, 2014

BDU to organize goat farming workshop

Education, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature

Trichy :

A one-day national workshop on “Emerging Trends for Commercial Goat Farming” jointly organized by the Department of Plant Science, Bharathidasan University and Saraswathi Foundation for Rural Development and Training will be held on July 5.

Scientists from various centres of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University will be sharing their expertise on the emerging trends in commercial goat breeding and rearing. Day-to-day problems faced by farmers/entrepreneurs and pragmatic solutions to a given situation will also be discussed by the respective experts. Apart from scientists, bankers and insurance experts, successful entrepreneurs will also be sharing their expertise on various aspects of goat farming. The national workshop also encompasses a visit to an established goat farm.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Trichy / TNN / June 29th, 2014

32 alumnus to be honoured at celebrations

Education, Records, All

Trichy :

A total of 32 alumni will be presented with the ‘distinguished alumnus’ award at the celebrations on Saturday. The 32 alumni members representing big corporate houses will be presented the award for their achievement in their respective fields.

The success and contribution of the alumni are laudable. They lead some of the large business corporations, governmental departments, services, academia and others fields and most of them are expected to be present for the event as the institute has been sending out invites to every individual who passed out.

Theyjas Srivas, pursuing master’s degree in the mechanical engineering department said that the faculty members are the strength at NIT-T.

“NIT-Trichy stands like a monolithic structure among the peers because of its growth and leadership in the field of technical education. There is a month-long orientation programme for first year students immediately after their join. The objective of this orientation is to bring all students together on a common social-cultural platform and make them ready for a new learning experience,” which is unique, he says. He further added that focus on research and development is given priority and the collaboration with several universities abroad gives the students a lot of exposure.

Santhosh G, a third-year production engineering student said, “Thrust is given to the use of ICT in teaching, learning and administration. A state of the art video-conferencing facility has been established in the campus. The classrooms are also enabled for video-conferencing through NKN (National Knowledge Network) that interconnects all government institutions including IITs, NITs through high bandwidth internet.”

Meanwhile, enthusiastic students have also created a new website for the Golden Jubilee celebrations with a new logo and would be selling souvenirs bearing the logo.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Trichy / TNN / July 19th, 2014

Centre for Science of Learning opened at Chennai school

Education, World Opinion

Chennai :

The Chennai Corporation, in collaboration with Teaching College affiliated to Columbia University, New York, inaugurated the Centre for the Science of Learning at the Higher Secondary School in Alwarpet on Wednesday.

The centre will be customised to improve teaching capacity and to assess student potential and is said to benefit more than 80,000 students and 3,000 teachers.

“This initiative will monitor students’ performance and enable teachers to modify their methodology to suit student behaviour,” Mayor Saidai Duraisamy said at the inauguration.

Ryan Baker, associate professor of cognitive studies at Teachers College, said that common education problems could be addressed by using global tools and methodologies.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Divya Chandrababu, TNN / July 16th, 2014

Chess prodigy from Tiruchi adds feathers to his cap

Education, Sports
L.N. Ram Aravind, who bagged two silver medals in the Asian Youth Chess Championship. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam / The Hindu
L.N. Ram Aravind, who bagged two silver medals in the Asian Youth Chess Championship. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam / The Hindu

Ram Aravind bags silver medals in Asian Youth Chess Championship

Chess prodigy L.N.Ram Aravind has added two more international medals to his kitty .

The class 7 student of Kamala Niketan Montessori School here bagged silver medals in the standard and rapid formats in the under-12 age category at the recently-concluded Asian Youth Chess Championship in Tashkent (Uzbekistan).

In the standard format, Ram Aravind, who trains at Chess Gurukul in Chennai, and Nguyen Anh Khoi of Vietnam were tied for the top spot with 7.5 points each after the ninth and final round. However, Khoi was adjudged winner since he had defeated Ram Aravind in the fourth round.

Ram Aravind had won gold medals in the under-8 (in the year 2011) and under-10 (2013) categories at the championship. He is also the reigning national under-11 champion.

In the rapid event at the Asian championship, he finished with 5.5 points (five wins, a draw, and a loss) from seven rounds. “I like playing rapid chess as it helps to improve my speed,” he says.

The FIDE Master has set his sights on the World Youth Chess Championship (standard format) to be held in Durban later this year. He had bagged under-8 silver medal in 2011 and under-10 bronze medal in 2012 at the championship. “I am aiming for gold this time,” says the gifted youngster.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by G. Prasad / Tiruchi – July 03rd, 2014

Laidlaw to mark 100 years with Georgians, old and new

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Udhagamandalam :

The Laidlaw Memorial School, popularly known as St George’s Homes, located in a scenic valley in Ketti near Ooty, is set to celebrate its centenary on Thursday. The centenary celebrations will be attended by ?old Georgians’ (as the alumni are called), from all over the world and the festivities will continue for three days, said Michael James, principal of the school.
On the inaugural day a statue of Rev John Breeden, the founder of the school, will be inaugurated. St George’s Homes, essentially a residential school, was founded in 1914 by Rev Breeden to provide boarding and education to the children of the Protestant Europeans and Anglo Indian communities.

As it was liberally endowed by Sir Robert Laidlaw, the school was named after him. The school was started in Kodaikanal and was moved to its present home in 1922.

The centenary celebration of the institution is being organised in association with ?Old Georgeons Association’ which boasts of many famous names including Dr Mammen Chandy, one of the leading haematologists and director of Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata and former president of World Hematology Congress and Noel French, gold medal winner in World Veteran’s hockey championship, held recently in Amsterdam. .

A coffee table book containing photos of the school, ?now and then’ and the surrounding forests and the Nilgiri hills will be brought out during the function.

A new pathway named the?Old Georgian Centenary Pathway’ will also be inaugurated on Thursday.

According to James, Thursday will mark the beginning of the year-long celebrations to mark the 100{+t}{+h} year of the institution. Beginning with only three students, the school now has a strength of 525 students, including 250 girls and is a compulsory boarding institution. Since the school was started specifically for the Anglo-Indian community, even today they are provided free education.

About 76 Anglo-Indian students are presently studying in the school.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Shanthan Thiagarajan, TNN / July 10th, 2014

Grand celebrations to mark QMC’s centenary

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Uncategorized

QMCcf11jul2014

Chennai :

A visit to the alma mater is always special. And at the Queen Mary’s College, the Old Students Association (OSA) had more reasons to cheer as they gathered on Wednesday to discuss the various activities planned for the institution’s centenary year celebrations starting from July 14. Alumnae of the college,  founded on July 14, 1914, were present as they fondly recalled their college days.

“I might have studied and worked across the world, but Queen Mary’s is always special to me. The one thing that immediately strikes me when I think of this place is the library and the tennis court where I spent most of time. It is sad that the buildings are now old and collapsing,” said Sarasa Bharathi, 80, who works as an academic advisor in a well-known private institution.

Leela Thiraviyum, 91, one of the oldest students in the group recalled her fellow students’ participation in the Quit India Movement.

“I was the president of the students’ union then. Two students from Intermediate and a research student were jailed at the time of the Quit India Movement. We also witnessed the World War II,” said the student of 1942-43 batch. “You know those days; we were not interested in fashion and style.  In fact, we used to make fun of girls wearing lipstick. Admissions were strictly on merit. Today, it has changed so much that girls are so conscious about their looks,” she added with a smile.

Every student had a unique story to tell when it came to their alma mater. Mahalakshmi of the 1989 batch recalled her association with the college from the days of her great grandmother, who handed over 16 acres of land for free to set up the college in 1914. “My great grandfather Arcot Ratna Sabha Mudaliyar ran a hotel here. After he passed away, my great grandma took over but she could not take care of the hotel. She rented it out for 5 annas. Then, following request from the then governor, 16 acres of the land were handed over for free. I completed both my UG and PG courses here,” she said as she sat with other old students in a classroom singing songs.

With celebrations to kick start this month, various activities have been planned, including erecting a pillar with a contribution of `7 lakh from old students and release of a postal stamp.

The OSA had been meeting every Wednesday for the past one year to plan the activities for the centenary year. “The Education Minister will inaugurate the celebrations. We have sent a proposal to the government to construct 60 classrooms as a part of the centenary celebrations. The celebrations will culminate in December,” said R Akthar Begum, principal, Queen Mary’s College.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / July 10th,2014

Architects thresh out their designs

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

 

ArchitectsCF09jul2014Chennai :

Hindustan University conducted ATYANTA-2014, the Annual ZONASA Convention at its campus in Chennai. ZONASA is the zonal convention of National Association of Students of Architecture (NASA), a student body for association of the undergraduate students of Architecture in India.

ZONASA was inaugurated by Elizabeth Verghese, chancellor, Hindustan University and S Ramachandra, vice chancellor, Hindustan University. A R  Jaisim Krishna Rao, founder, Jaisim Fountain, Bangalore was the chief guest of the event. Chandan Chowdry, MD, Dassault Systems, W Anand , Chairman IIA Chennai Chapter were also present during the inauguration. The convention, which was a  three-day event, saw the participation of 54 colleges with over 1200 delegates from various architecture schools across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Each year a college is chosen to host the prestigious event in its campus and this year it was hosted by Hindustan University.

According to the organisers, It is a grooming platform where an atmosphere of creativity, innovation and fun is created alongside learning. The learning experience includes students’ participation in events, competitions and guest lectures by prominent architects who share their experiences.

An installation by Saajan Varanasi, (Design Mafia) , a tall structure using waste and recyclable materials which made a new record of 3.6 m, attracted the crowd.

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University bagged the over all trophy, Dr KCG Verghese Memorial Trophy. Faculty of Architecture Sathyabama University Chennai and School of Architecture MES, Kerala were the first and second runner up respectively.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / July 09th, 2014