Category Archives: Education

Registration Open: For CREST Olympiads it attracts 40+ countries students

New Delhi; 12/10/2023: Recently, the craze of the CREST Olympiads has proliferated not only among brilliant students but also among their parents and teachers. Though there are many reasons, one of the most important among them is the variety of opportunities and exposure it provides to students. This Olympiad is considered one of the first online Olympiads conducted among many schools and for many subjects. Subjects such as English, Reasoning, Spelling Bee, Mathematics, Science, and even Cyber are included in this Olympiad. Hence, the exams are taken by students from 40+ countries. This includes most of the countries in South-East Asia, Middle East, Europe apart of United States, Australia and Canada.

CREST Olympiads has started its registration for 2023-24, and the exam dates for CMO, CSO, CEO, CRO, CCO, CSBW etc., have also been announced at https://www.crestolympiads.com/exam-schedule. Exams for every subject will be held on different dates so that students can apply for two or more subjects. The dates of the CREST Olympiads according to subjects are as follows:

CREST Mathematics Olympiad (CMO) – 2nd and 22nd December 2023 for Level 1 and 6th February 2024 for Level 2.

CREST International Spell Bee (CSBW) Winter Round – 9th and 20th January 2024 for Level 1.

CREST English Olympiad (CEO) – 29th November and 9th December 2023 for Level 1 and 30th January 2024 for Level 2.

CREST Science (CSO) – 5th and 16th December 2023 for Level 1 and 2nd February 2024 for Level 2.

CREST Reasoning Olympiad (CRO) – 13th January and 25th January 2024 for Level 1.

CREST Cyber Olympiad (CCO) – 11th and 23rd January 2024 for Level 1.

The time slot for all these Olympiads will be between 11 am to 7 p.m. on the assigned exam dates. This means that students can give these Olympiads from their home anytime within this time slot.

Speaking about the prizes for students who excel in these Olympiads, different criteria are set for zonal and international toppers. Right from trophies to gold, silver, and bronze medals, there is recognition for top 50% of the students. Students were also awarded cash scholarships for recently conducted CREST EduFund Mental Maths Olympiad (CEMMO). Students also use CREST Olympiads scores for school admissions and entrance to foreign colleges.

The fees for Indian school students is Rs.225, while for international students, the fee is USD 15. CREST Olympiads has multiple payment options to accept fees in various international currencies.

Nitin Godawat, Director, CREST Olympiad says It gives me immense pleasure to introduce an Olympiad for kids who are the future of our nation encouraging kids and giving them the path to be successful is very important and we take it as our mission and vision. Seeing students coming out with flying colours is our motive.

Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology launches Advanced Research Center for Clean & Green Energy

Bengaluru, October 11, 2023: On the occasion of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Bengaluru, launched the Advanced Research Center for Clean and Green Energy at their campus on Sunday. The research center aims to revolutionize the energy landscape by fostering industry collaborations on Green Hydrogen production. The objective of this project is to reduce carbon emissions, foster economic growth, and create an environmentally conscious society.

The Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UDJAN Energy Private Limited –Bengaluru, for expanding the activities in the field of green hydrogen through various activities such as market research, seminars, technology absorption etc.

While inaugurating the research lab, the Chief Guest, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Honorable Governor of Karnataka, congratulated NMIT for their success in pursuing their vision and research to achieve the goal of making India a green energy hub. In his inaugural address he said, “The world is combating global warming and climate change. To save the planet, we should unite to reduce our dependency on fossil fuel and petrochemicals. Recently during the G20 Summit, our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji strongly recommended using green hydrogen to reduce carbon footprint. The Government of India launched the Green Hydrogen 2030 Mission, which aims to make India a global hub for the production, utilization and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. The approach of NMIT and the project they have taken up for production of hydrogen is therefore commendable and highly appreciated”.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. H. C. Nagaraj, Principal, NMIT, said, “At NMIT, we place research at the forefront to help the industry, academia and the entire ecosystem, identify challenges so as to derive solutions to fix the challenges. We are glad to have collaborated with various Corporates and such partnerships with the industry help us in steering towards the future.

Green Hydrogen is of immense importance in today’s green economy and sustainability. With the help of the Advanced Research Center for Clean and Green Energy, we are confident of building solutions which would contribute to India’s goal towards becoming global hub for green hydrogen production and utilization”

The Institute has already initiated a project on production of green hydrogen, which is also funded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. What makes NMIT different is that we are producing hydrogen from sea water.

Quick Heal Foundation Launches ‘Cyber Shiksha for Cyber Suraksha’s Earn & Learn’ Initiative

10th October 2023 | Assam: Quick Heal Technologies Limited, through its CSR arm – Quick Heal Foundation, today, launched the groundbreaking “Cyber Shiksha for Cyber Suraksha – Earn & Learn” initiative in Barpeta, Assam. The event was graced by the presence of Ms. Anupama Katkar, Chief of Operational Excellence, Quick Heal and Chairperson of Quick Heal Foundation, who inaugurated the program, marking a significant milestone in enhancing cybersecurity education in Barpeta. Joining hands with ‘Srijan – Ek Soch’, a local NGO, this initiative, is expected to touch the lives of over 40,000 students and 10,000 villagers in the region, spreading awareness on safe digital practices fortifying cybersecurity preparedness amongst.

As one of the 250 most backward districts in India, Barpeta has been a beneficiary of the Backward Regions Grant Fund Program (BRGF) since 2006. The picturesque town of Barpeta is located 98 kilometers northwest of Guwahati and serves as the administrative headquarters of Barpeta district.

The “Cyber Shiksha for Cyber Suraksha – Earn & Learn” initiative is dedicated to the holistic development of youth in Barpeta, aiming to empower them with skills beyond cybersecurity. It emphasizes education, including personality development, soft skills, and public speaking, and seeks to integrate these young individuals into mainstream society by providing exposure to diverse experiences and fostering personal growth are key components, enabling them to break down barriers they may face in underprivileged areas. Moreover, the initiative prepares them for future employment opportunities, making them valuable contributors to both their local job market and the broader society, ultimately creating well-rounded individuals capable of thriving in the digital age.

Under the programme, approximately 40 volunteers, comprising members of the local community and students from local colleges offering computer science education, will be selected and mobilized within the aspirational district to serve as Assam Cyber Warriors, fostering awareness of cybersecurity among the local populace. The training for these volunteers will include four hours of online sessions focusing on soft skills and general cybersecurity awareness. Additionally, offline sessions will cover personality development, team building, goal setting, and public speaking.

These Cyber Warriors will engage with school children and the community, conducting presentations and awareness programs in the local language to educate them about potential digital risks, including phishing scams, cyberbullying, fake news, online shopping scams, and more. The initiative will also host “Cyber Chaupals” to engage with villagers during both, day and night, ensuring comprehensive cybersecurity awareness. As part of their outreach efforts, the Cyber Warriors will also create communication material, such as posters, which will provide easily understandable information on preventing cyberattacks in the local language. These posters will be prominently displayed in Gram Panchayat offices and other community gathering areas.

The Cyber Warriors will continue to serve as change agents, both during and after the program, within their respective villages. To support these dedicated Cyber Warriors, stipends will be provided to help cover their educational expenses, enabling them to share their knowledge and expertise effectively.

“As we launch the ‘Cyber Shiksha for Cyber Suraksha’s Earn & Learn’ initiative in Barpeta, my heart swells with pride and hope. It is a momentous step towards empowering our communities, and arming them with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the digital landscape safely. In the ‘Land of Satras,’ we are sowing the seeds of cyber awareness, nurturing local talent to become Cyber Warriors. Together with ‘Srijan – Ek Soch,’ we are not just securing the digital future of the local community; we are fostering a spirit of resilience and empowerment. Let this initiative be a beacon of light in the world of cyber darkness, guiding our people towards a safer, smarter tomorrow,” said Ms. Anupama Katkar, Chief of Operational Excellence, Quick Heal and Chairperson of Quick Heal Foundation.

“We are deeply grateful to the people of Barpeta and our village leaders for their unwavering support in making today possible. The students selected for this program are destined to be role models for Assam and beyond, inspiring others to dream big. The smiles we see today are a testament to the collective impact of the Quick Heal Foundation and village leaders. Quick Heal Foundation has played a pivotal role in Srijan’s journey, supporting programs like Cyber Shiksha for Cyber Suraksha and Arogya Yan vans. Thanks to the visionary initiative of Quick Heal, especially Anupama Ma’am and Ajay Sir, we have an incredible opportunity to bring about real change. Quick Heal’s dedication to society and their contributions to social initiatives inspire us all. Together, we are committed to executing this program with excellence, setting a standard for others to match,” said Mr. Vikas Kumar Tiwari, CEO, ‘Srijan – Ek Soch’.

The introduction of “Cyber Shiksha for Cyber Suraksha’s – Earn & Learn” in Barpeta is an extension of Quick Heal Foundation’s continued commitment to creating a safer digital environment in India and fostering local talent to become vigilant Cyber Warriors.

MAHE’s Faculty among World’s Most-cited Scientists by John P.A. Ioannidis

Bengaluru, 10 October 2023 — Stanford University released a science-wide author databases of standardized citation. The publicly available database of top-cited scientists provides standardized information on citations h-index, co-authorship adjusted hm-index, citations to papers in different authorship positions and a composite indicator (c-score). The report showcases a list of world’s top 2% scientists featuring 20 distinguished scientists from constituent institutions of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), An institution of Eminence Deemed to be University.

Seven faculty members from KMC, Mangalore; two from KMC, Manipal, six faculty members from MIT, Manipal and five from other instituions of MAHE have been listed among the world’s top 2% scientists for 2023 for their work in the field of education and research in “Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators” by John P.A. Ioannidis.

Dr. B Unnikrishnan, Dean, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore has been featured on the list for the second consecutive time. Ramesh Holla, Associate Professor; Nithin Kumar, Associate Professor; Prasanna Mithra, Additional Professor and Nithin Joseph, Associate Professor from community medicine, and Prateek Rastogi, Professor & Head in Department and Jagadish Rao PP, Associate Professor from the department of forensic medicine have made it to this list for the first time.

Dr. Vinod Chandrakanth Nayak, Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Dr. Chythra R. Rao, Additional Professor from KMC Manipal have been recognised in listed in this year’s list.

Six faculty Researchers from Manipal institute of Technology (MIT) who have made MAHE and MIT proud are Dr. Raja Selvaraj, Additional Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering; Dr. Raghavendra U, Associate Professor, Department of Instrumentation & Control Engineering; Dr. Shiva Kumar, Professor, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Dr Nithesh Naik, Assistant Professor (Senior Scale), Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering and Dr Tanweer Ali, Associate Professor, Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering.

Faculty/Researchers from other MAHE institutions who have been listed are Dr Srinivas Mutalik, Professor and Head, and Dr Usha Y Nayak, Professor from Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Shashidhar Acharya, Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry from Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Dr. Satheesha B Nayak, Professor, Basic Medical Sciences and Dr Nirmal Mazumder, Assistant Professor, Department of Biophysics from Manipal School of Life Sciences.

Commenting on this spectacular achievement, Dr M D Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, MAHE said, “Heartiest congratulations to our faculty researchers for this remarkable achievement of featuring in the global list of top 2% distinguished researchers .MAHE is proud of their dedication, expertise, and passion for research that have not only elevated quality of research of our University but will also inspire other faculty members and students. Our success is a testament to the exceptional calibre of educators and researchers we have at our university, and we take immense pride in their achievements. May our journey of creating new knowledge continue to make things better for the world and shape the future of academic research”.

Scientists are classified into 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields according to the standard Science-Metrix classification. Field- and subfield-specific percentiles are also provided for all scientists with at least 5 papers. Career-long data are updated to end-of-2022 and single recent year data pertain to citations received during calendar year 2022. The selection is based on the top 100,000 scientists by c-score (with and without self-citations) or a percentile rank of 2% or above in the sub-field. This version (6) is based on the October 1, 2023, snapshot from Scopus, updated to end of citation year 2022.

Eastern India’s Most Promising Education Consultancy hosts its first-ever-The E&U Education Summit 2023 in Kolkata

Kolkata, 6th October 2023: Priyamvada Agarwal, Founder of Education & You (E&U), in association with FACES, hosted the first education summit at the Park Hotel Kolkata today, which was attended by educationists, educators and other dignities of society.

The E&U Education Summit showcased the inside story of Education & You, followed by the launch of their redesigned website, www.educationandyou.in. This was followed by a panel discussion where the topic was “Forging the Future of Education in Today’s Digital Era: Boon or Bane?” and the eminent speakers and guests included Prof. Suman K. Mukerjee (Director, The Bhawanipur Education Society College), Dr. Anuradha Das (Director, Garden High International School), Dr. Bratati Bhattacharyya (Educationist and Edupreneur), Prof. Dr. Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay (Vice Chancellor, Sister Nivedita University). The panel was moderated by Ms. Priyamvada Agarwal (Founder of Education & You) and was attended by: Mr. Jagmohan IPS, DG Civil Defence WB Police; Mr. Imran Zaki (President of FACES) and many others.

Speaking to the media, Ms. Priyamvada Agarwal, founder of Education & You, said, “We Educators, are the architects of the future. Our dedication, passion, and innovative teaching methods shape the minds of the next generation.”

On this occasion, Mr. Ankur Agarwal, Advisory Member of Education & You, said, “The digital platform represents not just a virtual space on the internet but a gateway to a world of endless possibilities, knowledge, and connection.”

Sharing his views, Mr. Ananda Basu, Advisory Member of Education and You and Practising Senior Laywer at the Calcutta High Court, said, “I want to extend our gratitude to the educators, the driving force behind the education sector. Your unwavering commitment to shaping the future through the education of our youth deserves our deepest appreciation. You are the heart and soul of the education system, and we salute you.”

On this occasion, Mr. Imran Zaki, President of FACES, said, “Education & You opened its doors back in December 2014, and it has been almost 9+ years. As the years passed, they accomplished greater heights and expanded their team. When they started, it was a handful of students, but now they have counselled and helped more than 7,000 students and professionals from all around the country and helped them shape their careers. It was a pleasure for me and FACES to be associated with this event.”

AEON Fantasy Malaysia To Provide Artec STEM Educational Toys from Japan at Toy Masters Nationwide

Kuala Lumpur, 4 October 2023 – Tech Up Sdn. Bhd. a STEM education solutions provider, and the sole distributor of educational products from Japan-based Artec Co Ltd., today announced that AEON Fantasy Malaysia has selected Artec Logic Puzzles to be featured at Toy Master corners located inside various children’s edutainment facilities including kidzooona and FANPEKKA. Toy Master is a new edutainment corner which was first opened in the country last year by AEON Fantasy Malaysia.

On 22 September, AEON Fantasy Malaysia introduced Artec Logic Puzzles as part of Tonttu’s Toy Academy educational offering at FANPEKKA, during the facility’s re-opening ceremony held at AEON MALL Tebrau City, Johor Bahru. Meanwhile, the puzzles have already been offered at three kidzooona facilities in Kota Bharu, Alor Setar, and Shah Alam.

AEON Fantasy Malaysia plans to introduce more Toy Master corners throughout Malaysia by 2024 and incorporate Artec Logic Puzzles as part of their products.

These puzzles are suitable for children from kindergarten to primary 1, 2, and 3 and use a progressive approach to help children develop their skills.

Tech Up began supplying educational materials to AEON Fantasy Malaysia in 2022, and now, in 2023, the relationship is expanding further with the inclusion of Artec Logic Puzzles at Toy Master corners.

Ainaa Rosli, CEO of Tech Up said, “The progressive approach introduced in the Artec Logic Puzzles teaches children analytical thinking and decision-making skills. This kind of exposure can help foster interest in STEM among children. We are grateful to be working alongside AEON Fantasy Malaysia, setting a foundation for our children to prepare for their future.”

Managing Director of AEON Fantasy Malaysia, Mr. Narimoto Yamazaki said, “Our purpose of existence is basically to inspire enthusiasm in every child and bring out the smile on their faces. We are focusing on the children’s ability while they can learn through playing. Our Toy Master corner enhances children’s learning development skills especially on cognitive skills and the Artec Logic Puzzles product is aligned with our strategy.”

In addition to these unique puzzles, Tech Up also provides comprehensive TechXpert Toy Master training programs to enhance child development providers with their expertise so that children receive the best possible edutainment experiences.

“We are glad that edutainment products are gaining wider acceptance in our society. This collaboration brings us a step closer to creating a more STEM-savvy generation, which is a positive move as our nation is trying to embrace greater digitalization,” Ainaa concluded.

Orchids The International School, Kharadi (Pune), Shines at The Indian Space Science Olympiad 23-24

We are thrilled to announce the outstanding achievements of students from Orchids The International School, Kharadi (Pune), in the first level of The Indian Space Science Olympiad 23-24, a prestigious national-level competition aimed at nurturing curiosity, fostering interest, and cultivating scientific temper in the field of Astronomy.

The first level of this competition comprised an online quiz, followed by a challenging offline workshop cum competition at the final level. We are immensely proud to share that students from Orchids The International School, Kharadi, have excelled and secured their positions for the upcoming next-level workshop scheduled to take place in Kerala in December 2023.

Top Scorers in Junior Category:

Prasun Chaitanya (Grade 6)

Laranya Choudhary (Grade 7)
Additionally, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the following students who have also earned their well-deserved spots at the final level:

Swara Patil (Grade 7)
Kanika Choudhary (Grade 7)
These talented young individuals have now earned the privilege to participate in the upcoming three-day National level Workshop cum Competition, a testament to their dedication and excellence in the field of space science.

We commend these budding astronomers for their remarkable achievements and wish them the best of luck as they represent Orchids The International School, Kharadi (Pune), in the National round. May their enthusiasm for astronomy continue to shine brightly, inspiring others on their cosmic journey.

Zydex Industries and Parul University sign an MoU- Industry Academia partnership courtesy FGI

Vadodara, Gujarat: Parul University and Zydex Group have embarked on an ambitious journey to introduce Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Bio Farming, designed to shape the future of sustainable organic agriculture in India.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was officially signed today, solidifying the collaboration between Parul University, renowned for its academic excellence, and Zydex Group, a leading name in sustainable solutions.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ajay Ranka, CMD, Zydex Group said, “Zydex is committed to enabling farmers to produce nutritious, safe, and affordable food for all. Our pioneering bio farming technique that eliminates the use of chemical fertilizers and crop care chemicals along with higher yields with lower water consumption from the first crop cycle itself, has already demonstrated its effectiveness in real-world fields. Through the signing of this MoU with Parul University, we aim to nurture a new generation of passionate and brilliant agro-scientists dedicated to leading India into an organic future.”

Dr. Parul Patel, Vice President, Parul University, was quoted saying, “this MoU with Zydex marks a pivotal step towards bridging the gap between academic and practical agricultural knowledge and solidifies our efforts in providing our students with the necessary skills and expertise in the ever-growing field of bio farming and sustainable agriculture. We look forward to the exciting journey that lies ahead as we work together to launch and develop these transformative Bio Farming courses.”

“A strong Industry-Academia partnership is the need of the hour as it is instrumental in advancing research and creating a skilled workforce. This MOU between FGI (Federation of Gujarat Industries) members – Zydex Group & Parul University has the potential to contribute to the betterment of both – industries and the universities. It will help create graduates who have know-how of the industry that they will work in and create better future employees. We are quite hopeful that this is just the beginning of many more such partnerships between various other industries and universities,” said Mr. Tarak Patel, President, FGI

The 4-year Bachelor’s and 2-year Master’s courses are slated to run for a minimum of 10 batches, offering a comprehensive education in the field. The admission process is stringent, targeting candidates with B.Sc. degrees in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Botany, Zoology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, or related fields, with rigorous scrutiny, entrance exams, and personal interviews.

The curriculum uniquely blends theoretical coursework with hands-on field training, demanding high levels of discipline and commitment from students, under guidelines set by both Zydex Group and Parul University.

To incentivize participation, admitted students will receive generous monthly scholarships (Rs. 10,000 for Bachelor’s and Rs. 12,500 for Master’s) for the entire duration of the course, contingent upon signing an undertaking to work with Zydex for 11 months upon course completion.

Examinations will be conducted following Parul University’s regulations, with fieldwork assessments overseen by a panel consisting of mentors from Zydex Group and Parul University faculty members.

This ground-breaking collaboration marks a significant step towards fostering sustainable agricultural practices and nurturing experts in bio farming in India.

DPS Raj Nagar Extension Celebrated Junior School Annual Day with a Spectacular Presentation on Save Mother Earth

DPS Raj Nagar Extension hosted its Junior School Annual Day celebration under the theme “Save Mother Earth” in the school auditorium with great zeal. The event, titled “Samanvay – Let Earth Live,” showcased the remarkable talents and abilities of young Dipsites from Nursery to Class III. The event was graced by Mr. Santosh Bansal (School Chairman) and the Chief Guest Ms. Priya John (Principal, DPS Indirapuram), along with other dignitaries.

The celebration kicked off with the ceremonial lamp-lighting to seek blessings for success and prosperity. The highlight of the evening was the cultural extravaganza, which portrayed the challenges faced by Mother Earth and the importance of preserving it. The students presented the phases of destruction and restoration through mesmerising songs, dances, and theatre presentations with enthusiasm. The event concluded with the National Anthem, leaving everyone inspired to make a positive change for the planet.

Ms. John congratulated the students and teachers for their outstanding performance and urged them to become responsible green ambassadors of our planet and raise awareness for the environment. Ms. Priyanca Ghosh, the Junior School Headmistress, extended heartfelt thanks to the management, parents, and educators for their unwavering support and love.

Ms. Pallavi Upadhyay Principal, DPS Raj Nagar Extension, expressed her delight, stating, “It was a pleasure to witness the exceptional talent and dedication of our students and teachers in putting up such a great program. The theme of ‘Save Mother Earth’ is crucial in today’s world, and I am confident that these young minds will significantly impact preserving our environment. This understanding and awareness couldn’t have been portrayed without the guidance of teachers who left no stone unturned to prepare the students well.”