Category Archives: Education

Talents for Tech to Bring Free AI Skills Training to Thousands Across Central and Eastern Europe Through Google.org Support and Local NGOs

Vilnius, Lithuania,June 18:  Talents For Tech, an organization set to empower careers through mentorship programs and career guidance, announced it will lead a major regional AI upskilling initiative supported by Google.org as part of AI Works for Europe and the AI Opportunity Fund. With more than $2.7 million (€2.3 million) in funding, the program will help thousands of people across Central and Eastern Europe build practical AI skills and prepare for the future of work.

Through this initiative, Talents For Tech will train at least 11,000 people across seven countries: Lithuania, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Poland.  The program focuses on expanding what people can do with AI, equipping workers in fast-changing fields: routine administrative, clerical, and cognitive roles, such as customer service, call centre operations, sales support roles, basic finance and accounting (e.g. bookkeeping, payroll), logistics coordination, junior marketing positions, and others.

As AI reshapes workplaces across CEE, the skills needed to use it effectively require more than knowing how to write a prompt. According to IPSOS research, workers need a broad mix of capabilities to truly benefit from AI, from data analysis and cybersecurity to change management and responsible AI use. Most employers, particularly smaller ones, simply don’t have the resources to train their entire workforce adequately.

The Digital Coalition report on AI challenges in CEE supports that by highlighting a lack of competence as one of the key barriers to AI adoption across the region.

Generative AI could boost CEE’s annual GDP by €90-100 billion if widespread adoption is achieved.

As AI transforms workplaces across Europe, many workers still lack access to the training needed to adapt. Talents For Tech was selected to lead this regional effort because of its mission to create inclusive pathways into the digital economy and ensure that technological progress benefits more people.

“This initiative is not only about learning new tools. It is about helping people stay competitive, improving economic resilience, and making sure the benefits of AI are shared across the region,” said Jarune Preiksaite, CEO of Talents For Tech.

“At the moment, too many people risk being left behind simply because they have not had the opportunity to learn. With Google.org’s support, we can now open practical and accessible pathways for thousands of people across Central and Eastern Europe to build confidence with AI and use it in their careers.”

The learning program will be built around practical, Google’s real-world application of AI tools, delivered through Coursera, and backed by a supportive community and networking opportunities across countries.

“AI is not just changing the nature of work; it is redefining what it means to be workforce-ready. By equipping our workforce with practical AI skills today, we aren’t just filling current job openings—we are unlocking a massive wave of economic productivity and ensuring that no worker is left behind in the digital economy,” said Liza Ateh, Head of Google.org EMEA.

Talents For Tech will coordinate the initiative across all participating markets, managing strategic direction, shared communications, and central infrastructure. Local partner organizations in each country will support learner outreach, recruitment, and delivery tailored to local workforce needs.

The program will run until January 31, 2028, and is designed to create a lasting impact by improving employability, supporting career transitions, and strengthening digital inclusion.

By working with trusted local partners under one regional framework, Talents For Tech aims to create a scalable model for AI workforce development across Europe.

NIT Rourkela Develops Low-Cost Ceramic Adsorbent for Industrial Wastewater Treatment

Rourkela, June 18 (UDN): Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed an innovative and cost-effective ceramic adsorbent capable of removing harmful dyes from industrial wastewater, offering a sustainable solution to one of the most pressing environmental challenges.

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The research team from the Department of Ceramic Engineering, led by Associate Professor Sunipa Bhattacharyya along with scholars Susanta Mohapatra and Sourav Ranjan Satpathy, designed the adsorbent using industrial by-products such as fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), and kaolin clay.

Industries such as textiles, dyeing, and printing generate large volumes of coloured wastewater containing toxic chemicals that can contaminate rivers, lakes, and other water bodies, posing serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and public health. Conventional wastewater treatment methods are often expensive, energy-intensive, and generate additional waste.

To address these challenges, the NIT Rourkela team developed a ceramic adsorbent specifically engineered to remove Methylene Blue, a commonly used dye found in industrial effluents. Laboratory tests demonstrated remarkable performance, with the material achieving more than 95 percent dye removal efficiency.

A key innovation of the research lies in the use of raw kaolin clay instead of heat-treated metakaolin, eliminating an energy-intensive production stage. This not only reduces manufacturing costs but also makes the process more environmentally sustainable.

Researchers estimate that the adsorbent can be produced at a cost ranging between ₹25 and ₹50 per kilogram, making it an economically viable option for large-scale industrial wastewater treatment applications.

The findings of the study have been published in the reputed journal ChemistrySelect and support global efforts toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to clean water, sanitation, and responsible production practices.

The breakthrough is expected to contribute significantly to sustainable wastewater management and reinforce NIT Rourkela’s reputation as a leading centre for innovative research addressing real-world environmental challenges.

New Book on Property Tax in Europe Spotlights Lessons with International Relevance

Noida International University Organizes Grand Educator’s Meet 2026 in Varanasi to Strengthen Academic Collaboration

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Noida International University (NIU) successfully organized an impactful Educators’ Meet at The Amayaa Hotel, Varanasi, bringing together distinguished academicians, teachers, counselors, and education professionals on one platform to discuss the evolving landscape of education, student development, and institutional collaboration.

The event was graced by Dr. Brijesh Kumar, Founder of L-1 Coaching Institute, who attended as the Chief Guest. The gathering was further honoured by the presence of Mr. Akash Sharma, Director – Admissions & Outreach, Noida International University, as the Guest of Honour. Mr. Anshuman Deo Gupta, President, Teacher Association, also marked his esteemed presence and shared valuable insights on strengthening educational ecosystems and teacher engagement.

Dr. Brijesh Kumar said, “Education is the strongest foundation for nation-building, and educators play the most critical role in shaping young minds. Such collaborative platforms encourage meaningful dialogue and help institutions and educators work together for the holistic development of students.”

Mr. Akash Sharma said, “At Noida International University, our focus remains on providing students with industry-oriented education, global exposure, and skill-based learning opportunities. Educators are our strongest partners in guiding students toward the right academic and career pathways, and platforms like these help us build stronger academic relationships.”

The Educators’ Meet served as an important platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and discussions on emerging opportunities in higher education. Participants engaged in meaningful conversations around academic excellence, career guidance, and institutional partnerships aimed at enhancing student outcomes.

The event was efficiently coordinated by Mr. Ankur Sharma and Mr. Tarun Pratap, whose dedicated efforts contributed significantly to the successful execution of the gathering.

Speaking on the occasion, representatives from Noida International University expressed gratitude to all guests, educators, and participants for making the event a success. The university reiterated its commitment to fostering strong ties with the academic fraternity and continuing efforts toward educational advancement across the country.

The event concluded on a positive and collaborative note, reinforcing Noida International University’s vision of empowering educators and strengthening the future of higher education through meaningful engagement.

IIT Madras and IITM Global Forge Landmark Strategic Partnerships at Bharat Innovates 2026, Unlocking US Dollar 100 Million in Value Creation

Chennai, June 16 : The Indian Institute of Technology Madras and IITM Global concluded day one engagement at ‘Bharat Innovates 2026’ in Nice, France, by exchanging seven commercial Memoranda of Understanding between Indian deep-tech startups and their international partners—predominantly from France—alongside two institutional MOUs aimed at accelerating global market access, investment, and innovation.

Collectively, these agreements are expected to unlock value creation of nearly US$100 million, strengthening India’s position as a global hub for deep-tech innovation and cross-border collaboration.

Speaking about Bharat Innovates 2026, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said,

“Bharat Innovates 2026 has proven to be a watershed moment for Indian deep tech. The MOUs exchanged are not just ceremonial  – they are commercial, actionable, and backed by serious financial commitments. The premier higher educational institutions of Bharat have demonstrated that Indian innovation is ready to lead on the world stage.”

The startup partnerships announced included:

●Agnikul Cosmos with ICEYE, Finland, and Safran, France

●Detect Technologies with TotalEnergies

●TuTr Hyperloop with thyssenkrupp

●iElectron Technologies with ALTEN

●Indian Angel Network announced a potential investment in The ePlane Company

Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT Madras, added,

 “What we witnessed in Nice (France) was the translation of scientific excellence into cross-border economic value. The nearly US$ 100 million in expected value creation is a direct result of years of focused deep-tech incubation at IIT Madras. The partnerships with French and European industry leaders validate our approach.”

The two institutional MOUs further reinforced the global ambitions of the IIT Madras ecosystem:

– A strategic partnership between IITM Global and Agna Capital to establish the Bharat Innovates Fund aimed at catalysing investments in high-potential deep-tech ventures.

– A collaboration between IITM Global and SouthwestX to help Indian startups access and scale across the large German and French markets.

These institutional MOUs were exchanged in the presence of the Honourable Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Ajay Sood, reflecting strong national support for building globally connected innovation ecosystems.

Alongside the partnership announcements, IIT Madras presented a range of technologies and innovations developed by its research groups and startup ecosystem at Bharat Innovates. These included advancements in Hyperloop transportation, 5G and 6G communications, port automation, lab-grown diamond technologies, and indigenous AI systems designed for efficient computing.

Mr. Thirumalai Madhavnarayan, CEO and Director of IITM Global, said,

 “The overwhelming response from stakeholders across Europe reaffirmed the growing global recognition of the IIT Madras innovation ecosystem as a trusted partner for building the next generation of globally scalable deep-tech enterprises.”

Beyond the formal agreements, the event generated interest from industry leaders, academic institutions, investors, and government representatives across the European Union, signalling significant opportunities for future collaborations with IIT Madras and IITM Global in research, innovation, entrepreneurship, talent development, and market expansion.

Government Temporarily Restricts Telegram Access in Select Context Ahead of NEET (UG) 2026 Re-Exam

New Delhi, June 16: In view of concerns related to exam integrity and the upcoming NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination, authorities have implemented a temporary restriction on certain online communication platforms, including Telegram, as a precautionary measure. The restriction will remain in place until June 22, 2026.

Officials stated that the decision has been taken to prevent the potential misuse of digital platforms for the circulation of sensitive examination-related content, including unauthorized sharing of question papers, answer keys, or related materials. The move is part of a broader effort to ensure transparency, fairness, and credibility in high-stakes national examinations.

Authorities emphasized that safeguarding the examination process is a priority, and necessary steps are being taken to maintain a secure and unbiased environment for candidates. Monitoring mechanisms have been strengthened to prevent any form of malpractice or information leakage during the examination period.

The temporary measure is expected to be lifted after the completion of the re-examination cycle, subject to review. Officials have also urged students and stakeholders to rely only on official communication channels for updates related to NEET (UG) 2026.

The government reiterated its commitment to conducting examinations in a fair and secure manner, ensuring equal opportunity for all candidates.

Global EDVentures 2026 Awards Celebrated at Galgotias University; INR 10 Crore Support for Three Student Startups

Greater Noida, June 12 : Galgotias University felicitated student innovators who represented India at EDVentures 2026 in Hong Kong, where Project TACTO emerged as the winning project among teams from 10 countries.

During the felicitation ceremony, the University announced funding support under its INR 10 crore Galgotias Innovation Fund for three student-led startups working across sustainability, agritech, robotics, and inclusive learning technologies. The selected ventures include CarbonSync, founded by Pushkar Singh; Agri Rover, founded by Satyam Kumar; and Project TACTO, founded by Gaurang Pant.

Project TACTO received the AWS Championship Prize at EDVentures 2026 for developing tactile learning systems that improve accessibility and coding education for visually impaired learners. The project emerged as the overall winner of the international competition.

Dr Dhruv Galgotia, CEO, Galgotias University, said,

 “Our students have made India proud at EDVentures 2026 by demonstrating that young innovators from Indian campuses can compete and succeed on global platforms. Competing against teams from across the world and earning international recognition is a significant accomplishment.

Today’s funding announcement ensures that promising ideas do not stop at recognition. The Galgotias Innovation Fund provides student founders with the support needed to test, refine, and build ventures around solutions that address real-world challenges.”

Hosted by The Education University of Hong Kong, EDVentures 2026 brought together 19 student teams from 10 countries to develop solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Project TACTO emerged as the winning project, while Tekurious Pvt. Ltd. was recognised among the finalists.

Rachit Mathur, Advisor to Galgotias Incubation Centre, said,

“What makes the Galgotias University innovation ecosystem unique is the availability of end-to-end support for student founders within a single institution. Students can access world-class infrastructure, industry-linked laboratories, maker spaces, Centres of Excellence, advanced computing capabilities, incubation support, mentorship, international exposure, institutional funding, and increasingly, direct access to investor networks through initiatives such as the University’s partnership with 247VC.

The funding announced for CarbonSync, Agri Rover, and Project TACTO demonstrates how this ecosystem is helping students move from ideas and prototypes to ventures with the potential for real-world impact.”

The University’s innovation ecosystem includes Centres of Excellence and collaborations with Cisco, Salesforce, Tata Technologies, Capgemini, IBM, and L&T EduTech, alongside an iOS Developer Center powered by Apple and Infosys and a High Performance Computing infrastructure anchored by the NVIDIA DGX H200. Students have access to specialised facilities focused on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, robotics, immersive technologies, electric mobility, advanced manufacturing, 3D printing, and applied innovation.

Through the Galgotias Incubation Centre for Research Innovation Startup & Entrepreneurs , the University has supported more than 135 startups across sectors. Earlier this year, CyberGenix Security Pvt. Ltd., founded by student entrepreneurs from the University, attracted INR 3 crore in funding, highlighting the growing strength of startup-led innovation emerging from the campus ecosystem.

The funding support announced for CarbonSync, Agri Rover, and Project TACTO marks the next step in helping student innovators transform promising ideas into scalable ventures.

Disha Publication Launches Errorless 202 PYQ Series With Self-Grading Revision System for JEE 2027

New Delhi, June 12:Disha Publication , a leading name in India’s educational publishing space, has launched the Errorless 202 New Syllabus Chapter-wise & Topic-wise 25 Years JEE Main PYQ Series (2026–2002) for JEE 2027 aspirants to help students move beyond conventional question-solving and adopt a more structured preparation approach.

As competition intensifies and preparation strategies become increasingly data-driven, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) continue to play a central role in helping students understand exam patterns and question trends. However, most PYQ resources stop at practice. The Errorless 202 Series seeks to go a step further by integrating practice, revision, and testing within a single framework, enabling students to use PYQs as a more structured preparation tool.

Commenting on the launch, Avinash Agarwal, Director, Disha Publication, said, “For more than two decades, we have observed how students prepare for competitive examinations and how their preparation evolves as the exam approaches. While PYQs remain one of the most effective preparation resources, many students use them only for practice. They often lack a structured way to revisit mistakes, identify weak areas, and measure progress over time. The Errorless 202 Series was created to address this gap by bringing together practice, revision, and testing within a single framework, helping students prepare in a more organised and purposeful manner.“

The series follows a three-step Practice-Revision-Testing (PRT) framework. Students can work through 25 years of JEE Main questions arranged chapter-wise and topic-wise, supported by detailed solutions and separate sections for MCQs and Numerical Value Questions. A key differentiator is the Self-Grading Sticker System, which allows students to mark questions that require revision or those they find particularly challenging, creating a personalised revision repository as preparation progresses.

The series also includes three-level mini quizzes for self-assessment, NCERT Page Locators for quick concept revision, and last five years’ trend analysis to help students identify important topics. Aligned with the latest JEE syllabus, the series is designed to support students throughout their preparation journey rather than only during the practice phase.

The Errorless 202 New Syllabus Chapter-wise & Topic-wise 25 Years JEE Main PYQ Series is available on Amazon and Flipkart. Students can also purchase the series through the official Disha Publications website, where launch offers are available, including complimentary Physics Flashcards featuring 55 high-impact revision cards for Classes 11 and 12, designed around active recall techniques.

Odisha Govt Pulls Up Colleges Over Low Usage of Free Wi-Fi, Orders Immediate Corrective Measures

Bhubaneswar, June 11 (UDN): Concerned over the underutilisation of free Wi-Fi services in higher educational institutions, the Odisha Government has directed colleges and universities across the state to take immediate measures to increase student engagement with the facility.

The Higher Education Department observed that despite the availability of free internet access in campuses, daily data consumption by students remains significantly below expectations in several institutions. The government has expressed concern that the low usage is preventing students from fully benefiting from digital learning resources and online academic opportunities.

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As part of its digital education initiative, the state government had established free Wi-Fi infrastructure in 130 higher educational institutions to bridge the digital divide and provide students with seamless access to e-learning platforms, research materials, online journals and educational content.

In a recent communication, the department instructed college authorities to identify the factors responsible for the poor utilisation of the service and implement corrective measures without delay. Institutions have been asked to create greater awareness among students regarding the availability and benefits of the facility.

The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) has recommended organising orientation programmes for both new and existing students, along with campus-wide awareness campaigns. Colleges have also been directed to prominently display Wi-Fi login details, registration procedures and usage guidelines at strategic locations such as libraries, laboratories, classrooms and student common areas.

To encourage meaningful use of the internet facility, faculty members have been advised to integrate digital learning tools into classroom teaching. Students should be encouraged to access online journals, e-books, open educational resources and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to enhance their academic learning and research capabilities.

Officials said improving the utilisation of free Wi-Fi services is crucial to achieving the government’s vision of creating digitally empowered campuses and ensuring that public investments in educational technology deliver maximum benefits to students.

AI-Powered Railway Control System for Efficient Urban Train Operation

Researchers develop a new reinforcement learning framework for precise, real-time, and sustainable automatic railway control

Urban railways play a key role in sustainable transportation systems. However, achieving precise and energy-efficient train control under diverse operating conditions of urban railways remains a challenge. Researchers from Japan have now developed a recurrent reinforcement learning framework for urban railway speed control that combines expert-guided learning and safety filtering. The proposed method demonstrated stable, real-time operation and energy-saving performance, highlighting its potential for next-generation automatic train operation systems.

As cities continue to expand,railways are expected to become an important component of urban mobility systems. Compared to automobiles and air transport, railways are highly energy efficient and produce relatively low environmental impacts and therefore form an important component of sustainable transportation systems. Thus, researchers have been exploring advanced train control technologies for further improvement of operational efficiency, passenger comfort, and punctuality while reducing energy consumption.

In this context, Professor Masafumi Miyatake from the Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences in collaboration with doctoral studentMingyu Lyu from Graduate School of Science and Technology, Sophia University,investigated a new AI-based framework for urban railway speed control. The findings were published in Volume 14 of IEEE Access on March 25, 2026.

Reinforcement learning is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) which has attracted attention as a promising approach for automatic train operations as it enables an AI agent to learn optimal control strategies by interacting repeatedly with an environment and improving its behavior through trial and error. However, implementing this in railway operation presents several practical challenges including incomplete information about operating conditions, train inertia, braking delays, and strict safety requirements.

To overcome this, researchers developed a recurrent reinforcement learning framework based on Recurrent Soft Actor–Critic (RSAC) algorithm. RSAC is an AI method that enables train control systems to learn from past driving patterns and adapt to changing railway conditions over time.

“Our reinforcement learning-based algorithm was capable of adapting train driving control to a wide range of track and rolling stock conditions,” explains Prof. Miyatake.

Unlike conventional reinforcement learning methods,the proposed approach used arecurrent neural network that can retain information from previous train states. This allowed the system to capture time-based relationships associated with train operation, such as traction response delays, braking history, and inertial effects, thereby improving decision-making under partially observable conditions.The team also used a training approach that allowed the AI system to first learn from examples of expert driving behavior before learning on its own. By studying these optimized driving patterns early in training, the AI was able to learn faster, make better decisions, and develop more stable and efficient train control behavior.

Apart from this, the team also integrated a safety filter into the framework. The safety filter would override potentially unsafe control commands generated by the AI policy and ensure compliance with the operational constraints such as speed limits and braking feasibility. This mechanism also helped ensure safe operation when the learned policy encountered unfamiliar situations.

The proposed framework was evaluated through various simulations of urban railway operations over approximately two-kilometer sections between stations. The simulation environment was designed to closely resemble real-world railway conditions, including uphill and downhill tracks, changing speed limits, and required train arrival times.

Additionally, the proposed AI framework was also compared with several other widely used reinforcement learning algorithms. These included Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG), Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO), Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TD3), and Soft Actor–Critic (SAC), which are commonly used to train autonomous decision-making systems.

“Among all the methods tested, our developed frameworklearned faster and performed better than all tested methods,” explains Prof. Miyatake.

The research also demonstrated strong energy efficiency. While dynamic programming achieved the theoretical minimum energy consumption under ideal conditions, the developed system attained comparable performance while remaining suitable for real-time operation. Meanwhile, conventional reinforcement learning approaches exhibited less stable behavior and higher energy consumption.

The findings suggest that this framework could help introduce a cleaner and more convenient public transportation by facilitating accurate and energy-efficient train operation at relatively low cost. The study refines the advantages of railways as an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly transportation system contributing towards a sustainable future. Looking ahead, the study may contribute to enhancing the role of railways as a sustainable transportation system—supporting climate change mitigation and sustainable urban development.

The findings also highlight the potential of AI-driven railway systems to support safer, greener, and more reliable urban transportation in future smart cities.