Panel constituted to investigate fake PhD registrations

Aurangabad: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (Bamu) has formed a six-member panel to inquire into Ph.D registrations allegedly carried out without following the norms laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The committee is led by pro-vice-chancellor Pravin Wakte and also includes deans from four different faculties to probe the registrations of “hand-picked” candidates by circumventing the rules.

The beneficiaries of flawed registration process include certain political elements. The committee has also been mandated to look into accusations of violation of rules while allotting guides for Ph.D scholars.

As per rules, a candidate needs to clear Ph.D Entrance Test (PET) of the respective university or State Eligibility Test (SET) or National Eligibility Test (NET) or have an M Phil or should have minimum five-year experience as full-time approved teacher to register for Ph.D.

All these rules, framed by the apex regulatory body in the form of UGC, have allegedly been sidelined for accommodating candidates.

Bamu public relations officer Sanjay Shinde on Tuesday said the inquiry committee has been formed to probe flawed Ph.D registration process as per the order of vice-chancellor Pramod Yeole.

“The committee has been asked to carry out scrutiny of all Ph.D registrations that have taken place following the last PET held in 2017. The panel will also look into allotment of guides,” he said.

As per the laid down procedure, a research aspirant has to submit his/her research proposal in a stipulated format and justify the same before the Research Recommendation Committee (RRC) for final approval. These stringent checks were also allegedly compromised while admitting some candidates.

Student activist Tukaram Saraf said the inquiry must be carried out in least possible time to expose all the elements involved.

“It is alleged that over 150 bogus Ph.D registrations have taken place in BAMU by violating the rules. The matter demands serious attention from top authorities as the irregularity concerned is the major scam. Those guilty must be punished,” he said.

Notably, the last PET examination had recorded around 3% result and not a single candidate from some faculty could clear the test. Over 14,000 candidates had appeared for the PET.

A Bamu official said the inquiry committee is expected to submit its report by end of September.

“Having a Ph.D not only makes one’s CV stronger, but also helps in climbing up the career ladder quickly. For some individuals, using the prefix ‘Dr’ gives a special high. These could be the reason behind certain elements eying Ph.D by any means,” he said.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/panel-constituted-to-investigate-fake-phd-registrations/articleshow/71173796.cms (Accessed on September 18, 2019)

One ‘Swayam’ course must for teachers & scholars: PU

Patna University (PU) on Monday decided to make at least one course from ‘Swayam’ (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) mandatory for all teachers and research scholars. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of PU held under the chairmanship of vicechancellor (VC) Rash Bihari Prasad Singh.

‘Swayam’, an IT platform launched by the University Grants Commission (UGC), offers various courses for students of all categories. It has already been installed in most departments of PU and several students have got themselves enrolled for some courses of their choice. An online examination will be conducted by the UGC on completion of the courses and certificates given to the successful students.

Now, PU will ensure that all the faculty members, especially the young ones, and the research scholars also join ‘Swayam’ courses for honing their competence and skill development. 

It was also decided in the meeting that PU would adopt ‘Arpit’ (Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching) on ‘Swayam’ platform for university teachers as an alternative to the refresher courses organized by the UGC-Human Resource Development Centre of PU.

Teachers’ participation in refresher courses at regular intervals is mandatory for their promotion under the Career Advancement Scheme.

“The UGC has already declared ‘Arpit’ certificate as an alternative to refresher courses. This provision is likely to be incorporated in the new promotion statutes being formulated at the Raj Bhavan,” the VC said. 

The IQAC also discussed the NAAC score awarded to PU after its recent assessment and ways for improving the performance in the next re-accreditation exercise. The cell observed that PU had scored very high (A+) score in at least three of the seven parameters — curricular aspects, institutional values and best practices and teaching-learning and evaluation. It performed poorly in research innovation and extension services.

Ways to create a research climate in PU were discussed in detail. Teachers, particularly, the young ones, were asked to submit major and minor research proposals to the UGC and other funding agencies for grants. Teachers were also asked to write research papers and submit them to national and international journals for publication.

Earlier, speaking as the chief guest of a workshop organized by Patna College on Monday, the VC announced that services of those teachers, who had completed two years, would be confirmed by the university in November, provided that each of them submitted at least one research proposal for financial assistance.

More than 80 newly-recruited teachers attended the workshop, which was also addressed by PU pro-VC Dolly Sinha, former VC L N Ram, Patna College principal L N Ram and B N College principal Raj Kishore Prasad.


Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/71155703.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

AI Boom In India: AICTE Will Launch B.Tech In AI; IBM Will Create AI Curriculum For Class 12th

As per the reports coming in, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has approved Bachelors of Technology(B. Tech) course in Artificial Intelligence(AI) and data science to fulfill the requirements coming for AI skills from different sectors,as informed by Anil Dattatraya Sahasrabudhe, AICTE chairman Chennai on Saturday.


Another report is coming from Bengaluru wherein the Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE) has also announced for the addition of AI as an elective subject for students of classes 9 -12.

Why AI And Data Science?


Recently a news came from Public Sector Banks like SBI, IDBI hiring for specialized skills. According to analysts, there is a constant requirement of skilled workforce across all sectors and some of these positions remain vacant because of a lack of skilled manpower to fill these positions.


India stands among the top 5 countries in the world when it comes to AI-driven startups as the future prediction for 2025, most products will use this technology. It is also expected that companies will emerge across sectors with the use of AI in their products.


While companies are doing their part in the digitization of India, the education institutions in the country also has to gear up their game to enhance knowledge and prepare future generations to handle these requirements efficiently.


In IT companies also AI professional’s demand is growing exponentially. In September Infosys was in headlines for hiring resources for AI, UX and Automation technologies.

AICTE B.Tech Course In AI And Data Science

Sahasrabudhe said that a committee is formed to assess the need for offering degree programs in technology has approved AI and Data science courses as part of big transformation, During the session organized by Education Promotion Society for India (EPSI).

While talking about other technologies like the Internet of Things, Blockchain, and Cyber Security, he said that it was decided that they won’t need a full-fledged degree programs in these streams right now, but they can be offered as specialization.

He also informed that they have approved a semester-long training program and also made it compulsory for faculty members to improve the quality of education provided by AICTE.

AICTE constantly working on the quality of education it is providing to society. Some time back they have initiated a program in which the faculty promotions were supposed to be decided by the feedback provided by their students.

AI As Elective For CBSE Students

CBSE has announced to add AI as an elective subject for students in classes 9 – 12 and the curriculum of the subject will be decided by IBM India with the help of other subject experts.

According to reports, IBM will conduct a pilot project in 1,000 schools in various cities in the country. They are considering Bengaluru, Delhi, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad and Chennai cities to start with before finalizing the curriculum and planning to embed it in CBSE curriculum from the next academic year. The pilot will be launched coming Wednesday in Delhi. (reference TOI)

The idea of launching AI in CBSE curriculum was proposed by Niti Ayog, the government’s think-tank.

Source: https://trak.in/tags/business/2019/09/17/ai-boom-in-india-aicte-will-launch-b-tech-in-ai-ibm-will-create-ai-curriculum-for-class-12th/ (Accessed on September 18, 2019)

TCS to onboard 1300 GM employees as part of 5-year engineering services deal

Read the full article at:
https://www.techcircle.in/2019/09/17/general-motors-tcs-sign-5-year-deal-for-engineering-services-1-300-gm-tech-centre-employees-to-shift-to-tcs

Marathi: Vaangmaychouryachya pramananusaar prabandhache darpatrak

Libraries turn over a new leaf

Source: Hindustan Times dated 18 September, 2019

No more black robes, Mumbai University will now graduate to traditional Indian wear

TNN | Sep 17, 2019, 08.25 AM IST

MUMBAI: Indian traditional wear will replace black ceremonial robes and hats at Mumbai University’s convocation this year. A university-appointed committee will also recommend the use of comfortable fibre instead of the synthetic ones used currently.

Aimed at promoting Indian culture, the proposal to do away with black robes, floated by a member, was accepted by the university in its management council meeting last week. The experts’ committee, comprising designers and textile engineers, will be appointed on Wednesday. The university is planning to introduce the new attire at this year’s convocation ceremony, scheduled in October-end or the first week of November.


Apart from the black robes and hats for gold medallists and top rankers, a sash is also currently used for graduating students. The dignitaries, including chief guests, the vice-chancellor and university officials participating in the convocation procession, wear cream-yellow robes. These will also be replaced with the new attire.

Several universities across India are slowly replacing colonial-era ‘western’ robes with traditional Indian clothes for convocation ceremonies following a central directive. In June, the University Grants Commission issued a circular emphasising, not for the first time, “the use of ceremonial robes made of handloom fabric which will not only add to the country’s pride, but also be more comfortable in the hot and humid weather”.

Varsity panel all set to select comfy, desi wear

Closer home, IIT-Bombay switched to Indian wear a few years ago. Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), too, replaced the robes with Indian wear—sarees and salwar-kameez for girls and kurta-pyjama for boys—two years ago. Several state governments have already made Indian wear mandatory for convocation ceremonies.


Vice-chancellor of Mumbai University Suhas Pednekar, who accepted the proposal in the management council meeting, said the experts committee will recommend three to four designs, of which one will be selected. “The idea is to introduce something that will go with our Indian culture and ensure good-quality, comfortable clothes are worn at the convocation. The decision will be entirely based on suggestions made by the experts committee,” he said.


A senior university official said affiliated colleges will have the freedom to choose the attire for their students. “The robes are not comfortable, and the hats fall off most times. There have been complaints about use of poor-quality material in making robes, which adds to the discomfort,” the official said. The committee will be asked to make two suggestions—one for students and one for the dignitaries.


For the past few years, colleges too have been conducting their own degree distribution ceremonies and many of them rent out the black robes and hats for students.


Senate member Pradeep Sawant said the idea had been under consideration from January this year, when the convocation ceremony for the 2018 graduating batch was held. “When a discussion on the schedule for the convocation came up in the management council meeting, a member floated the proposal again. It was unanimously passed and accepted,” Sawant said.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/no-more-black-robes-univ-will-now-graduate-to-traditional-indian-wear/articleshow/71158995.cms (Accessed on September 17, 2019)