Education
UK's University of Southampton becomes first foreign university to set up India campus under NEP
The University of Southampton is set to establish the first offshore campus of a foreign university in India under the new National Education Policy. The campus will be in Gurugram and is expected to start academic programmes by July 2025. The degrees awarded will be equivalent to those from the host university in the UK.
SP Jain Group acquires California Miramar University
The SP Jain Group has acquired California Miramar University, enabling it to offer AI-related master’s and bachelor’s programs to global students. The acquisition gives the group access to AI courses and the US market. SP Jain now has six campuses, with plans to increase international student ratios and introduce programs like an MBA in AI and MS in AI.
Zaggle's Raj P Narayanam receives Honorary Doctorate from Chitkara University for contributions to fintech and entrepreneurship
Chitkara University has awarded an Honorary Doctor of Literature degree to Raj P Narayanam, Founder and Executive Chairman of Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services. The honor recognizes his contributions to entrepreneurship, fintech, and startup mentorship. Under his leadership, Zaggle has achieved significant growth, and his publications have celebrated entrepreneurial achievements.
Delhi University admissions: Only 6,100 undergraduate seats up for grabs in Round 2
The University of Delhi has announced a list of 6,100 vacant seats available for the second round of undergraduate admissions. This follows the conclusion of the first round, where 91.98 percent of seats, equating to 65,843 seats, have already been filled. Candidates can view the vacant seats on their dashboards and have the opportunity to reorder their college and course preferences from August 22 to 23.
Nearly 92 per cent of UG seats at Delhi University filled in first admission round; 65,800 students admitted
Delhi University received confirmation from over 65,800 candidates for undergraduate courses, filling nearly 92% of seats in the first round. With 83,678 candidates accepting their allotted seats, 65,483 secured their admission by paying fees. The university has 71,600 seats across 69 colleges for the upcoming academic session starting on August 29.
Worklife
Learn at Coursera
BITS Pilani alumni pledge $15 million towards the institute’s goal of raising $100 million endowment
BITS Pilani has secured $2.5 million in pledges from alumni Prem Jain, M Sreenivasa Reddy, and Preetish Nijhawan, bringing their endowment fund commitments to $15 million. This funding aims to support the institute's mission of fostering innovation, academic excellence, and enabling access for deserving students, as highlighted by Vice-Chancellor Prof. V Ramgopal Rao.
IIMs shifting their focus from placements to enhancing students’ employability
The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have shifted their focus from placements to enhancing students’ long-term employability. IIM Kozhikode introduced the CARE office to assist students through workshops, mentoring, and recruiter engagement. Similarly, IIM Indore and IIM Calcutta updated their programs with industry expert sessions and soft skill courses. These efforts aim to better prepare students for a dynamic job market by closely aligning their education with industry demands and providing ongoing support for career development.
DU admission: Over 72,200 candidates accept allocated seats in 24 hours
As Delhi University prepares for the upcoming academic session, a total of 72,277 candidates have accepted their allotted programs and colleges, exceeding the available undergraduate seats of 71,600. With 97,387 candidates allocated seats in the first round, the university is making extra allocations for optimal seat filling. Candidates have until August 21 to submit their fees, and admissions are based on a unique Common Rank system.
CBSE mandates NCERT textbooks for Classes 9-12, encourages use for lower grades
CBSE required the use of NCERT textbooks for classes 9 to 12, encouraging their use for younger grades. Prior to this, schools could choose between NCERT and private publishers. In the absence of NCERT books, schools should use resources from the CBSE website. Some parents believe private publishers offer better preparation for competitive exams.
Veranda Learning Solutions achieves stellar Q1FY25 growth, revenue surges 70%, EBITDA jumps fivefold
Veranda Learning Solutions reported strong Q1FY25 financial results, with operating revenue up 72.69% to Rs 118.99 crores and EBITDA increasing by 400% to Rs 27.61 crores. The company trained 113,262 students and attributed its success to strategic partnerships with Cambridge, Pearson, and KSDC. The company aims for Rs 600 crores in revenue for FY25.
Must Watch
Kerala government implements 'Fake News detection' in school textbooks
The Kerala General Education Department introduces 'Fact-Checking' modules in ICT textbooks for Classes 5 and 7, aiming to empower students to identify fake news and conduct fact-checking online. This move precedes the UK's plans to incorporate a similar curriculum change. Earlier, Kerala implemented a Fake News prevention training for 19.72 lakh students, focusing on digital media literacy and raising awareness about the impact of misinformation.
NIRF rankings: Six Delhi University colleges among India's top 10; Hindu College breaks Miranda House's 7-yr run of securing top spot
Delhi University performed well in the NIRF 2024 rankings, placing six colleges in the top 10, with Hindu College taking first place, ending Miranda House's seven-year dominance. DU also improved in the university category, achieving the sixth position. The accomplishment was acknowledged as a result of teamwork and hard work.
NIRF 2024: IITs lead the pack again; R&D concentrated among Top 100 institutes
IIM A again leads management rankings, while Hindu college leads college rankings, followed by Miranda House and St Stephens college. 10,885 higher education institutions participated in the NIRF 2024, and the research showed that the top 100 institutes conduct most Indian R&D.
KKR drops plans to sell school chain Lighthouse Learning
KKR had just sent preliminary feelers to buyout funds and educational groups based out of West Asia and Europe to sell its five-year-old portfolio company, having hired JP Morgan and Avendus to run the sale process earlier this year. However, no financial details and other operational details were shared as the fund decided on the U-turn. KKR was expecting a a valuation of $1-1.2 billion (Rs 8,300-10,000 crore), ET reported in May.
IIT Madras secures top spot in NIRF ranking 2024
The Ministry of Education released the NIRF 2024 rankings, with IIT Madras topping the list for the sixth year in a row and IISc Bengaluru as the best university. IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta lead in the management category. The framework assesses institutions based on teaching, research, outcomes, inclusivity, and perception. This year, three new categories were added, totaling 16, with over 10,000 institutions participating.
IIM Calcutta sets up the ‘Lalit Mohanka & Madan Mohanka Centre for Excellence in Entrepreneurship & Innovation’
IIM Calcutta has established the Lalit Mohanka & Madan Mohanka Centre of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, funded by Madan Mohanka of Tega Industries. The Centre aims to position India as a global leader in entrepreneurship and innovation through education, research, and technology.
