Programme on risk mgmt by ICICI Pru

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ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company has signed an MoU with the Hyderabad-based Institute of Insurance and Risk Management (IIRM) for a one-year executive programme in insurance and risk management (EPIRM).

Targeted at graduates with less than 18 months work experience, the industry-academia partnership programme would offer professional training in specialised subjects such as underwriting, claims and risk management.

The Indian insurance industry garnered new business premium of Rs 75,400 crore in FY07, against Rs 35,900 crore in FY06, while its total premium stood at Rs 1,69,600 crore in FY07, compared with Rs 1,05,900 crore in FY06.

The penetration, as a percentage of GDP, too has increased to 4 per cent. On successful completion, students will be absorbed by ICICI Prudential Life.

Interested candidates have to undergo a selection process comprising an aptitude test, a group discussion and a personal interview. The first batch, comprising 20 students, will commence from November 2007. The course fee is Rs 1,35,000.

UoH in MoU with Singapore varsity

The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has entered into a collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS) for joint academic activities including research and teaching programmes.

An MoU to this effect was signed between UoH Vice-Chancellor Seyed E Hasnain and NUS President Shih Choon Fong in Singapore. The agreement will be valid for a period of 5 years, initially.

The areas of collaboration include student and faculty exchanges, joint research programmes, seminars, and mutual assistance in recruitment of students.

The NUS, one of the 20 leading varsities in the world, offers courses in life sciences, physics, computer sciences, mathematics, engineering and social sciences, languages, communication and performing arts.

Study: Biotech lures science graduates

Over 82 per cent of science graduates do not aspire to pursue specialised post-graduate courses in agriculture due to lack of technological developments in the field, according to a survey by Assocham on "Prospects in Agriculture versus Biotechnology".

They are, instead, more keen to make a career in the field of biotechnology, which according to them has emerged as lucrative field, says the study.

Microsoft to train Karnataka IT pros

Microsoft India and Karnataka's Board for Information Technology Education Standards (BITES) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to impart higher technical education to engineering students in the state.

According to the MoU, the 7-month training programme will be open to all final-year engineering graduates of computer science and information science as well as final-year students of the Masters Program in Computer Applications (MCA). Starting October 2007, the training programme will be open to all the students in BITES' member institutes.

Aussie varsity woos Indian students

Australia-based Murdoch University is joining hands with three Indian universities to attract Indian students to Australia for education and research in bio-technology.

Murdoch University recently signed the first memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard with Bharati Vidyapeeth's College of Biotechnology, Pune.

According to the agreement, Murdoch University will provide expertise in academics to the pupils of Bharati Vidyapeeth and enroll students for a four-year long Bachelor of Science course.

Yianni Attikiouzel, executive dean, Murdoch University, and Shivaji Kadam, vice-chancellor, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, signed the MoU. "MoUs with another two Indian universities are on cards," Attikiouzel said.

Pritam Singh, co-ordinator, international students, Murdoch University, said the MoU would help Indian students to complete the first two years of the course in Pune and later join Murdoch University for specialisation.

On Murdoch University's future plans, Singh said, "We want to have similar tie-ups with a number of Indian universities. Australian education is internationally recognised and we want to make it more accessible for Indian students."