Page 3 - University

At least 14 killed, 25 wounded in mass shooting at Prague university

A student opened fire Thursday at a university in Prague, killing at least 14 people, officials said, and injuring more than 20 in the Czech Republic's worst mass shooting. The bloodshed took place in the philosophy department building of Charles University, where the shooter was a student, Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek said. The gunman also died, authorities said. His name has not been released. Vondrasek said in the evening that 14 people had died and 25 were injured, after earlier reporting that 15 had died and 24 were hurt. He didn't explain the change. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise. Police gave no details about the victims or a possible motive for the shooting at the building located near the Vltava River in Jan Palach Square. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said investigators do not suspect a link to any extremist ideology or groups. Vondrasek said police believe the gunman killed his father earlier Thursday in his hometown of Hostoun, just west

UGC notifies regulations for foreign higher education institutions in India

The regulations mandate that No Foreign Higher Educational Institution shall offer any programme in India without the prior approval of the Commission

JU teachers' body urges state govt to facilitate holding of convocation

The Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) has urged West Bengal Education Minister to take steps to facilitate the holding of the annual convocation of the varsity in time in the interest of students. JUTA general secretary Partha Pratim Roy in a letter to Education Minister Bratya Basu and Governor C V Ananda Bose said that convocation remains an integral part of a long and glorious tradition of JU and one of the "most cherished" events of students. "Considering the future and emotion of our students, we, on behalf of all the teachers of Jadavpur university fervently request you to ensure that our students get their valid degrees and certificates in due time," the letter, also signed by another senior faculty member Partha Pratim Biswas as JUTA President, urged. Contacted officiating Vice Chancellor Buddhadeb Sau told PTI, "I cannot tell you anything about the convocation till there is an official statement." Asked specifically, if the convocation will be held on time,

CM rejects allegations of interference in Kannur Univ VC reappointment

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday rejected Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's claims that the government interfered with the re-appointment of Kannur University's Vice Chancellor. On Thursday, the Supreme Court criticised Khan's order reappointing Gopinath Ravindran, stating that the Governor had previously "abdicated or surrendered" his statutory powers for reappointing the VC. The court, while quashing the reappointment, also criticised the Left government for its "unwarranted intervention" in the matter. Talking to media in Shoranur in this north Kerala district, Vijayan dismissed news reports suggesting that the Supreme Court's verdict was a setback for the Kerala government, and termed them baseless. He clarified that the apex court had affirmed that due process was followed in the reappointment. Despite this, the governor continued to claim in the media that there was external pressure, Vijayan added. "The letter written by the ex-officio pro-chancellor -- the high

Expert panel to look into Cochin stampede that claimed 4 lives: Kerala govt

The Kerala government on Saturday ordered an investigation into the stampede during the Cochin University's annual festival in which four students were killed and over 60 others were injured. State Higher Education Minister R Bindhu has directed a three-member team, comprising the principal secretary of higher education, and Cochin University's vice-chancellor and registrar, to inquire into the stampede incident, an official release said. The minister has instructed the officials to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report, the release added. Officials said the stampede occurred before renowned singer Nikita Gandhi was to perform at a musical festival in the open-air auditorium of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) near Kochi. Four students, including two boys and two girls, lost their lives, while over 60 others are undergoing treatment at Kalamassery Medical College Hospital and some other hospitals nearby, according to State Health Minister Veena

UGC announces regulations for operation of foreign universities in India

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday notified the regulations for foreign universities to set up and operate their campuses in India. "The regulations aim to facilitate the entry of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) into India, in line with the NEP recommendations and to provide an international dimension to higher education in India. "These regulations aim to ensure that the education imparted in the (India) campus is at par with that of the main campus in the country of origin and that its operations comply with the applicable laws and regulations," UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said. According to the regulations, "Foreign institutions intending to establish campuses in India should have secured a position within the top 500 in the overall category of global rankings, as decided by the commission from time to time, or should have secured a position within the top 500 in the subject-wise category of global rankings and should possess outstanding ...

Low-cost higher education

A paradigm shift in mindset is necessary to ensure more options for those who face a choice between low-cost college education and none at all

IIT Madras, Tel Aviv University develop effective aerogel-adsorbents

India, facing the challenge of supporting 18% of the world's population with just 4% of global water resources, has intensified efforts to address water pollution

IT firms give campus hiring a miss for FY25 amid macro uncertainties

They may consider visiting campuses only after March qtr

Visva Bharati sends fresh letter to Bengal CM demanding return of road

Visva Bharati Vice Chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty has sent another letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, urging her to consider the central university's request for the return of a road lined by heritage buildings on the campus to the institution. The three-km road, connecting Post Office More with Sriniketan, was taken over by the Public Works Department of the state government from the university in 2020 "to facilitate better connectivity". The varsity has been demanding the return of the road to protect the heritage structures lined along it. This was the VC's second letter to the CM, after one on September 25, since Santiniketan was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on September 17. The fresh letter sent to the CM on Saturday, a copy of which is available with PTI, read: "The UNESCO tag given to Santiniketan by the International Committee for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is likely to be withdrawn... if steps are not taken to protect the heritage properti

RSS-backed National Democratic Teachers Front retains DUTA president post

The RSS-backed National Democratic Teachers Front candidate AK Bhagi on Thursday retained the post of Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) president, defeating Democratic United Teachers' Alliance candidate Aditya Narayan Mishra. While Bhagi polled 4,182 votes, Mishra got 3,787 votes. A total of 8,187 out of 9,500 eligible voters exercised their franchise in the polling held on Wednesday. This time, around nine teachers' organisations of different ideologies came together to form the 'Democratic United Teachers' Alliance'. It includes the Democratic Teachers' Front, AAP-backed Academic for Action and Development Delhi Teachers' Association, Indian National Teachers Congress, Delhi Teachers' Initiative, Samajwadi Shikshak Manch, Common Teachers' Front, Independent Teachers' Front for Social Justice and 'Voice of DU Ad Hocs'. While the National Democratic Teachers Front had won the DUTA elections in 2021, the Democratic Teachers' Front had won the polls five times in a row ..

PM Modi to engage with academic leaders at 'G20 University Connect'

PM Modi will engage in discussions and dialogues with these academic leaders, underlining the importance of higher education in India's growth and development

PM invites students, young professionals to G-20 University Connect Finale

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invited people, especially university students and young professionals keen to pursue further education, to the G-20 University Connect Finale to take place at Bharat Mandapam on September 26. Bharat Mandapam had recently hosted the G20 Summit. Writing on LinkedIn, he said over the last one year, the G-20 University Connect programme brought together India's youth as the initiative, spanning the entire year, proved to be incredibly fulfilling, yielding highly satisfying outcomes. It showcased to the world how our youth have emerged as vibrant cultural envoys, who have cemented enduring connections with the G20 fraternity, he said. "It has also enabled the youth to know more about India's G20 Presidency, the themes we have worked on during our Presidency, igniting a spirit of collectiveness towards our planet and to prepare our youth to be active makers of a Viksit Bharat by 2047," the prime minister said. The G-20 University Connect initiative

Economist Shankar Acharya appointed chancellor of AP Central University

Acharya has been India's longest-serving chief economic advisor, advising three finance ministers over eight years. He has been a columnist for Business Standard for over twenty years

Drug delivery by drones? Informal economy of substance abuse on campuses

Students across campuses in and around Delhi speak of fellow students who consume substances such as marijuana; the more forthright ones admit to doing it themselves

Australian University of Wollongong to start GIFT City campus by July 2024

Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) provides a unique opportunity to develop an ecosystem for finance and business school, University of Wollongong (UOW) Australia Vice Chancellor and President Patricia Davidson said here on Monday. The university, which plans to start its campus at the GIFT City by July next year, unveiled its UOW India identity. "I think GIFT City really provides a unique opportunity. Probably, you know, if you are trying to develop an environment or an ecosystem for finance and business school, you could not think of a more supportive and enabling environment than GIFT City," Davidson told reporters. "I think this would be a big differentiator, and we are really hoping that we can get many students from Australia and other campuses to come here and study at GIFT City," she added. The university's global brand ambassador and cricketer Adam Gilchrist was also present on the occasion. UOW and Deakin University are the two Australian universities to g

75% attendance must to appear for university exams: Bihar governor

State universities across Bihar have been directed to forbid students from sitting in examinations if they have less than 75 per cent attendance. A communication to this effect has been issued to all vice-chancellors (VCs) by the office of Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who happens to be the chancellor of the state universities. In a letter (dated August 23) to all VCs, Robert L Chongthu, principal secretary to the governor, said, "Students having less than 75 per cent attendance shall not be allowed to appear in university examinations. It is directed that the examination forms of those students whose attendance is less than 75 per cent should not be accepted. In special cases only (those having valid reasons), students having less than 75 per cent attendance will be allowed to appear in university examinations after proper scrutiny." "It has come to the notice that colleges are allowing students having less than 75 per cent attendance to appear in university exams. The ...

Centre asks univs to organise assemblies to watch Chandrayaan-3 landing

The Centre has asked all universities and higher education institutions, including IITs and IIMs, to organise special assemblies to watch the live-streaming of Chandrayaan-3's landing on moon. The landing of India's Chandrayaan-3 is a monumental occasion that will not only fuel curiosity but also spark a passion for exploration within the minds of our youth. It will generate a profound sense of pride and unity as we collectively celebrate the prowess of Indian science and technology. It will contribute to fostering an environment of scientific inquiry and innovation, Higher Education secretary K Sanjay Murthy said in a letter to all heads of all education institutions. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has also issued a similar directive asking the institutions to hold special assemblies and live stream moments of Chandrayaan-3, India's third lunar mission landing, on Wednesday. According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled to land on t

Varsities should develop rational thinking, not religious ideas: K'taka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday emphasised that universities should develop scientific and rational thinking among the graduates, who should not be influenced by any caste, religion or language. Addressing vice-chancellors and officials of the Higher Education department at Vidhana Soudha on Monday, Siddaramaiah said it ws not possible to bring a uniform education system in our country with diverse language and culture, a statement issued by the CM office said. "Any activities and actions, which are against the Indian Constitution, should not take place in the universities. If the students coming out from universities are still ignorant and clung to the castes, then what they have got cannot be called education," Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying. The Chief Minister said education given in universities should not be religious and conservative but scientific and rational. Noting that he has come across some meetings and ceremonies held in some universities, which ...

JU student death: 13 held so far, Union minister says Centre concerned

Thirteen people have so far been arrested in connection with the death of a first-year undergraduate student of Jadavpur University. On Sunday, a city court remanded a former student of varsity, the 13th arrest in the case, to police custody till August 24. Police have slapped a case under Section 353 (use of criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the IPC against the accused, the state prosecutor told reporters. The judge at the Alipore Court granted police custody of the accused till August 24 on a prayer by the prosecution for interrogating him. The prosecution lawyer said the accused, along with others, had allegedly prevented police personnel from speaking to the victim when he was being taken to hospital, and that the gates of the hostel had been forcefully closed to prevent them from entering. Police had on Friday arrested three current students of the varsity in connection with its probe into the death of the undergraduate student, who was ...