September 2012

National Education Funding Spikes

Education sector outlays for the 12^th Plan Period have increased by an approximate 155 percent, reaching Rs 1,10,700 crore for the higher education sector and Rs 3,43,208 crore for school education and literacy. The outlay for the higher education sector and school education in the 11^th Plan Period was Rs 39,804 crore and Rs 1,37,734 crore, respectively. The boost in funding will facilitate the establishment of new colleges and universities, as well as build capacity in existing institutions.

Click here to read more

Bangalore-Cambridge Innovation Network Established

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore and Cambridge University announced on September 13 the launch of the Bangalore-Cambridge Innovation Network, an initiative intended to build relationships between academics, businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs in both cities. Other institutes that will be involved in the partnership include the Indian Institute of Management, the National Centre for Biological Sciences, and the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT). Officials from both IISc and Cambridge University expressed the hope that the network will facilitate research collaborations that will foster innovation and entrepreneurship.

Click here to read more

Indian institutions rank low among world universities

Indian higher educational institutions have continued to perform poorly in international rankings this year. The recently released 2012-2013 QS World University Rankings, like the previously released 2011-2012 Times Higher Education Rankings, includes not one Indian institution, not even the IITs or IIMs, in its Top 200 list. Additionally, only five Indian institutes score within the Top 700.  In contrast, each of the other BRIC nations has at least one university in the Top 200, with China securing seven placements. The QS rankings are developed on an analysis of six indicators that value international reputation and international student and faculty exchange.

Click here to read more