Education panel recommends skill training for children from class 3

A Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) sub-committee on skill and technical education has recommended introducing vocational courses from class 3 to ensure that school students undergo skill training from an early age.

The committee also mooted developing laboratories at primary schools to motivate students in this regard. The report was discussed at a meeting of CABE – the highest advisory body on education for the central and state governments – last month.

Besides this, the body recommended collating a list of skills vis-à-vis the regions they are required in, and integrating them with the education system. “During deliberations, the sub-committee made a number of suggestions, including the introduction of vocational education from the third standard. Also, it was suggested that state-of-the-art labs be developed even at the primary school level to motivate them,” said a source.

Many members also highlighted the need to focus on vocational education pertaining to skill sectors relevant to the states.

Other recommendations made by the sub-committee included training teachers, keeping the needs of the industry in mind. It also suggested ways to ensure that training in the agriculture sector reaches the backward sections of society.

Sources further said the National Institute of Open Schooling is planning to introduce vocational education in class 12 with three vocational subjects, besides one language and one foundation subject.

The committee stressed on the importance of infusing the existing skill education and technical education courses in both school and higher-education levels at academic institutes. It also recommended giving parents a say in picking entrepreneurship training courses for students.

“Teachers should play the role of a mentor, and help students pick the learning or entrepreneurship training of their choice in conjunction with their parents at parent-teacher meets,” said a senior official.

Source: Hindustan Times, 15-11-2016

25% rise in Indians seeking US admissions

ANKITA BHATKHANDE





The number of Indian students seeking admissions in US colleges saw a nearly 25 per cent jump while the reverse, that of American students heading to India, has decreased by 3.2 per cent in 2015-16, as per a report released on Monday.According to the Open Doors report ­published annually by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs ­ the total number of Indian students at undergraduate and post-graduate level in the US now stands at over 1.65 lakhs as compared to 1.32 lakhs the previous year. To put it in perspective, one out of six international students studying in US universities are Indians.
“For me, the report just puts into perspective all the small journeys that start at the visa window of our Consulate here in Mumbai,“ said American Consular Chief Michael Evans.
The number was on the decline between 2010 and 2013 following the global economic slowdown which had its epicentre in the US.
“Most universities in our country lack in technology and research facilities. So it is no surprise really if students seek opportunities abroad, particularly the US. While the number had gone down a few years ago, the report clearly shows the change in trend,“ said a senior professor from the University of Mumbai.
While China still remains at the top in terms of absolute number, increasing by 8% to 3,28,000 this year, India's growth outpaced its neighbour for the second year in a row. Together, both the countries account for nearly half of the overseas enrolment in the US.
Meanwhile, the number of US students coming to India, for academic credit at their home university, has gone down in the last one year to 4,438. The report further states that only 11per cent of US students were studying in Asia.

source: Mumbai Mirror, 15-11-2016

The Law of Karma

OSHO





The law of karma is not a law.It is not something scientific, like the law of gravitation. It has been hoped for centuries that if you do good, you will attain good results. If you look at nature, there are laws, but science has not come even close to detecting anything like the law of karma. If you simply say any action is bound to produce some reaction, it is possible to have scientific support for it. But we are hoping for much more. We are asking that a good action inevitably brings a good consequence with it, and the same with a bad action. Now, there are many things implied in this.The law of karma is a hope. A man wandering in darkness, groping his way , clings to anything that gives a little hope, a little light -because what you observe in life itself is something totally different from the law of karma. A man who is a criminal may succeed and become the president, the prime minister -or vice versa.
If you are living a poor, miserable life, the law of karma says it is because in a past life, you committed evil acts. If somebody is enjoying good health, money and power, you need not be jealous of him: he has done good deeds in a past life and now he is reaping the crop. He has indeed sowed the seeds in his past life.
It does not matter whether you call it good or bad, because what you call it -good or bad -will depend upon your conditioning. If you want to know what the act brings, then you have to drop your psychology; then you will know the law of karma -not before that.

The Uncouth & The Civilised -­ The Difference

Shri Shri Anandamurti





In the attraction of the Great lies the secret of greater well-being. You will have to rush towards the fundamental Source of entire creation. You will have to merge your individual stance in the absolute stance of the Supreme Transcendental Entity; advance at a speed greater than that of ordinary microcosms in the cosmic cycle.Having accelerated your speed, if you embrace the force of vidya, rejecting avidya, you will certainly reach the macrocosmic nucleus. If the formless Brahmn is accepted as the goal, one will transcend the cosmic cycle. This transcendence is not affected by the centrifugal force of macrocosmic nucleus, because that force is confined to the periphery of Saguna Brahmn. One will have to transcend the Cosmic Cycle with the help of the Cognitive Force.
To become one with the macrocosm is called liberation, and to transcend the periphery of the cosmic cycle and become one with the Formless is called salvation. The tangential Entity which connects the path of liberation and the path of salvation, who, although infinite, comes within the domain of the finite, is called Taraka Brahmn. Whether you want to become one with Purushottama, or one with the Formless Non-attributional Stance, or one with Taraka Brahmn, continue your spiritual pursuit; surrender to the force of attraction of the Great.
The one performing sadhana must be ever vigilant to ensure that the small “i“ cannot hinder spiritual progress. The ego that can so easily develop on the path of knowledge and action may not develop at all on the path of devotion. A spiritual aspirant must take the help of devotion at the final stage of spiritual attainment. If ego remains, even on the path of devotion, the best way to counteract it is to superimpose cosmic ideation on the small i-feeling through devotion.
The vanity of power of today will disappear tomorrow; the leader of today may be thrown out of office tomorrow; a man swollen with the pride of scholarship today may become abnormal tomorrow. The vanity expressed by so-called civilised human beings of today is extremely dangerous. These people hide the cruder propensities of the mind under the cloak of sweet words and decent behaviour.
They are more harmful to the well-being of the human race than so-called uncivilised humans, because they are hypocrites.
Uncivilised humans of the past may have killed 12 people at most in the battles they fought with bows, arrows, sticks and spears, but the so-called civilised human beings of today kill millions of unarmed, innocent people indiscriminately with their dreadful and lethal weapons. Human society of today is being exploited by the so-called civilised people.
All entities must advance along the path of progress. This evolution will lead to expansion of the psychic arena and, ultimately , liberation. This struggle for liberation is the struggle against those forces which attempt to thwart one's psychic expansion. These are one's enemies. Through meditation and contemplation one must surrender to the Almighty , merging one's finite identity into the Infinite. Only by surrendering one's mind to the vast macrocosm and becoming one with the Supreme Consciousness can one attain final salvation. The struggle for salvation is the struggle against those forces which strive to prevent one's total self-surrender to the Supreme.
Never retreat. Keep advancing, and you will certainly attain the highest fulfilment of your existence.

India moves up 21 places in WEF’s Gender Gap Report

Improving its position by 21 places, India has now been ranked 87th in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2016. The country was ranked 108^th in the 2015 report.

The improvement in ranking is largely driven by major improvements in the education sector that has closed the gender gap entirely in primary and secondary education, according to the report.

This jump has helped India overtake China, which is ranked 99th out of 144 countries. Iceland tops the latest rankings followed by Finland, Norway and Sweden.

The report measures gender gap as progress towards parity between men and women in four areas – educational attainment, health and survival, economic opportunity and political empowerment.

A troubling finding of the report is that the prospects of global workplace gender parity slipped further, which means economic parity between the genders may take 170 years to close.

India has made considerable strides on education attainment by moving up from 125th rank in 2015 to 113th in 2016. India has also improved its position on economic participation and opportunity.

The most significant improvement by India is in the ranking on primary and secondary education. In 2015, India was ranked 119th on enrollment in primary education and 118th on secondary education. But in the 2016 report it moved up spectacularly to rank 1 on both sub-indices.

Source: Digital Learning, 28-10-2016

Indian-origin researcher wins German green award

Shamik Chowdhury, a 29-year-old Indian-origin researcher, recently won the German Green Talent award for adopting innovative ideas to promote sustainable development, resource efficiency, cleaner production and eco-innovation.

Shamik, who is pursuing his PhD in environmental engineering from the National University of Singapore, was among 25 scholars who won the award for their innovative green ideas.

Chowdhury’s research was based on green synthesis of 2D graphene nanosheets and their self-assembly into advanced 3D macrostructures for sustainable urban development. The objective of his research was to make a city life more sustainable through green technologies that will be based on renewable feedstock.

The awards, which were held for eighth time, are given away by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Source: Digital Learning, 2-11-2016

Unlock the marine mysteries

Dive into the blue sea and explore its depths as a marine biologist.

Studying the oceans and the animals and plants in the seas is an exciting prospect. Young minds mesmerised by documentaries on National Geographic, BBC, and Discovery Channel profess their desire to become a marine biologist. But these early desires largely fade away in high school when traditional professions beckon. Becoming a marine biologist is as challenging and rewarding a journey as any other profession. Parents who tell their kids that biology degrees are worthless, are mistaken. A biologist, similar to other professionals, come in different flavours. You could easily have a successful and secure career with a biological science background — in biotechnology, pharmacology, or marine or land-based environmental consulting. However, studying animals, whether on land or at sea requires reliable funding and luck, but mainly, tremendous patience, perseverance, and unwavering passion. There are several myths surrounding the study of biological science.

Is marine biology just about catching fish?

Marine science, marine biology, marine ecology, and oceanography are various terms to describe the study of oceans and the organisms there in. But, there are differences in areas of specialisation. A marine ecologist studies the interaction between marine organisms and their environment, while a marine biologist might be wholly focused on the behaviour and biology of one or multiple organisms. Oceanographers and marine scientists are more interested in patterns and processes that make oceans a thriving and dynamic environment that supports life and influences our climate. Often, these terms may be used interchangeably depending on individual research interests.

Yes, some marine biologists catch fish, not all. The purpose is to determine how many fish stocks there are or to set removal limits so fish can be caught sustainably. But marine biologists can also study corals, sea turtles, sharks, marine mammals, and starfish, or kelp. Focal areas could include animal physiology, life history, population dynamics, behaviour, genetics, health, cognition, ecology, disease, human impacts, ecosystem processes, and climate change effects. It could also involve prescribing policy or writing management plans to minimise threats to the marine environment, or designing a novel conservation framework.

Only biological science majors can become marine biologists

Marine science is a multi-disciplinary field that deals with the physics, chemistry, biology, and socio-economics of the ocean.

Conservation problems are complex and require diverse skill sets and minds to find solutions. Scientists studying marine organisms or habitats come from different backgrounds ranging from engineering, zoology, to economics. These days, Ph.D. is the absolute minimum for success or advancement in the field. Undergraduate and graduates from varied disciplines can still pursue a Ph.D. in marine science or similar fields, as long as they have field-relevant experience or exemplary quantitative and analytical skills.

While having a biology or ecology background is strongly recommended, it is not the only consideration. Given the high level of competition, students must possess a wide array of skills, such as programming languages (example, R, MatLab), advanced statistics, modeling, bioinformatics, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Scuba certification is good to have, but not essential. A strong foundation in the core sciences (maths, physics, chemistry, and biology) is incredibly valuable and needed. But, bookish skills need to be supplemented with field and/or laboratory skills.

Budding scientists must know how to work independently and in teams with different organisms or in different environments. Ability to develop new software or hardware to tackle a variety of questions is a plus. There is no end to how diverse skills and disciplines can have unexpected applications in marine science and conservation.

Academic brilliance matters, communication doesn’t

Science is increasingly about translating technical jargon into simple language. Formula-speak may be attractive among peers but has little relevance to society. Today, scientists have to skillfully connect with non-scientists and decision-makers. Knowing how to speak, write and communicate effectively in English or multiple languages is an important skill to cultivate. Authoring or co-authoring scientific or non-scientific publications provides added advantage when seeking admissions in graduate schools in the United States or the United Kingdom.

Education pathways

For the passionate and aspiring, there are a few universities or institutions in India that offer dedicated coursework or field experience in marine biology.

Institutions such as Nature Conservation Foundation, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Trust of India, and Centre for Ecological Sciences, offer excellent training and exposure to wildlife biology/ecology, environmental sciences and field skills.

Ultimately, the best place to seek advanced marine science training is still the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia (in that order).

The writer is a

marine biologist.

Keywords: Marine biology, careers, Nature Conservation Foundation, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Trust of India, and Centre for Ecological Sciences

Source: The Hindu, 28-10-2016