Followers

Friday, February 10, 2023

Swiss education provides students with a strong foundation for success in their future careers

 

Christophe Clivaz, Founder and Director of Swiss Learning, in an exclusive chat with Education Times, talks about the group’s aim of providing students with a broad and diverse education to prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century


In 2006 Christophe Clivaz founded Swiss Learning in order to promote the excellence of Swiss education throughout the world. Today, Swiss Learning operates in multiple continents, delivering a personalised service to families who seek schools in Switzerland. For details visit: www.swisslearning.com

Where do you see Swiss Learning in the next 10 years and what is your vision for it?
Swiss Learning has a long history of providing high-quality education to students from around the world, and it is likely that this trend will continue in the future.

In the next 10 years, Swiss Learning aims to further expand its reach and provide access to its educational programmes to an even larger number of students. The schools may also focus on incorporating new technologies and innovative teaching methods to enhance the student experience and ensure that students are well-prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.

The Swiss Learning schools aim to better prepare students for success in an increasingly globalised world.

The vision for Swiss Learning is to continue providing high-quality education that prepares students for success in their future careers and lives, and to continue to be a leading provider of international education in Switzerland.

What do you think are the qualities/expertise that students from India will be able to bring to your institutions?
Indian students can bring a lot of qualities such as:

- Cultural diversity

- Entrepreneurial spirit

- Language skills

Global perspective: India is a rapidly growing and changing country, and Indian students can bring a unique global perspective to Swiss learning institutions, helping to bridge cultural and educational gaps and promoting greater understanding and collaboration between different cultures.

What makes Switzerland a preferred destination for education, especially for children of comparatively young age?
Switzerland is a preferred destination for education, especially for children of a young age, for several reasons, including:

- High-quality education: Swiss education has a strong reputation for academic rigour and quality, with a focus on hands-on learning and practical experience. Swiss schools are known for their commitment to providing students with a well-rounded education that prepares them for success in their future careers and lives.

- Safe and stable environment: Switzerland is known for being a safe and stable country, with a high quality of life and a strong social safety net. This can be especially appealing for parents looking to provide their children with a secure and supportive environment in which to learn and grow.

- Multilingualism: Switzerland is a multilingual country, with four official languages (German, French, Italian, and Romansh), and a high level of language proficiency is considered an essential part of a Swiss education. This multilingualism can help students develop a broad range of language skills and a global perspective that will be valuable in their future careers.

- Outdoor and adventure opportunities: Switzerland is known for its natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities, including skiing, hiking, and water sports. This can be especially appealing for families looking to provide their children with a well-rounded education that includes a healthy and active lifestyle.

- Experienced teachers: Swiss teachers are highly trained and experienced, and they are committed to providing students with the best possible education. This, combined with small class sizes and individual attention, can help ensure that each student receives the support and guidance they need to succeed.

What are the most common/popular courses that students come to Switzerland to study? Any noticeable trend?
Switzerland is known for its high-quality education, particularly in technical and scientific fields, and attracts students from around the world to study a variety of subjects. Here are some of the most common and popular courses that students come to Switzerland to study:

- Engineering and technology: Switzerland is a hub for innovation and technology, and attracts students to study subjects like Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering.

- Medicine and health sciences: Switzerland has a strong reputation for medical research and innovation and attracts students from around the world to study subjects like Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science.

- Hospitality and tourism: Switzerland is known for its tourism and hospitality industry and attracts students from around the world to study subjects like Hotel Management and Culinary Arts.

Can you tell us a little more about your new initiative #GoOutandPlay and why it specifically targets Indian Students? For example, the benefits they will be able to derive from it?

Binding it all together with an aim to promote the excellence of Swiss Education, Swiss Learning, has also released a video campaign #GoOutAndPlay, to underline the ardour of this activity. Targeted at Indian students aged 12 to 17, this visual essay narrates the multicultural exposure through summer camps and holistic growth via boarding schools that Swiss Learning brings to the fore.

By the end of their education, what kind of individuals do the schools that are a part of Swiss Learning strive to produce/prepare?
Swiss Learning schools aim to produce well-rounded individuals who are prepared for success in their future careers and lives. By the end of their education, the schools strive to produce students with the following qualities:

- Academic excellence: Swiss Learning schools aim to provide a rigorous and challenging education that prepares students for success in their future academic and professional careers.

- Independent thinking: These schools encourage students to think critically and independently, and to develop their own unique perspectives and ideas.

- Global perspective: They aim to provide students with a broad and diverse education that prepares them for success in a globalized world. This includes a focus on multilingualism, cultural awareness, and an understanding of different perspectives and worldviews.

- Entrepreneurial spirit: Students are encouraged by the schools to develop an entrepreneurial spirit, and to take initiative and take risks in order to achieve their goals.

- Respect for others: The schools promote a culture of respect and understanding and aim to prepare students to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Overall, Swiss Learning schools aim to produce individuals who are well-prepared for success in their future careers and lives, and who have the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to make a positive impact on the world.

After completing their education, do students usually move to other countries for further education or do they stay back in Switzerland itself?
After completing their education in Switzerland, some students choose to stay in Switzerland and pursue further education or start their careers, while others choose to move to other countries for further education or work opportunities.

Swiss education is highly valued around the world and provides students with a strong foundation for success in their future careers, regardless of where they choose to pursue their studies or work.


Source: educationtimes.com, 7/02/23

AICTE introduces new online SWAYAM credit courses to increase innovation

 

By pursuing SWAYAM online credit courses Engineering students will be able to expand their horizons in terms of their knowledge domain


The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has recently introduced SWAYAM online credit courses on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Remote Sensing to increase high-tech culture among students. Non-engineering students can also pursue these online credit courses, which will be taught by professors of eminent institutes in the country.
While pursuing the two online credit courses on IPR and Remote Sensing, students will study the introductory aspects of IPR and the basics of Remote Sensing and applications related to Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology, respectively. The duration of the online credit courses would be of 15-16 weeks. AICTE is focusing on educating more students living in the rural belt.

Speaking to Education Times, Rajive Kumar, member secretary, AICTE, says, “The latest SWAYAM online credit courses on IPR and Basics of Remote Sensing that has been introduced by us can even be opted by the non-engineering students. However, students from an engineering and Science background would be more inclined to take up these online credit courses as they are interrelated with Science and engineering streams. Remote Sensing is an emerging technology, which is taught by professors from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Dehradun, while professors from IIT Kharagpur will teach the course on IPR.” Students can register on the SWAYAM portal.

Buddha Chandrasekhar, chief coordinating officer, AICTE, Ministry of Education, says, “The new online credit courses that are introduced have been conceived and designed to provide engineering students with an opportunity to learn beyond their technical curriculum. By pursuing these online credit courses, students will be able to expand their higher-order thinking skills. The online credit course on IPR is crucial for innovators and research-oriented engineers who intend to deep dive into product development and establish start-ups. Courses on Remote Sensing and Geospatial technologies are specialised technical areas with a multidisciplinary target audience. It would help all engineering students to familiarise themselves with the fundamentals and diverse future practical applications like IoT, 5G, etc. In the IPR online credit course, students will be given an introduction to understanding the significance of Intellectual Property Rights in the global business domain. While studying the course on Remote Sensing, students will get to study the basics of Remote Sensing and the applications related to GIS and GNSS technology. The duration of the newly introduced online credit courses would be of 15-16 hours.”


Source: educationtimes.com, 8/02/23

Sustainability is a key focus area for India at G20

 

India is leading the world in transitioning to a low-carbon economy and is well-poised to take forward PM Modi’s LiFE initiative. India’s presidency will share, collaborate, and build on the sense of trusteeship among the member-countries to build a sustainable future for all.

India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1, 2022, marked by hope, dreams, and aspirations. The world is facing several challenges, such as Covid-19, the threat of recession, and the climate crisis and is seeking answers to some of these pressing issues. The Indian presidency aims to build upon the efforts and outcomes of earlier presidencies while foraying into newer areas of global cooperation to build a sustainable future for all. As the theme of the presidency — Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (One Earth, One Family, One Future) suggests — we are committed to working towards healing our one world, creating harmony within our one family, and giving hope for our one future. India remains one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Even though it supports almost 17% of the world’s population, we have managed growth while tackling the climate crisis. India’s per capita emission of 2.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) is well below the global average of 6.3 tonnes of CO2e in 2020. In the 2022 Climate Change Performance Index, we have been ranked among the top five performing countries.

India is also leading the world in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. We have achieved our commitment to non-fossil fuel capacity addition (made in the Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs) ahead of the target year (2030) and also updated our targets. As per the new NDC, India is committed to reducing the emissions intensity of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 45% by 2030 from the 2005 level and achieving about 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. With a young population, growing urbanisation, digitalisation and adaptation of technology, and mushrooming of startups, India’s primary focus has been to provide universal access to affordable power in a sustainable manner. We are now a power-surplus nation. We have established an integrated national grid, strengthened the distribution network, emerged as a significant renewable energy (RE) player, and achieved universal household electrification.

India’s energy mix is diversified. Power generation happens through several sources, including coal, lignite, natural gas, oil, hydro and nuclear, to increased the contribution of RE sources (solar, wind and biomass). The government is focused on increasing India’s capacity to produce clean electricity through new technology and innovation.

RE usage is growing faster, with new capacity additions to double by 2026. The share of solar and wind in India’s energy mix has grown phenomenally. The country is also one of the world’s largest producers of bioenergy. Green hydrogen will play a vital role in decarbonising the economy, and the country aims to become a global hub for green hydrogen production and exports. India has emerged as a country with the fastest-growing RE capacity globally. This has also made it the most attractive investment destination. These efforts are helping India meet its own needs while contributing to global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.

The challenge now lies in making energy affordable even as commodity prices are rising, and tight market conditions are increasing energy security risks. While focusing on policy measures and mitigation is important, it is imperative to focus on individuals and communities is imperative to bring about concrete and measurable change. India has demonstrated significant successes in driving development and societal and behavioural changes through large-scale collective action in initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Ujjwala scheme or Give It Up campaign. India is well-poised to take forward the global initiative — Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) – introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. LiFE calls upon individuals and communities to drive and build it as an international mass movement towards mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption to protect and preserve the environment. LiFE puts individual and collective duty on everyone to live a life that is in tune with the earth and does not harm it.

As a large developing economy with over 1.4 billion people, India’s climate adaptation and mitigation ambitions are transformational for India and the planet. Moreover, India’s impressive progress in transitioning toward RE shows that countries can succeed by making smart choices about using resources to meet their needs. India’s G20 presidency will share, collaborate, and build on the sense of trusteeship among the member-countries to build a sustainable future for all.

Source: Hindustan Times, 3/02/23

Wednesday, February 08, 2023

Quote of the Day February 8, 2023

 

“The test of a man's or woman's breeding is how they behave in a quarrel. Anybody can behave well when things are going smoothly.”
George Bernard Shaw
“किसी पुरुष या महिला के पालन-पोषण की आज़माइश तो एक झगड़े में उनके बर्ताव से होती है। जब सब ठीक चल रहा हो तब अच्छा बर्ताव तो कोई भी कर सकता है।”
जॉर्ज बर्नार्ड शॉ

What is Angel Tax?

 he Section 56 (2) (vii b) in the Income Tax Act is referred to as Angel tax. These taxes are imposed on startups. Say a startup SSS sells one lakh shares to a person X. Selling price of one share is Rs 5000. Now SSS gains 50 crores. Say the actual market value of the share is Rs 2000 per share. So 20 crore rupees is the actual market value. SSS made 30 crores of rupees profit. So SSS has to pay angel tax on the 30 crores rupees!


Why is Angel Tax in News?

During Union Budget 2023, Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sita Raman proposed to amend the Angel tax. Now, the equity amount received by the startups will be subjected to income taxes and not angel taxes. Meaning, the entire 50 crores of rupees, that is, the total amount the startup received by selling the shares is subjected to income tax! Earlier, only 30 cores were subjected to taxes.

What are startups saying about the change?

Startups are disappointed. Most of the investors of the startups, that is, the share buyers are from foreign countries. Already startup investments have been decreasing. In 2022, it fell by 33%. The new change in Angel Tax is to further affect the startup investment

What are voice deepfakes?

 Deepfakes is the process of mimicking the voice of a person. Talking in their tone and style; like a mimicry. However, here the mimicry is done using the software. Therefore, the deep fake is the process of mimicking a person’s voice using an online tool.


What is the issue? Why is deep fakes in news?

By the end of January 2023, netizens used the features of “voice cloning” and “speech synthesis” of Eleven Labs. Eleven Labs is an online site providing AI speech software. Using the features in the software, the netizens created voices of popular stars Emma Watson, Ben Shapiro, and Joe Rogan. But the messages were abusive and spread racism. Celebrities are now raising their voices against this. And thus, the voice of deep fakes in news.

What is Voice Deepfake?

The voice created is artificial. However, it sounds human-like. The major challenge of a voice-deep fake is cloning a voice. It takes weeks or even months to clone a voice. Artificial Intelligence can create copies of voices after listening to the speaker for just 3 seconds! To create an audio file using an online tool, you just have to upload the voice of the person. The file should be at least 3 seconds long. The person should be continuously speaking in the audio file. After you upload this file, the software clones the voice of the speaker. You should then give the text. The software gives you the net output where Emma Watson or other stars (whose voice you uploaded) speak the text!

Yuva Sangam Registration Portal

he development in the northeastern states has always been slow as compared to the Indian mainland. This is mainly because the states are covered with forests and the percentage of the tribal population is high. Also, natural factors hinder the development of the region. For instance, Brahmaputra is called Sorrow of Assam. Frequent earthquakes occur in the region. There are anti-socialistic groups, Naga insurgencies, etc; Chinese interference in the border; the Inrush of Rohingyas and many more reasons that hinder the development of North Eastern India. To fasten the development process in the region and to link the region with the rest of the mainland, the Government of India has launched the Yuva Sangam Registration portal.



Yuva Sangam Registration Portal

4Shares
whatsapp sharing button
twitter sharing button
facebook sharing button
telegram sharing button
messenger sharing button
print sharing button

The development in the northeastern states has always been slow as compared to the Indian mainland. This is mainly because the states are covered with forests and the percentage of the tribal population is high. Also, natural factors hinder the development of the region. For instance, Brahmaputra is called Sorrow of Assam. Frequent earthquakes occur in the region. There are anti-socialistic groups, Naga insurgencies, etc; Chinese interference in the border; the Inrush of Rohingyas and many more reasons that hinder the development of North Eastern India. To fasten the development process in the region and to link the region with the rest of the mainland, the Government of India has launched the Yuva Sangam Registration portal


    About the portal

    The main objective of the portal is to connect with the youth in the northeast region. The portal was launched under the spirit of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”. Through the Yuva Sangam initiative, youths in the region will travel across different parts of the country and learn about different cultures in India.

    Significance

    It is important to educate the youths and provide them with skills to develop the North Eastern Region. Chinese infiltrations are increasing in the region. GoI has to earn the trust of the locals in the region. Therefore, there is a necessity of inclusive development.