Canada forges new links with India in research, higher education

October 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Universities of Scotland and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for greater collaboration between the two in the field of higher education. The agreement aims at boosting student and faculty exchange programmes between the two nations, more scholarships for Indian students vying to study in Scotland, more internships and a greater collaboration in the field of research and development.

September 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Australia's visiting Deputy Prime Minister, Ms Julia Gillard, today launched the Australia-India Institute to be located at the University of Melbourne. She announced 8.106 million dollars (Rs32 crore) funding to support the Australia-India Institute.

August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Centre has called upon States for support and partnership to ensure educational reforms in the country. Addressing the inaugural session of the 56th Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE) meeting in the national capital on Monday, Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal underlined expansion, inclusion and excellence as the three underlying principles for educational reforms.

August 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Thirteen of Canada's elite universities will be in India from August 23 to September 4 to hold information sessions on Canada as a destination for higher education. The delegation is led by Ginette Sanfaçon of HEC Montréal (Business school affiliated with the Université de Montréal) and Michelle Beaton of Ryerson University in Toronto.

July 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal will inaugurate a one-day meeting of principal secretaries/secretaries of higher education and technical education of State Governments and Union Territories here today. This annual conference has on its agenda different subjects within higher and technical education such as the National Mission of Education through ICT and matters related to polytechnics under coordinated action for skill development.

July 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal on Friday asked all state governments to provide a detailed report of their objectives in the field of higher education by 2020 within a three month deadline. "In the next three months...each state must give its vision as to what it wishes to do by 2020 in the filed of higher education," he said at a conference here attended by higher education secretaries of states," Sibal said.

July 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor Thursday said India needs to have more institutions of higher education. "Union Minister Kapil Sibal made a spirited speech defending higher education in the country in the parliament.

July 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The University Grants Commission has allowed deemed universities to eliminate 'deemed' from their name, and identify themselves as universities, minister of state for higher education D Purandeswari on Tuesday said. Purandeswari told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that the UGC has granted the use of term 'University' for such institutions.

June 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Stating that the government was committed to improve and reform education standards in India, Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal said Wednesday an apex panel on higher education will be formed soon. The autonomous National Commission for Higher Education and Research, which will encompass in itself the existing professional councils and regulatory agencies, including the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Medical Council of India and the AICTE, will be formed within the first 100 days of the new government, Sibal told reporters.

June 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Saying the government was committed to improve education standards in India, Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal said Wednesday a new apex panel on higher education will be formed soon. The National Commission for Higher Education and Research, which will encompass in itself the existing professional councils and regulatory agencies, including the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Medical Council of India and the AICTE, is likely to be formed within the first 100 days of the new government, Sibal told reporters.

June 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - At a time when scores of foreign educational institutions are queuing up to woo Indian students, leading industry lobby Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Friday said it will showcase Indian higher education and its rich variety at Kuala Lumpur. The CII, with the support of the high commission of India, is organising the India Education Fair 2009 during June 20-21, the industry lobby said.

June 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Knowledge Commission Chairman Sam Pitroda on Wednesday stressed on the importance of a single regulatory body to decide matters pertaining to higher education. "I think in higher education what we really need is now some kind of a higher education commission, council, regulatory authority to create level playing field.

June 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India and the US will set up a joint working group to boost bilateral relation in the field of education, it was announced Thursday after a meeting between Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal and the US Under Secretary William J. Burns. The group will be headed by Sibal and US Secretary of Education, and it will meet once a year alternately in India and the US.

January 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Indian students going abroad for their higher studies cost the country a foreign exchange (forex) outflow of $10 billion annually, according to an industry lobby report released here Monday. The report by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) said despite subsidised engineering and management education, about 500,000 students choose to go abroad every year.

January 7th, 2009 CHENNAI - To have better economic relations and also increase the bilateral trade from the current $4 billion, India and Canada should work towards signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a Canadian official said. 'Both the countries can pursue a FTA within the next 10 years.