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How long-term unemployment is affecting the job search

August 20, 2013August 20, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

What is the only thing worse than unemployment? Long-term unemployment, apparently. If you lose your job, there are a bunch of hardships you are inevitably going to endure until you find a new one. If you do not find a new one in a hurry, you may face the additional hardship of not finding one for an increasingly long period of time. Employers, it seems, view people who have not held a job with an eye that increases in wariness in proportion to their joblessness.

The insights come from an upcoming paper by Swedish economists Stefan Eriksson and Dan-Olof Rooth, which is to be published in the American Economic Review and was quoted in a blog in this week’s Wall Street Journal. The economists used Swedish data on calls returned to job applicants, sorting job seekers by duration of unemployment. What they found was that being unemployed for a short period of time made no difference at all to job seekers’ prospects, but that being unemployed for longer did.

Actually, it made a difference for workers who were applying for jobs that did not require a college degree, who saw their returned calls decline by 20 per cent. Workers who were applying for jobs that did need more education did not see the same decline in response, although it is difficult to know why. The old rule of thumb is that for every $10,000 you earn, it takes a month to find a new job so perhaps those seeking more educated, higher-wage employees realize they are interviewing people in a more selective, slower job market. Perhaps, too, there is a realization that higher wage workers may have left their last positions with a hefty goodbye package and hence may not be in as much of a hurry as those with more modest skills.

At any rate, the study says little about who actually got hired, just who got in the door. As well, although the Swedish economists believe their research has implications for the U.S. as well as Sweden, it is not hard to believe that the latter is a kinder gentler place than the former, which has gone through a brutal recession. Even in (relatively) kinder and gentler Canada, it seems likely that those with a long period of unemployment on their resume are going to get a harder look than those who are fresh from previous employment, whatever their level of education.

The good news, if there is any good news in the context of unemployment, is that over this business cycle, long-term unemployment has been a considerably less severe problem in Canada than it is in the United States. According to Statistics Canada, as of June, 2013 (the last month for which Canadian data is available), the average duration of unemployment in Canada was 18.3 weeks. In contrast, the average duration of unemployment in the U.S. was 35.6 weeks. In the Canadian case, the figure has not changed too much from before the recession. In June, 2008, the average duration of unemployment in Canada was 13.9 weeks, suggesting a lengthening of about 50 per cent. In the U.S., the length of unemployment has effectively doubled. As of June, approximately 19.9 per cent of the unemployed in Canada were without work for 27 weeks or more, while in the U.S., the figure was 36.7 per cent.

The duration of unemployment is a key indicator to watch. There has been much ado about the improvement in the U.S. labour market, and it is certainly true that the unemployment rate has dipped sharply. As of July, the U.S. unemployment rate was 7.4 per cent, compared to 10 per cent at its peak in October, 2009. Still, over that same period, the duration of unemployment has increased by about 9 weeks, and is coming down very slowly (by about 4 weeks over the past two years). Until this indicator shows an improvement, it will be hard to say that the malaise in the U.S. labour market has lifted, and with it much of the concerns about the global economy that are keeping everybody’s interest rates, including Canada’s, on hold.

UBC signs deal with India to continue to bring foreign investment to B.C. tech firms

August 20, 2013August 20, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Vancouver Desi

A $10-million deal signed on Thursday between technology centres at the University of B.C. and India has set the foundation for breakthroughs in isotope research as well as bringing foreign investment to technology firms in the Lower Mainland.

The deal, signed between TRIUMF, Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics, and India’s Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre in Calcutta, will see the continuation of a 10-year partnership between the two centres to develop cutting-edge production techniques and the study of rare isotopes.

“The goal here is to produce the isotopes of the future,” said Dr. Tim Meyer, head of strategic planning and communications for TRIUMF. He added the deal may also lead to technology that will help alleviate the worldwide shortage of the technetium-99m isotope, the most common medical isotope used for diagnostic testing.

The deal, which is equally financed by the two parties and scheduled to last until December 2016, builds on a $6.2-million agreement between the two agencies signed five years ago that resulted in the development of state-of-the-art accelerators both at TRIUMF and VECC in India.

This next phase has a two-prong focus, said Dr. Lia Merminga, head of the accelerator program at TRIUMF.

“One is to develop the science of rare isotope beams, the other is to develop the accelerator technology,” she said.

Research on the first point will focus on creating and studying new isotopes through the development of two rare isotope production facilities at TRIUMF, one of which will eventually be shipped to India.

The second point will see researchers focus on refining accelerator technology so that the world no longer needs to rely on nuclear reactors to produce large amounts of medical isotopes.

Fifty to 80 per cent of the world’s medical isotopes are created at the aging Chalk River nuclear reactor in Ontario, which caused severe shortages when it was shut down for maintenance in 2007.

But the team will work to develop particle accelerators that are small enough and cheap enough to place in individual hospitals, enabling medical centres to essentially produce isotopes to order, said Dr. Alok Chakrabarti, associate director for Accelerators at VECC.

“I think 10 years from now there will not be this problem (of isotope shortages),” he said.

The deal will also include long-term exchanges between scientists from both laboratories, as well as strengthen trade relations between Canada and India, said Merminga.

An essential part for the high-tech infrastructure to be exported to India will be manufactured at Pavac Industries in Richmond, she said, which could lead to a lucrative contract.

“This is only number one of several more to come. We expect in the future the Indians will be ordering … again from Pavac,” she said.

“It is totally aligned with more trade with India. Indian money goes into Canadian manufacturers.”

Virgin Atlantic eyes growth in India, US

August 19, 2013August 19, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Business Standard

CEO rules out investment in India, feels UK travel bond will not jeopardize travel.

After concluding a joint venture deal with Delta Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways was eyeing a bigger pie of the lucrative India-US market, Virgin Atlantic’s chief executive Craig Kreeger said on Monday. He ruled out investment in an Indian carrier, saying Virgin Atlantic was in talks with global airlines for code sharing on its routes within the UK.

Known for its flamboyant and trendy image, Virgin Atlantic is a minnow among airlines due to a small fleet and limited network. Though it flies to Delhi and Mumbai daily, as well as to nine cities in the US, it has a smaller network compared to British Airways, which flies to five cities in India and twenty destinations in the US. Along with its code-sharing partner American Airlines, British Airways could offer 200 additional destinations.

“We are seeing growth in the India-US market. The combination of our excellent timing and our products and services is working well for us,” Kreeger told Business Standard. The tie-up with Delta, which acquired Singapore Airline’s 49 per cent stake in Virgin Atlantic earlier this year, offers the airline an opportunity to expand the US network.

The two airlines have already announced code-shares, reciprocal frequent flyer programmes and lounge access and are awaiting the US government’s approval to cooperate on creating joint schedules, fares, etc. Kreeger said the joint venture was likely to be kick-started in January 2014. The deal allows Virgin Atlantic to sell on Delta’s flights beyond London to points in the US, as well as on Delta’s domestic routes in the US, increasing its revenue possibilities.

Virgin Atlantic also plans to scale up its corporate business in India. “Last year, we entered the Mumbai market with a different approach. We took a valuable asset, a peak time landing slot in London. We felt this market needed connectivity to the US, Manchester and Scotland. From both directions, we are able to offer greater connections. We are actively involved in expanding corporate sales,” Kreeger said.

He refused to specify on expanding code-share with Jet Airways. The airline was in talks with various carriers that didn’t partner British Airways, he said, adding Virgin Atlantic was keen to connect on domestic routes in the UK. The airline was evaluating plans to join Air France-KLM-Delta-led SkyTeam, a global grouping of airlines, he said.

“Security of borders and immigration is in the purview of the government but I have expressed concern to the British High Commission in India over the proposed bond for Indian travellers,” he said, adding any possible restriction would only have a modest impact on travel to the UK. According to information made available by the High Commission, if applicable on Indians, the move would impact less than one per cent of UK visa applicants, Kreeger said. “The visa acceptance rate is 90 per cent. So, this will not impact any of the 90 per cent who are currently getting a visa. More impediments in the way of transportation are not good, but I am optimistic its impact would be modest,” he said.

India on the brink of its own financial crisis

August 19, 2013October 10, 2021Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Guardian

In a reprise of the 1997-98 Asian crisis, India’s stock market is plunging, bond yields are nudging 10% and capital is flooding out of the country.

India’s financial woes are rapidly approaching the critical stage. The rupee has depreciated by 44% in the past two years and hit a record low against the US dollar on Monday. The stock market is plunging, bond yields are nudging 10% and capital is flooding out of the country.

In a sense, this is a classic case of deja vu, a revisiting of the Asian crisis of 1997-98 that acted as an unheeded warning sign of what was in store for the global economy a decade later. An emerging economy exhibiting strong growth attracts the attention of foreign investors. Inward investment comes in together with hot money flows that circumvent capital controls. Capital inflows push up the exchange rate, making imports cheaper and exports dearer. The trade deficit balloons, growth slows, deep-seated structural flaws become more prominent and the hot money leaves.

The trigger for the run on the rupee has been the news from Washington that the Federal Reserve is considering scaling back – “tapering” – its bond-buying stimulus programme from next month. This has consequences for all emerging market economies: firstly, there is the fear that a reduced stimulus will mean weaker growth in the US, with a knock-on impact on exports from the developing world. Secondly, high-yielding currencies such as the rupee have benefited from a search for yield on the part of global investors. If policy is going to be tightened in the US, then the dollar becomes more attractive and the rupee less so.

But while the Indonesian rupee and the South African rand are also feeling the heat, it is India – with its large trade and budget deficits – that looks like the accident most likely to happen. On past form, emerging market crises go through three stages: in stage one, policymakers do nothing in the hope that the problem goes away. In stage two, they cobble together some panic measures, normally involving half-baked capital controls and selling of dollars in an attempt to underpin their currencies. In stage three, they either come up with a workable plan themselves or call in the IMF. India is on the cusp of stage three.

India Inc presses panic button on sagging rupee, economy

August 19, 2013August 19, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Business Standard

Indian companies gearing up for new ‘normal’ for rupee.

With rupee ending at an all-time low of 63.13 a dollar, chief executive officers (CEOs) of top Indian companies are redrawing their currency risk strategies as a “new normal” for the rupee is fast emerging.

Some of the top companies such as Reliance Industries, Birlas, Essar, Adani group, and the Tatas have huge exposure in foreign currency and any change in the rupee’s value increases their costs of operations in a big way.

“I am disappointed, not surprised, with the way the rupee is falling,” says Rahul Bajaj, chairman of Bajaj Auto and one of corporate India’s vocal voices. “We are paying for the last four years of inaction and absence of reforms. The government has spent a lot of money in loan waivers, NREGA (employment guarantee scheme) and Food Security Bill and all these populist measures have now added to the deficit. We are not opposing pro-poor moves. We are against populist measures. We should be treating the disease and not the symptom. Now is the time to change policies.”

Mahindra & Mahindra chairman Anand Mahindra recently said the rupee is falling without a parachute and capital controls announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is just taking India back to the 1980s. The mood in the corporate camp is sombre. This is in spite of leading CEOs’ many suggestions to the Prime Minister during their meeting on July 29 on how to ring-fence the rupee. However, since then, the rupee has been continuing its downward journey.

Other CEOs say the economic slowdown and lack of initiatives by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is unprecedented which is taking the country on the road to a complete shutdown. “There are no takers for infrastructure projects, and no growth in order book due to land acquisition problems, environmental clearance and corruption. This is perhaps one of the worst times for Indian companies to do business in India,” said the CEO of an infrastructure company asking not to be named.

RBI has already acted aggressively, tightening liquidity and raising interest rates, banning companies and individuals from spending money abroad in an attempt to stem the ongoing rupee weakening. RBI’s surprise tightening has been stark, but similar to that in early-1998, soon after the Asian crisis. This time, however, CEOs say that none of these measures is helping the rupee stop its slide against the dollar.

Bajaj says the government should change its policies instead of trying to manage the Indian currency. CEOs such as S Gopalakrishnan, executive vice-chairman of Infosys, say it would have been more appropriate to initiate policies that prevent an influx of non-essential imports such as coal and iron ore, and augment forex inflows by encouraging foreign direct investments. For this, a conducive and stable policy regime is needed, they add. Foreign institutional investments should also be liberalised by removing short-term capital gains tax.

According to the CEOs, another worrying factor is that oil prices are going up while the rupee is falling. With Brent crude at around $110 a barrel, its impact on inflation and Indian economy is still not being taking into account.

Under the World Trade Organisation rules, India can always impose a higher import duty on expensive, foreign-made cars and this is the right time to take action. “This was something the Prime Minister was made aware of on June 29. Importing coal into India when Coal India is sitting on massive reserves is a shame, they say. The government should immediately take action to part privatise Coal India so that all those power plants, which have shut down due to lack of coal can be revived,” said a CEO.

For many companies including the Adanis, Lanco and Reliance Power, the falling currency has been a double whammy. Many companies had taken massive loans from abroad without taking a forward cover.

They are also importing raw materials from overseas. With the surprise fall in the rupee, many companies are staring at the prospect of a default. “This is like the replay of the 2008-09 crisis. The only difference is that this time the government is groping in the dark and has no clue how to stop the slide,” said the CEO quoted above.

Analysts say sectors such as chemicals, paper, auto ancillaries, power and steel are the most affected from rupee depreciation. Among these sectors, mid-sized companies with exposure to forex risk but limited expertise or intention to hedge might be the most adversely affected.

CEOs say in the coming days, the government could look at the option of increasing import duty on select commodities, such as electronic goods, to reduce the import bill. The electronic goods import bill was $31.5 billion in FY13 (ended March 2013).

A similar 150 per cent import duty on expensive cars may also be considered. A sharper hike in diesel prices, although politically difficult, would also curb the oil import bill, which stood at $169 billion in FY13.

How to help kids stay cool about back-to-school worries

August 19, 2013August 19, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Globe And Mail

After 23 years in private practice, children’s anxiety tops the list of concerns that parents approach me with. I’ve heard stories that range from children’s fear of dogs and refusing to stay in their beds alone at night to much more extreme worry.

In August, as students creep closer to accepting the inevitability that school is just around the corner, anticipatory back-to-school fretting kicks in.

Here’s how to identify your child’s anxiety and some strategies you can use to help maintain a sense of calm.

Grade 1: Butterflies

Grade 1 is both exciting and anxiety-provoking. Your child is likely standing tall knowing that he has joined ranks of the older kids. However, he may also be apprehensive about taking on more responsibility and spending recess on a different playground. He may describe his anxiety as “butterflies in my tummy.” He may not have much of an appetite in the days leading up to the start of school, may take a longer time falling asleep at night or become clingy. Rest assured that these feelings and behaviours are normal and it’s a good idea to tell him so. Share that even teachers feel nervous before school begins again. Go for a walk around the exterior of the school and spend some time in the new playground. If he’s especially worried about meeting his new teacher on the first day, call the school during the last week of summer holidays, when teachers are already back in their classrooms, to arrange a brief meeting between them.

Middle school: Jitters

Even though your child has by now developed a comfortable knowledge of the inner workings at her school, she may still experience anxiety as September approaches. She may have heard negative comments about her new teacher or may be uneasy because she won’t know who it will be until the first day of school. Remind her that just because her friend didn’t connect with that teacher, doesn’t mean that she won’t. Maybe share a time when you were biased toward someone before you met and then were pleasantly surprised when you got along really well. Remain positive and encouraging by sharing your confidence that they will work well together and that at the worst, you are always available to help brainstorm solutions to any bumps in the road.

Other than teacher worries, your child may be concerned about her reunion with former classmates, especially if they haven’t spent much time together during summer vacation. Anxiety is often expressed in the form of “what if…..?” questions such as “what if Angela and Samantha won’t let me play with them?” Reassure her that it’s normal to worry about this after being apart from her friends for so long. Suggest a play date so that they can reconnect and if she’s experiencing physical symptoms, let her know that an upset stomach and queasiness will ease once she settles back into the old familiar routine.

High school: Angst

Grade 9 is commonly the most anxiety provoking step up the academic ladder. Major Eighters become Minor Niners and drop to the bottom rung in a much larger pond. Many are stressed about adjusting to a new timetable, teachers, new students and navigating their way around the school without getting lost. Some may worry about increased peer pressure especially in regards to drugs and alcohol. Teens communicate less about their feelings. They may manifest their anxiety by retreating – spending more time on their computers (if that’s possible) or in bed sleeping. They might also become more irritable. If their behaviour appears more surly than usual, rather than taking the bait, approach gently with understanding and compassion. As always, timing is everything with teens so approach with caution in order to elicit the best response. Instead of asking him to turn off the television so that you can chat, which will likely get you nowhere, initiate a conversation while you’re walking the dog or when you’re in the car together. Rather than asking questions that require only a yes or no response such as “Are you feeling nervous?” say something like “I’ve noticed that you’re quieter than usual. I remember how unsettled I felt at the beginning of a new school year. What’s going on for you?”

Recently, my daughter, who too is worried about her transition to Grade 9 next month, shared with me how less frightening the roller coaster rides at Canada’s Wonderland are when you’re actually on them than when you’re watching from the sidelines. “I have no doubt that you’ll feel the same about high school,” I said. She reflected for a moment and responded with “I hate it when you’re right!”

Sara Dimerman is a psychologist, author and mom to two daughters. For more advice, connect at www.helpmesara or on Twitter @helpmesara.

International Student Exchange (ISE) is Going to Work with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in Providing Community Service Hour

August 19, 2013August 19, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: PR Web

The International Student Exchange (ISE), which places almost 3,000 foreign exchange students a year, is partnering up with RMHC to provide community service hours, through the Charity’s cornerstone program – the Ronald McDonald House, Chapter kits and possible fundraising activities.

ISE started a volunteer student program called “Project HELP” back in 2006. The program is designed to increase community service for their foreign exchange students. Each student completes a minimum of five hours. Most students surpass their minimum requirement.

“Project HELP has really taken off the past couple of years,” said Wayne Brewer, CEO of International Student Exchange. “This year we wanted to partner up with a national organization that could provide our students great community service opportunities. The Ronald McDonald House program offers that opportunity.”

RMHC is known throughout the U.S. as one of the most reputable family-centered charities. It will give ISE students the chance to work within their community and nationally. ISE also encourages host families and friends to participate.

Gary Lubrat, Project HELP Co-Chair stated, “We want the students to learn how important it is to give back to their community. After they end their experience in the United States, we want them to continue to help people once they return home. RMHC, and the Ronald McDonald House program will allow them to do that.”

About International Student Exchange:

ISE was founded in 1982. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing people of the world closer together through student exchange and intercultural education.

Based on the materials submitted by ISE and reviewed by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET), an independent national educational organization founded in 1984, ISE has been granted a listing every year. In 2009, ASA International, DM Discoveries, and INTO Ed Ventures were merged with ISE. Indicative of its high level of professionalism and respect within the foreign exchange industry, ISE is designated by the Department of State as an official sponsor of the Exchange Visitor Program.

ISE is headquartered on Long Island, 60 minutes from Manhattan. Forty-four fully staffed Regional Offices are strategically located in the United States. ISE cooperates with over 100 independent foreign agencies in over 45 countries around the world for the recruitment and placement of students in American homes. The company’s information is available at http://www.iseusa.com .

About Ronald McDonald House Charities:

Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and wellbeing of children. Through its global network of local Chapters in 58 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®, and millions of dollars in grants to support children’s programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-operated and supported programs provide access to quality health care and give children and families the time they need together to heal faster and cope better. For more information, visit http://www.rmhc.org, follow RMHC on Twitter (@RMHC) or like RMHC on Facebook (Facebook.com/RMHC Global).

Ronald McDonald House Charities, RMHC, Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room, and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile are all registered trademarks of McDonald’s Corporation or its affiliates and are used with permission.

University of Alberta eliminates 20 arts programs

August 19, 2013August 19, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Globe and Mail

The University of Alberta has taken the first steps toward closing 20 arts programs, suspending enrolment in a range of academic majors such as languages and music in an effort to cope with substantial budget shortfalls.

The programs were singled out among the faculty of arts for low demand, having had 10 or fewer students enrolled each fall from 2005 to 2012. The decision was circulated in an internal memo to department chairs on Friday, less than two weeks after the U of A offered a voluntary buyout package aimed at trimming its faculty ranks.

The suspended programs are among several money-saving measures hitting home at Alberta’s universities and colleges this fall, after the province cut university funding by 7 per cent in its March budget. Sparsely populated arts and language courses were among the first programs deemed expendable as the U of A tries to refocus funds on flagship disciplines, as has often been the case in other provinces facing funding woes. Similar reviews will likely be repeated in the U of A’s other faculties.

“We’ve all just been sharpened by the budget cuts that were delivered in March, and we’re trying to make sure that our house is in order,” said Heather Zwicker, the U of A’s vice-dean of arts.

All fifty students already enrolled across the 20 majors will be able to finish their programs, and many courses within the programs will still be offered, though some are expected to be axed. And the U of A is not the first Alberta school to contemplate closing programs – in April, Mount Royal University in Calgary announced it would suspend eight programs, including a theatre-arts diploma and a journalism certificate. The day after the provincial budget was revealed, U of A president Indira Samarasekera told The Globe and Mail she planned to use the cuts as a way of “reinvesting our resources in what we do best,” and if that meant closing some programs, “we will undertake to do that.” In a separate June interview, she also cautioned that the cuts would “hurt students in the long term.”

But Laura Beard, chair of the department of modern languages and cultural studies, which houses several of the suspended majors, expects the impact of halting some arts enrolments will be minimal for most students. “We still have 44 majors just within the [bachelor of arts degree], and arts actually offers 12 different degrees,” she said.

Some students are still feeling uneasy. Daniela Munoz, 23, is majoring in Latin American studies, one of the soon-to-be-suspended programs, and worries she may wind up with fewer courses to choose from and be forced to look to other departments for credits.

“I am paying tuition, and I feel like my program being cut is like telling me, well, we don’t value you as a student here,” Ms. Munoz said. “It’s sad, and it’s unfair.”

Alberta’s Advanced Education Minister, Thomas Lukaszuk, supported U of A’s decision. “Some argue that if you eliminate programs and you don’t offer everything to everybody, that somehow speaks to quality, and I disagree with that premise,” he said. “We don’t judge our universities simply by the number of courses they offer.”

Synergy 2013: seats filling fast

August 16, 2013May 13, 2015Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Registration is now open for our highly successful “Canada-India: A Synergy in Education” event, held since 2007. The Canada India Education Council (CIEC) is proud to host Synergy 2013 on Oct 3 & 4 at the Hilton Garden Inn near the Toronto Airport.

This year’s event will highlight education activities as well as provide networking opportunities for institutions and organizations interested in operating in either or both countries. With a focus on key academic areas of co-operation and on partnerships, Synergy 2013 will provide updates from India regarding the entry for foreign education providers (Bill 57) leading to many possible outcomes for Canadian education providers. Synergy 2013 will serve as a great way to hear about both governments’ programs and policies in education, which have been recognized as a signature priority. An interesting session will be conducted by the National Association of Career Colleges (NACC) who will discuss impending legislation and how it could transform ‘Internationalization’ efforts for private institutions. Synergy 2013 will also feature a round table discussion on the intersection of immigration & education in the Canada-India corridor and feature closing remarks by Hon. Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) and a reception by the co-chairs of the Canada-India Parliamentary Association.
Highlights of this year’s sessions:

Update on Canada India Higher Education cooperation & promotion of Canada as a study destination by Foreign Affairs & Int’l Trade (DFAIT)
Update on the Ontario-Maharashtra-Goa (OMG) program & cross directional push for higher levels of collaboration in Research & Higher Education by Dr. Lalu Mansinha
Updates from Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute and the recently founded IC-IMPACT (announced by PM Stephen Harper in Nov 2012) will also be present and discuss opportunities for collaboration.

Join over a hundred academic experts from both countries as they discuss recent developments and hear illustrious speakers stimulate thought and demonstrate the opportunities of this dynamic and burgeoning education corridor.

For a detailed Agenda, click here. To Register, click here.

The seating capacity at Synergy 2013 is only 120 and registration is once again on a first come basis. CIEC has negotiated a special rate for delegates staying at the hotel, which will also provide complimentary airport transfers.
To take advantage of the discounted hotel rate, you must reserve your room by August 31^st by clicking here.
For delegates arriving from India, CIEC is pleased to provide a 1 night FREE stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.

We look forward to seeing you at this year’s landmark event and in the meanwhile, have yourself a great summer!

Business Model for Education Venture Calls for ‘Empowering Adjuncts’

August 12, 2013August 11, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education

So much of the innovation in higher education today seems based on structures that treat faculty members as an afterthought, and a low-paid one at that. A fledgling online-education venture called Oplerno, however, aims to do just the opposite.

It’s based on a business model ensuring that 80 to 90 percent of what students pay will go directly to the people teaching the courses.

There are “phenomenal professors making poverty wages” right now, says Oplerno’s founder and chief executive officer, Robert A. Skiff Jr. “That’s a misallocation of capital.”

With Oplerno “we’re trying to recreate the relationship of a small group of people learning from a teacher,” says Mr. Skiff. “But instead of the institution capturing the money, we want the teacher to.”

Oplerno is seeking to attract experienced professionals as well as traditional academics as faculty members. But unlike some other for-profit models, in which faculty members are recruited to teach a standardized curriculum, those who teach for Oplerno will be expected to develop their own courses—and will own the intellectual-property rights to them.

Courses will run for 12 weeks but can start at any point during the year. In a way, it’s the anti-MOOC, with the focus on small classes of 25 to 30, rather than one instructor teaching thousands, and an expectation of more student-faculty engagement. “People have to learn from people,” says Mr. Skiff. “There has to be a relationship between the student and the teacher.”

Oplerno LLC (the name is short for “open learning organization”) isn’t one of those Silicon Valley education darlings. At this point, with just Mr. Skiff and two other employees on the payroll and about $50,000 in start-up funds, it’s barely a molehill on the landscape of higher-education reinvention.

But the company, which Mr. Skiff describes as a “a self-organizing, nonlinear, complex adaptive system,” does present an interesting approach.

In addition to “empowering adjuncts,” Mr. Skiff says he sees Oplerno as creating greater transparency for students. Once faculty members have proposed their courses, they will also provide detailed information about their syllabi, their expectations of students, and their own expertise for teaching it. (Students will be graded on a portfolio of their work.) The Oplerno “marketplace,” where courses will be listed, will also have space for prior students—and outsiders—to comment on courses.

“Students are going to be able to vet the faculty before they take the courses,” says Mr. Skiff.

The transparency extends beyond the students and the faculty. Eventually, says Mr. Skiff, he hopes to partly evaluate courses based on feedback from employers who have hired Oplerno students or alumni.

Professors will set their own prices, but Mr. Skiff says his goal is for most courses to be priced from $500 to $1,500 each. Oplerno will take 10 percent or $100 per class, whichever is greater, so a professor teaching a $1,000 class with 10 students would earn $9,000.

A student “might spend extra money to work with an Oscar-nominated screenwriter”—one of the 17 faculty members who’ve already signed up to teach via Oplerno has those credentials, he says—but maybe pay less for another course. “People can pick or choose based on their needs,” he says.

Mr. Skiff says he would be “really bummed out” and consider Oplerno unsuccessful from a societal standpoint if students had to go deeply into debt to attend.

John H. Todd, an emeritus professor of natural resources at the University of Vermont, and his wife, Nancy Todd, are among those faculty members looking at Oplerno. Ms. Todd has already proposed a course on ecological literacy. Mr. Todd will propose one on his field of expertise, ecological design.

They both know Mr. Skiff from his days as a co-founder of the Vermont Commons School, in the late 1990s (he founded that with his wife, Leah Mital-Skiff, and his father, Robert A. Skiff Sr., a former president of Champlain College), and the Todds are enthusiastic about his new venture. “I know a lot of people who would like to teach, but there isn’t this vehicle” to allow it, says Mr. Todd, who also taught Mr. Skiff at Vermont.

He also appreciates Mr. Skiff’s challenge. “It rather depends on if he can attract people who are highly recognized in their field” to teach, he says.

That’s where some of the self-organizing comes in. Mr. Skiff says that, as faculty members sign on, he hopes they will start to “develop their own networks” to attract others, so that Oplerno can eventually offer certificates, programs, and at some point full degrees. He plans to apply for accreditation this fall from the State of Vermont to award credit for its courses.

Ayaz Ul Haque, managing director at Exalt Capital Partners and an informal adviser to Oplerno as it begins to position itself to raise additional funds, says the ideas behind the company are appealing in the current climate. With the value of higher education “under the microscope,” he says, Oplerno offers a sense of clarity about the “black box” of college costs.

“It’s a model that needs to be proven,” Mr. Haque allows, “but I think most of the risks are on the execution side.” (He met Mr. Skiff through mutual friends from Middlebury College, which they both attended; Mr. Skiff graduated in 1990.)

Mr. Skiff, who is now completing his Ed.D. degree at the University of Vermont (his dissertation is unrelated to this venture), says he appreciates the challenges he faces, not least of which is establishing Oplerno as a legitimate academic enterprise. For that, he says, he’ll eventually hire deans and others: “It does take expertise. But it’s not rocket science.”

U of A offers voluntary buyout packages to professors to meet funding shortfall

August 12, 2013August 11, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON: On short notice, the University of Alberta is quickly taking steps to reduce the number of professors through voluntary buyouts, with some professors expected to leave as early as December.

The university, which submitted its proposed budget to the province last week, received “informal messages” that it needs to move more quickly to balance the books, acting provost Martin Ferguson-Pell said in an interview.

That meant crunching a three-year plan to balance the budget into two years and cutting $56 million in the next two years, said Ferguson-Pell.

While he could not say how many of the 4,500 academic staff he expects will leave, Ferguson-Pell said about 75 per cent of the $56 million to be cut is devoted to salaries. “That gives an idea of what we are removing in terms of compensation.”

“This is not something we do lightly, we have a lot invested in our academic staff. But there is not much choice,” he added.

“We don’t have any sense of how many people will be interested, so we put it out for discussion.”

Most would leave in June 2014, but some could leave as early as this December, he added. It will require reviewing course offerings and classes for the fall of 2014.

Under the offer, professors have a month to consider the offer and will know by the end of September if they are accepted for the buyout, a maximum of one year’s salary. Each case will be decided by the deans in consultation with administration, he added.

“Students will have concerns about class sizes and program availability but we can’t say anything about that until the numbers come forward,” said Ferguson-Pell.

The U of A is also about to review the high school averages needed to gain acceptance in too high demand faculties.

It’s possible those averages will be increased, especially in engineering and science, to keep within enrolment targets, said Ferguson-Pell.

Kevin Kane, president of the academic staff association, said the association is “receptive” to the idea of voluntary buyouts as another tool to deal with the 7.2 per cent reduction in provincial funding announced this fall to all universities and colleges.

But there’s a lot of concern that high profile, mid-career people and promising younger professors will take the package which is offered to everyone, not just to those near retirement, he added.

“We could lose some very important people,” said Kane, who also worries that research teams could be broken up.

The more academic staff who take the buyout, “it may ease the budget crisis, but you could see our programs negatively affected,” he warned.

The staff association is also disappointed the university administration acted “unilaterally” in announcing the buyouts. Under the collective agreement, this step should have been put to a vote among the academic staff, he added.

“We’re sympathetic, but we think they should follow proper process.”

The U of A’s hand was forced by the province which has “unrealistic expectations” about how fast the university can move to cope with such major budget cuts, Kane added.

Political science professor Ian Urquhart said the university has switched direction again in its desperate effort to trim budgets. Previously it was looking for program cuts to save money and now it is cutting academic staff.

“It’s hard to have confidence when university leadership lurches from one half-baked approach to another,” said Urquhart, adding that people are frustrated.

Also, the administration should provide taxpayers and faculty with many more budget details so it is clear to the public and professors which faculties are being cut more, he said. So far, both are kept in the dark, he said.

Urquhart put in a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get those details of faculty cuts. In response, he recently received 87 pages with all the specific budget numbers brushed out.

“We need more transparency,” he said. “I expect the government to keep us in the dark but I expect more form the U of A leadership. The university is no better than the province in providing information,” he said.

Thomas Lukaszuk, minister of Advanced Education, said Tuesday he received the U of A’s proposed budget last week but has not yet read it. He expects to respond in a couple of weeks.

Lukaszuk also said he did not ask the U of A to accelerate its cuts from the proposed three-year plan they announced earlier this spring.

But he noted that the $60 million deficit the university planned to carry over was larger than the $47 million the university lost when the operating grants were cut.

The U of A has already cut $28 million from its 2013-14 budget.

In addition to the $47 million cut in provincial funding, the U of A had a structural deficit of $12 million, partly due to falling investment revenues.

Last week, the staff association declined to reopen the two-year collective agreement to consider salary rollbacks. The agreement provides for a 1.65 per cent increase this year and next.

MacEwan University has no plans to offer buyouts to its academic staff, spokesman David Beharry confirmed.

Ambitious plan aims to boost Western University’s profile at home and abroad

August 12, 2013August 19, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: London Free Press

Four years after a pledge from the top to make Western University one of the world’s best, faculty, staff, and students have a plan to make that happen.

The focus on going global, though, won’t stop the school from strengthening its connections to London, says the university’s vice-provost.

“We want to raise our profile, we want to continue to offer the best education in Canada and be the destination for the best students and best faculty and best staff,” says Alan Weedon, the school’s vice-provost of faculty, planning and staff.

“If you don’t do these things then you start to lose ground.”

But, Weedon adds, “we recognize we need to focus on our relationship with London, with Southwestern Ontario, and the rest of Ontario and Canada.”

Going Global: Achieving Excellence on the World Stage, is the title of the university’s new draft strategic plan now under review by faculty, staff and students until the end of September.

The ambitious plan outlines several main goals for Western:

— Become a world-class research centre, with a higher international profile

— Better engage the community, including alumni and London

— Build on reputation for excellence in education

— Find new funding sources to help pay for improvements, expansion

The plan appears to be a roadmap for Western president Amit Chakma’s early dreams for the school.

In his first interview after being named president in 2008, Chakma vowed to make Western one of the world’s top 100 post-secondary institutions.

He called on faculty and students to work with other disciplines to tackle complex challenges and added “the key for interation recognition is to have impact.”

Those goals are present throughout the new plan.

“What the strategic plan does, is help everyone on this campus in their day-to day work focus on the things that will get us to where we would like to be,” Weedon said.

“Western is an extraordinary university, but we tend to hide our light under a bushel and we need to get the word out nationally and internationally that we’re here. I don’t think we’re being recognized for what we are.”

The same could be said for the university’s relationship with London, Weedon says. Western has many connections with the city that simply aren’t known or celebrated enough, he says.

Western’s link to the city seemed to be growing stronger in 2011, when plans to build a downtown campus were announced.

But politicians balked at the price tag — at least $70.8 million.

“The fact that one didn’t progress, wasn’t because we weren’t interested. It turned out to be not politically viable in the city,” Weedon says.

Asked if Western has given up on expanding its downtown presence, he says: “Certainly not.”

“We are partnering with the city in a number of areas. We continue to be open to that.”

Expanding Western research, attracting more students, faculty, creating programs and raising the profile, won’t come cheap. And the strategic plan outlines ways the university can raise money.

“We need to look at all our funding sources and, if possible, multiply our funding sources because we can’t rely on government and tuition,” Weedon says.

GOING GLOBAL

What: draft strategic plan for Western University

When: Comments by faculty, staff, students due Sept. 20.

Next: Plan goes to school’s senate and board of governors in November

GOALS

1. Create world-class research and scholarship by:

— Expanding interdisciplinary research

— Creating 50 new research chairs

— Increasing quality/quantity of research funding applications

— Focusing on research with impact

— Telling the world what Western does

— Hiring the best people

2. Educate students to succeed and lead by:

— Expanding graduate enrolment, in part with new graduate programs

— Establishing new professional master’s degree programs

— Minimizing financial, structural barriers to interdisciplinary study

— Engaging more undergraduates in research

— Offering more ways, such as online courses, to learn

— Increasing internships

3. Better engage alumni, international community, London region

4. Find new funding sources

ABOUT WESTERN

— One of Ontario’s largest universities

— 28,000+ students, including undergraduate and graduate

— 220,000+ alumni and former students

Are College Students Buying Required Textbooks? 75% in US Say No

August 12, 2013August 11, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Publishing Perspectives

This summer, E-textbook publisher Bookboon.com conducted a survey of college students in the United States, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. In total, nearly 10,000 students completed a questionnaire found in the Bookboon student newsletter and on Facebook, consisting of eleven questions regarding the use of textbooks. And the results can’t be good news for traditional textbook publishers.

In the United States, over 75% of students decide not to buy the textbooks their classes require, in large part because students find textbooks too expensive and are discouraged by the simple fact that quite often, only a few chapters from the books are needed for study.

On average, US students spend $655 per year on required textbooks. But according to the survey, more than nine out of ten students find textbooks too expensive, resulting in the 76.6% of US students who make the decision not to purchase the required books. (In the UK, the numbers are even more startling, with 83.3% of students not always buying required textbooks.)

So instead, according to the survey, students are constantly on the lookout for cheaper options, including copying the needed chapters, finding online alternatives, or, in the case of 60% of those surveyed, buying their textbooks second hand. Indeed, only 25% of students buy their textbooks new, despite the recommendation of their professors to purchase the latest editions. (The remaining 16% of students find other alternatives, including borrowing or renting the required textbooks.)

Given this, it may not be surprising to learn that 58% of college students in the US prefer digital textbooks: students find them easier to carry, to read from, and believe they are cheaper. But on the other hand, the survey results were very different in Europe. Bookboon’s COO Thomas Buus Madsen wrote, “American students are at least a couple of years ahead of their European counterparts. In countries such as German, the UK, and the Netherlands, only 30-40% of the students prefer digital textbooks. Most European students stick to paper. This is partly because eReaders and e-textbooks are less available. Additionally, publishers, professors and universities in Europe are less active in promoting and adopting the use of e-textbooks compared to the USA.”

Of course to put the $655 yearly price tag for textbooks into perspective, consider this: a 2011 study done by the Student Health Service of the University of Pennsylvania showed that students in the US also spend roughly $900 a year on alcohol. Perhaps, in part, to drown out their sorrow at spending $655 on textbooks.

Read the entire survey here.

Business school scholarships offered for LGBTQ community service

August 12, 2013August 11, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Globe and Mail

Building on an established relationship with those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) – and others who are their advocates – HSBC Bank Canada has established new scholarships at four Canadian business schools worth $80,000 and potential employment over the next four years. The announcement comes on the eve of the Vancouver Pride Parade on Monday.

“Our business model is all about different perspectives and diversity,” says Mike Webb, senior vice-president and head of human resources for the Vancouver-based bank, and also executive sponsor of its internal Pride Network.

For businesses, it is also about the bottom line. “If you look at the incredible economic impact that the LGBT community has in Canada and elsewhere, it is amazing the economic opportunity that is there,” Mr. Webb says. “If you neglect it, ignore it, you are losing out on a phenomenal opportunity.”

The scholarships will be offered to four students a year over four years at each of the following schools: Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto; Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto; Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business in Vancouver, and Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

The award recognizes academically strong students (gay or straight) who demonstrate leadership and community service through participation in LGBTQ organizations or initiatives on campus. Each winner receives $5,000, consideration for summer internships and, after graduation, potential acceptance into management trainee programs at HSBC.

Rotman’s winner for 2013 is Vincent Ho, 20, an undergraduate accounting student who holds a cumulative grade point average of 3.99 out of 4 entering third year in September.

He is the incoming president of the Rotman Commerce Pride Alliance, one of the few LGBTQ-focused student groups at an undergraduate business program in Canada. The group provides a networking venue for students to link to LGBTQ professionals and works with “ally” students to bring awareness and education about LGBTQ diversity and other issues. With host support from KPMG, his organization runs an annual live case competition. He also volunteers for various LQBTQ initiatives on and off campus.

A summer intern at KPMG, Mr. Ho says the HSBC scholarships send an important message to students and business.

“It signals to students that big companies like HSBC want to recognize LGBTQ talent and show they are interested in having these sorts of employees on their teams because they do bring enormous diversity,” he says. “Through that, you are able to better understand your customer and how the business works.”

Haskayne woos new faculty

While a lecturer at Harvard Law School this year, James Coleman saw a posting for a tenure-track job at the University of Calgary that seemed right up his alley: a joint appointment in the faculties of business and law on energy and environmental issues.

His friends thought so, too, sending e-mails of encouragement. “‘They seem to be looking to hire you,’” recalls Prof. Coleman. “Once I started here, I had a lot of people who thought, ‘I got James that job!’”

The Minneapolis-born scholar is one of 10 new faculty members and three new directors recently hired by Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business in its biggest recruitment drive in a decade, according to school officials.

“We are expanding our research capacity by almost 20 per cent,” says Loren Falkenberg, associate dean of research at Haskayne, with nine of the 10 new faculty hires in the research-oriented professorial stream. The new faculty come from eight different countries, though all pursued graduate studies in Canada or the United States.

With 79 full-time faculty, the school now aims to boost its research standing after a period of budget restraint and the loss of professors due to retirement and departures.

For Prof. Coleman, Calgary made sense as a destination because of his research interest in the business and legal aspects of energy and environmental issues. “Regulatory risk is such a big issue for oil and gas companies and for the companies where our students will go work,” he says.

He is based at the law school, but will teach at the business school as well.

As in any decision that involves leaving one’s home country, non-academic issues proved crucial as well. A Westerner at heart, Prof. Coleman is an avid hockey player and looks to join some men’s leagues in Calgary.

Along with new faculty, Haskayne has added three new administrative directors.

Kim Neutens, becomes director of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, after a 10-year stint as director of MBA program services at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Jenny Krahn, a Haskayne undergraduate business graduate, has been named director of the Canadian Centre for Advanced Leadership. Hugh Evans, formerly vice-dean and director of corporate education at Henley Business School in Britain, has been tapped as director of executive education.

Ask not where the jobs are, but what you want to do

August 1, 2013August 1, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Globe & Mail

Every year, when I welcome a new class to campus, I hear about the decision-making process students have undertaken to enroll in their programs. Some cite the advice of parents or a friend, others refer to teachers, but many times students are clearly unsure of why they have chosen their program. Parents are most often sought out for advice, yet they are often ill-equipped to talk about the full range of postsecondary options.

Recently, I was talking about degree options for students in our colleges and the parent said to me, “Well, those aren’t real degrees.” In fact, the applied-learning focus of the degrees in the colleges is just as real as any BA awarded at a traditional university. I would argue these degrees are even more real because of their concrete connections to industry as well as the field work, internships and co-ops that are linked to these credentials. Many parents are simply working under pre-conceived assumptions about colleges being a lesser-than option when compared to the universities. Indeed, while colleges do offer access programming, we also offer intensive degree programs on par with many undergraduate degrees.

So how can we help students and parents think differently? More importantly, how do we ensure students are receiving and using the right information to make right career decisions? It first begins with strong assessment of their talents, who they are and what they are interested in pursuing. To me this means that we need to better equip students earlier with solid information around the whole range of career options that align to their strengths. In my own institution, we have developed some new online tools and pro-active career advising to support students with this process to ensure they have a more complete picture of themselves and their goals.

Additionally, our education system specifically needs to provide better information to students and parents about career planning. This includes improved career development options for secondary-school students and changing the dominant paradigm in parents’ minds about the value of applied learning available in postsecondary schools and promoting the importance of adaptability for students. This also includes more work-integrated learning opportunities and courses in creative thinking, entrepreneurship and innovation.

It is also about developing a new social contract between students, employers and society related to careers, education and training. We have to change our notions about the skills associated with the future world of work. It is not about simply “skills training.” It also has to be about training for the right skills that are needed now and in the future. This means highlighting the importance of continuing to learn and equipping students to be flexible and resilient. This will allow new graduates to respond to changing conditions, especially in a connected, hyper-competitive global economy.

I would argue in fact that our economy benefits from a differentiated and strongly linked postsecondary system. We need students graduating with history degrees, philosophy degrees and applied–focused degrees that also build in work-integrated learning opportunities and creative thinking approaches.

However our postsecondary system needs more tools to effectively show students what success looks like. It is not about just picking a program because someone told them this is where the jobs shortages are occurring. More often than not in my experience, the students who combine passion, a strong understanding of their strengths and a well-informed support network of parents and friends are motivated to succeed and cross the stage at convocation.

BSE Institute Ltd. and Ryerson University Announce BSEI-Ryerson Digital Media Zone

August 1, 2013August 1, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development Canada

MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA: Today a groundbreaking MOU was signed between BSE Institute Ltd. (BIL), Ryerson University and Ryerson Futures Inc. (RFI) from Toronto, Canada. The document outlines a partnership to create BSEI-Ryerson Digital Media Zone, a new India-based incubator for entrepreneurs to fast-track their startups and connect with mentors, customers, and investors. The collaboration between BIL, Ryerson and RFI lays the groundwork to help young entrepreneurs expand into both the Indian and Canadian markets and also touches on a broad spectrum of areas in the domain of entrepreneurship development and professional development education.

The signing ceremony was organized on July 29, 2103 at the BSE. Several dignitaries from the finance industry, academia and media were present to witness the launch.

BSE Institute’s CEO & MD, Mr. Ambarish Datta said, “Entrepreneurship and innovation are critical for the growth of any economy, as has been evidenced in the USA, Germany, Israel, and many other countries around the world. Youth unemployment and underemployment is prevalent in India and needs to be addressed on a war footing. Setting up of new enterprises can contribute in a major way to address this issue. Apart from creating wealth and boosting the economy, new businesses also create significantly larger number of jobs than established ones. Hence we need to ensure that there are many new enterprises and they get the required support to succeed.

The BIL-Ryerson Incubation Center (BRIC) will offer startups expert guidance and mentoring to refine their concept, help them get their business up and running and also connect them with investors for securing capital.”

Mr. Sheldon Levy, President and Vice-Chancellor of Ryerson University, added: “This initiative is an important first step towards creating a new bridge between Canada and India that provides young entrepreneurs unprecedented international opportunities. As Canada’s university leader in entrepreneurship, we’re excited to contribute to this venture that will support innovation and prosperity in both countries.”

“The signing of today’s MOU enables us to forge networks of angel investors across Canada and India,” added Matt Saunders, President and Managing Director of Ryerson Futures Inc. “These initiatives will help increase the odds of success for early-stage start-ups while giving them access to new markets. We are proud to share our expertise towards this partnership that will strengthen India’s startup ecosystem and provide a boost for both countries’ economies.”

The BIL-Ryerson Incubation Center will be built on the lines of the Digital Media Zone, a unique model developed at Ryerson University that has attracted international attention. The Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University (DMZ) is one of Canada’s largest incubators and multidisciplinary co-working spaces for young entrepreneurs. Infused with the energy and resources of downtown Toronto, this hub of digital media innovation, collaboration, and commercialization is home to both startups and industry solution-providers. The DMZ leads the way in experiential learning and business success by creating a unique ecosystem of education and entrepreneurship. Emerging leaders’ fast-track their product launches and grow their companies in this supportive community by connecting with mentors, customers, and each other. Since opening in April 2010, the DMZ has stimulated Canada’s digital economy by incubating and accelerating 92 startups and launching 142 projects.

The first initiative through the partnership between BIL, Ryerson University, and RFI will be the launch of ‘The Next Big Idea’ competition. The competition seeks to discover India’s most innovative companies who are looking to use a presence in Ontario, Canada as a vehicle to expand into North America. The winner will receive the opportunity to incubate their company for three weeks in the Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University (DMZ), including flights and hotels. Using the DMZ as a landing pad, the entrepreneurs will receive mentorship, business development advice, and gain valuable international experience. The competition opens August 12 and closes August 30, 2013.

With AICTE nod, corporate houses set to start engineering colleges

August 1, 2013August 1, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Indian Express via India Newswatch

NEW DELHI: For the first time, the All India Council for Technical Education has decided to allow private corporate groups to start degree colleges in the 2013-14 academic year.

It has received applications from four corporate groups so far — Madras Cements from Tamil Nadu, Bharat Forge from Maharashtra, TechMahindra (Satyam Computers taken over by Mahindra & Mahindra) from Andhra Pradesh, and a company from Jharkhand.

“A total of four companies have applied in the first year. A decision will have to be taken soon,” confirmed AICTE chairman S S Mantha. “We want industries to participate in the process of delivering quality education. We genuinely feel that the industry should participate more than they are doing now. An initiative like this is a step in that direction. It will facilitate introduction of best practices of the industry,” he said.

So far, the industry was only involved in organising lectures and specific projects at AICTE-approved technical colleges. The AICTE’s decision to allow a private limited or public limited company or industry, with a turnover of Rs 100 crore each year for the past three years, to start an under-graduate, post-graduate or diploma institute, is aimed at addressing the corporate sector’s complaints that students graduating from technical institutes are not industry-ready or employable.

When contacted, A V Dharmakrishnan, chief executive officer, Madras Cements, said: “Madras Cements currently has schools across its factories in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. We also have a polytechnic institute from where we recruit. The only missing link is an engineering institute. We need a lot of manpower and we felt that this is the right time to start an engineering college as we already have the expertise. The construction of the college building has started and AICTE officials have inspected the site. We are expecting approval soon.”

The college, which will be named Ramco Institute of Technology, will offer programmes in core engineering disciplines like mechanical, civil, electrical, electronics and communication, and computer science, he said.

The AICTE will allow a company to start any branch of a discipline that suits its requirement. The institutes could offer technical disciplines like engineering and technology, pharmacy, architecture and town planning, applied arts and crafts and hotel management and catering technology (HMCT).

A senior academic from the IIT system said that while the response has not been huge, it is a good start. “More industries should definitely be part of the higher education system,” said the academic.

Community colleges equipping learners

August 1, 2013August 1, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Times of India via India Newswatch

NEW DELHI: In February, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), announced the launch of around 200 community colleges from the 2013 academic session.

Community Colleges (CC) have been in India for some time now. However, these colleges have not yet emerged as an alternative system to the traditional universities. Taking cognizance of this, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), along with the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), has announced the launch of 200 CC across the country under the National Vocational Education Qualifications Framework (NVEQF) programme. The pilot CCs aim at improving employable skills of learners, providing them opportunities for flexible quality learning at low cost, multiple exit-entry and community based lifelong learning.

Elaborates BK Bhadri, assistant education advisor, MHRD, “These colleges would function from existing colleges/polytechnics, which have been identified by the state/union territories. Combining skills with general education, they will offer modular credit-based programmes relevant to the local employment market with active industry involvement in terms of design, development and delivery of the curriculum including hands-on practical training. While the general education component will conform to university norms, the vocational component will conform to the NVEQF.”

Pardeep Sahni, nodal officer, Community College Unit of Ignou, adds: “The NVEQF scheme has 10 levels. Levels 1-4 are up to class XII, 5-7 complement the graduation programme, levels 8 and 9 are those of the Master’s level and level 10 is equivalent to the doctoral level. A common curriculum has been fixed and the focus of each year is on skill component as well as general education. Within each year the hours for skill development as well general education have been allocated. With each level, the component of skill/vocational education increases and that of general education decreases.”

Colleges will consult industry through the Sector Skill Council (SSC), constituted by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), for development of curriculum and evaluation of skills. However, till SSCs prescriptions are available, the pilot CCs will develop their curriculum on the lines of the model curriculum in 12 sectors developed by AICTE in consultation with the relevant industry. Speaking of the student profile that these colleges will attract, Bhadri says, “The colleges will cover all age and qualification groups, i.e., persons with no formal academic qualification, school drop-outs, high school and diploma-holders, etc.

However, at the pilot stage it may focus on students who have completed class XII, i.e., levels 5-7 of the NVEQF.” In order to ensure the sustainability of the scheme, a committee comprising nine education ministers, headed by Archana Chitnis, minister of school education, Madhya Pradesh, visited the US to study the community college model.

Speaking on the findings of the committee, Bhadri says, “The team observed that the CC system has been working well in the US for the last 50 years. However, all its features cannot be imported to India due to the socio- economic and socio-cultural differences that the two countries have in spite of several similarities.” The committee, accordingly, emphasized that the pilot CC should meet the contemporary needs of the community/ society and the nation at large.

Some of the important recommendations of the committee include the award of certificate, diplomas, advanced diplomas and associate degrees, the dovetailing of the courses with the levels of the NVEQF to facilitate mobility between general and vocational education by bridging the credit gap, and adequate laboratory/ workshop facilities in colleges.

Synergy 2013: Seats filling quickly

July 18, 2013March 27, 2020Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Registrations are now open for our highly successful “Canada-India: A Synergy in Education” event, held since 2007. The Canada India Education Council (CIEC) is proud to host Synergy 2013 on Oct 3 & 4 at the Hilton Garden Inn near Toronto Airport.

Highlights of this year’s sessions:

Update on Canada India Higher Education cooperation & promotion of Canada as a study destination by Foreign Affairs & Int’l Trade (DFAIT)
Update on the Ontario-Maharashtra-Goa (OMG) program & cross directional push for higher levels of collaboration in Research & Higher Education by Dr. Lalu Mansinha
Updates from Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute and we are particularly delighted that the recently founded IC-IMPACT (announced by PM Stephen Harper in Nov 2012) will also be present and discuss opportunities for collaboration.

Join hundreds of academic experts from both countries as they discuss recent developments and hear illustrious speakers stimulate thought and demonstrate the opportunities of this dynamic and burgeoning education corridor. For a detailed Agenda, please visit: http://canadaindiaeducation.com/synergy-2013/ To Register, click here.

The seating capacity at Synergy 2013 is only 120 and registration is once again on a first come basis. CIEC has negotiated a special rate for delegates staying at the hotel, which will also provide complimentary airport transfers. To take advantage of the discounted hotel rate, you must reserve your room by August 31^st by clicking here. For delegates arriving from India, CIEC is pleased to provide a 1 night FREE stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.

CIEC is a membership founded, bi-national, independent, event-driven organization established to operate exclusively in the ‘Canada India education corridor’, enhance ties and create opportunities for academic institutions and learners from both countries.

We look forward to seeing you at this year’s landmark event and in the meanwhile, have yourself a great summer!

Our medical schools must not become shills for big pharma

July 17, 2013July 22, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Globe and Mail

Most Canadians might be surprised to learn that medical students in Canada are routinely taught by faculty who have financial ties, and work in partnership, with drug companies. Conflict of interest (COI) policies at medical schools are important to ensure that students get an unbiased education based on the best available clinical evidence, free of industry-sponsored, commercially-driven information. After all, these students go on to become our doctors and we want the best doctors education can provide.

So, do medical schools in Canada lack appropriate conflict of interest policies or are they simply not following them?

In a study published in PloS One, we examined the COI policies at all 17 medical schools across the country. Our findings reveal a glaring problem, and something that should concern all of us. The majority of medical schools (12 of 17) have generally weak or non-existent COI policies, and four schools had policies that were moderately restrictive. Only one medical school – Western University – had stringent COI rules.

In other words, the bulk of our doctors-in-training in Canada are receiving health information that is potentially biased and misleading.

Here’s a telling example: Between 2002 and 2006, the University of Toronto held a pain-management course for medical and other health science professional students that was partly funded by grants from Purdue Pharma LP, the maker of OxyContin. As part of the course, a chronic pain-management book – funded and copyrighted by Purdue Pharma – was distributed to the students free of charge by a lecturer who worked in partnership with Purdue Pharma and was external to University of Toronto. The wording in the book exaggerated both the benefits and the approved uses for these medications, based on the current evidence at that time. Despite recognition of these concerns by the university after a student complained, those who attended the sessions were never informed of the bias or the problematic content of the lectures and book (which was used in a related course up to 2010).

The most poorly regulated areas noted in our study include curriculum selection, receiving free drug samples, visits from pharmaceutical sales representatives and taking part in speaking engagements on behalf of pharmaceutical companies.

Bottom line: Unrestrictive policies allow industry to influence medical residents’ education about appropriate, effective and safe medicines, as well as prescribing choices.

Free drug samples have been found to increase the likelihood that medical residents will choose to provide medications to patients that cost more than equally effective prescription treatments, or other non-pharmaceutical options. Frequent visits by drug sales representatives are associated with influencing prescribing practices, resulting in more frequent prescribing and poorer prescribing quality.

The biggest concern, however, is the lack of education provided to medical students about the pervasiveness and effects of COI relationships with drug companies. Without such guidance, medical students, who will become prescribing physicians, graduate without being fully equipped to deal with either potential conflicts of interest in medical practice, or the influence of industry promotion on clinical judgement.

Our findings mean that industry has the ability to influence the resources provided and information that is taught to medical students. Without effective, stringent policies to regulate industry’s interactions with medical students and faculty, drug companies are granted the ability to be present in medical schools and play notably influential roles in the clinical training of medical students.

If we want the best doctors in Canada, our medical schools need to revise and improve their policies to regulate conflicts of interest between medical faculty, residents and the pharmaceutical industry. These policies should address the medical curriculum and the ways in which relationships with pharmaceutical firms may affect the attitudes and information that is taught to medical students.

Medical students should be educated by medical faculty using the best available clinical evidence that is unbiased by industry so that when medical students graduate, they are able to provide their patients with the best, most effective, and safest treatments possible.

What can India learn from the Canadian education system?

July 17, 2013July 18, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Times of India

The Canadian education system tries to be as equitable as possible towards students with disabilities. Many Canadian jurisdictions have policies that govern the inclusion of students with disabilities within the classroom. But in order to achieve this inclusivity, it is also required that parents, students, teachers, administrators and other community members continuously collaborate to address the needs of students with disabilities. For instance, while attending elementary and high school, a meeting was held for me at the start of the school year in which my parents, the teacher, an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist and I would discuss the curriculum for the upcoming year and the resources (ex. technology, special desk and chair, etc.) that I would need. This ensured that I was able to meet the academic goals set out in each grade’s curriculum.

The Canadian education system also makes an attempt to assist and accommodate students with disabilities in various ways. For example, in elementary and high school, I was given aSpecial Education Assistant (SEA) who would take my notes and scribe for me. At the high school, I attended, the elevator was specifically designated for students with disabilities; administrators made sure that the elevator was accessible at all times by distributing the elevator key only to students with disabilities. Some of my high school teachers also made an attempt to include me in the activities by adapting them to my needs. To illustrate, in my gym classes, if we were playing basketball, my teacher would have one round of wheelchair basketball as our school’s gym had extra wheelchairs for this purpose.

A number of Canadian post-secondary institutions have centres for students with disabilities that provide them with the necessary and reasonable accommodations. Examples of services offered by centres for students with disabilities are in-class note takers (who are student volunteers or hirees), scribes for exams, extra time for exams and textbooks in alternative formats (ex. Braille or large print). The accommodations are determined by a Learning Specialist/Disability advisor and are based on the student’s disability and needs. At SFU, I meet with my Learning Specialist at the start of each semester to discuss the course outlines and accommodations that I will need for that semester.

Occasionally professors may also accommodate the student on their own. For instance, because professors are aware that I require a scribe and extra time, if there is an in-class activity, they will sometimes allow me to take it home, type it up and email it to them. (Otherwise, the centre for students with disabilities arranges for a scribe if enough notice is given.)

Even though the Canadian education system aims to accommodate students with diverse needs, it must be noted that students cannot be accommodated in all programs. To demonstrate, a student like me who has limited hand coordination cannot expect to be accommodated in a pharmacy class where accuracy and precision are essential and tested. Students must also have the ability to learn.

After watching the ‘SatyamevJayate’ episode on people with disabilities, it is clear that the Indian education system faces a challenge when it comes to providing these types of services to students with disabilities. However, people living in countries like Canada fail to realize that this is not the case in all countries. You will be surprised at how many Canadians I come across who believe that people with disabilities are unable to attend school. This is due to the knowledge void that exists within our society regarding the education of individuals with disabilities, which I now hope to fill by sharing my knowledge and experiences.

CIEC Opens Associate Membership for Indian & Canadian Academic Institutions

July 2, 2013March 27, 2020Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Academic relations between Canada and India are at an all time high and yet education linkages remain well below potential. CIEC was founded by bringing together 15 academic & non-academic organizations in Canada and has since gradually evolved into a valuable bridge between Canada & India. It is now positioned as the “go to” organization for Canada-India academic relations. CIEC is one of only a few organizations offering critical ‘on the ground’ presence in both countries and helps Institutions position themselves advantageously in an increasingly competitive environment. CIEC combines corporate governance with the benefits of a public-private partnership balanced with an entrepreneurial methodology to remain independent and yet be financially sustainable.

CIEC has invested countless hours and resources in paving the way for academics, organizations, governments and other stakeholders to work with each other and has helped lay the foundation for smooth academic relationships and exchanges. We are proud of our accomplishments in this short span but also realize that we have only just begun to scratch the surface. Besides planning delegations, organizing missions (recruiting & otherwise), training seminars, facilitating academic exchanges and hosting our flagship annual ‘Synergy’ Conference for several years, there remains much more to do and many more opportunities to be seized.

As CIEC opens its Membership to Institutions across India and Canada, we invite Colleges, Universities and interested Corporations to join us as we enhance ties and create opportunities for academic institutions and learners from both countries. Members will have an opportunity to network with each other and showcase themselves and their institutions in this vibrant and burgeoning education corridor.

CIEC Membership will also serve as a unique way to profile your Institutions programs, commitments and initiatives in this vibrant ‘corridor’ and with thought provoking discussions led by experts from both countries featured in our monthly newsletter and live news portal ‘Disha‘ which is read by over 19,000 academics and thought leaders from both countries. Members can highlight recent developments, new programs, dialogue on emerging opportunities, stimulate thought and discuss new initiatives and ideas. CIEC’s highly penetrative and potent network reaches academic champions from both countries, high level government representatives and policy makers, besides Colleges & Universities.

CIEC is a bi-national, non-partisan, independent, event-driven, membership-based organization established to operate exclusively in the ‘Canada India education corridor’, enhance ties and create opportunities for academic institutions and learners from both countries.

To become an Associate Member and be counted as a leader and make yourself known in this dynamic and growing sector, click here to register and active your 1-year FREE listing online. We look forward to working with you.

Kind regards,

Hon. Pierre S Pettigrew, PC Prof Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President & Vice Chancellor,
Chair-CIEC Carleton University
Academic Advisor-CIEC

Connect with CEO Husain F. Neemuchwala on LinkedIn
‘Like’ CIEC on Facebook
Join our LinkedIn group ‘Network of Canada-India Education Leaders & Stakeholders‘
Visit ‘Disha,’ a ‘clearing house’ of information & updates pertaining to the Canada-India education corridor distributed to our database of 19 000 key education stakeholders, and subscribe to receive monthly editions.

SFU launches new MBA Program

June 24, 2013July 22, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business is very pleased to announce that it has launched an MBA program at the SFU Surrey campus. Designed to meet the needs of a growing number of managers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders seeking to enhance their business skill set without skipping a beat in their professional careers, the part-time MBA at Surrey features the same curriculum as SFU’s full-time MBA offered in Vancouver, and is taught by leading faculty from the Beedie School of Business.

Beedie’s part-time MBA at Surrey combines theory and application to provide students with the confidence and ability to make decisions and manage more effectively. It’s all about engagement – from a classroom experience that engages and challenges students to make informed and creative decisions – to the projects and events that have the students engaging with the business and non-profit community on a regular basis.

Students learn the most current and innovative management knowledge and skills – techniques that can be applied in the workplace immediately, but that will remain relevant throughout their career. The program’s comprehensive curriculum explores relevant topics such as sustainability, entrepreneurship and international business.

Beginning in January 2014, Beedie’s part-time MBA at Surrey is offered continuously over 24 months. Classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, in conjunction with a handful of full-day intensive sessions per year. The program will be hosted at SFU’s award-winning Surrey campus, designed by acclaimed architect Bing Thom and located adjacent to the Surrey Central SkyTrain station.

“The implementation of the Beedie School of Business’ part-time MBA program provides the City of Surrey’s growing business community a new opportunity for growth and progression, as well as reflects Simon Fraser University’s dedication to our City,” said Dianne Watts, Mayor of the City of Surrey.

“The astonishing amount of new businesses that have started up in the City of Surrey over the past six years, over 13,000, is a testament to the spirit of ingenuity and hard work that resides here, making the establishment of the part-time MBA program a perfect fit.”

For the most current information on the Beedie School of Business part-time MBA at Surrey, please visit http://beedie.sfu.ca/mbasurrey.

SFU’s Beedie School is home to Canada’s first Executive MBA program,

established in 1968, and has a longstanding history of creating customized

programs to the meet the needs of individual students. These include the

EMBA in Aboriginal Business and Leadership and the Management of Technology

MBA programs. The school has offered its Bachelor of Business Administration

(BBA) program at the SFU Surrey campus since 2002.

Other programs at our Segal Graduate School in downtown Vancouver include:

MBA in Management of Technology, Executive MBA, MBA (full-time), Graduate

Diploma in Business Administration (online); MSc Finance.

Synergy 2013 just around the corner

June 24, 2013March 27, 2020Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Canada India Education Council (CIEC) is pleased to announce that this year’s 7^th Annual ‘Synergy 2013’ event is just around the corner and will at once feature major stakeholders such as AUCC, DFAIT, Ontario Maharashtra Goa (OMG), Shastri Institute (SICI) and academic experts from India accompanied by 5 Canadian MP’s and key thought leaders from both countries. We are particularly delighted that the recently founded IC-IMPACT which was announced by PM Stephen Harper in Nov 2012 will also be present and discuss opportunities for others to get involved in. Another interesting session will be conducted by representatives of the National Association of Career Colleges (NACC) who will discuss impending legislation and how it could transform ‘Internationalization’ efforts for private institutions. Synergy 2013 will also feature a round table discussion on the intersection of immigration & education in the Canada-India corridor and feature closing remarks by Hon. Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) and a reception by the co-chairs of the Canada-India Parliamentary Association.

On Oct 3 & 4, join academic experts from both countries as they discuss recent developments and hear illustrious speakers stimulate thought and showcase opportunities in this dynamic and burgeoning education corridor. The seating capacity is only 120 and registration is once again on a first come basis. CIEC has negotiated a special rate for delegates staying at the hotel, which will also provide complimentary airport transfers. To take advantage of the discounted hotel rate, reserve your room by clicking here. For delegates arriving from India, CIEC is pleased to provide 1 night FREE stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in Toronto.

Exchange ideas via a focused networking event to further the interests of those already involved in or contemplating involvement in this dynamic education
Explore opportunities in this burgeoning sector and build an awareness & collaborative approach in sharing each other’s experiences and pitfalls to avoid. An opportunity to highlight your programs to peers and receive effective marketing tips, network with stakeholders active in both markets and benefit from existing connections.

For those who can’t make it, CIEC’s media team will be tweeting and updating you in real time via Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

You may find a detailed Agenda here.
To Register, click here.

We look forward to seeing you at Synergy 2013.

Regards,

Husain F. Neemuchwala Prof Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President & Vice Chancellor,
CEO – CIEC Carleton University
Academic Advisor – CIEC

Nearly half of our millionaires are immigrants, new Canadians

June 19, 2013July 22, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: CTV News

A new survey finds close to half of the country’s millionaires are either immigrants or first-generation Canadians who made the bulk of their money after their arrival to the country.

By comparison, only 20 per cent of respondents attributed at least part of their wealth to an inheritance.

The BMO Harris Private Banking survey found that 48 per cent of Canadians with liquid assets of $1 million or more were either immigrants (24 per cent), or first-generation Canadians (24 per cent), meaning they had at least one parent born outside the country. In British Columbia, a full 68 per cent of the millionaires said they were new Canadians.

One of those newcomer-turned-millionaires is Vikram Vij, who opened up an Indian restaurant in Vancouver five years after immigrating to Canada.

“When I came to this country I realized this was a young country,” Vij told CTV News. “I realized if I worked hard, with honesty and with integrity, this country was going to give me the chance. And that’s what I wanted to achieve in my life in India.”

Vij said when he leased space to open his first restaurant, the landlord complained of the smell of curry in the building.

“I was really slow and I was having a hard time to pay the bills, so just to please him I told my mom and dad to make the curries at home and bring it down.”

Today, Vij runs two restaurants in British Columbia, manages a line of pre-packaged gourmet curries and has published two cookbooks.

“At the end of the day, my journey is not done,” he said. “I’m going to remain focused until the day I die.”

The survey also finds that more than two-thirds of Canada’s millionaires, like Vij, are self-made — meaning they built up their nest egg on their own.

“They are not inheriting the wealth. These are people who created the wealth who made their own wealth,” said Alan Desnoyers of BMO.

The study also revealed that women make up one-third of Canada’s affluent, up from 21 per cent three years ago. It also found that 40 per cent of women generated their own wealth.

Interestingly though, only one-third of the high net-worth women said they managed their own investments, compared to 59 per cent of men.

And education appeared to be a big indicator of wealth: eight in 10 of the Canadian millionaires said they had at least a university degree, including 46 per cent who had a graduate or professional degree.

Just 10 per cent had a technical, trade or apprenticeship degree, and just 9 per cent held only a high school diploma or less.

The online survey was conducted by Pollara between March 28 and April 11, 2013 and involved 305 Canadians with $1 million in assets.

King’s College London Opens first International Summer School in Delhi

June 10, 2013June 9, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Digital Learning

King’s College London has opened its first international Summer School in Delhi, following the successful launch of the university’s India 2013 programme in Mumbai earlier this year.

Classes are being held at Miranda House College, University of Delhi. Courses will cover nternational relations, international political economy and e-business. King’s is working with local partner Think Education to deliver the programme of courses.

The Delhi Summer School builds on King’s extensive connections in India’s capital – the university has strong academic ties with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and a thriving alumni branch of nearly 250 professionals working in law, medicine, management, social sciences and education. King’s India Institute – one of the leading international centres for global engagement with contemporary India – now has an academic based in Delhi whose research focuses on the international politics of South Asia and Indian defence and security policy.

Scholarships will be available on each course of the Delhi Summer School for the best and brightest students to study at King’s College London Summer School in July and August. In addition to this, King’s will offer a scholarship for a member of staff from the host college to visit London and interact with King’s staff working on summer programmes.

Tayyeb Shah, Director of International Strategy at King’s College London, said: ‘This is a great day for King’s as we celebrate the opening of our first Summer School in Delhi.Like the popular original London programme, students can expect innovative, interactive teaching methods, faculty who are motivated by their enthusiasm for their subjects, teaching informed by cutting edge research and an opportunity to reflect on how to prepare for their future. A Summer School is a fantastic way to enrich your portfolio of skills and to get a head start in today’s globalised and fast-moving world. We are grateful to Miranda House College for hosting our courses and for the hard work that they have put in to make this happen.We have been delighted with the success of our tailor-made India programmes this year and the positive reaction from all our students. We hope to build on this success as we look to increase the range and scope of King’s activities and partnerships in India.”

India committed to taking ‘hard’ decisions on economy, says Manmohan

May 29, 2013June 9, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Hindu Business Line

TOKYO: India is committed to taking “hard and difficult” decisions in the long-term interest of the economy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today, while assuring Japanese industry that the long-awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime facing hurdles from states will be in place in an “appropriate type” by 2014.

On a mission to woo Japanese investors, Singh told leading business honchos at the Keidanren, the premier chamber of commerce and industry, that the current bilateral trade of $18 billion does no justice to the enormous potential that exists between the two countries.

The Prime Minister faced some searching questions from the Japanese industry which sought improvement in tax regimes, further easing of priority sector lending rules to expand financial services and allowing opening of foreign bank branches in metropolitan cities.

“Our people have tasted the benefits of rapid growth and they will not settle for less. I want to assure you that our Government is committed to taking hard and difficult decisions in the long-term interest of our economy,” he said.

A top official of Mitsubishi Corporation said Japanese investors faced difficulties with different tax regimes in each Indian State, leading to complications and wanted to know the timeline by when GST regime will be implemented.

“India is a federation and there are difficulties to bring States to agree to surrender tax power but I am confident we will overcome the hurdle. We will work and we have been working to persuade more and more States to fall in line but it does require amendment of the Constitution and needs much more energetic efforts than an ordinary piece of legislation,” Singh said.

The GST has been facing opposition from several non-Congress states which have accused the Centre of trying to encroach on powers of the States and that such a move would hit their finances.

“So, I cannot say we can deliver tomorrow but if you ask me by 2014 once elections are out of the way, whichever Government is there will be a general agreement of appropriate type in place to help propel India’s growth story,” he said.

The Prime Minister said as a result of a number of steps to revive the Indian economy, Government expects the growth rate in the current fiscal (2013-14) to be much better than in the previous year, hopefully around six per cent or so.

“We will do even better in 2014-15,” he said.

The Chairman of Keidanren, Hiromasa Yonekura, said Japanese investors are very keen to promote private-public partnership but were facing hurdles because of the complicated tax regimes in India, drawing an assurance from Singh that his Government was determined to overcome these hurdles to enable the country return to the growth path of eight per cent.

On easing norms for Priority Sector Lending (PSL), the economist Prime Minister said it was a “tough technical question which was the preserve of the Finance Ministry and the RBI” and then went on to add in a lighter vein, “the higher we go, the less you know about lower levels”.

Singh said while it will be easier for foreign banks to adjust to PSL norms, his Government would evolve transitional methods to provide a hospitable climate for the Japanese industry and ensure its larger presence in the country.

Describing Japan as a “major player” in the modernisation of Indian industry in the period after economic reforms, he noted that the Maruti-Suzuki partnership has become a household name in India.

Singh, who arrived here yesterday on a three-day visit, said lack of quality infrastructure was the single biggest obstacle to achieving high levels of competitiveness in India.

He said Government has targeted an investment of around one trillion USD in infrastructure over the 12th Plan period, with half of it coming from the private sector and public-private partnership.

“I hope Japanese business will pick up a large share of the investment opportunities that India offers,” he said.

Soybean Crop in India Seen at Record as Rally Spurs Planting

May 29, 2013May 28, 2013Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Bloomberg

Soybean farmers in India, Asia’s biggest shipper of the animal feed extracted from the oilseed, may boost planting this year as prices head for a fifth straight year of gains, potentially lifting output to a record.

Area under the oilseed may climb 5 percent to 7 percent from 10.7 million hectares (26.4 million acres) in 2012, Rajesh Agrawal, a spokesman for the Soybean Processors Association of India, said by phone from Indore. The harvest was an all-time high 12.6 million metric tons last year, he said.

Soybean futures in India have rallied every year since 2009, almost doubling in the period, as demand for the animal feedincreased from buyers in Iran, Japan and Southeast Asia. A bigger harvest may boost shipments and accelerate a decline in Chicago soybean-meal futures, which have fallen 20 percent since climbing to an all-time high in September. It may also cut cooking-oil imports by the world’s second-largest buyer.

“Area may increase in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh,” said Agrawal, referring to the country’s biggest growing states. “Planting should be encouraging this year because farmers have got good returns in soybeans compared with cotton.”

Soybeans have climbed 19 percent in Mumbai this year, more than the 6.1 percent gain for cotton. The area under cotton may drop this year after the weakest monsoon rains in three years deepened a water shortage in the main growing regions, showed a Bloomberg survey published April 8. Sowing begins with the onset of the monsoon in June and the crops are harvested from October.

Normal Rains

The monsoon, which brings more than 70 percent of India’s rain, was 8 percent below average last year, according to the India Meteorological Department. That’s reduced water available to irrigate crops in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka states.

Drought in some parts of Maharashtra, the second-biggest grower of soybeans and sugar cane, may not hurt planting and yields this year, Agrawal said. Madhya Pradesh accounts for almost 60 percent of India’s soybean harvest.

“Soybean needs three to four inches of rain for planting to take place and subsequently doesn’t require as much water as probably sugar cane,” he said. “If rains are normal, then we need not worry about soybean output.”

Rains will be normal this year at 98 percent of a 50-year average of 89 centimeters (35 inches) in the four months through September, the weather bureau said on April 26.

Soybean meal exports from India fell 11 percent to 3.4 million tons in 2012-2013 as farmers held back their produce in the early part of the harvesting season, the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India said. Shipments may cross 4 million tons in the year ending Sept. 30, Agrawal said.

Cutting Imports

The meal for delivery in July gained 0.9 percent to $432.10 per 2,000 pounds on the ChicagoBoard of Trade at 3:35 p.m. Mumbai time. Futures reached an all-time high of $541.80 Sept. 4. Soybean futures rose 0.7 percent to $14.8675 a bushel in Chicago today, while they advanced 0.3 percent to 3,811 rupees ($68) per 100 kilograms in Mumbai.

“A good soybean harvest will also reduce imports of vegetable oil in the country,” Agrawal said. “Output of other edible oils such as peanut and rapeseed will need to grow as well to have a bigger impact on imports.”

Cooking oil imports by the South Asian nation, the biggest consumer after China, jumped 12 percent to 5.3 million tons in the six months through April, according to the extractors’ association. India buys palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, and soybean oil from Brazil andArgentina.

“We are importing a huge amount of edible oil,” said Vijay Data, president of the extractors’ association. “There is good demand in the market and prices are very good, so farmers will definitely plant more.”