Source: University World News
There will be significant extra funding for improving ‘world-class’ institutions, under the proposals for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first budget in his second term in office.
research
Reduce Publishing in India and Increase Quality
The publishing crisis in India is due to the government’s policy of making research compulsory across all institutions without taking into account their different nature.
India Shouldn’t Block Research Partnerships That Can Advance Public Health
Curtailing research funding from external sources may have human costs.
How Science Can Bring About A Eureka Moment for Indian Startups
The research park at IIT-Madras has grown from a sparsely occupied shell to a huge venture.
How HNIs and Foundations Are Supporting Advancement of Scientific Research in India
Indian govt investments in R&D are not small as a percentage of R&D, but the numbers do not tell the real story.
Step Forward to Address the Gender Gap in Indian Science
Source: The Wire
Only 20% of tenured faculty positions in Indian educational and research institutions are held by women.
Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship May Be Unconstitutional
Source: The Wire
By failing to incorporate reservation, the PMRF scheme for promoting research in ‘national priority’ areas has neglected one national priority area.
Cabinet Approves Proposal to Implement PM’s Scheme for Research Fellows
Source: Mint
Union cabinet approves PM’s Research Fellows scheme at a cost of Rs1,650 crore for a period of seven years, beginning 2018-19.
Why Are Indian Institutes So Lacking in Their Outreach Efforts?
Source: The Wire
In a free society, scientists funded by tax-based sources should obligate themselves to celebrate their discoveries with the public.
What Ails Higher Education in India?
Source: Live Mint
While the desired levels of research and internationalization of Indian campuses remain weak points, Indian higher education also suffers from a lack of funds and little focus on specialization.
What Explains The Sorry State of India’s Education Sector
Source: The Wire
Economic research shows that interventions aimed at improving cognitive skills rather than mere enrolment rates are required to boost economic growth.
Canada Increasingly Attractive to Mobile Students
Source: The PIE
New research shows Canada as an increasingly attractive option for international students.
Lucknow Boy Co-Authors Paper with Oxford Scientist
Source: Times of India
A 21-year-old student from Lucknow, Aadarsh Mishra, currently working on a project for DRDO with experts from IITDelhi, has achieved a rare feat.
March For Science Highlights Parlous State of Research
Source: University World News
Thousands of students, scientists and supporters gathered in 30 Indian cities to support the country’s ‘March for Science’ earlier this month.
India’s Top Schools Intensify Focus on Research-Oriented Faculty
Source: Economic Times
The teaching load at the university is lesser at about eight to ten hours a week, giving high-profile faculty members time to work on their own research.
Canada: “A Place of Stability, of Openness, of Inclusiveness”
Source: Times Higher Education via Academica
Canada’s decision to welcome thousands of Syrian refugees “stands out as an important symbol” of the country’s “openness and eagerness to attract newcomers,” says University of Toronto President Meric Gertler in an interview with Times Higher Education. Gertler highlights a number of significant steps Canada has taken to be open compared to the isolationist tendencies of Brexit and the Donald Trump presidential campaign. These include Canada’s efforts to attract 450,000 international students by 2022, its amendments to its citizenship process for international students, and its increased investment in research and scientific infrastructure. “Canada has certainly emerged as a place of stability, of openness, of inclusiveness,” says Gertler. “I think we’re doing many things right now that will position us as a stark alternative to things that are happening in other countries, including the UK and the US.”
New $4M Canada-India Initiative Looks to Jumpstart New Tech
Source: The Vancouver Sun
IC-IMPACTS, headed by UBC professor Nemy Banthia, is teaming up with India’s Department of Science and Technology, as well as the country’s Biotechnology Department, to provide $4 million for the research projects. Each project, said IC-IMPACTS communications manager Ashish Mohan, features Canadian and Indian researchers and are in later stages of development, ensuring the resulting technology can be brought to market.
For the complete article, visit The Vancouver Sun.
Firm Releases List of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges
Source: Research Infosource via Academica
The firm Research Infosource Inc has released its list of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges for 2016. The list ranks Canadian colleges’ research capacity and activities by looking primarily at research income and research intensity per faculty member. Included on the list were CIEC Academic Members: Durham College, Fleming College, Humber College & the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Fleming College approved as Registered Education Provider by Project Management Institute
Source: Fleming College
[CIEC Academic Member] Fleming College has been approved as a Registered Education Provider (REP) by the world’s largest project management member association, the Project Management Institute (PMI).
The designation ensures that Fleming has met PMI’s rigorous quality criteria for course content, instructor qualification, and instructional design. REPs are organizations that have been approved by PMI to help project managers achieve and maintain the Project Management Professional (PMP) ® , Program Management Professional (PgMP)® and other PMI professional credentials. The college now joins more than 1,500 REPs in more than 80 countries.
“This brings us closer to our goal of having Fleming College’s School of Business become the Project Management hub for Eastern Ontario,” said Raymond Yip Choy, Coordinator of Fleming’s Project Management program.
“We have worked to create strong links with PMI. The program has high student and employer satisfaction rates as well as newly-established community links through the completion of successful applied projects and internships. We look forward to further enhancing the reputation of this program and expanding our opportunities to provide certification in this growing career field.”
In addition to the designation, Fleming hosts the PMI Group Examination three times a year. This provides an opportunity for students and industry members to write the professional certifications at the college.
The Project Management program is a post-graduate certificate program offered at the Sutherland Campus. Through classroom sessions and applied project experience, students learn and practice how to initiate, execute and close projects incorporating scheduling tools, budgeting principles, human resource management, risk management and quality management. Communication and leadership skills are also developed and honed throughout the program. For more information on the program, visit: flemingcollege.ca/programs/project-management.
About Project Management Institute (PMI)
Project Management Institute is the world’s leading not-for-profit professional membership association for the project, program and portfolio management profession. Founded in 1969, PMI delivers value for more than 2.9 million professionals working in nearly every country in the world through global advocacy, collaboration, education and research. PMI advances careers, improves organizational success and further matures the profession of project management through its globally recognized standards, certifications, resources, tools academic research, publications, professional development courses, and networking opportunities. As part of the PMI family, Human Systems International (HSI) provides organizational assessment and benchmarking services to leading businesses and government, while ProjectManagement.com and ProjectsAtWork.com create online global communities that deliver more resources, better tools, larger networks and broader perspectives. Visit us at www.PMI.org, www.facebook.com/PMInstitute and on Twitter @PMInstitute.
About Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Science, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has 5,900 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and more than 68,000 alumni.
Top International Students Perform Cutting-Edge Research in GTA
Source: Toronto Star via Academica
Nearly 750 international university students have come to the Greater Toronto Area to partner with Canadian professors to produce cutting-edge research. The students have come as part of Mitacs’s Globalink program, which pays the participating students a set wage to visit Canada for a 12-week summer research period. Over three years, Canada has provided $20 M to attract these students to Canada. The research being undertaken this year includes the creation of robots that can land on asteroids, new marketing channels directed toward Baby Boomers, and solar-powered charging stations for electric cars. Visiting students have come primarily from India, China, Brazil, France, Mexico, and Australia.
BC Universities Show Fastest Growth in Federal Research Funding
Source: Vancouver Sun via Academica
BC’s research universities have experienced the fastest growth rate in federal research funding, according to the Research Universities Council of British Columbia (RUCBC). RUCBC’s figures show that in 2012–13, BC universities attracted more than $700 M in research funding from outside the province and increased their per capita share of federal research grants by 148%, which is almost double the Canadian average. RUCBC Chair and [CIEC Member] Simon Fraser University President Andrew Petter said, “the fact that we’re seeing this level of growth and the fact that we are outperforming other jurisdictions I think is evidence that we’ve done a good job of hiring the best and the brightest.”
NSERC Announces $430M in Research Funding for 71 Institutions
Source: NSERC Release via Academica
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has announced that it will award $430M to 3,800 academic researchers at over 70 Canadian universities. The funds will support long-term projects by researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and students primarily through NSERC’s Discovery Grants program. Minister of State for Science and Technology Ed Holder said, “Today’s investment in more than 3,800 researchers at 71 universities across the country ensures Canada has a broad base of talented men and women whose research continues to push the boundaries of knowledge [and] creates jobs and opportunities while improving the quality of life of Canadians.”
Canada and India Partner to Advance International Research Collaborations
Source: High Commission of Canada
A new Mitacs Globalink Research Award – MHRD initiative will enable Canadian students to undertake research at one of seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) in Gandhinagar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Mumbai and Roorkee. Resulting from a partnership between Canada’s Mitacs and India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), this initiative aims to support student mobility and provide an opportunity for Canadian faculty and graduate students to build an international research network. Canadian students were invited to apply until May 13 to compete for funding for research projects in India. Selected students are expected to begin projects as early as July.
NSERC 2014 Project Grants Award Almost $40M to Institutions
Source: Canada News Release via Academica
Research at the University of Waterloo got a boost yesterday from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). uWaterloo will receive more than $5.3 M through the 2014 Strategic Project Grants for 11 research partnerships between the institution and industry. uWaterloo will also receive $9.6 M through the Research Support Fund towards the additional costs incurred during research activities. NSERC’s Strategic Project Grants are designed to increase research and training in 4 key areas: environmental science and technologies, information and communications technologies, manufacturing, and natural resources and energy. This year, $38 M will be distributed to 78 scientific teams at universities across Canada. “The best research brings talented minds together to generate exciting ideas and create the advancements of tomorrow. NSERC is proud to support these strategic projects that extend our knowledge and create new innovations that will define our future,” said NSERC President B Mario Pinto.
Tri-Council Releases Open Access Policy
Source: Canada News Release via Academica
A new policy introduced on Friday stipulates that Canadians will have free online access to tri-council-funded research. Under the new Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications, all peer-reviewed journal publications funded by a tri-council agency must be made freely available online within one year. The policy will apply to NSERC- and SSHRC-funded researchers who are awarded grants after May 1, 2015; CIHR-funded researchers have been subject to a similar policy since 2008. Researchers can comply with the policy either by “self-archiving” their manuscript with an accessible online repository, or by publishing in a journal that offers open access within 12 months of publication. “With this new Open Access policy, the Tri-Agencies are adopting a single, harmonized approach to promoting Canadian research to the world. The policy both reflects and facilitates new forms of collaboration that are a hallmark of scholarship in the social sciences and the humanities,” said Ted Hewitt, Executive Vice-President of SSHRC.
CFI Awards $35M in Research Infrastructure Funding
Source: CFI News Release via Academica | January 22, 2015
The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has awarded $35 M in research infrastructure funding to 37 universities across the country. The funding was awarded through the CFI’s John R Evans Leaders Fund, which was created to help universities develop infrastructure in order to attract and retain highly skilled researchers. Canadian Minister of State (Science and Technology) Ed Holder made the funding announcement at the University of Saskatchewan [CIEC Academic Member], where researchers will use CFI funding for projects related to animal health, pet food, biofuels, cancer, and freshwater monitoring and rehabilitation. “Thanks to new CFI-funded research tools, our researchers are working with industry partners … to come up with innovative solutions that address real-world challenges and help build healthy and prosperous communities,” said uSask VP Research Karen Chad. A complete list of recipients is available as part of CFI’s announcement.
Letter of Intent Between Canada and India
Source: Business Standard | February 27, 2014
India and Canada have inked a Letter of Intent (LOI) to collaborate on research exchanges to increase student mobility between the two countries.
The agreement was formalised by Mitacs CEO Arvind Gupta and Additional Secretary Amita Sharma, representing the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
“This LOI represents the start of a long and fruitful collaboration which will see exceptional students travelling between our two countries to promote research, share perspectives and build joint R and D capacity,” said Dr. Gupta.
Launched in 2008, the Mitacs Globalink program has brought top international undergraduate students to Canada for summer research internships.
In the first six years of the program, over 800 students have come to Canada.
On January 15, 2014, the Government of Canada announced USD 13 million in funding for Mitacs in its International Education Strategy, enabling Mitacs to launch new initiatives to provide research and training opportunities for Canadian students in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Turkey and Vietnam.
TCS Insights: Students looking to carry out research while experiencing a new country will be afforded more opportunities to as a result of this letter of intent. Hundreds of students have already gained from the partnership between these two countries and this trend will continue to rise as mobility becomes easier.
Announcement for Collaborative Research Grant 2013-15 And India Studies Fellowship Programme 2013-14
Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute through MHRD (GoI) Funding announces the Collaborative Research Grants 2013-15 and India Studies Fellowship Programme 2013-14.
Applications for the Collaborative Research Grant can be submitted by any member of Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute either from India or Canada, but must include a partner in the other country (Canada or India) who may not be necessarily from a member institution.
The India Studies Fellowship programme is meant for our Canadian members, but Indian members can encourage their Canadian associates, friends and even their students to explore the opportunity to study and research in India. Applications must be sent no later than Friday January 31, 2014. For further details, please visit our website: www.sici.org. For inquiries related to Collaborative Research Grant please contact Dr. Prachi Kaul, Programme Officer, India Office at [email protected] and for India Studies Fellowship programme [email protected] or call us at 011 – 2374 6417; 2374 3114; & 2374 2677.
Canada Seeks Input for New Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy
Source: Government of Canada News Release, Courtesy of Academica | January 8, 2014
The Canadian government is seeking public input on a new federal Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy, with the launch of a discussion paper to guide the dialogue. The paper asks how Canada can “continue to develop, attract and retain the world’s top research talent at our businesses, research institutions, colleges and polytechnics, and universities” as well as “Is the Government of Canada’s suite of programs appropriately designed to best support research excellence?” Submissions will be accepted until February 7, and then the government will release an updated strategy “in the months following the consultation phase.”
TCS Insights: The Government of Canada indicated in 2013 that it would update their Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy while continuing to invest in research. This revision will be finalized after reviewing public input and is expected to continue the trend of recent achievements that have lead to greater funding of research.
India Confronting Multiple Challenges, Crises in Higher Education: Ansari
Source: News Track India | January, 9, 2014
Lucknow, (ANI): Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Thursday said that India as a nation is facing multiple challenges and crises in terms of delivery in the higher education sector, and warned that if comprehensive correctives are not initiated, the demographic dividend would be severely compromised on the employability front in the years to come.
He said that it was lamentable to note that in spite of the higher education system turning out nearly seven lakh science and engineering graduates every year,industry surveys have shown that only 25 percent of these are employable without further training.
He said comprehensive correctives had to be applied on quality covering students, faculty and teaching, research and assessment standards while delivering an annual convocation address at the University of Lucknow.
He said that any assessment of what ails “our institutions of higher education must begin with the quality of the school leavers that seek admission in them.”
“The challenge here is to modulate the very considerable quality difference between the elite higher secondary schools in the public and private sectors on the one hand and the average or below average ones on the other, a difference that is often camouflaged by the variations in marking standards by different Boards,” he said.
Ansari said that in the 21st century, the world is increasingly moving towards a knowledge economy, where industrial trade relations are being replaced by a complex system of information exchange.
“This has shifted the focus to a nation’s abilities and resources to produce and generate new knowledge that can place it on top of the global power hierarchy. Countries are now required to match the global demand for skills with appropriate supply of human resources in order to remain competitive in the global market place,” he said.
He expressed that a disturbing phenomenon is the lack of focus on research with only one per cent of the enrolled students pursuing research in various areas.
According to data for 2009, India stood eleventh in terms of number of papers published, seventeenth in terms of the number of citations, and thirty fourth in terms of number of citations per paper.
“Our research output as global share of scientific publications was a mere 3.5 per cent compared to 21 per cent of China. The total number of patent applications filed by Indians in 2010 comprised only 0.3 per cent of the total applications filed globally. The picture is no better in social sciences and humanities. In social sciences, India is 12th in ranking with 1.18 percent of global publication share compared to China’s 3rd rank and 5.14 percent share,” Ansari said.
The vice president said that given the structure of the higher education system, the attainments of these objectives would need to be a collective effort of the central and state governments.
TCS Insights: It is said that various sectors of the Indian education system is in need of corrective actions. Ansari claims that further investments in research, similar to those seen in Canada, can make India increasingly competitive in the global knowledge economy.
Research Infrastructure Receives $63-million Boost From the Government of Canada
Source: CFI News Release, Courtesy of Academica | January 8, 2014
The Canadian government has announced a $63-million boost for research infrastructure under the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund. Currently, the fund is contributing to research equipment, laboratories and tools at over 250 facilities at 37 universities across Canada. “Our government believes significant investments in Canadian research are essential to sparking innovation, creating economic prosperity and improving the lives of Canadians,” says Minister of State (Science and Technology) Greg Rickford.
TCS Insights: The CFI awarded $48.4 million through their John R. Evans Leaders Fund in order to help Canadian universities attract top available research talent. This increase in funding will enable researchers, such as Ryan D’Arcy of Simon Fraser University, make use of portable technologies at sporting events, hospitals and homes.
Canada Announces $43 Million in NSERC Grants
Source: Canada News Release, Courtesy of Academica | January 9, 2014
Canadian Minister of State (Science and Technology) Greg Rickford today announced that the most recent round of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) funding will provide $43 million to 77 research teams at universities across the country. The funding will go towards 2 grants: the Strategic Network Grants and the Strategic Project Grants. The funds will help researchers work with companies and other organizations on long-term projects to address industrial and societal challenges.
TCS Insights: The Canadian government aims to use these grants to increase research and training in areas that influence the Canadian economy and environment over the next decade. Additionally, this funding will go towards research that involves interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers and institutions such as solar power and cloud-based computing projects.
Indian Govt Sets up Panel to Boost Planned Research
Source: The Indian Express, via India NewsWatch, October 6, 2013
Pune: In a bid to get rid of random disbursement, the government is planning a selective approach in allocating research support for academic institutions. This will also ensure that resources for research are used to the best advantage.
This has been one of the mandates given to the special committee set up by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to improve research performance of academic institutions.
The 18-member committee, headed by chairman of Centre’s Department of Biotechnology, has former heads of UGC, AICTE, and NCL. The heads of NAAC, NBA, IISc Bangalore and JNU are among other educational establishments.
“As India moves in the global knowledge economy, building awareness about critical global rankings, research evaluation and targeted and competitive research funding would be central to the country’s strategy to improve its research capacity and performance. The government has decided to constitute a committee to drive up the research performance of academic Institutions,” a MHRD notification reads.
Review of existing arrangements for funding of research, both core funding of research facilities, infrastructure and project funding in academic institutions, to identify gaps and create a framework to evaluate research and rankings are some of the key objectives the government has laid down before the committee.
TCS Insights: In a bid to eliminate random disbursement, the Indian Government is planning a selective approach in allocating research support for academic institutions. The move is also expected to ensure that resources for research are used to the best advantage.
This is a progressive move by the Indian government towards more application based research and from traditional research focused on publishing papers in journals. This approach has the potential to create opportunities for Canadian academic institutions to focus on high quality research exchange programs with Indian counterparts.
The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service’s education team has connections with a range of academic institutions in India across the areas of social science, physical science, engineering, technology, management, finance etc. and can facilitate discussions.