1) Indian Government to implement reservation of 27% quota of seats in education institutions supported by central government for Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

A 27 % reservation quota for OBCs in educational institutions supported by central government will be implemented from this academic session, the. As per the judgment, the quota must go to the socially, educationally and economically backward. With this verdict of the Supreme Court, total reservation for SCs/STs and OBCs in educational institutions has gone up to 49.5 per cent. A 22.5 per cent quota already existed for SCs and STs. The Central Government of India classifies its citizens based on their social and economic condition as Forward Caste, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Class (OBC). The OBC list is dynamic (castes and communities can be added or removed) and will change from time to time depending on social, educational and economic factors. The Constitution of India recognizes the need to extend positive discrimination to this section. In the constitution, OBCs are described as "socially and educationally backward classes", and the government is committed to ensure their social and educational development. Among institutes to be covered by the new quota law are IITs, IIMs, 20 central universities (like JNU, DU), central government-managed professional institutions like the six central medical colleges including AIIMS, National Law School and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.
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2) Distance education programmes becoming popular with executives

As per the University Grants Commission (UGC) data, over 2.8 million Indian students are currently using the distance education (DE) programme to get their degrees. The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) has set the target for DE enrolment at 40 per cent of the overall higher education enrolment from the current 25 per cent in five years. Technological breakthroughs are expected to boost the use of internet for distance education. Interactive Onsite Learning (IOL) is an education platform provided by DirecWay Global Education (DWGE), an education initiative of Hughes and one of the world's leading broadband service provider for the consumer and corporate segment. In India, DWGE has tied up with premier management schools like IIFT-Delhi, IIM-Bangalore, IIM-Calcutta, IIM-Kozhikode, IIT-Delhi, Manipal University, Manipal, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai, and XLRI Jamshedpur to provide educational programmes to fresh graduates and working professionals. Among the host of online courses offered by the premier institutions, IIM-Calcutta (IIM-C) offers one-year executive programme in business management, programme for development of strategic skills and a programme for development of successful entrepreneurs.
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3) Delhi University puts MPhil and PhD registrations on hold

Delhi University has decided to stop the registration of any students into the MPhil or PhD course. The decision regarding this was taken at the end of March 2008, barely a month before registrations were to be finalised for more than 25 departments in Delhi University. The letter, issued by the registrar of the University, asks heads of departments not to register any student for the MPhil or PhD programmes as a fresh reference from UGC on the scheme of scholarships for MPhil and PhD students is awaited. Even students who have already got scholarship from Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) or NET will not get registered. Those qualifying these exams have to get registered in a PhD programme within a specified time. With Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) results coming out in April, many students are expected to get affected.
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4) B-Schools make campus attractive for mid-career professionals

A good MBA degree coupled with quality time spent with the family is drawing mid-career professionals to bring their families along to B-school campuses. Experienced executives who are married and want to pursue MBA are increasingly taking their families to campuses so as to not miss on family life while they pursue their studies. An evolved support system, like fully furnished housing facilities, convenience stores, recreation centres to play area for kids, across B-schools is helping them to take such decisions. This is a new concept in India, introduced by Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad. Others like IIM-Ahmedabad, IIM- Calcutta, SP Jain and Indus World School of Business, launched by Career Launcher also plan to provide similar facilities.
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1) Increasing number of Indian students turning to France

An increasing number of Indian students and highly skilled immigrants are looking at non-English speaking countries in Europe, such as France as a destination for higher study and work. France is working hard at increasing the number of Indian students studying there. Reforms such as making work permits easier for Indian students who finish courses in France are also being introduced. Currently, of an annual figure of 250,000 foreign students coming to study in France, only 1700 are from India. French multinational companies are keen on hiring larger numbers of highly skilled Indian workers for their global operations. Jerome Bonnafont, the Ambassador of France in India said that France was making big efforts towards a three-fold increase in the number of Indian students going to study in France. Recently, work permit rules have been eased to allow Indian students, who finish a course in France, to stay back for six months to look for a job on their existing student visas. Once they get a job, their work permits will be processed while they remain in France. Various educational institutions in France are working towards offering more courses in English. Currently, 40-50% of the courses are offered in English.
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2) US government extends the training period to two and a half years for math, science and engineering students

Under US visa laws, foreign students who graduate from a US institution are allowed one year of optional practical training, or OPT, a temporary authorization allowing them to apply classroom lessons to the workplace. But given increased difficulty obtaining green cards or visas, the year often seemed too short a period for the investment, both for worker and employer. Now, the US government is extending the training period to two and a half years for math, science and engineering students. The decision was made last week by the US Department of Homeland Security. India and China are the top source countries for foreign students in the US. Earlier, students only had one opportunity to get one of the 65,000 H-1B visas allotted each year. Now they’ll have two or three chances - for each year of the training. Companies also might be more willing to hire such graduates because of the longer time commitment they can offer employers.
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3) The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to launch new programme on Intellectual Property Rights in partnership with Queensland University of Technology, Australia

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), in an attempt to produce skilled professionals equipped with skills in Intellectual Property Rights is to collaborate with Queensland University of Technology of Australia and launch an online master's programme in Intellectual Property Rights. The new initiative is aimed at grooming a new breed of Intellectual Property lawyers and supporting professionals for this emerging discipline. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), was established in the year 1985 and is the apex body of education to promote and maintain standards of distance education in and around India.
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4) Students can now spend their vacation working and travelling in the USA

The “Work & Travel” program is a Department of State, US Government initiative which invites regular college students from across the world to come to USA on temporary jobs during their summer vacations from May to August, earn money and experience the American culture and life. Being a US Govt. sponsored program chances of getting a US work visa (J1 work/exchange visa) are very good. The students can go on pre-arranged jobs of their choice in the Retail, Hospitality, Entertainment, Tourism and other fields, earning about US $8 to $12 per hour. The students must be from a regular college, above 18 years of age and have good English language skills. They should be studying in the 1st or 2nd year of an Under Graduate course or the 1st year of a Post Graduate course, and be required to return to India to complete their remaining education.
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1) In India, B-school students and MBAs remain in high demand

In contrast to the prospects for American B-school students, salaries for this year’s graduates from top Indian MBA programs have shown a remarkable rise. While American business school students worry about salaries and starting bonuses shrinking, their counterparts at top Indian business schools are having what looks to be their best recruiting year. As per a report published by MBA Universe, an India-based Web site about business school - the job placement figures this year at 20 of India's top management schools - including the six Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are up by 20% - 22% in comparison to last year.
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2) Joint entrance exam for the Indian Institutes of Technology held outside India for the first time

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) held their joint entrance examination in Dubai this year. Dubai became the first venue outside India where this examination was held. A total of 182 students appeared for the test which was held at the Indian High School. The Gulf is home to around 5.5 million expatriate Indians and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)-affiliated schools are spread across the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
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3) Indian Institute of Management Lucknow launches its International Programme in Management for Executives (IPMX) in partnership with McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Indian Institute of Management Lucknow launched the first, full time, one-year residential executive programme - International Programme in Management for Executives (IPMX) at its NOIDA Campus. The IPMX is a programme that has a strong in-built international module, where a term is spent at Faculty of Management, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. The course is spread over 6 terms of 7 weeks each conducted over a 12 month period. Around 45 % of the students who have opted for the first IPMX are from the IT & technical backgrounds, while the rest of the students belong to sectors such as telecom, power, banking, finance, and defence. The international exposure of a term at McGill University will provide students with the opportunity for an international learning experience to equip them with the knowledge and perspective relevant to current global business issues. The course offers specialization in Finance and Economics, Marketing Strategy and Consulting, HRM, as well as Operations and Technology Management. The students can choose these as their Major and Optional Minor area of concentration.
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4) Gujarat National Law University students to publish International Law Journal

Gujarat National Law University is one of the prestigious seven national law schools of India, which is held in high esteem in the legal fraternity for pioneering the revolutionary strengthening of legal education in India. Whether at presenting papers at conferences, publishing articles, moot courts and internships, students of GNLU have constantly brought laurels to their alma mater. In pursuance of the objective of knowledge sharing and dissemination, GNLU students have launched the flagship journal of the University – The GNLU Law Review (TGLR). The law journal aims to establish itself internationally. Invitations for contributions to this journal have already been dispatched to mainstream Indian Law schools and also to renowned foreign law schools. The details about the GNLU law review could be referred to at http://www.gnlu.ac.in/tglr.htm.
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Counsellors Inward Mission:
Education UK India would like to facilitate a group of education and career counsellors from leading schools across India to visit India Partnership members in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
For further details about this inward mission, please click here to download the related document

Promotional Visits:
If you are visiting India for a promotional visit through one of our offices or your agent, you may send us the details for the same. We offer a free listing on our Education UK India website to India Partnership institutions.
Please send the details to- moneesha.gupta@in.britishcouncil.org
Click here to download the format for sending the details.

Tim Gore has resigned from the British Council to take up the post of Director, Centre for Indian Business at the University of Greenwich. His last day will be 18 July 2008 and he will join Greenwich on 1 September 2008.

Kharishma Captain has joined the Education UK (West India) team as Manager and Shruti Khanna has been appointed Manager Research and Promotion, Education UK (India)