Friday, August 28, 2009

Call for Expressions of Interest - Think Tank Initiative: Local research for lasting solutions


Think Tank Initiative: Local research for lasting solutions

Call for Expressions of Interest

The Think Tank Initiative invites applications from eligible South Asian organizations that are committed to using research to inform and influence social and economic policy. The Initiative will provide multi-year core funding and technical support to successful think tanks.

The Think Tank Initiative is a multi-donor program dedicated to strengthening independent policy research institutions – or "think tanks" – in developing countries, enabling them to better provide sound research that both informs and influences policy. The Initiative will focus its activities in East and West Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. Initial funding for the Think Tank Initiative has been provided by:

  • William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

Deadline: September 28, 2009

To learn more about the Initiative and the application process, please visit http://www.idrc.ca/thinktank/

The Al Gore Sustainable Technology Venture Competition, India

The Al Gore Sustainable Technology Venture Competition™, India

Venue: IIT Kharagpur, India

6-7 November 2009

Official partners: ASSOCHAM and IIT Kharagpur

The Al Gore Sustainable Technology Venture Competition™ invites students from India’s apex institutes of engineering, science and technology, and management, such as its fabled IITs, IIMs, NITs and JNU to come up with new and renewable sustainable technology business plans to combat climate change and fortify India’s - and, by analogy, the world’s - crucial energy security. The Al Gore Sustainable Technology Venture Competition for postgraduate students focuses on bringing new sustainable and clean technologies to market through innovation and entrepreneurship. Live presentations to the IIT, Kharagpur judges’ panel will be held on November 6-7, 2009.

Winners of The Al Gore Sustainable Technology Venture Competition will receive:

  • Cash awards
  • The opportunity to interact directly with top-tier venture capitalists and entrepreneurs
  • Valuable intellectual property services and the opportunity to raise capital.

Schools may send up to two representative teams to the competition. Approximately eight qualifying teams will be selected to make their presentations and compete at the finals in the host/partner institution. The business plans must represent an actual prospective business. This is not simply an academic exercise. The panel of judges will be composed of eminent faculty, venture capitalists and industrialists.

  • Rules for the competition are available here.
  • A Sample Business Plan is available here.
  • Further information and guidelines are available here.
  • Deadline for electronic submission of business plans: September 30, 2009.
  • For further information, please contact: agstvc(at)gmail.com or joysen(at)arp.iitkgp.ernet.in

Research Methodology on Computational Techniques for Research Scholars and Teachers in Social Sciences

Short-term programme on Research Methodology on Computational Techniques for Research Scholars and Teachers in Social Sciences
Organized by the Rural Development Centre, IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
7-20 September 2009
Sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi

While there is token registration fee, the cost of travel, fooding and lodging would be borne by the training programme. Interested teachers and research scholars may kindly contact the Coordinator Dr. Debabrata Lahiri at the following email: lahiri@hijli.iitkgp.ernet.in or debabratal@yahoo.com

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Get a computer and crosscheck your doctor's prescription


G.S. MUDUR

The Telegraph, Sunday, February 04, 2007

Anyone with a computer in India may soon have free access to information on what works and what doesn't in medicine, allowing them to verify whether the treatment offered by their doctor is the appropriate one.

India has become the first low-income country to buy and offer to residents free access to information on treatment and prevention methods that have passed the toughest of scientific tests — whether it's about ushering a baby into the world, treating infections or combating obesity.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has signed a contract with the international publishing company, John Wiley and Sons, for nationwide access to the Cochrane Library. The library is a vast storehouse of what medical researchers view as reliable information about proven treatment and prevention strategies across myriad medical topics, from surgery to general health.

"This will give doctors in India evidence-based information to challenge or accept what they've been taught," said Prathap Tharyan, a psychiatrist at the Christian Medical College in Vellore and a member of the South Asian Cochrane Network.

"Modern medicine always improves through studies. The Cochrane effort has often challenged what had become conventional medical wisdom," Tharyan told The Telegraph. "Some reviews have plain-language summaries for consumers."

Jose Belizan, a Cochrane collaborator in Argentina, demolished the belief among doctors that it was always good to perform episiotomy — a small surgical incision in the vaginal opening — during the delivery of a baby.

Through a systematic review of medical studies published on episiotomy, Belizan showed that the procedure was not only unjustified, but possibly harmful. It had entered medical practice without real scientific evidence.

In recent times, the Cochrane effort has shown that — contrary to popular concerns — hormonal contraceptive pills do not lead to major weight gain.

Under the licence obtained by the ICMR, anyone in India with a computer will be able to access the Cochrane Library that contains over 4,000 systematic reviews by several thousand doctors worldwide.

The reviews cover hundreds of topics — from root canal treatment to drugs against malaria and pneumonia, from the use of inhalers in childhood asthma to surgical procedures.

All reviews aim to establish whether there is genuine scientific evidence that something works in medicine. One review found that Tibetan and Indian herbal medicines can reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Another Cochrane review that evaluated the role of prayer in treatment of illnesses said it is impossible to prove or disprove in trials any supposed benefit that derives from God's response to prayer.

"We want medical practitioners and consumers to make use of this resource," said Vasantha Muthuswamy, senior deputy director-general at the ICMR.

Medical experts have often expressed concern that doctors in India lack reliable or independent sources of information about advances in medicine. "Most doctors get information about new drugs or procedures mainly through representatives of companies," said Chandra Gulhati, editor of the Monthly Index of Medical Specialities, India, an independent drugs journal.

The Cochrane effort was launched in 1993 by doctors to address concerns expressed earlier by Archie Cochrane, a UK-based medical researcher. He had pointed out that medical practices were not always backed by good science. But some are sceptical about the impact that the Cochrane Library may have on India.

"We have a medical system that does not in any way encourage doctors to keep themselves abreast of the latest research," said a senior health official. "The big question is, will our doctors make use of the database?"

As for the consumers, while the library offers them a way of checking up on the treatment, they should not be tempted to try self-medication.

Visit now The Cochrane Library

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

JNU plans business study centre


JNU plans business study centre

Manash Pratim Gohain, TNN,

NEW DELHI: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has embarked upon a massive expansion plan that includes a B-school to be named 'centre for informal business study', a new 544-seater hostel for boys, three new centres, expansion of the existing centres and recruiting over 300 new faculty members, among others. Most of plans are expected to see the light of the day by 2010 end. The university has already set aside over Rs 150 crore for the expansion plan. The university is planning six new centres, of which three will be independent centres. Speaking to The Times of India, vice-chancellor B B Bhattacharya said: "By 2010 we will come up with a media study research centre for MPhil and PhD programmes. The idea is to do research on media, its role in the society, values and ethics, among others. Nanotechnology will also be a full-fledged centre soon and will offer B Tech, M Tech and PhD programmes." "Of the 340 new faculty positions sanctioned for the expansion purpose in the planned and OBC reservation schemes, 53 positions are for the new areas to be introduced at the upcoming new centres,'' Bhattacharya added. The Centre for Informal Business Centre will be the first of its kind as it won't be treading the path of what a conventional MBA teaches. The university is also planning three more centres Centre for North East Studies, Centre for Womens Studies and Centre for Discrimination. "I will not call the business centre as a B-school and its degree as an MBA, because it will not be a conventional management education centre. The focus area is on informal business study which comprise 95% of the business activity, unlike the conventional MBA programme which teaches business of the corporate sector that is just 5% of the business activity,'' said Bhattacharya. The university is also planning to introduce a School of Complex Biology that will offer programmes on biology with a mathematical approach and integrate biology and mathematics. Plans are also on for offering specializations in film study, performing arts and visual arts from the School of Arts and Aesthetics. JNU will enhance its accommodation capacity both for its students and faculty, as it plans to add one more hostel for boys in line with the newly-built Koena and a housing complex of 112 houses for faculty members. "On the western part of the campus we will have our 16th hostel, a 544-seater boys hostel. We will also have a multi-storey housing complex that will have four blocks each having 28 houses. Each block will have childrens park, playground and parking lot,'' said Bhattacharya. The university is also planning expansion of its major schools in view of the OBC reservation. According to a senior university official, new multi-storey annexes will be constructed next to the existing school buildings.

Source: Times of India, 23 August 2009

Monday, August 24, 2009

India China Fellowship Program 2010–2012

India China Fellowship Program 2010–2012

Theme: Social Innovation for Sustainable Environment

India China Institute (ICI) at The New School invites applications from mid-career experts, professionals and scholars from India, China, and The New School for the third round of our fellowship program, Social Innovation for Sustainable Environment. Applications should address the program theme with particular focus oninstitutional drivers of change in public policy, academia, non-governmental organizations, and the marketplace.

The purpose of the India China Fellowship Program (ICFP) is to enrich the experience of promising leaders to help them prepare for greater responsibilities and contributions to the communities in which they live and work.

Applicants from higher education, business, nongovernmental organizations and government are all encouraged to apply. Please refer to full program description for fellowship requirements and benefits, available from www.newschool.edu/ici. Applicants from India/China must have Indian/Chinese citizenship with primary residence(s) established in India/China in the last five years. Semifinalists would need to submit proof of citizenship. There is no citizenship requirement from applicants at The New School.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Beginning August 11, 2009, the India China Institute is accepting applications from India, China, and The New School for the 2010-2012 India China Fellowship Program . See Program Guidelines for details. The application deadline is October 15, 2009.

Download Application Form

Further Details

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Indian “Bayh Dole” Bill

Conference on Publicly Funded Patents and Technology Transfer: A Review of the Indian “Bayh Dole” Bill

Organized by the IP Chair at NUJS, Kolkata (along with IPTLS and Share)

Venue: NUJS, Salt Lake, Sector III, Kolkata

12 September 2009

In January 2009, the government introduced the Protection and Utilisation of Public Funded Intellectual Property Bill, 2008 in the Rajya Sabha. The bill is currently undergoing scrutiny by a Parliamentary select committee, after which it will be placed before the two houses of Parliament. The Indian bill is based to some degree on the US Bayh-Dole Act, which according to The Economist unlocked "all the inventions and discoveries that had been made in laboratories throughout the US with the help of taxpayers' money" and one that helped "reverse America's precipitous slide into industrial irrelevance."

This conference will aim to generate more awareness around the Bill and what is stands for. For one, the Bill is not an instrument that enables university patenting for the first time. Rather, under the present legal regime (most notably the patents act), all institutes and researchers working with such institutes are free to patent the results of their research, irrespective of whether or not such research comes out public funding (unless there is a contractual bar by the funding agency). Such protection of publicly funded research through patents and subsequent use is not specifically regulated and scientists and institutes can use their patents in whatever way they wish (subject to safeguards under current Indian patent law and other laws such as competition law). Therefore, the Bill presents a great opportunity to regulate publicly funded research and patenting activities associated with this for the first time.

The conference will examine the framework of the current Indian bill, with a view to helping improve it. In particular, the conference will try and examine the current structure of university research and technology licensing in India and see if the Bill can be tailored better to help promote the permeation of more university research to society in the form of useful products/services and/or knowledge transfer. The conference will also examine whether, and to what extent, concerns of public interest can be addressed in the present bill. Illustratively, it will seek ways in which the Bill can promote more non-exclusive licensing, which in turns is likely to enable a wider utilisation of publicly funded research. It will also examine whether, and to what extent, the current Bill can be improved to promote more transparency in publicly funded research (and the results thereto) by creating a list of public funds, the recipients, the usage of such funds and the dissemination of such research through technology and knowledge transfer to the public.

Lastly, the conference will aim to iron out some of the creases in the current wordings of the Bill, creases that are likely to lead to litigious waste.

Agenda

  • Session 1: Bayh Dole and the International Experience
  • Session 2: Patents and Technology Transfer in India
  • Session 3: The Triple Helix Model and Technology Transfer: Evolving a Framework for Developing Countries
  • Session 4: Specific Issues with the Indian Publicly Funded IP Legislation

Registration is free. However, if you wish to attend, please email Prakruthi Gowda (prakruthipgowda[at]gmail.com) indicating your name, designation etc.

Friday, August 21, 2009

IGIDR Young Scholars' Programme 2009


Young Scholars' Programme

9-21 November 2009

Organized by Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Film City Road, Goregaon (E), Mumbai-400065

Young scholars in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences interested in Human Development research and teaching are invited to participate in a Young Scholars' Programme (YSP 6) for capacity development. This is the sixth in the YSP series conducted bi-annually at IGIDR since 2007. The Programme is supported by UNDP and Planning Commission and hopes to build capacity in the broad area of human development. Those who finish their master's degree (M.A., M.Sc. or M.Phil.) this year or have done so in the preceding three years may apply. Recently appointed college lecturers are also encouraged to apply. We expect to select about 35-40 participants from all over India across various disciplines.

The Programme will consist of lectures by IGIDR and guest Faculty on a range of topics, discussion groups and individual research, for which library, internet and other advanced facilities will be provided. Participants will be expected to give at the conclusion of the Programme a short presentation along with a 2000 word essay on a relevant topic of their choice.

Those selected will be given full boarding and lodging in twin-sharing AC suites at IGIDR, and Rs.3000 for incidentals (related to travel) and out of pocket expenses. Three-tier AC travel (including Tatkal charges where necessary) will be reimbursed. Accommodation may also be available before/ after the programme in case of travel exigencies. They should arrive latest by 8 November, and not leave before 21 November (evening) at conclusion of the programme.

Selection will be on the basis of CV and a half page note on your motivation (why you wish to participate). These should be sent by email to: ysp6@igidr.ac.in latest by 30 August 2009. Selected candidates will be intimated in the week commencing 21 September and short-listed candidates offered places as vacancies arise.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

INET Asia Regional Conference: Towards an Enabling Internet Access Environment


INET Asia Regional Conference: Towards an Enabling Internet Access Environment

17 September 2009

Venue: InterContinental Hotel, Nehru Place, Delhi

Organized by the Internet Society (ISOC), in collaboration with the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF)

Towards an Enabling Internet Access Environment

The Internet Society, in collaboration with the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), is holding a regional conference in Delhi, India on 17 September, 2009. The conference, part of the Internet Society's INET series of regional conferences, will be focused on enabling Internet access with the theme "Towards an Enabling Internet Access Environment".

The challenges of improving Internet growth are multifaceted and interrelated, particularly in developing countries. They include, for example, access to technical skills and knowledge, the regulatory and policy environment for information and telecommunications services, and broader economic and market factors, language diversity, and the diffusion and reliability of basic infrastructure and services.

INET Delhi will bring together regional and international policy and technical experts, government, network operators, the private sector and the user community to discuss and deliberate the current state of play of the Internet access environment in the region. The conference will discuss issues in creating and sustaining an enabling Internet access environment, including Internet for development through accessibility, inclusion and growth, multi-stakeholder participation, online content and local languages, and strategies to ensure the continued growth and evolution of the User Centric Internet through appropriate and consultative policy action.

Registration is free, however, seating is limited and pre-registration by Wednesday, 2 September is required. Morning/afternoon refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Provisional Agenda

Power Session: Internet for Inclusive Development

Plenary Session I : South Asia 'Internet for Development': Road towards Inclusion & Growth

  • Internet for Public Service Delivery: Decentralization, Community Involvement & Participation
  • Accessibility, Affordability and User Centric Internet Growth
  • Status of Internet Infrastructure Growth
  • Internet for Development & Policy Requirements
  • Using the Internet Model as a framework for development consultation, dialogue and participation: the multi-stakeholder model

Plenary Session II: Developing national Internet infrastructure for socio-economic development: Role of Digital Content & Services in Internet Enabled Growth

  • Ensuring Last Mile Connectivity beyond Stop Gap Arrangements
  • Policy Compatibility towards robust National Internet Infrastructure
  • Online Content in South Asia: Opportunities and Realities
  • Local Language Content & Citizen Services Delivery

Plenary Session III: Internet Governance & Digital Divide: "Strategies from thought to action towards a policy Roadmap"

  • Formulating responses and solutions to Internet security, stability and soft issues: IPv6, DNSSEC, SPAM, Network Neutrality, Trust and Identity
  • User-Centric Internet: Building Internet around the needs of the users
  • Intellectual Property: Managing the intellectual property laws in a modern networked society
  • Greater policy awareness and regional tailoring of policy programs

Register Online Here

Further Details

Technology Innovation & Management for Sustainable Development 2009


TIMS-09 (Technology Innovation & Management for Sustainable Development 2009)

International Conference on Climate Change & Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

10-12 November 2009

Organized by: ITM Universe Campus, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India

Sponsored by: Global Development Network (GDN)

Since industrial revolution from mid 19th century, environment and natural resources have been exploited severely by human population. Presently degradation of environment and natural resources is posing the greatest threat to the globe. Earth is warming at an unusual rate. Evidence of warming is present in different forms. The most obvious is data of temperature records. There are many temperature —dependant phenomenon that also indicate the earth is warming. Earth’s mountain glaciers are melting. Antarctica ice sheets are breaking up, and sea level is rising. The temperature of the global oceans is rising. Northern hemisphere permafrost is melting. Arctic pack ice is thinning and retreating. The tree line in mountain ranges is moving upward.

Scientists suggest that the cause for increase in atmospheric CO2 and ultimately for planetary warming is from anthropogenic activities. The main sources for the increased CO2 are the combination of burning fossil fuels, deforestation and de-vegetation to clear land for agriculture.

Objectives of the Conference

  • It will examine evidences and causes of climate change (natural & anthropogenic)
  • Impact of climate change on humans and ecosystems
  • Mitigation of climate change through technological, social, ethical and political responses.

Structure

This International Conference (TIMS-09) features keynote speeches, panel discussions, oral and poster sessions, best paper awards and cultural programmes. As the Conference topics are multidisciplinary in nature, technical sessions will be arranged in different parallel sessions.

Call for Papers and Posters

The participants for the conference are invited to submit paper for oral or poster presentation. Kindly submit an abstract of your proposed presentation to the conference secretariat, by 31st August, 2009 and the full paper of same latest by 30th September, 2009. The abstract should be of about 250 words. The manuscript must be submitted in IEEE format. The abstract can also be sent as an e-mail word attachment to 'conference.iasca2009[at]gmail.com to the conference secretariat of conference. Participants will be informed by 7th September 2009 or earlier the status of acceptance of their papers. Abstracts of all papers accepted for oral and posterpresentations will be printed in the conference Souvenir. Full papers will be published in the form of proceedings.

Poster Presentation

Poster boards will be provided for poster presentation. Each poster will be be allotted a board space measuring 120x150 cm (48”x60”). Drawing pins or thumb tags will be provided. All poster presentations will be in English. Handwritten posters will not be accepted. The text should be rendered with a sufficiently large font to be legible from a distance of 1-2 meter. Graphs, tables, figures, photographs or maps may be used within the limits of the board space allocated.

Key Dates

  • Last date of receipt of abstracts: 31 August 2009.
  • Intimation of acceptance of abstracts: 7 September 2009.
  • Last date for receipt of full manuscript: 30 September 2009.
  • Registration deadline for authors to have their papers included in the Conference and Proceedings: 30 September 2009.

Further Details

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Call for Proposals - FP7 Science in Society work Programme 2010

Call for Proposals - FP7 Science in Society work Programme 2010
A Call by the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), European Commission
The new 2010 Science in Society work Programme, with the total budget of over 46 million euro, was officially published on 30 July 2009 and contains four Calls for Proposals:

The 2010 Science in Society Work Programme builds on the new direction taken in the 2009 Work Programme, which prioritised more focused and structured actions with greater European added-value and impact, to promote a more effective critical mass of projects involving a wide range of key actors.

Objective

With a view to building an effective and democratic European knowledge-based society, the aim is to stimulate the harmonious integration of scientific and technological endeavour and associated research policies into European society.

What will be funded?

The initiative undertaken in this field will provide support to:

1. A more dynamic governance of the relationship between science and society

  • Research on ethics in science and technology;
  • The reciprocal influence of science and culture;
  • Conditions for an informed debate on ethics and science;

2. Strengthening potential, broadening horizons

  • Strengthening the role of women in scientific research;
  • Supporting formal and informal science education in schools as well as through science centres and museums and other relevant means;
  • Reinforcing links between science education and science careers;

3. Science and society communication

  • Encouraging a European dimension at science events targeting the public;
  • Science prizes;

4. Trans-national cooperation among National Contact Points (NCPs) for ‘Science in society’.

Indian Institutions in partnership with European Institutions can submit the proposals.

Deadline for submitting proposals: 02 December 2009 and later.

Further Details

Homi Bhabha Centenary Symposium: Science and Technology at the Frontiers


Homi Bhabha Centenary Symposium: Science and Technology at the Frontiers

3-5 December 2009

Venue: Homi Bhabha Auditorium, TIFR, Mumbai, India

Homi Bhabha is remembered today both as one of the leading scientists of his day, and as an institution builder. The areas of high energy physics and cosmic ray physics, in which Bhabha worked, remain frontier areas today. Several of his contributions, for example "Bhabha scattering", are central to modern developments in the subject. Bhabha was also an insightful administrator and had a deep appreciation of art and culture.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), which started with Bhabha, has grown tremendously over the years. Beginning with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the Atomic Energy Establishment (now the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre), the DAE encompasses many Institutions and Centres with strong activity in various areas of science and technology.

Bhabha strongly involved with science in India as a whole and with the academies of science in particular. He was Vice President of the Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc) and President of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA).

The DAE is holding this Symposium with the joint participation of INSA, IASc and NASI (the National Academy of Sciences, India) along with the Royal Society, London, to commemorate the birth centenary of Homi Bhabha. The Symposium will focus on issues related to science, society and culture, spanning a range of human activity from physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology to nuclear energy, agriculture and medicine to music, painting, history and cinema. It will highlight Bhabha's scientific contributions in various areas,the present status and future of these areas and the wide-ranging involvement of the DAE, as well as Bhabha's commitment to India's development and his refined sense of aesthetics.

The programme will consist of invited talks by eminent scientists, thinkers and cultural figures from India and abroad, as well as cultural programmes representing both the Indian and Western performing arts.

Further Details

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

CfP: ICTs and Development: An International Workshop for Theory, Practice, & Policy


ICTs and Development: An International Workshop for Theory, Practice, & Policy

11-12 March 2010

Organized by Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi

Sponsored by International Development Research Centre, Canada


Call for Papers

Unpublished, original empirical papers are invited for the forthcoming international workshop on ICTs and Development: An International Workshop for Theory, Practice, & Policy to be conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi, India, during 11-12 March 2010.

The workshop aims to provide a forum for scholars to share their empirical research with academic experts, policymakers, and activists from the regional and international development community. Papers should examine how mobile phones, computers, and the Internet influence the empowerment of marginal individuals and communities, including whether ICTs create and enhance livelihood opportunities for people in the developing world.

Papers should be in the range of 5,000-8,000 words (including abstract and bibliography) and should include a clear discussion of the implications of the findings for development policy and/or practice.

No more than twelve papers will be selected by the workshop organizers for presentation.The first author of each paper chosen will be given air fare and lodging/meals.

The workshop is part of the project, ICTs and Urban Micro Enterprises: Identifying and Maximizing Opportunities for Economic Development, and is supported by the International Development Research Centre, Canada.

The organizers are committed to finding an appropriate publication venue for all papers accepted for the workshop.

Deadlines:

  • Submission of manuscripts: 1st October 2009
  • Announcement of results: 1st December 2009
  • Submission of final version of the paper: 1st February 2010

For submission of manuscripts and other enquiries, please write to ICTD2010[at]gmail.com

Workshop Organizers

Further Details

Management Development Programme on "R&D Management"

Management Development Programme on "R&D Management"
17-19 September 2009
Organized by: SJM School of Management, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai

About the Programme
The post-liberalization era has opened Indian market to foreign goods and services. This has led to intense competition and forced Indian companies to pay attention to R&D with a view reduce costs and produce innovative products. The availability of highly educated scientific and technical manpower has also led to a host of MNC’s to set-up R&D and technical development centers in India. In order to focus on issues confronting R&D managers we propose to organize a three-day program on R&D management with emphasis on market driven R&D.

Target Audience
The MDP will benefit organizations that believe technology-led competence is imperative for competitiveness. Senior and middle level executives from industrial R&D units, R&D Organizations, Techno-entrepreneurs and R&D Consultants would find this program very useful.

Coverage
The program will address following issues:
  • Overview of R&D Management
  • Linking R&D with Business Strategy
  • R&D Project Selection
  • Managing R&D Projects
  • Measuring R&D Effectiveness
  • Case Studies
  • Experience sharing sessions with R&D managers, industry experts will also be provided in the program.

Faculty

The program faculty will be drawn from the: Shailesh J Mehta School of Management and the DSIR. In addition, eminent people from industry and consultancy organizations would provide valuable insights to the participants.

Further Details

Training Workshop on Curriculum Studies and Critical Theory

Course on Curriculum Studies and Critical Theory

Organized by: Bharat Ratna Dr B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD)

Dates: 19-23 October 2009

Venue: AUD Campus, Sector 9, Dwarka, New Delhi

The main component of the Course is a Workshop to be conducted by Professor Michael Apple, John Bascom Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Policy Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, U.S.A. In addition to the workshop, the course will also include a pre-workshop reading module and a post-workshop project work.

The course will focus on:
  • Politics of education and the relationship between knowledge and power
  • Emergence of critical theories and transformatory potential of education
  • Examination of current educational reform models and the re-creation of inequality
  • Possibility of reforms that have the potential to interrupt dominance

The course is intended for educators (teachers, teacher educators), researchers and activists in the field of education. It will be equivalent to a 2 credit coursework at the Master’s level and will be acknowledged with a certificate from AUD.

Those selected for participation in the course will be sent a set of readings by 5 September 2009. Based on these readings a written submission of 1000 words is expected from each participant on or before 1 October 2009. Invitation to the workshop would depend on this pre-workshop submission. At the end of the course, a written assignment or a project report is expected from the participants. Certificates will be awarded on the basis of the pre-workshop submission, participation in the workshop and the post-workshop assignment or project report. All readings, discussions and submissions will be in English.

Applications for the workshop may be sent in the prescribed format along with curriculum vitae and an “Expression of Interest” (in about 300 words). Selection to participate in the workshop will be made on the basis of all these.

There is no course fee. The participants will have to arrange for stay (in the case of outstation participants) and local transport.

Application forms can be downloaded here. Completed application forms with CV, and Expression of Interest should be sent by post to Ambedkar University, Delhi (AUD), Sector-9, Dwarka, New Delhi 110075 or by email to ambedkaruniversitydelhi[at]gmail.com. Last date of submission of application is 25 August 2009.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

East-West Center - South Asia Fellowship Program 2010


South Asia Fellowship Program Fall 2010

East-West Center in Washington

The East-West Center (EWC) is accepting applications from scholars and analysts who wish to undertake policy-relevant research and writing in one of the following areas:

1. International relations in South Asia;

2. Political change in South Asia; and

3. U.S.-South Asia relations.

Funded by the East-West Center, the fellowship finances a three-month residence at the East-West Center in Washington. While in residence in Washington, D.C., the fellows will complete an article or monograph to be considered for publication, such as the East-West Center’s Asia Pacific Bulletin series or Asia Pacific Issues series. The first full draft of the manuscript should be completed before the end of the residency period. Fellows will also give a public presentation on their topic. Up to one fellowship will be awarded.

The fellowship will include a monthly stipend of US$2,500 to $4,500 (dependent upon experience) while in residence at EWC in Washington and round trip economy airfare to Washington, D.C. Residency at the Center will start in September 2010. Additionally, at the discretion of the Director, a small grant to cover field research, in Asia only, may be available. Fieldwork in the region must be completed prior to residence at the East-West Center in Washington.

Applicants with or without a Ph.D. will be considered. Applicants without a Ph.D. will be considered based on their relevant professional experience. Applicants must be nationals of a country within the scope of their Fellowship or the United States and eligible to receive a fellowship stipend. Successful applications will include a completed fellowship application form, cover letter, a full CV, two letters of reference, and a policy-relevant research proposal of ten pages (double spaced). The proposal should discuss the policy problem or issue to be examined, tentative hypothesis and arguments, a review and short bibliography of the relevant literature, plans for fieldwork (if any), and project time frame. If field research funds are sought, please briefly explain why and how they are to be used. All materials must be received by October 15, 2009, at: South Asia Fellowship Program, East-West Center in Washington, 1819 L St., N.W., 2nd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20036-3866. Applicants will be notified of selection decisions on or before December 20, 2009.

Further Details

Monday, August 10, 2009

Second Training Program on Interfacing Social Sciences with Management Education


Venue: Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Goa

Dates: 16-18 September 2009

Organized by: Centre for Management of Innovation and Technology (CMIT) of the International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi

Supported by: Technology Management Programme Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), India

Since the early years of independence, we have been talking about social issues, whether of employment, poverty, equity, access to a decent quality of Life, empowerment, etc. There are explicit statements in policy statements and development plans about what the country must do to resolve social problems or to alleviate their impact. The enunciations of what needs to be done, however, do not seem to find any direct expression in the educational preparation of managers. Management education seems concerned primarily with imparting knowledge and skills related to the subject matter of the individual disciplines/functions, but not as much with preparing individuals with sufficient understanding of the social context in which they would practice their profession, or developing the attitudes and sensitivity that would be needed if their activities were to impact meaningfully and positively on the lives of individuals, groups and the society as a whole. In a 'developmental society' we are not looking merely for highly intelligent and skilled though sociologically innocent/inept/ indifferent 'technicians'. We are looking for people who are not 'cocooned' in their managerial disciplines with little interaction or concern for the social milieu around them, but people who participate fully and meaningfully, and who can bring their specialized knowledge and skills to bear on the larger social development issues, and the uplift of the society in general.

Context

Teaching of Humanities and Social Sciences has always been considered essential for making a person 'educated' in a broader sense. According to the National Policy on Education 1986 (para 1.14), "They (the coming generations) have to be imbued with a strong commitment to humane values and to social justice". It is for this reason that in independent India the planners of management education had consciously provided for education in humanities and social sciences as an integral part of such education. However, over the years, teaching of social sciences in management education has not found the space it deserves, Even more alarming development has been the increasing de-emphasis on social sciences in the curricula both in the minds or the teachers as well as the students who have come to regard the social sciences component as marginal to the larger purpose of producing competent management professionals, Ironically this is happening at a time when the social context has become infinitely more complex, and serious dysfunctionalities have begun to emerge in the society. These dysfunctionalities may well jeopardize any constructive role that managers can potentially play.

Management is a profession of practice. Its context as well as the ult1mate beneficiary is the society. Special emphasis needs to be placed on equity in development, so that the benefits of growth reach the majority of the population, particularly the disadvantaged sections, leading to an improved quality of life for every citizen of the country. Managers should be helped to understand the interface between managerial and social issues, and learn 'how to operationalize' the social and other processes by which managers can indeed contribute to resolution of social issues, Advocacy and building support for managerial interventions to social issues is as important as developing a purely managerial solution, Managers need to know the art of advocacy, sometimes as much as their managerial discipline, if they are to be allowed to proceed by the society towards implementation. For instance, building an automobile plant or SEZ project is not a managerial issue alone but a complex social one with many layers of possible managerial solutions underneath.

Another reason for incorporating social science education in management education has to do with the growing concern for 'values' in the profession the world over. The National Policy on Education, 1986, as modified in 1992, lays down in para 8.4 that "The growing concern over the erosion of essential values and an increasing cynicism in society has brought to focus the need for readjustments in the curriculum in order to make education a forceful tool for the cultivation of social and moral values". The National Policy on Education, 1986 states in para 8.1, thus: “De-culturisation, de-humanisation and alienation must be avoided at all costs". People must be able to consider the implications of emerging managerial options in areas which impinge directly upon their lives, including the ethical and moral, legal, social and economic aspects.

A more immediate reason for incorporating social sciences and humanities into management education has to do with building ability of managers to deal with people effectively. Managers have to deal with people constantly, whether at the broader societal level or the more immediate level of colleagues, workers, clients, vendors, etc. They need to understand elements of human psychology, individual and group behaviour, management of conflict, securing cooperation and collaboration, and providing leadership.

The need for providing better understanding of social sciences and integrating social sciences seamlessly with management education cannot be overemphasized. If this is to happen the agents of change will be teachers of management and indeed social sciences who are fully sensitized to the issues of social sciences as they impinge on the preparation of managers and can bring about the needed curriculum change.

Organization of the Program

For developing awareness and sensitizing teachers of management programs to a host of issues relating to management and society so as to enable them to make curriculum changes and implement them, a Training Program is proposed to be organized for three days. The Program is being organized by the Centre for Management of Innovation and Technology (CMIT) of the International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi, in association with the Goa Institute of Management (GIM). Financial assistance for organizing the Program is being extended by the Technology Management Programme Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Program Objectives

The Program will have the following objectives:

  • Develop awareness, amongst teachers of management programs, of the socio-economic scenario and diversities in terms of access to economic opportunities, education, healthcare, employment and infrastructure.
  • Discuss the relationship between corporate management and society and measures necessary to enhance benefits and minimize disadvantages of management of change to the people.
  • Analyze the role, functions and performance of the managers in making management people-friendly and the mechanisms required to protect the interests of the people in the short run as also on tong term basis.
  • Identify behavioural strengths and weaknesses of managers and people/groups they interact with, and suggest how managers can imbibe social and human values in order to enhance ethical standards in the working of individuals, organizations and the society.
  • Study how the aspirations, motivations and capabilities of people can generate conflict of interests and measures necessary at the organization, local and national levels to facilitate managers to increase people's participation in taking decisions on development issues.

Contents

For pursuing its objectives, the Program will discuss, amongst others, the following topics.

  • Trends and Prospects of Socio-economic Development and Technological Growth and Role of Institutions in Making Development People Oriented
  • Tradition and Modernity in a liberal Democratic Society : Governance, Power Equations, Rights of Individuals and Groups, Dispensation of Justice, Empowerment, and Sustainable Development
  • Strategies and Institutional Mechanisms for developing skills amongst Managers, for Awareness Development, Advocacy, Information Sharing, and Influencing Opinions in Organizations and Society
  • Collaboration, Cooperation and Conflict Management, leadership and Management Styles Human and Professional Values of Managers and their Impact on the profession, economy and society
    Strategy for Interfacing Social Sciences with Management Education

Methodology

The Program will be conducted in an interactive mode through a mix of lectures and discussions. Eminent experts will be invited to make presentations for sharing their expertise and perceptions with the participants on identified topics. Simultaneously, participants will hold discussions in groups on curriculum for students of management (or social sciences. Towards the end, participants will make presentations of their groups' recommendations on the structure and contents of curriculum they would endeavour to introduce in their institutions, for sharing the same with the rest of the participants.

Target Group

Participation is invited from teachers of management and social sciences working in IIMs, IITs, NITs and other central/state funded institutions, universities and AICTE approved institutions imparting postgraduate level education in management. Teachers/ officials working in other institutions dealing with the subject, e.g. NUEPA, UGC, AICTE, etc. are also invited to participate. In order to facilitate mutual sharing of experience, the number of participants will be limited.

Duration and Place

The Program will be held in the campus of the Goa Institute of Management, Ribandar, Goa for three working days from 16 to 18 September 2009 from 9:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. Participants will be expected to continue their discussions beyond working hours in order to complete their group work and present the same on the final day.

Output

Output of the Programme comprise of two components as follows.

  • Learning material comprising of texts of lectures and/or presentations of speakers.
  • Reports prepared by the participants as group work.

Participation Arrangements
There is no registration fee
. Operational expenses for conducting the Program will be met from funds provided by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The Program will provide one set of learning resource material to each participant. Working lunch and tea will also be provided during the relevant breaks on the days of the Programme. Participants shall have to make their own arrangements for travel, local conveyance, lodging and boarding and other personal expenses. GIM can arrange for accommodation and boarding facilities and participants may avail of the same on payment of specified charges. Participants are expected to report at the venue half an hour before the commencement of the Program on the first day and attend all the sessions up to the close of working hours on the final day. They may have to devote evenings to group work assigned to them as a part of the Program. They will be required to submit their group reports on the final day of the Program.

Nominations for Participation

Nominations of intending participants should be sent by post as also by email latest by 5 September 2009 by the heads of departments/ institutions giving the following particulars.

  • Name of the nominee:
  • Designation, department and institution:
  • Office address:
  • Phone number:
  • Residential address and Phone number:
  • Email ID:

Nominations should be addressed to:
Prof. M. K. Khanijo
Coordinator (CMIT)
International Management Institute
B-10 Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi 110016
Email: khanijo[at]imi.edu
Telefax: (011) 46013050

  • Last Date for Registration: 5 September 2009

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Scheme for Fellowship for carrying Out Live Consulting Assignment

Scheme for Fellowship to Students of Academic Institutions for carrying Out Live Consulting Assignments

Objective
To provide Fellowships to students for carrying out live projects/assignments relating to consultancy associating with CDC and other consultancy firms/agencies leading towards creating awareness of the consultancy profession and promote consultancy as a career option

Eligibility Criteria
Students from engineering/management institutions from second semester onwards having a minimum of 70% marks or minimum 7 points CGPA till the previous semester of the course being pursued. The institution in which the course is being pursued should be accredited by AICTE/UGC.

Duration
The live consulting assignment should be of 6-8 weeks duration.

Scope
The live consulting projects would be both from engineering and management consulting, aiming towards helping the students in developing skills and competencies on consulting processes, tools, methods, diagnosis and documentation and presentation.

Amount of Fellowship
Each student will be provided a Fellowship of Rs.10000/- (Rupees ten thousand) towards contingency expenditure, to be paid directly by CDC on receipt of the project report

Important Dates:
Last date for registration: 17th of August
Last date for submission of synopsis: 30th of August
Date of final Results: 15th of September
Date for submitting the final project report: 15 days after the completion of project

Last date for receipt of the application is Monday, 17th August 2009 by 1600 hrs

Proposals may be addressed to:
Head (Systems)
Consultancy Development Centre
Core 4B 2nd Floor, India Habitat Centre
Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110 003
Tel # 91 11 24682055, 24602601
Email: sureshk[at]cdc.org.in

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Call for Research Proposals under the NSTMIS Programme


Call for Research Proposals under the NSTMIS Programme

Introduction

The National Science & Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS) Division of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), India is the nodal agency for collection, analysis and dissemination of vital S&T information at the national level.

The Scheme

The division sponsors research projects / studies to interested investigators/ organizations under the NSTMIS Scheme. The broader areas where studies could be taken up in the sponsored mode are S&T manpower, S&T investment, S&T infrastructure, S&T output, S&T databases, R&D productivity / efficiency etc.

Some of the sub-areas in which the research proposal/ studies could be submitted are given as below:

  1. Quantification of resources devoted for R&D activities in the Higher Education Sector.
  2. Barriers to generation, diffusion and commercialization of R&D.
  3. Impact studies in the, field of S&T.
  4. Manpower studies in the emerging S&T areas.
  5. Development of. Innovation Indicators.
  6. Classification of R&D Institutions by Broad Research areas.
  7. Classification of Extramural R&D projects by sub-areas.
  8. Gender related studies in the field of S&T.
  9. Industry, Academic and Institution Linkages.
  10. R&D Manpower Profile.
  11. Scientiometric Studies in S&T areas.
  12. R&D Output Indicators.
  13. Quantification of R&D in Social Sciences.
  14. Measuring S&T input and output.
  15. Utilization pattern of Govt. Patents.
  16. Studies on growth of various S&T areas and need assessment of future professions.
  17. Linkages between Industry, Technology and S&T policies.
  18. Out-turn of S&T personnel.
  19. Development of Science Citation Index data base for India.
  20. Success Stories of Indian Industries.

Who can Apply

Scientists, Technologists, Statisticians, Economists, Sociologists, Development/ Planning/Policy Experts, Management Specialists etc. from academic / research institutions, registered societies, and consultants may submit their proposals in a prescribed format.

Approval Mechanism

Proposals are screened first by NSTMIS and then referred to the Programme Advisory Committee for technical evaluation before final approval.

The guidelines for formulating / submission of projects can be downloaded from the NSTMIS website www.nstmis-dst.org

The proposals may be sent to:
Head (NSTMIS)
Department of Science and Technology
Technology Bhawan, New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi-110 016


For any other clarification, please contact Smt. Namita Gupta, Member Secretary, Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) at Tel. No. 26567373/Extn.: 371 or 267 E-Mail: namita[at]nic.in or rchetal[at]nic.in