Directorate of Higher & Technical Education, Government of Goa in association with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is organising a one-day:  CII Higher Education Summit 2012 “Improving Quality of Higher Education to Drive Goa’s Economy” on Friday, 14 December 2012 at Vivanta by Taj Panaji, Goa .

Mr. Keshav Chandra, Secretary Education Government of Goa and Mr. Anil Kher, Chairman CII Goa Council are driving this initiative of “Improving Quality of Higher Education to Drive Goa’s Economy”.

The summit on 14 December 2012 will be attended by H.E. The Governor of Goa, Mr. Bharat Vir Wanchoo, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Mr. Manohar Parrikar and bureaucrats, Heads of Educational Institutions, Trustees of about 50 Colleges in Goa alongwith their Principals and Heads of Departments.

  “All education in a country has got to be demonstrably in promotion of the progress of the country in which it is given”-/ Gandhiji on Purpose of education”

As a key beneficiary of the education services CII has embarked on many initiatives to bring about ‘Quality in Education in India ’. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the growth of Indian industry; partnering industry, academia and Government alike through advisory and consultative process. It aims to enhance the competitiveness of all the key sectors of the economy, which impacts the growth of the country. One such concerted effort is from CII Goa, which has been advocating the delivery of Quality of education in the nation for over a decade. .

With these deliberations the path for Indian education Quality journey can be tread with small steps but with a purpose of urgency.

Goa is a small state with high literacy and Per capita income of near $3500. The economy is however in the primary and value add stage, be it in manufacture or services sector. The younger generation, nearly 22000 who enter the job market each year, aspire for well-paying jobs and these are not easily available in the state today. The problems faced by Primary activities such as mining are troubling the state economy.

The solution is to train our students to be eligible for more than Rs. 2.0 lakhs p.a. jobs and attract better industries that use them to make Products, lead Research and Development and Innovation. It is these sectors that will meet the aspiration of our young generation and also meet with approval from the Goan people at large.

Goa needs to move from 30% graduate enrollment to emulate Korea with 90% graduate enrollment with matching abilities.

To move our higher education system to this path CII has organized the Summit on 14^th Dec 2102.

The summit will be attended by Trustees of all 50 Colleges in Goa along with their Principals and Heads of Departments.

The Inaugural session would drive the point that Goa has no option than creating better equipped students if we are to keep progressing sustainably.

Session 1. – There is a need to revise curriculum in most courses as it has not been revised for about 30 years. Academic Autonomy is also very important according to bringing in better education. The university is ready. Mr. Arun Nigavekar, Ex Chairman UGC, will talk on Academic Autonomy and the Director of COEP Mr. Anil Sahasrabudhe, will share experience on Autonomy and Dr. Satish Shetye will speak on e learning followed by deliberations with panelists comprising of college principals and secretary Education Mr. Keshav Chandra

Session 2- The owners of Goa ’s 50 institutions need to make learning outcomes as their priority. The pro VC of Symbiosis will talk on High Quality Learning. And leading autonomous institutions and those on the way to autonomy like Mr. Umaji Chowgule will share their experiences then followed by a panel discussion with owners/ trustees of Goan colleges.

Session 3 – The faculty in colleges need to teach better for improved learning outcomes. Faculty from Goa University , BITS Pilani, will talk about pedagogy / Wipro Mission 10X etc to guide our faculty to plan courses and lessons in a more interesting format.

The Summit will end with a panel discussion that lays down the roadmap and timeline for reform.

KEY SUMMIT TAKEAWAYS

·        Curriculum Revision

·        Institute Autonomy

·        View of Challenges and Objectives, Governmental Focus

·        Improving Indian Education through Best Global leading Practices in Teaching

·        Goa as Potential Education Hub

This Summit will go a long way towards establishing Goa as a Prime Education Hub in the region and country. Through this press conference and press release we urge all institution owners and principals and HODs to come on board and be a part of this positive change agenda for the future of our State and Children.

Kingfisher Premium, the Good Times partner in association with Superstar India presented the year’s highly anticipated performance by one of the most popular DJ in the world – David Guetta. The French sensation delivered a power packed performance to a full house by playing few of his Electronic Dance Music (EDM) hits.

The French DJ who has sold approximately 15 million singles worldwide and smashed the world charts with numerous hits performed at the GTDC – Baga grounds amidst thousands of eager revelers and Kingfisher fans. As the crowd went into a frenzy and danced to his tunes, David Guetta spun his magic with the usual stylish persona that he is known for.  The tempo of the concert took off with some chill beats like Titanium, Turn me on followed by the crowds putting their hands up in the air to rapid fire sound of bass.

Kingfisher premium, The Good Times partner, ensured that the free-flowing beer did not let anybody go thirsty as David Guetta played his masterful compositions that included Sexy Chick, Without you, I can only imagine,  Whose going to save the world tonight, Sweat and Get low. The loudest cheer from the full capacity crowd came when he played the hit single Don’t You worry Child.  By the end of the night, the crowd was left yearning for more as they chanted his name in unison.

David Guetta – A producer, composer and officially the most popular DJ in the world was voted as the #1 DJ in the ‘DJ Mag Top 100 DJs’ fan poll in 2011. His fourth studio album ‘One Love’ was nominated as “Best Electronic/Dance Album” at the 52nd Grammy Awards.

The Health Minister Mr. Laxmikant Parsekar today inaugurated the Sports Medicine Seminar organised by the Goa Football Development Council at a City hotel in the presence of the Chairman of the Goa Football Development Council Dr. Rufino Monteiro, the Secretary Sports Mr. Keshav Chandra, Leading doctors and experts invited for the seminar from across India and large number of Coaches, P.E Teachers and Sports administrators.

Mr. Laxmikant Parsekar reminded the audience that the Government soon after taking over fulfilled its electoral promise by declaring football as the Official Sport of Goa.  He said that the Government went one step further by constituting the GFDC under the Chairmanship of Dr.  Rufino Monteiro and from the reports that he has obtained, he expressed satisfaction at the strides made by the council by beginning with a focus on the crucial aspect of Sports Medicine.

In a lighter vein, Mr. Parsekar said that with the involvement of more and more youth in football and sports in general, the spending on health sector would come down and exhorted more and more people to take to some sport or the other.  He assured that the desire the Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar to establish a full fledged Sports Medicine Centre would soon become a reality .

Dr. Rufino Monteiro in his address highlighted the various initiatives taken by the GFDC since it came into being and informed that sports medicine was a subject which needed to be brought in the  forefront so as to save many a sportsmen careers from getting ruined due to injuries which both could be prevented and also be treated.  Resolving that he would not bow down to detractors who may attempt to sabotage the good work done by GFDC, he called upon all present to remain united against them for the future of the youth and their careers.

Eminent faculty members were invited for the proceedings among them being Dr. Vece Paes, former Olympian with Goan roots, Dr. Ashish Phulkar, Dr. Venkata Ramana,

Dr. Ashok Ahuja , Dr. Sheel Sheth, Dr. Sanjeev Sahni, Dr. Mahendra Kudchadkar and Dr. Deep Bhandare.  The wide ranging topics taken up for discussions were “Talent Identification “Tap them young” by Dr. Phulkar, “Doping an evil in Sports” by Dr. Ahuja, “Role of Nutrition in Sports” by Dr. Ramana, “Management and prevention of Sport injuries” by Dr. Bhandare, “Risk Evaluation of an Athlete” by Dr. Kudchadkar, “Psychological approach to injuries” by Dr. Sahni, “Attaining Peak Performance” by Dr. Sheel Sheth, “Long Term Development of Footballers” by Dr. Vece Paes who stressed on the 10000 hours in 10 years model for highest level of excellence.

The various sessions were chaired by Mr. Brahmanand Shankwalkar, Mr. Bruno Coutinho, Mr. Honorato Velho, Mr. Elvis Gomes, Dr. Rufino MOnteiro , Dr. Bhatikar, Mr. V. M. Prabhudesai and Mrs. Liberata Mascarenhas.

On the occasion 32 different clubs and other institutional participants who had earlier attended the GFDC Basic Life support programme were provided with first aid kit bags.

Earlier Mr. Elvis Gomes, Member Secretary of Goa Football Development Council welcomed the gathering.  Dr. Rufino Monteiro concluded the programme with a vote of thanks to all present on the occasion.

The 3 day International Congress on Rural Health and Medicine, which is 18^th in the series, will be inaugurated at the auspicious hands of His Excellency ,  in the august presence of Mr. Manohar Parrikar, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa at 10.00 am on 10^th December 2012 at Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Kala Academy, Goa. Dr. Kalam will also be delivering the Keynote address. Dr. Ashok Vikhe Patil, Chairman and Shri Ramakant Khalap, Co-chairman of the Organizing Committee will be welcoming the delegates on behalf of the organizers, collaborators and knowledge partners of the conference.

Over 500 delegates & 300 speakers representing medical, public health, allied health sciences, academic and research, government, non-government, UN, philanthropic and bi-lateral agencies from over 25 countries – Australia, Austria, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Poland, Republic of Korea, Serbia, South Korea, Sweden, Tunisia, USA are participating in the conference.

The Conference is organized by International Association of Rural Health & Medicine (IARM), Japan, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences – Deemed University (PIMS-DU), Loni, Maharashtra and International Arbitration Centre (IAC), Goa.  Government of Goa, Goa University and Goa Medical College are local supporters. Knowledge partners & cosponsors of the congress include World Bank, Medical Council of India, Action Aid India, ICMR, Dr. Vikhe Patil Foundation, Mapusa Urban Cooperative Bank Goa Ltd., Appolo Pharmacy, Dreager India Ltd. and Torrent Pharma.

The congress is aimed to address various key challenges & issues of rural health under the main theme “Challenges of Health in the Global Village”, and promote dialogue, partnership among doers & policy makers for improving health of people of rural and remote areas of the world in a unified and holistic way.  The health of the people, where ever they live – developed & developing countries – urban & rural areas, are affected by man made policies, actions and natural disasters. The policies, systems on access to universal health care, gender justice, occupational health of farming community, migration, effects of information technology, bio-technology revolution, environmental & global warming have made the world into one global village. The boundaries of nations have collapsed and the problems of the world have to be addressed in an integrated manner.

At the end of the three day deliberations, the organizers and participants of the conference are expected to come out with a Goa Declaration on “The Rural Health Initiative on Global Village – Call for Action”.