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Sterlite Technologies to Enhance Connectivity in Higher Education
Sterlite, a leading global provider of connectivity solutions for the power and telecom industries, announced that it has been chosen by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to enhance its network for
promotion of Higher Education in India. The scope of the project includes establishment of world-class connectivity for 120 universities across the country. This infrastructure would act as an information backbone, enabling every university in the network to function as an Euniversity. This platform would facilitate high bandwidth data transmission that is essential for e-learning and video- based learning. Sterlite would connect 30 universities to this backbone during FY12, would connect the remaining 90 univer-
NIIT Tech acquires Spanish firm Proyecta Sistemas for $7m, stock gains 3%
NIIT Technologies acquired Spainish software services firm Proyecta Sistemas de Informacion SA for for USD 7 million. “We will end up paying 70% of the revenue (for acquisition) which is USD 7 million,” Arvind Thakur, CEO, NIIT Technologies, said. He said the company
had revenue of USD 10 million in last financial year and has EBIDTA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation) of 10%. “From today we will start consolidating revenue of Proyecta with NIIT Technologies,” Thakur added. The acquisition
enables NIIT Technologies to enhance its European footprint with Proyecta’s experience in travel and financial services segments. NIIT Technologies’ Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) operations contribute 35% to its global revenues. Headquartered in Madrid, Proyecta, with over 100 consultants that industry players in business intelligence, web and mobility applications. Shares of NIIT Technologies closed at Rs 196.25 on 16 August – the date of the acquisition, up by 2.53% from previous close on the BSE.
Educomp and Sri Kanchi Kamalkoti Peetam announce tie up Educomp Solutions through its subsidiary Educomp Infrastructure & School Management has entered into a joint venture with Sri Kanchi Kamalkoti Peetam to set up a 100 strong chain of schools across the country.
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sities by FY14 and would manage the network for five years thereafter. Sterlite has streamlined its efforts to implement the network well within the required project schedule. This project is part of the ‘National Mission on Education through Information and Communication and Technology (ICT)’ undertaken by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. The Mission has been envisaged to leverage the potential of ICT, in teaching and learning process for the benefit of all the learners in Higher Education Institutions in any time anywhere mode.
Everonn Plans Rs 150 cr Capex Chennaibased VSAT education network company, Everonn Education Limited, has plans of investing close to Rs 150 crore in the present fiscal. Also, the company plans to venture overseas to include countries like Africa during the current fiscal year. P Kishore, MD, Everonn Education Ltd has said that the company would invest Rs 150 crore in iSchool and Instructional and Communication Technology (ICTs). The iSchool model is an initiative of the company which combines the orthodox system of learning with digitised content and tools to make learning interactive. The suggested investment will be funded mainly through debt, said Kishore. Till now, the company has been working with close to 16 states to enable ICT based education on government run schools. Kishore highlighted that out of the Rs 301.62 crore revenue of the company during year-ended March 31, 2011, 22 per cent were contributed by government projects. The company has set a target to increase its topline by 50 per cent during the present fiscal, he added. The company has reported a 43 per cent rise in its revenues in 2010-11.
business news
Aptech Ltd bags award in Vietnam Aptech Ltd. a global leader in education & training solutions has been conferred Top ICT Training Cup for leading the IT training and education domain in Vietnam for the 9th consecutive year by the Ho Chi Minh Computer Association (HCA), Vietnam - the first IT association in Vietnam. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ninad Karpe, CEO & Managing Director, Aptech Ltd., said, “This award is an
appreciation of Aptechs effort to provide Quality IT training in Vietnam. It is a true honour as it recognises our cutting edge Technology, Curriculum, Quality Systems & Processes and Innovative Methodology. We have always endeavored to impart the best of industry relevant training to students across the globe and feel proud to see graduates from Aptech engaged by top IT compa-
nies in Vietnam. Going forward we plan to open a total of 50 centres in Vietnam in the next two years. “ Aptechs venture into Vietnam, started with 2 IT Education Centres under its flagship brand, Aptech Computer Education (ACE). This IT & Computer training brand, has scaled up the Vietnam operations to 44 Centres, offering different courses.
Singapore Management University and Tata Consultancy Services Announce Creation of iCity Lab Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), (BSE: 523540, NSE: TCS), a leading IT services, business solutions and consulting firm, and the Singapore Management University (SMU) announced the establishment of the TCS-SMU iCity Lab to be located at SMU. The collaboration agreement signed states the two organizations are partnering to create a new research facility to develop industry standards and IT frameworks for the emerging intelligent
city (“iCity”) model of urban development. TCS will initially directly invest S$6 million in the new TCS-SMU iCity Lab over the next three years. The investment provides scholarship funds for SMU postgraduate students in Informa-
tion Systems Technology & Management, and research funds for SMU faculty. In addition to the direct investment in the iCity Lab at SMU, TCS is supporting the initiative under the TCS Co-Innovation Network (TCS COIN™) initiative, with collaboration from its global network of Innovation Labs. The iCity Lab is be located within SMU’s School of Information Systems (SIS), and will draw on faculty from SIS as well as from the other parts of SMU.
IGNOU and Aditya Birla Group Sign MoU The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has inked pact with the Aditya Birla Nuvo Limited’s wholly owned subsidiary Madura Fashion and Lifestyle Limited to impart necessary skills and training in garment stitching to the community members who are unemployed/ under employed and are residing mostly in the rural, suburban and disadvantaged locations. According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) both IGNOU and Madura Fashion and Lifestyle Limited will launch three
Short Term Non Credit (STNC) courses namely: Basic Certificate in Garment Stitching for one month, Advance Certificate in Garment Stitching for two months and Advance Certificate in Garment Stitching and Quality Control for two and a half months. All of these programmes will be coordinated by IGNOU’s Regional Center of Delhi-1 at Mohan Cooperative Estate. The MoU was signed by the Registrar of the university U.S. Tolia and R.S. Balasubramanyam, Head- Corporate Social Responsibility, Aditya Birla Group in the presence of Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, VC, IGNOU, in the board room of the VC’s office of the university.
Core Projects renamed as Core Education The leading global education solutions provider will now be rechristened as Core Education and Technologies Ltd. Sanjeev Mansotra, Chairman and Global CEO, CORE Group said: “CORE Education and Technologies Limited means a lot to us and it is not merely a new name. Reflecting its increased thrust on education, CORE Projects & Technologies Ltd. announced a change in its name. Announcing the name change, Sanjeev Mansotra, Chairman and Global CEO, CORE Group said: “CORE Education and Technologies Limited means a lot to us and it is not merely a new name. It reflects our commitment to the growth of education in the country since we firmly believe that an educated India will be able to take on the world with great confidence as it dares to dream to emerge as an economic super power by the year 2020.” CORE has emerged as a major force to reckon with in the rapidly growing education sector with its presence in over 9000 schools panIndia in about a year’s period. With quality as its mantra, CORE has made major strides in education thanks to its management, operational, and technical capabilities. Globally, CORE caters to over 85,000 schools across 20 State Governments in US, 40 Educational Departments in UK, 9 African countries and 12 State Governments in India, touching lives of more than 31 million students.
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