For learning through exploration

THE CITY-based Simova Education and Research is offering its Applied Liberal Arts course through distance education. The first discipline to be offered will be ``Futuristics'', a three-month basic certificate course in understanding and anticipating the future. The course will be largely India-centric, the institution says.

Simova has adopted a study methodology which involve printed study material and a virtual campus on the Internet. ``Many-to- Many and peer group collaborative Learning are our key methodologies. Our virtual campus facilitates learner self- governance through which the learner is encouraged to take independent responsibility for his or her learning process. Simova's role is largely that of a facilitator,'' the Simova staff say.

``Futuristics'', incidentally, is an emerging discipline that studies the future in a systematic and scientific manner. It provides a framework for planning and decision-making, at the personal, professional as well as organisational level. Among other Applied Liberal Arts courses on the Simova agenda for the future are: A course on ``Cross-Cultural Perspectives'', ``Logic and Creativity -- Effective problem solving and decision-making in the 21st Century'' and a course on ``Professional Excellence'', which deals with attitudes and perspectives for the 21st Century workplace.

Simova's academic council include the renowned writer, Prof. U.R.Anathamurthy, a Jnan Pith Award winner, Dr. Shiv Visvanathan, a senior fellow at CSDS, Delhi, Mr. Ranjan Chak, Executive Director of Oracle India, Mr. Bhaskar Bhat, COO, Titan Industries, Dr. Vinod Vyasulu, Consulting Economist and former director of Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad, and Mr. Ajay Srinivasan, Managing Director, Prudential-ICICI Ltd.

The Simova philosophy of learning is: ``We believe in moving away from a world of titles, positions, authority, vertical hierarchy and rigid systems and procedures. Ours is a boundary less world of roles, functions and responsibilities, workflow and continous renewal of systems and processes. We believe in learning through exploration, discovery and debate.''

Details of the course and Simova may be had from the Simova Education and Research Pvt. Ltd., 48, Yamunabai Road, Madhavanagar, Highgrounds, Bangalore: 560001. E-mail: feedback@simovacampus.com, Web site: www.simovacampus.com

Payment seats opposed

Bangalore University's decision to introduce payment seats in its postgraduate departments has invited the wrath of student bodies such as the All-India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO).

Condemning the decision, the AIDSO President, Mr. M.N.Sriram says: ``The infrastructure which were hitherto accommodating less number of students from now on has to accommodate more students, which by itself is violative of the rules and regulations of the university. Further, the decision to increase the payment quota in the subsequent years is a step towards all-out commercialisation and privatisation of the entire university."

The introduction of payment quota in professional colleges, he says, has virtually legalised the capitation fee menace in the state and thrown the meritorious poor students out of the orbit of professional education.

PGDBA programme

The Prin. L.N.Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, an ISO 9002 certified B-school, has invited applications for its two-year full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA) course for 2001-2003. The entrance exams will be conducted in 19 cities in the country on May 29. The last date for the submission of completed forms is May 19.

The autonomous PGDBA programme is recognised by the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The institute was awarded the ``Institute with Best HR Practices'' at the World HRD Congress and ranked amongst the ``Top B-Schools on Corporate Governance'' in the country. Details of the course may be obtained through Email: deepa-kmurthy@yahoo.com

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