Despite Covid-19, UoH sees 20% rise in foreign students applying for admission

Despite Covid-19, UoH sees 20% rise in foreign students applying for admission

Preeti.Biswas@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad: 12.07.2020

Notwithstanding the uncertainty over movement of people between countries in these pandemic times, the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has witnessed a 20% rise in number of applications from foreign students for the 2020-21academic year .

According to the figures shared by UoH with TOI, this year the university has received 258 application from international students as against 203 last year. Officials have observed a spike in number of applicants through Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), seeking admission in various courses.

“This year the number of applications received from ICCR was more than 200 against 175 in the previous year. Also, from overseas citizens of India (OCI) cardholders who are holding foreign passports, we received 38 applications as compared to 30 last year,” director, international affairs, N Siva Kumar, adding that 18 applications were received for various courses in the integrated masters programme.

Majority applications were received from countries such as Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sudan, Gambia, Madagascar, South Africa, Tanzania and Guyana. Officials have attributed the spike in applications from international students to the Institute of Eminence(IoE) status that was awarded to UoH by the ministry of human resource development last year.

“We are happy that even in this pandemic-ridden situation, applications from foreign nationals significantly increased to over 200 compared to previous years, with support from ICCR and MHRD. With the memorandum of understanding already signed and those in the pipeline, we see bright prospects for UoH to become a choice destination in several subjects for the foreign nationals,” said Appa Rao Podile, vice-chancellor of UoH.

Emirates flights to five Indian cities from July 12

REPATRIATION OF STRANDED INDIANS

Emirates flights to five Indian cities from July 12

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  12.07.2020

Emirates on Saturday announced it will operate special repatriation flights to five Indian cities from July 12 to July 26, 2020, “to assist stranded Indians get home and for residents of UAE currently in India to return to the UAE.” The flights will be operated to Delhi, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. Flights planned to Bengaluru and Mumbai are "subject to state government approval”. While Bengaluru, Delhi and Kochi will have double daily; Mumbai will have thrice daily and Thiruvananthapuram will be once a day.

“Flights can be booked on emirates.com, through travel agents, Emirates’ sales offices and contact centre. Passengers must meet all the entry requirements of the destination to be allowed to board the flights,” Emirates said in a statement. “Only Indian citizens stranded in the UAE will be allowed to fly from Dubai to the five Indian destinations. Flights from India to Dubai will be available for UAE nationals and residents with prior entry approval from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDFRA) for residents of Dubai and ICA approval for residents of other emirates of the UAE. All passengers travelling from airports in India to Dubai are also required to carry a negative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) certificate issued by a laboratory authorised by the government of India to be accepted on the flight. Certificates must be issued no more than 96 hours before departure,” it added.

More information for returning UAE residents can be found at https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/help/flyingto-and-from-dubai/

Apply for PG courses online by Jul 16

Apply for PG courses online by Jul 16

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Panaji:  12.07.2020

The admission process for postgraduate programmes at Goa University and affiliated colleges for 2020-21 will be held online, the university said on Saturday. The Goa University Admissions Ranking Test (GU-ART) Round I and II were conducted earlier this year and based on this, the admissions have begun, with the GU portal already accepting admission forms. The university has said that applications for admission will be accepted online till 6pm on July 16 and has asked students not to visit the campus.

“Based on the GU-ART Round-I and Round-II, selected candidates have confirmed their seats as per their rankings for various programmes,” GU said.

Admissions to the PG programmes are based entirely on GU-ART and marks obtained by students at graduation will only be used to ascertain their eligibility for the programme, the university said. As the final year exams for graduate programmes in the state are yet to be conducted due to the lockdown, the university has reiterated that ‘candidates who have completed their graduation or are in their final year of graduation are eligible to apply’ for PG seats.

“Selected candidates, who are in the final year of graduation, shall be granted provisional admission. Their admission will be confirmed after the results are declared based on the eligibility. In case a candidate fails to clear the graduation examination, the admission shall be cancelled and the fees shall be refunded,” the circular states.

The university said that in their own interest, students are advised to apply for admissions much before the closing date and ‘not to wait till the last date for applying or payment of application fee to avoid possibility of disconnection, inability or failure to log on to the website as there might be heavy load on the internet or website’.

“Goa University does not assume any responsibility for the candidates not being able to submit their application within the last date on account of aforesaid reasons or for any other reason beyond the control of Goa University. The printout of the application form is not to be sent to the university,” the circular states.

Capt urges Modi to review UGC guidelines on exams

Capt urges Modi to review UGC guidelines on exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chandigarh:  12.07.2020

Punjab has sought permission to adhere to its July 3 decision on cancellation of university and college examinations in view of the exponentially rising Covid-19 cases. Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh has written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging to advise the Union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to reconsider its decision on mandatory conduct of final term exams by September.

“UGC may be asked to reiterate its earlier issued guidelines of April 29, wherein it had been clearly mentioned that the guidelines were advisory in nature and each state/university would chart out its own plan of action taking into consideration the issues pertaining to Covid-19 pandemic,” he urged the Prime Minister.

Amarinder noted that the state government, after due deliberation and taking into account the Covid-19 situation and attendant issues of safety of students and staff, had on July 3, decided to cancel all pending UG and PG final term examinations and to promote students on the basis of performance in previous years/ semesters.

“In addition, we have also allowed conduct of examination for the purpose of improvement of grades for interested students, once the situation becomes conducive,” Captain Amarinder pointed out, stressing that “This would ensure academic credibility, career opportunities, future prospects and fair and equal opportunity for students in both urban and rural areas.”

“In view of this rising trend of cases, I am not sure whether the situation will be conducive for conducting offline physical examinations by September,” he said, adding that conducting physical examination will also involve huge logistical and operational challenges. On the other hand, Amarinder said, “Conducting online examinations for such a large number of students, majority of whom reside in rural areas without assured access to computers/laptops and internet, is also not possible in the state.”

Ahmedabad restricts visitors from Surat and south Gujarat

Ahmedabad restricts visitors from Surat and south Gujarat

Surat Has Been Leading Daily Covid Positive Cases Count

TNN & AGENCIES

Gandhinagar: 12.07.2020

Following a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in Surat, the Ahmedabad civic authorities and the Gujarat transport services have decided to restrict the entry of visitors from the Diamond City and South Gujarat to Ahmedabad.

The Gujarat State Roads and Transport Corporation (GSRTC) has decided to put a curb on visitors to Ahmedabad city coming from South Gujarat, especially from Surat. Bus services to Ahmedabad from Surat have been stopped. Buses coming from south Gujarat to other parts of the state will not be allowed in Ahmedabad and they will have to bypass the city.

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has started screening all the vehicles from south Gujarat entering Ahmedabad, at toll plazas on the Express Highway.

On Friday, out of 574 persons from south Gujarat, wanting to enter Ahmedabad, 23 were found to be positive for coronavirus. The testing was carried out through the Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) method at the special booths set up by the AMC officials at the toll plaza.

Maharashtra & NE cities extend lockdown

Several cities and towns — from Maharashtra in the west to Guwahati and Shillong in the Northeast – on Saturday got either an extension or a return to lockdown. After Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Thane city, Kalyan-Dombivli and Mira-Bhayander on Friday, more urban and rural pockets of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region joined the list of places where the lockdown will continue.

In the Northeast, the Assam government extended the ongoing 14-day lockdown in Guwahati and other pockets of Kamrup (Metro) district by another week till July 19. For the Meghalaya capital of Shillong, the Covid-induced total lockdown will make a comeback for two days, beginning Monday. The decision was taken after 47 new cases were reported.

So cute: 53 babies born to +ve patients are healthy

MAJOR MISSTEPS

So cute: 53 babies born to +ve patients are healthy

Govt Loses Track After Containing Infections During Lockdown Months

More Politicians Contract Infection

S Ramesh | TNN

12.07.2020

Mysuru: Fifty-three babies born to women with coronavirus infection in Karnataka are in good health, and there has been no mother-to-child transmission in these cases, according to the health and family welfare department. The newborns include three sets of twins.

Fifty Covid-19 patients have given birth in the state, including five in Mysuru.

Dr CP Nanjaraj, dean and director of the Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute, said the risk of mothers passing on the infection to the child appeared to be low, going by the current case studies. So far, there has been no evidence of foetal abnormalities or effects due to maternal infection.

Five babies born at Mysuru’s VV Puram Maternity Hospital, which has been converted into a special centre to treat pregnant Covid-19 patients, are all healthy, Dr Nanjaraj added. Doctors from Cheluvamba Hospital performed the caesarean section. Positive patients’ newborns are kept in a separate ward while the former recover. Many new mothers have returned home with their bundle of joy after beating the virus. Those who make full recovery are tested multiple times before being discharged.

To date, authorities have not received reports of coronavirus infection in the said infants after discharge. “Currently, five pregnant patients are undergoing treatment at VV Puram hospital. Considering the recent case studies, there is no need for them to worry,” Dr Nanjaraj said.

According to the World Health Organization’s guidelines and advice of other experts, the baby should be separated from the Covid-19 patient for at least 14 days or till she completely overcomes the infection. The patients can breastfeed, provided they practise respiratory hygiene and wear a mask, wash hands before and after touching the baby, says the WHO’s guidance. US CDC also says it’s safe to breastfeed.

PG seats: 64 vacant in dental, 425 in medical

PG seats: 64 vacant in dental, 425 in medical

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: 12.07.2020

After the second round of admissions by the Admission Committee for Professional Postgraduate Medical Education Courses (ACPPGMEC), as many as 425 seats remain vacant in PG medical courses and 64 in PG dental programmes.

Students who were selected for the admission had to confirm their admissions till July 11.

For the 1,550 seats for MD, MS and diploma programmes, 1,125 students have confirmed admissions, ACPPGMEC said on Saturday.

For 205 seats in MDS programmes, 141 students have confirmed admission by registering at help centres, it added.

The Dental Council of India (DCI) recently relaxed the minimum admission qualification criteria.

According to the revised criteria, candidates in the general category who ranked in the 31st percentile or better in the PG NEET entrance exam will now be eligible for college admission. Earlier it was the 50th percentile.

Students who qualify for admission have been instructed to re-register by the admission committee, sources said.

There is speculation that the Medical Council of India (MCI) may take a similar decision, sources in the state admission committee said.

If this happens, the registration process for PG medical students will also have to be re-initiated, sources added.