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International Essay Competition 2009 & Prize in Higher Education Policy Research

International Association of Universities – Palgrave Macmillan Ltd.
Prize in Higher Education Policy Research

2009 Essay Competition Theme:
"Equitable Access, Success and Quality - three essential ingredients or three mutually exclusive concepts for higher education development?"

International Association of Universities (IAU) is pleased to announce the 2009 IAU/Palgrave Prize in Higher Education Policy Research. The aim of this Prize is to promote research in the field of higher education policy by recognizing outstanding work on a particular research theme.

The 2009 Prize will focus on issues linked to the new IAU policy statement entitled: Equitable Access, Success and Quality in Higher Education, adopted at the Association's 13th General Conference, held at Utrecht University, The Netherlands, in July 2008.

As a global association of universities and other higher education institutions, (IAU) is committed to promoting the twin goals of equitable access to, and successful participation in, higher education for all members of society, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, economic or social class, age, language, religion, location and [dis]ability. IAU believes that equitable access to quality learning contributes significantly to the development of national human resources, promotes social justice and cohesion, enhances personal development, employability and, in general, facilitates sustainable development. The full Statement on Access may be found on the Association's website http://www.unesco.org/iau/access_he/index.html

IAU is aware that institutions can take a variety of approaches to pursuing these objectives. By choosing this theme for the 2009 Research Essay Prize, IAU wishes to mobilize its membership to focus their research and share their findings on efforts made to increase access to higher education for all while retaining the quality of the education experience. IAU will welcome research papers that investigate and analyse whether, and if so how, the three distinct but interconnected objectives of equitable access, success and quality can coexist as goals in higher education and what kinds of policies and programmes have been or need to developed to achieve them. What policies work? What good practices may be generalized? What can the various stakeholder groups bring to policy development? By publishing the most worthy among the papers in the quarterly journal Higher Education Policy, IAU will also disseminate these reflections.

The research-based essays may take the form of an analytical case study, an analysis of trends, provide an overview of relevant policies or offer the results of impact assessment. They may also look at important partnerships forged, showcase good-practice or evaluate relevant funding policies or approaches.

We would like to underline, however, that the invitation for submissions is for research- and analysis-based papers; not purely descriptive articles.

The IAU/Palgrave Prize, valued at £1,000, is awarded to the most outstanding essay received from a researcher/scholar working in an IAU Member institution/organization. The winning essay is also published in Higher Education Policy, the Association's quarterly research journal. Submissions are welcome from researchers at IAU Members institutions and organisations; they should not exceed 7,500 words in length and should be written in one of the Association’s two official languages—English or French—and be submitted in the first instance in electronic format (MS Word).

An international jury of distinguished scholars and higher education leaders will review the Essays submitted and select the most deserving Essay. The result will be widely disseminated by the Association.

Deadline for submission for the 2009 Prize: March 31 2009

Please send all queries and essays to:
International Association of Universities (IAU)
UNESCO House,
1, rue Miollis,
F-75732 Paris Cedex 15, France
Email: iau[at]unesco.org

More Details

Reports of the National Knowledge Commission, India

• Towards Knowledge Society
• Students Booklet: Towards Knowledge Society
• Entrepreneurship in India
• NKC Report on Innovation
• Report to the Nation 2007
• Feedback on Report to the Nation 2007
• Report to the Nation 2006
• Attracting Talented Students to Maths & Science
• Compilation of Recommendations on Education
• FAQs on NKC recommendations on Higher Education
• Recommendations on School Education
• NKC Libraries Brochure

Science Policy session of 32nd Indian Social Science Congress

Call for papers: Papers are invited for the “Science Policy” session of 32nd Indian Social Science Congress
Venue: Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
18-19 Dec 2008 (Post lunch)

Science for Society: Policy perspective

NISTADS in collaboration with Indian Academy of Social Science is organizing a two day workshop on “Science for Society: Policy perspective” from 18-19 December 2008. This is being organized as part of 32nd “The Indian Social Science Congress” which is being organized by Indian Academy of Social Science. The workshop will deliberate on issues related to innovations at grass root level, farming techniques in hilly areas, intellectual property rights and technology dissemination.

Objective of the session: The objective of the session will be to deliberate on the issues facing India’s S & T and how S & T can contribute towards the upliftment of the weaker section of the society. Major themes which are proposed to be covered under the session are:
1. Innovations at grass root level
2. Farming techniques in hilly areas
3. Intellectual Property Rights
4. Technology dissemination

Session 1: Growth of Science and Technology- Issues involved. There are many issues facing the country’s S & T today. Shortage of quality manpower, infrastructure and dissemination of technologies are some of the examples. The session will involve presentations from researchers, science managers and academicians on their viewpoints regarding the issues facing the growth of S & T in the country, mainly consisting of case studies and their findings on different research studies undertaken.

Session 2: Science for Societal Development. How effectively the ongoing research in the country has contributed towards the upliftment of the weaker section of the society, is the key issue facing research community. The session will involve presentations from researchers, science managers and academicians on their viewpoints regarding how S & T has contributed towards the development of the society and how in future it can contribute further, the issues involved in technology dissemination and development. This may contain case studies on technology transfer and development.

Outcome of the session: The proceedings of the session will be published and the papers contributed by the authors will help in identifying the issues facing India’s S & T in present day scenario and possible solutions as suggested by the authors. The deliberations during the session will also throw light on such matters which are of relevance to India’s S & T.

Submission Deadline for fulltext paper: 5th December 2008

Contact Person:
Yogesh Suman, Scieintist

NISTADS
K S Krishnan Marg, Pusa Campus
New Delhi -110012, India
Email:geetyogesh[at]yahoo.com

Source: http://www.nistads.res.in/images/seminar/indiansocialsciencecongress.pdf

Set up national research mission: Pitroda to PM

Anubhuti Vishnoi

New Delhi, November 16 : While there has been 85 per cent growth in the number of doctorates in China between 1991 and 2001, India has shown only 20 per cent growth. Further, not more than 1 per cent of those who complete undergraduate degrees opt for doctoral studies in India, the National Knowledge Commission (NKC) has said.

In a letter to the Prime Minister written last week, Sam Pitroda, Chairman NKC, has urged for a ‘mission approach’ to draw students to research and academics against this dismal backdrop. Calling for a target to triple the research base in the country within the next 12 years, Pitroda has recommended that a national research mission be established in the current five-year plan under the National Science and Engineering Research Board that will soon be set up.

The commission has called for a series of academic reforms for more ‘professional administration of universities’, de-politicisation of the appointments of VCs and registrars, and administrative autonomy. To make research an attractive career option, introduction of well-planned four-year course to enable direct entry into PhD programmes, credit portability across a network of institutions, increased funding for R&D, improved teacher training at school-level, effective monitoring and assessment mechanisms have been suggested.

“There is a pressing need for urgent Government policy interventions, including high priority initiatives to attract, nurture, and retain the country’s best young minds in academia and research. With this objective, the NKC conducted a widespread investigative survey across the country and abroad. While the NKC welcomes the augmented allocation for education in the Eleventh-Five Year Plan, it is important that these funds are effectively utilised to make a visible difference in our academic landscape,” Pitroda has written in his letter to the PM.

As part of the NKC’s survey, a detailed questionnaire was sent to institutions and more than 250 people responded to it. A one-day workshop was held where prominent members from diverse industries, academic and research institutions and universities deliberated on these issues.

The NKC has recommended urgent ‘regulatory reforms’ in higher education, reducing regulation while improving governance — a key recommendation made repeatedly by the commission but one that has not gone down well with the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry.

Pitroda has called for major academic reforms, greater autonomy for departments within universities to introduce new relevant courses, encouragement and rewards for innovation in teaching and research, greater flexibility and increased funding for university departments to recruit and retain good faculty from across the world, periodic peer reviews of departments in the universities and encouraging recruitment of capable and talented younger faculty.

The NKC has pointed out that a rejuvenation of doctoral programmes is necessary with a careful selection procedure for prospective doctoral students and greater exposure of undergraduate and postgraduate students to cutting edge research.

To ensure high quality of doctoral work, the NKC has suggested that a preliminary vetting of synopses, followed by rigorous external examination of doctoral theses, wider dissemination of research work through digital media in universities and research institutes and encouraging doctoral students to teach with remuneration provided via teaching assistantship would help create a global doctoral quality.

The commission feels that joint collaborations with global research institutes and establishing meaningful links with NRI/PIO scientists could help give global cutting edge to Indian research quality.

See Also: Towards a Knowledge Society: Three Years of the National Knowledge Commission

http://www.knowledgecommission.gov.in/downloads/documents/towards_knowledgesociety.pdf http://www.knowledgecommission.gov.in/downloads/documents/booklet_student.pdf

Science, Technology Policy And The Diffusion Of Knowledge: Understanding the Dynamics of Innovation Systems in the Asia Pacific

Science, Technology Policy And The Diffusion Of Knowledge: Understanding the Dynamics of Innovation Systems in the Asia Pacific
Edited by Tim Turpin (Professorial Fellow, Centre for Industry and Innovation Studies, University of Western Sydney, Australia) and Venni V. Krishna (Professor in Science Policy, Centre for Studies in Science Policy, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India)

The Asia Pacific has emerged as one of the most dynamic regions in the world, presenting a variety of social and economic experiences and responses to global pressures. In this book twelve country case studies explore the ways in which national science, technology and innovation policies are evolving in response to globalization. The editors argue that the national innovation system (NIS) perspective is driving policy regimes toward new approaches in policy intervention. Underlying the new policy agenda is a concern with reframing the role for science, technology and innovation institutions including higher education and integrating local community, national and global technology objectives. Presenting a broad analysis, the book will be of great interest to policy analysts and practitioners concerned with science, technology and innovation policy. It will also appeal to academic and postgraduate students concerned with innovation and industrial development, as well as scholars and practitioners engaged in regional development and international business in the Asia pacific region.

Table of Contents

1. Transition and Change: Innovation Systems in Asia-Pacific Economies/ V.V. Krishna and Tim Turpin

2. ‘Marking Time?’ The Evolution of the Australian National Innovation System, 1996–2005 / Sam Garrett-Jones

3. New S&T Policies and Repositioning of Universities in the Changing National Innovation System: The Case of Japan / Fumi Kitagawa and Robert Schuman

4. Science and Technology Policy and Diffusion of Knowledge in New Zealand / Peter D. Cleland and Susan E. Manley

5. The Evolution of Korea’s National Innovation System and Science and Technology Policy / Deok Soon Yim

6. The Dynamics of China’s National Innovation System: Resources, Capabilities and Linkages / Jing A. Zhang

7. Dynamics at the Sectoral System of Innovation: Indian Experience in Software, Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals / V.V. Krishna

8. Thailand at the Crossroads: The Dynamics of Thailand’s National Innovation System / Patarapong Intarakumnerd and Peter Brimble

9. The Dynamics of Innovation and Technology Capability in Pakistan / S.T.K. Naim

10. Science and Technology Policy and the Dynamics Underlying the Malaysia Innovation System / Fadzilah Ahmad Din and V.V. Krishna

11. The Emerging National System of Innovation in the Philippines / Amelia C. Ancog and Albert P. Aquino

12. Innovation Strategy for the Pacific Islands in the New Millennium: Mixing Science with Tradition / Will Tibben and Apelu Tielu

13. S&T Policy and the Sri Lankan National System of Innovation: The Role of Public Research Systems / Seetha I. Wickremasinghe and V.V. Krishna

2007 480 pp Hardback ISBN: 978 1 84376 780 0 £ 95.00

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Informal Values and Formal Policies: A study of Japanese Technology Policy and Significance for India

ICRIER Working Paper No. 219

Informal Values and Formal Policies: A study of Japanese Technology Policy and Significance for India
July 2008
by Saradindu Bhaduri & Janashruti Chandra

The main objective of this paper is to analyse some aspects of Japanese policy in the post World War-II period and understand how the various informal institutions (shared mental models) have influenced key dimensions of technology strategy with regard to the nature and trajectory of activities it sought to promote. Previous studies have mainly focused on industrial policy on the basis of the White Papers published by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). Our study, in contrast, focuses exclusively on technology policies by examining the White Papers on Science and Technology (Kagakugijutsu Hakusho) published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). We then endeavour to understand the significance of our findings for policy making in India. However, the limited scope of this undertaking makes our results indicative in nature.

Download Full Text in PDF

Training Program on Interfacing Social Sciences with Engineering and Technology Education

Training Program on Interfacing Social Sciences with Engineering and Technology Education
Dates: 1-3 December, 2008

Venue: IMI, New Delhi

International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi will be organizing a Training Program on Interfacing Social Sciences with Engineering and Technology Education on 1-3 December, 2008, at IMI, New Delhi.

The need for providing better understanding of social sciences in engineering education and integrating social sciences seamlessly with engineering and technology education cannot be overemphasized. If this is to happen the agents of change will be teachers of engineering and technology and indeed social scientists who are fully sensitized to the issues of social sciences as they impinge on the preparation of engineers and can bring about needed curriculum changes, without, of course, compromising on the engineering content.

For developing awareness and sensitizing teachers of engineering and technology programs to a host of issues relating to technology 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 of the International Management Institute. Financial assistance for organizing the Program is being extended by the Technology Management Programme Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India.

We shall be grateful if you could nominate a senior functionary of your organization to participate in the Training Program. We shall appreciate the contribution of your representative in presenting the perspective on the subject from the point of view of your organization in various sessions. There is no fee payable for participation. However, due to financial constraints, we are unable to offer financial assistance and have to request you to meet his travel, stay and related costs.

In order to facilitate us in planning the work of the Program, we shall appreciate your sending the nomination of your representative at an early date, latest by 20 November, 2008.

Nominations for Participation
Nominations of intending participants should be sent by post as also by email latest by 20 November 2008 by the heads of departments/ institutions giving the following particulars.

Name of the Nominee:
Designation:
Division/ Department:
Organization:
Office Address:
Phone Number:
Residential Address & Phone Number:
Email ID:

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

Please note that there is no registration fee.

India Disaster Management Congress, 2009

Thematic Session: Disaster Communication Systems
New Delhi, India, 4th & 6th February 2009
Web: http://www.ekgaon.com/dcs-idmc09/

CALL FOR ABSTRACT
Interested scientists, scholars, researchers and practitioners are invited to submit the abstracts of their papers for presentation at the Congress for the Thematic Session “Disaster Communication System”.

The abstract could cover any or all topics given as under, or any other topic relevant to the thematic session

• Disaster Communication for Community Behaviour Change
• Communication Systems for Enabling Public Private Partnerships for Disaster Management
• Role of Social networks in enabling communication channels for disaster information
• Communication Systems for building adaptive capacities - Innovations and pilots
• Communication Systems for disaster mitigation in Urban and peri-urban Geography
• Community based Communication Systems for disaster mitigation
• Disaster Communication Systems, analyzing policy scenario – Enabling and Disabling factors

The abstracts should not exceed 300 words and must be submitted on or before 31st November 2008 along with name of author/co-authors, designation, institutional affiliation, postal & e-mail address. Please identify the lead author.

The abstracts shall be submitted either electronically or by post to the Organizers and Facilitators of the concerned Thematic Session, also endorsing a copy to the Conference Secretariat for information. The addresses are given as under.
Selection of abstracts shall be notified to the authors on or before 16th December 2008.

Please send your abstract to Email: DCS-IDMC09@ekgaon.com mark a copy of your email to Email: dashvishy@yahoo.com and Email: idmc@nidm.net

For more information and abstract submission please visit www.ekgaon.com/dcs-idmc09/ and http://nidm.gov.in/idmc2/sessions.asp

CSSP Research Project (UGC Major Research Project)

Socialisation and Goal-Orientation in Indian Academia: A study of Research Students (Science) in Select Universities

Project Objectives:
The broad objective of this project is to study the socialization pattern of doctorate and post doctorate students in the context of the changing academic culture in the field of Science and technology in India. In this project we are specially seeking to explore the social process of research from the problems formulation stage to submission of research papers for publication in disciplinary and organizational contexts.

Sponsoring Agency:
University Grants Commission, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India

Duration of the Project: 2008-2011

Project Director: Dr. Madhav Govind
Project Fellow: Dr. Pankaj Deep
For any information and feedback, please contact Project Director or Project Fellow.

NISTADS-UNU-MERIT Training Programme in Design and Evaluation of Innovation Policy in Developing Countries (DEIP)

UNU-MERIT Training Programme in Design and Evaluation of Innovation Policy in Developing Countries (DEIP)

NISTADS, New Delhi, India

2-7 February 2009
The National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS), New Delhi, the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Trivandrum and the United Nations University- Maastricht Economic and social Research and training center on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT), Maastricht, The Netherlands are jointly organizing a training course on the Design and Evaluation of Innovation Policy (DEIP) in New Delhi from 2-7 February. The objectives of this course are to learn about the design of innovation policies and about the evaluation of the effectiveness of these policy instruments using science, technology and innovation indicators of both conventional and non-conventional varieties. The programme deals with policy design issues and issues and techniques related to the monitoring and evaluation of innovation policies.
Thus, after attending the course, participants will be able to:

1. better appreciate the various components of an innovation policy and especially to distinguish between financial and non-financial instruments and their impact;
2. understand the importance of policies to increase the supply of technically trained human resource for R&D and other innovation activities;
3. improve the collection and presentation of conventional indicators so as to use them to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of specific instruments of innovation policies;
4. familiarise themselves with methods of policy evaluation and
5. take explicit cognizance of the existence of new innovation indicators such as community innovation surveys and also understand the challenges of replicating such efforts in a developing country context.

Venue and Date: National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS), New Delhi, 2-7 February 2009.

Application: Application forms can be downloaded from the link below: www.merit.unu.edu/training/DEIP/2009_india/application.doc / www.merit.unu.edu/training/DEIP/2009_india/application.pdf

Application deadline is 15 December 2008. Selected candidates will be notified before 15 January 2009.
Please send your application form and CV to:

Ms. Eveline in de Braek

Secretary to the Training Programmes

UNU-MERIT

Keizer Karelplein 19

6211 TC Maastricht

The Netherlands

Tel. +31-433884449

E-mail: indebraek@merit.unu.edu

Draft lecture schedule: http://www.merit.unu.edu/training/DEIP/2009_india/draft_schedule.pdf

International Conference on Social Network Analysis and Applications - SNA2009

International Conference on Social Network Analysis and Applications - SNA2009

The International Conference on Social Network Analysis and Applications (SNA2009), and the Post-Conference Tutorial/ Workshop on SNA Methods and Applications, to be held at the National Institute of Science Technology & Development Studies (NISTADS), New Delhi aim to bring together experts from abroad and India and the learners on the methods and applications of the SNA. The dates of the conference and the post-conference tutorial will be as follows:

- International Conference on Social Network Analysis and Applications (SNA 2009), 28-29 January, 2009

- Post-Conference Tutorial/Workshop on SNA Methods and Applications, 30-31,January 2009

The objectives of SNA-2009

- Impart training to the learners on tools and techniques of SNA

- Discuss applications of social network analysis in various fields

International Conference: Papers on applications, theoretical and methodological issues of SNA are welcome. Presenters will have the opportunity to make their paper available to a broader audience on the conference website.

Language of the International Conference: English

Who should attend?

We welcome contributions from advanced researchers as well as the students. SNA has wide application in different fields. To understand the complexities of the networks, besides having knowledge of the subject domain, it demands understanding of graph theory, statistics, social physics, simulations, modeling etc. Having to analyze large networks, computer-centric operations are necessary as manual analysis cannot grasp the complexities of such networks. Those are interested in learning and applying SNA in their respective field of activities can participate, especially in the Post-Conference Tutorial Workshop. However, prior knowledge will be of help to take up in depth analysis using SNA tools.

Important deadlines:

- Abstract submission (about 300 words): October 31, 2008

- Acceptance notification: November 15, 2008

- Full paper submission: December 15, 2008

- Registration: December 31, 2008

Abstract can be submitted to:

SNA Conference Chair

National Institute of Science Technology & Development Studies (NISTADS)

K. S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi 110 012, India

Tel: +91-11-25843227, Fax: +91-11-25846640

Email: sna.nistads.2009@gmail.com

Additional Details at Conference Second Announcement: http://www.nistads.res.in/images/seminar/callforpapers-SNA.pdf