The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Canadian institute starts foundation course
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 17
The Canadian Institute of International Studies (CIIS), Punjab, in collaboration with AYR College, Scotland, has introduced a one-year foundation course on their campus, near Mohali. With this venture, a truly world-class education will come handy for Indian students, who are keen on building a global career for themselves.Addressing a press conference here, John Muir, director AYR College, said, “The students will be able to do these foundation courses in various streams at a much affordable cost of around Rs 2 lakh. Such a course in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK would cost anything over Rs 8 lakh. Doing course here would be a real value for money.”

He added that students had to do this foundation course to qualify for pursuing a diploma or a degree course in Scotland or the UK.

The various programmes being offered by the AYR, Scotland, include hospitality, accounting and financial services, business, tourism and administration, visual arts, graphics, digital techniques, film broadcasting, acting, music and sound production. Courses in engineering, fashion designing, computers and child care are also being actively pursued at the college.

Prof M.S. Grewal, director CIIS, said AYR-CIIS foundation courses had been tailor-made to provide a perfect academic catapult to Indian students.

The institute's scholarship modules for deserving students with different slabs of 80 per cent, 70 per cent and 60 per cent marks in Class XII will also make them eligible for scholarship amount worth Rs 1,20,000, Rs 1,00,000 and Rs 80,000, respectively.

Muir added that after foundation courses students could opt for a degree or a diploma programme at AYR, Scotland, and simultaneously work for 20 hours a week in the UK earning Rs 10 pound per hour which makes the stay and education much more affordable. “A two-year work permit comes automatically and even permanent residency status on that basis is up for grabs for any Indian student,” said Muir.

CULTURE

Haryanavi Sufiana raginis delight audience
S.D. Sharma

Panchkula, June 17
The Haryana Kala Parishad presented a slice of Haryanavi Sufi raginis, an essential ingredient of the rich cultural traditions of Haryana, at Indradhanush Auditorium here.

The well-designed and entrancing programme, presented before a very scant audience, featured acclaimed folk artistes of the region.

They rendered their compositions laced with religious fervor with the gusto and verve of folklore.

Versatile folk singer and danseuse Jyoti Jaipuri opened up the soiree with 'Utho utho re sakhi ri' before passing on to more philosophical thoughts through a melodic Sufi song 'Avagaman..'. Prem Dehati and septuagenarian Zahoor Khan traversed their potent voice in all octaves while upcoming Kanupriya spelt magic in her two sufi songs as also Arjun Jaipuri, Ghulab Singh and others.

Former bureaucrat and folklorist K.C. Sharma conducted the programme with admirable excellence.

Director Kala Parishad welcomed the chief guest Prem Preshant, chief secretary, Haryana, who, while inaugurating the programme, said our cultural and religious traditions, enmeshed with the teachings and messages of our sages and saints, had given us something of eternal value to hold on to.aTalking to Chandigarh Tribune Rajiv Sharma, director, public relations and cultural affairs, opined that the rich and melodious Haryanvi devotional folk music is required to be embellished with innovations to withstand the challenges of contemporary music influences. The programme continued till late evening.