Chandigarh, June 27
The UT education department has extended the last date for the submission of forms for the centralised class XI admissions by one more day. 
The earlier date was July 28 but now the forms will also be accepted on July 29.

According to an education official, out of the total sale of 11, 615 forms, 8,900 forms have been received at the three centres--- GMSSS-23, GMSSS-33, GMSSS-40 and GMSSS, Manimajra.

Meanwhile, a heavy rush of admission seekers along with their parents turned up at the collection counters of all school. By afternoon, the rush had swelled so much that the authorities found it hard to control the crowds despite the fact that there were around five to six collection counters for men and equal number of counters for women at the Sector 23 school.

There was no water arrangement and with the absence of a shed, the heat made the wait torturous. Parents alleged that the school authorities had not even bothered to make adequate seating arrangements. It was only after 11 am when top officials of the education department intervened that chairs were placed in the veranda.

An official informed that from July 4 onwards, tents would be erected and drinking water tanks would be engaged with help from the MC. 

Chandigarh, June 27
The wait for students seeking admission to GGDSD College, Sector 32, is finally over with the college displaying its final merit list today.

The cutoff for BCom with mathematics went as high as 89.6 (105.6) per cent in the UT pool and 91.4 (107.4) per cent in the general pool whereas the cutoff for BCom without mathematics went up to 93.6 (105.6) per cent in the UT pool and 95.4 (107.4) per cent in the general pool.

For students seeking admissions to BCA (I), BBA (I), BSc (biotech I) and BSc (bioinformatics I), the cutoff percentages are 87 per cent, 88 per cent, 90 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively. — TNS

Chandigarh, June 27
Punjab Engineering College (deemed university) wants a new name for itself but its alumni doesn’t. The PEC authorities have proposed to change the name of the deemed university from ‘Punjab Engineering College’ to ‘Punjab Engineering College University’ but majority of its alumni have, in response to a survey, said no change of name was needed.

“PEC has a brand value, but there is need to have the word university with its for its global recognition,” said PEC director Dr Vijay Gupta. The college, earlier affiliated to Panjab University, became a deemed university a few years ago and since then the original name has been retained. “The two words deemed university are not part of the name of the college but are added in brackets after PEC,” said the director.

Giving an example of the legendary Government College Lahore, Dr Gupta added that a few years ago, the college was given the status of a university and the name was changed to Government College Lahore University. “We want to retain the word Punjab as it is a part of the college heritage,” said Gupta.

However, when a formal proposal had come up for discussion during a meeting of the board of governors, it was decided that the various alumni associations of the college be asked to give their opinion on the issue. Over 64 per cent of the alumni said there was no need to have any change in the name of the college. About 10 per cent felt it could be called PEC University. Some approved the name “PEC University of Engineering and Technology” while some felt PEC can be re-christened as National Institute of Technology (NIT), Chandigarh. Others suggested it be called ‘PEC NIT Chandigarh’ while very few approved the names ‘Panjab University for Engineering and Technology’, ‘Engineering and Technology University of Panjab’, ‘Punjab Engineering University Chandigarh’, ‘PEC Institute of Technology’, ‘PEC Technology University’ and ‘Punjab Engineering University’. Many of the alumni, however, liked the name ‘Punjab Engineering College and Technological Advancement University’ (PEC TECH). “The aim is to retain the acronym PEC as that is what is associated with the college the most,” said the director.

The move came up for discussion during the last meeting of the board of governors of the college held recently, but the matter had to be deferred. Sources said in view of the fact that the alumni had categorically refused to change the name, members of the board felt the name should not be changed. However, some members insisted that the word ‘university’ be added to the name even if it will have the words ‘university’ and ‘college’ together.

“It has been decided to take a look at the PEC constitution and see whether a provision exists for the change of name. In case there is a provision, we will move further,” said Gupta.

Mohali, June 27
Government College, Mohali, will offer a plethora of new courses, including BSc (biotechnology), bachelors in computer applications and MA in fine arts, from this session.

“This is the only college in this region to offer master’s in fine arts. The other regular courses we offer are bachelors in arts (with honours in psychology, Punjabi, history and sociology), BCom, BSc (medical and non-medical), BSc (home science), PGDCA, and master’s in English,” said principal of the college Roop Aulakh.

Besides PGDCA and BCA, students of other regular courses can also hone their computer skills. These students can opt for short-term and long-term courses. Also available for students is PTOSS (Punjab Training on Soft Skills), which prepares the students to join the booming IT and BPO industries.

Six UGC-sponsored career-oriented add-on courses are also available to the regular students. These courses may be opted for one, two or three years along with a regular degree. These courses are entrepreneurship and small business, tax procedure and practices, insurance and risk management, spoken English, hotel housekeeping and early childhood care and education (equivalent to NTT).

In addition, the Career Guidance, Counselling and Placement Cell actively helps the students in personality development providing information about various career options available and finding placements for the desirous students.

Sports facilities being provided to the students include athletics cinder track, football ground, cricket ground, hockey ground, volleyball court, basketball court, kho-kho ground, mini gymnasium, table tennis, chess and shooting range. Students of the college have done the institution proud by winning laurels at the state, national and international levels. A well-stocked library and a book bank for needy students is an attraction for the students.

Prospectus is available at a nominal cost of Rs 30 from the college office. Admissions will start on July 2. The last date for admission without late fees for undergraduate courses is July 14. The last date for submission of application forms for MA is July 2. Interviews for MA will be held on July 9. Additional information can be had from the college website www.gcmohali.org or by e-mail principal@gcmohali.org or by phone 2225164.

Chandigarh, June 27
Aiming to integrate road safety with education, the UT administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) today released a book titled “Road Safety-Our Concern” at a function held at CII here today.

The book will be introduced in the curricula of class VI from the current session to inculcate good traffic sense among students. The book has been conceived by a team of the traffic police under the guidance of SP (traffic) A.S. Ahlawat. The book has 17 chapters.

The administrator said the programme had been rightly started from class VI as students enter into a new phase of knowledge acquisition. He said this continuing programme on traffic rules should be further promoted to make it a life-long phenomenon in view of the increase in traffic.

He had asked the traffic police to prepare an action plan for traffic management with focus on educating children and the youth about traffic rules through a regular educational syllabus.

He asked police officers to follow one rule for everyone. The traffic offenders must be brought to book irrespective of their social or official status, he said.

He honoured Sunaina Hooda, a radio jockey, with a commendation certificate and a cash award for helping in catching a truck driver a few days ago who had sped away after hitting a cyclist.

The IGP said the traffic police had evolved a three-pronged strategy---education, enforcement and engineering---for effective management.

Schoolchildren presented a cultural programme and a skit on road safety. Senior police officers and principals of various schools participated in the function.

Chandigarh, June 27
City students, keen on taking up a course related to media, have another choice.

The Futuristix Media Communication Centre (FMCC), a Delhi-based institute for mass communication, is offering postgraduate diploma courses in various areas of mass media.

Addressing a press conference today, Asif Shakeel, admission in charge of the institute, stated that the institute, in its fourth year, was keen on taking up students from the region during a career seminar to be held in Chandigarh on July 1.

He claimed that the courses offered by the institute concentrate on complete development of its students.

“We try and ensure that the students get hundred per cent placements,” he added.

The FMCC is offering one-year postgraduate course each in marketing communications, advertising, media management, event management, public relations and corporate communications.

The institute is also offering a one-year postgraduate diploma in journalism/ mass communications in both English and Hindi.

TRAINING CENTRE INAUGURATED: The Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences (DBIMCS) has started a training centre for computer-savvy students, who wish to make a career in multinational call centres. The centre has been started in association with Akiko Callnet, New Delhi.

Famous Punjabi anchor and singer Satinder Satti inaugurated the centre. Dr Zora Singh, chairman, Desh Bhagat Group, Tajinder Kaur, vice-chairperson, Desh Bhagat Group, and Shalini Gupta, director, DBIMCS, presided over the function.

Pranay Sharma, MD of Akiko Callnet, said growth in call centre career depended on good training of software, networking and good English which could be developed through regular IELTS and computer coaching.

Harvinder Singh, head, business operations, also spoke at length about the functioning of the training centre. — TNS

Chandigarh, June 27
The Auckland Institute of Studies (AIS), St Helena, New Zealand, in association with AIMS Global Education, Chandigarh, is offering MBA programmes, diploma in tourism management, diploma in international business and graduate diploma in information technology.

Addressing mediapersons at a press conference today, Dr Anatole Bogatski, director, marketing and student services at the AIS, said, “The advantage that a student gets after enrolling for a course at the AIS is the global environment that the campus offers. At present there are about 1,500 students on the rolls.” Amar Manchanda, director, AIMS Global Education, also made a presentation highlighting various plus points of studying abroad. — TNS