Bits & bytes
Funding Oxford scholarships

GOOD news for those eyeing a funded seat at Oxford University! The varsity will soon launch the biggest fund-raising campaign in its history and has set a target of £ 1b.

The money will fund scholarships and bursaries for students from poorer backgrounds, as well as teaching posts and a series of major building projects, ‘The Times’ reported in London recently.

Noting that "inadequate funding" was stopping the university reaching its full potential, vice-chancellor John Hood said, "The principal focus of the campaign will be on the funding of existing and some new academic positions and centres, as well as scholarships and bursaries."

However, he stressed that donors would not be allowed to dictate the university’s agenda.

Oxford’s pro-vice chancellor for development and external affairs John Dellandrea said that he expected about a quarter of the money raised to go into student support. "The idea is to ensure those who are offered places can come, no matter what their financial circumstances." — PTI

IIM-K conclave calls for jobs in rural India

Eminent speakers at 'Horizons 2007', the annual management conclave of the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, said rural growth can be achieved by unearthing business opportunities in rural areas and generating employment.

"With over 20,000 craftsmen across 250 districts, Fabindia focuses on bridging the urban-rural divide by bringing the best of rural craft to the urban customer', Sunil Chainani, Director, Fabindia Overseas Private Limited, said recently.

Noting that there was rural brain drain with those leaving rural areas not wanting to return resulting in villages being left mostly with the aged, Harish Bijoor, CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults, said, "However, with urban markets being saturated, it is time to tap the vast potential of the rural masses".

"Unless inclusive growth happens, the current growth rate will not be sustainable after 10 years," he said, adding while urban India thrived on economic enthusiasm, rural India was all about electoral enthusiasm.

Others who spoke on the occasion include Abheek Singhi, Partner and Director of Boston Consulting Group, Saugata Gupta CEO, Marico's Consumer Products Division, Paresh Chaudhry, Head, Corporate Communications, HUL and P K Kesavan, Director, Ministry of Panchayati Raj. — PTI