Yogesh Avasthi

The material to be prepared by experts from different colleges will be uploaded on GTU website in November. It will help MBA, MCA, engineering and pharmacy students devote more time to projects and practical sessions Yogesh Avasthi Gujarat Technological University has come up with a novel idea to boost quality education in its affiliated colleges. Experts from different colleges -- MBA, MCA, engineering and pharmacy -- will be given the task of preparing course material for the GTU students. The material will include powerpoint presentations, audiovisual CDs and printed notes. These will be uploaded on the GTU website and sent out to the colleges to be distributed among students by November. Once that is done, the colleges can allocate more time for practical classes. Right now, 90 theory lectures are conducted every semester. The study material for different subjects will be uniform across colleges. This is being done to avoid confusion among students regarding the relevant book...

Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, February 24, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=201102242011022403140252146170512 ) Every day... • 250 trains go up and down the line • Railway crossing shut 100 times • 2.5 lakh vehicles, 5 lakh people pass through the spot • Waiting time ranges from 5-30 minutes A little more patience, and commuters will soon be rid of serpentine queues at the Maninagar railway crossing. With more than 5 lakh people and 2.5 lakh vehicles passing through the spot every day, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on Monday finally agreed to the Western Railway’s long-standing demand for a railway overbridge at Gujarat’s busiest crossing. The bridge will be ready by 2013. The decision was taken at a special meeting between Divisional Railway Manager Ashok Garud and Municipal Commissioner I P Gautam. Also present were railway and civic officials. Explaining how busy the route is, ...

Bharat and Bela, who lost their better halves in Godhra carnage and riots, came together to pick up threads of life Yogesh Avasthi and Shraddha Singh  Posted On Wednesday, February 23, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2011022320110223031955754e8ff5769 ) Enough has happened in our lives following the Godhra carnage. Not only the families of victims but those of the accused have also suffered a lot. But we have moved on and don’t want to think of the past. Awarding death sentence to the accused will not bring our loved ones back, said Bharat Panchal, who lost his first wife Jyoti in the carnage, while reacting to the special court’s verdict in the Godhra carnage that sparked off worst communal riots in Gujarat. Like Panchal, Bela Raval also lost his better half Ashwin in the communal frenzy. Sudha Raval, Bela’s mother-in-law, had also died in the S-6 fire on the fateful day at Godhra. Bharat an...

Gujarat Technical University will send 180 students abroad this summer to help them gain global exposure Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, February 18, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20110218201102180339508935be90628 ) Gujarat Technological University (GTU) will send 180 third year students of mechanical engineering (ME) to the Oklahoma University in the US this summer to study specialised courses. The eight-week programme was announced after GTU tied-up with the American University on Tuesday. Students will have to choose two of the three courses available — Product Design and Value Engineering, Energy Conservation and Management and Industrial Engineering and Operating Research— and attend at the Oklahoma University. “The top ranking students will be given the opportunity to take at least two courses in June-July at the Oklahoma University from our curriculum for the next semester. The academi...

Barring the engine driver, guard, TT and attendant staff, the entire train that left for Mumbai on Wednesday was empty; the train began running from six days to all days in a week Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, February 17, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20110217201102170256329814907d6cb At a time when the railways is making losses, does it make sense to run an empty train from Ahmedabad to Mumbai? The railways lost revenue of around Rs 3 lakh it earns one way on this trip, not to mention the electricity charges it will have to pay. Bookings did not open for 12934 Karnavati Express that left Ahmedabad station for Mumbai Central on Wednesday morning. Barring the engine driver, guard, TT and attendant staff, the entire train was empty, with all the coaches locked to prevent anyone from entering the train. There are 5 AC chair car, 10 second class chair car and two general coaches on the train...

Strengthening of tracks between the two cities to make running of high-speed trains possible by December Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, February 14, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2011021420110214013412255691b9395 The Western Railway has directed Ahmedabad and Vadodara railway divisions to strengthen the tracks between the two cities so that trains can travel at a speed of 130 km per hour. At present, the trains on the route run at a speed of 100 kmph. The tracks will be upgraded by December, say railway officials. Once that is done, Ahmedabad passengers bound for Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and south India can reach their destinations 25-30 minutes faster. Divisional Railway Manager Ashok Garud said: “The tracks between Ahmedabad and Vadodara will be upgraded within the next six months. The speed-raising will benefit passengers bound for Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and south India via Vado...

Yogesh Avasthi, Ruturaj Jadav Posted On Saturday, February 12, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2011021220110212025613613f5f84f8e Students and scores of other Amdavadis stooped for a good cause on Friday. They bent their back and soiled their hands to rid their surroundings of the ugly pouches for gutkha and tobacco products. Aash Foundation, Jay Ho group and three schools — Tripada, F D, and A G Teachers’ — volunteered to do their best to rid Ahmedabad of the pouches. In a few hours more than 100 students, their teachers and volunteers of the youth groups collected thousands of empty gutkha pouches around their schools and neighbourhoods and deposited them at the collection centres in various parts of city. More than 100 students made posters and wrote slogans to spread awareness on the issue. “This is a great initiative that explores both cleanliness and environment conservation. These small ...

On Thursday, GU VC Parimal Trivedi got a ‘bomb’ to his office after he ‘saw it lying outside GU boys hostel’. It turns out the ‘bomb’ was an aerial firecracker Yogesh Avasthi & Zahid Qureshi Posted On Friday, February 11, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=201102112011021102562162216be8e0f ) Gujarat University Vice Chancellor Parimal Trivedi had an ‘explosive’ story for mediapersons who went visiting him on Thursday afternoon. He showed them a “crude bomb” in a polythene bag neatly placed on the table behind his chair. “See this,” he said with the glint of childlike excitement in his eyes as the alarmed journos jumped out of their seats and reached for the door. But the VC assured them it was defused and there was no danger. His team of security experts had told him so. 4.25 pm: TAKE 1 The journos finally took a look at the ‘bomb’ — its cover was torn and grey-coloured powder was trickling out...

Education dept is set to start an academic audit system similar to that followed by National Assessment & Accreditation Council Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, February 08, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2011020820110208031500169e0cbbb2 ) The state government has decided to launch a comprehensive process for rating arts, science and commerce colleges on the lines of the system followed by National Assessment & Accreditation Council (NAAC). Officials of the education department said that Academic & Administrative Audit (AAA), which is currently in a pilot stage, would be started in June. It will cover 900 colleges — government and private — across the state. Interestingly, unlike NAAC, which accredits colleges and universities once in five years, the education department will carry out the said audit every two years. “We will rate colleges once in two years to make sure there is ...

Gujarat Technological University has done away with election for deans; scholars with innovative approach will be given the job Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, February 08, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2011020820110208030320980ecc64fd8 ) In a bid to attract scholars with innovative approach, Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has done away with the election for the post of dean. As many educationists prefer to stay away from polls, politicised to fulfil ‘other’ aims, the university has decided to eliminate the apparent barrier for aspiring and competent candidates who wish to associate with the university to contribute to the field education. To implement this decision, GTU issued a circular on Monday inviting applications from the eligible persons. The university plans to select 19 deans for its four disciplines: engineering, management, MCA and pharmacy. It also aims at appointing five...

♦ An announcement for increasing this A’bad-Mumbai train’s frequency will be made during railway budget ♦ There is more good news for rail passengers: Gujarat is likely to get at least seven new trains this year Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, February 07, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=20110207201102070026189311af65ccf ) In what should hearten Amdavadis who travel to Mumbai frequently, the railways is most likely to run Duronto Express from the Kalupur station every day. An announcement in this regard is expected to be made when the railway budget is unveiled later this month. A demand for running this non-stop train, which currently chugs out of Ahmedabad thrice a week, every day was made last year, too. However, the request was turned down. Officials of Ahmedabad railway division say this time the proposal will be cleared because of two reasons. “First, the number of people travelling fro...

Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, February 07, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20110207201102070025111203f4f3e93 The Gujarat Technological University is going to set up a centre for study of Nanotechnology & Applications, for exchange of research work amongst faculty members and students. This centre will facilitate exchange of ideas as well as enable those interested in the subject of nanotechnology to learn more about it. One of the main reasons for opening the centre was to co-ordinate the various works being done in the field of nanotechnology in the state. A GTU official said, “Several universities across the state are working on various nano-projects. However, these works are scattered and most people are unaware about the same. So through the GTU centre, we are trying to co-ordinate these works and provide a platform for those working on nanotechnology to publish their works so that maxi...

Future First offered highest package which was double that of last year. Of the 375 students who were eligible for offers, 225 candidates were placed Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, February 04, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=2011020420110204024159251e01ba7c0 ) Students of L D Engineering College are on a high. The 2010 final placements have given them reason to smile. Out of 375 eligible students, 225 students have already been placed and the highest salary offered this year is double that of last year. The placement process that started in November will continue till March 15. Corporate giants like Tata Motors, L&T, Reliance Industries, Tata Power, Essar, TCS, Mahindra & Mahindra, General Motors, Future First are among the 30 companies that have visited the campus. Fifteen others like Volvo trucks, Gujarat Gas, Ceat Ltd, Godrej, Saint Gobain are expected to visit the campus soon. Fut...

Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, February 04, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=20110204201102040241571424d9d58d2 ) Proficiency in English language is a must nowadays. To ensure that Gujarati-medium students do not miss out on opportunities, students who cleared Class 12 without opting for English language subject, will appear for the single subject exam this March. According to figures, the number of students has gone up by almost three times. In 2010, out of 31,000 students who appeared for the one-subject exam, 20,000 appeared for English. While this year, a whopping 60,000 — of the total 67,000 students opting for single-subject test — are appearing for English exam. In 2008, the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Board made English compulsory for Class 11. The following year, in 2009, English was made compulsory for Class 12 as well. Even the central and state governments have been promoti...

Pilot project for active learning method begins at Gujarat College this year. Front-to-back seating gives way to round tables and encourages students to take part in learning process Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, February 03, 2011 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20Latest&sectid=2&contentid=2011020320110203032508745e53c6631 ) No books in sight, college-going youths sit in a circle discussing various topics of interest. An ideal world, you say? College classrooms in the next two years, says the government. Ladies and Lords of the Last Bench, be ready for oblivion. After schools, now colleges in the city will be transformed by the active learning methodology. Soon, students will be seen gathered around round tables, taking active part in classroom activities and discussion. The pilot project is being implemented in Gujarat College this academic year. One college each in the other seven universities in the state will be part ...