SHEMBLOG

The Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma, handed over the Tata Africa scholarships for post-graduate studies to the students of UKZN (The University of KwaZulu Natal) in South Africa. The function was also attended by the Vice-Chancellor of UKZN and the Managing Director of Tata Africa, Raman Dhawan. Tata Africa had started giving these scholarships about three years ago.

Raman Dhawan further explained that the company harboured no concealed motives by offering these scholarships and had no intention of forcing the students to work for the company after completing their courses. He further insisted that the scholarships were purely meant to make sure that the students could concentrate upon their academic performance. In response, a representative of the scholarship-recipients spoke about his financial limitations and how a Tata scholarship had bailed him out.

Israel government has announced the scholarships for Indian nationals in various fields for studying in Israeli University or any institute of higher education in Israel. A total of 5 to 7 scholarships are announced and will take effect from October, 2009 onwards.

The applicants must possess masters degree with at least 60% marks, and must have completed their degree in any of the following streams.

Agriculture
Chemistry
Biology
Nano-Biology
Environment Studies

Last date for submitting the application is latest by 5:30 PM on 31st October, 2008. Applicants can also submit the application online at the MHRD’s web site.

Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme between India and Sri Lanka, 41 Sri Lankan government school teachers have been selected for scholarship that includes an English training course at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) in Hyderabad.

The 3 months course will be sponsored by Indian government covering all the expenses of the teachers during their training. After going through the training, the teachers will be serving as master trainers in Sri Lankan education sector after their return back to home.

Indian government will also be assisting in establishment of an English language school at Peradeniya in the central Kandy district of Sri Lanka.