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<ul><li>Nearly 180 professional colleges, including engineering institutes and business schools, have shut down during the academic year 2020-21, the highest number of closure of technical institutions in the last nine years, according to <keyword id="9657430" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="all-india-council-of-technical-eduction">All India Council of Technical Eduction</keyword> (AICTE) data. </li><li>Besides the closure of 179 institutes, at least 134 institutes did not seek approval this year in view of large number of seats lying vacant over the last 5 years thus making it unviable for continuing the institution. </li><li>Also, at least 44 institutes could not get approval or their approvals were withdrawn due to punitive action by the technical education regulator.</li></ul>Nearly 180 professional colleges, including engineering institutes and business schools, have shut down during the academic year 2020-21, the highest number of closure of technical institutions in the last nine years, according to All India Council of Technical Eduction (AICTE) data. Besides the closure of 179 institutes, at least 134 institutes did not seek approval this year in view of large number of seats lying vacant over the last 5 years thus making it unviable for continuing the institution. Also, at least 44 institutes could not get approval or their approvals were withdrawn due to punitive action by the technical education regulator. While 92 technical institutes had to close down in the 2019-20 academic session, the figures were 89 (2018-19), 134 (2017-18), 163 (2016-17), 126 (2015-16) and 77 (2014-15). Progressive closure means institute cannot admit the students for the first year during the academic year, however, the existing students will continue till completion of their course and their degrees are treated as valid. In the academic year 2020-21, a total of 1.09 lakh seats approved by AICTE have been reduced in pharmacy and architecture institutions. "As per recent <keyword id="6354977" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> judgement, for functioning of existing and setting up of new <keyword id="9657431" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="architecture-and-pharmacy">Architecture and Pharmacy</keyword> colleges, approval of only '<keyword id="217401" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Council-of-Architecture">Council of Architecture</keyword>' and '<keyword id="55171" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pharmacy-Council-of-India">Pharmacy Council of India</keyword>' respectively will be mandatory from academic Year 2020-2021," a senior AICTE official said. "As a result, the approval of AICTE has been made non-mandatory.Consequently, many of these colleges have withdrawn their affiliation &amp; approval from AICTE resulting in bulk reduction of seats. Effectively, the seats of pharmacy and architecture have now been taken over by their respective regulatory bodies," he added. According to official statistics, over 69,000 seats in 762 colleges have been reduced due to reduction in intake or closure of a particular course or division. "The approval process for year 2020-2021 was a considerable departure from the previous years on several counts. Due to the imposition and subsequent extensions of lockdown, the approval process was delayed. It was initiated in the month of May and completed in June end. "Moreover, the rigorous scrutiny which was undertaken physically at various regional offices was conducted via an online process. This involved using online video-conferencing for stakeholders to connect, verification of infrastructure and campus facilities virtually and uploading digitally signed documents. Even though new Management and Polytechnic Engineering Institutes have added seats, there has been reduction in AICTE approved Seats," the official said. The AICTE has also granted approval to 164 new institutes for the 2020-21 academic season, adding up to 39,000 seats. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/mahindra-and-mahindra-finance-managing-director-gets-candid-about-the-rights-issue/articleshow/77212386.cms">EXCLUSIVE: M&amp;M Financial Managing Director gets candid about the rights issue, the bleak prospects for this year and why there should be no more loan moratorium</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/india-stock-brokers-hit-by-sebi-direct-market-access/articleshow/77198064.cms">India's broking industry just got the shock of its life – SEBI may soon allow investors to trade directly on the exchanges</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/these-10-indian-colleges-have-produced-indias-most-funded-startup-owners/slidelist/77140792.cms">These 10 Indian colleges have produced India’s most funded startup owners</a>

Nearly 180 professional colleges in India shut down this year

<keyword id="244668" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="GMR-Hyderabad-International-Airport-Ltd">GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd</keyword> (GHIAL) has bagged <keyword id="113134" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airports-Council-International">Airports Council International</keyword> (ACI) Airport Service Quality (ASQ) award for 2020. Hyderabad Airport has been adjudged as the '<keyword id="152747" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Best-Airport">Best Airport</keyword> by Size and <keyword id="6401650" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="region">Region</keyword>' in Asia-Pacific region for 2020, in its category of 15-25 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA). ASQ is the <keyword id="6354507" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="World">world</keyword>'s leading airport passenger service and benchmarking programme measuring passengers' satisfaction while they are travelling through an airport, GHIAL said in a statement on Monday. "This achievement is a testament to the untiring efforts of our stakeholders including DGCA, CISF, BCAS, AAI, Immigration, Customs, Airlines; our employees and all business partners/vendors, who have worked unnerved during the testing times of the Covid pandemic," said Pradeep Panicker, CEO - GHIAL. "In terms of passenger experience, Covid-19 has taught us many lessons. We adopted the best in-house technology to make flying more safe and provide a superior customer experience and the ACI ASQ Award is a testimony to our efforts. This award is a collaborative effort of engagement by all stakeholders who exhibited unflinching courage in the face of the pandemic," said SGK Kishore, ED-South and Chief Innovation Officer, GMR Airports. Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General, ACI World, noted in his message to GHIAL congratulated for winning the award. As India's first modern, Greenfield airport developed under the PPP model, Hyderabad Airport has consistently raised the bar in terms of service and operational excellence. The airport has consistently ranked in ACI-ASQ survey as among the global top 3 airports for 9 consecutive years (2009 to 2017) including world number one position for 4 times in 2009, 2010, 2016 and 2017 in 5 - 15 MPPA category; it ranked world number 4 in 2018 in 15 - 25 MPPA category. GHIAL has won the coveted ACI's ASQ Departures Awards by being adjudged as the 'Best Airport by Size and Region' and its first ever 'Best Airport in Environment &amp; Ambience by Size', both in Asia-Pacific region for 2019, in its category of 15-25 MPPA. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/checkout-february-auto-sales-from-maruti-suzuki-bajaj-auto-hero-motocorp-tvs-ashok-leyland-mahindra-and-others/articleshow/81270921.cms?upcache=2">Tata Motors reports highest passenger vehicle sales in 9 years — Maruti, Ashok Leyland, outperform street expectations</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/europe-space-agency-hiring-astronauts-it-is-looking-for-women-and-people-with-physical-disabilities/articleshow/81271858.cms">Europe’s space agency is recruiting astronauts after over a decade — and its looking for women and people with physical disabilities</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indians-are-heading-back-to-parks-supermarkets-and-pharmacies-but-malls-and-theatres-are-not-on-the-priority-list/articleshow/81271614.cms">Indians are heading back to parks, supermarkets and pharmacies — but malls and theatres are not on the priority list</a>

Hyderabad airport bags award for best airport by 'size and region' for 2020

Hyderabad, Amid the gloom caused by COVID-19, one sector which provided a ray of hope was life sciences and turning the challenge into an opportunity, Hyderabad fortified its position as a global force in the world of pharmaceuticals. This southern city, already recognised as a global information technology destination, proved its prowess in the field of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology and emerged as the vaccine capital of the world. Already known as the bulk drug capital of India, Hyderabad witnessed manufacturing of lifesaving COVID-19 drugs like Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine and Favipiravir by some of the top pharma companies based here. This was followed by hectic efforts in the city to develop COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, Hyderabad has emerged as the nerve centre of all research and development activities in the country for COVID-19 vaccines and has even attracted international attention. Today, almost all the vaccines being developed in the country for the pandemic have a Hyderabad connect. Four of the six companies developing COVID vaccines in India are based in Hyderabad. <keyword id="149108" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Biotech">Bharat Biotech</keyword> is currently conducting Phase III clinical trials of India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin. Covaxin is being developed in collaboration with <keyword id="1256547" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Indian-Council-of-Medical-Research">the Indian Council of Medical Research</keyword> (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology (NIV). This indigenous, inactivated vaccine is being developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech's BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) bio-containment facility at Genome Valley here. According to Bharat Biotech, Covaxin has been evaluated in approximately 1,000 subjects in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials, with promising safety and immunogenicity results. The Phase III human clinical trials of the vaccine began in November, involving 26,000 volunteers across India. This is India's first and only Phase III efficacy study for a COVID-19 vaccine, and the largest phase III efficacy trial ever conducted for any vaccine in India. "Covaxin has garnered interest from several countries worldwide for supplies and introduction," said Suchitra Ella, Joint Managing Director of Bharat Biotech. In April, Bharat Biotech announced development of CoroFlu, an intranasal vaccine for <keyword id="8698690" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus-">Coronavirus.</keyword> University of Wisconsin–Madison and vaccine company FluGen along with Bharat Biotech began the development and testing of CoroFlu. The Hyderabad based company will produce almost 300 million doses of vaccine for global distribution. In May, Bharat Biotech and Thomas Jefferson University of Philadelphia signed an exclusive deal to develop a new vaccine candidate for COVID-19 invented at Jefferson. The novel vaccine was developed using an existing deactivated rabies vaccine as a vehicle for coronavirus proteins. Bharat Biotech claimed to have excellent track record of innovation with more than 140 global patents, a wide product portfolio of more than 16 vaccines, 4 bio-therapeutics, registrations in more than 116 countries and WHO Pre-qualifications. The company has so far developed vaccines for H1N1, Rotavirus, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, Chikungunya, Zika and the world's first conjugated vaccine for Typhoid. It has delivered more than four billion doses of vaccines worldwide. It is also the largest Rabies vaccine manufacturer in the world. Another city-based firm Biological E last month initiated clinical trial of its COVID-19 subunit vaccine candidate in India following approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). BE is making the vaccine in collaboration with <keyword id="5289395" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="dynavax-technologies-corporation">Dynavax Technologies Corporation</keyword> (Dynavax), a US-based vaccine focused biopharmaceutical company, and <keyword id="503459" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Baylor-College-of-Medicine">Baylor College of Medicine</keyword>, a health sciences university in Houston. Biological E has also signed an agreement with Johnson &amp; Johnson to produce the latter's vaccine at its vaccine production facilities and sell them both in India and export across various global markets. Indian Immunologicals, a human and animal vaccines maker, too is developing a vaccine for COVID. Hyderabad-based pahrma major Dr Reddy's Laboratories is conducting clinical trials of Russian COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V. Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia's sovereign wealth fund, has collaborated with Dr Reddy's to conduct clinical trials and distribute the vaccine in India. Hyderabad was under spotlight with the recent visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ambassadors of more than 60 countries to the facilities of Bharat Biotech and Biological E in Genome Valley Telangana's industry minister K. T. Rama Rao believes that Hyderabad has cemented its position as the vaccine capital of the world. He pointed out that Hyderabad is already manufacturing more than two billion doses of vaccines every year, which is one-third of the global vaccine output. The city, with its strong ecosystem, has played a critical role in making India not only self-sufficient in the medicine manufacture but also turned it into the pharmacy capital of the world. It accounts for 40 per cent of the total Indian bulk drugs and 50 per cent of the bulk drug exports. Industry leaders believe that Hyderabad will be an integral part of the global efforts to vaccinate the world against COVID. Even if no vaccine is developed in the city, the city will still have a big role to play in global vaccination efforts with the sheer vaccine manufacturing capacity it houses. Hyderabad has the largest US FDA approved vaccine facilities. They have the capacity to manufacture millions of doses with world-class standards. "India's vaccine sector will play a critical role in developing and producing vaccine at scale for distribution across the world. Hyderabad's importance in the global vaccine landscape is only growing," K.T. Rama Rao said. Telangana government has assured the companies that it will play the enabling role in global vaccination efforts against COVID-19. The Hyderabad airport announced few days ago that has developed necessary infrastructure to handle the exports. As per the industry insights, most of India's vaccine export will be to Africa, Latin America and Asian destinations. Hyderabad is already home to more than 800 life sciences companies and the sector employs over 1,20,000 pharmaceutical professionals. It is said to be the only city in the country to house more than 20 incubation centres focused only on life sciences and health-tech. More than 200 start-ups are also working on innovative solutions in healthcare. Genome Valley is India's first organised cluster for life sciences R&amp;D activities spread across 600 square kilometers. Set up in 1999, it has world-class infrastructure facilities in the form of <keyword id="10464926" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="industrial-/-knowledge">Industrial / Knowledge</keyword> parks, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Multi-tenanted dry and wet laboratories and incubation facilities. It is home to more than 200 companies including presence of the marquee global names like Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Ferring Pharma, Chemo, DuPont, Ashland, United States Pharmacopeia and Lonza. With <keyword id="4920024" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyderabad-Pharma-City">Hyderabad Pharma City</keyword> also likely to be operational soon, the city is looking to ramp-up production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and thus develop a cluster to help the country compete with China. The new project is expected to create 1,70,000 direct jobs and 5,60,000 indirect jobs. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/wistron-apple-iphone-manufacturer-could-face-these-penalties-if-found-guilty/articleshow/79790319.cms">If investigators find Wistron management guilty, here's what is at stake for the company</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/heres-what-analysts-say-if-you-should-subscribe-or-not-to-the-300-crore-ipo-of-antony-waste-handling-cell/articleshow/79790998.cms">Antony Waste Handling Cell ₹300-crore IPO will open on Monday— these are the risks and opportunities</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ikea-india-cfo-says-she-still-has-3500-crore-to-be-spent-in-india-the-pandemic-has-changed-targets-but-not-the-investment-plan/articleshow/79790938.cms">INTERVIEW: Ikea CFO says she still has ₹3,500 crore to be spent in India⁠— the pandemic has changed targets but not the investment plan</a>

Hyderabad : Vaccine capital of the world

Courtesy AltoAlto Pharmacy chief technology officer Jamie Karraker and CEO Matt Gamache-Asselin<ul class="summary-list"><li>Alto Pharmacy, a startup that delivers medications, just became the SoftBank Vision Fund's first foray into the pharmacy business.</li><li>Reuters reported in January that Alto had <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-altopharmacy-funding-exclusive/exclusive-softbank-leads-latest-alto-pharmacy-funding-round-at-over-1-billion-valuation-idUSKBN1ZT19K?il=0">raised $250 million in a round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, which valued the company at more than $1 billion. </a></li><li>"Really from the beginning I was surprised by the level of depth and rigor that got put on profitability and economics," Alto CEO Matt Gamache-Asselin said of SoftBank's investment in the startup. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prime?module=article&amp;area=summary">Click here for more BI Prime stories</a>.</li></ul>SoftBank is turning to US consumer healthcare startups as it begins to make its next round of mega-investments.SoftBank's Vision Fund 2 led a $250 million investment round in Alto Pharmacy, a startup that uses couriers to deliver medications from its brick-and-mortar locations. GreenOaks Capital, Jackson Square Ventures, Olive Tree Capital and Zola Global also joined in on the Series D round. In total, the startup has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/alto-pharmacy-raises-50-million-2018-12">raised more than $350 million</a>. The investment marks the start of Vision Fund 2's foray into US consumer healthcare, according to a person familiar with the mater. The Vision Fund team plans to make more investments into consumer-facing healthcare, such as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/booming-direct-consumer-healthcare-business-2018-10">direct-to-consumer health companies</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disruptive-primary-care-companies-iora-health-one-medical-chenmed-2019-8">primary care companies</a>, the person said.The latest funding round puts Alto's valuation at more than $1 billion, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-altopharmacy-funding-exclusive/exclusive-softbank-leads-latest-alto-pharmacy-funding-round-at-over-1-billion-valuation-idUSKBN1ZT19K?il=0">Reuters reported</a>. The funding was also reported in January by <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/30/alto-raises-250-million-from-softbank-vision-fund-2-others.html">CNBC</a>. Reuters said that Vision Fund 2 contributed the majority of the $250 million.Alto has plans to use the funds to grow its footprint nationally, after years of focusing on the startup's northern and southern California footprints, CEO Matt Gamache-Asselin told Business Insider. The startup will enter five to 10 markets over the next year, he said."We really spent the first four years refining that playbook," Gamache-Asselin said. Alto marks the latest big-ticket investment for the SoftBank's Vision Fund 2, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/softbank-108-billion-vision-fund-ii-2019-7">which was announced in July 2019</a> and has yet to close. To date, SoftBank Group is the sole investor in Vision Fund 2.SoftBank's Vision Fund is known for pouring hundreds of millions into growing companies like WeWork and Uber, but lately has come under scrutiny as WeWork's initial public offering fell apart and some investments expected out of the Vision Fund <a href="https://www.axios.com/softbank-walk-away-startups-honor-creator-seismic-8d4adc0c-dcfb-42d3-982e-f422a9963be8.html">have fallen through</a>. A number of SoftBank-backed companies like WeWork, Oyo, and Zume, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-many-people-have-been-laid-off-at-softbank-companies-2020-1">have gone through layoffs</a> as their businesses faltered.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/softbank-backed-oyo-layoffs-us-offices-2020-1">Oyo, the 'jewel' in SoftBank's startup portfolio, just announced more layoffs in the US weeks after cutting thousands of jobs in India and China</a><h2>What it's like when SoftBank invests</h2>Despite the challenges at SoftBank, from where Gamache-Asselin sits, the process hasn't felt that different from other venture investors he's met with. "There's more mystery around SoftBank than there probably should be," Gamache-Asselin said. "In most ways they've behaved and acted like every other Silicon Valley investor we've worked with."The talks between Alto and the SoftBank team began about 18 months ago, around the time Alto was raising its last round of funding. The talks became more serious starting 6 months ago, at which point the investment had to be vetted with SoftBank's investment council via a video conference, which included SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son.While SoftBank has backed a number of enterprise healthcare and biotech companies like Collective Health and Roivant, Alto's the first consumer healthcare investment made by <a href="https://visionfund.com/team/justin-wilson">Justin Wilson</a>, a partner who's also an investor in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/softbank-backed-oyo-layoffs-2020-1">Oyo</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/softbank-backed-compasss-real-estate-agent-tech-stack-2019-12">Compass</a>.Even early on as Alto started talking to the Vision Fund team, Gamache-Asselin noted an emphasis on profitability while thinking about the startup's future. "Really from the beginning, I was surprised by the level of depth and rigor that got put on profitability and economics," he said. Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-raise-money-from-softbanks-vision-fund-2019-9">Here's everything we know about how startups raise money from SoftBank's $100 billion Vision Fund</a><h2>How Alto is taking on the pharmacy market</h2>Alto CEO Gamache-Asselin told Business Insider that the company has recently launched into new markets, expanding into Seattle and Denver in January. Alto also operates in Las Vegas.Prior to that, Alto had just been in California markets around San Francisco and Los Angeles. Alto's also expanded to 400 employees, or as Gamache-Asselin dubbed them, "Altoids." The ranks include veterans from <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/layne-martin-b96b563/">McKesson,</a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-boyd-50b33a1/">Amazon</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-frye-54755319/">Dropbox</a>.For now, Alto only offers fertility medications out of its pharmacies in Seattle and Denver. Partners wanted Alto to be in those markets, Gamache-Asselin said, which helped get the startup into those areas. Alto hasn't completed all the contracting and administrative work to operate as a full-service pharmacy in those cities yet, he said.Gamache-Asselin said the startup has expanded at a measured pace over time, because it didn't want to outgrow its ability to provide good service to patients. It's not been easy to grow as fast as the startup would like, even in the initial California markets, he said.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-independent-pharmacists-survive-against-amazon-cvs-2018-11">Amazon is threatening the future of independent pharmacies. Here's how they're fighting back.</a>Alto's growth comes at a time when the pharmacy industry is getting more competitive, as new entrants like Amazon look to make a foothold while existing players like CVS Health and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walgreens-stock-and-strategy-microsoft-partnership-for-clinics-2020-1">Walgreens</a> look for a more sustainable business model. Amazon <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-pharmacy-pillpack-acquisition-merger-latest-push-into-healthcare-2018-6">in 2018 acquired</a> the online pharmacy PillPack, launching it into the prescription-drug business.Alto, which was founded in June 2015, isn't alone in the business of prescription delivery via couriers. Others, including the New York City-based Capsule, are taking a similar approach to getting folks their medications. Capsule for its part raised <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-13/pharmacy-startup-capsule-raises-200-million-to-grow-beyond-nyc">$200 million in 2019</a> as it plots a national expansion. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-independent-pharmacists-survive-against-amazon-cvs-2018-11">Independent pharmacies</a> as well as retail giants like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cvs-health-offers-prescription-delivery-2018-6">CVS</a> have also been exploring ways to deliver medications to people. Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/health-strategies-of-cvs-health-walmart-amazon-kroger-and-walgreens-2019-9">Companies like Walmart, CVS, and Amazon are beefing up their healthcare strategies. Here are their plans to upend the $3.6 trillion industry.</a><a href="/intelligence/digital-health?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_subscription&amp;itm_content=health&amp;itm_campaign=digital-health"></a>Featured Digital Health Articles: - <a href="/telehealth-industry-explained">Telehealth Industry: Benefits, Services &amp; Examples</a> - <a href="/value-based-care-pay-for-performance-healthcare-model">Value-Based Care Model: Pay-for-Performance Healthcare</a> - <a href="/senior-care-market-trends">Senior Care &amp; Assisted Living Market Trends</a> - <a href="/wearable-technology-healthcare-medical-devices">Smart Medical Devices: Wearable Tech in Healthcare</a> - <a href="/artificial-intelligence-healthcare">AI in Healthcare</a> - <a href="/remote-patient-monitoring-industry-explained">Remote Patient Monitoring Industry: Devices &amp; Market Trends</a> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-far-sneeze-cough-germs-can-travel-2018-10">This animation shows how far your sneeze can actually travel</a></h3>

SoftBank's Vision Fund 2 just made its first bet on a buzzy US pharmacy startup. The CEO of Alto told us how he plans to use the fresh $250 million.

Over 70 engineering colleges in India opt for ‘progressive closure’ as they fall short of students, checkout the full list

For ages, <keyword id="19907717" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="education" source="keywords">education</keyword> has looked just about the same. You have a teacher hunched over a board with chalk, scribbling and lecturing away to a group of students. The pupils are neatly gathered around in front of the teacher; the attentive ones typically seated at the front while the delinquents loiter around the back. Then came the COVID-19 lockdowns, forcing institutes to render their educational services online. While the title of a ‘backbencher’ might have briefly disappeared due to the recent pandemic, the concept of <keyword id="21072209" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="distance-learning" source="keywords">distance learning</keyword> has only found more credence in recent times. The popularity of this new mode of education has exploded due to many reasons, such as its flexibility of class timings, accessibility for students living in remote regions, nationwide improvements in internet infrastructure, reduced social anxiety in students and more. But this also begs the question: are distance learning colleges like the Indira Gandhi National Open University worth it? <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How valid are distance learning degrees?" comment="subhead" text="How valid are distance learning degrees?">How valid are distance learning degrees?</cmsannotation> Very much. In 2017-2018, the University Grants Commission — India’s main educational body regulating <keyword id="6375224" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="higher-education" source="Orion">higher education</keyword> — released a <a href="https://deb.ugc.ac.in/pdf/Equivalence%20of%20education%20degree.pdf" data-type="tilCustomLink">notification</a> decreeing that degrees, diplomas or certificates awarded through open or distance modes are equivalent to those acquired through the traditional universities and institutions in the country. This means that these degrees can be used to pursue <keyword id="6355127" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employment" source="Orion">employment</keyword> or further education as well. However, it is also important to note that certain programmes that require hands-on training may not be available through open and distance learning. This includes some programmes in engineering, medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, physiotherapy, and a few other courses. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Are online degrees as valuable as traditional ones?" comment="subhead" text="Are online degrees as valuable as traditional ones?">Are online degrees as valuable as traditional ones?</cmsannotation> Yes, for the most part. On paper, online degrees hold the same value as offline ones, provided they come from institutes accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). However, just like some degrees from some brick-and-mortar educational institutions might be more prestigious than others, the same applies to degrees from online institutes. The Ministry of Education has been considering adding a new category for open and distance universities under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) to assess the quality of education among such colleges. While the degrees might seem equivalent on paper, some concern that employers might discriminate against distance learning passouts. However, earlier <a href="https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/156658" data-type="tilCustomLink">studies</a> have shown that most <keyword id="19897096" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IGNOU" source="keywords">IGNOU</keyword> graduates successfully landed a job soon after completing their course, and only a minimal number of candidates faced discriminatory behaviour from recruiters. In addition, many notable personalities and IAS/IFS/IPS officers have completed several courses from online institutes, such as the former Indian Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Are online universities cheaper?" comment="subhead" text="Are online universities cheaper?">Are online universities cheaper?</cmsannotation> Online institutes are far cheaper compared to traditional colleges, mostly due to the high costs of running a physical educational facility. For example, an online MBA degree currently costs 1.95 lakhs for the entire course from Amity University, while a single semester can cost almost 4 lakhs from their offline Business School. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What are some of the challenges of online learning?" comment="subhead" text="What are some of the challenges of online learning?">What are some of the challenges of online learning?</cmsannotation> While digital literacy and a stable access to reliable internet connection and technology might be the obvious challenges for online learners, retaining the motivation to attend classes and participate regularly in the curriculum is a lesser-known hurdle. Additionally, since students miss out on face-to-face interactions with peers and professors, distance learners can end up feeling disconnected and lonely. Further, some students may find it challenging to access support services like counselling, tutoring, or academic advising in an online format, affecting their overall academic experience. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Which are some popular institutes offering accredited online and distance degrees?" comment="subhead" text="Which are some popular institutes offering accredited online and distance degrees?">Which are some popular institutes offering accredited online and distance degrees?</cmsannotation> Some renowned online universities include IGNOU, Manipal University, Amity University, VIT, NMIMS, JNU, Symbiosis, Mysore University and Jain University. The full list of UGC-accredited universities can be accessed <a href="https://deb.ugc.ac.in/pdf/Additionallist_of_Entitled_HEI_19052022.pdf" data-type="tilCustomLink">here</a>.

Should you enrol your child in an online university like IGNOU?

New Delhi, Jun 23 () More than 100 private and not-for-profit entities have come together to launch a telemedicine platform 'Swasth' to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. "The mobile app-based service leverages India's technology prowess to deliver equal and affordable healthcare to 1.3 billion people, cutting across geographical and income divides," Swasth said in a statement. "Swasth has brought together the best of resources in the country to provide free healthcare to bring quick relief during the crisis," Swasth Governing Council member Kris Gopalakrishnan said. It will work to further public health goals and work in coordination with the Medical Council, public health organisations and the private sector to expand quality healthcare access to the masses, he added. Swasth facilitates remote interaction between registered medical practitioners and patients through multiple modes of video and telephony. It deploys AI based triaging to determine the care required, culminating in a digitally signed prescription and treatment advice, the statement said. Along with the free consultations, Swasth will also provide services like home quarantine assistance, diagnostics, pharmacies, hospital bed discovery and booking assistance at a subsidised cost, it added. Swasth Governing Council member Nachiket Mor said on the launch that Swasth is a unique non-profit coalition of members from multiple sections of the Indian healthcare ecosystem, including individual doctors, small and large hospitals, diagnostic labs, pharmacies, telemedicine platforms, insurance companies, and healthcare-technology companies. The members have joined hands with the goal of creating affordable healthcare for all Indians in every nook and corner of the country, so that they can immediately get the care that they need for this crisis, as well as for all their other healthcare needs, he added. "... we expect to bring in almost a lakh plus providers so that we can offer to the general public a concerted response as far as the COVID-19 is concerned," Mor said. Swasth is created by a not-for-profit consortium of different players across healthcare providers, telehealth platforms, entrepreneurs, technology experts and doctors, the statement said. It has received a grant of Rs 10 crore from the ACT Grants, an umbrella platform of entrepreneurs and investors backing start-ups fighting the pandemic, it added. AKT MKJ

COVID-19: Over 100 pvt, not-for-profit entities join hands to launch tele-health network

rheumatoid arthritis Coimbatore, Mar 3 () Arya Vaidya Pharmacy here hassigned an MoU with Central Council for Research In AryurvedaSystem (CCRAS) to conduct Phase III Multi centric clinicaltrial on rheumatoid arthritis in Bengaluru and Mumbai.The union government has come forward to fund the firstever such trial on the efficacy of Ayurveda in managingrheumatoid arthritis and the study would be done by AVPResearch Foundation in collaboration with CCRAS, FoundationChairman P R Krishnakumar told reporters on Tuesday.The study was based on a pilot study by AVP in 2003, theoutcome of which was published in leading research journalslike Annals of Rheumatic Diseases and Journal of ClinicalRheumatology, he said.The Centre has come forward to take this study to thenext level as part of positioning Ayurveda as a forefrontmedical system capable of handling various conditions,including auto-immune disorders, he said.The agreement to pursue the study was signed betweenKrishnakumar and Dr Shashidhar Doddamani, representing CCRAShere recently, he said.Ayurveda Research Institute for Metabolic Disorders,Bengaluru and Raja Ramdeo Anandilala Central Ayurveda ResearchInstitute for Cancer, Mumbai, will be the clinical sites forthe 36 week study on 200 people with fresh cases of thedisease, he said. Krishnakumar said the study was designed by world renownedrheumotologist Dr Daniel Furst, currently the Director ofClinical Research at Arthiritis Associtaion of SouthCalifornia, who would also mentor it.The AVP Group has also initiated a clinical trial on theefficacy of Ayurveda on management of diabetes, he said.The study will be executed in Lativa in collaborationwith the University of Lativa and be the first of its kind,where efficacy of Ayurveda in the management of Diabetespopulation outside India, Krishnakumar said. NVM APRAPR APR

AVP signs MoU with CCRAS for multi centric clinical trial on

New Delhi, Apr 5 () The government has tightened the export ban norms on anti-malarial drug hydroxycloroquine by including special economic zones (SEZs) under its prohibition ambit to ensure there is no shortfall during Covid-19 crisis.The drug is also not allowed to be shipped by export oriented units (EOUs) or under any export promotion scheme."The export of hydroxycloroquine and formulations made from hydroxycloroquine...is no longer allowed from SEZs/EOUs or against Advance Authorisation or against full advance payment...The export shall remain prohibited without any exception," the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) has said in a notification.Under advance authorisation (AA) scheme, firms are allowed to import raw material at zero duty but with the condition of export obligation within a certified time frame. SEZs are treated as foreign territory in terms of customs laws.Normally export ban or restrictions imposed by the government does not apply on these zones as well as EOUs, which are specially meant to promote outbound shipments from the country.In the case of export restrictions imposed on certain APIs and formulations, the government clarified that these curbs would not be applicable for units in special economic zones (SEZs).Exporters availing AA scheme benefits too get these exemptions. But now the government has decided to include all this under the ambit of export ban due to the outbeak of coronavirus and increase in demand for this medicine.The move assumes significance as Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine for treating healthcare workers handling suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases and also the asymptomatic household contacts of the lab-confirmed cases.On March 25, the government banned export of anti-malarial drug hydroxycloroquine with immediate effect to ensure sufficient availability of the medicine in the domestic market.In that notification, the DGFT had stated that export will be permitted from the SEZ and EOUs and in cases where the outbound shipment is made to fulfill export obligation under any advance authorisation license issued on or before the date of this notification, which is March 25, 2020.With US President Donald Trump describing hydroxychloroquine as a "game changer" in the fight against COVID-19 and several countries, including India, approving it for emergencies, pharmacies are reporting a surge in demand for the drug yet to be proven as a cure for the virus.Over the last few weeks, India has banned exports of host of medical devices, including sanitiser, all types of ventilators and surgical masks.There is a shortage of hand sanitiser and face masks in the market amid the coronavirus outbreak as people resorted to panic buying. RR BALBAL

Govt tightens export ban norms for anti-malarial drug hydroxycloroquine

Hyderabad, Apr 6 (): Pharma exports from India maywitness a dip in growth due to ongoing lockdown and alsoexport restrictions imposed on certain drugs, a top officialof Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council, a body under theMinistry of Commerce which earlier estimated that exports maycross USD 22 billion in FY 20 has said.Udaya Bhaskar, director general ofPharmexcil saidpharma exports were pegged at USD 19.14 billion during thelast fiscal.He also said the global situation of coronavirusspread became unpredictable with each country imposing certaintailor-made restrictions.He said the exports in March 2019 alone stood at USD2.1 billion which prompted the exports estimation to be peggedat USD 22 billion for the FY20. The exports were at USD 17.28 billion during 2017-18.India restricted exports of Paracetamol andHydroxychloroquine, among some other drugs to other countriesin view of their perceived role in Covid-19 treatment."As far as exports are concerned, since there areseveral restrictions, we may cross last years figure. Lastyear we did USD 19.14 billion worth of pharma exports. ByFebruary ending this year we achieved USD 18.74 billion.Even if there is a big dip in March, the figure may cross last(fiscal) year's mark," the official told ''.According to him, India started getting some ActivePharmaceutical Ingredients (API) from China though it is stillbecoming difficult for the bulk drug to reach itsdestinations.He said as of now there is no difficulty in gettingAPI imports.The exports' promotion body recently wrote a letter tothe Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) highlighting someof the problems being faced by the exporters with regard togetting the license for Restricted Export Item (Non SCOMET)for the listed products.The body said member-exporters are having a commitmentthrough Irrevocable Commercial Letter of Credit (ICLC) beforethe date of imposition of restriction.And there "undue delays in issue of licenses"resulting in huge penalties for delayed supplies, loss oftrust andcredibility, demurrages for the shipments lying inports and ultimately making them in a disadvantageous positionof losing their valued importers, it told DGFT."We therefore request you (DGFT) to issue thelicense/NOC for our member exporters on fast track mode toenable them to export the listed products which are oftherapeutic use in the symptomatic treatment of COVID-19," theletter said.The pharmexcil also requested the DGFT to exempt EOU(Export Oriented Units) from getting NOCs to export.An earlier notification by the DGFT exempted unitslocated in SEZs and under Advance Licensing Scheme from theexport restrictions.According to industry sources, Paracetamol,Hydroxychloroquine and other drugs which were put underrestriction for exports constitute about USD 600 million perannum in overall pharma exports.A pharma expert opined the export restriction by Indiawhich is regarded as "pharmacy of the world", on export ofsome of the drugs is not justified as the whole world isfighting united against coronavirus spread. GDK SS

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