The world renowned Cranfield School of Management in the UK will present a scholarship to any member of the three leading IFAC accountancy bodies in Sri Lanka, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants Sri Lanka (ICASL) or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Sri Lanka Branch (CIMA). Full Time MBA Programme Director Sean Rickard who informed Sri Lanka of the scholarship said, “We hope the scholarship attracts candidates who will benefit from this initiative and that, with the help of the accounting bodies in Sri Lanka, it will raise Cranfield’s profile. We are extremely grateful for the support of the institutes in this. We will be reviewing the success of the programme after two years.”

ACCA Sri Lanka’s Immediate Past President, Dilshan Rodrigo, himself an alumni of the Cranfield School of Management extends his best wishes to all candidates and says, “I hope most sincerely that this initiative will signal the birth of a new generation of professional skilled managers who will add value to the corporate boardrooms of Sri Lanka.” Stating that this is truly a world class MBA ranked consistently as one of the top MBAs in Europe, he adds, “This one year full time programme is ideally suited for members in middle and senior management positions with ambitious career goals.” Rodrigo, who has continued to maintain ties with Cranfield, further reinforced the relationship once he became President of ACCA Sri Lanka, sourcing resource speakers for the ACCA National Conferences in the last two years. “Two people who played significant roles in mooting this scholarship from the Cranfield end are the former Director of the MBA Programme Professor Leo Murray who was the Keynote Speaker at our conference in 2006 and has a soft spot for Sri Lankans and Sri Sriskanthan, a Sri Lankan faculty member on the MBA programme.”

Cranfield has produced a distinguished honour roll of MBA alumni from Sri Lanka over the last two decades including Managing Director of Hatton National Bank Rajendra Theagarajah, Senior Vice President of WNS Arul Sivagananathan and Group Financial Controller of Stretchline Hasantha de Silva. Members of ICASL, ACCA and CIMA must apply directly to Cranfield School of Management, for which instructions are available on the Cranfield website ww.som.cranfield.ac.uk/som/mba/, marking the application ‘Sri Lanka Scholarship’.

More : dailymirror.lk

A report has suggested that it is likely that British students considering taking MBA courses in the UK will find it increasingly hard to find loans to cover the cost of their post-graduate studies.

According to a report in the Financial Times, the appeal of MBA courses in the US had recently been increasing among British students, thanks to the weak dollar.

However, the paper has now learnt that the credit crunch has dramatically reduced the number of student loans available for those considering such post-graduate courses.

It pointed to research carried out by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators that showed that 50 lenders have suspended their post-graduate student loan deals.

“The cost of loan repayment is particularly high for students from outside the US who apply for loans from US institutions,” the paper explained.

“This is because credit references are not required and also the lenders find it harder to track down students on graduation if they return to their home countries.”

As a result, a British student looking for a post-graduate student loan in the US can expect to have to pay interest of around seven per cent.

With US MBA courses typically costing around $150,000 (£75,000) to complete, the rising price of loans could put many British students off, even though they know they will be able to secure high-paying jobs after graduation.

Source : gaapweb.com

Taking the inter-regional integration efforts (for more trade and industry) on exporters’ level is the most important pillar of the new launched “Focus ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and 2 (Australia and New Zealand) “Programme of Ministry of Commerce, Government of India.

The new programme has been chalked out along the lines of programmes such as “Focus-LAC” and “Focus Africa ‘, which has proved fruitful.

India is the traditional export basket in the countries of ASEAN is composed of elements such as gems and jewellery, grain, chemicals, electronic goods and iron and steel, with no evil the demand on the route of a certain category of products. Events trade in this region of Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPCs) are in financial assistance from the government under the Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme.

India-exports to ASEAN countries reached $ 4.62 billion during the period 2002-03, from $ 1.63 billion in 1998-99. Currently, ASEAN is a dominant trading partner of India, for example accounting for 9 percent of total trade. Two avenues of trade is now $ 9.8 million, with a trade deficit of 0.5 billion dollars.

The main markets are India, Singapore (export refunds from India was $ 1.4 billion over the period 2002-03), Indonesia ($ 0.8 billion), Malaysia ( $ 0.75 billion), Thai country ($ 0, 7 billion) and Philippines ($ 0.5 billion).

During a recent workshop on the theme “Doing Business in South East Asia”, organised jointly by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Capexil, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Mr. Samir Ghosh, Senior Vice - - Chairman of Capexil, there is an urgent need to improve economic cooperation between India and ASEAN countries by the work quickly on the path of an India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

ASEAN countries, Mr. Ghosh, it may be regarded as one of the main destinations for Indian exports, reaching $ 30 billion by 2008, according to a recent study.

The ADB says Ghosh has forecast economic growth of 5.4 per cent by the year 2005 for the ASEAN region. While high growth is expected to Vietnam and Thai country, for the rest, it is likely to hover in the range of 4.5-5.5 percent.

Mr. Ghosh told Business Line that some ASEAN countries have made enormous progress on industrial and technological development, particularly in areas such as ceramics, glass and glassware, plywood and wood and rubber . The main products Capexil region of ASEAN are minerals, rocks, tires, glass, paper, electrodes, books and rubber products.

Requested the Council support programmes in the region, “said Ghosh including participation in trade fairs in Vietnam and Australia (Design Build in Melbourne, Australia), next to the buyer-seller meets in India and the ASEAN countries.

Who are the Snow White and Seven Dwarfs of the corporate world? Ever heard of co-opetition? And how does one term mutual funds that will not cover liquor companies?

Not just the competitors, even the audience had a fun time, guessing answers to these questions at the finals of the business quiz, conducted by the IIM-Ahmedabad Alumni Association’s (IIM-AAA), Chennai chapter, here on Sunday.

In the end, when the Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Tiruchi, walked away with the IIM-AAA Anchor Cup 2006, it was a well-earned victory, followed by S.S.N School of Management in the second place and Bangalore’s ICFAI Business School in the third. The P.S.G Institute of Management, Coimbatore, stood fourth.

The quiz was being held to sensitise business school students in south India to the latest corporate happenings, said A. Satish Kumar, president, IIM-AAA Chennai chapter. Anchor Health and Beauty Care was the chief sponsor.

The preliminary written test had been conducted in Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Madurai. The finals consisted of 12 rounds, including an audio-visual round, two oral rounds and a rapid fire round, with quizmaster S. Jagan keeping the momentum going.

The last winner of the trophy was also BIM in 1994 after which the quiz was discontinued till the IIM-AAA decided to re-launch it, Mr. Satish Kumar said.

Handing over the cup to the winning team, N. Murali, Joint Managing Director, The Hindu , said such quiz contests should be made part of the college curriculum as they were not just clean fun but also of educational value.

NIILM Centre for Management Studies, Delhi, the 11 winners in the National Student Games management held on Tuesday.

ICFAI Business School, Mumbai and the Institute of Management Technology, ghaziabad, the first and second runner. On the PSG Institute of Management, nine teams from different regions of the country, competed among themselves for the final Tuesday. The groups were withdrawn from the semi-finals on Monday.

For finalists, play is serious business. With view on the screen of the laptop, they discussed strategies and action plans developed for business nervenaufreibende problems.

Produced by the All India Management Association (AIMA), the games are very popular among students in management, particularly from the southern region. “We have the most number of participants from the southern region - 169 of 263 participants from countries of the South,” said Vikas Gupta, Deputy Director, AIMA. The game, everything revolves around replicate real work situations.

Each group has been Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Each group receives a company and asked to manage. You must make business decisions with consideration of an economy and fluctuations in market conditions. “Simulation game test the real potential of students. You will have the opportunity of their theoretical knowledge,” says SCTyagi, vice-director of AIMA.

The game is not only for students of management. MCM and engineers can participate. For Suvidh Arora Tripti Agarwal and the Institute of Technology Management, ghaziabad, the game is even more demanding. Two of his teammates could not do, and they are moving toward the battle. “This game is all about handling situations. We are dealing here with a problem, and we are confident of handling,” said Suvidh.

“Each phase of the game is a challenge,” said Vishal Agrawal of ICFAI Business School, Mumbai. Vishal and his friend Abhay Jain participate in this game for the second consecutive year. Sumeet Tiwari and Hitesh Bhagchandani same part of the Institute for the first time. According to them the game is a great learning experience.

The Department of Visual Communication, J.J. College of Arts and Science, Pudukottai, organised a `film appreciation session’ at the viewing hall of the college recently.

R. Seshadri Rajan, Educational Multimedia Research Centre, Madurai Kamaraj University, was the chief guest and he exquisitely navigated the session. Two great pieces namely `Bicycle Thieves’ directed by Vittoria De Sica and `Pather Panchali’ directed by Satyajit Ray, were screened on the occasion.

Mr. Rajan explained how to read, conceive and review a film. He also dilated on the idea of categorising the genres of films.

For a question raised by a student into what genre the films Pather Panchali and Bicycle Thieves, he delineated the difference realistic film and neo realistic films. He also added that both were the best examples for neo-realistic films. The Head of the Department of Visual Communication of the College, S. Parthasarathy also spoke.

On behalf of the Department of Biotechnology, the BIBS Association of the Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College of Arts and Science (women), Perambalur, conducted a State-level seminar on `Biotechnology: prospects and retrospect’. The Reader, Department of Microbiology, National Facility for Marine-Cyanobacteria, Bharathidasan University, N. Thajuddin, in his inaugural address spoke about the importance of micro algal Biotechnology referring the uses of algae, need for SCP and the efficiency of Spirullina’. The department magazine `Acmetech 05′ was released by the Director, The Rapinat Herbarium and Centre for Molecular Systematics, St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchi and Dr. Thajuddin received the first copy.

In the sessions that followed, Dr. John Britto, spoke on `Ethical issues in biotechnology’ when he referred to the probable effect of Biotechnology, the ethical and social impact of Biotechnology and the human therapeutic cloning. Scientist from the Botanical Survey of India, Southern Circle, Yercaud, S. Kaliamoorthy, spoke on the `recent trends in plant tissue culture’ and the Professor and Head, Department of Biotechnology, Mahendra College of Arts and Science, Namakkal, spoke on `Opportunities in Biotechnology.

The Dean, Faculty of Life Science of the college, S. Sankaran delivered the valedictory address and the Principal, R. M. Meenakshi presided.

The Department of Management Studies of the Thanthai Hans Roever College, Perambalur, organised the second activity week 2005 recently, when experts from different fields gave guest lectures. Rajendran, lecturer, Department of Social Work, delivered a lecture `Mental health and management’.

The senior manager, Madras Cements Limited, S. N. M. Suri spoke on the `Need for human resources: accounting and auditing’ in the present day scenario and elaborated the potential of HRs in running a successful show.

Mr. Senthilnathan, an advocate, delivered an awareness lecture on legal aspects concerning consumerism and management, Senior Manager, accounts, Madras Cements Limited, Sridhar emphasised the existing accounting practices being followed in leading industries during his special lecture and R. Victor Lazarus of Southern Railway spoke on `essentials of communication and personality development.

More than 130 research papers were presented and 250 participants deliberated in the four technical sessions at the three-day 12th annual session of the Tamil Nadu History Congress held at A.V.C. College at Mayiladuturai in Nagapattinam district organised by the Department of History of the college recently.

R.S. Baskkaran, professor, Periyar anniversary Polytechnic College, Vallam, received the “Best Polytechnic Teacher Award” for 2005 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the polytechnic education system.

The release given here by the Polytechnic said the award was NO Shetty, chairman, Southwestern Region, AICTE, Bangalore, in the constitutive of the eighth Indian company for technical training Annual Convention (Tamil Nadu and Pondichery section ) Held a PSNA College of Engineering and Technology, Dindigul.

More than 300 technical papers presented at the Convention different high schools and specialized engineering schools, five papers were prepared and presented by members of the Faculty Periyar anniversary Polytechnic College.

P. Arul Selvan, professor, Department of Communication, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, a conference on “Community Radio experiences in India under the aegis of the Division of visual communication JJ College of Arts and Science, Pudukottai, recently.

It explains the philosophy behind the concept of Community Radio, run by you the people for the people and on behalf of the people. Community radio in general reflects the problems of people in their own dialect and non-profit organizations.

Dr. Arul Selvan said that the establishment of a community radio station does not cost much. They are far from the Nepali SriLankan and municipalities, whereas the experiment is still at the beginning of the country. Anna FM, started by Anna University, is the first campus radio in India.

S. Parthasarathy, Director, Division of visual communication; Suganthini Joyce, professor in the department, spoke.

Students of the social division of labour, JJ College of Arts and Science, an outreach program of “alcoholism” MCT school registration in Arangal Namanasamudram. Swagurunathan, Principal of the school; Cyril, teachers and Ponnarasan, physical education teacher; spoke on the occasion. Bharathimohan and Ravi Kumar, both the Khajamalai Ladies Association, Tiruchi, cultural programmes, the awareness of students on the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs.

The department of microbiology and biotechnology for Srinivasan College of Arts and Science, Perambalur, is organizing a seminar on “emerging trends in life sciences recently. S. Sankaran, Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College of Arts and Science for Women, was the guest conductor. It motivates students with new ideas on relevant areas. Pupils and students actively in the interactive session in the port.

The association Bio-Pearl of the department of bio-chemistry of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College of Arts and Science, Perambalur, organized a specific course of the programme for the benefit of life sciences students. N. Pradeep Kumar, project manager and coordinator of the programme and bio-informatics Institute of India, Hyderabad, a conference on career prospects and projects of life sciences. He invited students to be more aware of recent trends and the importance of the major problems in the field of life sciences. He also stressed the importance of research.

During the interactive session, Mr. Pradeep Kumar clarify various concerns of students.

The main R.M. Meenakshi, the presidency of the function. The head of the department of bio-chemistry, P. Manju, spoke.

The Rotaract Club of college Ranganathapuram village. The club has planned to organise camps and awareness programmes in the village and take careful planning in this regard was held recently. The club members have visited the village and spoke with the chairman of village panchayats, Chinnasamy and other members away.

One day during training programme for government officials was held in Thai Than Hans Roever College, Perambalur recently. This program was organized jointly by the Department of Management Studies and Department of Social Work college.

As always, you professionals are faced with the problem of deciding whether or not to join higher education or remotely via the campus mode. They asked the settings in different perspectives.

As an engineer, you have decided, in the field of materials management, which is encouraging. As fresh diploma, you need to examine the program at regular intervals with the Indian Institute of Materials Management (IIMM)

It could be graduation diploma in regular Materials Management (GDMM), which is managed by the Human Resource Development Ministry for the purpose of obtaining staff to senior posts and services in the central government. At the end of the program, you can exercise, as an MBA (Material Management) as a regular / student correspondence lateral entry into the system, which lasts one year. Under this plan, you’ll be able to make a mark. MP Bhoj Open University is recognized by the UGC, IAU (Association of Indian Universities) and AICTE and, therefore, there is no discomfort in monitoring the course by IIMM. In Bangalore, you can contact the Indian Institute of Materials Management, 304, 3rd Floor, Mittal Towers, No. 6, MG Road, Bangalore-560 001 Tel: 25327251/25327252.

CNBC India and LG Electronics, in association with NIIT and Seagate announces the West Zone finalists for “The CNBC Complete Manager 1999′’selected through an all-India contest for the managers of tomorrow. The West Zone finals held on November 11, 1999, at Mumbai Education Trust, saw A N Seshadari (IIM, Ahmedabad) emerge as the winner. Siddharth Suryanarayan (S P Jain, Mumbai) was the 1st runner up and Sudhendra Sharma (MET. Mumbai) was the 2nd runner up. These finalists will represent the West at the national finals to be held on November 25 in New Delhi.

The two-day `International Conference on Business and Finance - 2005′, organised by ICFAI University in association with Philadelphia University, USA, acted as a forum for disseminating new research findings, practices and techniques in finance and also served as a platform for researchers and academicians to interact and exchange viewpoints and explore opportunities for joint research in contemporary and developing areas.

D.S. Rao, Director, ICFAI Business School, said the aim of the conference was to bring together academicians and practitioners with research interests in the field of finance, accounting and business management from India and abroad.

There were presentations of new and unpublished research findings of relevance in the areas of Asset Pricing, Capital Markets, Market Microstructure Investment Management, Corporate Finance Banking and Insurance, Financial Services; Derivatives, Risk Management among others.