The Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), a book agree with the plan Colombo-based International Water Management Institute Tuesday.

Mangala ICAR Director General of RAI and the IWMI director general Frank Rijsberman, signed the plan of mutual cooperation between the two organizations for 2006-07 in Colombo.

“Through this work plan, water as a whole to improve productivity, which is advantageous for a country like India, where every drop of water is precious,” said after the signing of the Rai work plan.

The two organizations is also common knowledge and know-how in the fields of natural resources and management of schedules for the poor.

The Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management-Kerala (IIITM-K) has concluded an agreement with Sun Microsystems for setting up an advanced laboratory information system (AISL), taking charge of his education Grid (EduGrid).

Sun Microsystems provides servers and software for the implementation of EduGrid. A Sun Advanced Computing Laboratory must also be established in the IIITM-K support to higher education and research activities. It contains very configuration of Sun servers, software and content quality for the sake of advanced subjects, students, professionals KR Srivathsan, Director, IIITM-K.

EduGrid The project was designed with the objective development of an education Grid infrastructure in institutions of higher education throughout the state, promoting the design and development of quality courses in various disciplines and development of standards in higher education by providing institutional Course high quality product and services on the network.

Prof. Srivathsan told Business Line here that Sun Microsystems has special relations with key universities worldwide. A large quantity of advanced software applications in engineering and science is, above all, Sun or Linux platforms. Academic Institutions use a heterogeneous computing environment and therefore Sun strict compliance with open standards, is an asset. “In addition, they provide significant discounts for academic institutions for equipment and almost all its software free for academic use. They also take charge of Linux. Our ultimate goal is a Sun Center of Excellence in IIITM-K. Thus, approximately 30 such centers throughout the world. It will spur us on the implementation of the advanced knowledge society, campus initiatives for the future, “he added.

The National Institute for Technology Kochi and Kozhikode University for Science and Technology are among those already included, as resource centres EduGrid. “We will soon, they are content for equipping laboratories and launches Web-based, of course, the content management systems for development and teacher training. IIITM-K EduGrid acts as a centre of operations and is also a resource centre, “says Professor Srivathsan.

The infrastructure of these centres is now completed the first phase. “She is the host of the EduGrid backbone network nodes, is a high-end server EduGrid all serve to ensure that all students and teachers in the institutions of the host. They are also a content server for the development of systems, including content development tools software. ”

The Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, cooperation with the EduGrid a project on the informal level. They are part of the national programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), whose objective is the development of teaching materials for 100 courses. These are more content as “wholesale”. Grid is the formation of such content to pack “Retail” distribution for other equally good content from institutions abroad, give lessons, teachers and help the presentation of content properly adapted to local plans for teaching higher education institutions in their normal course.

On ERNET discussions with India for setting up the network backbone of the grid, “said Professor Srivathsan last was probably the work begins in the next two months for the creation of the backbone. “We must bear in mind that the Union Ministry of Human Resources provides grants for All India Technical Education Council approved by the academic institutions and the library of the Commission Grant’s Indian National Digital Library in science and technology (INDEST) digital library ERNET only by initiatives “. Previously, IIITM-K-library became the first external member of the State in the INDEST consortium, the Ministry of the Union.

The sustainability of Akshaya “overcome the digital divide” in the state project is carried out if the positive aspects of the famous model for development of Kerala emulated by private entrepreneurs, not afraid to take risks.

After the Prime Mover in the state of Kerala IT mission official of an executive body, Akshaya draws heavily time to test the model as schools, health centres primary, know-how centres (reading rooms public) and other utility companies within a few kilometres from each other to provide efficient services.

This unique development paradigm put into practice by directors of yore contributed to what the State achieve enviable physical quality of life index.

Provides concept, in the presence of Professor Kenneth Keniston visit, the Indian program director, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), M. Kiran GR, Mission Coordinator, IT mission of the Business Line said that it wanted to be replicated in Akshaya, has already been mentioned in the pilot project in Malappuram district.

E-Akshaya kiosks have been planned so that every household in the country would not be farther than a long search for a distance of two kilometres to access electronic services. A number of masses of information and communication technology (ICT) to experiment with models elsewhere in the country have failed to take merely the absence of a sufficient number of service centers.

The government has directed public institutions, failed because of the laity management styles. In the Akshaya model, however, that the private contractor is responsible for enforcing the provision of services with the government ready to renew the support infrastructure, including content.

The sustainability of Akshaya centres is ensured, at least theoretically, to the extent that the contractor is underway for a benefit for which it has a Business Model. Unlike the case of a government of the project, the contractor is free to innovate and implement his ideas, according to local needs.

Asked if it spreads everywhere comparable model, Professor Keniston, said the group ITC e-choupal kiosks were the first to see in his eyes.

“At least, this is the only business model that I can not in India. It is a great effort disintermediation, where farmers have benefited and where the pay system itself. But what is operational and functional distinguishes itself by the Akshaya - Model and disability groups in which they become familiar with the theme on the needs of a rich and already well-established rural, agriculture, “he added.

There is another angle. Malappuram district is known for the large number of foreigners in the Gulf region, plus other sites abroad. Akshaya centres, a long way to ensure that women and communicate them immediately at a lower cost so menfolk with their employees overseas.

Among the five lakh families in Malappuram district, 4.5 times more than lakh have someone in the Gulf region.

Wigan & Leigh College (WLC), Delhi, is planning to expand the global operations of the 150-year-old UK based college by undertaking a South-East Asian expansion plan. Having an active presence in 32 countries, the college is now planning collaboration with institutes in Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore so as to provide local students access to international education.

In an exclusive interaction with the NCR Tribune, Mr Vinay Parischa, director, Wigan & Leigh, spoke on the expansion plans of the college.