LEAD School Announces India’s First Hybrid School System for 2021 Academic Year

Mumbai-based edtech company LEAD School, today announced the introduction of ‘hybrid school system’ for 2021 academic year which will empower schools, teachers, students as well as parents adopt to the ‘new normal’ of learning. 

With the introduction of this system, LEAD School becomes India’s first and only company to provide this unique solution which will enable schools to deliver uninterrupted quality learning both online or offline and at home or in school, while using world-class teaching pedagogies. 

The ongoing pandemic has adversely impacted the education sector across the globe. While Government and educators have been yearning for pre-covid classrooms and restoration of normalcy, they have not been able to successfully come back with suitable solutions to ensure continuity of learning. 

The Hybrid School System makes it easier for schools to monitor student’s performance, gives an option to switch between school modes (offline/online/both), lets the schools decide the days on which students will attend online class or physical school, add new subjects, and allocate teachers per classroom. Schools can also make use of the pre-set hybrid time-tables and operate schools either on alternate days, half week basis or customise schedule for weekdays.  

At the same time, it equips teachers with a teacher tablet which is a one-stop solution for lesson plans, audio-visual resources, and training resources. It empowers parents with a Parent App that gives them information on homework, attendance, marks and unit progress. It will also allow students to have a single view of their Hybrid time-table, making it possible for them to attend live classes daily, attempt quizzes, and also ask doubts in real-time.

LEAD School Co-founder and CEO Sumeet Mehta said, “Our mission has been to provide uninterrupted, quality education to our students through the pandemic. With schools opening in a staggered and partial manner, teachers, principals, parents and students - all need a system of schooling that runs across online-offline, that is seamless between at home and in school. We are confident that LEAD School’s Hybrid System will not only deliver high-quality learning in all circumstances, but also prevent any learning loss caused due to frequent interruptions.” 

In the post-lockdown world, schools need to work together with parents, communities, education departments, and local governments to create safe and healthy environments of learning for students, teachers, and staff. A post-lockdown world is going to look completely different from what we are used to seeing.

About LEAD School

LEAD School is promoted by Leadership Boulevard, one of the fastest growing EdTech companies in India. It combines technology, curriculum and pedagogy into an integrated system of teaching and learning, thus improving student learning and teacher performance in schools across the country. LEAD School partners with 1000+ schools with an estimated 4 lakh+ students in more than 370 cities, including tier 2 to tier 4 cities, in 20 States.

Team Yibe Network from MIT ADT University, Pune will Represent India at the Global Workshop of Red Bull Basement 2020

NTT Ltd., the world-leading global technology services provider, and Red Bull Basement, a global platform for student innovators from around the world, announced that Team Yibe Network from MIT ADT University, Pune, consisting of Suraj Suryavanshi and Shweta Morale, were selected as India winners at the global workshop for Red Bull Basement 2020. Team Yibe Network will now represent the country at the Global Workshop where worldwide, more than 3800 student teams from all areas of study applied for the 2020 program by submitting a video explaining their idea.

Realizing the potential of scale and inclusion, NTT facilitated live virtual workshops to empower teams of university students from host countries to innovate for good. This year has seen a more diverse set of entrants given that location-specific barriers were mitigated through the virtualization of the event. As a result, the contest received 403 entries across India, 60% higher than 2019, where the final winner was chosen based on the judging between NTT and other partners of Red Bull.

Kaustubh Chandra, Director – Marketing & Digital Sales Group, NTT Ltd. in India commented: “I congratulate team Yibe Network for their resounding success and wish them the best in representing India at a global stage for such a prestigious and conscientious project. Sustainable innovation is central to creating a future that is good for business and the environment. Each year NTT invests USD 3.6 billion in projects related to innovation and this collaboration supports our commitment to achieving the targets of the Global Goals by 2030 and being a ‘Business Avenger’ for Goal 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities. Our commitment towards creating sustainable business environments is evident through these partnerships and we also aim to inspire young entrepreneurs who are passionate about leveraging tech to make the world a better place”.

The team’s idea, called Yibe Network, is a productive networking application that can help students connect with like-minded individuals or groups across campus. The app will have features like Events, where students can find latest information on college festivals, workshops and other events they can be part of; Growth+, where students can learn skills from others and sign up for internship and other work opportunities; Money Matters, where they can keep track of their borrowing and lending with regular reminders; social networking, and much more. Currently in its final development stage, the team plans to roll out beta testing for the app soon.

“Yibe is a centralised college ecosystem where students can network with like-minded individuals, even from different colleges. Upon verification, students can use multiple features of Yibe Network. Students can find events within their interests, use Growth+ to improve their skills, find students who share similar interests to participate in an activity, or learn a new skill. They can also find activities around them to enjoy their time with friends or find new people to enjoy with,” says the team.

Until December 9, the finalist teams will refine their ideas in a Development phase, with access to resources including a workspace, mentorship programs and a global network of innovators. Besides the young innovators and student entrepreneurs from 36 countries, two wildcard teams are also participating from HONOR and NTT, the Global Partners of Red Bull Basement.

For more information on all the finalist teams and their next generation ideas, visit: redbullbasement.com.  

The culmination of the students’ participation will come in December, when team Yibe Network will join the other finalist teams in the Red Bull Basement Global Workshop. In this virtual experience, they’ll forge business relationships and networking connections with access to some of the world’s most visionary thought leaders. And they’ll pitch their ideas for social change and disruptive technology to the experts.

An Engineering BMRE Marvel Coming Up In Bangalore With Minimal Traffic Disruption

The aerial picture shows an engineering marvel wherein Bangalore Metro Rail Engineers (BMRE) and NICE Toll Road Engineers worked in tandem to ensure seamless and safe launch of 4 x 50 Meters Girders over NICE Peripheral Toll road at Kanakapura Road Junction and Mysore Road Junction with minimal traffic disruption or stoppage. The launch of these girders signal the completion and operationalization of Bangalore Metro Rail Extension lines on these Routes.

Tata Nexon EV Crosses 2000 Sales Milestone in Last Three Months

India’s most preferred electric car, the Tata Nexon EV, has surpassed the 2000 sales milestone. In over 10 months, since launch, the sales of the Nexon EV reached 2200 units as of November 2020, indicating the rapid demand for the EVs in the personal car segment. After rolling out its 1000th Nexon EV in August this year, the car clocked in another 1000 sales units in a record time of 3 months (Sept-Nov 2020). With its compelling value-proposition, Nexon EV has emerged as the best-selling electric car in India. Currently, Tata Motors is leading the EV segment with a 74% market share. This accomplishment is a testament to the strong response from customers for India’s own electric SUV, the Tata Nexon EV.

Appreciating the strong response from customers, Mr. Shailesh Chandra, President – Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “This is a moment of great pride for us and those working with us in our journey to accelerate the adoption of EVs in India. The Tata Nexon EV, since launch, has captured the imagination of the entire nation and has consistently led the way for the electric vehicle segment. Offering thrilling performance, connected drive experience with zero emissions and at an attractive pricing, the Nexon EV has found widespread acceptance among its customers. This growing demand is on the back of increased awareness, growing charging infrastructure, encouraging government incentives, breaking myths that surrounds EVs, and most importantly the undisputed benefits that it offers i.e. lower operating cost. Further, with the continued support from the government in terms of incentives such as benefits on registration and road tax, we hope that EVs will soon become the most desirable and a mainstream choice for the customers in India.”

Further, to accelerate the adoption of EVs in India, Tata Motors also introduced a holistic e-mobility ecosystem “Tata uniEVerse” to closely leverage the strengths and experience of other Tata Group companies to create a viable EV environment. Powered by Tata uniEVerse, consumers will have access to a suite of e-mobility offerings including charging solutions, innovative retail experiences and easy financing options.

The future of mobility in India is electric and Tata Motors’ products are well positioned to cater to the consumer of the future. To know more about offers and car buying options, call your nearest dealership or visit https://cars.tatamotors.com/. 

Microsoft and NSDC Join Hands for the Imagine Cup 2021 in India

* Innovation challenge for youth to solve critical social and sustainability issues with technologies like AI

* World champions of Imagine Cup 2021 will win USD 75,000 along with a mentorship opportunity with Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella

Microsoft India and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) are joining hands for the India edition of the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2021, an annual innovation challenge for students and technology enthusiasts. Imagine Cup is a global competition designed to empower students to apply artificial intelligence and other technologies to solve some of the world’s most critical social and sustainability issues.

This year’s Imagine Cup will be held virtually with students competing to solve global challenges across four categories: Earth, Education, Health, and Lifestyle.

As knowledge partner, NSDC will enable nation-wide reach of the competition across states, districts, and skill development centers. Together, Microsoft and NSDC will conduct virtual Imagine Camps across the country to drive awareness and educate students about the use of advanced technologies in their projects. Students will get a chance to hear from past winners of the Imagine Cup about their experience and advice on tips and tricks.

Speaking about this, Dr. Rohini Srivathsa, National Technology Officer, Microsoft, said, “As economies focus on building resilience, we are witnessing the power of technology and innovation to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges at scale. The Imagine Cup serves as a platform for the youth of India to couple technology with innovative ideas and build something that matters to them, makes a difference in their communities and creates societal impact. Our partnership with NSDC is aimed at empowering young people across the country to collaborate, innovate and build for a sustainable future.”

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Manish Kumar, MD & CEO, NSDC, said, “The country’s economic development depends on innovations, high-tech jobs and new-age skills. Imagine Cup underscores the importance of skills and learning in achieving inclusive and sustainable development of the youth. It is our endeavour to provide opportunities and platforms to harness their talent and prepare them for a globally competitive world.  NSDC is pleased to join hands with Microsoft and exchange knowledge related to digital skills demand and future requirements.”

About the Imagine Cup:

Imagine Cup is Microsoft’s flagship technology and innovation challenge for students, designed to inspire students to create innovative solutions that tackle some of the world’s biggest social, environmental, and health challenges. Held annually since 2003, the Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition, affectionately known by participants as the “Olympics of student technology competitions.”

Imagine Cup 2021:

The 2021 edition of Imagine Cup will be the first virtual edition of the challenge. At Imagine Cup 2021, students and technology enthusiasts aged 16+ are invited to build unique technology solutions leveraging Microsoft’s technology to build purpose-driven solutions. The competition will be held in four rounds for participants:

·         Registration and Microsoft Learn Challenge

·         Regional Knockout Series: Project submission

·         National semifinals

·         India finals online

Registrations are now open and will close on December 31, 2020.

Awards: The top two teams from India will get a guaranteed spot in the world finals and will be mentored by Microsoft experts. Four teams (1 per category-Earth, Education, Health and Lifestyle) will get a chance to win a Surface Go 2, with various other prizes for runners up and round winners. At the world finals, the top four teams will be awarded USD 10,000 each for the best solution in each category. The world champion will take home, the Imagine Cup and win an additional USD 75,000 along with a mentorship opportunity with Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella.

About Microsoft India:

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft set up its India operations in 1990. Today, Microsoft entities in India have over 13,000 employees, engaged in sales and marketing, research, development and customer services and support, across 11 Indian cities – Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. Microsoft offers its global cloud services from local data centers to accelerate digital transformation across Indian start-ups, businesses, and government organizations.

About National Skill Development Corporation

National Skill Development Corporation, working under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, is a unique public-private-partnership which aims to catalyze creation of quality vocational training ecosystem in India. Since inception in 2010, NSDC has trained more than 2.5 crore people through its partnership with 600+ training partners, 11,000+ training centers spread over 600+ districts across the country. NSDC has established 37 Sector Skill Councils and is implementing Government’s flagship skill development schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), among others.

Hyundai Commences Road Safety Mass Movement Campaign #BeTheBetterGuy

* Road safety narrative #BeTheBetterGuy aims to connect young India

* Propagates mandatory health & hygiene norms in the New Normal 

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), country’s First Smart Mobility Solutions provider and the largest exporter since inception, today announced the commencement of the Road Safety Mass Movement#BeTheBetterGuy phase 4. The #BeTheBetterGuy - Road Safety initiative is a continuous effort from Hyundai Motor India to spread awareness and sensitise masses about the importance of road safety. The initiative highlights the road safety practices through innovative and engaging content to bring behavioural change among all the stakeholders.  

#BeTheBetterGuy road safety initiative is a flagship campaign of Hyundai Motor India since 2016 highlighting the need to observe safe driving habits such as following speed limits and traffic rules, avoiding the use of mobile phone while driving, usage of seatbelt,avoiding drunken driving, discouraging underage driving and pedestrian safety.

In addition to these, Respecting the New Normal, the campaign strongly advocates safe driving practices, maintaining hygiene & social distance, cultivating the habit of wearing masks when driving or riding in the car and periodic car sanitization for safety.

Commenting on the commencement of the #BeTheBetterGuy initiative in 2020, Mr. SS Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Limited said,“Realising our vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’ we are committed towards curating unique social messages that instilRoad Safety habits amongst individuals. Since 2016, the #BeTheBetterGuy campaign has become instrumental in generating the much-needed impetus towards Road Safety. In the New Normal where preference for personal mobility has gained more importance, it becomes even more important to sensitize the millennial generation about road safety”.

‘Safe Move’ is one of the key pillars of Hyundai Motor Group’s long-term road-safety CSR initiative across the globe. ‘Safe Move’ – Road Safety Campaign in India focuses on spreading awareness about the importance of road safety to bring about a significant behavioural change amongst masses.

Past 3 phases of Road Safety Campaign #BeTheBetterGuy was a huge success and has won several accolades from eminent Indian media. Under the ‘Safe Move’– Road safety initiative, Hyundai is also conducting programs with RWAs to enhance awareness and understanding of Road Safety Rules, thereby helping create a safe and happy society, where both drivers and pedestrians can enjoy a safe environment.

Akamai Foundation Announces 2020 Global STEM Education Grants

Akamai Foundation, a charitable fund endowed by Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), today announces recipients of the Akamai Foundation 2020 global STEM education grants. The Akamai Foundation is dedicated to encouraging the next generation of technology innovators by supporting STEM education in underserved communities, with a focus on the pursuit of excellence in mathematics in grades K-12. The 2020 STEM grant recipients support communities in Atlanta; greater Boston; Costa Rica; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; India; New York; Poland; Reston, Virginia and the San Francisco Bay area.

“During these difficult times, our commitment to STEM education is unwavering, and we will continue to focus on addressing the digital divide and digital inclusion within education so our global youth can remain inspired, hopeful and connected,” commented Anthony Williams, president, Akamai Foundation and executive vice president and chief human resources officer, Akamai Technologies.

In addition to STEM grants, the Akamai Foundation provides disaster relief and humanitarian aid globally and supports volunteerism by connecting employees to the communities in which Akamai operates. Two new programs were undertaken by the Foundation in 2020. In May, the Foundation launched a $1.1 million multi-tiered, multi-phased global community response to COVID-19. In August, the Akamai board of directors approved an additional $20 million contribution to the Akamai Foundation. This amount was granted with a specific aim of supporting initiatives that increase diversity in the technology industry.

“Our nonprofit grantees have shown extraordinary resilience and compassion as they are forced to adjust to a new way of learning and teaching,” said Kara DiGiacomo, executive director, Akamai Foundation. “They have reimagined educational outreach and stepped up in unprecedented ways to deliver resources in a time of uncertainty. We are proud to be able to support these efforts.” 

The Akamai Foundation looks forward to partnering with the following programs in 2020-2021.

India: Akshara Foundation, Bangalore.