As India steps into its 64th Independence Day, what better ways to celebrate the true spirit of freedom than the new developments in the field of higher education. Education shapes, builds and creates leaders out of the present generation for the future. India is the world’s second most populous country but a meagre 12% of its population undertakes higher education. But one institution has been making rapid strides towards its goal of offering education to all. It is the Sikkim Manipal University Distance Education (SMU-DE).

In a country plagued by problems of lack of suitable education infrastructure, exorbitant fees and an education system that stresses more on theory than practicality, SMU-DE is a welcome breather and a pioneer. Voted as the best distance learning institute of India in teaching efficiency and results and the third overall by an independent survey conducted by Careers360 magazine and validated by Hindustan Times, the leading English daily, SMU-DE has an alumni base exceeding 3 lakh students and close to 1.77 lakh students on its rolls presently.

Offering a plethora of courses across multiple disciplines, SMU-DE over the years has created a benchmark for quality education that is practical and industry oriented. The disciplines include Banking & Finance, Allied Health Sciences, Information Technology, Mass Communication & Journalism, Biotechnology, Apparel & Fashion Designing, Hospitality, Telecom Technology, Commerce and Management. SMU-DE has recently launched ProDegree courses in BSc Networking and B. Com with specializations in Export-Import Management, Supply Chain Management and Financial Planning.

Through a widespread network of 725 University recognized Learning Centres across 310 towns, fully equipped with faculty and certified counsellors, SMU-DE makes sure that every students gets individual attention and guidance. Add to that the multi award winning internet based learning platform, EduNxt. EduNxt allows students to access faculty mentors, industry experts, counselling, virtual classrooms, self-learning materials and over a million journals. All this can be done 24×7 helping students to plan their studies beforehand. Students can also collaborate with their batch mates on projects and assignments. And the results are always declared on time which means saving up on student’s time and the student does not have to wait for long periods before pursuing chosen career path.

An institute that is revered across industry circles for its industry ready course material creating professionals, this presents an unique opportunity to boost one’s career path by joining SMU-DE. It’s the freedom that is valued here; the freedom to study anytime, anywhere and the student gets an UGC recognized degree which is on par with any regular college. Add to that the freedom to work while you earn and specialise in the skill sets needed in the chosen profession. All the courses have syllabus designed and validated by industry experts and hence have inbuilt skill sets that are needed in specific industries.

No other institute upholds and practices freedom like SMU-DE. After all freedom is on everyone’s mind at the stroke of midnight on August 15th, and SMU-DE gives students not just the independence to study what they want in their own way but also the platform to a great career ahead. A brighter generation for a brighter India.

Research by the UK’s leading discount and voucher code website has revealed that 24% of parents are embarrassed by their children’s bad behaviour and a further 12% judge those with misbehaving kids. The supermarket proves to be the biggest issue with 42% of parents admitting to ‘dreading’ a visit there with their children.

A new study by the UK’s leading discount website, http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk has revealed that almost a quarter of parents in the UK are ‘embarrassed’ to take their children out in public due to their poor behaviour. A further 12% admit to judging other parents with badly behaved children in public.

According to the research by http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk 29% of the 1,183 respondents result to bribing their children before a public outing in the hope of keeping them under control.

Of the parents who are ashamed to take their children out in public, 42% admit to dreading the supermarket more so than any other trip, with 21% claiming that their biggest irritation is their children’s ‘demand for treats’.

According to results by http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, the top 5 places and experiences that parents ‘dread’, due to their child’s bad behaviour are;

1. Food Shopping – 42%
2. Long car journeys – 39%
3. Cinema – 31%
4. Restaurants – 19%
5. High Street shopping – 16%

The study by http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk found more than 1 in 3, 34%, of the respondents stated that they ‘avoid’ taking their children on long car journeys where possible, due to their bad behaviour. A further 11% have invested in expensive electrical products to keep their children ‘occupied’ during car journeys.

14% of the respondents admitted to having only gone to a restaurant a limited number of times with their children due to their bad behaviour.  An additional 22% refuse to take their kids to the cinema for fear of them ‘playing up’.

7% of the parents polled claimed to avoid outings with their children whenever possible to avoid feeling embarrassed.

Andy Cole, parenting expert athttp://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, said the following about the findings;

“Children can certainly misbehave when they aren’t being entertained, especially in situations such as long car journeys and during the weekly food shop. Parents shouldn’t avoid taking their children out completely however, as there are things that can be done to keep them occupied. Trips to the supermarket can be made more bearable by giving a child a shopping list and asking them to help locate certain items; it will keep them occupied and make them feel as if they are helping.”

He continued,

“If parents are in need of a romantic night out without the children, or a fun family outing, sites such as MyVoucherCodes.co.uk are great for finding money off vouchers that will certainly make a difference to the bank balance and hopefully help ease any stresses that may occur!”

LINK http://www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk

***ENDS***

For more information, please contact Charlotte Horsfall, 10 Yetis Public Relations Agency on 01452 348 211, [email protected]

EDITORS NOTES

Mark Pearson, MD of MyVoucherCodes is a regular media contributor regarding online shopping and the credit crunch. At 29, his personal worth is more than £30 million. Mark was previously a trainee chef working for Gordon Ramsay at Claridges, London.

MyVoucherCodes has had sales exceeding £481m in the last year

Consumer savings on online shopping via MyVoucherCodes.co.uk up from £28m in 2008 to £52m in 2009.

MyVoucherCodes is the UK’s most popular discount site

5-27-2010- SFAA, known for their breakthrough guides on Scholarships for African Americans, has just released there financial aid guide for Minority students.

“For those who are desire to continue their education, it has become much easier due to several programs available that give scholarships for African American students,” says Jeremy Thomson, owner of SFAA. “ Some of these programs you have probably heard of before and some you may not. These programs give out millions of dollars worth of African American scholarships to those who qualify. In this guide we go over a several programs and what a student must due to qualify.”

One program discussed in the report is the UNCF. This is probably one of the most recognized organizations in the world for providing African American Scholarships. They offer their students 21st century academic programs while keeping their tuitions to less than half the average of other private colleges;
Administering 400 scholarship and internship programs, so that even students from low- and moderate-income families can afford college tuition, books and room and board.
“There are many financial aid programs available to minority students that are fairly easy to qualify for,” says Jeremy. “Some of the more well known programs include the Ron Brown Scholarship Program, the NAACP, the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship Program as well as many others.”
“We feel that anyone who wants to continue their education should not let their financial situation stand in the way. There is literally millions of dollars given away each year in the form of college scholarships and grants. The key is knowing where to look, what the requirements are and how to apply,” says Jeremy. “With this knowledge, anyone should be able to get the continuing education they seek.
Anyone who would like to access the free guide can do so at the SFAA website.

5-27-2010 – CSAG, known for their up-to-date guides on the latest college scholarships and grants programs, has just their latest guide on financial assistance for graduate students.

“Some graduate students have hit a brick wall when it come to finding financial assistance to assist them in their financial education,” says Jeremy Thomson, owner of CSAG. “Most people are aware of the usual grants such as the Pell Grant and the FSEOG program, but there are also other ways to pay for a students continuing education such as fellowships.”

Fellowships are awards given to both, graduate and post-graduate students. Like scholarships and grants, they are for you to keep with no need of repayment. Fellowships differ by granting source, amount, length, and purpose. They are typically awarded in form of stipend to finance education or research. Some even feature tuition waiver for a partial or full duration of studies. Fellowships may be offered by government, private foundations, international organizations, or your school. Eligibility criteria differ between different types of fellowships and thorough research is required to weight your chances of getting a fellowship.

“Scholarships for graduate students may be based on a wide range of criteria from academic excellence and outstanding achievements to ethnic background and social status” says Jeremy. “While scholarships vary in the amounts and length, they are all, equally to grants, highly competitive and require a lot of effort to obtain. Scholarships come from a variety of sources, from government to private. Many schools, especially private universities, issue scholarships to most talented students. Contacting your school for a list of available scholarships is the best starting point for any graduate student seeking free help with funding his or her graduate degree. There is an array of other sources, however, besides university you attend, that offers scholarship search and assistance. A comprehensive online search may help you to come up with a solid list of scholarships for graduate students.”

You can learn more about scholarships for graduation students and other financial aid programs such as Scholarships for African Americans at the CSAG website.

5-16-2010 – CSAG has releases their financial aid guide for college scholarships and grants. Covered in this report are many unknown financial aid programs that are available to students regardless of financial situation or background.

“Many people are unaware of the fact that there is so much money available in the form of scholarships and grants,” says Jeremy Thomson, owner of CSAG. “Anyone who has the desire to further their education can no longer use the lack of money as an excuse. There is literally millions of dollars given away each year for continuing education”

This report includes some of well known financial aid programs that are available but also includes many programs that many people have never heard of. Before applying for any type of financial aid, there are a few things to consider.

Expected Family contribution (EFC)— Expected family contribution is the amount that is often said to be the amount that your family can contribute to the college costs. This amount is often determined by the one who is going to provide the grant. Usually it is some federal government body or the individual universities or the colleges that determine the expected family contribution.

Need Formulas—Need formulas are used by the federal government offices and the financial aid offices in order to analyze the financial circumstances of your family. In financial circumstances, they consider the things like the family size, income and the assets, and they often compare these proportionally with the financial circumstances of other families.

Importance of EFC figures—One thing is for sure that most of the families just can’t pay out the EFC from their income only. However, they don’t need to worry about as the formulas often have the assumption that the families will meet the contribution that they have to make with the help of the pure combination of their savings, the borrowing and the current income of theirs.

“When applying for financial aid, it is important to keep these points in mind,” says Jeremy. “Once you understand how the scholarship programs work, you will have an advantage over 90 percent of the other applicants.”

“We also include in the report some unknown scholarship programs such as Scholarships for African Americans. You can access the full report at the CSAG.org website,” says Jeremy.

A good associate degree online ordinarily will take about 24 months to complete. A few online universities require a minimum of about 62 semester credits hours before you are able to graduate with a bachelor degree qualification.

When you are currently a working adult, going for further education via web-based associate degrees and master degrees is really an excellent alternative.

A good number of online universities that offer web-based bachelor education, as well as master degrees programs, realize that the vast majority of their students just cannot afford to spend full time on their studies. For that reason, the tasks and projects afford a lot of freedom, both with regard to time as well as course program.

A student still have to submit his work and projects by the due date but the student won’t really have to submit it in person.

With online solutions, it is easy to continue to talk to your fellow classmates and also teachers on the net without being in an actual college class. Presently, the majority of internet universities offer several online interactive programs such as email, powerpoint presentation, downloadable publications, manual, worksheets and message boards.

Live chat service and also video chat resources with both professors as well as university staff are also becoming more and more prevalent once you enrolled in an online associate degree program.

A lot of online associate degree programs do not require you to attend university in any way; however, a number, nevertheless, calls for you to definitely attend a 2-3 week summer college camp. So if you prefer to study their online degree entirely online, make sure to confirm with the web-based university first to see if you have to study at campus at some point with your degree course.

Additional factors you will have to have to look at: the monthly payment terms, whether a college student loan is offered, course period, as well as the amount of coursework and tasks you need to complete.

Acquiring an online associate degree and working concurrently can be onerous, particularly, for those who also have a family and children to look after, but it is achievable.

You should manage your time much better and, finally, you fulfilled your wish of obtaining a bachelor or master degree program. Online associate degrees provide an opportunity for working individuals or individuals who lack funds for a full time university education to further their knowledge and training.

Uncover the very best associate degrees online programs now.

TORONTO, Feb. 16 – Two automotive tech students from Jean Vanier Catholic Secondary School in Scarborough beat out 19 other Toronto-area high school teams to win a unique skills competition that challenged students’ technical knowledge at the Canadian International AutoShow today.

Automotive schools possess qualified trainers to enhance the practical and theoretical knowledge of institute and provide to their students with appropriate equipments, time, space and more as a usage facilities. These we have fabulously observed in the students of Jean Vanier Catholic School at the organized competition.

James Bachiller and John Gonsalves performed a number of timed technical tasks and attempted to start a 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible that had been rigged with a no-start condition by automotive instructors from Centennial College. By finishing first, the pair will be representing Canada at the National Automotive Technology Competition in New York City in April.

Automotive Training Instructors at Centennial College make their students vigorously engross in their technical project to have a drastic result in a short period of time. Automotive training facilities allow the students to develop new innovative ideas for the assigned projects and thereby develop dynamic skills.

Toronto’s Danforth Tech finished second, thanks to the efforts of students Cameron Elpkick and Tauriq Shaikh, while Central Tech earned third place, represented by Jonathan Bagni and Michael Mallette. In addition to the all-expenses-paid trip, Bachiller and Gonsalves received a trophy and equipment from sponsors.

The top two schools are winners, too. Their automotive tech shops will take delivery of a General Motors vehicle, which will be used for technical training. General Motors of Canada generously donated two brand-new vehicles as prizes. .

This was the 11th year for the contest, organized by Centennial College, which promotes automotive technology as a rewarding career path. Last year’s winners from Northview Heights Secondary School placed second in New York City, while a team from Central Tech beat all of the U.S. teams and collected prizes worth $250,000 in 2008.

The Toronto skills contest enjoys outstanding support from the industry. Sponsors include: Toronto Automobile Dealers Association, Canadian International AutoShow, Volkswagen Canada, General Motors Canada, Snap-On/Sun Tools, Consulab, Canadian Tire, Ryder Truck, Thomson Nelson, Pearson Education, Auto-Know Inc., TecMate and Centennial College.

Bangalore, Wednesday January 15^th 2010: SMU-DE, one of the largest providers of Distance Education in India, has announced the opening of admissions to their February 2010 session. Applications to various courses are available at over 710+ SMU-DE Learning Centres covering 310 cities across India. For details, log on to www.smude.edu.in or Call: 18002667788 (toll free) or SMS to SMUDE <Name> to 5667755. Or write us at [email protected]

The University offers Post Graduate, Graduate, Post Graduate Diploma and Diploma programs across 10 disciplines. The disciplines include Allied Health, IT, Mass Communication, Biotechnology, Apparel & Fashion Design, Hospitality, Telecom Technology, Commerce, Management and Journalism . In addition, SMU-DE has recently launched new and advanced specializations in Total Quality Management, Operations Management and Project Management for its MBA program.

Aspirants enrolling for the February session (and onwards) will also stand to gain through the newly launched next generation learning system ‘EduNxt’ accessible via internet. EduNxt with its flexibility, convenience and accessibility offers a first of its kind learning environment in India. EduNxt enables includes small group mentoring, virtual classrooms, simulation and other interactive content, self-study content, recorded presentations and shared browsing. EduNxt empowers students with anywhere, anytime access. Students will now experience a ‘portable campus’, ‘carry along mentors’ and will have access to over one million online books and journals – all at their fingertips!

Additionally, SMU-DE grants lateral entry to those with managerial experience. Under the Lateral Entry scheme, the first semester is waived, allowing for faster completion of the course. The SMU-DE programmes combine academic rigour with personalized learning environment so working professionals who are short of time but not ambition, take that crucial step to a great career.

SMU-DE is recognised & appreciated by students for its efficient processes like – prompt delivery of study materials to students, conduct of scheduled examinations, on-time declaration of results & swift dispatch of certificates & degrees.

For details on admission , visit http://www.smude.edu.in/spring2010_MBA/

About SMU-DE

Sikkim Manipal University is a unique public-private initiative between the Govt. of Sikkim and Manipal Education. SMU, a state University, is recognized by the UGC, Ministry of HRD and is a member of the Associations of Indian Universities. The Distance Education Council has granted recognition to all Distance Education programs offered under the aegis of SMU (Sikkim Manipal University). The SMU Directorate of Distance Education is ISO 9001:2000 certified.

About Manipal Education

Manipal Education is a pioneering and leading academic & education services provider in India. With over 50 years of steadfast focus in the field of Education, the group provides education services across all genres. The group’s presence includes 3 universities – Manipal University, Sikkim Manipal University, and American University of Antigua – and over 30 institutions in India, besides colleges & campuses in Antigua, Dubai, Malaysia & Nepal.

In addition to formal university programmes delivered through 5 campuses in India & 4 overseas, Manipal Education also has a range of education offerings in Distance Education, Professional & Skills Education across multiple genres, as well as industry leading partnerships such as the ICICI Manipal Academy for Banking (in association with ICICI Bank).

• The SMU-DE February 2010 admissions targets aspirants for both UG and PG programs across Management & Commerce, Information Technology, Vocational Sciences and Allied Health
• Application forms available at over 700+ learning centres covering 310 cities in the country
• SMU-DE courses are offered in a flexible format inclusive of self learning material, counselling at learning centres & through EduNxt,  a next generation technology infused learning system accessible via internet
• SMU-DE courses are DEC Approved, UGC Recognised & ISO 9001:2000 certified
• For details log on to http: www.smude.edu.in or Call: 18002667788 (toll free) or SMS to SMUDE <Name> to 5667755. Write us at [email protected]

Most businesses fail because of common, avoidable mistakes in response the Hispanic Business Council of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce in its efforts to assist Hispanic businesses to succeed will present three of the Tampa Bay areas successful Hispanic business leaders.
Clearwater, FL., September 2009 – These individual will share their stories and practical tips focusing on marketing that you can apply to your business.  Featured speakers are Mr. Leo Rodriguez, Los Amigos I & II (restaurateur); Mr. Luis Eduardo Baron, Siete Dias (news media); and Ms. Martha Istefanidis, N-fini (shapewearmanufacturer). Get a behind-the-scenes look at real-life success stories and how they were able to achieve their dreams.

The seminar is for entrepreneurs wanting to growa n existing business or those who want to start a business.Organizations offering free business consultation will be available and light refreshments will be served.
The event will be held on Tuesday, September 29th starting at 5:30-6:00PM for Networking and 6:00-7:30PM Presentation.  It will be held at the Holiday Inn Express, 2580 Gulf-To-Bay Blvd. Clearwater.
No Charge to attend as this event is generously sponsored by the Holiday Inn Express.
For additional information and to RSVP please contact Lourdes Mayorga, Florida Bank at 727 608-2233
About the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce:
Established in 1922, the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce set out with the vision to be the premier Voice of Business in the Clearwater region.  Representing more than 1,400 member businesses, the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce (CRCC) is one of the largest chambers in the Bay area and has become a large and powerful voice for its members through its ability to partner with other agencies and advocate on behalf of business and its members.  CRCC’s mission is to enhance the business environment and promote economic health and growth in the Clearwater region.  Visit http://www.clearwaterflorida.org

In response to a request for help from Florida Blood Services, “Give the Gift of Life” was created as the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 1st Annual Hospitality Blood Drive and will commence on Thursday, September 10th.

Clearwater, FL, September 9, 2009 – Teaming up with Florida Blood Services, the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their 1st Annual “Give the Gift of Life” Hospitality Blood Drive on Thursday, September 10th from 1pm – 6pm at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites on S. Gulfview Blvd. on Clearwater Beach.  The blood drive was created by the Chamber in an answer to help FBS.  According to fbsblood.org, the overall current total blood supply is low.  The counts are as follows:

·         O-, A- and B- are at the “Critical Level” = 1-day available supply or less.  There is just not enough blood on hand to meet routine or emergency needs.

·         O+ and AB- are at the “Minimum Safe Level” = a 2-day available supply, but not enough blood to release to take care of patients in a major trauma or emergency.

·         A+, B+ and AB+ are at the “Preferred Level” = a 3-day available supply or more, which is enough blood for one major emergency to strike.

To make the inaugural hospitality blood drive fun, all lifesaving donors will receive:
·         a pirate themed T-shirt;
·         a coupon from Pirates Dinner Adventure for a buy-one-ticket, get-one-FREE;
·         a chance to find the “Lucky Treasure” that includes a 2-night stay at the Crowne Plaza Orlando Universal; 2 FREE entry tickets to Pirates Dinner Adventure; and
·         a $50 gas card.

In addition to the prizes, wellness check-ups and cholesterol screenings will be awarded.  Food and beverages will also be served.

About the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce:
Established in 1922, the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce set out with the vision to be the premier Voice of Business in the Clearwater region.  Representing more than 1,400 member businesses, the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce (CRCC) is one of the largest chambers in the Bay area and has become a large and powerful voice for its members through its ability to partner with other agencies and advocate on behalf of business and its members.  CRCC’s mission is to enhance the business environment and promote economic health and growth in the Clearwater region.  Visit http://www.clearwaterflorida.org