It was noon on Friday and only four students had got admission to the postgraduate Microbiology course of Mangalore University offered at its post graduate centre in Chikka Aluvara, Kodagu district.

The fifth student at the microbiology admission desk at the Mangala auditorium at Mangalagangotri – catering to the students seeking admission to Chikka Aluvara centre – was buying some time to pay the full fee.

If that student paid the full fee the microbiology department would have the minimum of five students to run the course. A teacher was seen asking the student to give an undertaking that she would pay the balance to confirm her admission.

A teacher of the department told The Hindu that if the fifth student joined the course, only five of the 16 merit category seats would have been filled up.

Teachers at the desk said that of the 10 students who joined the course during the last academic year, only eight remained.

According to them, the university starting the course on the Mangalagangotri campus from this academic year had hit the admissions at Chikka Aluvara this year. For the same course to be offered at Mangalagangothri campus, 14 students got admitted against 16 merit category seats on Friday.

The bio-chemistry course at Chikka Aluvara centre also appears to have been hit because of it being offered on the Mangalagangothri campus from the current year. Teachers said only nine students joined the course at Chikka Aluvara against 16 merit seats. Last year more than 20 students had joined on the first day.

Each course has six permanent teachers at Chikka Aluvara with five each being Ph.D holders. On the university campus both the courses would have to be managed by guest teachers. On the university campus, 15 out of the 16 merit category seats of bio-chemistry were filled on Friday.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangalore / by RaviPrasad Kamila / Mangalore – July 26th, 2014

Capt (IN) Ben H Berson assumed charge as the new principal of Sainik School Kodagu, at Kudige, near Kushalnagar, Kodagu district, recently.

After assuming charge, he said, “Every life needs a dream, every dream needs a plan, every plan needs a team”. He said, with team spirit, India can become the best country and Sainik School Kodagu, the best school in the world.

He briefed about his plan of action, expressing that his prime area of concern was development of intellectual and emotional faculties of cadets and staff as well as academic infrastructure in the campus.

Earlier, Berson was accorded an elegant guard of honour and received by Wg Cdr M K Khan, the headmaster, and Lt Cdr A P Ajesh, the registrar. A special assembly was held on the occasion, wherein the headmaster introduced the incumbent principal. During the function, Princy Berson gave away prizes to cadets, who had excelled in various competitions. Saira Khan, president of the Kodagian Ladies Club, was present.

Captain (IN) Berson had headed the faculty for Basic Sciences and Humanities at INA Ezhimala earlier. After getting his engineering degree from Karunya, Coimbatore, he was commissioned as a direct entry officer into the Education Branch of the Indian Navy in 1991.

He has served as instructor and registrar at the erstwhile Naval Academy at Goa and Senior Education Officer at INS Dronacharya and INS Shivaji. He was also the Deputy Director at the Naval Institute of Education and Training Technology, Kochi.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Mysore, DHNS – June 19th, 2014

In a bid to maintain the quality of education, Coorg Institute of Dental Science has limited its student intake to 40 a class.

Nestled in the womb of the Western Ghats in the hilly highlands of Coorg is the Coorg Institute of Dental Science (CIDS). As you reach the institute you begin to wonder if you have arrived at a holiday spot, for, so breathtaking is the panoramic view from the top. The aesthetic essence of the tile-roofed stone buildings amidst the greenery is hard to ignore. The buildings of the institute are built by cutting the slopes to tuck in the brick and mortar structures. The mist covered mountains, the rich foliage and the specks of the tiny town of Virajpet below is a sight befitting the Gods.

Built on a sprawling 35-acre space, the institute boasts of excellent infrastructure and well qualified and dedicated staff. The institute is run by a Trust and Managing Committee consisting of members of the Kanjithanda family. The management of the institute is by a group of professional doctors and the managing trustee, Dr Sunil Muddaiah is an orthodontist. The Institute is the dream project of the father son — duo, Dr Sunil and his father KK Aiyappa. In fact the campus is called ‘Kanjithanda Kushalappa Campus’ after the patriarch. The institute is recognised by the Dental Council of India and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi.

The management believes that the quality of education can only be enhanced by a small class. Hence the intake of students is limited to 40. Monthly tests and a unique system of evaluation of students with the help of counsellors, who are senior members in the faculty has ensured good results.

The institute churns out nearly cent percent results since its inception in 1999. An interesting trend is that the girls outnumber the boys in a ratio of 85 per cent:15 per cent. Dr Sunil says this is probably due to the safety and security provided in the campus. Not to mention the ambience and climate.

The institute is affiliated to the Virajpet General Hospital and the Tata Hospital, Ammathi. There are 100 chair modern Dental Hospital with round the clock service. The dental hospital also has a modern major operation theatre with anesthesia facilities. Attached to the operation theatre is a 30 bed in-patient ward. Latest equipments in Dentistry like OPG and RVG units; Ceramic Laboratories and casting units, latest audio visual aids and Minor OT’s are available.

A Department of Implantology which is the third in the country under the Global Oral Implant Academy (GOIA) is fast developing. The management says a new special dental wing with state of the art facilities comparable to European standards and way above any similar existing facilities in the country is taking shape in the campus.

The department conducts frequent dental and screening camps. ‘Doorstep Dentistry Project’, is a unique programme where the staff and students go door-to-door in the far flung villages of Coorg and conduct basic dental check-ups and impart dental health education.

The number of patients treated through these camps touch 70,000.

While dental education is the focus, the all-round development of the students are also borne in mind. Facilities for a host of indoor and outdoor games are provided on campus. A full-fledged aerobic centre, gymnasium and a club for student activities is made available. There’s a film show twice a week and an auditorium with modern audio and visual aids are some of the other attractive amenities.

An internet kiosk with VSAT facility allows for easy communication. Hostel facilities are provided for all students in the campus.

The campus kitchen serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Fast food joints and coffee shops within the campus are popular with the students.

source: http://www.archive.deccanherald.com / DH Education / Home> DH Education / by Anjali Kariappa B / August 17th, 2006