D5.1 30/09/2012 INDIA GATE 244442 _______________________________________________________________________ Mapping of Local History, Ecology and Cultural Heritage Instead of learning in the classroom, once a week in a year, the students will learn from the society about their local economy, local ecology, local history and local cultural heritage. Students, assisted bya volunteer teacher, follow a structured format to undertake a tour of the village around the school. The purpose is to piece together local history, local ecology, map local bio-diversity, local culture, and heritage. The value of this exercise is to create societal engagement for students and give them an understanding of their rootedness in their local context. A Meta University Creating a Meta University, as a new model for a 21st Century University where a network of institutions riding on the National Knowledge Network come together to offer students a collaborative and multidisciplinary learning experience. The Meta University will reinterpret the concept of a University as not just a traditional, physicalspace of learning, but as a repository of knowledge and information that can be delivered in multiple ways, and can be accessed from anywhere and anytime. It will seek to enhance the learning experience through new and innovative delivery models of education that allow students and institutions to collaborate in unprecedented ways. 20 Design Innovation Centers: Setting up twenty Design Innovation Centers co-located in institutes of national importance to ensure maximum convergence, optimum utilization of existing resources and infrastructure, and to leverage a context of academia-industry interaction. Cluster Innovation Centers (CIC) at Universities In order to make Universities hubs of innovation the Cluster Innovation Centers (CIC) will be created at universities/institutions of national repute. This will foster an ecosystem of innovation, and connect research with application for the benefit of society. The CIC will provide a platform for the university and its partners to forge linkages between various stakeholders from industry and academia, initiate and assist innovation activities, encourage innovations in curricula and act as a catalyst and facilitator. The CIC will provide a range of services and facilities including, Evaluation of ideas for their innovation potential Advice on technical and commercial viability Guidance on IPR issues Assistance on relevant financial schemes and grants Help innovators find partners and collaborators including funding, business development Market the products and processes to end-users.
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