Category Archives: Indian Media

Jan 7 2012

Anuj Bidwe Killing: Indian Media commentary misses out where it matters…

BRITISH MEDIA INFORMS: Anuj had originally wanted to study in Australia but Subhash persuaded him not to because he was worried about a spate of racist attacks on Indians in 2009. 

BBC adds: Anuj Bidve could have gone to a US or Australian university to fulfil his dream of pioneering new micro-electronics technology. But his parents sent their only son to the UK because they thought “he’d be safer there”.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2080837/Anuj-Bidve-murder-Parents-took-bank-loans-send-UK.html#ixzz1iiQuuzMq

The point that I am making is NOT that UK is as racist as Australia supposedly is or that US is equally unsafe. But that any place in the world can be safe or unsafe and this includes our own cities in India. Just like our own neighborhood in India, we need to exercise caution and alertness in all large cities. Avoid certain areas after dark and also remember that there will always be some people, even though very few in numbers, who are racist or have a distaste for foreigners. This is a reality and possibly a reality alike how some feel in different parts of India for others from other parts of India who land up in their cities for the jobs. However, this is indeed a very small number and our interaction with such can be prevented if we avoid certain areas at certain hours. Don’t we advise our close ones to avoid certain areas of our own towns in India at certain hours? I am sure we do that. 

There are several useful weblinks that give tips on how to carry ourselves out while being an overseas student in a foreign land. Most education counselors (of repute) do conduct pre-departure briefings for their students. I am providing some excerpts from Vancouver Police site, which gives some safety tips… (Knowing that several of this blog readers are students…)

On the Street

Be alert. Walk with confidence. Walk with your head up. Be aware of who is and what is around you, and be careful when someone approaches you with a simple question. Leave strange or uncomfortable situations. Trust your instincts. Always tell your roommate or host family where you are going and when you will be back.

  • before going out ask advice for the best routes to events, restaurants or shopping
  • change direction if you feel you are being followed; go to the nearest store, restaurant, or pay phone
  • do not carry large amounts of money (cash), and do not show money in public; use bank / debit cards instead
  • never share your PIN number or let others see it
  • keep your passport in a safe place at home; instead carry a photocopy of your passport and other ID
  • don’t go out alone or accept rides with strangers; do not hitchhike
  • don’t use headphones when walking / jogging; they make it difficult to hear an approaching car or stranger
  • don’t carry weapons; they are illegal and can be used against you
  • don’t argue or fight if robbed – yell loudly
  • fight back to protect yourself if you are attacked; try to stop or distract the attacker so that you can escape and call 911

Out at Night

At night, walk on well-lit, busy streets. Try to be with someone. Walk in the middle of the sidewalk. Avoid isolated areas such as parks where there are no other people around. Carry a whistle or other personal safety device. Scream or yell loudly if attacked.

Jan 5 2012

With the killing of an Indian student “also” in Canada: Is it hate-crimes on an increase… jury is still out.

Manchester Police’s terming Anuj Bidwe killing as a Hate-Crime; the news was certainly worrying and then came the news of the killing of Alok Gupta in Canada. We have had Nitin Garg incident in OZ two years ago that got the two countries taking to tough-talking.

CNN-IBN reported…

New Delhi: It has been more than a week since Indian student Anuj Bidve was shot dead in the UK. One suspect who claims to be mentally unstable was charged with Bidve’s murder, while four others were released on bail.

On Monday, hundreds of locals joined Bidve’s friend in a candle light vigil at the site where the 23-year old was killed.

An impromptu memorial was also held at India Gate in Delhi.

Meanwhile, a UK police team met Bidve’s family in Pune on Monday. His family will leaving for Salford on Tuesday. Authorities say Bidve’s body is likely to be handed to his family later on Tuesday after a second post-mortem.

Bidve’s family said that they were satisfied with the UK police investigation.

Meanwhile, a student, Vikrant Gupta is also starting an online campaign for justice for Bidve. “The murderer who seems to be not in his right state of mind has done this act. I won’t worry about this thing on a large scale something which has happened out of the blue. I’m sure something like this won’t happen again but nothing can be guaranteed,” Gupta said.

“Students and Indians definitely feel insecure, they get worried about the things happening, I think the most important thing is that the families back in India because they don’t have the broader picture but I don’t think this is something that we should be worried about it. It has happened once I hope it doesn’t happen again,” Gupta added.

Anuj Bidve, a micro-electronics student at the Lancaster University, on December 26, became the latest victim of a hate crime in Greater Manchester.

Bidve was a part of a group of nine Indian students who were staying in a hotel in Manchester over Christmas. While heading towards the city centre at around 1 pm, they were approached by two white men. Reports indicate one of them asked Bidve the time and when Bidve didn’t reply, one of the men removed a handgun and shot him.

The Manchester Police have termed it a hate crime.

Indian student shot dead in Canada

In another such incident in Canada, an Indian student, working part time at a convenience store, was shot dead in Surrey, in a shocking Christmas Day attack.

Alok Gupta, 27, had volunteered to work the afternoon shift to allow the store owners celebrate Christmas together, and was killed by an unidentified gunman.

However, it was not yet clear whether Gupta was shot during a robbery attempt.

Police is yet to make an arrest in connection with the case, but say they do not believe it was gang-related.

“The victim was working Christmas Day as a good deed to the owners who wished to celebrate Christmas together,” said Sgt Jennifer Pound of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

Gupta sought help at a nearby residence and was taken to hospital. However, he was pronounced dead a short time later; Pound was quoted as saying by the ‘Vancouver Sun’ newspaper.

“Although it appears that the victim died from a gunshot wound, the cause of death will ultimately be confirmed through an autopsy,” she said. 

US: Islamic centre, Hindu worship place attacked

Meanwhile, an Islamic centre housing a mosque and a Hindu worship site were targeted by thugs with firebombs on Monday in New York.

The attacks took place in Queens near New York on Monday night in which unidentified assailants threw homemade firebombs at a house used for Hindu worship services, Islamic centre Imam Al-Khoei Foundation, a home and a convenience store.

There were minor damages but no injuries reported. The police were treating the attacks as hate crimes and were looking into possible links to the other fires caused by similar devices that night.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg called such attacks unacceptable and said authorities are investigating the incidents.

“No matter what the motivation was of the individual who threw Molotov cocktails in Queens last night, his actions stand in stark contrast to the New York City of today that we’ve built together,” he said in a statement.

Such hate crimes had come to light in January 2010, when there were attacks reported on Indian students in Australia. 21-year old Nitin Garg was stabbed to death in Melbourne in January 2010 while he was walking to his workplace. An Australian teenager was sentenced to 13 years in jail for the murder of Nitin Garg in December 2011.

The recent attacks have yet again raised a question mark on the security of Indians across the globe.

Its not just Australia, UK or Canada and its not just Indian students… The reality is that all over the world and relevant to all international students… a need exists for all to be better prepared. That’s it. Overseas Education continues to remain a significant value addition and with better preparedness… a lot can be avoided. Counsellors and Education Agents have also a responsibility here.

Jan 5 2012

Following Anuj Bidve killing: UK universities reassure Indian students…

London:  Universities UK, the representative body of varsities in the UK, today sought to reassure Indian and other international students that the country is “safe and tolerant” with low levels of violence and street crime.

Expressing sadness at the killing of Indian student Anuj Bidve in Salford on December 26 in an unprovoked attack, Professor Eric Thomas, president of Universities UK, said that such incidents were rare in the country.

“We at Universities UK would want to reassure current and future Indian students and their parents that this kind of incident is thankfully exceptionally rare. Compared to other countries, the UK remains a safe and tolerant country with low levels of violence and street crime,” he said.

Professor Thomas recalled that a recent survey by the British Council showed that only a very small proportion of students had ever experienced any kind of crime here.

He said: “On behalf of all universities in the United Kingdom, I want to express our deep sadness at the death of Anuj Bidve. This is a devastating tragedy for his family and friends and the death of a gifted individual in such a manner is a loss for us all”.

He added: “The British people have been appalled by this terrible event and Monday night’s vigil bore witness to national and local feeling. The police are investigating the murder and we are confident that they will bring the perpetrators to justice”.

The organisation said that UK universities took the safety and well-being of all students very seriously.

Institutions offer induction and orientation sessions for international students which include advice on safety.

The British Council also publishes an online personal safety guide for international students in the UK, it said.

With 133 members and offices in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh, Universities UK promotes the strength and success of UK universities nationally and internationally.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/anuj-bidve-killing-uk-universities-reassure-indian-students-163709?pfrom=home-otherstories&cp

 

Mar 9 2011

Indian Government’s myopia: cites the outflow loss due to overseas studies without considering the inflow from them later.

Kids take out Rs 27000cr: Govt - Estimate in HRD note for panel vetting foreign varsity legislation
BASANT KUMAR MOHANTY’s article in The Telegraph of this day is only half the story. The bigger story is that the amount that gets returned to India later by the very same students is much larger and inflow-outflow is certainly in India’s advantage. 

Basant is a friend and his “half-article” is on this link. I recommend that he does a sequel to his article now that I have pointed this out and I shall once again summarise at the end of this blog. Excerpts from his article below…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Delhi, March 8: Indian students are spending abroad Rs 27,000 crore a year or more than twice the amount set aside in the Union budget for higher education, according to an estimate by the human resource development ministry.

The specific figure was cited in a note submitted by the ministry to a parliamentary standing committee that is vetting a bill to allow foreign universities into the country.

The ministry has put the expenditure incurred by Indian students for overseas education at “$5.5 billion (Rs 27,000 crore)” a year. The figure is more than double the Rs 13,100 crore the Union government proposes to spend on higher education in 2011-12.

Weighed against the current total of 2.64 lakh Indian students studying abroad, the expenses per person on the basis of the ministry’s estimate come to around Rs 10. 22 lakh. The figure — the per capita count is only an indicator as fees vary widely from college to college and country to country — is on the lower side, compared with the annual bill in many well-regarded universities in the West.

The ministry note does not say so explicitly but the suggestion behind the estimate appears to be a reminder that the country can keep back a part of the huge amount if foreign universities are allowed to operate here. The ministry has suggested several qualitative reasons for doing so.

But some academics have pointed out that not all students go abroad in pursuit of studies. M. Anandakrishnan, an educationist, cited the example of Australia which hosts nearly 90,000 Indian students.

He said many students were pursuing courses like hairdressing and cookery — some in substandard institutions — with the objective of settling down there. “Most students going to Australia aim at permanent residency status. They want to migrate to that country as it provides better job opportunities,” he said.

An HRD ministry official said the US remained the most favoured destination for Indian students. Nearly 1 lakh Indian students are pursuing higher studies in the US, followed by Australia and the UK (around 20,000). Some other destinations are Germany, France, New Zealand and Singapore.

Full article is on this link

“Post Study Work Overseas” is one of the key consideration by Indian students when choosing to study overseas and also in the choice of the country. It should be read slightly differently to PR or Permanent Residency. Several countries allow students to work for a period of time to gain experience and/or repay their educational loans in India and/or recoup their investment in education. Some go on to seek settlement or migration. In all these considerations, the outflow of forex from India has been repatriated back to India either in short, medium or long term. In our excitement to count the inflow by NRIs into India, we  often forget that they all (most if not all) went out as International Students. There is also gain in non-monetory terms. The exercise of their clout in the various countries once they settle down, helps India’s global presence and helps it to exercise clout.

Overseas Education and the outflow of funds for it has long ceased being a drain… Wake up bureaucrats… Justify the foreign education bill but do present the full picture…
Feb 18 2011

Mirroring of Immigration Policies leading to a boring and flat world indeed…

A perfect theory till NZ played spoiler. I present my “cut and paste” hypothesis suggesting that immigration policies are being copied from one nation to another.

There was a time when the immigration policies, post study work and part time privileges varied from one country to another. These gave certain competitive advantages to each other. Even within UK there was a difference in post study work opportunities between Scotland and England. While there is no real reason to believe that those differences harmed anyone, over the last few years, too-frequent exchanging of notes and aping of regulations has not just led to similar and sometimes exactly-same privileges being offered by one and all.

 

Australia offered part time work permission for 20 hours per week and the UK started copying that. NZ and others too followed each other. Ireland and Canada introduced work permission and what was exactly-same was the number of hours each of them allowed the students to work during the study semester.

Then arrived the post-study-work privileges. Scotland introduced the Fresh Talent Initiative allowing students to work for 2 years post study. No just rest of the UK followed course, even Australian experts who often precede others in their initiatives, found logic in it to introduce a 485 subclass visa for graduating students to gain experience post their studies with an option to move on to other more permanent visa categories. NZ too around the same period introduced a job search visa that allowed students to find a job and then get a work permit. Canada too has a work permit though often that route is taken as a pathway to permanent residency. The OPT (Optional Practical Training) option in USA offers roughly the same goal. Hence the students had an option to gain some experience even without the permanent residency option.

The speeches of the immigration ministers too seem to be a cut and paste jobs.

“We have been clear that we will do nothing to prevent those coming here to study degree level courses and will protect our world class academic institutions above and below degree level. So the universities, all of whom are highly trusted sponsors of foreign students, should not worry. We want to make sure that every student who comes to this country is a legitimate student following a legitimate course.”

“Stricter control will be in the best interest of legitimate students. Some of those who come to study at less reputable institutions are genuinely in search of education which they do not receive. They may have been misled by questionable agents overseas or by these colleges.”

I will not be surprised if any of you assume the above to be from the speech of the Australian Immigration Minister. The reality is that this is an extract from his UK counterpart and that too very recently. The same content and very similarly drafted.

Not just them even media is ensuring generalizations. The quickest scapegoats they find in any conflict related to international students to be the education agents. The recent hungama over the US’s Tri Valley University scam once again got the agents to be seen in bad light for no fault of theirs. Now there is sufficient evidence that most of the students who ended up in Tri Valley were not recruited or counseled by agents in India at all but had moved from other institutions in USA exploiting loopholes in the system. The visa office too had bungled in some cases in giving the visas. Anyway, media and also some experts targeted agents and suggested that Indian Government should regulate dodgy agents.

In cricket, New Zealand has a reputation at being spoilers even if they cannot win. My theory too promoting a flat world was spoiled by this beautiful island nation. It is a delight to read the statement of NZ Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman of yesterday.

“Not only does New Zealand gain from the economic benefits of having them study here, many international students stay on providing longer-term benefits by contributing their skills to our workforce and economy,’’ Dr Coleman says.

‘’Another plus for fee-paying foreign students is the recent introduction of interim visas which allows them to continue studying while applying for visas to further their studies. This will smooth the enrolment process for education providers.’’

The press release goes on to say: Students from India had the highest rate of transition to work (72 percent) followed by students from China (43 percent). Similarly, students from India also had the highest rate of transition to permanent residence (47 percent), followed by students from China (23 percent).

The research also found 68 percent of former international students were in fulltime employment 18 months after gaining permanent residence. Nearly one-third – 31 percent – worked in professional occupations and 62 percent worked in a skilled job.

Full text on this link.

While Minister Coleman may have played spoiler to my “cut and paste” theory, he has indeed re-established NZ’s reputation at being a thinking country and one that avoids aping other nations.

Whether right or wrong, it is indeed ensuring that our world is not totally flat. We don’t know the future though.

 

Feb 7 2011

INDIA: New law on overseas university agents (in the offing!)

Newslinks today inform: A new law making it mandatory for all education agents to register with the Indian government or face fines or jail terms, has been proposed in the wake of reports that some recruitment agents have misled students into joining fake universities abroad, such as the allegedly dubious California-based Tri-Valley University.

However, the interesting thing is that I(yes) have been quoted extensively even though I have never met the journalist or given an interview on the proposed bill in the last few months for sure. Either the journalist picked up one of my earlier comments or has begun to understand my thought process, I would possibly have stated as has been quoted. Just yesterday I was watching Manoj Shyamalan’s SIGNS and hence, even this thought that someone can read my mind and quote me without meeting or corresponding with me is quite freakish. Anyway, will let it be… Guys, take it that I said what has been written!!! Only that my name is Ravi and not Rajiv… Global Reach indeed is an education consultancy that I head as its Managing Director (not director). Read on rest of it on this link.

Feb 5 2011

Mr Mallya, please donot make me and other Indians appear UGLY?

As I walked into a departmental store in Kolkata’s City Centre, a poster of Kingfisher Beer informs that to be a proud Indian, one must forget the Ugly Aussie. Obviously a take “below the belt” at Fosters, the South African competitor, which to most is perceived as an Aussie brand.

This advert is to use the much-hyped incidents that took place in Australia in 2009-2010 to give an impression that Australians are racists. Gross generalization for sure and one that needs to be objected upon by all sane minds. Now there is clear evidence that while some of the attacks may have had racistic undertone, the bulk of the incidents were pure acts of “mugging” by “druggies and other such loonies”.  Australia continues to be a multicultural society and Indian students at Universities continue to feel as safe and secure as they will feel in any part of the world including their home country.

The dictionary gives the meaning of “racism” as:

racism |ˈrāˌsizəm| noun

the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

• prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief : a program to combat

If this definition can be applied, the Kingfisher Beer advert is clearly racistic too. Mr Mallaya’s company has “the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.”

Can someone tell the company that it should stop making lndians look and feel ugly. I commit that I will not be touching the advertised product. By doing that, I will be forgetting “this Ugly Indian to remain a Proud Indian”.

However, a question remains: Why does Kingfisher choose to shoot its calendars in Australia at all. I understand that it exports its beer too to Australia and has Aussie cricketers playing for its various IPL teams.

Oct 8 2010

A crook-Ed tale indeed: Only bollywood and incorrect picturisation of the Indian student issues in Oz.

I am a movie buff but have never been as eager for a movie release as was this day. CROOK was in the newspapers for a year as a story linked to the reported and hyped “attacks” on indian students in Melbourne last year.

Hence I decided to check out the movie in their first day first show this day. 9 am show so that I can finish by around 1130 am or so that I can still get back to office. In a way I am justifying this movie as part of my today’s work and will claim the cost of the tickets from the expense account.

Nikhat Kazmi of TOI gave it a rating of 3/5 which appears to me still as generous. I will not try to do a review or synopsis. here as there will be several more available on the net.

To be honest, the movie is less factual and more of a bollywood fiction. The importance of PR to an Indian student is the theme and the way to get it is said to be only two: either pay an agent and get fake work exp OR get married to an Aussie. Ha ha ha.

The attacks are shown to be more of inter group rivalry with the Aussies gangs being hassled with desis marrying Aussie girls. And attackers are all white Australians. So far removed from the reality where attackers have been largely teenagers muggers and often including kids belonging to various races and also in a focussed incident, an indian.

Snide comments strike out where Australians are referred to as those without cultural values and as descendents of crooks. Are these not racistic generalizations. However in the end the movie blurs the difference between Indians and Australians.

The indian student from Hoshiarpur or Gurdaspur shown to be on full scholarship (McCarthy scholarship to study at Taylors college) is an insult to Indian student’s quality. The guy is a comic and utters pathetic English. All indian students look alike, drive taxis, work in petty jobs and none attend to studies. Even the one with scholarship.

Ha ha ha again.

Gangs can get in easily into hospitals and attempt stabbing Indians. There appears to be an all out indian-aussie gangwar openly on streets. Guns are easily available. Ha ha ha.

Add to this a good dose to revenge, bollywood filmy style. Indians referred as Pakis(!!!) appearing that Pakistanis and Indians join hands against Aussies.

Technically too the story has flaws. None of the drivers wear seat belts and driving licenses are fixed. It’s easy to change identity and reach Australia. There is a scene with snow on the road while it appears to be summer elsewhere.

Are there any positives: the actress keeps insisting on cultural harmony between races and convinces the hero to join her efforts. Melbourne looks beautiful and inviting in parts. There is a scene where Hashmi says that Indians are racist too. Typical bollywood style closure and climax.

That’s all. Just when the media hype on Aussie attacks had been rectified in public memory, we have this twisted story or should I say a crook-Ed tale.

Censors did well by giving it an A rating. Avoidable. Mahesh Bhatt needs to do his homework better. I look forward more to the second test match starting tomorrow in Bangalore and for the Laxman effect.

Sep 10 2010

Indian message to Australia: “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” and random thoughts on the Australian Elections.

Indian expectations from the new Aussie Government…

This is being penned from Sydney where I have been keenly observing the dynamics of the Australian politics over the last few weeks. To me it has been so very interesting and one that I can easily relate to (coming from India). Minority Governments, a deal with Independents, last minute jigsaw and not much to decide between contending political parties is all too common in today’s India. Also like Indian political alliances between contrasting outfits, Australia too is seeing the Greens and the Labour and conservative Independents going with the Labour to form the Government.

I am often asked what can be expected from the current Government with regards to the “international education angle” in the “Indian” context and that does get one to start thinking. Is there really going to be any change? No. Not actually. Wasn’t Julia Gillard, the PM today, the education minister yesterday? Was she not the one who was the first Minister to visit India to soothe its nerves in September last year and how can she absolve herself from the gross in-action on part of the Victorian Police and also by the federal government’s non-regulation of the private colleges for such a long time.

Anyway, we all learn with time and even though I would avoid trying to read much into the words uttered by the politicians, I do believe that continuity is the best medicine at this time. There is a policy that is emerging in Australia in favour of quality education providers and in favour of the genuine migrants who bring in skills to Australia. We may have to forget the emotions and understand that at the end of the day Australia needs international education export and needs skilled immigrants. Both are linked and will remain linked in some manner. The other advantage of continuity is that the current Indian Government and new Australian Government have been talking to each other through the last one year and almost a dozen visits by Australian senior leaders reciprocated by 3-4 visits by Indian ministers has led to a level of understanding now. Kapil Sibal as India’s education minister (Minister of HRD) has hit off with Julia Gillard apparently and that is good too. With no real reshuffling expected of the bureaucrats, we can expect the joint working group continuing with its dialogue.

I am further encouraged by the fact that Greens who are now a part of the ruling coalition has been talking through the campaign for less vindictive border control and better treatment of migrants including the illegal migrants and asylum seekers. Marry this to “stop the boat” campaign of the Labour government and you are certain to get a balanced immigration policy.

At the micro level to my industry, I am expecting a fairly quick call with regards to easing of visa norms for the “university bound” students and this will be really welcome. For those who understand technicalities, I am advocating lowering of Assessment Level for India for category 573 and acceptance of Pearson’s and TOEFL in addition to IELTS. I also hope for less “anti-migrant” noises that were previously made for the domestic vote-banks, now that elections are out of the way.

I have been however desirous of observing if the Indian Media was following the Australian elections and whether it understood its relevance to India. The sad truth is that there was hardly any coverage outside of wire reports from time to time. Even on the day of the final result on this Friday, very few newspapers gave it prominence and even the internet sites of NDTV and IBN failed to even mention it. Hence pleasantly surprised I was when my hometown newspaper (The Telegraph in Calcutta) carried an editorial on the election result yesterday. While I don’t agree to the first paragraph of the article on this link where it claims that most attackers were “white Australians” (reality: attackers were of mixed race and also Indians) and most attacks ended in death (aware of only one death from the attacks and most deaths in the last few years were handiworks of other Indians), the editorial commentary on the election result including the caution that even one single by-election can bring down the government before its tenure ends, display a good understanding of the current Australian politics. Quoting from this editorial from The Telegraph (Kolkata, India) below:

So India may well hope that Mr Rudd’s successor and party colleague, Julia Gillard, who became the first female prime minister of her country, would be more proactive in making Australia a safer and more equitable place for immigrants. Such an expectation is not unwarranted. After all, Ms Gillard has cobbled together a ‘rainbow coalition’ with crucial support from one Green and three Independent members of parliament. And the Greens want the new government to focus on humane treatment of asylum-seekers and other foreigners in Australia. So this is Ms Gillard’s best chance of salvaging the global image of her country even as she tries to repair the schisms within her party.

Earlier this week, I was hosted by UNSW to pay my homage to the newly installed bust of Gandhi. The bust, I am told, was presented by the Government of India to the State Government of NSW and the state Government chose UNSW grounds as the appropriate location for its installation.

What an appropriate symbol at this time…  What was even more appropriate was the choice of his words that are inscribed on the sculpture…

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”

Aug 26 2010

India’s Advertising “watchdog” introduces “code” for Education Adverts… High Time indeed!

ASCI introduces advertising code for educational sector; puts draft code up for public review.

I HAVE REPRODUCED THE BELOW MATTER FROM PRESS ARTICLES. I WELCOME THIS MOVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AS YOU CAN OBSERVE IN MY EARLIER BLOGS, I HAVE COMMENTED TO MISLEADING ADVERTS ISSUED BY SOME OF OUR NEW  “INDIAN” PRIVATE COLLEGES.

Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), the self-regulatory body for the advertising content of the Indian advertising industry, will introduce a new set of advertising guidelines for the educational sector. The new advertising content guidelines will apply to ads of all educational institutions, coaching classes and educational programs. The draft of the guidelines has been put up for review, feedback and suggestions on ASCI’s official website – www.ascionline.org.

The Council has called its members, educationists, institutions and the general public to send in their suggestions and feedback on the proposed guidelines by Monday, September 6, 2010 to, The Secretary General of ASCI, on email ids asci@vsnl.com; alan@ascionline.org.

The new set of guidelines takes note of the fact that a significant amount of advertising activity is currently happening in the education sector, reflecting the vast variety of educational programs being offered in the country. According to the recent Adex report, last year’s figures show that eight per cent of all advertising expenses in print media came from the educational sector, a significant increase as compared to advertising expenses just few years ago.

Speaking on the guidelines, Prof. Dhananjay Keskar, ASCI’s Chairman and Director, IBS Pune, said, “ASCI recognizes the role of educational institutions in building the country’s intellectual capital and the value parents place in them for getting the right education for their children. Unlike other tangible products and services, the value of education and training programs can only be judged by degrees and diplomas, which are advertised in a variety of ways. ASCI realises that a variety of these claims in advertisements need to be regulated through a set of guidelines tailor-made for the education sector.”

The proposed advertising guidelines for educational institutions, among other things, prohibits institutions and programs from claiming recognition, authorisation, accreditation, or affiliations without having proper evidence. The proposed guidelines also requires that name and place of the affiliated institution which provides degrees and diplomas on behalf of the advertiser who may not be accredited by a mandatory authority, is also prominently displayed in the ad.

Under the proposed guidelines, educational institutions will not be able to promise jobs, admissions, job promotions, salary increase, etc. without substantiating such claims and also assuming full responsibility in the same advertisement. The proposed guidelines discourages institutions from claiming success in placements, student compensations, admission to renowned institutes, marks and rankings, and topper student testimonials unless every such claim is substantiated with evidence.

“Recently, ASCI has been receiving several intra-industry complaints against claims being made in ads of various educational institutions. Many students and parents too have complained to ASCI against claims made in advertisements by educational institutions,” added Keskar.

After September 6, 2010, and based on the feedback received from the public and concerned stakeholders, the ASCI Committee will finalise the guidelines and put it up for ASCI Board’s approval. Once the Board approves the final draft, the guidelines will become a part of the ASCI’s Code for Self Regulation in Advertising.

Notably, the subject of advertising in educational sector was discussed in the recently held ASCI’s ‘Seminar on Marketing Responsibly’. An eminent panel of professionals and educationists had underlined the need for special guidelines for regulating advertising in the education sector in India along the lines of Self Regulatory Organisations (SRO) around the world such as in South Africa and Brazil.

In the recent past ASCI has put out specific Guidelines for advertisements in automobile and food & beverage sectors.