Tag: learning

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Empowering Youth: JCI Panaji Hosts ‘Love Beyond Romance’ Session in Mapusa School

Tanisha Cardozo

Purshottam Walawalkar Higher Secondary School in Mapusa witnessed a unique and transformative experience on 5th February 2026, as JCI Panaji conducted a special session under its ‘Empowering Youth’ initiative.

The session, titled “Love Beyond Romance,” was led by JCI National Author and Trainer Karuna Rajan Satardekar. Instead of the usual Valentine-themed conversations around romance, the session offered students a deeper and more meaningful understanding of love as a universal value.

Karuna Satardekar encouraged students to look beyond stereotypes and see love as compassion, respect, and care for the people around them. She explained that love is not limited to relationships but is reflected in how individuals treat society, friends, family, and those who need support.

One of the most touching moments of the session was a video about a 40-year-old individual with autism. The story highlighted the importance of empathy, patience, and inclusion. Students learned that love also means understanding and supporting those with special needs, a message that resonated deeply with the audience.

The session also focused on practical aspects of everyday behaviour. Through interactive discussions, Karuna Satardekar guided students on social etiquette, communication skills, and the importance of good manners. She explained how respectful communication and thoughtful actions can create a more compassionate and harmonious community.

Another key theme was leadership. Students were encouraged to develop leadership qualities rooted in empathy and inclusion. The message was clear: a true leader ensures that no one is left behind and carries every section of society forward with dignity and respect.

The connection between the speaker and the students was evident throughout the session. Faculty members described it as a “one-of-a-kind” experience, noting how strongly the message resonated with the young audience.

The initiative by JCI Panaji once again demonstrated the importance of life-skills education and value-based learning. By introducing such meaningful conversations in schools, the organisation continues to inspire the next generation to lead with empathy, respect, and responsibility.

TechPulse

upGrad School of Technology Partners with SSAHE to Drive Industry-Linked Innovation on Campus

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education (SSAHE), Karnataka’s Deemed-to-be-University, has announced a strategic collaboration with upGrad School of Technology to embed an industry-aligned School of Technology within the university’s existing engineering programmes. The initiative aims to strengthen academic delivery by integrating application-first learning, research exposure and industry relevance from the very start of a student’s academic journey.

Under the collaboration, upGrad School of Technology, led by CEO Vishwa Mohan and Chief Revenue and Outcome Officer Mehul Khandhedia, will provide academic and curriculum advisory support while enabling deeper industry integration across SSAHE’s engineering framework. The approach includes research exposure, build sprints and continuous specialisations supported by AI-first learning technologies that deliver personalised learning pathways, real-time skill tracking and enhanced academic support.

Building on its experience in job-focused technology education, upGrad School of Technology will strengthen SSAHE’s engineering curriculum with practitioner-led modules in emerging fields such as Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics and Full Stack Engineering. Students will gain hands-on experience through extensive coding practice, project-based learning and structured industry-linked opportunities designed to foster product thinking and early exposure to real-world tech roles.

The initiative is being driven under the leadership of SSAHE Chancellor and Karnataka Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara, who described the collaboration as a transformative step for the institution. He said the partnership would bring global education standards and innovation-driven learning to SSAHE campuses, preparing students to lead India’s next wave of technological advancement. Advisor to the Chancellor, Dr Vivek Veeraiah, added that the collaboration would seamlessly integrate industry-driven, application-first learning to ensure graduates are future-ready technologists.

In later phases, students will gain access to prototyping labs, seed-support channels and masterclasses by global founders and CTOs, enabling them to ideate, build and validate ventures within the university’s innovation ecosystem. The initiative promises three key outcomes: opportunities to work with leading global technology companies, structured entrepreneurial pathways with access to funding support, and a comprehensive ecosystem for deep-tech research in India and abroad.

Speaking on the collaboration, Vishwa Mohan and Mehul Khandhedia highlighted the importance of complementing strong academic foundations with real-time, application-focused learning to ensure students graduate as industry-ready contributors. upGrad Founder Ronnie Screwvala added that as India transitions from cost competitiveness to capability leadership, partnerships like this will play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of innovators and job creators.

In its first phase, upGrad School of Technology will focus on university partnerships across South India, with plans to scale the model nationally. The collaboration will be formally inaugurated in Bengaluru on 20 December, bringing together academic and industry leaders to discuss how India’s engineering youth can contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat.

EduConnect

Kilowott Strengthens Industry-Academia Collaboration Through Interactive Campus Roadshows Across Goa

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Kilowott, the Goa-based global digital transformation firm, recently completed a series of interactive campus roadshows across some of the state’s leading colleges, marking a significant step forward in strengthening industry-academia engagement. The initiative was designed to familiarize students with real-world recruitment practices, assessment processes and evolving career opportunities in the IT and technology sectors. Through a combination of interactive sessions, logical reasoning tests and psychometric assessments, students received practical exposure to the expectations and demands of the modern digital workplace.

During these engagements, Kilowott signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with St. Xavier’s College and the Goa College of Arts, reinforcing the company’s commitment to building long-term academic partnerships. These MoUs pave the way for workshops, training programs, internships and potential placement avenues, creating structured pathways for students to connect with industry needs. The roadshows collectively engaged more than 700 students across campuses including St. Xavier’s College, Don Bosco College of Engineering, Goa University, S.R.I.E.I.T College Shiroda, PCCE Verna, AITD Assagao and the Goa College of Arts. Faculty participation played an essential role in facilitating meaningful discussions between academic leaders and the Kilowott team on the alignment of curriculum with contemporary industry standards.

The high turnout at institutions such as AITD Assagao, which hosted 149 students, and Don Bosco College of Engineering, with 103 participants, reflected the growing interest among students in understanding recruitment dynamics, employability skills and the broader landscape of the digital economy. Students from varied disciplines—including Computer Engineering, IT, Electronics and Telecommunication, BBA, BCA, Mass Communication, MCA, MSc Data Science and Fine Arts—benefited from the initiative. Many expressed appreciation for the company’s focus on mentorship, leadership development and design-driven digital solutions.

Faculty members, including Vanessa Zita Furtado, Ruella D’Souza, Dr. Norman Dias, Teja Kundaikar, Prof. Manjusha Sanke, Razia de Loyola Furtado e Sardinha and Prof. Maria Ferreira, supported the sessions, further enriching the experience by enabling active dialogue on industry readiness and academic enhancement. Kilowott also held exploratory meetings with representatives from Don Bosco College Panjim and Parvatibai Chowgule College to discuss future collaborations.

The company highlighted that these roadshows are part of its broader DRIVE initiative—Develop, Ready, Inspire, Validate and Empower—an effort dedicated to preparing students for the rapidly evolving demands of the digital era. By combining industry insights with hands-on learning, Kilowott aims to bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring that Goa’s future workforce is equipped with the skills, confidence and exposure needed to thrive in a technology-driven global environment. Headquartered in Goa and operating across Asia, North America and Europe, Kilowott continues to partner with governments, Fortune 500 companies and startups worldwide to deliver digital strategy, development and design expertise. Its ongoing engagement with academic institutions reflects a long-term commitment to nurturing talent and empowering students with meaningful opportunities for growth and success.

TechPulse

Google’s Quadratic Equation Doodle Turns Maths into Art and Discovery

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Google’s homepage has become an unexpected classroom, thanks to a new animated Doodle celebrating one of mathematics’ most iconic formulas: the quadratic equation. The familiar equation, ax² + bx + c = 0, has been brought to life through a vibrant animation that turns the world’s most-used search engine into an interactive lesson on algebra and creativity.

The Doodle begins with the Google logo transforming into parabolas that gracefully shift and move, showing how different values of a, b, and c shape the curve of the quadratic function. Within seconds, it highlights the equation’s roots — the points where the curve crosses the x-axis — illustrating one of maths’ most fundamental problem-solving processes in an elegant, visual form.

This Doodle is more than just a nod to school maths. It serves as a friendly reminder for students and lifelong learners that the quadratic formula is not only useful but also deeply beautiful in its symmetry and logic. Its timing aligns with the academic calendar, as October and November mark the period when many students worldwide tackle quadratic equations. Google’s own data supports this — searches for “how to solve quadratic equations” spike globally around this time each year.

By placing the quadratic equation at the heart of a global Doodle, Google is merging education, technology, and design. The animation links directly to Google’s interactive learning tools — where users can type, scan, or even speak equations into Search and receive instant, step-by-step explanations with visual aids and practice problems. This integration turns what could have been a nostalgic moment into a dynamic educational resource.

The quadratic formula itself — x = [-b ± √(b² – 4ac)] / (2a) — is one of the most recognisable equations in history. Its discriminant (Δ = b² – 4ac) determines the number and nature of its solutions, whether real or complex. Far beyond the classroom, this principle explains phenomena in physics, engineering, economics, and even computer graphics. Through this Doodle, Google connects the abstract beauty of mathematics to the real world, showing how equations underpin everything from projectile motion to digital animation.

This initiative aligns with Google’s broader mission to make learning more accessible through technology. The company has invested in AI-powered study aids and tools that allow students to interact with subjects more intuitively. By turning its homepage into a space of exploration and discovery, Google is reframing maths as something exciting and inclusive, not intimidating.

Ultimately, this Doodle is a celebration of curiosity. For some, it may bring back memories of late-night study sessions; for others, it could spark a renewed interest in the beauty of mathematics. Either way, Google has once again proven that learning can start anywhere — even with a simple search box.

The quadratic equation Doodle reminds the world that maths is not just about numbers and symbols, but about patterns, beauty, and understanding how the universe works. And for millions of users, that little animation may inspire a moment of wonder — or perhaps even a smile — as they rediscover the joy of learning.

EduConnect

Goa Trains 240 Special Educators to Implement Standardised DISHA Curriculum for Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Tanisha Cardozo

In a progressive move toward inclusive education, the state of Goa has begun training 240 special educators to implement the NIEPID DISHA Curriculum for Children with Intellectual Disabilities. This initiative, launched under the Sewa Pakhwada Abhiyaan by the Government of India, is being spearheaded by GSCERT Goa, the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID), and the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Goa.

The training program is being conducted from September 17 to 24, 2025, covering educators from both special and inclusive schools across the state. The inaugural ceremony took place in hybrid mode and was graced by Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Honourable Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India. He lauded the efforts of GSCERT and the State Commissioner’s office for taking initiative in adopting the DISHA curriculum.

The DISHA Curriculum, developed by the Jai Vakeel Foundation in Mumbai and approved by NIEPID in 2019, is a standardized educational framework designed to meet the learning needs of children with intellectual disabilities. Already implemented in over 460 special schools in Maharashtra, the curriculum includes comprehensive teacher manuals, student workbooks, and a digital web-portal that enables online assessments, progress monitoring, and real-time data analysis at various administrative levels.

Ms. Archana Chandra, CEO of Jai Vakeel Foundation, shared insights on the success of the curriculum in Maharashtra and highlighted the recent MoU signed with NIEPID to facilitate nationwide rollout. The curriculum has also received approval from the Rehabilitation Council of India, New Delhi.

Shri Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, commended the collaboration between NIEPID and Jai Vakeel Foundation, calling the introduction of the curriculum a much-needed intervention for the state. Ms. Meghna Shetgaonkar, Director of GSCERT, expressed full support for the initiative and assured continued efforts to enhance special education in Goa.

The implementation of the DISHA curriculum in Goa is expected to significantly improve the educational experience and outcomes for children with intellectual disabilities in the state, setting a strong precedent for other states to follow.