Visits to rural communities becomes part of the curriculum of a UAE-based university

Updated on: Saturday, December 01, 2012

For the first time, visits to rural communities in Varanasi and Patna have become part of the curriculum of a UAE-based university that focuses on advanced energy and sustainable technologies.

Student teams from Masdar Institute of Science and Technology travelled to Varanasi and Patna for projects on gasification of rice husk for power generation, increasing access to primary education and health care, and community development through micro-credit and self-help groups.

As part of the Energy and Poverty Solutions (EAPS) course, a student team from the graduate-level university in Abu Dhabi addressed issues of child labour and primary education and investigated micro-credit and self-help groups for women empowerment with multiple organisations in Varanasi.

In Patna, two student teams worked with Husk Power Systems to improve their technical gassifier system as well as their business model. A third student team examined local healthcare services in order to understand the issues surrounding healthcare and delivery in Bihar.

"The field trips to India and other sites have offered students a glimpse into the lives of the poor – their challenges and vulnerabilities, as well as their assets and talents. Sustainable development in this context can only be achieved by building capacity and strengthening institutions," Dr Scott Kennedy, Dean of Research, Masdar Institute, said.

Over the past three years, students of EAPS course under the Engineering Systems and Management program have visited rural communities in north India, Sabah in Malaysia, and Lusaka, in Zambia.

More Education news

• Karnataka department of higher education to further strengthen protection to women students and employees
• Heads of government and private schools directed to keep a close watch on the behaviour of teachers
• Chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions submits his report
• Everyone will be given due representation says Goa CM
• Pune Education Department to hold meetings with schools to ensure a smooth RTE implementation
• Health and Medical Education, Forest and Home departments within the ambit of Public Services Guarantee Act
• 'value education' courses in engineering colleges to inculcate better values and character building
• students challenge new NET gidelines
• Proposed multi crore edu city project nearing completion
• 21 engineering colleges affiliated to the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University to seek accreditation
• MBBS and PG medical seats to be increased by 50% and 100% respectively from academic year 2013-14
• M S University's faculty of fine arts mired in controversy over a painting hurting religious sentiment
• IICA inks MoU with Bangalore-based National Law School of India University for forging academic partnership
• President asks private players to contribute in improving the standards of higher education
• First technical and medical university at picturesque Apatani Plateau in lower Subansiri district
• Prayas scheme to be extended to 4 more districts
• Jamia Millia Islamia Professor gets Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship
• Japans new government will not waive tution fee to pro-Pyongyang high schools
• Most Israeli high school students found accessing Mobile phone during class hours
• UGC notifies the procedure and criteria for declaration of result for NET to be conducted on 30.12.12