UPES ties up with Xebia for IT courses

University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun,  has entered into an academic partnership with Xebia IT Architects India to introduce two new full-time BTech in Computer Science Engineering (CSE) programmes starting academic year 2017-18. These programmes are BTech (CSE) with specialisation in DevOps and BTech (CSE) with specialisation in Big Data. Academic collaboration with Xebia is the latest in a series of partnerships that UPES already has with leading industry giants such as IBM, L&T, Mahindra & Mahindra, Philips Carbon Black Ltd., Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and KPIT.    

As per the MOU signed, subject matter experts from Xebia will help UPES design curriculum for the programmes and train select faculty of the university to ensure up to date technical knowledge is imparted to students pursing these courses. Xebia will also provide knowledge support in tech talks and seminars by industry experts to connect student's learning with the industry. 

Both programmes will have a module on 'Design Thinking' as well to help students develop necessary skills required for problem solving, constructive and analytical thinking, development of knowledge through creative learning experiences. Today, these skills are much sought after by corporates in candidates they are looking to hire. 

Social enterprise challenge

Pentavalent Bio Sciences Private Limited from Bangalore won the fifth edition of Tata Social Enterprise Challenge held at IIM Calcutta recently.  Pentavalent Bio Sciences Private Limited, winner of the Tata Social Enterprise Challenge 2016-17, is a Bangalore-based social enterprise. Pentavalent Bio Sciences is a fully integrated biotech start-up that provides innovative solutions from discovery to development, leveraging cutting-edge science, cost effective molecular diagnostics and new ideas and technologies in the diagnostics market.

They are currently developing an innovative diagnostic tool using novel in-house FlapCut technology that detects tuberculosis (TB) in patients and helps doctors to prescribe patient-specific antibiotics for treatment.

Arogya Medtech Pvt. Ltd from Kolkata and Bombay Hemp Company Pvt. Ltd (BOHECO) from Mumbai were the first and second runners up at the contest. The first three winners received Rs 2.5 lakh, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh, respectively as prize money. 

This year’s edition received over 600 registrations from across India, out of which 214 met all the eligibility criteria and moved to the next round of the competition. These impact proposals were in the area of agriculture, food and dairy; healthcare, water and sanitation; technology and development; education & skills development; housing; handicrafts; and energy and microfinance/financial inclusion, among others. The ventures were judged on three parameters – Business Model, Social Impact and Sustainability.

The Top 20 teams were mentored by Startup Wave Platform, Unitus Seed Fund and pool of mentors from IIM Calcutta Innovation Park. The Social VC partners of the initiative were Villgro, Intellecap, Ankur Capital, Yunus Social Business, Unitus Seed Fund and Ennovent. The teams also had an opportunity to network with mentors, experts and fellow social entrepreneurs.

Tata Social Enterprise Challenge endeavours to create an ecosystem for social entrepreneurship and encourage sustainable, scalable and measurable social impact.