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June 19, 2013

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After a range of concerns surfacing amidst students, the School of Open Learning, popularly known as SOL might be getting the FYUP next academic year onwards.

SOL or School of Open Learning is Delhi University’s solution for students who prefer distance learning. The correspondence courses from the institute are a popular preference for students who want to immediately work after school while they also earn a degree. It is also an option for those who do not have a very high percentage that might be sufficient for them to earn admission in their choice of course in a regular college. However, the best part about SOL has been the fact that despite the fact that you are doing a correspondence course, the degree is the same as other colleges and is awarded by the Delhi University.

When the rest of the colleges in the Delhi University went ahead with the Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) this year, it was announced that SOL would continue with the previous existing three year programme. The decision has raised a slew of apprehensions among applicants who are now looking at a three year correspondence course vis-à-vis a four year regular one. Not only does it create a disparity between the degrees awarded, it also raises questions whether the ones under the FYUP will actually be more ‘employable’.

The reason for SOL not adopting FYUP this year is the fact that the methodology of SOL courses is heavily dependent on the course material. And it is apparent that developing course material for the hurriedly formulated FYUP will certainly take time. However, SOL authorities believe that they should be able to work on the same and the FYUP should come to SOL in the coming year. At present the centre offers five undergraduate courses namely, B.A. Programme, B.Com (Pass), B.Com (Hons.), B.A. (Hons.) Political Science and B.A (Hons.) English literature. One needs to note that three of these don’t exist with the FYUP. While B.A. Programme is scrapped, B.Com has been replaced with a Baccalaureate in Commerce degree. Hence, what would happen to SOL next year with its limited set of courses is a matter of concern as well.

With drastic changes coming to the rest of the university, the changes that are in store for SOL might have been delayed, but are surely still expected.

(For entire Admissions 2013 coverage click here)

DSCN9029Jackie Chan loves to sing, the movie 3 Idiots and Biryani. At the China Film Festival held in Siri Fort Complex on 18th June, the multi-faceted actor talked about fostering better ties between the two growing economies. Chan, who was here to inaugurate the first ever China Film Festival in India displayed his interest in acting in a Bollywood movie. “I can sing and dance….I am a good actor,” said the star. He also sent out an open invitation to Bollywood directors to hire him in  their movies stating that all he needed was “a good script”. He wishes to change his image as that of an action superstar to that of an actor and added that he wants to be remembered as “Asia’s Robert De Niro”.

Present with him were his co-stars from his latest film ‘Chinese Zodiac’, who were all praises for him as a director to which Chan quipped,“They have to love me or they are fired!” On being questioned about the strain in the India-China relations recently, Chan hesitant at first, replied that we cannot choose our neighbours and that, we should make more movies on peace. On his never playing the role of the ‘bad guy’ in his films ChanDSCN9030 said, “Young children watch my movies and I do not want to be a bad influence on them.” As an actor and a director, Chan feels it is his responsibility to produce a clean, free of violence film for his audience.

Chan felt that even though there is a lot of good cinema coming out of India, the producers are just not putting in enough effort to promote it globally. The star quipped that he has no time for vacations and only accepts invitation, if there is work involved.

Image credits: Niharika Singh

 

French-Open-Logo
Irrespective of who you are and where your interests lie, everyone has their eyes set on France in the months of May and June. The movie buffs are in for a treat as they witness yet another installment of the magnificent Cannes Film Festival and the sports fanatics are busy rooting for their favourite tennis stars as they make their way to Paris in a bid to make history by winning the French Open, The Glorious International Tennis Tournament held in Paris every year for two weeks between end of May and June.

French Open which is alternatively referred to as Roland Garros after the French aviator with the same name, was first held in 1891 and ever since then it has increased in it’s popularity and sheer magnitude by leaps and bounds. With more and more money riding on it every year, and the popularity of tennis rivaling that of soccer and cricket, the 112th edition of the French Open had the entire world’s eyes glued on Paris from 26th May to 9th June this year. Titles were up for grabs in Men and Women’s Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles. Juniors and players on wheelchairs also competed in Singles and Doubles.

The frenzy that lasted two weeks ended with the declaration of results on the last two days. Serena Williams defeated the defending champion Maria Sharapova and went on to win the title for the second time. Her first win was eleven years earlier in 2002. Rafael Nadal emerged as the champion in the men’s singles category on the last day of the event. He was not only the defending champion but has also won the title seven other times summing his totals to an astronomical eight. In addition to winning this prestigious title, the two also got a cash prize of a whooping €1,500,000 each. Russian Players Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina won the Women’s Doubles after they defeated Sara Errani and Robert Vinci from Italy. Americans, Bob Byron and Mike Byron, won the Men’s Doubles against Michael Llodra and Nicolas Mahut from France. The prize money awarded to the winners amounted to €360,000.

The rest of the winners included Lucie Hradecká and František ?ermák (Mixed Doubles), ChritianGarin (Boy’s Singles), Belinda Bencic (Girl’s Singles), Kyle Edmund and Frederico Ferreira Silva (Boy’s Doubles), Barbora Zahlavova and Kate?ina Siniaková (Girl’s Doubles),Stéphane Houdet (Wheelchair Men’s Singles), Sabine Ellerbrock (Wheelchair Women’s Singles), Stéphane Houdet and Shingo Kunieda (Wheelchair Men’s Doubles), Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot(Wheelchair Women’s Doubles).