are the major schemes identified. The purpose of this national seminar-cum-workshop is to propagate these various schemes on IT-enabled teaching and learning and to draw an action plan for multifaceted activities in colleges and universities for training the teachers in this direction."
Dr. M.S. Thimmappa, Vice Chancellor, Bangalore University, was the Guest of Honour. He appreciated the UGC's move to organize such kind of national workshop involving representation from academics, administration, IT-profession and industry. He emphasized on the need to improve the infrastructure facilities in the universities and colleges, particularly in rural areas, along with providing access to technology.
Prof. S. Sadagopan, Director, iiitb, who was also the academic co-ordinator of this workshop, while informing the delegates 

about the focus points of conference, said that in India the teacher has a special and respectful place. Since old age 'Gurus', the Indian teachers have established themselves globally. In the present fast changing scenario of technology advancement, we have to equip and strengthen our teachers so as to enable them impart teaching with best use of available technology.
The workshop was attended by about 100 delegates including principals, teachers, senior
academics, and IT professionals from different parts of the country. The themes/topics on which deliberations took place during the workshop were: teacher centric technology- iiitb experience; meeting Indian learning challenges; ensuring success in e-learning initiatives; learning management systems for education delivery; creating effective teacher-learner interaction, using web, internet 

and mobile communication tools-pedagogy to webagogy; networking libraries; next generation internet infrastructure and opportunities for education. Besides above, presentations were given by representatives of leading IT companies such as Intel, Microsoft, Oracle and Cisco. Shri Pawan Aggarwal, presently the Financial Advisor, UGC, delivered a lecture on public-policy perspective on use of technology in higher education. He emphasized on the affordability and sustainability of technology, focus on low cost computing and open source software-eco-system, high-speed campus networks and reliable connectivity.
Dr. G. Parameshwar, Hon'ble Minister for Higher education, Government of Karnataka was the Chief Guest on Valedictory Function which was presided by Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chairman, UGC.

      ndia  and  Switzerland  signed  an
     agreement        for             mutual
co-operation in science and technology on 10th November, 2003 in the presence of the visiting Swiss President, Mr. Pascal Couchepin and Indian Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the Minister for Human Resource Development 

and Science and Technology Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi. A Joint Committee will be established for realizing the objectives envisaged in the accord. It will consider policy issues, identify areas of mutual interest and formulate programmes for joint collaboration. The agreement includes- co-operation in the 

fields of Industry, Agriculture, and Biotechnology; exchange of scientists, research workers, technologists, exchange of scientific and technical information, joint identification of scientific and technical problems and formulation and implementation of research programmes.