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The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi and Australian Education and Science & Training Minister, Dr. Brenadan Nelson exchanging signed documents on Educational Exchange Programme between India and Australia in New Delhi. Picture Courtesy : Press Information Bureau
Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) at different levels and India has emerged as an important partner in the ICT revolution, added Prof. Nigavekar. Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chairman, UGC, while delivering the concluding remarks said that the agreement between Governments of India and Australia on Science and	Technology will strengthen the bilateral relationship in education, increase the institutional linkages and research partnerships and broaden collaborations in science and technology. About 200 academics and educational administrators representing various Universities and organizations participated in the function.
Council of Central Universities
ollowing the recommendations of the Conference of the Vice Chancellors of the Central Universities held in May, 2001, the University Grants Commission has constituted a Council of Central Universities. The Council comprises the Chairman, UGC, the Vice Chairman, UGC, the Secretary, Department of Secondary & Higher Education, MHRD, the Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India, New Delhi and Vice Chancellors of all the Central Universities. The objectives of this Council are: • To determine the terms and conditions	of service of the employees of the Central Universities.• To fix block grant of the Central Universities and Delhi Colleges. • To co-ordinate academic programmes and planning and development of the Central Universities and also the interaction between the Central and State Universities. • To determine the personal policy including the promotion policy for teaching and non-teaching staff. • To enhance participation of the universities in programmes of national development, and • To take up any matter which may be of common interest to these Universities.

Cultural Exchange
Programme and
Commonwealth
Academic Staff
Fellowship

         nder the Cultural Exchange
         Programme,the Commission sponsors the visit to the following countries during 2004 : Greece, Egypt, Hungary, Germany, Surinam, Finland, Syria, Colombia, Italy, Croatia, Mangolia, Russia, Bulgaria, Morocco, Vietnam, Ghana, Sudan, Djibouti, Cyprus, Armenia, Chile. There is provision for exchange of academics, for exchange of experience, lecture tours, establishment of contacts and participation in International Conferences under this scheme. The UGC bears the cost of to-and-fro international travel and the host country provides suitable maintenance allowance. During the first half of 2003, 25 Indian scholars and 14 foreign scholars have availed of this program. The visits of another 14 Indian scholars are in the processing stage. Under the Indo-French Social Scientists Exchange Programme, 12 Indian scholars have been nominated for visit to various universities in France. Five French scholars have visited India under this exchange programme this year. 42 candidates have been selected under the India-U.K. Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship.