Dr. Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI), Pune (Maharashtra) is inviting applications for Dr. Ambedkar Social Science Research Fellowships for the Scheduled Castes candidates intending to do M.Phil./Ph.D. in India from the academic year 2011-12. This is a good opportunity for SC candidates to reach their academic and career goals through fellowships. The institute will offer Three (3) + 2 (For TISS, Mumbai students only) research fellowships to Scheduled Caste (SC) students from any social science or humanities discipline. Following are details of fellowships and application procedure:

2) Fellowships: There are two types of fellowships under this scheme. These are 1. Dr. Ambedkar National Social Science Research Fellowship (ARFN). This is a national level fellowship. 2. Dr. Ambedkar Social Science Research State Fellowship at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai (ARFTISS). These are reserved for TISS scholars. There are three scholarships for ARFN and two fellowships for ARFTISS candidates.

Fellowship Amount:

1) For AJRF: Rs.13000/- p.m. for the initial two years period.
2) For ASRF: Rs.15000/- p.m. for remaining 3 years period

Essential Qualifications: Applicants should be from SC category. They should have post – graduate degree in any social science or humanities discipline and intending to pursue their M.Phil / Ph.D. degree on caste and Dalit related issues. They should take up full time regular admission. Candidates who secured Ph.D. admission without M.Phil also can apply.

Interested candidates can download application forms from www.tiss.edu and www.ambedkaracademy.ac.in . Filled in application forms along with necessary documents should be sent to ‘The Director General, Dr. Ambedkar Research and Training Institute, No. 28, Queen’s Garden, Near Old Circuit House, Pune, Maharashtra – 411001’. Last date for the receipt of completed applications is 16th August 2011. Those who could not able to send the hard copy before the last date may send the soft copy of the same as advanced copy with all necessary attachments of scanned copies of required documents to the Director general’s E-mail ID: directorbarti@gmail.com . In that case, hard copy of the application should reach the above mentioned office within 2 days after the submission date. For more details like selection procedure, grants and awards, see above mentioned websites.

Contact Address: The Director General, Dr. Ambedkar Research and Training Institute, 28, Queen’s Garden Nr. Old Circuit House, Pune, Maharashtra 411001. Phone: 020- 26362076; 26333595; E-mail: directorbarti@gmail.com

Here comes another Tri Valley University from United States of America (USA). With the US authorities latest raids on University of Northern Virginia (UNVA) on the charges of VISA fraud, many of the students from India, mostly from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh are likely to experience distress. It is estimated that out of total number of 2400 students in the University of North Virgina, about 90 percent of them are from India. The number of students to be effected from Andhra Pradesh is yet to be estimated. the UNVA is located in Annandale, Virginia, the suburbs of Washington. The most disheartening fact about UNVA episode is that India students keep on joining this institution despite UNVA lost its accreditation in 2003 itself. The University name on the website http://www.unva.edu/ was mentioned as University of Northern Virginia.

The US authorities including dozens of officials from different federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement and FBI have raided all the offices at the University of Northern Virginia’s Annandale campus. The authorities took away a large number of boxes filled with important documents and computer hard drives from the administrative section of the University. During January 2011, the US authorities had conducted similar raids and shut down Tri-Valley University in California on the charges of massive immigration fraud. The Tri Valley incident has effected the careers of over 1500 Indian students, then too most of the students are from Andhra Pradesh. The University has student portal at https://cams.unva.edu/eStudent/login.asp where you need to login to get the details of students. Some of the students are coming out through Facebook to express their grievances.

Officials from ICE’s Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) have disclosed that the ICE has served University of North Virgina (UNVA) with a Notice of Intent to Withdraw (NOIW) UNVA’s authorisation to admit foreign students. The university is believed to have sanctioned admissions to a total of 2400 students, out of which more than 2000 students are from India. The authorities have also confirmed that the overwhelming majority of the students are from Andhra Pradesh. The UNVA has issued and enrolled a huge number of students than its authorised numbers. The UNVA is authorised to issue I-20 form to about 50 students only but the number gone out of bounds. The University website is http://www.unva.edu/ . The University has also displayed some messages regarding raids of US authorities.

Chancellor of the University issued a Statement saying that the UNVA shall conduct classes as scheduled and informed through the website that as long as students attend classes as required they will continue to remain in status. UNVA is offering Under Graduate Programmes in Information Technology, Business Administration and Block Transfer Programme. It also offer various MBA specialisations along with online programs (MBA and DBA), Ph.D., Non Degree courses etc.

Contact Address and Number of the University: Address: 7601 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003, USA.

Administration office: 7535 Little River Turnpike, Suite# 103, Annandale, VA 22003. Phone: 703- 941- 0949 – Fax: 703-941-0893 – E-mail: info@unva.edu .

International Student Affairs Phone Number: (703) 941-0949 ext. 129.