InsightsEd is a monthly report, which provides latest and relevant insights on education. The helps its readers with latest trends and activities, taking place in global education space. This report has been designed and published specially for CXOs and consultants — who have a need, but no time to keep themselves abreast with latest happening in education sector. All the relevant stories are summarized and presented within 100 words, so that the reader can update herself within minutes. In case you wish to subscribe to InsightsEd, then please write to us at info@insightsed.com, or visit www.InsightsEd.com

1. InsightsEd
InsightsEd
October 2013
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2. InsightsEd — October 2013
A BOUT I NSIGHTS E D
InsightsEd is a monthly report, which provides latest and relevant insights
on education. The helps its readers with latest trends and activities, taking
place in global education space.
This report has been designed and published specially for CXOs and
consultants — who have a need, but no time to keep themselves abreast
with latest happening in education sector.
All the relevant stories are summarized and presented within 100 words,
so that the reader can update herself within minutes.
In case you wish to subscribe to InsightsEd, then please write to us at
info@insightsed.com, or visit www.InsightsEd.com
© Indalytics Advisors Pvt. Ltd.
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3. InsightsEd — October 2013
T ABLE OF C ONTENTS
Financing by educational organizations
3
Introduction of new educational programs
4
Collaboration in education space
5
Educational organizations raising grants and funds
6
New regulations impacting education
8
Educational organizations expanding operations
10
List of organizations mentioned in the report
11
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4. InsightsEd — October 2013
F INANCING BY EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Arizona, US–based Synergis Education has completed its US$33 million
Series–A financing. The company has raised the financing from University
Venture Fund I LP, along with its limited partners, such as Bertelsmann SE
& Co. KGaA and University of Texas Investment Management Co.
Synergis Education, which provides technology and resource management
services in the higher education space, will use the financing to enhance
its partnerships with universities, and help them fund, build and grow
academic programs for non-traditional students.
Australian childcare and education center operator — G8 Education — is
raising A$60.14 million for expansion. The Australian Securities Exchange
listed company will be using the financing to purchase 29 childcare centers
across New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. G8 Education will pay
A$42.6 million for the centers — a price based on their four times
anticipated earnings before interest and tax — provided the centers
achieve earning targets within 12 months of deal date.
G8 Education currently has 194 owned childcare centers in Australia, along
with 18 owned–and–operated and 51 franchised child care centers in
Singapore.
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5. InsightsEd — October 2013
I NTRODUCTION OF NEW EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
The European Commission has launched a new plan to enhance digital
education in the union. Under the ‘Opening up Education’ plan — a joint
initiative led by Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture,
Multilingualism and Youth; and Neelie Kroes, Commission Vice-President,
responsible for the Digital Agenda — the plan will primarily focus on
improvement in ICT infrastructure in schools, use of open educational
resources, and creating better learning opportunities for students,
teachers and institutions.
The Commission has also launched a site — Open Education Europa —
which allow students, teachers and educational institutions to share open
educational resources.
In the US, the city of Denver, Colorado has launched a new program, to
help lower–income children get ready for school. The Countdown to
Kindergarten program — started by Denver Education Compact —will
work towards creating connectivity among parents and educators, to help
children in transitioning from homes to schools.
The program will interact with the teachers and principals at elementary
schools and in Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs across Denver. It
will start in the first year with several schools, such as the Newlon
elementary schools and the Charles M. Schenck Community School.
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6. InsightsEd — October 2013
UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has also
approved some other programs, to cater to the needs of country’s labor
market. The ministry has approved a bachelor’s degree in business
administration and human resources management at the City University
College of Ajman; a diploma course in accounting at Abu Dhabi Vocational
Education and Training Institute; and a Master of Science and
International Business program at Al Ghurair University.
C OLLABORATION IN EDUCATION SPACE
The MasterCard Foundation — through its MasterCard Foundation
Scholars Program in Africa — is collaborating with three new partners to
fund education of underprivileged students. The foundation is
collaborating with BRAC, Campaign for Female Education (Camfed) and
Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) — to provide
scholarships worth US$106 million to approximately 11,000 African
students.
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program is a 10–year long global
initiative by the MasterCard Foundation — aimed at providing US$500
million in scholarships and other education assistance, primarily in Africa.
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7. InsightsEd — October 2013
Google is partnering with online education provider edX, to start a new
platform for building MOOCs. The companies have launched MOOC.org —
a platform that allows teachers, educational institutions and businesses to
create their own digital course and share it with the world. As of now, the
site is slated for launch in the first half of 2014.
E DUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS RAISING GRANTS AND
FUNDS
In Canada, Citi has launched a three–month initiative to raise funds for
nonprofits across the globe, catering to education. The ‘e for Education’
initiative is aimed at funding several charities, out of Citi’s institutional
client foreign exchange transaction volumes — generated through its
trading platform, Citi Velocity. Citi has added six organizations that will be
funded under the initiative.
The organizations include Civic Builders — that build low–cost charter
schools in underserved neighborhoods; Empower — that provides tools
and resources to at–risk youth in emerging markets; No Greater Sacrifice
— that provides scholarships and resources to children of fallen and
wounded US military service members; Room to Read — that focuses on
literacy and gender equality in education developing countries; Teach First
— that provides education to children with different socio–economic
backgrounds; and Uncommon Schools — that provides public charter
schools, helping low–income students to graduate from college.
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8. InsightsEd — October 2013
The US Department of Education has awarded 60 grants worth
approximately US$32 million to local education and community–based
organizations. The grants — part of the Carol M. White Physical Education
Program — are intended to help organizations with improving and
expanding physical education and nutrition education programs for
students.
The program is aligned with the First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!
Active Schools" initiative — that helps students during, before, and after
school.
Philippines-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) is planning to invest
approximately US$100 million, for improving the secondary education and
vocational training in the state of Meghalaya–India. The loan funding is
part of the ADB’s project, 'Supporting Human Capital Development in
Meghalaya', and is its first loan to India for boosting education and skills.
The state of Meghalaya, which has a low enrollment ratio, has also
received an additional US$2 million grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty
Reduction — for improving its education and labor conditions.
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9. InsightsEd — October 2013
Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) has received support of US$12.5
million from the Charina Endowment Fund and individuals Richard L. and
Ronay Menschel of New York City — to redesign its educational strategy.
The part of the amount will be used at HSPH to accelerate efforts on
developing the flipped classroom experiences, as well as more case–based
and field–based learning opportunities.
N EW REGULATIONS IMPACTING EDUCATION
The US Department of Education is granting state of Texas a conditional
waiver from federal ‘No Child Left Behind’ Act’s requirements. After the
waiver, only the bottom 15 percent of schools across Texas will qualify as
priority schools, receiving federal mandated interventions. The waiver will
also mean fewer schools facing penalties, and getting more freedom in
spending the federal Title I money for academic intervention.
Texas is the 42 state in the US to receive the waiver approval, which will
be effective from 2013–2014 school year.
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10. InsightsEd — October 2013
In the UAE, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has
awarded initial accreditation to academic medical programs. In order to
achieve its education and enrollment targets for UAE vision 2021, the
Ministry has approved new programs, designed specifically for UAE’s labor
market. The programs include master’s degree in pharmacy (in
manufacturing and developing products), clinical pharmacy and pharmacy
practices at the Dubai Pharmacy College.
The government is trying to attract more people towards education in
pharmacy — which has a low Emiratisation rate of 5.7%, as per its 2012
estimates.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives have passed a bill to reform
funding for cyber charter schools. According to the bill, if a student wants
to enroll in a cyber charter school, then the public school district where
she would have normally enrolled, will be entitled to pay the tuition fee —
which it would have spent on the student.
The school district, however, will be allowed to deduct the cost of pension
contributions and food service in calculation of tuition payments to cyber
charter school. The bill will have no impact on the tuition payments to
charter schools that students attend in person.
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11. InsightsEd — October 2013
E DUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS EXPANDING OPERATIONS
US–based advocacy group Elevate Early Education, is starting a new
preschool in Norfolk, Virginia. The E3 School, will be a 12,000 square foot
center that will impart education to approximately 100 preschool
students, and employ 26 teachers and staff. The US$10 million project is
funded by philanthropic support, and is in lines with President Barack
Obama’s plans of encouraging preschool education.
Wellington, New Zealand–based High School tutoring service —
Inspiration Education — is expanding its operations. The company has
setup its operations in Palmerston North, and is offering tuition for
National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA).
Inspiration Education uses a one–on–one tutoring approach, to help
students achieve their academic goals.
Technology hardware company, Epson has introduced two new projector
series for K–12 classrooms in the US. The Epson PowerLite S17, X17, and
W17 series, and Epson PowerLite 97, 98, 99W, 955W, and 965 series
provides various features, such as HDMI and optional wireless
connectivity. They also help the teachers deliver presentations over the
network. The projectors will be available in market from November 2013.
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12. InsightsEd — October 2013
L IST OF ORGANIZATIONS MENTIONED IN THE REPORT
Abu Dhabi Vocational Education
and Training Institute
Epson
Al Ghurair University
Forum for African
Educationalists
Women
Asian Development Bank
G8 Education
Australian Securities Exchange
Google
Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA
Harvard School of Public Health
BRAC
Inspiration Education
Campaign for Female Education
MasterCard Foundation
Charina Endowment Fund
MOOC.org
Charles M. Schenck Community
School
Newlon elementary schools
No Greater Sacrifice
Citi
Open Education Europa
City University College of Ajman
Room to Read
Civic Builders
Synergis Education
Denver Education Compact
Teach First
Dubai Pharmacy College
Uncommon Schools
edX
Elevate Early Education
University of Texas Investment
Management Co.
Empower
University Venture Fund I LP
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13. InsightsEd — October 2013
D ISCLAIMER
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Publication Volume: 13-010
Publication Date – October 2013
© 2013 Indalytics Advisors Private Limited
www.indalytics.com
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