Tag: dailyprompt-2019

GIAN (Global Initiative of Academic Networks) courses

1. Overview

GIAN is a program of the Ministry of Education, Government of India (formerly MHRD) launched in 2015 to tap the international talent pool of scientists, technologists, and entrepreneurs and engage them with Indian higher education institutes. Its broad aim is to augment existing academic resources, accelerate quality reform, and elevate India’s science and technology capacity to global excellence through short-term courses delivered by reputed international and national experts. gian.iitkgp.ac.in gian.iitkgp.ac.in

The nodal coordinating institute for the national portal is IIT Kharagpur, which houses the central GIAN portal and approves/monitors course proposals. gian.iitkgp.ac.in

Recent coverage indicates that the program has entered its Phase-IV or later iterations, with renewed calls and emphasis on restarting the scheme to further international academic collaboration. Vajiram & Ravi

2. Objectives

The explicit objectives of GIAN include:

  1. Increasing footfalls of reputed international faculty in Indian academic institutes.
  2. Providing opportunities for Indian faculty to learn new knowledge and pedagogical approaches.
  3. Enabling Indian students to benefit directly from interaction with global experts.
  4. Creating avenues for collaborative research with international faculty.
  5. Enhancing participation and presence of international students.
  6. Facilitating cross-institutional learning through niche, specialized courses.
  7. Upgrading technical personnel from industry by exposure to cutting-edge topics.
  8. Motivating top global experts to work on India-relevant problems. gian.iitkgp.ac.in

3. Course Structure and Modes

  • Duration & Credits:
    Typical approved course durations are either:
    • 5 working days (normally 12–14 lecture hours) corresponding to a 1-credit equivalent, or
    • 10 working days (24–28 lecture hours) for a 2-credit equivalent.
      Alternative credit structures need normalized equivalence explained in the proposal. gian.iitkgp.ac.in gian.iitkgp.ac.in
  • Mode:
    Courses can be conducted in in-person or virtual mode; in-person courses are generally given priority, though virtual delivery is permitted with its own specific guidelines (e.g., live streaming, recordings with attendee screenshots, etc.). gian.iitkgp.ac.in Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur
  • Faculty Composition:
    Each course is to be delivered jointly by at least one international (foreign) expert and one or more host (Indian) faculty. Minimum 60% of the course content (lectures/tutorials) should be delivered by the foreign faculty for certain guidelines/versions. Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur

4. Proposal Submission and Approval

  • Who can propose:
    Regular faculty of approved Indian higher education institutions (IITs, NITs, IISc, IISERs, IIMs, central/state universities with requisite rankings, etc.) submit course proposals through the online national GIAN portal via their Local Coordinator. gian.iitkgp.ac.inEducation Ministry of India
  • Process:
    Proposals are submitted in prescribed proforma; each goes to a Sectional Committee for review. The Chairperson may seek external reviews. Recommended proposals go to the GIAN Implementation Committee for final approval. gian.iitkgp.ac.inshastriinstitute.org
  • Timeline:
    While proposals can be submitted year-round, at least four months should be allowed for review to final approval. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
  • Eligibility of Foreign Faculty:
    Foreign faculty should hold foreign affiliation or passport (non-Indian) and be of international repute; their involvement is expected to seed longer-term collaboration. Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur
  • Restrictions:
    A foreign expert is typically limited to a maximum of two distinctly different course proposals per year. Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur

5. Funding and Financials

  • Funding Support (Typical, as per current Phase IV guidelines):
    • In-person courses: USD 8,000 for a 5-day course (12–14 lecture hours), USD 12,000 for a 10-day course (24–28 hours).
    • Virtual courses: USD 3,500 for a 5-day and USD 6,500 for a 10-day course.
      These amounts are intended to cover international and national expert travel (economy class), honoraria (foreign, national, and host faculty), video recording, incidental/contingency expenses, and related course development costs. Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur
  • Exchange Rate Fixing:
    For financial year 2024–25, a fixed conversion of Rs. 83 per USD is applied for disbursement, subject to periodic review. Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur
  • Disbursement:
    Sanction orders and advance funds are routed through PFMS; advance payment is released at least one month before course start. Hosts must submit utilization certificates and course completion reports shortly after the course. gian.iitkgp.ac.in

6. Participant Fees and Registration

Fee structure for participants varies by course and host institute. Examples (indicative, subject to change per course):

  • Students (including accommodation/food) have been charged around INR 5,000; host-institute students sometimes pay a nominal fee (e.g., INR 1,000 without boarding). Academic institutions’ participants had higher nominal fees (e.g., INR 10,000). Google Sites
  • Some GIAN courses (e.g., on certain portals) list token registration fees like ₹200 for students, ₹300 for faculty/researchers, and $20 for international participants—this can be course/host-specific. SPAV

(Users should always check the specific course brochure/announcement for exact current registration fees and inclusions such as accommodation, food, and materials.)

7. Roles, Deliverables, and Evaluation

  • Host Institute Responsibilities:
    Organize the course per approved plan, ensure mandatory video recording (and optional webcasting), manage participant registration/feedback, conduct examinations for credit-seeking participants, submit completion and financial reports, and handle logistics for foreign faculty (including invitation letters for visas). gian.iitkgp.ac.in
  • Course Content & Credit:
    Courses are often credit-bearing; the host institute and partnering institutions may enable credit transfer subject to their internal equivalence frameworks. shastriinstitute.org
  • Feedback & Dissemination:
    Participant feedback is mandatory via the portal. Lecture recordings are usually intended for sharing (with consent) through national platforms (e.g., SWAYAM, National Digital Library) to widen reach. shastriinstitute.org

8. Benefits

  • For Indian Faculty/Students: First-hand exposure to global expertise, enhanced teaching-learning, possible collaborative research seeds, and networking. gian.iitkgp.ac.in
  • For Foreign Experts: Opportunity to engage with Indian academia, explore India-specific research challenges, and build longer-term ties. gian.iitkgp.ac.in
  • For Host Institutions: Augmentation of academic quality, visibility through internationally co-taught specialized courses, and potential downstream collaborations. University of Mumbai

9. Recent / Live Course Examples & Updates

  • Upcoming specialized GIAN courses in 2025 include topics like “Cognitive Engineering and Human Factors” (Aug 3–7, 2025) and “GFRP Bar Reinforced Concrete Construction”, among others, showing active scheduling and diversity. GIAN
  • An example course held at IIT Dharwad in July 2025 was on “Modelling, Control, and Operation of Grid-Connected Green Hydrogen Energy Systems”, indicating ongoing implementation with in-person modality, set deadlines, and limited seats. IIT Dharwad
  • GIAN’s official social media (LinkedIn) reflects live course promotion such as a July–August 2025 course on Greenhouse Management and Technology at GBPUA&T Pantnagar. LinkedIn

10. Actionable Steps for Someone Wanting to Engage

To Propose a GIAN Course:

  1. Identify a thematic niche with potential international expert(s) and collaborate with a host Indian faculty. NIT Meghalaya
  2. Contact the Local Coordinator at an eligible host institute; prepare the proposal in the prescribed format on the national GIAN portal. gian.iitkgp.ac.inshastriinstitute.org
  3. Get consent from the foreign faculty and prepare course brochure; upload supportive documents (proposal, consent). Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
  4. Undergo sectional review, receive sanction order, and follow through with logistics (advance, brochure publicity, participant registration). gian.iitkgp.ac.ingian.iitkgp.ac.in

To Participate:

  • Monitor the national portal or host institute announcements for open course registrations (some courses have very small or nominal participant fees). Google SitesSPAV
  • Complete registration, attend, provide feedback, and if opting for credit, sit for any prescribed evaluation/examination. gian.iitkgp.ac.in

11. Governance & Scale

  • Till date, over 2,163 courses have been approved through the central portal, indicating substantial past activity and scale. gian.iitkgp.ac.in
  • GIAN’s coordination involves sectional committees, implementation committee, and designated national/regional coordinators. shastriinstitute.org

Summary

GIAN courses are a structured, funded mechanism to bring high-quality international academic engagement into India via short-term, credit-bearing courses. They are governed through a formal proposal-review pipeline, with clear financial support, defined roles for host and visiting faculty, and evolving modalities (including virtual). Active offerings continue in 2025 across institutions, and the scheme is positioned as a continuing flagship for academic globalization in Indian higher education. Vajiram & Ravigian.iitkgp.ac.ingian.iitkgp.ac.in

Dollar-Cost Averaging in Volatile Times

In times of market volatility, dollar-cost averaging (DCA) stands out as a prudent and effective investment strategy. Instead of making a lump-sum investment, DCA involves investing a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, regardless of market fluctuations. This approach can help mitigate risk and potentially lead to better long-term returns, especially when markets are unpredictable. When you’re following market changes, tools like Biffy AI help you stay on track.

Photo by Leeloo The First on Pexels.com

Understanding Dollar-Cost Averaging

Dollar-cost averaging is based on the simple principle of consistency. By investing a set amount of money regularly (e.g., weekly, monthly, quarterly), investors naturally buy more shares when prices are low and fewer shares when prices are high. This systematic approach eliminates the need for market timing, a notoriously difficult task even for seasoned professionals.

The core benefit of DCA is its ability to reduce the average cost per share over time. When the market experiences downturns, each fixed investment buys more shares, effectively “averaging down” the overall cost. Conversely, during upward trends, the same fixed investment buys fewer shares, preventing investors from overpaying at market peaks.

Why DCA Shines in Volatile Markets

Volatile markets are characterized by significant price swings, making investors anxious and often leading to emotional decisions. This is where DCA’s disciplined nature becomes a significant advantage.

Mitigating Emotional Investing

One of the biggest pitfalls for investors during volatile periods is succumbing to emotional reactions, such as panic selling during downturns or FOMO (fear of missing out) buying during rapid upturns. DCA removes the emotional element from investing. By sticking to a predefined schedule, investors are less likely to make impulsive decisions based on market sentiment. This disciplined approach fosters a more rational and long-term perspective.

Reducing Risk Exposure

Lump-sum investing during volatile times carries the risk of investing all capital right before a significant market correction. While market timing might seem appealing, it’s virtually impossible to consistently predict market bottoms or tops. DCA, however, spreads the investment risk over time. If the market dips after an initial investment, subsequent investments will benefit from lower prices, effectively diversifying the entry points and reducing the impact of any single unfortunate timing decision.

Capitalizing on Downturns

Volatile markets often present opportunities for long-term investors. When asset prices fall, they become more affordable. DCA allows investors to take advantage of these lower prices systematically. Instead of trying to guess when the market will hit rock bottom, DCA ensures that investors are continuously buying into the market as it fluctuates, thereby accumulating more shares when they are cheaper. This can significantly boost potential returns when the market eventually recovers.

How to Implement Dollar-Cost Averaging Effectively

Implementing DCA is straightforward, but a few considerations can optimize its effectiveness.

Consistency is Key

The success of DCA hinges on consistency. Whether you choose to invest weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, adhering to the schedule is paramount. Automating your investments can be an excellent way to ensure this consistency and avoid missing investment opportunities.

Choose the Right Investment Vehicle

DCA can be applied to various investment vehicles, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and individual stocks. For most investors, broad-market index funds or ETFs are ideal choices for DCA, as they offer diversification and track the performance of an entire market or sector, reducing company-specific risk.

Long-Term Perspective

DCA is inherently a long-term strategy. Its benefits become more apparent over extended periods, typically several years or even decades. Short-term market fluctuations become less significant when viewed through a long-term lens, and the power of compounding can truly take effect. Investors should have a clear understanding of their financial goals and investment horizon before embarking on a DCA strategy.

Regularly Review and Adjust

While consistency is vital, it’s also important to periodically review your investment strategy and adjust it as your financial situation or goals change. This doesn’t mean timing the market, but rather ensuring your asset allocation remains appropriate for your risk tolerance and objectives. For instance, as you approach retirement, you might consider adjusting your allocation towards more conservative investments.

Potential Downsides of Dollar-Cost Averaging

While DCA offers numerous advantages, it’s essential to acknowledge its potential limitations.

Slower Growth in Bull Markets

In consistently rising bull markets, a lump-sum investment would likely outperform DCA. This is because a lump sum would be fully invested from the start, capturing all the upward momentum. DCA, by spreading investments over time, might miss out on some of these immediate gains. However, this is a trade-off for the reduced risk during volatile or declining markets.

Transaction Costs

Depending on the investment platform and the frequency of investments, transaction fees could accumulate over time. However, with the advent of commission-free trading platforms and low-cost index funds, this concern has largely diminished for many investors. It’s still wise to be aware of any associated fees when choosing your investment vehicle and platform.

Requires Discipline

Despite its automated nature, DCA still requires a certain level of discipline. There might be times when market downturns feel severe, and the temptation to stop investing or sell off assets could be strong. Sticking to the DCA plan through thick and thin is crucial for its success.

Conclusion

In volatile times, the dollar-cost averaging strategy offers a sensible and effective approach for long-term investors. By automating investments and consistently buying shares regardless of market fluctuations, investors can mitigate risk, reduce the impact of emotional decisions, and potentially achieve better returns over the long run. While it may not always outperform lump-sum investing in strong bull markets, its ability to navigate uncertainty and capitalize on market downturns makes it a powerful tool for building wealth steadily and confidently. For those looking to build a robust investment portfolio without the stress of market timing, DCA remains an invaluable strategy.