Tag Archive: Europe


Pegasus Biologics Enables World’s First Biosurgical Mesh for Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Filed Under: Education
Feb.14, 2009

Pegasus Biologics, Inc., a developer of unique collagen scaffolds for soft tissue repair, announced that its OrthADAPT® PR Bioimplant, a Class 2 medical device, has now been utilized by surgeons in a first-of-its kind rotator cuff repair procedure. Pegasus’ biologically based surgical mesh is specifically engineered for arthroscopic delivery and utilizes Pegasus’ existing OrthADAPT collagen matrix combined with a special polymer mesh for added strength and to facilitate surgical delivery.

The procedure was performed last week by US-based orthopedic surgeon, Luis Vargas, M.D., in Caracas, Venezuela, to teach two South American surgeons the new technique. Dr. Vargas is Director of Research and Education for Sports Medicine at Baptist Doctors’ Hospital in Miami, and is a fellow of noted orthopedic surgeon, John Uribe, M.D.

“This new product offers the benefit of a biologic enhancement (biologically enhanced repair) through an arthroscopic technique with more tendon to bone fixation than double row techniques,” said Dr. Uribe.

Dr. Vargas’ promising use of OrthADAPT PR to repair a human patient’s torn rotator cuff follows on the heels of recent news that the proprietary Pegasus Biologics technology has also received CE Mark certification, allowing Pegasus to gain access to the European market.

“Dr. Vargas’ groundbreaking use of our OrthADAPT PR scaffold, as well as the technology’s CE Mark approval, are major milestones for Pegasus Biologics,” said Michael Will, Pegasus’ CEO. “Our technology addresses two significant challenges reported in the literature on rotator cuff procedures: reinforcement at the suture-tendon interface and healing at the tendon-bone interface. It also establishes the largest footprint available, while providing the biologic benefits of adding OrthADAPT collagen to the repair, plus even further added strength through its polymer reinforcement. That we can now also offer orthopedic surgeons and their patients in Europe this new treatment option, as well, is particularly rewarding.”

“Pegasus’ OrthADAPT PR Bioimplant material is a safe, sterile and biologically conductive scaffold that I can now use in my arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs,” said Dr. Vargas. “I believe this product will provide patients with the potential of minimal pain and swelling and a stronger repair over time. OrthADAPT PR enables, for the first time, a biosurgical mesh for rotator cuff repairs that can be delivered arthroscopically, which is exactly what we have been looking for with these types of procedures.”

This product has not been cleared by the FDA and is not available in the United States at this time.

About Pegasus Biologics, Inc.

Pegasus Biologics, Inc. (Irvine, CA) is a privately held company focused on the research, development and commercialization of next generation biologics utilizing the Company’s unique and patented technologies. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.pegasusbio.com.

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Kaplan Career Institute Opens in Dearborn

Filed Under: Education, School
Jan.21, 2009

Kaplan Higher Education opened a new Kaplan Career Institute campus in Detroit, which began classes today. The school, located at 18440 Ford Road, will help serve the community’s needs for career-focused education and provide local employers with skilled graduates in high-demand fields. This campus is Kaplan Higher Education’s second campus in the Detroit metropolitan area.

“We are excited to be extending our foundation for high-quality educational services, strong curriculum and a personal approach to students here in Detroit and the surrounding communities,” said Jeff Conlon, president of Kaplan Higher Education. “The Detroit market is an important community for us, and Kaplan is committed to offering educational opportunities in some of the most in-demand employment fields in the state.”

Led by Amanda Glover, executive director of Kaplan Career Institute, the campus offers three diploma programs—medical office specialist, electrical technician and dental assistant. These programs are designed to aid students in obtaining the knowledge, technical skills and work habits required to pursue a wide variety of entry-level positions.

“Opening a second campus in the Detroit area will allow us to better serve local residents who seek quality, career-focused training,” said Glover. “We offer a unique integration of curriculum with professional skill development to empower students to achieve their lifelong personal and professional goals.”

Glover has 11 years of experience in proprietary education. Most recently she served as assistant director of student services at Davenport University in Warren, Mich. Previous to that, she worked at the University of Phoenix as the director of operations & student services and operations manager. Glover holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix, and a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Detroit Mercy.

The college’s newly-renovated, 25,000-plus square-foot facility features six classrooms, four electrical labs, a dental lab and two computer labs.

The medical office specialist program concludes with an externship, giving students the opportunity to immerse themselves into their chosen career environment and gain valuable hands-on experience. The electrical technician program features a stick room that replicates the interior of a house ready for electrical wiring. Students will have the opportunity to practice hands-on application of electrical theory in the stick room’s simulated environment.

The dental lab will feature five dental chairs, x-ray units, an automatic processor to develop x-rays and other dental equipment. Students will have the opportunity to learn how to assist dentists with general check-ups and oral surgery, handle medical emergencies and practice preventative dentistry.

Kaplan Career Institute offers each student job search assistance through its career services department and tutoring at no extra charge. The new Kaplan Career Institute Detroit campus is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). ACICS is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education.

About Kaplan Higher Education

Kaplan Career Institute is part of Kaplan Higher Education, which serves 100,000 students through more than 70 campus-based schools across the United States and in Europe. It also has online programs through Kaplan Virtual Education, Kaplan University and Concord Law School of Kaplan University. Kaplan Higher Education schools offer a spectrum of academic opportunities, from high school diplomas to graduate and professional degrees, including a Juris Doctor degree. Kaplan Higher Education is part of Kaplan, Inc., a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company. For more information, visit www.kaplancareerinstitute.com.

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Leading European Universities Choose Elekta to Deliver Advanced 3D Brain Mapping Tool for Research

Filed Under: Education, Online Education, University
Dec.23, 2008

Elekta Neuromag®, the world-leading equipment for non-invasive measurement of brain activity using magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology has been ordered by the Moscow Municipal University of Psychology and Education (Moscow, Russia) and the University of Trento (Trento, Italy).

MEG is a powerful tool for studying normal brain function and brain disorders. Elekta Neuromag is the world’s most advanced and most used MEG system, providing real-time mapping of brain activity by non-invasively measuring the magnetic fields produced by the brain. Electrical activity in neurons in the brain produce magnetic fields that pass through brain tissue and the skull, which can then be recorded outside the head using Elekta Neuromag.

The first whole-head MEG in Russia, neuroscientists and those in related fields at the Moscow Municipal University of Psychology and Education, plan to use Elekta Neuromag for clinically oriented research applications, such as autism in children. The University also plans to employ MEG technology for cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology research such as the study of human emotion and brain abnormalities.

“We are extremely excited about our upcoming installation,” says Professor Tatiana Stroganova, the Head of the Developmental Psychophysiology Department. “We plan to use the MEG extensively to study temporal dynamics of cortical networks underlying normal and aberrant brain organization of perception, attention and emotion.”

Dedicated to brain and cognitive neuroscience research, a large group of researchers at the University of Trento’s Center of Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC) plan to use Elekta Neuromag to explore various fields of neuroscience such as sensory processing, attention and action control, language, formation of concepts and cognitive development.

The University of Trento has recruited physicians from Italy and elsewhere in Europe, including Dr. Christoph Braun, former head of the MEG-Center at the Eberhard Karls University Tubingen (Tubingen, Germany).

“The addition of Elekta Neuromag will complement already established methods such as 4T functional magnetic resonance tomography (fMRT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as well as multi-channel EEG – thus contributing to the advancement of our understanding of the brain,” says Dr. Braun.

The University’s MEG-lab is situated in the Italian countryside. “Not only is our MEG-lab optimally located for brain activity measurement, but patients also have an opportunity to enjoy a beautiful view of the Alps,” continues Braun.

“The acquisition of Elekta Neuromag by two prominent European Universities is a major opportunity for Elekta to work with Europe’s top scientists in this field,” says Stephen Otto, Chairman of Elekta’s Neuromag Business. “We look forward to working with the Moscow Municipal University of Psychology and Education and the University of Trento and hope the MEG systems will provide valuable information to each of their respective programs.”

About Elekta

Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated state of the art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.

Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives, making the future possible today.

Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 5,000 hospitals globally, and every day more than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up with the help of a solution from the Elekta Group. Elekta employs around 2,500 employees globally. The corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. For more information about Elekta, please visit www.elekta.com.

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Philadelphia’s Girard College Campus Goes Wireless with High-Performance 802.11N WLAN from Meru

Filed Under: College, Online Education
Dec.04, 2008

Philadelphia’s Girard College, an independent boarding school for academically capable primary and secondary students from families with limited resources, will complete deployment of a Meru Networks high-performance IEEE 802.11n wireless network for its 750 students, faculty and staff in December.

The Meru virtual cell wireless LAN, being installed in most of the academic and residential buildings on the school’s 43-acre campus, will let students easily access online course materials via mobile computer carts and allow teachers to do student assessments using handheld computer devices as they walk around their classrooms.

The Meru network will address a growing demand for wireless access on the Girard campus, according to the school’s technology manager, Keith Steininger.

“Wireless makes it easier to address so many issues,” Steininger said. “On a campus like ours, with 160-year-old buildings and concrete construction, the logistics of wired networks are very challenging. We’re expanding several computer labs, and rewiring is costly and difficult. And there are some areas where, simply for aesthetic reasons, we just don’t want to be pulling cables through buildings.

“Wireless will let us take full advantage of online curriculum applications by easily moving our laptop carts from room to room as different teachers need them,” he added. “Elementary school teachers can input student reading assessments on handheld wireless devices instead of having to take notes and enter the scores at their computers later. And more and more students are bringing their own laptops to campus. If we didn’t provide wireless, they would find a way to get it – the city of Philadelphia now provides free wireless, and has an access point right outside the school. With our own network, we’ll be able to have a degree of control over the kinds of things the kids have access to.”

Meru Virtual Cell Ensures Seamless User Experience, Easy Network Growth

“Most of the vendors we looked at required that adjacent wireless access points be placed on different RF channels,” Steininger said. “Meru’s approach of putting them on the same channel made for a much more continuous, seamless user experience – no dropped connections when moving from one AP to another.”

It also made expansion planning much easier. “Our original deployment plan called for a building-by-building rollout in three phases,” Steininger said. “But we were concerned about funding down the road, so we decided to set up Wi-Fi ‘hot spots’ initially all around the campus, and fill in coverage gaps as needed later. If we’d had to worry about which channel a given AP was on and confining radio signals within certain areas, it would be very hard to grow the network on an ad hoc basis. With Meru’s virtual cell approach, we’ll be able to install an AP wherever we need extra coverage without detailed channel planning. And Meru’s controller-based technology allows us to manage the entire campus network from one point.”

The Meru choice was solidified by talks with Steininger’s colleagues at nearby Villanova University and the Philadelphia public school district’s School of the Future, which had successfully deployed Meru WLAN infrastructures.

Girard chose products based on the new 802.11n standard, which provides access at up to five times the speed of legacy 802.11a/b/g products. “We didn’t want to install a technology we’d have to upgrade in a year or two,” Steininger said. “When we started this project, only Meru already had 11n customer deployments and seemed confident about its 11n technology.”

Girard’s Meru deployment includes 165 dual-radio AP320 802.11n access points (also backward-compatible with the 802.11a/b/g standards); four OAP180 ruggedized access points for use in outdoor areas of campus where students congregate; and an MC5000 controller, a modular, five-blade chassis controller that supports up to 1,000 APs.

About Girard College

Girard College, founded in 1848, is a private boarding school for academically capable students, grades one through 12, from families with limited financial resources, each headed by a single parent or guardian. All Girard students receive full scholarships to take part in the school’s strong academic program, and to live safely on its enclosed 43-acre campus in Philadelphia, Pa. Girard’s mission is to prepare students for advanced education and life as informed, ethical and productive citizens through a rigorous educational program that promotes intellectual, social and emotional growth. For more information, visit www.girardcollege.com.

About Meru Networks

Founded in 2002, Meru Networks develops and markets wireless LAN infrastructure solutions that use virtualization to deliver pervasive, high-fidelity wireless service for business-critical voice, video and data applications. The company first introduced its award-winning virtual cell wireless architecture in 2003, and Meru products embody a complete departure from typical hub-based WLAN approaches, offering a wireless solution with levels of performance, reliability, security and cost-effectiveness previously found only in wired networking environments. Meru’s solutions have been adopted in all major industry vertical markets, including Fortune 500 enterprises, healthcare, education, retail, manufacturing, hospitality and government. Meru is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., and has operations in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. For more information, visit www.merunetworks.com or call (408) 215-5300.

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Objective Interface Announces New, Updated Damage Simulation Tool for Military Simulations

Filed Under: Online Education
Dec.02, 2008

Objective Interface Systems, Inc., the leading provider of high-performance real-time simulation middleware, announced the availability of a new evaluation kit for DMMfx(TM), the first real-time material physics modeling tool and engine for building military and aerospace simulations. With DMMfx, every choice in the simulation changes the outcome. Simulation designers are now free of the constraints of art swapping, with DMMfx providing true real-time simulation where objects break, bend, and deform based on physical forces. Using DMMfx, buildings collapse based on the weaknesses in their actual physical structure and brick walls crumble where impacted. DMMfx can save hundreds, even thousands, of hours of modeling time because once an object is created, designers no longer need to hand-animate the destruction of the object.

The DMMfx Animator for Maya now boasts a tighter integration with the Maya environment, including the addition of the DMMfx Maya Shelf and the DMMfx Attribute Editor. These additions make it easier to revise objects and modify simulations. With the increased number of choices in the DMMfx materials and splinter libraries, there are now a wider variety of ways to fracture and deform objects. These advancements improve ease-of-use and significantly reduce the DMMfx learning curve and increase designer productivity.

DMMfx is based on the revolutionary Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) technology created by Pixelux Entertainment, an industry innovator in video game realism. Working with LucasArts, Pixelux developed and refined DMM into an artist-friendly technology that could deliver the promise of real-time material physics for the recently released “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.”

Objective Interface Systems subsequently partnered with Pixelux to adapt DMM to the military and aerospace simulation markets. The resulting product, DMMfx, was introduced at I/ITSEC 2007.

The new DMMfx Evaluation Kit has everything needed to experience the hands-on power of a real-time material physics-based modeling. The kit also includes a game engine, called Cobra, which can be used to test and demonstrate DMMfx objects.

Joe Jacob, senior vice president of Objective Interface Systems, commented on the value of the new DMMfx Evaluation Kit: “Demand for increasingly realistic simulations — combined with shortened development timelines — is creating tremendous challenges for military simulation designers, developers, and managers. They need to assess the value and risk of new technologies as quickly as possible. The new DMMfx Evaluation Kit is designed to make this kind of rapid assessment possible. Designers can create and demonstrate DMMfx technology in just a few minutes.”

About the DMMfx Evaluation Kit

The DMMfx Evaluation Kit includes:

– DMMfx Maya plug-in for Maya 8.5 and Maya 2008 for Windows
– DMMfx object viewer for loading scenes, shooting projectiles, visualizing resulting damage, and editing material properties
– A complete tool set for making DMMfx objects or converting art assets to DMMfx objects
– Complete DMMfx documentation
– Source code for the DMMfx viewer shows how the DMM middleware library can be integrated into simulations

Pricing and Availability

Under exclusive license for the defense, aerospace and public safety markets from Pixelux Entertainment, DMMfx is available today from Objective Interface Systems. For more information on DMMfx Animator and DMMfx Engine or on the Objective Interface portfolio of communications middleware, please visit: www.ois.com/products/OIS-products.html, call 1 800-800-OIS7 in the U.S., +33 (0) 6 68 35 15 45 in Europe or +81 (0)3-5623-2112 in Japan or e-mail inquiries to: info@ois.com.

About I/ITSEC

The Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) promotes cooperation among the Armed Services, Industry, Academia and various Government agencies in pursuit of improved training and education programs, identification of common training issues and development of multi-service programs. Initiated in 1966 as the Naval Training Device Center/Industry Conference, the conference has evolved and expanded through increased participation by the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Industry. In 1979, it became known as the Interservice/Industry Training Equipment Conference.

About OIS

Objective Interface Systems (OIS) is the worldwide leader in high-performance, real-time and embedded communications middleware solutions. OIS products include the highly realistic simulation tools, DMMfx, for military and aerospace simulations; ORBexpress®, a family of high-performance CORBA ORBs; and PCSexpress(TM), secure communications middleware development tools based on the Multiple Independent Levels of Safety/Security (MILS) architecture, to meet the high-performance requirements of military and aerospace, telecommunications, medical devices, data communications, industrial automation and process control, transportation, robotics and consumer electronics markets. For more information, visit: www.ois.com, call 1 800-800-OIS7 or e-mail inquiries to: info@ois.com.

About Pixelux Entertainment

With engineers who have worked on everything from military missile tracking to the racecars of legendary NASCAR® drivers, Pixelux was founded in October 2003 with a mission of automating art asset production through physical simulation. Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) technology has been designed to take full advantage of next-generation architectures, utilizing GPUs and multiprocessor cores to achieve an unprecedented degree of realism. The COTS technology in DMMfx is currently being utilized by LucasArts in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of their hit videogame, “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.”

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Everybody must get stoned? Swiss vote on cannabis laws

Filed Under: Study Abroad
Dec.01, 2008

Swiss voters head to the polls Sunday for a series of referenda including a controversial proposal to decriminalise cannabis, local media reported Sunday.

The proposal has raised eyebrows both at home and abroad, especially in neighbouring Germany, but looks set to be rejected, the NZZ am Sonntag said.

Swiss youth groups called for a free vote on the matter, adding that there should be a revision of the law whatever the outcome of the referendum.

“We should remember that the current regime in force has hardly dissuaded young people from using cannabis; the popularity of this drug rose constantly during the 1990s and has only recently seen a slight dip,” the Pro Juventute youth group said in a statement.

In anticipation of a ‘no’ vote, Pro Juventute along with the Federation of Swiss Youth Clubs and teachers unions has called for a fresh approach to young cannabis users, the NZZ am Sonntag reported.

Instead of criminal proceedings, people under 18 caught using cannabis would face fines and also drug prevention treatment and counselling, the paper said.

Switzerland remains the biggest user of cannabis in Europe, according to a study released last July.

The use of hard drugs increased among 15-year-olds, mainly amphetamines, speed, cocaine, magic mushrooms and LSD, said the study carried out by the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction (ISPA).

Source

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Entrepreneurship “Only way to Avoid Global Recession” Says EMLYON Business School, Leading International Business School

Filed Under: Education, School
Nov.26, 2008

“Entrepreneurs need to understand how to do business in global, rather than just domestic markets if they are to fulfill their true potential,” says Patrice Houdayer, Dean of the leading European business school, EMLYON. “In fact this type of entrepreneurship may be the only viable way of escaping the threat of global recession.”

EMLYON Business School is one of three top business schools – the others being Babson College in the USA and Zhejiang University in China – which have combined their strengths to educate the next generation of international entrepreneurs.

The new Global Entrepreneurship Program begins taking applications for 2009 this December, and will teach students across campuses in Europe, the US and China. This 12-month programme also offers the opportunity to work on a semester-long consulting project with an operating company in each of the three regions.

Entrepreneurship continues to be a great source of interest among business school students. With the current crisis in the markets they have to be better prepared to convince investors and improve their probability of success, not just in local markets but in global business cultures.

“This programme offers a rare opportunity to work in a culturally diverse team with the best international teachers, while living and breathing three of the most important business environments in the world,” says Dean Patrice Houdayer. “All three contributing schools have been ranked as number one for the teaching of entrepreneurship in their respective regions. Together we believe we’ll be able to provide the global perspective that tomorrow’s business leaders will so very much need.”

For more information:
http://www.msc-entrepreneurship.com

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New Oriental to Administer Cambridge Young Learners English Exam

Filed Under: Education
Nov.20, 2008

New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc., the largest provider of private educational services in China, and the Sino-British Academic Exchange Center for Education Measurement (SBC), Cambridge ESOL’s sole representative in China for the Cambridge Young Learners English exam (YLE), have signed an agreement authorizing New Oriental to administer YLE to its students across mainland China.

YLE has had close to 2 million test-takers since its launch in 1997, making it the largest and most influential exam for young learners of English in China. The exam consists of three levels — Starters, Movers, and Flyers — and measures listening, speaking, reading and writing skills for children ages 7 to 12. New Oriental is the first and only language school in China authorized by SBC to administer the exam on a national scale.

“The Cambridge Young Learners English exam is widely recognized as one of the most authoritative international testing systems for young learners of the English language,” said Michael Yu, New Oriental’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We are excited to partner with SBC and Cambridge ESOL, and believe that providing assessment through YLE will greatly enhance our already fast-growing POP Kids English program.”

“YLE is unique in that it caters to the particular needs of parents and children in the Chinese education environment, while at the same time providing students with international recognition for their language achievements,” said Dr. Mike Milanovic, Chief Executive for Cambridge ESOL. “We are very pleased that SBC and New Oriental have chosen to work with us to extend the exam’s reach to even more markets across China.”

“SBC is confident that with New Oriental’s partnership on Cambridge YLE, we can each cater to our respective strengths in order to ensure that both parents and young learners of English in China are provided with a significantly enhanced study and assessment experience,” said Ms. Li Wang, Director of SBC.

New Oriental plans to administer the Young Learners English exam for POP Kids English students in 13 cities beginning in December 2008.

About The Sino-British Academic Exchange Center in Education Measurement

The Sino-British Academic Exchange Center in Education Measurement (SBC) is one of 13 subsidiaries of the Ministry of Education National Education Examinations Authority (NEAA). SBC was established by the China National Education Commission with donations from the University of Cambridge Examinations Board (UCLES), for the purpose of measuring education and education-related exchanges and cooperation between the United Kingdom and China and other countries across the Asia-Pacific region.

About Cambridge ESOL

Cambridge ESOL is a not-for-profit department of the University of Cambridge focusing on examinations for the English language, and a part of Cambridge Assessment, Europe’s largest assessment body. Cambridge Assessment was established in 1858 as the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2008. More than eight million exams developed by Cambridge Assessment are taken each year in over 150 countries.

About New Oriental

New Oriental is the largest provider of private educational services in China based on the number of program offerings, total student enrollments and geographic presence. New Oriental offers a wide range of educational programs, services and products consisting primarily of English and other foreign language training, test preparation courses for major admissions and assessment tests in the United States, the PRC and Commonwealth countries, primary and secondary school education, development and distribution of educational content, software and other technology, and online education. New Oriental’s ADSs, each of which represents four common shares, currently trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “EDU.” For more information about New Oriental, please visit http://english.neworiental.org .

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NEF Offers $100 Million Matching Grant to School Districts

Filed Under: Education, Finance Education
Nov.20, 2008

Dr. Appu Kuttan, Chairman of the National Education Foundation (NEF), the nonprofit leader in bridging the digital and academic divides, announced a nationwide $100 million matching grant initiative for schools.

With most states, awash in red ink, proposing to cut K-12 education funds, NEF is working to leverage a $1 billion dollar U.S. Treasury program that permits the states to allow disadvantaged school districts to borrow money at zero interest to support their critical needs.

This Federal program is known as Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB). NEF has teamed up with banks to make it possible for all eligible schools — those with 35% of students on free or reduced lunch — to receive QZAB funds for renovation, equipment, curriculum, professional development etc. NEF also donates the 10% match required, and helps to build a world class CyberLearning Academy that enables students to acquire key 21st Century workforce skills.

NEF’s high quality K-12 CyberLearning online courses are particularly focused on the critical STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) skills to help address a mounting education crisis. NEF’s QZAB CyberLearning Academies also provide teacher training, technical support, 24/7 live mentors, teacher stipends, student rewards (iPods) and parent recognition, thus offering a complete solution with proven 25-30% increases in student scores.

NEF President Dr. Appu Kuttan argues, “Our students desperately need help to compete with their counterparts in India, China, Europe, etc. for the 21st Century jobs. Our students are already 24th out of 28 countries in math skills! For us to maintain our technology and economic leadership, we must help our disadvantaged students now! Our program helps schools to get funds to improve facilities, equipment, energy efficiency, IT programs etc., and at the same time, helps to improve student scores significantly.”

“NEF gave us 10% match, helped us to receive $8 million in QZAB funds at zero interest and set up a QZAB Academy that has increased student math and technology scores by 25-30% every semester,” states Camella Mouton of the St. Landry School District in Louisiana. See www.qzab.org/colliervideo

QZAB matching grants are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. To apply for the grant, just visit www.qzab.org and click on your state.

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Kaplan Continuing Education Acquires National Paramedic Institute, Inc.

Filed Under: Education, Online Education
Nov.17, 2008

Kaplan Continuing Education (KCE), a leader in online continuing education, announced the acquisition of National Paramedic Institute, Inc. (NPI), a South Florida-based company that provides online continuing education to firefighters and emergency services personnel. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“As the economy changes and evolves, Kaplan Continuing Education has expanded it’s offerings to meet the needs of today’s workforce. The NPI acquisition is the next step in our commitment to becoming the premiere provider of web-based, career education and training for professionals,” said Ronald Trautman, President of Kaplan Continuing Education. “NPI’s online video series for first responders adds a new dimension to the suite of healthcare, business and information technology certificate programs already offered by Kaplan Continuing Education.”

NPI offers a series of case-based courses that include situational videos that meet national continuing education standards for fire and emergency service personnel. NPI courses are accredited by the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS) and meet National Registry requirements. The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), a union representing more than 292,000 full-time professional firefighters and paramedics in the U.S. and Canada, has partnered with NPI to provide continuing education to their members.

NPI was founded in Boynton Beach, FL, in 2002 by Steven Katz, MD, an emergency physician, who will join KCE as its Chief Medical Officer. NPI’s staff will also join KCE, which operates out of Kaplan University’s online student support center in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

“This is an exciting time in NPI’s history,” Katz said. “By joining Kaplan Continuing Education, we have the ability to offer more comprehensive educational solutions to our partners and students with expanded reach.”

Kaplan Continuing Education provides online career education and training for professionals and job seekers looking for interactive, web-based learning. KCE’s self-paced courses are created by highly-credentialed industry experts who have a blend of both academic and professional experience. KCE certificate programs are developed with a focus on the practical needs of both employees and employers in professional settings. To learn more, visit www.kaplancontinuingeducation.com.

Kaplan Continuing Education is part of Kaplan University. The University, based in Davenport, Iowa, is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). The University offers more than 100 academic programs and currently serves more than 41,000 online and on-ground students, with support centers in Fort Lauderdale, Chicago and Phoenix. To learn more, visit www.kaplanuniversitynews.com.

Kaplan University is part of Kaplan Higher Education, which serves more than 80,000 students through 70 campus-based schools across the United States and in Europe. It also has online programs through Kaplan Virtual Education and Concord Law School of Kaplan University. Kaplan Higher Education schools offer a spectrum of academic opportunities, from high school diplomas to graduate and professional degrees, including a Juris Doctor degree. Kaplan Higher Education is part of Kaplan, Inc., a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company. For more information, visit www.kaplan.com.

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