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The Arbor School, Dubai transcends the books and the classrooms in education, introducing the knowledge, empathy, action and purpose. With head, heart, hands and spirit approach, Arbor builds academic excellence with the concept that each young person has something to offer to the environment.

Environmentalism allows students to consider the issue of sustainability with intellectual seriousness. Local ecosystems experiences, from field trips to Al Qudra lakes to oyster reef restoration along the Gulf coast, expose them to responsibility and compassion. Through ecoliteracy courses and collaborative projects on these experiences, students understand that the concept of interdependence is no longer an abstract theory but a lived reality which makes them appreciate all parts of natural systems.

Hand-on projects make the learning act. Students are able to plant, harvest and eat food produced by school gardens and biodomes, live farm-to-fork. Students are involved in conservation projects such as the Dubai Oysters Project, recycling shell to create a new reef system. Even minor projects, such as school bus testing of biodiesel, educate that true change starts with every-day choices.

There are frequent observances of the Arbor spirit so that all learned becomes meaningful. There is ecological awareness that is not abstract but a daily practice. Activities in class connect what is taught there to larger issues of accountability, like writing down what they have done after a visit to a mangrove or debating ethical questions of resource use during assembly times.

By uniting head, heart, hands and spirit, Arbor prepares its students to have faith in themselves. Young Arborists learn, are positive thinkers, empathetic and self-assured to build a sustainable world for Dubai, the UAE and globally.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), celebrating the start of its centenary year on Wednesday, launched its new logo and centenary emblem to commemorate 100 years of history, and also launched the "My UPSC Portal."

Dr Ajay Kumar, the incumbent chairman of UPSC, who has brought in meaningful change in the systems and services of the commission through innovative ideas and their execution, gave a vision for the future for the role of the commission in nation-building. For the first time, UPSC has started directly engaging with civil service aspirants nationwide through a virtual town hall hosted by its chairman.

During this session, Dr Kumar pointed out some initiatives and mentioned that the UPSC syllabus is so conceptualized that coaching isn't required. He also emphasized that UPSC has taken a firm stand with a zero-tolerance approach against cheating.

While posting on LinkedIn, Ajay Kumar wrote, "Excited about organising UPSC town halls for the first time.". Aspirants from all over the country may directly reach me on October 1 between 12 and 1 pm on the YouTube channel of DD News." He also said that UPSC will make itself more accessible to aspirants through efforts like the anecdote portal "My UPSC Interview" and by introducing new visual identities in the shape of the UPSC and centenary logos.

He reiterated that UPSC is committed to modernisation going beyond the examination system with an intent to forge stronger links with the youth and ensuring the values of merit, transparency, and service remain abiding commitments in the future.

Referring to the targets of the centenary year, Dr Kumar stated that UPSC would be engaging more closely with the state public service commissions, exchanging best practices, and making its feedback mechanisms more robust so that its selection process is even more inclusive and responsive. He further emphasized inclusivity, digitalization, and interaction with a new generation of candidates as major priorities since a significant proportion of candidates are increasingly hailing from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

Increasing usage of digital technology and AI is making the Commission ready to serve Gen-Z and the next generation of aspirants, while it continues to maintain its foundational values of fairness, transparency, and integrity," Dr Kumar said.

As a part of the centenary year celebrations, UPSC also introduced a special anecdote website, "My UPSC Interview: From Dream to Reality." The project encourages current and former civil servants to come forward and write about their experiences in front of the UPSC interview panel.

The entries, to be submitted on or before December 31, 2025, will document the defining moments of candidates' paths to public service. A collection of winning entries will be published during the centenary year in 2026," an official explained.

Living in a world driven by innovations and tech,  taking a decision to pursue a proper career can be daunting to students and young professionals. In response to this need, the Ministry of Education in India has developed a ground-breaking AI-based system My Career Advisor that is designed to help learners discover more than 1,500 career options in ways unique to their skills, interests, and ambitions.

Your own Career Guide in your hand

Introduced during the 5th anniversary celebrations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, ‘My Career Advisor’ currently has 10k downloads on playstore. It combines advanced artificial intelligence with the educational expertise of NCERT and the Wadhwani Foundation. The app functions as a smart mentor, understanding your unique skills, interests, and values to recommend career options tailored just for you.

Using interactive quizzes and passion mapping tools, the app offers personalised career recommendations that open doors to opportunities students may not have considered before. Whether you aim to be an engineer, artist, entrepreneur, or anything in between, this app helps navigate your career journey with confidence.

Choose from 1,500+ Career Options using Preparation Guides

From traditional careers to emerging fields like AI, biotechnology, agriculture, and creative industries, My Career Advisor offers detailed profiles on over 1,500 job roles. All the profiles  include information on educational requirements, required skills, earning potential, and recommended colleges, helping you plan a successful future.

The app also produces shareable reports, ideal when discussing career decisions with parents, teachers, or mentors, building a support system with everyone around every learner.

Empowering Teachers and students alike 

According to a spokesperson of the Ministry of Education, My Career Advisor does not simply assist students, it also provides teachers and counselors with effective means of mentoring them with accuracy. Parents as well may intervene, knowing the strengths of a child and taking him or her without hesitation on the correct academic and vocational path.  

Free, Open, And Supportive of National objectives 

Free and available to students nationwide, the platform reflects the NEP 2020 vision of responsible, technology-centric education that empowers all students. It fills information gaps, eliminates confusion around the career, and opens up future planning even to students in remote and underserved regions.

How to Get Started

It does not require a lot to begin with: all one needs is to download the My Career Advisor application to off-the-shelf online stores or scan the QR code https://qr.me-qr.com/3KwAezeD . Take quizzes, browse sectors, bookmark your favourite careers, and start the fun process of self-discovery and career planning.

Why is it important to Indian Students nowadays? 

The youth population in India is its most valuable resource and several youngsters lack the direction and guidance to plot their career paths. My Career Advisor does not leave a student confused and unassisted due to the ability to utilize AI and information-based visions.

With the job market changing fast and technology disrupting it, it is essential to have a tool that is also changing according to industry trends and personal ambitions. This move will be the beginning of a new era of combining technology with education to create a workforce that is ready to work in the future.

Join 1000s of Students Exploring Careers

My Career Advisor, with its simple design, deep career library and personalized advice, will revolutionise career counselling in India, making it accessible, involving and effective more than ever before.

Find out what you are good at, what you like, and enter the world of opportunities without fear. My Career Advisor is the key to your brighter tomorrow, today. 

Kerala-born dentistry researcher Dr. Anil Sukumaran has been honoured by being named in Stanford University’s prestigious list of the world’s top 2% scientists for 2025. The fact that he is included explains why he is one of the most quoted and recognised researchers in the international field, and that he ranks among the top few hundred or thousands of dentistry scholars in the world. 

How is the Global Scientist Ranking of Stanford done? 

The list at Stanford University is recognised globally as a result of their data-driven, strict selection criteria. The ranking uses the standardised measures of citation referred to as the c-score, which measures the career-long contribution of a researcher using published papers and citations. The database represents a quantitative analysis of 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields, putting on a fair footing irrespective of the size of the discipline or citation practices. Addition to the list is an indication that a scientist has a high level of worldwide exposure and cross-disciplinary impact on his/her work.

Who is Dr Anil Sukumaran? 

Dr. Anil Sukumaran is a renowned dentist and professor from Kerala, India, with over 35 years of experience in teaching, research, and clinical practice. Dr Sukumaran has taught and worked in top universities across India, the Middle East, and other countries, apparently contributing significantly to dentistry and dental research. He has published over 400 research papers, and has received several awards for his achievements. Dr Sukumaran has also supervised many students and helped them with their research.

Academic Qualifications of Dr. Sukumaran

Dr. Sukumaran earned his MDS in Periodontology in Government Dental College, Thiruvananthapuram and subsequently received a PhD in Periodontics/Oral Microbiology. During his career, he has worked in several high-level academic and research roles:

• Senior Consultant, Professor and Chairman of the hospital research committee at Hamad medical corporation, Qatar University. 
• Saveetha University, Chennai, Consultant and Professor. 
• University positions in Jazan University and King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. 
• Global Recognition and Influence.

His work cuts across immunology of periodontal disease, oral-systemic health connexions, osseointegration, periodontal regeneration, and oral microbiology. Dr. The contributions made by Sukumaran have been hugely cited and referred to by researchers across the world, and there has been a lot of impact on basic science as well as clinical development. He is himself also fellow of famous institutions:

• Royal College of Pathologists (London). 
• Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh and Glasgow)
• International College of Dentists (USA) 

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Sukumaran has been awarded several awards, such as:

• Golden Quill Award of research at King Saud University.
• Dr. Ratan H Doctor Memorial National Award (Indian Dental Association)
• Young Achiever Award (Junior Chamber of India)

The Scope of Dental Research

Current research in dentistry encompasses the fields of materials science (composites, implants), population health (epidemiology of oral diseases), and types of clinical specialties such as periodontology and endodontics. A presence in such a crowded and competitive field displays profundity and wide scope of the research knowledge of Dr. Sukumaran. 

Why does it matter? 

Dr. Anil Sukumaran’s inclusion in Stanford University’s 2025 global ranking is a milestone for Kerala and India’s research community, celebrating his worldwide leadership in dentistry and medical science.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday launched the Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025, a path-breaking nationwide innovation campaign which will involve students from schools from all over India.

Viksit Bharat Buildathon is being organized by Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, and All India Council for Technical Education as partners. Viksit Bharat Buildathon jingle and logo were also released.

Addressing the function, Pradhan added, "The biggest ever school hackathon, Viksit Bharat Buildathon, would further enrich the culture of innovation at the grassroots level by challenging students to think and create products around four themes - Vocal for Local, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, and Samriddhi."

Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, highlighted how the hackathon would be key to enabling student innovation across India.

The Buildathon wishes to identify young problem-solvers on national as well as international stages. It is at the heels of success after the School Innovation Marathon 2024, with its culmination in Student Innovator Programme (SIP) and Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP), patents, and startup businesses emerging from Atal Tinkering Labs.

Process and timeline:

The students will be given a period between 23rd September to 6th October for registration on the Viksit Bharat Buildathon portal (https://vbb.mic.gov.in/). This would be followed by a schools' preparation period, 6th October to 13th October, when the student teams with the help of teachers will undertake the registration on the portal.

The press release also stated, "Students will then share their ideas and prototypes on the portal. The pièce de résistance of Buildathon, the Live Synchronized Innovation Event, will take place on October 13. After the event, the students will publish their final submission between October 13 and October 31.".

These entries will be then judged by an expert panel within a period of two months from November 1 to December 31. The finale in January 2026 will follow thereafter with result announcement and felicitation of the top 1,000+ winners.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued official notices to 54 State Private Universities who have not submitted information as per Section 13 of the UGC Act, 1956, or have not posted information on their official websites that is required as a mandatory Public Self-Disclosure provision- a significant move towards transparency in higher education. This action affects universities in India and indicates the desire of the UGC to more tightly control accountability and provide students with easy access to the information about the institution.

What Has Happened?

Recently, UGC issued a circular to name 54 uncompliant private universities with regard to disclosure standards. These policies require universities to have verified data on their homepages, meaning that no one requires a login or an account to view it. These universities have failed to provide statutory documentation as required or have not uploaded public disclosures after being reminded several times.

So Why Is Disclosure So Important?

Public Self-Disclosure means that students, parents and other interested parties are sure to verify the legal standing, regulatory compliance and minimum qualifications of a university before they make a choice. The UGC required universities to place on record attested documents of course approvals, faculty information, fee structure and infrastructure information so that it could be reviewed easily.

Action Taken and Implications

UGC has warned these defaulted universities to correct their actions promptly and comply with the norms set by UGC. Failure to comply may lead to more drastic measures as proposed by regulators such as public naming and risks of reviewing university status. Eight Gujarat universities such as the Gandhinagar University, JG University, and many others are included in this list, as the regulatory scrutiny is being used throughout the state. 

Full List of Defaulted Universities

The list contains the institutions of different states and may be verified by any person on the official UGC site. The UGC notice is a reminder to all of the private universities to have up to date and publicly accessible web sites containing all the information required to be displayed on their web sites but linked directly to the homepage.  

Here is the official list: https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/4645721_Defaulting-State-Private-Universities.pdf 

Before students apply to the university, they must always be able to cross-verify university information with the UGC website. The awareness of stakeholders is vital because transparency standards preserve the interests of students as well as institutional credibility in the education sector.

UGC’s crackdown on non-compliant universities provides a good precedent of how governance of higher education should be conducted in the future, trying to be more transparent and providing the most important information to everyone with ease.