Latest news with #RPL
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Universal AI University Partners with Cambridge to Offer Fast-Track Undergraduate Degrees for Advanced-Level Students
Universal AI University (UAi), India's first institution focusing on Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, is now the only university in the country to partner with the International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment to fast-track undergraduate degree completion for students with Cambridge A and AS Level qualifications. Under this collaboration, eligible students can receive up to 30% academic credit, allowing them to complete their undergraduate programs six months earlier than the standard duration. This initiative reflects UAi's strong commitment to global academic standards, innovation, and expanding access to future-ready education. Universal AI University has rapidly become the center of choice for future-oriented learning. Spread over a completely residential 40-acre green campus at Karjat, near Mumbai, UAi currently accommodates more than 980 students in its schools of AI & Future Technologies, Design, Music, Sound & Cinematics, Management, and Social Sciences & Liberal Arts. It is also the first Indian university to have hired an American Vice Chancellor from MIT, USA, which confirms its global vision. Talking about the collaboration and its applicability to Indian higher education, Tarun Anand, Universal AI University Founder and Chancellor, said, 'At Universal AI University, we believe in developing talent that's ready to drive a future of transformation. Cambridge students are known for their academic seriousness, international outlook, and willingness to adopt the strengths that align with our mission and values. We are delighted to provide them a space within our ecosystem through this pioneering initiative in India. In offering a faster path, we not only acknowledge their intellectual achievement but also move boldly towards aligning Indian higher education with global best practices, creating new avenues for active learners to shine and serve as leaders.' Emphasizing collaboration and how it influences learner journeys, Vinay Sharma, Cambridge's Senior Vice President of International Education, said, "This collaboration is an important milestone towards academic advancement for Cambridge students in India. By granting credit for Cambridge Advanced qualifications, Universal AI University is enabling students to move on from their current achievements into forward-looking degree courses. It reflects the university's proactive attitude and commitment towards providing globally aligned, high-impact education in India's changing academic environment." This collaboration underscores UAi's deep commitment to the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and to creating meaningful academic pathways that combine global credit recognition, AI-driven learning, and sustainability, all while enabling students to stay in India and earn internationally relevant degrees. UAi Postgraduate Class of 2024 has also received remarkable placement figures, with the top international offer reaching INR 31.32 lakhs per annum and the highest domestic offer of INR 24 lakhs per annum, a reflection of its industry-aligned curriculum and strong global connections. For more information about Universal AI University, one of the best University in India, and about the Cambridge credit transfer program, email at info@ Note to readers: This article is part of HT's paid consumer connect initiative and is independently created by the brand. HT assumes no editorial responsibility for the content, including its accuracy, completeness, or any errors or omissions. Readers are advised to verify all information independently. Want to get your story featured as above? click here!
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Initiative launched to empower frontline tribal functionaries
Bhubaneswar: In a landmark move towards fostering inclusive development and enhancing last-mile service delivery, the 4th Adi Karmayogi Regional Process Lab (RPL) was inaugurated on Friday in Bhubaneswar. This week-long initiative, part of the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), is designed to empower frontline tribal functionaries with essential tools and knowledge to promote responsive, people-centric governance. The inauguration ceremony was led by Nityananda Gond, minister of SC/ST development, minorities and backward class welfare department. The programme, facilitated by Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF), brings together 25 selected participants from Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha. It is part of the Adi Karmayogi – Responsive Governance Programme, a pioneering initiative by the ministry of tribal affairs aimed at building the capacity of tribal frontline workers and govt functionaries across various administrative levels. Key objectives of the programme include enhancing effective implementation of welfare schemes, promoting convergence across departments such as health, education, women & child development, rural development, Jal Shakti and forests, encouraging participatory learning and community engagement, and establishing transparent and accountable governance mechanisms. "The Regional Process Lab (RPL) in Odisha is a crucial component of a cascading model of capacity building. Trained State Master Trainers (SMTs) will spearhead state and district process labs, ensuring the dissemination of contextual and localised knowledge. This initiative marks a significant stride in empowering tribal communities and ensuring that governance is both inclusive and effective, ultimately contributing to the holistic development of the region," a govt statement read.
Otago Daily Times
31-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Company, owner fined $15k for obstructing investigation
A Southland dairy business and its owner — who have paid over $116,000 in arrears owed to three employees and were last year ordered to pay penalties of $215,000 by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) for minimum employment standards breaches relating to those arrears — have been penalised a further $15,000 for obstructing the ERA's investigation. The company, Rural Practice Ltd (RPL) was ordered to pay a penalty of $10,000 and its owner Reza Abdul-Jabbar ordered to pay a penalty of $5000. Labour Inspectorate head of compliance and enforcement Joanne Hacking said the latest penalties imposed on RPL and its owner demonstrated the importance of co-operating and complying with the authority and its processes. Mr Abdul-Jabbar is a religious leader in his community and served as a religious adviser and mentor for at least one of the three Indonesian workers he was found to have exploited when the ERA penalised him and his business last year. Both the business and Mr Abdul-Jabbar were found to have breached minimum employment standards by not paying the workers the minimum wage, not paying certain holiday and leave pay appropriately, unlawfully deducting money from their wages, forcing the workers to pay premiums, and not keeping accurate wage and time records. During the initial Labour Inspectorate investigation into the exploitation of the workers, RPL and Mr Abdul-Jabbar claimed one of the workers owed $5000 for recruitment costs paid by RPL to an agent in Indonesia on his behalf, and that the worker had agreed for this amount to be deducted from his wages. However, the worker denied he had hired a recruitment agent and said he had not seen the invoice provided by RPL and Mr Abdul-Jabbar until the labour inspector showed it to him. During its investigation, the ERA asked to see evidence that RPL had paid the invoice and RPL, through Mr Abdul-Jabbar, subsequently provided a photograph of a receipt. But when asked for the original of the receipt, Mr Abdul-Jabbar provided a similar, but different, document without any accompanying explanation. This led the ERA to launch an own-motion inquiry into whether it had been obstructed. Chief of the ERA Andrew Dallas, who ruled on the obstruction case, found none of the "reasonably available and objectively verifiable, corroborative material, has ever been provided". He also found "it more likely than not this material does not exist". The actions of RPL and Mr Abdul-Jabbar had made the ERA's investigation process significantly more difficult for both the ERA and the labour inspector. Mr Dallas found an obstruction had occurred due to "the ongoing failure to provide evidence to corroborate the authenticity of two receipts — both materially different but said to be 'original"'. "The nature of RPL and Mr Abdul-Jabbar's conduct in obstructing the ERA's investigation was serious and sustained. The obstruction was not mere inadvertence or negligence," the ERA said. In a previous determination relating to this case, the employer had tried to mislead or deceive Immigration New Zealand and the Labour Inspectorate by providing them materially different versions of the same documents (IEAs and pay slips) and it was deeply concerning to see this type of behaviour impact the authority's process as well, Ms Hacking said. "This case underscores the critical importance of honesty and transparency in proceedings before the ERA, which relies on the integrity of the evidence presented to it." — Allied Media
NZ Herald
31-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Migrant exploiter probe obstruction: Dairy farmer Reza Abdul-Jabbar and business face $15k fine
He was previously an imam at a mosque in Invercargill. Abdul-Jabbar, a community and religious leader who acted as a spiritual advisor and mentor for at least one of the Indonesian workers he exploited, was found to have breached minimum employment standards. Photo / Brett Phibbs He and his business did not pay the workers a minimum wage, did not pay for certain holidays and leave appropriately, unlawfully deducted money from wages, forced the workers to pay premiums and did not keep accurate wage and time records, the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) said. The obstruction arose when the Labour Inspectorate heard Abdul-Jabbar and RPL claim one of his workers owed $5000 for recruitment costs. It was claimed RPL had paid an agent in Indonesia on the worker's behalf and that the worker had agreed for the amount to be deducted from his wages. The worker denied hiring a recruitment agent and said he had not seen the invoice provided by RPL and Abdul-Jabbar until the Labour Inspectorate showed it to him. Abdul-Jabbar and his business did not pay workers a minimum wage, did not pay for certain holidays and leave appropriately, unlawfully deducted money from wages, forced workers to pay premiums and did not keep accurate wage and time records, the ERA says. Photo / Brett Phibbs The ERA asked for evidence that RPL had paid the invoice. Abdul-Jabbar then showed a photograph of a receipt. The ERA asked for the original receipt, and Abdul-Jabbar then provided a similar, but different document without any other explanation. The ERA then launched an own-motion inquiry into whether it had been obstructed. Andrew Dallas, chief of the ERA, said the document 'more likely than not ... does not exist'. Dallas said none of the 'reasonably available, and objectively verifiable, corroborative material, has ever been provided'. He ruled on the obstruction case, and found it had occurred due to 'the ongoing failure to provide evidence to corroborate the authenticity of two receipts - both materially but said to be 'original'.' The ERA called Abdul-Jabbar and RPL's obstruction 'serious and sustained - not mere inadvertence or negligence'. Labour Inspectorate head of compliance and enforcement Joanne Hacking said the ERA had already found in a previous determination that Abdul-Jabbar and RPL had tried to mislead or deceive Immigration New Zealand and the inspectorate. 'This case underscores the critical importance of honesty and transparency in proceedings before the ERA, which relies on the integrity of the evidence presented to it,' Hacking said. 'The Labour Inspectorate is pleased the ERA took the matter seriously, conducted a thorough inquiry and took decisive action to uphold the integrity of its processes. This sends a strong and clear message that deliberate attempts to frustrate ERA investigations are not tolerated.' Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers business, breaking news and local stories from Tāmaki Makaurau. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
30-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Southland dairy farmer who exploited workers cops further fine
Dairy farmer Reza Abdul-Jabbar. Photo: RNZ A Southland dairy farmer who ripped off his workers has been penalised a further $15,000 for obstructing the employment authority's investigation. Reza Abdul-Jabbar and his company Rural Practice Ltd was last year fined $215,000 after the Employment Relations Authority found he had breached multiple employment standards. He was under-paying his three immigrant farm workers and ''invented'' pay records in an attempt to hide it from authorities. Each employee had two versions of their contract and differing payslips so Immigration New Zealand (INZ) would not detect the underpayments. Abdul-Jabbar argued no further penalties should be imposed and that he did not have the money to pay a fine. But the authority said the information about his financial position was "incomplete". Abdul-Jabbar claimed he owned nothing in his name, despite records showing he was a shareholder in companies that owned $2 million of property. The Labour Inspectorate said the breaches were "persistent, systemic and deliberate" and the ERA agreed. During the inspectorate's initial investigation Abdul-Jabbar claimed one of the workers owed $5,000 for recruitment costs paid by RPL to an agent in Indonesia on his behalf, and that the worker had agreed for this amount to be deducted from his wages. However, he was unable to produce a receipt which led the Employment Relations Authority to determine 'it more likely than not this material does not exist.' In imposing the $15,000 penalty, the ERA noted: 'The nature of RPL and Mr Abdul-Jabbar's conduct in obstructing the ERA's investigation was serious and sustained. "The obstruction was not mere inadvertence or negligence.' Abdul-Jabbar also appeared in the Environment Court at Invercargill last November where he was fined $71,500 on four charges laid under the Resource Management Act.
