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Education Research
and Development Foundation (ERDF) is the largest & fastest growing
educational network in the North Eastern region, catering education from KG to
PG by successfully running 2 CBSE Schools, 2 Professional Colleges, one
Engineering College, an University and a Centre for Coaching & Guidance. Today,
under ERDF group of institutions more than 5500 students are studying in various
disciplines and around 650 human resources are engaged in the foundation. It was
established in the year 2005 under the Chairmanship of young & dynamic
entrepreneur Mahbubul Hoque, a Post Graduate in Computer Application from
Aligarh Muslim University.
ERDF is a trust under the provisions of the Indian Trust Act 1882 and is
registered as per the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 (No RS/MAM/240/A-2/A-2/272
of 206) constituted by the members from minority community. It has been also
certified under section 12-A & 80-G of the Income Tax Act. The head office of
the foundation is located at ERDF Bhawan, Sijubari Road, Guwahati-780 038,
Assam.
It was envisaged that ERDF would lay added emphasis on the development of the
weaker sections of the society through proper education targeted towards
attainment of self-reliance and self-sufficiency. Education and its application
towards societal development and upliftment require proper focus on research
orientation and application. Hence ERDF encompasses all such activities which
establish a meaningful correlation between Education Research & Development.
ERDF has today emerged as the premier educational network of NE India. Its first
college, Central IT College is the second best study centre of Sikkim Manipal
University in entire India. In 2007, ERDF established the Regional College of
Higher Education in Guwahati, the first college affiliated to the oldest Central
University of the region, the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong,
Meghalaya, creating a niche for itself by excelling and getting top positions in
all the examinations conducted by NEHU.
In the year 2008, ERDF set up the Central Public School at Patharkandi, a rural
border area of Karimganj District with CBSE affiliation. This school is
providing quality to the deprived and under privileges children of the rural
areas at an affordable cost. Another such school was inaugurated by His
Excellency Shri R. S. Mooshahary, Governor of Meghalaya on 21st January, 2010 at
Badarpur.
In the year 2009, ERDF has started a state of the art Engineering College namely
Regional Institute of Science & Technology (RIST) at 9th Mile, Meghalaya
approved by AICTE, New Delhi and affiliated to NEHU, Shillong offering B.Tech
courses in six branches & going to start M.Tech courses shortly. This institute
has emerged as one of the very few institutes of the region with world class
infrastructure.
ERDF Junior College was also established at Badarpur in Karimganj District of
Assam in the year 2011 under Assam Higher Secondary Education Council.
One of the most ambitious projects of ERDF, the University of Science and
Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) was established in 400 acres of picturesque
landscape surrounded by tranquilled greenery in the Ri-Bhoi district of
Meghalaya just one km from G S Road, Baridua, 9th mile. USTM was established
under the provisions of the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya Act
(No.6 of 2008) enacted by Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya State. USTM is the
first State Private University on Science & Technology in the entire North East
India. With more than two years of focused study on the educational needs of the
region by leading Academicians, Scientists and a group of Vice Chancellors and
educational administrators of the region, USTM has started its systematic
academic process. The first Academic Session of the University was started in
the year, 2011. Several courses/ programmes including Ph.D under its various
Schools on emerging areas of Biological Sciences, Science & Technology, Social
Science & Humanities, Economics, Commerce & Business Sciences, Library Science,
Education, Media & Cultural Sciences is being introduced along with a number of
interdisciplinary subjects to be offered by Independent Centers including Centre
for International Studies. Recommendations made by all statutory bodies, UGC and
MHRD has been adhered to by USTM. It is about 85 kms from Shillong, the Capital
of Meghalaya & 6 kms from Dispur, the Capital of Assam. The campus is well
connected by Rail & Air which is only 15 kms from Guwahati Railway Station & 35
kms from Guwahati International Airport.
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Centre for Coaching and Guidance (FACC) and "HOQUE 20" is
the latest step of ERD Foundation towards capacity building of our young
graduates aspiring for IAS, GATE, NET & other competitive examinations conducted
by UPSC and other government agencies.
ERD Foundation, Guwahati has added the latest feather to its cap by establishing
KhairunNessa Begum Women's College, Srigouri, Badarpur in KarimganjDistict of
Assam which is affiliated to Assam University, Silchar. The college started
functioning from academic year 2015 in Arts stream.
ERDF has hosted a large number National and International seminars, Conferences
and Workshops on topics of current significance.
For initiating different R&D activities ERDF has already signed MoUs with
different national & international universities/organizations such as Tezpur
University, Jawaharlal Nehru University - New Delhi, Jamia Milia Islamia
University-New Delhi, Gauhati University, University of Dhaka – Bangladesh, NIT-Silchar,
CSIR-NEIST, CSIR- CRRI, New Delhi, Universitas Ngurah Rai-Indonesia, Bangladesh
Universities of Health Sciences-Bangladesh, NESAC-Shillong etc.
The foundation has also different publications like Journals, Souvenirs, News
Letters & Magazines which are released time to time.
ERDF has established a Centre for Educational Rehabilitation to shelter
different strife affected students irrespective of caste or community to bring
peace, unity & harmony through Education. Out of total 14000 affected students
of recent BTAD violence, more than 400 students have been already rehabilitated
in the first phase by adopting in the residential schools under the Foundation
for free education & also by different institutions & 115+ higher educational
students have been offered scholarships, another 2000+ affected students are in
pipeline for next academic session to be adopted outside the state.
Apart from these, the foundation has initiated lots of other welfare activities
like Free education to poor meritorious students, Scholarships, Endowment Funds,
Fellowships, Emergency treatment & medical assistance for poor, Interest free
Loans, Awareness Campaigns & rallies/street plays, Relief drives, All religion
prayer meetings etc.
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