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
MahbubulHoque, 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 organizations such as CSIR-NEIST;
CRRI, New Delhi; Bamboo & Cane Development
Institute; Starmass Environment Technologies
Corporation, USA; Hi-Tech Education Centre,
Ireland; Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)
and NIIT Ltd. Collaborations with other national
& international organizations & Universities are
also under process.
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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