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Faculty of Design at CEPT University Invites Applications to UG and PG Programs 2025

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Progressive choice-based pedagogy with Studio-based learning frameworkProfessional approach to 21st Century Design – a balance of theoretical grounding and real-world engagement

AHMEDABAD, India, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Faculty of Design at CEPT offers undergraduate (Bachelors in Design, Honours) and postgraduate (Masters in Design) programs that address various contemporary streams of knowledge in an ever-expanding discipline of design. Its programs are in response to both current and emerging opportunities, whilst advancing two compelling roles of the designer as a professional, and of design to improve the quality of life.

Courses Details

Five-Year Full-Time B.Des (Honors)

The Faculty of Design at CEPT offers the Bachelor of Design (Honours), a five-year undergraduate program aimed at cultivating a design community driven by context sensitivity, critical reflection, domain awareness, and professional attitudes. Rooted in human-centered principles, systems thinking, and a collaborative spirit, the program nurtures analytical approaches, an appreciation of aesthetics, and a sense of curiosity. Students are encouraged to critically engage with the evolving discipline of design, ensuring they emerge as resourceful professionals prepared to address complex challenges across diverse contexts. Informed by both local and global perspectives, the curriculum integrates emerging technologies, sustainable practices, and interdisciplinary methodologies to shape a future of responsible design.

The program provides students with the flexibility to chart their academic journey based on their interests. They may opt for a broad undergraduate design education without selecting a major or choose to specialize in one of two distinct domains via the below offered majors:

Product Design: Focuses on designing tangible and interactive objects, addressing user needs, material innovation, digital fabrication, manufacturing scales, form, ergonomics, and sustainable practices.Communication Design: Centers on visual storytelling, branding, typography, photography, film, motion graphics, animation, print and digital media, fostering expertise in creating impactful narratives across various platforms.

Two Year Master’s in Computational Design and Fabrication (MCDF): The Master’s in Computational Design and Fabrication program focuses on training students to conceptualize form, explore materials, and utilize cutting edge fabrication processes to develop contemporary design solutions. The program is premised on the need for design processes today to integrate computational thinking, tools and techniques, along with digital fabrication. These computational design processes will be adopted within different domains of design [from products to built environments] and at varying scales [from seating to building envelope systems]. Various mathematical constructs, biological principles, material science and environmental parameters will be explored and applied to achieve high performing, efficient and optimized designs. Overall, the program will encourage students to explore an integrative pedagogy to demonstrate the interdependence between design, material, and production technology.

At the end of the program each student will achieve competency in effective application of:

Computational thinking: analytical and algorithmic thinking.Computational tools and programming languages for form development and optimization.Emerging technologies like AR, VR, MR & XR within the design process.Fabrication processes like additive, subtractive manufacturing, and robotic fabrication.Integrative design and fabrication processes to build scaled interventions.

Two Year Master’s in Furniture Design (MFD): The Master’s in Furniture Design at CEPT is a practice-oriented program designed for creatives who want to push the boundaries of what furniture can be—functionally, aesthetically, and sustainably. This program responds to the complexities of the contemporary furniture industry. It addresses a range of contexts—from mass production and industrial ecosystems to the decentralized networks of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); from emerging online and rental markets to small-batch studio practices; and from the designer as a skilled practitioner to the designer as an independent producer and entrepreneur.

Students are trained to work with a deep understanding of materials, construction, and manufacturing processes. The curriculum develops capabilities in areas such as prototyping, ergonomics, structural systems, material behaviour, detailing, and modularity. Alongside studio-based design inquiry, students engage with broader concerns—sustainability, economic models, cultural relevance, and evolving user needs.

The program values hands-on learning and sustained engagement with real-world practices. Industry visits, workshops, exhibitions, and collaborations form an integral part of the learning environment. Students are encouraged to test ideas through making, to explore the social and spatial roles of furniture, and to build a critical understanding of the discipline’s place within a larger design ecosystem.

Prof Saleem Bhatri, Dean, Faculty of Design, said “Design@CEPT stands for a committed, rigorous and student-centric design education, drawing from CEPT’s robust institutional frameworks and academic culture.”

Important Dates

For more details on courses and admissions, click:

https://admissions.cept.ac.in/cept-adm-login.php 

Information on Scholarships

For students who require this support, CEPT University has instituted means and merit-based pre-admissions and post admissions scholarships. Furthermore, there are three other scholarships dedicated to meritorious girl students, instituted by CEPT alumni.

For Information on Scholarships, click: https://cept.ac.in/21/700/student-services/student-financial-aid 

CEPT believes in providing a unique opportunity of ‘Earning while Learning’ to its students by allowing them to assist various offices throughout the year.

About CEPT University

CEPT University is a recognized leader in education and research in the areas of architecture, planning, design, technology and urban management. Its teaching programs aim to build thoughtful professionals and its research programs deepen understanding in its areas of expertise. CEPT University also undertakes advisory projects to support the national, state and city governments and large sections of private industry. Through its education, research and advisory activities, the University strives to contribute to enriching the lives of people in India’s villages, towns and cities. 

The University comprises five faculties: viz. the Faculty of Architecture, the Faculty of Planning, the Faculty of Technology, the Faculty of Design, and the Faculty of Management. In December 2023, CEPT University was recognized by the Government of India as a Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design. This comes with an endowment of Rs. 250 Crore to be used towards the research and training on India specific knowledge in Urban Planning and Design over the next 25 years.

CEPT University was established by the CEPT University Act of 2005 enacted by the government of Gujarat. It was originally started in 1962 as the School of Architecture supported by the Ahmedabad Education Society. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) of the Government of India recognizes the University as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO). CEPT University is recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Government of Gujarat. CEPT University has over 30 ongoing collaborations and exchange programs with top-ranked universities across the world.

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Lovey announces £250m senior secured credit facility with Pollen Street Capital

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UK’s fastest-growing fintech announces its largest funding facility to date to support more UK SMEs

BIRMINGHAM, England, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lovey, the UK’s fastest-growing fintech and financial services provider, specialising in SME lending and brokerage, has today announced a senior secured credit facility of up to £250 million with Pollen Street Capital (“Pollen Street”), an alternative asset manager. The facility is made up of £50 million committed capital and a £200 million accordion, making it the largest funding facility in Lovey’s history and marking a key milestone in the company’s growth.

The facility demonstrates continued institutional investor confidence in Lovey’s lending model, technology and long-term strategy and reinforces Lovey’s position as a leading finance provider focusing on SME funding. The facility will significantly increase Lovey’s lending capacity, supporting the business as it scales its own-book lending while continuing to grow its established brokerage proposition.

Founded by Jack Smith in 2016, Lovey has grown from a one-person start-up into a 120-strong business, funding more than £600 million in loans to over 11,000 UK SMEs. Built around a mission to make lending simple, fast and beautiful, Lovey has expanded rapidly while staying focused on making finance easier and more accessible for small businesses. The new facility will support that mission by giving Lovey the capital to help more UK SMEs access funding quickly and flexibly.

Lovey began lending directly from its own balance sheet in 2022, building on its experience as a broker to develop a deeper understanding of the funding needs of UK SMEs. Today, the business combines direct lending with its established brokerage proposition, giving customers access to both Lovey’s own lending and a wider panel of funding partners. This approach allows Lovey to match businesses with the funding solution that best suits their needs, while the new facility provides greater capacity to grow its direct lending operation.

Jack Smith, Founder and CEO at Lovey, comments:
“This new facility is an important milestone for us and will enable us to put more capital behind UK small businesses, scale our own-book lending and give more SMEs access to finance when they need it. Pollen Street shares our belief that finances for small businesses should be simpler, faster and more flexible, and we’re really pleased to have them backing Lovey for this next stage of growth.”

Kai Hunter, Chief Operating Officer at Lovey, comments:
“The funding announced today is the result of close and collaborative work with Pollen Street and I am grateful to their team, and to our own, for the diligence they brought to it. This funding deepens our lending capacity and allows us to offer larger loans, so that we can back more of the UK’s small and medium-sized businesses, from those that have found finance hardest to secure to the well-established, with greater speed and certainty.”

Ethan Saggu, Investment Director, Pollen Street, adds:
“Lovey has spent almost a decade seeing the UK SME lending market from a broker’s perspective, giving the team an expert view of where demand for credit is going unmet. We have financed a number of specialist SME lenders and recognise what it takes to grow from brokerage into balance-sheet lending. Lovey has done so with a well-defined product and a focused approach, and we look forward to supporting the team as it scales.”

Lovey was advised by Ashurst Perkins Coie and Pollen Street was advised by Simmons & Simmons.

The facility builds on Lovey’s existing funding arrangements announced last year, including a £35 million revolving credit facility from Paragon Bank and a £10 million junior medium-term note programme from LGB Capital Markets. The new facility also adds to Lovey’s growing institutional funding base as it enters its next phase of expansion.

To learn more about Lovey or to apply for a fast, flexible business loan, visit Lovey’s website.

For any further information, please contact: press@lovey.com

About Lovey (the trading name of Love Finance Limited): 
Lovey is the UK’s fastest-growing fintech and financial services provider, specialising in SME lending and brokerage. Founded in Birmingham in 2016 by Jack Smith, Lovey has a mission to make lending simple, fast and beautiful. The company has funded more than £600 million in loans for over 11,000 SMEs across the UK.

Recognised by EY, Deloitte, The Sunday Times, Financial Times, UK Growth Index, FEBE, and Sifted as one of the UK’s fastest-growing companies. Lovey combines direct lending and brokerage services to deliver fast, flexible, and tailored funding solutions. With an industry-leading 4.9-star Trustpilot rating, businesses can enquire in 60 seconds and receive funding in as little as 4 hours. 

Website: www.lovey.com

Pollen Street Press Office:
FGS Global 
Chris Sibbald / Anna Tabor
PollenStreetCapital-LON@fgsglobal.com 

About Pollen Street:
Pollen Street is a fast-growing and high performing private capital asset manager. Established in 2013, the firm has built deep capability across the financial and business services sectors aligned with mega-trends shaping the future of the industry. Pollen Street manages over €9bn AUM across private equity and credit strategies on behalf of investors including leading public and corporate pension funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, asset managers, banks, and family offices from around the world. Pollen Street has a team of over 100 professionals.

www.pollenstreetgroup.com 

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Baidu to Report Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results on November 16, 2026

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BEIJING, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Baidu, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU; HKEX: 9888 (HKD Counter) and 89888 (RMB Counter)) (“Baidu” or the “Company”), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today announced that it will report its financial results for the Third Quarter 2026 ended September 30, 2026, before the U.S. market opens on November 16, 2026. Baidu’s management will hold an earnings conference call at 7:30 AM on November 16, 2026, U.S. Eastern Time (8:30 PM on November 16, 2026, Beijing Time).

Please register in advance of the conference call using the link provided below. It will automatically direct you to the registration page of “Baidu Inc. Q3 2026 Earnings Conference Call”. Please follow the steps to enter your registration details, then click “Register”. Upon registering, you will then be provided with the dial-in number, the passcode, and your unique access PIN. This information will also be emailed to you as a calendar invite.

For pre-registration, please click:
https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10057872-oyt4z8.html

In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, you may use the conference access information (including dial-in number(s), the passcode and unique access PIN) provided in the calendar invite that you have received following your pre-registration.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at https://ir.baidu.com.

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until November 24, 2026:
US: 1 855 883 1031
Replay PIN: 10057872

About Baidu

Founded in 2000, Baidu’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on Nasdaq under “BIDU” and the HKEX under “9888.” One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.

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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.

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IBS Software’s iCargo to power Philippine Airlines Cargo Modernisation

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Airline to move from its current cargo system to a modern, cloud-based platform covering cargo sales, ground handling operations and revenue accounting

MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IBS Software’s iCargo, a cloud-based platform bringing cargo sales, ground handling operations and accounting together, has been selected by Philippine Airlines (PAL) to replace its current cargo system. The implementation will extend iCargo’s capabilities across PAL’s domestic and international cargo operations.

As the leading AI-native product company in the travel technology sector, IBS Software will support PAL’s broader cargo transformation and modernisation programme with capabilities that support PAL’s full range of business functions, from commercial and operations to back-office accounting, while enabling further innovation and digitisation through a single, fully integrated cloud-based platform. iCargo will support cargo movements across PAL’s domestic and international operations, including international requirements such as customs reporting, duties and taxes settlement and regulatory compliance. iCargo already supports carriers with this same mix of demands, providing the flexibility, scale and capabilities to manage both.

The transition will enable PAL to address key operational requirements across its cargo operations, including system performance and data analytics. iCargo will provide modern capabilities to support faster shipment processing, greater reliability and end-to-end shipment visibility, while reducing manual intervention and enabling more efficient processes.

Beyond operational efficiency, these capabilities will help PAL Cargo bring its ‘Care that Delivers’ promise to life, giving customers greater confidence through improved shipment visibility, reliable service and a more seamless cargo experience. As cargo volumes continue to grow across its network, the new platform will also provide the technological foundation for continued innovation, operational excellence and long-term growth.

IBS Software’s proposal combined a strong technology fit with a proven track record of delivering successful cargo transformations for airlines worldwide. The selection of iCargo builds on an established relationship between Philippine Airlines and IBS Software, broadening the portfolio of IBS Software products used by PAL and reinforcing their shared commitment to long-term innovation and business growth.

“This initiative represents an important step in the modernisation of our cargo business,” said Jason Siy, Vice President for Cargo Business, Philippine Airlines. “As we grow across our domestic and international network, we need a system that increases visibility, improves operational efficiency and enables us to deliver a better experience for our customers. We see iCargo as a key enabler of our long-term cargo transformation strategy and of our ambition to build an even stronger cargo business for the future.” 

“Philippine Airlines has a clear vision for the future of its cargo business, and we are proud to support that journey,” added Sunil George, Vice President & Region Head of Oceania, IBS Software. “This partnership is about more than implementing a new cargo platform. It is about working closely with PAL to build the digital foundation for future growth, innovation and operational excellence, and continuing a relationship we value deeply.” 

For more information about IBS Software’s iCargo solution, visit: https://www.ibsplc.com/product/air-cargo-solutions/icargo.

About IBS Software

IBS Software is a leading travel technology company delivering AI-native travel intelligence that enables smarter, faster and more resilient decision-making, with built-in guardrails across aviation, cargo and logistics, and leisure and hospitality. It powers core capabilities for leading travel brands worldwide, spanning airline retailing, passenger services, loyalty, fleet, hub and crew operations, cargo management, and cloud-native platforms for hotels and cruise line operators, and operates from 17 offices globally.

Further information can be found at www.ibsplc.com. Follow us:
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About Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the Philippines’ flag carrier and the country’s only full-service network airline. Founded in 1941, PAL is Asia’s first commercial airline and has played a vital role in connecting the Philippines to the world for 85 years.

PAL operates scheduled nonstop flights from its hubs in Manila and Cebu to 29 destinations across the Philippines and 40 destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, and the Middle East.

PAL is an APEX Four Star™ airline and was recognised by Cirium for achieving the highest on-time performance among Asia-Pacific carriers in 2025. In 2026, Philippine Airlines was officially invited to join the oneworld® Alliance.

 

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SOURCE IBS Software

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