Dialogue On Knowledge Potential At BW Education & ICFAI’s Edu Summit
BW Education and ICFAI Group jointly organised the 7th Higher Education Summit in Hyderabad on the theme ‘A New Millenium: Inspiring and Unlocking Knowledge Potential’. The summit was organised in association with Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE), a statutory body of the Govt. of Telangana. The supporting partner was Government of Telangana.
The day-long event saw senior officers of the Government of Telangana, vice chancellors and directors of institutes of repute and eminent academicians discuss the opportunities that have emerged with digitisation, how to use these opportunities ethically, and the challenges. A number of panel discussions were organised. Some of the panels were:
Uncovering Potential, Not Covering Syllabuses: Education Needs Change
The educational syllabus should not be covered, instead, it should be ‘uncovered’, said V. Venkata Ramana, Vice Chairman, Telangana State Council of High Education at the inaugural session of BW High Education Summit in Hyderabad on Thursday, December 7.
“I think nobody should cover the syllabus; one should uncover the syllabus. You should make the students know what he does not know rather than asking them the same thing again,” he said.
Ramana said that there should not be any examinations such as entrance exams with limited seats as it puts real pressure on the students. He lay stress on looking beyond the predictable pattern of admission, examination, selection, marks and jobs while striving to unlock the potential of the students.
In terms of teachers’ duty, Sudhakar Rao, Director, ICFAI Group of Educational Institutions, stated that the teachers should be the role models for the students as they look up to them.
Skill Development: Key To Future Careers
“Education has evolved from acquiring knowledge to understanding the entire system and has become a powerful tool for society, powering countries and transforming humanity. India is at a crossroads to harness the power of education and technology, with a time window of 10-20 years. It is crucial to develop an inspiring teacher pool at the lower level, addressing the education gap which will produce students who crave knowledge, insights, deep thinking and powerful skills,” Basuthkar Jagadeeshwar Rao, Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad expressed his thoughts on the role of education in a progressive society.
“Whatever India has failed to achieve is because of higher education. India is lagging in higher education compared to the developed world, because of the lack of qualified teachers and a lack of inspiration for students. To address this, I suggest use of technology to fill the gap, involving visiting faculty with more responsibility, changing teaching methodologies and introducing a technology entrepreneurship programme (TEP) with the help of the Indian School of Business (ISB). This programme will encourage students to develop projects that can be converted into business plans and applied to the community,” Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Information Technology, Electronics & Communications Department, said.
J Mahender Reddy, Distinguished Advisor, ICFAI Society; R. Limbadri, Chairman, Telangana State Council of Higher Education; and JA Chowdary, Founder, Architect, Former Special Chief Secretary & IT Advisor, Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh also shared valuable suggestions in the session chaired by V Venkata Ramana, Vice Chairman, Telangana State Council of Higher Education. Sudhakar Rao, Director - ICFAI Group of Educational Institutions, made concluding remarks.
Future Of Learning To Be Driven By AI & ML
Siddhartha Ghosh, Director, NMIMS Hyderabad,
shared his thoughts on how AI and machine learning permeate education, personalised learning, analytics and virtual assistance that revolutionise the student’s experiences
“AI will affect several areas of education system; personal learning will become possible through personalised learning mechanisms and intelligent tutorials. Many companies and online education systems already use ‘AI’ technology, making learning more personalised and efficient. Analytic, predictive and behaviour analytics will bring significant changes to the field of education. Virtual assistance and chat boxes will be used to help students learn and interact with others,” he said, in his address.
Navigating Digital Transition & Crucial Role Of Hybrid Learning
Addressing a panel discussion on ‘Digital Transformation and Impact – The Future of Learning’, PJ Narayanan, Director of the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-H) said that these digital contents can be useful resources but the outcome and intensity of learning are based on the individual’s passion. We have easily available resources but until students have motivation, it will not be helpful and effective, Narayanan added.
S Sreenivasa Murthy, Director at the Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE) showed concern about the way we use technology. Murthy said that it is a hybrid mode of learning is here to stay and if you are not accepting that you are falling behind.
VP Singh Director - PGDM and Professor, Great Lakes Institute of Management, and S Ramakrishna Velamuri, Professor and Dean, of the School of Management of Mahindra University were among the panellists at this session.
Bridging Gaps For Inclusive Learning
In the discussion during the session ‘Equitable Access to Education in the Digital Era’, Balaji Utla, Registrar, Dean, School of Management, Anurag University, emphasised the crucial role of individual public goods in healthcare and underscored the need for personal growth in modern society.
Addressing the disparities in infant mortality rates in Hyderabad, he stressed that accessibility and early availability of news remain paramount for societal development.
On the other side, LB Laxmikanth Rathod, Vice Chancellor of Palamuru University, shed light on the challenges within the education sector. While affordability has seen improvements, Rathod pointed out persistent issues of accessibility and availability.
Both speakers agreed on the responsibility to reduce barriers within the classroom and empathised with students facing challenges. Rathod urged for innovative approaches to make education more meaningful and accessible, emphasising the need for active engagement with real-world problems.
Future-ready Skills for 21st Century Careers
RVR Krishna Chalam, Vice Chancellor, Woxsen University, talking about navigating the evolving landscape of learning, said, “In today's world, the ability to identify and articulate a problem is itself a valuable skill. It’s the cornerstone upon which solutions are built.”
Y Lakshman Kumar from Vishwa Vishwani Institute of System and Management, added his perspective. “Mastery of mental models within a domain is crucial. Yet, cultivating systemic thinking and honing problem-solving abilities are equally indispensable.” He stressed the significance of interpersonal skills and empathy, painting a picture of holistic personal development.
D Sambasiva Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor, GITAM University, methodically classified the essential skills. "Cognitive skills serve as the foundation. Critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, decision-making are all fundamental. Communication and collaboration are the linchpins."
Ethical Considerations In Educational Technology
Ethical considerations in educational technology are about examining the impact of the technology on students, teachers and the educational ecosystem as a whole. Highlighting it, A Mani, Dean of Agriculture Engineering at Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, said that institutes these days are administrating digitally so while collecting and storing students' data they should take care of an encrypted process and safeguard students' privacy.
She stressed data privacy is non-negotiable and shared her professional experience wherein a tech platform misused their students' personal information.
Venkat Ramana Kuruhuri, Director - Training and Career Guidance, Malla Reddy University, said that in this digital realm of education empowering educators and students is very important. Kuruhuri underscored the responsibility of every teaching faculty to educate students about the ethical use of tech in education; at the same time, students should teach mentors the new technology.
