COVID-19 Will Bring Most Awaited Revolution in Higher Education System

Across emerging and industrialized nations, the pandemic that has shuttered economies around the world has also devastated education systems. Some 1.5 billion students — nearly 90 percent of all primary, secondary, and tertiary learners worldwide — are no longer able to go to school physically. The effect has been dramatic and disruptive as educators scramble to put in place workable, short-term solutions for remote teaching and learning, particularly in emerging markets where students and schools face additional funding and infrastructure-related challenges.

While each level of education faces its unique challenges, it is the higher education segment which may eventually trigger a learning revolution by necessity. Universities are distinguishing in that their students are both mature enough to manage online job rigors and technically savvy enough to access new platforms. The real problem lies with the organizations they have registered to. Will conventional universities focused on a campus adapt by selecting the best technologies and strategies to educate and engage their students? The unfolding successes and defeats will give us all a clearer understanding of what's possible.

Video-conferencing tools such as Zoom and Webinars are throwing a lifeline on universities right now. However, lecturers are still struggling to maintain the same depth of engagement with the students in a classroom setting that they could have. We need to find solutions — and quickly — to prevent a dip in the standard of the education we offer. Online educational platforms like Coursera, an IFC client with a global reach, can play a valuable role by leveraging their online program design experience, software platform preference, and digital marketing to create the best content with or for traditional players.

Despite the online sector only comprising a tiny fraction of the global higher education market of $2.2 trillion — less than 2%, according to market research company HolonIQ — the industry is ripe for disruption. Since of COVID-19, students' demand for online services would undoubtedly increase. Just before the pandemic, decreases in enrolment for campus-based programs and related rises in the use of their online courses were seen by many universities. For COVID-19 we are seeing how disruptors of yesterday will become the lifeguards of today. Although traditional institutions once considered online education as a threat, they have come to rescue them.

Recent months have seen the adoption of online solutions unprecedented. Educators are introducing a 'first aid' approach in the short term by transitioning completely from in-person to remote teaching, a change that was forced upon them by abrupt compulsory closures of campuses. Yet they soon understand that remote learning in the long road is just a baby step experiment to providing online education that has been developed as such, including successful student engagement strategies and teacher preparation. Some of the collaborations that have sparked off between universities, online educational firms and technology providers can continue beyond the pandemic.

This will fashion a long overdue and welcome reconstruction of our educational systems as difficult and frustrating a period as it is. In a way, the pandemic has been a great leveller, offering a clearer understanding of the shortcomings and limitations in our existing education systems to all stakeholders (educators, learners, policy-makers and society at large) in developed and developing countries. It has underscored how indispensable it is for our populations to be digitally literate to function and progress in a world in which social distancing, greater digitalization of services and more digitally-centered communications may increasingly become the norm. More importantly, COVID-19 causes us to question deep-rooted conceptions of when, where, and how we deliver education, the position of universities and colleges, the importance of lifelong learning, and the distinction we draw between conventional and non-traditional learners.

This pandemic has also made people realize how dependent on so-called low-skilled workers we are to maintain our lives. It's these staff who are on the front lines through shutdowns, lockdowns, curfews, working several shifts to ensure production and provide for our basic needs. Automation will start eating into these workers over time. Although services will always be provided by low-skilled workers, higher skill levels will be required for most new jobs. In this rapidly changing world being able to reskill and upskill is not only a necessity but an economic imperative.

COVID-19 has struck our education system and shaken it to its core like a lightning bolt. Just as the First Industrial Revolution forged the education system of today, we can expect to emerge from COVID-19 with a new kind of educational model.

Prakash Kumar, Founder, Tech and Taught

Invocation of collective consciousness and public awareness is essential to save the rivers: Justice A.K Goel

New Delhi

06-06-2020

“To keep a nation and its people healthy we have to keep our rivers healthy. We have laws, orders, rules and regulations which ensure the protection and conservation of rivers of the nation but we lack in its proper implementation which can be achieved through the collective consciousness about the importance of rivers in human life” NGT Chairperson Hon’ble Justice A.K. Goel expressed the thought in the webinar organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi This webinar also chaired by him.

Emphasizing on the significance of rivers in for all forms of life, specially the human life and to pay a sincere homage to our lifeline rivers, the IGNCA had organised this webinar titled “Riverine Culture: Associating the Dissociated Communities to the River” on the occasion of World Environment Day, i.e. 5^th June, 2020. Several national and international scholars and environmentalists attended this webinar with great zeal and interest.

Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA asserted in his address, “A river is not a mere physical entity or a natural resource but we have emotional connection with our rivers and worship them as Goddesses.” He further emphasised on making sincere attempts to revive this connection with the river and offer a genuine gratitude to them. He opined that the Panch-shaktiyan (five sources of knowledge and potentials) i.e. Vidhi (law), Dharma (religion) Shaurya (valour), Sewa (service), and Jnyana (knowledge) must work in collaboration to protect the rivers.

Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati ji, President, Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, shared his views in the webinar and appealed to the nation to protect the rivers of the nation and keep them clean. He said, “River transverses without discrimination, therefore everyone should take a vow to ensure its continuity and cleanliness.” He also emphasized on green activities to protect the nature and requested the NGT to ensure the implementation of laws and orders formulated to protect the nature.

Retd. Col. Sh. Manoj Keshwar, Founder of Atulya Ganga foundation, raised the concern over the developmental activities and rapid industrialization that have brought the rivers on a backslide. He emphasized on making the young minds aware regarding the protection of rivers and nature and to ensure the continuous flow of the rivers as givers of life in future.

Sh. Gopal Arya, Thinker and environmentalist, mentioned the importance of the World Environment Day and said that the protection and conservation of rivers cannot be achieved without public awareness and public participation and this should get converted in a major public movement for the welfare of environment at the later stage.

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is a premier research centre under the Ministry of Culture, GoI, which is actively engaged in research, documentation, publication and

dissemination of knowledge in the field of arts and culture. In a sincere attempt to express a humble homage to the rivers which provide us with life and nourishment, the centre has initiated a major project on Riverine Culture, under its Janapada Sampada Division, focusing on the civilization and the culture around a river, which worships the river as a mother and acknowledges her contributions through prayers, sacrifices, fairs, and festivals, thus establishing a deep emotional connection with the river. So far, under this, the project Glory of Rivers has covered six important rivers of the country viz,. Kaveri, Krishna, Gomati, Yamuna, Ganga and Vyas.

 

The webinar was conducted/moderated by Prof. Molly Kaushal, HoD of the Janapada Sampada Division of the IGNCA. It concluded with the vote of thanks given by Sh, Abhay Mishra from Janapada Sampada Division, IGNCA.