India is a country with the most extensive higher education system. With such a massive demand for catering, India’s higher education system has to keep evolving. Thanks to the pandemic, institutes have been forced to adapt to the online mode of instruction. Owing to the increasing demand, higher education institutes are creating programs that can be completed online. Even though this is just the beginning, they have already received a phenomenal response.
Along with the development of online learning, the youth is also expected to learn various types of languages. From new AI/ ML courses to an emphasis on holistic development, there’s a lot to look forward to. Stay tuned with us to find out how colleges, universities, and private ed-tech companies will adopt these emerging trends. Updating herself with the latest education news, UGC Norms, changes in the AICTE, Dr Punith Cariappa, Dean – School of Commerce Management, Dayananda Sagar University, keeps herself knowledgeable about the best practices and regulations applicable for Higher Education.
Heading the School of Commerce and Management at Dayananda Sagar University, which has around 700 students and over 20 faculty members, Dr Punith works passionately for the School, the students, their career and future. And she makes decisions that are in the interest of the organization. Considering her father as her role model, his leadership qualities and fighting for the right thing undeterred has made Dr Punith who she is today. Having been bold and ambitious since her childhood, Dr Punith was well nurtured and handheld by the parents accordingly. She was an unbeatable orator, the Best student of the college, and a Commander for the Republic day parade in 1990 at New Delhi. “I normally take initiatives and the first step in all the activities and would like to lead by example”, reminisces Punith.
Adapting to Online Learning
The pandemic has pushed the world to reinvent ways of coping with the ‘new normal’ drastically. An immediate and effective response to the crisis was to go digital. Developing robust online platforms has become necessary to offer continuity in learning. Yet, in a developing country like India, with the vast disparity in socio-economic backgrounds of students and the quality of educational institutions, the shift has not been easy. Education and the modes of its conduct have undergone a drastic change since March 2020. The comfort zone of interactive offline classes had been shattered, and the faculty were faced with the challenge of conducting classes online. “Student attendance, student attention, comprehension of the topic and the network issues were a few barriers that had to be negotiated. However, our faculty have devised their techniques, methodologies, and processes to conduct online classes, especially for numerical subjects on Zoom or similar platforms”, points out Dr Punith.
Setting the curriculum based on the NEP and introducing new post-graduate programs that unique and one of their kind, Dr Punith aims to help students learn the latest techniques and make them job-ready. “I wish to see the curriculum updated, to be more contemporary and rigorous. Industries bodies need to work with the academicians about their requirements, which will help a great in making students industry-ready”, opines Dr Punith.
Women leadership is not a minority in India. Women are doing extraordinarily well in all sectors. The number of women in key leadership positions remains low in some of the sectors. Increased diversity in senior management has been proven to boost performance, and women leaders bring unique insights into key decision-making. In the educational sector, Women make good mainly because there is a proper combination of dynamism, compassion, conscientiousness, integrity, and great managerial and administrative skills. They strike a good balance of maintaining stability in the institution and its progression. “No office politics or Male dominance should disturb you. End of the day, your performance and contribution to the organization you are working for that matters. No excuses whatsoever”, concludes Dr Punith.