CXO Outlook – November 2021 – India Edition – EdTech Companies in India Special

EDTECH COMPANIES SPECIAL

INDIA EDITION

INSIGHTS. IDEAS. INSPIRATIONS

Bipin Dama Saras-3D, Inc.

Dr. Jitin Chadha Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD)

Beas Dev Ralhan Next Education India

Vipul Tyagi EdTech Startup Orphicy

MUST-WATCH

EDTECH COMPANIES

IN INDIA - 2021

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FEATURING INSIDE

GLOBUS INFOCOM Vimal Venkatram Snowflake India

Rishabh Khanna Suraasa

Nov-Dec 2021

Dr Ajeenkya DY Patil D. Y. Patil University

Rengarajan M Librari

Sachin Sandhir GENLEAP

THE

Kiran Dham

CEO, Globus Infocom Limited

Shivram Choudhary Codevidhya

GOLDEN ERA OF

EDTECH

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

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Nov-Dec 2021

Vol - 2 Issue - 10

Edtech Companies Special (India Edition) Head of Advisory Board Dr. Varughese K.John, PhD

Managing Editor Sarath Shyam

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

India’s Billion Dollar Market

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ealing with the pandemic has not been easy for many of us. However, for EdTech players, COVID-19 was a blessing in disguise. The pandemic has brought radical changes in teaching and learning modes, helping India become the world’s second-largest e-learning market after the US. According to a new report by Mumbai-based EdTech-focused VC firm BLinC Invest, India’s online education market is expected to be worth more than USD 3.5 billion by 2022—almost five times the USD 735 million it was worth in 2019. The report also states that the country has over 9000 education technology startups, of which about 750 firms have raised a total of USD 8.5 billion to date.

Many educational institutions frozen for decades in a brick-and-mortar setup have finally realized that it would be difficult for them to balance cost, quality and scale without using technology. Besides, when conducting classroom teaching was almost impossible, technology has been a saviour that ensured the continuity of education. Those who have foreseen the emergence of online learning now have a commanding

position in the market. In fact, the industry has attracted private equity investments of $4 billion in the last five years, leading to the emergence of global EdTech leaders like BYJU’s, which now has a valuation of $15 billion.

To celebrate the success of the EdTech industry in India, we have put together a special issue where we feature 10 Must-Watch EdTech Companies in India. These are not pandemicborn companies. Some of them have been in the market of decades, helping educational institutions become more efficient and better governed. We have also included several insights and opinions of academicians and EdTech leaders on the trends and opportunities in India’s Billion Dollar Market called EdTech.

Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

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Dr. Kuldeep Nagi, Ph.D, MBA, BSc.

Program Director of Ph.D, Recipient of Fulbright Fellowship Award & Dan Evans Award for Excellence and Writer columnist.

Dr. Varughese K.John, PhD, MBA, MPhil, MCom, LLB. Former Program Director, MS in Management Program, GSATM - AU

Mamta Thakur Former CEO (ASEAN), Arc Skills

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Mr. Amulya Sah, PGD PM & IR, PG Diploma in PM&IR (XISS Ranchi)

Chief Human Resources Officer, Former Head HR group Samsung R&D Institute India,Transformative HR Leader, Change agent, Digitization facilitator, Engagement architect, Trainer and Diversity champion.

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

Dr. Ajay Shukla, Ph.D, MBA, BE. Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Higher Education UAE

Mr. Sreedhar Bevara, MBA, B.Com Former Senior General Manager: Panasonic Middle East & Africa, Thought Leader, Speaker & Author of ‘Moment of Signal’ (Amazon’s International Bestseller)

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Amazing Opportunity for Teachers and School Leaders to enhance their knowledge through FREE Teachers Academy masterclasses from international education experts !!!

For more details and registration www.teachersacademy.com

HigherCXO Education Digest OUTLOOK November 2021 Nov-Dec 2021

CON T E N TS

MUST-WATCH

EDTECH COMPANIES

IN INDIA - 2021

26 GLOBUS INFOCOM LIMITED

OPENING DOORS TO HYBRID LEARNING

Kiran Dham, CEO, Globus Infocom Limited

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LEADER INSIGHT 40 Importance of EdTech Platforms to Create More Depth in Students’ Learning

Bipin Dama, Founder & CEO, Saras-3D, Inc.

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ACADEMIC VIEW

14 Why Higher Education Will Never be the Same Again

Dr Ajeenkya DY Patil, Chairman of the D Y Patil Group, Chancellor of Ajeenkya D Y Patil University and Pro-chancellor of the Dr. D. Y. Patil University

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56 A QS Ranking System for India: The Way Forward for Higher Education

Dr. Jitin Chadha, Director, Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD)

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CON T ENTS EdTech Platforms Revolutionizing the Education Ecosystem with RedeThned Engagement

Rishabh Khanna, Cognitive Scientist & Co-founder, Suraasa

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EXPERT OPINION

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How Data Analytics is Revolutionising the Growing EdTech Sector

Vimal Venkatram, Country Head, Snowflake India

GamiThcation Helps In Making Online Learning Engrossing And Interactive

By Vipul Tyagi, CEO & Co-founder, EdTech Startup Orphicy

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52 Edtech Leading to Transparency in the Education System

Beas Dev Ralhan, Co-Founder & CEO, Next Education India

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44 How has the Pandemic Accelerated the EdTech Space to Change the Narrative of Education?

Rengarajan M, Co-founder & CEO, Librari

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EThects of Online Education on Mental and Physical Health

Shivram Choudhary, Founder, Codevidhya

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64 What are the Limitations of Psychometric Assessment tools in Finding out a Child’s Hidden Talent?

Sachin Sandhir, Founder & Co-CEO, GENLEAP

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ACADEMIC VIEW

Why Higher Education Will Never be the Same Again Dr Ajeenkya DY Patil, Chairman of the D Y Patil Group, Chancellor of Ajeenkya D Y Patil University and Pro-chancellor of the Dr. D. Y. Patil University

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Ajeenkya D Y Patil is an Indian educationist and economist. He is the son of D. Y. Patil. He is Chairman of the D Y Patil Group, Chancellor of Ajeenkya D Y Patil University and Pro-chancellor of the Dr. D. Y. Patil University. In a conversation with CXO Outlook, Dr Ajeenkya DY Patil talks about impact of COVID-19 on higher education, challenges in the higher educational system today, the D Y Patil -model that other colleges in the country can follow, and much more.

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

If there was no lockdown due to pandemic, what would have been the situation of digital transformation in the India education sector?

How has COVID-19 accelerated its growth?

Many of the technologies that we see today in action have been there even before the pandemic. Technology adoption has always been a challenge in all societies and across age groups. In a strange way the pandemic forced the technology adoption and endeared people to it. Typically, whenever we speak of altering an established paradigm the preconceived thoughts become a hurdle and even before trying it is labelled as not as good. Since the pandemic forced adoption of online learning and associated technologies, people had no option but to find out good things in support of those. This creation of a positive mindset, though at the back of an extremely negative circumstance created an opportunity for accelerated adoption of new technologies.

In absence of a lockdown the curve would still have been the same, albeit much slower. In education besides the technology adoption the hindrance is the governance of higher education. Unfortunately, people in governance are the last to acknowledge changes happening in the eco-system. Since we need to answer to these norms and standards it places a lot of limitation on our adoption of new methods.

Once again, if there was no lockdown, even though institutions would have adopted new technologies to maintain distinction and efficiency, it’s hard to tell what support it would have got from the powers to be. The regulation and governance not in tune with the latest advances could have been the stumbling block on the digital transformation. The education governance system in India is based upon norms and standards and not so much on outcomes. As such digital transformation was a difficult proposition before the pandemic.

Education institutions are quite agile and forward looking unlike what they are perceived to be

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COVID‐19 has disrupted many higher education aspects, including how students are recruited, admitted, and enrolled. How will higher education institution meet the realities of a post‐pandemic world?

Education institutions are quite agile and forward looking unlike what they are perceived to be. They

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have been biggest hit by the pandemic even though it never acquired a shape of national debate like other sectors. Yet they kept their chin high and continued to serve the students despite all odds. We are all looking forward to a post pandemic world where pragmatism is combined with the latest technologies through which we can achieve our aims in a better manner. We rather welcome the post pandemic world with open hands. We do know the realities have changed and will change more. But that is something we have been preparing for, for quite some time. The pandemic has accelerated that preparation and we are well prepared for a world that is post pandemic.

Higher education will once again regain its relevance by being disseminator of knowledge and values and realise the true meaning of education

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CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

What are the significant challenges in the higher educational system today? How can the latest technologies solve them?

The significant challenges in higher education system have remained the same that is the core issues. The core issues like quality of instruction, student experience, inclusion and access and above all preparing students for the VUCA World.

The technologies as we know are the aid to manage a thought. More than the technologies, I think what would aid significantly is the changed thought process of approaching these core issues.

Availability of technology helps the acceleration of thought. Technology makes it possible for us to serve the unserved and derive and measure outcomes which we always wanted to. Through technology we can deliver more personalised education, differentiated instruction and instead of one size fits all approach take up approaches which are meaningful to each individual.

The pandemic has brought online learning providers into the spotlight. How is Ajeenkya DY Patil University responding to it?

First of all, we believe that the onset of online learning providers have expanded the space. We now see more offerings than ever before. Knowledge is not confined to be delivered by a few who had rights for credentialing. What this means is that true value will only prevail whereas credentials will be just a side story. Till now everything revolved around credentials. Not anymore. We understand this. In fact we have been conscious that coming years will rely on real value delivery more than the medium and the credentials. As such we have been strengthening our intellectual base, human capacity and capability

to deliver cutting-edge instruction. We call ourselves an Innovation University purely in response to the modern day challenges. For us innovation is a three sixty degree pursuit hinging on 3 I’s. Innovation in delivery of education, innovation in nature of programs we deliver and innovation as an outcome of our academic rigor. This is what separates us from several others.

In India, how badly are students going to be set back by not having formal instruction?

What are the efforts of Ajeenkya DY Patil University to control the damage?

Students are most suffered throughout this pandemic.

The children and the young did not have a voice, but they have suffered immeasurably. Instruction is not just teaching is to be clearly understood. Learning is environment, learning is peer learning, learning is collaboration, learning is experience. All this is missed due to lack of formal instruction. Online instruction has its own advantages, but it cannot fulfil the gap created by lack of formal instruction. More importantly present circumstances do not leave a choice for the student to choose the medium to learn. The same was before pandemic as well. We at Ajeenkya DY Patil University wish to continue to deploy the gains of online instruction and intersperse with on campus experience. We have been doing so before pandemic by making students choose online MOOC’s by curating MOOC’s each semester. That small step will be intensified. We also intend to make work from home for 2 days in week a norm for all staff. We intend to deploy a lot of analytical tools to assess student learning and to deploy adaptive assessment for measuring student learning. We are deploying competency based transcript system with a digital portfolio for students to report student learning in a better and deeper manner to the employers.

How will higher education change in the Post pandemic era?

Higher education will never be the same again. If it was operating from a position of authority before it is not forced to operate with a position of responsibility.

Once again while we hear quite a lot about technology and education what is changing is the possibility mindset and ushering in new, fresh thinking. This will bring about tremendous change associated with exponential growth in terms of value. Higher education will once again regain its relevance by being disseminator of knowledge and values and realise the true meaning of education. which in Latin is “educere” that is to lead out.

What are the precautionary measures universities must take when they reopen? What is the D Y Patil -model that other colleges in the country can follow?

First of all universities, colleges and schools must reopen. I have said this time and again that educational institutions are the most disciplined of fraternities after the armed forces. We understand limitations and rules and are used to following them and enforcing them.

The amount of harm that locking the campuses has brought to the students is unprecedented. Unfortunately not much discussion is happening about that. We hear discussions around hospitality industry, retail industry, but we hardly hear discussions about Education.

That’s disturbing.

In regards to universities, as the vaccination coverage increases from 18+ onwards our basic focus is on getting all our staff vaccinated. We intend to do that by July 30. We would be asking the students to do so before they attend campus. We have developed protocols to handle scenarios in the likelihood of a probable infection such as testing, isolation and tracing. Extensive and continued sensitisation amongst the community for maintaining safety norms will be carried out on a regular basis using variety of medium of communications. Bestowed with a large green campus, we are planning to hold a large number of activities outdoors so that the risks are minimal. Adding a hybrid mode of learning will ensure that the students experience practical activities on campus and some part of their learning is carried out through online medium from the safety of their own premises.

What are the immediate plans of Ajeenkya DY Patil University?

In January this year we unveiled a new vision and implementation plan to transform education through Innovation in Learning. This is a plan combines technology with education objectives in order to transform the learning experience at ADYPU. We understand that teaching and learning is a core function of a university and we are making focussed efforts in order to enhance and transform this function. We studied what motivates today’s generation, implications on today’s learning environment, identified attributes of a teaching-learning university and evolved a framework of essential processes. We are very much thick in to the implantation of this vision. Simultaneously we have set aside financial resources to invest in new technologies so that we try new ones and adopt them faster than others to keep a lead and serve our students better.

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EXPERT OPINION

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How Data Analytics is Revolutionising the Growing EdTech Sector Vimal Venkatram, Country Head, Snowflake India

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

E Vimal Venkatram, Country Manager -India, Snowflake, is an experienced executive with over 15 years in the information technology industry. Vimal is responsible for growing Snowflake’s business in India. He specialises in data management solutions across all verticals such as retail, manufacturing and financial services, and has a deep regional experience, especially in India and Southeast Asia. Before joining Snowflake in 2019, Vimal led the retail and manufacturing businesses for Mulesoft, a Salesforce company, across Southeast Asia. He also previously held senior positions with Oracle and Citrix. Vimal has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai and an MBA from the Welingkar Institute of Management in Mumbai.

veryone’s exploring it! From professionals to business people, graduate students to young children. The impact of the mobile-first and digital-first generation has influenced everything around us including learning and education. Today, we see 6 year olds curious to learn the basics of coding and a mobile device in a young child’s hands gets us thinking about how education has evolved.

Data-smart educators are quickly realizing not only the value of the market but also the opportunities that can be achieved through extracting critical value from all the data that is created, captured, copied and consumed. The massive potential of data analytics and big data is taking digital education from exclusive to accessible. It is improving quality and overcoming the constraints of time, location and collaboration faced by earlier learning models.

Legacy education systems brought other challenges like socio-economic constraints with students from different income categories, outdated academic curricula and the lack of a holistic and comprehensive learning process. Today, advanced data warehousing and data sharing capabilities are rapidly resolving these problems providing new opportunities for early Educational Technology (EdTech) adopters.

They provide enterprise solutions for easy capture and processing of information along with more sophisticated learning resources for students and institutions. EdTech is leading traditional education towards a cost-effective and learner-centric approach in the coming years, delivering greater efficiencies and impact as it enables reaching out to a wider and global student community.

Emerging role of Data Analytics EdTech refers to the combination of education and technology where computer software, hardware and education theory come together to enhance teacher-led learning and improve learning outcomes. In short, EdTech provides an opportunity to deliver enhanced teacher / student experience previously only seen in a well-managed, traditional education environment.

EdTech companies develop educational technology and datadriven applications to enable educators to create and deliver customised, engaging and creative learning sessions.

The low priced availability of tools such as internet data packages, smart phones, and computer devices including laptops, desktops and VR headsets, cuts across the previous issues of cost, accessibility and geographical location and allows flexibility and access to quality online academic content for all age groups.

According to KPMG’s report, “Online education in India: 2021”, the EdTech industry in India could be worth $1.96 Billion by end of year 2021. The digital education market is growing substantially with big industry players competing against each other, offering B2C, B2B and C2C solutions for

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

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the rapidly expanding paid consumer base. Backed by rising demand in the next 10 years in the country, this sector is estimated to become a $30 billion industry, said valuation firm RBSA Advisor.

Education boards are supported by governments to create a data-centric ecosystem for integrating powerful learning technologies. Such an ecosystem creates personalised solutions that address key education concerns around learning content and methodologies.

A reliable data analytics partner offers data-driven algorithms and architectures to optimise workload management for education providers. This generates useful insights and actionable reports for educators to enhance student results, enrolment management, assessment evaluation, online lecture delivery and reduction of dropouts among others.

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Assisting and enhancing the EdTech landscape one step at a time Automated data analytics captures student-specific inputs and offers a deeper understanding of the overall education process, leading to predictive analysis and smarter decisions in advance. Strategic data science saves an abundance of manual efforts to look up user data, analyse and then derive conclusions. It provides opportunities for teachers to auto-monitor, measure, and respond to students’ individual academic progress before delivering final grades.

This process is also essential for teachers to address any unconscious biases against the progress of the students.

Educators can derive personalised insights of each student within the same course material. This will enhance the interest of the student in the subject and point out, to which student and when, a learning material should be delivered.

Data interpretation in the EdTech sector offers opportunities for educators to understand and organise the course material in real-time. By activating operational intelligence, educators can innovate their way of teaching as per individual student needs and thoroughly evaluate learning progression.

Carving undiscovered solutions for EdTech success Data analytics when applied in universities offers the opportunity to build tailor-made teaching methodologies based on each student’s personal pace of learning. It identifies unique studying patterns and behaviours, individual strengths and weaknesses. In EdTech, data analysis is all about an integrated approach to imparting knowledge, identifying pain points and tactfully acting on

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

EdTech provides an opportunity to deliver enhanced teacher / student experience previously only seen in a well-managed, traditional education environment

them, while helping learners to understand the same concept in different methods.

Since the start of the pandemic and obvious travel and human interaction restrictions, there has been a significant investment in data analytics as it is particularly useful in remotely collating, organizing and storing of data. Effective data analysis empowers the EdTech sector to address key business, financial and expansion strategies, maximize IT potential and stay ahead of regulatory compliance requirements. Data analytics is re-defining the future of the EdTech sector to deliver what all educators are seeking – to offer smart learning solutions, enhance students’ cognitive skills and their overall academic journey.

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CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

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Azure End to End Solutions Pvt. Ltd

Educational Initiatives

Website: www.atcampussolutions.com

Website: www.ei-india.com

Leadership: Sabu Shefeeq Thattarakkal, Co-

Leadership: Sridhar Rajagopalan, Co-Founder

Year of Establishment: 2009

Year of Establishment: 2001

founder & Chief Executive Officer

Headquarter: Bengaluru, Karnataka About the Company

Azure End to End Solutions Pvt. Ltd. is a leading provider of End-to-End IT Solutions for Educational Institutions and Groups globally, ranging from Universities, Professional Colleges, Degree Colleges, K-12, Pre-schools and Short-term career-oriented courses.

Azure’s flagship product @CAMPUS is a comprehensive and effective solution which is highly regarded by its users.

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

and Chief Learning Officer

Headquarter: Bengaluru, Karnataka About the Company

Educational Initiatives is an ed-tech company that leverages the twin levers of cutting-edge research and technology-based solutions approach to revolutionise how children engaged in the K-12 education space learn. The company believes in making a difference in education through personalised learning and ensuring that students learn with understanding.

Educomp Solutions Website: www.educomp.com Leadership: Shantanu Prakash, Chairman and

Managing Director

Year of Establishment: 1994

Globus Infocom Limited Website: www.globusinfocom.com Leadership: Kiran Dham,

Chief Executive Officer

Year of Establishment: 2001

Headquarter: Gurgaon, Haryana

Headquarter: Noida, Uttar Pradesh

About the Company

About the Company

Educomp Solutions is a globally diversified education solutions provider and one of the largest education companies in India. In its journey of more than two decades, the company has empowered over 30 million learners across 65,000 schools. Educomp is now spearheading the second-wave of the evolution of education with its diverse range of learning solutions.

Globus Infocom Limited is a technology provider that offers single touch-point solutions to businesses and organizations across India.

The company’s innovative range of solutions include Digital Learning Solutions, Online Learning Solutions, Boardroom Solutions, Digital Display Solutions, Video Conferencing Solutions, Security and Surveillance Solutions, Healthcare and Wellness Solutions.

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HurixDigital

Knowzies Technology Solutions

Website: www.hurix.com

Website: www.knowzies.com

Leadership: Subrat Mohanty, Co-founder &

Leadership: Amol S, Founder and

Chief Executive Officer

Year of Establishment: 2000 Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra About the Company

HurixDigital provides future-ready digital solutions to Publishers, Enterprises, and Educational Institutions. Equipped with bestin-class technology and software infrastructure, the company helps in creating an ecosystem that empowers educational institutions, corporations and non-profit organizations to share knowledge and grow in tandem with technology.

Chief Executive Officer

Year of Establishment: 2016 Headquarter: Pune, Maharashtra About the Company

Knowzies Technology Solutions group is a pioneer name in the technology space which helps enterprises, SMBs and Startups to realize their dream of digitizing their learning, ideas, and business needs. The company has a strong presence in USA, UK, Europe, Middle East, and India.

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

Next Education India Pvt Ltd.

Tata ClassEdge

Website: www.nexteducation.in

Website: www.tataclassedge.com

Leadership: Beas Dev Ralhan,

Leadership: Milind Shahane,

Year of Establishment: 2007

Year of Establishment: 2011

Headquarter: Hyderabad, Telangana

Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra

About the Company

About the Company

TeamLease Edtech

Upside Learning Solutions

Website: www.teamleaseedtech.com

Website: www.upsidelearning.com

Leadership: Shantanu Rooj, Founder and

Leadership: Amit Garg, Founder and Chief

Year of Establishment: 2012

Year of Establishment: 2004

Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Headquarter: Pune, Maharashtra

About the Company

About the Company

Chief Executive Office

Next Education is a SaaS-based end-to-end education solutions provider for the K–12 sector. The company has created technologydriven, user-friendly and learner-centric products to meet all the academic needs of a learner and make quality education affordable and accessible for every child.

Chief Executive Officer

Tata ClassEdge, a division of Tata Industries, was created with 25 years of international experience in the space of e-learning. With a highly energized team of multi-disciplinary specialists, Tata ClassEdge constantly innovates in pedagogy, technology and content aimed at enhancing learning experiences.

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Chief Executive Officer

TeamLease Edtech is India's leading learning solutions company. The company works with leading Universities and Corporates across the country and help them launch, run and manage their own Online Programs, improve employability of their students through its Apprenticeship linked skilling programs and help Corporates upskill & reskill their workforce.

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

Executive Officer

Upside Learning is a leading provider of custom learning solutions to organizations worldwide. The company provides consultancy for crafting effective learning solutions, custom eLearning, responsive and mobile learning, performance support, translation and localization, video and animations, and instructor-led trainings. Upside Learning has won over 50 awards (including 19 Brandon Hall Excellence Awards) and several accolades.

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CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

MUST-WATCH

EDTECH COMPANIES

IN INDIA - 2021

GLOBUS INFOCOM LIMITED

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Opening Doors to Hybrid Learning

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n 2001, Globus Infocom forayed into the market with a few products and solutions in the Education Technology domain. Intending to provide advanced technology and learning solutions to its users, the brand became trustworthy and one of the most soughtafter technology solutions providers in India within a few years of its inception. Today, Globus Infocom provides its clients with top-notch technology solutions in areas like collaborative conferencing & professional Displays, Security & Surveillance Solutions & a Healthcare & Wellness range of solutions. The company has now amassed 25,000+ customers due to the exceptional services and customer experience they offer. “With the widest range of solutions, we strongly believe that

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

technology has the power to transform education. We hope to create a digitally-enabled & easily accessible education environment across the country,” says Ms. Kiran Dham, CEO, Globus Infocom Limited.

For about two decades now, Globus Infocom has come to the forefront of providing advanced, cost-effective, and comprehensive technology solutions. Their main focus is on services for EdTech, with offerings like Digital Board Solution, Digital teaching Solution, Digital Language Lab, Learn on Tab, Online/Virtual Learning Solution, Interactive Displays, and many more that helps teachers and students connect, collaborate, and communicate.

The company also provides academic content from Class 1-12 in English and Hindi, and Sanskrit, which

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Kiran Dham, CEO, Globus Infocom Limited

Kiran Dham has been leading Globus Infocom Limited for the past 10 years and has successfully turned the organization into a well-established, trusted, Make in India brand in the technology industry. Globus Infocom Limited is an industry leader for past 20 years in the field of Education technology.

Being in this industry for past decade, she has been working towards fine routing the go to market strategies & position Globus Infocom as a leading Make In India brand. She started with a vision of harnessing innovation to empower the power of technology and make technology further accessible, sustainable and affordable for the people of India. Under her leadership, Globus Infocom has established itself as a leading comprehensive solution provider offering cost-efficient, sustainable as well as scalable solutions in the different verticals of Education technology, Security & Surveillance, Collaborative Conferencing & Displays & the most recent one Healthcare & Wellness. Leading a team of 250+ competent team members, she encourages an amicable, gender neutral & growth-oriented work culture for the employees.

Today she has been the guiding force behind establishing a loyal and diverse client base including esteemed Government organizations, Educational Institutes, Universities, PSUs, Defence establishments, and many more.

Till date under her leadership Globus Infocom has successfully executed more than 30000 projects across India.

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CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

In 2001, Globus Infocom was launched with the sole vision of making technology in India more accessible and expand its utility in every sphere of the economy

caters to a productive and engaging learning environment. Ms. Kiran shares, “Our Digital Language lab deeply emphasizes on developing linguistic skills in English, Hindi & Sanskrit amongst students in an InstructorLed and self-paced environment which will not only help them enhance their communication skill but also develops Language as a skill.”

Apart from the edtech sector, Globus Infocom also stands out from the crowd as a complete solution provider offering not only product or solution but also taking care of the other aspects of the project like software, content, installation, training and most importantly, prompt and efficient services. The solutions come under the same brand & make it easy for the customer to coordinate for any kind of service through a single window. When it comes to marketing, the company has learned

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Globus Infocom has always been an employee centric organization and believes in nurturing an enthusiastic & competitive work environment for our employees

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

valuable insight over the last two decades. It believes that the brand should address the right concern of educational infrastructure, where visibility is key. Taking a digital approach in this regard will ensure that content is reaching the right audience on the right platform. Thus, it is imperative that businesses have a good digital media presence and invests in marketing strategies to convey simple, strong, and clear communication.

Narrowing the Gap Globus Infocom has broken barriers and penetrated not just the boundaries of tier 3 cities but also the rural areas of our country. By digitizing classrooms of government schools and colleges in Haryana, Gujrat, Jammu & Kashmir, Goa, and many other states in remote locations, the company sets itself apart from other EdTech solutions providers. Although many challenges came their way, the team at Globus Infocom achieved timely project completion, owing to their expertise and knowledge. In this manner, they also ensure that technology is reaching

every nook and corner of India with cost-effective and userfriendly solutions to enable users to create an immersive and engaging learning experience.

In Unprecedented Time The pandemic has changed the way we use technology today, especially in the field of education. With a rampant digital revolution paving the way for the future, educational institutions are beginning to focus on digital learning. It makes education more accessible to all by bridging the gap between rural and urban areas. Although confined to the home, it has opened up new tech to students worldwide, with multimedia content, videos, animation, and a gamified form of learning curating personalized learning and engaging students most effectively. Globus Infocom blends technology-enabled education with tech-

based tools to make difficult concepts easy to grasp and understand. “In a pandemic, our online learning solutions helped our clients to keep education continued without any disruption. The Virtual classroom solution gives the teachers and learners not only a medium to get connected but also creates a highly immersive learning experience.

Laced with a plethora of advanced features and tools, the solution brings clarity in conceptual understandings,” shares Ms. Kiran.

With the educational setup taking a paradigm shift, many companies have been coming up with strategies to move into a digital landscape. Globus Infocom, too, has done the same and now has an equal presence in classroom learning solutions along with online learning solutions in order to continue learning in and out of the classroom. One of the major challenges has been the difficulties teachers

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In the coming few years, Globus Infocom is planning to introduce appbased learning solutions for remote learning or hybrid learning

and students faced during the shift from classroom learning to remote learning for educational institutions. But, thanks to the ease of remote learning, the transition was smooth and successful, as Globus Infocom ensured to conduct regular training sessions to simulate how easy the online learning platform is.

“Globus Infocom has been on an upsurge in the last few years given the education industry is reviving and now government & educational institutions are focusing on technology-enabled learning for students. In spite of the covid outbreak, we registered 100% growth in business, with more than 25,000 customers across India and a repeat

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order ratio of 50 per cent,” says Ms. Kiran. Having two decades of experience and a strong industry presence, Globus Infocom has witnessed encouraging progress in the education sector in India. There has been an increasing number of opportunities and now has shifted to hybrid learning with aptly designed solutions for classroom learning, online learning, and a combination of the two.

All in this together Being an employee-centric organization, Globus Infocom believes in nurturing an enthusiastic and competitive workforce for its employees. By regularly checking up

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on the workforce and communicating effectively, they address the concerns or fears of employees and keep a check on their mental health and wellbeing during these tough times. “As per our policy, we have included Covid insurance for our employees and their family members. As a family, we have taken it upon ourselves to provide our employees career and financial security regardless of the pandemic situations,” shares Ms. Kiran.

To keep spirits up during these uncertain times, the company has also engaged employees in various activities to connect and enjoy online. In-office, the company organized fin trivia, festive celebrations, and games to

keep employees on the brighter side of things while duly following the COVID-19 protocols like maintaining social distancing and wearing masks. “Owing to such employeecentric work culture, we have reached a strength of 250 members, and by the end of this financial year, we aim to reach 350. We do believe we have a bright roadmap ahead and would continue to contribute through the employment opportunities for the youth of the country,” says Ms. Kiran.

Looking forward The pandemic has opened minds to a hybrid learning environment in the Indian Education system. This way,

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students and teachers can strike a balance between learning and online learning. Via this method, the challenge of the inadequate teacher-to-student ratio in India can be mitigated. Through Hybrid Learning, a teacher can tend to a larger number of students than a traditional teaching method.

Globus Infocom is planning to introduce app-based learning solutions for remote learning or hybrid learning soon. They are also planning to introduce learning apps

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that carefully sync between classroom learning and online learning to make the concept of Hybrid Learning successful in India. “We are focused on creating a learning environment that could bridge the digital divide spread across the rural areas of the country. We have not only broadened our range of offerings but also widened our family with 250 team members that work together tirelessly to take this company to even greater heights,” Ms. Kiran says.

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CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

EXPERT OPINION

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EdTech Platforms Revolutionizing the Education Ecosystem with Redefined Engagement Rishabh Khanna, Cognitive Scientist & Co-founder, Suraasa

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

T Rishabh Khanna is the Cognitive Scientist and Founder of Suraasa, a teacher training and accreditation platform. He belongs to Karnal, Haryana, a city widely regarded as an education hub.

Rishabh has earned a degree in mechanical engineering from a leading college in New Delhi. After graduating from college in 2008, Rishabh joined Hindustan Computers Limited (HCL) one of the largest and most prestigious IT companies in India. In 2017, Rishabh created Suraasa, a platform that trains aspiring educators and teachers who are in service. Suraasa teaches educators skills that prepare them for teaching.

here has been a rising concern around the acutely deteriorating attention span of humans. As per a study, the average attention span has declined from 12 seconds to 8 seconds over the span of the past 15 years. This has imposed an underlying challenge for the education sector to keep the students engaged amidst the omnipresence of distractions at every point of the day.

A huge reason for the increased distraction is the easy access to abundant information enabled by technology. Instagram Feeds, YouTube Videos, Tiktok Videos have made it easier than ever to consume more and more content with clicks and swipes.

But do you know what's interesting?

Technology, the cause for this problem, also has the potential to solve it.

The Edtech industry has a huge potential to influence the wide gamut of learners with their revolutionary teaching techniques and it’s no surprise that it has already crossed $4 billion funding in 2021.

The emergence of EdTech platforms has redefined how students engage during the learning process. There are numerous relevant factors that contribute to the improved engagement on EdTech platforms, such as ease of access and navigation, interface design, and level of interaction.

But before that, let’s understand the problem first. There are several shortcomings in a traditional offline classroom.

In a traditional classroom, a student is overwhelmed by the teacher-student ratio. Even for the teacher, it becomes difficult to personalise the delivery according to each and every learner’s style and pace. Many times, the geographical and time-related boundaries do not support the requirement of being present at the same place at the same time, as some learners may prefer.

In addition to these, the traditional brick and mortar mode of learning does not support the facilities of tracking the actual attention of learner.

The gaps in traditional modes of learning led to the emergence of EdTech platforms which proved to be gamechanging for the education sector of India. EdTech stands for education technology or use of technology in education. Here, the technology brings with it the benefits of data tracking, storage, and personalization.

Let’s discuss in detail how edtech plays a crucial role in making learning more engaging. the learner.

Personalized Learning Edtech can personalise what, how, when, and where you learn.

With the help of personalisation, EdTech platforms can cater to the specific needs of the students. Understanding the behaviour of each individual student, it can optimize, customise and humanise the structure.

Courses can be customized with the help of personalised recommendations and reading references that best suits the

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learner’s requirements. Learners can also access content in the format that suits their learning styles.

Of course, let’s not forget the magic of self-paced content that eliminates the need for all people to be together at the same time.

Regular Nudges EdTech platforms very efficiently track activity data and constantly remind you to meet your learning milestones in your set time. Teachers are able to access this data too which helps them learn if they are slow or if they need to invest extra time on a particular topic.

Our brain sometimes needs a trigger to perform certain tasks, and nudges play an excellent role in doing that.

Gamification EdTech platforms have the ability to include multimedia much more natively on their platforms.

With diverse content delivery formats, learners never get bored of learning. The availability of fascinating elements like contests, timers, and spinning wheels encourages users to increase their time on the platform.

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On-Platform Jobs EdTech platforms are multidimensional and are able to bring myriad facets under one roof. Many of them support not just learning but entire career progression.

Learners can apply for jobs on the platforms itself.

This often acts as a motivator for learners to continue engaging so that they can progress faster.

Teachers from anywhere in the world EdTech platforms are able to onboard the best educators of the world who teach you from another part of the world as digital spaces transcend all geographical boundaries.

EdTech platforms, being sensitive to the holistic learning needs of students, also understand that it is of equal importance to hone the skills of teachers to render the desired results. Hence, in recent years, EdTech platforms have diversified into upskilling teachers so that the teachers can further effectively engage the students in the class.

Covid-19 has accelerated the EdTech industry as formal education systems moved online, and people realized the value of being at the top of their game after the wide-spread lay-offs. With technology, the possibilities are endless. One can only wait and see how EdTech further evolves in future.

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CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

LEADER’S INSIGHTS

IMPORTANCE OF EDTECH PLATFORMS TO CREATE MORE DEPTH IN STUDENTS’ LEARNING Bipin Dama, Founder & CEO, Saras-3D, Inc.

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Bipin Dama is the Founder & CEO, Saras-3D, Inc. (Saras-3D) India’s first stereoscopic 3D learning solution for science and mathematics that brings international learnings and best practices to India. The company operates in India through its wholly owned subsidiary 3D EdTech Pvt Ltd. An industry veteran with over 33 years of experience in the technology industry, Bipin has a proven track record of successful product delivery from concept to deployment with substantial revenue generation and shareholder returns. He holds 37 granted US patents. In a conversation with CXO Outlook, Bipin Dama talks about the growth and sustainability of digital learning in India, the role of technology in education, the way forward for Saras-3D and much more.

Indians have seen a surge in digital learning platforms in the recent past. Do you see this trend continuing?

As students cannot go to school, parents have realized how difficult it is to study from home. They need tools to help their children learn effectively with a distinct, long-term advantage. We see this trend throughout homes across the country, where the primary purpose of students is to learn in a manner that works for them, and digital learning has given them the needed edge. But a new trend is also emerging, where parents and students need more

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personalized and interactive solutions that will empower them to learn with a hands-on approach.

Can the EdTech companies sustain their growth after the schools are opened in India?

Schools are already adopting digital platforms to support teachers throughout the country, and we see the demand for digital education platforms expanding. Even after schools reopen, people will be searching for long-term solutions (digital or offline). This revelation has carried over to the classroom, sparking changes in how teachers

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Schools are already adopting digital platforms to support teachers throughout the country, and we see the demand for digital education platforms expanding

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plan to engage their students rather than relying solely on lectures. Also, parents are seeking digital solutions to help their children succeed in their school curriculum and competitive exams like JEE and NEET. It’s this split demand from both parents and teachers that will fuel continued growth.

What kind of impact will EdTech platforms have on the existing structure of higher education in future?

While traditional reading and lectures will remain, EdTech platforms will create more depth in how students learn.

By making the material more accessible and engaging, EdTech platforms can actively hold students’ attention instead of requiring them to listen passively. This evolution to interactive, hands-on learning will help unlock students’ potential and build the path for more students to succeed.

The impact and results will be multifold as these technologydriven platforms will pave the way for expertise and mastery in an individual aiming for higher education.

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With a lab-like hands-on learning environment using stereoscopic 3D technology, students can learn significantly faster than traditional methods Technology has been an enabler to various sectors, can you elaborate on the role of technology in education and how it can benefit the student?

Technology’s role in education is to support both the teacher and the student by providing dynamic ways to make the material more engaging. With technology, the student is no longer forced to passively listen to lectures or silently read material that might not be on their level. Instead, students are met with material that is specifically for their exact level of understanding. Students have immediate feedback on how well they are learning and which sections they need to spend more time on. Taking this to the next level, with a lab-like hands-on learning environment using stereoscopic 3D technology, students can learn significantly faster than

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traditional methods, helping them learn and retain more material in a shorter amount of time.

Saras-3D has created a learning solution based on 3D stereoscopic technology, can you elaborate on the difference between stereoscopic and monoscopic 3D learning?

Stereoscopic 3D closely resembles the way we see the world around us. With special 3D glasses and a booster box, we have created a three-dimensional, interactive experience that mimics a real-life laboratory. Students can learn in a virtual lab environment with their laptop or desktop, interacting with realistic, scaled models. As they learn through doing rather than simply learning about concepts, it leads to deeper understanding and better recall.

While monoscopic 3D technology doesn’t provide the same interactive experience as stereoscopic 3D technology, it can help students understand concepts better than watching videos passively. In plain words, stereoscopic 3D is like a 3D movie, and monoscopic 3D is like an ordinary movie.

There are already large established players in the education space and a host of new entrants recently. What makes your solution so different from the rest?

Not only does Saras-3D offer a unique interactive learning experience through stereoscopic 3D technology, but it also stands out as an offline experience. Students often lack access to devices, a reliable internet connection, or a dedicated quiet place to study. While this situation privileges children who have reliable internet service, even families with adequate resources find it difficult to keep children engaged online.

Saras-3D has a broader reach than many players because Genius 3D Learning does not require an internet connection to access the learning content. It is interactive, so while students are actually learning, they feel like they are playing in a lab-like setup. Everything a student needs to succeed is included with Genius 3D Learning bundles.

Tell us about the way forward for Saras-3D? Saras-3D will continue reaching out to a broader range of parents and students across the country. We are dedicated to equipping them with the best technology available, which also helps them prepare for JEE, NEET, and other entrance exams. This is how we will help more students succeed across India. Simultaneously, we are also partnering with schools throughout India to support teachers in the classroom. Using this technology, teachers will better retain their students’ engagement and instill the meaning behind complex concepts.

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CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

EXPERT OPINION

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How has the Pandemic Accelerated the EdTech Space to Change the Narrative of Education?

Rengarajan M, Co-founder & CEO, Librari

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An out-of-the-box thinker and successful leader with over 18 years of experience in the education space, Rengarajan has worked with some of the leading brands like Aptech, Zee Learn, VidyaShilp Academy, and Sparkles Montessori in the past. He has also played an integral role in creating brands like Kidzee, Mount Litera Zee School, Oi Playschool, and Early Innings.

he Covid-19 pandemic has affected all strata of society and business. The education sector is no exception to this. The crisis led to the closing of schools and colleges all across the world. It created a void. It adversely impacted billions of students globally who were out of the classrooms due to the sudden closure of campuses. To keep the education system running, and to capitalize on that void, educational institutions have been adapting to the situation.

This has led to a surge in e-learning. Teaching is moving online. This distinctive rise of online learning has completely and dramatically changed the face and fate of the education technology sector also referred to as the Edtech sector. It will probably not be an exaggeration to state that the Covid-19 pandemic and the crisis have become a catalyst in upgrading the learning process. This worldwide experiment, a forced one at that, of remote learning has benefitted everyone, from students to educators, from startups to investors. It has proved to be a boon for the Edtech sector making it one of the largest and fastest-growing contemporary industries the world over.

Even before the Covid-19 outbreak, the sector was growing rapidly but the last few months have seen unanticipated action. Reopening of institutions looks uncertain this year, couple it with the increased anxiety amongst parents about their child’s future, and online education will continue being thrust as the main medium of learning. Things have reached a juncture where, even if schools and colleges return to full-scale operations, online will continue to thrive.

Universal Education become truly universal Learning doesn’t stop at school. In times of ever-increasing disruption across industries, continuous learning, up skilling, and re-skilling are the new normal. From early learning to higher education to career development and up skilling continued learning, e-learning offers solutions at every level. Online education has democratized education in the true sense, while it is slowly becoming the main mode of knowledge consumption for young adults, millennial are using it as a tool to skill and reskill.

Convenient and affordable: Offlet, early education is all about learning through experience.

The youngest students can benefit from immersive 360 environments, used to enhance and complement the realworld exploration and play that builds a solid foundation in the pre-school years. There’s so much potential for bringing the curriculum to life using virtual and augmented reality experiences, from visiting far-flung corners of the world to holding the human heart in your hands. VR and AR open up exciting learning opportunities for students with specific educational needs. Many children with autism

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for millennials who are more time-conscious, digitally sophisticated, and always on the go. Everything is on their finger-clicks.

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Online learning is convenient all the more for millennials who are more timeconscious, digitally sophisticated, and always on the go

find the sensory immersion of a 360 video (complete with audio through headphones) a comforting and safe way to learn new concepts – all while knowing they can easily remove themselves from the situation if necessary. Schools are excited to use simple portal to quickly send their own content to student headsets.

The pandemic has indeed disrupted the education industry completely. It has emphasized the dissemination of knowledge and the importance of democratizing it. Today, anyone who has access to the internet can learn. People don’t need a library or anyone’s physical presence to gain knowledge. Online learning is convenient all the more

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Personalized solutions in diverse categories: Online education is not only flexible in terms of setting the pace. It is also flexible for individual needs, abilities, and interests. It makes the learning experience customized. In the online world, there are infinite subjects, topics, and skills to learn and teach. A lot of the universities, including some of the leading IITs, now offer online versions of most of their programs. These can be tailor-made to suit individual preferences. Gamification of content, by addition of audiovisual multimedia like chats, games, community networks, social learning is not only ensuring engagement but retention of information as well. This, in turn, is encouraging people to come back to learn more.

Changing role of the educator: AI has already been applied to education primarily in some tools that help develop skills and testing systems. As AI educational solutions continue to mature, the hope is that AI can help fill needs gaps in learning and teaching and allow schools and teachers to do more than ever before.

AI can drive efficiency, personalization and streamline admin tasks to allow teachers the time and freedom to provide understanding and adaptability—uniquely human capabilities where machines would struggle. By leveraging the best attributes of machines and teachers, the vision for AI in education is one where they work together for the best outcome for students. Since the students of today will need to work in a future where AI is the reality, it’s important that our educational institutions expose students to and use the technology.

Edtech future: The future of edtech looks promising. While the world is still battling with and overcoming the Covid-19 crisis, ed-tech startups are expecting remarkable growth as the number of people turning to digital learning is increasing.

Startups in this sector are growing exponentially owing to the transformation of the learning process and digitization of the education system. Investment in this space is increasing and startups in the country are expanding globally.

Online education has been around much before the crisis, but Covid-19 has given the sector a thrust that is likely to ensure the sector remains a sunrise one for the next decade. Although studies on the efficacy of online learning are still under development, there are enough researches that suggest its positive impact. Therefore, it is safe to say that the changes the pandemic has caused are here to stay.

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CXO OUTLOOK Higher Education Digest Nov-Dec 2021 October 2021

EXPERT OPINION

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Gamification Helps In Making Online Learning

Engrossing And Interactive

By Vipul Tyagi, CEO & Co-founder, EdTech Startup Orphicy

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

F Vipul Tyagi, CEO, and Cofounder of EdTech Startup Orphicy. An electronics and telecom engineer, Vipul cofounded Orphicy along with 3 academicians in 2020. The startup offers live online coaching for the school curriculum (Classes 5-10) and also helps students prepare for NTSE/ Olympiads and other competitive exams.

The learning modules are designed with a holistic approach focusing on extracurricular activities along with academics.

Orphicy is Vipul’s second entrepreneurial venture. His first business venture already rakes in revenues to the tune of 100 million INR.

rom the very onset of our childhood, we have been exposed to a set of creative activities whether they are undertaken by us or we are just subject to it.

Most of the creative activities can be found intersecting across people from a common geographical location per se: If a child is hesitant in eating his meal the parent makes an airplane like motion and in the fascination of the act he gulps it down. This gives an exclusive fun element to an otherwise bland act of just eating food in the psychology of a child’s mind.

Such is also a scenario when we talk about games.

Game is a structured form of play usually undertaken for fun. But its definition has taken multiple forms, credits to various researches that have shown that Gaming boosts children’s social, health and learning skills. To elucidate the abovementioned thought, let us have a look at the evolution of gamification with the help of one particular research published by Smithsonian Science education centre. 1896, the year when Mendeleev discovered the periodic table is said to be the year when gamification was born. Mendeleev was known to have been an avid card player, so it was logical for him to use cards as a way to categorize the elements in a way he could understand. Mendeleev turned the classification process into a card game by listing each element and other information on a card and placing them face up on a table. By doing this, he was able to have a better grasp on the relationship of each element. Mendeleev published his findings, which led scientists to discover new elements to fill in the gaps of Mendeleev's work as well as further developing the table.

Growing up, Mendeleev was not the most successful student, but he became a historical scientific figure because of gamification. This proves as an exemplary example of the benefits of gamification and the impact it can have on all students despite their prior academic achievement.

So a time came when Gamification got a place in the pedagogy of learning in order to give it a fun element. And let me tell you, the idea took a very successful flight once the targeted audience got used to it. On psychological front, making something as boring as studying (in the minds of students) fun, and an experience like never before certainly had its advantage which immediately attracted students as well as their parents. On the other hand if we look at it statistically we can see for ourselves that there are numerous researches available. One such research that was published observes the following points:

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1) Gamification aids in cognitive development in adolescents Using gamification to aid in cognitive development will allow an increase in the activity of the regions of the brain to allow for adequate development. An example of such game can be referred to as “Brain Games”. Brain games have become increasingly popular and are based on various questions and problems that the user has to answer or solve. Brain games can improve the rate in which the brain processes and maintains information.

2) In some cases, it aids in physical development Exercising with an interactive game is just as effective as normal exercise. This form of exercise will be very beneficial in adolescents that enjoy playing video games but are not currently physically active. There are many long-term benefits to being active.

3) Gamification increases level of engagement in classrooms Scientists performed a study to measure the level of engagement students displayed when utilizing gamification in the classroom. The researchers assigned a point system to various daily class activities. Then the students were measured based on their level of engagement. The researchers found that the game-like atmosphere was favorable in the classroom and increased productivity.

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4) Gamification aids in accessibility in the classroom Gamification can be used as a teaching tool to educate adolescents of all needs. Scientists studied the effectiveness of using gamification in the form of a video game to teach students diagnosed with autism. The results of this study showed that this training package was effective in teaching age-appropriate content through gamification.

5) Gamification goes beyond classroom Gamification is not limited to the classroom but can be used in learning outside the classroom. Perhaps you break up your child's math homework into sections. The child will then level up after completing each section to get hints that will solve a riddle. Or maybe you can have your child create their very own Periodic Table with a few elements just like Mendeleev did with cards.

Gamification at home is also a good way to get involved in your child's education!

Apart from this, the direct feedback of the students learning through this specific process of gamification was that they ended up scoring more than the ones that don’t (speaking from personal experience as well). I won’t be exaggerating when I say that Gamification has revolutionized the online learning process in more ways than known to us, but this ignorance is not harmful as far as students are topping their subjects.

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EXPERT OPINION

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Edtech Leading to Transparency in the Education System Beas Dev Ralhan, Co-Founder & CEO, Next Education India

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

A Beas Dev Ralhan is the Chief Executive Officer of Next Education India Private Limited, a technology-driven education enterprise, headquartered in Hyderabad. Beas co-founded this educational organization in 2007 along with Raveendranath Kamath, an IIT Kharagpur alumnus. Prior to Next Education, Beas worked as an entrepreneur, investment manager and consultant for around a decade in firms such as FreshPixel India Pvt Ltd, Retort Software India Pvt Ltd, PartyGaming LLC, and Infosys. In recognition of his immense contribution to the K–12 education segment, CII (Southern Regional) bestowed upon him the ‘Emerging Entrepreneur’ award in 2015.

He also received the Indian Education Leader award at the 7th World Education Summit, 2016. Under Beas’ leadership, Next Education has also begun to secure a foothold in Bangladesh and Middle East and is now looking at expansions in Africa.

s offline academic operations are giving way to online methods of managing the day-to-day academic affairs, schools are being transformed by a series of developments in educational technology. Often, the latest innovations are hailed as milestones by beneficiaries who foresee the advantages offered by the digital age. Amidst these new developments, the issue of transparency has become the main concern of administrators, parents, students and teachers across the globe. In the broadest sense of the word, transparency entails not only the critical disclosure of information via different media but also places a premium on honest and open communication between the various stakeholders of a school. Along with transparency comes the issue of accountability, which makes each stakeholder take individual responsibility for their actions.

Problems faced in the context of offline academic operations When academic operations are maintained offline in a school, there occurs a multitude of problems that can disrupt the normal functioning of its day-to-day operations.

Let’s take a look at some of these problems: ● Communication between different stakeholders becomes extremely difficult when there is no online integrated platform to keep them posted about the academic and administrative needs of a school. ● Data accessibility becomes cumbersome for different stakeholders with manual procedures in place. ● Principals can’t monitor teacher effectiveness in the absence of real-time indicators. As such, they rely on student outcomes to measure it. ● It becomes an exacting task for teachers and principals to assess the performance of students throughout an academic year and ascertain their learning gaps without real-time analytic tools. ● Teachers can’t share educational resources with students and track their usage in various stages of teaching and learning on a single platform. ● Parents lack real-time information about what is being taught in the class on a day-to-day basis and the homework assigned to their wards.

Such problems call for the implementation of robust technological measures which can warrant transparency in the education system. Instituting long-term and sustainable technological solutions not only streamlines the myriad operations of a school but also facilitates transparency in most of the work done in schools.

How edtech products are promoting transparency With the growing acceptance of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and learning management systems (LMS), the barriers

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Instituting long-term and sustainable technological solutions not only streamlines the myriad operations of a school but also facilitates transparency in most of the work done in schools

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in the way of promoting openness and transparency within the school ecosystem have been broken down to a large extent. Solutions such as NextERP and NextLMS designed

by Next Education merit attention due to the range of functionalities offered by them. ERP is an administrative tool that provides accurate, real-time electronic data on systems and processes integral to the day-to-day running of a school.

On the other hand, LMS is an academic management tool for the creation, delivery, documentation, reporting and tracking of educational resources. Both these solutions allow for transparent communication between the various stakeholders, viz. principals, parents, students and teachers, by keeping each of them in a common communication loop.

Let’s take a look at some of the advantages offered by ERP and LMS related to transparency. ● ERP has a security enhancement feature which maps the entire layout of a school, plans visitor entry and tracks personnel via CCTV. ● ERP’s data protection feature allows the encryption of all personal and confidential files and documents of different stakeholders. ● ERP’s strong access control policies avert risks of identity thefts. For instance, if a parent wants to access any information concerning their child’s academic performance, they have to verify their identity by either entering their child’s date of birth or any other specific information the system asks for.

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

● LMS provides an online integrated platform wherein teachers can view their lesson plans and effectively track students’ consumption of educational resources; parents can get timely updates on course progress and homework; principals can monitor course progress and teacher effectiveness, and students can get instantaneous feedback on assessments and their learning progress. ● LMS lets principals and teachers track the learning cycle of students for an entire academic year. This helps them identify their learning gaps and propose corrective measures. ● LMS provides accurate, detailed, real-time reports on the academic performance of students. Its predictive analytics helps parents, principles and teachers identify students who are at risk of underperforming. ● LMS lets parents, principals, students and teachers be part of an online community of learners and educators wherein they can exchange ideas and opinions on different matters.

Today, transparency has become one of the key factors for parents in determining a good school for their wards. With concerns over safety rising, parents expect schools to maintain transparency in most of its operations. Schools, too, have started taking initiatives to adopt a transparent system to foster accountability and weed out malpractices likely to occur in a technologydriven age.

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CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

ACADEMIC VIEW

A QS Ranking System for India: The Way Forward for Higher Education Dr. Jitin Chadha, Director, Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD)

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A first-generation entrepreneur, Dr Jitin Chadha is the Founder Director of Indian Institute of Art and Design and Indian School of Business and Finance. Dr Chadha was awarded his Doctorate in Finance in 2011, in a grand ceremony chaired by the HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal and Prof. Dinesh Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Delhi University.

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igher education plays an important role in promoting human as well as societal well-being and contributes towards sustainable livelihoods and economic development of the nation. As India moves towards becoming a knowledge economy and society, more and more young Indians are likely to aspire for higher education. However, 63% of the youth aged between 20-24 are unemployed. Despite the large number of graduates that Indian higher education institutes churn out each year, a significant number of them do not have the required skills to find work opportunities as per industry standards. The Indian Higher Education system, as a result, seems to currently be in a state of crisis. There are several deep-rooted issues that are not only critical to acknowledge but also find the solution for in order to pave the way for a better, more balanced and holistic education system. These cracks beneath the surface became increasingly discernable with the recent Delhi University cut-offs. The unrealistically high marks that students were forced to measure themselves to point towards some of the major problems that afflict the Higher Education system in India. The first step to better comprehending, contextualizing and ultimately overcoming these issues is understanding where Indian colleges and universities stand on a global platform. One of the reputed systems of global benchmarking used the world over is the QS ranking.

At present, our universities rarely make it even to the top 100 in the QS global rankings. This system offers a methodological framework for measuring the performance of educational institutes across the world.

For Indian higher education to be globally accepted it is imperative that India be part of the QS rankings. This will not only structure the way in which teaching and learning outcomes are measured but will also ensure that colleges and universities can be held accountable for the manner in which they impart education. The parameters identified by the QS World University Rankings span six simple metrics that include: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio and international student ratio. When looking at these metrics in greater detail it becomes evident that Indian education is starkly different from the education that is imparted by foreign universities. The Indian education system places much greater emphasis on theoretical and rote learning than it

For Indian higher education to be globally accepted it is imperative that India be part of the QS rankings

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Incorporating the multifarious facets of the NEP points will help develop a new and flexible understanding of education in the country

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does on practical implementation, experimentation and research. The focus is primarily and narrowly placed on simply knowledge and information accumulation, instead of learning how to apply this information in the real world. The QS system places weight age on a more holistic learning experience that acknowledges that much of our world is interconnected and an amalgamation of subjects, techniques and skills provide for the best balance to flourish in today’s day and age.

Despite these differences, however, Indian students learn to not only adjust but do well when they go abroad for their higher education. Through proper guidance provided by the faculty, necessary resources and focus, hard work and determination Indian students are able to overcome the challenges that crop up due to the researchdriven and more practice-based education which they are not accustomed to. This highlights that there is not a lack of talent or skill but simply a need to nurture and hone it. This is where Indian educational institutes come in.

It is vital that these educational spaces provide students with the right kind of guidance, structure and exposure.

The ancient notion of a ‘knowledge of many arts’ or what in modern times is often called the ‘liberal arts’ must be brought back to Indian education, as it is exactly the kind of education that will be required for the 21st century. Imaginative and flexible curricular structures will enable creative combinations of disciplines for study, and would offer multiple entry and exit points, thus, removing currently prevalent rigid boundaries and creating new possibilities for life-long learning. The National Education Policy (NEP) which was approved in July last year offers such a qualitative strengthening of educational institutes. Incorporating the multifarious facets of the NEP points will help develop a new and flexible understanding of education in the country.

A QS ranking system for Indian universities may be the first plausible solution that ensures that colleges hold themselves accountable for the way in which teaching and learning is structured. Even more imperative, however, is focusing on creativity when it comes to education. This not only enables students to learn in a more stimulating environment but it also leads to personal development and growth. Problem-solving, thinking out of the box and an eagerness to accept and understand varied perspectives and perceptions is crucial. As we move forward it is vital we rethink the way in which our universities are structured for ultimately higher education must lead to knowledge creation and innovation and thereby contribute to a growing national economy.

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EXPERT OPINION

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Effects of Online

Education on Mental and Physical Health Shivram Choudhary, Founder, Codevidhya

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he COVID- 19 has caused destruction and devastation worldwide in ways nobody could anticipate. The world in one way or another came to a standstill. Life as we knew it changed. And this change became the new constant.

Educational institutions took to online teaching. Though the start of this change felt rather very enticing for the students.

Not having to rush and get ready to reach the institutions, being in the comfort of their homes, the children were at ease.

However, this peace didn’t last as long. Online education has taken a huge toll on the mental and physical health of students as well as their teachers.

An educationist and visionary in true sense, 40 years old Mr. Shiv Ram Choudhary derives his joy and energy from service to humanity.

Deeply passionate about innovations in education, he firmly believes that school education is the foundation of nation building and if we really want to bring about a positive change, it should happen at this crucial stage. A learner and seeker at heart, he has widely travelled to different countries around the world for several times to attend seminars, conferences and learning visits and bought back the best of practices and integrated them into the school system.

Here’s how online education affected mental health: 1. Lack of interest: Humans are social animals, and the most introverted ones also need to see faces and have human interactions once in a while.

The children have grown to lose interest in their classes.

Most of them switch off the camera and go about their other activities. The lethargy has inculcated the loss of interest in not only the studies but everything overall. The pressure of after-school homework and assignments has triggered a great toll on the mental health and mood.

2. Stress and Anxiety: The concentration levels of students dropped in online learning as the eye meanders elsewhere on the screen. This in response made it difficult for most students to keep up with the teachings. The pressure to concentrate and produce the required results has resulted in a great amount of stress and anxiety. Tasks, assignments, and homework slacked.

Most children were seen lagging behind and succumbing to the pressure. The mental state of the children was fragile and tampered with.

3. Zoom Fatigue: Zoom fatigue refers to the exhaustion after having attended zoom classes, or video conferences. With the screen time increasing drastically, the mind is overwhelmed with information and the brain finds it rather difficult to register all the information.

Over involvement of parents also has added to the pre-existing anxiety and stress. Parents are confined to the walls of their houses and have taken it upon themselves to get extensively involved with their children and their online classes.

Effects of online classes on physical health: 1. Eyesight problems: Increased screen time has increased the strain on the eyes, resulting in major headaches. This was applicable not only to the students but also to teachers.

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The concentration levels of students dropped in online learning as the eye meanders elsewhere on the screen

62 2. Lack of classroom ethics: The classroom ethics have been compromised to great lengths. The posture, regularity, lack of routine, attentiveness has all resulted in health hazards. Constant sitting has caused weight concerns as well. No physical activity has made the students restless and frustrated.

This too took a toll on the eating habits, thus resulting in damages to the physical health.

3. Bad ergonomics: “Human factors and ergonomics is the application of psychological and physiological principles to the engineering and design of products, processes, and systems.”

Studying online has resulted in poor/bad ergonomics, thus resulting in a lot of issues as regards back pain and fibromyalgia pains.

4. Lack of physical activities: The lack of physical activities has caused children to become obese. Thanks to binge eating and watching, it's only gotten worse.

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Muscle spasms, muscle rigidity, and lack of calcium, etc are all based on lack of physical activity.

5. Lack of Vitamin D: Online Education surprisingly has resulted in a lack of Vitamin D. Lack of sunlight, poor diet, and exercise have resulted in more problems than one could anticipate.

6. Calcium deficiency: As weird as it sounds, the lack of physical activity and calcium has resulted in trivial injuries, thus resulting in extensive injuries further.

In conclusion, we can say that Online Education initially started as a great advantage but took a drastic turn and didn’t work so much in the same spirit. With the increased screen time, eyesight issues, headaches, and strain have increased a great deal.

Not only that, children have been acquainted with stress and anxiety from an early age. The parents only add to the pressure. Physical well-being has gone for a complete toss. It is important for us to keep in mind all these aspects to prevent any future harm that might turn into lifelong problems.

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EXPERT OPINION

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What are the Limitations of Psychometric Assessment tools in Finding out a Child’s Hidden Talent?

Sachin Sandhir, Founder & Co-CEO, GENLEAP

CXO OUTLOOK Nov-Dec 2021

T Sachin Sandhir, Founder and Co-CEO, GENLEAP has led a variety of real estate development, consulting, lending, offshoring, education, and SAAS businesses. He has held MD/CEO level positions for the last 18 years. Voted amongst the 40 most influential real estate personalities in India, he is an acknowledged expert and public speaker on Indian real estate. A specialist in building start-ups, he has built four successful businesses both as an entrepreneur as well as a corporate leader.

Prior to GENLEAP, Sachin was the CEO for Valocity India – a fintech in the South Asia market which he has established as the leading digital platform for streamlining valuations for mortgage lending for banks and housing finance companies.

he first ever Indian track and field Olympic gold medallist, Neeraj Chopra was an obese child who was pushed into exercising to escape peer teasing. That he discovered sports and javelin throwing was a sheer dint of fate and not because he showed an inclination towards the sports since childhood.

Award-winning celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor didn’t even know what a chef did and was solely driven towards his unconventional career choice in a bid to do something different. He took to hotel management accidentally as his friend Jasmit Singh had an extra admission form, which he filled out. Rest is history. Kapoor is the host of the popular TV show Khana Khazana, the longest running show of its kind in Asia which was broadcast in 120 countries and in 2010 had more than 500 million viewers.

Even the megastar Rajnikanth was a bus conductor before he tried acting egged-on by a colleague who noticed his talent.

Our surrounding is replete with such examples of talented beings who found their calling by accident or by dint of their destiny and have carved a niche for themselves in their chosen field. What is common in all these successful and inspiring stories is that they decided to try out a field on a whim rather than any recognized abilities.

These stories drive home an important point that at times the distinctive capabilities which we may be endowed with may not reflect in our attitudes and associations. They may be genetic gifts we are born with, or somethings just work out because of the surroundings or environment we find ourselves in. The variable related to finding oneself in a particular environment can be a controlled or uncontrolled factor. And as for our innate abilities, sometimes it becomes difficult to spot them as in the case of let’s say Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra or the celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor. How does one discover these abilities as we may drift away from them owing to certain pressures or simply because of not having any knowledge about them! Identifying these abilities early on and nurturing them can serve as a guiding light to achieve our potential with effortless ease.

It is common knowledge that we can accurately measure weight of a person by using a weighing scale or height of a person using a stadiometer. But how do we measure our innate abilities? this is where popularly psychometric stepsin.

It is a set of measuring methods that is used to identify, describe or check data or psychic behaviour. Psychometrics is a scientific field that delves in the theory and techniques of testing personality traits and cognitive ability via different assessments, measurements, and models. It is widely used in several fields, such as education, psychology, psychiatry, and recruitment to assess cognitive ability, personal traits, and mental health status. It has become a standard hiring practice in recent times and many companies use such tests as part of their recruitment and hiring process. It can be a powerful tool for assessing the strengths and abilities of candidates.

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Psychometric testing originated in the early 20th century and the concept was propounded by French psychologist Alfred Binet who undertook the first psychology test in 1905.

Psycho-educational tests are widely employed when it comes to understanding a child’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses. It serves as a guiding light in assessing a child’s

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With the advancements in Machine learning (ML) and other technologies there has been greater accuracy and result-orientedness to these psychometric tests, making them more useful

intellectual ability and academic achievement testing. The tests usually comprise of a variety of questions, puzzles, drawings, stories and games.

However, psychometric testing has its own share of disadvantages as evident by the celebrity examples above is not a fool proof method to assess innate abilities of a child.

Even though these tests have been accepted they cannot be used in isolation as the scores are open to subjective

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interpretation and testing parameters such as environment, culture and may not always elicit accurate results.

Challenges and disadvantages in psychometric testing The challenges with psychometric assessments are that they are impacted by the current state of mind that the respondent may be in. This impacts the overall personality and behaviours that an aspirant depicts in the assessment at that point of time. There are inborn traits which we are born with which comes from your DNA and there are acquired traits that a person becomes as a result of the environment that a person is exposed to. This is the real nature and nurture debate. Psychometric assessments can be effective too but typically depict the current state and has a reference point of 1 to 3 years.

The effectiveness of psychometric testing has often been questioned because of a test-taker’s ability to answer in a socially desirable manner or not being entirely true to their knowledge. It has often been argued that psychometric tests can cover a candidate’s real personality. Those undergoing psychometric tests can have misleading answers owing to anxiety or due to distractions caused by the test environment. The answers given by a child can therefore be marred with anxiety diminishing their importance. The lack of the right training can be a hindrance to making the most of psychometric tests.

These tests are often implemented by people who are not adequately trained to interpret and use them.

Not the end of the road for psychometric testing but it tells half the story at best With the advancements in Machine learning (ML) and other technologies there has been greater accuracy and result-orientedness to these psychometric tests, making them more useful. A combination of different testing methods is clearly the way ahead. Combination of different methods such as genetic decoding, use of psychometrics and astronomical prediction can really prove to be the way forward. Backed by innumerable data points and digital mapping of all possible streams can help a person not only choose the right career but also stay on track.

Understanding one’s hidden talent may not be easy.

But with the combination of right tools and techniques it is possible to find out what’s best for your child and which path to embark on for a fulfilling and happy life.

Just as a famous cosmetic brand’s tagline sums it up admirably by saying “Maybe she is born with it”, let’s try and find what our child is born with.

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