HED - Influential Leaders in Indian Education

INDIA EDITION MOST-INFLUENTIAL LEADERS IN INDIAN EDUCATION

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An Epitome of Determination and Perseverance Dr. Puttaraju, SJBIT

Going beyond the Generic Norms of Education

Meghna Ghai Puri

Dr. B A Anuradha, Al-Ameen Institute of Management Studies

WHISTLING WOODS INTERNATIONAL

JULY 2020

REVAMPING CINEMA THROUGH ACADEMICS

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Higher Education Digest July 2020

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Higher Education Digest July 2020

July 2020

Vol - 2 Issue - 9

Education Leaders Special (India Edition) Editor in Chief

Dr. Manoj Varghese

Managing Editor Rose Mary

Consultant Editors

Dr. Johny Andrews Anjana K Shyam S

Navya Venkatesh Stanly Lui Emma James

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Art and Design Ajay K Das

Sales & Marketing

Jyoti Kumari Prathyoosh K Shaji

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Arati Waghmare George Abraham

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Higher Education Digest July 2020 March 2019

MANAGING EDITOR’S NOTE

From Educator to Leader

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ith the COVID-19 unlock process slowly unfolding, all sectors are tracing their steps back to normalcy, except education. The Indian education territory has travelled leaps and bounds within the last few months. The domain has realized that learning can be achieved wherever, whenever, and at all levels.

There has been an exciting flurry of activities; integrating technology at its core, equipping teachers to use the said technology to teach, and advising students on how to best navigate through avant-garde forms of learning. While some educators found the transition easy, others not so much. Those that did find it easy were the ones who were already at the forefront of innovation and change. And this issue, “10 Most-Influential Leaders in Indian Education” is a celebration of some of these leaders.

5 This issue also includes articles on relevant topics like applying for college admission in the times of a pandemic and COVID-19 as a catalyst for a degree in Data Science.

Informative reads on how to effectively chart a roadmap for professional planning and your career choices for the current century also pop up in the upcoming pages.

As we take leave of you, hoping you enjoy this informative and educative read, we would also like to remind that although the country has lifted its lockdown, we must still be watchful and mindful of our daily activities. Wear a mask, sanitize frequently and wash your hands. But most importantly, lend a helping hand to those who need it. We shall overcome together.

Happy Reading!

Rose Mary

Higher Education Digest July 2020

ADVISORY BOARD 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. Program Director, MS in Management Program, GSATM - AU

Dr. Venus M. Alboruto, PhD, Master Teacher, Researcher, Innovator, Trainer.

6 Major General (Rtd.) Dr. Sunil Chandra, VSM (Vishishta Seva Medal), Ph.D, M. Phil, MA, M.Ed, PGBDA Ex-M D Army Welfare Education Society, ExCOO GEMS Education - India, Ex- Addl Dir Gen - Army Education, Mentor - Adventure-Pulse

Dr. Ajay Shukla, Ph.D, MBA, BE.

Mr. Sreedhar Bevara, MBA, B.Com

Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Higher Education UAE

Senior General Manager: Panasonic Middle East & Africa, Thought Leader, Speaker & Author of ‘Moment of Signal’ (Amazon’s International Bestseller)

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

Shanthi Rajan (MSHRM, FHEA, AMCILT) Director, Institution Development, University of Stirling, RAK Campus, UAE.

Higher Education Digest July 2020

Senior Director HR. Head HR group Samsung R&D Institute India,Transformative HR Leader, Change agent, Digitization facilitator, Engagement architect, Trainer and Diversity champion.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Suramya Mathai, Ph.D,M.Ed,MA,BA. Teachers Training Expert, Writer, Author, Speaker & Social Worker

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Higher Education Digest July 2020

CONTENTS COVER STORY

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MEGHNA

GHAI PURI R E VA M P I N G CINEMA T H RO U G H ACA D E M I C S

26 - 28 DR. B A ANURADHA

Going Beyond the Generic Norms of Education

40 - 45 DR. PUTTARAJU

An Epitome of Determination and Perseverance

Planning Professional Education?

COVID-19 as a Catalyst for a Degree in Data Science/AI Replacing Traditional BE or B.Tech Dr. Sundar Raj Vijayanagar, Professor of Digital Business, IFIM-B School

Dr. Varun Gupta, Educationalist, India Peace Ambassador, Entrepreneur and Education advisor to the State of Africa African Diaspora

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ACADEMIC VIEW

ACADEMIC VIEW

MENTOR’S MANTRA

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10 Things Students should look for in Universities for a Unique Undergraduate Experience Prof. Maya Dodd, Asst. Dean, Teaching, Learning and Engagement, FLAME University

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

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MENTOR’S MANTRA

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Preparing for College Admissions During Lockdown

Career Choices in the 21st Century Mohammed Zeeshan, Co-founder & CEO, MyCaptain

Syed Masood, Managing Director, Heritage Institute of Management and Communication (HIMCOM)

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Higher Education Digest July 2020

Underlining the Importance of Being Online

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rom classrooms that banned mobile phones, and anything that had remotely got to do with technology, a mere couple of years back, today we cannot imagine a lesson being conducted without mobile phones and technology. If our parents, teachers and elders had a love-hate relationship towards technology, of late they have resolved their issues.

Technology has permeated our life like nothing else ever has. As we stand on this cusp of educational revolution, which was largely due to the pandemic, there are a lot of facets that need to be understood.

The outcome of a good education is three-pronged: to provide knowledge in the relevant discipline, impart skills needed for jobs/enterprises, and mould a character that plays a constructive role in shaping the society and the world at large. In a country as diverse as India, the delivery of tech-driven education cannot follow a one-size-fits-all approach. It is also important to remember that education is not only about tech; it is also about learning, interaction, and developing soft skills and social capital, which only traditional schools can provide. When we shift to online education, ample attention needs to be paid on how we impart it. Will students go through digital resources made available to them at their pace or will they be interacting with the teachers in real-time live online classes, discussing what they have already studied from guided online resources?

It is best to say that a blend of offline-online learning should be the path for the future. After all, a great teacher is one who can teach Calculus with a paper clip and literature in an empty field. Because technology is just another tool, not a destination.

In this issue of Higher Education Digest, “10 MostInfluential Leaders in Indian Education�, we are showcasing some of the top educators of the country who have influenced the lives of many students, and in the process the Indian education system, through their teachings, actions and acumen. While this list is by no means comprehensive, we hope that it illuminates the need for more versatile educators.

We are optimistic that within the next couple of years we will see more such educational visionaries, elevating the Indian Higher Education domain to a world-class level.

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Name

Designation

Institute

Dr. Anand A. Samuel

Vice Chancellor

Vellore Institute of Technology

Dr. Anubhuti Dwivedi

Director

Asian Business School

Dr. B A Anuradha

Principal

Al-Ameen Institute of Management Studies

Dr. D. Srikanth Rao

Director

MIT Manipal

Prof. J Mahender Reddy

Vice Chancellor

ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education

Prof. Meghna Ghai Puri

President

Whistling Woods International

Vice Chancellor

Chitkara University

Principal

R V College of Architecture

Dr. P. D. Patil

Chancellor

Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth

Dr. Puttaraju

Principal

SJBIT

Dr. Madhu Chitkara

Dr. O. P. Bawane

Higher Education Digest July 2020

Higher Education Digest December January 2019 2020

MEGHNA 14

GHAI PURI

R E VA M P I N G C I N E M A T H RO U G H ACA D E M I C S

By Rose Mary

Higher Education Digest July 2020

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he primary purpose of education is as a vehicle for personal growth and change. Education teaches us values, imparts wisdom, exposes us to new perspectives, and drives us to develop our beliefs and opinions by constantly challenging them. Women have always played a critical role in the advancement of education in India. What’s changed in recent years is the recognition and appreciation they’ve received for decades of effort. Women play leading roles across the ecosystem, serving as principals, administrators, and professors in every academic domain. They have also made the jump from leading academic institutes to actively shaping educational policies at the state and national level, bringing a keen insight to the task that’s long been overdue.

Meghna Ghai Puri grew up watching her father, Subhash Ghai, create masterpieces on the big screen. She saw what good movies do for the public, as movies can drive home a point more effectively than any other medium. Mr. Ghai was first a teacher at heart and then a filmmaker. “My family has always served as the key source of strength and inspiration in my life. This is especially true of my father. When he first entered the Hindi film industry, he had no one to mentor him”, quips Meghna.

He dreamt of setting up a place of learning where like minds share their experiences to create a generation art wizards. He called for Meghna, who was in the UK at the time, to start working on such an institution. She immediately returned home to fulfill her father’s dream, and along the journey his dream became hers. “My father had always dreamt of building a film school. It was a promise that he had made to himself when he had first started working in the industry. So, it has always been his dream and vision, and I was lucky enough to see it through to fruition”, says Meghna. Thus, was born, Whistling Woods International.

Meghna Ghai Puri grew up watching her father, Subhash Ghai, create masterpieces on the big screen. She saw what good movies do for the public, as movies can drive home a point more effectively than any other medium

Higher Education Digest July 2020

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Higher Education Digest July 2020

Having planned a number of key developments for the coming year, WWI aims to train a new generation of students with an entirely new skillset, furthering the development of the Indian Film Industry

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Bringing Dreams to Life When she flew down from the UK to join the 4-member team, Whistling Woods International (WWI) was just in the ideation stage. It took 6 years for them to come with the proper blueprint of what their vision would look like. “In those 6 years, we visited several film schools all over the world and spent years putting a world-class curriculum together. We worked vigorously to make this a state-of-the-art institution. A lot of time was invested in the research and planning of the entire infrastructure. We worked together for everything, be it the architectural design of the building to course curriculum design, finalizing the faculties, marketing, finance, HR, etc. Then we finally took in our first batch in 2006. It soon became my core team and my responsibility to take it to the next level and to make his dream come true. In the process of doing so, his dream became mine. It has been a journey full of ups and downs and I have cherished every moment of it,” she recalls.

Today, Meghna sits as the President of Whistling Woods International, keeping alive her father’s fire for creating art champions. “At Whistling Woods International, we encourage our students to push their academic and artistic limits and make the most of their time in academia. WWI is perhaps the only film, communication, and creative arts institute in India that adopts a holistic approach towards education.

Through our various schools, we always try to equip our students with the latest theoretical and practical advancements, while exposing them to a wide range of opinions and viewpoints through regular masterclasses

Higher Education Digest July 2020

Working Within the Society, For the Society Whistling Woods International, through its course of operation for the past decade, has proudly associated with several NGOs, namely, Salaam Baalak Trust & Aseema to offer a scholarship to underprivileged students who are extremely passionate about making their careers in the media and entertainment industry.

The institute has also partnered with initiatives like Laadli - A Population First Initiative, creating awareness about gender equality, women empowerment, female foeticide and cherishing every child; KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, sensitizing the larger public about LGBT issues; and Be The Change - Varija Life Initiative, spreading awareness about the abilities of the physically & mentally disabled individuals and including them in the mainstream society.

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and workshops conducted by industry experts. Our student body is also exceedingly diverse – something that we actively encourage – with students from across India and world associating with each other and exchanging ideas and opinions. All of this is complemented by our faculty, who are some of the finest minds in their respective fields, and continuously work to open the minds of those they teach,” says Meghna Ghai.

From being rated amongst the Ten Best Films Schools in the world by The Hollywood Reporter, to being called as one of the ‘Top Institutes of Influence’ globally by Forbes India, WWI has been at the receiving end of numerous national and international accolades for their achievements. Of all the awards and recognitions the institution has garnered under Meghna’s capable leadership, she considers the success of WWI alumni as the greatest achievement. Today, the institute’s 2200+ alumni body includes highly successful professionals playing key roles in India’s rapidly growing Film, Media, Entertainment, and Creative Arts industry and working in various creative arts industries around the world.

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Redefining Traditional Education Having studied in India and the UK, where she did the International Baccalaureate in high school and study Management at Kings College London, Meghna is no stranger to the shifts in education in India and abroad.

She says, “The biggest recent development in the Indian education sector has been the Draft National Education Policy (NEP) 2019. The introduction of new educators is bound to have a net positive impact on the sector.

Their arrival will be accompanied by an infusion of funds, allowing for world-class teachers to be recruited and trained.”

She further adds that E-learning and digitization have opened new and exciting pathways within the education sector allowing a vast number of people to attain knowledge and qualifications. “Whistling Woods International has always been at the forefront of advancing the education sector, and we’ve done so in this instance as well with the introduction of the WWI Virtual Academy. Our pioneering e-learning platform offers video-based courses across multiple creative fields.

Through the melding of technology with our unique teaching methodologies, the WWI Virtual Academy allows aspirants from across the country the opportunity to explore a career in the creative arts through a flexible, state-of-the-art curriculum”, opines Meghna.

Needless to say, due to the strong bond that the fatherdaughter duo share, Meghna holds her father as her mentor.

Higher Education Digest July 2020

She also holds her mother, who has helped her build a solid value system, as her pillar of support. “If I had to pick someone from outside my family, it would have to be former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. An intelligent, forceful woman, she reached the heights of political success in a profession and era dominated by men. Her steely resolution, her determination to do what she felt was right, and her unwillingness to back down in the face of adversity are all fantastic traits and have been a constant source of inspiration throughout my career,” she comments.

Developing the Industry through Academics The Indian movie industry has time and again showed the need for a place of learning, where students are pushed out of their comfort zones to test the limits of their creative thinking ability and can return to their roots to create art that showcases brilliance. WWI constantly strives to improve the quality as well as the scope of its educational offerings in service of films, communication, and creative arts industry of India. Having planned a number of key developments for the coming year, WWI aims to train a new generation of students with an entirely new skillset, furthering the development of the Indian Film Industry.

Speaking of women empowerment, Meghna says that perhaps the greatest single obstacle preventing women from progressing to leadership roles is an inherent societal bias against women in positions of power. This is despite the fact that over the past decades, women have thoroughly eradicated any doubts that may have existed about our capabilities. This bias prevents women from receiving the recognition they are due and serves as a constant hindrance throughout their careers. Encouraging every working woman to write your own rules, reach for success with both hands, and never lose faith in yourself, Meghna iterates that no matter the circumstances, the only person with the power to shape your future is you.

“I am proud to be a part of the women tribe who have made great strides in recent decades, and I eagerly look forward to the day when we don’t need to discuss the difference between men and women anymore. The present-day urban woman is independent, strong-willed, and knows their mind. Maintaining a steady career and family is empowering for a woman and boosts their self-esteem. My only advice to every woman would be, people will tell you what to do; it is your decision in the end. Most importantly do what you love and love what you do. There is nothing more fulfilling than to be doing something that makes you happy,” she concludes.

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Higher Education Digest July 2020

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Career Choices in the 21st Century Mohammed Zeeshan, Co-founder & CEO, MyCaptain

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one are the days when people thought that the only career choices available are becoming an Engineer, a Doctor or a CA. With the constantly evolving industries around the world, finally some lucrative career streams are coming into limelight. India is evolving and how Careers are looked upon also will have to evolve in the process. I believe while young people might have heard about such things or come across them, there is still a huge gap in the “how” of actually taking the step. And then there are societal prejudices.

Following your passion, career or both?

Educators like me, who believe in looking at 21st century requirements and how young people can get jobs in the same way, believe in one thing indefinitely—This is the age of multipotentiality and multidisciplinary experience. What I mean by that is that in each modern-day profession that you come across, you won’t be doing just one thing. You need to have your feet in multiple boats and understand different disciplines.

Liberal arts are one such example that marries disciplines and creates new age professionals, who not only can follow their passions but also make a living out of it.

Exploring career options Take your classic example of becoming an Entrepreneur. Everyone wants to be their own boss, but entrepreneurship is a lot more than just that. India as a country seems to be realizing that. In 2019 alone more than 1300 startups launched themselves in India. I, like many educators, think that Entrepreneurship should be introduced to students at an early age. It opens new gates of imagination, opportunities and achievements. To take the leap to become an Entrepreneur is to start.

Higher Education Digest July 2020

Digital platforms have made it easier for creative geniuses to showcase their work to a massive audience easily

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Mohammed Zeeshan

Mohammed Zeeshan’s vision has always been to impact education and bring a societal mindset shift when it comes to careers in India and all across the World, and MyCaptain is a step towards this. He comes from a B. Tech Mechanical Engineering background and has a keen interest in Policy, Education, and Impact. In 2017-18, UNESCO invited him to Jakarta to help design the Education Policy for girls in STEM fields. Under UCLA Berkley’s Program, Zeeshan was also invited to Jordan to facilitate Entrepreneurship Development amongst young students. Zeeshan is a GSEP scholar and a 4 times TEDx speaker and has delivered guest lectures at esteemed Colleges like IIM Bangalore, Symbiosis Pune, amongst others. Zeeshan believes that every student has the right to not just information but also empowerment when it comes to choosing a field of Career. According to him, the time is ripe to start concentrating on Offbeat careers, as even parents, who are generally the decision-makers in these cases, are evolving.

Higher Education Digest July 2020

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Mohammed Zeeshan

This is the age of multipotentiality and multidisciplinary experience

Higher Education Digest July 2020

Someone also called the 21st century, the century of Content. The world runs on content.

Every brand is working on strengthening their communication with clients, and every brand wants creative people, both in full time and freelance jobs. I think this is one of the best times for a writer or designer in terms of putting themselves out there. The more you can marry content alone, the more you advance yourself in this industry. You start as a writer maybe, but then also write scripts and work on videos. Add a little bit of design understanding and sense to that, and viola - you could be an online content creator, a content consultant, a valuable asset to any content team, or even the head of the team itself.

Photography and Short film making are quite booming careers, especially as freelancers right now. Digital platforms have made it easier for creative geniuses to showcase their work to a massive audience easily.

The argument against social media goes: “It causes mental health deterioration for many”, for some it is “scary sometimes”. Let us talk about mental health a little. India has 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 population. Now that is scary. According to statistics we need at least 3 psychiatrists per 100,000 population, but every year only 700 psychology majors complete their postgraduate across the country.

Does a society need more engineers than mental health specialists? I do not think so.

Psychology is not only an enthralling field, it’s a noble one as well. Take the leap.

Stepping up the ladder While it is important to have your basic education in place in order to meet industry protocols, there are many ways to explore various Career Opportunities. The most readily available and cost-effective way is to go for Online courses in the field of your interest. There are plenty of paid as well as free programs available for students.

Along with learning the fundamentals of the profession, it is equally important to understand the real-life opportunities in your field, and that is when quality mentoring comes into the picture. Mentoring will help you get started with your career.

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GOING BEYOND THE GENERIC NORMS OF EDUCATION DR. B A ANURADHA

Higher Education Digest July 2020

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ducation is all about learning new things.

Enabling the development of both sides of our brain for complete personality development, Education is in dire need of shifting from remembering to understanding, accepting to questioning, and reading to reflecting. An effort should be made to focus on bringing about a positive learning outcome, critical thinking, communication skills, deeper learning, problem-solving abilities, teamwork, social awareness, moral awareness, innovation, and creativity.

Teachers should be motivated to promote learner-independence and to facilitate learners to achieve autonomy. Encouraging learners to reflect on their work, to evaluate their study habits, to write commentaries on their approach, etc. Throughout, learners must learn to work as members of a team, involving other members from a related team and engage in dialogues related to the subject-specific content.

Moving from a “time-based model” to an “outcome-based” learning approach, focusing on credit acquired rather than the number of lectures, would end the current situation where Indian employers are missing out on highly educated and motivated graduates while talented young people are missing out on opportunities.

Bringing about that change in the education sector, Dr. Anuradha, Principal of Al-Ameen Institute of Management Studies, strives to elevate the institute’s academic reputation, through enhancing the qualities students already have by providing individual attention to students. She believes that scaling the performance of students in their areas of interest would certainly facilitate enhancing the brand equity of the Al-Ameen Institute of Management Studies in 2020.

Jumping through the hurdles An MBA graduate, Dr. Anuradha is very passionate about teaching. Despite being mocked by her fellow graduates for declining the plum offers she received from corporate houses through campus placements, she paid no heed to them and

chose to pursue her passion for teaching without any regrets. She comments, “I am in this field by choice, not a chance.”

Starting as a Lecturer at the Administrative Management College, Bangalore, in 1996, Dr. Anuradha became a part of the Al-Ameen Institute of Management Studies in 1996 and has been a part of the family since then. Lecturer at first, Dr. Anuradha drew her Career Graph and is currently serving as the Principal of the institute.

Seeing situations as a challenge and not a difficulty, Dr. Anuradha has programmed herself to tackle these obstacles with ease. During her time in MBA, the professors had oriented them to digest challenges. They would say that hurdles that come in the way are food for professional managers, and one would end up hungry if they didn’t tackle them daily. “My system is so tuned to tackling problems of varying magnitude on a daily basis that my homeostasis gets disrupted if I do not have to face any challenge on a particular day. Being a woman, it is a tight rope walk for me to balance my work and family, and that itself is an obstacle which I have successfully overcome over two decades now”, opines Dr. Anuradha.

Envisioning a Brighter Future Aspiring to help her institute to be at the forefront when it comes to Management Studies with a global and dynamic outlook, Dr. Anuradha aims to continually expand and define new frontiers of Management Education and its implications in the corporate world. She also envisions to help Al-Ameen Institute of Management to be the best vendor of ethical and value-added human capital for the development of the corporate and Industry Economy through Quality Training and Continuous Learning. As an educational leader, Dr. Anuradha ensures that all their resources are channelized productively in accomplishing this mission in the pursuit of realizing the vision.

Advocating students to aim for the stars, while keeping their feet on the ground, the students are prepped to always have a “Plan B” in all their decision making processes that

Higher Education Digest July 2020

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Awards and Recognition • Conferred “Nalapad Woman of Worth Award” for administration by N A Haris Foundation in association with Confident Group & Baby Sutra on the occasion of International Women’s Day in 2020.

• Conferred “International Golden Achievers Award” by The Global Achievers Foundation in association with International Business Council, in 2019 at Moscow during the International Summit.

• Conferred “Women Achiever Award” by Lions Club International in 2019.

• Felicitated on the occasion of International Women’s Day by BWSSB in 2019.

• Peace Governor Award of Excellence in 2016 by World Peace & Diplomacy Organization and CIAC Global (Confederation of International Accreditation Commission).

• Conferred the “Chanakya Award 2012”, from Public Relations Council of India for “Academic Excellence”, presented by Mrs. Rajashree Birla at Mumbai.

• Conferred the Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed Khan Award for Distinguished Community Service in 2011, by Al-Ameen Educational Society.

• Conferred Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed Khan’s “Best Teacher Award” in 2010 by

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Almas Education Trust.

• Conferred the “Award of Excellence” in 2009, by the Rotary Club on International Women’s Day.

are done with taking realistic resources and constraints into consideration. Dr. Anuradha advises her students to never be let down by failure but flaunt them as a learning experience.

Most of the MBA graduates suffer from “Perception Performance Paradox”; wherein the MBAs have a Perception about their capabilities, which might not match with their Performance. This gap between Deserve and Desire needs to be understood and bridged. One needs to distinguish between the buildings of the institute and institute building. Benchmarking with the best B- Schools, institutes now need a curriculum that incorporates practical knowledge, critical thinking, thorough reading, writing, research discussions and debates, emotional intelligence, stimulating experiential learning, self-awareness, and outof-the-box thinking.

Higher Education Digest July 2020

Also, B-Schools need to hone a student’s ability to pull available data and make decisions and to work with teams as a good team player. They need to have an eclectic mix of Academicians who are Though Leaders, and Industry Experts who are Action Leaders to teach a course. Dr. Anuradha adds, “The pedagogy needs to be more of blended learning having the right mix of online courses and classroom contact hours. Students must get exposure to a range of real-world scenarios from the grassroots in villages to the corner offices in glass buildings.”

Advising the future generation of India, Dr. Anuradha concludes, “Youngsters need to embrace Ethics, Integrity and Corporate Spirituality to be successful in the long run.

Youngsters need to instill in their minds the fact that ethics isn’t something one can just put on like a raincoat when the weather gets stormy.”

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Higher Education Digest July 2020

ACADEMIC VIEW

Planning Professional Education?

Dr. Varun Gupta, Educationalist, India Peace Ambassador, Entrepreneur and Education advisor to the State of Africa African Diaspora

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formalized approach to specialized training in professional institutes or schools is termed as Professional Education. It helps the trainee to acquire theoretical knowledge and learn to apply techniques. Professional education is mainly based on practical knowledge along with values basic to professional discipline.

Professional education is designed in such a way that it helps you attain a level of competence that is necessary for a professional career; and it also makes you responsible for the continued development of competence. The idea revolves around understanding the concepts, principles, and techniques and learning to apply them in practice professionally. With time evolving advancing the professional knowledge and working on improving the standards of practice is an important aspect in the industry.

Advancements in technology have taken the competitions in the job field to the next level, more competitive than ever, which requires the need to evolve alongside them.

So, if you are planning for a professional career and moving a step ahead towards acquiring professional education, then you are at the right place.

Here are exclusive 10 tips that will help you in your professional career planning.

1. Do not be afraid to make a unique choice At every point of life, you must allow yourself for choices. Adults are allowed to make choices about their learning. When we take responsibility for our own learning, we become more active. This quality further helps you in your professional career when the time comes where you have to make a responsible choice.

Higher Education Digest July 2020

The more diversified and involved you are with your work, the better you find out what your true passion is

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Dr. Varun Gupta

Dr. Varun Gupta, an Educationist and Entrepreneur, poised to leverage educational qualification and experience towards steering a successful career as an Educator and Entrepreneur with higher learning institutions has offered immensely to the world of Education and Trade sector alike. Currently, he is the Executive Vice President at On Sky Global and Chief Operating Officer, a USA and UK based institution respectively, engaged in imparting skill-based job ready career programs in various capacities. Dr. Varun has touched the lives of more than 2,00,000 people and has travelled to more than 50 countries to spread the light of leadership, motivation, and guidance under the umbrella of education, skills training, public administration good governance, etc. by placing oneself as a renowned edupreneur in India.

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Too many people avoid working with people who have different approaches to the situation than they have and that is a huge mistake

Higher Education Digest July 2020

2. Plan and Prepare The key to success in professional development lies heavily on your planning process. Being clear about your purpose is the first thing that matters. In order to achieve your goals and objectives, you must plan and decide how to use resources and overcome your constraints and be prepared for the outcome.

3. Understanding and Admitting Your Weaknesses To develop yourself both personally and professionally as a student, the first step is to understand what needs to be developed. Selfreflection is a crucial point while moving forward into professional life. You must learn how to overcome your weaknesses and not get depressed by them. Proper planning and practice help you succeed in this field.

4. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone It is rightly said by Roy T. Bennett, “You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

Many of us like to stay in our own comfort zone, which seizes our opportunities to explore.

Getting out of the comfort zone only gets better with practice, experience, and hard work. Professional life requires getting out of your comfort zone from time to time. It helps you to ramp up our focus and creativity. It also helps you to respond to life stress at unexpected times.

5. Learn to adjust with people you do not match with Too many people avoid working with people who have different approaches to the situation than they have and that is a huge mistake. In Fact, having people with different mindset than you help you grow and expand your ability in any field. Professional career is all about working with different personalities which provides challenges at every step making you more refined in the end.

6. Find a Mentor who can guide you properly Finding a mentor is an important aspect as it pushes you closer to your career development goal. It creates opportunities, and it is great because you will get to know different perspectives. Mentors get you one step closer towards your goal by preparing

you for the better and guiding you to build better professional networks.

7. Diversify Your Work Experiences The more diversified and involved you are with your work, the better you find out what your true passion is. If you excel in a particular thing, it is time to advance that speciality and elevate the way you do things. It will help diversify your experiences and also help you develop your professional skills.

8. Networking outside professional bubble A great thing to start with is volunteering.

Creating opportunities other than professional work get you outside of your professional bubble and network with places and people that are great to connect with. It gives you confidence and better achievement in life. It is an important step towards getting out of your comfort zone that will broaden up your skill set and help you expand your professional network.

9. Do not allow yourself into a career corner In today’s rapidly evolving workplace where you can grow and find what you love to do, you should not hesitate in changing your career path or your earlier interests. Assess your interests, values, and skills and consider alternative careers. Once you start off your professional career, you will find a lot more choices and thus you are able to choose the career of your choice.

10. Research, Read & Be Aware Awareness of recent activities going around has a positive impact on your career. It helps you understand and learn about skills you need to enhance, and you will be able to showcase, if you were in that situation of leadership. Emulating the people that you look up to is a step forward towards self-development. Reading, researching and being intellectual with your learning practices helps you gain intangible qualities needed to reach your career goals.

Thus, do not wait for things to happen. Make them happen! Go out and explore all the career options that suit you and help you become a professional!

Learn from each experience and you can achieve the success you have always dreamed of.

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Higher Education Digest July 2020

MENTOR’S MANTRA

10 Things Students should look for in Universities for a Unique Undergraduate Experience Prof. Maya Dodd, Asst. Dean, Teaching, Learning and Engagement, FLAME University

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ith the Covid-19 pandemic forcing countries to suspend international flights and implement successive lockdowns, college students looking to pursue their degrees abroad have been in a fix. Indian students, who form one of the largest groups studying at foreign locations, are particularly staring at an uncertain academic future.

However, not all is lost. Away from the limelight, Indian universities have been steadily building their campuses and capacities in order to meet global standards. They can now deliver what students have been eyeing on foreign shores. Apart from obvious reasons such as fewer costs and more familiarity, here are the top ten reasons why undergrads should consider applying to Indian universities – • Multidisciplinary Learning Indian universities are increasingly putting students in the driver’s seat and allowing them to choose from a wider range of courses. Considering the growing diversity of economic fields and opportunities, universities have also increased the number of offered courses, subjects, and electives, along with opportunities to avail liberal education with more options for interdisciplinary learning. Recognizing the importance of multidisciplinary exposure for all-round development and success in today’s increasingly complex world, the National Education Policy has also proposed integrating liberal education in the current higher education system.

• Learner Centricity through Digital Capabilities Way back in 2003, the UGC explored digital technologies to impart a personalized curriculum and prescriptive learning in order to boost

Higher Education Digest July 2020

The improved infrastructure has greatly improved on-campus life in India

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Prof. Maya Dodd

Dr. Maya Dodd completed her Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University, where her dissertation, “Archives of Indian Democracy� focused on technologies of witnesses since the Emergency of 1975-77. Subsequently, she also completed postdoctoral fellowships at the Centre for the Study of Law and Governance at JNU, and with the Committee for South Asian Studies at Princeton University. Prior to that, she received her B.A in English Literature from St. Xaviers College, University of Mumbai. She also taught Rhetoric and Composition while receiving an M.A. in English from the University of Florida and also during her graduate study at Stanford University. Since 2007, she has been at FLAME University and currently serves as the Assistant Dean for Teaching, Learning, and Engagement. At FLAME, she has also served as the Chair of the Department of Humanities and Languages, and the FLAME Centre for South Asia. At FLAME she teaches Literary and Cultural Studies and offers several interdisciplinary courses such as Cybercultures, Digital Humanities (DH), South Asian Cultural Studies, and Indian Intellectual History.

Higher Education Digest July 2020

Prof. Maya Dodd

38 In order to enable India’s young demographic to compete globally, Indian universities are stepping up efforts to expose students to more global trends, practices, challenges, and cultures learner-centricity and began the process of incorporating such technologies into education. Before the pandemic, universities were allowed to conduct up to 20% of courses in the online mode. However, the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns have accelerated the digitalization process, with the government now allowing universities to conduct 40% courses – double the earlier – online.

Universities are also trying to adapt to the gaps in Internet access in India by trying to offer pre-recorded classes that require low bandwidth and connectivity for viewing.

Higher Education Digest July 2020

• Fundamental Skills A strong foundation ensures that students write well, communicate effectively, think critically, develop and empathy and feel for the world around them. Global citizenship comes from a strong education in these fundamentals. Recognizing this, both government and universities are focusing on imparting fundamental skills – both soft and hard – to make students more employable.

Vocational courses are being revamped, and extra classes for communication skills, networking techniques, and IT skills are offered both on and off campuses.

• Improving Assessment Structure The assessment structure is also undergoing changes as more and more universities are moving from the rote-learning-one-exam pattern to continuous, all-round assessments, focusing on innovation, grasping, and applicability. This structure is further backed by active learning which not only equips the students to tackle the assessment structure but also prepares them to handle original, real-life challenges.

• Faculties and Mentors In order to enable India’s young demographic to compete globally, Indian universities are stepping up efforts to expose students to more global trends, practices, challenges, and cultures. They are increasingly hiring a talented faculty that has not only high scholarship but also global exposure and outlook from which the students can benefit.

Such faculty are sourced from all over the world, many of them being Indians who have studied abroad. Through such faculty, the best resources and opportunities become available for students.

Professors increasingly participate in mentoring students through research collaborations, teaching or extracurricular activities, and help them build character and make professional choices.

• Experiential Learning Many universities are encouraging students to learn ‘out of the book’. Hands-on engagement with communities, technologies, firms, and institutions across the country is getting integrated into university curricula. A plethora of pedagogical practices like field visits, in-depth interviews, research, and interns, as well as unconventional activities such as archival documentation and filming/recording, are now regarded as enrichments to the learning process and encouraged. This kind of experimental learning is particularly bridging vast cultural gaps within India, and also between Indian and foreign universities.

• Research Perhaps the largest area of reform in India’s higher education is academic research. Once considered to be the exclusive domain of postgraduate education, research has quickly seeped into undergraduate education as well. Even higher secondary education has begun to respond to this development in colleges

and universities by introducing students of XI and XII standards to research methodologies through hands-on projects. Apart from updated libraries and access to online knowledge repositories, universities are also connecting their students to various prestigious journals and encouraging them to not only read them but also publish in them.

The UGC has declared a number of fellowships and scholarships for academic research in almost all disciplines. While the fellowship stipend is modest, it is now comparable to average salaries in the private sector.

• Infrastructure Universities are also improving their infrastructure with two objectives – one, to make Indian students globally competitive with access to knowledge and resources of global standards, and two, to attract students from abroad and internationalize the campus. To achieve both, universities are increasingly investing in stateof-the-art facilities for sports, performance and fine arts, cultural activities, conferences, student support, research centers, labs, and international collaborations and connectivity.

• Residential Life The improved infrastructure has greatly improved on-campus life in India. Indian universities now offer the campus experience most students go abroad for. They provide ample space for peer learning and peer mentoring and establish strong alumni networks that support students even after they graduate. Such an atmosphere not only helps students to grow but also makes college a beautiful experience.

• The Experience of Studying Abroad Thanks to increasing foreign collaborations, Indian students can have an international experience while being enrolled in Indian institutions. Many foreign universities, from the best in Business Schools to Ivy League Universities, have signed MoUs with good universities in India. This translates to a meaningful tuition neutral arrangement for students in India too, who often get to spend a semester studying abroad with their credits transferred.

Further, with more foreign students choosing Indian campuses, Indian students can get a taste of an international campus without going abroad.

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AN EPITOME OF DETERMINATION AND PERSEVERANCE 40

DR. PUTTARAJU

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ccording to Molière, the famous French playwright, ‘The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it’. Difficulties and challenges strengthen the mind, urging us to push through and emerge victorious. For Dr. Puttaraju, being born and brought up in an agricultural family, where several generations had failed to clear their matriculation examinations, posed a seemingly insurmountable challenge.

As a young boy, he had to steal some time for himself to be with his books, which he had to borrow from his friends. With hard work and determination, he cleared his 10th standard examination in the first attempt. Despite his family’s stance that he should be spending more time in the field than in studies, he cleared his 11th and 12th standards with top ranks and landed a seat in engineering at AIT Chickmagaluru, graduating as a Civil Engineer.

This determination of Puttaraju to battle all odds continued to win him laurels, including gaining the ‘Dr.’ title.

A teacher since 1987, Dr. Puttaraju started his teaching profession at SJCIT Chickballapur. He joined as a lecturer and then moved up the ladder with his determination to don the hats of Assistant Professor, Professor, and later as Head of Civil Engineering department. Dr. Puttaraju considers His Holiness Bhairavikya Poojya Dr. Balagangadharanatha Maha Swamiji, His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Sri Dr. Nirmalandanatha Maha Swamiji, and Revered Sri Sri Dr. Prakashnath Swamiji as his role models.

Driving inspiration from his exemplars and his teachers, Dr. Puttaraju hopes to contribute his 35 years (2 years of construction and 33 years of teaching) of experience to add value to the education field. “With the help of my colleagues, I gave my best for 15 years at SJCIT, resulting in remarkable academic discipline. This impressed Poojya

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Gurudev and Poojya Mahaswamiji, my mentors, and granted me the position of the Founder Principal at SJBIT, at the age of 37, in the year 2001. Since my career started, I have strived to enable students to contribute to building a better society and in turn a better world,” he says.

As the founding principal, one of the main challenges he faced at SJBIT was to have a comprehensive education system that would create the practical and contributing engineering graduates to society. Therefore, it took 19 years to build the following to address the industry demand: • Adopting soft-skill and technical skill to meet the industry expectations. SJBIT has in place a huge infrastructure were industry experts are invited to train the students right from the first semester.

• Establishment of ‘Centres of Excellence’ at SJBIT. This was necessary to expose the students to real industry environment, with information on the latest technologies relayed through regular internship and projects.

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• Pedagogical changes in teaching, learning and assessments. The institution has implemented digital domain of teaching and learning by using M/s. Apple Inc. framework.

This power tool enhanced the learnability of students, boosting their confidence a great deal.

With immense pride in his students, Dr. Puttaraju says that each of his students are gifted and a treasure trove of great potential. He places great importance on his students, as he believes that they are ambassadors of SJBITs vision, which is to build a top-notch engineering education system on par with those in advanced countries. “Our mission is to build the best infrastructure, adopt the best pedagogy and bring industry environment in the college to bring our vision into fruition. I would like to introduce a technology-rich learning environment into the system wherein the students are provided with the right skilling anywhere and anytime and having intelligence through their digital framework,� informs Dr. Puttaraju.

Higher Education Digest July 2020

Reflecting over how Indian education has not changed much over the years, Dr. Puttaraju says that we are still continuing with rote memorization and learning, even in this very challenging and technology-driven era. He comments, “Central and state governments have initiated ‘New Education Policy’ (NEP) to address this by giving a lot of freedom to the management. I am optimistic that we will see good participation from all the stakeholders. Of course, in the first 5 years we will face chaos and confusion, but things would gradually settle down thereafter.”

Education 4.0 He continues to say that the Indian education system can gear up for Industrial Revolution 4.0 only with the complete support from the industry itself, handholding the education

Under Dr. Puttaraju’s guidance, SJBIT has set the following milestones: • Accredited by NAAC with A grade, valid from Oct 2017 to Oct 2022

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• Honoured as “Excellent Training & Placements Institute in Karnataka” by VTU, AICTE, CMAI, AIU, Govt. of India.

• Established as “Global Centre of Excellence” by M/s. Hirecraft software solutions Pvt. Ltd. • Accredited by M/s. Tata Consultancy Services.

• Accredited as a “Trusted academic Partner” by M/s. Wipro Technologies.

• Established as “NI Lab view Academy School” by M/s. National Instruments”.

• Secured several ranks consistently in various VTU examinations.

• Signed MOUs, through the Industry Institute Interaction Cell, with 46 companies/corporate leading to the creation of industry environment in the college campus • Established 10 R&D centres, where 167 research scholars have currently enrolled for various research activities leading to the award of PhD program under VTU. • Officially became AATCe to offer Apple authorised certificates directly to students

Higher Education Digest July 2020

Dr. Puttaraju believes that even if a hundred problems arise, one must persevere, because there are no problems in the world for which there are no solutions

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system for a couple of years and training them till they become confident to tell the students in the classrooms. “This is possible only if we create a new learning framework by adopting a technology-rich digital mode of teaching & learning and dump the traditional method, which uses boards, chalk, papers and pens. There should be a total revamp of the system by integrating the very best hardware and software, digital content, services and training resources.

This would ultimately lead to personal learning experiences for every student.

This is the only way out of bringing industry revolution 4.0 into the education system in India.” He opines.

This year, even with all the challenges that 2020 had brought forth, Dr. Puttaraju plans to get the National Board of Accreditation certification for all programs at SJBIT. He is also looking forward to creating digital contents (for the fourth successive year) for learning under DPD (Digital Professional Development) Program by using M/S Apple Inc Digital framework.

Dr. Puttaraju says that one there will arise a hundred problems when one plans new initiatives. Instead of faltering, they must keep in mind that there are no problems in the world for which there are no solutions, provided one should have a killing determination to achieve the intended goal. “I strongly believe in the saying ‘A man with courage makes all the difference’.”

Higher Education Digest July 2020

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Higher Education Digest July 2020

Want to Sell or find Investor for your Business?

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Higher Education Digest July 2020

ACADEMIC VIEW

COVID-19 as a Catalyst for a Degree in Data Science/AI Replacing Traditional BE or B.Tech Dr. Sundar Raj Vijayanagar, Professor of Digital Business, IFIM-B School

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he fast-paced economy of the world has created a greater need for a drift towards digital adoption. The progressive use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has not only made daily living a little more comfortable, but, as an aid to medicine, defense and finance, it is a clear indicator of where the future is heading. The current COVID-19 pandemic only has accelerated this adoption due to the need of social distancing and minimizing the physical transactions.

AI and Data science have overtaken our lives in many ways. Take the example of our mobile phone, a device that has become a part of our daily life. Our phones have AI embedded in every application or activity; right from unlocking the phone, where we use facial or fingerprint recognition, to applications such as search engines, social media, e-commerce, navigation and so on. The content that we view, or the suggestions that we receive based on our likings and habits, are also the functions of the algorithm working in the background of our devices.

There was a time when the applications of AI and data science were restricted to laboratories, defence and highly advanced applications used by the space agencies. High costs led to such technologies being confined to restrictive spaces. However, this has evolved with time, where there has been an increase in the use cases for AI and data science, and the day is not too far when every machine created by humans will be powered by AI. With this rapid movement towards digitization, a thorough understanding of the current and emerging technology from an early age will only aid in the adoption of these technologies, greater preparedness and thus, a faster growing economy. Several developed countries have already implemented understanding of new age technologies right from an undergraduate level, and our country is by no means behind.

Higher Education Digest July 2020

It is imperative that Universities introduce more specialized courses in AI/ML and Data Science in addition to traditional BE/ BTech course

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Dr. Sundar Raj Vijayanagar

An alumnus of IIT Bombay and a topper at Bombay University in Operations Management, Dr. Sundar is a top-notch IT professional with successful track record of nearly 32 years in Manufacturing, Logistics and BFSI domain. With over 12 years of academics/ teaching experience in various capacities, Dr. Sundar has presented papers and case studies at national and international conferences organized by the likes of Gartner, Microsoft, IBM, CII, INFOCOM, Audit Council of India, SunGard, ASSOCHAM, CeBIT. Dr. Sundar was also appointed as the Head of CODR (Centre for Open Data Research) on a consulting basis and will be playing a role of Director-CODR. CODR is an exclusive Centre of Excellence for Data Research, Analytics, AI and ML formed jointly by Public Affairs Center (PAC), Govt of Karnataka and IIIT-B. CODR will be physically located in IIIT-B campus with a funding from Karnataka Govt.

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Covid-19 and the impact of Data Analytics The world is facing a pandemic that most of this generation hasn’t witnessed before and is not prepared to handle. With its rapid spread, health organizations were in a fix not only to find a cure, but also to identify citizens who bore the virus. This is where AI and data science has been playing a major role in reducing the burden of these healthcare organizations. The past pandemics were fought mainly by healthcare workers. Data amassed would then be analyzed by statisticians which would help in finding preventives and fighting measures for the pandemics of the future. The comparison of the curve for the Covid-19 pandemic with that of Spanish Flu in 1918 is a testimony of the fact that curves and statistics did exist then as well. Which then brings us to the question of what has changed over the years? The answer lies in the ability to capture real time data, process it on a real time basis and instantly communicate the possible outcomes. In the past, due to the paucity of time and lack of powerful computing devices, statisticians were mainly constrained to a limited number of models.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms have helped in predicting the vulnerable population with high probability of infecting the disease and focus testing only on the limited population conserving the valuable testing kits. It has also been helping in developing the required infrastructure including PPEs, ICU beds, ventilators, drugs, doctors, and pandemics staff by the accurate prediction of infections across different zones of the country.

Moreover, the use of technology has also helped hospitals administration staff and police to restrict the lockdown to containment zones, thus allowing the less-vulnerable population to lead their lives normally and carry on with economic activities in these less affected areas.

The role of educational Institutions Analytics India Magazine claims that India alone contributes to more than 6% of Data

Higher Education Digest July 2020

Science, AI and ML job openings worldwide.

To take the benefit of this constant increase in demand, many students are seeking specialized courses in this field to build a successful career. Several leading educational institutions and universities are carefully designing and delivering high quality courses to train the students and meet the industry standards. While most institutions are offering these courses at the post graduate level, some of them are looking to offer diverse courses in Data Science at the graduate levels as well. To meet this demand, it is imperative that Universities introduce more specialized courses in AI/ML and Data Science in addition to traditional BE/BTech course.

This new global shift has only accelerated the demand for well versed data science, AI and ML professionals. This, in turn, has opened the doors for several new Data Science and AI specialized courses to flourish and help meet the accelerated demands of the current industry climate. I believe that we will see an influx of students choosing to join AI/ML and Data Science courses both at undergraduate as well as at graduate levels. In the 90’s and 2000s, Computer and IT related courses saw massive popularity globally, and a similar trend would be observed for AI/ML and Data Science courses during the next decade. On the other hand, the traditional BE/ BTech programs will continue to exist and might even be revamped to add a few relevant AI/ML elective course. This will equip the Engineers to use data science techniques more effectively in their respective fields.

Situations like the current pandemic have provided greater proof that the current problems as well as the problems of the future can be solved faster by leveraging the power of AI and data science. Considering these established facts it has now become imperative that academic institutions consider including specialized courses in data science and AI to pave the way for professionals to be better prepared for the future. Integrating domain knowledge with judicious application data science techniques will be the new success mantra for the Industry 4.0.

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Higher Education Digest July 2020

MENTOR’S MANTRA

Preparing for College Admissions During Lockdown Syed Masood, Managing Director, Heritage Institute of Management and Communication (HIMCOM)

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f food, clothes, and shelter are the basic needs for physical security, education ensures intellectual and psychological security to a person.

Universities and colleges are principally serving this purpose since the earliest human civilizations. However, the pattern of imparting education has never been universal. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is also bringing so many changes in the education system because of the unprecedented global lockdown. Amidst this crisis, some scepticism and confusion about the admission procedure are quite obvious among students going to finish school. Final-year students of the undergraduate courses are also going through a similar experience. But lockdown does not mean the end of formal studies.

Keeping certain things in mind students can effectively prepare for college admission and can pursue the desired courses. Below are some useful suggestions for students willing to join their preferred courses in colleges in the upcoming academic session.

Adopt the change Although the situation is difficult for students seeking admission in new courses, it does not mean all the doors are closed. One just needs to keep the focus on academic goals. The majority of the reputed management, engineering, and mass communication colleges have adopted the online methods for admission and counselling. The internet is the leading rescuer for academic institutions and colleges from the operational breakdowns caused by Coronavirus pandemic.

These technologically advanced colleges are smartly offering a bunch of essential services through websites and smart apps.

Practice means better preparation Aspirants of JEE, ICSE, and ISC are a bit more impatient in the current situation as these exams have been postponed. Recently, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has revised their

Higher Education Digest July 2020

Not everyone is born to become a doctor, engineer, or lawyer, some are better to contribute to society well as a journalist, author, economist, painter, musician, etc.

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Syed Masood

Syed Masood, who is running media college, Heritage Institute of Management and Communication (HIMCOM) is one of the most relevant examples of the maxim, ‘If you really want to be a successful person, then no constraint can stop you in achieving your goals’. Founded by him in 2012, HIMCOM is located at Maharani Bagh, New Delhi. Presently, Syed Masood is the Managing Director of the college, which is counted among the most advanced mass communication institutions in the north India. He has done Bachelors in Journalism 2006-2009 and Mass Communication and Masters in International Business 2009-2011. After completing his study, he worked with a news channel and decided to start his own media institute. Besides, he also loves to explore new places and connecting with new people. His work has been recognized at various platforms. He believes that great things never happen in one’s comfort zone.

Higher Education Digest July 2020

academic calendar for the accredited technical institutions in the country. According to this circular, counselling and allotment of seats in the engineering colleges will be completed on or before August 15, 2020. It means students still have more than two months. They should take the lockdown positively – extended holidays for preparations and must keep on revising the topics which are relatively difficult yet important. Through more and more practice, they can improve their chances of qualifying these entrance exams rather confidently.

Hence, this is a very precious time, and every prudent student would like to optimize it.

Besides, during the lockdown, students should keep themselves updated about the latest developments in the academic landscape of India to proceed accordingly.

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Introspect yourself It is often seen that many bright and talented students spoil their academic career just because of a wrong decision. Following the herd mentality or under the influence of their parents they choose a subject at the undergraduate level, which is not their first love. Not everyone is born to become a doctor, engineer, or lawyer, some are better to contribute to society well as a journalist, author, economist, painter, musician, etc. At this stage, neither parents nor students know how severe the ramifications of a single hasty decision will be. With clear introspection and understanding of one’s own personality, a student can explore his/her best interests, hobbies, strengths, as well as the areas where s/ he is less comfortable or uninterested. Thereby, one should always follow one’s passion and take admission in such a course which pleases to heart the most. During these free and less burdensome days of lockdown, self-assessment should be the foremost task for every student before making any final decision regarding the selection of the course and subjects. Online counselling from the experts can also help in judging the self and taking the right decision.

Research to find out the right college Once making up the mind regarding a certain course, the next big step for every student is finding out the best college to pursue this course.

Remember, the criteria may vary from person

Higher Education Digest July 2020

to person because of differences in priorities, physical distance, availability of time, and budget limitations. But there are some common parameters such as recognitions/accreditations from governing bodies, affiliation with university/is, infrastructure, teaching experience of the faculty members, industry exposure, and placement record that help to judge an institution. Apart from these, distance from the residence, education loan facility, online classroom option, and safety of the students are also important factors that help in deciding about the right college. Today, there are many news portals, websites, and magazines which give ratings to colleges on various accounts, these ratings can also be considered by while deciding a college.

Invest substantial time in grooming the personality In today’s competitive world, it is the overall personality of a candidate which helps him/her score high in both personal and professional lives. On the other hand, if one is planning to take admission in management, mass communication, or hospitality, then besides having a good academic record one should also have good communication skills and pleasant personality. And, to enhance the personality, one should devote some time in extra-curricular activities such as attending online hobby classes, participating in group discussions, following role models on social media platforms, taking part in group or individual quizzes, and taking online personality development classes. This lockdown phase is quite beneficial to pursue such activities and take an extra edge over the peers.

Be optimistic and outcast fear Coronavirus outbreak is the biggest challenge before the world and not only students, people in almost every walk of life are affected by this untoward situation. But, in no way, the humankind is going to surrender to this pandemic. Being optimistic at soul and brave at heart, everyone must have to fight with it in his/her own way. Soon, the victory will be the ultimate end of this battle and students will do their best in making a better and more prosperous world.

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Higher Education Digest July 2020