Higher Education Digest – March 2021 – India Edition – Women Leaders in Education

INDIA EDITION

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MUST-WATCH INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS IN INDIAN EDUCATION

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FEATURING INSIDE

Avalanne Dsouza, School Psychologist, The Aditya Birla Integrated School (TABIS) Dr Kulneet Suri, Senior Director, Institute of Management Studies (IMS) Noida Dr Richa Arora, Head of Institution & COO, University of Stirling, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING OF

EDUCATION LEADERSHIP IN INDIA

PROF. (DR.) VINEETA K SALUJA PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR, MANGALAYATAN UNIVERSITY MARCH 2021

INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS

CA Archana Jain, Chief Finance & Accounts Officer, Jagran Lakecity University Dr Hemlata K. Bagla, Sr. Dean, Science & Technology, HSNC University, Mumbai Principal K.C.College Hon Director, K.C.College of Management Studies, Head, Department of Nuclear Chemistry Dr Ila Gupta, Director - Amity School of Architecture & Planning, Amity University Gurugram Dr Jyotsna Yagnik, Pro-Vice-Chancellor & Director School of Law and Justice, Adamas University Minal Anand, Founder & CEO, GuruQ Dr Punith Cariappa, Dean - School of Commerce Management, Dayananda Sagar University Dr Saroj Bohra, Professor & Director, Amity Law School Amity University Rajasthan

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Higher Education Digest March 2021

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Higher Education Digest March 2021

March 2021

Vol - 3 Issue - 3

Influential Women Leaders in Indian Education (India Edition) Editor in Chief

Dr. Manoj Varghese

Managing Editor Sarath Shyam

Consultant Editors

Dr. Johny Andrews Anjana K Anna Elza

Navya Venkatesh Stanly Lui Emma James

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Art & Design

Ajay K Das Manjunath R Rohith Poojary

Sales & Marketing

Jyoti Kumari Reshma Ashokan

Arati Waghmare Hanna George

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MANAGING EDITOR’S NOTE

What Does It Take Woman to be a Better Teacher and a Leader?

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henever I hear the word teacher, a motherlike figure would come into my mind.

Growing up as a student, teachers were always women to me, and their male counterparts were masters. But masters were always strict, unapproachable people who forever carried a cane to punish you. On the other side, teachers were compassionate human beings, always smiling and making you comfortable whenever you ask them for help. Somehow, in the Indian education system, teachers hardly reached leadership positions, as the strict masters evidently outnumbered them when they both arrived at the top of the career pyramid.

Many academicians in the higher education sector have claimed that it is still a male-dominated sector at the top, despite having a women-friendly image. Though there is a large number of women in the education sector as a whole, they represent an extremely low share in terms of leadership roles. The

women who reached the leadership roles have indeed found it a challenging experience. A handful of them might have felt the weight of the gender difference and wondered if the loneliness that accompanied those positions was worth it. Yes, the ‘glass ceiling is evident, and it is hard to break, but not unbreakable. So, let us talk about the women who did it.

In this issue, we have come up with ‘10 Most Influential Women Leaders in Indian Education’ who are changing the world by grabbing a seat they deserve at the table. On the cover, we feature Dr Vineeta K Saluja, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Mangalayatan University, who has accomplished many milestones and overcome unforeseen obstacles at various stages.

We hope our efforts to bring the untold stories of women leaders in Indian education would inspire those great teachers who are considering a move to a leadership position in the education sector.

Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam

Higher Education Digest March 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Higher Education Digest March 20212020 November

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

Mamta Thakur Former CEO (ASEAN), Arc Skills

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Higher Higher Education Education Digest Digest March 2021 October 2020

Contents

INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS

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CA ARCHANA JAIN

COVER ST ORY

PROF. (DR.) VINEETA K SALUJA PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR, MANGALAYATAN UNIVERSITY

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING OF

EDUCATION LEADERSHIP IN INDIA Higher Education Digest March 2021

Chief Finance and Accounts Officer (CFAO), Jagran Lakecity University (JLU) A Doyen in Indian Finance & Accounts Realm

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DR ILA GUPTA

DR JYOTSNA YAGNIK Pro-Vice-Chancellor & Director School of Law and Justice, Adamas University

Director, Amity School of Architecture and Planning, Amity University Gurugram

The Quintessence of Hard Work & Discipline in the Indian Education Realm

Creating Waves of Change in the Academia

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DR SAROJ BOHRA Professor & Director, Amity Law School Amity University Rajasthan

Carving out a Niche of Practical Legal Education

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48 DR. HEMLATA K. BAGLA Sr. Dean, Science and Technology, HSNC University, Mumbai Principal K.C.College Hon Director, K.C.College of Management Studies, Head, Department of Nuclear Chemistry Building Youth for the Future

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MINAL ANAND

CEO & Founder, GuruQ Creating a Digital and More Interactive Educational Environment

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DR PUNITH CARIAPPA Dean - School of Commerce Management, Dayananda Sagar University Revolutionizing the Higher Education Sector

Higher Education Digest March 2021

HYBRID LEARNING: THE FUTURE OF INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

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MY EDUCATION JOURNEY IN THE UK INSPIRED ME TO BRING REAL CHANGE

Ankur Goel, Managing Director, Poly India & SAARC

A DAY IN A YEAR IS DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH TO CELEBRATE ‘BEING A WOMAN’

Niru Agarwal, Trustee, Greenwood High International School

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MENTOR’S MANTRA

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HOW TO DISTINGUISH YOURSELF AMONGST THE SW ENGINEER CROWDS

Navam Gupta, Co-Founder, WedHaven

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IMPORTANCE OF PREPARING STUDENTS FOR AN AI READY FUTURE

Kartik Sharma, Co-founder, DcodeAI

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INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Dr Shahwar Kazmi, Masters in Public Health from The University of Sheffield, and Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene from RCP London

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STUDENT STORY

Contents

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IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN TO BE THE CHANGE-MAKERS IN OUR SOCIETY

Dr Richa Arora, Head of Institution & COO, University of Stirling, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

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THE TIME FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT REVOLUTION

COMBATING STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDREN COPING WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

Avalanne Dsouza, School Psychologist, The Aditya Birla Integrated School (TABIS)

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TOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS TO ACHIEVE PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS

Dr Kulneet Suri, Senior Director, Institute of Management Studies (IMS) Noida

Shaheen Khan, CEO & Founder, CEDP Skill Institute

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WHY STEM-INFUSED MBA IS RELEVANT

Tarun Anand, Founder & Chairman, Universal Business School

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ACADEMIC VIEWS

Higher Education Digest March 2021

MENTOR’S MANTRA

A DAY IN A YEAR

IS DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH TO CELEBRATE ‘BEING A WOMAN’ Niru Agarwal, Trustee, Greenwood High International School

12 Totally approachable and down to earth, with forever a cheerful smile; that is Niru Agarwal, Trustee, Greenwood High School. Quite early in life, her leadership qualities were there for all to see, which found their true manifestation in her emergence as an entrepreneur par excellence, with a vision for the betterment of the society.

Under her stewardship & unique approach to education, Greenwood High School has reached newer heights of excellence in moulding the young minds of tomorrow. Niru Agarwal is also the interface for the Group’s social commitments and welfare schemes and has been a prominent fixture in various charitable organisations.

Higher Education Digest March 2021

Women’s participation in different structures enables holistic development of society and nation at large

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very year, we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 08 which highlights much about women’s struggles for equality in the world.

However a day in a year is definitely not enough to celebrate ‘being a woman’; it’s something to be celebrated and cherished every day by every woman. Unfortunately, in our country, we are still talking about gender inequality, disparity and discrimination against women, which exists in different forms. That’s why it is important to embrace the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, #ChoosetoChallenge, which aims to challenge unequal positions that women are in and make women the center of decision-making across sectors including education.

The key to ending bias world over is by providing women with proper education. This

13 will strengthen economies and reduce inequality and contribute to more stable, resilient societies that give all individuals, especially women the opportunity to fulfil their potential. The ideas of challenging patriarchal spaces shouldn’t just be a slogan but should translate into reality too. It is indicative of expressing solidarity with women breaking the glass ceiling in different walks of life.

Several women have effectively breached male-led bastions in diverse professions – be it education, politics, social sector or the, corporate sector owing to education.

Women’s participation in different structures enables holistic development of society and nation at large. It is crucial to sensitize people at a young age, so they become an integral part in bringing about a transformation of women in Indian society.

When men start respecting women as equals, which

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can happen if a woman is educated and is independent in her own right, a lot of gender-based inequalities will reduce considerably. Today, I appreciate the fact that women head global companies. This is a sign of society maturing in terms of gender parity. With improving sensitivity towards women, I am confident that women’s contribution to the GDP of the country would only increase as they are a very important economic actor.

All this can be achieved when the country as a whole, its institutions and the family at the micro level ensure that women have access to education. This will go a long way in ensuring that women too can play a dignified role in being the bread winners of the family.

It is imperative to mention that a host of social activists have emerged in the recent past ensuring to protect the rights of women across the country, giving a ray of hope to woman folk both in the rural and urban area. Reports and studies suggest that the pace of development or change is much lesser in rural women than compared to urban woman. The work of the social activists will certainly give the much needed impetus to the female population there to claim their civil and human rights and the right to education.

Even in urban areas, the patriarchal system is followed by many households where, in majority of them, women have no say. All decisions are taken by the male counterparts. But, there certainly is hope – women today are finding the strength to shatter these walls and emerge into the limelight with sheer determination and grit. A significant factor to note is that, men too have come forward to speak for women and their rights, which

Higher Education Digest March 2021

is an exceptional welcome move in the right direction.

People should perceive women as equal – equal rights, equal pay, and absolute fairness in all walks of life. It is our mindset that needs to change and at present, we see that it is slowly but steadily changing for the betterment of the society.

As thinkers, we must provide further impetus to the cause and must do our bit to educate the world on the vast pool of talent that we possess. As an entrepreneur myself, it gives me immense pleasure to see women breaking gender stereotypes and emerging winners. The country is steadily surging towards economic superpower with women beginning to play a significant role. I strongly believe the progress of any nation depends on the empowerment of women and we must work together and strive for equality and more opportunities for women.

Women are now open to taking up challenging roles to break the glass ceiling to prove their mettle. But the work-life environment for women has still not changed sufficiently for them to overcome the hurdles to join, stay and rise to leadership roles. While certainly the world has made some developments, there is still a huge gap which exists between the two genders in many aspects of life. No country can make progress if it locks out a half of its population. As Sheryl Sandberg said: “A world where half our homes are run by men, and half our institutions are run by women, would be a far better world!”

In closing, it is high time that we all step up and speak up for women’s thoughts heard loud and clear.

Let’s start now.

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Higher Education Digest March 2021 October 2020

COVER ST ORY

PROF. (DR.) VINEETA K SALUJA 16 PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR, MANGALAYATAN UNIVERSITY

BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING OF

EDUCATION LEADERSHIP IN INDIA

Higher Education Digest March 2021

INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS

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J

abalpur is a city that cannot be missed while exploring the essence of Madhya Pradesh.

Cradled on the banks of the holy river Narmada, Jabalpur stands among the prominent cities of Central India. At Barela, about 15 km from the city center of Jabalpur, the Mangalayatan University has started a new campus to further the prerogative of education to the students and scholars of Madhya Pradesh and the neighbouring states in the central regions of India.

In fact, Mangalayatan University has emerged as a well-

Higher Education Digest March 2021

known brand in northern India and is expanding rapidly all over the country with plans to take the brand, global. Like its Aligarh campus, the Jabalpur campus of Mangalayatan University has an extensive range of academic, professional and research programmes in almost all major streams of higher education. Commencing its academic journey from the 2020-21 session, Mangalayatan University has already brought in the best leaders in the Indian higher education system, including Dr Vineeta K Saluja, who will lead the university as its Pro-Vice-Chancellor.

Dr Saluja comes with the experience of leading an autonomous college, having a strength of 6000 girls for the last 25 years. Through this journey, she has accomplished many milestones and overcome unforeseen obstacles at various stages. “As Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Mangalayatan University, Jabalpur, I do consider myself a leader, and I am passionate about my professional pursuits. My passion for achieving the university’s vision, and commitment towards its underlying responsibilities, serve as a source of inspiration to my colleagues. Direct communication at all levels, encouraging my team to work fearlessly while assuring them of full support, makes the university work culture accessible. We endeavor to not just create a conducive, well-equipped, superior place for education, but also provide an ecosystem with growth, collaboration and rooted values, at its very core.” shares Dr Saluja.

A Born Leader Dr Saluja’s school and college education was in Chandigarh.

Graduated from Government Home Science College, Chandigarh, she was an active student and participated in almost all activities, including debate, dance, and sports. In school, Dr Saluja was the head girl. In college, she was the secretary of the student union. As a student, Dr Saluja had shouldered many responsibilities and taken

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charge of activities beyond just scholarly. . She joined NSS (National Social Service) during her college and participated in many outreach programs.

“I was fortunate to have strong, disciplined teachers, who used to motivate us while instating qualities like honesty, commitment and co-operation. The best thing I learned was Not to GIVE UP. I started believing that nothing is impossible, and if I had a strong will to do anything, I can, and I will. That gave me the strength to overcome the insurmountable obstacles that weaved my path of professional growth,” recalls Dr Saluja.

Dr Saluja started her career as a lecturer in the Department of Post Graduate Studies in English at Rani Durgawati Vishwa Vidhyalaya, Jabalpur, on a contractual basis. She then, joined Mata Gujri Mahila Maha Vidhyalaya, Jabalpur as Assistant Professor in the Department of English and was soon promoted as the Principal in 1999-2000. “As a founder Principal of Mata Gujri College, which started with just 30 students in the year 1994 and grew to more than 6000 students in the year 2020, will always be a legacy I am proud of. I converted Undergraduate college to Post Graduate college with 20 departments,” states Dr Saluja.

During her tenure, the college was accredited with an “A” grade twice and an “A+” during the third cycle of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Dr Saluja adds, “We got Autonomous status in 2012. The college is like a University imparting quality education to girl students. This stint leaves me feeling accomplished, through 26 years of my career in education.”

Higher Education Digest March 2021

The Mangalayatan University, Jabalpur, offers quality provisions of all academic pursuits with strong support systems developed in consonance with norms and standards of globally acclaimed Universities.

As the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Mangalayatan University, Dr Saluja has many goals and its accompanying challenges. With the change in student perception toward education, she feels that she must achieve many milestones to make Mangalayatan University an institution of excellence, providing world-class education to students of Jabalpur and around, who migrate to cities like Pune, Delhi and Mumbai in search of quality education. She says, “I want to introduce skill-oriented courses, those that will enable students at the University to compete at the global stage shaping the future through strong, innovative leadership and the provision of clear strategic direction.”

Tackling the Challenges Teaching English to students from various tribal belts and those from urban areas having English medium backgrounds had been the most formidable challenge during Dr Saluja’s career as a teacher. She says, “A nine-to-five job in a town like Jabalpur, with the population being a mix of rural, tribal and urban people, remains full of challenges but, with tremendous opportunities.” The ability to stay calm, think logically, act correctly and focus on one thing at a time enables her to handle work pressure. Dr Saluja opines, “Workplace environment has a significant impact on our productivity, contentment and creativity. Healthy and happy employees are more likely to feel motivated and committed.”

Positive praise is Dr Saluja’s secret tool that inspires her team members to see themselves progressing towards the institution’s vision and mission. She shares inspirational stories of the teaching-learning process during staff meetings, which has increased teachers’ motivational level towards teaching methodology. “A teacher’s journey represents a

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lifelong commitment to learning, not only about your area of specialism or the defined curriculum, but going beyond to, institutional policy, technological innovations, self- discovery and development that make you more effective as a professional— and a human being,” emphasizes Dr Saluja. To keep her updated with the latest education trends, Dr Saluja regularly reads educational blogs, explores professional development options and enrols herself MOOCs offered by universities worldwide.

Dr Saluja, as an experienced academician, inspires her colleagues to do better in their profession.

She understands that one of the biggest challenges for every university is to make its students conscious about their careers. She shares, “Usually when

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The administrative set up of the university is based on modern management strategies of decentralization where in issues are addressed at the source by concerned offices with delegated authorities to such offices by the competent authority.

Higher Education Digest March 2021

students step out of school, they perceive university life as one of Liberation free from the clutches of their parents and the walls of their schools. This perception is in their minds for at least a year. From the second year onward, their careers start going south.” Under Dr Saluja’s leadership, Mangalayatan University has employed excellent counsellors in each discipline to make students aware of the opportunities and challenges in their choice of field. They also explore the students’ potential so that the student is channeled towards making the right choice. Besides, the Choicebased Credit System of the University offers students a plethora of opportunities to make the right choice of subjects according to their aptitude and interest. “It is important to understand the psychology of students.

It takes more than just enrolling them for a course, to be able to make a difference to their lives. We also invite eminent motivators and resource personnel for orienting students, helping them explore their potential,” adds Dr Saluja.

On the flip side, when it comes to academic challenges, COVID-19 was undoubtedly one of the biggest. Online education turned up as a solution,

but with repercussions. The lockdown had a lot of additional stress on teachers and families. “Some courses were adequately placed for online teaching and research, while some faculties struggled with developing online materials and effective teaching aids to be adopted for practical subjects,” recounts Dr Saluja. When institutions remained closed, academics and students alike suffered from poor connectivity, inappropriate equipment, and other access issues” Dr Saluja explains, “They may not have access to their workspace, or they may need to care for the young or elderly at home. Many professors are parents, so they had to juggle working from home and caring for their family. Perhaps, this sudden and unprepared shift of millions of worldwide teachers and students online is an unprecedented educational and social experiment.”

During the initial lockdown, Mangalayatan University also had online classes. However, the problems related to internet connectivity and infrastructure lapses, could be overcome, thanks to the university’s massive campus and open spaces, that allowed us to start offline classes in a graduated manner, keeping a complete

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Higher Education Digest March 2021

24 check on social distancing, health advisory and prescribed hygiene standards .We went above & beyond to ensure, we could slowly adapt to come back to giving students some normalcy, even though that meant a huge administrative responsibility on us for keeping & maintaining sanitization schedules etc...

Being a Woman Leader in Education Women in leadership roles develop greater interactivity with students, helping them achieve better engagement with learning, and thus improve results. Therefore, creating more women leaders in education is key to improving education in India and across the world. Dr Saluja opines, “The number of Indian women in leadership roles is steadily increasing, but there is a lot of room to cover. In academia as well, much remains to be accomplished in terms of inclusion and getting the equilibrium in gender parity. Many departments, especially those in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, are heavily skewed”

Higher Education Digest March 2021

According to Dr Saluja, a person’s success is the sum-total of all its enablers, apart from their own talent, values and determination. She elaborates “I always had a penchant for learning, never stopping at a degree, at a diploma, at a course. But what enabled me, apart from my own want & will, was the trust & faith I got from the people I worked with, and the support and encouragement from my social-setting.

At my earlier and longest professional stint, I had the complete faith from the management I worked for & with and here, I would pause to remember 2 very strong personalities who helped me shape the best part of my personality apart from being an academician – a good administrator and a fearless leader.

Dr. S Sodhi – who taught me the ropes of administration and good governance, the importance of regulations and how important it is to understand it, in order to be able to benefit from it and not just having to abide by it. He taught me the power of ‘patience’ to wait if the system tells you that you’re not ready, to wait, not to give up. To wait and empower yourself, ready yourself, to come out stronger, better and fully compliant.

The second person was Sardar S.S. Reel, who instilled the value of being fearless, if you’re in the right. There were so many decisions at junctures that I believed were right, but they were against the tide. They were unpopular decisions, tough to take – tougher to deliver. He always told me, if you know you’re making the right decision for a majority and have the grit to see it through with your hard work – Take it, Make it, and Live it. There will be pushback but that’s how the

institute you work for, will come out winning and you will emerge as a Leader, not because you aspired to, but because you had the Courage to.

Remembering these 2 inspirational leaders fondly, and hoping they would be happy seeing me live their teaching.”

Dr. Saluja also credits her family who gave her the freedom to make the choices she did and the time and space to achieve her dreams. She says “I got married when I was 20 and had my daughter at 23 and son at 28. I only had a B.HSc degree then. I moved to do my B .Ed, M.A, PhD and MBA through these years, along with a full time job. I have a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Arizona State University, USA, today, and a bunch of certifications on innovative teaching in a changing world. My husband and mother-in-law have been a constant source of support, and my children have been nothing but encouraging, taking pride in my achievements, that make me want to go on…”

She adds “There’s a lot done but so much more to do! I am so grateful to Sarv Sahara Foundation and its chairman Shri Hemant Goyalji to have chosen me, and given me an opportunity to bring all that I have and all that I’ve learnt, to making this University stronger and more competitive in an evolving educational paradigm” Today, Dr Saluja believes that Mangalayatan being the first private university in Jabalpur, is set to grow exponentially, with the right vision, right set of values, a liberal outlook, state-of-the-art infrastructure, excellent resources and the Right People.

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ACADEMIC VIEW

IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN

TO BE THE CHANGEMAKERS IN OUR SOCIETY Dr Richa Arora, Head of Institution and COO, University of Stirling, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

26 A seasoned business leader and a passionate educationist with 18 years of experience in the education sector, Dr Richa Arora is currently the COO and Head of the Institution at the University of Stirling, UAE campus.

Dr Richa brings with her a rare combination of extensive business, leadership skills, academic and insight across various business segments and across continents. She holds extensive leadership experience in propelling academic growth across the continents and known for a major step changer in making Universities/academic institutions to work with business, from start-ups to large corporates and ensuring to develop tandem between academia and the corporate world, by involving students as a collaborative part of future planning and the corporates to guide and to develop the skills that employers believe they need for their workforce in future.

In conversation with Higher Education Digest, Dr Richa talks about the importance of women in leadership positions, her journey as a woman leader and many more. Her vision of nurturing future leaders to make them globally competent and socially committed has proved to be a turning point in the arena of the University of Stirling’s UAE campus growth internationally.

Higher Education Digest March 2021

There are many opportunities for women in society, and it’s not very difficult to climb the ladder of success

Do you think women in leadership roles are still a minority? What is the situation in the education space? How can we increase the number of women in leadership roles?

Yes, I totally agree with the point that women in leadership roles are still in the minority. But in today’s world, it’s not just about filling the gap based on gender but more about exercising your leadership roles despite being a male or a female. The most vital aspect of leadership is that the person should be able to influence important decisions through his/ her ideas, intellectual and academic contributions without any discrimination. All these qualities are applicable even in the governance of higher education.

Many women now in the education space has access to higher positions and provided the opportunities to make a significant difference in the education space. I agree that women have to break down many barriers on their way to success. One of them is that we are

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constantly reminded since the time of our girlhood, that we are not men. We are supposed to take care of the house, husband and children, and while on the other hand, men are constantly reminded that they have to run the house, earn money and have to reach top leadership positions.

It’s important to change the outlook and the thinking process to increase the number of women in leadership roles. There are many opportunities for women in society, and it’s not very difficult to climb the ladder of success.

Corporates require good leaders at the top with a stable mindset and the much-needed calmness to drive the organizations/institution.

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When looking specifically at educational planning and management, why is it important that we have women in leadership positions?

In most of the world, women continue to owe several responsibilities, be at home, and the division of labour has not shifted much. However, it is widely accepted that the woman, rather than the society or the employers do the balancing act at the domestic and the professional level. This does not make much sense, given the importance of working women for economic growth, their intellectual contributions and the unique role of women in the continuation of society. Both the parents are known to nurture the child’s future. The education sector needs to have a leader with gratitude, compassion and the soft-skills part of the personality. And who better than the women can showcase these qualities. Women have the aptitude to multi-task and be logical in several situations. Women in total make a holistic development of the child’s future. Therefore, women are a perfect combination to hold top-level positions in any field, more specifically, the education sector. Evolving jobs needs are empowering women and levelling the playing field. The new service economy doesn’t rely on physical strength but skills that come easily to women, such as determination, attention to detail and measured thinking. A woman’s brain is naturally wired for long-term strategic vision and community building.

As a woman in a leadership position, what was this journey like for yourself? How were you able to overcome the different obstacles encountered?

After working for several years in different Universities and business schools across the globe and having travelled in several countries without fear have helped me to overcome the obstacles as a woman professional. Although having faced several challenges at every step of my career, it’s one thing that helped me was proving my point and standing strong on logical thinking and believing in myself.

However, a country like UAE offers immense freedom and respect for women. There is no major discrimination between men and women. Both enjoy equal rights and opportunities to showcase their talent and potential. I strongly believe that there is a lot of scope for growth for women aspiring to move ahead in life. In order to be successful in life, a woman needs to strongly put forth her points across the situation. Quite often, women are not able to bring that change in their life.

Especially the mothers feel guilty that they are not able to strike a balance between their personal and professional life. They are unable to provide quality time for their children and family and therefore give up on their flourishing careers so that they will be able to cater to the needs of their children. However, instead of the workplace adjusting to allow women to rise to her potential and provide an opportunity to serve the organization in the best possible way, it is the women who are expected to sort it all out.

A woman’s brain is naturally wired for long-term strategic vision and community building

Higher Education Digest March 2021

Do you consider yourself a leader at the University of Stirling, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE? What do you feel you bring to the role that inspires others to see you as a leader?

In today’s world, organizations that are led by inclusive leadership teams make effective decisions that deliver a better result. Ignoring the gender gap, today’s women are writing a new saga of equality in the country where they are not only concerned about the education quotient of the students but also acting as a guide, friend and philosopher to young aspirants.

In the twenty-first century, the essential qualities required to lead include the ability to collaborate, connect,

empathize and communicate. All these things put together can help build a more sustainable future. Being a leader, holding an important position, it’s important to identify the unique talents, understand the changing requirements and then, make sure that the voice is heard. Speak up, speak out, and contribute. At this moment, we need leaders who possess leadership knowledge, skills and analytical capability. Providing quality education is possible through quality leadership.

These skills are vital to bringing effectiveness to the institution. Nonetheless, whether the leadership is exercised by men or women, it involves certain qualities and abilities, which need to be demonstrated with regard to the higher education context its generally full of challenges and obstacles that stand in the way of women leaders too!

As an experienced academic leader, what would you like to change in the current higher education system?

Our education system lacks women leadership.

For ages, women prefer teaching jobs in the education system while the leadership jobs are owned by the male fraternity. Across the world, the influx of women into teaching has been key to educational expansion, allowing universal primary education and gender parity in many countries. However, this was accompanied often by men leaving teaching for higher-paying jobs and men continuing to dominate higher status secondary school positions. The feminization of the teaching force has contributed to the reduced status of the teaching force as the societal perception of “women’s work” adjusted. This is most apparent in the early primary grades followed by the higher education. It is also unfortunate that larger numbers of female teachers have not translated into higher proportions of school heads.

It’s a proven fact that women can contribute a lot to society by taking up the leadership role.

Women should not only have a comfortable space to facilitate their work, but there should also be an increase in the number of women in decisionmaking positions across the institutions. Women also need to play a critical role in the education space, such as mentoring young girls and boys into the nation-building exercise and strategic planning in the higher education system. Coming from a position where society has looked down

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What projects or goals are you working on or leading currently?

The education of women is the most effective means for reducing the inequalities between men and women and guaranteeing the full participation of women in the socio-economic development process. We at the University of Stirling, UAE campus are focusing on the holistic development of the students besides academics and scores. We majorly focus on skillbased education in order to increase the employability quotient. In the twenty-first century workplace, a lot of importance is being given to transferable skills. Upskilling students besides the prescribed curricula is of paramount importance in the current entrepreneurial and employment landscape. At the University of Stirling, RAK Campus, this is an ongoing process through the students’ academic progression. We also provide scholarships for girl students, purely on meritorious grounds.

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on them to become part and parcel of leadership positions, women need to create spaces for other women or girls to explore their potential. Women in high places should push for policies that create an enabling environment for the allocation of resources towards the development of the youth. This will go a long way in ensuring that girls, boys and youth have equal opportunities and resources to achieve their aspirations. Leadership by women in the education sector is vital to increase the pace of the societal transformation at home and in the workplace. Women leaders are likely to provide an integrated view of work and family, resulting in an engaged and promising personal and professional future.

Higher Education Digest March 2021

Do you have any thoughts you would like to share about being a woman in the education sector or advice for other women carving a top management space?

Over the course of my lifetime, I have seen a considerable change, with women rising to leadership positions. There was a time when women leaders use to find themselves in jeopardy. Female leaders use to face a more difficult time figuring out what would be the best strategy to win the board and the employees because deviating from gender stereotypes was considered as bad for women.

But now, as time has changed and we can see the strides in women’s representation in powerful roles increasing, and people across the world have started trusting women and their capabilities to lead effectively. The emergence of female leaders can become a centrifugal force for good in the world. Leadership is not gender-specific. It is a set of leadership qualities inherent or cultivated in a person who develop themselves into great leaders with a mass following. Leaders can be either men or women.

Women should just take charge of the situation and be the change-maker. The present century cannot function effectively without women’s equal participation in leadership activities. Women can create a perspective that brings to competition and collaborations for organizations. It is necessary that women leaders learn how to brand themselves by sharing their achievements and skills with others. Unless people know or notice what they are capable of, they cannot recognize the leadership qualities of a women leader.

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Higher Education Digest February March 2021

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Higher Education Digest March 2021

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Higher Education Digest March 2021

INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS

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orn multi-taskers, women in the 21st century, can be found everywhere! Be it the corporate world or politics; they never fail to bring something different to the table and groom organizations to emerge as vibrant and successful entities. Like any other industry, the education sector also has some iconic women leaders and administrators who are spearheading the education sector to a path of progression and possibilities. Women leaders in education are developing greater interactivity with students and help them achieve greater engagement with learning and better results. They are playing a vital role in improving higher education in India and all over the world.

The proportion of women educators in developing countries, including India, has risen significantly in recent years. However, their participation in leadership positions is comparatively low due to ingrained negative perceptions as well as several sociocultural barriers. Ignoring the gender gap, Women leaders are bringing about equality in the country where along with education, young aspirants get guides, friends, and a philosopher in them.

As women continue to take up leadership roles in every sector of society, many women leaders have successfully made the journey from educators, to entrepreneurs, to educational leaders. Celebrating their journey and success stories can help inspire others to follow in their footsteps; Higher Education Digest presents “10 Most Influential Women Leaders in Indian Education”, commending their efforts to bring about a change in the education sector and revolutionizing it.

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Higher Education Digest March 2021

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INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS

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Name

Designation

Organisation

CA Archana Jain

Chief Finance & Accounts Officer

Jagran Lakecity University

Dr. Hemlata K. Bagla

Sr. Dean, Science and Technology / Principal

HSNC University / K.C. College

Dr. Ila Gupta

Director - Faculty of Architecture and Planning

Amity University

Dr. Jyotsna Yagnik

Pro Vice-Chancellor & Director - School of Law and Justice

Adamas University

Dr Kulneet Suri

Senior Director

Institute of Management Studies (IMS) Noida

Minal Anand

Founder & CEO

GuruQ

Dr. Punith Cariappa

Dean - School of Commerce Management

Dayananda Sagar University

Dr. Saroj Bohra

Director

Amity Law School

Shaheen Khan

CEO & Founder

CEDP Skill Institute

Dr. Vineeta K. Saluja

Pro Vice-Chancellor

Mangalayatan University

Higher Education Digest March 2021

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Higher Education Digest March 2021

INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS

CA Archana Jain Chief Finance and Accounts Officer (CFAO), Jagran Lakecity University (JLU)

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A Doyen in Indian Finance & Accounts Realm

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mbitions do not turn into magic overnight but require lots of hard work, passion, grit and determination to come to fruition. This statement’s perfect quintessence is the journey of CA Archana Jain, Chief Finance and Accounts Officer (CFAO), Jagran Lakecity University (JLU), Bhopal. Since her childhood days, Archana had this ambition to do something in life so that she is known for who she was and her work. To achieve this ambition, she knew that she had to work hard and create her own identity in the field she plunged into.

A Journey Par Excellence All through her education in Chennai, Archana always stood out as the topper in school, college, and professional studies. She graduated as a deft finance professional from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in 2009. Her professional journey kickstarted at Khicha & Prabhu Kesavan

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Education proved to be the tool I needed to mould my dreams into reality

Higher Education Digest March 2021

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as an Audit Assistant way back in 2006, and then she worked with Scope International Private Limited as their Senior Finance Analyst. At the latter firm, which is a 100% subsidiary of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), she was responsible for the preparation of MIS reports, finalization and consolidation of various reports, reconciliation of balances between various reporting tools like PSGL, CUBE, PSF Essbase, and PIPELINE amongst many other important duties. She was also a part of “Best Team” for Budget 2011 among a group of 700+ employees.

Since 2013, Archana has been working as the CFAO at JLU, heading all facets of Accounts Management and Reporting, Budgeting, Financial Controlling, and Strategic Decision Making. She handles taxes, loan negotiations, compliance filings, policy drafting, and several important portfolios on the university’s behalf. Today, she outclasses as a Certified Finance and Accounts professional and a Chartered Accountant, with over 15 years of experience in Internal Audit, Management, Management Information Systems (MIS), Microsoft Excel, and Consolidation.

Recounting her journey so far, Archana says, “Education proved to be the tool I needed to mould my dreams into reality. My teachers at school and college have been my biggest pillars of inspiration in my journey”.

Always A Leader At JLU, Archana has always been looked upon as a leader and not just a boss. Breathing extreme passion and love for her job, she takes up each challenge or problem and resolves it with full honesty, sincerity and most importantly, by adding fun and laughter to it. She believes that

Higher Education Digest March 2021

Archana is striving to transform JLU into a 100% cashless campus with end-toend digital receipts and payment systems for all sorts of transactions

only when the leader is dedicated to the job, others feel inspired and aim to present their best. She also strives to deliver quality in execution and integrity in her conduct by being an inspiration for JLU. In a nutshell, empathetic communication skills clubbed with financial acumen make her an ideal professional for all verticals of any organization.

Spearheading a super strong team at JLU, Archana adheres to a simple formula to inspire them and create a healthy work atmosphere that is nurturing and encouraging.

She ensures that every person who is inquisitive to learn and work hard gets appreciated for their excellent work.

As a leader, she is well-known for the team that she leads and their work towards reaching the organizational goals.

Not just this, Archana has experienced a lot of milestones since the beginning of her education, right from clearing all levels of CA in the very first attempt.

Her most significant milestone as a woman leader has been that she was the youngest and the only woman in university’s strategic core committee in 2013. It took her a lot of effort, patience, and dedication to reach this position amongst 100s of colleagues vying for the same position.

She was also awarded as the ‘Outstanding Performer in the Year 2016’ by JLU. On the other hand, Archana also had her fair share of bad days. At times, her strength became her own threat.

She articulates, “TRUST is an imperative part of my work.

It is important to understand people around me before I trust them, especially in the field of finance”. To sum up, her two important lessons were – To evaluate or understand people but have systems in place as organizations work on systems and nobody is indispensable. The other lesson that time has taught her is to be more humble as she climbed the ladder of success. It is easy to find the ladder but difficult to climb, and the most challenging part is to sustain it.

The COVID-19 Era Especially during the COVID-19 era, most administrators in the education space faced a ton of grave challenges.

Financial distress due to delayed fee collection was one of the major challenges that Archana and her team had to tackle during this period. They managed the daily operations by choosing an ad hoc team that went through professional training to work with COVID protocols. They ensured to be liberal with fee collection and introduced an easy EMI facility for fee payments, along with a 100% waiver for late charges or penalties. In fact, JLU was the first university in Central India to introduce an end-to-end digital platform for admissions inbuilt in its ERP. Yet, it was constant appreciation and support from both parents and the academic populace of the state country that made JLU survive this era successfully.

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Currently, Archana is striving to transform JLU into a 100% cashless campus with end-to-end digital receipts and payment systems for all sorts of transactions. Her primordial goal has always been to uplift JLU into a world-renowned university for its high-tech, financially ethical practices. Speaking about her immediate plans, Archana is focused on strengthening JLU and making it resourceful enough to impart quality education to all. She adds, “We plan to reach out to PAN India by deploying our blended learning approach. Our four pillars – Student Centric Approach, Interdisciplinary Skill Development, Intensive Industry Exposure, and Global Network Connect, are the right guidance we have that help us move in the right direction and motivate us to take JLU to new heights”.

On a bigger note, Archana believes that two important changes should be inculcated in the current education structure, firstly, an increased exposure to the international education system and learning by practice. She takes pride in the fact that JLU is making these changes already while staying a step ahead with its inbuilt international student exchange programmes. Students at JLU are also exposed to a one-month learning experience with international faculties, summer internships/ short programmes at recognized foreign universities, and internships at the

Higher Education Digest March 2021

end of every year with leading corporates to help them apply their learnings at the workplace.

On the personal front, Archana’s typical workday has never been a 9 to 5 show but rather round the clock work. She is an individual who believes in exploring her own self in times of pressure and giving her best shot every time. She ensures to stay calm at work, especially during the admission seasons, through a simple 5-minute meditation break and a cutting chai.

To the Budding Women Leaders!

Archana believes that the number of women in top leadership and management roles is increasing over the past years, and all institutions and firms must focus on creating an empathetic workspace for women. At any workplace and not just in the education sector, women need to receive appreciation, recognition, acceptance, and better opportunities to undertake challenging tasks. She adds, “I was fortunate to have found it for myself at JLU”. For the budding women leaders out there, she advises, “Don’t give up! Each one of us has the potential to achieve something BIG. It is only YOU and YOU who can shrug the failure off and get back to work against all odds. Do not ever expect sympathy for being a woman, stop feeling sorry and stand up for yourself, and stand strong with all due self-respect.”

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Higher Education Digest March 2021 November 2020

ACADEMIC VIEW

COMBATING STIGMA

ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDREN COPING WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES Avalanne Dsouza, School Psychologist, The Aditya Birla Integrated School (TABIS)

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Avalanne Dsouza is a Psychologist and Arts Based Therapist practicing in Mumbai. She has been working at The Aditya Birla Integrated School as a school counsellor for the last three years and her training in both eastern and western psychology gives her a unique perspective on healing the emotional and behavioural needs of others.

Higher Education Digest March 2021

The first step to combat stigma surrounding learning difficulties is to educate both the parents and teachers to identify learning disabilities

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ccording to researchers Muthusamy and Sahu, in 2020, the prevalence of specific learning disabilities ranges from 5 to 15 % in India. Also observed are co-morbidities that include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder as well as other behavioral and emotional issues. [1] Being diagnosed with a learning disability makes a child vulnerable to stigma that relates to academic performance and emotional disturbances.

I have been working at the Aditya Birla Integrated School for almost 4 years now. Our school nurtures, educates and encourages children with specific learning disorders to reach their full potential and achieve academic as well as personal success. As a school psychologist, I constantly get to speak to the learners about their journey and how their learning disabilities affect their academic and social world. Through their testaments, it is

evident that the stigma and judgements they face when they interact socially with their peers is what really disheartens and upsets them the most; even compared to their academic difficulties. Oftentimes gaining acceptance from some close family members can also be a struggle.

This clearly indicates that there is a lack of awareness amongst the general population about learning disabilities which makes the identification process even harder. In most cases parents and teachers perceive the child as just ‘lazy’, ‘slow’, ‘disinterested’, ‘distracted’, ‘trouble-makers’, and so on. Most students report poor relationships with teachers and peers as one of the main reasons for either shifting or dropping out of school or college. Comorbid disorders like ADHD, anxiety and depression can further worsen the situation.

The stigma also makes it extremely hard for the learners to get the adequate help and guidance they need to improve.

Higher Education Digest March 2021

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46 Therefore, the first step to combat stigma surrounding learning difficulties is to educate both the parents and teachers to identify learning disabilities. Learning disabilities are neuro-developmental in nature. This makes the problem ‘brain-based’ not motivational, which means that the students’ brains are wired and develop differently. Hence, the way they process information is different from others.

This is not a reflection of their intelligence but rather an issue of inadequate support in most schools in India. Studies have shown that students with learning disabilities can do quite well if they are supported with the right teaching methods and adequate resources.

I believe that not just the students, but the parents and teachers also need guidance and training to manage the learning disability along with the emotional and behavioural problem that stem from it. Training the adults around the student creates a consistent support system for the learners which will reassure them and bring

Higher Education Digest March 2021

back their confidence in their ability to learn and retain information.

Which brings me to my second point, ‘nurturing the student’s self-concept.’ The way students view themselves greatly affects their levels of confidence and self-esteem. Many students with learning disabilities often believe that they can ‘NEVER’ be good at math, science or languages.

This belief negatively impacts their emotional and mental health, causing them to either resent those around them or hate themselves for not being ‘good enough’. This has a long lasting effect on their future, both personally and socially.

Educating children to understand that their learning disability only form one part of their self-identity. They have other talents, skills and strengths that are also an integral part of who they are. They are not just students but also friends, sons, daughters, grandchildren, siblings, artists, athletes, actors, musicians, singers and much more. When we only focus on their learning disabilities, it’s like buying a two-bedroom apartment but only living in the kitchen.

Think for your child or learner as a house with many rooms, you may find that you have not discovered all the rooms yet, but it is never too late. We need to also be mindful that our children don’t put up the sign ‘not good enough’ outside that house. Rather encourage them to go on a self-exploration trip, where they can recognise their strengths, learn from the weaknesses and breakthrough their limitations.

Teach them that everyone faces challenges even the smarter students, but their challenges might look different from yours. Be empathetic and share your own stories of vulnerability with them.

Show them through your example that they can persevere through their trials and that ‘failure’ does not equate to stopping. Share with them stories of other individuals who have overcome their learning disabilities and found success like Tommy Hilfiger or Daniel Radcliff.

This will help them accept and understand themselves better, nurture their creativity, innovate and choose with confidence a field of work or study that plays to their strengths and passions.

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Higher Education Digest March 2021

INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS

Dr. Hemlata K. Bagla Sr. Dean, Science and Technology, HSNC University, Mumbai Principal K.C.College Hon Director, K.C.College of Management Studies, Head, Department of Nuclear Chemistry

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Building Youth for the Future

W

omen are shaping tomorrow’s future and leaving no stone unturned when it comes to holding a position of leadership. They are pursuing the things they want and seizing the opportunities that come before them.

Today, India has more women in Leadership roles than several countries. Statistics speak for itself. Globally, India ranks 3rd for women working in senior administrative positions and businesses, with at least one woman in the senior management role increased to 90%. In India, this stands at 98% Women are highly valued in the education sector as well, and they have excelled phenomenally in the areas of teaching. “It may be true that women do face challenges trying to make their presence felt, but any rule that stops a woman should be done away with. Let’s remember that every WOMAN doesn’t only carry the nomenclature of a MAN in her but has the same capabilities too. Self-empowerment is the need of the hour,” opines Dr Hemlata K Bagla, Sr. Dean, Science and Technology, HSNC University, Mumbai, and Principal of KC College.

As a leader, Dr Hemlata ensures that she leads from the front where the challenges and the initiatives and proactive approaches she takes have to be hers too. Considering herself to be a part of the KC College team, she lets different people take the lead for different talks. Viewing her role as a

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I have seen leaders breaking free from their comfort zones and creating opportunities for themselves to learn. That influences me greatly. That is how I see myself too

Higher Education Digest March 2021

50 facilitator, she shoulders the responsibility of her team as a team member by empowering, trusting, brainstorming, and coming up with new ideas. It’s not about getting good cards but about playing all kinds of cards well, and Dr Hemlata has been dealt with the perfect hand, who she inspires by not being a leader but a team player. One can inspire when one has inspired themselves, and Dr Hemlata finds herself full of innovative ideas, which in turn inspiring her team with ideas and implements them.

She explains, “For instance, we are at that stage where our students publish their research papers in college. We call the publication ‘Jigyasa’. We pushed the envelope by moving beyond the realm of only teachers doing research work. A collective idea born saw fulfilment.”

Dr Hemlata feels her real learning happened outside her formal education, outside the walls of the classrooms.

Her parents and teachers were instrumental in instilling life’s lessons in her and the confidence she has in any given situation. “My mother taught me never to say “no” to any work assigned to me - for these were opportunities which should never be missed. She taught me to be a silent worker -not brag every time I did something creditable. As

Higher Education Digest March 2021

Having pursued her PhD while teaching, Dr Hemlata’s significant milestones were the accolades and the awards she received, which she feels belong to the institution as much as it belonged to her

I grew older, she then taught me to sift through the demands and say ‘no’ at the right time. My father invested his time in me, giving me the right guidance to set me up for an early start in my career. All of these have shaped me to what I am today,” reminisces Dr Hemlata.

A Team of Go-Getters Being amongst strong leaders and observing them, Dr Hemlata has been inspired and influenced by various sources. Not just one particular person influences her, but any leader who commands, not demands, authority as the conducive environment they create for optimal productivity is so admirable. She elaborates, “I am so fortunate that I have had such stalwarts who took an interest in my career and moulded me. All of them influenced me in some way or the other. And all proved to be a blessing for me.

My father for one - has been the guiding force in my life.

Being an academician himself he gave me the right direction to ensure that my career kickstarted very early in life. If it wasn’t for him, I would not be where I am today.

Late Principal Kundnani was another influence. He was the one who made me promise I would never leave K.C College nor would I think of venturing abroad. He helped set up the nuclear laboratory at KC for me to carry on my research work. It was he who had first recognised my potential in contributing to the field of education. I owe my career at KC to him.

Then Dr L.H Hiranandani who was like a guiding star for me. His advice gave me a different perspective of life something which I still hold close to my chest. It was simple and yet so profound!! That there will be obstacles in life but we should not be deterred by them. All one needs is the

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resilience to surmount the hurdles. He asked me to promise him that I will never submit to a situation but will keep my courage going. This has helped me in real testing times.

The quiet authority my husband exudes and his calm demeanour under pressure inspires me. Being amongst strong leaders like him and observing them influences me. It’s an ongoing process -any leader for that matter, who commands authority (not demands it) influences me. The conducive environment they create for optimal productivity is so admirable.

I have seen great leaders in our HSNC Board and HSNC University breaking free from their comfort zones and creating opportunities for themselves to learn. That influences me greatly. That is how I see myself too.”

Changing the mindset and adapting to newer technology systems was very challenging for teachers who were not tech-savvy and had to familiarise themselves with different techniques. This was especially difficult when some subjects depended on the usage of whiteboards. Worse was the fact that they were teaching groups of students without getting continued facial feedback - something that every teacher relies upon. “We are fortunate that we have a set of teachers who went out of their way to help each other, and the transition to online teaching was fairly smooth. I believe that this option is here to stay. Even when we will switch back to physical classes, there will be lectures that will be conducted online,” points out Dr Hemlata.

In all these years of teaching, Dr Hemlata has realized that an institution doesn’t only teach students but teachers too. Everyone in the academic institution keeps learning and keeps growing continuously. Having pursued her PhD while teaching, Dr Hemlata’s significant milestones were the accolades and the awards she received, which she feels belong to the institution as much as it belonged to her. “Throughout my journey - as a research guide, Head of the Dept., then as Vice Principal, and now as the Principal as well as Sr Dean - my greatest satisfaction is

Higher Education Digest March 2021

witnessing the institution take new flights. All of these moments are milestones for me. For the simple reason that my identity is so finely blended with my college that growth of my college is my progress as well”, states Dr Hemlata.

Revamping according to the Needs Today changes in higher education are happening at a faster pace, and it is the need of the hour. Gone are the days when we could live in an ivory tower. Now we are literally a global village. We have technology at our doorstep. India is on the threshold of dual degrees for students - the NEP will bring in these changes.

The compartmentalization of education is a thing of yesteryears. Today students want the flexibility to enter into one branch and exit from another, which they may realize they are more inclined towards. “That is why our new HSNC University is based on education 4.0. wherein the long run, we will offer our students a buffet approach to choose and pick from. Trust me - a revolution is happening in education. A churning or “Manthan”, as one would say. And I am so proud that we are the facilitators of it,” says Dr Hemlata.

Higher education today must be skill-oriented. It is sad to see that an engineering graduate doesn’t have the developed skills to contribute to the country’s growth. He needs to be trained. Why should there be a gap between the industry and education? Eager to see this once change, Dr Hemlata is doing her best to provide her students with the necessary set of capabilities to ensure that the industry has produced people that promote the growth of society and the country. “I also want to see education as fluid for students. Someone who pursues science should be allowed to pursue music as well. Education needs to free itself from the shackles of tradition. Let’s not decide what a child should or should not pursue or, for that matter, at what pace he should pursue it. Give him the independence to choose,” opines Dr Hemlata.

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Higher Education Digest March 2021

ACADEMIC VIEW

TOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

TO ACHIEVE PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS

Dr Kulneet Suri, Senior Director, Institute of Management Studies (IMS) Noida

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Dr Kulneet Suri, an MBA and an M.Phil in the English Language, with Doctorate in Management from LTSNU (Ukraine) is currently Senior DirectorInternational & Business Development at Institute of Management Study (IMS) Noida, IMS-DIA and DIT which is part of UNISON Society and has 11 Institutes in Noida and Dehradun.

Higher Education Digest March 2021

The best MBA or BBA colleges will provide you with enough opportunities to hone your oration ability

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ard skills or professional expertise can take you to only a certain distance in the path towards success. The best programmer can reach the position of the tech head but cannot become the CEO only with coding skills. The same applies to any field you can think about. You need something extra to reach the pinnacle. Something that will make you stands out in the crowd, establish your value in the company and help you to become an asset.

And when you join any of the top MBA colleges, you develop that something you need to excel. Soft skills – your ability to contribute to the company that goes beyond your technical prowess. The way you conduct yourself, how you gel with others and even what you speak during a situation, everything matters in today’s competitive environment. Here is a list of the top 5 soft skills that you must have

in your arsenal which will not only help you to achieve professional development but also reach that peak of success. Take note and start working 1. Public Speaking and Oration If you have stage fright, work on it. If you cannot frame words in the common tongue, improve it. Public speaking is one of the must-haveskill for a manager and the top brass companies do look into your oration capabilities. Be it presenting a new idea or heading a product launch, a press conference or motivating your team, you will need excellent speaking skills to rise above and outshine others.

The best MBA or BBA colleges will provide you with enough opportunities to hone your oration ability. If you want to reach the CEO level one day, take up these chances and keep improving. The more you speak the better you become at it.

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2. Leadership and team management Leadership is a subjective skill and no two leaders can be the same. You need to have a strong personality and be empathetic at the same time. You need to understand and make hard choices. Not everyone can be a leader but you need to find your skill that can make you one. Even playing along with the team is a mark of a great leader and you always may not have to give out instructions.

Build your leadership quality so that you can manage a team. Every company has almost the same employee structure. Prove that you are capable of helping others and take the company forward; the recruiters will term you as a potential leader and recruit you without a second thought.

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3. The ability to make a sale In other words, the skill to negotiate. No matter which specialisation you choose in your MBA, you must develop sales skills. You understand how people buy a product, you are capable of creating a need and then negotiate to sell it at the best price possible. The same concept can work for an innovative idea, your intention to look for a pay hike or even while switching companies.

Being able to make your case sound convincing is one skill that will help you to move forward in every sphere of your professional life. The best way, again, to develop this is actually getting down on the field and selling an unsalable product.

The skills you will get from your failures will be unparallel.

Higher Education Digest March 2021

About

Dr Kulneet Suri Dr Suri is the Vice-President for CEGR, DelhiNCR Chapter. She began her career with AIRTEL and has thereon successfully risen by handling multidimensional assignments. On joining an educational institution, Dr Suri has been heading all the major functions in the education sector at various points in time. She has successfully handled operations from inception and then led them on a high growth path through meticulous strategy, planning and execution. She is responsible for the management and coordination of IMS Noida, IMSDIA, and DIT and responsible for the development of new enterprise initiatives.

4. Time management While this may seem trivial in this list, time management will help you in balancing both your professional and personal life.

Most of the successful managers hold time management as their reason for productivity and you must start building this ability right from your college days. You will be efficient; your hours will be better utilised and you will get a lot done.

Have a fixed routine in your life. Develop self-discipline. The best business schools have sessions to inculcate such habits in their students that help them in their professional life. Managing time is vital and you will recognise its value in the long run.

5. Body Language Or the way you express yourself every time you have company. No one will listen to a slouching manager. Your motivating speech will have a negative impact if you do not radiate the same positivity. The way you hold yourself while carrying on a task matters in your professional growth and you must take care to improve your body language.

There are numerous books on body language or you may seek expert help. Get access to online videos or scan through your college library. Do everything to improve your conduct as it has the power to override any other skill that you may be lacking at the time.

So, introspect and point out the skills you already have or need to develop. Work on them accordingly with a focus on your ambition. The best MBA college will hand these to you as a package and then it’s up to you on how you unfold it.

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INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS

Dr Ila Gupta Director, Amity School of Architecture and Planning, Amity University Gurugram

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Creating Waves of Change in the Academia

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s a leader in academia, you are responsible not just for your growth but also for your institution, faculty and students.

At Amity University Gurugram, Dr Ila Gupta, Director of the Amity School of Architecture and Planning, strives to achieve all-round growth with hard work, objectivity, and honesty. Her fascinating journey with architecture began at VRCE Nagpur, where the rigorous education and excellent faculty set her on the path that would define her future. She further pursued her passion by studying Urban and Rural Planning at IIT Roorkee and later completed her PhD in Disaster Management from the same institution. These hallowed institutions not only had world class infrastructure but some truly inspiring faculty. Dr. Ila feels fortunate to be taught and mentored by some very inspiring teachers who helped her become the person she is today.

Today, humility, perseverance and inclusiveness are her mantras for a successful leadership.

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Hard work, time management, and work-life balance is the mantra to a successful career

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In her long and illustrious career, Dr Ila has held several roles in both industry and academia. Her first brush with leadership came during her tenure at MBS School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi which she always values as a great learning experience. Now, as Director of School of Architecture and Planning at Amity University Gurugram, she strives to touch the lives of her students and fellow academicians to usher them in a better tomorrow.

Amity University Gurugram fosters research and innovation and is known for environment sensitivity.

“Our beautiful campus is India’s first and Asia’s second green campus,” she informs. “The LEED platinum-rated green building inspires architecture students to be even more responsible for the environment.” Dr. Ila spearheads several initiatives focused on environmental sustainability. Currently, she is also coordinating the activities of Amity Mega Center for Natural and Manmade Calamities, which is a critical research cluster of Amity university.

As an academician in a leadership role, she has to continually adapt to changing situations and stay updated with the latest education and architectural trends. She believes that, in the era of technological revolution, one must embrace changes to remain relevant. Therefore, Dr Ila believes that academicians need to act as facilitators to stimulate an appetite for learning in students and constantly lead by example.

Thus, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the

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Currently, Dr Ila Gupta is coordinating the activities of Amity Mega Center for Natural and Manmade Calamities, which is a critical research cluster of Amity university

world in 2020, she proved her ability to adapt to fastchanging circumstances. She says “Architecture education involves extensive hands-on and experiential learning, which traditionally calls for continuous interaction amongst students and faculty. During the pandemic, the faculty took a generational leap with technological know-how to provide effective virtual training for aspiring architects by using the technical infrastructure and support provided by Amity University”. Dr Ila led her team to ensure that their students continued receiving the best possible education, even in the face of a global pandemic. Moreover, the group connected with lots of industry and academic leaders and also eminent personalities like His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Shri Kailash Satyarthi, and Prof. Muhammad Yunus, who inspired students and academicians alike.

As a lady in a position of power, Dr Ila takes an active stance in spearheading the change she wants to see over time.

Gender bias is deep-rooted in the country’s consciousness, with a further disparity in the empowerment of Indian women in cities, towns, and villages. While we are now in 2021, many women still do not confidently take their own personal and financial decisions. With these challenges, the lack of women in leadership roles in the country is a significant cause for concern, though not wholly surprising. She feels thankful to her parents for raising her in gender neutral environment and imbibing the values of justice, resilience and discipline right from the beginning. As a means to the end, she believes in instilling the same in her students by incorporating gender inclusiveness with sensitivity and subtlety.

Dr Ila believes that the educational sector has been more welcoming to women, making it a potential space to change our society. While educational institutes are often gender-neutral, all students need to be prepared to face the challenges of erstwhile male-dominated spaces. It means being bold to lead workforces steadily for women, while for men, the process involves cultivating sensibility to accept women as leaders. As she guides and mentors several students, she senses that many women tend to take a back seat in their careers due to their tendency to sacrifice themselves and prioritize families. She advises her students to seek equality at home and in the workplace and take on equal responsibility to give their best to both spaces. In her personal life also she appreciates the mutual unconditional support that exists in her family. “We need to redefine historically accepted domains, the first step to which is setting clear life goals and communicating them to our loved ones. When faced with twists and turns, pause, reenergize, reassess and give your best” she suggests. “Hard work, time management, and work-life balance is the mantra to a successful career.”

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ACADEMIC VIEW

THE TIME FOR

SKILL DEVELOPMENT REVOLUTION Shaheen Khan, CEO & Founder, CEDP Skill Institute

62 Shaheen Khan is an Indian woman entrepreneur and educationalist who has made an outstanding contribution to woman empowerment and education. She is the Founder and CEO of the Council of Education and Development Programmes (CEDP). In addition to 16 years of professional experience in the Education Industry, Shaheen has hands-on experience in learning and development. She is a certified GTD Trainer, Coaching Master, Holistic Practitioner, and a certified Transformational Coach from NLP Training and Coaching Institute.

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For educated youngsters and those already employed - the redundancy of what they learned in their education is high

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ravelling across India, meeting the youth, one fact comes across starklyIndia’s youth want to succeed and are ready to work hard for it. This youth predominately seeks their skill-sets from the education curriculum designed by the Universities.

The economy and ways to do business are changing so fast that by the time they learn and absorb the knowledge and try to get employment to apply the same, the business requirement changes, denying them from being employable. India faces an acute crisis of talent and determination but without the skills to harness that talent into productive incomegenerating opportunities.

Now, post-Covid, the world has further changedand in this virtual- offline hybrid of working, skills that are going to be needed for the next decade are

evolving and changing. Why is skill becoming such an important and reskilling more so?

It is very simple- with industries having to continuously change the way they work due to changes in technology, or customer demands, the workforce they need is also continually evolving.

Further, there are new sectors and businesses now coming into being with the changing scenario.

Industries that require a workforce with the capability and training to take on the jobs. There are many sectors like service, logistics, health, auto witnessing the growing demand for skilled youth.

Youth can be involved in converting the challenges into opportunities and become the strong pillars of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

The MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) sector, which contributes to around

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64 About

Shaheen Khan Shaheen Khan has worked in various capacities and discovered the power of training and self-upskilling. One of her many stints saw her getting involved in the skill development program where she identified the students, their requirements VS Industry expectations. Identifying the gap in the training being provided and the requirement by the industry verticals, she embarked with her own venture in this field, named CEDP Skill Institute.

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37.54 per cent of India’s GDP and offers employment to 120 million people of the country, is growing rapidly, needs a trained workforce. Skill development is one of the essential ingredients for India’s future economic growth as a country. It is the oil that makes the wheels of the country’s growth engine moving.

A skilled youth can seek employability, get into the gig economy, or become an entrepreneur.

It opens doors for the youth and increases the company’s productivity, society, and the nation. For youth in challenging situations, be it economic or geographic, the availability of the internet, the expansion of sectors like healthcare, Agri processing, education, hospitality, means that they can be part of booming sectors from across the country.

For educated youngsters and those already employed - the redundancy of what they learned in their education is high. Reskilling is essential to develop the capability and capacity to manage new job profiles, enter new sectors and retain jobs. For small business – like electricians, plumbers, auto mechanics – the change in the products used in their business means that they need to reskill for them to continue in their business.

The country and, indeed, the world is in the midst of transformation. Technology and human behaviour, as well as consumer expectations, have created massive shifts. As the economic ecosystem adjusts to these shifts – skilling and reskilling will play a key role in building capacities and capabilities.

This is the time for a Skilling Revolution.

India’s inherent ability to innovate ‘jugaad.”

If combined with trained skills will foster innovation and invention from across the country- rural and urban.

As the world restructures post-COVID, reskilling, upskilling, and new skills will be the drivers, for youth, for the experienced and the seniors. This is an important moment in time, and how we manage the ‘Skill Revolution’ will influence the course of our country’s future.

Powerful protection designed for PC gamers

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NORTONLIFELOCK.COM Higher Education Digest March 2021

INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS

Dr Jyotsna Yagnik Pro-Vice-Chancellor & Director School of Law and Justice, Adamas University

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The Quintessence of Hard Work & Discipline in the Indian Education Realm

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eaders are made, not born overnight! They are made by years of hard work, passion, grit and determination to not just succeed in their own lives but to etch an impact in others’ lives too.

One such passionate and inspirational leader is Dr Jyotsna Yagnik, Pro Vice-Chancellor & Director School of Law and Justice, Adamas University, who has been teaching law and imparting training to senior officers for 33+ years. These senior officers include trial court judges, Trainee IAS, IPS, Police Officers, Senior Executives, and many others. Dr Jyotsna wears other hats as an Arbitrator, Mediator, former Adjunct Professor at Law School, Nirma University, and Teacher at other universities like Gujarat Forensic Sciences University. She is also the Former Principal Judge, City Civil and Sessions Courts, Ahmedabad; Former Principal of Law College; and Director of Yagnik Law Academy imparting education for examination of Judiciary.

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Learning has no end. You need to bring the change which you expect from others

Higher Education Digest March 2021

68 The Driving Forces Behind such a vast and rich track record of Dr Jyotsna lies not just her hard work and dedication, but the continuous force of her mother to shape her, train her and make her the reader of books that can sharpen one’s inner qualities like bravery, clarity, leadership, and ability to analyze. Her mother was a great discipliner, and her quest for knowledge and constant learning instilled Dr Jyotsna with habits of hard work and disciple in life. She was greatly influenced by her philosophically and ethically sound father. He taught her to be the most sensitive for the poor and oppressed while also being a highly professional leader when it comes to work.

Despite studying in an average school that imparted education in regional language, Dr Jyotsna was truly influenced by her school and college teachers along with certain well-known lawyers and judges who have shaped her to become what she is today. In fact, her biggest lessons learnt during childhood and college days are: “Learning has no end. You need to bring the change which you expect from others. Your commitment must be second to none, and your dedication for your work must be illustrative”,

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which was quoted by Gandhiji. She believes that the aforementioned qualities were developed stage by stage, slowly and gradually, but consistently and has made her what she is today.

Stint at Adamas Today, Dr Jyotsna outclasses as an ardent leader at Adamas University who ceaselessly motivates her students and all women working around her. She emphasizes organizing numerous extra-curricular activities and many other competitions that can develop her students’ overall personality and facilitate them in brightening their career. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Adamas University teachers faced a fleet of challenges like many other professionals in the education industry. Some of them entail holding the concentration of students, creating interest for virtual learning among them, creating a new kind of question paper that can recognize their cut, copied, and pasted answers, sending them notes (via WhatsApp & email), and ensuring learning for the students from rural areas with a poor network.

The other challenges that teachers at Adamas University faced include staying updated and educated to teach properly on the virtual platforms, creating and using share points where materials can be stored, ensuring

to have a proper network in place when residing in rural areas, addressing grievances of parents, and conducting parent-teacher meetings. Yet, the university soared high among the crowd by successfully conducting teaching sessions without many hassles by contacting students on a one-to-one basis, persuading parents to provide laptop or smartphone to their children, continuously imparting training to its teachers, and building rapport with its IT officials to make virtual teaching more meaningful.

Lastly, the students with knowledge in IT also helped the teachers, which is the new idea of reverse mentoring at educational institutions.

Presently, Dr Jyotsna is working on rendering more strength to clinical legal education and making students practice-ready for the legal profession. She is also focused on giving her best at the International Virtual Conference on International Human Rights to be held on the 10th and 11th of April, 2021, wherein many foreign dignitaries along with the national dignitaries, will address. Yet, her primordial goal is to give back to society by delivering honest, committed, and dedicated future members of the judiciary and legal profession.

Challenges & Milestones Growth in anyone’s career is usually an amalgamation of challenges and milestones. Dr Jyotsna also faced a fair number of stumbles in her Professional life, including accepting a judgeship offer later instead of at a young age where she could have retired as the High Court Judge. She always reminded herself of the fact that she does not belong to the family of lawyers or judges but whatever Almighty has showered on her is most satisfactory. While working for pro bono cases for poor people, she learnt many hard realities of life and true meaning of access to justice for all. After retirement, she joined the School of Law as its Director, which was the first year of that school. During the maiden year itself, the school was rewarded with India’s most emerging law school under her leadership. Even while working at Adamas University, she was responsible for procuring many laurels and award in law & justice.

Above all, Dr Jyotsna considers her journey’s significant milestones as her students, who have grown into eminent judges, lawyers, law teachers in India and abroad.

To all the working professionals, perfecting the worklife balance is most difficult task. But, Dr Jyotsna ensures to work round the clock by applying different techniques to handle pressures. She believes that to stay calm; she ought to have ‘Sakshi-bhava’ as mentioned in The Bhagawat Geeta by Lord Krishna. On the professional front, she

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As a successful leader, Dr Jyotsna firmly believes in connecting with people she works with, generating team spirit among them, and giving them frequent & timely appreciation and elevations so that they own the institution and constantly implement innovative ideas of teaching and working

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Higher Education Digest March 2021

assures to stay tuned with the latest trends in education by becoming a member of software where judgments of Supreme Court & High Court are uploaded and soft magazines where debates, discussion, and webinars on legal education are ongoing. She also makes sure to subscribe to YouTube channels to witness debates wherein the latest education trends are being discussed and participate in multiple TV debates as panellists and speakers in different national & international conferences.

As a successful leader, Dr Jyotsna firmly believes in connecting with people she works with, generating team spirit among them, and giving them frequent & timely appreciation and elevations so that they own the institution and constantly implement innovative ideas of teaching and working. She also envisages developing a curriculum that is connectable with employment in law education and current higher education where teaching should be applicationbased. She asserts, “Complete clinical legal education is the way forward for gifting the best judges and brilliant advocates to our country”.

Women in Leadership Roles Recounting the women in leadership roles in India and South Asia, Dr Jyotsna believes that the numbers are quite less. On the bright side, the situation in the education field is quite happy when compared with other fields since a cultured and women-friendly work atmosphere is found in most educational institutions barring few exceptions. At least in urban areas, women and men are in equal proportions among the teaching faculty. She believes that the number of women in leadership roles in India can be increased by trusting them, creating laws with enhanced priorities, encouraging them to pursue their UG & PG studies in the fields where their management, administrative ability and virtues of leadership are nurtured.

Moreover, advising the women professionals, Dr Jyotsna says, “I humbly opine that there is always space on top, and continuously & committedly marching ahead with a torch of knowledge, courage, clarity & attitude to continuously learn can definitely pave the way for women in any sector”. She adds, “However struggles and efforts to establish one’s ability and proving one’s merits are all too common for women to reach top management. Yet, all the above should not be taken as a discouragement but as our path makers. I wish all the best to all the women on this globe!”

No matter where you decide to go in India, you’ll find something incredible. And right next to that, you’ll find us. Safe and sanitised stays, waiting to host you.

So pack up your bags, dust those boots, come to an OYO near you.

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INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

HYBRID LEARNING:

THE FUTURE OF INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM Ankur Goel, Managing Director, Poly India & SAARC

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With 21+ years of experience in general management, sales and channel development in the UC industry, Ankur has a proven track record in transforming business and leading teams to new levels of growth and profitability. In the past, Ankur has held Executive and Sales positions with several major organizations including Qlik and Cisco. He has been instrumental in building Poly India team and business over the past six years.

Higher Education Digest March 2021

One of the most important factors while implementing the hybrid learning approach is to ensure that the quality of the learning experience is the same as in class training

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he education system in India has undergone a major haul over the last one year in terms of how it operates.

Due to unfortunate circumstances of the pandemic, more than 35 crore students and 1.08 crore teachers across 15 lakh schools, 1,028 universities, 41,901 colleges and 10,726 standalone institutes in our country were unable to attend classes during the lockdown.

To address this challenge, traditional teaching methods had to be revamped and educators started using technology in innovative ways to make learning a lot more interactive.

In 2021, many are looking forward to the longawaited return to the physical classroom. However, the pandemic has disrupted the education landscape in India forever thereby accelerating the adoption of e-learning or blended learning.

Universities are now evaluating how they can leverage technology to create classrooms of

the future and educational institutions are under tremendous pressure to establish excellent standards for hybrid learning – with educators teaching students in both the classroom and at home.

This needs to support online learning alongside classroom-based teaching will remain now and into the future so schools need to deliver a consistent learning experience across a hybrid learning environment.

Importance of investing in the hybrid learning approach The advantages of investing in a hybrid learning approach are many. From improved flexibility for students and teachers to increased access to learning for students in rural India, hybrid learning is helping to change the way we think of education and is removing many of the barriers that have traditionally existed.

One of the most important factors while implementing the hybrid learning approach is to

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ensure that the quality of the learning experience is the same as in class training.

The strategies and the technologies that universities and schools implement to make e-learning more immersive and constructive to the teacher and student community than what it is today is more important than ever.

Collaboration technology powering the hybrid education model So far, many teachers and students have been getting by using integrated cameras and speakers found on their computers and laptops, but poor audio and video quality is distracting and can have a negative impact on a student’s ability to learn.

Collaboration technologies like HD videoconferencing solutions are key to overcoming these challenges and it plays a pivotal role to play in enhancing the experience for both educators and students.

Videoconferencing must be more than a software application through a laptop, however. Participants need to be able to enjoy live streaming without interruption, with high-definition images that bring the room to life for remote students and cameras that capture not only the speaker, but the context of the teaching environment.

For students who are joining a class from home or sharing a space with others

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while learning, noise distraction can become a big issue. In fact, experts predict that noise can affect complex cognitive and learning abilities, resulting in poorer motivation and higher levels of annoyance.

Providing students with the right headsets can be the ideal solution for those trying to learn in a potentially noisy environment. Noise-cancelling headsets for example will allow students to focus on listening and learning without being distracted from their surroundings.

Audio quality of videoconferencing devices in the classroom is also key, ensuring microphones pick up the speaker — whether that’s the teacher or a student asking a question — rather than the murmur of the classroom.

All education providers are striving to achieve the same goal, to engage their students effectively and are turning to technology to help them navigate through the new normal.

While learning at times of uncertainty and complexity can be a challenge, through the right collaboration tools like high quality audio and videoconferencing solutions — educational institutions can ensure that these new hybrid experiences are engaging and informative for all participants, no matter where they are located, now and in the longer term.

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INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS

Minal Anand CEO & Founder, GuruQ

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Creating a Digital and More Interactive Educational Environment

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oday, online education and tutoring are fast becoming an integral component of school education, with various advancing technologies integrating with the educational sector. Various researches conducted by analysts predict that the global market for online education will reach 350 Billion Dollars by 2025. Additionally, the onset of the unfortunate COVID-19 has further propelled this market growth. While the momentum has shifted towards online classes and tutoring, students and teachers struggle to cope and adapt to the new technology. Students are on the lookout for a digital platform with the right set of experienced tutors who can offer quality education and reliability at economical prices. In conjunction with this, tutors also have their set of challenges like finding students at their preferred locations, managing erratic schedules, timely assured payments, and so on.

Bridging this education gap is Minal Anand having founded GuruQ with the core objective of bringing convenience and ease in the process

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I always have believed and will continue saying - ‘Keep working hard, and the world is your oyster’

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of tutor selection for students and their parents, and in turn, simplify the work-life for thousands of tutors across the capital in the initial stages.

She has gone beyond replicating just a standard digital platform primarily available in the market and has utilized a range of engagement methods, new age methodologies, and advancing technologies that promote individualization, intelligence and inclusion. “We planned and relaunched our app, making it more user-friendly for students to connect with the right tutor. We were continuously monitoring the execution, and thus we were able to manage the operations without any severe hassles,” informs Minal.

Reminiscing the school days, she tells us how she found her life as a student very exciting where she enjoyed studying and learning. She would always study late at night because that is when she got her best work done. She enjoyed notemaking on subjects like Business studies or Accounts, where her teachers used the very same notes to help other students.

This learning and note-making have been her biggest learning that has helped in the long run.

Empowering Women Minal strongly believes that education exposes people to new thoughts and ideas and provides necessary skill. Moreover, she believes that the saying ‘to educate the women is to educate the whole family’ holds true. In fact, imparting education can immensely empower women and better equip them to respond to challenges, confront the traditional role often imposed on them and reshape their life. There are no work domains that women haven’t delved into in the modern world, yet gender discrimination persists in India. There is significant potential for improvement in this sector, and this can be achieved through active recruitment of women employees, provision for necessary training, the cultivation of a womenfriendly culture and promotion of gender equality through Legislations. “Honestly, any advice that I would like to give to any woman is, do not take ‘NO’ as an answer. Society always tries to bring down women saying they hardly know anything, but the chances are that you might know about it, and even if you do not, one can learn about it and then go back. I believe women are capable of doing anything and everything and are more than capable of working hard. I always have believed and will continue saying - ‘Keep working hard, and the world is your oyster’,” adds Minal. This mindset, values, and attitude towards education instilled within her helped her shape GuruQ into what it is today.

At GuruQ, the team of experts ensures that every student finds what they are on the lookout for. The company was established with the mission to educate every student with the help of the best tutor around the world. Incepted in 2017, GuruQ takes pride in the 25,000 plus tutors and over

Incepted in 2017, GuruQ takes pride in the 25,000 plus tutors and over 30,000 students registered onto a single platform with streamlined communication

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30,000 students registered onto a single platform with streamlined communication. With the ubiquity of smartphones, the solution is also available in the form of a mobile app, permitting access to the platform anytime and anywhere. Minal says, “We have always believed that education is the most important aspect of life and one needs good quality education.”

Leading the company to one of the leadership positions it enjoys today, Minal attributes a part of the success to her team of professionals. She is of the opinion that it is imperative to support your team as a leader and guide them when needed. Minal pinpoints, “When I tell them to go to the market, I encourage them to conduct proper ground research, think out of the box and come up with new ideas and solutions. I always give them the freedom to grow and thrive and not keep a tight hold on them where they won’t have the space to grow.”

Committed to bringing about a positive change in the education domain, she strives to achieve a balance between the different departments and prioritize what is more important then. “A typical working day looks like a lot of meetings and meditating on the way to work. I do yoga, and I exercise, which helps me stay calm all day and focus on my work,” reveals Minal.

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The Road that Lies Ahead Having gained a strong foothold in this sector, Minal has mapped out the future roadmap for GuruQ with the immediate plan of ensuring students across India know and have easy access to the newly launched user-friendly GuruQ app. Commanding quite the market presence in India, she envisions international expansion to places like the USA and UK. Students sitting anywhere around the world can have access to highly qualified tutors and the state-ofthe-art GuruQ app.

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Higher EducationKDigest 12 Digest March 2021 Sept-Oct 2020

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ACADEMIC VIEW

WHY

STEM-INFUSED MBA IS RELEVANT Tarun Anand, Founder & Chairman, Universal Business School

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Tarun Anand is a visionary leader in India’s management education diaspora. He runs the topranked Universal Business School, which he set up in 2009 as India’s first ‘Green Business School.’ He chose to develop award-winning BBA and MBA programs in India post his learnings from a highly distinguished corporate career. At 35, Tarun Anand was elevated to the youngest Chairman & Managing Director of Thomson Reuters, South Asia. He served as Director on the Board of ANI achieving the highest growth rate across BRIC nations.

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With placements being an important end game, leading management education practitioners and thinkers have been critically evaluating how ‘job ready’ and ‘ambiguity friendly’ they’re making their candidates in the first place

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he Nov 2020 GMAC (Graduate Management Admissions Council, a global, mission-driven association of leading graduate business schools) report states that the COVID induced economic downturn had made both schools and candidates eager to hedge risk and manage uncertainty.

The 2020 application season showed windfall gains for the credible MBA programs. As students navigated the unfamiliar and sought refuge in the tried and tested, the global demand for graduate management education has surged. Case in point is that nearly 3 in 4 full-time two-year MBA programs reported relative growth in applications.

The business schools at their end have recognized that.

1. Value-driven and cost-conscious students are questioning what a traditional MBA provides.

2. Professionals are seeking full-time programs which will allow them to navigate the new digital economy.

3. Surveys on declining job satisfaction suggest that many professionals are tired of trading hours for dollars. Instead, they crave meaningful work and contribution.

The top B schools of the world started mulling over these concerns a long time ago. With placements being an important end game, leading management education practitioners and thinkers have been critically evaluating how ‘job ready’ and ‘ambiguity friendly’ they’re making their candidates in the first place.

The new determinant of this ability to hedge risk and manage uncertainty seems to be technology-friendliness. This is easy to understand1. It is no longer possible to function in an organization without mastery of technology or an understanding of how technology brings about business transformation.

2. It is no longer possible to function in an organization without adequate ownership of the outcomes. People are not happy to stay on the periphery.

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Corporations coming to B schools for placements have begun to expect both the above from prospective candidates. Industry experts too are convinced that new age technologies are impacting businesses across key sectors such as manufacturing, banking and finance, retail, media and entertainment, IT/ITES, telecommunications, healthcare and so on. And latest industry figures confirm this upward trend. For example, the business analytics market is expected to surpass

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$200 billion. Companies are hiring Business Analytics professionals in Consulting, Finance, Telecommunications, Retail startups, the FAANG (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google), conglomerates and old economy companies who urgently seek a digital transformation. The overall Data Analytics industry in India is currently estimated to be $3.03 Billion annually in size. The analytics industry is expected to double in size by 2025.

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Technology as actionable intelligence 1. Post COVID, the world of business has re-examined survival, not just growth. Every business is being forced to look at how they can undergo digital transformation and reshape themselves to be relevant and competitive to survive! Digital transformation fundamentally changes how an organization operates and delivers value to customers. It’s also a cultural change that requires organizations to continually challenge the status quo, experiment, and get comfortable with failure.

2. Big companies are completely reliant on Big Data as their business decisions involve vast sums of money and consequent competition. Therefore, businesses are transforming themselves into datadriven organizations to not just gather high-volume data but also high-quality data 3. The kind of jobs that are now being created are quite new. The jobs that are left brain oriented will be taken up by machines in the future. Newer jobs require that people either know how to use technology or how to build it.

4. There is a widespread global consensus that the future of business belongs to design. Professionals have to apply design thinking and effectively innovate in the management practices of tomorrow, right from the business idea, the process to the end product through cross disciplinary collaborative efforts.

5. From better chatbots for customer service to data analytics to making predictive recommendations, deep learning and artificial intelligence in their many forms is seen by business leaders as an essential tool.

6. A key factor in customer acceptance is user experience (UX) management - this is the practice of managing user experience by growing a strong UX culture with a focus on user centered design and validation & UX design covers areas of UI design, usability testing and human factors etc.

The above require that MBA be inclusive of skills such as UX/UI centered Product Design & Management, Business Process Innovation, Data Management & Integration, Data Visualization & Analysis , Machine Learning & Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence in Business , Introduction to Applied Analytics etc; Familiarity with STEM subjects like Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are essential for professionals to make sense of the above. Hence, the infusion of STEM into management education is imperative.

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INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS

Dr Punith Cariappa Dean - School of Commerce Management, Dayananda Sagar University

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Revolutionizing the Higher Education Sector

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ndia is a country with the most extensive higher education system.

With such a massive demand for catering, India’s higher education system has to keep evolving. Thanks to the pandemic, institutes have been forced to adapt to the online mode of instruction. Owing to the increasing demand, higher education institutes are creating programs that can be completed online. Even though this is just the beginning, they have already received a phenomenal response. Along with the development of online learning, the youth is also expected to show an interest in learning various types of languages. From new AI/ ML courses to an emphasis on holistic development, there’s a lot to look forward to.

Stay tuned with us to find out how colleges, universities, and private edtech companies will adopt these emerging trends. Updating herself with the latest education news, UGC Norms, changes in the AICTE, Dr Punith Cariappa, Dean - School of Commerce Management, Dayananda Sagar

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I normally take initiatives and the first step in all the activities and would like to lead by example

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University, keeps herself knowledgeable about the best practices and regulations applicable for Higher Education.

Heading the School of Commerce and Management Dr Punith works passionately for the School, the students, their career, their future, the faculty, and their work atmosphere, along with making decisions that are in the interest of the organization. Considering her father as her role model, his leadership qualities and fighting for the right thing undeterred has made Dr Punith who she is today. Having been bold and ambitious since her childhood, Dr Punith was well nurtured and handheld by the parents accordingly. She was an unbeatable orator, the Best student of the college, and a Commander for the Republic day parade in 1990 at New Delhi. “I normally take initiatives and the first step in all the activities and would like to lead by example”, reminisces Punith.

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Setting the curriculum based on the NEP and introducing new postgraduate programs that unique and one of their kind, Dr Punith aims to help students learn the latest techniques and make them job-ready

Adapting to Online Learning The pandemic has pushed the world to reinvent ways of coping with the ‘new normal’ drastically.

An immediate and effective response to the crisis was to go digital. Developing robust online platforms has become necessary to offer continuity in learning. Yet, in a developing country like India, with the vast disparity in socioeconomic backgrounds of students and the quality of educational institutions, the shift has not been easy. Education and the modes of its conduct have undergone a drastic change since March 2020.

The comfort zone of interactive offline classes had been shattered, and the faculty were faced with the challenge of conducting classes online. “Student attendance, student attention, comprehension of the topic and the network issues were a few barriers that had to be negotiated, but our faculty have devised their techniques, methodologies, and processes to conduct online classes especially for numerical subjects on Zoom or similar platforms”, points out Dr Punith.

Setting the curriculum based on the NEP and introducing new post-graduate programs that unique and one of their kind, Dr Punith aims to help students learn the latest techniques and make them job-ready. “I wish to see the curriculum updated, to be more contemporary and rigorous. Industries bodies need to work with the academicians about their requirements, which will help a great in making students industry-ready”, opines Dr Punith.

Women leadership is not a minority in India.

Women are doing extraordinarily well in all sectors. The number of women in key leadership positions remains low in some of the sectors.

Increased diversity in senior management has been proven to boost performance, and women leaders bring unique insights into key decisionmaking. In the educational sector, Women make good mainly because there is a proper combination of dynamism, compassion, conscientiousness, integrity, and great managerial and administrative skills. They strike a good balance of maintaining stability in the institution and its progression. “No office politics or Male dominance should disturb you. End of the day, it is your performance and contribution to the organization that you are working for that matters. No excuses whatsoever”, concludes Dr Punith.

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INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

HOW TO DISTINGUISH

YOURSELF AMONGST THE SW ENGINEER CROWDS Navam Gupta, Co-Founder, WedHaven

90 Navam Gupta has an enriching experience of more than seven years in the industry, working as an engineering manager. Navam co-founded WedHaven with Rishika Agarwal. These nextgen couple-preneurs started with a Bachelors in Information Technology from India, and went on to pursue their passion for Computer Science, with a masters from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Silicon Valley’s charm combined with their love for technology drew them to the San Francisco bay area, where they gained valuable experience for several years. Before WedHaven’s creation, they worked in the heart of Silicon Valley as engineers and ran an EdTech startup for over five years.

Higher Education Digest March 2021

No matter how brilliant you are, if you do not work well with your team, you are of no value to the organization

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t isn’t wrong to say India is the world’s engineering powerhouse, churning out more than 15 lakh engineers (of all domains) every year. We have a surplus of engineering talent. While that looks great on paper, in reality, it means unlimited competition for the people in this industry (both new and veteran) and an always ongoing pressure to prove themselves and their worth to the company.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t successful engineers, and neither does it mean that anyone starting now cannot be successful. There are quite a few approaches for people to shine in the crowds and reach greater heights.

Here are some pointers: General Communication skills: This is very critical - if you do not have crisp and clear communication, you will not be able to progress. Whether you are coming in for an interview or asking for a promotion in your existing organization or talking to clients,

how you communicate matters a lot! It is highly recommended that you dedicate time to practice and improve communication skills, like how you would focus on technical skill development. Some easy ways to improve include: • Reading books: It almost seems cliche but reading books (non-technical) is a fun way to improve your thought process. As a result, it improves your verbal and written communication skills.

• Speaking in English: Make it a daily habit to speak to people in English. This boosts your confidence.

• Attending conferences and seminars: To seek variety, the events not necessarily have to be of this niche. Observe the speakers and attendees present there. You learn and understand their oration skills as the audiences vary.

Presentation & Public speaking: This is an evolution of your communication skills.

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Doing presentations or giving talks inside (and outside) your organization is a great way to get noticed and stand out. It also helps build recognition and increases your credibility.

However, this is also a double-edged sword. If you lack in the communication department or the content is incomplete or unable to answer the questions from the audience, it leaves the listeners with a diminished impression of you.

So what can you do to have a great talk?

• Start small: If you are stage conscious, no need to do an engineering org-wide talk.

Start within your team, and as you feel more confident, keep increasing the audience size.

Also, don’t just be content with doing things within your team; aim higher.

• Practice hard: Always take time and run through the presentation/talk multiple times.

Never “wing it”.

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• Collect feedback early: Share it with your mentors and some peers and get early feedback.

It really helps.

• Interactive sessions: Communication is a twoway street. The same applies here. It’s important that you gauge audience feedback. As you speak, you must welcome questions from your audience. While you do that, you can’t always answer everything or know all the answers at that moment. Here, you can always feel free to respond with any of the following: “Interesting question”, “Valid point” or “Let me get back to you on that.”

• Smile: Everyone likes a pleasing personality.

This makes you more approachable and also reduces your anxiety.

Be smart: Contrary to popular belief, being a “Yes Man/Woman” is not always the

right thing to do. If you take up something and are unable to deliver on it, that will definitely hurt your overall standing in the organization.

Instead, you should: • Be practical: Analyze can you really deliver it? And what’s your confidence level for the same.

There will be opportunities that present themselves throughout your career, jump and deliver on them

• Set realistic expectations: Don’t just agree to do something. There should be an analytical breakdown at your end. Spell out the potential blockers, timeline and figure out if help is required.

• Be proactive: Keep all the stakeholders updated with the good and the bad news.

What’s worse than a delayed project? A delayed project that everyone finds out about in the last week. Hence, provide timely updates.

Be vocal with solutions: You should be vocal about problems that you or the team is facing, but don’t just go to your bosses with a list of problems, as they have another zillion tasks to manage.

Instead, go with some solutions to discuss as well. This way, you are not perceived as someone who just complains, but as a “problem solver” who is respected and appreciated.

Be logical, polite and a team player: No matter how brilliant you are, if you do not work well with your team, you are of no value to the organization. There will be times when things don’t work out the way you had planned. The way you deal with that is: • Always work under the assumption that everyone is working towards the betterment of the company, and nothing is personal.

It will help you control your emotions and have a conversation based on facts.

• Once something has been decided upon as a team, follow through and focus on implementation. In case you do not agree, instead of being an obstacle, discuss with the team your concerns. It’s always better to disagree and not disrespect.

• Support is mutual ground. Hence, to desire your team’s support, you must also support your coworkers.

Don’t be lazy: Not to be misunderstood as “work all day all night long”. Don’t get complacent or follow a monotonous routine.

There will be opportunities that present themselves throughout your career, jump and deliver on them. Your company will always appreciate, remember and reward the same.

These are just a few of the starting points of how you can begin getting recognition for all your efforts. Keep working smart and focusing on the right opportunities that come your way. Also, feel free to reach out if you have any more questions!

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INFLUENTIAL WOMEN LEADERS

Dr Saroj Bohra Professor & Director, Amity Law School Amity University Rajasthan

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Carving out a Niche of Practical Legal Education

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he legal profession has always been considered a noble profession as lawyers are the central pillars of the society who help the commoner to know his rights and claim them legally. The legal world has changed with a change in the legal education system, and now it is completely different from what was it was a decade ago. Today, the career opportunities are vast for trained lawyers. The teaching method has also significantly improved from the past years, making it a promising career option than earlier when it used to be the last resort. “Our education policy (recently, National Education Policy 2020 addressed all major or pending issues) and legal education policy are well in place. What we need is to identify the challenges and problems in the implementation of the same and address them and ensure stringent actions for violation of the same,” says Dr. Saroj Bohra, Director, Amity Law School, Amity University Rajasthan.

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My perseverance and hard work as a student and later developing a positive attitude and trusting myself helped me a lot to be a leader as I am today

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Be it law or any other sector, the number of Indian women in leadership roles is steadily increasing, but they are still in the minority for now. Despite strides in women’s representation in influential positions, a surprising number of people across the world still don’t trust women to lead effectively. These biases are deep-seated and may be difficult to change. “Among women and minorities, ‘tokens’ are evident within organizations and especially within positions of power, which creates an additional dilemma: excel, and become even more conspicuous and scrutinized; or moderate their achievements, to fit into dominant groups’ expectations” points out Dr. Saroj.

‘Diversity is about espousal different temperaments, talents and convictions. Embrace women for who they are and the unique perspectives and gifts they offer. When a female leader unleashes her value, she is unstoppable, a force that changes the conversations in the boardroom and within the organization.’ adds Dr. Saroj.

Believing that one solution to gender equality is to change not the image of women or men but to change the perspective of leadership roles, Dr. Saroj considers that the media and creators of popular culture have a key role to play here. If coverage and conversations about women’s leadership are to have sustained impacts, it needs to be done consistently in a routine, regular and critical manner.

She adds, “One woman serving for long terms may not be enough. It still reinforces the stereotype that women in the office are the exception and not the norm”.

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Describing her leadership as direct and leading by example, Dr Saroj enjoys taking the lead on projects and delegating tasks and staying involved and inspiring her team by showing that she is ‘all-in’ to help them

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Achieving Greatness in All Phases of Life A strong education professional, convent educated with a distinguished academic career, Dr. Saroj received two gold medals in law during her graduation and secured the second merit in post-graduation in law. She was also awarded National Merit Scholarship for year 2004-05 for academic excellence

from Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur. Dr. Saroj Bohra accomplishment and contribution in legal education has been commendable. “As a student, I was quite shy and hardly asked questions to my teachers, but I used to be very attentive in classes. Securing the first merit in law graduation and consequently, the second merit in post-graduation in law boosted my confidence and morale. My perseverance and hard work as a student and later developing a positive attitude and trusting myself helped me a lot to be a leader as I am today,” says Dr. Saroj.

Before joining Amity University Rajasthan, Dr. Saroj had been associated with the National Law University Jodhpur, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun; IMS Unison University, Dehradun and Karnawati University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. She is an astute professional with sixteen years of experience in research, teaching and administration, responsible for developing academic programs, curricula, and regulations in addition to preparing and delivering lectures in classroom discussions.

Learning and mounting herself personally and professionally with all the organizations she has been

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associated with over the years, Dr. Saroj feels the new roles and responsibilities she was assigned with each institution has shaped her professionally and made her more resilient, self - reliant, and confident about her proficiencies, knowledge, and skills with each passing year.

She is a democratic leader who is confident in her own decisions, a hard-working and driven individual who isn’t afraid to face a challenge.

Her passion for her work has helped her become the person who knows how to get things done.

Describing her leadership as direct and leading by example, Dr. Saroj enjoys taking the lead on projects and delegating tasks and staying involved and inspiring her team by showing that she is ‘all-in’ to help them. “It is imperative to have humanitarian touch while being a leader.

I am considerate about my teammates’ personal matters but at the same time advise them not to mix their personal and professional affairs.

I share my personal, professional experiences with young team members and counsel them to keep a balance between personal and professional life. One has to be consistent and persistent to climb the ladders of success,” states Dr. Saroj.

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Understanding each team member’s potential and assigning them the responsibilities is what Dr. Saroj has been doing over the years. She believes that ‘to implement innovative teaching ideas, it’s important first to provide ‘training the trainers’, which is being done by hosting workshops, seminars, and senior academicians interactions with young faculty members. Faculty members must be encouraged to participate outside the institution’s in the national and international faculty development programs, training sessions. Such events provide

platforms for exchanging ideas and learning and apprising about globally practised teaching pedagogies and later incorporate the same in classroom teaching.’

Helping Teachers Ease in through Obstacles Building a more resilient teacher workforce in times of crisis; Dr. Saroj with her abled leadership has been doing her best to equip her faculty members with digital and pedagogical skills to teach remotely, online, and through blended or hybrid learning, whether in high-, low- or notech environments effectively. She further tells that in her instiitution, in past one year a transition from a traditional educational model that is face-to-face to emergency remote teaching was made through virtual learning platforms and learning management system schemes. “We know blended learning can draw on the best of both worlds and create a better learning experience than one hundred per cent face-to-face learning. If, after having done cent per cent online at the end of this, I think we can then think about rebalancing the mix between face-to-face and online,” opines Dr. Saroj.

Taking about her institution Dr. Saroj mentions that, ‘We are one of the first law schools to introduce legal technology training programs. Amity Law School’s online learning medium’s working pattern is well automated through the use of Amizone (Amity Intranet Zone), which is a campus management system covering all academic administration related processes from admissions to alumni, operational since its inception. The course plans, assignments, lesson plans, study material, attendance, results and all can be uploaded and downloaded by teachers and students.’

‘We intend to identify the factors that can be taken into account regarding the level of student satisfaction in the teaching-learning process in ERT using Teams, and validate the established educational strategy. Statistical analysis was carried out to evaluate the academic environment for these scenario changes while considering knowledge assessment and competencies achievement”, adds Dr. Saroj.

Believing that learning is an unending process, especially when you choose education as a career. Be it digital transformation or development in economies; all are factored upon new inventions which entail extensive degrees of research and study. ‘From the subject matters to the pedagogical methods, the entire process of education has marked a significant degree of progress compared to the yesteryears.Therefore, the pivotal arena where change is taking place and rightfully so is the education sector’, states Dr. Saroj.

“Our classrooms and modes of teaching are evolving and upgrading with every passing year to keep pace with the changing trends in the outside world. With the rapidly changing industrial space, I think that it is imperative to upgrade our courses and their applications according to the raging needs of the time. So in my professional institute, I prefer to involve the people from industry, academia, institution alumini and other stakeholders in different roles which helps to understand the present need of my profession. Conferences, seminars, Edu-camps, research, and projects also play a definite role in keeping me up-to-date,” concludes Dr. Saroj.

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INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

IMPORTANCE OF

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR AN AI READY FUTURE Kartik Sharma, Co-founder, DcodeAI

100 Kartik Sharma has many feathers in his cap. A technology evangelist having experience in building disruptive technology products and high-performing product teams, he is an AI practitioner with expertise in leveraging Machine Learning to develop conversational bots and other RPA-related solutions. He is the Co-Founder of DcodeAI (www.dcodeai.com) and a pioneer in setting up Agnitio (www.agnitio.in), which is a KPMG Hot 100 awardee. “Our universities need to be at the forefront of the cutting-edge technologies so that the students coming out of them are prepared for an AI-ready future,” opines Kartik Sharma. In a conversation with Higher Education Digest, Kartik Sharma talks about widening the incorporation of AI as an academic discipline, his plan in rejuvenating higher-education institutions for the development of AI, and much more.

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Our universities need to be at the forefront of these cutting-edge technologies so that the students coming out of them are prepared for an AI-ready future

As higher-education reforms are underway in India to foster AI talent, what are your thoughts on widening the incorporation of AI as an academic discipline?

Artificial Intelligence has become a strategic imperative for worldwide economic growth and will continue to be one of the most crucial technologies of the future. Given its impact, there is a need for coordinated efforts by academic institutions and the industry to address the gap between the demand and supply of AI-related skills. Last year, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank announced that India will be the first country in the world to introduce Artificial Intelligence in the school curriculum in VI standard. This is a meaningful step towards enabling India’s future workforce to become digitally empowered and effectively utilize emerging technologies to solve pressing local and global challenges.

I have been personally involved as a subject matter expert with APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) in setting up AI courses for first-year undergraduate students. I feel more and more higher education institutions will adopt it in the coming years.

What is your action plan in rejuvenating higher-education institutions to develop AI talent, whether in industry or academia?

We believe that we should take a top-down approach here, ensuring that all the leadership and academic faculty members learn AI and become more aware of AI applications and job opportunities. This will lead to greater sensitization of AI in the education ecosystem. There needs to be greater collaboration between academia and industry to promote students working on hands-on live projects and solve realworld problems. Ultimately, the industry will also benefit from the AI-ready workforce of the future.

The universities should also setup AI Research and Development centres and stimulate joint initiatives with such tech startups. This will help set the tone for a seamlessly integrated curriculum in the country’s higher education system.

Elaborate on the courses offered by DcodeAI and the business model it follows.

At DcodeAI, we are holistically looking at providing courses on Statistics, Python, Data Science, Computer Vision, and Natural Language

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102 About

Kartik Sharma Kartik is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence (APPG AI), UK, which explores the impact and implications of AI. He is also a member of the FICCI Edtech task force that focuses on using technology in India’s learning process. A Leadership Fellow at the prestigious St. George’s House, Windsor Castle, UK, he is also a member of the Institute of Directors, UK, and student mentor. He is an executive board member of the AIMA Young Leaders Council.

He is a mentor with NASSCOM’s WOMEN WIZARDS RULE TECH (W2RT) program and Atal Innovation Mission of the Government of India. He has been a guest lecturer/mentor at various educational and training institutes worldwide, such as IIT, ISTD, NIPM, SHRM, IIM, LSBU London, IMT, VIPS, DSB, etc. Besides, Kartik is also a silver medallist from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology.

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Processing as integrated components of AI, which makes us unique in this space. The curriculum is aligned to CBSE standards and is covering various practical aspects of the topics as well.

We work collaboratively with educational institutions to help in capacity building for AI learning, conduct workshops and provide the DcodeAI platform to both students and teachers. DcodeAI focuses on low code/no-code tools and usage of AI to make learning easy, intuitive and personalized. Hence, even those without any coding background can start to learn and implement AI models.

In India’s context, what are the major challenges and opportunities you foresee in this domain?

In 2020, we witnessed multiple disruptions in the country’s education system and the overall learning and development process of the students, especially with the integration of AI in our education system. I believe that data is a key component in the success of AI initiatives. This data is mostly in unstructured format and lying in disparate systems or even offline in India. Putting this all together is the foundation stone for AI to be successful, we also need to get the technology infrastructure right as the world moves towards 5G and Quantum computing. Our universities need to be at the forefront of these cuttingedge technologies so that the students coming out of them are prepared for an AI-ready future.

Has there been a rise in AI adoption in India amidst pandemic, especially in the education sector?

Academia is experiencing massive reforms globally amid lockdown in

COVID-19 outbreak. The COVID-19 pandemic is also proving to be a constructive disruptor, giving an opportunity for restructuring the present conventional, classroom-based educational system to AI-enabled system and subjects.

We have witnessed rapid growth in the past year with parents looking for opportunities to engage their kids in meaningful activities such as coding, learning emerging technologies such as AI and so on. We have been focused on building a strong product and training support ecosystem. Our approach in 2021 is to continue building relationships with educational institutions and strategically align with the teacher community to deliver AI experiences with practical hands-on projects and integrated industry interface.

What are some of the achievements that were brought in recently on the platform?

We have successfully implemented all the five key modules of AI – Statistics, Python, Data Science, Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing. We have started implementation in a few schools in NCR and have received very encouraging feedback. We have also been doing webinars and engaging with thousands of teachers for enabling them to be AI-ready, with a primary focus on using AI to teach AI leveraging low code / no-code tools. We use DIY activities and projects at each stage and provide an industry interface for learners to solve actual real-life problems.

We are focused on deepening our ties with AI startups and subject matter experts to provide hands-on experiences and projects. We also want to create the largest community of AI educators in the world wherein educators can connect, share and learn together.

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STUDENT STORY

MY EDUCATION JOURNEY

IN THE UK INSPIRED ME TO BRING REAL CHANGE Dr Shahwar Kazmi, Masters in Public Health from The University of Sheffield, and Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene from RCP London

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Dr Kazmi holds a Masters degree in Public Health from The University of Sheffield and a Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene from RCP London.

He is adept in key public health attributes and research methods. He has a special interest in tropical diseases, epidemiology, immunisation and outbreak investigations.

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Studying in the UK was a phenomenal experience. The format of education followed by the universities was far removed from what I had ever experienced

The inspiration Growing up in a typical middle-class household in Patna, I always aspired to do something good for everyone around me. That led me to work hard and pursue medical science for a career. I eventually completed my MBBS from the Aligarh Muslim University and managed to get a job with the World Health Organization. But my seniors and colleagues inspired me to consider doing a Masters programme from the UK and told me all about the depth of knowledge I would gain and the value it would add to my resume.

Planning finances Coming from small beginnings, I never thought it would be possible for me to study abroad, so I started searching for options online. While it was important for me to find the right programme and university, the availability of scholarships was critical. Searching online, I found that the UK offered a host of scholarships to students

from India. I also applied for the Commonwealth Scholarship and luckily secured a full ride, with coverage of tuition fee and living and lodging expenses. The scholarship made it possible for a student like me, with limited resources, go after something so unfathomable. So, I went on to do my Masters in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Sheffield, followed by a Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene from the Royal College of Physicians, London.

The experience Studying in the UK was a phenomenal experience.

The format of education followed by the universities was far removed from what I had ever experienced. The superior pedagogy, welldesigned course curriculum and a classroom full of students of different nationalities made my university experience so unique and enriching in many ways. The UK offers a great balance between the quality of education and quality of life. My time

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as a student in the UK gave me exposure to new cultures, ideologies and perspectives.

Another important part of education in the UK is the mentorship that students receive from their professors. My mentor really helped me manage my life better and steered me towards the right direction in my career. He also helped me find a place in the community and encouraged me to join activities that would help me feel closer to home. This kind of support really had a huge impact on my psychology and fuelled my drive to keep at it.

The impact My time at the university gave me an edge and provided me with the right qualification and technical expertise, which helped me secure a job with the MSF – Doctors Without Borders. After joining the MSF, I coordinated research for the treatment of Kala Azar in HIV patients in Bihar, where our findings and recommendations were accepted by the World Health Organization as the first line of treatment. I also got a chance to work with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and coordinate phase 2 & 3 of global clinical research on drug-resistant TB for 2 years in Uzbekistan and Belarus.

I also coordinated research on Covid 19 for MSF in Patna in collaboration with AIIMS, CMC Vellore and the University of Oxford to find initial lab and clinical parameters to determine which patients may develop the need for critical care. During Covid, outside of my work with MSF, I also opened a charity clinic for patients with no access to quality primary care facilities.

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Final word All things considered, it was my education in the UK that provided me with a chance to bring real positive change in society. With the range of scholarships on offer, the mentorship available and the quality of education in play, I would strongly recommend all students looking for an education abroad to consider the UK.

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