Higher Education Digest – July 2021 – India Edition – Must Watch B-Schools of the Year - 2021 by Connecta Innovation

INDIA EDITION

MUST-WATCH B-SCHOOLS OF THE YEAR - 2021

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FEATURING INSIDE

Ashwani Awasthi Managing Director, RICS School of Built Environment Mahima Garg Founder & CEO, Certometer Nishant Agarwal Founder, Proctur

NITTE

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

NURTURING ETHICAL BUSINESS LEADERS OF TO M O R R O W

ANIL SURENDRA MODI SCHOOL OF COMMERCE MIT COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT

Prof. Parimal V Mandke Vice President, NIIT University

JULY 2021

Higher Education Digest July 2021

July 2021

Vol - 3 Issue - 8

B-Schools of the Year Special Head of Advisory Board Dr. Varughese K.John, PhD

Managing Editor Sarath Shyam

Consultant Editors

Dr. Johny Andrews Anjana K Nikita Thakur

Navya Venkatesh Roshni Rajagopal Emma James

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Art & Design

Ajay K Das Manjunath R Rohith Poojary

Sales & Marketing

Arati Waghmare Jyoti Kumari Anna Elza Reshma Ashokan Rupali Mohankar Sales Enquiry: admin@highereducationdigest.com

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Higher Education Digest July 2021

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MANAGING EDITOR’S NOTE

The Changing Scenarios of Business Education

isrupting everything from the admission process to delivery of curricula and conducting examinations, the pandemic has forced us to reassess the traditional education experience. Now, every stream of education, including business schools, are overhauling the syllabus and the student experience to meet the demand for new insights and skills that the post-COVID-19 world will require. The challenges are many for educators around the world. However, experts’ opinions suggest that the post-lockdown context for businesses could provide excellent opportunities for the work of management schools. In the coming years, organizations would need the backing of business schools more than ever. Be it a bank, consultancy or manufactures, companies look for the support to reinvent themselves, as there has been a complete overhaul of how they conduct their businesses. Now, the future of these companies rests in the hands of employees who can make them

resilient to the volatility of market conditions. We can only achieve it with the help of business schools that can develop students to become resilient leaders who can effectively manage change during uncertain and unprecedented times. In this issue, we have handpicked ’25 Must-Watch B-Schools of the Year – 2021’, reimagining management education and making changes to ensure that we are preparing our students to positively transform the future of business. On the cover, we feature NITTE School of Management, creating strong and committed management professionals and ethical business leaders since its inception in 2009. NITTE School of Management is designed to suit the needs of the industry and develop corporate leaders who can excel in solving complex business problems and contribute to organizational growth. Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam

Higher Education Digest July 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Higher Education Digest July 2021

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

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

Higher Education Digest July 2021

18 COVER

STORY

NURTURING ETHICAL BUSINESS LEADERS O F TO M O R R O W

38 ANIL SURENDRA MODI SCHOOL OF COMMERCE Nurturing Tomorrow’s Industry Giants

MIT COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT A Perfect Place for the Business World’s Young Aspirants

SPECIALISED MBA: A WAY FORWARD IN BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Ashwani Awasthi, Managing Director, RICS School of Built Environment

ACADEMIC VIEW

WHY YOU NEED TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR LEARNING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE STUDYING ART OR DESIGN

Harsimran Juneja, Co-Founder & Director, Uno Lona Academy

COMMERCE IS THE NEW PREFERRED BRANCH

Neelima Chaudhary, HOD - Department of Commerce, JAIN (Deemed to be University) Bangalore

3.0 SKILL FOR IT PROFESSIONALS

Mahima Garg, Founder & CEO, Certometer

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION AND THE CATALYST CALLED COVID-19

Nishant Agarwal, Founder, Proctur

HOW LAW IS AN EXCITING CAREER OPTION FOR YOUTH’S

Sonal Gupta, CEO, Maansarovar Law Centre

HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE POST-PANDEMIC WORLD

Prof. Parimal V Mandke, Vice President, NIIT University

Madhvi Chaudhary, Public Relations Manager

MENTOR’S MANTRA

THE PANDEMIC HAS COMPELLED US TO RECONSIDER OUR EXAM-DRIVEN EDUCATIONAL FRAMEWORK

Higher Education Digest July 2021

MENTOR’S MANTRA

HIGHER EDUCATION

IN THE POST-PANDEMIC WORLD Prof. Parimal V Mandke, Vice President, NIIT University

14 With formal qualifications of MSc (Bombay University), MSc Tech (BITS, Pilani) and PhD (BITS, Pilani), Prof. Parimal’s experience spans over 35 years. As Chief, Higher Education, NIIT, Prof. Parimal contributed to the design of innovative GNIIT/ANIIT/FNIIT programs and industry-linked Professional Practice. She developed educational alliances with over a dozen Indian and international universities. Since 2002, she has been involved in the establishment of the NIIT University. Prof. Parimal has presented papers and co-authored four books in the areas of R&D Management, S&T and Education. In a conversation with Higher Education Digest, Prof. Parimal talks about predictable changes in the higher education sector after COVID-19, the NIIT -model that other colleges in the country can follow, and much more.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

With the emergence of the digital era, technology will be the key driver going forward, and AI and ML will create new job roles due to their transformational reach

COVID 19 has disrupted many aspects of higher education, including how students are recruited, admitted, and enrolled. How will higher education institutions meet the realities of a post pandemic world? For the past one-year, higher education has faced considerable headwinds. The change came abruptly, as the pandemic demanded immediate responses and the institutions have been consumed with prioritizing safety, communication, and education continuity. To meet the realities of the post-pandemic world, universities and higher education institutions need to shift their focus on upskilling the students to make them job-ready, and every profession demands a digital skill attached to it. Secondly, digital learning, which was a compulsive requirement during the pandemic, will need to be leveraged in the postpandemic world in the form of blended learning for an effective learning experience. One of the core beliefs at NU is to provide industryaligned and research-driven education. All the courses that we offer have been designed to meet the industry needs and to supplement students with digital skills to meet industry standards, especially in the current

context. Students with skills that are aligned to newage technology will be of huge value. Following the pandemic, we at NU moved to NU digital, a platform that was created by NU and NIIT Ltd. to enable the teaching/learning process to be as effective as regular classroom teaching. What are the predictable changes in the higher education sector after COVID-19? Online has become the default mode of education for the past year. Due to COVID-19, the education sector went through a tectonic shift. This forced universities and higher education institutions to re-think and re-invent the way mainstream education was being conducted. They had to respond to demands for greater access, lifelong learning and multiple competing demands from students & society. Though the conventional mode of learning will never be obsolete, blended learning will become the new norm going forward. With the emergence of the digital era, technology will be the key driver going forward, and AI and ML will create new job roles due to their transformational reach. Specialists with the right skill sets could find themselves with job opportunities across a wide range of industries.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

In India, how badly are students going to be set back by not having formal instruction? What are the efforts of NIIT University to control the damage? In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, millions of students across the globe have been driven out of their university spaces and professors confined to their homes. It was not possible for all institutions to shift to digital learning due to the lack of required

purpose which include an industry-standard Learning Management system, Video conferencing system, Assessment management system, Virtual Lab, Digital library and academic ERP system. We ensured a holistic approach to digital teaching practices, which go beyond just using an online video conferencing tool. It is a comprehensive approach to do everything with a digital mindset and in a digital fashion. As technology has always been a focus at NU, we were able to launch this platform at a record time. NIIT University has also offered to the GOR to provide a model of blended learning that can be replicated across institutions in the State. What are the precautionary measures universities must take when they reopen? What is the NIIT -model that other colleges in the country can follow? NU has taken every possible measure to ensure the safety of every person on campus be it students or staff. Being a fully residential campus, NU was the first to move students to their homes. And while students were at home, we took up the social responsibility to set up and support a large Quarantine Centre in the Neemrana neighbourhood. Over the years, by consciously maintaining high standards of environmental awareness and hygiene, NU has established credibility as a Green and Clean Campus. A series of accolades like the Swachhata Award and the Greenest Campus recognition point to this fact. In a recent survey of students and parents, NU was endorsed as being a campus “As Safe as Home”. As students returned to NU and resumed their new normal Campus life, they live by the new Standard Operating Procedures that have measures such as educating students on COVID, arrival in small batches, frequent testing, counselling, outdoor health exercises, etc., as part of our reopening protocol. Distancing in physical classes and Mess, and the high hygiene standards in the washroom facilities, etc., every aspect has been covered. We have one of the finest standards of safety at the NU campus.

IT infrastructure. So, understandably, their education has been adversely affected. To deal effectively with this situation, NIIT University (NU) introduced NU Digital – a digital platform that provides easy access to all the required learning resources to students with single signon. We have integrated multiple platforms for this

Higher Education Digest July 2021

What is currently the employability status of young Indian students? Despite being a developing nation with many young talents, do we have appropriate skilling infrastructure in our country? This is an area where the highest attention is needed. Skill development has been given the highest priority

In the post-modern world, the focus needs to shift towards building courses that would be beneficial and relevant in today’s time

by the Government. The corporate sector can invest in developing skilling infrastructure as part of CSR. Considering that many present jobs and skillsets will soon become redundant, what are the significant changes that we can expect in future employment? The world is becoming digitally equipped faster than it was pre-COVID, and therefore having a foundation that is digital is imperative for any professional today. Regardless of your profession, job recruiters are in search of candidates that are well versed with digital methods and tools. Every field is demanding to hone one’s digital skills. Whether you are a banker or a doctor working in a digital environment using digital practices has become integral. Hence, it’s no surprise that there is a huge demand for subjects that have digital content such as AI or Machine learning going forward. What should universities focus on to equip students with the skill to survive in the postmodern world? Going forward, jobs in software and IT, Digital marketing, Data and Financial Analysis will see a huge surge. In the post-modern world, the focus needs to shift towards building courses that would be beneficial and relevant in today’s time. Programmes that are industry-linked that enhance student’s technical skills should be of top priority. To accommodate the needs of today and the pace at which the world is shifting towards the

digital era, we introduced four new programmes to our curriculum. One of the courses introduced is B.Tech in Data Science, which is built keeping in mind the growing demand for data science experts worldwide. The programme aims at the deployment of data sets models to solve real-world problems. The programme emphasizes providing industry-academic synergy for our students to establish careers in /DS/AI/ML, entrepreneurship research and higher studies. The programme has been introduced at NU to make students futureready for the new world of work. Combining both theoretical and practical models, coupled with industry experience, the course curriculum focuses on holistic learning while keeping students at par with technological advancements. These ensure that students are industry-ready as they graduate to work in today’s dynamic environment. What are your views on leadership? How should education administrators ensure that their faculty members and students transform into world-class leaders? Education administrators must ensure that their faculty and students get access to the latest technology. They need to provide individualized learning paths for their students and individualized career opportunity to their faculty. They must go for a flexible and decentralized management approach. Right or wrong is contextual, and therefore, to be a world-class leader, one should be able to translate goals in the context of the local framework.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

NURTURING ETHICAL BUSINESS LEADERS OF TO M O R R O W

Higher Education Digest July 2021

About

Prof. Dr M Venugopal An excellent corporate leader with immense teaching exposure, Dr. M Venugopal is a specialist in Business Law, HR, IR, Strategic Management, and Entrepreneurship Development. He has held prestigious positions such as being the Senior Director, HR at Maxvel Intellectual Property Services Pvt. Ltd and many other well-known companies and industries. As the current Director of NSOM, he guides the destiny and the direction of the institute giving back to society by providing able management professionals, ready to take a leap into the corporate, entrepreneurship world, in turn benefiting the country.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

niversities and colleges are expected to impart marketable skills that prepare students for the dynamic world of work. To date, students continue to graduate, and employers continue to hire new talent, and this has been the norm for centuries now. One of the most affected sectors due to the pandemic, the trials and tribulations experienced in the past year in the education sector has made institutes stronger and resilient for future challenges. At NITTE School of Management, the impact of COVID was minimal as several proactive student empowerment practices were adapted. Managing the COVID-19 impact in their unique way, the institute has been engaging their students from day one, in various online classroom interventions like lecture delivery, case study analysis, and other processes. The school had also conducted a National Level Conference where the students and faculty members participated in a big way and connected these experiences when they actually came to the campus. Accelerating the career growth of students, the PGDM program at NITTE School of Management is designed to suit the needs of the industry and develop corporate leaders who can excel in solving complex business problems

At NSOM, the course design, delivery pattern, self-development processes are interlinked for enhancing the knowledge and skill component of students along with attitudinal change.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

NSOM has created enough avenues for showcasing students’ talents, social skills both inside and outside the campus.

and contribute to organizational growth along with self-development. The course is developed to deliver knowledge and skills as per the industry trends and is achieved by availing training and teaching support from corporates, sending their students to various industries for internship and project-related work. Forming the pivotal force of NITTE School of Management, the faculty members at the institute are drawn from corporates with world-class exposure and teaching prowess, capable of bringing corporate nuances into classrooms. Having a rich teaching and research background, the entire team of faculty members enjoys a robust Doctoral background who are committed to enhancing the value of students

Higher Education Digest July 2021

in real-world exposure. “Through our Dual Mentoring, each student has 2 mentors by their side24/7, i.e., one from our institute and the other from the business world, to mold the students as the best fit for employers”, states Prof. Venugopal. Anchored by the need to build strong and committed management professionals and ethical business leaders, NITTE School of Management was set up in 2009 with a vision to reach out to students with a missionary zeal and create an impact on society through their ethical practices. The institute aims to serve the last person in every segment with a sense of service, selflessness, and sagacity. Enjoying a close rapport with the industry

captains and business houses, NITTE School of Management has MOUs with leading industry associations like FKCCI, ASSOCHAM, Peenya Industries Associations, and MSME department, leveraging and availing industry expertise, faculty support, internships, and placements. “Right now we are having the services of industry experts at least 3 days a week. We have created separate cubicles for the trainers and experts to spend 3 days a week and interact with the students keeping their placement requirements and personality development needs. We are also planning to organize a national-level HR conference where top management of companies will

participate and guide”, adds Prof. Dr. M Venugopal, Director, NITTE School of Management. A Stepping Stone to the Industry The Training & Placement Cell of NITTE School Of Management is the chief facilitator for the students to obtain placements best suited to them and primarily liaises between Industry and the Institute. Providing world-class training to students, the Cell has emerged as a favored destination for many national and international organizations who come back year after year to recruit talented and well-groomed students of the institute. The Training & Placement Cell is

Higher Education Digest July 2021

dedicated to motivate and prepare the student community for the best placements by training students from the first year onwards focusing on motivational skills, communication skills, interpersonal relationships, leadership qualities, group discussions, and interview techniques. “Our cell also provides the required infra-structural facilities to conduct group discussions, tests, and interviews besides catering to other logistics. The database of the students is managed by the cell, which helps place the students in positions that best suit them”, adds Prof. Venugopal. Engaging students in various live projects in the marketing domain and other interventions, NITTE School of Management has installed specialization-wise labs with the latest software packages to expose students in finance, banking, marketing, operation, agri-business to real-time cases and industry-related issues. NITTE School of Management’s success rate in terms of campus placements in various corporates, industries, and business houses has been around 95-97%. The last batch has been placed in leading companies like Byju’s, Ken42, Masadir, and Jobswift. “We have well-planned and structured modules on aptitude, technical skills development, and communication

Higher Education Digest July 2021

and personality development programs to prepare our students for a highly competitive future. The institute provides world-class infrastructural facilities to conduct all required pre-placement and placement activities”, says Prof. Venugopal. Multi-faceted and interactive, the students at NITTE School of Management participate in various fests, conferences, and contributing to house-magazine, ‘NSOM Times’. “We have set up a dedicated skill academy which will nurture the latent talent of our students. We are also offering several certification courses in addition to regular PGDM program which students can make use of for personal and professional enrichment”, says Prof. Venugopal. Planning to increase their intake from 60 to 120, NITTE School of Management aspires to offer 100+certification and full-time PGDM courses in agri-business, management consulting, facility management, and sports, at various campuses across the nation. Enabling an integrated, supportive, creative, collaborative, and agile learning environment to challenge and ignite young minds, NITTE School of Management is nurturing its students into being responsible citizens, business leaders, managers & entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Want to Sell or find Investor for your Business? 25

Higher Education Digest July 2021

ACADEMIC VIEW

COMMERCE

IS THE NEW PREFERRED BRANCH Neelima Chaudhary, HOD - Department of Commerce, JAIN (Deemed to be University) Bangalore

26 Neelima Chaudhary is presently working as HOD, Department of Commerce, JAIN (Deemed to be University) Bangalore. Her area of specialization is Management and Finance. With more than 20 years of academic experience, she contributes extensively towards academic excellence and has published research papers in national and international journals. She has been a part of organizing committees of national and international conferences and also the internal member of the Board of Studies.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Commerce involves the study of various activities in the diverse world of business such as the sale and purchase of goods and services from the producer to a buyer

ppearing for a board exam, be it CBSE, ICSE or State Board can be quite stressful for any student. Particularly for class 10 students, for whom the board exams are their first major step. Though the exam needs to be taken there is nothing to be stressed about. The format is the same as other exams, the only difference is that the answer sheets will be checked by external examiners. After class, selecting the right stream of studies is the most crucial step for a student. The entire future of a student depends on this particular decision. This is why one should carefully research and find out the topic of interest rather than simply following the crowd. Here are some key things to remember before choosing a particular stream of education. 1. Identify Your Calling: Begin with distinguishing your interests, understanding your aptitude, skills, and scope for the chosen stream. It is necessary to give adequate attention to your interests and aptitude.

2. Research Available Options: Take time to explore available streams, and introspect on how best it suits your interests or skills. Finding out every minute detail about the stream is key, as this can map out your plans. Furthermore, a checking list of professional courses that are available for the particular stream is extremely significant. 3. Do Not Follow the Herd: This particular suggestion cannot be overemphasized. Many times, it is noticed that students will end up following what their parents say or what their peers do. It is extremely important to know your strengths and weaknesses before pursuing any subject. Why Choose Commerce? Science, Commerce, Arts, are some choices to pursue post 10th examinations. These days, the Commerce stream is immensely gaining popularity over the past few years and this is understandable. Money has

Higher Education Digest July 2021

always been at the core of our lives and money is the thing that starts and continues businesses and ventures. However gaining in-depth knowledge of Business, Accounts, Finance, and Economics is not an overnight activity. Learning the nuances of trade takes time. Commerce involves the study of various activities in the diverse world of business such as the sale and purchase of goods and services from the producer to a buyer. Commerce is designed to develop business insights, financial literacy, and core analytical skills. If one has a proclivity for the variances of the economy, then it is the course for them. Below are a few reasons why studying commerce is becoming so popular and why it might be a good opportunity to boost one’s career. 1. A Plethora of Topics: An undergraduate degree in Commerce, trains students mainly in finance and banking. However, this is merely the tip of the iceberg as students have a vast plethora of specialization options in multiple sectors and industries. 2. Excellent Employment Opportunities: Commerce in India, offers great employment opportunities across multiple sectors. A capitalistic regime, wherein commerce and trade are young among top players of the economy plays a major hand in it. Careers in both the public and private sectors can be pursued. 3. Bright Prospects: Bachelors in Commerce itself can provide a lucrative career path for any aspirant, going as far as providing managerial positions. However, it is considered a good idea to have a postgraduate course done as well, to enable much better opportunities. Some of the most popular career opportunities for Commerce students are listed below. 1. Chartered Accountant: A Chartered Accountancy professional course, offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is one of the most popular, albeit difficult

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Bachelors in Commerce itself can provide a lucrative career path for any aspirant, going as far as providing managerial positions

courses. As a CA, one is empowered to handle accounts of an organization and manage their finances. 2. Investment Banker: The role of an investment banker is to provide core financial advice and business recommendations to different organizations to help them take calculated business decisions and risks. It is one of the better-paying jobs for commerce students. 3. Chartered Financial Analyst: Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), is one of the globally recognized commerce jobs and engages in several roles-wealth management, equity, and fixed income analysis, credit analysis, etc. 4. Certified Public Accountant: CPA is similar to Chartered Accountancy, but is conducted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or AICPA, thus ensuring a global appeal. A Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/ Finance/ Accounting is required to obtain this certification. 5. Professional Accountants: Professional Accountants are engaged with accounting,

taxation, and compliance, and reports. They are expected to have a working knowledge of accounting software like SAP, Tally, and advanced Excel. Professional Accountants have to create and maintain accurate financial records for businesses and individuals and carry out financial audits. 6. Company Secretary: The role of a Company Secretary is to ensure that the company is running as per the various statutory and regulatory requirements. They act as the medium between the stakeholders and the company Board. A Company Secretary is also responsible for legal filings like tax reports, account information as well as reports of annual earnings. 7. Personal Financial Advisor: A personal Financial Advisor is a person who helps individual clients with their financial objectives, retirement savings, pensions, insurance, and debt management. Financial advisors should have a degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Mathematics, Law, etc.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

SPECIALISED MBA:

A WAY FORWARD IN BUILT ENVIRONMENT Ashwani Awasthi, Managing Director, RICS School of Built Environment

30 Ashwani Awasthi is the Managing Director - RICS School of Built Environment. He has over 21 years experience in infrastructure and project management, facility management, strategic planning, and organisational and human resource management across varied industries. Prior to joining RICS, Ashwani was chief administrative officer with Pramerica BHI Advisors, a US-based real estate advisory and investment management company. Previously Ashwani also worked as a chief operating officer with Helix Financial India (now Black Rock Solutions) where he was responsible for overall strategy of the offshore operations, implementation, compliance and administrative matters of the company.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Sectors like real estate and built environment are likely to emerge from the economic turmoil faster than other sectors

he Built Environment sector (a combined term for Real Estate and Urban Infrastructure) was already facing challenges like liquidity, buyer-seller mistrust, ethical practices, and a shortage of skilled manpower when it got further hit by the impact of the lockdown due to the global pandemic. The BE industry, with the cooperation of the government, is already working towards rectifying these issues. Although it is difficult to make predictions in such a volatile environment, the coming 6 to 12 months are expected to be a turbulent period as construction projects are already delayed. Increased use of technology and skilled professionals are expected to play a big role in bringing the industry back on track. Hence, those who choose to upskill themselves in relevant BE areas stand a better chance at employability and also for fast-track career growth. Why pursue higher studies in BE now? Those looking to start a career now may find that the pandemic-hit economy is offering fewer opportunities. On the other hand, with not many activities to distract

our attention, the virus-hit, home-bound times are the best to pay attention to a professional course and upskill oneself. Most educational institutions are working online as they have been closed for the past many months due to the pandemic, yet the closure is temporary in nature, and it should not be the reason for a break in education, career, and success. Rather, students would do well to utilise this time judiciously and productively and engage in activities and enrol in programs that will aid in building their future. Those opting for an MBA now, for example, would have acquired the desired competence by the time the economy recovers and will be graduating at a time offering much better future prospects. What we are currently witnessing appears to be a tug of war between improving economic data and the still escalating virus situation. Therefore, having appropriate educational skill sets can protect you against the economic chill winds, and you can prove to be a primary driver of progress. Sectors like real estate and built environment are likely to emerge from the economic turmoil faster than other sectors. Organisations setting up

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Choose a programme which caters to the needs of a growing industry Students must choose an industry-led academic institution that delivers specialised undergraduate and postgraduate programs to students ambitious to work in their concerned sector and prefer those institutes which offer international accreditation. Let us take a look at some MBA courses in the built environment that can help careers in BE.

It is essential for the project managers of tomorrow to be well-equipped with new-age technologies

workplaces in India will bring huge demand for office space and other auxiliary needs like housing, malls etc. For young graduates, including civil engineers and architects, this is the right time to up-skill themselves by pursuing postgraduate courses like an MBA in Real Estate and Urban Infrastructure, MBA in Construction Economics and Quantity Surveying, MBA in Construction Project Management or MBA in Facilities Management from institutes that offer internationally accredited programmes in these areas.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

MBA in Construction Project Management An MBA in construction project management will provide a stepping-stone to excel in the role of a project manager. Project managers lead a team of specialists, including architects, electrical engineers, structural engineers, finance experts, and sustainability experts. MBA CPM teaches how to manage, control, and understand the projects in the construction industry. The duties of a project manager include directing, planning, & coordinating activities on construction sites, hiring & supervising workers, overseeing project designs, monitoring supplies, and choosing contractors. It is essential for the project managers of tomorrow to be wellequipped with new-age technologies. MBA in Real Estate and Urban Infrastructure An MBA in Real Estate and Urban Infrastructure (REUI) equips professionals in economic principles related to real estate, land, planning, property management, environmental laws, and construction technology. If you are inclined towards any of these core values, an MBA in REUI will come in handy. The course enables students to analyse real estate markets and figure out optimal scenarios for development and investment, along with crafting a project-specific marketing plan. MBA in Construction Economics and Quantity Surveying The primary responsibility of a quantity surveyor is to understand all the technical aspects of a construction site. As a quantity surveyor, candidates will be responsible for achieving the highest quality of work and understanding budgets, quantities, and measurements. Quantity surveying professionals have the luxury to specialise and work either exclusively for their clients or for contractors. This specialised MBA course will help you excel as a professional advisor on both cost and commercial matters. Students must choose an industry-led academic institution that delivers specialised undergraduate and postgraduate programs to be industry ready on graduation.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

anagement education in India has evolved considerably over the past 70 years. The economic liberalization era of the 1990s and the consequent rapid economic development witnessed substantial demand for MBA education, which paved the entry of many public and private institutions to offer MBA programs across the country. However, the mushrooming of MBA schools have left their structural weaknesses around, resulting in a plethora of challenges. The current wave of turbulence caused by the twin influences of technology disruption and the pandemic has exposed the weaknesses in our management education and the need for urgent remedial action to address them. There has been an ongoing debate on the need for B-schools to rejig what and how they teach. From being just a glorified placement services cell for top companies, they were being asked rather pointed questions about what they were imparting as education. The pandemic has been a period of serious rethinking at all B-schools. Most of them adapted to remote teaching and learning. Business schools in India, only recently, have understood the reach of the digital medium and are now warming up to it. Despite this, they still have a lot of catching up to do. Management education in India is all set to revolutionize thanks to the rapid and drastic changes impacting the various constituents of the business environment. Beyond-boardroom-skills have been endorsed more because of the pandemic and its effect on the business landscape globally. Skills that will be needed for B-School graduates to succeed in this new normal are being adept with digital, cognitive skills, excellent social and communication skills, and resilience. Aiding to the ever-evolving requirements of the industry, Higher Education Digest has come up with ‘25 MustWatch B-Schools of the Year – 2021’, which have emerged as the saving grace for students in these trying times and are pro-actively assessing the changing industry needs and transforming themselves to benefit the students, recruiters, and, above all, our nation.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

City

State

Amity Global Business School

Bengaluru

Karnataka

Anil Surendra Modi School of Commerce

Mumbai

Maharashtra

Balaji Institute of Modern Management

Pimpri-Chinchwad

Maharashtra

Bharathidasan Institute of Management

Tiruchirappalli

Tamil Nadu

Calcutta Business School

Kolkata

West Bengal

Firebird Institute of Research in Management

Chettipalayam

Tamil Nadu

FORE School of Management

New Delhi

Delhi

Goa Institute of Management

Sattari

Goa

Great Lakes Institute of Management

Chennai

Tamil Nadu

Indian School of Business

Hyderabad

Telangana

Indirapuram Institute of Higher Studies (IIHS)

Ghaziabad

Uttar Pradesh

Institute of Management Technology

Ghaziabad

Uttar Pradesh

College Name

Higher Education Digest July 2021

City

State

International Management Institute

New Delhi

Delhi

K J Somaiya Institute of Management

Mumbai

Maharashtra

Loyola Institute of Business Administration

Chennai

Tamil Nadu

Management Development Institute

Gurgaon

Haryana

Manipal Institute of Management

Manipal

Karnataka

MIT College of Management

Pune

Maharashtra

NITTE School of Management

Bengaluru

Karnataka

Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies

Kochi

Kerala

S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research

Mumbai

Maharashtra

Symbiosis Institute of Business Management

Pune

Maharashtra

T. A. Pai Management Institute

Manipal

Karnataka

Welingkar Institute of Management

Mumbai

Maharashtra

Xavier School of Management

Jamshedpur

Jharkhand

College Name

Higher Education Digest July 2021

ANIL SURENDRA MODI SCHOOL OF COMMERCE NURTURING TOMORROW’S INDUSTRY GIANTS

here’s a huge gap between the kind of skills and the kind of competencies that are required by industry and those being supplied by the institutions of higher education. Time and again, industry and academia interactions do happen, but these normally touch only the soft issues. More than often, they may cover issues like visiting faculty from industry going on to the academic world or students being given summer internships in organizations and so on. Continuously bridging the gap between Academia and Industry to make their students potentially industry-ready when they graduate, Anil Surendra Modi School of Commerce (ASMSOC) updates the course contents regularly and uses different teaching pedagogy and tools like SAS, Ms- Excel to deliver their sessions and helps the students enhance their ITenabled skills. “Students undergo rigorous Soft skills training to help develop their skills in Communication and Personality. We also develop their technical skills through industry-based projects, assignments, and research papers. These are designed

Higher Education Digest July 2021

SVKM’s NMIMS Anil Surendra Modi School of Commerce (ASMSOC) imparts undergraduate & post graduate management education through its BBA, B.Com. (Hons.), B.Sc. Finance, M.Sc. Finance programs.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

ABOUT

SANGITA KHER, DEAN, ASMSOC

Prof. Sangita Kher is in the field of Academics and Administration for more than 40 years. She has held senior positions in NM College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai, and is

currently the Dean at NMIMS- Anil Surendra Modi School of Commerce. She has nurtured the school from its initial years to being a topranked School in India for the BBA program, within few years of she joining the school as the Dean in 2011. She is a role model, and faculties and students look up to her, for inspiration, motivation, and knowledge.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

by faculties to enhance the student learning and research abilities”, states Prof. Sangita Kher, Dean, ASMSOC. Having developed a strong industry connect, the Board of Studies at ASMSOC comprises Senior management from leading corporates like ICICI Bank, EY, CRISIL etc. Industry experts are invited as Guest Speakers for many courses. Experts from across different industries are invited as Panel members to evaluate the Student Business Plans, Dissertation, and Project Viva`s. Blending Education with Innovation SVKM’s NMIMS Anil Surendra Modi School of Commerce was established in 2007. The college imparts under-graduate and post-graduate management education and currently offers a three years full-time undergraduate programs along with an M.Sc. Finance program, which is a two years full-time post-graduate program. ASMSOC aims to develop graduate attributes of domain knowledge, Value education, and lifelong learning attitude among the student community. “we want to position our school as a leading undergraduate business school, delivering high-quality education in the

ASMSOC engages constantly in updating our curriculum as per the needs of the industry and changing global economic scenario.

field of management, finance & marketing”, opines Prof. Sangita. Winning many awards and rewards in academics and the extra-curricular field, ASMSOC houses a mix of young and experienced faculties from academics and industry. Core faculties carry experience ranging from few years to more than 30 years of experience. 21 Faculties have completed their PhD, and the majority of the remaining are currently pursuing PhD in their areas of expertise. Regularly involving themselves in research activities, the faculty members have published their research papers in top journals

Higher Education Digest July 2021

along with collaborating with faculties from universities abroad. “Many of our faculty members have received awards in Research Seminars and Conferences, and they have been appointed at Board of Studies members as subject experts in various colleges, along with being invited as guest speakers at different forums like OECD meet and TEDx”, adds Prof. Sangita. Developing and implementing a Mentoring Eco-system for the students where the Mentor guides them for their career pursuits, ASMSOC provides one-on-one mentoring sessions to meet the specific needs of the students. They are informed of the career options which can be pursued along with their graduation and programs that can be pursued post their graduation. Both Formal and Informal interaction takes place for the students regularly in matters relating to their careers. Information about various certification courses, Chartered Programs, etc., is shared with them. “Our senior faculty members meet the Second Year students to guide them for their electives in Finance and Marketing. They provide a detailed presentation of the different

Higher Education Digest July 2021

industries and job profiles available to students after their graduation”, says Prof. Sangita. The college has 13 Clubs/Associations, which provide a platform for the students to develop and display their creative skills and talent. Clubs like Social Responsibility Forum help students to discuss and find solutions to social problems, Montage enables the student to display their skills in the form of art and dance, Onlooker magazine provides the student to develop their writing skills. Similarly, the flagship event of VAAYU, which is coordinated by more than 300 students of the school, provides them with a platform to develop and create new management events and games. “For our Marketing students, a 1-day real-life-like bazaar is modelled in which various groups of students develop their own business and actually buy and sell goods and services similar to a real-life situation. They compete with each other to sell their products. Students innovate in terms of the goods and services to be bought and sold, be creative in terms of branding, marketing and pricing. This helps them understand the business better”, points out Prof. Sangita.

The school grooms its students to become exceptional business leaders through a dynamic curriculum that incorporates contemporary learning methodologies, industry interface, and career development initiatives.

Sailing through the COVID Storm The entire education industry faced a challenging task during Covid 19, which was followed up with a National lockdown. Due to this, the education sector had new situations to deal with. Student learning, Lecture delivery, Extra-curricular activities, Examination, and Evaluation were impacted. ASMSOC also faced the brunt of these challenges. However, the School authorities were prompt to find quick and effective solutions for the same. The students were sent back home as lectures in the physical mode were not possible. The entire teaching and learning mode shifted online. Adaptability was the key, and immediate steps were taken to ensure the smooth execution of the teaching, learning, and evaluation process. Lectures were started using Zoom and MS-Teams licensed version software, which was procured for online lecture delivery. “Examinations were conducted through various modes like NMIMS Student portal, Google Forms, and Mettl. Viva`s were conducted through the Zoom platform. Further teaching pedagogy was customized course-wise to ensure student interactiveness for a better learning experience. Innovative methods of Internal Continuous assessment were introduced like MCQs, Breakout Rooms, Polls, etc.”, adds Prof. Sangita. With students entering the workforce in a technologybased environment, ASMSOC is ensuring that they not only develop their managerial and technical skills but also groom their technology skills like teaching Business analytics using SAS software. Many courses are taught through MS- Excel, which is extensively used in the industry. This is further supported by training students

in programming languages like R and Python as per their requirements of the program. Making Students Job-Ready A large number of students at ASMSOC are from a family business background, and after they graduate, they generally tend to join their family business. Many pursue higher education either in India or abroad. Of the others, the majority of the students who opt for placements have secured jobs in companies like Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Nomura, Duff & Phelps, HDFC Bank, Barclays, D.E. Shaw, Edelweiss Finance, Godrej & Boyce, JP Morgan, ICICI Lombard, AC Neilson, Tata Starbucks, Tresvista and many others.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

The curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities imparted at school, make students better leader who have good communication skills, interpersonal skills and ability to assume responsibility.

Encouraging entrepreneurship, ASMSOC has an E-cell (Entrepreneurship cell) wherein students participate in Start-Up related activities. The E-cell provides a platform for students with ideas to develop them. The Club also has Start-up mentors from the real world who run their Start-Ups and they provide Mentoring and guidance. “At the University level, Atal Incubation Centre provides

Higher Education Digest July 2021

funding for Student Start-Ups across different Schools of NMIMS Since the Inception of E-cell in 2015-16, around 20 Start-ups by students have come into existence”, says Prof. Sangita. Online teaching is stirring at an untested & unprecedented scale. Pandemic has interrupted conventional learning and destabilized all educational methodologies, strategies and has brought inability among students in paying their tuition fees and educational related other expenses. Technology adaptability will be a key element for the teaching community. Dealing with constantly changing technologies will be a challenge. Leaving no stone unturned, ASMSOC has designed its courses, projects, presentations, and assignments in a way that the students can explore different avenues to present their work more innovatively. “We are planning to develop and launch new courses along with improving the effectiveness of online learning and teaching and creating an eco-system for research”, concludes Prof. Sangita.

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Higher Education Digest November July 2020 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

WHY YOU NEED TO TAKE

OWNERSHIP OF YOUR LEARNING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE STUDYING ART OR DESIGN Harsimran Juneja, Co-Founder & Director, Uno Lona Academy

46 Harsimran Juneja, is the Co-founder and Director of the Uno Lona Academy for arts and design education. He has received a masters in Design Management and Cultures from The London College of Communication, University of the Arts. He also plays the role of a mentor and a teacher at the academy. He is one of the few artists of his age to have been featured in many eminent art galleries worldwide and had several group shows to his name.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

To be able to find your own voice requires you to endlessly experiment with your work

majority of us are products of education systems that become narrower in terms of focus as we grow old, often limiting our exposure to knowledge outside of the templates designed by schools, colleges and universities. While a majority of these templates successfully build us into creative professionals, learning doesn’t end with their certificates, diplomas or degrees, and it shouldn’t. We live in a world that is ever-changing and at speeds that are often baffling. And to stay up-to-speed in this fast environment led majorly by advances in technology, we need to become independent and take ownership of our learning that can help us progress in our careers and beyond. For instance, imagine that you graduated in 2010 with a degree that specialized in Fashion Design. Back then, the use of Artificial Intelligence for design or the practice of ‘generative design’ was unheard of. But in 2018, a brand like Tommy Hilfiger partnered with IBM to use artificial intelligence in their design

process to develop a collection that was futuristic based on trends research. Let’s look at reasons why you need to take ownership of your learning: Art and Design and its disciplines develop skills and knowledge that are transferable across other disciplines For example, if you are a product designer who is particularly interested in automotive design, you may have to learn about aerodynamics or other physics and engineering related concepts to be able to design successfully. The very practice of art and design depends on the concept of experimentation Artists and designers are encouraged to have their own creative voice. A voice that is identifiable easily and is directly associated with one’s identity. For example, artist MF Hussain had a distinctive way of drawing figures and painting with bold reds and yellows. To be able to find your own voice requires you to endlessly

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Taking ownership of your learning implies having intrinsic motivation for growth

experiment with your work. And this experimentation often requires you to learn new things. Learning is at the core of innovation Innovation is often fuelled by a problem, developed using research but catalysed through learning. At every stage of development, there is learning that inches you closer towards innovation. This learning may be by chance or may even be self-directed, motivated by the need to achieve something that has never been done before.

Learning in art and design builds competencies that are crucial to working in the 21st century. Numerous theorists and philosophers have outlined how the arts are capable of developing creativity and imagination. But it doesn’t end at the obvious. The arts are also capable of developing critical thinking, communication skills and problem solving. And these competencies in still confidence, all of which are crucial in a work-environment. Taking ownership of your learning implies having intrinsic motivation for growth. One needs to value creativity as much as literacy and build upon multiple intelligences. If one wishes to be prepared for a future that is unknown – and uncertain – one should be rethinking the role of creativity and ownership in education. The learning process is nimble and way more methodical when your drive comes from the desire to master the new capability to become a better rendition of yourself. Taking ownership of your learning is hard, but it is also extremely rewarding as you gain independence and understanding of what you’re actually capable of.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

3.0 SKILL

FOR IT PROFESSIONALS Mahima Garg, Founder & CEO, Certometer

50 Mahima Garg is the CEO of CertoMeter.com founded in Oct 2018. A serial entrepreneur, Mahima is the Cofounder of Toprankers.com (India’s largest platform for online coaching), ViDU(an innovative and intuitive SaaS product for Coaching Centres to improve results for their students that drive business growth) and BrainPulley solutions (e-learning development, LMS deployment and certification consulting services). She keeps conducting leadership training sessions and loves to solve business problems that individuals and companies face in the growth stage.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Analytical thought, lifelong learning, and innovation, as you can see, are among the most critical qualities for a futureproof skillset

he professional world is always changing, and today’s changes are largely fueled by technological advancements. Despite this, today’s new skills emphasize innately human abilities rather than computer manipulation. Drivers such as the commoditization of IT, which is moving many countries toward more right-brained jobs economies; the data deluge, which is presenting significant opportunity to understand business in completely new ways; and fierce market competition, that is driving enhancing the production in the online market, are all driving demand for specific skills or increased focus in specific areas. It’s also worth remembering that new abilities will emerge that we can’t even imagine right now. It would have been virtually impossible to foresee skills in search cloud computing or the entire spectrum of IT occupations that have spawned from social media in the mid-1990s, for example. We’ll go into these highly relevant job skills and why employers will look for them on your resume in the sections below. Be aware You must acquire skills that employers respect to advance your career. Take a look at the macro trends

affecting work as well as the micro-trends affecting your speciality to find out which skills employers appreciate the most. For decades, technology has been displacing or changing skill sets. The internet’s invention ushered in a new age in news and media, with digital publishers eclipsing print publications. In the manufacturing and construction sectors, automation and robotics have transformed workers — or made them redundant entirely. The internet of things and smart devices has changed the skills needed to track and maintain everything from African water wells to hospital oxygen tanks and home thermostats. Analytical thought, lifelong learning, and innovation, as you can see, are among the most critical qualities for a future-proof skillset. Soft skills are gaining popularity with employers at the microlevel of the tech industry. According to HackerRank’s report, problem-solving is the most important skill for employers when recruiting developers, followed by programming language proficiency. Finally, search to see if the pendulum is swinging back and forth between experts and generalists. Generalists are more hirable than specialists, according to the World Economic Forum, with more offers and

Higher Education Digest July 2021

higher signing incentives. Developing a versatile range of skills allows you to move around the business and increases your value on the job market. T-shape skillset The term “T-shaped professional” refers to the ideal combination of generalist and specialist skills. This type of worker possesses broad skills within their discipline as well as deep knowledge in a particular field. It’s also a perfect way to analyze the existing ability set and find any possible holes. T-shaped skill sets include technical managers with

high emotional intelligence, foreign language majors with writing or accounting skills, and even T-shaped teams, which put people from various disciplines together to solve complex problems, according to Psychology Today. Examine the job requirements at your organization and rivals for a broader understanding of the possible skills that are required in your discipline. Look for positions at all levels, from entry-level to executive. What are the common responsibilities of each role? What soft-skill criteria are there? Do any of the listings reference any particular systems, technology stacks, or other tools? Make a list of

Higher Education Digest July 2021

the similarities to see how the abilities compare. Are there any vital components that you’re missing? Active learning and learning strategies It’s time to focus on closing the holes in your skillset once you’ve grasped the macro patterns in your discipline. Continuous learning is essential for any career growth strategy, but you must make time for it in your schedule. This isn’t about setting concrete goals right now; it’s about finding out what takes up your time now and what you want to do in the future. Although the New Year is an excellent time to reflect and make commitments, career development preparation is an ongoing activity. Break each factor down into a collection of concrete, achievable targets once you’ve defined growth areas. Conduct a quarterly retrospective to evaluate your progress and change your priorities and activities as appropriate. The willingness to search out and digest new knowledge is important if you’re pursuing a promotion or considering a career change. Employers are constantly on the lookout for candidates who can prioritize their professional development. And there are several ways to do so. Take on a new project at work, participate in a class, or attend seminars and workshops to push you. Keep interested, critical, and open-minded in your present day-to-day life to learn from your own mistakes and those of others. There are several opportunities available to you, whether you want to become a programmer or engineer or simply want to develop your digital literacy. Opportunities to learn about technology and programming abound, from self-guided programs to boot camps to online and oncampus classes. The demand for skilled IT professionals is growing as companies continue to rely on increasingly complex information systems. Individuals with unique IT certifications are much more in demand, as the rigorous tests and credential criteria reflect both deep understanding and practical experience. IT certifications have also been shown to improve earning capacity. According to a new survey, getting accredited resulted in a 20 per cent pay boost for 23% of IT professionals. According to CompTIA, 72 per cent of employers need IT certifications for specific positions, and 92 per cent agree that IT certifications help ensure their IT staff’s reputation. The needs of the IT jobs market will undoubtedly change in the future, but if each of us is willing to learn new skills, a career in IT will remain one of the most lucrative and exciting of all professions.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

THE GROWING IMPORTANCE

OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION AND THE CATALYST CALLED COVID-19 Nishant Agarwal, Founder, Proctur

54 Based out of Pune, Maharashtra, Nishant Agarwal is the founder of Proctur, an organization dedicated to providing technologically backed educational solutions, focusing primarily on mass digitization in education. He is a product enthusiast and has more than 16 years of cross-functional experience leading various technology brands in Asia and Europe. He is a serial entrepreneur and has been involved with the founding of various startups. In a conversation with Higher Education Digest, Nishant talks about digital transformation in the India education sector, his inspiration to start Proctur, digital transformation trends to follow in 2021 and much more.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Education institutes, having moved to a digital modus operandi, are now able to dedicate the time they have saved to make teaching and learning a more real-worldrelevant exercise

If there was no lockdown due to the pandemic, what would have been the situation of digital transformation in the India education sector? How has COVID-19 accelerated its growth? This is the most important of all questions and will therefore be answered at length. COVID-19 has, in reality, been a catalyst in the transformation of the Indian education sector. In a pre-pandemic world, the educational framework was functioning like a dilapidated machine with no greasing – all processes were manually administered and managed. There was a limited deployment of creativity in teaching and the learning process was becoming more and more monotonous for the students by the day. More importantly, all the resources were physical and therefore had to be carried around, the brunt of which, was majorly borne by the students. Without the onset of COVID-19, we would have still been living the same lifestyle with no proactive thoughts directed towards process improvements. However, with the advent of COVID-19, the educational machinery became a well-oiled engine and there was no stopping it in its path to progress. The adoption of technology rapidly rose and

significantly optimized the experience of teaching as well as learning. Microsoft Teams and Zoom took centre stage and became the backbone of education during the lockdown. Attendance, assessment, and evaluation of the students became automated, thus reducing a ton of paperwork for the staff. Moreover, all resources got digitised, thereby making its distribution easier, convenient, and less strenuous for the students as well as teachers. Anyone with access to the internet and a laptop (both of which are now so easily available and affordable) can now be educated from any corner of the country, which in our opinion is the greatest sign of the growth of the education sector among all the previous ones listed. What are the benefits for educational institutions from digital transformation? Education institutes, having moved to a digital modus operandi, are now able to dedicate the time they have saved to make teaching and learning a more realworld-relevant exercise. With the online distribution of material, teachers can now disburse the study material a day prior to the students for a precursory reading and then engage them in meaningful discussions as

Higher Education Digest July 2021

well as debates during classroom time – be it physical or virtual. This enables the students to become apprised of multiple perspectives and form an opinion of their own that is balanced and informed. This learning process nurtures students into well-groomed human beings with mutual respect – qualities that are most difficult to imbibe in a pupil. It is what we like to call ‘experiential learning’. The educational institute also saves a lot of time by automating repetitive processes such as student attendance, project evaluation and assessment. Learning management systems do an excellent job of managing all of these, freeing up a significant amount of time for the administration. Digital transformation is a win-win for both sides during such trying times and even after. What is the most important factor that leads education institutions to successful transformations? The answer is actually quite simple and holds true with or without the existence of a pandemic – it is the desire to keep pace and change with the real world & evolving technologies. So far had nobody thought that the education sector needed to leverage technology, and therefore continued running the same age-old framework. As is with every sector or business, without a need, there is no desire to usher in change.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Now that the pandemic has rendered us immobile, institutions have been compelled to think out of the box and come up with solutions to beat the disruption. The only enabler in such a case is technology, which is why the desire to change is itself at the root of a successful transformation. Creative thinking and collaboration can concomitantly follow the desire to successfully execute digital transformations. Why should education institutions consider Proctur as a partner in their digital transformation journey? We can give you several reasons why! A great idea is born when empathy, vision and a problem-solving attitude come together - Proctur is that idea. We at Proctur focus on winwin situations that benefit students as well as the staff. We execute transformations that make learning a fun-filled yet fruitful experience and teaching a hassle-free experience. We also offer cost-optimized solutions so that maximum people can reap the benefits of digital transformation in this industry. We are cognizant of the importance of a digital footprint and provide a free website to every organisation we help transform. To top it all, Proctur also offers innovative & top-of-the-line features that can benefit academic as well as non-academic institutions. Proctur is ambitious, creative, and sensitive to your needs – we want to help you grow and we leave no stone unturned while we ensure it happens.

Visual aids go a long way in improving the learning and teaching experiences

What inspired you to start Proctur? The first seed of this idea was planted in my head when I saw the trouble my sister was going through during her stint as a faculty member at a coaching institute. She would be carrying a bunch of heavy books, sometimes enough to give her a backache! And then there were these responsibilities she had to fulfil at the same time in her capacity as a member of the staff. There was a lot of manual juggling of tasks that would get exhausting, and it seemed like there was no end to the entire ordeal. On the other hand, there were also a whole lot of students who did not have access to quality education. And this problem was starkly visible throughout the extents of India. It was at this moment that I knew something needed to be done and if I didn’t start, they would all suffer. Thus, Proctur was born. What are some of the most innovative developments in Ed-Tech right now? What are the key digital transformation trends to follow in 2021? Ed-tech is witnessing a massive overhaul at the moment. Let me fascinate you with some of them: 1. Use of AI and Big data: institutions are aggregating data in large volumes to tailor the learning experience for the needs of each student. Well-equipped institutions all

over the world are even deploying speech-to-text tools for tutoring students virtually. Data analytics is helping them perform assessments and evaluations seamlessly without a hiccup. 2. Gamification: This quite a trendsetter as it combines the learning experience with a fun component by using games to teach students. Experts believe it to be one of the best ways to teach students and utilize their sharp minds for better retention. 3. Use of AR and VR: When it comes to teaching complicated subjects or concepts, AR and VR come to your rescue. E.g., the dissection of a frog can be taught with AR such that there is no mess and actual cutting involved. Visual aids go a long way in improving the learning and teaching experiences. 4. Contactless Attendance: A feature also offered by Proctur, this has been a key aspect of the teachers’ responsibilities. Virtual attendance using digital meeting tools has reduced a headache-causing issue to ashes. While all the above will carry themselves throughout 2021, here is one interesting trend that will follow as well: IoT Learning: The traditional blackboards will be replaced by smart boards connected to the internet and a whole lot of devices over a high-speed network connection. Blackboard is one such futuristic technology solution. What are the exciting things can we expect from Proctur in the next 5 years? We Aim to be a Super App for the educational ecosystem, catering to their educational and non -educational needs! In five years from now, Proctur will impact each stakeholder in the education domain - including students, teachers, admins, school principals or the government bodies. We will provide services that will address the noneducational needs of the students as well. With the help of AI-based Proctoring solutions, Proctur will maintain the integrity of exams in India. Proctur will provide varied educational experiences to students, like celebrity-led educational courses, career assessments and other useful services from the best in the industry. On the communication front, Proctur will make it possible for the authorities to interact with the masses, so that the education ministers can do Man ki Baat with the students, teachers, and principals. Proctur will provide huge volumes of quality content in the test prep and exam prep domain.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

HOW LAW

IS AN EXCITING CAREER OPTION FOR YOUTH Sonal Gupta, CEO, Maansarovar Law Centre

“W

hat will I become when I grow up?”, is an inevitable question that passes through everyone’s mind when they move towards adulthood. While for some, it is about making money, for others, it is about contributing to society, and for some, it is to gain fame or maybe just teach what they’ve learned over the years. Law is one branch of academics that caters to each and all of these expectations because Law helps students pick their priority and move further in a direction that helps them achieve what they desire. For me, it was always about power. The power to bring a change. And hence I picked up law as my subject because it showed me

Higher Education Digest July 2021

A career in law gives me a wide arena of opportunities that I can explore throughout my life

that I could become a magistrate, a judge, or even get into politics one day. All these roles are powerful and can help me bring about a substantial change in society. Also, if any day I feel like switching, I can always work with an NGO and help the people who need me. I can practice privately, or become a public prosecutor, or even an arbitrator. In short, a career in law gives me a wide arena of opportunities that I can explore throughout my life. Law offers several opportunities; be it money, power, fame, social service, teaching, etc. Everything can be achieved by studying law. If you want to yield power, after pursuing law, you can become a magistrate, civil servant, or even a politician. If someone wants a luxurious lifestyle, then they can also get into corporate law and work with MNCs. They can also work with legal consultants if they wish to do social service.

Just like Thomas Jefferson said, “The study of the law is useful in a variety of points of view. It qualifies a man to be useful to himself, to his neighbors, and the public”, learning about the law of your country not only helps you have a lucrative career but also improves your personal life since it makes you more aware of your rights and responsibilities. Law is a popular career choice in India because, besides income, it also offers exciting and adventurous opportunities. Since the government is tirelessly working on the social and economic reforms of the country, there is a never-ending demand for good lawyers in the market. Even in terms of societal reputation, being a lawyer is a prestigious position to hold. Our society holds lawyers in an esteemed position because when everything else fails, law usually helps the common man. We all need legal advice in our daily lives as well.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Even in terms of societal reputation, being a lawyer is a prestigious position to hold

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Be it about an ancestral property, a family dispute, or a basic civil issue, legal advisers are always high in demand. And law is not just restricted to courts, one can also explore options like: - Corporate Law - Taxation Law - Labour Law - International Law - Family Law - Constitutional Law - Administration Law - Patent Law etc. For those who run away from a monotonous desk job, Law is a great option as it allows you to work on something exciting and new every time. Just when you make this choice, be sure that while the law makes you powerful, it can also be very competitive, can get you a few enemies, and might make you work on crazy deadlines as well. So, if you’re ready to have a life full of adventures, excitement, and the thrill of winning, then a career in law is all you need.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

MIT COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT

A PERFECT PLACE FOR THE BUSINESS WORLD’S YOUNG ASPIRANTS

egularly adopting new technologies is pretty standard for today’s higher education institutions. Many schools have embraced advances as they’ve worked to build state-of-the-art campuses. But as COVID-19 forced schools to adopt fully remote instruction, it quickly became apparent that those physical facilities provide far less value when everyone is offsite. The higher education sector is ready to accept the challenge of the pandemic and prepared itself towards blended learning, supported with the value-added programs in the domain of specialization. As part of blended learning case studies, role plays will be discussed in the classroom on a one-to-one basis. “Value-added programs, as well as the virtual lab sessions, will be organized. All the E-resources are made available to the fullest level in the format of E-books, case studies and the MCQ, Quizzes and roleplays, etc.”, says Dr Sunita M Karad, Director, MIT College of Management (MITCOM). One of the finest business schools, MITCOM offers the best academic practices and quality education in the field of

Higher Education Digest July 2021

MIT College of Management (MITCOM) came into existence with an objective to impart crucial skills such as leadership and entrepreneurship through management education.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

64 Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad President, MIT Art, Design and Technology University

Management Education. They also have the industry-expert faculty with the world’s best infrastructure amongst the leading top business schools. Established in 2007, the university provides quality education in management and envisions providing sectoral specialization with domain expert knowledge by shaping readily available manpower for the industry. Along with the strong Academic, students are exposed to domain expert knowledge through their value-added programs. Housing the Research and Consultancy Cell and the Startup and

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Innovation Cell, the students at MITCOM are groomed for internships through Live Projects, Innovation Forums, and the course curriculum to bring the best practices from the industry. “Our students continuously interact with the industry experts through our holistic sessions for the personality grooming, which helps grab the plethora of opportunities bring the necessary change in them”, opines Dr Sunita. Having been awarded the Best Campus University Award in 2017 and the Marketing Award from the Association

MITCOM pedagogic philosophy is deeply rooted in practice-based learning or “learning by doing”, one that in particular encourages real-world experience of management issues.

of Social Media Management (ASMA), the students at MITCOM actively learn through games, concept mapping, songs, and study guides. The university provides a hands-on interactive experience through problemsolving, fieldwork, round table discussion, community building, collaborations, providing interdisciplinary capstone projects, risk-taking scenarios put forth by them. The students are included through training, idea submission, mentoring, business ideation, planning, strategy to reach out to the targeted audience, funding, networking with the relevant teams, etc.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Dr. Mangesh T. Karad Executive President & Vice Chancellor, MIT Art, Design & Technology University

Bringing the Industry to the Students Taking a holistic approach to education through their series of sessions for personality grooming as well as leadership and entrepreneurship sessions, MITCOM educates students on motivation, positive attitude building, time management, managerial skills, cognitive skills, and aptitude building by sharing success stories of many entrepreneurs. “In association with the AIC, we have established the business lab eminent entrepreneurs are on board, and they mentor the students as well as boost up the idea of the students”, remarks Dr Sunita.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Dr Sunita M Karad, Director, MIT College of Management (MITCOM)

Practising the Corporate Relation Club at a University Level, the students at MITCOM are members where they organize industry expert talks, webinar series, research, and consultancy projects with the industry experts team. The students take the initiative to collaborate with the industry, and they have 300+ companies on board. Dr Sunita

adds, “Companies from the construction sector, Agri and Food business management, companies like the Marketing, Human Resource Management offers the summer internships, live projects, and the training which is mandatory to all the students”. More than 85 % of students are placed in campus placement. Some of the key placements at MITCOM are in the HI field, Ninja Cart, HDFC, Delloitte, H&R Block limited, TCS, Persistence Systems Private Limited, Sahyadri Farms, Saint Gobin, Rohan Builders, J. Kumar, CBRE, Viraj Constructions, Afton, Bhate Raje and Associates, and Millenium Constructions, to name a few. Most industries demand readily available manpower, including specialization like the MBA in Technology Management, MBA in Applied data Science, Product leadership Development, and many more. MITCOM’s executive education programs are popular among the working professional as a part of a mid-career break. These programs are supported by the Management Development Programs and the discussions Forum with top management from the leading organization. Offering specializations like Business Analytics, Data Management, Health Care Management, Finance Technology, and Shipping Management, MITCOM’s programs include training on cuttingedge technology to help students understand digital transformations better. “We are planning to increase our business school’s strength and include a lot of core specialization, to deliver and satisfy the needs of the industry and accept the challenges of Industry 4.0 as they come”, concludes Dr Sunita.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

THE PANDEMIC

HAS COMPELLED US TO

RECONSIDER OUR EXAMDRIVEN EDUCATIONAL FRAMEWORK Madhvi Chaudhary, Public Relations Manager

68 Madhvi Chaudhary is a Public Relations Manager by profession with a PR agency based out of New Delhi, that focuses on innovative ideas, fact-based communication strategies, consistent brand messaging and measurable results. She is a masters graduate in Computer Engineering from Stevens Institute of technology, USA. Along with her current priorities, she stands as a block chief for the young women’s division of the Bharat Soka Gakkai association and encourages all the young women to become invincible and live their youth undefeated by anything. Madhvi also writes blogs on the life philosophy she practices.

Higher Education Digest July 2021

Curriculum is commonly thought of as a means for regulating and adapting contemporary educational programmes to the needs and patterns of society

e are experiencing increased anxiety as a result of COVID-19’s violent return. In the midst of this upheaval, we’re also seeing a deterioration of “normalcy” in our educational system. Students, parents, and teachers are at a loss as board exams are cancelled or postponed throughout the country. Many of them, conditioned to assume that schooling is incomplete without standardised tests, may be concerned that, aside from the emotional anguish of the pandemic, these young students will lack what this hyper-competitive society requires: Willingness to participate in this exam brawl. This breakdown of “normalcy,” on the other hand, could cause us to reflect and ask troubling questions: Is it possible to treat the ritualization of standardised assessments and examinations as the ultimate substance of education? Is there more to a learner’s life than the methodology of learning

test strategy or the competitive desire to be labelled a “topper”? Surprisingly, this issue has taken on new meaning in the midst of a profound existential crisis. Because of the magnitude of the Covid-19 economic downturn, it is now more important than ever to look into the relationship between curricular activities and socio-economic systems in order to ensure that exams do not exacerbate educational disadvantage. Curriculum is commonly thought of as a means for regulating and adapting contemporary educational programmes to the needs and patterns of society. Despite the loss of livelihoods, food, and shelter – exacerbated by educational deprivation and institutionalised by neoliberal changes – most policymakers have been reluctant to reconsider post-pandemic education. The present scenario forces one to reconsider the definitions and aims of

Higher Education Digest July 2021

It wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate to suggest that the type of exams we’ve come to expect are the most heinous form of violence we inflict on the minds of young children

education from a socio-historical viewpoint, in order to better understand how issues of equality and justice, as enshrined in India’s Constitution, can be incorporated into curricula and pedagogical approaches. Fear, envy, and a superiority/inferiority complex are all products of this examdriven schooling. It legitimises hypercompetitiveness as a way of life in certain ways; it is fundamentally opposed to the spirit of reciprocity, symmetry, and cooperation. As a result, it’s “good” goods — the group of “toppers” and “gold medalists” — are egoistic. We do not encourage our children to learn the art of relatedness, modesty,

Higher Education Digest July 2021

a sharing ethos, or faith in the inherent possibility and uniqueness of each human soul. Instead, they are taught to be warriors in school. It wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate to suggest that the type of exams we’ve come to expect are the most heinous form of violence we inflict on the minds of young children. The most pressing issue facing us today is how we can create a culture that allows us to reconnect with ourselves, each other, and the pluriverse; helps us transcend our fears and insecurities that have kept us passive and politically apathetic; and fosters a sense of unity, fraternity, and social justice through compassion and empathy.

Higher Education Digest July 2021