Higher Education Digest – August 2021 – India Edition –Colleges in Tamil Nadu India Special by Connecta Innovation

INDIA EDITION

MUST-WATCH COLLEGE IN TAMILNADU 2021

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COLLEGES IN TAMIL NADU

MYSKYFLY

AVIATION TRAINING ACADEMY

FEATURING INSIDE

Cristobal Salinas Jr. Associate Professor, Florida Atlantic University Kavita Parikh Founder – Director, Disha Consultants Dr. Shantikumar V Nair Dean Research, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

AUGUST 2021

AGNI

COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY IGNITING MINDS WITH INNOVATION

FEATURING INSIDE

Anish Singh Thakur Chief Operating Officer, Booming Bulls Academy Barry O’Driscoll Regional Manager - India and South Aisa, Education in Ireland Basil Ali Co-founder & CEO, Edumpus

Chef Sahil Mehta India’s First Certified Pastry, Chocolate and Bakery Expert Cynthia N. Cortez Deputy Chief Diversity Officer, University of California Merced

Higher Education Digest August 2021

August 2021

Vol - 3 Issue - 10

Colleges in Tamilnadu 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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MANAGING EDITOR’S NOTE

The Southern Model of Quality Higher Education

hirukkural, known for its brilliant and timeless elucidation of moral ethics of life, is written by a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher, Thiruvalluvar. In one of the many couplets he wrote, he says, “it is a pleasure to meet a scholar, a pain to part with him.” In fact, Tamil Nadu is a place that fascinates every scholar, and it is difficult to part with this land of wisdom once we get to know its people and culture in deep. The state has a rich history of developing its education system to express and promote its unique socio-cultural identity and to meet the challenges of the times. Till the end of 1960, Tamil Nadu had three major universities in Madras, Chidambaram and Madurai, offering excellent higher education opportunities to students from all over the country. From the early 1970s, Tamil Nadu has seen a vertical expansion of higher educational institutions, enabling the middle-class and lower-middle-class people to get an education beyond schools. The state government was also generous in offering scholarships and

incentive schemes to bring all the people under the shelter of higher education. On the other side, great academicians of the state designed the syllabus and curriculum to suit the need of rural pupils and helped them in getting their degrees, which further enabled them to gain employment. Today, Tamil Nadu houses hundreds of universities and thousands of colleges, offering UG, PG, and research level programs in various disciplines in regular and distance mode. The colleges and Universities have provided scope for not only the people of the state but also for the students from other states. In this special issue, we have identified 10 Must-Watch Colleges in Tamil Nadu that are at the forefront of providing quality education to students across the country. On the cover, we feature Agni College of Technology (ACT) that shares a principal goal to provide students with high-quality research training and making sure that students are open to innovation throughout their lives. Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam

Higher Education Digest August 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 August 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 August 2021

COVER STORY

AGNI

COLLE G E OF

TE CH N OLOGY IGNITING MINDS W I T H I N N O VAT I O N

18 COLLEGES IN TAMIL NADU

MYSKYFLY AVIATION TRAINING ACADEMY Developing Responsible Airline Professionals for the Aviation Industry

MENTOR’S MANTRA

STUDENT’S STORY

WOMEN IN MEDICINE: INSIGHT FOR FUTURE FEMALE PHYSICIANS

BOOMING CAREERS IN CREATIVE SCIENCE IN THE POST COVID ERA

Dr. Shantikumar V Nair, Dean Research, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham & Director, Amrita Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine

Dr. Sukanya Vartak, Alumni, PGY 2 Resident – Psychiatry, Maimonides Medical Centre THE EMERGENCE OF IRELAND AS A HIGHER EDUCATION HUB FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

THE RISING INTEREST IN STUDYING ABROAD AND ITS BENEFITS

Kavita Parikh, Founder – Director, Disha Consultants

Barry O’Driscoll, Regional Manager, India and South Aisa - Education in Ireland

STUDY ABROAD

ACADEMIC VIEW

GLOBAL

EDUCATION VIEW

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC OUTBREAK IMPACTED THE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR IN THE UNITED STATES

Cynthia N. Cortez, Deputy Chief Diversity Officer, University of California Merced, & Cristobal Salinas Jr., Associate Professor, Florida Atlantic University

THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN ONLINE CULINARY EDUCATION

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Chef Sahil Mehta, India’s First Certified Pastry, Chocolate and Bakery Expert

52 HOW TO MAKE A CAREER IN THE STOCK MARKET AS A TRADER?

Anish Singh Thakur, CEO, Booming Bulls Academy

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Y WH THE FUTURE OF EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING WILL BE COMPLETELY DIGITAL

FOUR REASONS Y WH INTERNSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO BUILD A STRONG CAREER FOUNDATION

Basil Ali, Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer, Edumpus

Mona Gandhi, Founder, Upraised

DIFFICULTIES IN DISTANCE LEARNING, AND OUR WILL TO OVERCOME THEM

Devvaki Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, instrucko

A CAREER IN ESPORTS: WORKING IN THE ESPORTS BUSINESS IS SIMILAR TO WORKING IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY

Lokesh Suji, Director, Esports Federation of India & Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF)

HOW THE PANDEMIC CREATED MORE DEMAND FOR THESE EMERGING TECH JOBS

Prateek Shukla, CEO & Co-founder, Masai School

Higher Education Digest August 2021

MENTOR’S MANTRA

BOOMING CAREERS

IN CREATIVE SCIENCE IN THE POST COVID ERA Dr. Shantikumar V Nair, Dean Research, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham & Director, Amrita Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine

14 Professor Nair is the Dean of Research to Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, and also the Director of Amrita Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine (ACNSMM), Health Sciences Campus. Dr. Nair received his Bachelor of Technology degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India, in 1976; Master of Science (1978) and Doctor of Engineering Science (1983) degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Columbia University, New York, USA. He joined the faculty of the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA, in 1985 where he has since taught and conducted research in the area of composite materials. In 2006, he joined Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India. He heads initiatives in the applications of Nanotechnology to Medicine and Energy areas. Areas of research include nanomedicine, tissue engineering, surface modification of materials, and uses of nanomaterials in photovoltaics, supercapacitors and batteries.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Forensic molecular sciences are a powerful area providing many career opportunities

lthough we are still not quite in the post COVID era one of the remarkable outcomes of the COVID era is the tremendous investment and growth in creative sciences. In the span of a few months so many distinct types of vaccines were developed, including a nano vaccine, from companies such as Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and Moderna from the USA; Covishield from England and Covovax and Covaxin from India. Today more than 3.4 billion people have been vaccinated already, a phenomenal accomplishment when normally a vaccine takes 5 – 10 years to develop. This truly is the power of creative molecular and nanosciences which is expected to play a huge role in a multitude of fields. Careers in India was heavily weighted in engineering and medicine which are applied and service fields, but today more and more science-based careers,

15 particularly molecular and nanosciences are getting increasingly important in almost every segment of societal importance. Nano and molecular sciences represent the power of the small. When one goes below 100 nanometers in size extraordinary properties begin to manifest – unexpected biological, electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties which can be harnessed for the good of society in a variety of fields that affect the common person in a positive manner. Furthermore, at these small scales, materials become “intelligent”, and can, for example, seek out diseased cells (such as cancer cells) or pathogens in a targeted fashion and kill them. Such small particles are sometimes called nanobots, which stands for nano robots, to indicate their inherent intelligence. Sometimes they are also called nanomedicines when used for treating diseases.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Let us explore some of these disciplines where creative sciences are taking over. A basic aspect of the new sciences is that they are fundamentally interdisciplinary. Biology, physics, chemistry, and computational sciences merge to create technological breakthroughs in a multitude of application areas. In healthcare, molecular medicine, medicines designed at the molecular level, provide personalized therapy, nanomedicines that are intelligent can overcome drug resistance, molecular and nano-enabled high resolution medical imaging can detect diseases at a very early stage and smart medical implants can recognize when healing has occurred and can degrade away to be replaced by natural tissue. These are real-life examples of remarkable applications in healthcare. Another field is photonics or light-based applications in health, such using light through lasers to detect cancers and light also to treat diseases because of unique interactions of light with living cells. Forensic molecular sciences are a powerful area providing many career opportunities. This is not just understanding why death occurred. Forensics represent detection of causes and mechanisms, whether it be illness, the failure of a product, climate change, initiation and growth of pandemics to understanding the origin and death of stars. It also includes crime and fingerprint and facial identification and use of wearable nano trackers to monitor health of people real-time. Energy and environment extensively use molecular sciences. Clean energy production for renewable resources requires nanomaterials for increased efficiency. Energy storage using nanomaterials for high power batteries and recycled batteries can transform the use and disposal of energy. Also important is energy from biowaste using nano catalysts. Clean water has become a major global need because of increasing and more polluted water sources. Nanobased water purification and nano-based clean water from seawater are becoming

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Sustainable buildings need to use innovative smart materials for energy conservation

17 a reality. India has a very successful nano product for water purification that has reached millions of people. Sustainable buildings need to use innovative smart materials for energy conservation to keep the inside spaces warm in winter and cool in summer. Computational sciences are also exploding into the nano and molecular scales. Nano computers use channels less than 100 nanometers in length, quantum computers work at the molecular and quantum scales and change the way algorithms are performed. Beyond these, computational methods are central to applications of many nanomaterials in energy and medicine. This has sometimes been termed the field of bio-nano-info sciences. National security needs now rely heavily on molecular sciences. Applications include stronger armors, explosive detectors, transportation, smart sensors for detection of biological agents and

long-distance high-resolution vision, including night vision, from several tens of meters away using lasers. In addition to all the above areas are new emerging areas involving intellectual or thought contributions. This includes intellectual property management, think tanks, journalism and scientific writing. Career opportunities in molecular and nanosciences would embrace the pharma industry, biotech industry, IT sector, materials and manufacturing sector, atmospheric, climate and environmental sectors, electronic devices sector, agriculture and geosciences sectors. This is the post COVID era and we are almost there. What is needed are students who are interested and courageous enough to seek innovative new opportunities which will become the mainstream of the future and that future is not too far away. This is the time to start to prepare for it.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

COVER STORY

AGNI Higher Education Digest August 2021

COLLE G E OF

TE CH N OLOGY IGNITING MINDS W I T H I N N O VAT I O N

Higher Education Digest August 2021

eing one of the best in the country’s technological institutes, Agni College of Technology (ACT) shares a principal goal to provide students with high-quality research training and making sure that students are open to innovation throughout their lives. The journey of this excellent engineering college from the down south started in 2001, when its founders realized the rising demand for quality technical education and decided to establish ACT to produce exceptional engineers and technology professionals. Today, ACT is ranked 26th on the list of top Private Engineering in 2020 and 38th out of 540 colleges in Tamil Nadu by the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA). The institute is affiliated with Anna University Chennai, accredited by the

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Agni College of Technology Chennai was established in the year 2001 by Sri Balaji Charitable and Educational Trust with the objective of producing high quality engineers and technocrats.

ABOUT

J AGNISHWAR JAYAPRAKASH VICE CHAIRMAN Agnishwar Jayaprakash is a global youth activist, community mobilizer & campaign strategist, driving advocacy & policy on sustainability, youth & human rights, and gender justice. He is currently the ViceChairman of Agni College of Technology. He uses his interpersonal skills and experience around collective action to engage citizens at all levels, from grassroots to government (Glocal), to promote progress in the areas of youth, education, climate change and gender in particular. Mindful of the need for inclusive campaigning & advocacy, Agnishwar Jayaprakash’s outreach encompasses change-makers stemming from rural, semiurban, and urban areas. In addition to advocacy & policy, Agnishwar Jayaprakash is a frequent speaker, facilitator, commentator and writer on several issues (youth, education, equality, social inclusion, disability, SDGs, climate etc.) and has tried to contribute to leading international & national media outlets from the perspective of a Millennial Youth. He has contributed to 4 UN publications and authored/contributed to several articles for The Guardian, Thomson Reuters and other blogs & newspapers.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

National Board of Accreditation, New Delhi, and is approved by AICTE, New Delhi. Located in Thalambur, Chennai, the 20-acre lush green ACT campus that ACT houses state-ofthe-art facilities, from classrooms to fully equipped laboratories and a library that encompasses various subjects to aid students in their academic pursuits. The college has established the Centre for Research and Development that was founded and inaugurated by Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai, a prominent ISRO scientist and the Project Director of Chandrayaan I and Chandrayaan II. “The college has the facility of 20 industry-powered laboratories, 15 centers of excellence, and has 22 professional bodies and 10 technical clubs, providing 780 hours of skill training per student. The institute involves 220 faculty members, with 61 holding PhDs. Thus, ACT can be the absolute best choice for students looking for engineering education. Moreover, our students are the engineers behind the world-class drone-based startup Garuda Aerospace,” says Mr. J Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Vice Chairman of Agni College of Technology.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

In addition to academic excellence, ACT also provides excellent accommodation for students by giving them access to amenities like badminton courts, basketball courts, weekly yoga classes, and sufficient playground facilities. The college has its fleet of buses connecting the campus with different points of Chennai and suburbs for the benefit of the students and staff. Together we can Change ACT has students from all over the country, coming from diverse backgrounds and speak different languages. To bring them together, the institution hosts multiple workshops and events for students to carry on their research work in an effective way and increase the quality of work by taking in different perspectives. The college essentially conducts these workshops to make students future-ready by being a platform for enlightening research scholars to be change-makers and contribute to society. To bring out the spirit of research, ACT has partnered with over 30 universities across the world,

Agni College of Technology is committed to develop students’ capability by continual improvements and excellence of teaching-learning, technical competency, skill development, innovation, research and entrepreneurship with an environmental concern.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

The campus of ACT with well built class rooms, fully equipped laboratories, workshops, modern computer center and a well stocked library can be compared to the best available elsewhere.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

including Arizona State University, USA. With the help of such collaborations, ACT develops augments academic and research activities inside the campus and provides high-quality research training for students. This produces a new generation of young innovative professionals to meet the emerging needs of the industry and society. On the side, the pandemic has left everyone in the lurch. With no view of the future, there is only so much anyone can do to be prepared. At ACT, they realized that they need to be doing more and decided to innovate their educational policies and become one of the best in the world. By quickly and readily adapting to the new normal, the students and faculty worked together to keep classes on track and continue the teaching and learning process by making most of the coursework online and making resources easily available and accessible. “Our education policies have long been the best in the world, and we’ve seen advancements in every area: teaching standards, infrastructure and facilities, educational practices, and resource management, and here we are emerging stronger than ever,” says Mr. Agnishwar.

Taking the Next Step ACT is situated 20 km from Adyar and 3 km from Navalar, two upcoming business hubs in Chennai. With the Old Mahabalipuram Road, also called the IT Highway, just a few kilometers away, the institute is located in a prime location for companies that are looking to hire accomplished and well-trained students. “We took measures to make sure to help the students be industryready and made the placement process entirely virtual to help the deserving students get placed in their chosen career field or domain. This time, we managed to bring in around 100 companies into our campus for placements. More than 90% of our students got placed in reputed companies,” Mr. Agnishwar states. Besides looking for employment opportunities, ACT also encourages students to come up with creative ideas and strive to foster an entrepreneurial culture among them. The college has one such entrepreneurial success story with a firm called Garuda Aerospace that was founded by ACT students that has assisted different states in the country to implement automated drone-based sanitization programmes to disinfect public spaces and prevent the spread of coronavirus. “At ACT, we help

our students learn and brainstorm entrepreneur potential ideas. In collaboration with many organizations, we host programs for bringing together young minds to think about innovative ideas and implement them practically,” shares Mr. Agnishwar. By providing them with the best of equipment and facilities, ACT helps students realize their potential and ignite their inquisitive minds and propels them to be better citizens of the country. The management has also taken all efforts to build a team of committed faculty members, who form an integral part in the growth and development of the college. Over the years, students from Agni have proven to be the best in their fields. Today, thanks to their excelling reputation and the fame they have brought to the institution, the college has tie-ups with over 139 companies that offer internships for students and has also signed 32 MoUs with various organizations to help students be industry-ready, including Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, HCL, Tech Mahindra, Accenture, Magzter, Softgel and RWD to name a few. The college has been involved in 300 startups and recognized by PM-YUVA Yojana for offering courses and

Higher Education Digest August 2021

supporting entrepreneurship. The college has commenced 5 startups and has done 452 publications. “Health Watch Telediagnostics Pvt. Ltd., CSS Corp. Pvt. Ltd., Sutherland Global, IEQS, and Future General Total Insurance have all

Higher Education Digest August 2021

recently hired 188 students from the college. We promise 90% placement for eligible students and are recognized by IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur as their remote centers. Thus, it is hugely helping the university to attract more students to the campus,” says Mr. Agnishwar. Agni College of Technology continues to have a positive approach to education and encourages students to take part in technical Fests, workshops, scientific displays, original workshop/paper presentations, and more innovative initiatives for students to equip themselves with every potential skill when they leave the college after the course. “We want to become a center of excellence in the field of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities by providing a variety of institutionally recognized programs that turn students into competitive individuals. In the coming years, we will continue developing new solutions for societal challenges and share critical knowledge with the global community,” Mr. Agnishwar concludes.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

GLOBAL EDUCATION VIEW

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC OUTBREAK IMPACTED THE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR IN THE UNITED STATES Cynthia N. Cortez, Deputy Chief Diversity Officer, University of California Merced, & Cristobal Salinas Jr., Associate Professor, Florida Atlantic University

28 Cynthia N. Cortez, MA, serves as the Deputy Chief Diversity Officer at the University of California Merced. Cynthia’s research and practice focuses on how program design, implementation, and evaluation concepts influence how people think about, collect, and use mixed methods derived data. At large, her priority is to drive equitable outcomes and craft vibrant workplaces. Cristobal Salinas Jr., Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Educational Leadership and Research Methodology Department at Florida Atlantic University. His research promotes access and equality in higher education and explores the social and political context of education opportunities for historically marginalized communities.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

What realities could be attained if institutions replicated this innovation to create inclusively excellent institutions?

hrough world-renowned research and historychanging discoveries, colleges and universities of the United States (U.S.) have attracted scholars of different identities and lived experiences worldwide. While this reputation has had a gravitational pull on scholars and students, 2020’s unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and intensified visibility of racism in the country have reinvigorated conversations in the academy about its true commitment to diversity. The racial protests and tumultuous political landscape in the U.S. have pressured postsecondary leaders to come faceto-face with a long festering racial equity tension: is it finally time to reckon with historically exclusionary practices of higher education? Are we ready to honor the intellectual and operational innovation crafted by historically excluded faculty, students, and staff? Or will efforts continue to circumvent calls towards equity, diversity, and inclusion? In 2021, answers will be guided by what we have witnessed around institutional willpower within a context created by the global pandemic.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

When the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the mysterious and novel coronavirus-19, scholars and practitioners advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion acknowledged how it would disproportionately affect racially and ethnically minoritized communities. These underrepresented faculty, staff, and students have shifted to remote learning while also weathering the compounding impact of structural inequities, historical practices which chillingly show that their identities correlate with undesirable outcomes in education, healthcare, income and livelihood, and mental wellness.

30 In a powerful display of collective willpower, colleges and universities in the U.S. nimbly moved postsecondary operations to remote settings. However, the events of 2020 have also pushed them to the pinnacle of racial reckoning for how does one produce world-class research and ensure individuals with diverse racial, gender, sexual orientation, income, disabilities, religious, immigration status, linguistics, and political identities among other identities are included in decision making? We have witnessed technological savviness to overcome what could have been a disastrous outcome. However, this willpower has a bittersweet undertone: what realities could be attained if institutions replicated this innovation to create inclusively excellent institutions? In 2021 and beyond, postsecondary institutions will continue to witness their students, staff, and faculty from all walks of life move worldwide connecting to their college and university via technology. The growing consciousness that equity is a global issue for the very constituencies of colleges and universities all over the world cannot be overlooked by administrators.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

In 2021, answers will be guided by what we have witnessed around institutional willpower during the pandemic

As a person of color and other marginalized identities, it is already a profound experience to muster the strength to work on campus pursuing one’s professional aspirations while dealing with microaggressions, cultural taxation, lack of professional development pathways, and exclusive campus climates. It is another reality to log in to work with the intensifying psychosocial impact of isolation, lack of income, inequitable COVID-19 related deaths, and family responsibilities.

Perhaps the most critical point in higher education’s grapple with diversity, equity, and inclusion occurred on May 25th, 2020. A little over three months into the pandemic and the global shut down, George Floyd – a Black man – was murdered by White Minnesotan police officer Derek Chauvin. The disturbing video of the incident quickly spread online and ignited protests urging a consciousness shift at the commitment level equal to or beyond what was seen with technological nimbleness. The murders of Ahmaud Arbery (RIP), Tony McDade (RIP), Breonna Taylor (RIP), George Floyd (RIP), and many more Black Americans at the hands of white police officers and people remind the Black community of how much systemic racism impacts wellness and success in the U.S. Calls for justice for Black Americans also inspired protests from the Latin*, Asian, Native Americans, disability, Trans, and so many more communities in the U.S. to stop the violence, dismantle inequity, and redesign our social institutions, including higher education. The outpouring of unapologetic social activism during the pandemic is a collective call for a radical vision of a more inclusive academy. It serves as a reminder that to eradicate the many forms of racism, all communities (re)claim, (re)create, and (re)imagine equity, justice, freedom, and liberation. In higher education, removing an analytical lens that can support this radical imagination is paradoxical given the mission of knowledge that transforms the world. And, it is embarrassing that the call for equity and justice has elicited a knee-jerked movement to ban Critical Race Theory (CRT). CRT is a framework that aims to equip people with the language and analytical lens necessary to dissect how race, racism, and power cultivates historically underinvested communities and how laws and policies serve as critical tools to keep this marginalization strong and well. Educators have turned to CRT to find tangible ways to guide colleagues and universities to rethink institutional excellence through an inclusive lens. Effectively, this consciousness building movement across identities and lived experiences has been met with the proliferation of legislation in several U.S. to ban the teaching of CRT. In essence, censor a way of thinking, a way of knowing. This attack on intellectual freedom does not go invisible to the international community. In our history,

31 the United States responded to racial inequity through 1954’s Brown vs. the Board of Education but the decades following have yet to yield racial equity in the country. In fact, efforts to bury the history of racism are quite robust. But until we acknowledge how racist ideology has comfortably produced discrimination and oppression across social identities and lived experience, colleges and universities will willingly dilute their global reputation of cultivating leaders of thought and practice. Global communities are aware of violent systems of colonialism, imperialism, racism, oppression, and marginalization and so we offer the following words of guidance: if we wish to emerge out of this pandemic with a robust and respected global presence, U.S. colleges and universities must integrate equity, diversity, and inclusion into their daily operations. In a post-pandemic world, the lack of equity-focused actions will situate colleges and universities under the analytic lens of whether or not they are truly cultivating the next generation of 21st-century global leaders.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

STUDY ABROAD

THE EMERGENCE OF IRELAND

AS A HIGHER EDUCATION HUB FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Barry O’Driscoll, Regional Manager, India and South Aisa - Education in Ireland

32 Barry O’Driscoll is the Regional Manager - India & South Asia for Education in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland manages the ‘Education in Ireland’ national brand under the authority of the Minister for Education and Skills. His work involves marketing and promoting Ireland’s offer to students from India, South Asia, Mexico and Colombia. Barry has a background in international business and languages and has a MBS in human resource management from Dublin City University. He has over ten years’ experience working with organizations in the areas of training and education as well as international business development.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Not only places to study, but the education, training and skills that students acquire from these programmes have international standards

tudying abroad can be one of the most enriching experiences for a student- the opportunity to live in a different country and gain a new perspective on culture, a high standard of education, global skills, to acquire a willingness to learn and grow professionally. With several well-liked higher education hubs for international students like USA, UK, Canada and Australia, where does Ireland stand? An island nation that may be lesser known than other options, but is larger than life and is fast emerging as a reliable and rewarding option for international students. Why so? Let’s take a closer look. Located west of the UK on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Ireland is quite literally the centre of the world on a map. Its geographical location means that it is a gateway between US/Canada and Europe. Ireland is a wonderful mix of the old and the new: contemporary modern cities with an idyllic countryside, traditional universities alongside newer technological institutions, an old culture and a welcoming young population. Ireland is ranked in the top 10 for education according to IMB World Competitiveness Ranking

2019. 30 higher education institutes (universities, colleges, institutes of technology and private institutions) offer a diverse range of over 5,000 degree options and globally-recognised qualifications. As per Times Higher Education, universities in Ireland rank amongst the top 5% world-wide. Not only places to study, but the education, training and skills that students acquire from these programmes have international standards. Students can study extensively across areas like business, pharma, computer science, technology, engineering, law, literature, psychology and even opt for specialised courses like cyber-security, digital marketing, digital forensics, and data analytics. Undergraduate programmes in Ireland last 4 years while those pursuing a Masters typically study for 1 year. Students from over 160 countries come to Ireland every year, so a multicultural and diverse learning environment is also a surety here. An education in Ireland is affordable for international students, with varying tuition fees depending on the programme of study and the institution. Additionally, there are a number of funding opportunities for students to tap into made

Higher Education Digest August 2021

available by the Government of Ireland as well as Irish higher education institutions that offer different scholarship amounts to a full tuition fee waiver. Ireland is also consistently listed as one of the safest and friendliest countries in the world. It was ranked in the top 15 in the Global Peace Index 2019, and as the 12th most peaceful country. The Irish are some of the most hospitable people. International students can expect to be warmly welcomed into Ireland. There are many great career opportunities in Ireland for international graduates. Many institutions offer internship opportunities that are a useful way to gain real experience at the workplace proving invaluable when applying for a job. The Irish Third Level Graduate Scheme offers non-EU students a twoyear stay back option at Masters level and one year stay back for undergraduates. With over 1,000 multinationals in situ, Ireland is an ideal hub for organisations to seek talented employees and actually ranks number 1 globally for attracting and retaining international talent. In fact, there were 380,000 non-Irish persons employed in Ireland in Q2 of 2019. From tech giants like Facebook, Google, Intel and Apple, to fintech companies like Deloitte, KPMG and PWC, to pharmaceuticals like Pfizer, GE and Novartis – there is wide sector-wise representation here. Because of multinational companies securing their European headquarters or manufacturing facilities in the country, and armed with a highly skilled and welleducated workforce, Ireland has emerged as the Silicon Valley of Europe. Despite challenges of the pandemic, Ireland has retained its status as a stable, competitive, secure and pro-business country, and is the only country in Europe whose economy is expected to grow by 7% this year. Thanks to a timely vaccination drive and concern for students’ learning experience, the Government of Ireland has put into place a back-to-campus phased plan which means that Ireland is accepting back its international students for the September 2021 intake, and students can expect their curriculum to include face-to-face teaching. Ireland truly offers a great balance to students seeking a new adventure and opportunity in the current times. It combines a vibrant history, quality of life, unique experiences, and beautiful surroundings all in one country brimming with potential. International students can take advantage of everything Ireland has to offer, but also have the benefit of Europe at their doorstep. All of which makes Ireland an upcoming, preferred and fulfilling higher education hub for international students.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

COLLEGES IN TAMIL NADU

n a country with immense potential for higher education, Tamil Nadu has proven to be one of the best states in India to provide quality education to students. With 59 universities recognized by the University Grant Commission (UGC), the state has attracted students from all over the country to study courses in medical, engineering, and hospitality fields, among others and continues to innovate its practices through digitization and improved government policies. With the pandemic at the back of everyone’s mind, colleges all over the world have been forced to create alternatives to cater to student needs. Thanks to technology like video conferencing, google classrooms and educational apps, the education sector has experienced a paradigm shift in practices and methods. With the internet at our disposal and a seemingly endless amount of innovations and ideas, education from the school level to the postgraduate level has become more accessible than ever before. The pandemic has only sped up the process and many institutions are considering never looking back. Housing some of the most reputed colleges across the country, Tamil Nadu is home to some of the leading colleges in India, in all academic fields and inspires students from all walks of life. Tamil Nadu has also become a hub for industry and colleges in the state continue to have numerous opportunities for graduating students. In recent years, Chennai and Coimbatore have gained popularity as business centers, attracting professionals from around the world. With this in mind, students come to the south for quality education and eventually be placed in jobs at reputed organizations and companies. In this issue, we want to list some of the best colleges and universities in Tamil Nadu and showcase their innovative and future-forward approach to education. This month, we present ‘10 Must-watch Colleges in Tamil Nadu’ as a way to laud these fine establishments that offer the best to learners from across the country.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

COLLEGES IN TAMIL NADU

Institute’s Name

City

Specialization

Agni College of Technology

Chennai

Engineering

Asian College of Journalism

Chennai

Mass Media

Bharathidasan Institute of Management

Tiruchirappalli

Management

Chennai Institute of Technology

Chennai

Engineering

Great Lakes Institute of Management

Chennai

Management

Loyola College

Chennai

Commerce, Arts, Science

Myskyfly Aviation Training Academy

Coimbatore

Aviation & Hospitality

SASTRA Deemed University

Thanjavur

Private University

SSN College of Engineering

Chennai

Engineering

Thiagarajar College of Engineering

Madurai

Engineering

Higher Education Digest August 2021

COLLEGES IN TAMIL NADU

MYSKYFLY AVIATION TRAINING ACADEMY DEVELOPING RESPONSIBLE AIRLINE PROFESSIONALS FOR THE AVIATION INDUSTRY

ndia is set to become the third-largest aviation market by 2022, after the US and China, says the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The global airline industry body also expects Indian aviation to grow in double digits for the next few years, while most developed global economies are expected to see slower aviation growth. Airlines and Airport operations are very dynamic Business fields in the fast-moving World Today. India is the 9th largest Aviation Market in the World and the domestic aviation sector is expected to grow a rate of 9 – 10 percent to reach a level of 150 – 180 million passengers by 2020. Thus the Aviation World offers thousands of Employment opportunities for Young graduates. Myskyfly Aviation Training Academy aims to train and prepare these Young managers through the Exclusive Management Programmes that are being offered today at their institute. Myskyfly is committed to providing a professional service to our customers, ensuring they benefit from their experience, unique style, and energy. The institute is a new concept in the field of Aviation and Management Studies. They provide professional job-oriented courses that enable aspirants to kick off an exciting career in the aviation and hospitality industry. Aiming to offer outstanding educational programs which allow students to develop their creative, analytical, communication, and critical thinking in a collaborative nurturing environment, Myskyfly has merged personality and confidence-building lessons in its curriculum to boost the overall character and charisma of the participant of their

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Myskyfly Aviation Training Academy provides professional job courses that enable aspirants to kick-off an exciting career in aviation and hospitality industry

Higher Education Digest August 2021

programs. The institute has thrived for the past decade on the fulcrum of imparting knowledge and skills to groom its students into qualified professionals. The program at Myskyfly gives students a sound foundation in the aviation industry, while also developing business skills that are essential for gaining employment or for securing career progression with Level 3 qualification. The program has been designed to allow students to study specialist units that reflect their career aspirations and the diverse nature of the aviation operations industry. The team at Myskyfly are industry experts and senior professionals who have hands-on experience working with leading airlines and aviation enterprises. Focused on creating value for its students through their discipline, dedication, and knowledge, Myskyfly aviation elevates them both personally and professionally by being their driving force. Their ambitious and responsible trainers focus on opening a spectacular future for their students by launching them to the respective fields they had dreamt to enter through professional training. They have

Myskyfly Aviation Training Academy focuses to create value for its students through their discipline, dedication and knowledge.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

T J Venkatesh & A Premkumarraja, Directors of Myskyfly Aviation Training Academy corporate placement tie-ups to place their students in well-reputed airlines once they start looking for a job. These tie-ups include Airports, Airline Companies, Ground Handling Companies, Hotels, and Tourism agencies. Getting offered attractive salary packages from well-known airlines like Air India, Go Air, Indigo, True Jet, Airasia, Vistara, and Spice Jet. The students also explore entrepreneurship in the Travel, Tourism, and Aviation fields.

Continuing to enhance its impeccable reputation, Myskyfly aims to maintain its position of national and international prominence. They are providing an educational environment that encourages the highest standards of scholarship and training. Myskyfly is aspiring to attract highly qualified students and train them to be responsible, effective airline and hospitality professionals who will meet the needs of the nation and the world.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

THE CHALLENGES AND

OPPORTUNITIES IN ONLINE CULINARY EDUCATION Chef Sahil Mehta, India’s First Certified Pastry, Chocolate and Bakery Expert

44 Chef Sahil Mehta, India’s first certified Pastry, Chocolate and Bakery expert, has partnered with Tedco to teach and curate the French Patisserie Masterclass course. He is the name behind brands such as Choco Diva, L’opera, The Artful Baker, Renaissance, Cravity, Bread et More, Red Mango and Honey & Dough. While Mehta spent his early life in Paris, France gave him good exposure to the French Culture of Dining. He completed his early education from L’ecole Internationale de Sevres in Paris and graduated in hotel management from Santos Dumont Paris.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Making online culinary education more interactive has brought a completeworld of opportunities

45 Online Culinary Education - The Introduction More and more people these days are found chasing their dreams of flipping an omelette at a cookery show or running their own kitchen. Online culinary education has swelled recently, but for a profession that pays low wages initially, it is very difficult to understand whether it is worth it. There is no one correct answer to this longdebated topic. The right answer depends on different factors like the cost of culinary education, career aspirations, alternatives available and temperament. Educators, restaurateurs, students, chefs, and the new line cooks from across the nation shared with Sahil their thoughts on the importance and the value of online culinary education. All of them agreed that online culinary learning is valuable, but they had different opinions on the right way of getting it for the best value and advantage.

What lies ahead is a close look at the opportunities and challenges of online culinary education. First, we will have a look at the challenges. Challenges in Online Culinary Education ● First, coming up with a highly interactive classroom environment with free-flowing discussion, inclusion, and camaraderie is a major challenge in online culinary education. ● Of course, there are programs such as Google Meet and Zoom that can be helpful, but they cannot duplicate the in-person classroom environment and experience. This technology falls short when it comes to offering a classroom environment to the students. ● Online instructions generally have the students zoning out with the concepts not being clear to them at all. If the students are successful in grabbing the

Higher Education Digest August 2021

About

Chef Sahil Mehta Chef Sahil Mehta is expertly trained in Blind chocolate tasting, Decoupage de fruits de Mer et Fromage, bar management, patisserie,

restaurant

management,

and

pastry creation. The chef has also worked with Salon Wilson, Ritz, Roland Garros, Potel et Chabot and Travelers club n hotel Baltimore. On his return to India in 2010, he dived into the bakery scene in Delhi and brought about a humongous change through L’opera. Here, the chef discusses the challenges and the opportunities of virtual culinary learning.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

concepts, they do not know the right way of applying them when work turns in. ● Major changes made to the curriculum for accommodating hybrid teaching require the instructors to modify the amount of study material covered and even their lectures. This further results in the decline of information retention. ● Since students remain challenged in their own lives, it is quite likely for the majority of the classes to be devoted to mental health and wellness check-ins. Due to the daily uncertainties, students can have a problem in getting into the perfect routine for studying and note-taking. ● Yet another challenge is that the students feel that their lecturers would be available to them 24/7 because of the use of the latest technology. Also, you need to be attentive about how and when to deal with the concerns of the students than what is the case with the offline classes. ● There are concepts specifically associated with the culinary field, such as the smell and taste of food, that cannot be conveyed online. Also, students taking up online culinary education do not get the scope of working in a high-energy and technologically advanced kitchen environment. ● It can get very difficult for the instructors to teach different culinary concepts to the students, which speaks of the significance of face-to-face instruction. Opportunities in Online Culinary Education One of the greatest opportunities available with online culinary education is to the instructors who get the scope of learning more about their institute’s management system. This, in turn, can greatly enhance the learning experience of the students. The instructors put in more hard work and become more diligent in transitioning the modalities of culinary courses to accommodate the requirements of the students in the best way possible. Also, the instructors get the scope of searching and finding varied technologies to deliver online culinary education. And yes, they even get the chance of using the different digital resources provided by their culinary study material.

The instructors get the scope of searching and finding varied technologies to deliver online culinary education

Instructors can even opt for different teaching programs like a whiteboard and collaborative meeting program, interactive presentation software, questionanswer polling app and apps featuring lesson plans and gamified quizzes. The objective of making online culinary education more interactive has brought a complete world of opportunities and resources into the classroom. These include relevant articles, PowerPoint presentations, demonstration videos, and various other beneficial online resources related to culinary techniques and food. Yet another opportunity that comes with online culinary education is how it can easily address restricted course offerings. Culinary techniques and lessons are quite clear online, and they are of the shortest duration. Hence, almost any individual can

easily take up a course without putting in a lot of hard work and time. Students also get the scope of watching different videos during their online cooking classes. This further helps them in practising their dish making skills. Last but not least, students get the opportunity to diving into the lessons and learning as per their speed and calibre. Conclusion Thus, it can rightly be concluded that online culinary education can be done successfully in the future with a bit of additional time and training to plan the right way of carrying out the classes. Nevertheless, for the time being, it would be beneficial for the students to take up offline courses in culinary art while they can wait for the increased access they would get to the online culinary courses.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

ACADEMIC VIEWS

THE RISING INTEREST

IN STUDYING ABROAD AND ITS BENEFITS Kavita Parikh, Founder – Director, Disha Consultants

48 Kavita Parikh is the founder-director of Disha Consultants, a Gujarat-based leading overseas education counseling firm, or as she prefers to call - a most effective enabler for students who aim to pursue studies in North America. Ms. Parikh founded Disha Consultants in Ahmedabad in 2003. Over the years, the firm has helped more than 10,000 students secure admission in top universities such as Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, John Hopkins, and other leading US universities, as well as top Canadian universities including the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo, among others. After completing her graduation from HL College of Commerce in Ahmedabad, Ms. Parikh pursued an MBA from Xavier University in Ohio, US. Her experiences as a student in a foreign country, the challenges she faced, the requirements for achieving academic success, the opportunities that came her way, were instrumental in her decision to launch Disha Consultants.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

The experience and exposure to studying abroad adds tremendous value to a student’s overall profile

he allure of studying abroad is fairly new. Up until a decade ago, not more than 60,000 Indian students were pursuing an international undergraduate education abroad. In 2016, the number of students who went abroad for studying was 3,71,506. In 2018, that number rose to 5,20,342. The number of Indian students studying abroad is increasing at an average rate of 15% year-on-year, except for the years 2020-21 due to the COVID 19 implications and travel restrictions. There has been a drastic spike in number of students wanting to go abroad and change their fortunes. Our world is globalizing at a pace never seen before, and an international education is part of the new era. As the world becomes a global village, shrinking in size, the need for students to gain international exposure has increased manifold. Students and their parents have realized that studying

49 abroad can be a transformational experience across all areas of a student’s life, including academic, professional, personal and intellectual. It can foster personal development and be a life altering, once in a lifetime experience. Experiencing a new way of life One of the most important experiences of studying abroad is the vast cultural experience. The student experiences incredible new foods, customs, traditions and social environments. Living in a new country can come with a set of challenges but experiencing a different culture allows a student to expand their worldview. Studying abroad means one can learn about new perspectives and develop crosscultural awareness. Students may intern during the course of their studies and meet people from other countries. This widens their exposure on how to deal

Higher Education Digest August 2021

with people from different backgrounds in their next job. After studying abroad students value people with unique experiences and establish a stronger relationship with them. Additionally, exposure to different cultural backgrounds has a huge impact on how she/he reacts to different situations. Studying abroad expands a student’s spectrum of experiences and they can gain a variety of perspectives. Eventually students gain a numerous skills and confidence in their abilities. Moreover, a student will gain better understanding and appreciation for other nation’s people and history. The best way to experience another culture is to immerse entirely in it, and the best way to do that is to live in another country as a student. Learn about different styles of education One of the major reasons for studying abroad is the chance to experience different styles of education. The Indian style of teaching is very different from education systems around the world, especially in US and Canada. To experience the best type of education, choosing the right school is a very important factor. After all, education is the centerpiece of studying abroad. Each country has its own unique style of teaching. A student may encounter three kinds of teaching styles: authority styles, facilitator style, delegator style. These styles of learning can aid a student in adjusting to different management styles at workplace. The authority style is a teacher centered style. The professor frequently gives long lectures or oneway presentations and is generally the authority figure. To retain information, students will listen to the professor and typically take notes. There is also a focus on a set of rules and expectations during these lectures. The Facilitator style of teaching is when the professor emphasizes

Higher Education Digest August 2021

on self-learning by promoting a teacher student relationship. Instead of one-way lectures, students are encouraged to ask questions and find solutions to problems through exploration and research. This style of teaching helps students develop critical thinking. The third style of teaching is the delegator style, where professors encourage students to engage in projects and activities. This is a guided learning style and requires active participation from students. The teacher is in the role of an observer,

Experiencing a different culture allows a student to expand their worldview

helping students remain active participants in their learning. In most likelihood, students who study abroad will experience all three kinds of teaching method throughout their study program. Enhancing future prospects: Graduate school admissions and employment The experience and exposure to studying abroad adds tremendous value to a student’s overall profile. Foreign education exposes students to

greater employment opportunities, especially in multinational companies. Organizations that hire international employees want resumes that reflect resilience. They seek candidates who can thrive in a global environment. Studying abroad not only reflects that resilience but it also gives students a chance to showcase skills such as cross-cultural communication, an understanding of international policies, and the ability to survive in an international environment. Similarly, students seeking to continue studying and look for graduate programs are also at an advantage because of their international undergraduate studies. Graduate schools appreciate study abroad experiences. Students who study abroad show that they aren’t afraid to seek new challenges, and they also display diversity. These are all skills that are highly looked up by graduate admissions boards. They regularly look for students who will bring unique experiences to their university. Building a vast network The younger you start building your network, the better for your future personal and professional growth. Studying abroad as an undergraduate brings with it a unique opportunity to build meaningful social and professional relationships. Universities of international repute, especially in US and Canada attract students from all over the world. Studying there helps students build invaluable relationships during the period of their study. Students get to broaden their international connections with fellow students, professionals, academicians and researchers from all over the world. They meet people who turn into lifelong friends. Studying abroad expands one’s global network and helps build important connections that can lead to career opportunities, job offers and even business partnerships. It gives students the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures and be part of a global community. Studying abroad can alter a student’s entire world view. It is a great way to diversify one’s educational experience and increase career prospects. Experiencing life in another country is a wonderful experience.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

HOW TO MAKE A CAREER

IN THE STOCK MARKET AS A TRADER? Anish Singh Thakur, CEO, Booming Bulls Academy

Anish Singh Thakur, CEO at Booming Bulls Academy is an experienced Stock Marketer with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. Skilled in Business Meetings, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), IT Strategy, Team Building, and Management. Strong business development professional graduated from the Central Board of Secondary Education.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

A successful trader wouldn’t be desperate to make gains overnight

he internet has changed the way investment was perceived or conducted, especially by retail investors. Over time, the paradigm shift brought by the technology to the stock market has made the availability of information easy. Traditionally, knowledge of investment/trading was limited to a few but now anyone with a smartphone can learn about trading and participate in it as well. In the past few years, India has witnessed an exponential rise in the number of people participating in stock market investments. Especially with the outbreak of the pandemic, people found an alternative source of income in the stock market. Gen Z and millennials from Tier 2, Tier 3 and beyond cities have taken to stock trading using mobile apps. Considering that the young generation is actively becoming part of the stock market, it has to be acknowledged that they need enough knowledge at their disposal about the same. But even with all the available information at your disposal, how can you make a career in the stock market as a trader? Well, there are certain aspects, if kept in mind, that

can pave a way for a successful journey in stock market trading. Firstly, stop gambling! If you are not doing your research before investing/trading, you are just gambling. Investing/trading without research would only turn out to be a nightmare for you if your goal is making a quick buck. You cannot invest without understanding the important concepts of the stock market. Nowadays, there are several mediums like electronic media, print media, digital media, etc. offering market tips. While these are good options to shortlist your trades, you cannot completely rely on them for trading. Furthermore, do not mirror your decisions. Just because something worked for the other person, doesn’t mean it will work for you too. It is important to educate yourself about the stock market before venturing into it. The next step is to learn stock chart technical analysis. Technical analysis is a process where future price movements are forecasted based on the past price movements in the stock chart. The process helps investors/traders to make the final call whether to buy, hold or sell the stocks. While the technical

Higher Education Digest August 2021

analysis may not make accurate predictions every time, it helps anticipate the future and make a more sound investment decision. Technical analysis helps traders identify instability in the stock prices, stock’s ability and value, price fluctuations and stock value prior and post important events and history of volume and trading levels. With all the right information, you mitigate the risk of loss in technical analysis. The third important lesson to be a stock trader is understanding the importance of elements like risk management. Risk management comprises understanding risk per trade, position-sizing, when to stop loss planning and planning the profit levels. Evaluating these factors tell traders where to stop if they are facing loss or if they cannot decide whether to invest or not. For instance, understanding the risk to reward ratio helps traders make a decision on whether to invest or not on the basis of the ratio of the total risk of capital to potential reward on a single trade. If the reward ratio is less than one, then it is not advisable to trade. Moving forward, it is commonly said excess of everything is bad. The same is true for trading. Most often traders feel the need to control their trades, most times they do so too. But then it cannot happen all the time considering the volatility of the market. The urges usually result in overtrading. Doing a lot

Higher Education Digest August 2021

of research and observing charts for longer can create confusion. To avoid reaching a point where you are trying to micromanage everything about trading, you need to take a step back and stick to your trading plan or even rework the strategy. You don’t have to trade at all market hours. You might think that by spending more time with the information you will be able to do better but overtrading will only lead you to losses. Lastly, a trader’s psychology decides their success. One has to follow a certain belief system, trading process and consistency to become a successful trader. A successful trader wouldn’t be desperate to make gains overnight. You need the right mindset and approach to become a trader. One major quality in a professional trader that sets him apart is his performance. Rather than just focussing on just profits, you have to track your performance and make amends accordingly to your trading plan. If you are working as per your trading plan and making corrections to it, you will never get disappointed. In a nutshell, no one learns trading in a day, neither is it gambling. To pursue trading full time, you need to understand the nuances of trading, when to start and where to stop, how much knowledge you need and learn from the mistakes. A few losses don’t mean you cannot be a trader, you have to believe in yourself and work on yourself consistently.

Higher Education Digest August July 2021

STUDENT’S STORY

WOMEN IN MEDICINE:

INSIGHT FOR FUTURE FEMALE PHYSICIANS Dr. Sukanya Vartak, Alumni, PGY 2 Resident – Psychiatry, Maimonides Medical Centre

he physician workforce has changed significantly over time, particularly when it comes to gender distribution. There are clearly many opportunities out there for female physicians, but it is still useful to get insight from those who have succeeded. To gain the perspective you are after, St. George’s University School of Medicine female graduates share what they have to say about their experiences as women in medical school, residency, and becoming doctors. 5 Insights Women Doctors Want Future Practitioners to Know There is a tight-knit community of women in medicine, and they are happy to share what they have learned with aspiring doctors like

Higher Education Digest August 2021

The gender gap in medicine has nothing to do with female doctors’ capability

you. Some of this advice could even help you get ready for your first year of medical school. 1. Use the Resources That are Available to You Medical schools offer an array of student support services designed to help future physicians succeed, so it is wise to leverage any resources that can help you perform to the best of your ability. You might consider attending tutoring sessions, group reviews, and workshops to help you develop good study habits. “We actually have a Department of Educational Services that provides those services for free,” says Dr. Devon Thomas, a St. George’s University (SGU) graduate and urology resident physician at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville.

“They can help you and tell you exactly what kind of test-taker you are and what kind of studier you are.” Dr. Thomas also recommends tapping into your professional network as you progress through your education and career. For her, contacting other SGU graduates proved invaluable as she prepared for residency. It can be even more beneficial if you’re able to connect with graduates who are practicing or completing their training at hospitals that have residency programs in your chosen area, according to Dr. Diane Day, an SGU graduate and family medicine physician at Gainesville Family Physicians. She herself has put in a good word for students. “I’m able to vouch for them,” Dr. Day says. “And I had left a good impression, so they wanted more SGU students.”

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Medical schools offer an array of student support services designed to help future physicians succeed

2. Keep an Open Mind During Clinical Rotations After you have started school, you need to begin thinking about which medical specialties you are interested in sooner than you might expect. While you should explore options and recognize what types of interactions and procedures you most enjoy, it is equally as important to recognize that you might change your mind during clinical rotations. “Keep an open mind,” offers Dr. Maham Mahmood, an SGU graduate and anesthesiology resident physician at the Indiana University School of Medicine. “Give every single rotation your best effort, put your 100 percent into it, and see what you end up loving the most.” In fact, Dr. Mahmood changed her career trajectory by remaining flexible. She initially thought she would pursue pediatrics because working with children sounded like a great way to make a living. But once she realized how much she enjoys being in the operating room and performing procedures, it became clear that anesthesiology was the best fit for her.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

“I’m very happy with what I do on a daily basis, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she says. 3. Pursue What You’re Truly Passionate About It’s true that certain specialties attract more female physicians than male. That said, you should feel empowered to carve your own path—even if that means choosing a field that’s heavily populated with male practitioners. Dr. Thomas chose urology, a specialty for which females make up a very small percentage of the physician workforce. The gender gap is actually part of what inspired her to enter the field, particularly when she realized how many female patients she would see. “I thought I could be there for women who wanted a female physician who kind of understood them a little bit more,” Dr. Thomas shares. 4. Know That Women in Medicine Can Achieve Work-Life Balance Medicine offers so many avenues for physicians to shape their own career, and it is helpful to know

that ahead of time. Think about the lifestyle you want, and then you can start determining ways to achieve it. This is possible even for female physicians who pursue procedure-oriented fields. “I get to be in the operating room. I get to do all the procedures I want,” Dr. Mahmood states. “And also, I can eventually have a job where I can be done at 5 p.m Aspiring female physicians who plan to have children should feel encouraged to know it is possible to balance a medical career you love with family life. Dr. Day recently became a mother, and she enjoys her life at home and at work. “My youngest patient is five years old, and the oldest patient I saw today was 92, so it’s wonderful,” she says. “I’m really happy, and I’m also able to have a home life and tailor my patient load to have that balance.” 5. Believe in Yourself Remember, the gender gap in medicine has nothing to do with female doctors’ capability. Many of the most respected and influential physicians have been women. Furthermore, you might be surprised at how many of your future patients turn out to be males. “There are a lot of men that want a female physician,” Dr. Day says, reflecting on your own experiences. “They feel like they can open up and better talk about their problems.” Women who are somewhat small in stature should also feel confident that it is their skill— not their size—that matters. Dr. Mahmood says her co-workers have been surprised by her ability to expertly perform procedures like intubation despite her petite frame. “Once people see you doing your job well, they start to trust you more,” Dr. Mahmood offers. Join the Network of Women in Medicine Female physicians are an undeniably important part of the medical workforce. They will continue to make positive contributions as even more join their ranks as women in medicine.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

WHY THE FUTURE

OF EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING WILL BE COMPLETELY DIGITAL Basil Ali, Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer, Edumpus

60 Basil Ali is the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Edumpus. With first-hand experience gained from his university days at UK, Basil understood the difficulties that young students faced while trying to access academic opportunities abroad. He realized the necessity of setting up a comprehensive online portal that offers solution for students who intend to pursue foreign education. He is a qualified engineer by profession with work experience spanning several countries including India, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Basil has completed his Masters in Science specializing in Engineering from the De Montfort University, United Kingdom and has also been associated as a Project Officer during his time there.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

For students, consultancies have become the one-stop source for all information

hen COVID-19 first hit the world in early 2020, businesses rushing to move online was seen as a temporary measure; that life would be back to normal in a few weeks or maybe months. But the scenario couldn’t be more different in 2021, with people slowly starting to accept that this is going to be the new normal. Higher education was among the sectors which were initially hit the most as overseas education and consulting more or less came to a halt. A ban on international travel and the shutting down of class rooms led to thousands of South Asian students stalling their higher education plans temporarily. However, with more than 72,000 Indian students leaving for universities abroad already this year, one can safely assume that the only change seen in this pandemic has been the rapid

digitisation in student recruitment – an industry that was hitherto not characterised by any online or digital engagement. This change has not only been driven by the supply side but also due to the fact that students increasingly want greater autonomy in their academic journey. This move to digitisation has come with its own set of advantages. Fulfilling rural aspirations Statistics are showing that the aspiration to study abroad and the means to afford it is no longer a privilege of the urban population. With digital educational consultancies, barriers of time and geography have all but disappeared as they offer a user-friendly and efficient system of virtual counselling. The success of this new system can also be attributed to a new generation of students being already comfortable with virtual

Higher Education Digest August 2021

interactions and showing ease in accessing information online without the need for physical interaction. Previously, as most of the traditional educational consultants were located in metro cities, only students from urban areas could access these services easily. But now, even a student from a Tier 2 city like Kozhikode or Nagpur can talk to a representative in Bengaluru or Delhi and access the best guidance that is available!

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Smoother information flow The times are such that students need the help of consultants more than ever, as uncertainties surround admission processes as well as COVID-19 readiness plans of their dream universities and the host countries. For students, consultancies have become the one-stop source for all such information. Digital consultancies are now hosting webinars that provide relevant and

With digital educational consultancies, barriers of time and geography have disappeared

real-time information from the university directly and address specific concerns instead of relying on offline communication tools. Traditionally, educational fairs used to be elaborate events, but virtual fairs have enabled participation from more universities and their representatives, complete with virtual campus tours, scholarships, financial aid, governmental policies, part-time work opportunities and post-course job opportunities. ‘On-the-spot’ admissions can be done during these sessions as well. Consultants can also offer personalised course options for students using futuristic technology like AI, based on their skill sets, interests and job aspirations. In other words, a student can choose a course and a university in a foreign country, get the application and visa processing done virtually all without visiting an office even once. Turning adversity into opportunity For consultants, the writing on the wall is clear. The student recruitment industry is ripe for digitisation and the pandemic has only accelerated the change. As internet penetration improves manifold, educational consulting and a slew of other sectors are making a case for being digital-first; newer agencies are getting registered without any brick and mortar offices. Without fixed expenses such as lease payments, administration and maintenance charges, existing companies have been able to cope better in this unprecedented situation. Granted, credibility becomes suspect when there is neither an office building nor a face-toface interaction, but then, both students and the companies are quickly adopting new strategies to check as well as offer credibility. Background checks and a thorough research of the websites of the companies is a must from the part of the students before choosing the best consultants for themselves. All in all, it’s a win-win situation for the consultants as well as the students, and the new digital culture that has evolved in educational consulting promises to continue post COVID-19 as well.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

A CAREER IN ESPORTS:

WORKING IN THE ESPORTS BUSINESS IS SIMILAR TO WORKING IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY Lokesh Suji, Director, Esports Federation of India & Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF)

64 Lokesh Suji is Director at Esports Federation of India & Vice President at Asian Esports Federation. With over 20 years of experience, he is an esports Evangelist, Hustler and Telecom Veteran. Over the years been part of esports, and across different formats and categories of games, he found that the vertical in India is unstructured & Unexplored, which needed to be developed along professional lines – much in the same way that other forms of sports are being developed in the country (be it Cricket, Football or now Kabaddi). As one of the country’s leading evangelists of esports, Lokesh continues to play an influential role in actively shaping the future of competitive esports in India. Lokesh is also an avid gamer and his gaming nickname is dAwesomeNinja.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

It’s all about practice when it comes to gaming. You must put in a lot of practice time and understand the game mechanics

any parents still believe that working in the esports business entails being an expert at video games or spending all day in front of a computer playing games. Esports/Video Games is a versatile industry and there is a huge scope for professional gamers as well as other jobs like casters, commentators, and other support staffs appointed by the esports tournaments like producers, editors, analysts, product managers, game testers, referees, production crew members, event managers, social media managers, etc. Apart from specializing in gaming skills and game theory, below mentioned are the different professions that also help in handling the business aspect of the esports industry like: ● Managing team events ● Learning about ethical and legislative laws governing the esports ecosystem ● Game designers ● Esports marketing

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Social media marketing Coaching Event promotion Communication League management Accounting Live streaming Esports Journalists

Choose your Niche: Are you a professional gamer or a casual gamer? Choose a game that suits your abilities, experience, and interests. In well-established games, newcomers may struggle to survive. Future games will assist you in navigating the resources and honing your play styles. Getting into professional levels is considerably simpler for well-trained pro gamers, and it helps them create a name for themselves in the business. Others with strong communication and public relations abilities and marketing expertise should consider moving into other areas of the esports business.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Look Out for Opportunities: You must, like any other profession, go out and seek new possibilities/opportunities. Contact tournament organisers and broadcasters, or apply to work for a firm and gain the necessary experience. Another option to get hands-on experience in this profession is to volunteer. Sign up for unpaid volunteer positions like event manager or technical support staff to learn the fundamentals of running a tournament, hosting events, and assisting visitors. Internships add value to your CV and can help you get hired in prospective companies. Practice is the key: It’s all about practise when it comes to gaming. If you want to be a professional gamer, you must put in a lot of practice time and understand the game mechanics. Look for new players and learn their strategies by watching live-streaming footage. Replay and check through your matches to find out where you went wrong. Study how professional players play the game to enhance your own game techniques & strategies.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Take Part in Competitions/Tournaments: Climbing the success ladder requires more than just practise. Go out there and compete against real competitive athletes to see where you stand. Make contact with top players and observe how they approach the game. Form a squad of professional athletes and learn a variety of skills. This will offer you an advantage in the esports scene and help you get recognition in the community. Stay Focused and Trust the Process: Take your profession very seriously. If you want to be a professional gamer, you must concentrate on your work and practise consistently, but not to the point of exhaustion. It’s easy to become addicted to video games and spending hours in front of a computer. Maintain your equilibrium. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, take regular breaks, stay motivated, and learn about your field constantly. So long as you finish your studies and at least get a degree, you can pretty much go anywhere in esports.

Want to Sell or find Investor for your Business? 67

Higher Education Digest August 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

DIFFICULTIES IN DISTANCE LEARNING

AND OUR WILL TO OVERCOME THEM Devvaki Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, instrucko

68 Ms. Devvaki Aggarwal has worked in New York for a leading EdTech company, and worked with publishers in USA, UK, India and Asia Pacific. With over half a decade experience in the EdTech space, Ms. Aggarwal decided to move back to India to set up instrucko. Launched in July 2020, instrucko is an amalgamation of language learning and storytelling, to teach children the essence of intelligent communication right from their foundation years. With instrucko, Ms. Aggarwal’s objective is to emphasise on language learning and focus on Emotional Intelligence as it plays a key role in our daily lives.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

It would surprise one to know that distance education is not a very new model of education

t is no surprise that the pandemic has brought with it, not only many changes, but also many difficulties. While the optimistic attitude of the world shifting towards a much-needed change spreads throughout and people get ready to approach the dawn of a new age, there are still some shadows of twilight that have cast their hues on the changing sky. There has been suffering and there have been difficulties. Even though ‘focusing on the bright side’ seems like the best attitude to move forward, it is absolutely crucial to identify difficulties to make the way easier as we move forward. The education sector was no stranger to these difficulties during the pandemic. In fact, one must point out how gracefully, we as a specie, have been able to continue educating our people through various inventions and methods, whether it be long distance online classes or long-distance graduations.

69 We seem to have emerged out of it with more tools at our disposal than before. But the world has seen pandemics before, and education has suffered. During the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-19, 43 school in the United States of America were shut down which led to save countless lives. Given the technological difficulties of that time, education could only be covered by post, that too, only in some cities. A century later and with the infrastructure of today’s technology, we were able to produce alternatives instead of interrupting education during the covid-19 outbreak. National Emergency Action Plans are usually created by the countries with the recommendations of World Health Organisation which have measures to be taken in case of a possible outbreak. Surprisingly enough, in April 2019 one of the duties listed down

Higher Education Digest August 2021

by Turkey for its Ministry of National Education was “taking the necessary decisions for continuing distance education in case of a break in education and training”. Before this distance education was but a niche in the sector, but shortly afterwards the whole world became familiar with the concept of distance learning. Today’s data shows that 102 countries around the world closed all school to stop the spread of the virus and 900 million children and young people stay away from school. It would surprise one to know that distance education is not a very new model of education. The emergence of this method was actually seen around 300 years ago. One of the first known applications is weekly lessons delivered to students in the USA through post. Other tools such as radio, television, mail, etc. have been used as tools in the past to carry on distance education. With the advancement of technology, it is now possible to transform printed books into eBooks, newspapers and magazines into websites, and the transformation of traditional classrooms into e-learning. However, since the courses are still heavily relying on the classroom model faculty familiarity or discomfort can potentially affect the participants’ or teacher’s perceptions. Since the pedagogy of a traditional classroom and distance learning vary, it is necessary to adopt new method as well. It is recommended to learn both the technological and pedagogical techniques to increase the classroom experience for the students and the lecturers. Different learning outcomes and processes

require the use of appropriate learning activities and contexts. Therefore, distance education practitioners should find a way to create the most effective blend of technology and pedagogy. One of the most important ingredients in distance learning is active participation. Each experience should be designed to inform students about the prerequisites of online course, familiarize them with the culture of the online community and to eliminate the novelty effect that may occur in the student. If teachers in distance learning incorporate less student participation and focus solely on giving the lecture/teaching it does not result in quality education. It merely becomes a task to be completed. But education is so much more than that. That is why online instructors need to model high-quality teaching skills to motivate the students to succeed. A recent study, as recent as conducted during the pandemic, showed that distance learning allows teachers to evaluate objectively and has also positively affected student success thanks to new learning methodologies. While it has been difficult, it has also been astounding to see the will of our race and its determination to overcome difficulties that stand in the way of its evolution. Though distance learning as a concept is old, the time has never been riper, with the rise of global reach and communication, to truly expand this concept to its full potential. One that was never possible before due to the lack of the resources. Fortunately for our age, the resources are abundant and the time is always now.

We were able to produce alternatives instead of interrupting education during the covid-19 outbreak

Higher Education Digest August 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

FOUR REASONS WHY AN

INTERNSHIP IS IMPORTANT TO BUILD A STRONG CAREER FOUNDATION Mona Gandhi, Founder, Upraised

72 With over 10 years of Silicon Valley experience building consumer tech products that reached 100M+ users, Mona Gandhi took the plunge in 2019 to start her own company - Upraised. At Upraised, she’s tackling the problem of employability for the youth of India. Prior to this, Mona was at Airbnb for 7 years, splitting time across US & APAC markets. Fun fact: She joined Airbnb in 2011 as the first female engineer. Before Airbnb, she was the Head of Analytics at Apture (acquired by Google), and Software Engineer at Socialmedia Networks (acquired by LivingSocial) and SixApart (acquired by VideoEgg). Mona continues to be a part of the Board of Advisors at LBB - Little Black Book and Mentor to 500 Startups. She’s also an active angel investor. Mona holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering from Cornell University and a M.S from Indiana University. In her free time Mona loves to spend time outdoors with her daughter Mira and travel with her family.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

An internship is the best way to provide you with an experience that will help make employers notice you

he dynamics of corporate culture have changed manifolds in the post COVID world. The Indian startups industry is ever evolving and has raised a record $10 billion in the first half of 2021, with 16 additions to the club of unicorn companies, valued at $1BN or more. With the future of startups so bright there is a constant need for talent that is skilled and ready to learn on the job. But getting that dream job and a fatpaycheck is not as easy as it sounds. Skills are today as pertinent to the growth of an individual as having an impressive degree or a portfolio. However, just having a good degree is no longer sufficient to secure that important job offer in today’s world. When it comes to building a strong career, the very first step for any individual should be to learn while being on the job. And that is only possible via internships that not only allow you to deep-dive into the corporate culture but also instills a sense of selfconfidence before you take that first step towards growth in a job.

1. Internships prepare you in advance for the real world The concept of internship started a long time ago but has drastically evolved over the years. When you send your CV to a company today for a job, your work experience, even if it is for a couple of weeks, matters. Hands-on knowledge alters the probability of getting the job to a large extent and internships help you gain that real-life exposure and determine whether you are in the right career field. Additionally, it is an excellent learning curve since it allows the young graduates and students to work with professionals and create networks that will be helpful in the future. 2. Networking is critical and internships make it possible for you For a strong career foundation, networking is critical. Internships help you make acquaintances with the right set of people even before you graduate. For many, it can be a stepping-stone in securing a real job

Higher Education Digest August 2021

in the same organization where they have interned. Different people have different ways of working in an office, and regular face-to-face communication allows you to understand people better and craft your skills as per the requirements of the team. You will also get to understand how they tackle challenges at the workplace, what strategies they use to churn out effective output and get the job done. You can make use of their strategies, change them according to the situation in the long run. 3. Want to learn more about your professional self; internships help you do that Being a team player is as critical as knowing your job. Today organizations are judged on their working cultures and many of these ensure that they have a conducive working environment. Learning people skills is essential because eventually, you will be part of a team while working in an office. If you are not a good team player and do not know the art of collaborative work, you won’t stand a chance to succeed in your professional job. Internships allow you to understand people and yourself effectively since you will be facing new people and new challenges every day. The experience you will get from handling challenges as an intern will be very useful to talk about in future interviews and showcase your abilities to the employer.

Internships help you make acquaintances with the right set of people even before you graduate

Higher Education Digest August 2021

4. Internships help you get that competitive edge over others You can easily up your game and stand out from the crowd if you have learned well during your internship. Getting the right and required handson knowledge gives you a competitive edge over others. Today the market is competitive and also evolving at the same time. Employers want smart and multi-skilled candidates who are eager to contribute effectively in the growth of their organization. An internship is the best way to provide you with an experience that will help make employers notice you as well as making them realize that you will be the right fit for the job. It also helps in showcasing your professional side and your passion to acquire experience outside the college or university.

Powerful protection designed for PC gamers

Higher Education Digest

NORTONLIFELOCK.COM August 2021

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

HOW THE PANDEMIC

CREATED MORE DEMAND FOR THESE EMERGING TECH JOBS Prateek Shukla, CEO & Co-founder, Masai School

76 Prateek Shukla is the Co-Founder & CEO of Masai School - India’s first coding school. He started Masai School in June 2019 with an aim to revamp the Indian education system from a degree-based to a skill set-based system, having identified the need-gap for industry-relevant skill sets, rather than a college degree to ensure that the new working class is job ready from Day 1. Hailing from the pink city of India – Jaipur, Prateek is a B.Tech graduate from IIT Kanpur, specialized in Materials Science and Engineering. He has been in the start-up industry since 2013, having founded Grabhouse, just after his graduation.

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Digital skills today are the need of the hour

recent survey by Mckinsey found that post COVID-19, the adoption of digital technologies has catapulted by several years. There has been a steady rise in the adoption of technology across businesses and sectors, leading to the creation of new job roles and the demand for a digitally skilled workforce. This transformation is slowly changing the global value chain and the geography of jobs. Organizations today are adopting various learning and development (L&D) programs to enable their workforce with a competitive edge, and abreast with the necessary changes while ensuring recovery from the pandemic. Research shows that 50% of the 4 million employees of the IT industry will need to be reskilled over the next 3 years, and by 2030, approximately 375 million workers would have had to switch occupations or acquire new skills because of automation and artificial intelligence. Professionals and aspirants alike are today taking to upskilling programs, in order to stay

relevant according to the changing industry demands. With businesses rapidly shifting from a traditional model to a tech or digitally-driven model, this has resulted in many traditional jobs either being replaced or evolving into something new. The pandemic has made everyone realise that technology is no more a choice, and rather a necessity. Here are some of the job roles which will see demand in the days ahead: Data Analysts and Data Scientists: With more and more data being captured in order to drive insights and better decisions in organisations, the need for data analysts and data science engineers is also increasing. Professionals who can manage and determine insights from data that will help guide business operations and strategy will be in demand. Software Developers: A software developer is responsible for creating, testing and integrating a software system for a company from scratch. This ranges from internal applications to external platforms

Higher Education Digest August 2021

Technology is no more a choice, it is a necessity

78 for customers. With businesses today evolving digitally, the need for a software developer is evident and is bound to stay relevant for a very long time. Cross-platform Developers: Digitisation has led to the implementation and creation of various tech-based solutions across organisations, be it mobile or web based. The need for these applications has led to the rise of cross-platforms software development, opening up new opportunities for web developers across platforms like Android and iOS. DevOps engineers: A DevOps engineer plays a vital role in the software development life cycle, along with having the capability of multitasking thereby being an efficient resource for an organisation. With rapid digitisation, IT companies are bound to be dependent on DevOps engineers, making it one of the most in-demand job roles in the days ahead. Cloud Architect: Cloud technology is today an integral part of business operations, especially

Higher Education Digest August 2021

after the wide adoption of remote working. A cloud architect is responsible for a company’s cloud computing strategy which includes the planning, application, monitoring and management of all cloud applications. With organisations implementing cloud technology at various levels of the business, the ongoing demand for cloud architects is bound to continue. Digital skills today are the need of the hour, be it for technology or non-tech professionals or students. For young graduates, picking up digital skills which are beyond the regular academic curriculum is the go-to method to build a compelling job profile. Additionally, with new age technologies opening new career opportunities today, several non-tech graduates are looking at making a career shift owing to the growth potential offered by the tech sector. That said, developing skills of the future to stay in sync with technological developments is a given if one wants to excel and grow in the technology industry.

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Higher Education Digest October August 2020 2021

Higher Education Digest August 2021