Angad Singh, Co-Founder & CEO, My Mission Admission shares with Elets News Network (ENN) about the challenges in higher education system, role of technology in imparting education, future education landscape and more
Challenges Indian Higher Education System is Facing
Despite the keenness of some institutions of higher learning to establish effective ICT education programmes, they are confronted with enormous problems that may impede the proper implementation of these programmes. Insufficient infrastructural facilities are the biggest hurdle in the digitalisation of higher education. Another significant challenge is the poor ICT penetration at rural level and lack of usage among Indian higher education practitioners.
In addition, it has been observed that the developing countries such as India are resistant to change from traditional pedagogical methods to more innovative, technology-based teaching and learning methods, by both students and academicians. One of the biggest hurdles we have seen is the high cost of private higher education in India that leaves the students with little money to invest in technology thus impacting the quality of education.
Role of Technology in Imparting Education
Globalisation and technological changes have created a new global economy powered by technology, fueled by information and driven by knowledge. ICT has been proven as a potentially powerful tool for educational change and reform. When used appropriately at institutional level, ICT can further help in improving access to education, strengthening the relevance of education to the increasingly digital workplace, and raising educational quality by making teaching and learning an active process connected to real life.
In addition, learning approaches that use contemporary ICT provide many opportunities for constructivist learning and support for resource-based, studentcentered settings by enabling learning to be related to context and to practice. With the help of technology, educational institutions can offer programmes at a distance mode. Today, many students can use this facility through technologyfacilitated learning settings and they can benefit from anytime, anywhere learning.
Bridging Educational Fault Lines
The modes of teaching in higher education have significantly changed in last the 10 years. In the present scenario, there is abundant information on any subject available on the internet. Online education has added new options of teaching, created a wide variety of new courses, and increased the enrolment in many academic institutions while bringing the cost of student acquisition very low for institutions thereby increasing their spent on technology.
New ways of teaching such as cable and satellite transmissions, audio and video conferencing, virtual classrooms and in particular MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) have increased the accessibility of education.
MyMissionAdmission.com, a Learning Platform
MyMissionAdmission.com is a social, discovery and learning platform for students to get into their dream careers, courses and colleges. We help students choose their careers wisely and make an informed choice about their colleges, by getting advice from trusted sources, working professionals, experts and mentors. Also, students can schedule video counseling sessions with colleges and universities and talk directly with their representatives and clear all doubts relating to admissions, fees and courses. The best part is that all this comes free of cost for the students in this social platform. Through a unique gamified scholarship system, students can also build their own scholarship fund through engagements and referrals, thereby selffinancing their education.
The Education Landscape in Coming Years
In coming years, education will no longer be limited to the four walls of a classroom. It will pave way for virtual classrooms, making learning attainable and providing undemanding access everywhere and consistently. This will allow students to use digital learning as a ‘flipped classroom’ adding considerable value to the manner in which education is imparted.
The latest trends in digital education space also include adaptive and collaborative learning where a student is engaged by practicing, experiencing, sharing things and gaining knowledge in a collaborative environment
