AI is gaining popularity for solving modern education challenges such as bridging the gap between students and teachers, continual assessment in a manner allowing remote learning, and developing quality data and information solutions for the modern education process, shared Dr. Sunita Singh, Co-Founder, Pro Chancellor, IES University, Bhopal and IHEC Member, AIIMS Bhopal in an exclusive conversation with Sheeba Chauhan of Elets News Network. Edited excerpts:
University Grants Commission (UGC) revealed a draft regulation on the ‘Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) in India’. How do you see this move and what can be the plausible opportunities and challenges that can come along with it?
The setting up of Foreign Higher Education Institutions in India will create a healthy competition among Institutes. The percentage of students going for Higher education abroad is negligible compared to the entire student population in India so the students opting to study here will surely benefit. Our Higher education System is governed by statutory councils like AICTE, NCTE, MCI etc., the Foreign HEIs should also be governed by them. The policy for teachers qualifications, student intake, Student Faculty Ratio (SFR) for Indian HEIs and Foreign HEIs must be same and all rules should be applicable to the foreign HEIs too.
Presently, most of our Institutions are Not-for-profit Institutions run by societies and trusts; they are not funded by the Government. Given that, Government must allow only those foreign HEIs which are also run by charitable societies / trusts to be set up in our country. It is recommended that Foreign HEIs allowed to open their Campus in India on a trial basis, should be from among the top 50 Global / QS rankings. Also, There is Fee Regulation on Indian HEIs as per balance sheet and State Government policy on expenditure. The foreign HEIs coming to India must come under the same fixation rule.
Apart from the basic courses in engineering and medical, what courses does the university offers? Tell us about your future plan to launch Fashion Design & Technology courses.
IES University, Bhopal is a multi-disciplinary University running courses in Engineering and Medicine along with other Departments like Paramedical sciences, Department Of Pharmacy, Department of Education, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Department of Hotel Management, Department of Library Sciences, Department of Agriculture, Department of Nursing, Department of Ayurveda (BAMS), Department of Law, and many more. University is also running several Skill Development courses inline with the demands of the industry and will also launch Design and Fashion Technology course to enhance the scope of students with creative flair. Recently, when I was Governor’s Nominee on the Expert Scrutiny Committee for conferment of Honorary Degree at the 22nd Annual Convocation of VTU, Belagavi, Karnataka; it inspired me to also plan such honour for eminent deserving citizens contributing to society.
As IES tie-ups with leading organizations such as Microsoft, IBM India, NASSCOM, CII, NITTR, etc for career opportunities and growth of the university. To what extent, industry-academia collaborations can help students to grow and excel?
IES University is having excellent Training placement records since the past two decades. Definitely industry-academia collaborations give students additional opportunity to participate in internship, visit, training as well as placement. IES is also focusing on research and has MOUs with top ranking Universities and Institutes like NITTTR Chennai; Chennai, Shoolini University, Solan; Chitkara University, Chandigarh; Ganpat University, Mehsana Gujrat; Central University, Chandigarh. IES is also working for International Collaborations and has signed MOU with City University of Seattle and we are working for associations with Universities in Japan, Uganda and France.
World Education Summit 2023 in Dubai aims to unlock fresh strategies and foster new approaches to building a future-ready education ecosystem. How do you think such conferences help to uplift education standards at a global level?
The policymakers were concentrating so heavily on graduation rates, and attainment levels so far, and ignoring danger signs that the amount that students learn in college may have been declining over the past few decades especially in terms of hands-on skills and needs of the industry as well as society. However, with the implementation of the NEP 2020, it will change. Such world education summits will prove most useful in fostering a fresh, updated approach to building student’s skills. Of course, this summit will unlock new strategies to build an effective education ecosystem and take the higher education to a new level.
The advent of technologies like AI, ML, and Automation is transforming the education ecosystem globally. How is technology intervention in education helping your institution?
Education is acquiring a whole new dimension thanks to technology. At IES we are using AR / VR to facilitate learning; our faculties use Virtual labs and simulation technology for training of students in various courses; students are taking training in AI & ML for preparation of professional careers and they receive additional credits for same. AI is gaining popularity for solving modern education challenges such as bridging the gap between students and teachers, continual assessment which allows remote learning, and developing quality data and information solutions for the modern education process.
