Effective leadership plays a crucial role in building agile and innovative higher education institutions. In today’s fast-paced and constantly evolving world, educational institutions must adapt quickly to stay relevant and provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. A leader with a clear vision and the ability to inspire and motivate their team is essential in this process. They must be able to navigate the complexities of the education landscape, while also fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration within their organization.
Effective leaders must also stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in education, some of the best minds and leaders joined the discussion on the same at the 25th Elets World Education Summit in Dubai. Edited excerpts:
Dima Rachid Jamali, Dean of the School of Business at the University of Sharjah in the UAE, suggests “that with the easy accessibility of technology and information through Google, traditional methods of classroom learning such as PowerPoint presentations and simple readings are no longer enough. Instead, she proposes that teaching methods need to be completely redefined to make them more interactive, engaging and enjoyable for students.”
Dr. Sunita Singh, the Pro-Chancellor of IES University in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, believes, “that failure is not the end but the beginning of success. She points out that skill-based education is now a top priority and can be achieved by integrating technology into the learning process. With technology, students can overcome failures and learn through innovation, which is more valuable than just obtaining a degree.”
Dr. Christopher Abraham, the CEO and Head, Senior Vice President of the SP Jain School of Global Management in Dubai, UAE, shared, “that failure is essential for success. He proposes that a culture of celebrating failures should be developed, and students should be encouraged to adopt a “fails fast, fail forward” approach to learning. He cites examples of successful people like Thomas Edison, Oprah Winfrey, Lionel Messi, and Walt Disney, who have experienced multiple failures before achieving success.”
Hani Asfour, the Dean of the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI), suggests, “that this generation of students has access to more knowledge than previous generations. Therefore, traditional teaching methods need to be updated to accommodate this. He proposes structuring classes with co-teaching or having students lead the class by conducting research and sharing their knowledge with their peers.”
