Revitalising Higher Education through Emerging Technologies: Current Trends, Proven Strategies, and Challenges

Revitalising Higher Education

Higher education is constantly evolving, and emerging technologies are playing a pivotal role in reshaping the landscape of learning and teaching. This dynamic panel discussion will delve into the exciting realm of how emerging technologies can revitalize higher education institutions. From artificial intelligence and virtual reality to blockchain and data analytics, the panelists explored the current trends, proven strategies, and the inherent challenges in integrating these technologies effectively at 25th Elets World Education Summit in Dubai. Edited excerpts:

Dr. Leena Wanganoo, Discipline Lead in Business, Murdoch University, Dubai, UAE shared, “The topic of technology and education has gained significant importance in recent times, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic. The sudden shift from traditional face-to-face teaching to a hybrid model has posed various challenges for educators and learners alike. These challenges have become particularly pertinent to discuss because of the emergence of advanced technology such as Chat GPT. This is an opportune time to discuss the transformation of higher education and how we can reinvent ourselves to meet the changing needs of our students. We must refine and redefine our entire strategy for higher education to ensure that we adequately prepare students for the future.”

Dr. Sudhindra Shamanna, Academic President, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai, UAE shared, “Firstly, I want to take a slightly philosophical perspective and discuss how we can use technology without being replaced by it. In my opinion, it’s not a question of whether technology will replace most of our traditional teaching methods in higher education, but rather a matter of when it will happen.”

“Secondly, I would like to focus on how quickly and effectively we can integrate technology into our traditional teaching methods, and how it can augment and enhance our teaching practices. This integration will depend on the maturity and sophistication of these platforms. We have heard a lot about fantastic services available in the form of technology, including the latest addition of Chat GPT. However, as academicians, we need to focus on understanding how these tools can be useful in our daily operations and how we can address the challenges associated with them. In this regard, there is still a lot of work to be done from an academician’s perspective. Addressing these issues will enable us to use technology more effectively in our teaching practices.”

Prof. Rao Bhamidimarri, President, Institute of Advanced Research(IAR), Gujarat, India shared, “Technology has been present in education for a long time, particularly in the field of Information Technology (IT), which started with the emergence of platforms like Web CT and Blackboard in the early 1980s. Although the level of technology varied across different fields of study, COVID-19 has accelerated its use. However, it’s essential to note that emerging technologies, current trends, proven strategies, and challenges play a crucial role in effectively integrating technology in higher education.”

Jan Horn, Managing Director, SAE Institute, Dubai, UAE shared, “We live in an exciting time where technological advancements happen every day, and chat GPT is the buzzword of the moment. However, technology in education is not new; it has been around since the days of ink on paper. The theme of this panel discussion is revitalizing education, but it’s more about catching up with technological advancements because technology will always be one step ahead of our ability to adapt it to our schools and educational institutions. We will always find better ways of transferring knowledge, and I am looking forward to discussing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

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