Automation helps in keeping track of students’ progress and nudging them to remain on track. They digress even by a margin from their learning journey. We are using AI to introduce creative curriculum structure especially in curating electives and assessment design, shared Dr. Chinmoy Sahu, Vice Chancellor, Manipal GlobalNxt University, Malaysia in an exclusive conversation with Sheeba Chauhan of Elets News Network. Edited excerpts:
What long-term strategies is Manipal GlobalNxt University pursuing to remain at the forefront of providing quality education, especially considering the evolving technologies and pedagogical methods?
Having been one of the notable pioneers of online learning, Manipal GlobalNxt University continues to lead the industry with a continuous focus on leveraging evolving technologies and pedagogical methods. We work actively with our technology providers like Learning Management System (LMS), Learner Life Cycle Management System (LLCMS), Exam Proctoring System (EPS), Library Service Providers and CRM system to ensure that we select the most innovative products that meet our requirements and get these systems to talk to each other using LTI and other protocols for a seamlessly interactive learning environment. On the pedagogical front, we have always maintained cutting edge leadership by interweaving outcome-based learning, facilitated peer-to-peer social learning activities and work integrated flexible curriculum design. In the last few years, we have also structured some interesting pathways using micro credentialing and Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) concepts.
In an era of increasing globalisation, how does the university plan to expand its international partnerships and collaborations to provide students with a truly global education experience?
Manipal GlobalNxt University was originally conceived as the provider of a truly global higher learning experience when we were established as U21Global more than 20 years ago with the collaborative effort of some of the top academic institutions. Their close guidance created a unique ecosystem that had internationalisation written all over its DNA. Since then, we have continued to leverage technology to bring together professors from 17 countries and learners from 72 countries, making a difference to the lives of 12000+ learners in the process. Our current learners hail from 55+ countries, offering unmatched diversity and harnessing the true benefits that internationalisation of education can create. We continue to actively democratise learning by making quality education truly affordable to every corner of the world.
Given the rapid advancements in AI, automation, and other disruptive technologies, how is the university adapting its curriculum to equip students with future-proof skills and knowledge?
AI and automation have no doubt left a deep impression across many sectors. Likewise, the education sector has also been empowered for betterment. These technologies make our operations more scalable and help us find creative solutions to bottlenecks. For instance, automation helps in keeping track of students’ progress and nudging them to remain on track. They digress even by a margin from their learning journey. We are using AI to introduce creative curriculum structure especially in curating electives and assessment design. For instance, our MBA program offers electives in some of the more popular trending areas such as AI, Machine Learning, Fintech, Analytics besides the usual areas of finance, marketing, strategy, logistics, HR, hospitality, healthcare and so on.
Can you provide insights into the research and innovation initiatives at the university that are poised to shape the future of education and industry?
We have always been primarily into accredited master’s and doctoral education while offering executive learning opportunities based on industry needs. By design, learners and professors are encouraged to engage in research activities since all our programs have mandatory research component. Additionally, in the last few years we have made a conscious decision to introduce research-based programs that reduce the element of coursework, instead allowing the learner to conduct research that is closely aligned to their passion and career objectives. This has successfully created a self-sustaining ecosystem of collaborative research in innovative areas.
With the emergence of alternative credentials and micro-credentials, how is Manipal GlobalNxt University exploring innovative approaches to recognize and validate students’ learning achievements beyond traditional degrees?
All our accredited programs actively encourage micro credentialing by allowing learners to accumulate credits with every standalone module that they take up in their lifelong learning journey. Besides micro-credentialing, we are actively promoting the concept of Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Through careful mapping of the learner’s experiential learning and the corresponding learning outcomes of our programs and modules, we have successfully offered accelerated pathways to several learners by avoiding duplication of learning. We intend to further popularize these pathways through active engagement with prospective learners.
Could you share your vision for the university’s role in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation among students, potentially leading to the creation of future industry disruptors and leaders?
Currently, the programs offered by Manipal GlobalNxt University include MBA, MSc (Information Technology Management), Master of Education (M.Ed.), PhD (Education) and Doctor of Business Administration. Our flagship program currently is the Doctor of Business Administration program. Our current learners and alumni in the doctoral program are professionally engaged in senior management roles spanning different industries across the world. The research ideas in these programs therefore continue to demonstrate entrepreneurial innovation of the highest order. Similarly, our PhD in Education program is quite popular among the leaders in the Education industry and has been successfully attracting research into futuristic areas that have the potential to disrupt the learning ecosystem.
