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Day 1 of the 27th Elets World Education Summit comes to an end, marked by a burst of innovation and valuable insights

27 WES Malaysia logo

The first day of the 27th Elets World Education Summit, Asia’s premier education summit, has drawn to a close, leaving participants inspired, informed, and eager for Day 2.

The summit, held 2nd October at The Everly Putrajaya, Malaysia, brought together leading experts, educators, policy-makers, and thought leaders from around the globe to explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the world of education. From dynamic panel discussions to insightful keynote presentations, Day 1 was a whirlwind of knowledge sharing in two specially curated tracks – Higher Education and School Education.

The inaugural session commenced with a warm welcome from Dr. Ravi Gupta, Editor-in-Chief, Digital Learning Magazine; Founder, Publisher and CEO, Elets Technomedia. Following his address, the audience was treated to valuable insights from prominent speakers, including Professor Dato’ Dr. Noor Inayah Bt. Ya’akub, President & Vice-Chancellor of Infrastructure University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; DATO’ Professor Dr. Mahmoud Khalid Al Msafir, Chairman & CEO of Alnoor International Schools, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and IR. TS. Dr. Aziyati Yusoff, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Malaysia.

Day 1 of the summit delved into a wide array of trending topics in both school and higher education. These ranged from Malaysia’s emergence as a global education hub to discussions on 21st-Century Competencies & Future Readiness. Furthermore, the agenda covered pressing issues such as Bridging Borders for Educational Excellence, Opening Up Skills and Development Opportunities for Learners, and Exploring Tomorrow in Today’s Classrooms, among others.

In response to the growing global education market, the World Education Summit has introduced an Investment Track titled “Ed-Tech Startups on the Horizon: Gaining Insights into Emerging Investment Opportunities”. This segment brought together a distinguished group of investors and panellists, including Dr. Anand Govindaluri, the Founder & CEO of Govin Capital; Raja Hamzah Abidin, who serves as Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner at RHL Ventures in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Noor Amy Ismail, holding the position of Chief Operating Officer at Malaysia Venture Capital Management; John Lim, who is a Partner at Meet Ventures based in Singapore; and Teng Hau Lee, the Investment Director at Kairous Capital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

EdTech Unleashed: A Dynamic Startup Program

In addition to the well-established Conference, Expo, and Awards that have been a longstanding part of WES, this edition introduced a new and exciting initiative called EdTech Unleashed, a dynamic startup programme which aims to empower innovative ventures for driving innovations in the education ecosystem.

The programme facilitated a platform for promising Edtech startups to pitch their vision, products and services to investors.

Key Highlights

  • Inspirational Keynotes: Renowned speakers from the education sector shared their wisdom and vision, shedding light on the future of education and its transformative potential.
  • Thought-Provoking Panels: Engaging discussions on topics ranging from edtech innovations to inclusive education, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the pressing issues facing the education landscape.
  • Networking Galore: Attendees had the invaluable opportunity to connect and exchange ideas with peers, fostering collaboration and partnerships.
  • Exhibition Showcase: Cutting-edge technologies and solutions in education were on display, providing a glimpse into the future of learning.

As we look forward to the second day of the 27th Elets World Education Summit, the excitement continues to build. The summit promises to deliver even more insights, inspiration, and solutions that will shape the future of education.

Tomorrow, the summit will delve into a range of captivating topics, including the enrichment of student learning and development through international education collaboration in cross-cultural experiences.

The power-packed summit will also explore the acceleration of student impact through academia-industry partnerships. Additionally, insightful discussions will tackle the integration of digital literacy in higher education, leveraging technology to foster digital space learning for students.

As we dive deeper into the ever-evolving world of education, join us to strive for excellence, and collectively envision a brighter future for learners worldwide.

Education Leaders & Investors Join Forces to Drive Innovation at 27th Elets World Education Summit in Malaysia

Elets World Education Summit

The prestigious Elets World Education Summit (WES) is poised to return for its 27th edition, bringing together an exclusive gathering of decision-makers, visionaries, innovators, and industry leaders from around the world. Hosted by Elets Technomedia in collaboration with Digital Learning Magazine, the summit is scheduled to take place on October 2-3, 2023 in Malaysia.

This exclusive closed-door summit aims to explore new horizons and opportunities within the education sector, with a strong commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation.

WES has a rich legacy of fostering innovation and driving positive transformation in the global education sphere. In alignment with this vision, we have chosen Malaysia which is also recognised as a prominent educational hub in Southeast Asia, for this edition. Malaysia’s educational framework has consistently led the way in introducing inventive pedagogical approaches and cutting-edge curriculum designs. The summit will delve into the realm of contemporary innovations, propelling novel ideas to the forefront of discussion.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the most cutting-edge EdTech solutions, engage in enriching discussions across school and higher education tracks, and gain exclusive access to a network of over 300 global educational leaders, among other valuable opportunities.

Specially Curated Dedicated Tracks

To enhance engagement & knowledge-exchnage experience, the summit will be divided into two distinct tracks—School Education and Higher Education. This innovative approach will provide attendees with the ultimate platform to connect, share insights, and collaborate with peers and experts across educational segments.

Higher Education Track

The Higher Education is one of the driving factors for employment in the nation and to address the challenges faced by higher education leaders or students is really critical. With a diverse range of topics, the summit will address critical issues in higher education and explore potential solutions for building a smarter future. Key discussion points include the technological impact on classroom dynamics; strategic leadership in higher education; Malaysia’s educational landscape: Delivering Cost-effective & Quality Education; building career-ready students, ensuring education for all; digitalisation in education; the role of AI in teaching; international collaborations, and the future of online education, among others.

To discuss these critical issues and many other topics, the summit will be graced by
Datuk Ariff Farhan Doss, Chief Operating Officer, Human Resource Development Corporation (Under Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR), Malaysia; Dr. N Varaprasad, Former Deputy President, National University of Singapore; Prof. Anurag Singh, Director – Institute of Business Management, GLA University, Mathura, India; YBhg Prof Dr. Ahmad Izanee Awang, President & Vice-Chancellor, Open University Malaysia, Malaysia; Professor Dato’ Dr. Noor Inayah Bt. Ya’akub, President & Vice-Chancellor, Infrastructure University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Prof. Datuk Ir Ts Dr Siti Hamisah Binti Tapsir, Group CEO/Vice-Chancellor, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Prof. Goi Bok Min, Vice- President, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia and many others esteemed speakers.

School Education Track

The School Education track will be graced by DATO’ Professor Dr. Mahmoud Khalid Al Msafir, Chairman & CEO, Alnoor International Schools; Dr. Jeffery J. Louis, COO and Principal, UCSI Schools Bandar Springhill, Malaysia; Ihab Ads, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Spectrum International School, Malaysia; Dr. HC Aslam Khan BSK, Academic Director and Vice Chairman of Erican Education Group, Executive Council Member of NAPEI, Malaysia and many others.

This segment will also delve into diverse topics addressing the pain points and demands of the school education ecosystem across the world. The key discussion points will be Technology for Education; Metacognition and Memory; Next-Generation Classrooms & Learning Models; Cross-Cultural Experiences; and Academia-Industry Partnerships to name a few.

Expo: A Showcase of Revolutionary Ideas

The Elets World Education Summit – Expo, a vital component of the event, will feature an impressive lineup of exhibitors from renowned educational institutions, leading edtech companies, and innovative startups. Attendees can explore the latest educational products, technologies, and services, participate in one-to-one meetings to facilitate growth plans and get familiar with groundbreaking innovations that can revolutionise their educational institutions.

Celebrating Excellence: 27th Elets World Education Awards

The summit will also shine a spotlight on exceptional initiatives and contributions in education through the Elets World Education Awards. Educators, policy-makers, and edtech leaders will be recognised for their transformative efforts that have shaped the educational landscape and improved learning outcomes for students. By celebrating excellence, the awards serve as an inspiration for educators to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation.

EdTech Unleashed: A Dynamic Startup Program

In addition to the well-established Conference, Expo, and Awards that have been a longstanding part of WES, this edition introduces a new and exciting initiative called EdTech Unleashed. This dynamic startup program is designed to shine a spotlight on promising edtech startups that exhibit exceptional potential. It aims to connect these startups with influential education leaders and investors from around the world.

Elets Technomedia is excited to announce the participation of esteemed investors who will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of tech-driven innovation in the education ecosystem.

The dynamic team of investors includes Adrian Hia, Partner, Kairous Capital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Dr. Anand Govindaluri, Founder & CEO, Govin Capital; Dash Dhakshinamoorthy, Founder, Startup Malaysia; Raja Hamzah Abidin, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner, RHL Ventures, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Noor Amy Ismail, Chief Operating Officer, Malaysia Venture Capital Management, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; John Lim, Partner, Meet Ventures, Singapore; Teng Hau Lee, Investment Director, Kairous Capital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. These visionary investors bring a wealth of experience and knowledge the programme, demonstrating their commitment to driving positive change in education.

This collaborative effort underscores a commitment to driving innovation and growth in the education technology landscape.

With a focus on collaborative efforts to cutting-edge insights, the 2-day summit holds potential for learning and forging some amazing opportunities for everyone attending, shaping a brighter and smarter future for education worldwide.

Elets Digital Learning is now on WhatsApp channel; Stay updated with the latest updates from the world of education

Elets Digital Learning is now on WhatsApp

Keeping pace with the ongoing transformations, Elets Digital Learning (digitallearning.eletsonline.com) is live on WhatsApp channel. Elets Digital Learning is Asia and the Middle East’s premier portal on innovations in education, focussing on Information and Communication Technology’s (ICT) role in it. Since, its inception in 2005, the portal has raised awareness about how technology is enhancing the scope and quality of education globally.

Follow us by clicking on the link below to stay up to date with the latest trends, solutions, and practices that are enhancing the landscape of education.

Link: https://tinyurl.com/258wvjdb

WhatsApp channels serve as a tool for one-way broadcasting, allowing administrators to send text messages, photos, videos, stickers, and polls. The company is developing a searchable directory to help users discover channels that match their interests.

Broadrange AI signs MoU with RV University to shape the AI leaders of tomorrow through Generative AI

Generative AI

Broadrange AI announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RV University, Bangalore. The goal of this strategic partnership is to leverage the advantages of both organisations and build a solid basis for young tech enthusiasts in India to explore the numerous prospects offered by the US AI industry, particularly in the field of generative AI.

RV University and Broadrange AI have partnered up to further the field of generative AI. The finest of both worlds are combined in this strategic cooperation, offering a nurturing environment for India’s emerging tech enthusiasts. These young technocrats will have the unique opportunity to explore the vast possibilities within the US AI industry, focusing on the dynamic domain of Generative AI.

RV University is pleased to showcase its young technocrats—students who are strongly entrenched in software development and driven by a keen interest in AI/ML technologies, notably Generative AI—in the spirit of this collaboration. These aspiring talents will be in a unique position to actively participate in and contribute to Broadrange AI’s pioneering endeavors in this game-changing field.

A pivotal aspect of this collaboration is Broadrange AI’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders in Generative AI. The company has meticulously curated a series of “intern-driven projects” designed to provide students with hands-on experience in developing and working with advanced Generative AI models. Through projects that encompass eLLM (Enterprise Large Language Model), Geneadaptic (Generative AI Application), and deep learning methodologies, students will be well-versed in prominent AI/ML tools that are essential in shaping the future of generative models, including:

A. Deep Learning: Leveraging advanced neural network architectures for solving complex AI challenges.

B. LangChain: An open-source framework for building applications powered by large language models

C. Hugging Face: A leading AI company behind the popular Transformers library, revolutionizing natural language processing with pre-trained models.

D. Large Language Models: Advanced AI systems, like GPT-3 and GPT-4, capable of understanding and generating human-like text across diverse applications.

E. Toolkits: GPT & BARD. Developed by OpenAI, and Google, these toolkits empower developers to train powerful generative models.

F. BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers): A pre-training language representation technique utilized for various tasks.

These tools not only offer students a competitive edge but also empower them to lead advancements in the dynamic field of Generative AI, which holds vast creative and practical potential.

“Emerging tech enthusiasts are at the forefront of AI’s evolution. Our collaboration with RV University underscores our commitment to refining their untapped potential in the realm of Generative AI. Beyond foundational projects, we’re excited to introduce them to cutting-edge tools that are reshaping the AI landscape”, states Krishna Guda, Co-Founder of Broadrange AI.

“Our young technocrats are on the brink of global AI innovation, particularly in Generative AI. With Broadrange AI’s diverse array of intern-driven projects and cutting-edge tools, they are poised for success. This partnership embodies our shared vision for the AI era that lies ahead”, said Dr. Sanjay Chitnis, Dean, RV University.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates 16 residential schools in UP

modi launch school

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened 16 residential schools in Uttar Pradesh for underprivileged students. The schools were constructed for approximately Rs. 1,115 crore.

These schools, known as Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas, have been established to give orphans from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the children of labourers and construction workers access to a high-quality education.

The vision of Atal Awasiya Vidyalaya is to foster excellence in every student, shaping them into individuals imbued with a range of qualities that build them to excel in future. The programme is aimed at imparting a basic and quality education to these children. The programme is proposed to be rolled out by the Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (UPBOCW), Department of Labour.

Prime Minister Modi talked with few students before dedicating these schools to the country. Each of the residential schools will have 1,000 students enrolled. It strives to increase access to high-quality education and support children’s overall development.

Each of the schools is built on an area of land that is between 10 and 15 acres large, and it includes a mini-auditorium, a hostel complex, a meal hall, and staff housing in addition to classrooms, playgrounds, and recreational facilities.

Infinity Learn by Sri Chaitanya’s revenue crosses over Rs 100 crore

Infinity Learn by Sri Chaitanya

Infinity Learn by Sri Chaitanya claimed on Monday that it had achieved a remarkable feat by surpassing Rs 100 crore in revenue from operations, up from Rs 2.3 crore the year prior for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.

Infinity Learn’s outstanding financial results are a testament to its dedication to providing high-quality educational solutions and its ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic market. Currently, Infinity Learn has over 750k subscribers and 7 Mn learners accessing content in some form on its platform. The company aims to reach over 50 Mn learners and 1Mn paid learners on its platform by 2025.

As per the official statement by the company, “We are the first company to have become PAT +ve (100 crore+) even before Series A Funding. When you consider that expenses have only increased by 2x during this time, this achievement is even more remarkable.”

This outstanding performance at both the expense and income levels led to a PAT level breakeven in 2022–23 as opposed to a loss of Rs 37 crore the year before. It stated that it could accomplish all of this in less than two years of operation and produced 2x the outcomes of previous EdTechs.

With an unfair advantage of Sri Chaitanya’s legacy, Infinity Learn codified years of best practices and outcome-based pedagogy into a system that delivers outcomes at scale. This makes Infinity Learn ‘India’s only Outcome based and profitable EdTech start-up’, but also continues to set new standards and inspire innovation in the education sector.

Ujjwal Singh, Founding CEO, Infinity Learn by Sri Chaitanya expressed his thoughts and said, “Navigating the ever-evolving EdTech landscape, Infinity Learn has soared with remarkable growth this year. In just over two years, we have not only upheld our relentless dedication to excellence but have also championed responsible growth.”

UK Universities in discussion with IITs to set up offshore campus

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)

UK is eager to welcome an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to establish an offshore campus in the nation. Some UK universities have already begun discussions with IITs to investigate the potential, according to senior British government officials.

According to officials, a number of UK universities are also interested in establishing branch campuses in India and are awaiting the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) final regulatory framework.

Steve Smith, International Education Champion, The UK government said, “Certainly, there has been a discussion about IITs setting up their campuses abroad. We have talked to the Indian High Commission in London because we think nothing would symbolize better the genuine two-way nature of the relationship between the two countries than IITs or other top institutions in India deciding to set up campuses in the UK. So we are very open to that.”

“I know that quite a lot of UK institutions have talked to IITs whether that would be a possibility. So again, it’s not going to be happening tomorrow but I do think that’s the trend for how the relationship will develop,” he added further.

Two IITs have already made announcements and formal agreements for the establishment of their offshore campuses. IIT Delhi is establishing an offshore campus in Abu Dhabi, whilst IIT Madras is establishing a campus in Tanzania’s Zanzibar.

Asked about whether UK universities are also exploring setting up their campuses in India, Smith responded, “The obvious answer is yes. UK colleges are looking into opening campuses in India. There is much interest. Of course, the first thing to do is to get the regulatory framework in order since, without an agreed-upon, signed, and sealed regulatory framework, no governing body anywhere in the world would consent to it. So over the past two or three years, we have made significant progress toward that goal.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) released draft norms for international universities setting up campuses in India in January of this year. However, no one has yet been informed of the final restrictions.

“I can assure you that while many universities are thinking about long-term physical presence, but again, we need to get everything finalized,” said Alison Barrett, Director India, British Council. so that obstacles are avoided. We are really interested in this happening here as well as the opening of Indian institutions in the UK.

Also Read | IIT Delhi’s campus in Abu Dhabi to provide world-class education opportunities

“We are really enthusiastic because real two-way relationships are the way of the future. Therefore, physical presences like branch campuses are very appealing to us. There are five UK universities that are particularly well-established in Malaysia. As a result, the UK university network has a lot of experience doing it. As a result, they are also quite interested in this possibility in India, according to Barrett.

Byju’s names Arjun Mohan as India CEO

Byju's CEO Arjun Mohan

Edtech giant Byju’s promoted Arjun Mohan to CEO of its India operations on Wednesday. Mrinal Mohit, founding partner and outgoing head of the India business at Byju’s, will be replaced by Mohan as he sets out on a new path to pursue personal goals.

Before recently returning to the company, Mohan, who was a member of the founding team, most recently held the position of chief business officer. Working closely with founder and group CEO Byju Raveendran over the past three months. While not at Byju’s, Mohan spearheaded the edtech business UpGrad.

Presently, Byju’s is considering selling some of its subsidiaries in order to pay back its outstanding $1.2 billion Term Loan B (TLB) due to “difficult business restructuring”.

Even though there are many hurdles, Mohan remarked, “I am prepared to play my part in assisting Byju’s in empowering our present and future generations to succeed in a rapidly changing world.”

“Arjun’s expertise will undoubtedly help our turnaround efforts and strengthen our position in the global ed-tech landscape,” said Byju Raveendran.

In order to obtain between $800 million and $1 billion, Byju’s is considering selling at least two of its subsidiaries, Epic and Great Learning, according to rumors that the business has developed a plan to pay back its outstanding $1.2 billion Term Loan B (TLB).

The $22 billion-plus edtech giant also announced last week that, despite “difficult business restructuring,” it will shortly pay the complete and final settlement dues of laid-off employees.

Physics Wallah launches its first education-focused fund – ‘Physics Wallah Fund’

PhysicsWallah-fund

Physics Wallah launched its first education-focused fund – Physics Wallah Fund in partnership with a peer-to-peer lending platform, Rang De.

The fund gives a return of 6 percent per annum for 36 months after which the principal will be returned to the investor.

The alliance was established to address the demand for easily accessible and reasonably priced student loans so that students could obtain top-notch, industry-relevant education.

As a result of this collaboration, students from low-income families will have access to low-interest, collateral-free education loans created especially for Physics Wallah’s Institute of Innovation, a four-year residential program in computer science and artificial intelligence.

The financial constraints that have historically prevented these children from accessing a high-quality education are being eliminated as a result of this collaboration.

Rang De and Physics Wallah will be able to increase educational opportunities and serve as a catalyst for promoting educational equality thanks to this relationship. The shared commitment intends to alter the landscape of educational accessibility in order to make a long-lasting difference.

The collaboration will enable each student to access an average of 3-4 lakhs worth of collateral-free loans through funds invested by social investors (lenders on Rang De’s platform), which can be repaid upon the completion of the course.

“This partnership is a pivotal step towards realising our mission of democratising education at scale in India. Our aim has always been to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, can access quality education affordably. We believe it will be a game changer in reshaping the landscape of education accessibility in India”, speaking on the association, Prateek Maheshwari, Co-Founder of Physics Wallah, said.

With the help of 8500+ social investors (regular people who lend via Rang De’s platform), Rang De has distributed over 60 crores in loans and completed more than 18k loans to rural entrepreneurs and students since 2019. The goal of this collaboration between Rang De and PW Institute of Innovation is to make quality education, training for industry-ready skills, and employment opportunities available to everybody.

“Quality education is a fundamental right for every individual, regardless of their financial situation. Since its inception, we have been unwaveringly committed to democratising access to credit and empowering people to improve their lives”, Commenting on the announcement, Smita Ram, CEO of Rang De, said.

AICTE & MoE embarks on a mission to enhance India’s semiconductor capabilities

AICTE & MoE

The Ministry of Education has started considerable initiatives to encourage talent development in this field, which is a crucial step toward improving India’s role in the advancement of the semiconductor sector. The Ministry of Education and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has set out on an initiative to strengthen India’s semiconductor capabilities.

A high-level team headed by Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, recently traveled to Taiwan for a week. A number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between Indian and Taiwanese academic institutions were made possible, thanks to the engagement of academic specialists and vice chancellors with various Taiwanese universities during this tour. These MoUs cover cooperative research and development initiatives, student exchange programs, and skill development.

This program is based on the understanding that semiconductors are essential to almost every aspect of the electronics industry and are expected to reach a trillion-dollar market by 2030. India wants to be a key player in the semiconductor industry, which calls for the development of a trained workforce.

This collaboration’s synergy between academia, business, and government is a distinguishing aspect. A few institutions that are solely focused on skill development act as training centers. These universities have been able to obtain industry certification thanks to support from business and the government. The long-term goal is to build similar training facilities in India to ensure that the labor force has the essential knowledge. Collaboration with Taiwan will speed up knowledge sharing and improve these initiatives.

In order to improve practical knowledge in the semiconductor industry, Prof. T G Sitharam underlined the significance of adopting Taiwan’s best practices with a focus on building comparable training facilities in India. To make these efforts a reality, AICTE is committed to collaborating closely with universities in Taiwan and India.

Currently, 128 universities use the AICTE model curriculum, and over the next few years, these programs are expected to produce about 8,000 qualified workers who will work in the semiconductor industry. The commitment of AICTE to raising these numbers demonstrates its commitment to achieving its goals of meeting the burgeoning needs of the semiconductor industry and fostering homegrown capabilities in this crucial industry.

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