Uttar Pradesh govt to construct India’s first education township

News

By

-

August 23, 2022

Uttar Pradesh’s government intends to construct an educational township. According to the Yogi Adityanath administration, the “Single Entry, Multiple Exit” concept would guide the development of the education township. The administration claimed that the change will give young people access to high-quality education and equip them with a range of professional skills in one location. Additionally, it will give professors and students housing and a variety of other amenities.

Yogi had recently ordered the authorities to prepare a comprehensive action plan for setting up five education townships. During a meeting with the representatives of consultancy firm Deloitte India, they discussed that the state needs to explore ways to make Uttar Pradesh a $1 trillion economy.

“The Government’s objective behind the education township is to provide high-quality education to the youth and equip them with a variety of professional skills in one place. Built on the idea of ‘Single Entry, Multiple Exit’ (come like a blank paper and carry multiple skills), the focus of this township will be on high-end education, which will cater to students from not only the country but also African, Latin American and Central Asian countries,” the CM’s office wrote.

Here’s what all will be included in Uttar Pradesh’s education township:

Prestigious government and private universities of the country and the world will be able to open their campuses in the township.
There will be primary and secondary schools like Atal Residential Schools in the same place.
Universities and colleges will be established for undergraduate and postgraduate studies wherein studies and research works related to management, technology, law, and medicine will be carried out.
The education township will also feature skill development universities where training will be imparted to the youth in different types of skills. Besides, many other coaching institutes like Abhyudaya will be started in these education townships so that more and more students can be successful in competitive examinations like NEET, IIT, Union Public Service Commission etc to be held in the country and the state.
Accommodations will be provided to both teachers and students at the education township.
With the introduction of the ‘Single Entry, Multiple Exit’ system in the state, students will be able to avail of cheap education loans.

Edtech Platforms Upskilling India Get Lucrative Job Opportunities Worldwide

Authored article

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 22, 2022

If you are in the tech industry, you may have already felt the need to increase your current capabilities in light of changing industrial requirements caused by technological developments. One way you can achieve this is via practical job training boot camps. Not only will they help you upskill yourself as per current market trends, they will also help you boost your current career trajectory.

According to the World Economic Forum’s “The Future of Jobs” Report, 40 per cent of employees will need to reskill for six months in the future to keep up with changing corporate needs. In line with this, the proportion of professionals looking to upskill has climbed to 79 per cent, including freshers by 2022.

In other words, upskilling will help you get excellent job opportunities not only in India but abroad as well, particularly in the USA. Notably, the USA is one of the top destinations among tech professionals for their lucrative packages and higher living standards. Indian talent is also critical in the USA, where it makes up about 1.4 per cent of its total population, or about 4.6 million individuals.

The unemployment rate in the United States has increased drastically. It has made it more difficult for those of Indian heritage to find suitable work opportunities. Indian youth, on the other hand, may keep up with market demands by upskilling and reskilling themselves. As a result, tech boot camps are more important than they have ever been.

Upskilling Platforms: A Cognitive Approach to Learning

You can increase your level of expertise through the use of many technological tools, all of which are easily accessible thanks to increased internet and smartphone penetration.

For the youth of this country, acquiring on-demand skills can help them achieve their career goals. In fact, it is critical for India to bring our workforce standards up to par with the rest of the world as every industry is undergoing massive transformations. We can only make a brighter tomorrow for your talent pool by turning every facet of our skill ecosystems to technology.

Thankfully, the Indian edtech platforms are stepping up their global game, driven by a surge in VC capital over the course of the previous year and the growing acceptance of digital services in India. According to the analytics firm Tracxn, investments in Indian education startups totaled $8.5 billion between the years 2014 and 2021, with more than half of that amount coming in only the previous year.

It is anticipated that the market for online education in India will increase by 2.28 billion USD between the years 2021 and 2025. EdTech programs offer excellent means for professionals to improve their existing skill sets as well as acquire new ones. They cater to the requirements of professionals in business who have to work while also pursuing their education. Because it has unique curriculums and ways of teaching, it is a great choice for working professionals who want to stay relevant in the fast-paced business world of today.

Bright Future For The Indian Youth

The modern business world is expanding radically as it gradually integrates technology and new technologies. By the end of 2022, up to 75 million jobs might be lost as a result of this change in the labor ratio between humans and machines. This has already taken place. On the other hand, it’s possible that 133 million jobs will be generated simultaneously. The time to learn cutting-edge technology and skills for lucrative employment in a global market is clearly now.

In the present day, professionals with non-technical backgrounds are transferring to IT job profiles. Many professionals have benefited from cohort-based online training as they transition to new career paths. Employees that take part in boot camp programs can advance in their careers and raise their level of competence. This will open up opportunities for new projects at work, particularly for international travel and employment. Edtech startups like FunctionUp aid students in achieving their dream jobs with boot camp courses.

Authored By: Bharat Gupta, CEO & Co-Founder, FunctionUp

Edtech startup Sunstone raises $35Mn in Series C funding

News

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 22, 2022

Gurgaon-based edtech startup Sunstone has announced that the company has raised $35 Mn, which is about INR 280 Cr, in Series C round led by WestBridge Capital. Other investors that participated in the funding round included Alteria Capital is one of the largest Venture Debt funds in India.

The funding comes at a time when edtech platforms are facing troubles in raising fresh funds as physical education and learning returned offline with ease in COVID-19 cases.

According to Ashish Munjal, founder, Sunstone, the fresh funding will be used for the expansion of new programmes, with a particular emphasis on undergraduate technology programmes.

The higher-education startup, which currently marks its presence in more than 35 cities and over 40 institutions, is involved in capacity building with a view to expand into as many as 100 cities throughout India. Further, Sunstone, which started off with post graduate management education, for the first time ventured into undergraduate programs this year and it has registered a whopping 10-fold growth in the past two years.

Sharing his views, Munjal said, “The Indian higher education system is at the brink of a long overdue transformation. Sunstone is well positioned to enable this change and impact the lives of millions of students. Over the years, we have made significant strides in the direction but still have a long way to go as the market opportunity and problem we are trying to solve is very large.”

Sharing his thoughts, Sandeep Singhal, Managing Partner, WestBridge Capital said, “Over the last year, we have seen Sunstone grow and continue to upgrade the quality of education provided to every student. Seeing the ever-increasing demand and its potential to be a major disruptor, we are excited to double down our investment to support its mission of transforming the higher education sector in India.”

Founded by Ashish Munjal and Piyush Nangru in 2019, Sunstone focuses on higher education. Reportedly, the edtech startup raised $28 Mn in Series B in October 2021. The series was also led by WestBridge Capital, with participation from three existing investors: Saama Capital, Alteria Capital, and Work 10m.

It was established with the goal of transforming the higher education space in the country. Furthermore, the Gurgaon-based edtech startup works to bring about accountability, accessibility, and quality education for all.

Sunstone aims to become the de-facto choice for every student who wishes to pursue meaningful education by making it outcome-focused and industry relevant.

Besides, investment firm WestBridge Capital which was founded in 2000 seeks to partner with some of the country’s most promising mid-sized companies run by outstanding entrepreneurs and management teams for the long term. While Alteria Capital, established in 2018, focuses on innovative startups backed by strong VC sponsors.

The dearth of funding in 2022 follows two golden years for edtech startups. In 2021, investors pumped $4.7 Bn into edtech platforms while 2020 saw startups raising about $2.2 Bn.

National Curriculum Framework in line with the NEP 2020 will play a major role in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan

News

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 18, 2022

Union Education and Skill Development Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan urged citizens to participate in the Citizen Survey for National Curriculum Framework for developing a new curriculum. A dynamic National Curriculum Framework in line with the NEP 2020 will play a major role in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat he added. He further said that the development of a vibrant, dynamic, inclusive, and futuristic National Curriculum Framework is essential for integrating cultural-rootedness along with global outlook, freeing education from the colonial hangover, and instilling a deeper sense of pride in our next generations.

Ministry of Education has invited suggestions of the public through an online public consultation survey for the formulation of the National Curriculum Framework and subsequently design of syllabus, textbooks and other instructional materials.

The Government of India announced the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 on 29th July 2020, which recommends quality improvement of the system of education through the development of a National Curriculum Framework (NCF). The process of the National Curriculum Framework has been started through the constitution of the District Consultation Committees, State Focus Groups, and State Steering Committee, National Focus Groups and National Steering Committee etc.

A tech platform – website and mobile app has been developed for the execution of the work at scale and in a paperless manner. Using the bottom-up approach, district-level consultations, mobile app-based surveys, state-level consultations through State Focus Groups and State Steering Committee have been conducted by the States and UTs to reach out the stakeholders like parents, Anganwadi workers, teachers, teacher educators, students, etc. at the grassroots level and collect their views and opinion about the future of school education, early childhood care and education, teacher education and adult education.

At the national level also the National Focus Groups and National Steering Committee have been engaged to deliberate on various issues and concerns, including the interaction with various ministries, autonomous bodies, NGOs, Corporates, Philanthropic agencies etc. for collecting and collating valuable inputs for formulation of NCF. A mandate document for the formulation of NCF has been developed for guiding the stakeholders in the process.

Given the diversity in the country, providing an opportunity to every stakeholder, who may or may not necessarily be a parent or a teacher or a student and willing to participate in the transformation of the education system in India, through sharing views on common concerns related to education, is the need of the hour. Such multiple and diverse views are likely to provide a practical road map for the smooth implementation of the vision of NEP 2020.

All stakeholders including teachers, headmasters/principals, school leaders, educationists, parents, students, community members, NGOs, experts, public representatives, artists, artisans, farmers and anybody who has an interest in school education and teacher education are invited to participate in this online survey being conducted in 23 languages, including the languages in the VIII Schedule of our Constitution.

Delhi CM launches ‘Make India No. 1’ scheme, calls for focus on education and healthcare

News

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 18, 2022

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Wednesday, launched a national mission called ‘Make India No 1’ at Talkatora Stadium, Delhi. According to the chief minister, to accomplish this mission, providing free education and healthcare to citizens, employment to youths, equal rights and dignity to women, and fair price to farmers for their products is needed.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he urged 130 crore citizens of the country to join the mission and help make it a success. The initiative aims to make India the number one country in the world and calls on all citizens and political parties to join it.

In his statement, the CM mentioned, “We have to make India the number 1 nation in the world, once again. We are beginning a national mission called ‘Make India No.1’ today. Every citizen of this country has to be connected to this mission.”

Even after 75 years of Independence, Kejriwal claimed that the country still lags behind several nations that gained independence much later. He further added that 27 crore children go to school every day and India can become the No. 1 country in the world only if provided with quality education for free of cost.

“It has been 75 years of independence. In these 75 years, we achieved a lot, India gained a lot but there’s anger, a question among people that several small nations who attained independence after us, surpassed us…Why did India lag behind? Every citizen is asking this. We will have to open schools in every nook and corner of the country, no matter how much money we spend. Once we provide good education, children will go on to become doctors, engineers, etc., and make the country rich eventually,” he added.

Furthermore, the CM claimed that providing every individual with free healthcare services is the need of the hour and thus will travel across the country, encouraging people as part of the mission. “The life of every Indian is very important to us. For this, it is important to open hospitals, mohalla clinics, and dispensaries in every corner of the country,” he said.

Moreover, asserting that the mission is apolitical in nature, he urged the Union government to utilise the Delhi government’s expertise for improving school education and healthcare facilities across India. “This is not the mission of a political party, it’s a national mission. I call upon the BJP and all other parties to come forward and join this initiative to make India the number one country in the world. We are ready to work with the Centre to improve health services and education. I also request the Centre to stop calling them freebies,” the CM said during an online press conference.

There is a need to launch government schools on a large scale, improve them, regularise guest teachers, and train teachers for children’s future. Then India can become a ‘rich country,’ the chief minister stated.

After JEE-NEET-CUET merger, Govt. to merge accreditation & ranking bodies

News

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 17, 2022

The Union Government is working to merge the accreditation body National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with the ranking body the National Board of Accreditation (NBA). This move of the Government follows its successful proposal to merge national-level engineering and medical entrance tests of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) with the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG).

The Government has set up a six-member committee to study the methodology of accreditation of NAAC, NBA and the ranking system of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and identify ways to merge NAAC and NBA to form one system for accreditation and ranking, a key feature of the new National Education Policy launched by the Center in 2020.

The Union Education Ministry has commenced the process to create a single accreditation and ranking system in India by setting up the committee under the leadership of Bhushan Patwardhan, chairman, executive committee, NAAC.

Apart from Patwardhan, who was also the former vice-chairman, UGC the committee includes Indranil Manna, vice-chancellor, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra in Ranchi; K.N. Ganesh, professor, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati; Dr Surender Prasad, former director, IIT Delhi; B.J. Rao, vice-chancellor, Central University of Hyderabad and Dr Manju Singh, joint secretary, UGC. Besides, Dr Singh will also be the coordinator of the committee.

The NAAC is a single government-authorized agency for accrediting colleges and universities, while NBA can only accredit institutions for technical education. Besides, NBA is also the in charge of releasing higher education institutions’ ranking i.e. NIRF annually.

This is a significant step taken by the government which comes against the backdrop of a recent announcement by UGC (University Grants Commission) chairman, Jagadesh Kumar on merging the NEET and JEE Main with CUET-UG. Besides, the Centre is also working to merge All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and UGC into a single overarching higher education regulator the Higher Education Commission of India or HECI.

The NEP 2020 has suggested, “setting up a meta-accrediting body” addressed as the National Accreditation Council (NAC). Currently, according to a source, “accreditation and ranking of higher educational institutions take place through multiple agencies and frameworks, which operate independently of each other. We have the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) that accredits technical programmes, while the NAAC accredits non-technical or general programmes. There is the National Institute of Ranking Framework (NIRF), which ranks all the higher educational institutions in India.”

The source further stated, “The NEP envisages the creation of NAC, a body which will ensure the synchronized working of these bodies and align them to NEP goals.”

The committee of the six members selected by the Ministry of Education will study the methodology of NAAC, NBA, and the ranking system of the NIRF for accreditation. To ensure smooth communication between the bodies, apart from preparing a framework to align the three to form the proposed NAC, the committee will recommend a suitable mechanism.

As per the NEP, “accreditation of institutions will be based primarily on basic norms, public self-disclosure, good governance, and outcomes, and it will be carried out by an independent ecosystem of accrediting institutions supervised and overseen by NAC.”

“The task to function as a recognized accreditor shall be awarded to an appropriate number of institutions by NAC. In the short term, a robust system of graded accreditation shall be established, which will specify phased benchmarks for all HEIs to achieve set levels of quality, self-governance, and autonomy,” according to the NEP.

“Online learning has enabled access to education from any part of the world”

Interviews

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 17, 2022

Educational institutions around the world with good quality education are booming with the emergence of technology. Time and technology are proven to be a big game changers nowadays. Technology is playing its cards well in the education landscape. Edtech is also one such platform that is transforming the world of education with multimedia innovation. The privilege that got delivered with edtech is that it makes education possible for even people who can’t think of learning be it differently-abled people, homemakers, people of older age, or kids during the pandemic. Edtech is opening an entirely new edge of learning for every age group and every professional.

With the growing spectrum of online learning and the massive ecosystem of e-learning, Elets News Network interacted with Gaurav Vohra – Chief Business Officer, UNext Learning. Edited excerpts:

How is EdTech redefining education for differently-abled people?

The education system in India has been trying to accommodate differently-abled students with several policies and programmes. Lack of accessibility, flexibility and equity are a few problems they face in traditional education. A 2019 report by UNESCO suggests that three-fourths of the differently-abled children in the country aged five years don’t attend school. Additionally, the number of dropouts among students with disabilities is high in India.

Here’s where EdTech comes as a blessing for differently-abled children. The advent of cutting-edge technologies has led the EdTech sector to offer a slew of solutions to give accessible education to differently-abled children. By introducing innovative solutions, EdTech players are trying to improve the accessibility of education to empower these children. Children with special needs can attend classes from the comfort of their homes and do not have to travel or relocate. Inclusivity is one of the pivotal factors that comes along with online education. When children with disabilities attend classes with other children, they feel included, and it bridges the psychological gap between them.

What are the important measures to guarantee accessible technology for all students?

For sustainable growth, it is pertinent to bridge the digital divide in countries like India, where a huge population is yet to access the internet. This is crucial for the expansion of online education too. A 2021 study by Azim Premji University found that 60 per cent of school children in India do not have internet access, especially when the Covid-19 pandemic led to a forced shutdown of schools. The pandemic also contributed to school dropouts.

Here are some measures that ensure that there is no digital divide-

Fast internet service – The government initiatives to expand the internet services will help students from interior parts of the country to access online education without trouble.

Digital literacy programs – Some students today lack technological skills. Teachers and educators can initiate digital literacy programs to help them catch up on pivotal tech skills.

Mobile first learning – Nowadays, all that a student needs is a smartphone to attend classes. Online education involves mobile-first learning, which consists of short, bit-sized micro lessons that students can easily access through their smartphones.

Create downloadable content – Making notes available on a platform where students can download or view them offline helps with round-the-clock access to material.

These features and measures will guarantee accessible technology to students from all backgrounds and ensure a seamless online education experience.

Also read: Online learning trends to keep an eye on as the education landscape changes

Why is online learning gaining popularity?

Thanks to the internet, online learning has enabled access to education from any part of the world. As long as one has access to a laptop or smartphone connected to the internet, it is possible to access learning as desired. Here are some of the reasons why online learning is gaining popularity.

1. Flexible learning – Online learning enables flexibility for teachers and students. Students can attend classes at any given time and study at their own pace.

2. Accessibility – Online learning has predominantly broken the barrier of distance. Students can attend classes from the comfort of their homes. Not only that, the cost-effective nature of online education makes it more desirable for learners these days.

3. Customised learning experience – Students can get access to various learning materials such as photos, videos and e-books to refer from. The customisation option allows students to continue target-based learning rather than finishing a complete program to earn a relevant certificate.

4. Adaptive learning – The EdTech platforms are using technology to accomplish adaptive learning in order to address the cognitive diversity of learners. The intellectual capacity of learners varies from individual to individual. Traditional learning compels students from all cognitive levels to learn the same content. Using cutting-edge technologies such as AI, machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning, EdTech solutions can identify the cognitive capacity of students, and recommend tailor-made content and learning paths.

How is online learning becoming more cutting-edge and improving this experience?

Educational institutions across the world are providing quality education with the help of cutting-edge technology.

Augmented reality is a technology that superimposes learning materials over real-world views. These virtual elements can be in the form of text, audio, video, photos, 2D illustrations or virtual 3D clips.
Virtual reality technologies allow students to experience destinations from across the world. It helps students understand complex subjects effectively and boosts their creativity.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are widely being used in digital learning platforms. It helps provide students with personalised learning and automates the routine tasks of teachers. However, it is still early days for AI in online learning, and its adoption will only increase in the coming days.
Gamification is another emerging model in online education. Students can pursue their courses and compete with others like they do when they play other games. It gives the learners real-time updates on their learning progress and encourages them to learn more.

Class X students with basic maths can study maths as a subject in class XI: CBSE

News

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 17, 2022

Class 10 students who chose ‘Mathematics Basic’, an easier version of the subject, to select maths as a subject in Class 11 for the academic session 2022-23 as well, as per CBSE’s updated guidelines.

According to the original concept, the only students who select “Mathematics Standard” in place of “Basic” in class 10 are qualified to study math at the junior college level. However, the board waived that requirement in 2021 and has opted to keep it that way for another year, describing the Covid pandemic as a stressful scenario for students.

A principal of the CBSE school said, “Less than 5% of students opt for ‘Mathematics Basic’. In fact, there are many schools where the option is not available at all. It’s good to have it as a choice for students, but the concept never really took off.” The reason that it did not become very popular with students is the curriculum, say, teachers.

“NEP will give strength to people to be free from slavery”: PM’s I-Day speech

News

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 17, 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech on Independence Day said, the new National Education Policy (NEP) places a strong focus on the skills that will empower people to break free from servitude.

“I look with hope the way the new National Education Policy has been formulated with a lot of brainstorming, with the exchange of ideas from various people and is at the core of the country’s education policy,” the prime minister said, in his address from the Red Fort’s ramparts on the 76th Independence Day.

“The skill that we have emphasized is such a power which will give us the strength to be free from slavery,” he further said.

The 2020 NEP, which was approved by the Union Cabinet, replaces the 1986-framed National Policy on Education, which had been in place for 34 years. Its goal is to pave the way for radical changes to the school and higher education systems that will turn India into a superpower in the field of knowledge.

In his address on 76th independence day, Modi said, “This Digital India movement of developing semiconductors, entering 5G era, spreading the network of optical fibres is not just to establish ourselves as modern and developed, but it is possible because of three intrinsic missions. The complete transformation of education eco-system, revolution in health infrastructure and improvement in quality of lifestyles of the citizens will be possible only through digitalisation.”

One entrance for NEET, JEE; UGC to introduce CUET

News

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

August 17, 2022

A proposal to incorporate the engineering and medical entrance exams into the Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate is being developed by the University Grants Commission (CUET-UG).

M Jagadesh Kumar, chairperson, UGC told that as per the proposal, instead of appearing for the four subjects — physics, mathematics, biology, and chemistry — in three entrance exams, students can take the exam once and be eligible for and explore different fields of study. The higher education regulator is working out a committee to deliberate with diverse stakeholders to reach a consensus.

“The proposal is, can we integrate all these entrance examinations so that our students are not subjected to multiple entrance examinations based on the same knowledge base? The students should have one single entrance examination, but multiple opportunities to apply among the disciplines,” said Kumar.

The three major entrance tests in the nation, which are taken by almost 43 lakh hopefuls, are the engineering entrance “Joint Entrance Examination (Main),” the medical entrance “National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate,” and now CUET-UG. Most students show up for at least two of these tests, if not all of them. For the JEE (Mains) exam, candidates must take physics, chemistry, and mathematics, while biology is substituted for mathematics in the NEET UG exam. These topics are included in the 61 domain subjects for the CUET-UG.

The objective of the proposal, Kumar said that students should not undergo the stress of multiple examinations while they’re being tested in the same set of subjects.

“Typically, what are the programmes that are available? Some students may like to go into medicine or engineering. If they don’t get into either, many will in general education. So is it possible to have only one CUET for all disciplines? The students who would like to go into engineering their marks in mathematics, chemistry, and physics can be used as a ranking list and similarly for medicine. If they don’t get into medicine or engineering, under CUET they will still have the opportunity to join different programmes using the same marks of either mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and so on. So therefore, by writing once, in these four subjects, students can try for different opportunities.”

The commission is focusing the move from the point of simplifying the logistics for the aspirants as well as the National Testing Agency (NTA).

“The difficulties of setting up the computing facilities in so many centres are the other side. Sometimes, as you have seen in CUET-UG, students are not offered their first choice, forcing them to travel a little further to write than they would have otherwise. It might become considerably simpler from the NTA’s perspective in terms of logistics if you reduce the number of tests. Additionally, unique sets of test questions must be created for JEE, NEET, and CUET. For all of these topics, we can only have one set of exam questions at this time, added Kumar.

UGC is looking at building a consensus via deliberations among the stakeholders for the “single examination” so that candidates can be given the opportunity to write it twice a year. “The first one can happen after the Board exams and another one in, say, December,” Kumar further added.

LATEST NEWS

EDITOR PICKS

Top Trending News

POPULAR POSTS

Top Trending Categories

POPULAR CATEGORY

Latest Articles