Is literature dead? Reawakening it through Sound Movie Pedagogy for inclusive literacy

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January 21, 2026

As education enters a post-textual era shaped by artificial intelligence, multimodal communication, and pervasive digital media, traditional reading practices are being challenged by faster, sensory-driven formats. This trend prompts a critical inquiry for educational institutions and cultural organisations: The central question guiding this inquiry is whether literature is undergoing a decline in its role within the educational landscape or if it possesses the capacity to transform into novel experiential forms. This presentation puts forth a solution through Sound Movie Pedagogy, an innovative audio-cinematic approach that integrates narrated text, acting, music, and sound design to transform reading into an immersive, embodied experience.

Sound movies, which are grounded in research on digital orality, storytelling, and inclusive literacy, have been shown to stimulate cognitive engagement while reducing entry barriers for learners who struggle with printed text. Evidence from classroom trials and EdTech prototyping indicates that students exposed to audio-narrative learning activities demonstrate enhanced listening comprehension, vocabulary development, interpretive skills, emotional connection, and creative output. The multisensory structure of this approach has been shown to benefit multilingual classrooms, neurodiverse learners, and those with visual or reading difficulties, offering equitable access to literary content without compromising depth or rigor.

Also Read: The advantages of an inquiry based approach to learning – Why this matters now in education

The session will present live examples, production workflows, and AI-supported tools for scalable audio creation. It will also highlight how educators and institutions can integrate sound movies into language learning, literature units, and cross-curricular projects. This contribution contends that literature is not becoming obsolete; rather, it is undergoing a process of evolution. The integration of immersive sound experiences has the potential to rekindle a sense of curiosity, imagination, and a profound appreciation for narratives among the forthcoming generation of global learners.

Views expressed by Dr. Cecilia Vallorani, CEO & Founder, EchoEd L.LC-FZ, UAE

The advantages of an inquiry based approach to learning – Why this matters now in education

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January 21, 2026

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” attributed to Benjamin Franklin.

For many years, education has relied heavily on rote learning, memorising facts, formulas, and definitions to repeat them when tested. While this approach can help students recall information quickly, it often falls short in developing deeper understanding, creativity, and critical thinking. As the world becomes more complex, schools are increasingly shifting toward inquiry-based learning models that better prepare students for real-life challenges.

Inquiry-based learning moves beyond knowledge and memorisation and places students at the centre of the learning process making it far more interesting. Instead of being told, learning facts for the sake of learning facts or simply receiving information, students ask questions, research, explore problems, and actively seek answers. Teachers act as facilitators encouraging curiosity and discussion. This model helps students understand not just what something is, but why it matters and how it connects to the world around them.

Through inquiry based learning models students have opportunities to discuss, collaborate, present and reflect, undertake independent inquiry, apply skills to problem solving and real life projects. For example, defining a real-world problem such as reducing waste in school. Through guided questioning, they research the issue using a range of sources, gathering data and evaluating different perspectives. Students then collaborate in small groups to discuss and develop possible solutions, refining their ideas based on peer feedback and teacher conferencing.

As part of the inquiry, students present their findings and proposed solutions to an audience, such as peers or their families. This process encourages clear communication, confidence, and leadership. Following the presentation, students reflect on their learning journey, considering both the effectiveness of their solution and the skills they developed, including problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration.

This approach encourages students to take ownership of their learning and pursue questions that align with their interests, applying skills to real-life projects, demonstrating leadership by proposing actionable changes and evaluating the impact of their work, thereby connecting classroom learning to meaningful, real-world outcomes.

Rote learning, by contrast, requires students to recall facts, definitions, or procedures with limited emphasis on understanding or application. Learning is typically teacher-directed, with students working individually to memorise content for tests or assessments. While rote learning can be useful for building foundational knowledge (such as times tables or vocabulary), it rarely encourages deep thinking, creativity, or meaningful connections to real-life contexts.

Also Read: Case in Point: How AI and Operational Leadership Close the Learning Gap

Inquiry based learning strengthens a diverse curriculum, spotlights leadership skills, provides opportunities for deeper learning, inspires pride and leadership and champions children’s interests. One major advantage of inquiry-based learning is engagement. When students investigate topics that spark their interest, learning becomes more meaningful and memorable. It also builds essential skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and communication, skills that rote learning rarely emphasises. Students learn to think independently, evaluate evidence, and reflect on their learning.

This does not mean rote learning has no place in education. Basic knowledge and foundational skills are still important. However, when memorisation is balanced with inquiry, students gain both knowledge and understanding. The shift from rote to inquiry-based models represents a move toward education that values thinking over repetition and learning over testing.

In embracing inquiry-based learning, schools help students become lifelong learners—curious, confident, and ready to navigate an ever-changing world.

Views expressed by Emma Navin, Head of Junior, St Georges British International School, Rome

The Future of Learning in the Era of AI

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digitalLEARNING Network

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January 21, 2026

In 2015, I visited a rural school where a teacher armed with only a chalkboard and relentless determination, taught a class of 70 students. She told me, “I just wish I could give each child the attention they deserve”. A decade later, her wish is no longer impossible. Artificial intelligence has finally given us the tools to deliver personalised learning at scale whether in primary classrooms, university lecture halls, or corporate training centers.

Today, we stand at a defining moment in the evolution of education. AI is not merely enhancing learning; it is fundamentally reshaping how knowledge is created, delivered, and applied. And while headlines often question whether AI will replace humans, the deeper story is about how humans and AI will learn and grow together.

Personalisation at Scale: The New Learning Standard

For decades, educators and corporate trainers have imagined truly personalized learning pathways. But doing that manually across diverse classrooms or large, distributed workforces was nearly impossible. AI has finally made it achievable.

Adaptive learning systems powered by machine learning can now analyze thousands of data points per learner mastery levels, engagement patterns, assessment performance and tailor content in real time. A 2024 HolonIQ report confirms this shift: 38% of global EdTech investment now goes into AI-driven personalisation, and 30% of education institutions have already deployed an AI solution, with another 35% actively running pilots.

In K-12 education, this means students no longer move through the curriculum at the same pace. Instead, AI tutors can break down concepts, provide instant feedback, and offer remediation precisely when and where it’s needed. For higher education, AI-driven diagnostics help faculty identify struggling learners weeks before traditional assessments would have surfaced issues.

And in the corporate world, where upskilling cycles are shrinking from years to months, AI helps employees map career paths, identify skills gaps, and receive curated microlearning content that fits their growth trajectory.

Personalization is no longer a premium feature; it is the new baseline expectation of the next generation of learners.

From Information Consumption to Human Capability Building

AI’s real power lies not in giving learners answers, but in freeing humans to focus on the capabilities that machines cannot easily replicate: creativity, empathy, critical thinking, problem-solving, and sense-making.

A 2023 World Economic Forum survey found that 44% of workers’ skills will be disrupted within five years, driven largely by the rise of AI. However, employers increasingly value hybrid human-AI skills where human judgment is augmented by machine intelligence. This shift is forcing education systems to go beyond content mastery and cultivate “AI-age fluency.”

In schools, this means project-based learning, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and AI-assisted research. In universities, it means integrating AI literacy across disciplines from engineering to humanities. And in the corporate landscape, it means moving from compliance-based training to experiential learning that builds innovation mindsets.

The question is no longer: “What do learners know?”
The real question is: “What can learners do with what they know—especially in partnership with AI?”

A New Era for Teachers and Trainers, Not a Replacement

Whenever I work with educators, one concern surfaces quickly: “Will AI replace us?” The answer is a confident no, but the role will evolve.

AI takes over administrative load, grading, scheduling, assessment analytics—giving educators what they’ve always asked for: more time to teach, mentor, and inspire. A McKinsey analysis suggests AI could reduce teacher administrative work by up to 40%, allowing them to focus on high-value human interactions.

Teachers become learning architects.
Professors become innovation coaches.
Corporate trainers become capability strategists.

AI doesn’t diminish the value of educators—
it amplifies it.

Learning Will Become More Continuous, More Mobile, and More Human

Across all sectors, learning is shifting from episodic (“take a course once a year”) to continuous (“learn while working, doing, exploring”). AI enables:

Microlearning that adapts to daily workflow
Real-time skills assessments and nudges
Contextual learning embedded into tools employees use
On-demand mentoring via conversational AI

Picture this future:
A school student gets math help at 8 PM from a personalized AI tutor.
A university student partners with an AI assistant to analyze complex datasets.
A corporate employee receives a timely learning nudge right before meeting a client.

This isn’t tomorrow’s prediction. It’s today’s reality.

Learning is evolving into a living, breathing ecosystem—intelligent, responsive, and seamlessly woven into everyday life.

Also Read: India’s New Path to Global Universities

Equity, Ethics, and Access: The Responsibility Ahead

The promise of AI in learning is extraordinary—but it comes with responsibility.

To realize AI’s full promise, we must ensure

Equitable access so students in rural areas benefit as much as those in urban centers.
Ethical frameworks that protect student data and privacy.
Transparency in how AI makes recommendations and assessments.
Teacher and workforce training to ensure humans stay in control of decision-making.

If we fall short, AI risks widening educational gaps. But if we get this right, AI could become the greatest equalizer in the history of learning.

The Future is a Human-AI Learning Partnership

The future of learning isn’t about replacing humans with algorithms. It’s about combining the strengths of both. AI will power the scale, speed, and personalization we once thought impossible and humans will bring empathy, judgment, creativity, and context.

Across schools, universities, and workplaces, this Human–AI partnership is redefining what learning can be. Students receive support the moment they need it. Faculty spot challenges long before grades reveal them. Employees discover personalized growth paths aligned with their ambitions and the company’s future.

When I think back to that teacher in a crowded classroom, overwhelmed by the needs of 40 students at once, I realize something: the challenge she faced for years is finally solvable. Not by AI alone, but by AI working with her — amplifying her abilities, not replacing them.

AI is not the future of learning.
AI and humanity together are.

And that future has already begun.

Views expressed by Anand Prakash, Co-Founder, Calibr

IIT Dharwad Secures ₹18 Crore for Defence Technology Centre of Excellence

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January 20, 2026

The Indian Institute of Technology Dharwad has secured ₹18 crore to establish a Strategic Centre of Excellence in Defence Technology and Industry 5.0, strengthening India’s push towards deep-tech research and indigenous innovation in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India (Defence).

The Centre will focus on next-generation defence systems, advanced manufacturing, human–machine collaboration, and AI-driven cyber-physical technologies. Anchored at the dhaRti Foundation Research Park, it will bring together academia, defence PSUs, MSMEs, startups, system integrators, and global OEMs to accelerate TRL-driven research, prototyping, and deployment.

In this regard, Prof. Venkappayya R. Desai, Director, IIT Dharwad; Rakshit Kalyani, COO, dhaRti Foundation; and Prof. Somashekara M A, Associate Dean (R&D External), met Priyank M Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for IT, BT and Electronics, Government of Karnataka, to discuss the Centre’s roadmap.

Also Read: Chhattisgarh’s AI-Powered Education Platform Earns National Recognition as Governance Model

The Centre will be rolled out in phases under the oversight of the Karnataka IT, BT and Electronics Department and the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society, positioning North Karnataka as a key defence and deep-tech innovation hub.

India’s New Path to Global Universities

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January 19, 2026

The Duolingo English Test has seen rapid and sustained growth over the past few years, reflecting a broader shift in how students and institutions approach English proficiency assessment. Today, the test is accepted by over 6,000 institutions worldwide, more than doubling its acceptance since 2020, shared Tara Kapur, India Market Lead, Duolingo English Test in an exclusive interview with Kaanchi Chawla of Elets News Network (ENN). Edited excerpts:

What emerging patterns are you seeing in program selection and career-driven decision making among students?

India’s outbound education ambitions continue to accelerate and we’re seeing this reflected clearly in how students plan their academic and career journeys. As more Indian students pursue international education across markets such as the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe, demand for English proficiency testing has grown in parallel. India is one of the largest markets for the Duolingo English Test, underscoring both the scale of aspiration and the need for more accessible pathways.

From a program perspective, students are largely focused on graduate education, with business, computer science, mathematics and engineering among the most sought-after fields. While States such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat continue to be study abroad hubs, the DET has been taken from over 4500 unique locations in India, including remote towns, indicating that interest is no longer confined to a few urban centres but spread across the country.

More importantly, students today are far more intentional about how education aligns with long-term career outcomes. Program selection is increasingly shaped by employability, skill relevance and future resilience. Destination preferences are also evolving. While traditional markets like the United States and Canada continue to attract strong interest, students are expanding their consideration set to include countries such as Germany, Japan and Ireland. These destinations are being evaluated not just on academic reputation but on practical factors such as cost efficiency, visa clarity and post-study work opportunities. This reflects a more informed, research-led mindset, where students are balancing aspiration with return on investment rather than relying solely on legacy perceptions.

What are your expectations for 2026 in terms of student mobility, overall demand, and destination stability?

The demand for international education is expected to remain resilient in 2026, even amid evolving geopolitical and policy landscapes. Indian students will continue to be one of the largest and most influential cohorts globally, driven by strong demographic momentum and sustained aspirations for international education. With over 1.8 million Indian students already studying abroad, the intent to pursue overseas education remains firmly intact.

Student behaviour is also becoming more pragmatic and adaptive. While traditional destinations such as the United States and Canada are expected to continue attracting the highest volumes of Indian students, growth is likely to be steadier rather than accelerated. The United Kingdom and Australia should see stable demand, while Europe and parts of Asia are gaining traction as complementary options rather than replacements. Students are increasingly diversifying their choices to manage risk, cost and policy uncertainty. This shift points to a more balanced and sustainable global education ecosystem in 2026, one where flexibility, transparency and accessibility will play a critical role in sustaining mobility, even in a more constrained macro environment.

How has the Duolingo English Test grown in recent years, and what does its acceptance by over 6,000 institutions signal about changing admissions practices?

The Duolingo English Test has seen rapid and sustained growth over the past few years, reflecting a broader shift in how students and institutions approach English proficiency assessment. Today, the test is accepted by over 6,000 institutions worldwide, more than doubling its acceptance since 2020. This includes all eight Ivy League universities and all 15 members of Canada’s U15 for undergraduate studies.

The test is trusted by over 3 million test-takers globally and has been taken across 70,000 locations in more than 230 countries and territories, underscoring its global reach. More than half of these students are using the test for undergraduate admissions while nearly a third are certifying their English proficiency for graduate studies. In the United States alone, the Duolingo English Test is accepted by over 4000 institutions, including a significant number of top-ranked universities, with graduate-level acceptance continuing to grow across disciplines such as engineering, business and the sciences.

Beyond scale, this growth signals a meaningful change in admissions philosophy. Historically, English testing has often been limited by access to physical test centres, high costs and logistical barriers, challenges that disproportionately affect students outside major cities. The Duolingo English Test was developed to address these gaps by offering a secure, digital-first assessment that expands access without compromising academic rigour. In India, adoption continues to grow not just in metros but across smaller towns, improving access for students in remote and underserved regions.

This shift is also being driven by student preferences. Globally In 2025, one in five international applicants to US universities applied with Duolingo English Test scores, highlighting growing demand for testing options that are faster, more affordable and aligned with how today’s students live and learn. As universities increasingly prioritise accessibility, fairness and security in admissions, the expanding acceptance of the Duolingo English Test reflects growing confidence in technology-enabled assessments as a credible and inclusive alternative to legacy testing models.

Acceptance numbers:

North America : 4300+
Europe : 800+
Asia : 600+
Australia: 200+
South America: 110+
Africa : 40+

How is growing comfort with digital and accessible testing influencing the adoption of online English proficiency tests, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities?

For many students outside major urban centres, traditional English proficiency testing has long been constrained by geography, cost and access. Centre-based exams often require students to travel long distances, incur additional expenses for transport and accommodation and spend time away from academic preparation. These barriers are structural in nature and often unrelated to a student’s actual ability or readiness.

Digital-first assessments like the Duolingo English Test are helping dismantle these limitations. The ability to take a test from home, receive results quickly and retake the exam without significant logistical burden is particularly impactful for students in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Cost also plays a critical role. Compared to traditional exams, digital tests reduce not only the exam fee but also hidden costs associated with travel, lodging and missed study time making the overall process far more affordable.

Beyond convenience and cost, digital testing also helps reduce test-related anxiety, an important factor in high-stakes assessments. Studies comparing the Duolingo English Test with traditional exams show significantly lower anxiety levels among test takers, which can meaningfully influence performance. Together, these factors are expanding access and enabling a broader, more representative pool of students to participate in global education pathways.

In fact, research conducted by The Quantum Hub further shows that technology-enabled assessments can strengthen India’s testing ecosystem by removing long-standing barriers, improving accessibility, lowering costs and enhancing security. Models such as the Duolingo English Test demonstrate how next-generation testing can align with modern requirements while supporting Indian talent in pursuing global academic opportunities.

Also Read: From Apps to AI: Why Interaction Design Is the Future of Technology Careers

What are your plans to further expand DET’s reach and institutional partnerships in the coming year?

Over the coming year, the focus is not just on scale but on depth; building sustained awareness and engagement among students, counsellors and institutions, particularly beyond metro centres where access gaps are most pronounced.

On the institutional side, the acceptance milestones achieved over the past year provide a strong foundation. The priority now is to continue expanding global recognition while working more closely with universities to ensure testing innovation aligns with evolving admissions requirements. Partnerships will play a central role in this effort, helping create clearer, more inclusive pathways for students planning to study abroad.

In India, this includes continued collaboration with study-abroad counsellors and education partners to increase awareness and access to global opportunities. Partners such as Leap, TCY and Canam support students with structured practice material through their test prep products, live coaching and personalised feedback, making the admissions journey more navigable. This year also saw the launch of the DETermined scholarship, in partnership with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, aimed at supporting Indian women pursuing STEM education overseas. Additionally, we entered into strategic partnerships with the Neeraj Chopra Classic and the Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series to engage students through relatable role models and local-language content, making outreach more accessible and relevant to learners across India

The focus on reach is supported by a dedicated on-ground team driving outreach, partnerships and student engagement across regions. Collaborations with youth organisations such as AIESEC, DU Beat and Under25, are helping extend awareness beyond traditional channels. Market investments, including targeted campaigns and initiatives reflect a long-term commitment to India, not only as a growth market, but as a core part of the broader mission to make high-quality global education more accessible, fair and inclusive.

Chhattisgarh’s AI-Powered Education Platform Earns National Recognition as Governance Model

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January 19, 2026

The IIT Bhilai Innovation and Technology Foundation has recognized Chhattisgarh’s Vidya Samiksha Kendra as a national benchmark for digital education governance, positioning the state’s technology-driven platform as a scalable framework for educational administration across India.

The VSK operates as a centralized real-time monitoring system enabling data-driven decision-making across one of the country’s largest public education networks. Chhattisgarh manages over 48,500 government schools serving 3.9 million students with 180,000 teaching and non-teaching staff.

Implemented by the School Education Department under the Department of Good Governance and Convergence, the platform addresses longstanding challenges including fragmented data systems, delayed administrative responses, and inefficient monitoring by delivering accurate, actionable insights in real time.

The system integrates essential databases including UDISE, HRMIS, PM POSHAN, PGI, APAAR ID, Aadhaar, and GIS mapping into a unified ecosystem. This integration enables continuous tracking of school infrastructure, teacher deployment, student attendance, learning outcomes, and welfare scheme implementation.

VSK employs artificial intelligence-based analytics and predictive models to identify potential student dropouts and learning gaps early, aligning with National Education Policy 2020 goals of promoting equitable, inclusive, and quality education.

Since implementation, the platform has generated APAAR IDs for approximately 87% of students and completed Aadhaar verification for around 89% of the student population. The system’s barcode tracking of 21.3 million textbooks has resulted in savings of ₹50 crore through enhanced efficiency and reduced leakages.

Also Read: Azim Premji University Announces Third Campus in Ranchi Spanning 150 Acres

A dedicated Command and Control Centre and active Call Centre support the platform, enabling grievance redressal, data verification, field-level feedback, and sustained stakeholder engagement. These mechanisms have strengthened trust, responsiveness, and participation between administration and citizens.

IBITF, a Technology Innovation Hub under India’s NM-ICPS Mission, highlighted that VSK represents more than just a technological platform but serves as a catalyst for institutionalizing a data-driven governance culture. The recognition positions Chhattisgarh among India’s leading states in citizen-centric digital infrastructure and governance.

From Apps to AI: Why Interaction Design Is the Future of Technology Careers

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January 19, 2026

The history of computing is often told as a history of hardware, narrating the journey from the room-sized mainframes of the 1950s to the smartphone in your pocket. However, ‘interaction’ lies at the heart of this story of technological adoption. We evolved from punch cards and command lines to graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and touchscreens, removing a barrier with every single step. But for too long, this progress has been isolated from the natural world.

Today, we stand at the dawn of a new era. The omnipresence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and spatial computing is transforming the future of an interaction designer. A paradigm shift from Human-Centred Design to Life-Centred Design is redefining how interaction designers operate. Designing user-friendly apps no longer suffices. Interaction designers must become a vital bridge between technology, humanity and the living planet.

The Bridge Between Life and Technology

The interaction designer’s main job now is to keep life at the centre of the machine. As designers, we act as translators not just for what humans want, but for what the environment needs.

Our goal is to build technology that understands the real world, including nature. This requires moving beyond conventional ‘user personas’ to also consider ‘planetary personas’, prompting us to ask: What ecological cost does every digital action carry? By focusing on Life-Centred Design, we ensure technology integrates into the existing ecosystem rather than forcing the planet to fit into our digital lives. Ignoring the environmental impact of our choices is no longer an option; it’s an imperative.

Leaving Behind the Machine Age

There is a problem, though. While our technology is futuristic, our work practices often remain stuck in the past. We still use ‘Machine Age’ methods like linear assembly lines and factory thinking to build systems that should be alive and changing.

To keep pace with the evolving technological space and thrive in today’s dynamic workplaces, we must better define our priorities and identify what we need to learn. We must move from ‘engineering’ experiences to ‘gardening’ them. We must cultivate digital spaces that live in harmony with nature. Future designers will not just know software; they will understand systems and ethics. They must learn to design for AI with the same care they would give to a living forest, embracing the unknown rather than fearing it.

Nature as the Interface

This shift is clearest in ‘inter-faceless design’. The idea is simple: The best interface is one you don’t even see.

In the future, the park or the forest becomes the interface. With spatial computing, we can add digital layers to the world without covering it up. Imagine technology that helps you name a bird just by looking at it, keeping your eyes on nature instead of a screen. This is ‘ambient intelligence’. It implies a respect for the natural world. The interaction becomes so natural, using voice or gestures, that the tech fades away, leaving only the connection between life forms.

Protecting Our World

A huge part of this job is to protect our connection to the physical world. We call this Conscious Design.

Designers must be guardians. We must make sure technology doesn’t intrude on nature. Systems should know when to be quiet, such as silencing alerts in a forest or dimming screens at sunset, to respect the day’s rhythm. The aim is to stop us from being overwhelmed and to encourage us to consume responsibly. Technology should deepen our connection to the Earth, not cut it off.

Also Read: Education 2026: Driving Innovation & Digital Transformation

Equity and Inclusion for All Life

As technology becomes increasingly invisible, we must be cautious. In a life-centred view, fairness extends to nature, too. We call this ‘bio-inclusion’.

We must ensure that our ‘invisible’ interfaces don’t rely on visible pollution elsewhere. Redefining inclusion means recognising that accessibility is not just about us; it’s about those most vulnerable to climate change. Designers must ensure that the data feeding AI is not biased or destructive. The future demands more inclusivity, not just for those who are tech-savvy but also for those who are still trying to catch up. The exploitation of natural resources must also stop.

Embracing New Possibilities

Finally, we need to change the way we view or perceive technology. We often fear it because we look at it through the lens of old jobs and industrial habits.

Instead, we should see AI as a tool to help us regenerate the world. It can help us model climate solutions and use energy better. This will create new careers we can barely name yet, like ecological designers or environmental curators.

We need to let go of our old certainties and embrace the unknown. We are not just building apps anymore. We are designing the invisible threads that connect the human spirit to the living planet.

Views expressed by Prof Vijay Sekhon, Associate Professor and Lead, Interaction Design, School of Design, Anant National University

Case in Point: How AI and Operational Leadership Close the Learning Gap

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January 19, 2026

Organizations are investing heavily in learning platforms, content libraries, and AI-enabled tools. Yet engagement collapses, impact fades, and leadership quietly questions return on investment. The failure is not vision or technology. It is execution. Without operational leadership and systemic agility, lifelong learning cannot deliver measurable value.

The Learning Gap

Consider a familiar scenario. An organization launches a state of the art learning platform with world class content and flawless technology. The rollout is celebrated internally.

Six months later, the engagement collapsed. Managers struggle to articulate why the platform matters. Learners cannot connect programs to their daily work. Leadership begins to question whether another major investment has failed.

Across industries, continuous learning is no longer optional. Skills decay faster than ever. Corporate learning budgets continue to rise. Upskilling and reskilling remain permanent fixtures on executive agendas.

Yet outcomes remain weak. Completion rates plateau. Skills gaps persist. The link between learning and performance remains fragile.

The uncomfortable reality is simple. The problem is not what organizations are learning. It is how learning is being run.

Most organizations invest in tools while neglecting to build the operational engine required to make them work. Future ready learning depends less on platforms and more on execution discipline.

The Execution Gap

Adult learning systems are inherently complex. They sit at the intersection of education, workforce strategy, and technology, and must respond to shifting skill demands, diverse learner profiles, and executive pressure for measurable return.

This complexity often produces fragmentation. Learning strategies are designed separately from business priorities. Engagement data sits in one system, performance data in another. Programs launch with momentum, then lose relevance as priorities shift.

Research from McKinsey & Company shows that nearly 70 percent of organizational transformations fail due to execution breakdowns rather than flawed strategy. The same pattern appears in corporate learning. Platforms are deployed but underused; even well designed programs struggle to gain adoption. Skills frameworks remain conceptual, never embedded into roles, workforce planning, or promotion decisions.

The failure is rarely the platform. It is the operating model surrounding it.

Operational Leadership: The Strategic Engine

Operational leadership is a strategic capability. It converts learning intent into sustained, measurable impact.

In operationally mature organizations, learning operates through a clear decision flow:

Business strategy defines priority capabilities.
Workforce data identifies current and future skill gaps.
Learning pathways are designed against real performance outcomes.
AI and analytics monitor adoption, skill application, and impact.
Leadership reallocates resources based on evidence, not intuition.

Strong learning operations align programs with workforce planning cycles, performance management, and talent mobility. They establish governance that enables iteration rather than freezing programs in static designs, and remove friction from the learner experience.

The World Economic Forum emphasizes that effective lifelong learning systems must be flexible, demand driven, and directly linked to labor market signals. Operational leadership is what makes that linkage real.

Systemic Agility: Beyond Faster Content Updates

Agility is often narrowly equated with faster content production, but true systemic agility is broader and more demanding.

Systemically agile learning systems adapt continuously based on real time feedback from learners, managers, and the labor market.

Pathways are modular rather than linear. Programs pivot based on demand signals. Resources flow toward interventions that demonstrate impact. Technology enables experimentation rather than locking organizations into rigid catalogs.

UNESCO argues that education systems must be designed for constant disruption. In corporate learning, this requires governance models that allow change without reauthorization cycles that lag reality.

From Learning Data to Decisions: Where AI Actually Matters

Learning functions generate enormous volumes of data, yet most organizations remain data rich and insight poor.

AI’s value is not automation alone. Its value lies in decision leverage.

AI enables leaders to move beyond completion metrics toward evidence of skill application, performance correlation, and capability risk. It identifies which learning investments drive results, which stall, and which should be stopped.

Operationally mature systems use AI to answer leadership questions that previously relied on instinct:

Which capabilities are becoming mission critical?
Where are skills decaying fastest?
Which programs improve performance, not just engagement?
Where should resources be reallocated next quarter?

The OECD highlights that adult learning only creates economic value when data aligns learning investments with workforce needs. AI accelerates that alignment. Leadership mindset determines whether it is used.

Also Read: Leadership in International Schools: Adaptive Change Leaders in a World of On-going Disruption

Centering the Human Reality

Adult learners are professionals with limited time, cognitive load, and competing priorities. Friction is not neutral. It actively drives disengagement.

Operational excellence in learning is inherently human centric. Clear pathways replace ambiguity. Programs respect autonomy and relevance. Learning is embedded into work rather than layered on top of it.

Research from Harvard Graduate School of Education confirms that adult learning is most effective when designed around lived professional reality rather than abstract curriculum models. Operations translate that insight into practice.

The Way Forward

Effective lifelong learning is built, not launched.

Organizations that succeed will elevate learning operations to a strategic function. They will invest in adaptive governance, embed learning into workforce planning, and use AI to inform leadership decisions rather than decorate dashboards.

The real question is no longer whether to invest in learning. It is whether leaders are willing to be accountable for the operating models that determine whether learning ever turns into performance.

Views expressed by Gihan ElGendy, Head of Business Operations, Saudi Arabia

Azim Premji University Announces Third Campus in Ranchi Spanning 150 Acres

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January 17, 2026

Azim Premji University unveiled plans for its third and largest campus, a 150-acre residential facility in Ranchi’s Itki area, marking a significant expansion into eastern India’s higher education landscape.

Academic operations will commence in July 2026, initially offering two master’s programs in Applied Economics and Development, along with postgraduate diplomas in Local Development, Early Childhood Education, and Educational Assessment. The university will also launch multiple certificate programs in public health, education, and development fields.

Zulfiquar Haider, designated vice-chancellor for the Ranchi campus, emphasized the institution’s focus on addressing regional social and developmental needs while building knowledge and human resources. He highlighted plans to engage meaningfully with Jharkhand’s diverse communities, including indigenous Adivasi populations, respecting their traditions and knowledge systems.

The fully residential campus will feature modern classrooms, laboratories, sports facilities, and housing for students and faculty. Future plans include establishing a teaching hospital and medical college as part of the facility.

Infrastructure development incorporates sustainable design elements including rainwater harvesting systems, water treatment facilities, energy-efficient technologies, and landscaping using native plant species. Construction of the first phase is scheduled for completion by July 2026.

Also Read: Emversity Raises $30 Million in Series A Funding Led by Premji Invest

The Ranchi campus will eventually offer comprehensive programs across multiple disciplines including development studies, education, economics, public health, climate change, and sustainability. Programs are specifically designed to reflect the developmental context of Jharkhand and eastern India, supported by faculty with strong academic credentials and field experience.

The Azim Premji Foundation established all three university campuses as fully philanthropic entities with a social mission to contribute toward building a just, equitable, and sustainable society through education, research, and practice.

Emversity Raises $30 Million in Series A Funding Led by Premji Invest

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digitalLEARNING Network

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January 16, 2026

Edtech and skilling platform Emversity has raised $30 million (around ₹271 crore) in a Series A funding round led by Premji Invest, with participation from Lightspeed India and Z47.

The fresh capital will be used to strengthen Emversity’s academic and industry partnerships, expand its technology platform, scale learner acquisition, and launch new programmes aligned with high-demand global job roles. The company is focused on building career-linked education pathways that combine academic rigour with real-world industry exposure.

With this round, Emversity plans to accelerate investments across curriculum development, faculty expansion, learner support systems, and international collaborations. The startup is also expected to deepen its employer network to improve placement outcomes and workforce readiness.

The participation of marquee investors reflects growing confidence in outcome-driven education models as India’s demand for skilled professionals rises across healthcare, technology, and emerging industries.

Also Read: NBEMS Launches Free AI Course for Medical Professionals Nationwide

The funding comes at a time when India’s higher education and skilling ecosystem is witnessing strong investor interest, driven by demographic growth, digital adoption, and the need for industry-integrated learning platforms.

Emversity said the new capital will support its long-term vision of building a global education platform focused on employability, access, and measurable learner success.

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