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We would like to understand a few key highlights about Coursera. Many people are aware of it, but for those who are not, how would you explain it? Well, I would first ask them, how are you not aware of it? But that’s on a lighter note. Broadly speaking, if we talk specifically about India, Coursera is one of the world’s largest online education platforms. India is our second-largest market, with close to 32 million learners, surpassing even Europe in terms of learner base. Picking up from our earlier offline conversation, Coursera’s core philosophy is that education should be accessible to everyone, everywhere. Through this platform, we are revolutionizing the way education is delivered in India and globally. Today, we are supporting governments in delivering last-mile connectivity in terms of education and skill-building. In India, we are not only focusing on learners but also on how technology is evolving. Coursera’s India Development Center is at the core of this transformation. We are building in India, for India, and for the world in terms of technology and innovation. What is the purpose of coming to this part of the country? How is it different from the mainland? As I mentioned earlier, India will truly be developed in every possible sense — what we call Viksit Bharat — only when we see a Viksit Northeast as well. For us, being here is about ensuring last-mile connectivity in the northeastern part of India. I am expecting to meet leaders from the government and the public university ecosystem here to understand how we can collaborate and bring Coursera to the citizens and students of the Northeast. How do you see the acceptance of courses taken by institutions or professionals? Is it more inclined toward new-age learning, or are traditional courses also in demand? If I speak specifically about campuses, what we have seen so far is that they are looking at both domain-based learning, which we are strong in, and emerging technology courses. Our edge lies in today’s emerging tech and future-oriented programs. We see both students and teachers taking courses in domain subjects as well as emerging technologies. When we see forums like this bringing together technology partners, startups, academicians, and government representatives, how does such a forum help the community at large? I think you have the whole ecosystem here — that’s how I would put it. You have policymakers who are responsible for influencing and creating policies. Then you have stakeholders from campuses who have been very vocal about what they expect from the government and corporates. When this entire ecosystem comes together in discussion forums and roundtables, they can reflect on different ideas. I personally picked up a few points from what the school education chairperson and others discussed earlier. There are key takeaways for me as well, and I am sure there are valuable takeaways for people from schools, colleges, and policy backgrounds. Such discussions help in exchanging ideas and shaping collaborative action. How does Coursera fit into this model? How do students generally enroll? The re-engagement level on our platform is quite high. Broadly, we operate in two models. One model is direct-to-consumer, where individuals visit the Coursera website, subscribe to courses, start learning, and move ahead in their careers based on their learning goals. The second model involves working closely with campuses, governments, and corporates. In this case, they identify specific skill sets they want to impart to employees, citizens, or students to enhance employability. For campuses, the focus is on strengthening curriculum and enhancing employability. For governments, it is about skilling citizens as well as students in colleges to make them future-ready. If we are looking to create a talent pool driven by AI and other emerging technologies, governments have already started focusing on this. I believe we are at the right place at the right time. A lot of innovation is happening, and we are witnessing significant changes across governments, corporates, and institutions. It was wonderful having you at today’s event. Any final thoughts? Thank you so much for having me here. I must also appreciate ArdorComm Media for organizing phenomenal events across India over the past few years. You bring together diverse groups of people in meaningful forums and help them ideate and exchange best practices. Whether it is through push or pull — I’ll leave that to you — but you are doing a phenomenal job. Congratulations once again.  

We would like to know more about your organisation — the various streams you offer, the student strength, and the USP of the university. Dayananda Sagar University is about 10 years old in Bengaluru, and it is one of the first AI-first universities in India. The objective of the university leadership is to introduce Artificial Intelligence right from academics to administration and in all activities concerning students and faculty. Given the large component of technology and healthcare courses in the university, a lot of interdisciplinary research and application of AI across these streams is currently underway. As we speak, the university team is working very hard to collaborate with NVIDIA and set up a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, perhaps the first of its kind in the country, at our main campus in Bengaluru. Dayananda Sagar University also has several other departments, such as the School of Law, the School of Computer Applications, the School of Health Sciences, and the College of Journalism and Mass Communication, which I head. We believe that along with technology and healthcare advancements, we also need good human beings. Arts and humanities are critical components of education. This is where interdisciplinary research and academic activities help. As the world moves closer towards Artificial Intelligence — almost like a race — at some point we must pause and ask: what is happening to real human qualities such as critical thinking and analysis? Arts and humanities will play a very important role here. A balanced academic approach is what strengthens a university like Dayananda Sagar University. With so many developments in new-age learning, where does teacher training stand? What developments are happening in that area? As a conscious policy at Dayananda Sagar University, we train teachers in an interdisciplinary manner. Teachers who teach technology or healthcare-related subjects must compulsorily include components from the humanities — whether it is soft skills, dealing with patients, interacting with students, managing clients, or working in management streams. They need knowledge of sociology, psychology, and human behaviour. Understanding how to approach human beings and how to pass on thoughts and training is crucial. On the other hand, teachers in humanities also need some technical training. Today, without technology, you cannot even run a classroom or upload notes. So we must strike a balance and bring both sides together midway. In journalism and mass communication, do students see it as a lucrative, polished, or materialistic sector, or are they entering it with a sense of service to society? How is today’s generation approaching it? That’s a very interesting question. I think students who choose media, mass communication, and journalism do so primarily because they are genuinely interested in it. However, what I find lacking is awareness at the school level. Not enough is done in the curriculum to inform students that there are excellent career opportunities in media, digital media, social media, advertising, and public relations. Mass communication is not just journalism; it includes all these allied fields. Students who are aware of these opportunities pursue it as a career option. More than service to society, I think many are excited by the idea of doing something different from their peers. Media and entertainment today are among the largest sectors globally in terms of turnover, and technology is transforming this space significantly, creating more opportunities. So awareness must be built at the school level to encourage more students to voluntarily take it up and excel. In forums like this, where corporates, government entities, and academicians come together, how do such platforms help the larger community? This is a fantastic forum because it brings together policymakers, faculty, university leadership, and administrators — at both school and higher education levels. Today, many of us are working in silos. We are not talking enough to each other or exchanging ideas. When we work in isolation, we tend to believe that our way is the best way. Only when we meet others — even competitors — do we learn from their best practices. A platform like this brings together people from diverse backgrounds and helps in the exchange of ideas and thoughts. I believe we need more such summits and conclaves. We are a four-year-old media startup, launched during the COVID era, working pan-India to create such forums. Any message or wishes for us? I think you are doing a fantastic job. Starting during the COVID era and operating without a physical office — with everyone working from their own spaces — is a great business model. It reflects passion and commitment towards the education sector. What stands out is the intent behind your events. These are not merely marketing events; they are platforms that bring thought leaders together to exchange ideas and best practices. That is phenomenal. Unfortunately, many events today are treated more as marketing exercises rather than platforms for idea exchange. In the West, events focus strongly on sharing best practices openly, and that is how countries progress. You are doing a phenomenal job. My best wishes to ArdorComm Media. I am very happy that Dayananda Sagar University is associated with ArdorComm. Last time we met in Bengaluru, we received the award for Best Media Institute. Going forward, we would be happy to continue as partners, depending on management decisions.