Interviews

“We have specialized labs like the maker space, where students can study societal problems and build prototype models,” says Dr. N V Subba Reddy, Pro Vice Chancellor, CMR University, in an interview with Pratik Ghosh, Content Writer, ArdorComm Media at the ‘New Normal – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2023’ #ELSABengaluru #ELSAKarnataka How are you feeling to witness the New Normal Education Leadership Summit and Awards in Bengaluru? Yeah, it is good that you are organizing education leadership summits, which integrate management professionals, academicians, and education leaders in one common platform. They share their experiences and discuss the future roadmap for the development and devising ecosystems to benefit our students. This helps prepare them for becoming the next-generation leaders. In that direction, you are doing a wonderful job, and I am happy for that. How are you implementing technology in your institution? I am representing CMR University in Bangalore, and we focus on enhancing our students’ skills, making them well-educated professionals. We also inculcate various skills that are relevant to the industry and higher studies, preparing them to be global professionals who can tackle future challenges. We have a specialized department called the Department of Common Core Curriculum, where we offer skill-based courses, including design thinking, critical inquiry, business skills, leadership skills, programming skills, behavioural skills, and skills to connect with society. We have specialized labs like the maker space, where students can study societal problems and build prototype models. We start this process from semester one for all students, enhancing their skill sets. Any message for ArdorComm Media Group for recently completing its two years journey? Take it forward, because the ultimate beneficiaries should be the students, the next-generation leaders. They should gain confidence, acquire skills, and learn to solve societal problems and tackle future challenges during their campus life. Encourage collaborative work, integration with students, faculty members, and industry professionals. Establish linkages with industry professionals to keep students aware of industry trends and future prospects. Your leadership summit adds value to universities and educational organizations. Keep up the good work, and I welcome your initiatives.

“We aim to mentor the students to develop entrepreneurial talent,” says Prof. Noor Afza, Prof. & Chairperson, Dept. of Studies & Research in Business Administration, Tumkur University, in an interview with Pratik Ghosh, Content Writer, ArdorComm Media at the ‘New Normal – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2023’ #ELSABengaluru #ELSAKarnataka How are you feeling to witness the New Normal Education Leadership Summit and Awards in Bengaluru? I entered here, and I saw the kind of leadership and the way they had organized the systematic way. The kind of feeling that I got is totally different. Here, it is a place where we have created a platform to meet different leaders from schools, colleges, and as well as from the industry. So, there is a blend of all the people, a blend of different ideas and thoughts. It gave a very different feeling for me. Could you provide some background information about your institution and elaborate on the steps you’ve taken under your leadership? I’m a professor, and chairperson of the MBA department at Tumkur University, situated in a place called Tumkur, 70 kilometers from Bangalore. Tumkur University is a State University, and we have 23 departments. This University provides quality education to rural masses because the students we get are from rural areas. We leave no stone unturned to provide them with quality education, focusing on employability. In my MBA Department, we give skill-oriented training, nurture students with experiential learning, and build their confidence to help them secure dream jobs in companies. Does your University also emphasize entrepreneurship? Yes, entrepreneurship is one of the very, very important parts of our curriculum. We provide training as the student enters the department. We start providing training in entrepreneurial skills, and we have an incubation centre. In this centre, we nurture the ideas among the students. We have tie-ups with various institutions, organizations, as well as government offices like CAVES, the KSFC, DIC, etc. We invite these people to our campus, and they come to train our students and conduct workshops for them. We aim to mentor the students to develop entrepreneurial talent. We also have a unique program where we conduct an “Entrepreneurial Week” within the department and campus. During this week, students are completely immersed in entrepreneurial activities. They set up their own offices, engage in business activities, and then share their learning experiences with us. The aim of this initiative is to ensure that at least a few students get the idea that entrepreneurship is not just a risky and challenging path but also one where they can become job providers rather than job seekers. We want to convey to them that they can become successful entrepreneurs and even the wealthiest individuals in the country, as entrepreneurs often are. In this way, we motivate students, especially those coming from rural areas who may have preconceived notions that money is a constraint. Many of our students have gone on to become very successful entrepreneurs through this program. How do forums like this benefit the education sector? These forums are crucial. In today’s world, with technological advancement, they provide a platform to develop students and integrate technology into education. Collaboration with organizations like yours can offer technological support and bridge the gap between academia and industry, helping us meet the changing expectations and grooming our younger generations. ArdorComm Media Group has recently completed two years of its existence, any message or wishes for us? Just two years, and you’ve done a wonderful job. In the days to come, I wish ArdorComm Media Group continuous growth and success in reaching every level of education, from primary to university, benefiting every student. Your services are much needed, and I wish you all the best for the wonderful work you are doing, collaborating with schools and higher education and involving industry professionals. Lots and lots of success for the growth of this organization.

“We have incorporated all the necessary domains to prepare students for modern jobs,” says Col. (Prof) Y. S. Siddegowda, Vice Chairman, Karnataka State Higher Education Council, Govt. of Karnataka in an interview with Chandan Anand, CEO & Group Editor, ArdorComm Media Group at the ‘New Normal – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2023’ #ELSABengaluru #ELSAKarnataka What are the takeaways from today’s event? Today’s event has been highly educative, both inside the hall and outside, the posters and other materials disseminate a wide variety of information. Participants and speakers are in a positive mood, eager to contribute their best, which is crucial for improving both primary and higher education. This will better prepare our students to face the challenges of our era. You hold a senior position in the Higher Education Council. Any special reforms you’d like to highlight under your leadership? Every day, we strive to remain relevant to the current context. We are planning and implementing reforms to prepare our students comprehensively. This includes knowledge domain, ability enhancement, skill development, value practice, and a multi-disciplinary approach encompassing STEM and liberal arts. Our focus is on making our students more contextually relevant. What initiatives has the council taken to enhance entrepreneurship among students? We believe in nurturing entrepreneurs rather than just creating executives. Our efforts aim to empower students to create employment opportunities. Recent startup developments in Bangalore and Karnataka are testament to our efforts. Can you share some key highlights or reforms expected with the implementation of the State education policy? We have incorporated all the necessary domains to prepare students for modern jobs. The education policy reforms are designed to ensure our students are well-equipped for the evolving job market. How does skill development remain relevant in today’s era? Skills, along with knowledge and values, are crucial. We are working towards shaping students’ overall personalities. The theme of our event is “New Normal Karnataka”. What does the term “New Normal” signify to you? The “New Normal” represents the stage where we redefine what is considered normal, abnormal, or subnormal based on contemporary society’s standards. It’s about adapting to change, understanding shifts, and aligning with the current context. There’s a diverse audience here today, including education leaders, policy makers, and corporate representatives. Do you have a message for them? My message is that it is the VUCA world, so in a constantly changing world, the ability to create certainty in uncertainty matters the most. Age is not a barrier. As John Milton once said, “The mind is its own place and, in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell or a Hell of Heaven.” We must empower our youth with the knowledge and skills to bring normalcy to society, addressing its challenges and taking our youth to the forefront of development. Any message for ArdorComm Media Group on its 2nd anniversary? Within just two years, you’ve achieved a lot. I’d like to express my gratitude to ArdorComm Media Group. Education, knowledge accumulation, creation, and dissemination are not easy tasks, especially in a country as vast and diverse as India. Your commitment, zeal, and interest in contributing to society are commendable. You are not alone in this endeavour, and your efforts go a long way in imparting the right knowledge to our youth. Congratulations to all of you for your dedication to this noble cause.

“We are shifting from a rote learning system to a more knowledge-oriented system,” says Deepak Agarwal, CEO of Cubs The Preschool & Cubs-Sankalp School, in an interview with Pratik Ghosh, Content Writer, ArdorComm Media at the ‘New Normal – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2023’ #ELSABengaluru #ELSAKarnataka How are you feeling to witness the New Normal Education Leadership Summit and Awards in Bengaluru? When we talk about this platform, no doubt this is an unparalleled platform where the industry, academia, and various collegiate people are collaborating and sharing their views and opinions. So, this is one of the best platforms that we are participating in today. There are a lot of takeaways, no doubt. How we look at it is something that matters, and the best part of this event is we get to know where we stand in terms of our practices, exposure, and opinions. When we listen to people who have come here from various walks of life, there are VCs, there are directors, so definitely, we get to know what we are doing correctly and what we are doing wrongly. So, this is a very good platform for anyone like us to come and participate, share their views, and experience. And the second-best thing is when you organize these kinds of events, it is going to give us an exposure to the best practices across the globe. Not only that, but we are getting solutions through various exhibitors that have come to this event. We just now happened to meet one of the exhibitors by the name Digital Ed, which is primarily focusing on collegiate education, including engineering colleges, but they have customized solutions even for the schooling sector. So, this is where we are able to gain some beautiful experience because of Adam Media. So, thanks for organizing this, and definitely, we are looking forward to more such events. As you know, the theme of our event is “New Normal Karnataka.” What’s your take on this? Definitely, the title goes with it, considering the kind of event happening today. There are a lot of new things happening around us today. The buzzword is AI, artificial intelligence. How we are going to collaborate AI with the education system in India is what matters the most. To share one example, we have a highly regarded and highly ranked institution like IIT Mumbai, but as per world rankings, it stands around 149th. What is making an institution like IIT Mumbai rank lower compared to other universities? It is the use of technology. That’s what we are looking at—the New Normal Karnataka is all about collaborating with technology and using it for the overall growth of the nation. To make that happen, we have to learn and implement these things when it comes to technology and education collaboration. So, this is how we are going to look at it when we talk about New Normal Karnataka. How are you implementing these new-age technologies in your schools? We have started using video conferencing tools to bridge gaps, especially when it comes to teaching subjects like the German language. Being from a tier 3 city, it’s not easy to find a German teacher due to various factors. With video conferencing tools, a teacher from Germany can teach our students the language. We are also planning to implement AI-based platforms for our teachers to help them upgrade themselves, not just in teaching students but also in lesson planning and implementing innovative ideas. We are shifting from a rote learning system to a more knowledge-oriented system. ArdorComm Media Group has recently completed two years of its existence. Any message or wishes for us? I really wish ArdorComm Media the best in the practices. Whatever efforts you people are putting in are definitely going to yield results, not only for you but for the entire industry and ecosystem that you are managing. With your kind of efforts and the way you have set up things today, you are going to lead this market for not just two years but even the next 20 years. I wish you all the very best in this endeavour.