The Union Budget 2022 announcements for the education and skilling sector focuses on expanding reach, improving quality education, building capacity, and strengthening the digital education ecosystem. To brainstorm and discuss ways for effective implementation of initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2022, the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) along with other ministries organized a webinar on Atmanirbharta through the Amrit Mantra of digital education and dynamic skilling. Under the webinar, a session on ‘Digital University: Making World Class Higher Education Accessible for All’was held on February 21, 2022.
The webinar was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and attended by the academicians, government officials and industry experts. The session on ‘Digital University: Making World Class Higher Education Accessible for All’was chaired by Shri. K. Sanjay Murthy, Secretary, Higher Education with Shri. K. Rajaraman, Secretary, DoT being the co-chair. The panelists for the session were Dr. Swati Piramal, Vice Chairperson, Piramal Group, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director IIT Madras and Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman, UGC. The session was moderated by Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE.
Broader aspects of establishing of a digital university including creation of comprehensive EduTech ecosystem in PPP mode, digital platform, content creation, effective digital pedagogy, concurrent and robust faculty training, virtual labs and assessment of digital teaching-learning were deliberated.
The panelists emphasized on the need for Multi-lingual, accessible Learning Management System, creation of engaging, immersive learning experiences, linking peer learners to create strong learning communities and synchronised, experiential learning by blending online education with physical mode (phy-igital).
This university can fill the gaps in faculty development, enrollment in SEDGs, employability enhancing skills, quality learning material in regional languages, formal & non-formal (Recognizing Prior Learning) etc.
University Grants Commission will function as an enabler and not as a watchdog with accountability provisions in reimagining of futuristic teaching learning process w.r.t. Digital education.
Opportunities in India’s current educational landscape with EduTech boom are truly exciting with digital university ecosystem, integration of various GoI’s initiatives such as BharatNet, National Digital Library, National Academic Depository, Academic Bank of Credits, SWAYAM, NEAT & Internships, National Digital Education Architecture and National Education Technology Forum to create an all-inclusive digital teaching-learning ecosystem.
Detailed roadmap and implementation plan for the Digital University such as regulatory framework, identification of Hub and Spoke HEIs, orientation of academic leadership and training for faculty will be worked in the coming times.
A webinar on the implementation of Budget 2022 announcements relating to the education sector was organized on 21st February 2022 which was addressed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Under the webinar, a session was organised on the theme Widening Reach of One Class: One Channel: Reaching Quality Digital Education to the Farthest Corner. The session was chaired by Prof. Nageshwar Rao, Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU, New Delhi and co-chaired by Shri T. P. Singh, Director General, BISAG-N, MeitY, GoI. The discussions were moderated by Prof. Amarendra Prasad Behera, Joint Director, CIET, NCERT, New Delhi.
Prof. Nageshwar Rao in his address as the Chair, emphasized on the importance of developing e-Contents in the mother tongue. Shri T. P. Singh, DG-BISAG-N, while providing an overview of the technical preparations required for starting 200 PM eVidya DTH TV channels. Prof. Amarendra P. Behera, Joint Director, CIET NCERT acted as a moderator of the session. He outlined the journey of 12 PM eVidya channels, which started with the announcement of the PM eVidya program by the Finance Minister on 17th May 2020. As part of this program, the one class one channel initiative for all 12 classes began on 1st September, 2020.
Shri Muralidharan, Chairman, TMI one of the panellists expressed the concern on the heterogeneity of the learners’ group and the need to include various innovations in pedagogy to increase understanding and enhance the learning outcomes. Dr Venkat Rangan, VC, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham highlighted the importance of video tutorials on Online Laboratories. The medium of tele-schooling through the satellite medium of the Edusat network and the techno-managerial aspects were explained by Shri S. H. Rayappa, Associate Director, SATCOM-ISRO. He also spoke about the manner in which GSAT-15 will be used for running 200 channels. Dr T.S. Joshi, Director GCERT, Gujarat presented the successful model of running Vande Gujarat channels.
Other speakers included heads and representatives of various Government and non-Government organisations. The aspects that were highlighted by the speakers included infrastructural set-up, creation of quality e Content in various languages, creation of eContent for DIVYANG and gifted children, the inclusion of e Content on health, psycho-social aspects, fresh approach for pre-vocational and vocational videos including job roles for the service sector, monitoring and advocacy of the channels to generate awareness among learners to maximize the reach. Collaboration and convergence of efforts of various stakeholders were highlighted as the key to facilitating the whole process.
Later in the day, the concluding session of the webinar was held with Dr Subhas Sarkar, MoS, MoE chairing the session. Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MoS, Ministry for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and Information Technology also spoke on the webinar topic giving his perspectives on skill and entrepreneurship.
The pandemic has hampered the growth of the fitness industry, which has put aspiring fitness instructors in a difficult position. Not only that but many fitness centers and gyms faced closures due to prolonged lock-downs. Leading to tougher industry standards and lower employment options. W.I.T.S. Education is a fitness training and education organization that offers hybrid courses for students who want a career in the fitness industry. W.I.T.S. is also affiliated with many employer organizations looking to hire trainers with proper accreditation.
The unique aspect of W.I.T.S. education is that they follow the standards of a higher learning educational format like a college. Meaning their graduates can show their certifications on par or to enhance a college degree. Their hybrid training courses allow the students to train through useful and informative virtual “LIVE” online sessions as well as interactive and practical physical sessions at the fitness center labs. Students also get a chance to complete a 30-hour internship that enhance permanent employment. W.I.T.S. Education provides this opportunity at no additional cost, unlike other similar businesses.
Discussing the current state of the fitness industry and their role in it, a spokesperson from the company stated, “At W.I.T.S. Education, our mission has always been to make fitness training a viable career option for some, and that is why our certifications come with NCCA accreditation. We also ensure that our students receive the best training to kick-start their careers, for that we’ve developed this hybrid system that helps students in pursuing their education in these difficult times and help them get full-time opportunities.”
W.I.T.S Education is always striving to offer the best courses in the industry to prospective fitness trainers. They are also the first institutions to get NCCA accreditation for the course certification in the practical skills. Their interactive training sessions ensure that their students are at the top regarding their skills and job prospects. W.I.T.S. designs its courses so that its graduates are skilled enough to work in diverse fitness industries such as personal trainers, health trainers, and even fitness managers at gyms.
About the Company W.I.T.S. Education is a company that offers certification in all forms of personal training and fitness careers. Their website has a wide variety of courses, including certified health trainer courses, Lifestyle Wellness Coaching, Senior Fitness Specialist, Medical Fitness Specialist, Group Exercise Instructor courses, and fitness management. The company is authorized to work in 39 states in the US. and Canada. They also have the largest university and college networks in the industry. Their online interactive training method produces versatile fitness trainers that can work in different environments.
Contact Information Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldinstructortrainingschools Email: jdelvec@witseducation.com Website: https://www.witseducation.com/
S.F.& Wellness, Inc dba W.I.T.S Jay DelVecchio (888)330-9487
Union Education Minister and Skill Development Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched NEAT 3.0,a single platform to provide the best-developed ed-tech solutions and courses to students of the country. The Minister also launched AICTE prescribed technical books in regional languages.
Launch of technical books in regional languages and distribution of NEAT ed-tech free course coupons. https://t.co/QSqDVTZC1T
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) January 3, 2022
Speaking on the occasion Shri Pradhan said that NEAT will be a game-changer in bridging the digital divide, especially among the economically disadvantaged students and also in fulfilling the knowledge-based requirement of India and the world. The Minister informed that 58 global and Indian start-up ed-tech companies are onboard NEAT and are offering 100 courses & e-resources for bettering learning outcomes, developing employable skills and overcoming learning loss. He hoped that the e-content & resources and Digital frameworks like NEAT are a step in the right direction in minimising learning loss.
The Minister encouraged AICTE to integrate courses in NEAT with skill India to tap the opportunities in emerging areas of skill to boost employability and prepare our youth for the future. He urged that AICTE and ed-tech companies to offer e-resources in the least possible cost. Shri Pradhan complimented the global ed-tech companies and Indian start-ups who are a part of NEAT 3.0. He said that all ed-techs are welcome to work with a collaborative approach for making education accessible & affordable. But, ed-techs must remember that there is no place for monopoly and exploitation, he added.
The Minister expressed his happiness that today, more than 12 lakh socially and economically disadvantaged students have received free ed-tech course coupons worth over ₹253 crore under NEAT 3.0. This is one of the biggest gift to the student community from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the new year 2022, he added. He stated that India will lead the global economy in the 21st century and will be the most preferred market for trade & economy.
On technical books in regional languages, Shri Pradhan said that our diverse languages are our strength and harnessing them key to building an innovative society. He further said that learning in regional languages will further develop the critical thinking capacity & enable our youth to become global citizens.
NEAT:
National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) is an initiative to provide the use of best-developed technological solutions in the education sector to enhance the employability of the youth on a single platform for learners’ convenience. These solutions use Artificial Intelligence for a personalized and customized learning experience for better learning outcomes and skill development in the niche areas. AICTE, MoE is acting as the facilitator in the process while ensuring that the solutions are freely available to a large number of socially and economically backward students. NEAT has 58 Education Technology Companies with 100 products that help to develop employable skills, capacity building, and bridge learning gaps.
Secretary, Higher Education Shri Sanjay Murthy; Chairman, AICTE Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe; Vice Chairman, AICTE, Prof. M P Poonia, Prof. Rajiv Kumar, Member Secretary, AICTE and senior officials of the Ministry were present on the occasion.
The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today called for ‘Indianising’ the education system, based on India’s great wealth of ancient wisdom, knowledge traditions and heritage. Suggesting that the colonial education system has created an inferiority complex and diffidence in people, he called for a value-based transformation in the education system, as envisioned by the National Education Policy 2020. He also emphasised the need for India to emerge as a global hub of innovation, learning and intellectual leadership.
Inaugurating Rishihood University at a function in Delhi, the Vice President recalled that India was once hailed as the Vishwa Guru. “We had great institutions like Nalanda, Takshashila, and Pushpagiri where students from all corners of the world came to learn”, he said and added that India must regain that pre-eminent position.
Recalling that India has had a glorious parampara of holistic education, he called for reviving that tradition and transforming the educational landscape, and urged new universities like Rishihood to take the lead in this regard. Noting that education plays a vital role in the transformation of the nation, he called for taking up education as a ‘mission’.
Stressing the need for all-round improvement on the education front, he said the quality of research, teaching at all levels, rankings by international agencies, employability of graduates and many other aspects of the education system need to be toned up.
The Vice President said the National Education Policy seeks to address various issues and pave the way for India to become a Vishwa Guru once again. He said the NEP is an important milestone in our quest to drastically improve the quality indicators of education.
Describing NEP as a visionary document that can transform the education landscape in India, he said that it can lead to education becoming a holistic, value-based, and happy learning experience. “With emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, research and knowledge production, autonomy to institutions, multilingual education, and many such vital policy measures, we are moving towards a major change in the way education is imparted”, he noted.
Urging every educational institution to implement NEP in letter and spirit, the Vice President recalled the famous words of Swami Vivekananda: “We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one’s own feet”.
Referring to the important role of technology in democratising education and taking learning to the last mile, the Vice President said the untapped potential of the students can be harnessed for the larger good when good education is taken to the last mile.
Shri Naidu urged teachers to inculcate the ability in students to handle difficult situations with equanimity and aplomb. That is what leadership is all about. And for developing such leadership capabilities, we need to draw lessons from our glorious past and the wisdom of rishis”, he added.
Shri Suresh Prabhu, MP and Chancellor of Rishihood University, Dr. Chinmay Pandey, Co-founder Rishihood University and Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Shri Ashok Goel and Shri Motilal Owal, both Co-founders of Rishihood University and others were present.
Following is the full text of the speech:
Namaste,
My friend and parliamentary colleague Suresh Prabhu ji, Dr Chinmay Pandya ji, Motilal Oswal ji, Ashok Goel ji, Ajay Gupta ji, Rakesh Aggarwal ji, the team of Rishihood University, and everyone who has joined us today, my greetings to all of you.
We all know that education plays a critical role in human development, nation-building, and creating a prosperous and sustainable global future. What we have to think about is what kind of education leads to such a future. India stands poised on the cusp of change at a unique inflection point in its long history. The role of youth is going to be paramount in deciding the future of the nation, and the role of education is paramount in deciding the future of youth. What should be the aspiration of youth?
A shloka in the Atharva Veda says:
Bhadram icchhantah rishiyah swar vidayah,
tapo diksha amupanshed agre,
tato raashtram, bala, ojasya jaatam,
tadasmai deva upasannmantu
Roughly translated, the shloka says that a benign wish originated in the minds of ancient seers, the rishis during their tapasya. This benign wish was for Abhyudayam, the welfare and glory of all. The rishis realized this benign wish of the universal wellbeing and that wish has invigorated the consciousness of the Rashtram. That should be the aspiration of youth—to go beyond themselves in the service of society, the nation, and the world.
When Swami Vivekananda gave a clarion call for each of us to become rishis, he motivated us to follow a purpose of life that makes us achieve our full potential. In other words, he exhorted us to pursue an ideal which is larger than ourselves and also leads to universal good—atmano mokshartham jagat hitaya cha.
I am delighted that Rishihood University is founded on these principles and I sincerely hope that through this initiative, we will be able to create rishis of the future. Rishis, who will become leaders in various walks of life, including entrepreneurship, civil society, research, education, science and technology, diplomacy and many others. Rishis who will inspire the rest of society to lead a life that is holistic, meaningful, and fulfilling. I was happy to note the combination of subject areas that Rishihood has chosen, such as entrepreneurship, healthcare, creativity, education, and public leadership, which play a critical role and can lead to the right ecosystem for national development.
While we seek to establish such a model of education, we should look at the current reality of education. We know that there has to be all-round improvement on the education front. For instance, the quality of research, teaching at all levels, rankings by international agencies, employability of our graduates and many other aspects of our education system need to be toned up.
The National Education Policy seeks to address all such issues and pave the way for India to realize its potential in the education sector and become a Vishwa Guru once again. The NEP is an important milestone in our quest to drastically improve the quality indicators of education. It is truly a visionary document that can transform the education landscape in India. It can lead to education becoming a holistic, value-based, and happy learning experience. With emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, research and knowledge production, autonomy to institutions, multi-lingual education, and many such vital policy measures, we are moving towards a major change in the way education is imparted.
Dear sisters and brothers
We need to remember that India has a glorious parampara of holistic education. We need to revive that parampara and I would like new universities like Rishihood to take the lead in this regard. As a matter-of-fact, every educational institution must implement NEP in letter and spirit. As Swami Vivekananda had rightly said and I quote: “We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one’s own feet
Dear sisters and brothers,
I know there are many principals, teachers, and professors present today. I laud your efforts in leaving no stone unturned during the difficult times of the pandemic. Your dedication is inspirational. During this time, we should also look at the important role technology is playing in democratizing education and taking learning to the last mile. The fast adoption of technology in education along with the IT-related revolution in India in the delivery of public services, financial inclusion, and telecom infrastructure has come at a time when our youth are leading in innovation, launching successful start-ups, building unicorns, and contributing to economic growth. When we take good education to the last mile, the untapped potential of the students can be harnessed for the larger good.
As we know, India was once hailed as Vishwa Guru. We had great institutions like Nalanda, Takshashila, and Pushpagiri where students from all corners of the world came to learn. We must regain that intellectual leadership and emerge as a global hub of learning and innovation. When I see the tagline in today’s event of Rebuilding Takshashila, I am imagining how Takshashila would look today. The idea is not to create a building in an ancient form of architecture where students are sitting on the floor and learning something. We must recognize the basic principles which made Takshashila what it was. In Chanakya, who taught at Takshashila, and Chandragupta who was his student, we see the relationship that developed between a guru and his shishya. We see how multi-disciplinary education based on spirituality led to the training of Chandragupta. We see the central role that questions and answers played in pedagogy. This is what ignites curiosity, enhances capacity, and fosters creativity in a student.
Apart from imparting quality education, teachers must also instil a sense of purpose in our youth and inculcate in students the ability to handle difficult situations with equanimity and aplomb. That is what leadership is all about. And for developing such leadership capabilities, we need to draw lessons from our glorious past and the wisdom of rishis. For any country to flourish and develop, it is important to look back to its roots. Bharat’s civilizational wisdom has a crucial role to play when it comes to the grand challenges that the world is facing today. Whether it is a human approach towards the environment, our view of health and wellness, equitable wealth distribution, sustainable development, social cohesiveness, and so on, the direction that our civilizational wisdom and our rishis have provided to us needs to be studied deeply.
I am happy to be inaugurating Rishihood University today which aspires to take up this important nation-building endeavour. I also congratulate all members of the faculty and students at this educational institution.
Contact
