Academicians enlightened on role of education

Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 5 (EMN): Academicians and faculty from various educational institutions in Kohima were enlightened about the role of education in preparing the students to meet the challenges during a symposium on ‘Faculty Development Programme’ (FDB) organised by the Kaziranga University at Hotel De Oriental Grand, Kohima, on March 5.

Speaking on ‘Employability oriented education,’ Dr. PG Ramesh, professor of Mechanical Engineering and dean of School of Engineering and Technology, Centres of Excellence, Skill Development and New Initiative of Kaziranga University, said the purpose of education is to foster human values and life skills for gainful employment and responsible community living.

Explaining that employability oriented education means futuristic education, Dr. Ramesh questioned whether the education system is meeting the demand of industry and the future. The professor also stated that futuristic education needs a paradigm shift from core domains to inter-disciplinary domain for comprehending multi-learning and skills.

He added that education is shifting from instructional education to explorative education and from knowledge (what to know) to skills (what can you do). Also stating that university centric education is shifting to industry collaborated education, he said “we cannot afford to let out students be intimidated with what they see in future”.

While advocating change in education methodologies, he stated that interactions with students would make them easier to learn. He also observed that education needs to be competitive but also have a collaborative approach in learning.

Expectations of employability oriented education, according to him, are affordability; quality; transformational- curriculum in education; English language skills; student mentoring; preparation for competitive exams; short training programme; foreign language training. He further stated that education should provide opportunity to create a future for the students. He added that in the future course of education, teachers would no longer teach but be facilitators.

Dr. Sajal Saha, Dean of Research and Professors, department of Computer Science, Kaziranga University, while dwelling on technologies of the future, said the internet has become a need today in learning.

Highlighted the realms of learning and advancement in modern era such as artificial intelligence in daily life in varied forms through the use of portable/ wearable/ implantable technologies, he has stressed on adaptability.

Also dwelling on ‘Emerging teaching learning tools,’ he enlightened the participants on various tools that could be used for teaching and learning purposes. Earlier in the introductory note, Booby Roy, a representative from Kaziranga University, stated that the pandemic has been a real challenge adding that although the myth has been reduced, he stated that one cannot say it has gone. In order to meet the challenges and carry forward the country, he suggested the need to equip with the latest and most convenient form of education.