The tenth annual convention of the Higher Education Forum (HEF) enlightened the need for skills and competencies for new generation teachers and innovations in teaching learning processes to improve the quality of higher education for students.
“Equip with the changing trends of technology,, teaching and learning methods in order to deal with new generation students,” claimed Dr AK Sen Gupta, Founder and Convener of Higher Education Forum (HEF). The tenth annual convention of the HEF was held on March 9, 2019 at SIES College of Management Studies (SIESCOMS), Nerul.
Highlighting ways to enhance quality, productivity and perspectives of higher education among both students and teachers, the convention focussed on different methods and ideas for the same. Teachers, principals, founding members, academicians, international educationists, stalwarts of higher education and industry experts expressed their views and plans to improve the education space in India.
‘Interactive learning is the new way forward’ — this phenomenon was discussed extensively during the convention. Rajesh Khajuria, Director SMJV CKSV Institute of Management, Vadodara, said, “Times have changed and we got to equip ourselves with the new advancement of technology. Classroom learning can be made interesting when we use tools like mobile phones, internet or even references of social media which students relate to easily.”
Changing times demand changing methods and techniques, claimed members who attended the conference. Sen Gupta added, “Students are using the internet more than any other tool. Google has become the source for information and teachers can target these digital tools to connect to students.”
The convention witnessed panel discussions which threw light on various topics like engagement, innovation, disruption in higher education institutions; opportunities and challenges, innovation in teachinglearning processes; skills and competencies for new generation teachers for teaching new generation students; and way forward towards improving quality of higher education.
The panelists shared experiences, tips and ideas on how these topics are the basis of education at any level of studies. H Chaturvedi, Director of Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), said, “We got to use life models, experiments, digital presentations, charts, posters and real life references to explain lessons. Students can easily check for information which is printed in the textbooks so we got to give them something more.
For example, we can explain basic concepts like gravitational force using an apple or transformation of energy by showing how water converts to vapour. These simple demonstrations can leave an impact on students and they might be curious to read more about it when they go back home.” Students should be given priority and their interests should be incorporated to change techniques of higher education.
Swapna Koshy, associate professor, said, “Students have innovative ideas and some of these techniques can be used by teachers to teach basic theories. Also, students can form voluntary groups and create presentations, demonstrations, field work, workshops and research to make classroom interactive.”
The conference focussed on new generation students and teachers who are using advanced technology to improve quality of education. NM Kondap, Former Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) University, said, “Both students and teachers can share information with each other about changing trends. This will help create a holistic environment where everyone is aware about the challenges of the new generation.”
