16th Feb, 2016, Delhi: Bennett University held the second session in its ongoing ‘Bennett Brewings’ series on 16 February at Delhi’s Taj Palace Hotel. The speaker at this session was Dr. Anant Agarwal Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT and CEO of edX, an online learning destination founded by Harvard and MIT. He is also a member of Bennett University’s International Advisory Council (or IAC), which is composed of educationists, corporate leaders and creative visionaries. The participants in the session included select invitees from the corporate world including many CXOs and HR Heads of leading NCR based corporates.
In keeping with the composition of
the audience, the focus of the discussion was on the evolution of corporate
education. Dr. Agarwal discussed how effective education is moving towards
models of confluence through blended learning. Techniques such as cloud
computing, video distribution, social media and gamification have led to this
explosion of online and blended learning, taking education to the people rather
than the other way around.
He also spoke about studies
showing that blended learning can give better results than regular classrooms
and how industry and academia are partnering for developing online and blended
learning for up-skilling and re-skilling of the workforce. Many industry
accredited courses are also under development. According to him “academia needs
to engage with industry, as part of understanding and getting feedback on
revolutionary new ways of teaching and learning and the new-age credentials of
micro courses“. On the association between edX and Bennett University, Dr.
Agarwal said “edX is collaborating with Bennett to help create a University
that is very innovative and grounds-up, incorporating the best of technology in
education”.
University Vice Chancellor Yaj
Medury said with the edX partnership, it didn’t make sense to re-create content
already available from top faculty. “We will ask students to take some of
the relevant courses and the exam from edX and show the certificate and earn
credits. At least 8-15% courses will be conducted online. The extra time will
be utilized to engage in other academic activities and group discussions that
are currently missing in Indian higher education.”
The evening ended with cocktails
and a networking dinner where the participants carried on the discussion over
the future of corporate education.
About Bennett University
Bennett University, an initiative from The Times of India
Group, launches July 2016 with the promise of getting students ‘life and career
ready’. Supported by research-driven faculty, global academic partnerships and
a well-rounded industry- centric curriculum, the University will prepare
students to compete and prosper in a rapidly transforming world.
Located in Greater Noida, outside the National Capital
Region, the University will initially offer a B.Tech. in Engineering (with
specializations in Computer Science
Engineering, Electronics & Communications and Mechanical
Engineering), and an MBA in Management. Over the next few years, it will expand
to a comprehensive offering of undergraduate, post-graduate and PhD programs
across Engineering, Management, Media, Law, Design, Architecture, Liberal Arts
and Applied Sciences.
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