FICCI holds conference on ‘Empowering Education Ecosystem’ in Hyderabad

New Delhi: A two-day conference held at ITC Kakatiya focused on “Empowering Education Ecosystem,” hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in collaboration with the Government of Telangana and the Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE), was inaugurated by Prof. M Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). 

Prof. Kumar, in his keynote address, highlighted the significance of resilience and adaptability in providing high-quality education to India’s youth. He emphasized the dual challenges of envisioning a sustainable, peaceful, and healthy future while simultaneously addressing issues such as population growth, demand for clean energy, access to health facility and education, climate change, economic instability, and multidimensional poverty. “This can be addressed only when we train our young challengers, to be problem solvers and solution providers so that we find appropriate solutions and realise the dream that we set for ourselves, a sustainable future,” he said.

The conference’s theme, “Resilience and Adaptability: Navigating Challenges in Education,” set the stage for discussions on reforms needed across the educational spectrum, from school to higher education. Prof. Kumar pointed out that the importance of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in achieving learning outcomes, personalized education, and mass-scale education delivery. He urged educational institutions to leverage digital platforms, such as the Malavia Mission Teacher training program and the Samarth platform, which offers 18 ERP modules for managing institutional operations to enhance teaching capabilities and administrative efficiency.

He pointed out that the higher education sector consists of 4.3 crore students, with 94% enrolled in private, state-funded, and deemed-to-be universities. He called for strengthening research ecosystems in universities and establishing R&D cells, emphasizing the need for younger faculty to gain skills in drafting project proposals, commercializing research, and understanding intellectual property policies.

Prof. Kumar encouraged institutions to offer online and open distance learning (ODL) programs to reach a broader audience, especially in rural areas, where many colleges and universities lack qualified faculty in emerging fields. He highlighted the potential of the Swayam platform, which provides over 3,000 courses and allows students to earn degree credits.

Furthermore, Prof. Kumar discussed the need for educational institutions to adapt to new industry demands, such as prompt engineering, and integrate skill education into degree programs to address the gap between students’ skills and industry requirements.

Sridevasena, IAS, Commissioner of Technical and Collegiate Education, Government of Telangana, highlighted the Telangana government’s commitment to education. She noted Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s direct involvement in educational initiatives, including a major event at LB Stadium addressing 50,000 schoolteachers. She discussed the state’s plan to upgrade polytechnics into government engineering colleges and establish a skilled university to meet industry needs. She highlighted the government’s stand to protect the core engineering branches, ensuring a skilled workforce beyond just computer engineering.

Dr. B V R Mohan Reddy, Founder Chairman of Cyient and Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Hyderabad and Roorkee, spoke about the rapid technological changes impacting education. He emphasized the need for students to develop critical and creative thinking skills and  a mindset shift toward lifelong learning, advocating for student-centric experiential education over traditional rote learning methods. Dr. Reddy highlighted the importance of lifelong learning and the continuous upgrading of faculty skills to meet the demands of a changing job landscape.

Sudhakar Rao, Chairman of the FICCI Telangana Education Committee, welcomed attendees and underscored the conference’s aim to advance education, foster resilience, and adapt to global challenges. He highlighted that education is the cornerstone of a thriving society. Their mission is to empower the education system to prepare individuals for unforeseen challenges.

Among the notable guests were Prof. T G Sitharam, Chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE); Prof. Limbadri, Chairman, Telangana Council of Higher Education; Prof. J Prabhakar Rao, Co-Chairman, FICCI Telangana Education Committee; and Suchindra Kumar, Partner & Education sector leader, PwC.

The conference provided a platform for educators, policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to collaborate and innovate in transforming the education landscape. Distinguished guests included Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Dr. Bhawna Taragi, Deputy Head of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), who shared insights into empowering and revolutionizing education.

International collaboration was a focal point, with educational attachés from countries including the USA, UK, Australia, Germany, and France participating. Throughout the conference, parallel workshops were conducted to address diverse management levels within educational institutions, covering topics such as innovation policy, data-driven decision-making, and digital teaching skills.