Page 39 - Magazine - September 2019

COLUMN

Blending Technology with

Higher Education System-

Need of the Hour

In order to cope up with the increasing demand for higher education, and
competitive job environment, usage of technology for imparting education has
become imperative.

By Manoj Sinha

he education system, all over the world, during
the last few decades has witnessed phenomenal
changes. The conventional classroom teaching
Tis gradually getting replaced with online
teaching system. Several reasons can be attributed to this
fact ranging from social and economic transformations
in the global environment to individual’s aspiration and
constraints. The emergence of ‘gig economy’ in most of
the sectors has also motivated large section of student
community to opt for online system of education. The
role of government and various agencies, all over the
world, in promoting education among the masses also
seem to have fructified well.
The importance of technology in higher education
has also been felt and highlighted by various policy
makers for achieving sustainable development goals.
In order to cope up with the increasing demand for academic institutions engaged in higher education space.
higher education, competitive job environment, and As a result, cost for students seeking higher education
gradual integration of policies governing functioning of has gone up in the recent period and it is expected to
corporate, usage of technology for imparting education show increasing trend in the times to come. Further, the
has become imperative. These factors have proved process of globalisation and liberalisation of economies
effective in removing all kinds of geographical barriers has also made the environment for universities and
and also have facilitated the process of transformation academic institutions more challenging.
in the education sector besides acting as a catalyst The amalgamation of technology, aspirations
in changing teaching pedagogy and creation of of students, job requirement and fast changing
interdisciplinary courses. environment, etc. has, undoubtedly, created a complex
All the countries having good accessibility of internet and challenging environment for academic institutions
are resorting to online system of education. Another imparting higher education. The governance,
important issue which needs attention with regard regulations and accreditation of academic institutions
to education system is the manner in which primary and recognition of the degrees offered by them is
level education and higher education is viewed by also an important area of consideration. Therefore,
the policymakers. The primary level education, by the constraints which mainly include increasing
most of the policy makers, is viewed as ‘public good’ number of aspirants for higher education, increasing
whereas higher education is still considered as ‘private operational cost for academic institutions, shrinking
good’. Consequently, the level of support extended sources of financing support, urgency to keep all
by government by way of financing for primary or courses and curriculum in perfect synchronisation with
secondary level of education considerably differs from fast changing environment, etc can be overcome to a
higher education. In fact, the budget requirement large extent only through blending of technology with
for infrastructural facility also in both the sectors of existing education system.
education differs widely.
Most of the committees and forums have already The author is principal of Aryabhatta College,
expressed their view towards self generation of funds by Delhi University.

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