Embracing Change: Revolutionising education with technology for a future-ready India

We can reflect on the journey through the educational landscape, and the technologically induced change is nothing short of revolutionary. The era when colleges and schools relied solely on hardback books and blackboards for teaching is not too distant. Back then, students had limited access to computers, and that too was the case in designated computer labs in schools or colleges. Over the years, students, teachers, professors, and educational institutions have witnessed significant transitions with the inclusion of technology.

Developing The Core Mindset and Skillsets

Through the journey and the levels of education, a student aims to make a meaningful career and not be restricted to earning a degree. Most of them will be inclined towards salaried jobs, whereas the rest may get involved in government jobs, become entrepreneurs, or even pursue international opportunities. They are India’s future workforce and contributors to the country’s GDP. With the rise in digitalisation at many workplaces, understanding the use of PCs will be vital in almost all professions. Therefore, it is extremely critical for the education system to prioritise developing analytical, theoretical, research, cognitive, and logical skills from an early stage. These skills are foundational for various real-life use cases, be it understanding equations in Algebra and applying the logic to write correct formulas in Excel or calculating compound interest for personal finances.

Integrating these skills into education early on will pay off in the long run, helping to build competency in their career, develop business acumen, and even work with aspects like personal finance management and tax planning, which are very important.

In addition to developing essential skills, delivering education that aligns with industry requirements is equally crucial. By focusing on relevant skill development, institutes can enhance their credibility and ensure students are well-prepared for the job market. It’s a win-win situation for both the institutes and the students.

The Role of Technology in Education

I believe that the role of technology will be paramount for Indian education, particularly in bridging the gap in the evaluation mechanisms between educational institutes and industry requirements. Even from a parent’s perspective, one would consider enrolling their kid(s) in an institute that encourages modern teaching methods to improve cognitive learning. New techniques like video-on-demand (VOD) lectures, virtual reality aids for concept explanations, instant tests with real-time evaluations, and comprehensive digital assessment reports can revolutionise education. These tools may have been restricted to theoretical possibilities for most Indian institutes at this time, but they have been implemented in other countries. A prime example is the GIGA School Project (2018) in Japan. It leverages digital tools and high-speed IT setups that empower schools to provide digital modes of quality education to enhance student’s learning and help develop the necessary skills for a modern society.

Even large tech giants like Google and Microsoft have created successful use cases by developing extensive tech-enabled learning programs to support education. Microsoft’s learning portal and Google Workspace for Education learning modules have successfully reached students worldwide, offering a wide range of resources. These include video-on-demand lectures, training materials, examples, interactive tests, real-time results, and even certification opportunities. These resources highlight the immense opportunities that technology brings to this field. It is crucial for the education system to embrace a progressive mindset and adapt to these advancements, ensuring that students are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in a technology-driven world.

Government Support

The government has started recognising this immense potential and has taken specific steps to integrate it into the system. Initiatives like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aim to transform the Indian education sector by prioritising technology and digital inclusion. This policy seeks to harness India’s demographic dividend by integrating skilling into education early on and fostering entrepreneurship, making them a future-ready workforce. In one of his articles, the Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, mentioned that the NEP seeks to facilitate faculty/student exchanges, research, and teaching partnerships.

Additionally, Initiatives like Digital India, Skill India, and Samagra Shiksha integrate technology into education. Programmes like DigiGaon and VidyaDaan enhance digital education access, especially in remote areas, improving learning outcomes nationwide.

PCs: The Foundation of Technological Integration

Implementing advanced technologies is crucial for the early development of cognitive skills and other essential capabilities. At the core of such ‘Transformative Learning’ experiences are Personal Computers (PCs) — laptops or desktops — that become a kind of interface in the student’s life for learning, research and collaboration. They are the enablers for self-learning, online research, inter-class collaborations, video-on-demand learning, and remote learning. Access to laptops fosters a creative mindset and enhances student mobility.

Every institute that chooses modern teaching methods for skill development will have different requirements for students, professors, management and support staff. Institutes are often positively shocked when they see the performance and durability of our Chromebooks and ExpertBooks, as they are designed specifically to meet unique requirements. The ASUS Chromebooks, renowned for their long battery life and military-grade durability, seamlessly integrate with Google-based applications. Meanwhile, the ASUS ExpertBooks prioritise performance, durability, and reliability on Microsoft platforms, ensuring they can withstand rugged usage.

Potential Prospects

Being recognised as one of the youngest countries and fastest-growing economies globally, India’s education sector holds great potential. To give a perspective on this potential, I recently read AISHE’s report suggesting that India has the world’s second-largest higher education system, with over 58,000 institutions and about 43.3 million new students enrolled on higher education. The sheer magnitude of planning required for growing the adoption of intuitive pedagogy, equipping students with relevant professional skills, and encouraging technological adoption with institutions is a mammoth ask. It is a good platform that the government has started building to this effect, and brands like ASUS are fully equipped to support a variety of use cases to support a future-ready education system in the country.

With this as context about our education system that was designed a few decades back, I recently read an inspiring and thought-provoking quote: “To Improve is to Change; To Become Perfect is to Change Often.” All systems tend to reach their peak at some point and must innovate to soar to further heights. It would be a proud moment for all concerned stakeholders to see the Indian education system achieve such a feat of innovation.

— Dinesh Sharma is the Vice President of Commercial PC, System Business Group, at ASUS India. Views expressed herein are his own.