Online Learning has more Public and Private Support and will Continue to Grow as a Valid and Expected Mode of Learning: Anupam Choksey Secretary, LNCT Group, Bhopal

How has the pandemic impacted the way in which the university imparts courses? Will the digitization of teaching-learning continue in the future?

Due to the pandemic, education has gone through a vast change. The delivery of courses through online meduims was something for which we were not prepared, and while we did use the technology to augment education, it was not sufficient to enable complete online delivery or to create a pedagogy that would support online delivery. So our teachers worked very hard, and students also put in equal efforts as it is not easy to listen teacher like this on the screen, capture what he or she is saying, and then use it for your assessments. It can be difficult, to say the least. But, over the last two years, we have seen almost seamless education being delivered in the online mode all across the world and specifically in India.

Online learning has more public and private support and will continue to grow as a valid and expected mode of learning. We now have a better understanding of what does and doesn’t work regarding online learning. The tactics and technologies that work the best will continue to improve.

To be successful in the workplace of the future, people will need to have the right digital education. Whether in school, at university, or on the job – the digital transformation that is underway is making IT skills more important every day.

The varied courses offered by the university also means that you have a diversified group of students and teachers. How do you ensure quality across domains?

Our mission is to create a transformative educational experience for students focused on deep disciplinary knowledge, problem-solving, leadership, communication, interpersonal skills, and personal health and well-being. To cultivate a transformative university community committed to creating a collaborative environment open to the free exchange of ideas, where research, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship can flourish. Our university provides the highest quality learning and teaching environment for the greater wellbeing of our students and delivers an outstanding educational portfolio. Produce graduates fully equipped to achieve the highest personal and professional standards.

Research scholars need industry exposure and appropriate facilities for pursuing their research work meaningfully. What steps do you take in this direction?

Academic institutions must recognize that it is a huge responsibility entrusted upon us to help build careers of so many young minds. Institutions who have not upgraded their thinking towards industry-academia collaboration will definitely be left behind, and unfortunately, so will their students.

The emphasis for LNCT University has always been about introducing rich avenues towards industry-academia collaboration for all stakeholders, be it students, faculty, or research scholars. From industry-endorsed curriculum, curriculum modules delivered by industry experts, apprenticeships, live-projects, and industry interactions, we have ensured close proximity on all fronts.

The new education policy makes provision for multidisciplinary courses and tie-ups with foreign universities. How is your vision aligned with these policies?

In my opinion, NEP talks about the mandatory education system. The focus on multidisciplinary studies and international collaborations to provide opportunities to students is a significant step that can have great effects. When it comes to higher education, international collaborations help students grow and interact with students and faculty members of different cultures and communities that not just help them in their diverse thinking but also provides them an opportunity to see the other side of the world and learn from them. This adds to their holistic development to a large extent.

We have several partnerships, and we are part of many international networks. We have already inked an MoU with Kyrgyz National University for establishing medical faculty at Bishkek. While we have some tie-ups in place, there is further scope, and we will continue to explore them.

You also have a very active social profile. Tell us about the work that you do in the social and philanthropic domains.

We want the LNCT group to be recognized at the national level, and the students here can contribute to the development of the country. In our institution, financially weak students are getting an education at very low fees.  Another unit of the LNCT Group, JK Hospital, we are providing surgeries at no cost to BPL category people. We have also collaborated with Young Indians institution to help the underprivileged.

What are the broad plans for the expansion of the university across India?

The university actively works towards the vision and mission i.e, to promote, conceptualize and create a paradigm shift through the development of outstanding leadership, research, knowledge and ideas for education and allied development sectors, the university aims to effectively create a collaborative environment that is open to the free exchange of ideas, research, promoting creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, all the while ensuring individual to achieve their full potential. With a view to giving its students wide exposure, the LNCT University encourages academic collaboration and fosters linkages with other universities of the country. This helps students get various national and international interactive platforms to hone their expertise.