What constitutes the best experiences of childhood? The most common question asked on all of these platforms is one that believes in the fact that the first eight years of life will determine how eighty years will turn out. Most of the research that has been done to find the answer to this question has seen different effects on a child's home and school before and after the epidemic. Since this virus has changed people's attitudes in many ways, this relevant question is no exception.

An international consensus, especially during the epidemic, has shown that the dream of providing a quality developmental environment to children cannot be fulfilled unless parents and teachers work together for the benefit of children. This partnership is more important than ever if children need to be moved away from the deadly memories of the epidemic year. Qualitative and quantitative studies conducted on high achieving gifted children in Scandinavian countries including India, USA, European and Asian countries have shown that children thrive only when the academic and domestic climate mesh is found in schools with proper academic attitude and environment.

Reality

To bring this net into reality, it is essential to bring teachers and parents together as we move into normalcy. It sounds simple but the ground data paints a different picture. Even before the virus entered, pre-schools that have attempted parental partnership initiatives through parent volunteer programs often complain about the lack of parental encouragement and participation. Furthermore, when asked about the biggest challenges to partnership, teachers often point out the lack of trust and respect from parents.

Parents, on the other hand, complain that education is considered a business in India and they sometimes feel lost. In my professional life, thousands of parents have shared with me that they have been working for a long time only to finance their children's education through highly established schools, but how they are still not sure whether their children are getting the best exposure through school. The constant increase in fees, lack of transparency on the part of schools and lack of communication are some of the epidemics that have created some additional challenges for the already existing annoying causes. Some key issues such as school reopening plans, fee payments, child safety and misconceptions about health are controversial issues that will grow into parent-teacher collaboration.

A ray of hope

The plague has certainly challenged the effectiveness of humankind at its core, but it has also exposed some of the undiscovered strengths of the human race. As families struggle to make ends meet and work from home, recognition of teachers' efforts has skyrocketed. Studies over the past few months indicate a very positive trend - gratitude to teachers, confidence in their abilities and their invaluable role in the overall development of children has increased by leaps and bounds. Recently in Buenos Aires, families went to their verandah to thank not only the doctors and nurses but also the teachers.

This respect for the profession and the new support for teachers need to be capitalized on. It's time to dump her and move on. This epidemic has brought us all into a global educational revolution. There may not be another moment in the history of mankind when parents have such an important understanding of the important role of teachers in building responsible citizens.

Before we miss this boat, here are some effective ways to capitalize on the emotions through which teachers and parents can collaborate.

1. Connected schools

Schools cannot and should not work in silos Schools that are connected to the outside world through technology and are consciously focused on building relationships with parents, policy makers and society are going to be game-changers under the education revolution. Some countries, such as the USA, call this system a driven-up school because they take advantage of the partnership to help students develop life skills that are most needed in today's world. The most important way to build a strong partnership between parents and teachers is to develop connected schools that are open to contributions from each stakeholder.

2. Redefine the role of parents in education

A significant amount of research has shown that a well-designed curriculum failed to make an impact despite serious efforts, ignoring only the strength of the home-to-school connection. Before the onset of the epidemic, the notion of parental engagement was a marginal place in the main conversation about children's education. Fortunately, the epidemic has changed this approach. Parents need time to be involved in curriculum development and implementation. Parents should be an integral part of the instructional core and should also be the primary contributor in defining the content.

3. Notice specific training for teachers and parents

Longitudinal studies from the Brookings Research Initiative in more than 50 countries indicate that teachers need to be trained on how to manage parent-child effects. Sometimes, parental involvement in the curriculum and distrust of technology becomes counterproductive to the partnership. Parents create a cooling effect on teachers, which causes them to stop using many new world techniques. Targeted training in EPTM management, how to avoid cooling effects from parents, and ways to win parental trust are some of the notable trainings that teachers need to play their part in the parent-teacher partnership.

Similarly, educating parents about case studies like pre-school in Ghana can help parents be the source of this cooling effect. A randomized controlled trial using longitudinal data in Ghana's pre-schools found a significant improvement in student outcomes when parents believe in learning changes. In schools where curriculum changes have been linked to dubious practices from parents, the opposite has happened. Parental involvement was resisted in that case, and the children's outcomes were worse than in the control group. Unfortunately, the final loser was the baby.

4. Platform for interacting

No relationship building can survive if there is a vacuum of the platform to connect. In order to accelerate the education of children on the other side of the epidemic, we need to bring our parent-teacher partnership from the margins to the center. All organizations in society need to be provided with a platform that becomes a breeding ground for trust, cooperation and respect. Listening to both sides of the story, conversations about life preparation without being limited to schooling, education as a tool for long-term recovery from the epidemic are some of the topics that these two organizations - parents and teachers - need to discuss together. Organizations, schools and governments can help by organizing meaningful seminars and conferences so that real voices can be heard.

Education is, of course, the epidemic but it is the seed through which we can grow stronger from the global crisis. The only precaution is to focus on providing an education system that is no longer obsolete or unnecessary - and rather develops on partnership and innovation for children's learning continuity.

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and the Indian Air Force have joined forces in an effort to develop strong technology academically and through research in the field of aerospace technology. On September 8, 2021, at the Air Force Headquarters in New Delhi, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Indian Air Force and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur on the occasion of the commencement of cooperation.

The partnership aims to build long-term relationships for academic and research-based exchanges and exchange of technological information to stimulate knowledge growth and promote groundbreaking advances in space technology. This important collaboration between IITK and IAF will pave the way for new frontiers and enhance the self-reliant India mission, paving the way for a self-sufficient India.

This collaboration will create a pool of think tanks among IAF personnel with strategic skills and intellectual talent. The experience and skills development of these officers will benefit the country in many ways. By interacting with IITK faculty members, it will be possible to demonstrate innovative technical interventions and increase knowledge among IAF officers on how to handle their difficulties.

Professor Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, “We are proud to be associated with the Indian Air Force for research and training. We are hopeful that the Chair of Excellence will set a new standard in this space with research initiatives.

The SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Kattankulathur has received the AICTE National Level Clean and Smart Campus Award 2020 (a campus first step towards sustainability) 'first prize' in the 'University / Deemed to be University' category for their outstanding work. Clean and smart campus.

The Certificate of Excellence was presented by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education and was received by the Vice-Chancellor of SRMIST, C.S. Muthamizhchelvan accepted.

P. Supraja, Assistant Professor, Department of Networking and Communication, School of Computing, SRMIST, has been awarded the 'Best Teacher' under the AICTE-Visvesvaraya Best Teacher Award 2021 in recognition of her teaching excellence in technical education.

The goal of this Certificate of Excellence is to recognize meritorious faculties nationally every year on Teacher's Day and to encourage them to update themselves with the ever-changing needs of higher education globally and thus become effective contributors to society.

The third prize went to the Clotech team from SRMIST. They were awarded second prize in the 'Barriers to Access to Achieved Healthcare Services' category for presenting a prototype / innovative solution to 'Healing' under the theme 'Post-Covid of India's Economic Recovery'; Reverse immigration and rehabilitation plans to support self-reliant India.

Team Clotech includes Sandeep K Lakhera, Gauri Nerpagar, Tanuj Chowdhury Yalamarthi, Praveen Kumar and Dharani Bhasan. The Founding Chancellor of SRMIST, the Pro-Chancellor and the entire management of SRMIST congratulate the awardees and wish them all the best.

The student union administration of 12 colleges has sealed the main gates of the buildings and colleges in protest of the increase in admission fees to Manipur University educational institutions, thus halting the admission process.

Speaking at a press conference held at Imphal College in Quakithel as part of a united forum of student unions of colleges affiliated to Manipur University, Oinam Premdas, general secretary of Imphal College Student Parliament, said: This year, a new "fee to be credited to government account" has been established. Despite the unused sports and cultural fees paid at Manipur University, the entrance fee has been increased this year due to the Kovid epidemic, he complained.

The student unions decided to protest when the authorities started the admission process without heeding their demands to withdraw the unreasonable increase in the entrance fee. He further said that admission will be canceled till the admission fee is reduced.

Oinam Premdas said it was a pity that Manipur University had increased the admission fee while other universities had reduced it due to the suffering of covid-affected students. He promised to continue the protest till the price structure changes and he said that the department concerned should be held accountable for any adverse incident.

Representatives of 12 college student unions were present at the press conference.

SRM Technologies, a leading IT service provider for the Japanese and US markets, has launched a referral program that is packed with exciting benefits. SRM Technologies has created this program to strengthen its diverse talent pool and prepare it for market demand.

"We value referrals highly because we believe our employees know what is best for SRM technology. We also understand the competitive environment that today's economy is creating, so to find the right candidates, our employees play an important role," said SRM. Anand Kashyap Technology CEO It is also one of the most successful recruitment methods followed by companies and has also improved enrollment rates and employee retention. Among the grand prizes announced for SRM Tech workers through this program are: a brand new Royal Enfield motorcycle, MacBook, iPhone, washing machine, refrigerator, smart TV, inverter AC and other cash prizes.

These awards are launched not only to attract top talent for existing roles but also to expand the firm's skill set, explore new service areas and prepare for epidemic-creating opportunities. Binodini Shivraman, Recruitment Leader, SRM Technologies, said, "The demand for top talent is always high, and it is very challenging for recruiters to recruit candidates who are culturally and professionally fit. Most companies are now looking outside the industry. This type of referral program encourages staff to find talent that meets certain role requirements. "

SRM Technologies is an equal opportunity employer, and all candidates mentioned will be considered the same and passed through their standard interview procedure.

Times Professional Learning and IIM Nagpur have launched four management courses distributed through a mixed learning model - Post Graduate Certificate Program (CSM) in Strategic Management, Post Graduate Certificate Program in Operations Management (GMP) and Certificate Program (OMP) in GMP. Senior Management Program (SMP). The programs have been developed as part of ongoing collaboration between TimesTSW, Times Professional Learning's Executive Education Vertical and IIM Nagpur.

The management programs offered by IIM Nagpur and TimesSTSW fill these gaps and prepare executives for the dynamic business environment of the future. With an immersive curriculum and a sincere, contemporary and practical approach, these programs are designed to assist in the development of new age professionals with strong management, strategy and leadership skills. They will be introduced to new age technologies, tools and structures that will help them create value and drive the growth of their organization.

Emeritus Learning, a leading professional education organization in India, has entered into an agreement to collaborate with reputable BIMTECH for live online PGDM programs. Programs are PGDM Online New Age Finance Data Science with PGDM Online Specialization. Proper naming of the program will ensure that all AICTE regulatory requirements are met and shared in a timely manner.

Programs facilitate the acquisition of a BIMTECH PGDM online degree from anywhere in the world. These live online programs offer a uniquely immersive approach to learning in a digital environment.

Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Nikhil Barshikar, founder of Emeritus Learning, said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with a reputed organization like BIMTECH to teach students the skills they will need once they enter the workforce. Sophisticated technologies are revolutionizing the world, and they have become the basis for companies of all sizes to run smoothly and efficiently. With the advancement and development of these technologies, the need for skilled people is expected to increase. Emeritus Learning is always dedicated to providing students with first-hand guidance and a best-in-class experience. We look forward to a fruitful and long-term collaboration, and we will be releasing other courses in the near future. "

The Tamil Nadu government has tabled a motion in the state assembly seeking exemption from NEET examination. CMMK asked Stalin's opposition parties (AIADMK) to support the resolution. "Today, I have tabled a resolution against NEET. You (AIADMK) have also come up with this resolution. I urge the opposition parties to increase their support for this resolution," he said. .

Meanwhile, AIADMK has assured the government to support the NEET resolution. Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami said, "Students did not prepare well for the exams because the DMK-government said NEET would be scrapped. We have decided to go out in protest. We will support the NEET resolution."

"Students and their parents were completely confused about conducting NEET exams here. The DMK government has no clear position on NEET. Yesterday, a student, Danush committed suicide," the AIADMK leader said.

Earlier, the Madras High Court had directed the BJP's Tamil Nadu state general secretary K.S. Nagrajan dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL), alleging that the formation of a committee to investigate the impact of the NEET violated the Supreme Court order. The first bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Chief Justice Sanjeev Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamurthy, ruled that "the formation of a committee was entirely within the purview of the elected administration and not the extent of disobedience."

Studying abroad has always been an attractive option for Indian students, as they are interested in higher academic exposure with cultural and educational diversity. However, the influx of low debt has made it extremely difficult for middle-class families to secure funding for their children's education.

In recent years, a wave of fintech platforms has opened up new avenues for students to pursue their dream of studying abroad. But before we take a look at it, let's take a look at the educational loan situation during COVID and the common challenges for obtaining such funds.

Demand for education loans in the Covid crisis

Although demand for education loans declined slightly in the first quarter due to the 2020 epidemic lockdown, travel bans and job uncertainty, demand for education loans began to pick up speed towards the end of the year, although most schools and colleges are in the vicinity. The world is going completely online or switching to hybrid models.

According to the CRIF High Mark of the Credit Bureau of India, educational lending institutions, including banks and non-bank lenders, disbursed loans of Rs 11,000 crore in 12 months till September 2020. A large portion of these distributions occurred during the epidemic period, with more than 3 million new borrowers signing up for loans between March and October 2020.

There are various reasons for the increase in demand for study abroad. Industry experts believe the epidemic has served as a motivation for people to upgrade. This was probably supported by the fear of losing jobs, the prospect of stagnant growth in the domestic market, the accelerated pace of digitization of the workplace and the impending need to prepare for the future.

In addition to the increase in enrollment for short-term upskilling courses and executive courses, the number of individuals applying to foreign universities has increased by 35%. Some of the main reasons for the Indian student community to look abroad for college admissions in 2021 are the fact that most aspiring students could not attend college abroad last year. Strong immunization drives and improved healthcare infrastructure are also important factors in the current interest in several developed countries.

Challenges in obtaining education loans

Concerned about the complex admission process and the lack of reliable information on these processes, students and their families have to go through the hassle of getting an education loan. Especially for a middle-class family in India who are already struggling to make ends meet, a long and complicated process of getting an education loan makes studying abroad a distant dream.

In a traditional banking setup, loan applicants are usually expected to rush to a bank and arrange for a casiner and / or collateral for the loan. Once a student decides to take out an education loan (s), he or she must evaluate the loans provided by banks and NBFCs with collateral against the non-guaranteed loans provided by Fintechs. Banks typically require margin money, requiring multiple inspections at the branch to complete the application process and taking longer to process the loan than NBFC and Fintech lenders. They offer much less flexibility when evaluating a loan and sometimes ask customers to show proof of a savings account.

But things are very different with the new age fintech platform. In addition to disbursing money directly to universities, these national platforms provide loans without collateral or causer, providing a smooth enrollment process for students. They value the share of student employment more than their financial status.

The role of fintech studying abroad

With the rise of fintech companies targeting the digitization and education sectors, they are offering better access to education for students from low-income families, where most colleges demand a single fee. This reduces the burden of payment on these aspirants and their families, so that people can pay the fee in small, cheap and convenient installments. EdTech companies, on the other hand, are financing short-term loans for upskilling courses and programs, usually overlooked by banks and NBFCs.

By adopting unconventional ways to facilitate education loans, Fintechs is revolutionizing the future of education loans. First, these lenders have no strict credit requirements and evaluate loan applications based on the student's future earning potential. Fintechs, such as Prodigy Finance, typically lend more than banks normally would. Second, they offer no collateral and no-consignor for higher education to international students, omitting one of the biggest pain points in securing student loans in India. In addition, they do not penalize applicants for early repayment or complete debt settlement and work entirely online in a hassle-free manner.

Fintechs collaborates with banks and NBFCs to create innovative lending provisions that efficiently cater to students and lenders. They are focusing on giving middle class students the opportunity to pursue their education without having to bear the burden of paying huge sums at once. They even offer multiple credit options to students with low credit scores or non-existent credit histories and offer tailor-made education loan products for vocational courses. Students can finance the purchase of items like laptops, books, mobile phones, etc. at reasonable rates by registering on the platform with their loan requirements.

In conclusion, the flexibility of repayment plans by providing fintech is currently unmatched by most traditional lenders. With the advent of fintech in the field of education, an uninterrupted education financing process is now within the reach of middle class Indians, who are waiting for their dream of studying abroad.

Sunstone Education began with a vision to bridge the industry-academia gap. The higher education institution offers a UGC-approved salary after the placement MBA program and AICTE-approved PGDM program where students pay a nominal fee at the time of admission and the rest is paid after the student's lucrative employment. A model built to build students' confidence, remove high costs as a barrier to entry and, most importantly, show accountability.

Ashis Munjal, co-founder and CEO of Sunstone Educational, shares his views on education, the success behind Sunstone, and the importance of always being student-centered.

What was the inspiration behind Sunstone Eduversity?

When you look at the education ecosystem in our country, we read reports that show that only 30-40 percent of new graduates are eligible for jobs. We have many students graduating, but the company will still complain that they can't find the right candidate. It seems that very few students have the right skills to work in corporate. As a resource-starving country, this is very worrying and so, this is the problem we wanted to solve.

We wanted to create an organization that would brainstorm corporate ready candidates. Whose curriculum provides students with academic and technological adaptability that integrates them with corporates from the first day of their employment.

Tell us about your 'Pay After Placement' model

'Pay after placement' is a model where students pay a portion of the fee or registration in advance and then the rest after they get the job. This model helps build trust in our student community but is not the focus of what we stand for.

Sunstone's focus is on providing students with the right education and skill set so that they can succeed. When a student joins an organization, they trust the system, they invest years of their lives in anticipation of further employment in the market. We stand for quality education and improved learning outcomes.

Can you tell us about your growth so far?

Starting in 2019, we are still understanding and learning the place. Answering questions such as: What are the critical elements? What do students need? What are corporates looking for? How can we turn this into a product?

Now that we've put these elements together the model can be aggressively measured. Growing in more cities, reaching out to more students and engaging more corporates. We have opened six new campuses and increased 500 times.

How can we get a comprehensive work and skill insight?

In the last 18 months, we have seen a complete change in the way we work. Skills that were prioritized two years ago may no longer be relevant Every educational institution must remember that the world is moving very fast with epidemics and digitalisation. We need to be equally quick to update our knowledge and systems.

For example, when Tik Tok took the world by storm, we launched a module to study its marketing strategies. When the app was banned, we removed it as a result. Now we are looking at the digital marketing of Instagram Reel. It requires such adaptability from the academy to ensure that students are equipped with the most relevant skills and knowledge.

What are your thoughts on the NEP 2020 policy?

The way the government is changing the rules and regulations of the overall education policy is far ahead. Before the epidemic there were very few online courses in universities, now the government has introduced a mixed model where up to 40 percent of a course can be offered online. It allows accessibility, professionals, lecturers, speakers can provide courses from all over the country.

They are pushing for more internship opportunities for students. Regulations are evolving and new ways of teaching are becoming more acceptable.

How has the concept of education in India changed in the last 18 months?

Both students and teachers are feeling more comfortable with online classes. That being said, a student cannot be expected to stay home all the time while studying at school. Education takes place outside the classroom through extracurricular activities, peer learning, group projects, etc. For this reason, the future of education will be further developed in a hybrid way.

Most companies feel comfortable working in hybrid type models where employees can divide work week between office and home.

How are you creating scale with increasing competition in the education sector?

Players competing against you is not a negative point. Education can be a huge market and having a lot of players can be a very positive experience, unless the goal is to help students achieve their desired results.

Achieving scale in this market is not a problem, especially when you have valuable products and you are making a meaningful impact on people's lives. No matter what we do, we will always be student-first. This is the secret sauce. We have already seen a three-fold increase from positive word of mouth.

What will be the future of education?

The pre-epidemic world will never return. Once the dust settles, we have to adapt to a new normal. Education here can be a combination of online and offline education. Colleges have the potential to live and develop in a hybrid system. These are important for the growth of a child from adolescence to adolescence. Edtech certainly offers all kinds of opportunities.