The changing landscape of the education sector with Dr. Himanshu Rai Director IIM Indore

The wrecking upheaval of the economic crisis and the daily updates of companies freezing hiring, slashing salaries has left placements under threat. So in order to put your worries to rest, we got into an informative discussion with Dr. Himanshu Rai, Director IIM Indore, an NIT-IIM Ahmedabad alumni. Here is what Dr. Himanshu had to say on the current and future position of online learning, post-COVID skills, employability, changing landscape of the education sector and other key aspects that will put you in the right frame of mind to conquer the world.

There are certain events in our life that can be bifurcated into the area of concern and the area of influence. In simple words, there are things that we cannot control and are dependent on the external environment. So instead of wasting time on them and trying to foresee the future, let's try to focus on things that are under our control. Let's thrive on being successful by investing consistent efforts and building our resilience and perseverance. And to kick start this journey filled with grit, first let us understand the changing trends of the landscape of the education sector.

Thick and thin concepts of ROI

Think of it this way, with all the migrant workers living in penury and going through inured hardships, how can the GDP relate to a country’s prosperity? On the same lines, what does ROI mean? Do you think the return on investment can be merely in terms of learning? Do not confuse education with your degree. A good education from an institute goes beyond the degree, the kind of experience you set your foot on and the network you build is invaluable. 

Socrates said, ‘Education and learning is the progressive realization of your own ignorance’ and that is the truth. Build your perspective, think outside the box. The more you educate yourself, the more you realize how much you don’t know. This is the only path that will tell you what you want to do with your life.

Going by ROI, do not value it in terms of the salary bracket or job you may get. The education that comes out of good institutions doesn't give you jobs, it gives you the capability of doing something with your life. And if you have the conviction to do something, forget about ROI, you will definitely earn enough money.

Will the whiff of e-learning alter the education system?

Irrefutably, classrooms will never go away. Online education is a good substitute only for dark times like these but it cannot totally overpower all the elements of the traditional education system. Classroom learnings promote collaborative learning, generate immense knowledge with discussions, keep students motivated, impart social skills and personal skills which cannot be catered through an online mode.

How to maximize learning amidst Corona crisis

As students and professors converge online, all the lectures and internships are now held virtually. To complement the online learning in order to support the lockdown mania, one can look forward to practising the following tips for maximizing the learning process:

• Be in the right frame of mind and involve in physical activities to keep lethargy at bay
• Keep a check on your sleeping pattern
• Make a dedicated workplace at your home
• Place water, stationary and everything that you may need to work at your eye level
• Jot down notes to figure out the gaps in your knowledge that needs to be plugged in
• Search how you can fix those gaps and equip yourself with new skills that can complement your existing skills

However, there can be scenarios where the picture of internet bandwidth is not rosy. But there are certain things that you can do to iron out the hurdles.

• Whenever you attend a webinar, switch off the video or your audio for better connectivity
• Figure out how you can use 2G connectivity of your phone if you don’t have a wi-fi 
• Look for e-material which can be downloaded anytime you have the required bandwidth
• Explore good apps which can bestow you with new skills, courses, and right  learnings

The fight of online MBA platforms vs traditional

There is no denial of the fact that there is a value attached to every course. You can learn something from everyone and everything. But you are known by the company that you keep, so the kind of education you get depends on the faculty and peer group you interact with and the kind of conversation you have with this ecosystem. An online MBA can never impart any of these. The education system has 3 components,

Knowledge can be gained even through asynchronous modes of communication like Coursera, but the major factor of its effectiveness will always be dependent on the capability of the person who is delivering it and the way the person is delivering it. On top of that, the skills and attitude can never be delivered in online mode. For that, physical interaction is a must for absorbing learning. So, a complete online mode of an MBA can deprive you of the basic hygiene of the course.

A note to MBA aspirants and existing community of MBAs

To all the students who are already in the system and others who are aspiring for an MBA, what will you do? Do you plan to sit at home? If this is the case then in no time you will fall in the laps of procrastination and lethargy. It is good to understand that whether this pandemic has happened or not, the landscape of the education sector and the nature of jobs ought to change in the future and so is the need to update yourself.

Those who are already pursuing an MBA, make sure to enhance your learning and tell your institutions to provide you with the skills and courses that will equip you with the post-pandemic scenario. Do not worry about the prospects of the market and job once you have graduated. You will always get an edge over others because you did an MBA under testing and trying time. Remember, adversity is a good teacher and when you do something during adversity it will hold you in appreciable stead when you will sit in front of an interview panel.

Try to build a positive mindset. Take COVID as - creating opportunities for vision, introspection, and discovery rather than a monster that can eat your jobs post-pandemic. Understand the landscape of the education sector, think from your past mistakes, and plan your future with strategic steps. And education is the only tool that can help you unleash all of these. 

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