In post-Coronavirus era, focus will shift to hybrid model which is a combination of classroom and online, says Director

Amid the pandemic situation, when all sectors are striving hard to survive, the educational institutions have created a space for themselves. Taking the curriculum and other initiatives such as guest lectures and webinars online, these institutes are also working meticulously to ensure students stay calm, relaxed and positive in these difficult times. But, there is one such institute which is walking ahead of all, Kohinoor Business School. Along with conducting exams and declaring results online, the institute is also providing solutions to enhance students’ interpersonal skills. In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Director General of Kohinoor Business School Dr Kondap talks in detail about all initiatives.

Here is the edited excerpt of the conversation:

Q: How has today’s scenario of lockdown and global pandemic impacted your education system?

A: The advent of Covid-19 pandemic has thrown open new challenges to the world economy that it had never ever faced before in the last 70 to 80 years. Today all industries across the globe are trying to survive and meet economic and environmental challenges, including natural calamity. Unlike other industries, coping with Covid-19 scenario is particularly complicated for educational institutions, because they serve such a wide variety of functions. An educational institution has to cater to its most important stakeholder – the students, on a regular basis. The students need to be taught, guided, moulded and to be developed as professionals. The activity which was happening within the walls of the classroom, face to face interaction with the faculty and the students will now be more digitised with online teaching and learning.

However, in keeping with the Government of India directives, when it declared the complete lockdown at the National level, we at Kohinoor Business School (KBS) like most proactive and responsible institutions of India were quick enough to move classes online. The process was challenging both for the students as well as for the teachers, as it was something new, that they had never faced. The response was phenomenally positive from the students as well as from the faculty. The faculty and students have adopted technology as a new teaching and learning tool and doing justice to the curriculum.

The lockdown has given a new opportunity to KBS in adapting technology as a learning tool.

Q: What are some of the interesting initiatives your institute has taken to make it easy for your students and also contribute to the eradication of this pandemic?

A: Faculties are conducting regular online classes for the students. Through LMS, students can access the content at any time, they are able to carry out assignments given to them by respective faculty. Faculties are using online mode for assessments, feedback and most importantly networking online.

We at Kohinoor Business School, are taking this calamity as a new challenge not only to continue to impart the regular teaching and learning but also to move towards developing a model of sustainability. Through DAYITVA, our institutional social responsibility (ISR) cell, we are now encouraging our students to develop a sustainable model of societal obligation that focus on patience, perseverance, emotional stability, risk management and mitigation.

We also motivated students to complete a few good online courses using online portals such as Swayam and MOOC.

Q: How is the institute planning to conduct exams, evaluate and declare result online?

A: We will be conducting the viva-voce of capstone projects of our senior students online on Webex or Zoom. For the end term examination, we are planning an application-based examination designed more on analytical, critical reasoning abilities of students. The examinations will be based on contemporary situations and the ability of the student to assimilate his learnings and apply them to real problems. We will be following the guidelines of UGC, AICTE and University of Mumbai on a regular basis.

Q: How are students responding to new initiatives?

A: Students are very much receptive to the new format and have taken the initiative positively. In the future, we are planning to have a hybrid model of delivering sessions. The idea is to have fundamental training in online domains and experiential learning in class.

Q: What impact will it have on students’ interpersonal, team management skills?

A: Online learning at times becomes monotonous. The faculty has to create content that makes students collaborate and solve problems in the virtual space. Assignments are given in advance on which students work in groups through WhatsApp, Zoom prepare solution and present in class. In fact, students are learning to work in teams remotely. The online teaching and learning also provided an opportunity to network among themselves as well as with the faculty and Institute.

Q: What are the best practices that the college is adopting to ensure seamless online learning?

A: To make learning feasible we have robust LMS. We have adopted other tech platforms to effectuate learning. Our LMS has the assessment and monitoring of performance facilities.

Q: How will today’s situation revolutionise online learning in India and abroad?

A: The entire education system will revolutionise in India as well as abroad. The focus will now shift to the hybrid model which is a combination of classroom and online, however, the need of the hour is to bring in new curriculum which will focus on search engine optimisation, not to get panicked and develop a model which will get connected with the customer. Technology will be the focus of tomorrow with a personal touch.