Events

29 Apr 2020|Noida | Amity University, Noida

Economy and Education of the Future Discussed during Webinars at Amity University

A webinar on ‘Platform Economy’ was conducted by Mr. Amit Singh, Director Smart Cities, PricewaterhouseCoopers discussing how technology is paving way for a platform economy. “Technology today is playing an extensive role in the way people interact in their day-to-day lives. It is also helping authorities to manage the situation in this COVID pandemic. Cameras and sensors installed at key points are acting as the force multiplier to connect the concerned authority with the people in need to provide the desired support in terms of medical, civil or any other kind of emergency or need,” shared Mr. Singh. Authorities are also using technology to keep an eye on people violating the lock down. “We are helping the government to leverage technology and predict the pandemic course and its impact in the country,” added Mr. Singh. Sharing that everyone is a part of a platform economy as increasing number of businesses are starting to adopt the platform business model and its digital strategies in order to remain competitive .With instances of companies such as Airbnb, Uber, Amazon, Google, Salesforce and Facebook creating online networks that facilitate digital interactions between people and this digitally based new economy, utilizing these online frameworks is known as platform economy. It is any type of digital platform that uses the internet to connect dispersed networks of individuals to facilitate digital interactions between people. “These platforms will shape how engineering and development takes place in the world,” stated Mr. Singh. A lecture on ‘Art of being happy in times of Crisis’ was conducted by Dr. Geeta Mishra, Associate Professor – ACCF. “It’s a choice one has either to be happy or to be sad and create problems for yourself. Amidst the health warriors and people battling between life and death at hospitals, life is a matter of celebrationfor the ones who are sitting at home and continuing with their life,” shared Dr. Mishra. She also shared people often overlook what they have and start looking at what others have in them or in their lives. Defining happiness vs the pursuit of happiness, Dr.Mishra stated that the problem is not to be happy, but to sustain this happiness. The present scenario has created a lot of insecurities for the future and has taken away from the present moment. “The more insecurities you have, you are letting go off the opportunities you have in the present times,” added Dr. Mishra. She further averred how mind is like a magnet and it attracts what one thinks. “Whatever we feed our subconscious mind, it leads to creation of emotions, feelings and creates an impact on thebody,” said Dr. Mishra asking students to be mindful of their thoughts. A panel discussion on ‘Future of Higher Education in the Post COVID-19 Times’ was organized by Amity University with participants including Prof. Seyed Ehtesham Hasnain, Vice Chancellor,Jamia Hamdard; Prof. Prem Vrat, Pro- Chancellor, The NorthCap University, Gurugram, Former Founder Director IIT Roorkee; Prof KL Chopra, Former Director, IIT Kharagpur; Prof MP Poonia, Vice Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education; Prof Sunita Singh Sengupta, Head & Dean, North Campus, DU; Prof PB Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Amity University Haryana and Prof. Paramjit S. Jaswal, Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law. Prof. Prem Vrat, Pro- Chancellor, The NorthCap University, Gurugram, Former Founder Director IIT Roorkee said that COVID has affected every sector. “It has given some opportunity but with some challenges also. We are seeing the phase of Online education system but the major challenge here is maintaining the quality of network. We also can get lectures from best faculty in cost effective manner with best education reaching remote areas as well. Reliability of network is necessary. Privacy issue and cyber crimes may also rise so we have to be alert,” said Prof. Vrat. Prof. Paramjit S. Jaswal, Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law said that COVID is a situation in which we have to act not react. “It may have provided many opportunities but has also shaken the roots of Guru Shishya Prampara. We are fortunate we got support of all the stakeholders like students teachers etc. But the question is we not overloading our stakeholder?” said Prof. Jaswal. He further shared how there was a need to improve our connectivity and be softer with regulations including rule of 75% attendance in the class. “We are likely to face privacy and health issues as on one end we ask our children not to stay glued to screens but now we are making them receive online education that can effect heath. On the other side some students may not afford technology and many institute can shut because of no Physical classes,” averred Prof. Jaswal. Prof Sunita Singh Sengupta, Head & Dean, North Campus, Delhi University said, “We will enter into the world of much wider competition so we have to entirely re-look the process that we can make our courses better than others. Teachers are worried that how they will prepare the students for future. How will they connect at emotional level with the students?” She also said that not every university is tech savvy and so for other universities it would be a big task. Prof MP Poonia, Vice Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education said that COVID 19 is an eye-opening situation. “India's growth is majorly depended on Higher education sector. We have to do a lot of experiments in technology, lectures, strengthening the skill of teachers as knowledge will be transferred from teachers to students. Government is taking great initiatives for education sector also,” said Prof. Poonia. Prof. Seyed Ehtesham Hasnain, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard stated how COVID is a situation which edto unpreparedness but India is putting up a good fight. “But COVID will not leave us soon. Many people all over the world are infected and died. India is safe as compare to other country because the only single reason for that is lockdown. According to me, Coronavirus has given opportunity in the form of the online education system,” said Prof. Hasnain.