Encourage Students To Embrace Lifelong Learning: Dr Ashok Mittal, LPU

Education has evolved significantly. What changes would you like to see happen?

As an educator, the foremost change I want to see is that institutions will prioritise practical and experimental-based learning rather than only theoretical approaches that develop real-world skills that are relevant to the industry. We need to teach students how to cope with immersive problem solving.

For eg. In the classroom, we say, “Now it’s time for learning or doing math,” but I think we haven’t already been doing math all day in different ways. We just need to use a lot of different skills and information to move out of the structured schedule and show and teach students how to solve real-world problems.  

Critical thinking skills are paramount in the digital age, where students have access to vast amounts of information. Students can easily search for something and get hundreds of sources of information. But which sources are reliable? How can a student think critically about the information they are reading? Therefore, I believe that cultivating critical thinking skills should be a focal point in the future of education.

What are your views on the rapid digitisation of education?

The digitisation of education has been a game changer for learners. This has opened up tremendous opportunities for learning beyond the traditional classroom setting through personalised learning experiences. Through digital learning, one can get education from any corner of the world. One cannot be hindered due to time, place or any other physical problem. With the internet and a computer, one can acquire knowledge without being hindered. Online programmes closely mirror their offline counterparts, allowing seamless integration of updates and changes.

What are some gaps in education that need more attention?

A significant gap that demands attention is the mismatch between graduates' skills and the requirements of the job market. Many graduates struggle to find suitable employment due to this disparity. The main reason for this is a lack of collaboration between academia and industry.

Like in the era of AI technology, the rate of placement of engineers, data and computers is rapidly decreasing, but I think when we make our students experts in AI, they can easily get jobs. I think institutions will pay more attention to industry and skills-based curriculum so we should prepare students to be adaptable and lifelong learners. This involves equipping them with critical thinking, problem-solving and agility skills.

Take us through the journey from 'Lovely Institute of Management' to 'Lovely Professional University'? What have been the biggest challenges?

The journey from 'Lovely Institute of Management' to 'Lovely Professional University' has been remarkable, albeit not without its challenges. Venturing into the education sector was akin to being thrown into a pool without knowing how to swim. It was a time of immense learning and experiencing unexpected problems that allowed us to uncover our potential.

When we entered the education sector, we started with the name of the Indian Institute of Management and then it changed into Lovely Institute of Management. It was affiliated with another university and needed to follow a fixed curriculum, but we just did not want to follow a college curriculum. We wanted to try something different than what colleges are actually doing. So, we started the Lovely Professional University. We wanted to see what faculty teaching is and how we can improve it so we can interact more with industry. At that time, the biggest challenge we faced was that we were among the first private universities in India and good professors preferred government institutions to private ones. They thought no one knew when private institutions would shut down or whether, in the future, they would get government approval or not. I think it took time for us to build trust as a private university. So initially we struggled a lot to get great staff, making our own curriculum based on industry and the trust of parents, but today, not only from India but from all over the world, we have the world's best experienced staff and industry experts for our students.

How is the university poised to accomplish your vision of restoring the prestige of the traditional Indian educational system?

We prioritise providing every student with internship opportunities, allowing them to gain hands-on experience in collaboration with industry partners. Additionally, we have forged strong ties with the industry to ensure that our curriculum is aligned with the evolving demands of the job market. By fostering this industry-academia collaboration, we create an ecosystem that nurtures innovation and equips our students with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in their chosen careers.

With a holistic approach to education, we focus not just on academics and technical skills but also on personality development, ethics, fostering intellectuals & morals and the well-rounded growth of each and every student.

By leveraging information technology, we have embraced digital transformation in various aspects of university operations. We have implemented learning management systems, online resources, virtual classrooms, modern laboratories, research departments and an innovation centre to enhance the learning experience.

Furthermore, our curriculum incorporates a blend of traditional wisdom and contemporary knowledge, ensuring that students develop a strong foundation along with the skills needed for the future.

What would be your advice for students, educators and parents?

Students would be encouraged to embrace lifelong learning and constantly update their skills to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. They should actively seek opportunities to gain practical experience, engage in extracurricular activities and develop a well-rounded personality.

For educators, I would emphasise the importance of being facilitators of learning rather than mere providers of information. Encourage critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills among students. Adopt innovative teaching methods and leverage technology to create engaging and interactive learning environments.

To parents, I would suggest supporting their children's aspirations and providing them with a nurturing environment. Encourage them to pursue their interests and passions while also emphasising the value of hard work, resilience and ethical values.