Leadership & Technology's Impact On Education

In a comprehensive discussion on the role of leadership and technology in education, prominent panellists from various universities highlighted the imperative need for visionary leadership and technological integration to transform the educational landscape.

YSR Murthy, Vice Chancellor, RV University, set the tone by stressing the importance of extensive vision in university leadership. "University leaders should have an extensive vision, integrating technology into all aspects of education, from admissions to assessments and research," Murthy remarked, emphasising the crucial role of leadership in driving technological advancements in academia.

Abhay G Chebbi, Pro Vice Chancellor, Alliance University, underscored the significance of both academic expertise and technological acumen in educational leadership. "Academic leaders should possess both academic experience and technological know-how, as technology can greatly aid educational institutions," Chebbi stated. He further elaborated on the benefits of technology-enabled learning, emphasising the importance of developing communication, critical thinking and collaborative skills among students to meet the demands of the future workforce.

Dayanand Agsar, Vice Chancellor, Gulbarga University, stressed on the need for personalised learning to accommodate India's diverse student population. "There is a need to redefine the idea of student success and personalise learning. Students should be offered a flexible curriculum that caters to their interests," Agsar advocated, highlighting the necessity for educational institutions to adapt to the individual needs of students.

M Venkateshwarlu, Vice Chancellor, Tumkur University, Tumakuru, addressed the disparity in education quality between rural and urban areas. "My goal is to provide students from rural universities with the opportunity to gain exposure to international universities, thereby bridging the gap in learning between urban and rural areas," Venkateshwarlu stated. He uderlined the transformative potential of technology in facilitating new teaching methods and narrowing the rural-urban learning gap.

Ajitesh Basani, Executive Director, Acharya Bangalore Business School, outlined a strategy for leveraging technology to address educational gaps. "Identifying gaps and addressing them with technology requires systemic changes that must be continuously adapted to meet the current needs," Basani asserted. He emphasised the school's long-term goal of digitising a significant portion of the curriculum and highlighted the potential of technology to enhance education in subjects where direct teacher intervention may not be necessary.

BD Kumbar, Vice Chancellor, Davangere University, shed light on the technological disparities between rural and metro universities. "There is a significant disparity between rural and metro universities in terms of technological use," Kumbar highlighted. He emphasised the urgent need for computer literacy and digital access in rural universities to bridge the gap in information accessibility between rural and urban areas.

The panelists collectively disussed the pivotal role of leadership in driving technological innovation and fostering inclusive education practices to ensure that all students have access to quality learning opportunities, regardless of their background or geographic location.

The academicians were present at the NexGen Edu Summit 2024, organised by ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education in association with BW Education, on 29 April 2024 in Bangalore.