Academics in pandemic: 'Gearing up for fundamental and structural changes amid these times'

Strap: Dr Chander Mohan, Director of Rayat Bahra EduCity, is readying for adaptations in the age of uncertainty

Hoshiarpur, August 27

The pandemic has brought several changes in functioning of academics and Rayat Bahra EduCity, situated at Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh road, has geared up for the changed scenario of education. Taking to Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi, the campus director of the EduCity, Dr Chander Mohan tells that housing seven education institutions of the group including the colleges of education, management, engineering, law, pharmacy, nursing and a senior secondary school, the EduCity is ready to accelerate fundamental and structural changes. Excerpts:

How is the teaching of different classes going on?

The Covid-19 has resulted in schools and various educational institutes to shut all across the world. Globally, over 1.2 billion students are out of the classroom. As a result, education has changed drastically, with the distinctive rise of e-learning. Teaching at Rayat Bahra Hoshiarpur campus is undertaken remotely on digital platforms like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Zoom and specially design online learning management system Academia by Serosoft.

What are the arrangements made for the digital sessions? How the faculty is trained and updated?

The academic calendar and time-table along with the digital platform on which classes are to be held has already been shared with the students and teachers. For the very purpose of the online teaching, language apps, virtual tutoring, video conferencing tools, or online learning, a software is being utilised. The experts lectures has been arranged from time to time for the teachers to adopt certain instructional strategies such as pre and post-class activities using Learning Management System (LMS) to ensure active student engagement. Teachers are also motivated to use online pedagogies such as Team Based Learning (TBL), discussion forums and use of Open Education Resources (OERs) including Swayam and Nptel courses to make classes more engaging.

When will the final year exams be held and results declared?

As the various institutes running under Rayat Bahra Hoshiarpur campus are affiliated to different state universities, therefore the final year examinations will be conducted as per concerned university instructions and accordingly the results will be declared.

What about the placements?

With the help of our Department of Career centre the students are being trained for the placements by conducting online special classes related to softskills, aptitude and technical skills where students are also evaluated regularly and based on their performance they are guided for the improvements. Moreover, many companies are providing ‘work from home’ opportunities to the students and are conducting online interview and for that purpose we are making our students ready for placements.

Your plans for academic session 2020-21?

The online classes for existing students had already begun at the start of the month. The detailed academic calendar and time-table has been shared among the students. During this academic year we have incorporated various online experts lectures, competitive activities for students, demonstrations for the practical classes, assignments, quizzes, webinars, and many more to engage the students.

If the entrance exams take place in September, how will you cope with the couple of months left for the semester that ends in December?

We will wait for the classes till the results of various entrance exams are out and after the admission process is over, only then the classes will be conducted six days a week, even weekends will be made working so as to complete the prescribed credit hours requirements by the university.

Any changes on cards to cope with the present situation due to virus?

The virus is likely to accelerate fundamental and structural changes that were inevitable in any case — but are now likely to occur faster than they would otherwise. Virtualisation of work undertaken from home or elsewhere, with remote collaboration and reduced travel for physical location, has been evolving steadily. Today, all around the world, businesses are learning to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate on virtual platforms. We will focus more into the virtual work, collaboration tools in such a manner that better learning and understanding can be provided to the students.

What will be your biggest concern once the classroom teaching restarts?

Our biggest concerned is about the health and safety of the students and their families and for this we will put our earnest efforts to provide them the safe and a conducive environment.