Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
With Inputs from Media Release

Mangaluru, Jan 9: "Education and politics have been stagnant without any change for a very long time," said renowned professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) USA and CEO of edX and meritorious alumni of St Aloysius College Prof Anant Agarwal

A recipient of Padma Shri Award, Prof Anant Agarwal speaking on 'Digital education transformation' while delivering the endowment lecture at St Aloysius College here on Monday, January 8.

"Digital transformation can be witnessed in any field. Plastic surgery, anesthesia, antibiotic, robotic surgery, heart transplant has brought advancement in the health sector. But education has remained untouched by technology. Education is a human right and everyone should be able to access it. But there is a need to think in the futuristic sense and understand what will happen if technology takes over education. The existing jobs will be vanish and only half the people may be employed as everything will be automated. Hence it is important that people need to be skilled," he said.

"The present generation is engrossed in cell phones and social media. Personal communication has taken a backstage and people now prefer to communicate digitally.

"If the education field is transformed through technology like online learning, it will be more flexible. edX.org is such a platform where you can learn free of cost, where renowned universities like Harvard, Berkeley, Massachusetts get access to learn freely. Nearly 14 million people are accessing edX.org, with over 2,000 courses which help career advancement. Micro master courses like emerging automotive technologies, robotics, analytics, cyber security and many more are available. Learners can also obtain their certificates at affordable prices which vary as per the courses opted for, but learning will be free of cost," he added.

He introduced three important trends in the future of education - Modular education, omni channel education and lifelong education. He also answered certain questions put forth by the students. Students from undergraduate and postgraduate sections listened keenly to Prof Agarwal.

Prof Anant Agarwal was felicitated at the programme. Principal of St Aloysius College Dr Praveen Martis welcomed the gathering. Ashok Prakash, dean of faculty of computer application proposed the vote of thanks.

Rector of St Aloysius College Fr Dionysius Vaz, registrar Narahari and others were present.