ISSUE - 09

INDIA'S
UNIVERSITIES

10
BEST 2021
TO WATCH IN

PANDIT DEENDAYAL
ENERGY UNIVERSITY
A Revolutionary Institute Building a Legacy in Energy Education

Levering the New Age of Education The Abroad Dream:

in the Times of Pandemic International Study in COVID-19 Times
India's 10 Best Universities to Watch in 2021

Higher University Education is the

Backbone of Consistent Career Development

Many times, one comes across 'Back to School' quotes or themes and starts wondering about the
good old school days – be it their favorite class, sport, or teacher, one cannot forget their firsts ever.
However, the irony is as a kid – one often wants to grow up fast and be an adult and as an adult –
one often wants to relive their childhood days. Stuck between the odds of these times, now students
are experiencing a new template of online education. The screens have marked the presence of
classrooms while smart boards, power points, along visual platforms are offering a digitized learning
experience.

At the university and institute level, higher education has undergone a remarkable transformation
and is no longer relying on traditional methods or one-dimensional learning processes. To bestow
students with an excellent e-learning higher education, the educators are using a variety of online
devices to facilitate and contextualize the syllabus.

Last year, the pandemic made the e-learning domain grow at a rapid pace and more and more
students started exploring new options with online information. Currently, digital learning is training
billions of students with the aim of globalizing and building a virtual community of top learners and
creators. Today, a higher education degree from a university is an investment of a bright and
promising future. Higher Education equips students with job security, confidence, growth mindset,
and many valuable assets.
One can't emphasize the importance of good higher education enough. It is these three to four years
that set the foundation of a glorious career span. As crucial as these years seem for students, the
faculties and the respective universities are equally responsible for exceptional education. In
appreciation to the leading universities that are successfully fulfilling their roles of being India's 10
Best Universities to Watch in 2021, Education Stalwarts honors top-class universities for their
performance and pedagogy.

Representing our Cover Story is Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) – A Revolutionary
Institute building a Legacy in Holistic Education. In the Special Category, we have three prominent
universities - AAFT University - University of the Month, Ajeenkya DY Patil University - University
Making a Difference, and Jain Vishva Bharati Institute (Deemed University) - Tour with JVBI.

Gracing our Normal Profile section are two pioneering universities like Himgiri Zee University and
Techno India University. On Stalwarts Talk – a unique section that highlights quality conversation over
a trending topic - Indian Higher Educational Institutes leveraging Internet potential to Sustain
Education: Pursuit to Serendipity by Dr. Aastha Verma, Assistant Professor, Ramlal Anand College,
South Campus, University of Delhi.

Also, we have articles from our in-house editors on distinctive topics like Levering the New Age of
Education in the Times of Pandemic, The Dynamic EdTech Trends to Look for in 2021, and The Abroad
Dream: International Study in COVID-19 Times.

Apurva Bhosale
Editor (Apurva@educationstalwarts.com)
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Special Category Pro les

An Exceptional Realm for

Artist s, Creators and
Digital In uencers of Tomorrow

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Cover Story
Profile
 W ith a changing world, the advancements in the Education field have been remarkable; it has not
only rectified the traditional methods but also incorporated the digital processions with an open
mindset. Today, Education stands its position in society by enabling young minds to pursue their
dreams and become visionary leaders of tomorrow. The schools, colleges, universities, and institutes are now
offering students a lasting educational experience worth every penny.

One such torchbearer in the educational arena, Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) established in
2007 through the act of Gujarat Legislative Assembly with the provision to have diversity and scholarship for
building a prominent talent base in the energy sector. PDEU believes in transforming with evolving times,
hence initially, it focused on the energy academic and research domain and gradually broadened its
spectrum for trained human resources in the domains of Science, Technology, Management, and Humanities.
Today, the university has marked its presence as a renowned institution with noteworthy national and
international visibility.

12
The Leading Forces
An array of esteemed personalities
from Industry, Government, and
Academia bestow strategic leadership
and are the Board of Governors at
PDEU. Dr. Mukesh Ambani, the
industry leader in the energy domain is
the Founder Chairman of the
University. Dr. R A Mashelkar is the
Research Champion of the nation and
was inducted into the board to
inculcate the best research
environment. Dr. Vikram Singh Mehta,
Former Chairman of Shell India and
current chairman of Brookings India
being champion of internationalization
is part of this board. In addition to that,
Shri K V Kamath has been a pillar in
13
building sustainable finance and Smt.
Pallavi Shroff having legal knowledge
is part of the board. In addition to this
Secretary Higher and Technical
Education and Energy Secretary are
part of the governance.
Shri D. Rajagopalan, IAS (Retd.) is the
Chairman of the Standing Committee.
He was the former Chief Secretary of
Govt. of Gujarat. He was the Vice-
Chairman and Managing Director of
Gujarat Industrial Development
Corporation, Gandhinagar; as well as,
of State Transport Corporation of
Gujarat. During his tenure with the
Central Government he has served in
the office of Director General of
Foreign Trade (DGFT) Commerce and
Industry Ministry, Govt. of India.
A renowned Educationist, Scientist,
and Administrator, Dr. S. Sundar
Manoharan is the Director-General of
PDEU. He has extensive experience of
over three decades in teaching and
research in the area of Material
Science and Nanotechnology. He was
deputed from IIT-Kanpur to be the
Founder Director of UGC funded 100
Crore project to establish the National
Center for Nano Science and
Nanotechnology at the University of
Mumbai premises. He served as a
visiting professor in numerous
internationally reputed institutions
across the globe. In the recent past, he
has held several administrative
positions including being a member of
the Project Advisory Committee at
DST & DRDO Funding Agencies.
An Overview of PDEU's
Educational Amenities
PDEU provides its learners with a
perfect blend of pristine environment
and modern technology enabling a
dynamic learning experience and
turning students into potential
professionals. The university has an
excellent infrastructure with proper
maintenance facilities offerings
students an ideal platform for excelling
their performance. Be it festivals,
sports, or various programs/events,
the students actively participate and
win awards for the university.
PDEU's Translational Research Centre
(TREC), a 50-crore multi-story facility
will be the hub for effective translation
of research and innovative ideas into
sustainable solutions in the areas of
Energy, Health, Water, and Climate
Change. TREC will facilitate multi-
disciplinary interactions on all the nine
verticals of Industry 4.0 namely
Augmented and Virtual Reality,
Additive Manufacturing, Artificial
Intelligence, Industrial IoT, Big Data,
Cyber-Physical Systems, Cyber
Security, Data Science, and
Nanotechnology.
With these core strengths as below,
the four-year stay of the student at
the university becomes eventful with
each time-stretch as a new
benchmark of excelling.
14
Unique Infrastructural Setup: Having a ideas from all directions.
focus on 'knowledge-based economy' The university has created some
and realizing the power of sector relevant engineering
'interdisciplinary research', the overall laboratories which are well equipped
University's physical infrastructure is to facilitate the pedagogic and
designed in such a manner that research process.
excludes the conventional concept of
'department' and there are only four
Office of Student Activities,
big clusters like (i) School of Technology
Involvement, and Leadership (OSAIL):
(SoT) (ii) School of Liberal Studies (SLS)
It is a dedicated center to offer
(iii) School of Petroleum Technology
students opportunities in their areas of
(SPT) (iv) School of Petroleum
interest thereby developing leadership
Management (SPM). This
qualities. The activities at the OSAIL
amalgamating planning accelerates
are majorly driven by Student Clubs,
the interaction of students and
Student Chapters of Professional
faculties of different branches which is
Societies. Realizing the societal need,
the first step towards an
the University encourages NSS and
interdisciplinary problem-solving
approach. NCC activities with the noble initiative
of 'nation-building'.
Interdisciplinary Focus: Financial
The Office of Research and Sponsored
support is extended to B.Tech and
Programs (ORSP): It provides support
M.Tech students for their research
for the free and responsible conduct of
work and preference is given to an
investigative, scholarly, and creative
interdisciplinary team thereby
activities at the university. The office
strengthening the interdisciplinary
programs offer support from the initial
flavor.
stages of proposal development to
grants management, publication, and
Growth Friendly Administration: the transfer of technology.
PDEU's growth-friendly, easy
approachability, and flexible
procedures make facilities assessed by Women's Cell: The University aims to
all which thereby gives creativity a provide safe working and learning
strong platform to flourish. Moreover campus life for staff and students free
to strengthen the administration and from gender discrimination and sexual
harassment. It further cultivates the
smoothen its functioning, the policy of
atmosphere where men and women
'rotation of powers' is followed and
work together towards the growth and
normally the tenure of the various
prosperity of the institution in a
heads or in-charges of the
secured academic environment.
department/sections/portfolio are
restricted to 2-3 years allowing new
The Wall of
Achievements
PDEU has achieved many milestones
under its name with its principled work
ethical approach and commitment
towards educational enforcement.
• NAAC 'A' Grade Accredited with
CGPA 3.39/4.0 in 2016.
• PDEU is the only private University in
Gujarat to get the graded autonomy
status by University Grants
Commission (UGC) in 2018.
• 4 Star Rating by Gujarat State
Institutional Rating Framework
15
(GSIRF)
• University is recognized by the
Scientific and Industrial Research
Organization (SIRO)
• MEMBER OF INSTITUTE OF
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION (IIE)
• School of Technology, Pandit
Deendayal Energy University has been
recognized as a Scheduled-I Auditor
by Gujarat Pollution Control Board.
• MEMBER OF ASSOCIATION OF
INDIAN UNIVERSITIES
• B.Tech. Mechanical Engineering
Program is accredited by the National
Board of Accreditation (NBA), New
Delhi up to 30th June 2022.
• PDEU has been approved by the
Government of India, Ministry of
Finance, Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Direct Taxes) on 24th
April 2015 as a Scientific Research
Institution for claiming exemption
under section 35(1) (ii) of Income Tax
Act on the donations/ grants received
for scientific research activities done
by its faculty members and students.
• The PDEU SPE Student Chapter
stands as the only SPE student
chapter in India to have bagged four
consecutive Gold Standard Awards
from SPE International four times in a
row.
Keeping the Lamp
Ignited
Education is an insightful journey in
every individual's life with time; this
process has undergone many
significant modifications. At PDEU,
understanding the need of the hour
special emphasis is given to
developing the 'observational power'
and 'sharpening the problem-solving
approach' as this creates a foundation
for achieving excellence. Hence, under
the Academic Policy Initiatives a set of
initiatives are undertaken like:
16
• Summer Internships in a village for
almost 4-5 weeks are conducted to
closely observe the functioning of the
rural people and document the 'good
practices' and 'shortcomings'.
• Policy guideline of having 10% of the
total lectures of any course to be taken
up by the industry professionals for
understanding the problems of the
industry/society and work on the
upliftment of respected community
issues.
• Academic initiatives for including
business perspectives in the B.Tech
and M.Tech research projects, which
offer students a higher level of
commitment in the work and pave way
for entrepreneurship. Moreover,
students are encouraged to align their
term papers/project work with the
national and/or state-specific
problems enabling them to become
'problem solvers' and 'employment
generators' which is the need of the
hour. Visiting the industries along with
short-term and long-term industrial
training gives them a new dimension
towards the application of technology
and problem solving which is
accompanied by active and continued
partnership with Energy and
Infrastructure Sector companies,
National and International Universities,
Consultants, and Vendors.
A Sneak Peek into
Annual Events and
Extra-curricular
Activities
The campus is buzzing with more than
40 student clubs based on personal
preferences; students take an active
role in the club functioning as a Core
Executive Member and also
participate in the activities organized
by other clubs. There are 3 major
festivals: Flare, Tesseract, and Petro
Cup which are organized annually
where students from different colleges
across the country participate.
FLARE involves Music, Dance, Art,
Theatre, Literature, Culinary, Gaming,
Fashion, and much more. The events
17
are spread across 3 days, where
students from all over the country
showcase their talent and it ends with
a Pro night where PDEU invites various
celebrities.
TESSERACT is the Annual Science and
Technical Fest of the University, which
talks about the quest for knowledge.
Tesseract the word describes the four-
dimensional analogy of a cube and
links the depth and complexities of
science with an elementary cube. It
goes hand in hand with the aim and
vision of the university, to make
science simple.
Key Highlights of the Tesseract 2019:
• Automobile exhibition by
International Automobile Centre of
Excellence
• Indian Drone Racing League
• National Level Cubing Competition –
Tesseract 2019
• Gravity Well Demonstration by
Brahmand Club
• Alexa Workshop by Coding Club
PETROCUP: An Annual Inter-College
Sports Festival to showcase
sportsmanship, intensity, and
competition of the game with the
mantra “LEARN, PLAY AND WIN”.
PetroCup has expanded its impact
and the growing popularity has given
talents a platform to excel their
sports-play potential. With cricket
dignitaries of the Indian National
Cricket Team like Parthiv Patel, this
sports fest is an enthralling
experience.
The Steps towards
Success
Initiatives towards Securing Energy
for All: PDEU has undertaken
extensive research in the area of new
energy sources. The Centre of
Excellence in Geothermal Energy
(CEGE) at PDEU has conducted
comprehensive exploration surveys for
geothermal prospects identification in
several parts of Gujarat and has
drilled two shallow wells in Dholera. It
has established the first of its kind
project on direct applications for
heating and cooling in Dholera and
has demonstrated societal benefits
such as honey-processing and
Balneology using geothermal water.
The Centre for Biofuel & Bio-Energy
Studies (CBBS) has developed
expertise in designing energy-efficient
biodiesel processes and innovative
designs.
PDEU has a Solar Research
Development Centre (SRDC) and a 1
MW Solar power plant integrated into
the grid, along with a 1.5MW Rooftop
facility. The University, in partnership
with Maruti Suzuki and the
Government of Gujarat, has created
the International Automobile Center of
18
Excellence (iACE), which has a
widespread infrastructure for teaching
Automotive Manufacturing and
Automotive Electronics worth Rs. 100
Crore.
Disruptive I 4.0 Technologies: The
University has received over Rs. 200
crore funding in R&D and Centre of
Excellence's Projects and currently 60
government and private sponsored
ongoing projects. The University
stands out with the exceptional
Centers of Excellence including
Siemens Automotive Centre of
Excellence, Centre for Biofuel and
Bioenergy Studies, Solar Research and
Development Centre, Centre of
Excellence in Geothermal Energy,
Drilling, Cementing and Stimulation
Centre, and Maruti Suzuki
International Automobile Centre of
Excellence.
Innovation & Incubation Centre: Atal
Ranking of Institutions on Innovation
Achievements (ARIIA) has recognized
PDEU- Innovation & Incubation Centre
in Top 25 Universities on indicators
related to “Innovation &
Entrepreneurship amongst students &
faculties.” It is also recognized as the
"Incubation Centre of the Year with
Prominent IP Culture" by Intellectual
Property Protection Organization
(IPPO) at IP Fest for three consecutive
years, 2017, 2018 & 2019. It is
approved as "Technology Business
Incubator" by the Department of
Science and Technology, Government
of India. IIC PDEU has filed more than
86 IPRs, 100+ startups have incubated
and generated more than 950
employments. The presence of a
vibrant Incubation and Innovation
Centre increases the confidence of the
students' manifolds as this gets strong
support to commercialize their ideas
and/or research outputs.
Global Collaborations: PDEU has tied
up with the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, USA – Abdul Latif Jamil
World Education Lab (MIT J-WEL) in
the Higher Education segment. As part
of this initiative, eighteen faculty
received training from MIT. It has
collaborated with the Go Minnesota
Program, USA, and the credit
exchange program with Oklahoma
University, where students study for a
semester and earn credits. It has
established Chair Professor in
partnership with Hazira LNG Private
Limited and Suzlon to further the
cause of Academic and Research
Excellence at the University.
The University has been a frontrunner
in the Government of India 'Study in
India' Program for International
Admissions. During the last year, 162
students from 29 countries enrolled
for regular programs of PDEU. The
University also received more than 100
students under Study in India short
term program. The various National
and International Joint exchange
programs like the International
Exposure Program (IEP) are held each
year. This program is designed to give
students exposure in the academic,
technical, and cultural forefront with
the intent to create and promote a
collaborative platform at some of the
finest universities in the world.
Societal Impact: PDEU in response to
the United Nations Call for Sustainable
Development Goals for Clean Water,
and Sanitation is working on designing,
developing, and demonstrating high-
recovery, low-cost water treatment
systems for saline groundwater and
wastewater with the support from
European Union under Horizon 2020.
As a responsibility towards local
society, PDEU has adopted nearby
villages. Awareness of various
prevailing social issues has been
conducted periodically by our students
and has addressed the schools'
infrastructural and academic needs. In
this pandemic, PDEU has emerged
with seven patents in providing
engineering solutions to combat
COVID-19.
The Notable Alumni
With a journey of 13 years, PDEU has
carved a niche for itself in the public
and private sectors with industry
driven students. Till now 7000+
students have passed out. It has a
well-established Alumni network
across the University to encourage the
Alumni to take an active and abiding
interest in the work and progress of
the Institute to contribute towards
enhancement of the social utility of
their Alma Mater. They are now settled
across the globe and building the
Brand PDEU. They are at the middle
level and top-level management at
various organizations ranging from
19
PSUs to MNCs. Many have their skills will be initiated through
startups and support others for apprenticeship programs. PDEU
employment. Disha Shah - Sr. further encourages technology
Consultant to GRID - Oil & Gas, PWC, business commercialization programs
Rajneesh Modi - Consultant - Energy & for the skill trained learners to plunge
Resources, Accenture Management into the entrepreneurship world.
Consulting, Saurabh Dubey - Advisory
Services, Energy Vertical, Protiviti
• Swayam Courses: The institute is
Consulting, United Arab Emirates,
already a distinguished platform for
Prasoon Pankaj – Income Tax
initiating courses offered by
Inspector, Nilesh Balani – Asst.
Swayam/MOOC and Coursera
Executive Engineer, ONGC Mumbai to
platform. It motivates more students
name a few. Many have joined
to join such resourceful platforms in
international Universities for higher
the upcoming years.
studies also.
• International Semester Abroad/
Paving the Road Ahead Exchange Program: The Office of the
International Relations (OIR) will strive
to establish a steady flow of outbound
The Institution is currently planning
and inbound students to engage in
and proposing to bring structural
exchange programs to expand their
changes apart from the academic
learning and provide a global
programs to make this institution an
perspective in the accredited courses.
Institute of Eminence (IoE) in learning.
It aims to be a pioneer in the next five
years. It is focused on developing an • Accreditation and Ranking: Having
intentional, aligned, and integrated launched all major initiatives for
culture that radiates the beliefs, renewing the teaching-learning
values, and life skills for the youth to be process and teaching-learning
successful. Transformational resources, PDEU looks forward to
Education works because it harnesses empowering itself with all honors to
an organization's systems, staff, become a leading institute in the
environment, and curriculum to national and international formats. As
provide an enriched and effective a first initiative, it has already
milieu for educating the aspiring youth. established itself in the NIRF ranking. It
PDEU's curriculum and skill-based envisions being on par with MHRD
training are designed to adapt to this funded technical institutes nationally
digital age empowering the students and globally among the Top 500
with experiential learning. Universities. PDEU's quest is to push
towards this milestone by engaging in
NBA, GSIRF ranking, and Accreditation
Some key pointers for mapping the
Process.
next benchmarks are:
• Skill Training And
Skill-based
Courses: In the
coming times, Skill
Development will
have certification
courses and
programs
respectively. For
industry
demanding skill
opportunities,
certification
programs in
modern analytical
methods,
production, and
manufacturing
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Special
Category
Profiles
A AFT University of Media and Arts is part of the Marwah Studios, a renowned national and international provider of
entertainment and media. It is an extension of the dream which translated into action in the year 1993 and gained
momentum by rising to the next level by the establishment of the AAFT University. With more than two decades of proficiency
in the field of film technology, the university has imparted revolutionary media education and training to more than 17000 students
becoming one of the largest media education hubs in Asia. The institute has a myriad range of courses that include 50+ professional
courses in the disciplines of Cinema, Fashion Design, Journalism and Mass Communication, Animation, Advertising, Music, Dance,
Event Management, Digital Marketing, DJ, Interior Design, Performing Arts, Acting, Interior Design, and many more. It has achieved
many prestigious honors and awards worldwide and continues to transform numerous dreams into realities.

It encourages the free flow of creative ideas, thought processes, and perspectives while molding students into thinkers and
performers. AAFT is an industry pioneer giving direction to its students to grow as professionals, handle responsibilities, and produce
artwork that has a major impact on communities, society, and the world.

It is an advanced creative platform holistically bestowing students to excel their maximum artistic potential and shine their element in
the entertainment fraternity. The institute inculcates and nurtures student's natural capabilities towards film and television through
intensive training and aims to set new standards in India by diving deep into the dynamics of the entertainment industry. It has four
international and national accreditations that are recognized in the industry as benchmarks of educational quality.

22
Meet the Seasoned
Maestro
A veteran personality, Dr. Sandeep
Marwah is the Founder and President
of AAFT. He has laid the foundation of
this university fueling its growth and
adding glory to the art industry. He is a
renowned Indian film producer,
director, and educator prominently
known for his contribution to media
and cultural exchange across the
globe. His principled work ethical
approach has won him 500
international, national, and state
recognitions along with the recently
23
achieved Dada Saheb Phalke Film
Foundation Award 2018. He is also the
Chancellor of AAFT University which is
India's first dedicated Film, Media, and
Arts University.
His vim and vigor to build a platform
encourages a learning environment
filled with excitement, adventures, and
challenges. This has helped the group
to successfully train over 17,000
students till date and shall witness
increasing numbers in the upcoming
times. His dedicated efforts, expertise,
and enthusiasm have helped the
university to grow in leaps and bounds.
He has a fierce vision of nurturing
talent and building employability of the
students through industry-oriented
training and also providing them with
different opportunities and exposures.
“Every immense journey starts with a single
step and advances by winning different
hurdles with self-confidence. AAFT has faith
in setting the bar high with a luminous
system of holistic education. We work to build
strong minds blended with passion and
global notice for brilliance, thereby, turning
challenges into opportunities”, words of
wisdom from the President's desk.
The New Age Program of
Entertainment Education
“With a vision to produce global
leaders of highest intellectual and
ethical caliber, AAFT delivers high-
quality technical education in
emerging areas of media and creative
arts.”
At AAFT, the institute gives equal
emphasis on theoretical knowledge
and practical orientation as a blend of
both makes students excel in their
performance. The university aims for
excellent academic distinction through
a team of dedicated faculty, motivated
to keep up with the global atmosphere
24
in all spheres of influence. It bestows
the students with a principled
environment ensuring holistic
education meets the requirements of
the 21st century. The growing number
of students at the university is a sign of
AAFT being a center of excellence in
India, which is headed to the start of
the new era fostering artistic talents
like never before. It prepares students
under different controls like Camera
and Lighting, Direction, Editing, Acting,
Still Photography, Sound Recording,
Art Direction, Script Writing, and Script
Development. AAFT is a powerhouse
of performance producing leaders in
creative fields like advertising and
public relations, music, digital media,
fashion, and more.
AAFT welcomes students from more
than 120 countries, where the majority
of them are from Europe, the Middle
East, the Far East, and the Pacific Rim
regions and neighboring countries.
This offers students a global
community of learning and a platform
for cultural exchange. AAFT stands-
out among all the other institutes as it
delivers its students with 'out-of-the-
box' offerings. Some of the key
features are 1000+ celebrity
interaction, 200+ faculties, 50+
international faculty, 120+ feature
films, 2300+ short films produced,
17000+ alumni, 4500+ TV Programme
Association, 10th in the world ranking,
400+ awards and accolades, 120+
countries students enrolled, 500+
placements opportunities, and much
more.
Ace Infrastructure and
Comprehensive
Academic Programs
AAFT boasts of State-of-the-Art
infrastructure which is fully equipped
with contemporary studios, labs, high-
end equipment, and more. It has air-
conditioned classrooms with LCD
projectors, a fully equipped Chroma
Studio, Advanced Video Editing Lab,
Post Production Lab, Photography
Lab, and Print Lab.
AAFT offers a broad range of degree
and diploma courses at the bachelor's
and master's level along with short-
term programs and certifications. The
campus has research centers that are
operated by the top echelons of the
Indian and International community.
These experts interact with the
students regularly and share their
insights, valuable experience, and
guide them thoroughly. It also has in-
house community radio, film club,
news agency, rehearsal hall, screening
theatre, and production studio for
imparting practical exposure to the
students. It is the right place to gear
up with a world-class competitive
edge.
The constant engagement of students
in live projects, summer training, full-
term optional/ compulsory internships,
on-the-job training, study tours, skill
enhancement events, and inbound
workshops aimed at solving real-time
problems. The students also get to
learn by participating in cultural fests,
symposiums, club activities, case
studies, camps, community services,
workshops, seminars, events, shows,
25
galleries, and more. AAFT strongly
believes that films represent much
more than entertainment conducting
festivals that embrace the magic of
film, television, digital technologies,
and literature. Designed for and by
young people, each global festival
caters to people from all walks of life
with just interest in film, whether to
watch and enjoy, create their work or
take things a stage further and find
out more about a career in the film or
television industry. All the festivals
organized by IFTC act as the medium
to offer the most accessible way to
learn about and stimulate discussion
among film enthusiasts about the
personal and world issues that are
currently important to them. These
festivals entertain, educate, motivate
and inspire the youth through film
screenings, industry workshops,
practical masterclasses, filmmaking
projects, and outreach activities.
The students can connect with guest
performers, hosts, artist-in-residence
through star-studded events
throughout the year as AAFT conducts
workshops through celebrities. Such
activities are steered for students to
gain practical knowledge and create
awareness regarding interpersonal
skills, positive attitude, skillful mindset,
team building, time management, and
allowing them to have an open
approach towards everything. This in
turn helps students to look at a wider
spectrum of things, learn about
different opinions, new perspectives,
and become a speaker, leader, reader,
and keen observer of their prompt
surroundings. AAFT shapes young
minds to become potential artists of
tomorrow through inclusive
development.
Salient Pointers to
Leverage Placements
The placement team provides
complete assistance to all students to
find the most suitable job
opportunities as per the language
learned, their skills, talents, and
interests. It has successfully provided
job placements to trained and
talented students in various
Embassies, Multinational companies,
Aviation, Hospitality, Travel, and
Tourism, Retail, and Event
Management sectors in India and
abroad. The opportunities and
exposures at AAFT are immense as
the institute
collaborates with directors, producers,
and committees of talent search
giving beginners a piece and chance of
fame.
The Notable Alumni
AAFT alumni are associated with
various media organizations or are
freelancing in their chosen field of
creative work. The list of achievers, in
name and fame, has continued to
swell with time. AAFT trained Media &
Entertainment professionals will soon
revolutionize the entertainment
industry through their work of art.
Their sincerity, dedication, and hard
work will surely make the world a
better place than it is now. The
millennial and Gen Z bunch of talent
has marked their territories for years
to come.
 W ith a vision to contribute to innovation enabled Indian Society Ajeenkya DY Patil University, Pune
has been established under Maharashtra Govt. Act III of 2015 of the Government of Maharashtra
and is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It aims to develop new solutions
and utilize the widespread knowledge base while elevating the quality of life for every Indian.

The university offers the best undergraduate and postgraduate programs in unique areas, linked to
exemplary 'ADYPU Student Experience', which is supported by excellent amenities and highly talented and
motivated teaching staff. It presently offers 80 undergraduate and interdisciplinary postgraduate
programs through its nine schools of study - School of Design, School of Engineering, School of Law, School
of Film and Media, School of Hotel Management, School of Information Technology, School of Management,
School of Architecture, and School of Liberal Arts.

26

An Articulated
Statesman of the
Education Fraternity
A veteran personality Prof. Hrridaysh
Deshpande is the Vice-Chancellor at
ADYPU. He has extensive experience
of 27 years in the education field. He is
also the Director of Ajeenkya DY Patil
Group and Grand Port Hospital,
Mumbai, and a member of Governing
Body & Board of Management of the
University. He is a proficient,
enthusiastic, and energetic educator
and a global innovation facilitator, who
is passionately committed to
innovation, design, and education. His
performance-driven self is capable of
expanding the limits of traditional
thinking through the development and
realization of aggressive and
ambitious projects.
He has been associated with the India
Design Council (IDC) as its consultant
advisor. Under the aegis of IDC, he
spearheaded the India Design Mark
program in cooperation with the Good
Design Award, Japan. He has been the
jury member for Good Design Awards,
Japan in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017
editions. He has been the jury member
for the world's largest student design
competition – Taiwan International
Student Design Competition in 2015
and 2017.
27
He has been a member of the CII independence of approach, thoughts,
National Committee on Design. and process.
He has authored three India
Design Reports published in
The campus life at ADYPU is an
2009, 2011, and 2014. He has
amalgamation of disciplined
been curating, planning, and
academics and a fun-filled
executing the CII NID Design
atmosphere. The students can actively
Summit for the last 6 years. In
participate in a myriad range of social
the year 2011, he helped CII
and cultural activities and experience
initiate the CII Design Excellence
a unique learning approach. It hosts
Awards and has been managing
various sports ranging from
these awards since then. During
competitive sports to basic fitness
his work with CII, he also helped
programs and organizes extra-
to initiate the CII Industrial
curricular activities to bestow students
Innovation Awards in 2014.
with different opportunities and
Recently he authored a report
exposures. Overall, it focuses on
on “Future of Design Education
providing students with distinctive and
in India” published by the British
holistic training to boost both personal
Council in India. He edited a
and professional growth. Its purpose is
compilation of 4 volumes of Indian
to transform students into thinkers,
Innovation Case Studies for the
dreamers, and innovators of tomorrow
Department of Science & Technology,
by directing academic excellence in
Government of India.
teaching, research, and quality of
service. It is proud to call itself an
Over the years, Prof. Hrridaysh has innovation university that focuses on
acquired proficiency in business the pursuit of innovation in all its
innovation strategy and design-driven activities and offerings.
innovation. He focuses on structured
innovation practices for organizational
innovation via appropriate tools,
methods, and processes. He has
worked on several committees on
innovation and has been a speaker at
many prestigious forums. He has
assisted leading companies across a
range of industries through his work.
Becoming an ADYPU
Student – Once in a
Lifetime Experience
ADYPU is situated at the DY Patil
Knowledge City, which is a serene
campus with luscious green
landscapes and top-notch
architecture. The campus offers
students with state-of-the-art
facilities like auditoriums, studios,
classrooms, video projection systems,
and accommodations. ADYPU
emphasizes student-centered
learning, personal development,
creativity, intellectual rigor, and
technical ability aimed at increasing
An Overview about the
ADYPU's Schools
• School of Engineering
With a vision to better prepare
engineering graduates to meet the
needs of engineering employers and
meet the expectations of our society to
catapult India to the next generation
of excellence, ADYPU created an
Innovative Engineering Education for
the 21st century.
• Undergraduate Programs include
B.Tech in Biomedical Engineering,
Biotechnology- Medical Biotechnology
& Food Technology; Mechatronics, and
Robotics Engineering; Artificial
Intelligence and Data Science; and
more.
• Postgraduate Programs include
M.Tech in Bioengineering-
Biotechnology- Biomedical
Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and
Machine Learning, Computer
Integrated Manufacturing, and much
more.
• Postgraduate Diploma includes
Cyber Security and Cloud Technology.
• School of Law
The School of Law is a special place
that is committed to impart
exceptional legal education, which is
an impeccable combination of
academic rigor and hands-on
practical experience.
• Undergraduate Programs include
Bachelor of Legislative Law (LLB) and
Integrated Bachelor of Legislative Law
(BA LLB)
• Postgraduate Programs include
Master of Laws (LLM)
• School of Film and Media
Nurturing the next generation of
media, communication, and film
professionals, the School of Film and
Media thrives on a simple philosophy
28
of delivering inspiring instruction in a
stimulating environment.
• Undergraduate Programs include
BBA in Digital Marketing & Social
Media, Film Media, and Media and
Communication.
• School of Management
Living in these dynamic times, the way
business is conducted has changed so
it is imperative to change the way
business management is taught too.
Hence, the School of Management
created a pioneering new model of
business education, which is
unbeatable.
• Undergraduate Programs include
BBA in Entrepreneurship and
Innovation, Sales and Marketing,
Family Business, and E-Commerce.
• Postgraduate Programs include MBA
in Business Innovation & Strategy,
Media and Communication, Marketing,
Finance, HR, MBA Operations
Management, and Entrepreneurship.
• School of Liberal Arts
It offers a well-rounded and broad-
based knowledge in a variety of
subjects enriching and expanding
student's ability to think and
communicate independently using
critical, creative, and analytical skills.
• Undergraduate Programs include BA
Liberal Arts with Specializations in
English, Sociology, Economics, Global
Affairs, and Psychology.
• School of Design
The School of Design offers highly
experiential, hands-on programs with
a unique learning experience to
explore new ways of generating
cutting-edge solutions using creativity
and design principles.
• Undergraduate Programs includes
Bachelor of Design in Automobile
Design, Product Design, Graphic
Design, and Fashion Design
• Postgraduate Programs include
Master of Design in Automobile
Design, Engineering Product Design,
and Computer Interaction Design
• Postgraduate Diploma includes
Digital Modeling
• School of Hotel Management
Focusing on developing professionals
for the evolving world of hospitality,
the school of Hotel Management
delivers exceptional hospitality
management programs that blend the
international quality of hospitality with
a flair for business.
• Undergraduate Programs include
B.Sc. Culinary Arts, B.Sc. Hospitality
and Hotel Administration.
• Postgraduate Programs include
M.Sc. Hotel Management.
• School of Architecture
The School of Architecture offers a
curriculum combining the skills of
logical analysis, critical judgment, and
creativity to produce world-class
building.
• Undergraduate Programs include
B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture)
• Postgraduate Programs include
M.Arch (Master of Architecture)
• School of Information Technology
Preparing students to become top-
notch analysts, programmers,
developers, and administrations, the
School of Information Technology is an
ideal choice for IT aspirants.
• Undergraduate Programs include
BSc, B. Tech, and BCA in various fields.
• Postgraduate Programs include MCA
– Cloud Technology (CT).
Efficiently Overcoming
Pandemic Hurdles
At the beginning of the COVID-19
outbreak, the university faced
difficulties as the educational
institutions were closed due to
lockdown. In these challenging times,
ADYPU's visionary leadership and its
team of committed educators were
able to regulate learning and meeting
targets with great strategic planning.
ADYPU quickly adopted the online
learning platform and maintained the
teaching-learning continuum with
safety standards. It continued the
learning, training, and placement
drives with digital engagement
activities. The school is providing online
classes, conducting semester
examinations regularly. Recently,
ADYPU hosted the Digital Convocation
for the students of the academic
session 2020-2021. The institute is
also starting a digital learning video
29
platform for all the students who wish Contributor by ASSOCHAM in 2020
to take lessons from educators of
ADYPU.
An Exceptional Future
Winning Prestigious
In the upcoming five years, the ADYPU
Honors aims to be recognized as one of the
leading institutions in the country for
academic excellence in teaching,
ADYPU is a prominent institute that
research, and quality of service. Its
has won many remarkable
guiding principles of inspiration,
recognitions and awards under its
intuition, imagination, and innovation
name. Here are some of their recent
have been key growth drivers for the
titles:
institute to flourish holistically.
• Winner of the 18th Elets World
The university envisions that with its
Education Awards-2021 under the
robust curriculum and global outlook,
category for most Promising
the students will gain positions to
Engineering Institute in India,
advise, create, and lead ventures to
Excellence in Course Curriculum &
form a better society that will drive the
Design, and Leading University in
innovation economy. This fusion of
Innovation
customized and traditional learning
• Achievers of Pune by Lokmat in 2021 will create graduates that will be most
• Innovation in Education Award by desired by entrepreneurial ventures,
Economic Times in 2020 start-ups, firms, technology-centric
companies, IT sectors, and leading
• Outstanding Industry and Academic
business consultancies.
E stablished in 1991, Jain Vishva Bharati Institute (JVBI) is located in Ladnun, Dist Nagaur, Rajasthan, under the inspiring
beliefs of Jain spiritual leader, Gurudev Tulsi. The Government of India notified JVBI as a Deemed-to-be University under
Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

JVBI has taken the challenge of educating the Indian students on regular academics along with the life-sustaining philosophies.
The institute aims to promote humanistic values and to integrate modern science with the ancient wisdom of the great spiritual
practitioners and visionary seers by interweaving moral and spiritual norms and values with the materialistic and economic
fibers of mankind to foster and develop universal human relationships for peaceful co-existence.

JVBI is an endeavor in the direction of putting into practice, promoting, and propagating the high ideals of Anekant, Ahimsa,
Tolerance, and Peaceful Co-existence for the welfare of mankind. JVBI is committed to providing the highest quality of
educational services to the utmost satisfaction of the students and allows them to cultivate an integrated personality blended
with spirituality and moral values. It welcomes the student's community, faculty members, and other staff to join in building
human resources with a clear vision of global relevance.

The institute has been awarded ISO Certifications like ISO 9001:2015-Quality Management System, ISO 14001:2015-
Environmental Management System, and ISO 45001:2018-Occupational Health and Safety Management System.

30

The Guiding Lights
Anushasta is a moral and spiritual
guide helping students along with their
mental, physical, spiritual, and
educational journeys. From an
educational perspective, the rev.
leader direct students for future
endeavors and nurture them to excel
to their maximum potential. Gurudev
Shri Tulsi was the first constitutional
Anushasta followed by his famous
discipline Acharya Shri Mahaprajna
and Acharya Shree Mahashraman to
the present as well as the third
Anushasta.
An Overview of the Institute
• Top-Notch Infrastructure and
Facilities
JVBI has become a jostling center of
human growth and excellence. It is
spread across 21.5 acres of lush green
land creating a spiritual ambiance to
provide a peaceful atmosphere of the
traditional 'Gurukul' system.
Surrounded by beautiful dancing
peacocks, innovative educational
programs, appropriate human
resource management, high-quality
research, and technology-assisted
monitoring mechanism enable
academicians to take responsibility for
the social, economic, and scientific
development of the country.
The University is committed to offer
the up-to-date and well planned
academic programmes as well as
creating a conducive environment
leading to research and development
for students and faculty. The Institute
has a rich central library having over
70,000 books and more than 6000
rare manuscripts. People from all over
the world, who are interested in Jain
Philosophy are frequent visitors of this
Institute, where they find all academic
support to complete their research on
various topics related to Jainism. It
offers students a state of the art
31
infrastructure like Smart Classrooms,
Student Help Center, Digital Studio,
Gymnasium, Transport, Placement
Cell, Exchange Programs, Sports,
Auditorium, Meditation and Yoga
center, Transport, Computer Lab, Skill
Development Programs, and more.
• A Myriad Range of Departments
Initially, JVBI started with four core
departments which included the
Department of Jainology and
Comparative Religion & Philosophy,
Department of Prakrit and Sanskrit,
Department of Yoga and Science of
Living, and Department of Nonviolence
and Peace. Later on, the institute did
spread its wings and introduced other
departments like Social Work,
Education (B.Ed. and M.Ed.), English
Language, and Literature. JVBI has its
flagship in humanities, social science,
education, philosophy, and arts.
JVBI has been pursuing extensively to
disseminate information pertaining to
oriental studies, since its
establishment. To serve this purpose,
the institute provides Undergraduate,
Postgraduate and Doctoral
programmes focusing on various
dimensions of Jainism, Science of
Living, Commerce, and more.
The institute encourages the students
to manifest their creativity under the
guidance of qualified, experienced and
dedicated in-house and visiting
faculties. Interdisciplinary programmes
offered by the departments in regular
and ODL mode and help the students
to achieve the goal of getting
knowledge, wisdom, purity of human
growth, and excellence through
academics. JVBI has signed MOUs
with international elite universities like
FIU (USA), UNT (USA), Ghent (Belgium),
etc.
In addition to the seven Postgraduate
Departments the institute also runs a
constituent college; Acharya Kalu
Kanya
Mahavidyalaya,
dedicated for women.
JVBI has also made
facilities to provide
coaching for NET, SLET, and other
competitive examinations. It has two
units of the National Service Scheme
(NSS) and an NCC wing under the 3
Raj Girls Battalion for the holistic
development of students.
• Founding Ideals
JVBI follows two basic doctrines of
Jain Philosophy – Anekanta and
Ahimsa which imbibe self-restraint
and self-discipline in a man's life. While
Anekanta upholds the ultimate truth of
life which is complex and has many
facets, Ahimsa spreads co-existence,
peace, and tolerance, forming the
fundamentals of achieving serenity in
life. Education on these philosophies is
important, however, it is a challenging
task to educate students in India on
such essential aspects of life which are
the building blocks of a good
character, and become a successful
person. All students, teaching faculty,
and non-teaching staff start their
pious day with prayer and meditation.
• Mission and Vision
JVBI, an epitome of the highest ethics
and conduct has made its mission to
impart knowledge, employable skills,
and leadership qualities in students, in
addition to character building that
makes JVBI education holistic and
paves the way to prepare its students
a global citizen. The Institute has taken
the responsibility to nurture
professionals, who can rightly be
termed as 'Karma-Yogis'.
JVBI was established with the vision of
producing enlightened citizens, who
can understand the values of
nonviolence, compassion, amity, ethics,
morality, value education, meditation
and science of living, understanding
religion and philosophy, and
contributing to the welfare of society.
The Wall of
Achievements
With sheer dedication and hard work,
JVBI has over the decades won many
prestigious honors, recognitions, and
titles for its exceptional performance.
To name a few of them are:
• 12B Status by the University Grants
Commission (UGC), New Delhi
• Category 'A' by the Ministry of Human
Resource Development, New Delhi
• Graded 'B+' by the National
Accreditation and Assessment Council
(NAAC), Bangalore
• 10th Rank in Top-25 Universities in
India, 2019 by the Higher Education
Review, Bangalore
• The 20 Most Admired Universities in
India, 2017 by The Knowledge Review
Magazine
• Asia Education Summit & Awards,
32
2016 by the Worldwide Achievers
• Presidential Awards to the Four
Faculty Members
• “Guinness World Record for Yoga
Postures” performed by students
enrolled in Yoga and Science of Living
program of Distance Education
• International Institution Recognition
'Jaina Presidential Award' by
Federation of Jaina Association North
America
• JVBI became the 'Best Deemed
University in Rajasthan' as awarded by
Asia Education Summit and Awards in
2018
• The faculty of the Institute has been
endowed with 4 Presidential Awards
and has been awarded 'Dr. Sriprakash
Dube Smriti Rashtriya Darshan
Puraskar' by the Akhil Bharatiya
Darshan Parishad for development
and research in the field of Philosophy
and its various branches.
About Industrial
Collaborations and
Corporate Exposure
Many students have a desire to learn
outside the classroom, which JVBI
supports strongly. Over the years,
JVBI has signed various MoUs with
institutes of national and international
repute and leading industries. The
present scenario depicts that JVBI has
3 international and 10 national
collaborations, and 12 industrial
linkages. The institute regularly
organizes various student/faculty
exchange programs, student training
programs, training and blocks
placement programs for students'
enormous intense growth. The
institute has a big list of published
research projects and completed
research projects on a wide range of
topics.
Placement
In order to reach out to the
Government Sector and also the
corporate world for facilitating the
best placements for the JVBI
students, a well-designed strategy has
been put in the plan by way of working
with the three stakeholders – the
students, the companies and the
university. There exists a strong liaison
with the industry for continuous
monitoring of the changing trends and
conditions in the global job market.
Students are provided a valuable
platform for interacting directly with
the industry through summits, guest
lectures, workshops etc. The university
also conduct job fairs to facilitate a
more rewarding placement session. As
a result many students have been
selected in NGOs, Industries, Yoga
Institutions, Government Jobs etc.
33
Envisioning the Future:
Aiming at Holistic
Development
JVBI has emerged as a significant
milestone in the history and
development of a comprehensive
approach towards Science and
Philosophy.
Describing the responsibility of the
teaching faculty, Prof. B.R. Dugar, the
present Vice-Chancellor of JVBI, says,
"We as a university believe in
professionalism coupled with ethical
and moral commitment leading to the
development of a holistic personality.
This makes us not only a different
education institution but also places
great responsibilities on us to maintain
the highest standards of academic
and moral excellence."
JVBI offers an Indian as well as global
experience that is both
transformational and all-inclusive. It is
making students well informed by
lecture-based instructions with
experiential learning under an
effective system of learner
involvement. The institute helps
students to venture beyond the scope
of conventional thinking and
understanding by providing rich
opportunities to learn, explore, and
make a difference in society. It is
committed to transforming the way
people think and do things through
education, research, and service to
society.
JVBI will continue to aspire and attain
the highest peaks of excellence and
become a leading global university
centered in India and influencing the
communities in Asia and beyond. In the
coming years, JVBI aims to win
awards from other fields like
naturopathy as it has a project under
implementation- Acharya Mahaprajna
Medical College & Hospital for
Naturopathy and Yoga and further
plans to incept a 50 bedded
naturopathy hospital.
ON THE JOB TRAINING & INTERNSHIP ABROAD
Malaysia • Singapore • Switzerland • Dubai • Thailand •
Maldives • USA • Bhutan • Oman

ASSURED JOB OPPORTUNITIES

5 Star Hotels • Airlines • Tourism Industries • Cruise lines •
Resorts • Hospitals • IT Industries • Retail Companies •
Luxury Malls • Airports • Railways • Industrial Canteen
High- Grade
Articles
and Profiles
S triving for the best and ardently working towards it has been the core objective of Himgiri Zee University (HZU), Dehradun,
Uttarakhand. Established in 2005, the university has overcome the traditional boundaries of Indian society and bested
itself by providing a hi-tech, flexible, and ever-demanding range of courses covering various social, educational, scientific,
technical, and professional aspects of today's global market. The university provides an excellent platform to upgrade and
rectify students' skills and capabilities with the help of contemporary technology and appropriate guidance. A firm advocate of
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” meaning “The World is one family”, the university is praised for its belief in condemning discrimination
on the grounds of caste, creed, residence, community, gender, and religion.

HZU yearns to impart knowledge covering the theoretical and practical approaches to the latest developments in their branches
of study. It has its roots deeply infiltrated as one of the finest private educational hubs of the country, making it the most suitable
and excellent learning center with high-level facilities and infrastructure for academics as well as research aspirants to cater to
their needs. HZU strives to refine brilliant minds to live up to their aptitudes and work towards the opulence and welfare of
society and the country.

36
The Leadership and
Purpose that Laid the
Foundation
The history of the foundation of Himgiri
Zee University (erstwhile “Himgiri Nabh
Vishwavidyalaya”) goes back to the
establishment of TALEEM Research
Foundation as an initiative from The
Essel Group of Industries to amass
part of its ingenious and financial
resources to contribute to the
progressing economy of India.
“Transnational Alternate Learning for
Emancipation and Empowerment
through Multimedia” abbreviated as
TALEEM meaning “education and
training” is a literary, scientific, and
charitable society. The determined and
37
kind efforts of Shri Subhash Chandra,
a visionary, had inculcated the
founding pillars of HZU at TALEEM in
1995.
With the vision to impart world-class
education and promising career
options to all the sections of the
diverse Indian society, HZU's vice-
chancellor Dr. Rakesh Ranjan, an
academician, and passionate
individual has been the strength of
HZU. He is the reason for HZU's
glorious and never-ending progress.
Having done with his B.E., M.E., and
Ph.D. from BITS Pilani, his resolute
enthusiasm and love for teaching has
completed him 25 years of service,
educating students with his best
capabilities besides keeping himself
informed with the contemporary
demand of the global village. He has
co-authored numerous books and his
latest authored book “Environmental
Science and Engineering” was
published in 2017.
His contribution includes 35 research
papers in international journals and
52 papers at international
conferences in Radial Distribution
Systems. Under his supreme
mentorship, faculty and HODs of all
departments at HZU are working
endlessly to uplift the university to new
heights. His accolades include “Shiksha
Rattan” at India Habitat Centre, New
Delhi, and being listed in Marquee's
“Who's Who in the World” for Science
and Technology.
Mission, Vision, and
Values that Boosts the
Buildout
HZU visions itself to be a top-class
performer in offering value-added and
state-of-the-art educational facilities
for its students. The university is
equipped with modernized
infrastructure as well as resolute and
hardworking faculties who are ready
to put uncompromising efforts at their
students' desks. HZU strives to be an
able contender in providing the
country with skill-laced and industry-
ready students with a global
competitive mindset. With its mission
so striking and strong and the service
for delivering high-quality education
for aspiring students, the university
wishes to emerge as a center of
excellence. HZU aims to impart
knowledge to students regardless of
background. The university works to
fulfill the dreams of learners by
bringing education at their entrance,
making it available to students who
38
could earlier only dream about it. In its
drive of implementing its targets, HZU
covers a wide range of courses
including science, engineering,
agriculture, architecture, humanities,
management, media, commerce, and
arts.
A Look at the
Contemporary
Infrastructure and
Facilities
Providing the best, progressive and
contemporary education is the need of
the hour. HZU promises to shape a
thriving future for its students, for
which it has equipped itself with
modern infrastructure, technology-
driven equipment, and functional
amenities which are necessary for
healthy and uninterrupted learning.
From modernized classrooms and
research laboratories to outdoor play
areas and swimming pools, every eye
of the university is enhanced to match
the international level and hence
improvised from the preceding one.
At HZU, efforts are made to make sure
the students are tutored according to
the demands and standards framed
by the industry globally. Therefore, the
university is furnished with facilities to
the comfort of the students which
includes hostel facilities (boys and
girls), hygienic cafeteria,
transportation facility (to and from the
city covering 35km distance), full-
stocked library, Wi-Fi connectivity,
medical aid, and indoor & outdoor
game facility, etc. which makes
students capable to exercise their
learning and practice with existing
tools. HZU is a complete educational
hub for any student wanting to enroll
for either of the streams, Science,
Engineering, Hotel Management,
Humanities, Architecture, Agriculture,
or Law. The university offers
undergraduate and postgraduate
programs in the aforementioned
streams in its affiliated institutes.
The Significant
Methodologies for
Crafting a Prospering
Future
Aiming to reach its pinnacle, the
institute focuses on creating a top-
class and eccentric education system
to produce individuals and develop
them into socially committed valuable
frontrunners and entrepreneurs. The
classroom interaction includes
debates, seminars, assignments,
group projects, and vocalization for
overall development. One of the key
features of the university is its up-to-
date, fully-stocked library with books
ranging from international authors to
evergreen intellectuals as well as
magazines, journals, and newspapers.
The library is housed with more than
30,000 books, 4000 titles, and several
39
journals and reports exclusively
devoted to particular subjects besides
an e-library called “Gyanadhar”. The
university is renowned for its devoted,
world-class faculty constantly guiding
the students in the right direction.
HZU mandates every student to
undergo practical and industrial
training through which they have
hands-on experience of the actual
working environment. The students
also have compulsory internships,
personality-building workshops, and
motivating guest lectures which
garnish their personality. Training
incorporates pre-placement tests,
group discussions, preparations for
Technical and HR interviews, and
career guidance seminars. The
students have various choices from
top industries and companies all over
the country. The cross-industry
linkages of Zee Group have an added
advantage to the students' careers.
Effervescent Future
The path that HZU has pursued with
its broad vision and ardent mission to
impart knowledge with ample scope of
the hi-tech world and internationally
acclaimed curricular and
infrastructure surely promises a bright
future for its students and itself. It is
for its efforts that HZU has been
awarded as “Best Private University''
in the years 2015 and 2018. HZU has
also been awarded as “Best University
in India for Placement 2020”. The
motto of HZU is to modernize the
education system besides retaining
the traditional values that go by
“education which is national in
character and transnational in
jurisdiction”.
 H aving established itself as a forerunner in the educational sphere, Shoolini University, a
name needing no introduction, has been attaining heights since its inception in 2009.
The university is a highly renowned and impeccably crafted dream turned into a reality
of its founding Vice-Chancellor and Oxford Alumnus Dr. P.K Khosla. Shoolini University aspires
to become a hub of top-quality education and a podium to accomplish many underprivileged
students' dreams. Shoolini has been rightly recognized for its efforts in creating a change as it
has been ranked among Asia's top 300 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) 2021 Asia
Rankings, making Shoolini India's 37th ranked university and 7th among all Indian Private
Universities. The university stands out among the crowd for it has received mentoring from
eminent scientist Dr. M. S. Swaminathan. Shoolini University offers undergraduate and
postgraduate and postgraduate diploma management programs that incorporate
engineering, management, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, biotechnology, law, journalism, and
applied sciences. The 230 plus full-time faculty - most of whom are engaged in research, at
Shoolini provides the students with the perfect torchbearer to make their long career journey
fruitful and satisfying.

40
A place for over 3800 plus students
from 28 states and 8 countries,
Shoolini embodies the immense
potential to turn its students' dreams
into reality. Enormous credit for the
success of Shoolini stands with its
Founder, Chancellor, and
prominent scientist Dr. Prem
Kumar Khosla. An Oxford
alumnus, a former Vice-
Chancellor of HP Agriculture
University, a cheerful soul,
and an optimistic leader,
Dr. Khosla enthuses
Shoolini to be among the
Elite Club of the 'Top 200
Global Universities.' An
advocate of enlarging
research and
development in India,
Dr. Khosla's efforts have
ranked Shoolini as No 1
in India in citation
research in the recent
QS rankings 2021.
Shoolini also has a
research h-Index of 73;
the second-highest of any
Indian institution
established after 2009.
The Core Values of
Shoolini's Success
are
• A perfect academic and research
environment; a professional culture
41
with no hierarchy in ideas; zero
tolerance to politics; an obligation to
dissent; Career progression based on
professional merit and not tenure or
sycophancy
• Transparency and respect in the
communications and dealings with the
stakeholders
• Honesty and integrity in everything
they do
• Quality in everything they do
• Decisions based on long term value
rather than short term gains
• An environment of innovation and
disruption; awards for risk-takers and
“out of the box” thinking
The A-1 Infrastructure
and an Apposite
Environment
Promising a bright future comes with
the responsibility of providing a
barrier-free environment where
knowledge can grow and ideas evolve.
Shoolini has been a forerunner at
using ICT-enabled tools and
classrooms. The campus is equipped
with state-of-the-art infrastructure
and a 10 GBPS Wi-Fi connection.
Shoolini has a unique eUniv LMS
platform, built around AI/ML
technologies. The 24*7 Yogananda
Knowledge Centre allows students to
access a broad range of books,
journals, newspapers, and magazines
to diversify their knowledge. Also,
Shoolini has developed over 25
cutting-edge e-studios for the best
classroom and online learning. In
addition to academics, Shoolini also
focuses on extra-curricular activities
for full growth that encapsulates
various theatres, auditoriums,
cineplexes, indoor and outdoor gaming
facilities for students' refreshments.
Set in the middle of the Himalayas, the
institution is surrounded by pine and
deodar forests with energy-efficient
buildings and state-of-the-art
laboratories, and campus life. The
presence of cafeterias, open spaces,
and tree huts enhances the beauty of
the campus. Shoolini University is a
hub of research and innovation in
India. A four-tier system, mentorship
program, Ph.D. focussed faculty and
the guidance of visiting professors all
form a great source for the students'
ingrowth and cultivating ideas. The
students also have exposure to the
digital library, knowledge portals, and
e-studios, where they can update
themselves with current happenings.
Shoolini has given a new way to look at
research for innovators. Peer-
reviewed Papers, Commercial Patents,
Funded Projects, and Quality Ph.D.'s
are some of its initiatives towards
encouraging research.
The Glimpse of an
Inimitable Academic
Program
Shoolini University has a semester-
based academic year. Regular
vocational training and internships are
carried out at the end of each
semester. The Overall Grade Point
Average (OGPA) system is used to
assess a student in a course for both
theory and practical. In addition to
that, Shoolini University is well-known
for its unique ways of teaching and
research training. Some of its features
include-
• SPRINT Program- Enthused by
Stanford's mini-MBA program, “Skills
Progression through Rapid Intensive
and Innovative Training” is a
42
mandatory credit course aimed at the
overall development of students in all
programs on campus.
• Courses on Human Values,
Spirituality & Meditation, and Business
Ethics, etc. that emboldens moral
values in students, for ex. Bhartiya
Sanskriti, Indian Mythology, Society &
Culture of India, Media Laws & Ethics,
Sociology, Psychology, Ethics in
Research, etc.
• Social Projects that include issues
focusing on Health, Sanitation, Cancer,
Muscular Dystrophy, Environment, etc.
to create awareness and gain
experience.
• Summit Research Programme- SRP
is India's first research-centric
undergraduate program fixated
around technologies like AI, Biotech,
Pharma, and Food Technology.
• Taking inspiration from NEP, Shoolini
has evolved four year BA (Hons)
Liberal Arts and BSc (Hons) Research
programs which are the first for any
Indian University. Coursera is involved
in improving the students' skillset from
lecturers around the world.
• eUniv is an integrated online learning
platform inaugurated by former
President of India, Dr. A.P.J Abdul
Kalam which has exceptionally
progressed via ICT tools. myShoolini
App is another one-step innovation by
the university that contains GPS based
attendance system, student grievance
redressal, library management,
Shoolini Radio, news desk, etc. The
university provides access to online
databases like EBSCO, SciVal,
DELNET, Amazon, etc. along with 5
million-plus eBooks and eJournals. A
language lab offers 34 new language
courses including German, Spanish,
and Mandarin.
Rewards in the Form of
Achievements
Shoolini has a list of achievements that
prove its hard work and firm approach
to take research to new heights.
Shoolini has been ranked No. 2 in India
in research in QS Asia Rankings 2021,
35th in India and 545 globally by
Scimago Global rankings, 100th-150th
overall (112 for Engineering, 39 for
Pharma, and 75 for MBA) by NIRF.
Accredited to NBA and NAAC, with
500+ patents, Shoolini is India's 3rd
highest Patent Filer (2019) and No. 1 in
Online Education by Education World.
The engineering department has a QS
Diamond rating. A notable alumni and
faculty Dr. Gaurav Sharma has been
awarded the World's top 1% cited
scientist, making him among India's 20
top scientists. A pioneer in the
research, Shoolini's 7 researchers have
been nominated at Stanford
University's list of top 2% scientists.
Shoolini's alumni are involved with
world-renowned institutions such as
Stanford University, Columbia,
INSEAD, Unilever, EY, PWC, Google,
and many more.
Like many other universities around
the world, Shoolini too believes in
presenting the best career options to
its students by offering placements in
notable industries and institutions.
Possessing an excellent placement
43
record, Shoolini has changed the lives
of many aspiring students and their
families. The Placement Cell at Shoolini
looks after the training and provides
proper guidance to transform an
individual into an industry-ready
professional. The students undergo
arduous training in their final year
where they are prepared to hook and
crook for their future job. The
unremitting efforts, inventive minds,
and contemporary outlook of the
institute and the students have
resulted in getting over 450 students
to file patents at their names. Some of
the prominent institutions associated
with Shoolini include IBM, LG, Mankind,
Meridian, JMC Projects India Ltd, ICICI,
Hindustan Unilever, HDFC, Nestle, and
many more.
Shoolini is also tangled in cultural and
awareness activities throughout the
year starting with Republic Day,
Independence Day, World Cancer Day
to Women's Day, World Health Day
and Swachchta Diwas were to
emphasize is laid on empowerment of
women, conduction of free medical
check-ups, and cleanliness drive in
nearby villages respectively. Moksh, an
inter-university festival, and
Manchtantra, an interdepartmental
cultural festival are the highlights of
the year. Also, SPRINT and weekly
cultural evenings are organized by
Shoolini's 100 plus clubs to boost up
the spirit.
COVID Classes and
Future Prospects
With the advent of COVID-19, the
university too shifted to online
teaching and assessment. Shoolini
aspires to evolve a hybrid platform
and enhanced use of technologies to
innovate various ways of research and
teacher-to-peer interaction. The
university also conducted webinars
and online workshops where eminent
personalities from all walks of life
shared their valuable experience with
the students and answered their
questions. A promoter of the
happiness of students and with the
vision to be “a top 200 global
university by 2022”, Shoolini is
marching its path to worldwide
success via research and innovation,
outstanding infrastructure, and a Hi-
tech campus. The university aspires to
be a role model for growing
universities around the country. Its
future mission can be concluded with
four points
• To provide World Class Education to
the masses of the country.
• To be Honest and compliant in
everything we do.
• To have a deep impact on the
community through research and
innovation.
• To bring Happiness to all the
stakeholders
E stablished in 1985, Techno India Group (TIG) stands tall as one of the largest education groups in Asia having 22
colleges, 4 universities, 12 B-schools, 25 schools, and 2 upcoming medical colleges spread across the nation.
Established in 2013, Techno India University (TIU) is the Flagship University of Techno India Group.

It strives to achieve excellence by the high-quality education imparted to students and maintains the student-faculty
camaraderie. It provides world-class infrastructure equipped with modern technology-enabled teaching-learning tools
and vigorous industry-driven curricula. The university offers education to a wide range of fields like Science, Humanities,
Commerce, Law, Engineering, Management, Pharmacy, Architecture, and several other courses on emerging
technologies like Blockchain, IoT, Automation, Data Science, and more. It has an in-house Centre of Excellence for SAP,
Robotic Process Automation, Intel FPGA, Pegasystems, and IBM Bluemix to facilitate the young minds with the best
opportunities. TIG envisions inculcating habits of constant learning, encouraging creative abilities, building research
temperament, and keeping abreast with state-of-the-art technology

44
The Dynamic Leader establish India as a global
superpower, education is our
ultimate weapon; it is only an
A resourceful personality, Prof. educated individual that can
Goutam Roy Chowdhury is the help a country ascend to the
Chairman of Techno India Group summit of success. In his long
and Chancellor of Techno India glorious journey, the students
education fraternity. He has have accomplished many honors and
University, West Bengal. With the
successfully trained thousands of work for leading multinational
primary aim of educating individuals to
students and to date, guides aspirants companies around the globe. He
utilize their knowledge and skillset, TIG
to achieve their desired successes. It is proudly welcomes students from all
pushes them to excel to their
here at TIG where each student is sectors and categories to experience
maximum potential. Having extensive
given an equal opportunity to receive their academics under Techno India
experience of over three decades, Prof.
quality and holistic education. Group.
Chowdhury is a veteran in the
Prof. Chowdhury believes that to

45
An Overview of TIG
TIG has built one of the best industry-
academia interfaces to leverage the
best collaborative output in terms of
recruitment, industry training,
research, and consultancy. The
university believes that education in
the true sense of the term is not
merely inculcating the abilities to
flourish in a professional world but
most importantly it's about infusing
ethical and moral values required to
prosper as a social and civilized
human being. It provides students with
a comprehensive academic syllabus
instead of focusing the limelight on just
being excellent academicians.
TIG is spread across a wide campus
and is located at Salt Lake, Kolkata. It
offers numerous facilities for students
to pursue their academic programs.
The campus is resourceful with well-
furnished smart classrooms, seminar
halls, digital resources, advanced
laboratories, and libraries
accommodating various departments
46
of Science, Engineering, Management,
and Humanities. Also, TIG lays a strong
emphasis on research. ISRO research
project is run by eminent faculty and
meritorious scholars. It has acquired
several projects and government
grants for Techno India University.
About Placements and
Collaborations
Techno India Group aims to create a
better India by efficiently preparing the
youth to cater to the technological
advancements of the century.
TIG promises prosperous professional
careers for students to every
academic stream. A centralized
placement cell aids in providing
valuable insights regarding the
campus recruitment processes and
strategies, which has boosted the
placement record of the university. TIU
welcomes innumerable renowned
corporate and academic institutes for
placement drivers presenting them
with top-notch opportunities. The
university collaborates with MNC's and
other recruiting organizations and
international exchange programs
enabling students with suitable
platforms for interactions. This level of
exposure helps students gain
internships that give them real-life
experience and make them industry-
ready for their future careers.
TIU partners with top echelons of the
education fraternity expanding their
horizons for student's knowledge and
faculty growth. Such collaborations
with domestic and foreign institutes
are essential to the success of global
associations. The institutional
collaborations reflect TIU's values of
integrity, dedication, and quality
education.
TIU has also formed Eastern India's
first mentorship-driven incubation
center named Technopreneurs
Surrogate Ventures Pvt. Ltd. to give
the best shape to budding
entrepreneurs and startups
A Proud Moment
Bharat Ratna Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Merit Scholarship was officially
declared on the 24th of July, 2019 by
the former President of India. Techno
India University, West Bengal is the
first university to take this opportunity
to introduce this scholarship and it is a
great honor and a symbol of national
pride for TIU. Every year one
meritorious student will get this
opportunity to get this scholarship
along with a certificate issued by the
Bharat Ratna. This scholarship will
enable students to concentrate on
increasing their knowledge and skills in
the field of Science and Technology to
connect India globally.
The Annual Convocation of Techno
India University always tries to reach
the historic way of execution to
encourage the students and the
society. This year Bharat Ratna Shri
Pranab Mukherjee was the Chief Guest
along with the Governor of West
Bengal, Shri Kesari Nath Tripathi on
the same dais with Padma Shri Birmal
Roy. The Direction of IIT-Kharagpur,
NIT Durgapur, and Indian Statistical
Institute (ISI), Secretary of Department
of Science and Technology (DST) were
47
present on the dais along with the
Chancellor, CO-Chancellor, and Pro-
Vice-Chancellor. Students have been
awarded their degrees along with
gold, silver, and bronze medals. They
have taken the oath to utilize this
achievement for the country. TIU looks
forward to seeing India one step
ahead through good education.
Transcending Students
into Socially Responsible
Citizens
In the present age where ethical
values are gradually disappearing,
Techno India Group ensures a wide-
ranging development cultivating
adaptation of ethics, morality, and
healthy practices among students. The
students are made aware of their
social responsibilities as citizens and
learn to evolve as conscious
individuals. Environmental
conservation programs, as well as
health-related workshops, are
organized here and an evaluation
process is conducted for the work
carried out with allotted credit points
to ensure the commitment of students
to such activities.
A Word about the
Conference
Techno India University annually
organizes the IEEE International
Conference on Computer, Electrical,
and Communication Engineering
(ICCECE). Every year, this conference
witnesses journal submissions from
academicians and scholars across the
globe. International participants also
put forward their research
contributions via Skype. ICCECE
witnesses keynote speeches by
professors from IITs, ISI as well as
industry professionals. All accepted
papers are submitted for inclusion into
IEEE Xplore Digital Library which in
itself speaks volumes about the quality
of research publications encouraged
at this premier conference.
TIU's transaction in Intelligent
Computing is a distinguished initiative
in the field of Engineering that serves
as an efficient global platform for the
academic enrichment of students
across the globe. The accepted
journals are available for printed as
well as online versions. TTIC is
inevitably a unique endeavor in the
field of Engineering & Technology.
 Brief About the Author

Sonam Arora
Ph.D. Scholar,
National Institute of Educational
Planning and Administration, India

The author is a Ph.D. scholar of the National Institute of Educational Planning and
Administration, India with a specialization in education, economics, and development.
She completed her M.Phil in Educational Planning from the same institute and
Masters in Economics from Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune. Her
research interests include gender, education, labor, internationalization of higher
education, and growth & development. She writes for national and international
journals and her research findings have also been published as book chapters.

E ducation, the building block of a

modern knowledge economy, is a
key determinant of human
capital that enters the growth and
development of a country. The
educators and policymakers consider
education an indispensable asset that
can transform human capabilities into
economic and social outcomes in
society and therefore, the Government
of India has laid huge importance in
improving the Indian Education
System (IES) in the recent decades.
India has seen a massive rise in access
to education with near-universal
enrolment in primary education,
impressive improvements in secondary
and higher secondary schooling.
Higher education systems are also
expanding across the world and India
has undergone a profound
transformation. The worrisome issue is
the quality of education that is lagging
despite a decade of considerable
investment in school education. The
Annual Status of Education Report
(ASER,2016) recorded that only 43
percent of children in grade III could
read a grade I textbook and reading
levels among grade V government
school students remained stagnant at
42 percent since 2014 which in fact
has fallen since 2010. Two-fifth of
India's children under five are stunted
and do not develop the cognitive skills
that will enable them to tap their full
human potential (Pratham, 2017).
Such non-improving standards pose a
greater threat to the future of our
21st-century learners as lower
educational levels dampen the job
prospects in the long run. If this
persists, the rising trend of joblessness
of unskilled individuals will lead to a
vicious circle of poverty as education is
detrimental in reducing poverty and
rising standards of living.

48
Numerous reports and studies have
emphasized on the educational risks
faced by 21st-century learners. The
IES has witnessed a paradigm shift in
recent times, moving from guru-
oriented learning systems to private
schooling and coaching learning
systems (also known as the third
emerging sector of education). This is
because the horizon of today's culture
has expanded its limits as a response
to rapid globalization,
internationalization, and urbanization.
Consequently, the educational
agendas have shifted from “three Rs''
(reading, writing, and arithmetic) to
the K-12 setting that becomes a
prerequisite in the process of
preparing students to work
independently with minimum or no
supervision. With the changing
dynamics of education and
employment due to increased
integration with the international
world and rising exposure to artificial
intelligence, our 21st-century learners
and potential job seekers are not
work-ready and lack relevant skills.
UNICEF has warned that by 2030,
over half of the Indian students will not
have skills for 21st-century jobs.
Hence, the onus of the future of our
learners and the country lies with the
educators, practitioners, and
policymakers/administrators. There is
a need to examine the current
scenario of education as a response to
the recent developments worldwide
and devise a strategy that targets the
creation of a skilled-employable
workforce that is work-ready.
India has one of the youngest
populations in the aging world and
therefore enjoys a rapid productivity
growth of its talent pool and
excellence in the global world. The
Times of Higher Education rankings
showed 31 Indian universities among
the top 980 worldwide. It reflects how
our education system is rapidly
improving in transforming the young
talent into productive factors of
economic growth and development.
Coupled with these trends are the
latest Government initiatives for eg.
Make in India, which is a major national
49
programme designed to facilitate
investment, foster innovation, and
enhance skill development, and
Startup India, which provides a
platform for innovation and
entrepreneurship. The present era is
focusing more on skills, innovation, and
technology which are highly
progressive and competitive in nature.
Adding to this is the Industrial
Revolution 4.0 which is expected to
change the future of work with
automation and intercommunication
which will affect the employment
dynamics. Given the rapidly changing
scenario, the golden rule is to
maximize the potential of 21st-century
learners and prepare them for the
future of work. When proper skills are
imparted to the learners right in their
initial years of schooling, they'll be able
to thrive in a globally competitive
world when they enter the job market.
“A generation ago, teachers could
expect that what they taught would
last their students a lifetime. Today,
because of rapid economic and social
change, schools have to prepare
students for jobs that have not been
created, technologies that have not
yet been invented and problems that
we don't yet know will arise. And
success will go to those individuals and
countries that are swift to adapt, slow
to resist, and open to change. The task
for educators and policymakers is to
help countries rise to this challenge.”
- OECD
The key players to bring about such a
transformation in the education
system are our teachers, educators,
practitioners, and policymakers as
these skills go beyond academic
excellence to include soft skills,
entrepreneurial skills, emotional
intelligence, media literacy, etc...
Education today has to focus on Gen-Z
and Gen-Alpha learners (those living
with technology at their fingertips) as
the challenge is to keep growing at a
pace that matches the fast-growing
world of technology and innovation.
Education is becoming more about
ways of thinking, involving creativity,
critical thinking, and much more with
the capacity to use technology and
recognize new ways of problem-
solving. According to the coalition P-21
(Partnership for 21st Century
Learning), the four Cs- Creativity,
Critical Thinking, Communication, and
Collaboration are essentially called the
“21st-century learning skills”. The other
important skills are Entrepreneurship
and Emotional Intelligence. In other
words, these skills are basically a set of
abilities that learners need to develop
in order to succeed in the information
age. These K-12 skills can be
categorized as (a) learning skills (the
four Cs- creativity, critical thinking,
communication, and collaboration); (b)
literacy skills (information, media, and
technology), and; (c) life skills (flexibility,
initiative, productivity, and social skills).
In order to create a pool of skilled
workforce, the teaching-learning
practices have to be extremely
engaging that involve the learners,
and inculcate mental as well as
emotional abilities.
The education system and job markets
have become dynamic for which
educators will have to be equipped
with the technology and make
classrooms more technology-intensive.
The new pedagogy will have to include
digital and cloud computing
mechanisms. The idea of education in
the 21st century is to necessarily
impart learning that is sustainable
through developing skills valued in real
life and equip lifelong learning as
opposed to learning that results in
short-term outcomes. In order to
foster motivated and dedicated
learners, we have to drift away from
reproducing content knowledge to
extrapolating what we know and utilize
it in a creative fashion under complex
circumstances. Hence, in order to
create a productive, skilled, and
employable workforce for the future,
we need to broaden our concept of
education and make it more
technology-driven, innovative, and
versatile. This will have a positive
impact on the educational
performance of our learners, broaden
their vision and enhance their socio-
economic wellbeing in the future.
T he coronavirus outbreak has no end in sight, the new strain is setting off its alarm and the number of cases is
hitting all records. The news constantly flashes creating havoc among the masses to reconsider the way of
living and adapting to the new normal. With every industry undergoing a breakdown, higher education is no
exception. According to a survey by UNICEF, the COVID-19 pandemic has stagnated the educational systems
including schools, colleges, institutes, and universities around the world, affecting over 1.5 billion students, which is
almost 90% of the world student population. However, the education field cannot shut down and risk the careers of
millions, the education stakeholders have switched to alternative ways of providing education to ensure the
continuity of teachers and learning.

This is where most countries rushed to online distance education using the various online platforms, encouraging e-
learning around the globe and shifting to a virtual content creation space. In the time of setbacks, innovation drives
the need of the hour and resolves the hurdles arising on a day-to-day basis. Marking a new era in national and
international study, the education system is rebuilding itself and discovering the new learning methods delivered in a
blended format. The education committee is now more than willing to join hands and collaborate through public-
private partnerships to leverage 5digital technology for the best outcome.

50
In these transforming times, every
educational institute should build a
new strong foundation for itself and
impart an excellent skill set and
mindset required in the 21st century.
To become a global digital leader in
the upcoming times, here are a few key
essentials to look for:
• Blended Learning
Mixing the best of both worlds,
blended learning provides students
with a flexible approach to learn and
grow to their maximum potential. The
flipped classroom model is one of its
kind's setup encouraging students to
discover more on a personal level. This
type of user experience offers
students more than what meets the
eye.
• Resilience
The COVID-19 situation has affected
the overall line of professionals,
everyone has fought a battle and
challenged themselves to outperform
during these tough times. Be it the
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Government, the Education Sector,
Teachers, Parents, or Students,
everyone has contributed to coming
along for the online learning
experience without creating any
hindrances and showing great
resilience. Here are a few pointers to
enhance your personal resilience:
• Take time out to Self-reflect and build
Self-awareness
• Practice Responding rather than
Reacting
• Have an Open Mindset
• Address your Emotions
• Set Boundaries and Goals
• Critical Thinking
Thoughts reap actions and further
define success, so think clear and crisp
thoughts by allowing deep thinking,
understanding, and performing based
on facts and detailed information.
Most of the seasoned professionals
are critical thinkers, who are
disciplined to think, respond, address,
and gather information for the success
of their business. Here are a few of the
steps for critical thinking: identifying
the problems, collecting relevant data,
analyzing and assessing the data,
interpretation, making a decision,
presenting the data to the concerned
authorities.
• Creative Zone
Everyone has a creative side, but it
should not fit a particular definition
and should only match the idea of
one's authentic content. There is not a
predefined process to be creative or
invent new products or developments;
it is completely a personal and original
process depending from person to
person. One way to master your
ideation process is to write down the
ideas crossing your mind every now
and then to help to remember them
for later use. Innovation and Creative
are elements of personal exclusivity
that stand out in the crowd and are
beneficial in the longer run.
Apart from these, some core strengths
enhance one's capabilities to become
a global educator and accelerate the
growth to the peak.
 Studying abroad is a life-long dream of many students, who wait for years to pursue their higher
education from a reputed college and look forward to this experience. Every year, there is a smooth
rollout of students, who secure their admissions in their preferred country and university and step
into this new world. This in itself is a toiling process, and the pandemic crisis has ruined the situation
as students endured panic and uncertainty overall. Many questions about studying abroad are
doing the rounds, how to adapt to the new normal, should one apply for the next semester, what
are the current rules and regulations, and much more. To clear the air, here are a few of the
answers that one can refer to for further details.

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• Are Universities still
accepting International
Students?
Universities are willingly accepting all
applications and it is possible to study
abroad, however, there are some
abiding concerns to check off the list.
Most universities follow a standard
admission procedure for the
enrollment of students depending on
the country and choice of degree. This
process may now involve a few
additions to the new COVID-19
guidelines. More importantly, the
documentation process of visa
application has started as visa centers
are slowly reopening as lockdowns
have been uplifted.
Also, the COVID-19 PCR tests are
mandatory in most universities and
the respective Governments have
taken the following safety measures to
ensure the utmost protection of the
students, teachers, and various staff
members. Challenges will come along
the way as the online admission might
be delayed due to the processing of
documents or restrictions of
movement, but with feasible solutions,
the hurdles can be defeated. This in
itself is a positive sign to go ahead with
the international study process.
• Travel Plans Eases back
Traveling in the times of COVID-19 can
be overwhelming for students
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considering the journeys are long and
anxiety can kick their well-being if
flights are delayed or canceled. So,
what is suitable in such cases? Many
universities are offering online classes
and students are willing to participate
as well, but the whole point of studying
abroad is to experience a new place,
language, lifestyle, job opportunity,
and industry exposure. The institutes
along with the government and
embassies are offering a helping hand
for students to travel for their
semesters and be present for their
academic year. This enables the
students to move to the new country
efficiently and not put their careers on
hold.
• About Student Visas
The visa applications usually take
three months, so make sure to apply
well in advance. The operations of the
visa office have returned to normal
and information regarding the visa
processes can be available on the
embassy websites or any third-party
professionals can help here. Also,
there are special visa departments in
universities to guide students through
the application process.
• Accommodation and
Healthcare
For international students,
accommodations and healthcare are
top priorities to figure out before
moving abroad. Buying health
insurance and making sure about the
safety policies at the place of
accommodation is a must for all
students. For any emergency
treatment or medical condition,
students must check in with the
country-specific regulations and what
covers under their insurance term
plan.
• English-Language
Certificate
All universities require international
students to complete an English
language test which includes IELTS,
TOEFL, CAE, iBT, TEEP, and more.
After the completion of the test, a
certificate is provided for the
application process of the respective
university. Due to the current
condition, there are online options
available for the tests and also some
institutes have created their tests.
So, here are a few of the answers that
were most popular amongst the
international study niche. Also, the
campuses are kept safe and are
sanitized regularly ensuring a clean
environment around to study. So,
overall with regulatory guidelines for
safety, students can pursue their
abroad dream education and
complete their degree.
We salute
all frontliners!
Thank you for your service
and sacri ce during this
di cult time.

You are our heroes.