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Author: Hemant Mahajan

Online only universities in UK – Technology to the rescue

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

As universities in the UK shut down due to COVID 19 in March, students had to move online to attend live-streamed lectures and swap practical group work for remote assignments. In an attempt to deal with dwindling scholarships, travel restrictions and redefined visa rules, many prestigious universities have moved their courses online. Here is a look at how universities are adapting to a new norm, while using technology for remote learning.

With the pandemic calling for social distancing, it is likely to disrupt normal life for a long time to come. Hence, universities in the UK have shifted to offering online only classes. Leading the pack in the shift to online courses is the prestigious University of Cambridge, which will begin their online only academic year 2020-2021 from October 6. The university announced that it will move its entire course online for the 2020-21 academic year, scheduled to begin on October 6.

The University of Manchester has moved online for the upcoming autumn term with Cardiff University also moving most of its classes online after the summer break. Despite moving online and not being able to offer the intercultural experience that international students seek, it is also believed that top universities like Oxbridge etc will likely be able to attract and retain international students with the UK University degree tag.

In the last few months, there has been totally unexpected changes in the world which should be looked upon as an opportunity for universities to adopt people-centred technology and bring in digital transformation. Today, it can be safely said that the universities meeting this challenge will be the ones to thrive in the future. These universities need to adapt and expand their digital platforms to offer what students really want. The next step would include collaborating with tech companies to create affordable modular online course options, accessible to all.

Universities moving online will have to compete with new formats, including coding bootcamps like Le Wagon, Codeworks and Northcoders which offer quicker, cheaper courses in subjects like web development and data science with in-built industry connections. However, moving online also comes at a cost, Hence, universities in the UK will make sure their investment in digital transformation will be for the long term, especially when they had been lagging behind universities from other countries for years.

Modular Courses

The success of online learning has been experienced with institutes such as The Open University. In recent years, universities like Oxford, Imperial and UCL have also started experimenting with free MOOCS (Massive Open Online Courses) through FutureLearn with a paid upgrade option. These courses have proved to be highly popular with their affordability and accessibility and a degree from an internationally recognised University.

For online courses, the focus today has been moving towards modular courses or even short courses that can be availed from home, to match career choices. Here, technology makes these courses available with excellent existing programmes. For example, Zoom or Microsoft Teams platforms are being used to record sessions and provide apt online support for students. Workshopping technology like the whiteboard tool Miro is a great visual way of showing work. Augmented Reality which already existed in the gaming industry is being adapted to play a part in more practical courses.

Modular learning programmes allowing to pick and mix from different courses is likely to be the model going ahead with students having their virtual shopping baskets filled with the best modules according to their needs instead of signing up for a degree or a higher education programme irrelevant to them. 

Going ahead

The growth and adoption of education technology started even before COVID 19 with global edtech investments reaching US$18.66 billion in 2019 and the overall market for online education projected to reach $350 Billion by 2025. But with COVID 19, there will be a rapid rise in usage of online technology whether it was in language apps, virtual tutoring, video conferencing tools, or online learning software.

Practically, it may look like the future of UK universities is in mixing online curriculum and offline experiences, which is known as blended learning. This will enable social distancing on campus and enhance the experience of studying. Interestingly, some innovative UK universities such as the University of East Anglia (UEA) already offered blended learning even before COVID 19. 

With a consortium of 10 universities led by Coventry recently awarded £3.7m to develop partly online postgraduate conversion courses in artificial intelligence and data science, a lot of universities are taking the online route. The pandemic kickstarted a lifelong online learning agenda which will also skill up employees whose jobs will become automated in the future.

Finally, elite universities will have the advantage of their name and reputation to continue trading on, but for many other universities that bring in students because of location or for a specific course, the future depends on identifying other differentiators to bring in students. Future learning will hence be more about the quality of the learning experience and how geared up universities are to teach remotely in an innovative way using various technologies. 

To get the full benefit of online classes, there is a specific need to go beyond just replicating the physical class through video capabilities and instead, using different collaboration tools and engagement methods which promote inclusion, personalisation and intelligence. With an abundance of ready to use content available across different digital media to enable capability building and meet targeted challenges, Universities will need to use well-designed digital tools for sharing knowledge and support information. The role of technology in online learning will have to be explored to its full potential.

7 Emerging Technologies that are Reshaping Education

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

In the field of education, emerging technologies are revolutionizing the learning process for students by enhancing the way students, teachers and institutions work. Technology has changed the world and cutting-edge technologies  are reshaping education in innovative and unimaginable ways. Students are getting the opportunities and unique experiences they need and deserve as emerging technologies promise to deliver exciting new resources for learners.

Let us take a closer look at the seven emerging technologies that are earmarked to make major waves and reshape education.

1. Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality

Mixed Reality and Simulations are pathbreaking experiences for learners and teachers too. AR, considered as one of the best emerging technologies in the world, can be used by educators in innovative ways to make lessons interesting and interactive. AR is useful in overlaying interactive digital elements to give real time experience and for promoting skills like creativity, critical thinking analysis and problem solving. AR promises to help learners capture their dreams and imaginations and take learning to the next level.

Virtual Reality, the next big thing in education, enhances student learning and engagement by cutting across all barriers and immersing students in what they are learning and helping them to process information better.

learning and helping them to process information better.

2. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is already transforming the way curricula are implemented in schools, with innovations that would have been impossible a few years back. AI applications have made the academic world more convenient and personalized. One of the key impacts of AI from kindergarten to graduate school is the different levels of individualized learning with adaptive learning programs, games and software, where students can work at their own pace.

AI aims to reshape education by supporting the sharing of first-person perspectives which will be useful for students research. From artificially generated content to image recognition and smart tagging systems, AI is also automating basic activities like grading homework and tests as it takes up a lot of time for teachers. While human grading may not be fully replaced, AI can help in providing detailed analysis of student performance in exams, and help in grading to a certain extent.

AI has resulted in automation of administrative jobs, saving time for educators.

3. 5G Technology

5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology which promises high speed and low latency wireless technology. 5G is meant to change the way educational institutions interact with much quicker downloads and increased efficiency and expanding the scope of connected devices and technology within the classroom.

Some universities have started implementing IoT integration for higher education where lectures and discussions on specialized topics can be conducted through virtual reality experiences. Seamless connectivity will bring in better engagement which will be a big boon for international students, along with faster downloads of files and resources and more powerful networks. 

Interestingly, 5G was supposed to be launched in India in 2020 and would have been extremely beneficial for students learning from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, things didn’t go as planned and the launch has been pushed to mid 2021.

4. Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) has tremendous potential to create smarter and connected schools and is already impacting the education sector by making learning simpler, faster and safer. IoT can save energy and lighting, and sensors across the campus can track traffic and the strategic positioning of security features like lighting would help students and visitors too.. IoT can help break the usual barriers to education like language, location or certain disabilities, besides helping everyone with bottom-line solutions.

5. Adaptive Learning

The Adaptive learning technology provides learning activities to students, based on their needs and learning style and behavior. It helps students with unique learning paths that are based entirely on their interests and learning ability. 

It can play a huge role in the educational system as it uses computer algorithms to orchestrate the interaction with the learner. Although this technology originated from AI, it actively caters with individualized resources and top learning activities to take care of the special needs of a learner.

6. Learning Analytics

When it comes to the process of learning for students, it needs efficient tracking and analyzing to understand results better. This is essential to bring about improvement which is a very important factor in education to improve the learning experience of every student. The learning analytics technology helps teachers to better record the learning rate and behavior of students so that teachers can provide targeted improvements to courses.

7. Blockchain

The Blockchain technology which has changed every industry dynamically, can prove to be very useful in the education sector as well. It is especially useful to collaborate around distributed information in a database. Blockchain can help in examination management, verifying student credentials, verifying certificates, managing life-long learning records etc. Besides effective analyzing and tracking, it can help teachers provide targeted improvement for courses and help students deliver enhanced results.

Blended Learning in the Education Sector: The Need of the Hour

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

Today the educational landscape is changing. The pandemic has opened the gate to think beyond the traditional learning & teaching methods. Teachers are adapting to new technologies as digital transformation becomes more convenient and necessary than ever before.

With the imminent reopening of schools and higher education institutions are planning to use a mixture of online learning and traditional teaching where students will come to schools for a few days a week. Hence, the concept of blended learning is leaping in the education world.

Even before the advent of the internet, correspondence education, and independent learning through distance education programs were prevalent. As digital platforms have become more accessible to purchase and implement, there has been more inclination towards mixing conventional and modern learning that could benefit students.

If it weren’t for technology, it wouldn’t be possible for educators to keep the education running even for a short period. Traditional teaching, online learning, online classes, and hybrid classes are all mediums for knowledge transfer and enable students to master in given subjects. These terms are becoming a part of 21st-century learning when talking about education, and blended learning is one popular concept among educators.

What is blended learning? 

There has been much confusion to find the meaning of blended learning. You can find many definitions for it. To sum up all the definitions of B-Learning, it is “enhancing teaching with the help of digital platforms and online educational content.”

Blended learning is one form of hybrid learning that uses multiple digital resources to expand the classroom approach. Hybrid learning does it in two-parts, separate sessions of face-to-face instruction and online sessions. In blended learning, both systems are integrated along with digital modalities to create a coherent and yet varied learning environment.

What is the difference between blended learning & hybrid learning?

Most of the time blended learning and hybrid learning are used interchangeably. It is similar if we see the broad spectrum but there is a subtle difference between them. Hybrid learning is a holistic approach that focuses mainly on enhancing learning experiences for students. As the name suggests, it is the combination of various methods of learning methods whether it is offline, online, distance learning, etc. It replaced most of the physical communication between teachers and students with online interactions. Whereas blended learning is an explicit combination of offline and online approaches of instructions. It is a perfect blend of online instruction and offline communication among learners & instructors.

What are the types of blended learning?

Blended learning has many types according to the usage and techniques such as; Remote Blended Learning, Flipped Classroom, Mastery-Based Blended Learning. But it is broadly classified into two categories, as synchronous learning and asynchronous learning.

In synchronous learning, groups of people connect with coaches/ instructors, and real-time discussion is similar to offline classes. It provides a sense of community and encourages them in more collaborative learning. Whereas in asynchronous learning, educational content is delivered to students. It is more like a distance learning program. It is more flexible and allows students to learn according to their pace. 

What is the objective of blended learning?

There is no doubt that technology aids learning, fuels the ultimate objective of education i.e., Knowledge Transfer and supports learners in a holistic learning environment. Blended learning is a combination of traditional and modern approaches that become convenient for teachers to adapt to new technologies with the conventional method’s backup. 

Blended learning enhances access to education and maximizes flexibility. A blended learning model meets students wherever they are by delivering content in a self-directed, digital format.


What are the methods of blended learning?

As it is all about flexibility, blended learning comes with numbers that educators are using nowadays.

One of the most famous ones is known as a flipped classroom. A flipped classroom is a teaching method that works in reverse i.e., from students to teachers. It is where teachers have questions that they share with students in advance. The responses from students help capture where the teachers will need to focus their guidance in a discussion. This way, they can target instructions in a way that is most effective for learners.

For example, a teacher might provide students with a discussion topic or question before class and ask for feedback via email or perhaps a shared online document. The teacher reviews the responses before class and uses that information to more intentionally direct the live discussion. Here student input comes first, with the activity coming second, the opposite to traditional learning, where the instructor will first facilitate discussion and then solicit feedback in response.

Just-in-time learning is another method. This is where teachers use class time for active learning and remove passive activities that students could do on their own, such as reviewing the syllabus.

It could also involve video tutorials and digital activities targeted for students to complete at their own pace. It allows teachers to focus classroom time entirely to hone in on confusion or lead group work or other collaborative activities.

Implementing more robust coaching and advising models are also an essential strategy for blended learning. Personalized, face-to-face support meets students’ expectations and allows to build rapport between instructors & learners intentionally. It creates a sense of accountability driven by the customized nature of the instructor-learner relationship.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of blended learning?

A significant benefit of blended learning is flexibility for students; the ability to control the pace. It also creates space for reflective thought for students. Digital resources are generally readily available unless there are budget issues.

But some fundamental issues create obstacles for penetration of blended learning. Unfortunately, ready access to high-speed internet isn’t a given for everyone, even for families with the internet in their home. Similarly, parents with a full-time job might need to prioritize it using the bandwidth. Moreover, having several siblings in the house who all need to stream video for school assignments at the same time, and a mobile hotspot won’t be sufficient.

One way to combat this is to incorporate blended learning activities that don’t just involve bumping someone in front of a screen but encouraging experiential learning or offline, more reflective, or independent tasks.

How Education ERP facilitates blended learning?

Education ERP is a management information system for educational institutions that helps educators to manage all administrative tasks through a single platform. It also improves communication among all the stakeholders thereby enhancing the overall student experience.

Solutions such as Academia ERP are integrated with a learning management system that enables institutions to facilitate education digitally. It also aids communication between teachers & students beyond campuses that makes learning more student-centric that is the ultimate goal of blended learning. 

In concluding note

Due to the outbreak of the pandemic, education leaders are bound to implement technology in educational institutions. The new normal of the post-COVID world of education will be inbuilt with EdTech to maintain institutional continuity. Ultimately, all learning methods are designed so that teachers can focus on the vital component of their role; student-focused education. That’s what learners need the most. Providing the content is laying the foundation, but working with learners to enhance their knowledge with that content is the key.

Blended learning allows teachers and students to work more cohesively by using all available resources in multiple ways to enhance learning and ultimately to help students find the method of learning that benefits them the most.

6 Reasons to Use Admission Management System in the Next Academic Session

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

Make the admission process simple, seamless, and efficient with an automated admission management system

Though the admission season remains for a limited period it takes a toll on academic staff and creates a lot of challenges. It becomes more difficult when institutions do all the administrative work manually. It takes a significant amount of time and effort from admission form sales to student registration. Considering the current situation when the COVID-19 pandemic caused a screeching halt in the entire world. now achieving the admission targets will become even tougher. Without the implementation of an online admission management system, institutes will have no other option than to wait for reopening.

With the help of the admission management system, all these problems cease to null and the admission process becomes super simple, and effective and reduces the paperwork significantly.

  • Social Distancing & Safety

The impact of the corona is going to stay for a while. We all have to find a way to live with it by keeping each other and ourselves safe and sound. Social distancing is one of the best ways to render the spread of viruses. But we can’t stop working. Can we? That’s why educational institutions should have methods to maintain institutional continuity.

Academia Student Information System offers a holistic admission management system that allows institutions to kick in online admission so that students don’t have to come to institutions or talk to someone. They can simply go to the website and apply for admission and keep the track of their application via the applicant portal. The admin responsible for managing the student admission process can work on the software anytime anywhere.

  • Productive hours bank

With the smart usage of technology, it becomes quite easy to manage all of the work in an effective time frame. Today, we live in an era where time is the essence of everything. With the admission management system, the staff gets to save a significant amount of time that can be utilized in other productive hours.

Academia ERP offers inquiry management, campaign management, and other record management features. You can easily manage every step of the process and keep track of it. It also offers Y-O-Y tracking by which you can compare your target from previous years and analyze what works for you. It helps you to generate online reports without any fuss and that reduces time investment in manual tasks and gains productive hours that can be used in other fruitful work.

  • Paper-less Solution

Nobody likes to go through piles of paperwork. Not only is it time-consuming but it is mundane and tedious. In the fast-paced work environment, there is no place for sloth movement. Nowadays everyone is going digital to ensure less paperwork and more productive work.

Academia ensures the 360-digital transformation of educational institutions. From e-receipt of fees, invoices, and administrative reports, complete automation of day-to-day activities. The records of fees are easily shareable with students and parents. Scholarship and sponsorship candidates can check the details on their portal and the fee is easily transferable online.

  • Seamless admission tracking 

Manual admission requires endless phone calls by parents and students for all kinds of questions looking for updates and information for admission processes, updates on the application status, registration date, updates, and more. It creates hassles for students, parents, and admissions officers.

However, with the Education ERP system communication with parents and students becomes super convenient. With Academia Applicant Portal, they can check the application status, fee requisite, offer letter, and all the updates. Once the application is accepted, the application portal turns into a student portal and students/parents can check all the information, of course, attendance, fee, scholarship, etc.

  • Superior parents experience 

Nowadays, both parents are working professionals. They have a scarcity of time and resources. They don’t want to come to the institute, stand in the long queue, fill out the form and wait for updates. They expect today’s educational institutions to be advanced and agile.

Using admission management can help schools and higher education to fulfill their expectations. Administrators can send automated SMS/email via the software. With the use of Apps and Parent Portal, they can do all the processes from the comfort of their workplace or home. The Education ERP makes sure that admission can be done anytime from anywhere, without any complexity.

  • Multiple academy control

Many institutions have multiple academies at various locations. And it becomes difficult to align the admission process, reports, and records in all the academies. It also creates a non-uniform experience for students and parents and thereby decreases the brand value or experience of the institution.

With an online admission process, you can control all the academies from one platform irrespective of their location. You can easily link them together, and access the information whenever you want. It also helps to understand the performance of each institution, compare them with each other, and analyze where improvements are required. It brings a smoother workflow across all the locations and helps in institutional development.

In the end

To sum up, the admissions management system is a necessity not a luxury anymore. Schools and Higher Education Institutions have to empower their admission process with automation and bring seamless and efficacious administrative processes.

Want to improve the admission rate in the upcoming session? Know how Academia SIS is helping 220+ institutions to boost student enrollment in our Free Demo. Book Now!

What are the Benefits of School Fee Management Software?

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

Managing fee records in school is difficult if done manually. There are multiple fee structures, various departments, and n-numbers of students; it’s an art to keep track of everything and be able to access the exact details whenever there is a need. It is time-consuming and lacks flexibility, transparency for parents, and students. 

However, it becomes smooth with a fee management system to handle all the fee-related tasks in school.  It gives a platform that connects the entire campus, multiple academies in one place, and simplifies administrative processes. 

Here are the seven benefits of using fee management software in school:

  • Streamline Fee Collection

Online Fee Management System gives you a centralized platform to handle all the resources in one place. It makes the entire process super easy, simplifies data management, and makes the workflow seamless. There is no need to use multiple software programs for a particular function. Parents can submit the fee online via Parent Portal or Mobile Apps; there is no need to come to the institute and wait in line to do the same. 

  • Scalable & Configurable 

Every school strives for growth, and therefore it should have the software that can support the development. Academia ERP is such enterprise resource planning for educational institutions. Its fee module is scalable to the needs of the school. It is adjustable to increasing numbers of free spectrums, making it easy to use education ERP. If a school has multiple campuses in various locations, it is configurable, according to every institution.

  • Mobile Apps, SMS & Email Integration

No more paper waste! School Fee Management Software is provided with the facility with the SMS & Email. Students and parents get the notifications for upcoming/pending fee details. After the fee submission, they again get the confirmation message for the same. Not only that, but they can also access all these details and previous fee records via the app. Academia ERP offers a Student/Parent App for the same to give them the power to access the details anytime, anywhere. 

  • Invoice Management

With the automation of fee management processes, invoice management becomes hassle-free. All the invoices for tuition fees, registration fees, scholarships, sponsorships, etc. all can be done quickly with this software. Users can send the e-invoice to parents/students or share the document in their portal. It reduces the stress of paperwork and storage. 

  • Fast payment

Fee submission can be as simple as buying stuff from Amazon e-commerce. Within a few clicks, parents/students can do the transaction any time they want. Fee management software is integrated with multiple payment gateways that provide quick remittance for fast payment, which is safe & secure. They also access various payment modes, such as VISA, MAESTRO, credit/debit card, internet banking, etc.

  • Comprehensive Reports

School Fee Management applications provide a comprehensive and smart reporting engine for the entire department. With its analytics, you can efficiently deal with fee structure student-wise, course-wise, and more. It also offers visual aids with colorful charts that help in faster and better-informed decision making.

  • Easy Calculation

Some schools offer scholarships, sponsorship, sibling discounts, and more facilities like that. With the school fee management software, you can perform all the calculations within seconds. There is no need to go through calculators and paperwork.  

In Conclusion

Implementing this software is highly beneficial for schools as well as higher education. It empowers educators, saves significant time, makes management processes proficient, and easy for everyone. It reduces the staff workload, makes fee records error-free, and allows them to focus on students.

Do you want to streamline the fee management process in your school? Check out the working of the Fee Management Module in a FREE EDUCATION ERP DEMO with our experts. Book Now!

5 Step Process to Implement OBE In Your Academic Institution

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

Outcome-based education or OBE is the latest development in the education industry. It is a type of education delivery model that focuses on mapping, measuring, and achieving pre-determined educational goals. It prioritizes student learning and development by nurturing the pre-existing skills in students to help them grow in their professional and personal life. 

Clearly, it is a major leap from the existing education delivery model where a lot of time and effort is spent on scoring good marks in examinations rather than skill development and knowledge acquisition. OBE thus can help you change that, and provide a definite solution for the increasing problems such as unemployment, skill alignment as per the global market standards, and more. 

If you are thinking about implementing OBE in your education institute, here are some tips to successfully implement it, and ensure better student outcomes.

 

 

Outcome-based Education Process – Step By Step OBE Implementation

  • Goal Setting 

First and foremost, it is imperative to set short-term and long-term goals for individual students in terms of learning outcomes, personal growth, skill development, and institute overall performance. Institutes can follow the given steps to define vision and mission department-wise. 

  • Start by brainstorming with experts and experienced faculty of various departments
  • Speak with industry professionals and alumni batches
  • Analyse the opinion and define a solid plan of action 

Once the vision and mission are clear, the institute needs to focus on teaching and learning processes.

  • Program and Education Objective and Program Outcomes

Program Educational Objectives help teachers define the expected outcomes for the students once they graduate, this includes academic and behavioral aspects both that are absolutely necessary to excel in their career. 

  • The vision and mission set in the first step should be central to the action plan.
  • Experienced faculty members and the heads of various departments must draft and share it across their respective departments. 
  • The draft and processes need to be implemented and discussed thoroughly for gaining the approval of authorities. You can iterate the draft to prepare a final draft. 
  • Once the final draft is ready after taking all the considerations of people involved in the implementation process, it is presented to Program Assessment Committee so that it can further be forwarded to Departmental Advisory Board. 
  • The Departmental Advisory Board reviews the points mentioned in the draft and sends them to the Board of Studies & Academic Council for final approval. Once the approval comes in, the draft is taken as a guide to design a fresh curriculum for the students to grow personally and professionally. 
  • Institutions need to analyze the student learning outcomes periodically to identify the learning gaps and rectify them. It is usually focused on Professional Skill Development, Problem-Solving Skills, Industry-Specific Skill Development & Creative Enhancement. 
  • Establishing Program Outcomes 

POs or Program Outcomes are defined as the objective achieved at the end of the specialization or discipline. These attributes are defined while a student is undergoing education and determined when they get a degree. 

Here is a step-by-step approach to establishing the POs for the institution. 

  • The Program Coordinator consults with the senior faculty to prepare a draft for program outcomes. 
  • The Coordinator speaks with alumni, industry experts, and various employers to understand the skill requirement and new trends in the industry. On analyzing the views, a synthesized version of the draft is created and sent to the Program Assessment Committee. 
  • The Program Assessment Committee reviews the draft and sends it to the Department of Advisory Board to get the final approval from them. 
  • Department Advisory Board makes the final decision by moderating the draft.
12 Graduate attributes mentioned By the National Accreditation Board In Their Guidelines to attain POs successfully
PO1 Knowledge PO7 Environment
PO2 Problem Analysis Capability PO8 Ethics of Individuals
PO3 Development & Designing of System PO9 Teamwork & Individual Contribution
PO4 Analyze & Solve Complex Problems PO10 Communication
PO5 Use of Latest Tools & Devices PO11 Finance & Management of Project
PO6 Society’s Responsibilities PO12 Life-long Learner
  • Establishing the Course Outcomes

Course Outcomes are different than Program Outcomes. The objective of CO or Course Outcome is to define the objectives that are achieved at the end of a semester/year. It is basically the outcome that is achieved in theory and practical lessons concluded at the end of the year or semester.

  • CO-PO Mapping Process

To thoroughly analyze if a student has successfully achieved the goals set at the beginning of the process, it is important to map Course Outcomes with Program Outcomes. To do that, follow these steps: 

  • Specify and obtain the course outcomes
  • Map COs with POs
  • Set an appropriate weightage for the CO assessment
  • Measure the COs through assessment given to students
  • COs & POs attainment calculation needs to be done. 

Concluding

Outcome-based Education can help you stand out in the education market and offer a quality education. But for that to happen you must have a great implementation strategy on your hands. Use the above-mentioned steps to achieve successful implementation of OBE. To assist you in your course toward redefining education consider an ERP solution that offers process streamlining, simplified processes, better results, easy CO-PO mapping, and more. Explore the Academia ERP OBE module here. 

Technology in Education: Key Takeaways from NEP 2020

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

In July 2020, India’s HRD Ministry was renamed Education Ministry and it unveiled the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a revolutionary regulation with ground breaking changes in Indian Education. This policy, while focusing on various aspects of education, weaves in technology at every stage. 

The NEP has been welcomed by educators all over the country who insisted it was long due. In the last few years, India has turned itself into an information focused society and it has become the need of the hour to embrace technology in the field of education. The NEP 2020 states that one of the main drivers of the education system will be ‘extensive use of technology in teaching and learning, removing language barriers, increasing access as well as education planning and management’.

It has become even more relevant in the current pandemic situation when virtual learning is the new normal, to re imagine conventional learning and teaching techniques. The Policy drafts a vision of education for the new generation which will help to build a self-reliant India.

According to the policy, a dedicated e-education unit and a National Education Technology Forum (NETF) will be set up to boost digital content, infrastructure and capacity building. Through NETF, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, computing devices and other educational software and hardware will be incorporated into education at all levels to improve classroom processes, boost student progress, support teachers development and streamline administration and management.

Let’s look at some of the key aspects of NEP 2020 dealing with technology.

Primary Education

  • Recognising technology as an aid for teachers, bridging language barriers between teacher and student, creating digital libraries, enabling greater access to education, specifically for differently abled children.
  • Coding to be introduced in school curriculum as an important skill for students to develop.
  • Technology can be effectively used for teacher education and online teacher training.

Professional & Higher Education

  • Technology to be a part of professional education (legal/health)
  • Technology to be used to achieve 100% literacy has been proposed. For this, quality technology-based options for adult learning has to be introduced.
  • Recognising the importance of technology in addressing different challenges of society and to promote interdisciplinary research and innovation. For example, setting up a National Research Foundation has been proposed to grow a culture of research and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have been encouraged to open start-up incubation centres and technology development centres
  • The National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) to be set up to serve as a platform for the free exchange of ideas on using technology to enhance learning, assessment, and administration.

Administration of Education

  • The Academic Bank of Credit is to be created, which will digitally store academic credits earned from various HEIs. These credits earned over a period of time will help to grant degrees.
  • Focus on using technology to ensure efficiency and transparency of regulatory bodies like the State School Standards Authority, the Higher Education Commission of India and also its four verticals (National Higher Education Regulatory Council, National Accreditation Council, Higher Education Grants Council and the General Education Council).

Adapting to Artificial Intelligence

  • Recognising the challenges arising from the widespread use of Artificial Intelligence, the Policy focuses on the need to adopt changes occurring due to excessive use of AI across sectors.
  • The NETF will identify and categorise emerging technologies according to their potential and estimated timeframe for disruption, and present a periodic analysis to the Education Ministry, who will formally identify the relevant technologies.
  • The Policy is pioneering the need to generate awareness and conduct research on various facets of the emerging disruptive technologies, including concerns about data handling and security.

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Digital India

  • The Policy foresees creating a dedicated unit to frame the development of digital infrastructure, content and capacity building to take care of the e-education needs of school and higher education.
  • On a national level, the NEP 2020 calls for

> Investing in digital infrastructure
> Developing online teaching platforms and tools
> Creating virtual labs and digital repositories-Training teachers towards becoming quality online content creators
> Designing and implementing online assessments
> Establishing quality standards for content and technology
> Pedagogy for online teaching-learning

It has to be acknowledged that the NEP 2020 has done a path breaking job in incorporating technology in the Indian education system, but this also raises certain concerns and challenges that cannot be ignored.

A large part of rural India is still digitally challenged. According to a government survey conducted between July 2017 to June 2018, the results released in November 2019 say –

(a) Only 4.4% households in rural India have computers as against 23.4% urban households.
(b) 14.9% of rural India has internet facility as against 42% urban households.
(c) Internet users are growing in rural India, though access is almost always through mobile phones, in rural as well as urban areas.

For the purpose of education, it is necessary for students to have exclusive access to any form of digital hardware, be it a smartphone, computer or tablet. However, in today’s scenario, a majority of students from under privileged backgrounds have limited or no access to devices, internet and in some cases, even electricity.

While NEP 2020 recognises these limitations and the efforts to eliminate them with campaigns like Digital India and making affordable computing devices available, practical solutions are needed along with awareness on the importance and use of technology. Also, the human factor of education is crucial and technology is meant to further amplify the learning experience.

The NEP 2020 is undoubtedly a progressive step towards education of the future, with technology playing an invaluable role in facilitating teaching and learning. Hence, it is important to develop a coherent road map for promoting successful technologies and also providing effective data security and privacy, with the help of ed-tech companies which offer holistic education management information systems .

Estimates say that by 2022, the Indian K-12 ed-tech market, including educational ERP softwares, will be worth USD 1.7 billion and post K12 ed-tech market will be worth USD 1.8 billion. The policy also offers an opportunity for cooperation between the various industry stakeholders and regulatory authorities/educational institutions.

Finally, the success of NEP 2020 will depend on how well it is implemented, and how effectively the objectives of the Policy are integrated within the existing initiatives while also involving the relevant stakeholders in delivering the policy effectively.

The NEP 2020 is a great step in accepting that education in the future will mean greater dematerialisation and digitalisation of content and working towards staying ahead of the curve. For a country steeped in a traditional education system, this itself for India is an extraordinary feat.

NEP Policy: Opportunity for Educational Institutes in Distance Education

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

NEP policy has introduced a new concept of credit transfer: a student can take a course offered by an educational institution registered with the Academic Bank of Credit and use the credit for his degree. NEP policy has also allowed students to take various courses as part of their undergraduate and postgraduate programs. 

This approach has created an opportunity for educational institutes to offer their courses in Distance Learning mode to the students. But running a distance learning program also needs the appropriate ERP systems. Some unique requirements of distance learning are:

  • Easy online distribution of study materials/ Assignments

    Students may be far away in distance education. So the physical distribution of course materials is not possible. An ERP system with the option to upload various course types and materials (pdf, ppt, video, program files, etc.) with targeted distribution capability can help educational institutes.

    AcademiaERP has options where faculties can upload various course materials and distribute them to the students of specific programs. There are options to send course materials to students of multiple programs or a particular set of students. Also, the availability of course materials can be restricted by time, so it is ensured that the students access the course materials within the stipulated timeline. It also has the option to send an automatic real-time email, whatsapp messages, etc., to the students once the study material is uploaded to the ERP portal. 
  • Online submission of assignments by the students and correction of the assignment by the faculty

    Due to physical distance, students enrolled in distance education should be allowed to submit assignments online, and faculty should have the condition to upload corrected assignments online.

    AcademiaERP has options for faculty to upload assignments on the portal and distribute them to the proper recipients. The assignments can also be made available till a particular time. Students can access the assignments and submit their assignments via Student Portal. They can also access the corrected assignments via student portals. To ensure automated communication, there are options to enable automated real-time email. These whatsapp messages among students and teachers get triggered by uploading assignments by the faculties, submitting assignments by the students, etc.
  • Online Fee Generation, Fee Collections, and Fee Receipts



    Institutes can generate fees in AcademiaERP and assign them to the program(s). There are options to offer multiple payment schedules like one-time, installments, and opportunities to offer discounts/ scholarships based on students’ performances. AcademiaERP is integrated with various payment gateways to enable students to pay online fees. Receipts are also generated online and can be downloaded in the student portal.

    AcademiaERP comes with multiple fee dashboards and charts where the admin can see the total fee collected, fees overdue, etc., at various levels like program level, institute level, etc. There are also options to create and send automatic emails, whatsapp messages on fees overdue to the students and admins.

Interested to know more? Learn all about the new National Education Policy here.

Know how Academia ERP can help your institute to be the pioneer in this digital age. Contact us to learn more!

Top 10 Chain Of schools in India

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

Education plays a crucial role in shaping the future of a nation. In India, several educational institutions have emerged as pioneers in providing quality education. This blog presents a curated list of the best chain of schools in India, evaluated based on several key parameters. Additionally, we will explore how technology, along with the implementation of an Academic Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, has helped educational institutes excel in their endeavors.

Listed below are the top 10 Chains of schools in India on the basis of their Year of establishment, number & quality of students, and number of schools in the chain.

1. The Ryan International Group of Institutions in Mumbai.

It was established in 1976 and currently operates 137 schools across India. These schools are affiliated with various boards such as CBSE, CISCE, IB, CAIE, and state boards. With an aggregate enrollment of 270,000 students and a faculty of 16,000, the Ryan International Group has a presence in 40 cities across 16 states. This school chain, promoted by Dr. Augustine and Mrs. Grace Pinto, has gained recognition for its commitment to providing quality English-medium education beyond metropolitan areas, extending to tier-II, III, and IV cities. In 2018, the group was honored with the World’s 100 Greatest Brands 2018 award.

2. Podar Education Network, headquartered in Mumba.

It was established in 1927. It comprises 124 schools and 350 preschools, making it a prominent name in preprimary and higher school education in India. Affiliated with CBSE, CISCE, IB, state boards, and Cambridge International, the Podar Education Network has an aggregate enrollment of 150,000 students and a faculty of 6,800. Seth Anandilal Podar founded the Podar Group of Schools, and under the chairmanship of Dr. Pavan Podar, the network has achieved success by focusing on well-trained teachers equipped with the latest digital technologies and a contemporary education approach that prepares students for the challenges of the modern world.

3. Billabong High International Schools, Mumbai.

It started in the year 2000 and has since grown to encompass 30 schools in 21 cities across India. With affiliations to CISCE, CBSE, and Cambridge International, these schools prioritize creating an engaging curriculum that fosters joyful learning experiences for students. Billabong High International Schools emphasize a holistic approach by integrating sports and performing arts into their curriculum. Their dedication to providing an integrated, multi-disciplinary education helps develop students’ creativity, critical thinking, and practical skills. In 2016, the schools were recognized with the Best School Brand award by the Economic Times.

4. The VIBGYOR Group, Mumbai.

It was established in 2004 and operates 33 schools across nine cities in India. Affiliated with CBSE, CISCE, and Cambridge International, the VIBGYOR schools have an aggregate enrollment of 48,000 students and a faculty of 6,000. Founded by Rustom P. Kerawalla, these schools have gained a reputation for setting new benchmarks in quality education. The VIBGYOR schools are known for their unique integrated curriculum, which encompasses classroom learning, sports, performing arts, and extracurricular activities to ensure the overall development of students.

5. The Presidency Group, Bangalore.

It was established in 1976 and currently operates seven schools across two cities. Affiliated with CBSE and CISCE, the Presidency Group has an aggregate enrollment of 15,000 students and a faculty of 1,100. Founded by Dr. Nissar Ahmed, the Presidency Group is highly regarded as one of the top schools in Bangalore. The distinguishing feature of Presidency schools is their meticulously designed curriculum, which incorporates thematic and integrated pedagogies to foster critical thinking and the application of knowledge. Values and life-skills education plays a significant role in preparing learners to face the challenges of the modern era.

6. The Maharishi Vidya Mandir Schools, based in Bhopal.

It was established in 1991 and currently operates in 156 schools across 126 cities in India. These schools are affiliated with CBSE and state boards. With an aggregate enrollment of 102,500 students and a faculty of 6,500, the Maharishi Vidya Mandir Schools were conceptualized to honor the wisdom and teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The schools offer an academically rigorous curriculum prescribed by CBSE and state boards, complemented by the Maharishi Consciousness pedagogy. This unique approach combines Vedic education with Maharishi Technology, including practices like transcendental meditation and Siddhi programs that aim to unlock students’ full creative potential.

 

7. The Kendriya Vidyalayas, headquartered in Delhi

This chain was established in 1962 and currently comprises 1,204 schools spread across 29 states and seven Union territories in India. These schools are affiliated with CBSE and primarily cater to the children of Central government employees in transferable jobs. Managed by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, an autonomous body under the Union HRD ministry’s jurisdiction, the Kendriya Vidyalayas offer heavily subsidized fees and are known for their outstanding examination results. In 2019, the Kendriya Vidyalayas achieved a national pass percentage of 99.47% in the CBSE class X exams, surpassing all other CBSE-affiliated schools, including private ones.

 

8. The Vidya Bharati Schools, located in Lucknow

Were established in 1952 and currently operate a network of 13,067 schools across 29 states in India. These schools have an aggregate enrollment of 3.4 million students and a faculty of 150,190. The Vidya Bharati Schools focus on educating students about Hindutva, patriotism, and Indian values and culture, in addition to following the standard curriculum. The schools provide specially written texts about Indian culture and customs, and all students are required to learn moral education, physical education (including martial arts), music, Sanskrit, and Vedic math.

 

9. The DAV Schools

This group was founded in 1886, have grown to become the largest non-governmental educational society in India. With over 900 schools, the DAV Schools have an aggregate enrollment of 2 million students and a faculty of 50,000. The schools follow Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s ideals and offer education primarily in English, along with compulsory education in Hindi, Sanskrit, or a regional language. In 2013, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) awarded the DAV Schools with the Best Chain of Schools in India accolade.

10. The Delhi Public School Society

This group was established in 1941, comprises 205 schools in India and 11 abroad. As a non-profit, non-proprietary, private educational organization, the Delhi Public School Society enjoys a reputation as one of the most respected and trusted education societies in India. Founded by Pinkesh Barjatiya, the society began as Church High School and has since embraced innovation in its learning programs. The faculty at Delhi Public Schools focuses on revolutionizing education through ideas and practices that align with new-age educational trends and global associations. Society places a primary emphasis on meaningful and joyful learning experiences for students.

It is worth noting that this list does not encompass all popular school chains in India, as there are many others making significant contributions to the education system. Technological advancements have played a crucial role in the growth and expansion of these institutions.

How Academia ERP Helps Chain of Schools:

Introduction:

In the 21st century, technology has revolutionized the education sector, empowering institutions and chains of institutions to provide an enhanced learning experience. Additionally, the implementation of an Academic ERP/School Management System (SMS) has streamlined administrative processes, leading to improved efficiency. Here are a few ways technology and Academia ERP contributes to the success of educational institutes with multiple branches:

 

1. Centralized Data Management:

Implementing an Academia ERP system in a chain of schools offers the advantage of centralized data management. With all information stored in a single platform, schools can easily access and update student records, academic performance, attendance, timetables, and more. This eliminates data redundancy and inconsistency while enabling accurate reporting and analysis. Centralization also improves stakeholder communication and collaboration, empowering teachers, administrators, and parents to access relevant information and facilitate seamless interactions. Overall, Academia ERP streamlines data management enhances decision-making, and promotes a cohesive educational ecosystem within the chain of schools.

2. Enhanced Teaching and Learning:

Technology enables interactive teaching methods, multimedia-based learning, and virtual classrooms, making education more engaging and effective. Students can access online resources, collaborate with peers, and benefit from personalized learning experiences.

3. Efficient Administration:

Academia ERP systems automate administrative tasks such as attendance management, fee collection, timetable scheduling, and examination management. This reduces manual work, minimizes errors, and improves overall operational efficiency.

4. Seamless Communication:

Technology facilitates seamless communication between teachers, students, and parents. Online platforms, email, and messaging systems enable quick and effective information sharing, progress tracking, and parent-teacher collaboration.

5. Data Management and Analysis:

Academia ERP systems store and manage vast amounts of data, allowing institutes to analyze student performance, identify areas of improvement, and make data-driven decisions. This enhances the overall academic quality and enables personalized interventions.

6. Parent Engagement:

Technology platforms enable parents to stay connected with their child’s education journey. Parents can access real-time updates on attendance, grades, assignments, and school announcements, fostering a strong parent-school partnership.

Conclusion:

The listed chain of schools in India, considering parameters such as year of establishment, number of schools, number of students, infrastructure, board affiliation, tuition fees, and student quality, showcase a commitment to providing quality education and holistic development. Moreover, the integration of technology and the implementation of an Academia School Management System (SMS) have propelled educational institutes toward excellence by enhancing teaching and learning, streamlining administrative processes, and promoting effective communication. With continuous advancements in technology, the future of education holds immense potential for further growth and innovation.

Importance of College ERP for Stakeholders

Posted on by Hemant Mahajan

In the past decade, technology has become an integral part of many industries/businesses, and educational institutions are never an exception. Nowadays, with the increasing scope of technology, universities, higher education, and schools are incorporating quick decision-making into their current system. Institutions that are seeking a smart school or college management system need to opt for tools and software that can help faculty members, administrators, and other staff to master their tasks with more accuracy and efficiency.


 

  • Capability to manage academic & administrative tasks 

The current scenario of educational institutions involves a bundle of academic and administrative tasks. Right from admission enquiry to the alumni of the student, the administrators, faculty members, guest lecturers, and researchers find it difficult to manage all the operations manually. 

To this, a college ERP software can be the best solution, it can provide administrators and faculty members manage all the operations efficiently using just one single software. It can avail faculty members to manage all the important objectives in just a few minutes of tasks. 

  • Remote admission process 

Admission season is considered one of the busiest yet most important seasons in any educational institution. In completing this process, the staff, administrators, and faculty members get frustrated with the manual interventions in the institutions. In today’s scenario, institutions must choose technologies like college ERP software that can become a savior and help in managing all the admission-related activities remotely, quickly, and accurately. It also enhances productivity and boosts faculty morale in positive ways.

  • Efficient examination management

The examination time is also one of the hectic periods for educational institutions. It includes a bulk of tasks like question paper generation, hall ticket distribution, examination sheet checking, result, and more. So in the paced world, institutions must opt for good software that can help in automating the complete examination process and help in validating a fruitful examination season for students, faculty members, and ultimately for the institution.


 

  • Synchronized attendance management 

Attendance is also a crucial element of administrative processes in an institution. An effective attendance system brings success for students and also for the institute. Institutions that are still following manual processes always find attendance management a confusing and hectic process. It also creates a wall between the faculty and parents as faculty members are not always able to share the exact attendance details of students in an institution. 

An automated attendance system brings efficiency to the institution, improves student performance, and ensures trust between parents and faculty. Automation of attendance processes using biometric integration or directly through the portal can help institutions bring efficiency in different ways. 

  • Accurate financial aid 

Managing financial aid in universities, colleges, and schools is a difficult task for administrators, faculty members, and even for students if done manually. There are multiple fee structures, various departments, and of course a huge number of students. 

Meanwhile, institutions can make the complete finance process easy, flexible, and transparent. It gives a true platform and connects the entire process for just one or multiple campuses simplifying all the fee-related and financial operations of the institute. 

  • Student lifecycle management

A student is considered the most important stakeholder of any educational entity. Almost all of the tasks in the institution are connected to students. Faculty members always find it difficult to manage and organize students using the manual intervention. A school or college ERP software can attract students, track their interests, and nurture them accordingly. It also can help institutions engage students in real prospects and provide faculty and parents with real-time analytics for student tracking and enhancement. 

  • Data & information management

Educational institutions involve a huge amount of student data for managing school affairs systematically. In manual intervention, it becomes crucial for faculty members to manage data in papers, files, and documents. 

Automation through a robust ERP/SIS can help institutions streamline the complete processes and manage student data. It also helps to store, organize, and manage all the data in a centralized manner that can be easily accessed, edited, and updated from anywhere and anytime by faculty and parents according to the authority. 

  • A hybrid method of learning 

In today’s advanced and technological world, it is important for educational institutions to opt for a hybrid method of learning. A combination of both online and offline methods in the classroom using new technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality and more can help institutions ease student learning and teaching process. 

Conclusion 

A college ERP can be the best solution for educational institutions, it can provide robust management for every stakeholder, especially faculty members and students. Hope you like the article, still having doubts? Let’s discuss this now! 

Capability to manage academic & administrative tasks 

The current scenario of educational institutions involves a bundle of academic and administrative tasks. Right from admission enquiry to the alumni of the student, the administrators, faculty members, guest lecturers, and researchers find it difficult to manage all the operations manually. 

To this, a college ERP software can be the best solution, it can provide administrators and faculty members manage all the operations efficiently using just one single software. It can avail faculty members to manage all the important objectives in just a few minutes of tasks. 

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