Covid-19 has taught students importance of quick response to disaster and implementation of solution, says BFSI HOD

In the current scenario when the country is figuring out ways to overcome this pandemic situation, Mumbai-based B-School Vidyalankar School of Business is using this time as an opportunity. As education sector moves towards digitilisation, the institute has adopted a curriculum and admission process that could be done online. In a conversation with HOD BFSI and Management Programmes Gaurang Bhatt says learning never ceases, has no boundaries and knows no borders.

Here is the edited excerpt of the conversation

Q: How has today’s scenario of lockdown and global pandemic impacted your education system?

A: Well, the Covid-19 pandemic has halted everything across the world and India, being no exception to it. Right from transportation to manufacturing, small and big units/offices in services sector, schools to colleges and educational institutions/campuses and so on. We can see the efforts of government machineries to contain this pandemic across the world and India too fighting this battle at costs and fronts. Words like lockdown, quarantine, social distancing were unthinkable in the fastest developing country and economy like India. But yes, these words have proved to a great savior for the entire human race at present across the globe. The impact of lockdown is not just limited to curtailing routines and the normal life of the general public, but yes, this will have a lasting impact on the nation and global economy as a whole.

Though lockdown is the only solution as of now in saving human lives from this pandemic and hence every country and its countrymen have been coping with this situation in various ways. On the education front, Coronavirus has forced schools, colleges and educational institutes to shut down its operations temporarily for the safety of its students and staffs. The Covid-19 has left the campuses bereft of the presence of students. With the lockdown suspended lectures and all its teaching activities, the annual academic calendar has hit hard. The current time is also a very crucial phase for the admission procedure for the 2020-21 academic session. Institutes are forced to make their admission process 100 per cent online. To ensure the safety of the prospective students, parents and their staffs, VSB (Vidyalankar School of Business) too has adopted online methodologies to facilitate the admission process.

Q: What are some of the interesting initiatives your institute has taken to make it easy for your students and also contribute to eradication of this pandemic?

A: With the lockdown in place and strictly followed, though our students are occupied in virtual internships in their respective organisations; VSB has initiated various steps to keep education activities going and has not forsaken its primary responsibility to students in continuity in their education. VSB firmly believes, learning never ceases and hence:

• VSB has turned to online classes, online assignments. Encouraging online teacher-studentsts interaction.
• Industry professionals are also being engaged to interact online with students.
• Online aptitude tests, quizzes have been scheduled to enhance students logical and reasoning skill-sets.
• VSB’s BizLAB workshop has been conducted online for the students to acquaint them with the best Industry practices.

As a responsible educational institution, VSB encourages and advised its students to follow all government measures and instructions towards containment of this pandemic situation. Being a responsible citizen; Stay Home, Stay Safe is the best solution and advice for the safety of themselves and others, too.

Q: How is the institute planning to conduct exams, evaluate and declare result online?

A: As far as the exams are concerned, we have internals in June 2020 and term-end approaching in July 2020. We hope the situation may improve by this time. If not, then soon we will be coming up with new initiatives to facilitate the evaluation of students.

Q: How are students responding to new initiatives?

A: As shared above, VSB has launched various initiatives to continue the education without any gap through accessing online technology along-with faculty determination to the success of this new-age classroom model to make sure continuity in the academic calendar without any interruption.

There is a sense of excitement among students since this is an experimental change of innovation and digitisation learning environment.

Q: What impact will it have on students’ interpersonal, team management skills?

A: The Covid-19 pandemic has taught students that quick response to the disaster and quick implementation of the solution in challenging times are important to keep going and explore our capacity to recover quickly. This is the best learning for students and education community that the skills most need in this unpredictable world situation is to handle unexpected realities, quick decision making, innovative solution to a problem, and adaptability to any situation.

Q: What are the best practices that the college is adopting to ensure seamless online learning?

A: With less activity to distract students, VSB has encouraged its students to use this lockdown period to good use in below-mentioned ways:

• First and foremost, Stay Home – Stay Safe – Keep Learning
• Attend online lecture session regularly
• Complete any pending tasks and assignments given
• Spend time in research as much as possible in your areas of interest
• Be honest to self and keep a tab on your vision and future life goals

Q: How will today’s situation revolutionize online learning in India and abroad?

A: Well, turning our teaching methodology to an online platform has opened a new learning avenue for all of us. We have successfully shifted from physical classroom to virtual classroom, from whiteboard to iPad/Laptop/Desktop.

These changes will truly transform the education system and the benefits of online learning should be put to maximum use for better outcomes. One of the best thing is easy accessing the best pool of faculty from all over the world. Rightly said, learning has no boundaries and knows no borders.