Our students are working with NGOs to create awareness about Coronavirus, says Director of ABBS School of Management

Coronavirus has given the education sector a new normal, i.e. online learning. The pandemic, which has brought the world to stand still, has let the education sector explore the opportunities of the virtual world. Majority of institutions have moved to online curriculum and so has Bengaluru-based management institute ABBS School of Management. In a conversation with Shikska.com, Director of ABBS School fo Management Madhumita Chatterjee talks about all initiatives and changes they have adopted to ensure continued learning of students.

Here is the edited excerpt of the conversation

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

A: This has certainly come as a challenge. However, the level of preparedness and adaptability of the ABBS School of Management system during crisis situations have helped us to quickly find a new normal in this sudden unanticipated event. This is a transition period where both faculty members and students are learning new skills and getting adept at online delivery. Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs) conducted on, online teaching has helped faculty to reorient their teaching style. Traditional teaching styles can no longer be the mainstay and faculty members are also being trained to accept this new format.

Students are being mentored to enhance their learning capabilities in these uncertain times. We are also ensuring counselling to take care of psychological issues that students may go through because of apprehensions regarding the loss of learning, late graduation, placement and online exam trauma.

We are getting mixed reactions at this juncture from both faculty members and students. While some are happy to explore and enjoying self-learning as a new motivation there are some that are still little skeptical about the teaching-learning process. Therefore, we may have to wait till things settle down a little more before a holistic evaluation can be done.

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: We have completely gone online and are using technology to support our teaching-learning process. We have organised online certification courses from renowned organisations such as SAS, Harvard online Learning and Trak Labs for our students so that there is a value addition to their learning.

We are also ensuring co-curricular activities such as research, guest lectures, virtual meetings and extra-curricular like debate, creating self videos of their talent etc.

Online counselling and mentoring facilities are being provided so that the students do not feel depressed. Students are working with NGOs for their ‘Campus to Community’ project to create awareness about the Covid-19 virus and also guiding the needy about the subsidies and facilities that the government is offering.

Encouraging social distancing and enforcing it as well as, providing expert advice through doctors, among our members are helping to bust myths about the pandemic.

Our management has also taken up the free distribution of food in the local neighbourhood for the needy.

At present we are involved in an international project in partnership with other countries to study the challenges faced by the SME sector during this pandemic and understand their coping mechanism. It is also mapping manager behavior during this crisis.

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

A: We have created our own platform and also accessing online services to conduct exams and evaluation. Students are able to view their results and have the option of interacting if they find any discrepancy.

If any of our students find it difficult to log on at the time of the exam they can contact faculty immediately and alternative options are being offered.

Today in India we have internet connectivity challenges especially in rural areas and in Red Zone pandemic areas and therefore we have to be empathetic to students’ issues and concerns.

Q: How are students responding to new initiatives?

A: This is a totally new experience for students and therefore they are experiencing both excitement and apprehension. Therefore we are providing constant hand-holding to tide them through this unforeseen situation. Since this generation is tech-savvy they are able to quickly grasp and understand once the guidance is offered.

The culture of self-study is developing and it is interesting to note that they are exploring new areas of knowledge and coming back with good suggestions.

Their horizon is widening. However, it would take time to fully overcome the challenges faced.

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

A: In my opinion, the same technology that drove people apart is helping to connect people back because suddenly you do not have proximity. The lockdown has made everyone realise the importance of human values and relationships. The students are realising how important it is to keep in touch which they had taken for granted. The need to interact at this hour of social distancing is giving a new dimension to their interpersonal skills and team management. They are learning to work in virtual teams and deliver. They are understanding the importance of compassion in interpersonal skills.

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

A: The practices have already been enumerated above. In brief, they are: ABBS School of Management online platform, Value Added Courses, Research, Counselling and Mentoring, Co-curricular and Extra-curricular activities online, Guest lecturers from Academia and Industry and online assessment and evaluation.

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

A: This would certainly bring this mode of learning to the forefront. Different variants would have to evolve to cater to different needs of the varied subjects across disciplines such as Science and Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management and Commerce. The challenge would be to deliver courses that require hands-on learning. Probably a blended mode would become the order of the day.