'Students Learn More In Education Tours Than In Classrooms'

The launch of BW Businessworld Education at the Future of Education Summit was a gala event held at Radisson Blu Noida on 7th April 2017. The theme of the summit was "The future of Education" The inaugural session had power packed keynotes on the education system in India.

The inaugural session saw Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief minister of Delhi as the special guest, T.S.R Subramaniam, Former Cabinet Secretary, Prof (Dr) J Mahendra Reddy, Vice Chancellor ; ICFAI foundation of Higher Education and Monica Malhotra Khandhari , MD MBD Group.

The summit saw several panel discussions and presentations on various issues of the education system in India. One of the pre-lunch panel discussion focussed on the need for "International tie-ups, partnerships and Ed-tours.

Brian McElduff (Ambassador, Ireland to India), Stephen Borg (High Commissioner, Malta to India),
Dr ManeeshaSudheer (Dean International Programmes and the director of Networks and Applications at Amrita University), Dr HarbeenArora( Chancellor, Rai University ) were a part of the panel.

The discussion began with the idea on how Indian universities have been benefitted from the international tie-ups and education tours. The panellist suggested that it is a two-way process. The idea is not only brain drain but also brain gain. The universities should shape their curriculum in such a way that it also encourages a large number of students from other parts of the world to choose India as a destination for knowledge and education. The future of education should be made of clever focus of partnerships.

Commenting on this further Borg said "There are a lot of tie-ups going on between India and Malta. The university of Malta is the prime player on this front. We are encouraging more and more participation from India on the same."

"We have begun an exchange programme last year at The University of Malta , and had five Indian students on board this year we are aiming for double the number", he further added.

MCElduff stressed on the idea that it is really important to have international tie-ups as every time a student goes for an Ed tour or an exchange programme, he carries a lot of information and experiences with him which later on he can pass on and share with everyone when he gets back home.

"We have many Indian students in Ireland and we are promoting more active participation from India. I feel that students learn a lot more on education tours than in classrooms."

There are 2000 Indian students in Ireland at present.

Arora stressed on the fact that she wants to encourage a large number of international students to come to India.

"We run a discover India programme free of cost for International students. We want them to have a give them a bit of India with education."

"We need to develop efficient programmes in order to encourage more participation from universities outside India.", Sudheer Concluded.