This is likely to have resulted in widening the learning gap across high, middle, and low-income families. An NCERT survey with over 34,000 participants including students, parents, teachers, and school principals from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodyaya Vidyalayas, and CBSE-affiliated schools revealed that at least 27 percent of students do not have access to smartphones or laptops to attend online classes.

Given the above facts, the question remains whether the school-leaving Board Examinations would be the correct assessment of learner potential for admission to colleges?

Own selection process

Universities must explore ways of onboarding students using their own selection process and commence the program as per the calendar without depending on the results of the board exams. This is a good opportunity for higher education institutions to reduce their dependence on board examinations and national-level entrance tests. Innovative and new-age universities must take a lead to make this happen and reduce the uncertainty for both students and parents.

Some students may consider a temporary withdrawal from school for a "gap year," postpone appearing for board examinations and seek college admissions in the next academic year. Others may consider a "gap year," given the possibility of missing out on face-to-face, personalized classroom instruction. Both the reasons mentioned above, to my mind, are bad reasons for taking a gap year.

Cost of a "gap-year"

There is no denying the fact that in-person instruction on campus is both valuable and desirable, but a gap year is costly. However, online learning, if imparted well, can be effective, and given the vaccination drive, the campuses may open sooner than one is expecting today. Historically, one of the reasons students take a gap year is to enrich themselves with life experiences and gain maturity that can make the following years of study richer and more valuable. A virtual gap year, waiting for the pandemic to go, does not bring any benefits. Also, a gap year comes with substantial costs.

The most significant disadvantage of a "gap year" is the cost of entering the workforce a year later. The average starting salary for college graduates with a bachelor’s degree in India is around ₹5 lakh per annum. Not only is this income lost, but also the benefit of one year of work experience. The question one should be asking is not whether face-to-face instruction is more valuable than online instruction, but how one would value that work experience and the earning potential. To me, the answer is a no-brainer.

Learning outcomes when learning online

Whether online learning is inferior to traditional classroom learning is an empirical question. However, the majority of the studies found no significant difference in learning outcomes when comparing online to traditional courses. Studies have also revealed that the differences in learning outcomes may be attributed to learning design as opposed to the specific mode of delivery. Given the integral role that online learning is expected to play in the future of higher education, institutions are focusing on sound pedagogical quality with consideration for the mode of delivery as means for promoting positive learning outcomes.

Why would anyone ever take a gap year?

To be clear, my recommendation is not to take a gap year. Depending on one’s individual situation and the opportunity, the gap year may very well be worth ₹5 lakh for an undergraduate program and ₹10 lakhs+ for an MBA in terms of foregone income (plus the cost of the work experience). Both money value and experience value must be individually considered. My position is that one should not take a gap year as institutions will upgrade their pedagogy of online instructions, making learning more engaging. Also, there is a high possibility that the pandemic will end by the time one graduate, which should open more opportunities in terms of career options.

A college education is almost always the best investment one can ever make and never lose.

Kanyathon @ VU Campus

In 2015, PM Modi launched the campaign “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” (save the girl child, educate the girl child). It aimed to counter the deficiency of the welfare services available for the girl child in India by raising awareness and improving them. This was a big step forward in the upliftment of the girl child.

In order to aid the spread of awareness regarding the girl child, an annual charity run dubbed Kanyathon is organised by the students of IFIM institutions. This time, the students of VijayBhoomi university also had the opportunity of organising this event. The students enthusiastically signed up to volunteer and participate in the run, and with that the preparation began.

At hour zero, the volunteers were ready to start the event. Near the entrance of the campus, volunteers had set up a registration table that registered all the participants and provided them with the Kanyathon T-Shirts. The registered participants then proceeded to go towards the amphitheater where students and faculty were conducting warm-up exercises in the form of Zumba and calisthenics.

Post the warm-up, participants started assembling near the start line. The Sarpanch of the gram panchayat was also present at the event and he cut the ribbon, indicating the start of the race. The race itself stretched over a course of over 3 Km. The scenic route passed through the nearby villages and led back to the university. Along the route were water stations that were manned by volunteers. In order to mitigate any injuries, an ambulance patrolled the route as well.

After the marathon was concluded, the post-run event commenced. The students had arranged refreshments for the participants of the marathon and other stalls with attractions like burgers and sugarcane juice were also included. The performances included music as well as dance numbers by the students. The event then wrapped up with the felicitation of awards to the winners of the race by the Sarpanch and the President of VijayBhoomi university, Mr. Sanjay Padode. 

I am very much eager to know about management courses at Vijaybhoomi University. And looking forward to knowing more about JAGSOM at Vijaybhoomi University?

Jagdish Sheth School of Management (formerly IFIM Business School) is among the first 6 Business Schools in India to have been awarded the AACSB accreditation. Recently, IFIM Business School, now, Jagdish Sheth School of Management (JAGSOM), has been ranked by QS Masters in Marketing Ranking 2021 amongst the Top 100 such programs (in 51-100 band) in the world for its Marketing program. It has also been ranked in the 101-150 Band Globally in the QS Masters in Finance Rankings for its Finance Program.

Actively engaged in research and consulting, JAGSOM hosts several Centers of Excellence such as the AIM-Parasuraman Centre of Service Excellence. JAGSOM has an elite set of international academic partners including leading institutes such as ESCP-London, Darden School of Business (University of Virginia), and McCombs Business School (the University of Texas at Austin).

JAGSOM has four distinct anchors that support its overall educational philosophy.

1. Grooming T shaped professionals with a unique curriculum aligned to the needs of industry 4.0.
2. A mix of scholars with Ph.D. and experienced practice-oriented best-in-class faculty.
3. Global connects through partnerships with world-renowned business schools offering super-specializations.
4. Industry connect programs to groom "Beyond Tomorrow" professionals

We really value your feedback. We’d love to hear back from you. Do write to us at newsletter@vijaybhoomi.edu.in

Vijaybhoomi University is India's first Liberal Professional University, which uses the liberal-professional framework of education to build a unique curriculum aligned to Industry 4.0. The curriculum facilitates the process of self-discovery in the initial year and thereafter choice of majors and minors to prepare oneself in high-demand careers in data science, artificial intelligence, business, law, music and design. The university is located in Karjat, Greater Mumbai, and nurtures holistic, socially responsible, and continuously employable professionals who can make a positive difference in the world.

Vision

To become an independent, multi-disciplinary, globally acclaimed university which facilitates learner-centricity, builds pathways to groom holistic individuals, and fosters innovation and scholarship to impact practice and communities

Mission

Nurture holistic, socially responsible, and continuously employable professionals.

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