Global competency is a multidimensional framework that requires a combination of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that need to be successfully applied to global issues. Global problems have a profound effect on everyone’s life and on current and future generations. Global skills development is a lifelong process, but it is also a process that can shape education. This makes Global Competence all the more important for today’s youth. In today’s world of globalization, the nature and ability to understand and act on issues of global significance, often referred to as “global competence”, is considered an essential skill for the future.
It is very necessary to understand future skills and show how learners can infuse them. The teachers should inherit proper communication skills in them so that they can develop a relationship with the students. Worldwide capability is the ability to look at the neighborhood, worldwide, and intercultural issues, to comprehend and appreciate the viewpoints and world perspectives of others, to take part in open, fitting also, powerful connections with individuals from various societies, and to represent aggregate prosperity and maintainable advancement.
The Policy Times organised an India Education Conference 2022 in Kolkata on ‘Making Learners Glocally Competent, Skilled & Future Ready’ on 24th February 2022 in which 2000-3000 educators joined virtually and 100 education entrepreneurs were invited to attend the event physically in the presence of many national and global personalities.
Eminent Speakers:
- Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Hon’ble Governor, Maharashtra
- Prof. Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education
- Prof. Mahammad ALI, Vice Chancellor, Aliah University
- Mr. SK Nurul Haque, IAS (retrd), Chief Advisor, GD Study Circle, GD Charitable, Society, Kolkata | Ex-Chairman, West Bengal
- Dr. Ronald Kovach, Executive Director, American International Accreditation Association of Schools and Colleges(AIAASC)
- Mr. Meghdut RoyChowdhury, Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer, Techno India Group
- Shri Gaur Hari Khanra, former CEO, Center for Policy and Training for school education, netaji subhas ATI and national resource person, Govt. Of India
- Dr. Biswajit Saha, Director (Training & Skill Education), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- Dr. Partha Karmakar, WBES Joint Director of public instruction (JDPI), Education Directorate, H.E. department and adviser, west Bengal central school service commission
- Md Shadan Zeb Khan, IRPFS, Secretary Central Waqf Council & CEO/NAWADCO
- Dr. Shesadev Nayak, Associate Dean and Professor, School of Management, OP Jindal University
- Dr. Syed Nurus Salam, Registrar, Aliah University
- Prof. Ujjwal Anu Chowdhury, Secretary, GMEC| Advisor and Professor Daffodil International University, Dhaka|former pro-VC, Admas University| former Dean, Symbiosis and Amity Universities
- Mr. Rashid Arshad Mukhtar, Secretary-JMES|Executive Director – NMANTC|Consulting Director – Shefa Healthcare Pvt. Ltd.
- Ms. Bratati Bhattacharyya, CEO and Secretary general, Shikshayatan Foundation
- Mr. Atul Singh, Vice President-CSR Emami Ltd.
- Mr. Khademul Islam, Founder General Secretary BES-AN Noor Model School
- Chandan Kumar Maity, HM, Krishnachandrapur High School and General Secretary, (ASFHM), West Bengal
- Prof. Deepali Singhee, Principal and Professor, JD Birla Institute
- Dr. Saidur Rahman, Principal Scientist, Johnson and Johnson Vision, USA & Founder of Crescent Academy
- Mr. Kazi Habib, Director, Checkmate
- Mr. Akram Hoque, Founder Editor, The Policy Times
Importance of Regional Languages in Education: Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Hon’ble Governor, Maharashtra expressed that basic education should be in regional languages. As most of the students come from poor families, it is very difficult for them to get admitted to English Medium schools. Therefore, up to a certain class, they should be provided education in regional languages and then slowly they can be taught in English. This will help them to be more competent and help them to learn their regional languages faster at the primary stage. In order to make the future glocally competent, it is very necessary to build up the base of education strongly.
Global Development: Prof. Mahammad ALI, Vice Chancellor, of Aliah University remarked that human skills, arts, and humanities have never been felt so strongly before. Global Students are expected to have diverse cultural knowledge systems and the environment. Higher institutes must stress importing entrepreneurship skills, creativity, curiosity, innovativeness & technology sharing. Researchers are expected to become knowledge producers, innovators, leaders & contributors to prosperity & sustainable development. Hence, universities should gear up and impart quality research training. Global collaboration shall help in establishing the research environment in the university.
How to develop global competence: Dr. Partha Karmakar, WBES Joint Director of public instruction (JDPI), Education Directorate, H.E. department and adviser, West Bengal Central School Service Commission suggested that firstly, investigate the world. Secondly, pose questions to better understand issues & perspectives. Thirdly, identify & suspend assumptions & judgments. Fourthly, recognize the value of each person in the global community.
The role of educators in the 21st century is to help every student learn by inspiring creativity, encouraging collaboration, expecting & rewarding critical thinking & teaching children not only how to communicate but also the power of effective communication. These are the skills the students need to develop.
Curriculum Infrastructure: ), Mr. SK Nurul Haque, IAS (retd Chief Advisor, GD Study Circle, GD Charitable, Society, Kolkata | Ex-Chairman, West Bengal – Public Service Commission recommended that the syllabi & curriculum of CBSE & West Bengal Board at the higher secondary level are almost the same but there is a major difference in the books followed & the question pattern set in the examination in the West Bengal Board and CBSE board. CBSE follows NCERT books from where 50% and 100% of questions are set for Chemistry and Biology respectively but those NCERT books are not at all followed by the West Bengal Board. As a result, the students of the West Bengal Board are facing uneven competition in those examinations. Therefore, the gap needs to be bridged by the policymakers. There should be an inbuilt system for motivation and career counseling. The students must identify their core competence and also they should be made aware of the future prospects of their professions which will help them to select their professions wisely.
Quality of Teaching-Learning Process: Shri Gaur Hari Khanra, former CEO, Center for Policy and Training for school education, netaji subhas ATI and national resource person, Govt. India said that the quality of learning and teaching depends on the quality of teachers. In order to inspire the students, the teachers need to be inspired at first but there is a huge lack of inspiration within the teachers. The teachers need to be properly skilled and should have a positive attitude toward the students to motivate them. The teacher should have creative traits. In the Vedic area, when there were no books, the students used to learn from the various activities that were held. It has been emphasized in the Right to education act that the teaching should be in an activities model. The learning could be joyful if it is activity-based learning.
How to make glocally competent, skilled, and future-ready students: Dr. Shesadev Nayak, Associate Dean and Professor, School of Management, OP Jindal University commended that today Industry requirements are changing and the pace at the industries requirements are changing but the education system has failed to deliver that. The teachers ensure the overall all-around growth of the students. We also need to focus on communication skills, Time and expectation skills ethics and values, and business etiquette. Also important networking skills and cultural awareness.
Responsibility of Leaders: Mr. Meghdut RoyChowdhury, Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer, Techno India Group remarked that as leaders, it is very important to come out of your comfort zone and question certain topics. In a glocally competent, skilled, and future-ready environment, they should not only create diverse spaces but create inclusive spaces where young people in the country are able to raise their voices for positive loop feedback mechanisms and help everyone to learn.
Framework of Learning Assessment: Dr. Biswajit Saha, Director (Training & Skill Education), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) expressed that in all the academic institutes, the basic standard of assessment of learning is quite well understood by every individual teacher and students. For the last three years, the central board of secondary education is trying to instrumentally create competency-based questions so that the narratives of curriculum behavior change over a period of time. In an assessment for learning, giving constructive feedback to teachers and students individually within the peer group is quite important. Adequate time should be given for learning. In the curriculum framework, when it would be prescribed whether the learning times for the student at home or on the campus discussing the topics taught if the learning time is included while designing the curriculum, the delivery model would be truly constructive.
Digitalization of Students: Mr. Chandan Kumar Maity, HM, Krishnachandrapur High School and General Secretary, (ASFHM), West Bengal recommended that education should also be provided to the children who are not able to receive any kind of education. Also, the teachers need to be trained properly. It has been observed that 2% of students have not been digitized, therefore, it is necessary to digitalize the students. Learning can be more effective if given through various activity mechanisms.
Collaboration with the Academia: Mr. Atul Singh Vice President-CSR Emami Ltd. mentioned that implementation of the national education policy is very important and collaboration is required for that. Collaboration can start from the design of the curriculum. The implementation of the course and then the placement. As per the old curriculum the latest equipment that the industry buys from abroad there is no one to use and to kind of take benefit of the technology being used in the other country. This is where the industry and the Academia will work together.
Implementation of Mechanisms: Prof. Ujjwal Anu Chowdhury, Secretary, GMEC| Advisor and Professor Daffodil International University, Dhaka|former pro-VC, Admas University| former Dean, Symbiosis and Amity Universities mentioned that the Delhi government is spending 26 percent of their budget for education, 7 percent Tamil Nadu government is spending for education, 87.9 percent Kerala government is spending for education and 5.3percent West Bengal government is spending for education. Learning English from childhood is very important as it is international. Earlier, the only focus was on the knowledge the people had. But now apart from knowledge, the focus should be on the skills and right attitude of the people. New technologies should be integrated and practiced. There is also a need for a blended learning policy.
The outcome and assessment of education post-pandemic: Ms. Bratati Bhattachariya, CEO and Secretary General, Shikshayatan Foundation expressed that firstly, sharing information. Secondly, building skill sets, and lastly, installing wisdom. These are our assessment criteria. The examination pattern needs to change. It cannot be the same thing that fits everyone. Everyone does not learn in the same way, learn in different ways. Games are one very good way of learning and assessing.
Methods of Learning: Prof. Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, of the All India Council for Technical Education, recommended firstly, We need to deform ourselves otherwise we will become irrelevant. The second part is life skills. Another part is the evolution of the student. Evolution also depends on different types of students and the way they are able to do it. Fifty-one to fifty-three different ways of learning are possible. Also understanding the bloom’s taxonomy.
Curriculum Infrastructure: Prof. Deepali Singhee, Principal and Professor, JD Birla Institute suggested that the curriculum is required to be multi-disciplinary. One child should not depend on one particular profession. We should move away from the marking system. One is Open book exams, second one is, teaching is not following a curriculum.
