By Tricitynews Reporter
Chandigarh
27th November:- Pearl
Academy, India’s leading institution in design, fashion, business and media,
hosted the 7th edition of ‘What’s Next’, a World Café style confluence at its
Rajouri Garden campus yesterday. Eminent influencers and thought leaders
gathered to discuss “Education for Tomorrow”, this year’s theme, with Gen
Z learners and academicians.
The
day-long confluence included three sessions around the themes–Setting the context, Building a shared
perspective and Preparing the learner for future – in which 110
change makers debated skills, essential for today’s learners.
The
first session started with the introduction of the two eminent speakers Biju Dominic, CEO, Final Mile Consulting, and Geetanjali JB, Head, Academics, Himalayan
Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh, who spoke about the importance
of changing skills needed for the future. The second session entailed a
30-minute table discussion, wherein the participants were divided into 10
groups dispersed around 10 tables. Each table had a representative who
presented five different skills and came out with several ideas and solutions
to prepare students for the future. A few top skills included - Collaborate
& co-create, Critical Thinking & Creativity, Emotional Intelligence,
Building Value system, Ability to Contextualize, Motor and Sensory skills and
Learnability.
The
third session began with the unveiling of the institution’s new learning model
– Pearl Total Learning System,
which was presented by Prof. Nandita Abraham along with other faculty members.
The interactive sessions saw principals, leaders of high school education,
industry experts and career counsellors like Pervin Malhotra, Director - Career
Guidance India (CARING), Vinita Kher, DPS Society, Ashok Wadia, Jai Hind
College, Mumbai, Dr. Rajpal Shripat Hande, Mithibai College, Mumbai, Balasubramanian
Murali, DPS Srinagar, Michael Thompson, JBCN International School, Mumbai, Sr.
Jessy SND, Notre Dame Academy, Patna to
name a few. All the participants came up with interesting and practically
implementable ideas to build connected communities, empower learners and
prepare them for future.
Biju Dominic,
CEO, Final Mile Consulting said
that education goes far
beyond schools and colleges. The last few years have seen a fundamental shift
in human behaviour. What we learn today becomes outdated in the next five
years. Today we take emotional decisions that are based out of our
non-conscious minds. We, however, need to change this and understand the
importance of taking rational decisions. There is a dire need to mould the
minds and behaviours of our kids and help them develop love for acquiring knowledge.
Geetanjali JB, Head
Academics Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh said that the future of education depends on how we help humans in
building qualities like love, inspiration, meditation and so on. The next revolution
is going to be an intellectual revolution and the next currency is going to be
common sense. We need to understand that we can’t teach creativity to robots.
The purpose of education should be having awareness about the internal as well
as the external realities of life.
She further added
that students need to realise that ability to fail and rebound is what will
drive them towards success. They need to be equipped with applied knowledge,
which will further prepare them to deal with real-time challenges. And it is
important for us to catch their curiosity, empower them to ask questions and
answer them all. Let us not make education a utilitarian figure just to get
good jobs.
Speaking at
the event, Professor Nandita Abraham, CEO Pearl Academy said that it’s a
special day and a very special year for Pearl Academy. It has been an inspiring
25-year journey for us and today we have gathered here to collaborate, discuss
and come out with newer opportunities and solutions to prepare our students for
the next 25 years. I am extremely delighted to host 100 fabulous minds here to
present various innovative concepts and ideas to enhance the existing
skill-sets of our Gen Z learners. Going forward, we will continue to take such
initiatives with an aim to prepare our students for the future and emerge as
leaders in the coming years.
Claudio
Moderini, Head of Academics, Pearl Academy, gave
the vote of thanks to all participants and faculty members.
