As technology continues to transform the way we learn and teach, we believe that staying ahead of the curve is more important than ever. In this candid chat with the CollPoll team, Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor of Chitkara University discusses the significance of adopting technology in higher education institutions and elaborates on the advantages that they can reap from its implementation.
Dr. Madhu Chitkara is a visionary educator with over four decades of experience in the field of education. She has held several leadership positions in the education sector, including member of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar, the Chairperson of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Northern Regional Committee, and also a Co-Chairperson of the ASSOCHAM National Council on Education.
Her vast knowledge and expertise have helped shape Chitkara University into one of the leading institutions in the country, with more than 60 industry-linked programs across all academic levels. Dr. Madhu Chitkara is committed to promoting quality education and under her leadership, Chitkara University has grown into a multidisciplinary institution.
Q1. What is the ASSOCHAM National Council on Education’s vision for the higher education system of the country?
The vision of the ASSOCHAM National Council on Education for at least the next year is to work towards the implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP 2020). And to do so, we encourage panel discussions, roundtable conferences, and brainstorming sessions in the presence of eminent leaders. Even if we can’t cover all the verticals together, our immediate focus is to implement NEP 2020 in higher education institutions.
During the pandemic, technology played a great role in the continuation of education and our aim is to promote the use of technology. The need of the hour is to adopt advanced technologies to make education sustainable and bring it to the level of international standards.
Q2. How is Chitkara University’s journey of Digital Transformation?
Chitkara University has always promoted the idea of a digital campus and we even started our own ERP system back in 2003. Before the pandemic, the university started adopting MOOC lectures and motivated professors to conduct their lessons on the MOOC platform.
Moreover, we at Chitkara University are also working on a startup space with great incubation centres, where our researchers work closely with the industry in different verticals to deliver better solutions. The idea is to encourage innovation and creativity and motivate the startup and its idea.
Q3. How has the experience of Chitkara University been with CollPoll?
At Chitkara University, we adopted CollPoll to automate our processes of MBA curriculum which were helpful even during the pandemic. Eventually, we implemented it in other programmes and courses, and it has since then significantly contributed to our success. I am also really thankful to Hemant Sahal, Founder & CEO of CollPoll for introducing us to the concept of CollPoll. The platform has been a great help to us!
Q4. Could you please share some guidance for other institutions looking forward to leveraging technology in order to meet the expectations of GenZ?
Leveraging technology to meet the expectations and requirements of GenZ is the current necessity. Today, all higher education institutions should seek partnerships with companies offering advanced technology solutions to reap the benefits in the longer run. Institutions should invest money in these platforms to enhance the experience for both students and other stakeholders.
Thank you, Dr. Madhu Chitkara, for such a wonderful conversation. We appreciate your valuable insights, and we hope to have the opportunity to speak with you again in the future.
Keep watching this space for more interviews of CollPoll on higher education status and emerging trends!
