Thank You, Shri M Jagadesh Kumarji

 

 

( Chairperson – University Grants Commission /  cm.ugc@nic.in )

 

What for ?

For a clear / sharp articulation of a Blue-print of proposed Digital University

 

Where and What did Shri Kumar suggest ?

How a Digital University can transform India’s Education System 

Extract :

The digital university can integrate all the components of the LEARNING VALUE CHAIN,

#    from the Admission Process

#    to providing Learning Material in the digital format,

#   online Interactions

#   Continuous Evaluations , and

#   awarding Degrees

 

Since the Digital University will be built on a Networked Hub-Spoke model, it has several advantages

FIRST :

#   It can develop cutting edge information and communications technology

     platforms and digital content, using emerging technologies such as Artificial

     Intelligence , machine learning, virtual reality, augmented reality and block-

     chain

     

   

SECOND :

#   The digital University can also integrate existing capabilities such as SWAYAM,

     SWAYAM-Prabha, ePG- Paathshaala, eGyanKosh, National Digital Library , and

     Virtual Labs into one organic entity

     

 

THIRD :

#   This hub will, in turn, collaborate with the best public higher educational

      institutes, such as Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of

      Management, and Central Universities to provide an affordable world-class

      learning eco-system

     

   … Therefore, educators and policy makers feel that we must create flexible

      educational systems to provide CUSTOMIZED , high quality “ Anytime –

      Anywhere “ education. Such pre-packaged education by academics would

      help us achieve the ECONOMIES of SCALE, required in India

 

    

… But even before the pandemic, building new BRICK and MORTAR universities,

    was an expensive proposition

….The surge of digital technologies has inspired us to re-imagine ,

#  teaching – learning methods

#  university governance systems

#  higher education goals, and

#  how future universities are perceived by employers

 

MY  TAKE :

National Skills University : Virtual is the only way………………[ 03 Apr 2021 ]

Extract :

( Details under each of the following headings, can be looked up by clicking above-listed link )

( A )   STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY

( B )    ROLE

( C )    PORTAL

 

 Related Readings :

Digital Varsity : a suggested Blue-print………………………. [ 07 Feb 2022 ]

DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR UNIVERSITY …………………..[ 31 Oct 1986 ]   

Occupation-wise listing of required SKILLS 

Microsoft gets contract worth up to $22 billion to outfit US Army with 120,000 AR    headsets

XR Learning Market in the US Surges to $6.7 Billion by 2026  

Whom to Train ? How to Train ?.............................. [ 02 Mar 2016 ]

Skill Capital of the World ?..................................... [ 06 June 2016 ]

Re-Skilling ? Can You be Specific ?.......................... [ 09 July 2017 ]

 

Congratulations , Anilbhai Naik …………………………………….[ 08 Feb 2019 ]

 

Employment Policy ? Committed to a Committee ? ……..[ 31 Oct 2021 ]

 

 

Dear Shri Kumarji,

 

If not already involved, I am sure you will soon be, in faming the BLUE-PRINT of the Digital University

  

I urge you to :

#   Frame an Online Survey, incorporating the suggestions listed in this e-mail and

     host it on UGC website

 

#   Send out an e-mail to Vice-Chancellors / Directors / Principals of all

     Educational Institutes of India ,asking them to login and fill-up the Survey

     

 

#   Cumulative RESULTS ( tabulated RESPONSES ) should be made viewable by

     the person logging-in, ONLY AFTER, he / she has completed the survey (

     in order not to bias the response )

     

   

 

#   A “ last date “ may be fixed for responding – after which “ survey

     questionnaire “ to be removed from UGC site and FINAL RESULTS may be

      published for viewing by all   

       

 

#  A similar survey ( also ONLINE ) may be conducted among other stake-holders

    ( eg : Students – Teachers – Professors – Online Education websites –

      Employers etc ) , for obtaining a broad CONSENSUS of the

      issues involved

    

    

 

with regards,

hemen parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  10 Feb 2022

 

 

 

Dear Shri Nilekani : Surveillance may be Inevitable

 

 

Context :

Digital rupee should be anonymous to prevent surveillance, says Nilekani   /  Eco Times  /  09 Feb 2022

Extract :

Nilekani believes that India is “doing the right things” by “recognising the concept of digital assets” and taxing them at 30%. In a way, India has also recognised that crypto assets are not currencies, he added.

“I think the digital rupee should be anonymous because one of the concerns obviously is that if all payment transactions are recorded and visible, it has other issues [such as] surveillance,” Nilekani said.

Nilekani, who has championed the creation of several open technology networks that startups and technology firms leverage for innovation, said the digital rupee architecture will lead to similar innovation at the front end.

“It will be very easy to take the digital rupee to consumers who have a UPI application since it will facilitate easy transactions in digital rupees or help convert digital rupees to regular rupees,” he added.

 

MY  TAKE :

Let us hope that our experts are able to come up with a “digital rupee architecture “ that enables it to remain anonymous

But, for the reason that “ all payment transactions are recorded and visible “, it may not be possible to keep the digital rupee anonymous

That need not necessarily lead to surveillance ( if transaction records are aggregated / anonymized and not disclosed / revealed for any given individual user )

On the other hand, if that architecture helps convert digital rupees to regular rupees ( and vice-versa ? ), then isn’t there a possibility as described in my following earlier e-mail ?

Crypto Rupee : Elephant in the Room ?................... [ 02 Feb 2022 ]

 

Extract :

Apropos PM’s clarification, can CASH ( fiat currency ) be changed to “ Digital Rupee “ ?

If someone takes to her bank, Rs 5 LAKH in cash ( Rs 2000 notes ), will bank change it into “ Digital Rupee “ , ( provided credited into her bank account ), by deducting 30 % as transaction TAX ? 

If yes, all hoarders of BLACK MONEY ( in cash ), would happily convert into WHITE MONEY by paying 30 % !

A kind of AMNESTY SCHEME ? – even if limited to such “ change / conversion “ taking place before March 2024

A nice way to bring lakhs of crores of hidden / unaccounted / tax-evaded CASH into productive use !

 

To this, let me add today :

 

By giving people 2 YEARS time ( a long rope till March 2024 ) to convert all their “ stashed cash ( black money ) “ into Digital Rupee, we can avoid the terrible hardships that people had to suffer during the last exercise of DEMONETIZATION

 

By gradual / phased out CONVERSION ( from cash to digital ), we can eliminate printing of all Currency Notes of Rs 100 and above, in 2 years

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh / hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 09 Feb 2022

 

Digital Varsity : a suggested Blue-print

 

Context :

Digital varsity for world-class quality education on the cards  /  HT  /  02 Feb 2022

Extract :

The central government will set up a digital university to impart “world-class quality education” and promote online learning in different Indian languages amid the Covid-19 pandemic, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her Budget speech in Parliament on Tuesday.

“A digital university will be established to provide access to students across the country for world-class quality universal education with personalised learning experience at their doorsteps,” the finance minister said. “The best public universities and institutions in the country will collaborate (in the digital university) as a network of hub-spoke.”

To address “learning loss” due to school closures, the government will also expand the One Class One TV Channel initiative under the PM e-Vidya scheme.

The proposed digital university and the expanded TV education programme will lead to “a modern, pioneering and practical blueprint for steering India in the Amrit Kaal,” education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said. “The universalized quality education will gain strength with these initiatives.”

 “Such a digital university will be particularly of great help to students coming from the economically poor, marginalised and rural backgrounds,” Kumar said. “Since this university will be based on a networked hub-spoke model, it can develop student-friendly digital platforms and digital content using modern technologies.”

 

MY  TAKE  :

 

Dear Shri Dharmendra Pradhanji,

 (  Minister.sm@gov.in / app-hrd@gov.in / d.pradhan@sansad.nic.in )

 

I urge you to consider my following earlier e-mail, while developing a BLUE-PRINT of proposed DIGITAL UNIVERSITY

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  08 Feb 2022

 

 

National Skills University : Virtual is the only way………………[ 03 Apr 2021 ]

 

Extract :

 

MY  SUGGESTIONS :

( A )   STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY

                Ø  It should be an AUTONOMOUS university as per DETAILED STRUCTURE

                    outlined at :

                DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR UNIVERSITY    

( B )    ROLE

                Ø  It should NOT engage in direct / face-to-face / physical Skilling on its

                    own campus

                Ø  It should be a VIRTUAL university, offering ONLINE courses to anyone

                    desirous to take a course

                Ø  It will mostly concern itself at

 figuring out those hundreds of Skills        

 required by the Industries /    

                    Businesses / Enterprises, and publish on its  Portal ( “ WHO wants WHAT skill “ type matrix ).

                    For such compilation, it will invite TRADE ASSOCIATIONS –

                    PROFESSIONAL BODIES 

                Ø  It will invite and collaborate with entities which can develop / create “

                    Skill Delivery Contents “ for these kills,

                   ( at levels such as, Semi-Skilled / Skilled / Highly Skilled / Master

                     Craftsman ) .

                   For each of these LEVELS ( and for each SKILL ), it will develop

                   CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTION BANKS for download by Users

                   

               Ø  Such entities could be existing ITIs – Engg Colleges – Foreign

                   Universities – Public/Private Sector Companies - Online portals such as

                   ByJu – Khan Academy etc

                   

             Ø  The cost / expense incurred by the Content Contributors, will count

                  against their CSR obligations

             Ø  University will be free to BUY such content from contributors

             Ø  University will approach entities like Google to join in this effort

            Ø  University will approach all Internet Service Providers for giving FREE

                 bandwidth to Users for downloading content or for streaming ONLINE AR

                / VR instructions

                

            Ø  University will approach AR / VR headset manufacturers ( such as Occulus

                – Facebook – Apple – Google – Microsoft – IBM etc ), to develop very light

               weight and cheap ( Rs 5,000 ) glasses for REGISTERD users of Skills

               University ( Central Govt may consider subsidizing such glasses to

               REGISTERED users  ONLY )

                               

          

         Refer :

              Microsoft gets contract worth up to $22 billion to outfit US Army with 120,000 AR  

              headsets

         XR Learning Market in the US Surges to $6.7 Billion by 2026  

         Extract :

        #   "In educational psychology, there are two phases of the learning

              process:

              knowledge transfer and learning transfer," comments Adkins

        Knowledge transfer is the transmission of information and skills to the

       learner.  Learning transfer is the ability of the learner to demonstrate

       mastery in a  real-world setting.

      

       Next- generation XR Learning products (particularly the new augmented

       field force performance support  products) effectively accomplish both phases

       simultaneously

      

( C )    PORTAL

                 Ø  It will have TWO sections, one for CONTENT CREATORS /

                     CONTRIBUTORS / DONORS , who ( after registering ) will upload their

                     content on the portal

                     

                Ø  Content itself could be TEXT- FORMS – IMAGES – DRAWINGS -

                    DIAGRAMS – PODCAST – VIDEO – AR / VR based INSTRUCTION SETS

                    etc

                    

               Ø  After thorough evaluation of the uploaded content, portal admin will

                   approve it for getting published / making available for downloading by

                   USERS

                   

              Ø  Second section will be for CONTENT CONSUMERS / USERS ( who can

                  be any Indian Citizen ), who will need to register by providing full details

                  about himself / herself , such as ( Name – Current Address –Aadhar

                  Number–PAN details–Employed–Self Employed–Trade/Profession - Mobile

                  No – Email ID  etc )

                  

              

             Ø  A duly registered USER will be able to download ANY content

                 ( totally FREE – but only once ), details of which will be entered into

                 user’s “ Download History “ page

                 

            Ø   A “ Summary Download History Page “ ( Skill-wise / Industry wise /

                 User’s State wise etc ), for ALL the REGISTERED users ( anonymized /

                 aggregated ) will show-up which SKILLS are in demand

                 

           Ø  Download will require :

             #   Internet enabled Mobile/Tablet/Desktop/Laptop…......for Text – Video –

                  Podcast 

             #   Internet enabled AR / VR headsets ( glasses ) ……..for AR / VR content

           Ø   Portal will allow any User to appear ONLINE in any Certification Exam for

                any Skill, at any LEVEL , and obtain a “ digital-locker ” based, PASS

                CERTIFICATE

 

              

CC :

Smt. Annpurna Devi ………………….  mosedu-ad@gov.in

 

Dr. Subhas Sarkar……………………. Mosedu-ss@gov.in

 

Shri Mahendra Nath Pandey….

mahendranath.pandey@sansad.nic.in /  drmnpandeymp@gmail.com