MICA, India's premier B-school for Strategic Marketing and Communications, recently hosted the Legends of Marketing, Dr. Philip Kotler, Prof. David Aaker and Prof. Jagdish Sheth, to launch a book titled 'Reimagining Educational Futures in Developing Countries: Lessons from Global Health Crises.’
The book, co-edited by MICA faculty Prof. Varsha Jain explores the challenges and precarity of higher education post-pandemic, explicitly focusing on higher education in emerging countries. The book calls for the need to reimagine, re-evaluate and reposition the higher education system: exploring the challenges experienced by students, staff, administrators, and other stakeholders.
Addressing over 300 participants virtually, Dr. Shailendra Raj Mehta said, "We at MICA are constantly endeavouring to revise and develop new policies, best practices and systems to enhance the quality of education at the institute, with an increasing emphasis on research. A research-led pedagogy is an integral part of what we do at MICA. Prof. Varsha Jain is certainly among those who are at the forefront of this endeavour."
Dr. Githa Heggde, Dean, MICA, brushed upon the crucial aspect of taking cognizance of the prevalent inequality and inaccessibility of quality education in the country. Dr. Heggde also noted the New Education Policy's efforts to solve these inadequacies in our system. MICA is increasingly becoming a research-oriented institution and the birthplace of many thought leaders", she said.
In her opening address, Prof. Varsha Jain stressed the need and demand for digital transformation at the epicentre of this whole systemic change in how we perceive and implement our educational systems. She also pointed out that it is extremely pertinent to integrate Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education to help academia and policymakers.
After the unravelling of the book, Dr. Jain called upon the legends to share their thoughts.
WORDS FROM THE LEGENDS:
Prof. Philip Kotler, revered as the Father of Modern Marketing, spoke about making education more valuable for the people of India and other developing countries. "A three-pronged provincial, humanitarian and cosmopolitan approach to education and knowing the difference between good and bad is essential for improving the state of humanity worldwide. Learning is much more than figures and facts; it is also about fostering social and productive relationships with people. It is a common belief that illiterates are the people who cannot read or write but the real illiteracy comes from people who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn."
Prof. Kotler also noted that institutions should also focus on teaching Emotional and Social Intelligence.
Talking about the importance and relevance of online education, Prof. David Aaker, Father of Modern Branding, said, "Pedagogical innovations and specialisations in online education are the way to transform the field of academia."
Emphasizing the impact of digital transformation on the future of higher education, Padma Bhushan awardee Prof. Jagdish Sheth said, "It is the era of AWE - Anywhere Education. MICA is fortunate to have thought leaders like Prof. Kotler and Prof. Aaker guide the institute to be at the forefront of re-imagining higher education in India."
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