• last year
A revolution in learning: Higher education in a post-Covid world
Transcript
00:00:00Today, we are going to continue our focus on education after looking at schools earlier
00:00:05on this week.
00:00:06Today, we are looking at the topic of a revolution in learning higher education in the post-COVID
00:00:11world.
00:00:12I'm your moderator today.
00:00:13My name is Lachlan Kitchen, but please call me Kitch, easier for everyone.
00:00:18And I'm an Australian media presenter.
00:00:19I've been in the media for just under 20 years, but I did undertake my university studies
00:00:25here in Dubai as part of my master's seven years ago.
00:00:28So I'm personally very excited about today's topic.
00:00:31Firstly, let me introduce our expert panelists today who are going to be sharing their vast
00:00:35experience for today's webinar.
00:00:37A big hello to Mr. Vinu Chakraborty, who is the Head of Admissions and Marketing at the
00:00:43Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai campus, Dr. Kavita Shukla, the Assistant Vice
00:00:49President of Student Recruitment and Admissions at the Amity University in Dubai, Dr. Hussain
00:00:55M. Elmedi, who is the Dean of Academic Support Services at the University of Sharjah.
00:01:00Now, Dr. Hussain is having a bit of trouble logging in, so hopefully, he will be able
00:01:04to join us halfway through today's webinar.
00:01:06Professor Mandla Venkatramana, the Vice Chancellor of the Gulf Medical University, and Dr. Rami
00:01:12El-Khatib, the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at the Canadian University
00:01:18in Dubai.
00:01:19Thank you very much for joining us today.
00:01:20This is going to be a lot of fun, so thank you.
00:01:23As our topic today focuses on the all-important employability and how to keep pace of employers'
00:01:29and markets' needs, we're going to be trying to cover as many of these aspects as we can
00:01:34over the next 45 minutes or so, then allowing us some time to get more of your questions.
00:01:39So please, if you are watching, we want to hear your thoughts, any questions.
00:01:44We also want to get your feedback from some of the polls that we're doing, and we also
00:01:48want to hear you, our experts, maybe challenge each other's thoughts.
00:01:52Don't be scared to speak up if there's perhaps a difference of opinion of someone.
00:01:56That's what we're here to do, really have some collaborative thinking.
00:02:00As we go around to everyone this morning, I'll start with you, Dr. Kavita.
00:02:05The post-COVID world, how is the new academic term going to look for UAE students due to
00:02:13COVID-19 compared to where we were this time last year?
00:02:17So I can ask you to take your mic off, please, Dr. Kavita.
00:02:22Yeah, no.
00:02:23Hi, Kish.
00:02:24Yeah, thank you so much for inviting me for this webinar.
00:02:27It's always a pleasure to participate in these webinars with Gulf News.
00:02:33And now, the post-COVID scenario for education and learning will change a lot because of
00:02:44the digitalization.
00:02:46There will be a lot of blended learning component, and there will be online classes and face-to-face.
00:02:55There will be a mix of both.
00:02:56And a lot of digitalization and use of technology will come in the way we impart education.
00:03:03So the higher education is going to change a little bit, but it will be a positive impact
00:03:12as far as the use of technology is concerned.
00:03:16So things are going to be a little different, but we hope that the educational learning
00:03:25outcomes will remain, and we will be able to achieve them.
00:03:31Dr. Rami, is it the same for you?
00:03:33Is this going to be the biggest change for students?
00:03:35Is the implementation of so much e-learning compared to this time last year?
00:03:40Hello.
00:03:41Good morning, everyone.
00:03:42Good morning, Kirsch.
00:03:45I follow what Dr. Kavita has said.
00:03:47I mean, there will be a lot of changes, obviously.
00:03:50I think, in a sense, it's going to be a little bit easier this term because we were exposed
00:03:55to it last, as you know, since last spring term, last academic year.
00:04:01So we're just going to continue on this.
00:04:03We have already experienced all the, let's say, difficulties and all of this.
00:04:09So I think we'll be more ready and set to do it this semester.
00:04:11Plus, in addition, we have a blended learning now.
00:04:15So we're not relying 100% on online.
00:04:18There is some accessibility to campus.
00:04:20So that will definitely make it easier, I will say, compared to last semester when we
00:04:25had to start this.
00:04:26But yes, there will be changes, obviously.
00:04:29And as Dr. Kavita said, I hope definitely we will all maintain our quality and academic
00:04:34quality with the advanced technology that we have these days.
00:04:39Thank you, Dr. Rami.
00:04:40And Mr. Vinu, in regards to the changes for you, have you seen, with your role in admissions
00:04:46and marketing, has this been a big part of people's inquiries and students' inquiries
00:04:51when they are looking to register for the university for this year?
00:04:54Hi, Keech.
00:04:55A big hello to all the fellow panellists and also the attendees.
00:04:59I kind of echo the sentiments of what Dr. Kavita as well as Dr. Rani has mentioned,
00:05:05Keech.
00:05:06It looks like a beginning of a new revolution in the academic delivery and education models
00:05:11around the world.
00:05:12And with respect to the UAE, there is no change.
00:05:16While the pandemic has posed many challenges to teaching and learning, it has also opened
00:05:21doors for many possibilities.
00:05:23And about five months back, I think most of us had looked at online education or remote
00:05:28learning as kind of a secondary option to traditional face-to-face classroom education.
00:05:33In fact, online education was not even associated with quality in many of the cases.
00:05:38But today, in the current circumstances, people are more welcoming.
00:05:42I think we are getting into blended models of learning like Kanti had mentioned already,
00:05:46where there is going to be a mix of classroom education.
00:05:49There's going to be online education.
00:05:50And I feel personally that it is here to stay.
00:05:53And I think the educational institutions, and I know for the fact Manipal does it.
00:05:58I'm sure others as well are spending a lot of time in getting the right platforms, investing
00:06:02the right technology, and to make this blended model a huge success.
00:06:07But major challenge for the universities is to find the right mix of online and face-to-face
00:06:11learning for different type of streams and programs.
00:06:15And then there are extracurricular components.
00:06:18In fact, all the inquiries, the students who are existing or the new prospects, their questions
00:06:23are around this.
00:06:25But having said all this, I feel the students will stand to gain the most.
00:06:30In fact, we're fortunate to experience the best of both worlds.
00:06:35That's interesting what the students are asking for.
00:06:37And we will come to a lot of those additions later on in this morning's webinar.
00:06:41Professor Manda, good morning to you.
00:06:44Do you echo some of the comments from the other expert panelists that really this is,
00:06:49you know, we're going in here in a blended learning process between e-learning and learning
00:06:54at university has really become the new normal for a lot of students?
00:07:00I'll just have to, I think your mic's on mute there, Professor Manda.
00:07:03We missed that goal that you just started off with.
00:07:06This is the commonest mistake we make during webinars, to keep the mic muted and, you know,
00:07:12talk.
00:07:13Thanks, Kesh, for this opportunity.
00:07:14Thanks, Gulf News, being the subscriber for Gulf News ever since I've been in UAE for
00:07:19the last 15, 20 years.
00:07:24I beg to differ from the other speakers because I am from a health professions education.
00:07:29Now, I can't run an online clinical training program.
00:07:33We are preparing doctors, dentists and health professionals, and they are the ones who are
00:07:39going to be in the forefront to treat the patients and treat COVID.
00:07:44COVID and not COVID.
00:07:45They have to be with the patients and start treating.
00:07:48Yes, we do have the didactic aspect of the teaching, which can be online.
00:07:54But our students from Gulf Medical University, whether it's the nursing or the medical, they
00:08:02volunteer during the most, you know, peak phase of COVID-19.
00:08:08So for us, the clinical training will be with the patients, with all protection in place,
00:08:16right?
00:08:16And we are training our students to use the protective devices and also to be safe, not
00:08:22only for themselves, for others as well.
00:08:24But the didactic aspect of the medical program or the health professions programs will definitely
00:08:31be online.
00:08:32And it's made our life easier.
00:08:34Well, I'll stay with you, Professor Manik, because you made a great point.
00:08:38I personally wouldn't want to see a dentist who's only ever learned how to be a dentist
00:08:42over Zoom and never physically looked in someone's mouth.
00:08:46So therefore, considering that there is obviously theory that you can do online, but there's
00:08:52so much practical teaching that you need to do, how are you implementing the safety
00:08:57of the students and I guess test patients and everyone else?
00:09:02What measures have you had to go to to adhere to the COVID-19 precautions?
00:09:07Absolutely.
00:09:08We have very clear guidelines from the Ministry of Health, right?
00:09:11So we have all of us to follow the universal standard precautions, basically.
00:09:17So all of us, we have a responsibility to be safe and others also to be safe.
00:09:22Now, patients, of course, they are screened for fever.
00:09:27And then there are fewer clinics in our health care facilities.
00:09:29And if they are suspected, they are isolated, right?
00:09:32Others are treated in COVID hospitals and non-COVID hospitals.
00:09:36For our students, we are giving them, before they come into the clinical training, we already
00:09:41started giving them orientation programs.
00:09:43But all of them have to learn about proper hand-washing techniques, according to the
00:09:48WHO and CDC guidelines.
00:09:50And of course, wearing masks, social distancing, all that is in place, right?
00:09:55So it's important that they...
00:09:57And then we developed an online course to know more about COVID and the common causes
00:10:05and precautions you'll have to take for COVID.
00:10:08And then we almost had about 35,000 people taking that course and getting certified.
00:10:14So this is one of our community engagement activities, we have to be socially accountable,
00:10:21being a health professional education university.
00:10:24So these are some of the measures we have taken.
00:10:27And as I told you, the diabetic part, it's less, it's more of clinical exposure.
00:10:34And students are posted, as usual, in our own hospitals.
00:10:39The advantage of Gulf Medical University is that we have our own clinical training sites,
00:10:44we have our laboratories, we have our hospitals, we have our clinics.
00:10:49So we are able to post our students in these places for getting the training.
00:10:54Thank you, Professor Manda.
00:10:55I think that's a very, very good perspective to put to everyone.
00:10:59For everyone logging on and listening in and watching at home, thank you very much.
00:11:03For your questions, if we can ask you to address your questions to the question box
00:11:08at the bottom of the screen.
00:11:09A few people have been placing them in the chat.
00:11:11But if you place them in the question tab, that's the best way we can have our panel
00:11:15of experts answer your questions at the end of today's webinar.
00:11:19Dr. Govita, you mentioned at the start, like many of our panellists, that we have had some
00:11:24sort of hybrid e-learning across the start of this year.
00:11:29Given you've had the summer break to really think about this and really plan for it,
00:11:33that it's now part of the normal, have you found any new opportunities or any ways to
00:11:38really enhance the student experience with e-learning, given you've had this time off
00:11:43to really plan for a lot of online courses?
00:11:48Okay. So, Kish, we have had time to do a lot of introspection and plan for the upcoming
00:11:55semesters so that the student experience does not go down and we are able to achieve the
00:12:02learning outcomes and we are able to deliver what our objective of delivering was.
00:12:09So, we have experimented with a lot of digital platforms.
00:12:14At Amity University, we already had a very good learning management system, which was
00:12:20internally developed and which supported us from March onwards when the last semester
00:12:26had to go online immediately because of the lockdown.
00:12:30So, this LMS system, we have upgraded it and the digital transformation has been amazing.
00:12:37Our faculty has been put on multiple training sessions to
00:12:44leverage technology in their teaching learning delivery.
00:12:47And one of our biggest, I would say, challenge is always an opportunity also.
00:12:56We have a lot of technical programmes that we run at Amity University.
00:13:00A lot of engineering programmes.
00:13:01We have a BTEC programme in nanotechnology where labs are very, very important.
00:13:07So, in the lockdown period, we had the labs done by our staff.
00:13:16They were interacting on the Microsoft Teams to deliver the labs.
00:13:22But now we have come up with some kind of solutions that how these technical
00:13:28aspects will be addressed.
00:13:30And maybe the labs, as Dr. Manda also mentioned, that the labs have to be hands-on.
00:13:38So, we have created a kind of a plan, which is up to KHD to approve us.
00:13:46And so that this technical aspect of the learning is also delivered as per its requirement.
00:13:56So, there have been a lot of learnings and we are very, very well prepared now
00:14:01to deliver the next semesters in whatever which mode that we get approval for.
00:14:08Thank you, Dr. Kavita.
00:14:09When we spoke earlier this week, we looked at high schools and it was amazing how
00:14:13easily five, six and seven-year-olds adapt to changing to these new ways.
00:14:18Dr. Rami, when it comes to adult learning, certainly at your university,
00:14:23what has been the hardest uptake for some of the students?
00:14:26I mean, is it hard to ensure that everyone has the correct infrastructure
00:14:30and has the correct access to technology?
00:14:33Or have you found that's not really been a problem in 2020, that everyone's accessible?
00:14:41I think you've still got your microphone on mute.
00:14:43I know you look like you're playing a video game with your headphones.
00:14:46Are you talking to me, Kev?
00:14:47Yes, I am, Dr. Rami.
00:14:49Sorry, for some reason, the voice is lagging.
00:14:53So, I can't hear the question.
00:14:55No, that's okay.
00:14:56Dr. Rami, we wanted to ask you, given how easily some school students adapt
00:15:01to working with new technologies, in the adult world,
00:15:04has it been hard for students to adapt to e-learning?
00:15:07Have there been problems with technology with students at home?
00:15:10Or have you found that in 2020, everyone's got access to it?
00:15:13I really apologize.
00:15:15For some reason, it's lagging.
00:15:16I can hear just bits and pieces of the question.
00:15:25Can you try it one more time now, maybe?
00:15:26Yeah, no problem.
00:15:27We really just wanted to ask, in the adult learning environment,
00:15:30how hard has it been to implement new technology with students at home and in the campus?
00:15:36Or have you found in 2020 that it's really been quite easy,
00:15:39that everyone has access to the latest technology?
00:15:42Um, actually, I mean, I think you were,
00:15:45you started the question comparing us to high school or schools, if I'm not mistaken.
00:15:49Again, I'm sorry.
00:15:50I heard the last part of the question.
00:15:51I heard it all.
00:15:52So, I believe for adults, it's much easier to manage.
00:15:57Maybe then, especially when you talk to primary school students and others.
00:16:01I mean, secondary school is different.
00:16:03But, yeah, and most of this new generation is highly advanced anyways,
00:16:08when it comes to technology.
00:16:09I think once we, I think it was easier for them maybe than for us,
00:16:15for the students here, I'm talking about them,
00:16:18to get all our faculty and staff trained and, you know, to be up to date.
00:16:22Luckily, I mean, we started last March and we ran the whole,
00:16:28the rest of that term, including summer one and summer two with online education.
00:16:33So, we had enough time for everyone to get trained, staff, faculty, and everyone.
00:16:39We did learn from whatever difficulties or mistakes we, you know,
00:16:42we had, technology speaking, during the last few months,
00:16:46to fix it and upgrade it to be ready, as we said earlier this September.
00:16:52Again, having this blended learning will give us also some accessibility,
00:16:56which will make it less relying, I would say, on online and technology.
00:17:00Although that will be still the, I would say,
00:17:02the dominant factor of education or mode of education.
00:17:06So, back to the question, I think for others, for students at universities,
00:17:10I don't think it's been, I mean, I'm sure it's difficult just to adapt to it,
00:17:15but knowing that this new generation is extremely advanced
00:17:18when it comes to technology and IT and computers and everything,
00:17:21I think it wasn't, it was not that bad.
00:17:25And I'm sure now it's going to run even smoother this year.
00:17:28And it may become a mode of education for the future.
00:17:32Maybe this blended learning will become the standard or the new norm,
00:17:37let's put it this way.
00:17:39Yeah, I most certainly think it will.
00:17:41Mr. Vanu, if I can come to you,
00:17:43because at the start of the new academic year,
00:17:46it's always quite a nervous time for students.
00:17:48Everyone's always a bit anxious.
00:17:49You're thinking about your admissions,
00:17:50you're applying for different courses and subjects.
00:17:53And sometimes students can think so far ahead
00:17:55that if they don't get into the course they've dreamed of,
00:17:57their life is over.
00:17:58And that can always be so drastic at this time.
00:18:01For a student watching who's thinking about applying for a course,
00:18:06in your role at admissions,
00:18:07what are some of the key factors students should consider
00:18:11before they select a course that's right for them?
00:18:16In my view, students should always choose program
00:18:19based on what interests them and what their aptitude is towards.
00:18:25Because the interest and aptitude,
00:18:27if both of them come together,
00:18:29then they will excel in whatever program they choose.
00:18:32But I did not mention employability as a key factor.
00:18:35Of course it does,
00:18:35but that shouldn't be the sole criteria
00:18:37when you choose a field of study.
00:18:39I see a lot of times students see
00:18:42what exactly school they need to do
00:18:44to get the best job out there.
00:18:47It doesn't work like that.
00:18:48It's mostly in terms of whether it is pre-code or post-code.
00:18:53Students should look at their own interest
00:18:55and also their skill sets, their aptitude.
00:18:58Like I mentioned, it's very critical
00:19:00in terms of selecting the correct programs.
00:19:03Because by the time you graduate,
00:19:04after three or four or five years,
00:19:06there will be jobs that never existed
00:19:09when you first enrolled for your program.
00:19:10So, and especially right now with this COVID,
00:19:13with the new normal, like someone has mentioned,
00:19:16things are changing very quickly.
00:19:18So you need to focus on the area that interests you
00:19:21and you can excel in and then the rest should follow.
00:19:25Do you have any advice, Mr. Vinoo, in regards to,
00:19:30are there any courses that can give you
00:19:32the best chance of success in post-COVID?
00:19:34Are there any courses that can be really agile?
00:19:36Or is it really just going back to those principles
00:19:38of choosing courses and subjects that you're interested in?
00:19:44I think that's the way the student has to go,
00:19:46which because, see, I see,
00:19:48because we see a lot of times when the students are coming
00:19:52and they follow, most of the time,
00:19:55they follow what others do or what their parents say.
00:19:59And then I see that they kind of struggle.
00:20:03They don't do enough research in terms of
00:20:06what they actually want
00:20:07and what's the right university
00:20:09that can provide what they want.
00:20:12Yes, definitely, there are a few programs
00:20:15that is coming out quite big these days.
00:20:19Especially with the current situation.
00:20:22In fact, the situation has completely disrupted
00:20:25the job landscape.
00:20:27But it has also accelerated change in redefining roles
00:20:32and so redefining courses to prepare students
00:20:34for these job roles as well.
00:20:36There are opportunities in the field of technology,
00:20:38automation, robotics, data sciences, and so on.
00:20:43I see there is a surge.
00:20:45At the same time, I also see in the last few months,
00:20:47there is an increased interest in the life sciences,
00:20:51psychology, mental health has come to the forefront
00:20:54like never before.
00:20:55But like I said earlier, irrespective of courses pursued
00:20:59and subsequently in the jobs in a post-COVID world,
00:21:02it is more about redefining roles.
00:21:04There will be no focus on skills like technology skills,
00:21:07critical thinking, emotional intelligence,
00:21:11data literacy, et cetera.
00:21:13And qualities like creativity and adaptability
00:21:15also is very critical.
00:21:16So these are the skills which will prepare the students
00:21:19for success more than following the crowd
00:21:24and choosing any particular course.
00:21:25And that's exactly why I'm telling them to research
00:21:29on what exactly their skillsets are
00:21:30and what exactly they need to start and follow that.
00:21:32Yeah, those age-old principles of being adaptable to change,
00:21:36I think are still very prevalent
00:21:38when you look at most school kids today.
00:21:40And they're gonna be entering the job market
00:21:41doing jobs that haven't even been created yet.
00:21:43So it certainly is an exciting time
00:21:46and that's how we need to view it.
00:21:47I thank you for everyone who's voted in the poll
00:21:50that is currently live.
00:21:51We're gonna be doing a few of these across the hour.
00:21:53The current question, what matters most to you
00:21:56when choosing a degree program?
00:21:57What matters most to you when choosing a degree program?
00:22:00Overwhelmingly, it's relevance to the job market,
00:22:03which we've heard could be frustrating
00:22:06given how agile it is,
00:22:07but also interest in the subject at 36%,
00:22:10quality of faculty and infrastructure
00:22:12of the university at 19%,
00:22:14and tuition fees and scholarships down at 8%,
00:22:16which I think is actually quite encouraging
00:22:19that most people are looking beyond the finances
00:22:21and are looking for what's gonna make them happy
00:22:23and more secure.
00:22:24If I can also move along to you following on
00:22:27from the admissions to Professor Mander,
00:22:29I know you obviously have a specialized university
00:22:33looking at medicine,
00:22:34but have you noticed a change in different applications
00:22:39in regards to COVID-19?
00:22:40Have people been looking up on more research
00:22:42and scientists or mental health
00:22:44or are you remaining consistent
00:22:47on where you were last year?
00:22:49Actually, we found that the applications
00:22:52for the medical program has almost doubled
00:22:55and we are unable to keep up with the admissions
00:22:59and the MBBS are completely full.
00:23:02And of course, there are more and more people
00:23:04coming into nursing and health professional education
00:23:10and public health is another one.
00:23:12We have a master's in public health
00:23:14in collaboration with University of Arizona.
00:23:16And in this COVID situation,
00:23:20the people who are at the forefront
00:23:22were the public health.
00:23:24So they are the ones who were leading
00:23:26and making policies
00:23:28and then implementing preventive strategies.
00:23:32So these are the three main things
00:23:36and as far as the admissions are concerned,
00:23:39ironically, it's doing better than the last year
00:23:42because people want to stay back here.
00:23:44UAE has fantastically managed the COVID situation
00:23:48and there can't be any other country
00:23:50which managed COVID better than United Arab Emirates.
00:23:54So we do salute the leaders of this country
00:23:56for this wonderful way they managed,
00:23:59contained the COVID
00:24:00and therefore students don't want to go
00:24:03outside the country.
00:24:05So we have had all the students
00:24:07coming to our universities to join.
00:24:10But on that point,
00:24:11I think that's a great point
00:24:12that you've seen a huge intake
00:24:13on people looking to study medical professions.
00:24:17Why do you think that is?
00:24:18Do you think people see that
00:24:20there's job security in health
00:24:22given what's happening
00:24:22or do you think that maybe it's a bit more people
00:24:25suddenly feeling a bit more empathetic
00:24:27and they can get more satisfaction out of their job
00:24:30if they can go into those roles of nursing
00:24:32where they're attributing to the greater good?
00:24:35Kich, you mentioned about employability, right?
00:24:38A doctor is 100% employable
00:24:42whether in the government sector
00:24:43or the private sector,
00:24:44he opens his own clinic, right?
00:24:46After he gets a license.
00:24:49So all our programs,
00:24:50health production education programs,
00:24:51whether it is medicine, pharmacy, dentistry,
00:24:55health sciences, nursing,
00:24:57they are 100% employable.
00:24:58So I'm sure they come for this
00:25:01and moreover the respect the doctor gets.
00:25:05Although now it's a different way
00:25:08of sort of practice with the patients
00:25:13well-informed because of the Google
00:25:15and they are Google doctors
00:25:16we are meeting as patients.
00:25:18So nevertheless,
00:25:20still it holds its own prestige,
00:25:22its own, you know,
00:25:23it has got its own value.
00:25:26Well, I think that Google doctor can be a bit scary
00:25:28because every time I look in Google doctor
00:25:30when I've got something wrong with me,
00:25:31I think I'm going to die.
00:25:31So I think it's good.
00:25:32We get more doctors out there
00:25:34that are changing that perception.
00:25:37I'm talking about the patient being a Google doctor.
00:25:39We are treating Google doctors.
00:25:40That's what I mean.
00:25:43That's the problem.
00:25:44You look up and you see too many things.
00:25:46Dr. Kavita, Professor Manda touched on the issue of,
00:25:49I guess, with people's inability to travel.
00:25:52Have you noticed that you've had an influx
00:25:54of more local students
00:25:55than you did this time last year?
00:25:58Yes, we did, Kesh.
00:25:59So a lot of more local students
00:26:02are applying to our university,
00:26:04different programs.
00:26:06And also those category of students
00:26:08who are planning to go to
00:26:10either any of the European universities,
00:26:13UK universities or US universities
00:26:15are now staying back in UAE
00:26:17and they are applying to our programs.
00:26:20So there has certainly been
00:26:25an increase in that category of students.
00:26:28Now, for students who are looking
00:26:29to select a new course,
00:26:30Dr. Kavita, what do you think
00:26:32are some of the most common mistakes
00:26:34that new students make
00:26:36when selecting a course?
00:26:39As Venu also mentioned,
00:26:41that some of the most common mistakes
00:26:44that students make
00:26:46is to come under peer pressure
00:26:49or come under the pressure of the parents
00:26:51that you should choose this program
00:26:57regardless of
00:26:58because of its long term outlook
00:27:01or regardless of whether
00:27:02you are interested in it or not.
00:27:04So I would suggest
00:27:06and I would counsel the students
00:27:08that you should look for your interest
00:27:10and try to identify
00:27:12and be in touch with the counselors
00:27:15because all our admissions counselors
00:27:17are trained in understanding
00:27:20the interest of the student.
00:27:22So the first step
00:27:24to not making a wrong choice
00:27:27in a course
00:27:29because it can be a very costly mistake.
00:27:33You may lose one year.
00:27:34After one year, you may think,
00:27:36oh, I didn't like this program.
00:27:38I should have made a different choice.
00:27:40So it's very important for the students
00:27:43to remain in touch
00:27:44with the admissions counselors
00:27:46and meet the faculty
00:27:48because in all our open days
00:27:50or whatever webinars
00:27:52that we have done
00:27:54during the lockdown period also,
00:27:57all of the faculty were available.
00:27:59So they should actually do a good research.
00:28:02They should meet as much
00:28:04subject experts as possible
00:28:07and then try to come to an informed decision
00:28:10and they should obviously
00:28:12follow their passion.
00:28:13That is something which I always advise
00:28:16all students that you should look
00:28:18for your passion
00:28:19and this search should start
00:28:23when they are in their grade 11th, grade 10th.
00:28:27So that is the time
00:28:28that they should start researching
00:28:30for the right course for them
00:28:32and what is their interest area.
00:28:34So the student should actually start early
00:28:38and they should be in touch
00:28:39with the subject experts.
00:28:41They should be in touch
00:28:42with the admissions counselors
00:28:43because they are trained people,
00:28:46you know, to understand their needs.
00:28:48Yeah.
00:28:49You make a very strong point
00:28:50for people to have the courage
00:28:51of their convictions
00:28:52and not just follow, you know, peer pressure
00:28:55or what their friends are doing
00:28:56or what that girl they're keen on
00:28:58thinks would be cool to do that course
00:29:00and then spend four years studying.
00:29:02So I think, Dr. Kavita,
00:29:04you'll be interested in our current poll.
00:29:05We're asking when should students
00:29:07start planning for college admissions?
00:29:09And thankfully, most are
00:29:11seemingly following your advice.
00:29:1247% said when in high school,
00:29:1535% one year before they start college
00:29:19or 18% have said
00:29:20be flexible based on circumstances.
00:29:23So I think a lot of people,
00:29:24thankfully, are also heeding to your advice.
00:29:30Thank you for all your questions
00:29:31that are coming in.
00:29:32We'll get some more of those towards the end.
00:29:34Dr. Rami, do you have any advice
00:29:37on, you know, why certain students
00:29:40do make common mistakes?
00:29:41But also, you know,
00:29:42when you are speaking to students
00:29:44about admissions,
00:29:46what does your university do
00:29:47to support students
00:29:48in helping that make them
00:29:50make the right choice in a degree?
00:29:54We do have like a whole team working.
00:29:58We divide them between recruitment,
00:30:00admission,
00:30:01and then you have the student services.
00:30:03So that's why we have all these departments
00:30:05under this big umbrella
00:30:06called student affairs,
00:30:07which means they can talk to each other.
00:30:09So we try to start with the students
00:30:11from the beginning of his journey.
00:30:13And sometimes it goes back
00:30:14one or two years,
00:30:15even before high school.
00:30:18We start talking to students from grade,
00:30:20sometimes from year 10.
00:30:23So through our recruitment offices,
00:30:25when they visit them in schools
00:30:26or exhibitions.
00:30:28So we keep, we build this connection
00:30:30and this link with them
00:30:32throughout the year sometimes.
00:30:33And once they are in high school
00:30:36or in the grade 12,
00:30:38we start helping them in their admission.
00:30:40We tell them what requirements
00:30:41they need to fulfill.
00:30:43We take them through this journey,
00:30:45as I said, in admission.
00:30:46And then we have the student services
00:30:48to support them through their education.
00:30:50Sometimes, as my colleagues were saying,
00:30:52some students may make a mistake
00:30:54in picking the wrong course
00:30:55or wrong program.
00:30:57Sometimes they notice this little bit later
00:30:59after they start the admission
00:31:01or at the beginning of the semester,
00:31:02even sometimes the year.
00:31:04So we help them in that transfer.
00:31:06We have like the counselor,
00:31:07student counseling and advising
00:31:09that will be talking to students
00:31:11who are having difficulties
00:31:13throughout their education
00:31:15and try to help them
00:31:17or guide them to make the right choice.
00:31:19Of course, you don't force anything
00:31:22on a student.
00:31:22It has to be also something
00:31:24that he's interested in.
00:31:25But that's how I can say,
00:31:26it's like we close the loop
00:31:28by following the students
00:31:29from the beginning of his journey
00:31:31throughout his education,
00:31:32hopefully until graduation.
00:31:34Yeah, I think that's a very key point
00:31:36is to following students along
00:31:37what is a journey
00:31:38in terms of higher learning.
00:31:40Mr. Vanoo, in your work in admissions,
00:31:43as students are,
00:31:44I guess, increasingly conscious
00:31:46of watching the change
00:31:47in the economy this year.
00:31:49And they're obviously now thinking
00:31:51on what courses are going to be more agile
00:31:53in the years going forward.
00:31:54Have you got any recommendation
00:31:56on what would be
00:31:56some of the top programs
00:31:58for students who are looking
00:31:59to improve their employability?
00:32:03Yeah, like, in fact,
00:32:05I touched upon it earlier as well.
00:32:06In fact, Alex just mentioned it.
00:32:09Conventional route, of course,
00:32:10is engineering and business.
00:32:12There is a surge in technology
00:32:15interest, of course.
00:32:17A lot of students are going
00:32:18in more conventional routes
00:32:19of be calm and have a program.
00:32:23I'm also seeing an increased interest
00:32:25in life sciences,
00:32:28not just the medical sciences,
00:32:30of course,
00:32:31also the biotechnology,
00:32:33these kind of programs as well.
00:32:35Also, there's an increased interest
00:32:36in terms of psychology,
00:32:37mental health people.
00:32:39People are realizing
00:32:39these courses are also important.
00:32:42And I see, I mean,
00:32:43if the student is really interested
00:32:46in these programs
00:32:48and if they have an aptitude
00:32:49to do well in each of these,
00:32:52I don't see a problem
00:32:53in them becoming an employable
00:32:56once they completed three,
00:32:57four years down the line.
00:32:58In fact, as high as engineering
00:33:02and business course from Manipal
00:33:04in terms of placement records,
00:33:05I also see a lot of students
00:33:10get placed quite easily
00:33:12in the programs like media,
00:33:14architecture, design,
00:33:16life sciences and humanities.
00:33:17And in fact, their internship records
00:33:19are close to 100% from what I've seen.
00:33:22I don't think that it is going
00:33:24to change in any which ways.
00:33:25Like I told earlier,
00:33:25it's more of redefining these courses.
00:33:28They are going to be there
00:33:29and how it's redefining the objectives,
00:33:32what these courses
00:33:34were meant to meet earlier.
00:33:35That's going to be a bit different
00:33:37now in the post-COVID world.
00:33:38So I think it is,
00:33:40that's exactly why the universities
00:33:42have career services
00:33:44in the university itself
00:33:46to travel with the student
00:33:48in terms of preparing
00:33:50for the job market outside
00:33:52once they finish there.
00:33:56It is a great point you make there.
00:33:58So for some people who are fearing
00:34:00when they take on a course,
00:34:01you know, how is it going to help me
00:34:02and how is it going to change
00:34:03with COVID-19?
00:34:04As you pointed out,
00:34:05each subject and each course
00:34:07is looking to be more agile
00:34:08in itself and the way it teaches
00:34:09and the way it adapts to COVID-19.
00:34:11So I think for anyone
00:34:12who's watching today
00:34:13and is still a bit fearful
00:34:15about what sort of course
00:34:15they're going to take in,
00:34:17that's some good advice.
00:34:19To you, Professor Mander,
00:34:20for any student who is thinking
00:34:22about applying,
00:34:23and please feel free
00:34:24if you only need to answer
00:34:26your question based
00:34:27on your experience
00:34:28as a specialised university.
00:34:30How can students who are today
00:34:32looking to put in their application,
00:34:33how can they maximise their chances
00:34:35of a successful application?
00:34:38Well, we have set criteria
00:34:41for admissions
00:34:42and for admissions
00:34:43for the medical programs
00:34:45and other programs,
00:34:46professional programs
00:34:46is certainly higher
00:34:47than other programs.
00:34:49So first of all,
00:34:50they fulfil the criteria.
00:34:52And as you mentioned in the previous,
00:34:54I wouldn't agree more
00:34:55with the previous speakers
00:34:56about the suitability
00:34:57of choosing a particular programme.
00:35:00It's important that,
00:35:02you know,
00:35:02we have admission counsellors, right?
00:35:05And they undergo
00:35:06a structured interview.
00:35:07And we wanted to know
00:35:08whether they're really interested
00:35:09in joining this programme or not.
00:35:11So that's important.
00:35:12And they also write
00:35:13and sort of a reflection
00:35:14and an essay
00:35:15about why they want to join
00:35:17a particular programme
00:35:18and give us justification
00:35:19of what they want to do.
00:35:20We also look at the previous,
00:35:21you know,
00:35:22suppose they have done
00:35:22some internships
00:35:23or something like that in schools
00:35:25for them so that,
00:35:26you know, we get
00:35:27we get enough evidence for them
00:35:30and enough evidence
00:35:30for us to know
00:35:31that they are interested
00:35:32in this programme.
00:35:33Second thing I wanted to make
00:35:34very important point here
00:35:36as a health professional,
00:35:37as a doctor also,
00:35:38it is not the end of the world
00:35:39if they make a wrong choice.
00:35:41It's important.
00:35:42So it's always,
00:35:43it's OK.
00:35:45They can change course
00:35:47after they realise
00:35:48that they're not doing well.
00:35:50It's important that
00:35:51we have realised
00:35:52we have done research
00:35:53and we have found
00:35:54that the first year
00:35:55in the medical school
00:35:56is the most stressful
00:35:57because they come to
00:35:58collegiate environment
00:36:00and university environment
00:36:01from school
00:36:02and they are on their own.
00:36:03We apply adult learning principles
00:36:06and, you know,
00:36:07at the end of the day,
00:36:08they are stressed out a lot.
00:36:10So it's a strong mentorship programme
00:36:12which is important
00:36:13to be implemented
00:36:14in the first year
00:36:15to have good mentorships
00:36:16for the mentors,
00:36:17for the students,
00:36:18for them to be guided.
00:36:19And also in the event
00:36:20of the realising
00:36:21that they have not
00:36:23made the right choice
00:36:24and not to victimise them.
00:36:27It's important.
00:36:27And then also to just guide them
00:36:29to go into the place
00:36:30where they really belong to.
00:36:33So this is my advice
00:36:34to parents also
00:36:35to kindly note
00:36:36if you are an engineer,
00:36:38your son may want
00:36:40to become a doctor.
00:36:42So please don't
00:36:44make clones of yourself.
00:36:46If you want to be an engineer,
00:36:48if your son wants
00:36:48to be a doctor,
00:36:49well, good.
00:36:50Come to Gulf Medical University.
00:36:52So thanks.
00:36:55So I just wanted to tell you this,
00:36:57that it's important
00:37:00that we take
00:37:02the perspective of the student
00:37:04and we give a lot of respect
00:37:06to his wishes and his passion
00:37:09and not force the student
00:37:13by the parents or by peers.
00:37:17You'll be very interested
00:37:18in a latest poll
00:37:19that has just gone up there, Professor.
00:37:21Who helps the most
00:37:22or who gives you the most advice
00:37:24in choosing a college or course?
00:37:26Is it the influence of your parents
00:37:28or your guardians,
00:37:29high school teachers,
00:37:30the guidance seminars
00:37:32and the career counsellors,
00:37:33the people who help
00:37:34do the admissions at university?
00:37:36Or is it friends and word of mouth
00:37:38and all sorts of peer pressure?
00:37:39So I'd be interested
00:37:40to see the thoughts.
00:37:41Please have your vote on the poll
00:37:43because I know specifically
00:37:44as a medical university,
00:37:45your admissions have quite
00:37:47a strict criteria there, Professor,
00:37:48in regards to taking your admissions
00:37:50for the following upcoming year.
00:37:53As we get your votes
00:37:56on some of the polls,
00:37:57Dr. Kavita,
00:37:58you know, when you're taking
00:37:59admissions from students,
00:38:00and I guess this year
00:38:01you're taking a lot more local students
00:38:02than you ever have.
00:38:05What do you do for a student
00:38:06who has suddenly been planning
00:38:08and planning to go overseas
00:38:09and they couldn't get in
00:38:10and now they're left with this idea
00:38:12of I need to try
00:38:13and find a university.
00:38:14I've got to find one in the UAE.
00:38:16What is the admission process
00:38:18for last minute admissions?
00:38:20When is the cutoff date?
00:38:21And how can we help advise people?
00:38:23Okay, so Kish,
00:38:25our admission process remains the same.
00:38:27The eligibility criteria
00:38:29remain the same.
00:38:30And all these last minute admissions,
00:38:33we are having a lot of walk-ins
00:38:35and we have increased the frequency
00:38:37of our open days
00:38:38and so that the students can come
00:38:41and see the facilities
00:38:43and talk to the faculty
00:38:44and take the admission.
00:38:46So we are encouraging
00:38:48in all our communications also
00:38:49that please come with your documents,
00:38:51come with your transcripts
00:38:53so that we are able to fast forward
00:38:56your admission process.
00:38:58And we are having a lot of influx
00:39:02of such parents and students
00:39:05who are coming to the university,
00:39:07visiting our open days
00:39:08or taking individual appointments with us.
00:39:12Either it is on Zoom
00:39:15or it is face-to-face.
00:39:17So the eligibility criteria
00:39:19remains the same.
00:39:20So we have not relaxed
00:39:21our eligibility criteria.
00:39:23But definitely,
00:39:24we are counseling these students
00:39:27and plus a zone of comfort
00:39:31for these students
00:39:32is their own classmates,
00:39:34other friends who are also
00:39:36in similar situations
00:39:37and they are also
00:39:38coming to the university.
00:39:40So that is a comfort zone for them.
00:39:43And plus the educational facilities
00:39:46in UAE are also very world-class.
00:39:49So it is not something
00:39:51that they obviously,
00:39:55they had planned to go abroad
00:39:56or study in any of the US universities,
00:39:58UK universities,
00:40:00but the educational levels
00:40:03in UAE are also world-class.
00:40:05So they are not,
00:40:08once they have started examining this,
00:40:10they are satisfied
00:40:11and they are happy with it.
00:40:12So we are in touch with such students
00:40:15and a lot of counseling is required,
00:40:16but it is happening.
00:40:20That is very good that the counseling is there
00:40:23because I know so many students
00:40:24are certainly anxious,
00:40:25you know, going to university
00:40:26for the first time.
00:40:27Dr. Rami, how are you working towards
00:40:30taking this influx of local students
00:40:33who had maybe planned to go overseas
00:40:35and are looking for these
00:40:36last-minute admissions
00:40:38into university locally?
00:40:41We are doing the same, actually.
00:40:43A lot of open houses,
00:40:44virtual open houses,
00:40:46and we are receiving
00:40:47a lot of walk-ins these days
00:40:48with booking appointments
00:40:50and the safety guidelines
00:40:51that we need to follow, obviously.
00:40:53Students are coming now
00:40:54because it's like last minute,
00:40:55as you said,
00:40:56most of the students are prepared
00:40:57with their documents and everything,
00:40:59so we take them through the process quickly
00:41:00if all the documents are in place.
00:41:02We are offering, obviously,
00:41:04conditional admission,
00:41:06following guidelines from ministry,
00:41:10so to make it a little bit easier on people,
00:41:12especially that some grades
00:41:14or equivalencies
00:41:14are taking a little bit more time
00:41:16because of the COVID situation.
00:41:18I think this conditional admission
00:41:20has been very helpful.
00:41:22In addition to all of this,
00:41:24we as a Canadian university,
00:41:26Dubai,
00:41:27we are a portal to Canadian education.
00:41:29We've been known for this in the market
00:41:31for the last 14, 15 years,
00:41:32and through our partners in Canada,
00:41:34and as you may know,
00:41:36Canada has been an educational spot
00:41:39or a destination for many students
00:41:42from this region,
00:41:43so we always facilitate
00:41:46this transfer to Canada.
00:41:47That's part of our mission here,
00:41:49and through the office,
00:41:51we have an office and advisors
00:41:53that only work on application
00:41:54for transfer to Canada,
00:41:56so this has been always the case for us,
00:41:58and now maybe because of,
00:42:00as you said,
00:42:01many local students are not planning
00:42:03maybe to travel overseas
00:42:05to different destinations,
00:42:06including Canada,
00:42:08they may find us as a good option
00:42:10to start here,
00:42:11and then they see how the situation goes,
00:42:13and then if they want to transfer,
00:42:15we will help them in the transfer
00:42:16as we've been doing
00:42:17for the last 14, 15 years,
00:42:18so in that sense,
00:42:20I think that we're giving
00:42:21a lot of support to students,
00:42:25plus in addition of, obviously,
00:42:26the scholarship extension we did
00:42:28and the discount,
00:42:30or sorry, fee reduction
00:42:31we've been giving for COVID,
00:42:33financial relief for 30%,
00:42:35so we have extended this as well
00:42:37to give students some,
00:42:39you know, support and the community.
00:42:42Yeah, I think that's a very interesting point
00:42:43about being flexible to students
00:42:45with the idea that maybe you can
00:42:47undertake your studies here,
00:42:48because I know a lot of many students
00:42:50do want to study overseas
00:42:51for the shared learning of travel
00:42:53and working with and learning
00:42:54with different students
00:42:55from different walks of life
00:42:57can often be a big part
00:42:58of the learning process,
00:43:00so that's an excellent point.
00:43:02Mr. Venoo, with your work in admissions,
00:43:04are you finding a lot of questions
00:43:06are coming in
00:43:06with financial difficulties or problems?
00:43:08Is this presenting more of an issue
00:43:10for you with admissions this year,
00:43:12given the nature of the economy
00:43:13at the moment?
00:43:16Yeah, it has definitely increased
00:43:18like what Rania has mentioned.
00:43:22The economical situation of the parents
00:43:24seems to be a very important
00:43:26point of discussion these days,
00:43:28and also like to answer
00:43:31your earlier question related to
00:43:33students who are,
00:43:34who usually plan to travel to US, UK,
00:43:38to the Western countries
00:43:39or in universities.
00:43:42I think the quality of
00:43:43viewing universities have improved
00:43:46and increased at least at the moment.
00:43:50Engineering bodies here,
00:43:51be it ministry or PhD,
00:43:53the way they evaluate the universities,
00:43:55the way they rate the universities
00:43:56is something excellent.
00:44:00I think the students have to,
00:44:02whether they're thinking about traveling
00:44:05or whatever it is,
00:44:06they have to reach out to the admissions office
00:44:08and like what Dr. Devika said,
00:44:10I'm sure it's the case
00:44:12with all universities even at Manipal.
00:44:14We have trained counselors
00:44:15who can talk to the students,
00:44:17evaluate their aptitude,
00:44:19their interests.
00:44:20They can connect to their faculty team
00:44:24to give an in-depth counseling.
00:44:25We have open days
00:44:27where the students can visit the campuses
00:44:29and get a feel of how the university is like.
00:44:32I also like what Rania said,
00:44:34they can come join here
00:44:35and see what's the situation next year
00:44:37and plan to travel abroad.
00:44:39More times than not,
00:44:39they might be kind of surprised
00:44:43about the quality that is delivered here
00:44:45and would want to choose
00:44:47to continue and stay here.
00:44:49Also, to answer your question
00:44:52in terms of the financial situations,
00:44:54I think we are flexible on that front.
00:44:57With respect to eligibility
00:44:58and the quality of education,
00:45:00there is no flexibility.
00:45:02There is no compromise on that,
00:45:03but definitely in terms of the cut-off dates,
00:45:06last-date applications,
00:45:09the engineering university
00:45:10generally starts their batches in September.
00:45:13I see, just because of the delay
00:45:15on the 12th results,
00:45:16I'm pretty sure a lot of 12th grade students
00:45:19are not the equivalent IB
00:45:21or British College students
00:45:22will be watching this show.
00:45:24I know that during the results,
00:45:27there seems to be some issues
00:45:28in terms of many other things.
00:45:32What we have done is,
00:45:35I'm pretty sure the other case was,
00:45:38we were flexible in terms of cut-off,
00:45:40more flexible in terms of payment plans.
00:45:42There are good merit-based policies,
00:45:45but also because of the situation right now,
00:45:48we also offer additional discounts
00:45:50and payment plans to support them.
00:45:54We should reach out to the application offices,
00:45:56visit the open days
00:45:57and have discussions with them.
00:46:02I like that point,
00:46:02but I'm going to come back to you in a second
00:46:04because I can see that Dr. Hussain,
00:46:06who has had some trouble logging in
00:46:08due to some technical difficulties of his own,
00:46:11has managed to come in and left his speaker on.
00:46:13So it's just sort of drowning everyone else out
00:46:16because his IT team there,
00:46:17the IT team are trying to work out his problem.
00:46:19So if anyone from Dr. Hussain's IT team
00:46:22could maybe mute his microphone,
00:46:24it's going to be a lot easier for the rest of us
00:46:26to hear what Mr. Venu
00:46:28and everyone else here has been saying
00:46:30in regards to advice.
00:46:33Some of the questions that have come through
00:46:35we're going to get to them formally in a second,
00:46:36but if I could just equally go around.
00:46:38Thank you, Dr. Hussain's being muted,
00:46:40that makes it easier.
00:46:41Just quickly, if I can get a few brief tips from everyone.
00:46:44Do you have any tips to help students
00:46:47make the most of those interviews?
00:46:49If I can just get a couple from each of you.
00:46:50Mr. Venu, any tips for students?
00:46:56Be open-minded,
00:46:57be open about what is your interest.
00:46:59I'm revisiting again the points that I made
00:47:02and other panelists made also.
00:47:06Do research, though it is late right now,
00:47:08but do research on the university,
00:47:10on your own interests and things like that
00:47:12before stepping onto the university counseling
00:47:16or an interview panel,
00:47:17because that's very critical.
00:47:19You should not follow,
00:47:21I know it's the fag end of the drive,
00:47:24but you should not get...
00:47:26I saw the poll results also,
00:47:29students are also following
00:47:33almost 50% of that without any disrespect.
00:47:38What Professor Manda mentioned a little earlier,
00:47:41doctors, engineers,
00:47:42or whatever the other professionals are,
00:47:44should see what exactly the students' interests are,
00:47:47what is their skill sets are,
00:47:48and ask them to converse with the counselors
00:47:53and try and find out what is the best solution,
00:47:55what is there for them to take.
00:47:57In terms of preparation for the interview,
00:47:59whatever the portfolios that they've done
00:48:02during their schools over the last two or three years,
00:48:05it can be that it comes in handy
00:48:06in terms of getting the best of scholarships,
00:48:08best of different type of programs
00:48:10that they would want to join.
00:48:12They should be prepared to have more of a conversation
00:48:16rather than, you know,
00:48:17be fenced about getting a seat in particular university.
00:48:20That's the major development.
00:48:23Yeah, they're very good points.
00:48:25And I think it is still important
00:48:26to reiterate some of those points
00:48:27to people who are maybe just
00:48:29joining us halfway through today's webinar.
00:48:31Professor Manda, do you have anything else
00:48:32to add to that in regards to how students
00:48:34who are nervous and anxious
00:48:35when they sit down for these interviews,
00:48:36how best they can prepare?
00:48:39I think the faculty should be equally prepared
00:48:43to take an interview
00:48:44and not make the situation tense.
00:48:47So there must be some breaking of the ice.
00:48:49And I want all the students to be themselves,
00:48:52very important,
00:48:52not to be artificial, first of all,
00:48:55and then be honest in whatever they're talking about
00:48:58and be confident and bold, right?
00:49:01So every interview should be a learning process.
00:49:04And as I told you, it is a two-way process.
00:49:08Communication is a two-way process.
00:49:10It's just on the student,
00:49:11but even the faculty have the interviewer and interviewee
00:49:16both have an important role to play
00:49:19in a positive outcome.
00:49:21So I do miss folks.
00:49:24Yeah.
00:49:25Don't continue.
00:49:26I was going to say spoken like a true scholar.
00:49:27Everything's a learning process.
00:49:29Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:49:30And it's lifelong learning at the end of the day.
00:49:33So all the students, I wish you all the best
00:49:35and be yourself, be confident.
00:49:38Good advice, as we say in Australia,
00:49:40you have to back yourself.
00:49:41Dr. Kavita, anything else?
00:49:43I mean, when you're advising students
00:49:44who are nervous
00:49:45and they want to get the right results in the interview,
00:49:47you know, what's the best way
00:49:49they can calm themselves down
00:49:50and just be ready and prepared for the interview?
00:49:52The best way is, Akesh, as Venu also said
00:49:56and Professor Mahant also said
00:50:00that the one thing that they should do,
00:50:02the confidence arises from knowledge.
00:50:05So they should research their area very well
00:50:09and that will give them the confidence
00:50:12to come up with the right answers.
00:50:15And so that research is very important.
00:50:18They should research their field,
00:50:19look at the trends in the field that they have chosen
00:50:22and they should have a list of their questions also ready
00:50:28in the interview that, you know, possible questions.
00:50:32And so that is what is important for them
00:50:35to prepare for the research
00:50:37and more research and more research
00:50:40and that will give them the confidence
00:50:43to clear the interview
00:50:44and they should be clear about what they want.
00:50:47And be honest, that is very important
00:50:50as Professor Mahant also said.
00:50:52So these are some of the things
00:50:56that will help them to clear their interviews, yeah.
00:50:58Research, research, lifelong learning,
00:51:01start even before you've had your first class.
00:51:04Dr. Rami, if I can ask you the same question
00:51:06but switch it around the other way,
00:51:09rather than asking for the tips that students make,
00:51:12what are some of the common mistakes
00:51:15or some of the failings that you see
00:51:17in a lot of students
00:51:18before they conduct those initial admission interviews?
00:51:21I'm actually supporting my colleagues.
00:51:25I mean, maybe some students
00:51:28they come without doing the proper research
00:51:30or they don't put the emphasis on the research.
00:51:33So there may be some misleading information they have
00:51:37or we feel like sometimes they are lost,
00:51:39they don't know.
00:51:41Like, I think, again,
00:51:43because the more confident about their topic
00:51:46and the more research they do to make them confident,
00:51:51they will come ready with proper questions
00:51:54so at least we will be able to guide them.
00:51:55Like, I'm a faculty member myself as well
00:51:58and I always tell students,
00:51:59if you wanna come and sit with me in an office hour
00:52:01to review the material
00:52:03because you didn't understand it well in lecture
00:52:05or you didn't catch it or you missed it or whatever,
00:52:08come ready, come prepared.
00:52:09Read it alone first and come to my office.
00:52:12Then we will be able to focus on your week
00:52:14you know, where the knowledge is lacking.
00:52:17But if you come there without having any background,
00:52:21whatever you say, a student will be lost
00:52:23because it will be so overwhelming for him.
00:52:25So again, I think that the biggest mistake
00:52:28that some students do
00:52:29is that they may not come so ready
00:52:31expecting that they will get all the information
00:52:33out on the spot.
00:52:34I think, no, come ready, come with questions
00:52:37and then whatever you don't know,
00:52:39it's easier than to guide you in the right direction.
00:52:41So again, if we'll go to the tips,
00:52:44it will be the same research and confidence, of course.
00:52:46Yeah, but I do like that point of
00:52:48come with some of your own questions.
00:52:49It goes to show you that you've been learning
00:52:52and I've already worked out things
00:52:53that you don't know and you aren't aware of.
00:52:55Look, as we come to the end,
00:52:56we'll get to some of the questions.
00:52:58Thank you very much.
00:52:59Just to quickly finalize that last poll,
00:53:02who helps the most in choosing a college or course?
00:53:05Overwhelmingly, 40% say parents or guardians
00:53:09followed by 33% guidance seminars and career counsellors.
00:53:13So it's good to show you that some people
00:53:15are following their heart
00:53:16and taking the advice of career counsellors
00:53:18at the universities.
00:53:20As we look at the first question,
00:53:21and for the first question,
00:53:23I'll throw it to you, Mr. Vinu.
00:53:26As it's been mentioned by our experts today,
00:53:28online education is not new
00:53:31and there is some excellent pedology out there.
00:53:34What are some of the things that your university
00:53:36is doing to support your faculty thinking?
00:53:39So the question is,
00:53:40are you able to hire experts
00:53:42like online instructional designers to support?
00:53:45So the question they really are asking,
00:53:49are you going to be able to keep an update
00:53:50with the latest technology?
00:53:52And what is your university doing
00:53:55to maintain the high standards of e-learning?
00:53:57See, the academic models,
00:54:03learning environments and the platforms
00:54:05is going to change.
00:54:06Of course, we are talking about blended model these days,
00:54:10or I would call it as evolved.
00:54:12But the core values of education remains the same.
00:54:16Online components, the use of technology
00:54:17were always there,
00:54:18like what the person has mentioned
00:54:21as part of the traditional education.
00:54:23But the major difference is the use
00:54:26of these online components
00:54:28and the technology at such a scale,
00:54:31which we saw in the last few months
00:54:33and going to see in the next term.
00:54:36But we were always getting there.
00:54:39Only the thing that this pandemic situation have done
00:54:42is that it has fast-tracked
00:54:44the entire education system to the change
00:54:46that would have probably happened
00:54:47gradually in a decade or so.
00:54:50Before the education models,
00:54:52the technology were worked
00:54:54around the program structures and classes.
00:54:56Now we are working backwards
00:54:58on how these classes can,
00:55:00and the programs can be designed
00:55:02to suit different models
00:55:04and the technologies that are available.
00:55:06So there are so many things,
00:55:08like what kind of technology
00:55:10that has to be used?
00:55:12What are the classes?
00:55:13What are the programs
00:55:14that will fit in those technology online?
00:55:16The blended learning is about blended learning.
00:55:19Success is all about finding the right mix
00:55:23on which programs need to be offered in the campus,
00:55:26which programs need to be offered online,
00:55:28which can be offered online.
00:55:30Like what Professor Manta had mentioned earlier,
00:55:33that a few programs wouldn't want a doctor
00:55:36who's doing the courses,
00:55:38get treated by a doctor
00:55:39who's doing the courses online.
00:55:41So it's very critical
00:55:42in terms of finding the right mix.
00:55:45And it is also important
00:55:48to the learning experience
00:55:50who's going to attend the classes online.
00:55:51So even what we have learned
00:55:53in the last few months
00:55:57is that our teachers,
00:55:59in terms of creating the models
00:56:02or even the core structures,
00:56:04more engaging way to the learners.
00:56:07Very, very critical thing is
00:56:08that these technology,
00:56:10these online components
00:56:11should not increase the gap
00:56:13between the teachers and the students.
00:56:15It should create a better educational experience
00:56:17for both.
00:56:18And we at Manipal,
00:56:20be it a technology,
00:56:21be it a training method,
00:56:22be it our faculty workshops,
00:56:24or even the mix between the online
00:56:26and the classroom.
00:56:30This is the major driving point
00:56:32to ensure the experience
00:56:34for both the learner and teacher
00:56:37is actually good.
00:56:39And whatever the student's expectation,
00:56:41not just academically,
00:56:42but also in terms of extracurriculars,
00:56:45are met.
00:56:46So that's what we are at Manipal.
00:56:50Yeah, thank you for that Mr. Vinny,
00:56:51because that's an interesting point
00:56:53that I just want to move
00:56:54to our other experts about.
00:56:56He's trying to find that balance
00:56:57and trying to find
00:56:58how it can be the best experience
00:56:59for everyone involved.
00:57:01We've had a question from Anant,
00:57:03who has come through.
00:57:05I won't post this to Professor Manda,
00:57:07because I know he's spoken
00:57:08about the importance
00:57:09of face-to-face learning,
00:57:10given the specialised medical university.
00:57:13But for our other panellists,
00:57:15what do you think,
00:57:16this is from Anant,
00:57:17what would be the ideal ratio
00:57:19of online and offline classes?
00:57:22And what are the measures
00:57:23being undertaken by the university
00:57:25to safeguard a student's life,
00:57:28campus life during COVID-19?
00:57:29And we've touched on a lot
00:57:30of the sanitisation issues
00:57:32that we've been doing
00:57:33by following the rules of the ministry.
00:57:35But if I can speak to you,
00:57:36Dr. Kavita and Dr. Rami,
00:57:38Dr. Kavita first,
00:57:40is there really an ideal balance
00:57:42between e-learning
00:57:43and learning in the classroom?
00:57:44Or does it really just depend
00:57:45on the course that students are doing?
00:57:48It really depends on the course,
00:57:51because the face-to-face
00:57:54is more important
00:57:55where hands-on experience is required,
00:57:58like the technical programmes,
00:58:00engineering programmes,
00:58:01scientific programmes.
00:58:03But definitely other programmes
00:58:07also need a face-to-face.
00:58:08So the ratio of online
00:58:11and offline classes
00:58:14will depend on the nature
00:58:16of the programme, definitely.
00:58:18And then the student strength
00:58:21in that programme,
00:58:22because if you see
00:58:24the management programmes,
00:58:25they have a larger number of students.
00:58:27So it will be difficult for us
00:58:29to bring them all to the campus,
00:58:31because we have to maintain
00:58:33the social distancing norms
00:58:35and 1.5 metres distance
00:58:38between the students, the chairs,
00:58:41the classrooms have to be utilised
00:58:44only at 50% capacity.
00:58:46So there are multiple factors
00:58:48and we are all working towards
00:58:51getting the ideal plan,
00:58:52which will satisfy the students.
00:58:55Ultimately, the learning experience
00:58:57should not go down.
00:58:59And we are also creating
00:59:02interactive environments
00:59:04for the students
00:59:05to leverage that,
00:59:08because we are running
00:59:09more than 44 different programmes
00:59:11here in Amity University.
00:59:12And it is difficult
00:59:14to get all the students to the campus
00:59:16or have a campus approach
00:59:18or having alternate days.
00:59:21So these are some of the parameters
00:59:25that we are keeping in mind
00:59:26while we are preparing the plan.
00:59:28And also the health guidelines,
00:59:32the safety guidelines as per DHA.
00:59:35So sanitisation and the use of
00:59:42this cleanliness, hygiene,
00:59:44all these are being followed
00:59:47as guided by the health authorities.
00:59:50So the ideal ratio,
00:59:53it is as per the programme
00:59:55that the student is studying.
00:59:58Yes, I think it seems to be
01:00:00the ideal ratio is the one
01:00:01that gets the students
01:00:02to pass their course.
01:00:04Well, obviously with high distinctions
01:00:06for their course, no doubt,
01:00:08as they graduate.
01:00:09Dr. Rami, would you concur
01:00:10with that as well?
01:00:11For the questions that are coming in,
01:00:13what do you think is the ideal ratio
01:00:14between e-learning
01:00:15and also classroom learning?
01:00:17Can you give a definitive answer
01:00:19like Dr. Kavita said?
01:00:21It really depends on the nature
01:00:22of the programme and the student
01:00:24and just ensuring that
01:00:26there's the learning
01:00:27and the correct learning involved.
01:00:29Yeah, Kitch, as you know,
01:00:31Canadian University of Dubai
01:00:32is an accredited university in UAE
01:00:34by the Minister of Higher Education Affairs.
01:00:37So we do have to definitely
01:00:38follow the guidelines
01:00:40that the Minister of Education
01:00:41is implementing.
01:00:42In addition, of course,
01:00:43the DHA and other national directors
01:00:45for safety guidelines and everything.
01:00:47So we are trying to have a good balance
01:00:50between definitely safety,
01:00:51which is the first priority.
01:00:52I will tell you the truth is
01:00:53it's our first priority
01:00:55and definitely the academic quality
01:00:58to maintain it as it is.
01:01:01So this ratio is based,
01:01:03as Dr. Kavita said,
01:01:04we actually we did it
01:01:05as blended learning
01:01:06in a sense of essential elements,
01:01:09which are like maybe some labs,
01:01:11studios that require hands-on.
01:01:14We will have them on campus
01:01:16on a rotational base
01:01:17with all safety guidelines maintained
01:01:19on voluntary basis.
01:01:20So students also,
01:01:21if they are not feeling,
01:01:23you know, let's say confident enough
01:01:26to come to campus now,
01:01:28many parents are still hesitant,
01:01:29maybe or whatever.
01:01:30We're giving them that choice
01:01:31to be 100% online.
01:01:33But for the ones who would like
01:01:34to be on campus,
01:01:35for some courses,
01:01:36for some labs and studios
01:01:37that we consider essential,
01:01:39which means they need a hands-on
01:01:40because we do have like
01:01:42some health program as well,
01:01:43environmental health,
01:01:44which have a lot of biology, chemistry.
01:01:46We have engineering and psychology.
01:01:48Some of them and architecture
01:01:50and interior design,
01:01:50they have studios.
01:01:51So for these type
01:01:53of essential elements,
01:01:54we will have a chance
01:01:55of presence on campus
01:01:57and a rotational base.
01:01:58Otherwise, if the course
01:02:00can be run online
01:02:01without compromising
01:02:02the quality of the academic part of it,
01:02:05we will prefer,
01:02:06as I said, safety first.
01:02:08And that's why I would say
01:02:09there is no specific ratio.
01:02:11It will depend on the course
01:02:12on the program and keeping safety
01:02:14as the first priority for us.
01:02:16Yes, and there's no shortcuts
01:02:17doing it at home.
01:02:18It's not going to make it
01:02:19any easier for you.
01:02:20I think that's one of the things
01:02:20we need to also let students know.
01:02:23One final question that's come through,
01:02:24and we thank you for everyone
01:02:25who has sent in all their questions
01:02:27throughout today's webinar.
01:02:29The question has come through
01:02:30from Mahad, from Fahad rather.
01:02:32For those who have missed
01:02:33the September intake,
01:02:35what are the options available
01:02:37and what do you recommend they do?
01:02:38To you, Mr. Venu,
01:02:40being the head of admissions
01:02:40and marketing,
01:02:42what advice do you have
01:02:42for students who may miss
01:02:43that September intake?
01:02:44What's the next step
01:02:45in the procedure?
01:02:47It's too early to say
01:02:48that it is severe.
01:02:51I'm sure admissions are open
01:02:53across the university,
01:02:54so Fahad and others,
01:02:55I think, still should look to
01:02:58visit the campuses.
01:02:59I think I see a lot of
01:03:03admission open notices
01:03:04from all these universities,
01:03:05so I think they should visit
01:03:07the campuses.
01:03:11It's still not...
01:03:12Look, I think if I can
01:03:15answer your question for you there,
01:03:16Mr. Venu, it should be that
01:03:18here are students that maybe
01:03:19just need to relax.
01:03:21Here's someone who's clearly
01:03:22already stressing about
01:03:24getting their admission
01:03:25because they think they've missed it
01:03:27and listen to some of the advice
01:03:28that you and the experts have said
01:03:30is just relax, do your research,
01:03:33knowledge, get your confidence
01:03:35through knowledge
01:03:36about what's happening.
01:03:37But let's role play it
01:03:40if someone does miss that.
01:03:41What I was trying to tell is
01:03:42that we're still open,
01:03:44so it should not be stressed about it.
01:03:46I know I meet a lot of students
01:03:47who are worried
01:03:49because the results got released
01:03:50a bit later as well.
01:03:52Usually the results for, say,
01:03:55a CVSE 4 come in May
01:03:57and this time it has gone,
01:03:59it got released only in July.
01:04:01So the admissions trend
01:04:04got a little bit delayed
01:04:06when compared to last year,
01:04:07so still it is not too late
01:04:09to the students who are seeing here.
01:04:10Don't be stressed.
01:04:12We are open.
01:04:13Please reach out
01:04:13to the admission offices
01:04:16and meet them and talk to them
01:04:18and we will help you
01:04:19even if you have not done
01:04:20your research in terms of the
01:04:22programs that are offered at UAE,
01:04:24the universities at UAE.
01:04:26There are admission counselors to help
01:04:27and they can take a decision
01:04:30by visiting the campus,
01:04:32get the feel,
01:04:33talk to the faculty,
01:04:34understand the programs.
01:04:35There are people available
01:04:36to help them,
01:04:38to give in-depth counseling
01:04:39and give, you know,
01:04:40the information that they would require
01:04:42to get an informed decision.
01:04:44Just wanted to tell that
01:04:45we are still open,
01:04:47so you guys can still go.
01:04:49Okay, that's great advice
01:04:50because as we just wrap up
01:04:52today's webinar,
01:04:53I'll take your advice then, Mr Vinu,
01:04:55for prospective students.
01:04:57We are still open.
01:04:58Just lastly to you, Dr Kavita,
01:05:00any last messages
01:05:00you'd like to give students?
01:05:02The last messages, as Vinu said,
01:05:05our admissions are currently open,
01:05:06so the orientation
01:05:08for the new bachelors
01:05:09will be on 14th of September,
01:05:11but we will continue to take admissions
01:05:13till another 10 or 12 days
01:05:16after the orientation,
01:05:18so the students can still come
01:05:20and we have open days every Friday
01:05:23from 4 to 8 p.m.
01:05:24so they can come visit the campus
01:05:26and meet the faculty
01:05:27with an appointment.
01:05:29So we will look forward to
01:05:32having you at the campus
01:05:34and I wish you all the best
01:05:36for your future educational pursuits.
01:05:40Yeah, excellent words.
01:05:42And Dr Rami,
01:05:43anything you'd like to say
01:05:44to any students who are nervous
01:05:45and still thinking about
01:05:46studying and applying?
01:05:48No, as I told you, Kesh,
01:05:50before with the delays
01:05:52that happen sometimes
01:05:52in grade release
01:05:54and we are taking all this
01:05:55into consideration,
01:05:56so as my colleague said,
01:05:58admission is still open,
01:05:59so no worries.
01:06:02Don't, as you said,
01:06:03for the person
01:06:04who put that question,
01:06:05calm down, relax, take your time.
01:06:08Of course, don't take too much
01:06:09time. I mean, the semester
01:06:10will start next week,
01:06:12but you always know
01:06:13that there is a drop and add period,
01:06:14which is the first week or two
01:06:15after the beginning of the semester,
01:06:17which will allow students
01:06:18still to register.
01:06:19So please come forward to us,
01:06:21to any of the universities of choice
01:06:23you have in UAE.
01:06:24I'm sure every university
01:06:25will do their best to help you
01:06:26in finalizing your papers,
01:06:29admission requirements
01:06:30and everything.
01:06:31As I said before,
01:06:31we had extended as well
01:06:33our fee reduction and others,
01:06:34so that to give also
01:06:36an extra help to students
01:06:37who are coming late.
01:06:38So please come meet with us.
01:06:41We are here, we are open.
01:06:42You may have to go
01:06:43through a booking appointment, though,
01:06:45and the safety guidelines, of course.
01:06:47But please, we would like to see anyone
01:06:49who's interested to come
01:06:51and meet with us, definitely.
01:06:52And best wishes for everyone.
01:06:54Yeah, that's very positive advice.
01:06:56Thank you very much.
01:06:56And thank you to all of our experts today.
01:06:58To you, Mr. Vini, Dr. Kavita,
01:07:01also Dr. Rami, thank you.
01:07:02We briefly had Dr. Sain,
01:07:04who couldn't quite get with us,
01:07:05and also Professor Manda
01:07:07from the Gulf Medical University,
01:07:08who just had to duck off.
01:07:10So thank you very much for everyone
01:07:11who's taken part in a poll.
01:07:12Thank you to everyone
01:07:13who has sent through a question,
01:07:14who has watched live.
01:07:16Also to the team here at Gulf News,
01:07:17they're the best in the business.
01:07:18It's always great working with you.
01:07:20My name is Lachlan Kitchen.
01:07:21Thank you very much.
01:07:22And we look forward for you to join us
01:07:24at our very next Gulf News webinar.