Exploratory Essay on Digitization in India

Exploratory Essay on Digitization in India

As we know, In today’s modern world new and rapidly improving technologies are in the process of transforming India’s higher education system. With the help of technology like ICT, we can enhance the learning experience of the students and teachers in a cost-effective manner. Initiatives like SWAYAM and SWAYAM PRABHA, Shodhganga, Shodhgangotri, Open Journal Access System, and Virtual Labs have made knowledge accessible to all across the nation. The Massive Open Online Courses work as digital learning platforms to meet the needs of students from diverse backgrounds. This is mainly because 60 percent of the working population is still offline and does not participate in the digital economy. Lack of funding to support the purchase of the technology, lack of training among established teaching practitioners, lack of motivation, and the need to have teachers empowered to use ICT as a teaching tool are also some factors instrumental to its slow acceptance. In the digital era, it is necessary to re-structure and re-focus the institutions and organizations. The research paper mainly focuses on digitization and advancement in all the phases of higher education.

1. Introduction

In recent years, India has fixed its position in the field of rapid advancement in ‘globalization’ leading to relaxation in the international barriers and transformation of the business world, thereby, expanding its reach to different colleges and universities across India. The world today is in the midst of a digital revolution in every sphere of human life. This revolution has introduced multiple avenues as well as challenges with respect to new technologies. The infusion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the education system has witnessed a transformation from a period of information scarcity to a knowledge explosion. The higher education institutes are in for a complete overhaul with the introduction of robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology, business informatics, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, the internet of things ( IoT) the networked connection of everyday objects via digital systems, the fifth generation wireless technologies (5G),3 D printing and much more.

All of these are bound to outdate the present curricula, research, and skilling programs. The technological revolution has brought changes in the management of higher education institutions. The role, needs and expectations of the students, from the academic and administrative staff members, have been redefined. Teaching pedagogy in the classroom has totally been revamped. Students learn from the online resources, books, journals, articles, reports, and data provided by the universities. Evolving a digital workplace culture is a step towards building leadership, which will motivate, inspire and empower the employees to achieve organizational excellence. The “Vision 2020” aims at creating a society where human capital works faster with accelerated performance in the digitized environment and feels happy, healthy, and satisfied. It aims at working in collaboration, interactive communication, involvement, innovative policies, and respect for colleagues at the workplace.

1.1 Review of literature:

“Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is most important.” - Bill Gates

According to Bill Gates, In today’s world, we cannot live without technology. Motivating teachers and making them use the best of it is a major task. We are living in a world where there are advancements happening with lightning speed. One day we were using technological equipment, and the next you know that it became obsolete. So, in order to move with the speed of the world and the brimming thinking minds, it is necessary to inculcate technology in the regular curriculum. If teaching is considered as a teaching-learning experience for both parties (teachers as well as students), then, it leads to a beautiful journey where both teachers are students become each other’s students and teachers at the same time!

1.2 Research methodology:

This research paper is based on the collection and analysis of the secondary data. The secondary data is composed of the literature available in different scholarly research articles belonging to several national and international journals.

1.3 Hypothesis:

1. ICT in higher education makes communication more quick and effective.
2. The process of infusing technology into the education system of India has been slow.

1.4 Objectives of the study

1. To explain the role of ICT in higher education.
2. To highlight its trends and issues.

1.5 Importance of the study

In the current scenario, sustainable education is possible through the infusion of