Many people are in the quest of knowledge to excel in their career, but juggle with their commitments of work, family, etc. Keeping in mind the needs of the modern learning community, a renowned institute Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth formed its Centre for Online Learning.
Below are the highlights of the interview with Dr. Smita Jadhav, the Trustee and Executive Director of the institute.
Q. Brief our audience about your journey into the educational services space and how you came about with the idea of the institute.
My grandfather Dr D Y Patil (the founder of Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune) and my father, Dr. P D Patil are educationists who have left their footprints on the sands of time. Their vision and mission had always been to provide education. Education should be provided to all. They knew that for people to be self-reliant education is a must. Their efforts have borne fruit and today, their hard work has been chronicled in the annals of history.
From my childhood, I have been influenced by them. I knew that education is the most powerful weapon with which one can change the world. As Mahatma Gandhi once quoted, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” This portrays the importance of education and learning in one’s life.
While assisting my grandfather, and my father, at the Vidyapeeth, I learned that education needs to be innovative, engaging, exploring, and experiencing. Only then, one can attain success in life.
In today’s times, besides academics, the young generation should be equipped for a better tomorrow! To do that, education should be made a positive experience for students where along with academics, they can also develop holistically. For that, along with formal education, professional education is a must for students to become successful in every sphere. In the long run, it is seen that professional education not only has a direct impact on the academic performance of the students but also prepares him/her to face the challenges of the competitive world. As educationists, we should imbibe the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial, and moral leadership among students and become their role models. As our Prime Minister Modi said, “Education cannot come from books only. The motive of education is to provide a balanced development for the overall personality of the human being. Every human being is born with some motive in their lives. And education plays an important role in the fulfillment of this motive.”
Over the past decade, the winds of change have touched this particular sector as well. It is all about balancing your fast-paced life with your career. At the same time, working professionals are increasingly trying to find ways to skill themselves and earn a degree too. Keeping in mind, the need of these professionals, the Centre for Online and Distance Learning (DPU COL) was established.
Q. Please highlight a few of your distance learning services. Do you customize services as per the need and eligibility of your clients?
DPU COL is one of the leading distance learning education institutes in India. It has made rapid strides in providing quality education to thousands of students in India and abroad.
DPU COL is equipped with the best of academic resources for teaching, evaluation, e-learning, and self-learning material from its sister management institutes as well as from the industry.
The Institute has UGC approved programs, placement assistance, industry relevant courses, holistic training infrastructure, online assignments, employment driven education, employment enhancement programs.
Yes, we do customize services as per the need and the eligibility of our students.
Q. Are there any popular courses that are high in demand? What makes them so popular?
At DPU COL, we have observed students mostly opt for courses that can boost their careers. The courses which are popular and are in high demand are Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Certificate Program in Digital Marketing (CPDM), and a Certificate Program in Hospital and Health Care Management (CPHAHM) These courses are popular as it has got high value and demand in the market. Moreover, students can pursue these courses at their own pace and time. In short, from any place, anywhere and anytime. We allow our students to –
- Schedule their studies according to their convenience
- We provide study materials
- There are dedicated student success managers
- Every student is guaranteed mentor support
- Assessment is done regularly
- Better career opportunities
Q. How do you help in overall student learning like doubt clearance? Also, do you assist in placements? If yes, how?
We provide support to our students from the time they take admission in our institute till they complete their course. With this aim, we continually innovate and upgrade our offerings. We endeavour to eliminate gaps in their knowledge and enhance their learning through our Learning Management System. One of the best features on offer is the – learner support services. This service has evolved down the years and has been of great assistance to our students.
Q. Being an accomplished leader, what are your thoughts on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the distance learning services sector?
The COVID-19 pandemic has played havoc in the educational system. It created the largest disruption of education systems in history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries and all continents. Closures of schools and other learning spaces have impacted 94 percent of the world’s student population, up to 99 percent in low and lower-middle-income countries. The crisis is exacerbating pre-existing education disparities by reducing the opportunities for many of the most vulnerable children, youth, and adults – those living in poor or rural areas, girls, refugees, persons with disabilities, and forcibly displaced persons to continue their learning. On the other hand, this crisis has stimulated innovation within the education sector.
Q. What is your opinion on the future of the distance learning market, in terms of technological improvements, increase in demand, or the sorts?
According to a survey, the online education market in India will be worth INR 360 billion by 2024. With the increasing adoption of the Internet and the rise in awareness about e-learning, the online education industry is expected to witness promising growth during the forecast period.
Accessibility, affordability, flexibility, learning pedagogy, life-long learning, and policy are some of the arguments related to online pedagogy. It is said that the online mode of learning is easily accessible and can even reach rural and remote areas. It is considered to be a relatively cheaper mode of education in terms of the lower cost of transportation, accommodation, and the overall cost of institution-based learning. Flexibility is another interesting aspect of online learning; a learner can schedule or plan their time for completion of courses available online.
Combining face-to-face lectures with technology will give rise to blended learning and flipped classrooms. This type of learning environment can increase the learning potential of the students. Students can learn anytime and anywhere, thereby developing new skills in the process leading to life-long learning. The government also recognizes the increasing importance of online learning in this dynamic world.
Dr. Smita Jadhav
Designation: Trustee and Executive Director Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth and Dr.D. Y. Patil Unitech Society, Pune Executive Director, Pudhari Publications Pvt Ltd and Tomato 94.3 FM
Dr. Smita Jadhav is an educationist par excellence and a dynamic leader. From a very young age, she was interested in making education engaging and interesting. She wanted learning to be fun! She believed that besides academics, students should be given an opportunity to develop and grow their talents and abilities latent in them. She wanted to bring to the students the best that education has to offer. Dr. Jadhav wanted to bring education to the masses. She knew that for people to be self-reliant they should have access to education, only then they will be enlightened and can work for the nation.
