W W W.B WEDUCATION.COM B W EDUCATION MARCH 2023 101 FMEC Awards Management, because students also need to focus on their life, not only on the materialistic goal. We also introduced the new-generation courses as a part of curriculum like Digital Leadership and Exhibition Strategy because many a time the policy planning is good, but when it comes to execution, we fail, as success comes from execution. Similarly, we introduced one more course called Professional Management in which we identify what are the good traits of managers. This helps each student identify their weaknesses and strengths. Advice to new institution builders Suggestion to the new institution builders is that before building the institutions they have to read the National Education Policy well, because NEP says only three kinds of institutions are going to be there. The multidisciplinary education research, comprehensive teaching universities and degree granting colleges. Keeping NEP in mind the new institutions builders have to think how the infrastructure needs to be created. Since the world is changing very fast and disruptions are happening very often and also with automation happening fast, we have to prepare our students to lead the unknown roles in unborn companies. So, for that purpose, experiential learning should be the pedagogy, so as to build the confidence in students and make them better decision makers and to build courage. In our institution we have launched a human library in which we invite various authors and students to directly interact with them. Students ask all types of question as to how, from humble beginning they have reached greater heights. These achievers share their life experience and their wisdom. Many a time the policy planning is good, but when it comes to execution, we fail, as success comes from execution. BHIMRAYA METRI
102 B W EDUCATION MARCH 2023 W W W.B WEDUCATION.COM Interview Alberto Acereda, Associate Vice President, Global Higher Education, ETS, on the growing popularity of GRE across disciplines and in various geographies tance in India and also other international markets. But different professional courses have different requirements. For example, a law school provides admission on the basis of an admission test, aligned to the needs of that course. So how are those unique needs taken care of in the GRE? There is the GRE general test, but there are also GRE subject tests which are specific to a discipline. Many times, institutes use that subject test as well, along with GRE general test. But at the end of the day, verbal reasoning and analytical writing constitute the core and can be used for law school or business school too. We have 100 American Bar Association accredited law schools in the US accepting the GRE. And we have 1,300 business schools around the world accepting it. Also, as GRE spreads to other countries and geographical regions, there would be income variations and diversity in education systems and differing comfort levels with English. As you are spreading, how are you taking all these diversities into account? Yes, there are different needs of different global communities. But the thing that makes the GRE strong is GRE as a score is getting traction globally and across disciplines. In India, several B-Schools, including IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore (Bengaluru) and Kolkata, and SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, and in the case of law schools, NALSAR have started to accept GRE as score for admission to their MBA and law programmes respectively. Nearly 100 Indian universities now accept the GRE score. Alberto Acereda, Associate Vice President of Global Higher Education at the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey describes the reason for the widespread acceptance, in an interview to BW Education. Excerpts: What is the reason for the widespread use of GRE as a test score? Why is it becoming acceptable in disciplines like management and law? The Graduate Record Examination evaluates the readiness that an individual has to join a Grad school. It was meant for most disciplines, but professional schools like law and management had other assessments, like LSAT and GMAT. The reason for interest of business and law schools to use the GRE, is because they understand that the GRE provides the opportunity to bring in more diversity into those programmes. And we are seeing a traction in accep- “GRE, The Most Reliable Test Which Keeps Getting Updated” that it addresses the key components of graduate readiness. That includes verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills. So you know how to read, write and do mathematics – the basic things that we teach our children. And the foundational research for GRE indicates that it provides you assurance of success in the first year of a programme. So, what are your plans for India? We already have a robust presence here. We have an India office and a team. We are expanding to different parts of India and making it better. We are also looking at partnerships that ETS can have with private and public stakeholders in higher education. There are about a hundred institutes that are accepting GRE scores in India currently. We plan to expand that. We are focussing on business schools, and we started ETS Business School Advisory Council in India which is a group of about 15 B-School leaders. We work with the directors and deans, get inputs from them regarding the needs of the institute. How do you ensure smooth process of test taking and also, what was your experience during Covid? Covid changed everything. From the way you look at education to the way By Meha Mathur
W W W.B WEDUCATION.COM B W EDUCATION MARCH 2023 103 Interview ALBERTO ACEREDA In terms of the structure of the exam, what have been the major shifts? And any plan for further change? In 2011 we revised GRE and we have not changed the test since then. It’s a computer-based adaptive test and is successful. However, from research perspective, ETS continues to work on changes that can be implemented as we move forward. As of now we have an initiative that my team is leading to rethink as to how this assessment could be more relevant for future learners and institutions. We are also thinking of coming up with new tools and solutions around non-cognitive skills. And we are working with some organisations to come up with new innovative approaches to certify through micro-credentials so that students don’t just get a score but also evaluation in terms of knowledge and skills. Finally, how does GRE differentiate itself from other scores? I will refrain from commenting about other tests. What I can tell you is, GRE is the most reliable test which keeps getting updated. We have the data and the science behind it. Business schools are using the GRE because they see value in it. We are providing more diverse set of students to them. Similarly, the American Bar Association has accepted the GRE due to its reliability. you take tests, everything changed. Some institutes put a hold on their admission cycle. We were the first company globally to promote ETS at home solutions for TOEFL and GRE. I think we were successful. We are tackling any kinds of situations that are endangering the security of our test. At the same time, we are ensuring that as we move forward, we continue to provide the best user experience possible. In India too, we are focussing on helping students understand the process.
104 B W EDUCATION MARCH 2023 W W W.B WEDUCATION.COM Interview Ahn Yong Gyu, Chancellor, Korea National Sport University, shares South Korea’s sports ethos and the country’s emphasis on holistic sports education I n the neighbourhood of Bangi-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul lies Korea National Sport University (KNSU)which was established in 1976. The only national sports university of South Korea has seen its students obtain a total of 126 Olympic medals so far. KNSU has two main objectives as a higher education institute in the field of sports. One is to empower players and athletes through sports education and training. The other is to provide training to prospective sports educators, teachers and coaches, offering degree programmes from undergraduate to doctoral level. Leading this holistic higher education institute is Ahn Yong Gyu, the Chancellor of KNSU. After doing his doctoral in the same field, Yong Gyu wants to share the message that sports education is more than just physical training. “I learnt that sports is more than just a physical activity, it "Athletes Need To Be Intellectuals In Their Field" Vasudha Mukherjee AHN YONG GYU
W W W.B WEDUCATION.COM B W EDUCATION MARCH 2023 105 Interview Sports is more than just a physical activity; it is a mental and spiritual learning experience is a mental and spiritual learning experience,” shares the Chancellor. This is especially true for South Korea’s most globally recognised martial art, Taekwondo. India-Korea Sports Exchange In a recent visit to India, the Chancellor participated in the 50-year anniversary celebration of India-Korea diplomatic relationships and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Miranda House, a constituent college of the University of Delhi, and CMR University to explore deeper education cooperation, especially around sports education. “I was very impressed by the awareness that leaders here in India have about our institute (KNSU) and their interest in physical education on a higher education level,” he said. Popularity of Taekwondo Practiced in 208 countries, Taekwondo is not only an exercise in skill-building, but also requires discipline and focus. “This is the reason I also want to continue to focus on Taekwondo. It is a martial art where the right attitude, right manner and discipline are more important than physical training,” explains Yong Gyu. Along with building confidence, Taekwondo is a great asset for self-defence. “In Taekwondo there are many complex skills for people who do not naturally have a lot of strength and physical power. Through these skills and techniques they can overpower potential attackers to better defend themselves.” Yong Gyu adds that this can be a great way to empower women and help them feel safe. A three-day Taekwondo Championship was organised at the IG Stadium in New Delhi, where winners were also awarded the opportunity to visit the sports university in South Korea and participate in a three-week education and training programme, opening doors to future opportunities for exchange programmes between the two countries and expanding the field sports education and training on a national level. Revamping Sports Education For the Chancellor of KNSU, the success of KNSU lies in its holistic education approach. The institute ensures that all students are engaged on a physical and mental level. This means all students must attend theory courses, develop their minds and build knowledge in sports. “That way it is not just performance, but also intellectual growth. Athletes need to be intellectuals in their field,” states Yong Gyu. This mindset needs to be developed in institutes. It is a matter of education, not just producing athletes like a “machine”. For Indian institutes, Yong Gyu advises focusing on creating the right environment for learning and training. As cities can be loud and full of distraction, sports education must take place in an environment that allows students to focus on themselves, their internal and external growth. Group Sports from India As part of the cultural exchange carried out between India and Korea, Yong Gyu sees potential in Field Hockey, Archery and Badminton. While KNSU has been successful in creating a proper structure for sports education, producing many Olympians in the process, the Chancellor says, “We focus on individual sports, not so much on group sports. That is why we are looking at expanding Field Hockey and Handball in our university.” This is an area where India can be an asset to the well-established university. These sports are also popular among students in Korea and there is potential for exchange on that front. Speaking on the exchange, Yong Gyu surmises, “Once the standard of living starts to go up and people have more wealth, they develop more interest in physical education and sports.” “In Korea, students who do well academically are also showing an increasing interest in studying sports. I think a similar situation is happening in India,” he concludes. Physical training, along with knowledge exchange are the focus areas of university collaborations. However, Chancellor Yong Gyu believes that research in the science of sports as well as the role of technology are areas for potential future collaborations between the two countries.
106 B W EDUCATION MARCH 2023 W W W.B WEDUCATION.COM Bookmark Author Ken Honda describes how to be at peace with money, and how to lead a truly meaningful life If money was a person, I would be a happy, generous person. A mean person would imply making money at the cost of someone else’s misery B est-selling author and star influencer Ken Honda is on a mission. After his iconic work 'Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money' sold 9 million copies worldwide, Honda wants to capture India in a new book, tentatively titled 'Happy India'. During his maiden visit to the country, Honda was hugely influenced by the Indian way of life. India’s generosity and spiritual quest touched him, even if he was a bit taken aback by the apparent lack of civic sense in Indians’ day-to-day life. It was, however, his playbook for happiness, and the ability to channel “smiling money” to spread cheer and happiness that was the talking point at a BW Dialogue, where BW Businessworld's Chairman & Editor-in-Chief Dr Annurag Batra engaged the author in an engrossing chat about his book, his philosophy and life lessons, and, of course, his abiding interest in India. “If you want to travel fast, travel solo. If you want to travel farthest, travel in a group, have a network,” said Honda, quoting an African proverb. “Financial freedom is when you don’t think of money. For happiness, however, you should rely on friends’ ‘joint account’,” added Honda, highlighting why wide networks give an individual both a cushion and a purpose in life. “If money was a person, he would be a happy, generous person. A mean person would imply making money at the cost of someone else’s misery,” he said. Drawing an analogy with the Indian way of life, Honda explained, “You are born with a gift – to teach, to speak, to write, to create a business. Everyone has a reserved seat in the train. You occupy your seat and do your dharma. Else you are kicked out of your seat”. The globetrotter had an interesting contrast to share regarding the questions he usually encountered in the US with those in Japan. “In the US, I am often asked, ‘How I can get more ‘Happy Money’? In Japan, on the other hand, people often ask me: ‘How I can satisfy myself with the money that I have’?” Honda finds this land fascinating for its vibrant hues, and he wishes to take up his 'Happy India' project next. His followers and readers however, would probably yearn for more “money lessons”, if the audience questions asked at the BW Dialogue are anything to go by. Lessons On Happy Money KEN HONDA
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