Aruna Raghuram

Dr Kathan Shukla is currently the chairperson of the Ravi J. Matthai Centre for Educational Innovation (RJMCEI) at IIM, Ahmedabad. After completing his graduation and postgraduation in physics in India, Dr Shukla pursued an MEd in Education Psychology followed by a PhD in Educational Research, Statistics & Evaluation, from the US. He joined IIM, Ahmedabad in 2016.

Some of the courses he teaches at IIM, Ahmedabad are ‘Enterprise and Innovations in Education’  ‘Gamification, Technology and Learning Motivation’ and ‘How to Motivate Students for Learning’.

He is involved in two significant research projects. One is on the ‘Influence of School Climate on Students’ Psychoeducational Outcomes’. It is based on a statewide study of around 33,000 primary schools. The second project is on ‘Helping School Students Deal with Gender and Adolescence Related Issues’.

We bring you an engaging interview with Dr Shukla.

1. Could you give some examples of simple yet impactful educational innovations?

A.Educational innovations are usually solutions found by teachers or principals to problems that they identify. I will describe two simple innovations I have found impactful.

A Delhi government school principal,who wanted the students and parents to engage more with the school,has introduced a folder for every child from class 1. All the major events related to the child are put in this ‘Individual Learning Portfolio’. Test reports, photos of the child participating in co-curricular activities, video clips of the child speaking or reading in class, are all part of the folder. This is a small, low-cost innovation that is not very time-consuming, but makes a big impact. Parents and child can access this repository of information. This innovation creates a huge amount of emotional engagement for parents.

The second interesting innovation involves the gamification of physics learning by a teacher in a school in Vallabh Vidyanagar in Gujarat. The teacher felt that students were learning physics in a very superficial manner. He created ‘physics cricket’, a quiz game using the rules of cricket. He would announce the ‘match’ in advance based on particular chapters of the physics textbook so that students could prepare well. By capitalising on the interest of children in cricket, he made learning physics more interesting for them.

2. What are the best ways of motivating students for learning?

A.There are four things an educator can do to motivate learners:

Sense of belonging: A very important thing that can be done to trigger intrinsic motivation is to create an environment where children feel a sense of belonging. Schools which invest in engaging the students emotionally have better academic outcomes.

A degree of autonomy: While the learning objectives and timelines should be clear, there should be some degree of flexibility given to the learner.  Autonomy brings mutual respect.

Competence building: There should be a constant focus on competence building. There should be clarity about where the learners are and where they have to get to in terms of competence.

Confidence building: The educator should build a child’s confidence. Feedback should be honest. But a fine balance has to be maintained between motivating a child to do better and ensuringthat the child’s confidence is not shaken.

3. How can gamification and technology be used to motivate students?

A.If education is thought of as just a content delivery mechanism, there is a problem. Gamification is one way to avoid this. Within education, gamification is a powerful tool to keep students engaged and enrich the learning experience. Educators can devise an engaging gamified experience with teams, rules, expectations, competition, points tables and bonuses. Technology is very useful in this regard.

4. What do you think of the impact of ChatGPT on education?

A.With AI, educators get concerned about how they will evaluate students. But they should stop testing memory and assess higher order thinking instead. They can frame questions such that students are forced to think. Again, there could be multi-component assessment. For instance, off-device assessments as well as open book exams.

ChatGPT can assist teachers as well. For instance, a teacher could ask the AI tool how calculus can be explained to class 3 students in an Indian context. This way AI can be used to make learning more interesting and relatable. Or, the teacher could ask ChatGPT how the ‘Chhota Bheem’ story can be used to explain the water cycle to young children. This will add creativity to the teaching process. ChatGPT can also be used to create quizzes and tests on a particular chapter.

5. What is your opinion on the recent focus on project-based learning?

A.Project-based learning is the way forward.It develops the critical thinking and problem-solving skills of a child. Children start thinking on their own. It also fosters peer engagement and learning as team work is an integral part of the system. But there is a lot of variation in schools that adopt this system. Good schools do many things right. The major one is to have highly skilled and motivated teachers/facilitators.

6. Where is India when it comes to inclusive education for the challenged?

A.We are becoming an aware society but if you look at global best practices we are lagging far behind. In our country, mainstream educational boards and good schools are also struggling to handle children with visual impairment, learning disability or cerebral palsy. You can imagine the plight of children studying in government schools. Among the Children With Special Needs (CWSN), those with physical challenges can be identified and their needs addressed more easily. But in the case of mental challenges, even diagnosis is a problem. But providing access and support systems for CWSN is an ongoing effort.

7. How can technology be leveraged to improve access to education?

A.To improve access to education in rural areas and among underprivileged children, most state governments have their own learning apps. Gujarat has ‘G-Shala’ through which all children in the state can get the curriculum, text and videos, assignments and assessments in Gujarati.

However, the usage of such apps is low for two reasons. One, the penetration of internet and smartphones is limited. Two, motivation of the child to use the phone as a tool for learning is low. Phones are seen as socialising and entertainment devices. Who is there to motivate the child to use the learning app?We have not cracked that yet. There is need for teachers who care and involvement of schools to make children accountable.

8. What are the aspects of the school climate you consider important?

A.We have identified some the dimensions of a school’s climate that are in the hands of principals and teachers. For instance, a disciplinary structure where the policies are clear, implementation is consistent and fairness to students is assured. The second thing a school can do to create a conducive learning environment is to be responsive to the students and give them a feeling of safety. Any child facing a problem should feel that he or she will be heard and efforts will be made to find a solution to the problem. Students should develop this confidence in the school. The third aspect is the academic climate which should be both demanding and supportive. It’s a fine balance.

9. How can educators help students deal with issues of gender and adolescence?

A.Various governments are trying different things on this issue. Understanding gender and other adolescent issues come under the non-academic outcomes of education. I will focus on three issues:

Bullying: Sensitising students against bullying and creating a safe and supportive climate in school is vital. Our centre has developed models on bullying prevention.

Gender sensitisation: Curriculum wise, the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) is paying a lot of attention to this matter. However, sometimes there is a hidden curriculum and,unknowingly, teachers may exhibit biases. While the textbook may say something, it can be interpreted differently by teachers.

We have to nudge children to think differently. A scientist need not be man.  The decision maker at their home could be a woman. We have to expose children to diverse role models. Education can break reproduction of biases and stereotypes that exist in society. For this, teachers must be trained to be gender sensitive. Also, community awareness has to be built especially in rural areas.

Diversity and inclusivity: The third issue is to expose adolescents to the religious, caste and linguistic diversity in the country and promote inclusivity in all ways.We have prepared a series of small case studies. For instance, we had one case study on a boy who had a very shrill voice. Whenever he wanted to speak or perform before an audience of students, they would laugh at him. This case study is discussed with students to create a more inclusive classroom where everybody is respected and it is accepted that it is fine to be different.

10. What are your thoughts on NEP 2020?

A. NEP 2020 is well-intentioned, but the policy document is silent on several significant matters. I will highlight a few.

At the school level:

Private players: There is no clarity on the perception of the role of private players. About 30 per cent kids go to private schools. Do we think of private schools as profiteers? Or do we recognise, among the private players, the not-for-profit trusts who are doing genuine work. Directions for the regulatory mechanism for the role of private players in education are very superficial and vague.

Parallel education system: There is no discussion on the parallel education system, especially at the high school level – the presence of dummy schools and coaching centers. The NEP does mention that the coaching culture should be discouraged but there is no clarity on what should be done.

Focus on two cadres: There is focus only on two cadres in the education sector – teachers and teacher educators. To improve quality of education we need several kinds of experts. We need a cadre of curriculum experts, testing and measurement experts, educational statisticians, administrators, psychologists, and others. Our school system needs to create space for these specialized cadres at district and state levels and universities need to offer programmes for their development.

At the higher education level:

Leadership structure: As state universities are funded by state governments, appointments of vice chancellors are political in nature. In the US, an independent board appoints the head of a university from among the best available globally.

The candidate has to have a viable five-year plan and a clear road map to improve teaching and research across various disciplines and generate required resources. This creates a very different ecosystem in the universities in that country. It is unclear how our institutional leadership is held accountable for the quality of teaching and research.

Quality of institutions: At present, about 18 per cent of high school graduates get into the university system in India. The target is to increase this to 30 per cent by 2030. However, government on its own cannot facilitate this. Private players need to pitch in. But the quality of private institutions is often not as claimed. We need a robust regulatory mechanism. A highly reliable system of accreditation and assessment of higher education institutions is vital.

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Education is considered one of the most effective, simple and universal tool of human (civilization) change from time immortals. Just few decades back, education was totally government sponsored and was considered as an essential commodity for masses and it has also come up to the expectations of people. Various policies and amendments (like NEP-2020) have been an integral part of education sector from time to time in order to make it more realistic with need and time. With change in time, education has always been a vehicle of change itself, changing from class room

educationto practical oriented, vocational and nowskill-based education. Education sector which was totally dominated by government sponsored infrastructure has seen a big paradigm change towards private education providers. Big, medium and small private education providers at present totally dominate this sector. It is really very surprising that the so called highly qualified, well experienced, appointed through all means of strict evaluation of recruitment procedures, the education providers in government sector are losingtheirshine with time and enrolment of students is decreasing very fast. The continuous low strength of enrolment in government run schools, colleges and higher education institutes/universities are assigned to various hypothetical reasons like young generation is not interested in education, going abroad etc. but on the other hand, enrolment in privately run schools, colleges and higher education institutes/universities is always on the rise.

There are a number of private school organizations like Delhi Public School (DPS), Vasant Valley, Scared Heart etc. and institutes/universities like Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), SMS University, Amrita University, Bennett University(just few to mention here) which have maintained their reputation and are still growing very fast. Here, I would like to mentioned few cases with respect to Punjab in particular where the situation of enrolments in government run educational sector is really worrisome where as the enrolments in private sector are always on the rise. Private schools in general are always overflowing with admissions whereas government schools are at the verge of closure due to low strength of students. In case of professional education, few institutes/universities to mention like Lovely Professional University (LPU) Jallandhar, Chandigarh University (CU), Chandigarh, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, Chitkara University and many more like these are catering to a large number of students. It is said that LPU and CU are having enrolment of more than about 50,000 students in each. In case of B.Tech., LPU and CU have about 8000 students each in B.Tech. first year and out of these about 4500 in computer discipline only. Thapar institute even charging about 25lakhs for a B.Tech. degree has also about 4000 students in B.Tech. first year out of which about 2500 students in computer discipline only. The scenario in government run institutes/universities is just opposite. In spite of low education fees, good infrastructure & environment, good facilities, competent faculty, total autonomy, transparent system, the enrolment in courses like M.Tech., M.Sc., Ph.D. courses in many disciplines is minimum and some of them are at the verge of closure. Even in case of B.Tech. and diploma courses, 50% seats are lying vacant and this situation is not very different to highly reputed educational institutes like IITs, NITs, IIITs etc.

When the founder of Infosys Mr. N. R. Narayana Murthy, hinted that the working hours should be increased to 70 per week, there was a strong criticism from all private and government organizations. Private sector may be right in opposing the idea as they say to be already working for long hours during present five-dayweek and think that it will be more stressful to work for 70 hours in a week. In government run system, the scene is different, people are not working even for 2-3 hours per day sincerely. The situation in education sector is worst where there is no accountability about the learning of a student and its outcome. With growing autonomy in education sector, most of the teachers are just helping the students to pass the degree leading towards un-employment. Freedom (no accountability) in government run education sector organizations is the key for their low performance. Entry to government sector may difficult but can be manipulated by many means, and after that an employee is the boss who never thinks about the survival and wellbeing of his organization but only is concerned about his career and leisure/comfort. It is to mentioned here that quality entry to government sector is already down sized by government supported policies like: reservation, equal opportunity to women, localization etc. These types of policies in case of private sector may be on paper but they never compromise the working of system. Here, it is important to mention the selection process in case of a private university. In this university, applicants were put to five stages of their interview process as: presentation in the department, interview by a HR, interview by a language expert, interview by a panel of experts, and finally interview by the Head of the University or his/her nominee with the conditions that the candidate can not resign from the post during the semester. He/she will be relieved by the end of semester and that also by giving three months advance notice. He/She has to submit his credentials (testimonials) to the university, if not, he/she has to deposit two months salary in advance as a security. Working atmosphere in private education sector is totally demanding whereas in government, people are finding one or the other excuse to shun their duties and there is no check or monitoring on these people. In private set up, every class is monitored with CCTV cameras, an in case of any violation of duty, late going to class or early leaving the class or just passing time in the class all are observed through CCTVs and immediate action is taken against the defaulter. Mobile is not allowed to a teacher in the class in private sector, whereas, in government sector this tool has become a best excuse to avoid the teaching during ongoing class.

With in a very short span, private sector has overtaken the education and things will further worsen with the entry of foreign private universities in India in the times to come. This change of paradigm will definitely bring new avenues of education to people who can afford it (education) but will also make the education difficult or a day dream to marginalized section of the society. This will create a big divide between educated and education-less or low educated society. Need is to make the government run education sector more effective, productive and outcome oriented. For this, there is a need to change the years old non-effective rules and regulations/policies governing government run education sector. Instead of making it (education) a charity show, it should be made such that people prefer it (government) to private education sector and for these lessons might be learnt from private education sector itself. Need is to make each and every teacher responsible and accountable to the learning outcome of his students.

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Hansa Mondal, COO, of Ssoftoons Entertainment Media LLP

Indian literature has a rich and varied history, with a wealth of tales, myths, and traditions that have been passed down through the ages. These literary masterpieces, however, frequently ran the risk of being forgotten or losing their significance as circumstances changed. However, these timeless stories have been given a new lease on life by the inventiveness of the animation industry, resonating with contemporary audiences and reigniting interest in Indian literature. The animation sector has recently come into its own as a potent tool for revitalising Indian literature by bringing enduring works of literature to life. Animation has won over audiences of all ages with its aesthetically appealing and innovative storytelling. It has also given Indian literature a new lease on life and made it approachable to a new generation.

The character of Tenali Rama is one of the best examples of Indian literature being revived through animation. Tenali Rama, an animated television series, has received a lot of praise for its compelling narrative, vibrant animation, and appealing characters. Numerous spin-offs, films, souvenirs, and even theme parks have been produced as a result, demonstrating the enormous contribution that animation has made to resurrecting Indian literature. Animation has not only revived mythology but also timeless children’s literature. Through the use of animation, characters like Akbar and Birbal, Vikram and Betal, and Panchatantra tales have been brought to life, enthralling young audiences with their tales of wit, humor, and moral lessons. These animated versions have not only amused kids but have also exposed them to India’s rich literary legacy, cultivating a lifelong love of reading and stories.

Let us have a look at how animation has been successful in reviving Indian literature with exciting characters:

Its ability to reimagine and adopt

The ability of animation to reinterpret and adapt classic tales for contemporary audiences is one of the factors that has contributed to the success of animation in resurrecting Indian literature. These tales have been updated and made appealing to the current age by the inclusion of contemporary aspects, humor, and beautiful visuals added by animation studios. Tenali Rama, for instance, has been presented as a young, intelligent, and enterprising person who outsmarts his adversaries with his brains and cunning. The public has responded favourably to this modern interpretation of well-known characters, making them extremely popular and rekindling interest in Indian literature.

A platform for showcasing diverse cultures and folktales

The various cultures and folktales of India have been showcased through animation. Numerous regional tales exist around the nation, each with its own cast of characters, setting, and moral compass. Animated programmes that commemorate the rich literary legacy of India and advance cultural diversity have been produced by animation studios by drawing on this rich tapestry of regional literature. As a result, viewers now feel more pride and identification and the distinctive cultural heritage of India is being preserved and promoted.

A powerful educational tool

Animation has also been employed as an effective educational tool, making literary classics more accessible and exciting for pupils. The impact of animation on revitalising Indian literature extends beyond the entertainment industry. Animated adaptations of literary masterpieces like “Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama,” “The Jungle Book,” and “Gulliver’s Travels” have been frequently used in classrooms to introduce kids to these timeless stories and instill a love of literature. These modifications not only help kids improve their reading skills, but they also develop critical thinking, creativity, and cultural understanding.

Economic boost

Another significant contribution of animation to the revitalization of Indian literature is the economic boost it has offered. Because of the success of animated series and movies based on Indian literary characters, a robust market for products, spin-offs, and even theme parks have emerged. This has resulted in job opportunities in the animation business, contributing to the expansion of the Indian economy and showcasing the country’s cultural legacy on a global scale.

In conclusion, the animation industry has played a pivotal role in reviving Indian literature by bringing to life iconic characters from classic literary works. Through their visually appealing and imaginative storytelling, animation studios have captured the hearts of audiences and made Indian literature more accessible and relevant to modern audiences. However, it is important to strike a balance between creative liberties and cultural sensitivity. Animation studios should collaborate with experts in literature and culture to ensure that the essence of the original work is preserved and that the adaptations are respectful and authentic.

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Interviewed by: Sirish Turlapati, Senior Correspondent, Higher Education Plus

Nikhil Chandwani is an author of 14 Books, Co-Founder of NYK Daily and Founder – Writers’ Rescue Centre. He is Times of India’s ‘Times Writer of the Year 2022’. He is the world’s most followed long form writer on Instagram.

Can you tell us more about your professional journey and career milestones?

My professional journey was divided in two phases. I was a loner in the first phase and subject to trolling, bullying and isolation. In my second phase (that I am in right now), I am surrounded by good people, and I’ve gained my confidence. I am turning 29 this year, and I’ve written 14 books, I run two firms with a decent turnover, I am getting married in December this year in Hyderabad, and I am incredibly lucky to have a family of 1million+ on Instagram.

What mistakes do you think amateur authors and novices make and how do you think they can avoid them?

Authors feel writing a book is enough. They don’t focus on sales. They don’t learn the art of marketing. The subtle art of marketing is something that must be learned by everyone. Like back in the day, the life skills included cooking, swimming and self-defense, now the life skills include learning how to market a product and handling sales. New writers must learn this art when they’re young or else they’ll be left with a masterpiece without anyone around to read it.

What were some of the major challenges you faced as an educator and how did you manage to overcome them?

I educate people in the field of history, politics and similar topics on Instagram. The biggest challenge how to creatively share content on the platform. Initially, I wrote swipe and read articles where people can swipe next and read 1000 words pieces on my Instagram. I had around 1.5-2 million readers every month. However, once I started making reels to educate people, around 60 million+ watched the content monthly. So, I just made a few purchases and now planning to start digital podcast to find a bigger reach.

Can you tell us more about your creative process when it comes to writing books? For instance, how do you pick a topic and how do you deal with writer’s block?

Research, patience and confidence are three ingredients needed. Plus, learning about the market, adapting to the dynamics of post COVID world (people are not going to book stores and buying things online) is also needed.

What future projects are you working on?

I am finishing my 1 year PGP at IIM Nagpur. Once that is done, I am planning to start an eco-friendly venture, a brainchild of my fiancée and business partner Arushi Sana. Arushi and I run a news platform NYK Daily at the moment that has around 23 employees, and we are planning to expand this venture by adding a few more dimensions to it.

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This event took place at the 36 th convocation ceremony of the university. This auspicious occasion was took place in the presence of Dr. Motilal Madan and Dr. Vilas Bhale, the former and current Vice Chancellors of the university, respectively.

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The Common Universities Entrance Test (CUET) 2022 will start on July 15. Around 10 lakh students will be appearing for the exam which is being held for the first time. Students who have given their class 12^th exam this year will be eligible for appearing in CUET UG. The syllabus for the entrance exam will be based on the class 12 NCERT syllabus. The chairman of the University Grant Commission (UGC), M Jagadesh Kumar had earlier assured that there will be no question from the class 11 syllabus for the examination.

In CUET 2022, a student can choose up to six domains out of 27 domain subjects. The exam will be mandatory for admissions into central universities including Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Jawaharlal Nehru University, BHU, AMU, etc. For admissions in the foreign language courses, the students will be given an option to appear for language-specific paper as well.

Studying strategically, regular revisions, solving test papers and also collecting information about the colleges to join is decisive while preparing for CUET!! ..

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The Union Education Minister stressed on the importance of adopting innovative and out-of-the-box methods for enhancing access to quality and affordable education. The Minister also added that making education accessible to all is the top priority of the government. In his address at India Today’s Education Conclave, Dharmendra Pradhan spoke about the necessity of bringing our vast population under the formal education and certified skills structure.

Going ahead the Minister spoke about the need for to integrating skill education into school and higher education to boost employability. “NEP sets the vision and path to cater to the requirements of every learner right from Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE),” he said.

NEP 2020 is designed with the greater goal of establishing India as a knowledge economy of the 21st century. It focuses on developing our youngsters as global citizens with innovative ideas and great skills.
“We must bring a paradigm shift in skilling and make it more aspirational to harness IR 4.0 as well as make our youth future-ready,” said the Minister.

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1. Student’s belonging to the elite category
2. Performers ( Child actors, top tier athletes and published writer’s)
3. And students who are well connected to the elite (Children of leading politicians, royal families, and rich and wealthy donors)

Hence if this list sounds exclusive, it is because it is. People who find a way into the Ivy Leagues without belonging to any of the three categories’ are either very meritorious or talented. Studying with the best not only motivates one to perform better, it automatically exposes students to a network of professionals that are very well reputed across the world and candidates develop a zeal to make it big. Other than this, these colleges offer very distinct benefits to students like mentorship by distinguished members of the higher councils, access to the leading research projects and form a respected network of peers who will inspire you at every step and go on to become the CEO’s of the leading companies in the world. They will eventually join the Ivy League Alumni community that encompasses the globe and is highly venerated. Ivy schools receive more than 400,000 applications every year, and only the choicest are selected. Hence the chances of applicants making it to an Ivy League are slim if they don’t start with their preparations beforehand.

Hence in order to get a seat, the students GPA would be the primary factor in acquiring admission at an Ivy League according to the National Association of College Admissions Counselling. Even though some Ivy League colleges never release the GPA of their students, it is estimated that they require a minimum GPA of 4.0 which implies, students at Ivy Leagues mainly secure A’s with little to no scope for B’s. Even though its mandatory for student’s to get straight A’s, it is not the sole criteria for entry to an Ivy League. Hence only scoring high would do little to impress the selection committee. Applicants are therefore advised to take advanced courses that highlight a student’s critical thinking abilities. For example, Columbia University expects students to “avidly pursue intellectual growth with a rigorous course load”. Hence to prove one’s merit, one should make the best use of the advanced courses being offered at their high-school.

But pushing oneself too hard can make your dream of studying at an Ivy slip away as easily. Burdening yourself with advanced classes can make you lose grip of your academics which is a dangerous thing.

Hence while choosing the dual enrolment AP or IB classes; one should keep the following things in mind: 1. If the class holds any relevance to one’s career 2. If the class holds the student’s best interests  3. If this class is worth one’s time. Hence strategising is the key. You need to make sure that you flourish in both your academics and extra-curricular activities, without dampening your spirit.

Wondering if you can still make it to an Ivy League College if your grades are average?

Most of the students who enrol themselves for an Ivy League education have outstanding academic grades; however, challenging and unlikely, certain students with average grades also find entry into these prestigious colleges. Here are some tips and tricks, if you seek entry with average grades:

1. Choose less selective Ivy Schools- As, Cornell has the highest rate of acceptance 8.7 % its more likely that you’ll get a place at Cornell rather than Harvard which has an acceptance rate of 4 %.
2. If you have any significant reason, you can explain why your scores are average in your application.
3. Grades are only one among the many factors that decide your entry into an Ivy League college. You can still have an amazing record at sport or other extracurricular activities to impress the board.
4. Consider your chances of being transferred to an Ivy League college- Even though this route is quite complex, some students get transferred mid way in their careers to Ivy Leagues from community colleges with the rate of transfer being as low as 3%.

Even though these might be the exceptions, we still recommend having an exceptional academic record and high scores in both extra-curricula’s and sports. Even then you would still be required to explain why you deserve to be an Ivy League student.

What are the perfect scores to get into an Ivy League?

Candidates ACT scores and SAT scores carry a lot of weight while applying for an Ivy League hence an average of ACT score of 35 for the 25^th Percentile and an average of 36 for the 75^th Percentile is expected.  For the SAT scores, an average of 25th percentile: 1480 and 75th percentile: 1580 is expected.

Summer activities you should choose: You don’t have to enrol for superior summer programmes or look for internships abroad to make your way into an Ivy League. Instead, all you need to do is focus on your area of interest and deepen your passion for the subject. For example you can conduct a meaningful research, start a non-profit organization and develop an instrumental app. Other than that you can also volunteer, take up college courses, or attend elaborate summer programmes to find a way into an Ivy League college, as long as it represents your true passions and interests.

What makes a good letter of recommendation?

1. Use of clear and powerful language.
2. Positive attitude throughout the essay
3. Reflecting on the students character outside the classrooms

Who to go to for a Letter of Recommendation

Generally Ivy Leagues require one LoR from a counsellor and two from teachers. But if you’re wondering if you’ll need an extra letter of recommendation, reach out to your admission panel. If you are wondering who you should go to for a letter of recommendation, choose people who have a profound knowledge about you, people who know about your passions and people who can influence the admission panel by talking about your strengths.

How to write an application essay?

After all the hard work and preparation comes the application essay. The college application essay is a very vital document and hence needs to be carefully phrased and strategically edited. You need to explain to the admission committee as to why you’ve grown passionate about your area of interest. It needs to tell the application panel why you’re different from the rest of the students, and why you deserve a place at their reputed institutions.

What are the best topics for an Ivy League College Essay?

You will have to write a common essay of about 650 words and a supplemental essay that your college expects you to write. The Ivy League supplemental prompts have a diverse range of topics. Hence to write good essays, you will need to have a personal and profound relationship with the topic you have chosen. You can share it as an anecdote to make it interesting and appreciated.

General tips for writing a good essay:

1. Start the essay with a hook or imagery that captivates the readers that makes them committed to it.
2. You have to make sure that your essay sounds neither too formal nor too casual. You have to find the perfect balance and write the essay accordingly.
3. You have to show them why they should select you while reading the essay. It should reflect your writing capabilities, while also highlighting critical thinking abilities, and your passion and zeal to excel.
4. While being confident, you will also have to sound humble and find a distinct voice of your own, which tells the panel your willing to learn under the supervision of the best and have much to improve during your stay.

These were some of the tips that you could incorporate in your application process, to make your application as unique, impactful and meaningful as possible.

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Students had been asked to deposit the admission fees in a government account instead of directly paying it to the colleges or universities. The department of higher education was supposed to forward the amount to the concerned colleges and universities later.

According to the procedure, if a student takes admission to a college with a lower admission fee, then the government is supposed to refund the extra fees deposited for the former college immediately. Similarly, the college is also supposed to refund the fees if the student applies for a College Leaving Certificate (CLC) after taking admission in a college or university.

Deputy Director of the higher education department, Rajesh Sahoo has requested The State Bank of India (SBI) to transfer an amount of 9.3 crore to 73 colleges and universities in the state. The refund will be deducted from the bank account of the Student’s Academic Management System (SAMS) which is conducting the admissions online. He also mentioned that they will provide a refund of 49 lakh to 658 students who opted for the CLC after attending the college for some time.

A refund of 1 crore will be given to 1430 PG students who paid the fees more than once. The fee of admission ranges from 5,000 rupees to 30,000 rupees for a PG first year student. A total of 19 lakhs will be paid to 361 PG students, who have paid the fees but no updation has yet been made on the website. The department has also prompted the bank to refund the admission fees of the UG students.

Photo Credit: Times of india

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 An array of programmes including science exhibition, laboratory visit, and quiz competition was also organised as part of the science day celebrations. Nearly 400 students from various schools in and around the city of Guntur and Vijayawada actively participated in the events and expressed their inquisitive spirit and passion for science. Special talks on the works of Nobel laureates of Physics, 2021 were also arranged to shed light on the latest research practices and developments.

The inaugural address was delivered by Prof. V.S. Rao, Vice-Chancellor. He appreciated the students for their enormous participation in the activities, and for rightly articulating the significance of the focal theme through their representations. “There cannot be a better example than the pandemic which demonstrated the integration of science and technology” he asserted. He also recollected the invaluable contributions of Indian scholars like Dr Jagadish Chandra Bose, Srinivasa Ramanujan, Homi J Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai who transformed the scientific outlook of India.

Prof. BV Babu, Dean of School of Engineering and Sciences addressed the gathering and briefed about the relevance of taking science and technology together towards a sustainable future. He emphasized the relevance of non-conventional sources of energy in the times ahead and the social benefits associated with them. He further elaborated on the concept of Digital Lean Solutions and their impact on our lives.

Prof. D Narayana Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor presided over and expressed concern over the inescapable repercussions of climate change and ruthless exploitation of nature. He also recognised the pivotal role SRM University-AP continues to play in creating talents and masterminds through intensive research practices and exposure to global technological facilities.

Prof. Someshwar Das, Convenor SAMA introduced the organisation, South Asian Meteorological Association and briefed about the numerous remarkable activities it carried out since its inception. He also highlighted various plans the organization intends to execute in future.

Further, there were talks on the works of Nobel Laureates 2021. Prof. T. Yasunari, Advisor, RIHN KCCAC, Japan explicated the major works of the Nobel Laureate Prof. Syukuro Manabe and reiterated Manabe’s philosophy of ‘Simplicity and Balance’ in Climate Modelling. Prof. Krishna Achuta Rao, Head, CAS, IIT-Delhi threw light into the Stochastic Climate model, the innovation of another Nobel winner, Klaus Hasselman. A question-answer session was also organised with both the speakers for students to gain insight into global scientific developments.

Awards and certificates were distributed to the winners and all other participants by the dignitaries. Students who have come up with innovatory models such as bluetooth car, human rescue detection system and many more were specially acknowledged and given mementoes.  Dr Premkumar, Registrar proposed the vote of thanks and expressed his gratitude to everyone, especially the students for their enthusiastic participation.

The programme was made a huge success with the active and timely coordination of the organising committee, effective participation of the students and cooperation of every supporting staff and student at the university. SRM University-AP surges ahead as a revolutionary institute in research and developments and intends to disseminate scientific temper among the students to make phenomenal contributions to the world of science.

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