Educational institutions need to adopt open learning to encourage innovation, says Neeraj Atahlye

Education institutions need to adopt open-learning practices to stay relevant amid the fast-changing technology, Neeraj Atahlye, V-P (Innovation and Digital Business) for Indian Subcontinent for SAP said here on Thursday. He also urged academia to adopt open learning methods to encourage students towards innovation.

Delivering a lecture on Enabling Positive Use Of Artificial Intelligence For All, organised by Institute of Engineers and Computer Society of India, Merah said all the leaders in the corporate sectors are adapting technology like never before and hence companies will require manpower who are innovative. "Today the biggest challenge for the CEOs, and I meet them regularly is finding innovative manpower who can work seamlessly with robots," he said.

However, he drew attention to the fact that today's colleges and universities are teaching nothing that the industry leaders will need in the year 2030.

Giving a solution to the dilemma, he said the education institutes should adopt open learning methods in close coordination with the industry. He advised industry and researchers not to work in isolation but involve the actual user while developing the solution. Highly optimistic about Artificial Intelligence, he said that while there are tremendous challenges, the business opportunities are also huge.

Tapan Mishra, director of Space Application Centre (SAC) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) lamented that the mass psychological condition of Indians has resulted in society giving value to youth to get jobs in technology giants like Google than ISRO. He warned against the penetration of technology companies in societies can compromise the political and administrative system to suit vested interests rather than the Indian society.

Mishra contrasted India's approach against that of China, which has blocked global technology giants and encouraged it's homegrown companies and is therefore capable to better safeguard its national interest. Neeraj also hoped that there will be fee Indian technology giants as global leaders in next two decades.

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Today the biggest challenge for the CEOs, and I meet them regularly is finding innovative manpower who can work seamlessly with robots,” said Neeraj Atahlye, VP for Indian Subcontinent for SAP.