Thanks for your lovely wishes on Teacher’s Day.
I am blessed to have you all in my life. I would have definitely replied to you over WA, FB, Insta, phone, messages or even emails. Accept my apologies if you have not yet received a response for your wishes. Believe me, you are always in thoughts and prayers.
Share this newsletter with your friends and family who share your interests.
Let's make the “Platform’ed” community even stronger! Feel free to post it on your social media accounts too, and inspire others to join our journey.
DTW
During the Week, 18th Heads of State and Government Summit of the Group of 20 (G20) took place in New Delhi. Under the Indian Presidency, the G20 in 2023 will focus on the theme, ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’. The theme affirms the value of human, animal, plant, and microorganisms and their interconnectedness on planet Earth and in the wider universe.
The G-20 serves as a vital global cohort, uniting leaders from the world's major economies. This assembly fosters collaboration, enabling nations to address critical issues collectively. It's a platform where national leadership converges to navigate complex challenges, from economic stability and public health to climate action and geopolitical diplomacy.
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
Jim Rohn
I believe that this quote underscores the significant role cohorts play in shaping individuals. Cohorts influence our values, beliefs, behaviors, and aspirations. By surrounding ourselves with motivated, knowledgeable, and supportive peers, we're more likely to grow, learn, and achieve our goals. This concept applies universally, from personal development to professional success, highlighting the transformative power of cohorts in moulding our identities and trajectories. Of late, we have seen a rise in the cohort based course especially in business education for working professionals.
Platform based cohorts provide Engagement Facilitation (E) through eXperiential Learning (X) and Personalized Learning Paths (P) enhances Accessible Content Delivery (A) and Networking Opportunities (N), all driven by Data-Driven Insights (D), thus creating a holistic approach to education. Let's break down the pros and cons of Cohort Based Courses (CBCs) corresponding to the EXPAND framework:
Experience Enhancement: Cohort Based Courses (CBCs) often provide a heightened learning experience. They are designed to be engaging, interactive, and practical. CBCs frequently incorporate case studies, simulations, and real-world projects that mimic industry challenges. This experiential learning can be more aligned with the demands of the professional world, offering students valuable skills and knowledge. Many of these platforms leverage various tools, such as discussion forums, live webinars, and peer collaboration features, to foster active participation and interaction among students. For instance, platforms like Coursera and edX provide discussion forums and peer assessment tools, enabling students to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborative projects.However, in some cases, the absence of physical, on-campus experiences may limit certain hands-on learning opportunities that traditional programs offer.
eXperiential Learning: CBCs excel at fostering experiential learning. These programs bring together a diverse group of students from various backgrounds and geographies. The resulting cross-cultural exposure and networking opportunities can be invaluable for building a global professional network. Students interact with peers, instructors, and industry experts, creating a vibrant learning community. For instance, Great Learning, an Indian ed-tech company, offers Mini MBA programs that incorporate real industry projects, allowing participants to apply their learning in a professional context. Nevertheless, the virtual nature of CBCs may occasionally hinder the development of deep personal relationships, which some students find more attainable in traditional campus-based settings.
Personalization: One of the strengths of CBCs is the degree of personalization they afford. Students often have the flexibility to tailor their learning journey to match their specific interests and career goals. This customization ensures that the education aligns closely with individual aspirations. Emeritus, another Indian platform, offers Mini MBA programs in partnership with top business schools, where participants receive personalized feedback on their assignments and projects, enhancing their learning journey. While this personalization enhances the learning experience, it may require students to be more self-disciplined and proactive in structuring their education compared to the more structured campus-based programs.
Accessibility: CBCs democratize education by making it accessible to a broader audience. These programs eliminate geographical constraints, allowing students from around the world to access top-tier education. This inclusivity promotes diversity and enriches the learning environment with a wide range of perspectives.Talentedge, an Indian platform, collaborates with prestigious institutions to offer Mini MBA programs accessible to professionals across India.However, students need reliable internet access and self-motivation to succeed in CBCs. Some individuals may find it challenging to adapt to the online learning format.
Networking: CBCs excel at creating networks of like-minded professionals. The collaborative nature of online classrooms encourages students to build connections and work on projects with a global perspective. These networks can extend beyond graduation and become valuable professional assets. For instance, UpGrad, an Indian ed-tech company, offers networking sessions with industry leaders as part of its Mini MBA programs. Nevertheless, the absence of in-person interactions can sometimes limit the depth of personal connections, as some students may find it challenging to forge strong bonds in a virtual environment.
Data-Driven Insights: Many CBCs leverage data analytics to provide personalized support to students. By tracking individual progress, these programs can offer timely interventions and tailored resources to help students succeed. This data-driven approach can enhance the learning experience. However, there is a delicate balance to maintain, as an excessive reliance on data can risk depersonalizing education. Striking the right equilibrium between data-driven support and personalized learning is a challenge that CBCs face.
Cohort Based Courses offer an enriched learning experience with practical applications, global networking opportunities, personalized learning paths, and increased accessibility. However, they may lack certain in-person experiences and deep personal connections that traditional on-campus programs provide. The data-driven approach enhances support but requires a balance to maintain a human-centric touch. The choice between CBCs and traditional programs depends on individual preferences, career goals, and adaptability to virtual learning environments.
I think the best way to incorporate the best of CBC and on-campus traditional programs is to create cohorts on campuses to foster learning and bonding. As a faculty member, I had the privilege of offering a unique and enriching internship experience based on the EXPAND Framework to a cohort of 12 exceptional students hailing from diverse backgrounds.
Over the course of this cohort based internship, my students gained hands-on experience in various domains at esteemed organizations including Arvind Fashion, BuckSpeak, Synergize Solar, Aster Healthcare, NicheBrain, and Recykal.
They worked on significant projects such as digital transformation in the fashion industry with a focus on Arvind Fashions Limited, exploring sustainability in fashion retailing, devising customer acquisition and retention strategies for platform-based businesses, and driving MQLs for a promising early-stage clean energy startup. Furthermore, they had the opportunity to investigate the intricacies of behavioral biases in investment planning and contributed to identifying target audiences and developing lead pipeline processes for circularity platforms at Recykal.
Beyond their professional growth, my interns participated in a range of engaging activities, including MountainSpeak sessions, cultural experiences like Ramadan food walks, health/fitness events and even received basic life-saving training. They built lasting connections with industry experts, upheld stringent deadlines, and actively maintained their online presence through LinkedIn posts and social media engagement.
I am happy that two of them (sadly, could only nominate two interns), Cyma Akhter and Samyuktha Srikanth received the Best Summer Internship Award by IBSAF on Teachers’ Day Celebrations at IBS Hyderabad on 5th September 2023.
Happy to share that only top 2% students get this award for their 12 weeks summer internship work.
OTW
Over the Weekend, I had a fantastic time at the ENABLE NET ZERO framework Digital Street Regional Consultation organised by Centre of Excellence for Digital Transformation and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung India office and hosted at ICFAI Business School, Bangalore.
We also visited multiple partners including wonderful initiatives like Astu Eco led by Anitha Shankar who created wonderful learning opportunities for our students.
The Digital Green Regional Consultation at multiple ICFAI Business Schools across the country have connected students and faculty members with industry leaders thus creating a cohort of "Digital EcoPioneers".
I Love You
Shailendra