Here’s why UPES continues to remain at the forefront of Virtual Learning

Through initiatives such as Webinars, Masterclasses and Pre-Semester Learning, the university has efficiently adapted to the changing times and brought a tectonic shift in conventional education

If there is one major development that has emerged in the field of education in the last few months, it is Virtual Learning. The technology that was still touted to be in its infancy early this year had to be made ready for the most elaborate experiment in digital education ever conducted in the history of the world.

The adoption of online classes is truly one of the watershed moments for education.

This shift, like other transitions, has brought manifold advantages. In addition to democratizing and enabling widespread digitization in the classroom, it has created a new user experience in education, which has limitless potential. At UPES, we have always been at the forefront of this digital revolution in higher education. We have dedicated some of our best minds to the question of how we can make this process as interactive, efficient, and fun as possible.

Through experimentation, feedback, and constant innovation, we have chiselled our virtual education ecosystem to perfection. This well-oiled machine has not only created room for expanded collaboration with experts, but also provided an experiential basis of learning, making students interested to participate in the process organically.

This process led to the creation of our Immersive Academic Framework, which was built as an innovative new education model, spanning through the admission process, induction, and pre-semester learning.

Pre-Semester Learning was a unique learning experience for students. It consisted of awe-inspiring industry leaders, unique perspectives of professors, and friendly, open conversations with peers.

UPES’ most successful digital and virtual learning initiatives include:

• Webinars and Masterclasses: Masterclasses and webinars allow students to learn from experts, feel a part of the community, and ask direct questions to industry leaders, experts, and role models. It mimics the immersive experience of a physical workshop and fosters deep connections.
  
  
• Pre-Semester Learning: Pre-Semester Learning was extremely valuable to students, helping build a strong foundation in a fun collegiate setting, all from the comfort of their homes. In the company of industry stalwarts that included MDs, CEOs, Former Supreme Court Justices, artists, entrepreneurs and pioneers, our students could envision the heights they can take their careers to, making a strong beginning to their journey of academic and professional excellence.
  
  
• Blackboard collaboration: Even in the middle of the pandemic, we swiftly moved our classes to Blackboard virtual classrooms, minimizing loss of time and productivity. To date, thousands of students have completed classes on Blackboard. The speed and efficiency with which this partnership enabled us to respond to the crisis have been remarkable.
  
  
• Partnership with Coursera: In addition to these, we have also partnered with Coursera, throwing 3900+ free courses open to our students enabling them to upskill themselves and set their resume apart with certifications from our industry and academic partners.

It is because of achievements like these that UPES was awarded the E-LEAD (E-Learning Excellence in Academic Digitization) by the QS I-GAUGE ranking agency. Virtual Learning is an inseparable part of education at UPES. A large part of professional life in the 21st century will be upskilling, reskilling, and the ability to skill oneself. By inculcating these habits at an early stage in the academic process, we are building a strong foundation for a generation that is truly industry-ready and future-proof. Find out more about Virtual Learning at UPES by visiting upes.ac.in.