Huge online courses threat to higher edu model: Mauritius Prez

Rise of online learning as an alternative to in-person instruction is a "threat" to the entire model of higher education, Mauritius President Rajkeshwur Purryag today said.
He said that technology was challenging traditional modes of education and cautioned that new challenges in form of open and massive online courses were threatening the traditional paradigm of the field.
"Rise of online learning as an alternative to in-person instruction is a threat to our entire model of higher education as it redefines the role of teachers, pedagogy , course contents and students", Purryag said.
The Mauritian President was addressing students at the convocation ceremony of a private university here.

He also said, "in an increasingly digitalised world, no gain can be taken for granted. No business model can hold for long. Academic boundaries have become transcendental. Therefore, a constant rethinking on higher education is not an obsession but an obligation".
He also emphasised on the need of producing flexible entrepreneurial young minds.

He also mentioned the time-tested durable, friendly bilateral relationship between India and Mauritius and added that India has a long tradition of higher education.
He eulogised Punjab's endless golden fields and industrial estates, its ancient cradle of education and civilisation in form of Taxila University and Harappa.

Quoting profusely scholars and educationists, President said that youths must not stop short of settling for excellence. He told them that education was their future.
He said, "I believe that a good higher education system is key building block of democratic societies and central to any sustainable development agenda".
However, he reminded the gathering that we were at present witnessing massive internationalisation and globalisation of academic disciplines.
He also gave away PhD degrees to six scholars, gold medals to twelve top performers while degrees to 15,000 students were given in the first session of the two-day fourth convocation ceremony of the state-based Lovely Professional University (LPU).

Moved by the hospitality and heritage of Punjab, Purryag said that he always felt to be at home whenever he came to India, but he felt all the more at home to be in the state of Punjab.
The university also conferred on him an honorary PhD degree.