Head of Innovation Ericsson ANZ
Head of Innovation Ericsson ANZ
In the debut episode of Tech Cetera Season 2, we sit down with Dr. Rukmini Banerji, CEO of Pratham India and Abhay Saboo, Founder & CEO of CoLearn Indonesia, to discuss the power that technologies and connectivity have on remote and underpriviledged communities when it comes to delivering education.
Creating Opportunities for Better Learning Experiences with the Power of Connectivity
We can transform learning outcomes with the help of technology. We discuss how 5G connectivity can bridge gaps in education.
The youth of today will be leading our world tomorrow. This is why we must invest in their education. Today, millions of children across the world are deprived of the opportunity to learn. But with the help of technology, we can overcome the challenges and help young adults unlock their full potential.
In the first episode of Season 2 Tech Cetera, Ericsson’s award-winning podcast, we take a closer look at how technology and connectivity can open paths for better learning opportunities. Our host, Sarah Goss discusses this topic with our two guests:
- Rukmini Banerji, CEO of Pratham India
- Abhay Saboo, Founder & CEO of CoLearn Indonesia
Same mission but different paths:
Pratham and CoLearn share the same mission: to deliver education and create sustainable systems of knowledge. However, their journeys have been very different.
Pratham has been working in the local community for almost 30 years. The organisation has two programs, one for child education and one for skilling youth. Pratham is constantly looking for ways to bring these programs together so that they support one another.
CoLearn’s mission is to standardise education quality in Indonesia. Students in the country largely receive different quality levels of education based on where they live. As a result, this exacerbates social inequality. After the pandemic, CoLearn transformed from its offline learning centers to become an app-based online learning platform. This was mainly so the organization could grow and reach more students.
What is common between Pratham and CoLearn is that they want children and young adults to have access to a broader range of opportunities.
At Pratham , Rukmini focuses on learning outcomes. Skill development is given high priority. Rukmini states that skills not only give individuals practical tools for the future but also give them confidence. This confidence is key to developing a future-ready talent pool that can excel in a competitive employment market.
For CoLearn, better opportunities means students have access to quality education, regardless of their location. Abhay has seen how online learning can open the door to far-off resources, especially good teachers. This is important as CoLearn’s core philosophy it that the teacher-student dynamic determines learning outcomes.
The power and impact of network connectivity
Emerging and innovative technologies can act as an enabler, and help students unlock many opportunities.
To put this in perspective, Abhay traces how the evolution of cellular networks influenced learning. Connectivity was significantly improved with the coming of 3G, as the cost and time to download educational videos were reduced. Students were able to access recorded content regularly. 4G transformed the game and made live education a possibility. Further, we require to move from 4G to 5G so that students can engage with live online learning on a day-to-day basis.
Rukmini believes that greater connectivity will expose Pratham’s students to alternative pathways. To move forward in life, these students need to see and believe in a world that’s greater than what exists in their immediate environment. Once they understand there are multiple routes to success, they can reach their ambitions.
The podcast sheds light on how technology is an enabler even as social contexts play a large role in how technology will impact individuals. For example, experiences related to 5G for rural-based and urban-based students will be very different. Rukmini also asserts the opportunity for innovative thinking, such as the creation of libraries for smart devices in communities.
Connectivity for a brighter future
Pratham and CoLearn have been on a long journey to create impact within their communities. They have been extremely successful in their mission but there’s still a long way to go. Many of the structural issues can only be addressed with government initiatives and large-scale operations. Ericsson is committed to using Technology for Good and supporting India and Indonesia in developing pathways for stable and affordable connections.
A key Ericsson initiative that aims to create positive community impact is the ‘Ericsson Educate’ program. The program currently runs in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia and benefits thousands of students.
‘Ericsson Educate’ is an online learning platform for youth that provides learning materials on key technologies, including 5G and related technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, automation, blockchain, cloud computing, data science, Internet of Things (IoT) and telecommunications. The content from the ‘Ericsson Educate’ portal, allows students and lecturers to access free of cost quality digital learning resources from Ericsson's 145-years’ experience in telecommunications and ICT.