India needs world class education, if we want to realise the national goal of increasing the gross enrolment rate in colleges to 30% by 2020 from the current rate of 12.4 %. This implies opening approximately 800 new universities and 27,000 new colleges, according to Hon'ble HRD minister, Mr Kapil Sibal. However, opening more colleges doesn't necessarily mean getting more students. Last year, approximately 50,000 (31%) seats were vacant in Tamil Nadu with a few colleges not being able to attract even a single student. Over 10,000 (55%) seats are lying vacant across colleges affiliated to Punjab Technical University, even after the second round of counseling. This is a clear indicator that both parents and prospective students want quality education, not just a degree. 

Quality education does not simply mean the 'chalk and talk' method anymore. Technology is crossing boundaries and breaking barriers, making education more and more accessible. It is the advent of technology alone that will help raise the GER more than anything else. Recruiters are getting selective and are focusing on specific colleges. We need to break that mould and see how technology can help our universities to be the best. Technology-enabled people, processes, and infrastructure is the need of the day. At EDU, we understand the urgency of this need. Things cannot continue as usual; new ways need to be explored.

EDU Tech 2011 is an attempt in that direction. With complete focus on technology, the objective of the event is to inform and empower key decision-makers in private higher education institutions with ideas and knowledge that will help them create and lead institutions of high quality. We are planning to assemble a delegation of 100+ delegates, including vice chancellors, directors, deans and principals, from India and help them to engage in productive interactions and deliberations with their counterparts in higher education, and find out about best practices in technology. This one day event in Bangalore on February 18th, 2011, promises to enable better learning and effective management at institutions.

The subjects and topics covered at the event will include:

• Digital Campus and IT Infrastructure

•Review of technologies and solutions that can help educational leaders improve operational efficiencies and deliver quality education

•Instructional Design and Learning