G20 delegates reach IIT Madras to deliberate on Tech in Education! Here are the takes- Edexlive

The G20 summit is in full swing! Today, January 31, delegates arrived at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) Research Park in Chennai to participate in the seminar on the Role of Digital Technology in Education. This is the first meeting of the G20 Education Working Group (G20 EWG) 2023, which will be held until 2 February.

At IITM, the foreign delegates were welcomed in a traditional manner with a ceremonial stole. Musical instruments were also played to receive it. During the meeting, the EWG will focus on areas to ensure inclusive, equitable, relevant and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all, within the theme of One Earth, One Family, One Future, according to the press information bureau’s press release, as mentioned in a report by ANI.

More than 60 delegates from G20 member and guest countries and invited organizations, including the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) , participate in the seminar and exhibition. From India, the meeting will be attended by academic experts, faculty and students, the Ministry of Education (MoE), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), University Grants Commission (UGC), and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

“India proposes to build on the deliberations held under previous presidencies and to address the problems that prevent the full transformational potential of education from being realized,” the press release said. It further said that in line with this spirit, priority areas have been identified for deliberation that will serve to address major issues facing learners around the world, and will help build on the strengths achieved during recent years has been gained, especially the use of technology in education, as per ANI.

The deliberation will also serve to enable a rethinking of teaching and learning methods, contents, pedagogies and assessments, so that education can be made more relevant to the abilities and skills required in the 21st century. It further encourages collaboration between people, industries and societies in the pursuit of broadening the horizons of knowledge and using it for the benefit of humanity, according to the press release.

In line with the approach, four priority issues were identified for deliberation in the G20 EWG meeting. The priority issues will include ensuring basic Literacy and Numeracy, building capacities, promoting lifelong learning in relation to the future of work and strengthening research and promoting innovation through collaboration and partnerships, especially in the context of mixed file. This includes making technology-enabled learning more “inclusive, qualitative and collaborative at every level,” as per ANI.

India has accepted the G20 presidency from Indonesia on 1 December 2022 and is convening the G20 leaders’ summit in the country for the first time this year. The working group therefore aims to work with other G20 countries to bridge gaps in quality education and skills.