Bihar Education Minister Chandrashekhar underlined the importance of creating excellent education in higher education institutions to propel the state to the top of the country’s education map.

The minister said during the opening of a five-day workshop on ‘Data analysis using software packages for social scientists’ organized by the Patliputra School of Economics (PSE) at Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU), that efforts should be made to improve research standards so that the findings can be used for the betterment of mankind.

Chandrashekhar emphasized the necessity of data analysis in developing evidence-based policies, saying that all stakeholders in the higher education system should work together to ensure the state’s academic success.

Dipak Kumar Singh, assistant chief secretary in the Education Department, emphasized recent developments in the sphere of higher education in the state and stated that the government would provide all essential assistance to the PSE to achieve its intended expansion. He also discussed the significance of data science in today’s time.

Arunish Chawla, additional chief secretary of the state planning and development department stated that comprehending the subject of econometrics is required for meaningful use of data analysis in effective and purposeful policy making.

S P Singh, the vice-chancellor of AKU, acknowledged the relevance of data analysis in the modern day but cautioned researchers and academics against the possible misuse of software packages.

PSE director S K Bhaumik welcomed guests and attendees and outlined the institution’s academic and infrastructure development during the last two years. He stated that the center is on its way to becoming a center of excellence, as envisioned by CM Nitish Kumar.

The program was attended by 36 participants from several states, including young faculty and Ph.D. research scholars. The workshop’s resource people are famous data science professionals from NIT Durgapur, the Institute of Development Studies in Kolkata, and Patna University’s statistics department.

Earlier in July, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urged for the creation of forward-thinking, world-class institutions based on the tenet of “student first, teacher-driven” learning. He was giving the valedictory talk at the three-day Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS) in Varanasi, which ended with education leaders vowing to work together to turn India into an equal and dynamic knowledge society.

“We must bring in a transformative education system rooted in Indian values, thoughts, and sense of service. The National Education Policy 2020 gives us the direction and path for decolonizing our education and achieving aspirations, creating pride in our languages, culture, and knowledge. Components of NEP such as multi-modal education, Academic Bank of Credits, Multiple Entry-Exit, Skill Development will prove to be milestones in the direction of the student first -teacher-led learning,” said Pradhan.

Shiksha Samagam, according to Pradhan, is a step toward establishing India as a knowledge-based superpower. “Our higher education should be for and by the student. Our administration will do all possible to assist teachers in reaching the expectations of our students,” he added.

Subhas Sarkar, Union Minister of State for Education, told educationists that offering a holistic education is the heart of National Education Policy 2020. “During my visits to different institutions, I felt there is a need for a significant increase of macro and micro-actions in the realization of holistic education,” he stated.

The Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam saw 11 sessions, comprising nine topic sessions and two exclusive sessions on sharing success stories and Best Practices of NEP 2020 Implementation.

The discussions ranged from holistic and multidisciplinary education, enhancing quality, inclusivity, and access using technology, to the importance of fostering an ecosystem for research and innovation, to the promotion of Indian languages, Indian knowledge systems, and the sharing of best practices on NEP implementation.