Chennai: The Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE) is set to launch a new conversation series on higher education on July 28. In the first event, experts, including professors and industry specialists, will discuss the impact of generative AI on the future of education and employment.The conversations will cover several topics concerning higher education, including the UGC’s shift from grant to regulation, scholarships in higher education, employability of graduates, happy teachers, happy classrooms, a road map for research in higher education, ranking systems, practical learning, and dwindling admissions in basic science courses, among others.“A multitude of challenges currently impact the higher education sector, many of which necessitate policy interventions. However, we presently lack a comprehensive compilation of these critical issues,” said M P Vijayakumar, vice-chairman of TANSCHE. “These sessions, which will be conducted fortnightly, will involve all relevant stakeholders, including academicians, policy analysts, and industry experts from across the country, to deliberate on pressing matters,” he added.Following each session, the council will develop a detailed policy paper based on the discussions, which will be submitted to the govt to guide future policy formulation and action. The first conversation of the series will focus on generative AI and its impact on education and future employment.“We need to know the impact of generative AI on employment and newer jobs that will emerge. It will help us to bring in changes in the curriculum and give necessary skills to students,” Vijayakumar said.Lakshmi Narayanan, managing trustee of Chennai Mathematical Institute, professor B Ravindran, head of Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, IIT Madras, Institute of Mathematical Sciences director V Ravindran, IBM India’s Quantum Innovation Centre lead Dhinakaran Vinayagamurthy, and others will take part in the event.Students and professors need to register using the following link: https://tansche-forms.web.app/. Since seats are limited, participation will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. For any queries, email: tanschefellows@gmail.com.
