India’s first Microsoft Showcase School Leaders Forum on Innovation in Education at the Academy

Last week, the Academy was honoured to host Microsoft India’s first pan India Forum for Showcase School Leaders on Innovation in Education. This two-day event was opened by chief guest Murali Natrajan, CEO and MD of DCB Bank who gave a stirring address calling for a change in education practice and policy to better prepare students for tomorrow’s workplace. Mr Rahul Bojja, Hyderabad District Collector, built on this theme by calling for better access and improved quality of classroom learning.

 

Following a kick-off event at the Novotel on 4 May where principals shared their views and aspirations of what it means to be a Microsoft Showcase School, the forum started with a high level panel discussion around Inspirational Leadership and Implications for Education in India. The current skills employment gap was highlighted as a major challenge to educators preparing the young for the workplace.

 

The opening session was a VIP discussion panel consisting of Mr Murali Natrajan (CEO & MD DCB Bank); Mr. Rahul Bojja (District Collect & Magistrate Hyderabad); Mr. Rahul Dheshmukh (COO Orient Cement, Birla Group); Mr Kingshuk Nag (Chief Editor, The Times India); Mr. Mark East (GM Worldwide Corporate HQ Education); Mr. Neeraj Gill (GM Public Sector, Microsoft India); Mr. Pratik Mehta (Director Education, Microsoft India) and Dr. Geoffrey Fisher (Head of Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad). Their wide ranging discussion addressed issues such as access, mindset, the need for experiential learning, the importance of collaboration in teams of complementary skills, and raising young people with empathy to communicate effectively. Delegates responded in vigorous debate asking for corporates to visit.

 

Sessions on change management, sharing best practice and an insight into research perspectives followed. These were supported by IIM, New Delhi and ISB, Hyderabad. The following day, principals and guests were taken to the Microsoft Innovation Development Centre in Hyderabad (one of only three in the world) and exposed to a riveting series of experiences about the future workplace and its technology. The forum was chaired and summarized by Dr Vinnie Jauhari, Head of Education Advocacy, Microsoft India.

 

The partnership established between Microsoft India and the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad emphasises the exploration and movement towards the excellence required of both teaching and learning by His Highness the Aga Khan as a distinctive feature of his global Academies network.