The C20 Education Working Group Summit on “Digital Transformation in Public Schools” was jointly organized by Vibha, Mata Amritanandamayi Centers in the United States of America, and the Consulate General of India in Atlanta. On June 25th, over a hundred people gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, to hear Padma Bhushan Dr. Jagdish Sheth, Consul General of India in Atlanta, and other notable speakers share their wisdom and experience. The goals of the event, which included encouraging discussion and producing policy proposals for the G20 Leaders, were met with great success.
It takes a long time to make policy. However, it is worthwhile to take the time to craft a policy that takes into account the views of all stakeholders, notably those from civil society. Vibha Board Member Vijay Vemulapalli expressed the company’s delight at having helped with the project.
In order to address the urgent need for digital transformation in public schools, the C20 Education and Digital Transformation Working Group organized the C20 Education Summit, which featured prominent academics, officials, and educators. The primary goal of the session was for attendees to brainstorm potential policy proposals for the C20 chair to take to the G20 Leaders to discuss the impact of digital transformation on education equity.
Raj Vuchatu, Executive Director of Vibha Atlanta, opened the summit with some welcoming remarks, and then all of the eminent visitors participated in the ceremonial Lighting of the Lamp, which represents knowledge and wisdom.
The esteemed keynote address was given by Dr. Swati Vijay Kulkarni, the Honorable Consul General of India, who spoke about the significance of diversity and cooperation in defining the future of public education. India’s G20 presidency is a prime example of how the G20 has become a people-centered event that requires active participation from Civil Society. Mata Amritanandamayi Centers, USA, and Vibha have done a wonderful thing by hosting this C20 Education and Digital Transformation Working Group event in Atlanta. Dr. Kulkarni remarked, “The watchwords here are Inclusion and Collaboration.”
The M.A. Center’s Br. Ramanandamrita Chaitanya welcomed everyone and provided some background before the lively conversations that were to follow.
According to Br. Ramanandamrita Chaitanya, “as pointed out by Amma in Her video message, let the digital transformation of the education system take in its stride a change in the stereotypical approach, wherein students are encouraged to think “How can I GIVE” more than “How can I get” from the education I receive.”
An excellent roster of invited experts spoke at the event and shared their knowledge and skills with the audience.
Padma Bhushan Emory University’s Dr. Jagdish Sheth offered insightful commentary on technology’s use in the classroom. Every organization will undergo some type of digital transformation in the foreseeable future. There is just no way to fight it. Dr. Sheth urged his listeners to “adjust and adapt to emerging technology.”
CARE’s gender equality in tech and education expert, Dr. Revi Sterling, participated in the conversations by emphasizing the significance of diversity and inclusion in the digital age. There used to be a big gap between those who had access to information and those who didn’t, but now that’s where the focus should be. Dr. Sterling emphasized the importance of closing the gap.
Volunteer and mentor Julie Brennen, who represents the Mentor Me Program and My Forsyth Magazine, spoke about her work in the modern digital age. If we’re serious about making an impact, we should look into mentorship and volunteer work. According to Ms. Brennen, “when you volunteer, you become a little extra, much larger than who you are.”
A lively Q&A session was expertly chaired by Vibha Board Member Vijay Vemulapalli, who enabled attendees to delve deeper into the themes at hand. His inquisitive mind and sharp intellect led to stimulating conversations that yielded new insights from the panelists and the audience.
Mr. Vemulapalli gave a passionate vote of appreciation to all of the attendees, presenters, and organizers of the summit, bringing the event to a successful close.
Vibha is grateful to the Indian Consulate, the Mata Amritanandamayi Centers of the United States, and all of the attendees for their participation in and support of this important occasion.
