Monika Paneri’s inclination towards a more people-oriented career saw her pursuing her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Sir Padampat Singhania University, Udaipur (SPSU) no sooner than she earned her master of law degree.

As a student ambassador for SPSU, she helped prospective students gain greater understanding about SPSU’s curriculum, placement benefits, pedagogy, and extra-curricular activities. Inclined to take up a more public role, the gregarious youngster is looking forward to being a part of SPSU’s student council. She aims to launch her own digital marketing startup.

EducationWorld’s series- Students’ Corner puts special emphasis on students and their views. Meet Monika Paneri from Sir Padampat Singhania University, Udaipur (SPSU).

What kind of classes are being conducted currently in your educational institution?

The university reopened following the state government’s directions to allow physical classes. Our curriculum is a blend of conventional classroom learning as well as interactive sessions and seminars. The seminars with industry leaders give us insights about varied sectors and prepare us better for the corporate culture. 

What has been the general mood amongst students regarding attending offline classes?

Students have dealt with a lot of uncertainty regarding classroom attendance since the pandemic. With online classes becoming the new normal with the onset of COVID, the transition from online to offline classes was a little overwhelming initially. Getting used to it did take some time for many of us. However, even though the transition was challenging, students are relieved about the university reopening. We have gradually adapted to attending physical classes again and being in a social environment among other students and faculty members. 

Since there was little time for revision of the year’s syllabus due to disruptions, do you think students were ready for offline exams held in July?

The pandemic did lead to a lot of uncertainty amongst students who were worried about keeping up with our academics via online lectures and assessments. At first, there was a sense of panic and the fear of missing out. However, in time we managed to cope with our academics and used the support provided by our teachers at SPSU. Additionally, the administration informed us about the exams three to four months in advance to ensure we were prepared for the offline mode. We were also provided with mock papers to make the offline process easier and more comprehensive. We had ample amount of time to re-adapt to conventional methodologies of assessment and evaluation.

How could your institution bridge the learning gap caused by the closures?

The management and faculty members at SPSU ensured learning continuity through digital resources even during lockdowns. Thus while the initial lockdown phase did lead to an unimaginable disruption with in-person interactions with the teachers missing, things were soon streamlined. SPSU initiated various online sessions to assist students with additional information and ensure two-way communication for effective learning. With the college reopening, we also had several seminars and extra lectures too.

How were your practical classes managed during the pandemic?

Being an MBA student, my area of specialisation is sales and marketing where practical classes are important. SPSU organised virtual interactive sessions for students to develop and present sales and marketing strategies. The faculty members at SPSU always encourage creative thinking and based on the interactive sessions we had, our teachers effectively gauged and evaluated students’ understanding of marketing and sales concepts. 

Do you think the state and central government did enough to support education and children during the pandemic?

The central and state governments were trying their level best to ensure everyone’s health and safety. Vaccination drives were conducted for people across the country. However, as a student, we did feel they should have planned things better for the education segment and students overall. 

In the absence of in-person interaction with teachers, do you think you missed out on knowing the latest career options or higher education prospects available to you?

Our teachers were always open to guiding us about any doubts and queries we raised. They also informed us about online certification courses that we could use to upgrade our knowledge. I also feel the dependence on online information during the pandemic actually opened the gates for newer networking opportunities and gaining additional knowledge. 

How have you coped with exam stress? Did you have access to a counsellor who could help you through difficult times?

SPSU has an in-house counsellor to help students to cope with anxiety and stress. During these unprecedented times, the support provided by my teachers and friends proved to be a source of great strength and comfort.  

Have you understood the National Education Policy 2020’s takeaways? What is your take on it?

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) is a flexible learning and multidisciplinary policy whereby you can study two courses simultaneously at the same time. It is a very good move by the government in offering additional courses to students who have the urge of studying different courses. For me, it is, “Learn more to Know more!”

Also Read: Students Corner: Goral Mashru, Udgam School for Children