Role of e-Architect for future education system
Future educational institutes will require strong and sustainable infostructure instead of infrastructure and shall be managed as e-business. Design of such infostructure shall be done by new creed of professionals called as e-architects.
SRM (Student Relation Management) would be main guiding principle and effective service to student (education) would be the at the focus for building necessary infostructure and employing service providers (faculty and administrative staff).
Evaluation of product shall be in the hands of employers. Education may be totally sponsored and designed by employers to meet their demand. Students shall be at liberty to join courses from different service providers ( educational institutes ) and choose the employer after completion or they may join specific facility sponsored by the employer of their cherished profession.
Their shall be tough global competition to attract students.Students shall evaluate and compare the quality and content of courses, capability of faculty and decide which courses should be joined to get necessary expertise for negotiating with future employers. This would be similar to the present practice of comparing the products on internet and then going to shop that provides best offer.
Employers shall open guidance centres for students for helping them in selecting proper courses. They may offer salary beforehand for meritorious students. Just as Dell usherd the era of direct to customer, some employers may provide predesigned education service package with attractive paybacks.
Traditional education experts and consultants will be replaced by e-architects who will be strong in IT skills, know the modern business management systems and have studied present education system. Both educational experts and IT professionals can lean the tricks of trade of other discipline to become e-Architect for future educational institutes.
The management of present educational institutes is too busy in their routine duties and do not find enough time to study changes in global scenario and plan for future sustainance. A special task force should be formed with help from outside consultants to do blue print planning for IT enabled administration and distance education. The task before such committee would be to compile baseline data regarding resources available with institute, SWOT analysis in the light of global trends, development of detailed plan with schedules, milestones,roles and rsponsibilities, communication and feedback systems and self correcting mechanism to keep the progress in desired direction. Achievement goals should be decided not on availability of resources and present constraints but on future demand requirements and opportunities.