Self-made millionaires in high school? Yes, it is possible!

An alumnus of Apeejay School Nerul in Navi Mumbai, India, Sreejit Chakrabarty is passionate about technology and innovation. He is dedicated to staying at the forefront of the latest advancements in the field as he strives to bring forth perspectives on how these areas can enhance students’ learning experience in schools and higher educational institutions. Sharing his insights and expertise, he urges educators to embrace new technologies and put in place creative approaches in their teaching practices. Read on, edited excerpts from the interview.

Please tell us about your educational journey.

I studied at Apeejay School, Nerul till 2004, right from classes Nursery to 12. After that, I pursued engineering, as was the trend in those days. I completed my degree from Mumbai University in 2008. After that, my passion for Robotics, STEM Education and Artificial Intelligence (AI) took me to Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

Throughout my career, my focus has been to learn new skills. To further that, I have completed certifications from prestigious institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University and Harvard, just to name a few. I would say that education is an ongoing pursuit. And for me, learning never stops since I am a foresight researcher. My work primarily involves studying futuristic trends and strategising the curricula to make it relevant for students.

What does your career trajectory look like?

I started working in 2009, Dubai. I mainly started in the fields of STEM Education and Robotics. Eventually, my curiosity grew in Emerging technologies and other related fields. Then, I shifted focus to learning more about Machine Learning and AI. At present, I am working towards understanding more and more about Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Metaverse, etc. With all this, my goal is to create courses for school-going students to equip them for future roles.

Is it challenging to master these fields?

It is all about learning and curiosity. During my college days, I used to be part of the Robotics club. From second-year onwards, we began to participate in several fests and competitions. Gradually, it helped increase my understanding of these sectors.

Initially, my job included providing consultations to schools across countries including regions such as America, Europe, India and the Middle East. To be able to help them, a lot of research was required. So, from curriculum-planning to teacher-training, it has been quite comprehensive and the next phase of my learning would be how AI can be integrated in the workforce.

How has peoples’ perception changed towards the inclusion of technology in education?

Earlier in the school curriculum, many used to feel that AI, Robotics and other tech-based subjects were something ‘extra.’ Now, the change is how educators have understood that these technologies can add value to existing teaching-learning modes. If we say Robotics, it is not necessarily a lesson in Robotics. It can be a lesson in Mathematics powered by Robotics tools. In doing so, a teacher can cover a Math topic and the students can also learn new skills.

So, the paradigms of education are shifting. How?

At present, emerging technologies are allowing us to shape the world. So, the students must be prepared for it. K-12 education should be able to provide them that platform. In the future, we could have professionals like a drone pilot or a machine learning expert. In addition, we must promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among students. During high-school, they have a great chance of coming up with fresh ideas and even becoming self-made millionaires.

Are the trends in education varying country-wise?

No. It has more to do with the curriculum followed across K-12 schools. Currently, there exists a major gap between the knowledge of a class 12 student vis-à-vis the higher education course they enroll for. Therefore, almost all the first-year of their degree goes into equipping themselves with the necessary skills required to successfully complete that course. Only by the second-year, they actually learn what they have come for. Again, the same thing happens when these students enter the workforce. In my view, these gaps can be mitigated and collaborations, partnerships with corporates, industries and other higher educational institutes is important for it.  

What’s going to happen in the next five years?

Technologies such as Blockchain, Robotics, Metaverse are going to have a great impact on students. Going forward, institutions will integrate more and more applied skills to equip students.

What skills should students learn to join the workforce of tomorrow?

Primarily, soft skills are most essential. Others such as character-building, communication and collaboration are supplementary as we enter the 22^nd century. Gradually, we are stepping into a world that needs community-building, interpersonal interaction and life skills. So, students should know how to open a bank account, change the wheel of a car, file taxes, etc. Most researchers and educators are also trying to include courses based on content creation, how to start a YouTube channel, writing a script, recording a podcast, etc.

Other tech-based skills include having a basic knowledge about AI, Robotics and engineering because it is impacting every industry. Some roles that would be relevant in the near future are game designing, drone engineering, expertise in machine-learning and data science.

How were school years at Apeejay, Nerul?

The school taught me discipline, problem-solving skills, community-building and collaboration all of which is helping me in my career. Even today, I make sure to stay in touch with my teachers from the school. I feel that Apeejay is more family to me. My teachers instilled in me the spirit to ‘never give up’ even when things didn’t pan out my way. Furthermore, they wiped out my fear of failure and allowed me to see it as an opportunity to learn something new.