"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spearheaded a bold strategy to revive growth and perch India strongly on the global map. He has got the whole world watching in rapt attention as he cruises through his agenda of togetherness and shared development. Some of the government's ambitious initiatives like 'Digital India', 'Make in India' and 'Smart Cities' seem to hold the promise of transforming India into a 21st century knowledge economy," Salwan Media CEO Harjiv Singh, who will be organising the conference, said. "As an annual forum to discuss on the most impactful trends in India's ongoing transformation, One Globe 2015 will assess these ideas, issues and their impact in the larger context of South Asia, and the opportunities it offers to domestic and global players," he added.
Scheduled to be held on February 6th & 7th, in New Delhi, One Globe 2015 is India's leading conference that brings together global thought leaders to explore the intersection of technology, innovation, smart cities, skills, regional collaboration and education. The conference will also serve as a platform for showcasing select innovative products and services for the knowledge economy. India and larger South Asia, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Maldives, account for nearly a quarter of the world's population and the region has played a historical role in the development of the world economy. India alone has one of the youngest demographics in the world with 54% of its 1.3 billion people under the age of 25.
The two-day conference will feature several action-packed keynote sessions, panel discussions, spotlight sessions and fireside chats with leaders from business, government, think tanks, private equity, industry associations, as well as ministers, bureaucrats, policy makers and influencers, entrepreneurs, educators and academia from around the world.
Indian and Pakistani students can be among the best of friends when they study in overseas universities. Yet politics back home prevents them from establishing joint student associations. I was honoured to speak on the topic, Can South Asia Overcome Political Differences To Collaborate In Higher Education?, at the One Globe Conference in Delhi last month. I proposed that Saarc countries should share an agreed number of students and faculty in designated universities across the region. This would allow these young men and women to respect each other’s values, and work for shared aspirations, leading to a better-integrated region.
Som Mittal, who is part of the leadership team at Nasscom Foundation, said that less than 20 per cent Indians have access to or interface with technology on a regular basis. One Globe 2014 knowledge conference convener Harjiv Singh said: "The beauty of Mittal's idea is its simplicity and immense universal relevance. If we can get even half the technology companies in India to pool in their 2 per cent mandatory CSR into creating a free and common education repository, the multiplier impact will be several times what they all can achieve individually."
BJYM’s National President and BJP Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur said, “India's youth is not a 'vote bank' but a 'bank of ideas' and for them I propose a 'new politics' that focuses on education, employment & empowerment.” BrainGainMag.com, South Asia’s largest online study abroad publication on higher education, is also hosting a free Study Abroad information session for school and college students on the second day of the One Globe 2014 conference.
India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid speaking at the One Globe 2014 conference, said, “There is enormous amount of applaud and appreciation for India around the world. But back home, the shadow of darkness has lethal dimensions. Our real challenge is not the evil, but the apathy – an unwillingness to open our minds.” Preneet Kaur, Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India, said, “Since the Right to Education was enacted, nearly 200 million children in 6-14 years age group have received free and compulsory education in India, and 120 million children have benefitted from Mid-Day Meal scheme.”
Inaccessibility to good education, inadequate good quality teachers and lack of investment have hurt the growth of the education sector in India. Several leaders from the industry across the globe got together at the "One Globe Knowledge" conference, to find solutions on these issues. The country director for India at the World Bank, Onno Ruhl said, "Education drives economic growth. However, building universities is not the only solution." He emphasised on the need to provide basic primary education to young children.
India should use its position in the field of education to spread goodwill in South Asia, said former Pakistan diplomat Sajjad Ashraf, who hoped it would help improve ties Pakistan. Ashraf will be speaking at One Globe 2014, the third edition of the annual multi-disciplinary conference focused on building a 21st century knowledge economy in India and South Asia.
Harjiv Singh, founder and CEO of Salwan Media, says, “Each year, the One Globe knowledge series has not just become bigger and better, but has steadily served as a crucible of learning and progress towards building a 21st century knowledge economy in India and South Asia. Efforts to improve the level of education cannot be complete without a strong political will.”
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