Number speaks for itself

Behind every number there is a story. Here is ours…

​Behind every digit there is a definite story.

Our digit, as I write this piece, is 56. And the story behind it is two-fold. First, it is about the digitalisation of the future. Second, it is the number which signals to grow rapidly. It also radiates the hopes for the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a pathway towards inclusive, peaceful and prosperous planet.

There are 56 campuses of the universities and colleges that are now in Smart Campus Cloud Network (SCCN). Having crossed the golden boundary, we are rapidly moving forward together. More than numbers, the story behind is more inspiring.

Let me put it in perspective.

As you read this message, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is in full swing in New York. United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) António Guterres in an interview just before the start of UNGA has stated that the slow progress on the SDGs, as reviewed by High Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July 2018 points towards dismal results after nearly 1000 days of the universal agreement on those 17 SDGs. He stated that the goals would not be reached and the climate change (SDG Goal 13) is running faster than the action humanity is taking.

Urgency is the anchoring mantra and partnership is the global-anthem to redeem the gloomy and disturbed planet Earth. The drivers that could press the accelerator to speed-up on the pathway towards SDGs are the youth who are tomorrows' policy makers, businessmen, managers and farmers.

The open secret of SDGs is that all of them come down to 'Education'. SCCN, therefore, challenges the students and faculties in the campus of the educational institutes, not only in the paper-examinations that are held in the class rooms but the practical tasks outside the confines of the class rooms. Youth are drawn towards challenges, especially if those are related to their future. SCCN is full of such challenges that address the concerns of the UNSG, as expressed few days back.

A key tenet of SCCN is that if a handful of leading education institutes can demonstrate that it's feasible — and even lucrative — to take small steps towards SDGs in its own campuses, they might inspire others to follow the suit. That, in turn, could make it easier for national leaders to act more forcefully.

If a researcher does an experiment, and he or she finds out the medicine that works, then that innovation spreads. If an inventor makes prototype and presents to the market as the means to healthy, peaceful and happy life, it accelerates our sail and voyage to the sustainability.

SCCN is the pilot plant to produce a product called 'accelerator for action'. It's laboratory is Campus where tomorrows' Minds are well-Molded, Goals are regularly Galvanized, Actions are meant to Attain the targets and Students strive to safeguard the Sustainability.

We not only aim to create smart campus, we create a sustainable future through positive competition. Combination of economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility is the remedy for the present unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. Through technology and innovation we enable students to be 'SDGs-ready' and to equip their minds to meet the current and future needs of society.

The blend of the tools deployed for Smart Campus is cutting edge technologies like Internet of Things, Cloud Networking and Big Data Analytics. The tool-kit, which is a quick-guide for SCCN was recently launched at the hands of Professor Dr. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Numbers of campus have already begun their journey. We are set to raise the sails further.