Cutting edge, the need of the hour for the self starter - a clinical study on Uber cabs

s 

                                 

Abstract

Human brain, the incubator for ideas that make the new ventures stand out in a crowd, like a leader in a pack with products and services inspiring and creating awe. Concepts developed by start-ups that are intuitive, instinctive and inventive suiting the contemporary world rivalling and outclassing the big conglomerates and becoming huge success stories. Fringing the boulevard of ideas with a plethora of dimensions are the daring self starters who help themselves to come out of the corporate cubicle that remains a conundrum forever. The buzz word for today is ‘start up’ characterized by massive technological changes and the incursion of the information and communication technology into business in a very large way. We are living in a transition economy, in an ever changing dynamic environment it becomes imperative to grab at opportunities with both the hands and convert them into potential businesses that define not only the fine art of survival but aid in sustaining for life.

The author through this conceptual paper has tried to explore the elements of creativity and innovation in entrepreneurship with the help of a clinical study on Uber technologies Inc.. A business model that has wrapped itself around the customer requirements and linking these demands to real time supply thereby monetizing its revenues and letting the company drive the change in modern day transportation.

Key words: Creativity, innovation, start up, Uber cabs and business model

                                                                   

Introduction

India is presently ranked 3^rd among the global start-up ecosystem, the total funding in the year 2016 was a whopping 5 billion dollars which has seen a massive 125% increase from 2014, over 110 incubators in the country at this moment in time, which churn out brilliant innovative ideas and this number  is 40% more than the previous year and 28 years is the average age of the aspiring start-up founders and 4200 technology driven product start-ups which is a quantum leap in a matter of just 4 years (courtesy – NASSCOM’s study titled Start-up India – Momentous Rise of the Indian Start-up Ecosystem)¹. These imposing statistics reveal the grand picture of the entrepreneurial story that is inspired by an environment with digital technology, a one billion mobile using population marked by a high spectacular growth of investor ecosystem and immensely successful start up ventures that are epitomes for many to follow and emulate.

Entrepreneurial ventures are phenomenal Industry leaders today and companies such as Flipkart, Oyo, Grey Orange have become true icons for many who have quit the cosy corporate cubicle and headed towards creation and innovation. India is truly a mobile nation, trendy and ever changing transforming and adapting itself to a technology driven country that has seen a spurt in the E commerce business. A burst of activity in the small business enterprises scene galvanized by information and communication technology has further strengthened the hold on the market. This market is typically characterized by an explosion of smart phone users and an ambience which is fully loaded with Government initiatives that do a yeomen service in promoting bank financing for start-ups through Start-up India and this platform also promotes entrepreneurial businesses through sponsoring large number of events, giving away awards to the imminent industry houses, coverage platforms that help in recognition and networking apart from giving the necessary impetus to a vibrant science and technology resourceful people ready to take the plunge. (Exhibit #1)

Entrepreneurs of today are exposed to a never before experience in the form of visits to companies who have carved a niche for themselves, showcasing the products that have stolen the limelight through their innovative business models. Business models entail plans of action that are the core of any business activity such as scouting for a customer base which will necessarily include the past, the present and the potential buyers and users and scanning for the vital input in the form of sources of funding, undoubtedly the lifeblood of any organization. The foundations on which these models operate are accuracy, efficiency and rationale of the plan that creates operates and delivers on its desired objectives and goals. Customized business models have caught our attention and the entrepreneurs are the prime movers of such designs that are utilitarian and dynamic. Entrepreneurs analyze, investigate and survey the market mechanism to fine tune the vital ingredients of contemporary business viz. contact, connect and collaboration.^b

The viability and feasibility of an entrepreneurial venture rests on an application that is pioneering, a first of a kind product or service that is ground breaking and avant garde. Through this paper, there has been a concerted attempt to observe and understand a mobile based application that is typically a new service which is pragmatic and constructive and leaning heavily towards cutting edge technology precisely customized for the customer. From the days of direct one on one interaction through field sales men which may have been to a certain extent effective and translated into revenues, but very time consuming, cumbersome and expensive thereby increasing the cost of customer acquisition, to the modern era of a drift towards sharing economy and collaborative consumption. This business model compensates and makes up for the acquisition cost as it is borne by a group of people and not by a single individual (Exhibit #2) 

Literature review:

«  The research study undertaken by Zinnov Research & Analysis for NASSCOM titled “Start-up India – Momentous Rise of the Indian Start-up Ecosystem” has been the foundation and backbone of this paper. The impact of technology in innovative and creative products and services for start ups is the mainstay of the study that touches upon why India is the start up nation. India is a country with a huge rise in incubators that accelerates the economic development through job creation. The fact that our country has risen to the 3^rd position in the number of start ups worldwide with huge potential for markets and support system is exhibited in this report. The connect that is established by these start ups with their respective industries due to networking and collaboration is demonstrated through this review and research. The  insights provided by Zinnov are extremely useful and actionable.

Research methodology:

The author through this conceptual paper has tried to explore the elements of creativity and innovation in entrepreneurship with the help of a clinical study on Uber cabs company. A business model that has wrapped itself around the customer requirements and linking these demands to real time supply thereby monetizing its revenues and letting the company drive the change in modern day transportation.

Objective of the research paper:

ü  An overall perspective of creativity and innovation in entrepreneurial ventures

ü  A brief study on shared and collaborative economy with the help of a clinical example

ü  Emphasis on the business model, is this the cutting edge that Uber has. 

ü  To understand whether rational thinking overrides efficiency and effectiveness

                                                         

Introduction about the company

UBER,  the word has a very interesting connotation; it means a business model that offers services on demand through a network or connect between the customer and supplier established via mobile technology and UBER TECHNOLGIES INC. has cleverly adopted the name for its car transportation system worldwide.

How it all started....UBER - Finding the way - Creating possibilities for riders, drivers, and cities

Founded by Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp in 2010, when they failed to get a cab to reach their destination, a typical example of an invention arising out of necessity has travelled far and wide in a span of about 8 years. A simple tap and get a ride service that has bailed most of us out when stranded and securely reached us to our most favoured destinations with abundant use of technology. This app based collaborative customer model applies an adaptable and responsive user friendly interactive platform and the impact is threefold - For cities, the business bolsters the local economy; for people – there is increased and improved mobility with safer mode of travel and for commuters- no more hassles of driving in crowded and congested cities. (Exhibit #3)

Discussion:

With one billion connections across 630 odd cities and counting, Uber has created opportunities through a peer to peer economy comprehensively. A simple three step process is all what it takes to ride a cab and here’s how,

Ø  Request -Tap each ride option to see wait time, size, and price. Then enter pickup location and tap request—the cab arrives in minutes.

Ø  Ride – the drivers’s and the cab’s details are displayed in the app along with the rate depending on the distance and type of car chosen

Ø  Pay – digitally or through cash

Seamlessly woven into the app are other features such as “Send Status” that lets friends and family know where the rider is, that too in real time, “Split Fare”, a component that allows the cost of the ride to be shared with any contact who uses Uber and “Fare Estimate” which gives an almost precise idea as to how much the trip is going to cost that reinforces the dynamics of a collaborative gig economy.  

It has adroitly incorporated the “sharing economy” concept of pooling resources by transacting online with the skilful use of information and communication technology to bring closer, customers and other businesses in order to find better ways to move, work and thrive. Apart from the ease and convenience of getting a safe and cheap ride with the Expected time of arrival (ETA) feature blended through Google maps and navigation. There is also the added advantage of a business opportunity of becoming a driver with flexible timings and good earnings thereby generating employment opportunities which is a take away from an entrepreneurial venture. It also effortlessly fuses the speed, reach and connectivity aspects by locating the vehicle closest to the booking point. It has served the community well by influencing people not to drive when under the influence of alcohol and also infused the “pool” concept to curb excess traffic on roads. The rewards, discounts, gift cards, offers and pay backs on this business model has touched upon neuromarketing stimulating the brains to respond in a positive way, a rational thinking that surpasses any other marketing tactic.

  With a staggering 300 million smart phone users, Uber has a vice like grip on customer collaboration and brilliantly used the power of free to enhance and suck the potential customers to its fold spiking sale of services manifold. The invasion of technology along with the internet and the World Wide Web has simplified the process of finding users for resources that are drawn to a single point and the dissemination of costs over a wider target audience makes it more synergetic. (Exhibit #3)

 Kickstarting the start up...

·         Launched in the year 2010 in San Francisco, marketing was initially carried out through word of mouth through events among the tech community

·         Giving free rides to participate in such events

·         Later on spread through social networking sites worldwide

·         Discounts and other forms of promotions to customers for retention and expansion

The technology behind the app...

1.      Identifying a device’s location

§  The Uber app for iOS uses the CoreLocation framework to locate a user’s device.

§  Geolocation for the Android version of the Uber app was implemented using Google’s Location APIs

2.      Providing driving directions

§  To display point-to-point directions on a map within the app, developers of the Uber app for iOS used MapKit

§  Android routes and directions are made possible by the Google Maps Android API.

3.      Integrating with mapping software - implemented Google Maps for

§   iPhone

§  Android versions of their app

4.      Push Notifications and SMS

§  Uber text messages are powered by the Twilio telecommunications provider

§  push notifications in the iOS app -  Apple Push Notifications Service

§  For the Android app - Google Cloud Messaging (GCM)

5.      Payment integration

§  Uber uses a cashless system- debit or credit card, or a promo code.

§   This removes any human-to-human cash transfers from the equation, including tips.

§  Uber takes 25 percent of a driver’s fare, which makes for a rather profitable business model

6.      When accepting card payments, there are certain requirements that companies must comply with.

§  The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards  is a set of requirements designed to ensure    that all companies that process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure e  environment. In effect, this applies to any merchant that has a Merchant ID (MID).(Exhibit #4)

Requirements.....

·         Design

·         Smart phone with 4G compatibility

·         iOS and Android native app development

·         Backend development

·         Web development

·         Project management

·         Quality assurance

·         Training for the drivers

Benefits of Uber

1)   High Quality Service

2)   Ultimate flexibility

3)   Fair Pricing System

4)   Easy to Use and Understand

5)   Meeting new people

6)   No boss overseeing

7)   Seeing new things

8)   Cost reduction

9)   Discounts, promotions and paybacks

Disadvantages

1)   Like any job, uber driving has its ups and downs

2)   Work/fares can be slow when you want them to be busy

3)   An ineffective rating system

4)   Surge pricing

5)   No insurance claims

6)   Little recognition from the management/boss
Wear and tear on car

7)   Seeing how stupid drunk people are

Conclusion:

The conceptual study in this paper has revealed that creativity and innovation in entrepreneurship is linked with the rampant and excessive use of technology in today’s world. Business model is the starting point of a successful venture and this is wrapped around the customers. The cutting edge for UBER is the technology that it has unleashed and the mind engineering to convert people to users is pragmatic thinking and neuromarketing in a collaborative economy. The dimension of creativity and innovation in entrepreneurship in contemporary business such as Uber is vividly brought out in the clinical study undertaken. The prudence and opportunism of neuromarketing is analyzed through this paper and it is observed that pragmatic thinking is here to stay.

References:

a)      http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048733309001668 - What do business models do?: Innovation devices in technology entrepreneurship by.LilianaDoganova and.MarieEyquem-Renault.

b)      https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10997-010-9154-1

Internationalization, innovation and entrepreneurship: business models for new technology-

based firms Alberto Onetti, Antonella Zucchell maand Marian V.

c)      http://www.snia.org/sites/default/files/SDCIndia/2016/Presentations/10K-NIPP%20Intro_%20SDC.pdf http://www.nasscom.in/

d)      http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/ey-the-rise-of-the-sharing-economy/$FILE/ey-the-rise-of-the-sharing-economy.pdf

e)      http://www.forentrepreneurs.com/category/business-model/

f)       http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/startup.asp

g)      https://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog/articles/the-power-of-free.htm

h)      https://yalantis.com/blog/uber-underlying-technologies-and-how-it-actually-works/

i)        https://www.uber.com/en-IN/

j)        https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21573104-internet-everything-hire-rise-sharing-economy

k)      https://www.fastcompany.com/3046119/defining-the-sharing-economy-what-is-collaborative-consumption-and-what-isnt

l)        https://www.wired.com/2008/02/ff-free/

m)    www.zinnov.com

TRANSITION TO UNIVERSITY – BEHAVIOURAL DIMENSION IN THE CONTINUUM OF EDUCATION

Abstract

Technology may be on the verge of replacing a teacher but the behavioural dimension could probably not be by a BOT. I believe behavioural connotations is crucial for the all round growth of students especially at the undergraduate level. It is a period of change, freedom, independence, maturity, graduating to a major in terms of age and the associated boons and banes. The dynamic elements of behaviour will bear fruits in the form of an effective engagement for students in the contemporary scenario who are dictated by technology, social media intervention and peer pressures. This paper is an attempt to emphasize the implication of behavioural learning on pedagogy that is vital for the growth and development of the students at the undergraduate level drawn from different states with varied backgrounds. The transition of the student from school to university or college is a sensitive passage that needs to be dealt with utmost care and diligence and belonging to the teaching fraternity, it becomes imperative that we handle them with care. In a diverse country like ours, the students with a backdrop of upbringing greatly influenced by culture, language and ethnicity, the progression of these students to adapt, change and merge with the mainstream is a challenge for the pedagogues as they need to be the link in the chain of continuum.  Along with retaining the individual identity of the students in terms of skills, talent and academic qualification, the expectations of the students are normally sky high with fear and fragility thrown in and the culture clash in an urban city like ours is an inevitable outcome that has to be tackled upfront to avoid fading away of students into oblivion and obscurity.

 Key words: Transition, student diversity, behaviour

Introduction

Transition from school to college is a period of glorious uncertainties that can mark a great realignment of thoughts and systems. This upheaval of sorts brings with it lot of bounties and for many of them, it more or less becomes a natural phenomenon wherein they realign and reorganize their cognitive thinking. The commonalities that string these individuals are optimism, confidence and strong sense of adaptability which are the hallmarks of this change. The biggest change in someone’s life, I believe is on this threshold, that brings with it responsibilities, independence, growth and maturity. The game changer for the freshmen and women is undoubtedly self efficacy, a remarkable ability that can work wonders for the go getters to accomplish the new tasks and goals very objectively in the environment that may be totally alien. The coping skills of such students do need to be appreciated in this contemporary world of challenges lurking in every sphere of activity. The exposure, knowledge quotient, expectations in terms of academics, internships, research projects, industry collaboration and eventually placements with decent packages even at the undergraduate level is immense and limitless. 

But all is not hunky dory in this transition phase. Some may go through a massive upheaval that results in burn outs or disappear into total oblivion. A random study based on observations and through personal experiences has led me to believe that the gap between expectation and reality among the students belonging to this category is wide. Bridging this gap by setting realistic expectations and providing an ideal ambience for adjustments could be a prerogative of the teaching fraternity that could go a long way in preventing this kind of catastrophe. We, as teachers do have a fair share to start a dialogue and process that would make the students better prepared and fight adversities.

Purpose

The intention of the author through this paper is to:

a)      Studying the transition state from school to college among students

b)      Understanding the realities and myths associated with freshers

c)      The cause and effect of culture clash and the behaviour of students coming from diverse backgrounds   

d)     Researching the gaps between expectations and realities and suggesting solutions to prevent breakdowns

Literature review

The foundation of this paper lies in:

Ø  Professor Emeritus Vincent Tinto’s research study on “Taking Retention Seriously: Rethinking the First Year of College Vincent Tinto, Syracuse University” reviewed from http://www.nacadajournal.org/doi/pdf/10.12930/0271-9517-19.2.5?code=naaa-site

“Four institutional conditions stand out as supportive of retention: information, advice, support, involvement, and learning. First, students are more likely to persist and graduate in settings that provide clear and consistent information about institutional requirements. Students need to understand the road map to completion and know how to use it to decide upon and achieve personal goals. Second, institutions that provide academic, social, and personal support encourage persistence. Support that is readily available and connected to other parts of student collegiate experience leads to retention. Third, students are more likely to stay in schools that involve them as valued members of the institution. The frequency and quality of contact with faculty, staff, and other students have repeatedly been shown to be independent predictors of student persistence. This is true for large and small, rural and urban, public and private, and 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. It is true for women as well as men, students of color and Anglo students, and part-time and full-time students. Simply put, involvement matters, and at no point does it matter more than during the first year of college when student attachments are so tenuous and the pull of the institution still so weak. Fourth, clearly the most important condition that fosters student retention is learning. Students who learn are students who stay. Institutions that are successful in building settings that educate their students are institutions that are successful in retaining their students.

Ø  Building bridges: understanding student transition to university A.R.J. Briggs,J. Clark  &I. Hall

https://srhe.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13538322.2011.614468?src=recsys#.W1CgbNIzZ0u

It examines the complex liaison needed for students to progress to appropriate courses, settle into university life and succeed as higher education learners. It proposes that the development of higher education learner identity is essential to student achievement and is initially encouraged where schools, colleges and universities adopt integrated systems of transition. This has clear implications for practice for higher education administrators, academics and quality officers.

Ø  The Transition from High School to University: An Analysis of Advice for Students, Faculty and Administration Carol Mutch

http://www.cshe.nagoya-u.ac.jp/publications/journal/no5/10.pdf       

“Transition”is different from change. Change is external and visible. A transition is internal and less visible, the process you go through mentally when you face a big life change.１） The research and theoretical literature recognises the first year university or college freshman experience as an identifiable period of transition.

To know how to teach them better, we must understand our freshmen better. We must have a clear eyed view of who they are, where they have come from, how they have been instructed, what values they hold, and what their expectations or goals are.

Ø  Erickson, Bette LaSere & Strommer, Diane Weltner, 1935- (1991). Teaching college freshmen (1st ed). Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco

“Gives new and veteran faculty practical guidance on how to most effectively teach and create academic support systems for college students in their first, most critical year. Describes how to design a useful syllabus, how to develop productive out-of-class assignments, how to enhance class participation through creative techniques, and how to evaluate student learning for better insights.”

https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/6444658?q&versionId=7432782

The observations in this paper are based on personal experiences, secondary data available on the subject matter and the views expressed are an outcome of these observations.

Analysis, Inference and Rationale

The literature reviews under consideration by the author relate to a period between the 1990s and 2000, an era just when innovations in the technological spectrum are sprouting in India and much water has flown since then but the fact remains that students still are isolated, remaining in the cocoon that hampers growth and collaborative learning. We as teachers do ensure a balanced learning system that incorporates bridge sessions to make all students come on the same page, value added programmes that enhance skills, collective learning through tutoring, mentoring for freshers among various other skill development courses. But despite these best practices aided by a perfect blend of academic and non academic programmes, the aloof remain aloof and alienated, the poor communicators stay poor resulting in a clear demarcation between the adapters and disconnected. With the advent of mobile technology, social media and technology innovation, the levels of exposure are super high, the intelligence, knowledge, emotional quotient is indeed remarkable, but again this is applicable to the select few while many of them use these modern tools in an inappropriate and incorrect manner that further pushes them into the abyss of isolation. The classes are therefore dull, monotonous and mostly one sided and whatever little participation or interaction comes from a miniscule population and the rest are certainly disoriented. To bring the students to the mainstream cannot wholly depend on the stress on performance in academics and related activities but the teachers need to understand them inside out; their behaviour, upbringing, cultures, previous education, values and beliefs, expectations.

The rationale is based on the strong beliefs that burnouts and breakdowns could be drastically reduced with a little bit of support from the pedagogues. Bringing a cohesive environment in the present day scenario, in institutions that the author is familiar with, are all based on adding courses and programmes in order to make it conducive for retention of the students. But are they yielding the necessary results in terms of student compatibility with the culture and environs of the college? The pertinent questions with regard to favourably holding the students and make them perform in this paper is based on the logical reasoning of understanding the students’ expectations and getting them into the thick of things by thoughtful involvement and intervention. This support based system of learning with the behaviour and background of individuals is the cornerstone of this research paper.

The Dilemma

One sided conversations with very less participation

We still live in an age where the system of education is essentially a one sided phenomenon with teachers imparting whatever they know which the students absorb giving little room for participative learning. Though the scheme and methodology of learning implies role playing, case studies, presentations; these do not happen instantly and is a slow and gradual process by which time the new comers are already tackling varied problems. The effectiveness of these methods also depends on the acceptability of the individual with the new age learning tools.

Unrelated subjects and contents

Though the universities update and streamline the courses, streams and their contents, there is still a mismatch between the skill sets and the requirements. The content of most of the subjects lean towards theory leaving no room for practical or application learning and this poses serious problems for the first years who are already tottering with communication issues

Communication barriers 

The biggest challenge standing like a rock of Gibraltar is the medium of instruction which in many cases is a massive shift from vernacular linked understanding to a rigid form of learning in an alien language.

Wrong choice of stream

The Indian society and the mindset of the parents still act as a stumbling block to the choice of subjects based on interest, passion and inclination backed by talent and skills. The convictions and dogmas are so skewed in favour of a degree that is considered elite which sidelines the aspirations of the students at large. The inflexible and uncompromising attitude of the parent disallows them to chase their dreams

Over expectations

Hopes are pinned on the students right from day one and even before they enter the corridors of higher education and this presents itself from three directions – the parents, the student community themselves and the faculty leading to disappointments, frustrations and depressions.

Incompatibility

Incompatibility with the new surroundings in terms of cross cultural issues, technology adaptation, rural-urban divide, financial stress and strains is a major hindrance for adjustment resulting in distorted cognitive thinking resulting in disintegration. 

Isolated learning despite being in a group

Excessive domination by a select few, favouritism, in group behaviour exhibits by faculty can cause alienation of the students who therefore remain aloof and detached

Excessive influence of gadgets and Social media interference

A bane of technology has been in the student fraternity avoiding social interactions on a personal or group level as these gadgets become their companions and this social disconnect has immense implications on behaviour.

Wrong choice of friends’ circle and role models

Students succumb to influence of local students and do end up with a wrong group who may have a strong negative influence and this causes to deviate from the main path of trajectory eventually to a point of no return. Also the choice of role models and inspirations can be a roadblock to transition. There is also a great risk of students falling prey to alcohol abuse, smoking and substance use.

Disconnect with the faculty

The indifferent and callous attitude of the faculty towards the lesser mortals due to many reasons such as academic performance, attitudes and perceptions, communication barriers, in and out group tendency, prejudice, bias and favouritism creates a void.

Political ideologies and inclinations

Many institutions become hotbeds for nurturing political ambitions and students go astray with the ideologies and mob hysteria syndrome.

Easy admissions with low cut-offs and quotas

The colleges are bogged down with admission numbers to fulfil the university quota requirement and so the selection process is diluted with easy cut off that affect the quality on inputs as many of them may fail even in the basic prerequisites.

Influence of movies

Easy access to movies on their smart phones has disengaged the students and allows them to slip into a world of fantasy and the fallout is discontinuity in education.

Parental ignorance and illiteracy

These set of students may be first generation learners in the family who therefore do not enjoy any academic as well as non academic support from their parents.

Implication of behavioural learning in pedagogy for smooth student transition

Fitting the college to the student irrespective of the background is the order of the day and this indeed needs a 180 degree turnaround that makes the student to match the institution. To inculcate a sense of belongingness by bridging the gaps and providing the right support system in the form of correct information, building bonhomie through rightful interaction, cohesive and community learning approach, involved, participative learning and inclusiveness become imperative for reducing the student dropout rates.

While most of us may be feeling that most of the aforesaid are being carried out in letter and spirit, the outcomes have still not had the rightful impact. The student dropout rate is still alarmingly high and those who survive the odds, fight isolation and the associated challenges and threats.

Adhering to the university curriculum, academic knowledge development, syllabus completion, training on exam perspective may all be high on the agenda in the minds of the teachers, but at the same time, critical thinking, shared learning, moulding with the new environs, providing an ideal support system for inclusive and conducive learning need to be adopted by the faculty community to prevent students from being square pegs in round holes. The delicate and sensitive transition period could well use innovative practices that aid and abet interactive learning by recognition of individual strengths and weaknesses. Certain dimensions have been stringed together in the following paragraphs as suggestive measures which are purely conceptual and would be taken up by the author in the field of explorative research study in future.   

Recommendations and suggestions

Ø  Peer tutoring – overcoming cultural barrier. The doggedness of the teachers with regard to cultural differences could well be overcome by involving the students from the same geographical location in the form of peer tutoring giving way to better understanding. This is an age old tried and tested formula to overcome the regional bias in creating an ideal environment for early adaptability. It also assists in team building with shared responsibility. While this will genuinely reduce the difficulties arising due to culture differences, this remedy may prove detrimental as it may create demographical imbalances and groupism. The dyadic communication at the initial stage has to be elevated to interlinking conversations by forming random groups.

Ø  Similar interest group circles – roping in students from across communities, lands, streams of learning to be part of a common activity which could be non academic can go a long way in creating positive vibes within the non starters. Linked courses and classrooms, typically in the form of clubs of interest generate curiosity, and to unleash the hidden talent and interdependence. This will also generate social interaction thereby avoiding introversion patterns of behaviour.

Ø  Bangalore University has beautifully interwoven skill development activities within the content giving room to application based thinking. However, very few colleges have effectively implemented this construct. The primary fault is that we are trying to implement these without the fundamental requirement of addressing the basic issue of communicative English. Any such activity could bear fruits only if the student gets the communication clearly. Bridge courses to help learn the rudiments of the language would enable a better handling of these activities.

Ø  The University curriculum also includes skill development courses such as understanding Indian Constitution, learning personality dimensions, knowing the culture, society and diversity, being creative and innovative in various semesters which is an effective add on to the value of the course. The effectiveness of such an add on can be further enhanced by having ice breaking sessions which would include reality check, pegging expectations that can be matched and doing a SWOT  on the students in order to make these programmes successful in setting the stage for student transition.

Ø  Inculcating value in the individual by frequent interactions, encouragements and motivation and appreciations even for the smallest task accomplished. This goes a long way to promote positivity in the disconnected students.

Ø  Inviting parents, siblings over – frequent meetings with the family members and guardians can help the teachers to understand the background better and is an ideal platform to highlight the problems and challenges the students are facing in the new atmosphere. This will also help to get into conversations with the students in an effective manner.

Ø  Dropouts from other streams and students who juggle jobs early on due to financial stress and strain need to be given extra care and attention as they may be already on the verge of breakdown. Motivational pep talks by seniors and alumni who may have overcome similar challenges could guide these students mentally to make them emerge stronger.

Conclusion   

The continuum of education depends on the smooth transition from school to university and as teachers at the undergraduate level, we need to mind the gap existing and make sure that the students retain their identities and do not pass into oblivion. The emotional interaction and connect between the pedagogues and students can alleviate the dislocation, alienation and exclusion of students coming in from different parts of the country with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. To a large extent, reducing the drop out or under performance or dissatisfaction rate rests with a joint effort between the student community and the teaching fraternity. The ever changing family structure and pattern with the strong influence of the social media and a history of the disconnect already present in the students in earlier academic pursuits or the pressures of a part time job to tide over a financial crisis could leave ample room for a bumpy transition causing havoc to these students psychologically and scarring them beyond repair. The qualitative and quantitative measures entailed above may have to be effectively incorporated with the teaching tools to have a seamless transition and they have to be constantly monitored to yield maximum performance. Instructor’s care, transparent and interactive approach topped off with acceptance and inclusiveness is a concocted mix of ingredients for an ideal student retention recipe.

References 

A R J Briggs, J Clark and I Hall, 2013, Building bridges: understanding student transition to university https://doi.org/10.1080/13538322.2011.614468

Bette LaSere Erickson, Diane Weltner Strommer, 1991, Jossey-Bass Publishers https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/6444658?q&versionId=7432782

Kerri-Lee Krause and Hamish Coates, 2008 “Students’ engagement in first‐year university” https://doi.org/10.1080/02602930701698892

Laura D. Pittman &Adeya Richmond, 2010 “University Belonging, Friendship Quality, and Psychological Adjustment During the Transition to College” https://doi.org/10.3200/JEXE.76.4.343-362

Houston Lowe &Anthony Cook, 2010, Mind the Gap: Are students prepared for higher education? https://doi.org/10.1080/03098770305629

Paula Wilcox ,Sandra Winn &Marylynn Fyvie‐Gauld, 2006, ‘It was nothing to do with the university, it was just the people’: the role of social support in the first‐year experience of higher education https://doi.org/10.1080/03075070500340036

Dear Zindagi

“I am writing a letter to life for the #DearZindagi activity at BlogAdda“.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DkO7ksXY8E&authuser=0

https://youtu.be/5DkO7ksXY8E

Dear Zindagi,

Zindagi na milegi dobara, (will not get chance to live life again) for there is no reset button but only rewind and fast forward to past and present, and so I feel it is appropriate that I express my profound gratitude to what you have given me in abundance. In this journey of 47 years, I have enjoyed in ampleness and endured in bounty, a weighing balance that is just and fair and the balance sheet summarizing assets and liabilities in equal measure; which means I break even!

The most complex organ, our central processing unit has the remarkable ability to turn back the pages of the life that you have granted at will and freedom and unleashing all the good, bad and ugly to re live those memories – smile, laugh, cry, scream, sulk, shout, acknowledge, repent, revenge, a string of emotions to apply or reject at the speed of sensory and motor neurons, of course depending on the availability of proteins’ supply in the brain. The entanglements lies knotted, unlike cobwebs which are in absolute symmetry, haphazard and disorganized in the labyrinths of life, and to cut the Gordian knot is next to impossible, however, you Zindagi, have given us the licence and liberty to set right the wrongs by not repeating them, reminisce the good old days to contemplate and muse over them, grant us the fantasy to day dream and build castles in the air, refresh the memories of those departed and revive the relationships gone awry and ones that are fair weather friends acting like embellishments who know us inside out and tolerate our temperaments!

You intrigue me with all the puzzles, surprise me with googlies, shock me with bouncers, enthrall me by your revelations, a roller coaster ride that is unmatched in any  amusement park, yet I adore this existence like a pilgrimage to a holy land or a cruise on the azure blue waters and if  you are planning to give a gratuity, a Diwali bonus, then I beseech you to play the elixir of life with all comedies and tragedies that form a perfect pot boiler, otherwise, it becomes monotonous, drab and boring! I am certain and convinced going by your track record, that you will not grant me a life in an ivory tower, but at least champagne on a beer budget that will lift me to high spirits and joy to behold!

This missive has transcended time, from the days of the birdie messenger, to drum beats of high and low notes expressing moods and sentiments to smokes, beacons and torches, to horses and long distance runners to ornamental scrolls and papyrus to postal letters and finally to digital era of E mails, chats and messengers; whatever be the mode and medium of communication, we all owe our profound and hearty appreciations to you, dear Zindagi for a birth that is significant in the smallest possible way, meaningful – maybe a bit belated, momentous on certain specific occasions, after all discounts and rewards offered are not available across the board and only on select brands, inconsequential- most of the times, weighty and burdensome like Hercules holding Earth on the powerful shoulders saddling the load and withstanding it!

 Thank you life for the shift, escape and control buttons to succeed, to be happy, dodge and break away, to manoeuvre and manipulate, to delete the unnecessary and erase the unwanted, to cut, copy and paste the actual and the real. I am living life to the fullest as this offer comes only once, I do not regret, repent or revenge but believe in Karma.

Yours most truly, destiny's child...
Sunita