Anant National University in Kolkata hosted a half-day conclave- DesignEdX, dedicated to reimagining education through design thinking. The conclave, organised by Anant’s Centre of Design Education (CODE) and led by Dr. Anunaya Chaubey, drew 45 educators, thought leaders, and changemakers from 35 prominent schools in and around Kolkata.

Some of the participants included Lakshmipat Singhania Academy International, Shri Shikshayatan School, Modern High School International, The Heritage School, R P Goenka International School, and Sushila Birla Girls School, among others.

The conclave, titled ‘Design Thinking in Education: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities’, aimed to inspire and equip educators with Design Thinking principles for transforming classroom challenges into innovative solutions. It also served as a platform for long-term collaboration with a wide range of educational stakeholders.

Dr Chaubey delivered a keynote address titled ‘Design Thinking in Education’ at the conclave, setting the stage for exploring innovative and sustainable solutions to embed design thinking into educational practices. The keynote was followed by a panel discussion on incorporating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into modern education and an interactive workshop with school principals and educators to foster collaboration and dialogue on systemic change using design thinking.

CODE’s DesignEdX is more than just a conference; it is a movement that aims to equip educators with tools for creative problem-solving and systemic innovation. DesignEdX aims to empower stakeholders in India and beyond to pave the way for a design-enabled future through academic and creative collaborations.

As part of CODE’s outreach efforts, these conclaves emphasise the importance of design as a discipline in schools, to unleash the creative potential of India’s young demographic to address global challenges. These sessions are consistent with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for incorporating design pedagogy into school curricula to encourage critical thinking and innovation.

DesignEdX exemplifies Anant’s dedication to transforming education and influencing a sustainable future through interdisciplinary learning and meaningful collaboration.

Priyanka Dutta