November 5, 2016
Young leaders from a variety of disciplines including tech, advocacy, research and policy assembled at the Vatican Youth Symposium, held from October 30-31, 2016, at Vatican City, Rome, Italy. Their goal was to trade knowledge, co-generate ideas and operationalize solutions to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Sreeram Kongeseri from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham was among 50 youth leaders from more than 30 countries selected to present and deliberate solutions for the realization of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).
At the conference, Sreeram proposed a solution for achieving SDG 04: Education. The solution was designed using game technology to nudge people to become lifelong learners in both formal or non-formal education systems and to learn and apply complex problem solving skills. The world stands divided more than ever in terms of Human Development Index (HDI) and wealth distribution. Education and income are two main factors that influence inequality. The only way forward is to commit to the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. SDG 4 stands out from the rest because of its causal effect on almost all the other SDGs while ensuring inclusive and quality education for all and promotes lifelong learning.
Complex problem solving has been voted by the World Economic Forum as the most important skill for the next couple of decades. Game mechanics and relevant content can enable participants to train themselves in critical thinking, problem solving skills, and social problem solving skills. The game he proposed nudges participants to sign up for a training course in nearby centers or online using GPS technology based on participant’s interest, skill level and market needs.
Sreeram Kongeseri is a Research Associate at AMMACHI Labs, and he works primarily on tools to teach life skills. He has been a part of our project implementation team for skill development and women empowerment projects. He did his MBA in Information Technology Management and Bachelors in Computer Science at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.
