Exclusive Interview with Swati Ganguly, Co-founder of Edufiq

Education technology has the opportunity to improve learning outcomes for hundreds of millions of children and adults worldwide. Edufiq is a Delhi-based ed-tech startup that specializes in imparting Artificial Intelligence learning through game-based & experiential teaching techniques for students of classes 5th-10th. Analytics Insight has engaged in an exclusive interview with Swati Ganguly, Co-founder of Edufiq.

Kindly brief us about the company, its specialization, and the services that your company offers. 

Edufiq is a Delhi-based ed-tech startup that specializes in imparting Artificial Intelligence learning through game-based & experiential teaching techniques for students in classes 5th-10th. Edufiq is an engaging platform that focuses on immersive learning, student engagement, and technology-driven classes & is easing the teaching process, which is time effectively so that the learning process is more engaging and has higher retention. Edufiq's AI courses for 5th, 6th & 7th students is based on a game-based learning approach through "Minecraft". While the students of classes of 8th, 9th & 10th are given advanced technical learning assistance through Edufiq's proprietary experiential kit.

With what mission and objectives, the company was set up? In short, tell us about your journey since the inception of the company?

Our company's core aim is to make students future-ready and bridge the digital-learning gap. Since its inception in (2019-20), Edufiq has redefined the learning program by inculcating new age and immersive technology in the understanding of Artificial Intelligence. The course offered by our program imbibe critical thinking amongst students & challenges their cognitive skills. Schools are looking forward to teaching AI as a subject, but there is a scarcity of skilled educators, equipped with new-age technology tools. Edufiq's CESP (Comprehensive Experiential School Program) is a complete managed program, enabling schools to envisage the new teaching methodology, or Education 3.0

Brief us about the proactive Founder/CEO of the company and his/her contributions towards the company and the industry. 

Swati Ganguly, the prolific co-founder of Edufiq, adheres to 25 plus years of rich scholarly and administrative experience. She is the educational catalyst who derived the modern learning techniques by giving the Indian education a technology angle. She has lived a spectacular journey as an educationist, from being a school teacher, Principal, special educator and now one of the most prominent co-founders of Edufiq. Her patience & ambitious attitude distinguish her as one of the leading women in education technology in the country. Recognised as the "Women Education Entrepreneur of the Year 2019" by AICRA, she believes that teachers must adhere to modern teaching styles.

Kindly mention some of the major challenges the company has faced till now. 

Edufiq has a unique pedagogy, the Game-Based & experiential learning techniques are very new to India. So finding relevant human resources for creation and delivery has been a challenge. Edufiq has had to build a team of trainers and curriculum creators from the scratch. All our educators & trainers are full-time employees, unlike other tech companies. We have collaborated with domain specialists globally to create courses that are mapped to global standards of ISTE & CSTA. Finding the right talent has been a challenge and we are on a continuous search for educators who understand the technology and want to make a difference in the Education space of India.

What is your biggest USP that differentiates the company from competitors?

One of our biggest USPs is pedagogy. Experiential Learning techniques make learning Artificial Intelligence for our students a unique experience. We create an engaging learning ambiance for students which generates the willingness & curiosity amongst students to learn and adopt new things, chapters, sessions, co-curricular & technology.  Our children already have screen time, we strive to make the same screen time productive and rewarding. When we use games and a project-based approach to teach concepts, kids are more engaged and have a higher retention value.

Edufiq's CESP (Comprehensive Experiential School Program) for Schools, is a complete managed program, enabling schools to envisage the new teaching methodology.

How do you see the company and the industry in the future ahead?

Since the education industry has faced massive disruption during the pandemic, our goal is to assist the "Digital India Initiative" initiated by the Prime Minister. Edufiq has successfully partnered with select few schools and is planning to expand its count by the next academic year. The future ed-tech industry is about personalized learning. Each child is unique with unique capabilities, hence education should be personalized to curb learning issues like- student engagement & understanding. Since the future of education will be driven by a large part of technology, Edufiq ensures that the new teaching tools are well understood so that we enhance the tech skills of both students as well as the teachers. Thus, contributing to a brighter future ahead.

Which industry verticals are you currently focusing on? And what is your go-to-market strategy for the same?

Edufiq's parent organisation, Juana Technology, has been working closely with schools for over 8 years now. We strongly believe that education can be transformed the best when we collaborate with schools to bring a holistic learning approach. Edufiq's CESP (Comprehensive Experiential School Program) is a complete managed program, enabling schools to envisage the new teaching methodology. We are adopting the traditional IT labs and trforming them into AI Labs, enabling new-age learning. From creating an intelligent learning environment to developing the professional development of educators and finally delivering the experiential curriculum of Artificial Intelligence, the CESP is a complete solution for schools to adopt the Education Trformation.

Edufiq does not have a mass approach, we are working with a few handpicked schools, who share the vision and passion for information. The CESP is a very niche program and we look at bringing trformation bit by bit.

What is your Leadership Mantra?

Looking to its potential in contemporary times, Edufiq has been a heart project to me. My leadership mantra has always been very simple yet significant. I am a firm believer in change, for letting the change happen, we need to overcome one of our greatest obstacles in life, i.e.; Rigidity. I am a person, who thinks that change is important, and we need to modify ourselves with the changing advancements of the time. Being an educationist, I always valued a healthy work-life balance that brings growth & excellence in one's professional career. I couldn't agree more with the fact that women bring more calmness to the workplace, thus the best approach to manage any crisis is to face it with utmost calmness which drives a logical decision and has been one of my main leadership mantras.