We are in a revolutionary period with AI, but we must approach it wisely, says Global Educator Dr. Barbara Oakley

Greater Noida, 22nd August 2025:

Bennett University, in collaboration with Coursera, proudly hosted Dr. Barbara Oakley, Distinguished Professor of Engineering at Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, and Coursera’s Inaugural Innovation Instructor, on August 22 for an insightful session titled ‘Ancient Wisdom meets Modern Minds: Learning in the age of AI’. Dr. Oakley is an acclaimed American educator, writer, and engineer, renowned for her pioneering work at the intersection of education, neuroscience, and engineering.

Delivering an engaging session connecting neuroscience, education, and AI, she said, “Effective learning is grounded in neuroscience – recall, retrieval, and repeated practice strengthen the brain. Neuroscience and AI are now working hand in hand, helping us understand how we learn and how we can learn better. Fast, automatic learning and slow, deliberate practice both play vital roles, yet education systems often neglect the latter, which is essential for mastery. AI can support recall and retrieval, but it cannot replace human critical thinking. Knowledge already exists within us — education and practice simply unlock it.”

She further added, “True expertise comes not just from what AI generates, but from building knowledge within us. To me, online learning and some of its advantages are some of the coolest things to be in place in education today, helping to guide you to courses that can walk you through the step-by-step scaffolding you need to truly begin understanding new material." 

Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience, Dr. Barbara Oakley offered compelling insights into how our brains build knowledge through two key systems: the declarative system for conscious learning and the procedural system for automatic skill development. Her research underscores that even in a digital-first world, internal knowledge remains foundational to deeper understanding and long-term learning.

 She highlighted why traditional teaching methods may align more closely with how we naturally learn—and how modern tools like ChatGPT can be integrated to support, not replace, deep learning.

Dr. Raj Singh, Vice Chancellor, Bennett University, said, “We are deeply honoured to host Dr. Barbara Oakley, whose pioneering work at the intersection of neuroscience and education resonates strongly with our vision at Bennett University. Her presence adds immense value to our journey of becoming a global leader in education, research, and innovation, empowering a higher learning ecosystem and entrepreneurial development, significantly facilitating, expediting, and intensifying our efforts in that direction. At Bennett, we carry forward the 186-year legacy, and we cater to outcomes but also focus on the process of education.”

This session highlighted how traditional teaching approaches may be more aligned with the brain’s natural learning processes than previously assumed. It also offered practical strategies for integrating tools like ChatGPT to support—not replace—core cognitive development. Attendees gained actionable techniques to balance the use of AI with evidence-based learning methods across disciplines such as mathematics, science, and language arts. 

The discussion delved deeper into how neuroscience, AI, and proven pedagogical practices can come together to shape the future of learning in India.

Open House event at Bennett University on Friday, 18th April

This event is a fantastic opportunity for parents and students to explore our campus, learn about our academic programs, and meet our distinguished faculty.

Event Details:

Date: April 18th, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Bennett University Campus Greater Noida.

What to Expect:

• • Campus tours led by our Team.
  • Informative sessions about our admission process.
  • Opportunities to meet faculty members from various departments.

Whether you're finalizing your university decision or just beginning your search, our Open House will provide valuable insights and answers to all your questions.

Register here to join

Join India’s Tech Revolution with Electronics and Communication Engineering at Bennett University

Next-Gen Entrepreneurs, This Is Your Moment – Bennett’s MBA Has You Covered

As part of a recognized MBA program, Bennett University has strengthened its commitment by introducing new specialisation for family business and entrepreneurship and promoting industry-prepared professionals. This specialization is a strategic addition aimed at grooming the next generation of entrepreneurs through global exposure, committed startup support and robust management development.

Bennett University is recognised for its innovation-driven curriculum and its strong commitment to industry engagement, and continues to improve its academic offers. The new specialization corresponds to the vision of preparing future business leaders by providing sophisticated means and knowledge that are critical to success in a rapidly changing economy.
Bennett's MBA already includes many modern specialties, including sales and marketing management, media management, financial management, business analytics and operations, human resources, logistics, supply chain management, and more. With the addition of family business and entrepreneurship, the program is one step further in catering to the evolving needs to the development of entrepreneurs and business legacies.
This specialization is carefully curated to cover essential aspects such as enterprise creation, strategic succession planning, and guided management of innovation. This allows students to expand and maintain family-owned businesses and move on the real challenges facing competitive markets.
Bennett University's MBA curriculum is deeply aimed at industry needs. Thanks to strong partnerships with corporate leaders, students benefit from live projects, mentoring and practical knowledge. With support from the economic era, the program includes master classes and guidance from respected industry numbers, allowing students to confidently decipher the subtleties of world trade.
Professor Rajesh Chakrabarti, dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, said:

The program is further strengthened by dynamic corporate contracts from universities, ranging from consulting and executive education to collaborative research projects. Active participation in industry conferences and forums ensures that students are at the top of ambitious business trends and disruptive innovation. Being part of The Times Group, students will have exclusive access to interactions with high-ranking professionals and visit marquee industry events and secure internships and job offers through Bennett's vast deployment network.
Entrepreneurial thinking is a fundamental pillar of university. Through Bennett Hatchery, an incubation center registered as Section 8, students can turn their ideas into actionable startups. With over 50 companies being led by students collected in fundraising and over ₹120 crore raised, the university has proven to be the launchpad for India's next entrepreneurs. Supported by Tailored curriculum, a startup-centric ecosystem ensures that students receive both mindset and resources to thrive in the role of entrepreneurs.

Adding a global dimension, Bennett University’s MBA includes a transformative Global Immersion Program. This offers opportunities to attend Summer Schools and participate in Study Abroad initiatives at esteemed global partner institutions. These include UCSI in Malaysia, University of Dundee and University of Essex in the UK, UCJC in Spain, University of Dubai and University of Middlesex in the UAE, and Kyungdong University in Korea. These immersive experiences cultivate a global outlook essential for making informed decisions in an interconnected economy.

With the launch of this new specialization, Bennett University further strengthens its mission of delivering a world-class MBA that blends business expertise, innovative thinking, and leadership excellence—preparing students to be changemakers in the business world.