Higher education in India is becoming more technical. The need to move on from textbook education to a work-oriented and course work approach is growing. SHIBAJI ROYCHOUDHURY attends a conference at OP Jindal University which discussed the reforms required in Indian universities and educational institutions
When it comes to college level education (higher studies), Indian universities have been in need for reforms for a long time. The argument that because of the comprehensive textbook-oriented approach towards undergraduate and post graduate degrees, our students are better informed is not true any more. Today, practical and work knowledge has become more important than textbook knowledge. Often students, despite excel in their classrooms, struggle during on job training. This is because in reality the work culture is largely different from what students are taught in their classes.
“Today, technical and professional education has much more emphasis as compared to conventional degrees and diplomas. The private sector has to be encouraged to play a larger role in the country’s educational system. Some of the top universities of the world have been built on the initiative of the private sector. These statistics make it imperative for us to focus on the educational needs of our young population. We must recognise that the demographic dividend can only be reaped if the young population is provided higher education and training in vocational skills,” President Pranab Mukherjee said at a conference in the OP Jindal University, while discussing comparative perspectives on higher education reforms in Indian universities.
Professor C Raj Kumar, VC, OP Jindal Global University said during the inauguration of the event: “The future of Indian universities will depend upon our ability to create and nurture transformational institutions that will aspire young minds with the spirit of enquiry and instill in them the flame of imagination.” In the quest to better higher education in India, several VCs, CEOs, directors, professors and deans discussed multiple issues surrounding the outdated education system and presenting innovative ideas and solution to combat the monotony of text book education. Some of the topics discussed are as follows:
Reforming Humanities & liberal Arts
Adaptive versatility is the need of the hour where myriad of social menaces are burgeoning. In order to cater to these multiple menaces, liberal arts can offer a tool in the hands of the coming generation to understand the policy repercussions of these social problems and then offer effective solutions to plug them up. It promotes generalised thinking with expertise knowledge in a particular area which is the demand of the society as opposed to being a jack of all trades.
“It seems that the nation merely perceives education as the key to financial prosperity and a prerequisite for a well-paying job. There is nothing wrong with aspiring to be the leading nation in producing the most graduates and obtaining the highest test scores. Nor do I oppose the promotion of higher education in an effort to obtain better paying jobs and increase the nation’s revenue. However, these efforts become irrelevant when education is no longer enjoyed, but becomes a tiring task to compete with the advancement of other nations. Instead, education should be geared toward producing well-rounded individuals who are globally aware and sensitive to the world-wide human experience,” Prof Sunder Ramaswamy, director, Madras School of Economics tells you.
Interdisciplinarity in higher education
International relations/public policy and comparative politics are two sides of a same coin or are they separate disciplines altogether. There are two approaches, (a) problem solving and (b) issue framing. The former partakes much of behavioural economics, while the latter adopts a more integrated as well as critical approach and asks foundational questions.
“Public policy has short-changed itself into technocracy and now increasingly ‘eco-cracy’. Public policy tends to get dominated by economics and the same then becomes the certificate of excellence. This needs to be questioned. the need to articulate the issues in an intelligible and accessible manner so that the deliberation becomes as broad-based (and democratic) as possible. However, we must be careful in also not devaluing the public by assuming them to be unintelligent,” Prof R Sudarshan, dean, Jindal School of Governance and Public Policy tells you.
Quality Assessment and International Benchmarks
There are diverse parameters for assessing quality in an educational institute. “I adopted a threefold strategy to ensure quality at Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad which were — First, 100 percent visiting faculty model wherein all the faculties who came down to teach at ISB were visiting, coming from US Business Schools and others schools meanwhile were hiring faculties who were competent to take on to the leadership of the institute. Secondly, ISB distinguished between teaching faculties and research faculties to ensure that quality of research ISB is coming out with isn’t compromised on any front. Finally, ISB went for foreign collaborations which enabled it to scale up its global ranking and led many distinguished dignitaries across the globe,” Dr Pramath Raj Sinha, founding dean, ISB tells you.
leadership and Innovation in Universities
leadership is one of the most integral aspects in both the education system and the growth of the country. Professor Subhashis Gangopadhyay, director, School of Social Sciences, Shiv Nadar University says: “There are several steps required to achieve leadership and innovation in the higher education system in India. Here are certain issues that need attention:
No market for Humanities and Social Sciences research. Indian institutes need to develop their own journals instead of their research pool catering to foreign journals only.
Development of research based institutions and focus on the research aspect of research assistants/associates.
Insufficient student body in institutions. It should not be limited to PhD or PG level students only.
Absence of peer review in government institutions and a need to address that.
Attempt to create a fully integrated institution styled on Jadavpur University and the liberal Arts Programme in the United States.”