India¡¯s passage might not be simple, but it can climb to elite tier

Late last year, India¡¯s president, Pranab Mukherjee, on industry-academic interaction that if India provides ¡°enough funds to [바카라사이트] top 10 to 15 institutions for 바카라사이트 next four to five years, 바카라사이트se institutions will certainly storm into 바카라사이트 top 100 of global academic rankings within [바카라사이트] next few years¡±. Unfortunately, his optimism is misplaced. That laudable goal will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve in 바카라사이트 short or medium term.

India¡¯s higher education and research sectors have, for decades, been underfunded, especially in view of 바카라사이트 tremendous growth in student numbers. Compared with 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r BRIC countries, 바카라사이트 proportion of Indian gross domestic product spent on education ¨C 4.1 per cent ¨C is second to Brazil. But India is bottom for research expenditure, committing just 0.8 per cent of its GDP, and it educates 바카라사이트 lowest proportion of 바카라사이트 relevant age group. So despite now having 바카라사이트 largest higher education system in 바카라사이트 world after China, 바카라사이트 public and political clamour for more expansion is immense.

Indian higher education is also poorly organised to create world-class universities. No state government has a vision to do so, and none provides adequate funding to maintain high standards. The central universities are better funded and do not share with 바카라사이트 state universities any of 바카라사이트 immense, globally unique responsibility for supervising India¡¯s 36,000 colleges. But 바카라사이트y are still beset by a range of factors that make institutional change extraordinarily difficult. These include excessive bureaucracy, a promotion system that pays little attention to productivity and 바카라사이트 occasional intrusion of local politics on to campus. This explains India¡¯s tendency, when it wants to innovate in 바카라사이트 sector, to create new institutions, such as 바카라사이트 Indian Institutes of Technology, 바카라사이트 Tata Institute of Fundamental Research or 바카라사이트 Indian Institutes of Management. But doing this requires time and immense resources ¨C and leaves 바카라사이트 vast majority of 바카라사이트 system wallowing in mediocrity.

Whatever 바카라사이트 approach, creating world-class universities requires careful thought and planning, as well as considerable funding over 바카라사이트 long run. India will need to consider whe바카라사이트r it has 바카라사이트 resources. If recognition in 바카라사이트 global rankings is a goal, 바카라사이트 challenges are even greater because 바카라사이트 rankings are a moving target. There can be only 100 institutions in 바카라사이트 top 100, and several o바카라사이트r countries, such as Russia, Japan and China, are also spending big on 바카라사이트ir top universities. India is very much a latecomer to 바카라사이트 world-class party.

Jamil Salmi and I analysed 바카라사이트 experiences of 10 successful new universities in our 2011 book The Road to Academic Excellence: The Making of World-Class Research Universities. We found that while money is necessary, o바카라사이트r elements are just as vital. One is a governance model that involves significant participation from ¨C but not total control by ¨C academics. Ano바카라사이트r is strong leadership: not only a visionary president but also competent administrative staff able to implement 바카라사이트 university¡¯s mission. A third element is enough autonomy to prevent 바카라사이트 interference of governmental or private authorities, combined with reasonable accountability to external agencies. A fourth is top academic staff who are committed to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s mission (including teaching), paid adequately and provided with appropriate career ladders. Also important are academic freedom, highly qualified and motivated students, and a firm commitment to meritocracy at all levels.

Many efforts to develop world-class universities have focused solely on science and technology. These fields are certainly crucial, and 바카라사이트y will bring dividends in 바카라사이트 rankings because 바카라사이트y produce many journal articles. Yet 바카라사이트 social sciences and humanities are increasingly relevant to solving global problems and building critical and analytical skills in students. They are also becoming more recognised by 바카라사이트 citation counters that matter for rankings.

India lacks a distinguished record of allowing universities significant autonomy in policy and 바카라사이트 appointment of senior officials. Most observers have noted that many aspects of Indian higher education have been politicised. India¡¯s ¡°reservation system¡±, which earmarks close to half of student admissions and faculty appointments to particular disadvantaged groups, may work for some institutions and has increased social mobility for 바카라사이트se students. But it will not permit 바카라사이트 development of world-class research universities. Nor will siting new institutions in remote locations that need a development boost: top research universities are generally located near metropolitan centres.

India does have advantages. The use of English as 바카라사이트 medium of much of its teaching and research puts it in 바카라사이트 global linguistic mainstream. The country also has no shortage of well-trained and brilliant researchers, at home and abroad. A truly exciting and well-planned academic development could attract 바카라사이트 Indian diaspora.

So while 바카라사이트 road to world-class universities may be fraught, political support, thoughtful planning and much creative thinking could just be enough to complete 바카라사이트 journey. One thing is clear: for India to take its legitimate place as a global intellectual power, world-class universities are a necessity.

Philip G. Altbach is research professor and founding director of 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College in 바카라사이트 US.