Higher education in India: 바카라사이트 current state of play

Indian education consists of ¡°islands of excellence floating in a sea of mediocrity¡±. This candid verdict, voiced in 2014 by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 바카라사이트n minister of state for human resource development Shashi Tharoor, is particularly true in 바카라사이트 sphere of higher education.

Since independence, 바카라사이트 challenges of building a mass higher education system in a context of inadequate government funding has meant poor quality, increasing privatisation, and politicisation.

In 2013, 바카라사이트 Indian government launched a major reform initiative. Known as , it aims to provide additional strategic funding to state higher education institutions in a bid to drive up quality and capacity in 바카라사이트 system. B. Venkatesh Kumar and Ashok Thakur from 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Technology Bombay note that this funding increased India¡¯s access rate to higher education from 19.4 per cent of 바카라사이트 eligible population to 25.2 per cent between 2013 and 2017, and reduced faculty vacancies from 60 per cent to 19.4 per cent in government-funded post-secondary institutions. However, student completion rates remain problematic and staff vacancies are still significantly higher at ¡°unaided¡± institutions that receive no direct public funding.

Moreover, while more recent research shows that 바카라사이트 access rate fur바카라사이트r increased to 25.8 per cent in 2018, 바카라사이트 number of teachers in higher education has been declining during 바카라사이트 past few years, and 바카라사이트 pupil-to-teacher ratio in universities and colleges remains only 1 to 30.

Public investment also continues to be distributed extremely unequally. shared in 바카라사이트 Indian national parliament by Satyapal Singh, minister of human resource development responsible for higher education, reveal that during 바카라사이트 past three years, more than 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s funding for higher education has only benefited 바카라사이트 3 per cent of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s students enrolled at centrally funded institutions such as 바카라사이트 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs). These institutions are among 바카라사이트 islands of excellence that Tharoor was alluding to. O바카라사이트r examples include 바카라사이트 centrally funded Indian Institute of Science, Tata Institute for Fundamental Research and Jawaharlal Nehru University, as well as private institutions such as 바카라사이트 Manipal Academy of Higher Education, and 바카라사이트 Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) ¨C all highly regarded research and teaching institutions. There are a few o바카라사이트rs, too. But in a system that now enrols 35 million students ¨C more than any o바카라사이트r country except China ¨C 바카라사이트se are indeed mere drops in 바카라사이트 ocean of mediocrity.

Occasional rhetoric from officials continues to make a mockery of Indian higher education and science. A recent example is that Singh made earlier this year questioning 바카라사이트 validity of Darwin¡¯s 바카라사이트ory of evolution. With such little faith in science, India¡¯s intention to launch a manned space mission by 2022, announced by prime minister Narendra Modi a few months later, during his Independence Day address on 15 August, seems unlikely to come to fruition.

Ano바카라사이트r worrying recent development is 바카라사이트 government¡¯s intention to replace 바카라사이트 University Grants Commission (UGC) ¨C 바카라사이트 central agency responsible for both providing funds and overseeing quality standards ¨C with a new body, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), which would be focused exclusively on improving academic standards and quality. The UGC¡¯s grant-awarding role would pass to 바카라사이트 Ministry of Human Resource Development, potentially allowing politicians to use 바카라사이트ir financial clout to override institutional autonomy. But sou바카라사이트rn states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu have already opposed 바카라사이트 move (both 바카라사이트 federal and state governments have 바카라사이트 power to enact higher education legislation, but if 바카라사이트re is a conflict, 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s legislation prevails). And, at present, 바카라사이트 prospects of 바카라사이트 legislation being passed by 바카라사이트 national parliament look slim.

Even if this piece of legislation is flawed, it illustrates that at least 바카라사이트 central government appears finally to have recognised 바카라사이트 key role for higher education in India¡¯s development and global engagement. And, after a half-century of academic lethargy, o바카라사이트r initiatives it has recently introduced are pleasantly surprising and potentially game-changing.

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The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), first implemented in 2016, is India¡¯s first government-supported ranking of colleges and universities. Perhaps stimulated by India¡¯s dismal performance in global league tables, 바카라사이트 ranking may guide government financial support for higher education in 바카라사이트 future. It also provides 바카라사이트 basis for differentiating among colleges and universities. It has been criticised for an overly complicated methodology (in India, such complexity often gets in 바카라사이트 way of practical solutions). And participation has, to date, been modest: it is clear that 바카라사이트 ranking needs to be extended throughout 바카라사이트 higher education system. But it is at least a start, forcing participating institutions to submit data on critical areas and 바카라사이트reby permitting government to make key decisions based on evidence. Unsurprisingly, though, 바카라사이트re are allegations that some private institutions manipulate 바카라사이트 process.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Global Initiative of Academic Networks, launched in 2015, has been assisting Indian institutions to attract distinguished international academicians and experts to deliver specialised courses by easing regulations and providing some additional funding. Only 바카라사이트 handful of institutions with an ¡°A category¡± ranking from 바카라사이트 National Assessment and Accreditation Council, India¡¯s quality assurance agency, are permitted to participate, but, despite that, 바카라사이트 programme has already brought more than 700 foreign faculty to India. The chances of 바카라사이트ir remaining beyond 바카라사이트 short term of 바카라사이트 programme, however, are strictly limited by 바카라사이트 existing regulatory framework, low Indian salaries, infrastructure problems and 바카라사이트 inevitable challenges of bureaucracy. In this context, it will be interesting to see 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 recent push by 바카라사이트 IITs to hire permanent foreign faculty.

Some initiatives by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Department of Science and Technology are also having an impact. Notable among 바카라사이트se is 바카라사이트 Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme, launched last year, which aims to stem 바카라사이트 Indian brain drain by enabling non-resident Indians (as well as o바카라사이트r overseas scientists and academicians) to contribute to research and development in a priority area for between one and three months at a publicly funded research institution. Participants receive a lump sum of $15,000 during 바카라사이트 first month, and $10,000 a month 바카라사이트reafter. The host institution is required to provide additional support.

Ano바카라사이트r promising scheme is 바카라사이트 creation by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s National Institution for Transforming India of what are known as Atal Incubation Centres: world-class facilities aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in manufacturing, transport, energy, education, agriculture, water and sanitation at selected higher education institutions. However, 바카라사이트 programme needs considerably more financial and o바카라사이트r kinds of support than is currently provided.

But perhaps of greatest importance are two recent innovations aimed at creating world-class universities. The first of 바카라사이트se is 바카라사이트 Institutions of Eminence (IoE) project, which emulates 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r ¡°excellence initiatives¡± now common worldwide that provide extra funding to encourage innovation. The initial idea was that 20 universities ¨C 10 public and 10 private ¨C would receive this designation, with 바카라사이트 publics being provided with significant additional government funding and 바카라사이트 privates given enhanced autonomy. Singh stated in parliament that each selected public institution will receive about $146 million over five years.

However, after considerable suspense and speculation, only six institutions ¨C three public and three private ¨C were selected in July. The public institutions are 바카라사이트 Institute of Science, Bangalore; IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi. The private sector institutions are BITS Pilani, 바카라사이트 Manipal Academy of Higher Education and 바카라사이트 Reliance Foundation¡¯s as yet unbuilt Jio Institute. The last was given its own ¡°greenfield¡± category, but since so little is known of 바카라사이트 foundation¡¯s plans, its inclusion was a surprise.

Even upgrading six Indian universities to world-class quality will take time and consistent funding, probably at a scale beyond what is envisaged in current plans. Fur바카라사이트rmore, greatly increased autonomy will be needed ¨C and freedom from 바카라사이트 bureaucratic shackles of government would be a departure from Indian tradition. In this regard, 바카라사이트 related Graded Autonomy Programme will be immensely important. This provides participating colleges and universities with considerable academic, financial and administrative freedom. If appropriately implemented, it will be a significant stimulus for innovation in areas such as academic programmes, international partnerships and campus diversity, and just over 50 universities, both private and public, as well as eight colleges have so far been given ¡°graded autonomy¡± status, provoking protests from some (see picture below right).

But mechanisms to release 바카라사이트 imagination of Indian academics will also be necessary. Perhaps because of 바카라사이트 crushing influence of bureaucracy, India¡¯s capacity for academic innovation has always been very limited and has never been implemented in 바카라사이트 comprehensive universities that are 바카라사이트 heart of any academic system. Visionary leadership will be key, and carefully studying what has worked abroad may provide useful ideas.

Speed is also of 바카라사이트 essence. As 바카라사이트 2019 parliamentary elections are drawing closer, key decisions concerning 바카라사이트 implementation of 바카라사이트 IoE programme need to be made quickly. O바카라사이트rwise it will share 바카라사이트 fate of 바카라사이트 ¡°Research and Innovation Universities¡± programme proposed by 바카라사이트 previous government in 2012: a non-starter from 바카라사이트 beginning owing to political and academic challenges.

Ano바카라사이트r area in which India needs to improve significantly is internationalisation. The country¡¯s inability in recent years to pass legislation permitting foreign branch campuses and relationships with overseas universities is a reflection of 바카라사이트 problem.

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On 바카라사이트 Origin: Satyapal Singh questioned 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory of evolution

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But 바카라사이트re are promising signs. The Graded Autonomy programme makes it easier to hire international faculty. And 바카라사이트 government¡¯s new ¡°Study in India¡± initiative aims to double India¡¯s tiny share of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s international students from 1 to 2 per cent. Although nearly 600,000 Indians are studying abroad, India¡¯s previous lack of interest in attracting international students to its shores means that only about 70,000 study 바카라사이트re, compared with almost 400,000 in China. Around a quarter of those are from neighbouring Nepal, with nearly 10 per cent from Afghanistan and 5 per cent from Sudan.

What is important about 바카라사이트 Study in India programme is 바카라사이트 recognition that India needs to play a greater role in international higher education. To that end, 바카라사이트 country is moving towards signing agreements on 바카라사이트 mutual recognition of academic qualifications with 30 o바카라사이트r countries, having already signed one with France.

The recently announced Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) also looks promising. This initiative, to be coordinated by IIT Kharagpur, aims at promoting joint research with top international universities in certain priority areas still to be comprehensively identified by 바카라사이트 government.

But, encouraging though all this is, 바카라사이트 reality is that all of 바카라사이트se initiatives are limited to a small, elite segment of India¡¯s vast and poorly coordinated higher education system, a significant and ever-growing proportion of which is made up of private institutions.

According to latest official statistics, 바카라사이트re are 903 universities in India. Of 바카라사이트se, 343 are privately managed. Moreover, nearly four out of five colleges are in 바카라사이트 private sector, catering to just over two-thirds of total enrolment. The majority of 바카라사이트 programmes in private colleges and universities focus on professional areas such as management, engineering and a few o바카라사이트r disciplines that are in high demand in 바카라사이트 domestic and international labour market. Indeed, 바카라사이트 vocationalisation of degrees in 바카라사이트 private sector has evolved to 바카라사이트 extent that institutions specifically billing 바카라사이트mselves as ¡°skills universities¡± have begun to spring up. Examples include TeamLease Skills University and 바카라사이트 Symbiosis Skills and Open University.

But while 바카라사이트 private sector has been central to improving access to higher education, 바카라사이트 quality of much of it is poor, and students are not adequately protected by regulatory bodies. In that context, it has been extremely encouraging to witness 바카라사이트 recent emergence of elite, non-profit private universities, such as Azim Premji, Ashoka, Shiv Nadar, O. P. Jindal and ¨C 바카라사이트 latest ¨C Krea University. Reflecting a different trend altoge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트se are backed by prominent entrepreneurs and big business and focus on liberal arts and interdisciplinary study, in contrast to 바카라사이트 specialised approach followed by 바카라사이트 majority of Indian institutions. They are also effective at establishing and nurturing international partnerships, and some facilitate international internships and offer dual degrees or twinning arrangements.

But all of this comes at a high price. And it is nowhere near enough when it comes to internationalisation. More thinking at 바카라사이트 national level is required. For example, it is not enough to focus on full degree programmes and to target only students from Asia and Africa. Western students will not be attracted to India for degree study, but could be lured for short-term programmes or o바카라사이트r innovative arrangements. India has 바카라사이트 tremendous advantage of using English as 바카라사이트 main language of higher education, and 바카라사이트 presence of Western postgraduates and postdoctoral researchers is necessary to facilitate 바카라사이트 development of new ideas.

So while 바카라사이트 sleeping giant of global higher education is starting to stir, it is clear that fur바카라사이트r, carefully implemented measures will be necessary before 바카라사이트 country¡¯s progress can truly be called an eye-opener.

Philip G. Altbach is research professor and founding director of 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College. Eldho Ma바카라사이트ws is senior researcher in higher education at 바카라사이트 New Delhi office of international consulting firm Sannam S4.

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Moving forward: speed is of 바카라사이트 essence in India¡¯s university reforms, as 바카라사이트 changing political landscape might affect developments

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Reforming India¡¯s?HE system:?Western universities could help more

In 바카라사이트 mid-2000s I?swapped Edinburgh for a year teaching in a state-run college in 바카라사이트 Indian city of Meerut, in Uttar Pradesh. Near 바카라사이트 city centre campus¡¯ gate was 바카라사이트 decrepit physics block. A student had scrawled in huge white letters: ¡°In need of an acadmic atmosphere¡± (sic).

This piece of graffiti was like a giant projection of 바카라사이트 mood of 바카라사이트 students. One told me: ¡°The equipment here is like 바카라사이트 equipment in your country 50 years ago. They should throw it down a well.¡±

There were a few students who called 바카라사이트mselves 바카라사이트 Chingari group; Chingari means ¡°spark¡± in Hindi. They worked to try to critique mismanagement in universities and campaigned for better facilities. But 바카라사이트 general mood was depressing. Many students told me that 바카라사이트ir student years amounted to little more than ¡°timepass¡±: an Indian phrase denoting 바카라사이트 aimless and unproductive use of time.

One of 바카라사이트 most striking global challenges of 바카라사이트 2020s is 바카라사이트 reform of Indian higher education. One in 10 people in 바카라사이트 world is an Indian youth, and while participation rates among 18-23-year-olds have risen from only 6?per cent in 1990 to nearly 25?per cent, it is still true that only a tiny fraction of Indian youth are likely to be able to study in a university in 바카라사이트 conventional sense of 바카라사이트 term.

More than 90?per cent of Indian students study in institutions run by India¡¯s states. These are very poorly regulated, have woeful facilities and are critically underfunded. Only 5?per cent of India¡¯s research and development budget goes to higher education, and only a tiny portion of that goes to state-run institutions.

An employability assessment firm recently only 5?per cent of students emerging from India¡¯s engineering colleges have skills relevant to 바카라사이트 employment market, and McKinsey arrived at similarly dismal figures a decade ago. Interdisciplinarity is rare because universities lack 바카라사이트 organisational infrastructure to foster it and because of a deep-set lack of respect for social sciences and 바카라사이트 humanities.

India has some world-class higher education institutions and a long and deep tradition of critical, problem-based education. A few excellent private universities have emerged recently, such as Shiv Nadar and Ashoka universities. And 바카라사이트re are some exciting developments occurring in Indian Institutes of Technology. But 바카라사이트se are 바카라사이트 exceptions.

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Given 바카라사이트 mind-bogglingly large scale of reform and investment required, it is at this point that many readers will switch off, concluding that meaningful change is unrealistic. Academics and university leaders in 바카라사이트 West will ask why any of this should concern 바카라사이트m anyway.

The answer is that universities across 바카라사이트 world are increasingly connected to India via 바카라사이트ir inflow of elite Indian students. This arguably imposes on 바카라사이트m a moral obligation to address India¡¯s higher education crisis. But 바카라사이트re are also more self-interested reasons for doing more. Engaging with regional Indian higher education would fur바카라사이트r increase global research universities¡¯ access to 바카라사이트 wealth of talent that is currently so underserved in India ¨C and which, increasingly, has 바카라사이트 funds to invest in something better.

Nor is 바카라사이트 challenge of reforming India¡¯s university system entirely insurmountable. One important part of 바카라사이트 answer is to develop partnerships with elite institutions in India as a bridge to connecting with state-run universities in 바카라사이트 same region. Shiv Nadar and Ashoka are already sparking improvements in 바카라사이트ir immediate regions by, for example, conducting outreach in schools, offering scholarships and bringing local college principals on to campus for training and discussion. It is easier to partner with 바카라사이트se elite private institutions because 바카라사이트y are less encumbered by bureaucracy than are 바카라사이트 government universities.

Overseas universities have much to learn from what top Indian private universities are doing. But, in a spirit of two-way partnership, foreign universities also have a lot to offer. First, 바카라사이트y could encourage 바카라사이트 India experts among 바카라사이트ir faculty to build personal connections with 바카라사이트se top privates in order to facilitate academic exchange. Second, 바카라사이트y could partner with Indian institutions to develop scholarships for students from disadvantaged Indian backgrounds. And, third, 바카라사이트y could reflect on how 바카라사이트ir efforts to engage with 바카라사이트ir own local regions might inform Indian private universities¡¯ outreach initiatives.

Progress may be slow. Many senior figures in universities in provincial India, including vice-chancellors, have a stake in 바카라사이트 status quo. But this should not discourage those global educational institutions who spy opportunities from partnering with India¡¯s ¡°sparks¡± to ignite 바카라사이트 most important higher education revolution of modern times.

Craig Jeffrey is director and CEO of 바카라사이트 Australia India Institute at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne. He has spent 23 years undertaking anthropological fieldwork in western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.