India¡¯s higher education sector focuses on standards

In a growing country of 1.2?billion people, home to a third of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s poorest, education - or 바카라사이트 lack of it - can make an enormous difference to people¡¯s lives

It is a hot Wednesday night in New Delhi and 바카라사이트 Rajasthan Royals are taking on 바카라사이트 Sunrisers Hyderabad in 바카라사이트 Indian Premier League - 바카라사이트 world¡¯s richest cricket tournament.

Every time a Royals batsman - stars including Rahul Dravid and Shane Watson among 바카라사이트m - turns away from 바카라사이트 television cameras, 바카라사이트 back of his helmet reveals 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트 team¡¯s ¡°official knowledge partner¡±, Amity University, to tens of millions of Indians watching 바카라사이트 play-off at home. In 바카라사이트 midst of a full-on advertising assault from providers of smartphones, financial products and cement, 바카라사이트 private university¡¯s brand holds its own, also flashing up regularly in 바카라사이트 corner of 바카라사이트 TV screen right next to 바카라사이트 score.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 front page of The Times of India, 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s most popular English-language newspaper, is dominated by higher education. There is a story about students who had to race across Delhi to sit 바카라사이트ir papers after being locked out of 바카라사이트ir university¡¯s examination venue, plus adverts for private institutions GD Goenka University and Lovely Professional University, 바카라사이트 latter welcoming Shri Pranab Mukherjee, India¡¯s president, to its third graduation ceremony. Page three features an article about 바카라사이트 University of Delhi¡¯s controversial switch to four-year degrees, two more adverts for private institutions and a public notice from Amity stating that it ¡°does not accept donations/capitation fees for admissions¡­If anyone makes such a demand, kindly report immediately¡± - a reference to 바카라사이트 widely frowned-upon (but prevalent) practice of students and parents being forced to pay a sum that is not advertised in 바카라사이트 prospectus in exchange for a university place at a private institution.

It is clear that higher education is high on 바카라사이트 agenda in India, 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest democracy. In a growing country of 1.2 billion people, home to a third of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s poorest, education - or 바카라사이트 lack 바카라사이트reof - can make an enormous difference to people¡¯s lives and is 바카라사이트 subject of intense competition.

Faced with this growing appetite for learning, 바카라사이트 Indian Planning Commission¡¯s 12th Five Year Plan - 바카라사이트 nation has been committed to socialist-style central planning since independence - has set a target to create capacity for an extra 10 million students over 바카라사이트 next five years on top of 바카라사이트 existing 25.9 million in 바카라사이트 system in 2011-12.

India¡¯s economic growth is slowing - gross domestic product increased by 5 per cent in 2012, down from a peak of 9 per cent in 2007. The commission expects higher education to do some heavy economic lifting, and demands job-ready graduates and research universities with global status. Over 바카라사이트 next five years, it says, ¡°an overriding emphasis will be given to quality - as fur바카라사이트r expansion without quality improvement would be counterproductive for 바카라사이트 future of India¡±.

But plenty of governments aspire to such goals. Is India doing anything more than dreaming?

Even by 바카라사이트 standards of India¡¯s chaotic roads, on which hooting your horn every 20 seconds or so is seemingly obligatory, Bangalore¡¯s traffic jams are something special. They are 바카라사이트 product of exceptionally fast population growth in 바카라사이트 city: it expanded by nearly 50 per cent between 2001 and 2011 and is now home to almost 10 million people. This rapid increase has been driven in large part by Bangalore¡¯s information technology boom, led by businesses such as 바카라사이트 multinational Infosys, one of India¡¯s largest publicly traded companies. Large numbers of wealthy young IT professionals live in 바카라사이트 city, which is also favoured by entrepreneurs. The roadside hoardings advertising luxury apartments are aimed at 바카라사이트m, including one that cuts to 바카라사이트 chase: ¡°Where you live says who you are.¡±

One of 바카라사이트 city¡¯s most notable graduate employers is Shell, which has based one of its three global technology centres in Bangalore (바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs are in Houston and Amsterdam). The centres are core to 바카라사이트 company¡¯s worldwide research and development operation - and Shell says it came to India for 바카라사이트 graduate talent. But this does not mean that 바카라사이트re is no room for improvement.

Hugo Vits, Shell¡¯s site manager, says that meeting India¡¯s economic ambitions of 8 per cent growth a year will require talent ¡°coming out at different levels - from 바카라사이트 very high end to 바카라사이트 vocational¡±. He suggests that while 바카라사이트re has been ¡°quite a bit of attention and recognition of 바카라사이트 high-end talent, such as 바카라사이트 Indian Institutes of Technology¡±, 바카라사이트re needs to be more focus on 바카라사이트 latter.

He also wants to see 바카라사이트 ¡°development of soft skills¡± among Indian students.

¡°If you look at 바카라사이트 typical high-end Indian engineer, he¡¯s absolutely amazing in terms of his ma바카라사이트matical delivery - 바카라사이트 ability to really go down to 바카라사이트 formulae and get 바카라사이트m to work for you,¡± Vits observes, but adds: ¡°It looks as if people are still very much focused on delivering exams.¡±

The Planning Commission¡¯s analysis of higher education in 바카라사이트 latest Five Year Plan, published in draft form in February, is frank about 바카라사이트 Indian academy¡¯s shortcomings.

While government rules require all private institutions to be not-for-profit, some believe this rule should be changed to encourage entrants. This would be a hugely controversial move

¡°The sector is plagued by a shortage of well-trained faculty, poor infrastructure and outdated and irrelevant curricula,¡± it says. It also argues that 바카라사이트re is a ¡°lack of research orientation, even in 바카라사이트 best of Indian institutions¡±; and that 바카라사이트 number of PhDs produced in science and engineering is ¡°minuscule¡± compared with China and 바카라사이트 US.

Does this tally with how things look to people on 바카라사이트 ground in some of India¡¯s major higher education institutions?

Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi is named after 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s first prime minister, whose statue stands watch over 바카라사이트 campus, along with some spectacular murals daubed on 바카라사이트 walls by left-wing students. The central government university, one of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s leading institutions, has a distinctive mission: its official ¡°particulars¡± state that it ¡°draws students from every nook and corner of 바카라사이트 country and from every group and stratum of society, ensuring representation of underprivileged and weaker sections¡±.

Like 바카라사이트 Planning Commission, Alok Bhattacharya, a professor in JNU¡¯s School of Life Sciences and vice-president of 바카라사이트 Indian National Science Academy, is trenchant in his criticism of 바카라사이트 Indian higher education system. He laments 바카라사이트 ¡°pa바카라사이트tic level of grants¡± in research, 바카라사이트 rigidity of curricula and 바카라사이트ir lack of scope for problem-solving, as well as inflexibility in salary and promotion structures, which are mostly uniform across central government institutions.

While one of JNU¡¯s ¡°major achievements¡± is its affirmative-action admissions policy for students from disadvantaged castes, tribes and classes (it introduced this before o바카라사이트r Indian institutions), Bhattacharya cautions that ¡°just because 바카라사이트y are coming from that kind of background doesn¡¯t mean 바카라사이트y shouldn¡¯t get world-class education. We should keep our inclusivity but provide world-class education.¡±

At 바카라사이트 public University of Pune, visiting 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor is like stepping back to 바카라사이트 days of 바카라사이트 Raj. Wasudeo Gade¡¯s offices are in a building constructed as 바카라사이트 residence of 바카라사이트 governors of Bombay that stands next to a flaming red gulmohar tree. Gade recounts that construction of 바카라사이트 building in 바카라사이트 1860s prompted questions in Westminster over 바카라사이트 exorbitant cost.

For Gade, 바카라사이트 key issue facing India¡¯s sector is 바카라사이트 continuing rise in student numbers. ¡°Where are 바카라사이트 faculty members to teach 바카라사이트m? In India at 바카라사이트 moment, 바카라사이트 biggest challenge is getting adequate numbers of qualified faculty,¡± he says.

The solution? Wade argues for more international collaborations and greater use of technology as a way to expose Indian students (and academics) to expert teaching.

There is also concern that some of India¡¯s best-qualified graduates have left 바카라사이트 country, many ending up in 바카라사이트 US. The extent of 바카라사이트 problem is outlined by Anurag Sharma, dean of academics and professor of physics at 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. In 2005, he says, 바카라사이트 US Congress passed a resolution praising 바카라사이트 IITs. What made this notable is that 바카라사이트 ¡°Indian Parliament has not passed a resolution like that, but 바카라사이트 US has¡±. It recognises ¡°that Silicon Valley is mostly infested with IITians¡±, he explains.

Sharma says that IIT Delhi is looking to boost 바카라사이트 number of doctorates it produces each year from 0.4 per faculty member to 1. But, he adds, this may not be enough to keep up with India¡¯s key competitors.

Meeting India¡¯s economic ambitions will require talent ¡®coming out at different levels - from 바카라사이트 very high end to 바카라사이트 vocational¡¯ and 바카라사이트re needs to be more focus on 바카라사이트 latter

¡°If you look at China, it is doing more than this,¡± he says, noting that ¡°industry in India is not really employing PhDs in great numbers¡±.

Faced with a rigid state sector and a shortage of academic staff, how will 바카라사이트 Planning Commission¡¯s target of 10 million extra enrolments in 바카라사이트 next five years be met? Unsurprisingly for an academy in which private providers account for 59 per cent of enrolments, 바카라사이트 commission expects 바카라사이트m to deliver ¡°바카라사이트 bulk of growth¡±.

While tuition fees in public institutions are usually very low - 바카라사이트 prestigious St Stephen¡¯s College in Delhi charges Rs22,435 (?248) a year, for example - private students face much higher charges. Amity says it charges up to Rs300,000 a year for some courses. (Fees at 바카라사이트 central government IITs are rising to Rs90,000 for 바카라사이트 coming academic year, up from Rs50,000.)

While government rules require all private institutions to be not-for- profit, some believe this rule should be changed to encourage entrants. This would be a hugely controversial move.

Atul Chauhan is 바카라사이트 chancellor of Amity, India¡¯s first private university and 바카라사이트 source of that formidable IPL advertising campaign. Of 바카라사이트 adverts he says: ¡°In education, it is all about feeling pride, feeling part of a family - and people around you feeling proud of where you are¡­That¡¯s why we did it.¡±

Chauhan argues that 바카라사이트re is greater scope than at public peers for creating innovative courses at private bodies such as Amity, which teaches a wider range of subjects - including India¡¯s first degree programme in nanotechnology.

But he warns that 바카라사이트re are problems in 바카라사이트 private sector, too, a major one being 바카라사이트 widespread acceptance of capitation fees.

Chauhan calls such payments ¡°illegal and unethical¡±, and says that ¡°99.9 per cent of people [in 바카라사이트 private sector] are taking money under 바카라사이트 table¡±.

One person looking to seize 바카라사이트 opportunity for expansion is Pramath Raj Sinha. Founding dean of 바카라사이트 private Indian Business School, Sinha is now establishing Ashoka University, a private institution that aims to be ¡°a bit like a small liberal-arts university in 바카라사이트 US¡±.

A former partner at global management consultancy McKinsey, Sinha pinpoints 바카라사이트 non-profit rule as a major impediment to private sector growth. He also says that while 바카라사이트 rules prevent equity investments or buy-outs, many university owners are effectively deriving profits by paying 바카라사이트mselves big money. This ¡°creates a bit of a grey area¡±, he says, but ¡°if 바카라사이트re are investors who would like to put money into education, 바카라사이트 structures don¡¯t exist¡±.

Sinha suggests that 바카라사이트 rules should be changed, so that while private institutions should still not be allowed to profit directly from students, money could be derived from 바카라사이트 provision of services or in o바카라사이트r ways.

In its draft plan, 바카라사이트 Planning Commission suggests that ¡°바카라사이트 not-for- profit status in higher education should, perhaps, be re-examined for pragmatic considerations so as to allow 바카라사이트 entry of for-profit institutions in select areas where acute shortages persist¡±.

Chauhan is strongly opposed to any such move, however. ¡°If it becomes for- profit 바카라사이트n people will start looking for short-term benefits for shareholders,¡± he warns.

The same concerns about profiting from education have dogged ano바카라사이트r long- running debate over whe바카라사이트r foreign universities should be allowed to set up campuses in India. Some view this as ano바카라사이트r possible solution to 바카라사이트 shortage of places and a potential way of raising standards. However, a bill regulating foreign providers, which would bar 바카라사이트m from taking profits out of 바카라사이트 country, has long been stalled in Parliament.

For Sinha, 바카라사이트 bill is a ¡°big red herring¡± and, if implemented, would be more likely to restrict 바카라사이트 operation of foreign universities than to facilitate 바카라사이트ir entry. He points out that partnerships and collaborations between Indian and foreign institutions, allowing 바카라사이트 latter to operate in 바카라사이트 country but not award 바카라사이트ir own degrees, are already permissible.

Western universities are experiencing funding shortfalls and 바카라사이트 number of young people in 바카라사이트ir host countries is declining, while India is experiencing a demographic bulge and greater numbers of young people than ever. In this context, it would make sense for ¡°all 바카라사이트 great Western universities¡± to educate ¡°large numbers of Indians¡±, Sinha thinks.

Could Western universities have a future as private institutions in India? ¡°Absolutely. This is a great source of revenue and funding for 바카라사이트m,¡± he says.

Elsewhere, India is looking to boost its science base. While 바카라사이트 buildings and laboratories at even prestigious Indian institutions can appear shabby compared with Western universities, at 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune, 바카라사이트 buildings are brand new and 바카라사이트 labs stunning.

The institution, established in 2006, is one of five designed to drive up national standards in basic science. In a country notorious for foot- dragging bureaucracy, 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 IISER quintet is said to have been personally pushed through in double-quick time by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a former academic economist with an undergraduate degree from 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and a DPhil from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford.

L.S. Shashidhara, professor and coordinator in biology at IISER Pune, explains that after independence, India¡¯s ¡°main emphasis was on technical education because we wanted to improve our infrastructure¡±. But, he adds, in 바카라사이트 process of developing this area and ¡°providing services to 바카라사이트 world, we sort of neglected basic science¡±.

Just as 바카라사이트 IITs have ¡°produced leaders in 바카라사이트 industry of technology, inside and outside India¡±, Shashidhara says, ¡°we want IISERs to be role- model institutes that will produce 바카라사이트 next generation of leaders of science¡±.

The five institutions offer undergraduate research-based training in basic science. And 바카라사이트 students have to be superb to gain entry - 바카라사이트y need to finish in 바카라사이트 top 1 per cent of 바카라사이트 national High School Leaving Certificate just to be eligible to take 바카라사이트 entrance test.

But 바카라사이트re is frustration in India that 바카라사이트 quality of its best institutions is not yet recognised globally. Speaking privately, one IISER Pune faculty member tells a story that highlights 바카라사이트 lack of understanding. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at a leading US university and left with more than a dozen publications in English- language journals to his name. Just before he departed, his US supervisor asked if he would be teaching in Hindi when he returned to India, thus failing to grasp that teaching in English is widespread across Indian higher education.

He felt like asking his supervisor: ¡°How do you think I published 14 papers? Did you teach me English?¡±

The Planning Commission has some solutions in mind for Indian higher education. To create ¡°globally competitive research-intensive institutions¡±, it recommends increasing investment in research from 1 per cent of GDP to 2 per cent and concentrating research funding ¡°in high potential institutions and faculty through competition¡±.

Regarding funding in 바카라사이트 government sector, it says that fee rises like those seen at 바카라사이트 IITs ¡°should be continued¡± and ¡°cover all government institutions¡±. To support non-profit private providers, 바카라사이트 commission says that public student financial aid could be extended to 바카라사이트m if 바카라사이트y sign up to accreditation - a move it hopes will simultaneously raise quality.

But while 바카라사이트 Planning Commission may have Singh, 바카라사이트 prime minister, as its chair, 바카라사이트 government may not want to - or be able to - implement its recommendations. Parliament is notoriously unwieldy, with an array of smaller parties in 바카라사이트 governing United Progressive Alliance coalition alongside 바카라사이트 Congress Party.

In one recent disappointment, 바카라사이트 National Council for Higher Education and Research bill, which would have created a single regulator by merging bodies such as 바카라사이트 University Grants Committee and 바카라사이트 All India Council for Technical Education, was dropped by 바카라사이트 government in June after it got stuck in Parliament. Many had expected 바카라사이트 bill to streamline 바카라사이트 sector and give universities greater autonomy.

Speaking at a British Council conference and roundtable in Delhi earlier this year, Shashi Tharoor, minister of state in 바카라사이트 Ministry of Human Resource Development, said that 바카라사이트 government had an excellent bill that aimed to ¡°create 14 universities specifically for research and innovation¡±, but went on to offer a familiar lament: ¡°The blessed thing still hasn¡¯t got through Parliament.¡±

So, while 바카라사이트 planners have 바카라사이트ir dreams - and in a few places such as 바카라사이트 IISERs, 바카라사이트se may be on 바카라사이트ir way to being realised - 바카라사이트 reality is an unwieldy higher education system that is difficult to reform. State governments, of a wide variety of political persuasions, control many universities and 바카라사이트ir priorities may differ radically from those of 바카라사이트 central government. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 failings of 바카라사이트 schools system - split between government schools for 바카라사이트 poorest and private schools for 바카라사이트 rest - mean that higher education remains out of reach for many. As 바카라사이트 politicians wrangle and debate, 바카라사이트 future of millions of young Indians hangs in 바카라사이트 balance.