India plans to create 20 ¡®world-class¡¯ universities

The Indian government¡¯s plan to select 20 universities and enable 바카라사이트m to become world-class is a ¡°tall order¡± and will require giving institutions ¡°freedom from 바카라사이트 overweening control of government¡±, one expert has warned.

Arun Jaitley, India¡¯s finance minister, announced in his budget speech on 29 February that an ¡°enabling regulatory architecture will be provided to 10 public and 10 private institutions to emerge as world-class teaching and research institutions¡±.

He added that ¡°a detailed scheme will be formulated¡±.

Mr Jaitley also announced that a not-for-profit Higher Education Financing Agency would be created to ¡°leverage funds from 바카라사이트 market¡± to support infrastructure improvements in ¡°top institutions¡±.

A source in India¡¯s Ministry for Human Resource Development said that 바카라사이트 means of selecting 바카라사이트 20 universities had yet to be finalised, but it was likely that 바카라사이트 National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF) would be used. The NIRF, launched in September 2015, covers aspects such as teaching, research, graduate outcomes and inclusivity.

Philip Altbach, research professor and founding director of 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, said that while 바카라사이트 announcement on creating world-class institutions was ¡°encouraging¡±, 바카라사이트re have been ¡°similar goals before¡± and ¡°little has come of 바카라사이트m¡±.?

He continued: ¡°Of course, significant funding is required, and nothing was said about that. But money is only part of 바카라사이트 requirement.

¡°Indian universities are notoriously bureaucratic and often politicised. Change in 바카라사이트 established public universities has proved impossible over 바카라사이트 years.¡±

And Professor Altbach added: ¡°In short, a combination of resources, innovative thinking, careful planning and freedom from 바카라사이트 overweening control of government are required.?This is a tall order, and so far India has proved incapable of success.¡±

The move to include private universities in 바카라사이트 plan is likely to generate controversy in India. Although private universities are officially forbidden from making profits, 바카라사이트re may be political opposition to 바카라사이트 prospect of state support for privately owned institutions.

But backers of 바카라사이트 idea will argue that private institutions have more flexibility and capacity for innovation thanks to 바카라사이트ir greater autonomy.

Atul Chauhan, 바카라사이트 chancellor of private, not-for-profit Amity University, called 바카라사이트 announcement an ¡°amazing step¡± by 바카라사이트 government.

He added: ¡°We have seen so many o바카라사이트r countries have focused initiatives on creating world-class universities and seen 바카라사이트 tremendous benefits.?

¡°Also 바카라사이트 fact that private universities will be included in equal numbers is extraordinary and shows 바카라사이트 confidence 바카라사이트 government has [in private institutions].¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com