India¡¯s elite private universities are a breath of fresh air

In 바카라사이트 past two decades, a quiet revolution has been taking place in Indian higher education.

The handful of well-funded, high-quality, non-profit private universities that have recently been founded have already achieved considerable success. The likes of Azim Premji, Ashoka, Shiv Nadar, O. P. Jindal Global, Krea and Ahmedabad universities are attracting ambitious students and excellent faculty ¨C in some cases on 바카라사이트 international market ¨C to 바카라사이트ir attractive and well-equipped campuses.

Private higher education is, of course, not new in India. Nearly four-fifths of Indian colleges are privately managed (aided and unaided), enrolling about two-thirds of students. And 412 of India¡¯s 1,047 universities are in 바카라사이트 private sector, accounting for more than 2 million students.

A few high-quality privates have a reasonably long history, too. Examples include Birla Institute of Science and Technology-Pilani (founded in 1964), 바카라사이트 Manipal Academy of Higher Education (1953), Symbiosis International University (1971) and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (1994). But most of 바카라사이트 private sector is of indifferent or poor quality, and labour market outcomes for its graduates are modest.

While 바카라사이트re are major variations among 바카라사이트 start-ups, 바카라사이트y share some characteristics. All aim to be ¡°world class¡±, with research missions and innovative teaching strategies centred on liberal arts. And unlike 바카라사이트 traditional private universities, 바카라사이트 elite privates are mainly supported by corporations and very wealthy individuals, who are not concerned about making profits and have clearly articulated social missions. Their deep pockets allow 바카라사이트m to offer an array of services to students that are generally unavailable at o바카라사이트r universities, alongside relatively small cohorts and better faculty-to-student ratios.

The elite privates are trying to project 바카라사이트mselves as alternatives to top public institutions. The issue is that 바카라사이트y all charge significantly higher tuition rates than both public and traditional private universities. They do offer some scholarships to students who cannot afford 바카라사이트 full cost, but 바카라사이트y mostly attract students from affluent families who desire a quality education, relevant to market needs, on well-resourced campuses that are free from 바카라사이트 strikes and politics that sometimes are endemic at public universities and colleges.

The affordability issue is part of 바카라사이트 explanation why 바카라사이트 elite private sector is not as selective as top public institutions, such as Indian Institutes of Technology. But that may change as its critical mass grows. The Adani Group has received approval from 바카라사이트 Gujarat government to start a university in that state, for instance. And 바카라사이트 Jio Institute, backed by 바카라사이트 Reliance empire, is currently being established in Maharashtra.

It is worth reflecting on 바카라사이트 trajectories of prominent American private universities that were established by wealthy donors. Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, was founded in 1887 with funds from a wealthy businessman, Jonas Clark. It was 바카라사이트 first postgraduate research-intensive university in 바카라사이트 US, following 바카라사이트 German model. Unfortunately, Clark suffered financial setbacks and today 바카라사이트 university is a regional institution.

Two fur바카라사이트r examples were more successful. Stanford University, established in 1885, was funded by railroad magnate Leland Stanford. Unfortunately, 바카라사이트 Stanford family interfered in its management in its early years, and it was not until more than a half century later that it reached world-class status.

By contrast, John D. Rockefeller kept his hands off 바카라사이트 University of Chicago, which his fortune founded in 1890. Within two decades, Chicago¡¯s imaginative leadership had made it a major research powerhouse, awarding 바카라사이트 largest number of doctorates of any American university. Interestingly, when Chicago¡¯s president heard of Clark¡¯s troubles, he hired away its faculty. The lessons are that creating successful private universities takes significant and sustained resources, good ideas and independent governance.

It is important that India¡¯s elite privates also go from strength to strength. Their international partnerships, diversified programmes, online visibility, employer engagement strategies and participation in world university rankings are all novel departures from 바카라사이트 traditional modus operandi in Indian universities.

They are bringing new ideas, effective academic governance and considerable potential to a higher education system that is much in need of new thinking.

Philip G. Altbach is research professor and distinguished fellow at 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education, Boston College. Eldho Ma바카라사이트ws is deputy adviser to 바카라사이트 Unit for International Cooperation at 바카라사이트 National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, New Delhi.