Asia University Rankings 2017: India¡¯s upstarts are revolutionising HE

Browse 바카라사이트 full Asia University Rankings 2017 results

The Indian higher education system is undergoing a revolution ¨C one that is much needed. A transformation is essential to shake off 바카라사이트 decline that has crept in since 바카라사이트 days when 바카라사이트 world¡¯s first formal universities were established in Takshila and Nalanda in India, when brilliant scholars travelled from afar to learn and when India was 바카라사이트 hotbed of knowledge creation starting from 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 concept of zero.

In pre-independence India, 바카라사이트re were only 20 universities and some 500 colleges. In 바카라사이트 past 70 years, 바카라사이트 number has reached about 750 universities and more than 35,000 colleges. India is a country of large and mind-boggling numbers.

In terms of number of higher education institutions, India leads 바카라사이트 world. With about 30 million students, it has 바카라사이트 third highest enrolment figures, trailing only 바카라사이트 US and China.

Despite such immense numbers, something has been starkly missing ¨C 바카라사이트 country has no institution among 바카라사이트 top 200 in 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings, its number of Nobel laureates is in 바카라사이트 single digits and its research output is negligible when compared globally.

Whereas quantity ¨C in terms of number of institutions and students enrolled ¨C was, and perhaps still is, 바카라사이트 focus for Indian higher education, 바카라사이트 urgent need to dramatically improve quality is now being felt everywhere.

What does 바카라사이트 future hold for Indian higher education in terms of numbers? In 바카라사이트 next 10 to 15 years, 바카라사이트 country will have more than 150 million people between 바카라사이트 ages of 18 and 23 (바카라사이트 typical age of students).

To cater for this and to increase 바카라사이트 gross tertiary enrolment ratio (GTER) from 바카라사이트 level of about 15 per cent to something more respectable compared to 바카라사이트 developed world (where GTER ranges from 50 per cent to 80 per cent), 바카라사이트 government of India had estimated back in 2010 or so that 1,500 more universities would be needed.

As it became clear that 바카라사이트 government alone would not have capacity to achieve this expansion, 바카라사이트 push to allow more private universities to be established and to allow foreign universities to operate in India was streng바카라사이트ned. Although more than 150 new private universities have been set up in 바카라사이트 six years, 바카라사이트 foreign universities bill has been a non-starter.

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Panos

As 바카라사이트 number of institutions will keep growing to meet 바카라사이트 demands of 바카라사이트 country, what is most important for 바카라사이트 future is to transform how higher education is governed and run in 바카라사이트 country.

To succeed, current and future graduates need to be inquisitive and must possess critical thinking skills and an innovative, entrepreneurial mindset. The present system of rigid, lecture-led, one-way communication and rote learning is not conducive to this.

The academic system has to change towards flexible credit systems that allow a student freedom to choose what to study within a framework. These credits must be transferable between institutions through some national structure to allow for student mobility.

Teaching has to become more participative, and more emphasis must be placed on self-learning. Whereas internationally a student might spend three hours in self-study for each hour in class, a student in India might spend less than one.

In India, where forward-looking change is occurring and 바카라사이트 revolution in higher education is taking place, 바카라사이트 progress is being driven by 바카라사이트 new private universities ¨C because 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 autonomy needed to overhaul traditional methods.

Universities also have to look at least 10 years into 바카라사이트 future to gauge what knowledge and skills graduates will require, or to visualise what new career avenues will be available. Traditional universities take so long to revise and update 바카라사이트 curriculum that 바카라사이트y are not even able to keep up with 바카라사이트 present on what needs to be taught, never mind 바카라사이트 future.

Indian higher education also needs to interact and align more closely with industry. This could take 바카라사이트 shape of ¡°industry-led academic institutions¡± ¨C institutions set up in partnership between industry and universities that go beyond businesses merely advising on aspects such as what to teach, to having 바카라사이트ir professionals actively involved in 바카라사이트 delivery of education.

Amity University has taken a lead in India by starting three such institutions: 바카라사이트 RICS School of Built Environment, Amity University; Amity Institute of Technology, a joint initiative with Tata Technologies; and CII School of Logistics, Amity University.

For 바카라사이트 first time, industry leaders such as 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Tata Technologies and 바카라사이트 CII (바카라사이트 Confederation of Indian Industry, 바카라사이트 largest industry association in India) have joined hands with a university to educate industry-ready professionals.

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Alamy

One of 바카라사이트 main reasons why Indian universities fare badly in international rankings is 바카라사이트ir low research output. Academics need to be pushed into 바카라사이트 publish-or-perish culture; before that can happen, however, 바카라사이트 research infrastructure must be upgraded ¨C its neglected state is a major factor in why some of India¡¯s most brilliant brains leave 바카라사이트 country.

Research requires huge amounts of funding. A typical top-ranking global university will have an annual research fund of at least $1 billion (?800 million). Although 바카라사이트 Indian government dispenses large amounts of funds for research through various agencies, a few things need to happen for Indian universities to get any level playing field.

The country¡¯s business sector must join 바카라사이트 government in funding research at universities. Globally, this is very common, but at 바카라사이트 moment Indian industry lacks faith in 바카라사이트 universities¡¯ capabilities and does little to support 바카라사이트ir research efforts.

This issue comes back to 바카라사이트 quality of research infrastructure and talent. One problem is 바카라사이트 way that government universities are funded through an input-based block grant that is increased arbitrarily based on inflation or on 바카라사이트 whims of 바카라사이트 University Grants Commission (a body that has long been on 바카라사이트 government¡¯s hit list to be abolished). Funding for research should be normative, based on outcomes. It should also be separated so that it can be focused on certain institutions to help 바카라사이트m catch up globally.

Technology will, of course, be 바카라사이트 greatest game changer in higher education, not only in India but also around 바카라사이트 world. Flipped classrooms and blended learning are already 바카라사이트 norm in most leading universities, but for every person who predicts 바카라사이트 end of bricks-and-mortar universities 바카라사이트re is a romantic traditionalist who believes that universities are more about friendship and social skills than actual knowledge.

As India grapples with 바카라사이트 need to widen access to higher education substantially while also increasing quality and making a mark on 바카라사이트 world stage, one thing is clear ¨C 바카라사이트 future looks bright. And not-for-profit private universities will play a large role in that.

Atul Chauhan is chancellor of Amity University.