Demographic details apart, we in India have a large higher education system. However, it is felt that we still need to increase the number of Universities by hundreds and that of national institutions by tens in order to enhance the enrolment of youth (18-23 years) from 7 - 8% to 15% by 2015.
Quality, affordability, accessibility, relevance and equity have been reckoned to be the decisive factors in our approach to expansion of higher education during the XI Five Year Plan. In respect of vast financial resources required to establish and sustain the envisaged system, there are two almost opposing views.
One holds that the Central and State Governments have a responsibility to provide higher education at affordable cost to all those who aspire for it. The other view is that the governments would do well if they could channelise the available funds to support, initially primary and subsequently secondary education, thereby leaving higher education to fend for itself through private participation, liberal loan and scholarship schemes.
In addition, there are protagonists who maintain that 'the quality of products is more important than where it comes from' implying substance has an overriding value over source. Let us now briefly examine the emerging trends and challenges of higher education.
A vibrant country like ours with a booming economy growing at 8.5 - 9.0% of GDP certainly needs a large band of trained and skilled manpower which could only be turned out by our institutions of higher learning. The hallmark of good education the world over is the quality that integrates requisite knowledge with appropriate skills.
In the post-independence era, despite a phenomenal spurt in the number of higher learning centres, only a few universities have been able to produce graduates demonstrating confidence (C) and competence (C) with a good measure of performance (P). Therefore, the formula C + C = P is the most important strategic approach to higher education in the current scenario of globalisation. The formula calls for synthesis of knowledge with skills to deliver.
The Challenges
Higher education is part of the service sector. It is also an industry with global perspectives. It is believed that the total investment in education internationally exceeds US $2000 billion. We are in a knowledge society with a knowledge driven economy. If we have to maintain the current rate of economic growth, needless to say that we need competent managers as a driving force. But the question is where do these capable and brilliant people come from.
Obviously they have to emerge from our colleges and universities. However, is our system of higher education attuned to generate products to meet the increasing demands of today's competitive society? Do our tertiary centres of learning have the required infrastructure, faculty, innovation and vision? Can they provide world class training to our dynamic youngsters such that the latter are not only not deprived of great opportunities for gainful employment but are also encouraged to study and work in the country?
Can our institutions ably and successfully compete with their overseas counterparts which have recently started operating on our soil? Perhaps one can ask a large number of questions like these to illustrate the challenges.
But where does the answer and solution lie?
It is true that we have a few institutions of excellence such as IIMs, IITs and IIScs. A few new ones are fast coming up. Nevertheless, the supply of confident and competent graduates and post-graduates with a proven track record of performance has fallen far short of demand. Then, what are options and alternatives?
Quality parameters
It is imperative that our institutions of higher learning not only expand quantitatively but also improve qualitatively. Resource crunch is a major challenge for raising infrastructure and strengthening the standard of teaching and research.
It is time that our seats of higher learning start generating funds through cost effective fee structure, careful utilisation of land and buildings, new modes of investment, strong alumni support, tie up with industries, collaboration with other institutions both within and outside the country, conducting courses during evening hours, holidays, summer vacation, adopting distances and on-line method of instruction, offering dual degree / diploma courses plus introducing a host of innovative and unconventional activities.
Large scale participation of resourceful private sectors will bridge the gap between demand and supply of employable graduates.
Of course, private institutions should be transparent and must provide for equity and accessibility. Certainly the jargon of giving poor education to poor people in a poor setup should be dismantled to safeguard the socially and economically poor students from intellectual bankruptcy.
In future, institutions which accept the challenges and address the formula C + C = P scrupulously will flourish while others which cannot, might perish. Quality parameters are going to hold the key for the success of higher education system, be it supported by the government or private sector.
