The 21st century has largely been do-m-i-na-ted by a society that is driven by informat-ion and knowledge. Industrialisation and economic expansion of this century are causing technological transformations all over the world. Today, monodisciplinary dom-i-nance in knowled-ge systems is being supplanted by cross-disciplin-ary programmes that have broadened intellectual frameworks for the understanding of nature and society. Uni-ver--sities are expected to play a key role in social transformation, breaking the stra-n-g-le-hold of a single disciplinary and intellect-ual framework that has dominated since the 19th century. Education is a critical factor in the dev-e-lopment of society, by bringing technological and eco--no--mic growth. Optimal growth of society can only be achieved if the status of education in society is improved, allowing for multi-faceted development of its citizens. Higher education is critical for societal aspirations, developmental priorities and societal values, all of which must be assessed, nurtured and refined regularly.
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India will have world’s largest population enrolling for higher education by 2025, and will be one of the youngest countries with largest population pursuing higher education by 2030.
With over 45,000 higher educational instituti--o-ns,- India has the world’s largest higher education system, owing to a massive expansion in the hig-h--er education sector, which has seen a four-fold rise since 2001. However, the sector continues to face challenges such as insufficient funding, lower graduate employability, poor teaching standards, poor governance and complex regulatory proces-ses. India’s demographic trend indicates it will soon overtake China as the world’s most populous country, and demand for higher education will fol-low suit in the coming years.
The Indian higher education system, which was originally designed to serve a select few, must now be prepared to serve a large number of people. Cha-nge and innovation would be requi-red, as well as a critical understanding of that change. India currently has 1,043 universities, which are divided into 49 central universities, 405 state universities, 135 institutes of national importance, 126 deemed to be universities and 328 private universities; alo-ng with 42,343 coll-eges and 11,779 stand-alone institutions. The numbers continue to rise.
Currently, the total enrolment in higher educat-ion is estimated to be 38.5 million with 19.6 mill-ion male and 18.9 million female students. Fem-ale students constitute 49 per cent of the total enrolment. We can’t deny that by 2025, Ind-ia will have the world’s largest population enr-olling for higher education, and that by 2030, it will be one of the world’s youngest countries with the largest population pursuing higher education.
The Challenges
Although India’s higher education system is one of the world’s largest, it faces numerous challen-g-es, including quality of teaching and learning, public-private partnerships, entry of for-eign institutions of higher learning, increasing research cap-acity and funding, innovations, incre-asing int-ernationalisation, changing dema-nds of a globali-sed economy, etc. Despite sig--nificant efforts over the past two decades, to meet growing demands in higher education, new-er cha-llenges continue to emerge, often because of the actions of an increasingly infor-m-ed and dem-anding population.
According to the All-India Survey of Higher Edu---cation (AISHE), India’s gross enrolment ratio (GER) is 27.1 per cent (AISHE, 2019-20), which is calculated for the age group 18-23 years. This is sig-nificantly lower than the global average of 36.7 per cent. There is also a big gap between educat-ion obtained and skills required in employment, primarily due to lack of quality in higher educat-ion institutions (HEIs), as well as a lack of skill dev-elopment in the curriculum. In addition to this, the greatest challenge HEIs face today is a sho-rtage of instructors. It is believed that 30-40 per cent of faculty positions in HEIs are unf-illed, primarily due to the non-availability of well-qualified faculty. As a result, the student--tea-cher ratio becomes unbalanced. The scarcity of well-qualif-i-ed faculty adds to the pressure of prov-iding high--quality instruction, resulting in gaps in the lear--n-ing process. Funding for gov-e-rnment and gover--n-ment -aided HEIs has, in rec-e-nt decades, been skewed in favour of central universities. There is a need to strengthen quality assurance systems that are ali-gned with a sense of accountability to stakeholde-rs. This will result in a higher number of gra--d-uates with better employability.
Separating research and teaching requires sufficient effort, which could boost the early-stage res-earch experience. There is a pressing need for fle--xible curricula that are in step with changing times, as well as increased employer involvement in course content and skill development. In addit-ion, opportunities for interdisciplinary learning must be made available. Lack of quality teaching, and outda-t-ed material and pedagogy have all been exacerbated by a scarcity of well-trained faculty. Stu-dents must be given ample opportunity to dev-elop a broader array of transversal skills, such as analytical reasoning, critical thinking, problem--solving and collaborative working, through pedagogies and assessments that are not solely focused on input or rote learning. Due to a lack of opportunities for multi-disciplinary research, there is a sca-rcity of quality researchers in both sciences and social sciences, which has hampered effective int-eraction with industry.
Addressing the various challenges in HEIs need creative and unconventional thinking. In today’s technology-driven environment, there are ple-t-h-o-ra of resources available in the form of open edu-cation resources (OERs) and massive open online courses (MOOCs) with quick response codes (QRCs) pointing to a variety of learning res-ources. In the post Covid-19 era, when social dist-ancing has become the new normal, use of online resour-ces and remote learning tools has become even more relevant and prominent. In a situation whe-re using the internet is unavoidable, it is prudent to use the most appropriate resources available. Faculty must be trained to be enthusiastic, innovative, willing to experiment and well-equi-p-ped to teach using technology.
The current governance models hinder autonomy of HEIs, not only because government and regulatory bodies want to micro-manage univers-ities, but also because they have weak quality ass-urance mechanisms, funding that are not linked to institutional performance, and an absence of uniform transparent mechanisms. There is a need for new governance models to achieve excellence in higher education through professional management. Key characteristics, such as transp-arency, equity, accountability and inclusiveness, must be practised by HEIs. HEIs should also move towards decentralised governance having autonomy, accountability, flexibility, effective communication, trust and transparency at vario--us levels of operation. To create efficient, future--ready universities, regulators must act as enablers to contribute to the progress of HEIs.
As a result of the internationalisation of educat-i-on, along with globalisation and competition, HEIs must abandon traditional university administration, which is based on 19th-century tools, and adopt modern professional governance. Adm--inistrative machinery that lacks necessary skills, knowledge and attitude, and is out of step with the needs of a progressive society, can stifle a university’s development. Flexible, transparent, decentralised, autonomous and accountable governance, on the other hand, can be a powerful factor in accelerating progress by responding to cha--nging societal needs and global trends.
Vice-chancellors, directors, registrars and oth-er secretarial staff in HEIs are among the edu-ca-tio-n-al administrators for whom professional and adm-inistrative training is currently unavailable. HEIs are poorly run and lack professional mana-gement. There must be a shift in higher educat-i-on towards professional management, to eff-ec-tively manage the system. Vice chancellors should att-end leadership programmes; other adm-inistra-tive staff should be required to attend formal training programmes in university admi-nistration; and aca-demic staff should be required to attend facu-l-ty development programmes. The effectiveness of governance models used by HEIs affects recru-itment, training and retention of proactive admi-nistrators and academics. HEIs should be enc-o-u-raged to establish human resou-rce management departments as service departments to man-age human resources, both aca-d-emic and adm-inistrative, to ensure efficient governance. Academic planning, recruitment methodologies including headhunting, retention strategies, staff development and training, pers-onal and professi-onal counselling, must be ado-pted. To focus on qua-lity teaching, research and learning, an effective grievance redress system must be in place to address problems of students and employees in safety, security and facilities, among other things.
There is also a pressing need to conceptua-lise and implement e-governance progra-m-mes, as well as to develop an ERP system for universities to ensure a smooth flow of information between administration and students, staff and public, as well as to improve speed and quality of internal operations, while also providing a user-friendly interface for outsiders. With measurable results in terms of a substantial -red-uction in use and movement of paper, time taken to provide information, reduced delays, cost savings, environmental conservation and use of information and communication technology (ICT)--enabled tools, productivity, efficiency and customer satisfaction would improve. Verification of academic transcripts via traditional time- and labour- consuming methods must be consigned to the past. Institutions must employ modern -too-ls using AI and blockchain to accomplish tasks faster, quicker and cheaper, with greater -effi-c-ie-ncy and trust.
The teaching-learning process must be effective for all students to achieve defined learning outco-mes and graduate attributes that have a long-term, significant and positive impact on their thinking, conduct and attitude. This is at the heart of the edu-cational system and is essential for promoting high-quality higher education. To change prevailing pedagogic practices, teachers must be trained in technology-enabled servi-ces and provided with institutional support. It is also critical that HEIs use the best teaching--learning practices from around the world. Pro-moting effective global pedagogies and ass-e-s-sment practices, continuing professional development for faculty, and developing techno-logy-enabled learning ecosystems that are appr-opriate for current and future needs, are all imp-ortant factors in ensuring best teaching--lear-n-ing processes. Overemphasis on external assessment of students with insufficient formative ass-essments was a major issue during the Covid-19 crisis. A mismatch between degrees and comp-etencies has resulted in a crisis of legitimacy for examination and qualification systems. Learning assessment must become an assessm-e-nt for learning. In this context, the teacher’s role is to ass-ist each student in developing their learning style. When learning opportunities are created for students with clear goals and teachers are invol-v-ed, learning will occur. Individuals’ innate qualities must be assessed based on their interests, ski-lls, personality, competence and cap-ability for achieving excellence.
In most HEIs, pedagogical practices still primarily focus on rote learning and lecture methods, with little opportunity for participatory and colla-borative learning that promotes critical thinking, analysis and application. Syllabi and course structures remain rigid and narrow, and there is a lack of holistic approach to knowledge and skill acquisition, which today is multi-disciplinary, inter-disci-plinary and cross-disciplinary. There is a com-pelling case for moving away from a teacher--centric teaching paradigm toward a student-cent-ric learning paradigm that is more exp-erie-nce--based and capable of igniting stude-nts’ imaginations. Internet and social media, such as Google and WhatsApp, can be used in regular tea-ching-learning, to shift from a centra-lised to a lea-r-ning-centric system, benefiting both students and teachers. The focus should be on blended lea-rning, which includes a mix of flipped and online classroom activities. The imp-lementation of this strategy will necessitate ong-oing teacher training and capacity building. Ado-ption of emerging teac-hing approaches such as higher-order thinking, outcome-based learning and blended learning, can help create effect-ive pedagogies. To improve the learning exp-er-ience and address problems faced by mult-ilingual students in accordance with their learning style and language, the learning management system must be made student cent-ric. Videos, film clips, TV clips, animations, LMS, MOODLE, online attendance system and other tools can be used to improve this. Open-source toolkits can be used to seamlessly integrate technology and education. We can improve, supplem-e-nt, reinvent and transform the teaching-learning proc-ess using technology.
The concept of National Academic Credit Bank (NACB), which aims to create a repository of cre-dits from various institutions that are easily transferable, should be promoted. In addition to full degree programmes, this will allow admission to a university for specific courses. The degree can be awarded by the university where the student has earned most credits while meeting minimum requirements. The approach to achieving a synergistic effect among universities should be to plan and collaborate, so that access, equity and quality can be maintained and improved. The higher education system will have to be redesigned and reth-ought to achieve this. Recruiting good faculty and improving teacher quality at the school level will have a direct impact on higher education’s gross enrolment ratio and quality.
In Indian HEIs, the opportunity for induction training for newly hired faculty to initiate professional preparation and continuing professional development of incumbent faculty is limited. As a result, they do not have enough opportunities to improve teaching, research and scholarship perf-ormance; learning about new fields/frontiers; app-lying new pedagogies, instructional delivery models and technology to enhance learning; and to achieve excellence in research and scholarship. Teaching is a profession in which teachers’ perso-nalities have an impact on their students. As a res-ult, proper orientation for do’s and don’ts, as well as portfolio management—as important compon-ents of a teacher’s personality—should be provi-d-ed at the time of hiring and during continuing professional development programmes. One of most important responsibilities of the faculty is to instil in students a constructive mindset and positive attitude toward society and environment, as well as to encourage them to think and learn beyond facts, in order to create a sustainable fut-ure. It is critical to develop the instructors’ capacity in this area.
The government should establish higher education research and development centres to address all teaching-related issues in universities, as well as to identify and develop technology-enabled sol-utions for teachers to use in the teaching--learning process. This centre can provide frequ-e-nt training in the practice of pedagogy and assessment to faculty members of universities and affiliated colle-g--es to keep up with global dev-elopments. In this era of ICT, it is critical to ens-ure that all HEIs have state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a technology-enabled/assisted learning ecosystem. The use of technology in education to improve skills and learning process of both teachers and students (video, ICT, open education reso-urces, self-learning modules, etc.) should be enc-ouraged. Upscaling of HEIs to global standa-rds necessitates the development of a technology--enabled learning ecosystem. Sma-rt-phones are now widely used by students. It’s necessary to det-ermine their utility in teaching and learning. Fac-u-lty must be kept up to date on technological dev-elopments, in order to improve their teaching abilities. Faculty should be offered speci-ally desig-ned programmes to promote technology-enabled teaching.
As India aspires to progress through sustainable development and become a world leader, it must be at the forefront of knowledge creation, resea-r-ch and innovation (R&I). In this mission, India’s young demographic must be made an eff-ective dividend. This will necessitate a three-pro-nged approach. To begin with, we must produce high--quality human resources that are comparable to the best in the world, with a thorough understan-ding of research and innovation methods, as well as critical- and out-of-the-box thinking skills. Sec-ondly, there is a pressing need to establish a large number of interconnected global excellence cent-res as drivers of research and innovation, with stro-ng ties to society and economy. Thirdly, there is a need to shift the foc-us of research and innovation funding from fundamental to applied areas, with a focus on nat-i-onal priorities. If India wants to progress through sustainable development while taking advantage of its demographic dividend, it needs to invest in research and innovation to become a leader in knowledge creation.
HEIs must incorporate the structure and functions of innovation and ideation cells into their research policies, in order to create an ecosystem for research and innovation. The concept of und-ergraduate research in groups should be introdu-ced in Indian universities and colleges, as they serve as a feeder line for higher-level research. The university should patent student inventions that are supported by faculty members and have used university infrastructure. Faculty should be rewarded for high-quality research and patents with quick advancement in their careers. Inn-o-va-tion centres in universities should act as an int-er-face between ‘problem space’ and ‘solution space’, identifying problems for industry, government and society, presenting them to faculty and stud-ents for research and/or consultancy. Univ-e-rsities should collaborate with businesses and each univ-ersity should have a policy involving at least one business. All state universities need to build a basic scientific infrastructure and get more rese-a-rch fellowships allocated. Universities must impr-ove collaboration with institutes and universities in India and abroad to increase publications in high-end international journals. Col-la-b-oration among HEIs is needed to encoura-ge mul-ti--discip-linary research activities. It is necessary to prom-o-te international collaboration in research.
India currently ranks poorly in international rankings. There are no Indian institutions in the top 100 of the QS rankings for 2020; there are three in the top 200, eight in the top 500, and 21 in the top 1,000. This speaks volumes about our inte-rnational presence. To ensure that India’s Higher Education System is ranked among the best, the government must take steps to improve higher education excellence, which includes:
- Building academic reputation by improving quality of teaching and research, doctorate--ratio, institutional income, research income, international collaboration, recognition won by alumni and faculty, faculty awards, hono-urs and prizes for excellence in global rank-ings.
- Building employer reputation, with a focus on producing effective and innovative graduates for the job market, as well as on industry connections.
- International student ratio, with an emphasis on admission of more international stude-nts, partic-ularly from neighbouring countries.
- International faculty ratio, with an emphasis on hiring of more international faculty.
- Funding with a focus on innovation and ent-re-preneurship.
- Individual performance, by launching a nat-i-onal and international search for exceptional faculty and students.
HEIs must consider changing educational dyn-a-mics globally and align curriculum to emerging challenges, with a clear industry interface. It is necessary to hire thinkers and innovators who have advanced skills that meet international sta-ndards. Branding and marketing Indian institutions through various channels, including social media, is critical. Faculty and student exchange programmes, both within and outside the country, should be encouraged to foster collaborati-ons. To improve rankings, students must map their skills to industry expectations, to ensure they are adequately prepared for employment and entrepreneurship. The most important res-earch outputs are publications in high-impact journals.
Future Skill Development
The ancient Indian educational system emphas-i-sed on holistic development of students by intr-o-d-ucing them to higher-order cognitive skills, cri-tical thinking, challenging prejudices, preparing them to earn a living and developing value systems to produce humans with higher intellig-ence and ethics. Universities in the 21st century must ensure all that, in addition to producing knowledgeable and skilled graduates with a strong value system, so that they can contribute to the social, cultural and economic developm-e-nt of the country, while working toward UN’s 17 sustainable dev-elopment goals. Universities and other HEIs must prepare students for a technology-enabled, student-centric education parad-igm with a strong focus on employability.
Students in the 21st century will need a great deal of flexibility in their teaching-learning pedagogies, with multiple entry and exit points. Uni-versities would be required to focus on a blended approach to teaching and learning, where stude-nts would have the freedom to design their own learning path and learn at their own pace, consi-dering the dynamism of the environment and the ever-changing landscape. Higher education after Covid-19 will be a completely different, with students having access to numerous online resources and teachers not being expected to dis-seminate information. Instead, students would be required to learn about creativity and design thinking in order to be prepared to solve complex problems. With the dynamism of the environment and the ever-changing academic landscape in mind, universities should focus on a blended education approach that allows stude-nts to design their own courses based on their aptitude, need and desire. AI, robotics, virtual and augmented reality, big data analysis, 3D printing, IOT, blockchain and other modern technological solutions must all be included in the curriculum.
Go International
The vocational education and training (VET) mod--els of countries such as China, Germany and Switzerland must be adapted to promote vocati-o-nal training in higher education. To incorporate international experience in student/scholar trai-ning, a provision for external exposure of stude-n--ts and faculty at various stages must be made. Uni-versities should promote youth mobility in both directions—sending faculty and students to other countries and inviting faculty and students from other countries to India. This could lead to better course design, training programmes, pedagogy, research and innovation, and development of an entrepreneurial mindset among students. Int-ernational events can be organised in universities to provide students with international expos-ure in areas such as culture, habits, customs, geo--graphies, climatic conditions, linguistics, cuis-ine, dress codes and other aspects of different countries, in addition to academics and research.
To promote innovation in local skills and traditions, the university’s entrepreneurship activit-i-es should be paired with international funding orga-nisations and local communities. Graduate stude-n-ts should have access to entrepreneurship courses through a choice-based credit system. Faculty of all subjects should rec-e-i-ve specialised orientation and training so that they can incorporate this component into their teaching. The focus must be on incubation and mentoring of aspiring entrepreneurs, with sector--specific goals. As a result, sector-specific skill-bas-e-d learning could be designed for nati-onal and international employment and entrepreneurial growth.
Reform Regulatory Frameworks
Regulatory reforms are needed to ensure that ski-ll curriculum can be introduced in universities with a great deal of flexibility, allowing stud-ents to choose skill sets based on their personal interests and preferences. A mechanism must be developed to allow universities to recognise individual stud-ents’ strengths and interests, and to incorporate necessary components into the curriculum (flexible curricular complementing one’s interests). Skill orientation should be inst-i-lled in children as early as primary school and car-ried through to hig-her education. The departments of school and higher education must coll-aborate to develop a continuum in educational qualification frameworks. Governments and regulatory bodies must give HEIs a great deal of aut-onomy to promote skill education, which should be treated as an int-egral part of the syst-em. The need of the hour is for a strong mechanism to strengthen academia--industry linkages and engagement.
Think Globally
Steps such as improving infrastructure, internationalising curriculum, easing visa rules and add-ressing Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) issues, appointing foreign faculty, forging international collaborations, flexibility in admission cycles and multiple entries and exit rules, sho-uld be taken to promote internationalisation. It is necessary to comprehend the international audience’s perceptions of Indian education and to promote brand building with a proactive appro-a-ch, highlighting India’s achievements and stre-n-gths. For foreign faculty and students, universities must build international facilities on their camp-uses. To promote Indian education, they should invite experts from foreign universities and hold workshops, seminars, conferences, webinars and other activities regularly. To build the brand of Indian higher education in India and abroad, alumni must be heavily leveraged.
Dual degrees and training programmes with universities other than the parent university should be made more accessible. For visas and FRRO, which should be provided with fewer formalities and fees, internationalisation necessit-a-tes a lot of help from government and em-b-a-ssies. Initiatives by the Government of India to prom-ote Indian higher education abroad through the ‘Study in India’ programme must be popularised through international collaboration, workshops, seminars, and social media, among other things. Reorientation of course curricula is required to be consistent with market trends, self-employment avenues and industry requirements, to move forward in capturing the market. Keeping in mind international trends in academic rese-a-rch and national interests, research areas must be identified and prioritised for international collaboration. Central bodies should consider creating an online portal to foster national and international collaborations in the areas of teaching and research.
To attract international students, HEIs should build world-class infrastructure, including international hostels, and revise curricula with an int-ernational orientation. Visa rules should be sim-plified, providing easy entry and exit. Enric-h-ing classroom experience with a focus on learning pedagogy; a robust evaluation process, in-n--o-vative courses, global outreach; flexibility in teaching-learning; internationalisation of ent-ra-nce examinations; issuing work permits for inte-rnational students; a flexible and uniform credit transfer system and academic credit exchange, must be systematised and seamlessly aligned int-ernationally. This will make international stud-e-nt mobility easier, both for inbound and out-bound students.
To assist universities in promoting internati-o-nalisation, a network of international educat-ors, similar to NAFSA (National Association of For-e-i-gn Student Advisers) in India, is needed. To spell out measures and regulations on various aspects of internationalisation, a draft policy on internationalisation of higher education is requ-ired. The policy should include modalities for promoting internationalisation, such as requiring all universities with international students to establish a mechanism, including an Inter-na-tional Students’ Office, to address international students’ conce-r-ns and cultural sensitivity. It is desirable to prov-ide residence and to involve int-ernational stu-dents in various cultural activities to familiarise them with the local or indigenous culture.
It is very important for Indian higher education institutions to promote internationalisation in the post-Covid era, in order to achieve desired cre-dibility and visibility among relevant national and global circles. Universities, governments and apex higher education bodies must work together in this regard. Enriching students’ experiences—both inside and outside the classroom—is one of the most important factors in -attracting foreign students to Indian institutions, as is sensitising our diplomatic missions abroad to attract foreign students looking for educatio-nal opportunities in India. Universities should actively involve Indian embassies in promoting benefits of India’s higher education in other cou-ntries. The role of policymakers is just as important as that of universities in order to stand out in the international market. Interaction of the Ministry of Human Resource Development and other apex bodies with various ministries in -Ind-ia, to simplify policies and regul-ations, as well as to provide infrastructure and hum-an -resource support to encourage foreign students to study in Indian universities, can serve as a -catalyst in this endeavour.
Conclusion
Higher education must keep up with emerging tre-nds and prepare students for life in future, due to the rapid changes in the field of IT, which are leading to faster and more profound changes in the social and cultural milieu. As a result, teaching should be futuristic, to prepare students for an unknown future in which the game’s rules have changed. At the same time, it should strive to preserve our traditional knowledge, skills, values, virtues and culture. Higher education should not be viewed as a means of obtaining a degree to obtain a job, but as a means of realising one’s full potent-ial. Indeed, education encourages critical thinking as well as the acquisition of skills such as pro-blem-solving, reasoning, rationalisation, visu-alisation, design thinking and innovation. Finally, the goal of higher education is to -develop best minds to meet demands of time and society. It is high time for India to reflect on and develop a tea-ching-learning and research ecosystem for higher education that is in tune with societal needs and capable of -responding to current and future chall-enges. This is the time to reimagine Indian unive-r-sities and create institutions that matter.
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Dr Karthick Sridhar is Vice Chairman of -Indian Centre for -Academic Rankings & Excellence (ICARE), and one of the -architects of India’s first -government-approved Academic Audit & Rating Agency
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