Internationalisation is central to academic success in the 21st century. In this context, evaluate the steps taken by GoI to create globally competitive higher educational institutions in India and discuss the challenges therein. (200 words)
Refer – The Hindu
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
Shankaranand 6 years
Please Review
Thank You
IAS Parliament 6 years
Include evaluation of how far do the steps taken help to achieve the objective. Keep writing.
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
Steps taken
· NIRF – provides basis for differentiating among colleges and universities; forces participating institutions to submit critical data; permitting government to make key decisions.
· There are allegations that a few private institutions manipulate the process.
· Institutions of Eminence project – recognise 20 universities and provide significant government funds to the public institutions and give enhanced autonomy for them.
· But, upgrading 20 or more universities to world-class quality will be complex and take time, consistent funding, probably at a scale beyond what is envisaged in current plans.
· Graded Autonomy project – provides considerable freedom for academic, financial and administrative innovation to the colleges participating.
· But, freedom from the bureaucratic shackles of government is not easy to attain.
· Recently a government-to-government MoU was signed between India and France to mutually recognise academic qualifications, a historic development.
· However, the inability in recent years to pass legislation relating to foreign branch campuses and other relationships with overseas universities remains a key challenge.
Way forward
· The national ranking initiative needs to be extended throughout the higher education system and requires simplification.
· Ensure universities to be headed by imaginative leaders.
· Focus beyond Asian and African countries. For example, students and post-docs from Western countries for short-term study will provide new ideas.
