Q/ How would you rate the pandemic as a catalyst for change in the education system?
A/ It has given us the confidence that we can adapt quickly to technology. It took the teachers longer to adapt, but they did, ultimately. A lot of systems we have introduced right now are in response to the situation. Not everything will last. But it has made us relook at established beliefs in a new light. For instance, virtual learning aids show that physical attendance in the classroom is not that vital to learning. The classroom lecture should be stimulating enough for the student to want to attend it, instead of catching it online. Indian higher education is going through a bigger transition, the pandemic is only one event.
Q/ Please elaborate.
A/ The biggest transition is the need of the student. We rue that because of poor economic growth, campus recruitments are coming down. But getting a job at the end of the degree is no longer the outlook of many students. The idea that an MBBS graduate should go into the field of medicine or an agriculture graduate become a farmer or researcher is also passé. Today’s graduates do not look at degrees as career limitations. They want the sky open to them. They want the choice to go into administration, research or entrepreneurship, irrespective of what degree they take. We need to understand this.
Another big transition in our education is the large number of female students in our colleges. Even in agricultural colleges, earlier a male domain, 70 per cent of the students are now female.
Q/ How would you rate the quality of Indian higher education?
A/ We have been able to meet the demand for colleges. There are nearly 1,000 universities and 40,000 colleges in India, almost on par with China. We, however, need to have good quality standards. China is doing this, integrating institutes and developing them to be top class.
Our private sector has all types of institutions. But to develop them, we need to put money into education, and yet, give institutions enough autonomy. If their research is tied to funding, how will they grow? I believe the growth will be more in private institutions. Most public institutions today are only running on past glory. We need to have a serious rethink on how to fund these colleges before they become sick. Look at JNU, where even hostels are subsidised on taxpayers’ money. That is not how higher education should be funded.
Q/ What are your suggestions for becoming world-class?
A/ First, we need to change our idea of world-class. Getting a ranking from an international agency is no validation. That system of ranking is developed for western institutions, which cater to the needs of their society. Our institutions should first cater to the needs of our people. You become world-class not by replicating another world-class [institution]. You become one when you are so good in your area that there is no other like you. Be original. Why would anyone go to a place that is like Harvard, when they can go to Harvard?
I believe my university is the best in its class. It is producing high-quality seeds for the farmers in the country, even if it does not fit into a world ranking. We need to develop this pride in ourselves. Many of our technological institutions are better than foreign ones but are not projected that way.
Q/ Teachers need to change, what about students?
A/ Today’s youth is much smarter and more intelligent. They are savvier than their teachers, perhaps the first such generation to be so. Of course, they are more comfortable with technology than the older generation, but even otherwise, they are a smarter lot. I have great admiration for today’s generation.