Revamping Higher Education for the Future: A Holistic Plan

The periodic exchange of faculty between academia and industry, coupled with ongoing educational initiatives and experiential programs, creates mutually beneficial outcomes for both parties. Similarly, student reforms such as the National Credit Framework and Multiple Entry Multiple Exit aim to enhance flexibility and employability. However, a pragmatic approach is needed to accelerate their implementation.

Reforming Higher Education for the Future: A Comprehensive Approach

The seamless exchange of personnel between academia and industry, facilitated by sabbaticals, continuing education programs, experiential visits, and mentoring initiatives, has proven mutually beneficial for both sectors. However, on the student front, existing reforms such as the National Credit Framework (NCrF), Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), and Multiple Entry Multiple Exit (MEME) mechanisms, while aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, necessitate a pragmatic and prescriptive approach to accelerate their implementation.

The evolving workplace demands necessitate a proactive restructuring of curricula to equip students with the skills required for their first job market entry. This transformative process, which fosters both faculty development and graduate employability, is a win-win strategy, regardless of its implementation sequence.

Finance remains a critical resource for the growth and sustainability of higher education institutions, both public and private. Public universities, including prestigious entities like IITs, IIMs, Central Universities, and CFTIs, generally enjoy an advantage in securing funding. In contrast, state universities face challenges in meeting their financial obligations. Private universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) rely on bank financing, philanthropic grants, and tuition fees. While tuition fees should ideally constitute a smaller portion of financial resources, the current financing model demands innovative solutions. This may entail tax reforms related to public charitable trusts and educational institutions, as well as consortia-based access to debt and bond funds in domestic and international markets.

As stated by Girish Mathrubootham, Founder-CEO of Freshworks, "The worst case scenario for a failed entrepreneur is an assured job." This perspective resonates strongly with the belief that entrepreneurship should be fostered within college campuses. Existing initiatives like the Atal Innovation Mission, Technology Business Incubators, and Startup India Seed Fund, while necessary, are insufficient to stimulate entrepreneurial spirit among students. Industry collaboration is essential, extending beyond the traditional IIT pathway, recognizing that innovation often originates beyond academic hubs. Isolated ideas require industry partnerships for market entry and scaling support, creating job providers as the best-case outcome and job seekers in the worst-case scenario.

The 2019 admissions scandal involving prestigious North American universities, including Yale, Stanford, and Georgetown, highlighted unethical practices in the admissions process. Similar concerns exist within Indian professional college admissions, where capitation fees, dynamic fee-based seat allotment, merit list manipulation, revenue-driven entrance exams, and coaching classes have proliferated. Michael Sandel, in his work "The Tyranny of Merit," advocates for a common good that transcends political divisions. Access to equitable educational opportunities can be achieved through a balanced combination of high school and entrance exam scores, independently determined by central, state, and private HEIs.

The first 100 days of reform are crucial for all sectors, including higher education. This period should focus on empowering universities, enhancing faculty capabilities, fostering graduate employability, expanding institutional capacity, stimulating entrepreneurial spirit, and ensuring equitable access to education. These five pillars represent a comprehensive roadmap for transforming higher education in India.

S Vaidhyasubramaniam

Vice-Chancellor, SASTRA Deemed University

vaidhya@sastra.edu