Transforming India Through Quality Higher

Education*

--Anil Kakodkar

* 34th Vikram Sarabhai Memorial LectureAhmedabad Management Association

October 27, 2012

Prime Drivers for India’s Further Development-- Our youth population / GER / bridging disparities through affirmative actions

-- Create entrepreneurs ( job providers at higher levels in

the value chain) rather than just job seekers (Student centric, development oriented quality education and skills training rooted in Indian societal values)

-- Maximise globally competitive domestic value addition (products and services) -- Domestic Innovation and Technology. Effective engagement with emerging A3 ( any one, any time, any where ) connected society

-- Policies and practices that generate wealth particularly at the bottom of pyramid

-- Maximise benefits of ICT in each of above areas

Evolving modes of value creation

Raw resources

Value added materials & products

Technology

Innovation

Towards knowledge driven development & economy. Key to deal with depleting resources and environmental stability

Clearly quality higher education is the key

Skills &trainingVocational Education

Education &Research

Hands on capability built through structured training and apprenticeship

Exposure to procedural knowledge and training

Progressive structured expansion of knowledge envelope

Every student should have a choice of concurrent education & training in all learning domains including opportunities to

do so across institutions

Educational Institutions / Learning Domains

We should be able to catalyse the process towards student centric education in a Meta University framework

Ideal Higher Education SystemShould encompass the following:• Learning & scholarship all the way up to current

frontiers of knowledge• Research that pushes the frontiers of knowledge• Technology at the cutting edge• Innovations to address the problems and opportunities

in the industry/society• Entrepreneurship that generates wealth in the society• Sensitivity towards society and environment rooted in

Indian values

On a scale commensurate with the needs of Indian youth population

World-class University

Magnets to attract more

talent at all levels,

fascinating ideas to work

on

Flexibility to nurture

talent, ability to

adjust to specific

needs, ambiance for

innovation

Massive support to

high performers,

mobility and

exchange of

researchers

Engagement with industry, society, government, alumni and other stake holders

Ability to innovate governance systems

6

Higher education Institutions• Universities -- State, Central, deemed

• Institutions specially set up IITs, NITs, IIITs, IISERs, NISER, IIMs etc.

• Institutions engaged in research and development in a given area

All these institutions should progressively become world class and serve Indian needs

Situation as at present • Low in global ranking• Inadequate mutual confidence between

industry/society and university• Limited mobility of academics to

industry/society and vice versa• Most students as they graduate are

unemployable• Limited role in development process

Linkage between Govt. and University

Apex advisory cum supervisory council

MAHED

Academic and development council

Functions: Nurture excellence in Higher education Oversee and promote education and development as an integrated activity MAHED to play a central role in apptt. of VCs All Univs to be answerable to MAHED Facilitation for Universities to perform MAHED to define govt. funding policy for Univs.

Broad political mandate

Professional facilitation group with respect for autonomy

University –Multidisciplinary centre of learning and development

• Should be a holistic learning environment that enriches students with new knowledge and skills

• Nurture innovation & problem solving capability relevant to contemporary context

• An University must have a large enough fully developed campus with multidisciplinary approach

• Host education and globally competitive research activities that are alive to the dynamics in the neighborhood

• Host research parks, incubators, projects of societal relevance on the campus

• Locate a campus in or adjoining a SEZ

University –Multidisciplinary centre of learning and development --- contd.

• Should contribute to capable human resource as well as guide emerging socio-economic transformation

• Autonomous Governance that nurtures all-round excellence including in colleges

• Liberal availability of financial resources • Should support high quality UG education in an

ambiance of high quality research

Need more campuses – eventually one per district – develop new campuses before dividing an university

Borderless interaction between Education, R&D, Industry and Society

1) Flexible Networking opportunities

2) Mobility of Students, Scientists and Entrepreneurs

3) Life long learning

4) Ability to selectively deploy resources on worthy ideas

5) Choice of programmes based on problems that need to be solved rather than the problems that can be solved

Innovation Eco- system Theory Fundamental Experiments ResearchEducation Applied Technology Scale Commerci-

Research Development up -alisation

SkillsStudents

Teachers Researchers Entrepreneurs

Skilled / qualified workers for industry / society

Traditional Knowledge Product/Process Development

Incubation of TechnologyResearch Parks

Commercial--isation

Skill development• A skill development program (both soft as well

as hard skills) for undergraduate students as an add on to existing curriculum in all disciplines is necessary

• Skill development to be a compulsory non-credit program

• Delivery of skills through - in house facilities in colleges, specially created facility in each district/taluka to be used in time sharing mode and out sourcing

• Govt., industry and colleges to co-partner establishment and management of such facilities

Autonomy and Governance• VC to be the sole academic and administrative

head supported by a Statuary Adv. Committee• Academics led peer based management• Mature peer processes rather than electioneering

should prevail• Autonomous working with assured funding on the

basis of predefined norms• All stakeholders represented in management• Society Partnership Council (SOUL) to replace

SENATE• Three component curriculum i) Core component ii)

inter-disciplinary component iii) vocational component• 360 degree evaluation and graded reward system

University Funding• Grant priority to HE sector. Create special financial and

administrative instruments/ concessions to raise resources for universities. In today’s context public investments in higher education would be most rewarding

• A campus would typically require around 200 crores capital investment and around 15 crores recurring expenditure in addition to salaries and R&D outlays

• Confer status of Special Planning Authority to university campuses under Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning act duly overseen by MAHED. Done with care this would enrich learning environment

• Hopefully non- government financial support would improve with credible autonomy in place

• Establish professional finance management system

STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE QUALITY

•A key to excellence is high quality faculty. Presence of high caliber researchers from proximate institutions, not only would enrich the programmes but also create attractions for better faculty and students.

•Set up centers involving better institutions with complimentary interests/mandate

•Make institutions more autonomous and independent

•Establish collaborations with better institutions

•Encourage mobility of faculty to other institutions for collaborative activities

•Internal quality system with external audit/review for all activities and processes

Autonomous Examination Boards• To minimise distraction from core university

activities, work load of conducting examinations particularly at UG level should be entrusted to an autonomous examination board of the university. Such Boards would conduct examinations in accordance with the stipulations of the university.

• Uniform modular credit based academic structure and a well designed ICT support would facilitate movement towards a learner centric approach

ICT in Higher education• Distance learning

• Education and evaluation

• Working and learning together from geographically different locations

• Open platforms for research and problem solving

• Quick scale up of access

• E-enabled governance, services and student support systems

• Set up EDUNET along with comprehensive ICT infrastructure in all universities

Opportunities available under NKN to be quickly exploited

Rural Development Livelihood in rural areas has become a major issue

Results in a more rapid migration to urban centers and consequent strain on urban infrastructure and societal hygiene

There are several opportunities for development and wealth generation in rural areas

Knowledge and technology inputs can make a significant difference

Attracting bright talent with right mind set and creation of a high level knowledge centre engaged

with the neighborhood can be the game changer

Linking large rural domains to NKN with broad band wireless connectivity for initiating knowledge

Village 1

Village 2

Village 3

Village 4

Village 5 Village 6

Boys & Girls Hostel

+Staff Quarters

+Sports Complex

Guest House

Management Body

Education &

Skill Training

ResearchDevelopment

& Entrepreneurship

50 villages Sarpanch

&Gramsabha

Users

NKN

.

.

.

.

Linkage with National Laboratory

(Tech. Guidance &

Expertise)

Rural Human & Resource Dev. Fac.

LandBldg.

Budget

Iterim StaffTraining & Implem Team

Project Executers & Village Users

TechnologiesExpert Guidence

Nisargruna+

PowerGeneration

SCHOOL

.

Centre for Entrepreneurship

Promotion

Integrated Fruit Processing

Grapes+Banana+Pomgranate

Tissue Culture Lab

RIA, SOCDK, LLL

Field Service &

consultation

Water Filter & Isotope Hydrology

Seed Bank Irradiator &

Cold Storage

Multipurpose Knowledge

CentreGovt.

Schemes, Fin., Insurance

CILLAGE

Linking large rural domains to NKN with broad band wireless connectivity for initiating knowledge driven development

• Setting up educational townships with modern amenities away from major cities would contribute to development in rural areas and equitable distribution of wealth across the State

• Needs better connectivity

Rural education/development outreach

Low cost tablets with broad band connectivity to compliment conventional teaching mode, make education more student centric and induce improvement in teaching / mentoring with existing teachers

Low cost wireless broad band with around 20 – 25 KM range to be demonstrated

Locally produced solar/wind/biomass power

Rural University/ higher education campus with Akrutis (AAdvanceddvanced K Knowledgenowledge based based RU RUral ral TTechnologyechnology I Initiativenitiative) ) in the neighborhood to be sustained promoters of community learning and development in the area

Education and Science promotion through commons movement

All knowledge resources to be available to users free of cost Open education resources (OER) in local language

Wiki process to enlarge OER with oversight

Science activity centres / science based community development programmes

SVERI, Gopalpur pilot project connectivity

• A pilot project is planned at SVERI, Gopalpur to study feasibility. Technology/Cost Analysis/Contents creation-Sharing/Effect on student/etc.

1. NIC/BARC - NKN connectivity to DAE out reach centre at SVERI: High bandwidth 100 Mbps with Low latency and Internet access

2. M/S Nicheken: Wi-Fi broad band connectivity to 5 Schools (within approx.10-12 km distance) from NKN enabled point at SVERI

3. IIT/Bombay: Akash tablets, software and contents

4. MKCL/HBCSE/(SNDT?): e-course content in Marathi for schools 5. RGSTF : Financial support

• Uninterrupted power provided from three sources: Normal AC supply, Rechargeable Battery and Solar

Rural school at Anavali linked to NKN at SVERI Gopalpur

The objective of this workshop was to

Empower Traditional Indian

Artist through Advanced

Technology to Earn Livelihood.

Warli paintings, Kalamkari, Madhubani, Thewa art, Bhitti Chitra and Phad Chitra can be

popularised through advanced technology route for upliftment &

empowerment of Traditional Artists from

Rural & Tribal background.

Such an eco-system would facilitate following key aspects of human resource

and societal development• Education and research that is relevant to needs of

neighbourhood.

• Innovation eco-system based of traditional as well as latest acquisitions in knowledge.

• Transfer of Knowledge Applications.

• Opportunities for Local Businesses.

• Training and Human Resource Development.

• Community Infrastructure.

• Livelihood Opportunities.

• Protection of Environment, Heritage and Culture.

DNA of rural developmentGroup

Knowledge institution

Advanced Knowledge based rural technology initiative (AKRUTI)

Financial institutions

University campus / College /R&D Centre

ICT enabled education outreach

Scale up and replication

Individual support

Livelihood

Group Support

Skills

Technology needs

Technology

Product ideas

Public Funded Human Resource Dev. Programme

Rural innovation and development

Financial inclusion

Key Challenges• World class research at a level commensurate

India’s size and needs.

• Faculty growth – primarily through PhD programme

• To become magnets to attract and retain talent

• To impact on education, research and technology scene in the country as a whole

31

IITs are at the right level to aim higher--to transform India to be a techno-innovation power house

• Excellence at global level --Each IIT can identify 3-4 areas of recognised strength and strive to be among the

best in the world -- Preferential support to such areas on the basis of broad based peer assessment• Research and innovation culture --10,000 PhDs in engineering and technology every year --Research Parks at all IITs --Entrepreneurship development• National technological capability in all important areas --Large programs of national importance in multi group and multi institutional mode --Socio-economic ministries to establish labs in IITs --PSUs and others to set up additional labs at IITs• High quality graduate engineers in large enough numbers --IITs to engage with NITs, NIITs, IISERs and other institutions --100,000 (may be more) high quality graduates every year as feeder pool for PhD

program as well as for other segments32

Why Govt. should grant greater autonomy to IITs?

• Almost a prerequisite to be world class

• To explore new pathways to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship

• To generate confidence in prospective donors

• To be in a better position to attract and nurture excellence

(This does not mean compromise on accountability in terms of objectives and deliverables)

33

Ideon Science Park Hans Möller 2008-04-21

Sony Ericsson

Gambro

Active Biotech

Astra Zeneca

500 m

University Hospital

BMC

MAX-lab

Chemical Centre

LTH

School of Economics

Ecology Centre

IdeonSciencePark

Vent

ureL

ab

Ideon Innovation Ideon Science Park

Vent

ureC

up

LU In

novation

Teknopol

CONNECT

Industrifonden etcTeknoseed

Lumitec

Preseed

from Innovation Bridge & Lund

University Development

Soft Lo

ans

Gran

ts a

nd

verifi

catio

n m

oney

Business

Angels

Innovation System in Lund

Ven Capital Advisors Environment Process Idea Generation

EducationResearch

Idea

Development

Start

Growth

Project

Ideon Business

Lund Jobs

Society

Industry

Ideon Bioincubator

LIFT

Some new initiatives that need to be scaled up

Homi Bhabha National Institute Promote research on the interface of basic sciences and technology

National Institute for Science Education and Research and IISERs Integrated M.Sc. Program in an ambiance of high level research

DAE – MU Centre of Basic Sciences Enriching existing Universities through participation of proximate

institutions

Thank you