From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 10: Lack of quality higher education and the failure of any of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to reach the ranking of world’s top research institutions, which hampers career prospects, are the main reasons for the preference of Indian students to study abroad, says a joint study by ASSOCHAM-Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) on 'Realigning Skilling towards Make in India'.’

Consequently, higher educational institutions and IITs are losing roughly $ 6-7 billion (approx. Rs 45,000 crore) annually that the Indian students are spending on their higher education abroad as they are seeking greener pastures in foreign universities with a miniscule number of them choosing to return home.

“Indians spend about $ 6-7 billion every year in sending their children abroad for higher education. It is not just the elite who spend generously on a good education and credentials but the middle class families also spend their life time savings to educating their children abroad", the study noted.

While the IITs with an annual enrolment of 10,000-15,000 focus only the brightest of the bright, not a single great worldwide patent has emerged nor have they produced a single Nobel Laureate.

“This is despite the government pouring thousands of millions of rupees into their establishment and upkeep,’’ the study noted.

While most of the IITians choose to go abroad for research, they do not return home after obtaining their doctoral programmes.

Another reason for low commitment and resources for the research in the institutions of higher learning is that 90 per cent of the state and central funding goes into payment of salaries and overhead costs and building of new physical infrastructure, depriving almost no funds for research and innovation.

There is also the problem of political interference. "Political interference and using universities as hubs for political activities only compounds the problems. Outdated curriculums, teachers and student unions ensure that status quo is preserved,’’ the study said.

It said UGC and AICTE and other such councils have virtually had an archival stranglehold over policy and have stifled any possible innovation and new ways of thinking.

"Our education system is just living in ancient history even in subjects like sciences and engineering", the study said.

The study suggested setting up of a National Higher Education Commission (NHEC), an independent regulator on the lines of SEBI or CVC (Central Vigilance Commission). The proposed NHEC must ensure mandatory quality rating of all universities and institutions of higher learning, be they government, state, autonomous or private.
The proposed body must also create under it a think tank of enlightened persons from different walks even from those with rural background to assess the need, demand and changing technology for use in education.

The ASSOCHAM paper also suggested stopping direct funding of central and state universities which should be allowed to charge rational fees to cover their costs and provide funds for research and development.

“Though Indian higher education system is the largest in the world in terms of institutions and third largest in terms of enrolment, we lack in innovation and making our youth employable,’’ ASSOCHAM Secretary General Mr D S Rawat said while releasing the paper.

Experience of world’s top institutions like the MIT should be used for promoting successful entrepreneurs while skilling should be made part of the university education. Skilling should be delinked from labour and be mainstreamed into education, it said.

It also wanted the Government’s spending must be refocused on higher education directly towards the needy students among the SC/STs, minorities and OBCs and other under-privileged sections.