Page 28 - EducationWorld June 2020

Cover Story

executives are separate and clearly
defined show excellent results very
quickly.
For instance, in the high-end Indus
International School, Bangalore (IIS-
B estb.2003), Ms. Sarojini Rao is
principal and head of academics,
while Lt. Gen (Retd.) Arjun Ray
is the chief executive of all Indus In-
ternational schools (Bangalore, Pune
and Hyderabad). This division of pow-
ers has shown quick results. IIS-B has
been ranked India’s #1 international
day-cum-boarding school in the an-
nual EducationWorld India School
Rankings for eight years in succession
with IIS-Pune and IIS-Hyderabad
also ranked among the Top 10 coun- Mohindra: rare practices & conditions Misra: high-potential resource
trywide. There is similar division of
academic and administrative job roles opment programme was introduced chance of students being admitting
in the new millennium American Ivy in IIT-Bombay during my time with before September, has presented in-
league-style private liberal arts and excellent results,” says Misra. stitutional managements with unprec-
sciences universities – Ashoka, Jindal Misra believes it’s especially impor- edented challenges. With switching to
Global, Krea – which have captured tant for higher learning leaders to de- digital online learning having become
the imagination of post-liberalisation velop fundraising capabilities. “Most imperative, intensive teacher training
India’s aspirational middle and upper education leaders including university and development and capital expen-
classes. vice chancellors seem unaware that diture at a time when private school
D R. ASHOK MISRA, AN source. The great majority of alumni and government finances are under
their alumni are a high-potential re-
parents are demanding fee waivers
are ready and willing to contribute
alum of IIT-Kanpur and
severe strain, have become necessary.
Tufts and Massachusetts
universities, USA, and for- donations to develop their alma ma- With the general consensus being that
ters. If well-managed institutions are
even if a coronavirus vaccine is devel-
mer director (2000-08) of IIT-Bom- short of funds, their leaders are to oped 12-15 months from now, educa-
bay, believes the major infirmities of blame. World-class universities such tion pedagogies, processes and indeed
India’s higher education institutions as Harvard, Stanford — and almost objectives, have transformed forever,
are leadership deficit, poor gover- every American university — have your editors discerned an urgent need
nance and shortage of excellent teach- mobilised huge endowment corpuses to highlight the responses and advice
ers in that order. “There’s a severe and/or have financed infrastructure of the country’s most respected edu-
shortage of strong, well-qualified and development by marketing naming cation leaders to the unprecedented
purposive leaders in India’s education rights to alumni and philanthropists. Covid-19 crisis.
institutions, and colleges and univer- An endowment corpus gives manage- In the pages following, we present
sities in particular. Well-qualified vice ment greater freedom in awarding the recommendations of 50 carefully
chancellors and mission-driven direc- scholarships, improving infrastruc- selected education leaders on ways
tors who can stand up to politically ap- ture and raising faculty pay and perks and means to keep the flame of learn-
pointed chancellors — and promoter to attract high-quality teachers and ing alive in the new Covid era and be-
families in private universities — are researchers. In India, several IITs yond. Will India’s already struggling
urgently required to provide good and IIMs have established separate school and tertiary education systems
governance which in turn attracts cells for fundraising and have built fall further behind as most people ex-
high-quality faculty. All colleges and substantial corpuses. Their example pect, or will they take a great leap for-
universities should introduce leader- should be widely emulated,” advises ward with a new public awareness of
ship development programmes which Misra. the critical importance of real rather
will typically include modules on best The Covid-19 pandemic and na- than ritual learning? Let’s heed the
administrative practices, building tional lockdown which has forced the words of wisdom of people best quali-
R&D culture, change management closure of schools, colleges and uni- fied to lead Indian education in the
and fundraising. A leadership devel- versities for two months with little 21st century.

28 EDUCATIONWORLD JUNE 2020