Page 70 - EducationWorld September 2020

Special Report

HIGHER EDUCATION: RESTRUCTURING & CONSOLIDATION of creative thinking and practical
utility to develop curriculums for
Dr. C. Raj Kumar cation institutions) into large multi- well-structured 1/2/3/4 year under-
disciplinary universities and colleges as graduate programmes. It is critical
mandated by NEP 2020? to devise curriculums that equip
Clustering HEIs into large students with sufficient skills to
multidisciplinary universities will find employment when they exit the
enable delivery of holistic education system. Also, a robust system will be
to students, and lead to better needed to manage the proposed Aca-
utilisation of available resources. demic Bank of Credits, and maintain
To implement this proposal, it’s reliable records of students entering
important for HEIs to expand into and exiting study programmes.
multidisciplinary universities, or
cluster and consolidate themselves What do you see as the major policy
into viable universities. Established implementation roadblocks in higher
universities could mentor colleges education?
to manage the transformation. For NEP 2020 to be implemented
Therefore, regulatory agencies in timely and effective manner, the
should give them time, support entire higher education ecosystem
and resources to expand their needs to commit itself to build-
range of disciplines or cluster with ing trust between all stakehold-
neighbouring institutions. ers including HEIs, government
authorities and regulatory bodies. To
NEP 2020 has set a target of India introduce greater transparency and
A achieving GER (gross enrolment ratio) in speed up decision-making processes,
polymath alumnus of Madras,
higher education of 50 percent by 2035.
HEIs need academic freedom, insti-
Delhi, Hong Kong, Oxford
This could result in quality dilution…
tutional autonomy, and operational
and Harvard universities,
Dr. C. Raj Kumar is founding vice If we are able to successfully achieve independence.
chancellor of the O.P. Jindal Global the consolidation of HEIs and estab- Also, supervisory and regula-
University, Sonipat, Haryana (JGU, lish one HEI per district as proposed tory agencies should empower and
estb.2009). JGU is ranked among by NEP 2020, we should achieve grant greater academic freedom to
India’s Top 5 private universities this GER target. Other reforms autonomous HEIs and Institutes of
by EducationWorld, and India’s #1 such as multiple entry and exit op- Eminence to improve their global
private university in the World Uni- tions, award of vocational degrees standing. Moreover, government
versity Rankings 2021 league table and providing higher education in agencies and regulatory bodies
of the London-based Quacquarelli local languages will also translate should consider engaging HEIs in
Symonds (QS). into higher enrolment. However, participative consultation, especially
there’s also need to focus on invest- when creating or modifying regula-
How satisfied are you with NEP 2020’s ing resources in faculty expansion tions impacting them.
proposals for higher education? and development, so that increased
NEP 2020 is an outstanding policy student intake doesn’t compromise Is there any important reform in higher
document and has the vision and quality or negatively impact teacher- education which NEP 2020 has not ad-
potential to revolutionise higher pupil ratios. A collaborative effort dressed?
education in India, if executed as is needed between government, Though NEP 2020 has done a thor-
proposed. The policy document is regulators, universities and private ough job of covering a wide range of
wide-ranging covering pedagogy and philanthropists to ensure quality is issues, I would have liked the policy
curriculum, online learning, multi- not diluted. My belief is that the use to pay more attention to:
disciplinary education and research, of technology, introduction of multi- • The role of private higher educa-
internationalisation, digitisation, disciplinary education, curriculum tion institutions, including private
professional and vocational educa- and pedagogical reforms will ensure universities. This is particularly
tion, teacher education, student balance between quality and equi- critical given that over 70 percent of
experiences, regulatory frameworks, table access. students are in private HEIs.
institutional governance, diversity • Ways and means to incentivise
and other crucial facets of higher The advantages of multiple entry and philanthropists to promote not-for-
education. I especially appreciate exit points in higher education study profit private HEIs, including gener-
the balance this policy proposes to programmes. ous tax benefits and other incentives
achieve between quality and equity This will provide students flexibility for donors.
of access to higher education, and and enable them to complete their • The importance of Indian univer-
its emphasis on liberal arts and higher education if they experience sities rising in QS and TH E World
research. circumstantial constraints, and also University Rankings league tables.
reduce drop-out rates. However, • The special role that Institutes of
What’s your comment on compulsory implementing this NEP 2020 recom- Eminence need to play in building
transformation of all HEIs (higher edu- mendation will require a balance world-class universities.

70 EDUCATIONWORLD SEPTEMBER 2020