Higher education is catalyst to major economic change

Excellence in higher education rests more on people keen on learning than on the learned ones, was the general consensus reached during the second annual convention of Higher Education Forum (HEF) held at ITM Business School, Kharghar.

Educationists shared their thoughts and understanding on the topic "Towards Excellence in Higher Education" during the event organised in partnership with DNA.

The day-long convention, divided into two technical sessions, saw an array of topics pertaining to higher education and its scenario in India being raised for faculty members to take note and consider implementing relevant changes.

While the first session saw panel discussion from corporates and stakeholders perspective and second was panel discussion on building blocks of excellence in institutions.

With detailed statistical analysis on the status of those seeking higher education in relation to USA and China, the deliberation raised pointed on quantitative expansion that should enable higher education to evolve from multiple zone of ignorance to excellence.

"Education in India, both primary and higher, is indicated by various committee report at an abysmally low level. If India is to become global competitive economy then the need to strengthen education has to be felt internally. Higher education is the catalyst for bringing about economical change and thereby its transition from efficiency to effectiveness and finally to excellence would bring about startling results," said founder and convener of HEF, Dr AK Sengupta.

At the convention, Dr Anil Kakodkar, former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and chairman of the High Power Committee for Reforms of Higher and Professional Education in the state of Maharashtra delivered the key note.

The guest of honour was former director, IIT Madras and former Chairman of AICTE Dr R Natarajan and President Emeritus, Pace University, USA Dr David Caputo.

A special address on the topic was also given by founding director of Mastek, Ashank Desai. Dr PV Ramanna, chairman of ITM Group of Institutions, gave the welcome speech.

The convention saw speakers laying emphasis on bringing about excellence within faculty and the institute as against projecting individual excellence.

The observation was loosely based on the whopping financial figure released by USA of US$ 7.5 billion being earned purely from Indian students enrolled for higher education.

"Higher education's evolution or excellence relies primarily upon the faculty. A good faculty coupled with proper access to education that's affordable which eventually instills a sense of accountability and enables students to measure their cognitive gains will be the driving force for acquiring excellence in higher education. In USA, average graduates reel under debts in the process of studies thereby prompting them to seek alternative options instead of opting for higher studies," Caputo said.

Rhetoric remarks on the present day functionary role of institution in churning out graduates and Ph.Ds rather than striving for enhancing skills and knowledge needed for being employ worthy was mentioned repeatedly.

The little stress on making education industrial-oriented and bringing about bilateral communicative existence between industries and institutes was opined to be necessary.

"We need to create an education system where we are able to impart knowledge at all frontier. Teaching has to be conducted in an environment of research and knowledge together.

The research conducted has to have participation of the society and industry concerned for higher education to co-exist productively. Higher education needs to be a proper amalgamation of the best of teacher, pleasure in research work, feel the spirit of innovation and practically experience of this transition into work," Kakodkar said.

The corporate speakers for the occasion included President (HR) Mahindra & Mahindra, Rajeev Dubey; CEO, Global Talent Track, Dr. Uma Ganesh; EVP & Head, Emerging Markets; Mr. P A Krishnan; Global CEO, Zensar Technologies Dr. Ganesh Natarajan.

A parallel understanding driven by the speakers jointly in achieving excellence in higher education was the need to have value driven education and moralistic understanding of success.

So higher education success was opined to rest upon the process of thinking, doing and being. Having the approach of 'We' over 'I' following willingness to listen and emphasis on trust was informed to be of equal importance.

"Without leadership quality that not self seeking rather governed by trust and openness to emphatically listen and create a win-win situation as against the norm of win and lose trend while striving to make profit is integral for higher education to achieve the oft spoken excellence," Dubey opined.