Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Ministry of state for Human Resource Development, urged the Indian corporate sector to come forward in a big way to fund research and development programmes of the Indian universities. He stated that research is the key to enhancing the internationalization of higher education institutions, an area which has remained neglected as Indian universities are till date teaching institutions.
Addressing the ‘9th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2013’ on the theme‘Building Networks for Transforming Indian Higher Education-Enabling to Deliver Value’, Dr. Tharoor said, “Our education sector is over regulated and under governed. While some form of governance was essential, it is our hope that the tweaking of the policy framework will encourage foreign universities to set up their campuses in the country.”
The Minister said that the government had decided to set up 200 plus community colleges, which will offer skill based vocational training to school dropouts to make them employable citizens. He exhorted the private sector to set up vocational training schools to produce skilled craftsmen in different fields.
Ms. Naina Lal Kidwai, President of FICCI, said, “We urge the government to treat the public and private higher education institutions and universities on par and provide equal opportunity for funding for faculty development, student scholarships and research grants based on merit. Needless to add that with a share of 64% of the total number of institutions and 59% of enrolment in the country, private sector is indeed a critical stakeholder and has been addressing to the country’s needs.
T V Mohandas Pai, Chairperson-FICCI Higher Education Committee & Chairperson-Manipal Global Education Services Pvt Ltd., said, “It is time for all of us to envision the fact that the Indian economy at 2030 would be a 10 trillion dollar economy from the present two trillion dollar, and accordingly one needs to dovetail the demands on higher education system to reach this size.”
Brad Wall, the Premier of Saskatchewan (Canada), whose speech was read out by Mr. Andy Melnyk, Senior Strategist, Innovation Saskatchewan, Canada, described India as a major priority for the Canadian province and called upon the stakeholders of the Indian higher education sector to avail of the high level of research and innovation in Saskatchewan universities to tackle India’s major challenges such as food security and energy security.
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