Unfortunately, education in India has increasingly been influenced by political considerations, while research is often evaluated primarily through numerical indicators. The emphasis on quantity has come at the cost of quality. Faculty members are heavily burdened with administrative and clerical responsibilities due to multiple regulatory bodies and ranking frameworks. This situation is worsening over time and cannot be addressed without strong political will. The challenge is not limited to higher education; even at the school level, teachers are frequently assigned additional duties that reduce the time and focus available for teaching.
Hi Mohan, thanks for the op-ed piece you did with Mamta Aggarwal. I think you’ve done a good job of spotlighting some of the issues afflicting India’s science and research ecosystem.
In addition and most critically, you may want to consider these issues, as well: lack of experiential learning requirements; lack of summer research opportunities (like we have here in the US referred to as SUROP programs funded by NSF, my former agency NIFA, NIH, and others), and entrepreneur bootcamps like we created at NIFA in partnership with NSF, which the Central government in India ought to fund; lack of requirements for internships and externships, including programs like the COOP programs Engineering schools offer in America, which ABET (the engineering accreditor) requires.
Finally, in my mind, what’s critically important is using Student Learning Outcomes to demonstrably measure students are indeed developing the required disciplinary knowledge and skills; and, focus on inculcating what we refer to as core competencies, including critical thinking and problem solving skills, written and oral communication, professionalism and ethics, global competencies, etc., as articulated in the accreditation standards by my former organization (NWCCU) and other accreditors.
Let me know if you and Mamta wish to discuss further.
Socialist India has money only for corruption and vote-generating socialism, no money for science and research. Brainy people go to foreign countries to do research and enjoy capitalism thereby leaving India’s fate to God. I guess even God doesn’t have hopes on Socialist India.
We need to pioneering research in the areas where others have not thought of. to have high impact research. Also, we need to develop technology for industries to cut cost and develop new products. Basically, research is funds gobbling area. The research find budget in the Japan, Western and US is huge. Also, copycat research work should not be funded. We need to pay scientists very well better than private software companies paying to their staff doing only ordinary work for MNCs.
Unfortunately, education in India has increasingly been influenced by political considerations, while research is often evaluated primarily through numerical indicators. The emphasis on quantity has come at the cost of quality. Faculty members are heavily burdened with administrative and clerical responsibilities due to multiple regulatory bodies and ranking frameworks. This situation is worsening over time and cannot be addressed without strong political will. The challenge is not limited to higher education; even at the school level, teachers are frequently assigned additional duties that reduce the time and focus available for teaching.
Hi Mohan, thanks for the op-ed piece you did with Mamta Aggarwal. I think you’ve done a good job of spotlighting some of the issues afflicting India’s science and research ecosystem.
In addition and most critically, you may want to consider these issues, as well: lack of experiential learning requirements; lack of summer research opportunities (like we have here in the US referred to as SUROP programs funded by NSF, my former agency NIFA, NIH, and others), and entrepreneur bootcamps like we created at NIFA in partnership with NSF, which the Central government in India ought to fund; lack of requirements for internships and externships, including programs like the COOP programs Engineering schools offer in America, which ABET (the engineering accreditor) requires.
Finally, in my mind, what’s critically important is using Student Learning Outcomes to demonstrably measure students are indeed developing the required disciplinary knowledge and skills; and, focus on inculcating what we refer to as core competencies, including critical thinking and problem solving skills, written and oral communication, professionalism and ethics, global competencies, etc., as articulated in the accreditation standards by my former organization (NWCCU) and other accreditors.
Let me know if you and Mamta wish to discuss further.
All the best.
Sonny
Socialist India has money only for corruption and vote-generating socialism, no money for science and research. Brainy people go to foreign countries to do research and enjoy capitalism thereby leaving India’s fate to God. I guess even God doesn’t have hopes on Socialist India.
We need to pioneering research in the areas where others have not thought of. to have high impact research. Also, we need to develop technology for industries to cut cost and develop new products. Basically, research is funds gobbling area. The research find budget in the Japan, Western and US is huge. Also, copycat research work should not be funded. We need to pay scientists very well better than private software companies paying to their staff doing only ordinary work for MNCs.