New Delhi: Citing “inadequate” English language proficiency as a major factor affecting employability among youth graduating from state public universities, the NITI Aayog has recommended these institutions collaborate with international language organisations to offer English and foreign language proficiency programmes, with examples of success in Punjab and Karnataka.
The NITI Aayog report, titled ‘Expanding Quality Higher Education Through States and State Public Universities’ and released Monday, made several recommendations to enhance state public universities (SPUs), noting that they serve over 80 percent of the total student population in higher education and are therefore crucial to achieving the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The report identifies several challenges faced by SPUs, including the “outflow of talent” from states due to a lack of relevant employability skills.
“In many states, the talent pool and resources employed in local industries predominantly originate from outside the state. A significant contributing factor to this trend is the inadequate English language proficiency among local youth,” the report stated.
Consequently, it states that one of the primary focal points for the state governments is to address this challenge. “There is also a pressing need to enhance the employability skills of students, thereby encouraging them to remain within the state and contribute to its growth and development, not only at a regional but also a national level,” it added.
To tackle the issue, the NITI Aayog has recommended partnering with international language organisations to provide English and other foreign language proficiency programmes for students. It also suggests promoting foreign language learning by offering additional language courses and facilitating exchange programmes.
The report highlights successful examples from Punjab and Karnataka. In 2023, the Punjab government launched a collaborative effort with the British Council to enhance English language proficiency among students. Similarly, in 2024, the government of Karnataka introduced four programmes aimed at advancing higher education, improving language skills, and boosting employability.
The recommendation comes at a time when the central government is actively promoting the use of regional languages as the medium of instruction, even in professional courses such as engineering and medicine.
It also recommended enhancing skilling and employability for students across all streams, through initiatives such as internships, apprenticeship programmes, and schemes to promote entrepreneurship, all aimed at improving student employment outcomes in SPUs.
Insignificant digital infra
The report highlights a significant infrastructure gap in SPUs, particularly the lack of adequate conference rooms designed for digital learning and engagement. This shortfall presents a major challenge to the successful implementation of digital learning initiatives.
Additionally, the report points out the scarcity of capacity-building programmes aimed at enhancing teachers’ skills and proficiency in online and digital learning. This shortage is described as a “critical concern” for these universities.
The report recommends assessing the current IT infrastructure in SPUs to identify major gaps, prioritising upgrades for the most underserved universities. It suggests investing in high-speed internet, upgrading classrooms with technology for online learning, and setting up dedicated digital learning centres. Additionally, it advocates for integrating credits and curricula with existing online platforms from the Ministry of Education.
Lack of transparency in faculty recruitment
The report highlights that state public universities face transparency issues in faculty recruitment, raising concerns about fairness. To address the issue, it recommended a “centralised recruitment model” rather than individual universities handling recruitment exercises, which can streamline the hiring process.
“This approach can enhance efficiency and transparency in faculty recruitment, ensuring merit-based selections and reducing administrative burdens associated with decentralised recruitment processes,” the report suggested.
Additionally, it flags a shortage of faculty for postgraduate courses and rigid recruitment procedures that hinder academic growth, while over-reliance on contractual positions further destabilises the academic environment.
“Strategies should be implemented to address the issue of over-reliance on contractual faculty within academic institutions by creating pathways for contractual faculty to transition into permanent positions, providing professional development opportunities, and ensuring equitable treatment in terms of pay and benefits,” the report stated.
Inadequate research funding hampering internationalisation
The report highlighted that research funding from the state government remains relatively low, with a significant portion of funds being allocated towards salaries. As a result, research initiatives are underfunded, impacting the internationalisation of higher education.
“International students seek institutions with robust research programmes and opportunities, emphasising the necessity for increased investment in research to attract and retain a diverse student body. Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts towards research funding,” the report suggested.
NITI Aayog also recommends fostering collaborations with foreign universities to provide students with a global perspective and enhance their educational experience through cultural and academic exchanges. It suggests establishing partnerships for joint research, faculty exchanges, and student mobility programmes to promote cross-cultural learning and collaboration.
Additionally, the report emphasises the need to revise the existing syllabus in leading SPUs to align with international standards, thereby boosting its global recognition.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
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