Industry Perspective & Rolein Higher Education
Keynote Address at National Conference for Higher Educationat Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore
Ram PurohitGeneral Manager, Volvo IndiaMember – CII Education Subcommittee
01 October 2009
Table of Contents
Design Specifications for Higher Education
Current Status & Gaps
Industry Support for Higher Education
Attributes of Education
“……education must be inclusive and with quality
……
the three principles of access, equity and excellence will not be compromised while implementing the educational reform agenda……”
Kapil SibalUnion Minister for Human Resource Development 24th June 09
Basic Questions
What is the link between our system of higher education and today’s economic environment?
How do we define and assess the quality of outcome produced by the higher education system?
We don’t have answers!
Are we producing the skills of 21st Century?
NO
Why are Future Skills so Important?
4 Reasons
1. We need to produce citizens of future.
2. The world is becoming flat.
3. Changing demographics.
4. The nature of work is changing.
Today’s Complex Industry Scenario
Goods – ServicesComponent – SystemPartnership – TransactionGlobalization – LocalizationBreadth – DepthExploitation – Exploration
Future Changes and Challenges in the Industry
Focusing on SolutionsComplexity in TechnologyThe Global IndustrySustainabilityThe Innovation Imperative
How many of your Parents & Grandparents had only one job in
their lifetimes?
How many jobs will a young person change between age
18-38?
…8 to 10 jobs
Role of a Graduate in the Future
Specialist
Change AgentIntegrator
Skills
Four Basic Skills
CommunicationNumeracyThe use of information technologyLearning how to learn
Skill Factors for Future Graduates
Domain or Technical(Defining Skills)
Theoretical understandingPractical applicationTechnical breadth Problem SolvingCreativity and innovationUse of Information Technology
Social or Soft (Enabling Skills)
CommunicationTeam-workingPeople ManagementProblem SolvingBusiness skillsLearning skills
Average Importance of Future Skills
Are we aligned with the requirements of future?
Role of a Global Engineering Graduate in 2 Years of Recruitment
Impact of Skill Deficiency
What is the future framework for higher education?
Framework for Higher Education
Our Current Education Model
Model that we need
- English
- Other Languages
- Mathematics
- Science
- Engineering
- Civics
- Public Administration
- Economics
- Arts
- History
- Geography
- Management
…..
Core Subjects
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Skills• Creativity & Innovation Skills• Communication & Information Skills• Collaboration Skills• Contextual Learning• Information and Media Literacy
Thinking and Learning Skills
Information and communications technology (ICT) literacy is the ability to use technology to accomplish thinking and learning skills
ICT Literacy
Geo
grap
hic
Cont
ent Analytic Thinking
Global Positioning Software
Geography
How This Model Works?
• Leadership• Ethics• Accountability• Adaptability• Personal Productivity• Personal Responsibility• People Skills• Self Direction• Social Responsibility
Life Skills
• Global Awareness• Financial, Economic, Business and
Entrepreneurship Literacy• Civic Literacy• Health & Wellness Awareness
21st Century Content
These are the design specifications of new higher
education
Table of Contents
Design Specifications for Higher Education
Current Status & Gaps
Industry Support for Higher Education
Current Status
India has 421 Universities and 20,918 Colleges
Enrollment in Higher Education – 11.3%Total enrolment in Higher Education is 1.86 crore
Expected to reach 2.2 crore by 2012 if India achieves 15 % GER
Knowledge Commission - Creation of 1,500 colleges & Univ. to reach 15% GER by 2015
Growth of Higher education needed as per five year plan – 37%
Growth of Higher education increase/year – 11%
Demand for Higher education increase/year – 20%
Human resource demand is increasing/year – 18%
The Demand Supply Gap
India over the next five years will have surplus of un-trained and under-educated people - 1.3 million *
India will fall short of real talent by about - 5.3 million*
* Source: BCG, 2008
Government Initiatives – XIth Plan
30 Central Universities –including one in each of the 16 States so far uncoveredStrengthening of 6000 colleges and 150 Universities not receiving UGC grantEstablishment of 373 New Degree CollegesExpansion and up gradation of 200 State Technical Institutions; Up gradation of Technical Institutions/Department of 7 Universities8 New IITs; 7 new IIMs; 5 IISERs, 2 SPAs, 20 new IIITs - as far as possible in the PPP mode.10 new NITs50 centers for training and research in frontier areas
Government Initiatives – XIth Plan (Contd.)
Increasing capacity of existing IITs & IIMs by 200%
Strengthening of existing polytechnics
1000 new polytechnics – 300 by State Govt, 300 in PPP mode, 300 by Pvt. Sector.
50,000 Skill Development Centres.
National Education Mission through ICT
Incentivizing State Govt. for expansion / up gradation of existing and new universities/professional institutions.
Greater public and the private sector interface in Higher and Technical education
Foreign collaborations, bilateral agreements & opening doors for quality foreign education providers
Are these initiatives sufficient?
Table of Contents
Design Specifications for Higher Education
Current Status & Gaps
Industry Support for Higher Education
Higher Education and Industry Need to Work Together
Universities need to establish stronger ties to professional bodies and businesses in their locale Industries need to contribute through professional bodies to help shape and inform up-to-date curriculum and course design Graduate Careers and Employment services to link students with employers and facilitating events which bring employers on campus Universities need to involve business representatives to actively participate through formal structures and committees
How Industry Can Contribute?
PhilanthropyCollaborationEnterprising
Philanthropy
Investing in InstitutionsNiche, not for profit institutions, promoted by corporatesAutonomous institutions imparting quality educationinvest in research establish chairs etcOther Donations – building, scholarships, student awards etc
Academic - Volunteering for Lectures, Research & Development and TrainingOperational - Administration, Management other operational help
Collaboration
Research and Development InternshipGraduate Training ProgramsCollaborative coursesFunding collaborative Projects & ResearchHigher Study along with EmploymentFaculty & Employees ExchangeInfrastructural Support, Financial SupportPromoting Industry – Academia Interface
Enterprising
Setup professionally run private Universities, Training Centres, Skill Development Centres, Vocational Education, Distance Education Institutes etc
Supplement govt.’s investment & efforts
Supplement not-for-profit institutions
Retain the number of students going abroad to study
Current Model has Limitations
The Current Model under the Current Policy
not scalable for our current and future needs
not likely to fill the gap
The current Private universities have done excellent by establishing in the existing framework
Still not able to deliver to the potential that they can because of the limitations
It is Time for Systemic Reforms
Remove barriers as removed for the industries in 1991
Focus on Governance instead of Regulations
Bring Autonomy - Academic, Administrative & Financial
Increase foreign collaboration
If we can aim to be the largest exporter of IT services, Why can’t we aim at being largest exporter of education?