?We respect autonomy of higher education institutions?

What can universities expect once the foreign education bill is passed?

There is a policy vacuum on foreign education providers. Frankly, at present we don?t know what types of foreign universities have tied up with our universities and what kinds of programmes are being offered. Through the bill we are trying to see that the foreign institution and the programmes it is trying to offer are accredited in its home country. This is so good institutes come in, nothing like getting the best. We also need to ensure that they abide by the fact that education for us is not a profit making business. So it is with that intention we are going forward with the foreign education providers bill. Even now we have AICTE regulation in place but it is only regulation. With regards to opening our campuses overseas, it would mean taking our faculty there which we can do only once we have addressed our own faculty shortage here. Once we think we are self-sufficient and have addressed faculty here, then sure going abroad is an option.

What has been the outcome of the recent unrest expressed by IIT faculty feeling that their autonomy was being hampered by the MHRD?

Let me emphasize, we respect the autonomy of our higher education institutions and we know fairly well that a fair amount of autonomy needs to be given to them for their own development. We are not here to tinker with their autonomy at all; they have their own executive councils and their board of governors. Cabinet minister, Kapil Sibal explained to them how their pay scales are not in any way lesser than the UGC scales and they are convinced. It was just a matter of having the dialogue.

You?ve been involved with the setting up of world-class universities? When do we actually see some world-class universities emerge in India?

The Prime Minister himself had announced 30 central universities of which he said 16 would go to such states which do not have a central university. The reason being there are areas in our country that have a gross enrolment ratio (GER) lesser than the national average and this initiative is trying to set up institutions closer to such educationally backward areas so that the GER goes up. The plan for the remaining 14 is that they be world-class universities. Our focus would be more on research, in trying to get faculty from the best universities to teach there.

Research has been identified as a problem area in India. What is being done to tackle it?

That is true. We need to identify globally emerging areas within research and incorporate them into our institutions. 80% of what is spent on research is public spending which means that the private sector is not stepping forward progressively towards research.

When it comes to higher education my perspective as to why we are not in tune with market requirements is that there is a disconnect between research and universities. Unless research comes into the universities we will not be in tune with what is happening outside. We are in dialogue with institutes such as CSIR to see how they could work closer with our universities.

PPP has been mentioned in the case of the 14 innovation universities, model schools and else where, but what is in stake for the private sector, are they acting proactively?

What is in stake for private sector? I think they are at stake. I think the private sector should realise that unless there are quality graduates coming out of our schools and universities, they will not have skilled and good manpower. Private sector must understand that our national policy on education says that education cannot be for profiteering. Education has to be accessible to the most marginalized sections of society. So that kept in mind we welcome them. I must say there is a change for the good now, probably they are realising it as corporate social responsibility, with companies saying yes we would like to partner with the government.

Why do some state universities have such a poor reputation in terms of quality and management?

Just because of one or two you cannot call the entire flock black. There are probably the not so good one but there are excellent ones as well. Over the years government of India has been increasing its allocations towards higher education. Unfortunately we have been seeing a declining trend where state governments are not very forthcoming with their allocations in the higher education sector. So it has been our constant plea to the state governments, if not increase your allocation, please don?t reduce them. If we need to make accreditation mandatory, we need to ensure the infrastructure is in place so that they can avail the developmental funds given by the UGC. It is a catch 22 situation, if you don?t have the infrastructure, you don?t get accreditation; if you don?t have accreditation you then you don?t get the developmental funds for your infrastructure.

Having realised that, we said, okay, now we will give a one time support to all those institutions which need to upgrade the universities to ensure they are eligible under 12-L to get their developmental grants. So for that central government said we will give two-thirds, let the state governments pitch in one-third. Some states have come forward; some states have not. So it?s a question of partnering, it is a question of going forward together. One needs to realise that education is largely in the state domain. Elementary education is completely a state subject. If you look at higher education, 85% of institutions are state institutions and universities.