By Venkat Ajitesh Reddy Basani
We live in a hyper competitive world where technology disruption is taking place at exponential rates and this has a direct impact on how and what universities teach. The workplace is changing rules and the skills required to stay relevant are not constant. The supply and demand in the labour market have remained unbalanced for an extended period. This is due to universities being large, archaic, process oriented and highly regulated. It’s widely recognized that the relevance of a university degree is diminishing more rapidly due to the advancements in digital technology. Universities that excel are those that are moulded by their ability to innovate. To stay relevant in a world where new institutions are taking charge with unique approaches to education, it becomes crucial to experiment.
A ‘Degree’ is not the most important asset a student takes away after graduation today. The network of people earned and the skills acquired during the course is far more important. The future of universities staying relevant will also have to do with the concept of embracing lifelong learning. Looking at courses as stackable credits to acquire specialised knowledge that the student is interested in will be the new norm soon.
In India we have around 1113 universities and over 12,000 odd standalone institutions. They have varying levels of autonomy based on whether they are private, state, public or standalone institutions. They practice autonomy based on their approvals and their vision. Yet, we over 40000 colleges are under affiliated universities, and it becomes imperative for these colleges to stand on their own. There is a lot of encouragement from the UGC to become deemed to be universities.
Often, it is assumed that institutional autonomy means academic freedom. Although academic liberty grants educational institutions the ability to develop modern curriculums, set research priorities, and adopt innovative teaching techniques, comprehensive and effective governance is essential for an institution’s success in all facets. Autonomy is far more than academic freedom- it means taking responsibility. This means responsibility of designing, developing new curriculum that is relevant with the ever changing workplace, building a culture of innovation, enhancing quality assurance and financial independence. A decentralised form of decision making will fasten the process up, and the flexibility is required to pivot to new avenues of innovation. The future of learning is personalised, multidisciplinary, and blended, and only autonomous universities/institutions can bridge the gap with the industry.
A network-based strategy approach can be implemented for global competitiveness. Peter Lorange is founder and CEO of the Lorange network often talks about the importance of people for exchange programs, collaboration with industry partners, interdisciplinary integration, alumni networks, corporate partnerships etc. Seen in modern b-schools, this network-based approach will certainly help universities enhance their relevance and leap through barriers. An example of tackling such barriers is Agile Administration. It helps in streamlining administrative processes to be more responsive to the changing needs of students and faculty, including the use of data analytics to inform better decision-making.
To compete with the global universities, we have a long road to cover and this has been a positive growth trajectory since the last couple of years. We have seen Indian universities rank higher and more new entrants into the world universities rankings. We can certainly have more competition at the global level if more universities/institutions become autonomous. For India to become a global knowledge superpower, the NEP2020’s ‘light but tight’ regulatory framework will assist universities to become more independent with minimal interference. This is crucial for universities in India to thrive with new programs, 21st century skills and applied research. In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, it’s uncertain which job positions will exist a decade from now. Thus, it’s paramount for universities in India to expand beyond traditional limits to maintain relevance in the fast-paced, ever-shifting modern era.
The author is the executive director, Acharya Bangalore B-School.