In the next 10 years, India's higher education system will not only expand but also evolve into a global powerhouse of knowledge, innovation, and quality, driven by technology, collaboration, and a collective commitment to excellence”, said Dr S K Barnwal, Additional Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education while addressing the 14th CII National Higher Education Summit in New Delhi today.
The Summit, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), was themed ‘Preparing Future Workforce for India@100’.
Addressing the summit, Dr S K Barnwal, Additional Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education addressed the current and future vision for India's higher education system, noting the guiding principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He highlighted the major challenges ahead as India aims to expand its higher education system from 4.33 crore students to an additional 4.5 crore by 2035, targeting a gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education of 50%. Dr. Barnwal stressed that this ambitious goal requires the collective efforts of the government, private institutions, and all stakeholders. He emphasized the importance of not just expanding access but also ensuring high-quality education. This includes improving teaching infrastructure, empowering teachers through capacity building, and creating enabling platforms like the National Credit Framework, Academic Bank of Credit and SWAYAM. The aim is to provide a quality learning experience both on-campus and through online resources.
Furthermore, Dr. Barnwal discussed the importance of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship on campuses and supporting research through initiatives like the National Research Foundation, which aims to centralize research activities and funding. He also acknowledged the growing participation of women and underprivileged groups in higher education. ‘Significant progress is being made, with India improving its global rankings in research, innovation and entrepreneurship’, he added.
During the Summit, CII signed an MoU with the Association of Indian Universities(AIU) to launch an Industry-University Linkage Program. This partnership will include workshops for entrepreneurship, innovation, product development, Faculty Development Programs, and curriculum updates to align with the latest industry trends.
Additionally, two significant reports were unveiled: First, CII Report on Work from Home: Benefits and Costs, an exploratory study that discusses the implications of remote work in the Indian context. While work-from-home offers short-term benefits for both employers and employees, the report highlights potential long-term losses, particularly in the areas of teamwork, social capital, and organizational culture.
Second, 12th Edition of the CII-Deloitte Report on the Annual Status of Higher Education (ASHE) 2024 which provides a comprehensive analysis of higher education in India, using government data from the All-India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) and a value-added state-wise analysis.
Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities, emphasized the critical role of higher education in preparing India’s future workforce as the country approaches 2047. She lauded the NEP for introducing transformative initiatives such as the Academic Bank of Credits, curriculum flexibility, and the recognition of research and teaching universities. However, she urged universities to accelerate the implementation of NEP by updating curricula, integrating modern teaching methodologies, and leveraging technology for better governance and pedagogy.
Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), highlighted India's impressive progress in higher education, from a GER of 1% in 1947 to 28.3% today. He emphasized the importance of leveraging technology and innovative practices, including distance education and industry-academia collaboration, to further enhance India’s higher education ecosystem. Prof. Sitharam stressed the need to focus on inclusivity, innovation and the potential of engineers from rural and first-generation backgrounds.
Dr. Naushad Forbes, Chairman, CII National Higher Education Council & Co-Chairman, Forbes Marshall emphasized the critical role of human capital and education in shaping India's future. He underscored the transformative role of education in equipping individuals to navigate the uncertainties posed by global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological advancements. He highlighted the immense potential and challenges of India’s demographic dividend, emphasizing the need for equitable access to quality education to tap into the country’s young and vibrant population. Advocating for a shift from prescriptive regulations to an outcomes-based approach, he praised the National Education Policy’s focus on cross-disciplinary learning, integration of theory with practice, and fostering robust industry-academia linkages. Dr. Forbes also called for institutional assessments that encourage innovation and future readiness, stressing the importance of internships as a standard practice across disciplines to align education with real-world needs.
Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, National Education Technology Forum, discussed the challenges of a uncertain and ambiguous world, stressing the need for India to adapt and collaborate to achieve the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He emphasized the importance of autonomy for educational institutions, accreditation, and rankings to improve quality. He highlighted the rising importance of sustainability in education, with plans to introduce sustainability rankings for institutions. He emphasized the role of autonomy for educational institutions, the rising importance of sustainability, and the need for value-based, multidisciplinary education rooted in Indian ethos.
Prof. Pankaj Chandra (Vice Chancellor, Ahmedabad University), Prof. Somak Raychaudhury (Vice Chancellor, Ashoka University), Prof. Rudra Pratap (Vice Chancellor, Plaksha University) and Prof. Prithvi Datta Chandra Shobhi (Dean, Krea University) also shared their valuable insights during the Summit.
The CII National Higher Education Summit serves as an annual thought leadership platform where government, industry and academia come together to deliberate on key issues impacting the higher education sector.
18 November 2024
New Delhi