10/10/2015

Want to save higher education in India? Go beyond engineering - ET Blogs

Indiatimes The Times of India The Economic Times

FOLLOW ET:

Blogs
Home Blogs Times View

Campaigns City

India World Entertainment Tech Sports Lifestyle Env ironment Science Spirituality Q&A Roots & Wings

Business

Rev iew s

Want to save higher education in India? Go beyond engineering

May 6, 2015, 10:56 AM IST

Rahul Choudaha in HigherEd Change | India | ET

Few years back Bollywood movie 3 Idiots captured the story of engineering education in India and undue pressure faced by
students in trying to fit within the metrics of success. Typically, these metrics are about clearing engineering entrance exams and
then working in Information Technology (IT) sector.
In last 15 years, the expansion of IT sector has provided relatively bright prospects of upward social mobility for many families.
While IT sector had been integral to the economic growth of the country, it has also boxed students into linear career pathways
that start with competing for college entrance exams. Students are told that they can study whatever they want, so long as its
engineering .
Im also a product of the factory line of engineering education and followed additional expectations by studying business
management and working in IT sector. Only after working in IT sector, I introspected and realized that I am a misfit. In search of
my passion, I moved to higher education sector in 2003 with a 25% cut in salary. After working for a few years, I came to the US to
earn my PhD in Higher Education and formally learn about theory, practice and research of higher education. Luckily, I had a
chance to discover and follow my passion; however, majority of the students do not get opportunities to explore.
There is an urgent need to broaden student choice beyond typical pathway of engineering education. One such alternative is to
provide students with liberal education that encourages discovery and exploration. However, it is also important to recognize
that more than half of all Indian students are already enrolled in Arts and Science three-year degrees. Also, there are also public
institutions of excellence like St. Xaviers College and Presidency.
Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) defines the 21st Century Liberal Education as an approach to
college learning that empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change. This approach
emphasizes broad knowledge of the wider world (e.g., science, culture, and society) as well as in-depth achievement in a specific
field of interest.
Diversify and Discover New Liberal Education in India
Japan a manufacturing success story of 1980s however, for last several years it has been under a constant decline. According to
president of Shiga University, Takamitsu Sawa, The plight of the Japanese manufacturing industry today may be traced to the
excessively compartmentalized manner in which engineering students have been educated for the past nearly four decades.
He goes on to make the case for liberal arts education and asserts that high schools and universities in Japan have failed to
provide their students with opportunities to acquire broad knowledge through the study of liberal arts and humanities before
teaching them technologies in their specific fields.
In contrast, US, where the liberal arts education is foundation of many private non-profit institutions, including Ivy League, is
struggling. Post-recession, many institutions continue to face increasing pressure to define the value of higher education. The
divide between liberal arts and practical education has been widening. Even AAC&U which is celebrating 100 years of promoting
liberal education, has to come forward to provide evidence on the long-term career paths of liberal arts graduates.
A recent conference, The Future of Liberal Arts and Science Education in India, in Delhi brought together educators to discuss
opportunities, challenges and approaches for building a stronger foundation for liberal arts education in India. It included
presentations from several educators from abroad such Pomona College and Yale-NUS College. The conference was hosted by
http://blogs.economictimes.indiatimes.com/HigherEdChange/want-to-save-higher-education-in-india-go-beyond-engineering/

1/5

10/10/2015

Want to save higher education in India? Go beyond engineering - ET Blogs

three private state universities-Ashoka, O.P. Jindal and Shiv Nadar-which are embracing the liberal arts education model.
I presented on the theme of Going Global with the Liberal Arts in India: Insights and Experiences from around the World at the
conference and argued that acceptance of liberal education in India will require creating new metrics of success among families
and students that go beyond engineering. Likewise, liberal arts educators have to realize that employability is one of the biggest
concerns for Indian families and hence need to proactively bring more evidence about the economic case of liberal education.
In sum, the rise of IT sector and engineering education in India has boxed students into linear path without giving them a chance
to explore and discover their passions. Concerted and collaborative efforts are needed in broaden student choices through liberal
arts education. India needs to learn from Japan and save the future of Indian higher education and society.
DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Author
Rahul Choudaha
Dr. Rahul Choudaha is a New York-based global higher education strategist. He advises, speaks, researches and blogs on
internationalization trends and insi. . .

more

FROM AROUND THE WEB

MORE FROM THE ECONOMIC TIMES
Recommended By Colombia

Comments on this post are closed now

http://blogs.economictimes.indiatimes.com/HigherEdChange/want-to-save-higher-education-in-india-go-beyond-engineering/

2/5