Envisioning Indian Higher Education: A Strategic Approach

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Indian higher education landscape needs systemic changes. This book provides a roadmap for the future to make it globally relevant. It emphasises that the Vedic era, apart from bestowing a treasure trove of knowledge, also provided a rich legacy of pedagogy and methodology for knowledge creation. Temple schools that came up later further contributed through unique models for governance of educational institutions. From these emerged world renowned universities that developed practices which are still relevant. Indian higher education suffered a major setback during second millennium and has still not recovered. The book suggests measures related to regulation, accreditation, internationalisation, ranking of higher education institutions and training of academic leaders. A unique model based on the concept of social business has been highlighted. It also outlines grassroot-level steps to improve standards of research, teaching- learning, curriculum development, vocational training and embracing liberal education to meet the aspirations of Generation Z (Centennials).

Brig (Dr) RS Grewal served in the Indian Army's Corps of Engineers for more than 34 years. He was Chief Engineer in the Border Roads Organisation in a region that is considered a logistician's nightmare, and has served as a member of faculty at the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and College of Military Engineering, Pune. After retirement from the Army he was in academia for 16 years and had been Director, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology: Pro Vice Chancellor, Sikkim Manipal University: founder Director ICICI Manipal Academy (now Manipal University. Bangalore Campus): and Vice Chancellor, Chitkara University, HP. He was awarded the Vishisht Sewa Medal by President of India. He has contributed papers to reputable journals, and has also been a speaker at numerous forums, both in India and abroad.

He is now Professor Emeritus, Chitkara University, Punjab.

Epochal changes are taking place in Indian higher education. Emerging realities and new possibilities are opening up vistas that could be exploited to unleash the country's potential and to project it as a major power. Interventions by the Government, to streamline the system and facilitate autonomy of higher education institutions, introducing an element of accountability and encouraging collaborations, are positive signs. Higher education institutions in India and the students can be divided into two broad categories: those engaged in scholarly pursuits and achievements - though in a minority; and the vast majority who are there in the system to prepare for work force requirements, and, thus, are more interested in acquiring degrees than knowledge. Consequently, stakeholders have been forced to shift their focus toward better quality as well as enhancing their employability quotient. The country's economic future and global stature are intricately associated with the credibility of its higher education system and that demands an approach verging on a transformation to breathe life into it.

Fortunately for India, it has a rich legacy of higher education, stretching back to more than three millennia. The Vedas are known for their rich repository of knowledge acquired by our ancient Rishis. Equally important is the system developed by them to make this knowledge available to successive generations, in its purity, through a process covering a complete hierarchy of learning, its application and innumerable additions to it, in the form of various literary texts. Apart from the pedagogy, an organisational structure came up during the Vedic era, encompassing entities like Gurukuls and Agraharas, which had the support of rulers and local communities.