 "Want to give more autonomy to higher learning institutes like IIMs: Prakash Javadekar")
Prakash Javadekar, Union minister of human resource development speaks to Sanjay Jog on the various ideas and policies under process. Edited excerpts:
What is the rationale to introduce a quota for faculty positions in the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)?
That report is completely wrong. There is no talk or any proposal for reservation. We want to give more autonomy to higher learning national institutes and the IIMs are one of these. We're bringing a Bill in this regard. Today, the IIMs are working under the society model and cannot grant degrees; they need statutory powers, which the Bill will give them, to grant degrees and give them more autonomy.
I favour autonomy. More and more institutes should come forward and say we want it, that we're ready to float degrees on own strength.
There are three types of autonomy. There are autonomous colleges, which remain in universities and still have their freedom, different curricula and examinations but the degrees are granted by the parent university.
There is another pattern where colleges give degrees on their own curricula, teaching methodologies, experimentation and are allowed full autonomy.
The third is the Indian School of Business model - it has not asked for any recognition ot affiliation. And, this is one of the most recognised institutes at the world level. In the world-class institutes envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are aiming at bringing out institutes from the regulatory regime and make them float on their quality.
Is the September 20 meeting going to discuss the Bill?
Yes. This is part of the exercise I've launched, to review the functioning of all national institutes directly coming under the ministry. I have held a marathon meeting with the IIT (Indian Institutes of Technology) Council and on September 20 will meet with the directors of IIMs and chairmen of the board of governance, in Shillong. Then, I will meet National Institute of Technology directors in Jaipur and later in Banaras with vice-chancellors of central universities. It is a stock-taking exercise and also aimed at exploring ways to improve.
There was talk of bringing the All India Council for Technical Education and the University Grants Commission under a more regulated environment. What is the ministry's stand?
We have carried out reforms of these bodies and that is a constant process. The purpose is to improve the quality of higher learning and we want to lay emphasis on research and innovation. To inculcate such a culture in higher learning centres, we want to attune our regulators in that mode.
Good institutes will get more autonomy, the average will get little and regulations, and not-so-good institutes will have more of a regulatory regime until they reform. There is scope for everybody to scale up.
The IITs, set up to improve industry-related skills, are dealing with issues like lack of infrastructure and partnerships. How will you revive them?
We have taken three major initiatives. Under the PM's leadership and vision, we have already started tremendous research initiatives on IIT campuses, including incubation centres. We have allowed them to launch start-ups from hostel rooms and these have clicked. We have launched a Rs 1,200-crore Impacting Research Innovation & Technology project, for boosting innovation. Under this we've got a little more than 2,000 project proposals in 10 sectors, of which 400 were sanctioned. The government will give funding for such projects. Small projects will get Rs 20 lakh and big projects Rs 20 crore.
The second is the Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana, which aims at more and more interaction between industry and academia. Industry- specific research proposals or requests are taken up by teams from IIT faculties and students. Already, 100 such ideas have been finalised. We have received 25 per cent contribution from industries. IIT-Madras has taken a lead in this and the others are following.
The third initiative is a Global Research Interactive Network, under which the best brains, doing PhDs, will be given PM's scholarships of Rs 60,000 a month. Our best brains are going to foreign labs only because they get research funding and opportunities, equipment. We're offering funding, research infrastructure and an opportunity to go to top labs abroad, where we have contracts. They would go there for six months or a year and can come back and complete their research This would retain our brain power.
Finally, and important, is establishment of a Higher Education Financing Agency. The Rs 20,000-crore corpus is a real infrastructure initiative. It is not merely to be used to construct swimming pools, hostel buildings, staff quarters, etc, but essentially for creating research infrastructure, including modern labs. The government will give a push by leveraging through the debt market and the Corporate Social Responsibility option. The interest burden will be borne by the government.
Any plans to increase the number of IITs & IIMs?
We have already established six new IITs and converted Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, into an IIT. We have already opened other IIMs. We have done big expansion and now want to consolidate.
India fares poorly in global rankings like the QS World Rankings. What is your ministry doing to address this?
This issue is of perception. We will have more interaction among foreign and Indian students, faculties, more foreign students in Indian universities and we will be reaching out to alumni and the Indian diaspora to a great extent. If that happens, our ranking will be reflecting the quality education our institutes are imparting.
How will the National Institute Ranking Framework be scaled up?
It is reality now and nobody has raised any questions. We want to give more stress on national rankings for giving autonomy and help to various universities and institutions. Instead of only the National Assessment and Accreditation Council ranking, we will have NIRF as an important base for giving many schemes.
When will the government issue a New Education Policy?
I am happy that there is debate on this issue across the country. I wrote myself to all Indian language institutes, appealed to society to send their inputs, as the draft is yet to be approved by the ministry, and will then await the Cabinet's nod. Lots of inputs are pouring in. We will set up a committee, to be headed by an eminent educationist, to look into all issues and come out with a good draft, which will be taken later to the Cabinet.
There is no deadline as our objective is to complete the process very scientifically. The five pillars of the new policy will be quality, equity, quantity, accountability and affordability.
What is the rationale to introduce a quota for faculty positions in the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)?
That report is completely wrong. There is no talk or any proposal for reservation. We want to give more autonomy to higher learning national institutes and the IIMs are one of these. We're bringing a Bill in this regard. Today, the IIMs are working under the society model and cannot grant degrees; they need statutory powers, which the Bill will give them, to grant degrees and give them more autonomy.
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What does the ministry intend on such autonomy?
I favour autonomy. More and more institutes should come forward and say we want it, that we're ready to float degrees on own strength.
There are three types of autonomy. There are autonomous colleges, which remain in universities and still have their freedom, different curricula and examinations but the degrees are granted by the parent university.
There is another pattern where colleges give degrees on their own curricula, teaching methodologies, experimentation and are allowed full autonomy.
The third is the Indian School of Business model - it has not asked for any recognition ot affiliation. And, this is one of the most recognised institutes at the world level. In the world-class institutes envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are aiming at bringing out institutes from the regulatory regime and make them float on their quality.
Is the September 20 meeting going to discuss the Bill?
Yes. This is part of the exercise I've launched, to review the functioning of all national institutes directly coming under the ministry. I have held a marathon meeting with the IIT (Indian Institutes of Technology) Council and on September 20 will meet with the directors of IIMs and chairmen of the board of governance, in Shillong. Then, I will meet National Institute of Technology directors in Jaipur and later in Banaras with vice-chancellors of central universities. It is a stock-taking exercise and also aimed at exploring ways to improve.
There was talk of bringing the All India Council for Technical Education and the University Grants Commission under a more regulated environment. What is the ministry's stand?
We have carried out reforms of these bodies and that is a constant process. The purpose is to improve the quality of higher learning and we want to lay emphasis on research and innovation. To inculcate such a culture in higher learning centres, we want to attune our regulators in that mode.
Good institutes will get more autonomy, the average will get little and regulations, and not-so-good institutes will have more of a regulatory regime until they reform. There is scope for everybody to scale up.
The IITs, set up to improve industry-related skills, are dealing with issues like lack of infrastructure and partnerships. How will you revive them?
We have taken three major initiatives. Under the PM's leadership and vision, we have already started tremendous research initiatives on IIT campuses, including incubation centres. We have allowed them to launch start-ups from hostel rooms and these have clicked. We have launched a Rs 1,200-crore Impacting Research Innovation & Technology project, for boosting innovation. Under this we've got a little more than 2,000 project proposals in 10 sectors, of which 400 were sanctioned. The government will give funding for such projects. Small projects will get Rs 20 lakh and big projects Rs 20 crore.
The second is the Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana, which aims at more and more interaction between industry and academia. Industry- specific research proposals or requests are taken up by teams from IIT faculties and students. Already, 100 such ideas have been finalised. We have received 25 per cent contribution from industries. IIT-Madras has taken a lead in this and the others are following.
The third initiative is a Global Research Interactive Network, under which the best brains, doing PhDs, will be given PM's scholarships of Rs 60,000 a month. Our best brains are going to foreign labs only because they get research funding and opportunities, equipment. We're offering funding, research infrastructure and an opportunity to go to top labs abroad, where we have contracts. They would go there for six months or a year and can come back and complete their research This would retain our brain power.
Finally, and important, is establishment of a Higher Education Financing Agency. The Rs 20,000-crore corpus is a real infrastructure initiative. It is not merely to be used to construct swimming pools, hostel buildings, staff quarters, etc, but essentially for creating research infrastructure, including modern labs. The government will give a push by leveraging through the debt market and the Corporate Social Responsibility option. The interest burden will be borne by the government.
Any plans to increase the number of IITs & IIMs?
We have already established six new IITs and converted Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, into an IIT. We have already opened other IIMs. We have done big expansion and now want to consolidate.
India fares poorly in global rankings like the QS World Rankings. What is your ministry doing to address this?
This issue is of perception. We will have more interaction among foreign and Indian students, faculties, more foreign students in Indian universities and we will be reaching out to alumni and the Indian diaspora to a great extent. If that happens, our ranking will be reflecting the quality education our institutes are imparting.
How will the National Institute Ranking Framework be scaled up?
It is reality now and nobody has raised any questions. We want to give more stress on national rankings for giving autonomy and help to various universities and institutions. Instead of only the National Assessment and Accreditation Council ranking, we will have NIRF as an important base for giving many schemes.
When will the government issue a New Education Policy?
I am happy that there is debate on this issue across the country. I wrote myself to all Indian language institutes, appealed to society to send their inputs, as the draft is yet to be approved by the ministry, and will then await the Cabinet's nod. Lots of inputs are pouring in. We will set up a committee, to be headed by an eminent educationist, to look into all issues and come out with a good draft, which will be taken later to the Cabinet.
There is no deadline as our objective is to complete the process very scientifically. The five pillars of the new policy will be quality, equity, quantity, accountability and affordability.