VCs to debate influx of foreign varsities

Seventy vice-chancellors of the south zone will discuss higher education under WTO,its challenges and opportunities, at a two-day conference that will commence on August 10 in Mysore.

With higher education becoming a 'global commodity' in the education sector under the WTO agreement, there is an influx of foreign universities into India and efforts are on by foreign and other inland universities to attract students for higher education.

This trend is throwing up new challenges and problems for the existing universities, more so for the tradition-bound.

Keeping this in mind, VCs of around 70 universities will discuss 'Influx of Private Universities: Foreign and Local' in one of their sessions at the Mahatma Gandhi Auditorium in the Infosys Campus here.

Another important topic they will discuss in-depth will be 'Indian Higher Education in the Global Context'. This will be followed by a talk on "University Autonomy: Accountability-based quality practices' by Madras University VC S.P.Thyagarajan. Another subject which will be discussed will be 'Opportunities for Women in Academia and Management' with a lead talk by NAAC senior educational consultant Mariamma A Verghese.

Apart from these major issues, the VCs will also take up for discussion subjects concerning 'University

Autonomy: Quality Imperatives', 'Distance Education', 'Indian Higher Education in the Global Contex' and 'HIV in Education and HIV in Women'.