Students' Corner

Dear Students,

LAST WEEK WE ASKED:  Should Indian institutes focus on having international faculty and students on campus or providing better education to Indian students?

BEST RESPONSE

Having international faculty and students in Indian institutes is a welcome idea but it is certainly not the apex concern. With increasing ingestion of domestic students every year, the institutes are literally crouching to meet the demand-supply equilibrium. The faculty-student ratio has dwindled and infrastructure is in shambles. Consequently idea of foreign students intake needs to be put on the sticky notes for the time being for later consideration. However foreign faculty intake can be considered right now, it will help beef up the faculty-student ratio. Though it is not the panacea, we need to start somewhere.
- Kunal Singh, IIT Kharagpur.


OTHER RESPONSES:

Internationalisation of university always leads to better education. It provides the bases for exchange of faculty and students among universities. Foreign collaboration grants the access of foreign culture of study and helps universities to excel in the field of research. Top universities around the world have a strong research facility and India lacks there. So in order to improve the research facility, Indian universities should focus on foreign faculty and foreign students.
- Arindam Garai, Regional College Of Management Autonomous, Bhubaneswar.


The recent turmoil in the financial system has thought many tough lessons to the world.  Although, Indian financial system has a trivial impact, we still need to learn so as to make ourselves more efficient.  Also, the internationally fraternity will be able to understand our regulatory structure, which insulated India.  However, having foreign students may not serve the government’s purpose of improving the literacy rate as this will de-route the resources. In a country like India, literacy is the main foundation for social and economic growth. 
- Bhushan Orpe, Fr. C. Rodrigues Institute of Management Studies, Vashi.


Many of the Indian institutes have tie-ups with international universities.Having international faculty on campus will definitely give Indian students an edge at a global level which is much needed in this era of globalisation. However the primary objective of the institutes should be to provide good education to students and the secret lies in finding the golden means between the two.
- Kiran Vispute, Fr. C. Rodrigues Institute of Management Studies, Vashi.


There has been an alarming decline in the quality of faculty in India in the recent past. 57% of college professors lack either a master’s or PhD degree in India. While having International faculty may be a viable option but is definitely not a complete solution to the problem. Having International faculty on campus is a feasible solution for higher levels of education only but when it comes to primary and secondary levels, the government has to come up with ideas to attract good talent for the teaching profession in India to address this problem in a better way.
- Pratik Nayak, Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship, Bangalore.


In todays globalised world education includes not just bookish cognition; instead becoming aware of the opportunities that this ever shrinking world offers you. Getting foreign exposure helps the Indian institutes realise where they stand in research or infrastructure on a global scale. Internationalisation is an important criterion for getting foreign accreditations such as AASCB and AMBA that are for B-schools. Better education is definitely a priority but providing global exposure to students is equally important in today’s world.
- Glorin Sebastian, Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship, Bangalore.


Having international faculty and students on campus and providing better education to Indian students is inseparable. The direct benefit of such international collaboration are, it will provide opportunity to share knowledge, study social and cultural perspectives that enrich the educational experience for all students., strengthen area of weakness, increase area of awareness, providing multitude of avenues for funding etc. The indirect benefits will be research benefit, business trade, diplomacy. Thus now days, more and more of institutes are going for international collaboration especially in higher education. It will be more beneficial if it could be incorporated from primary level onwards.
- Nilaya Mitash Shanker, Indian Institute Of Technology, Roorkee.


The exposure of global practices to the Indian students can mould them to be better managers. The biggest challenge that every Indian faces in an MNC begins with the adaptation of cultural and moral values. The need for cross-culture management in making the Indian students beware of the global issues through literature will add no value if not demonstrated. The current practices of exchange courses between different institutes can entertain healthier relationships between the faculties and students of international origin. This is a positive sign wherein every institute prepares their students to compete globally and share their creativity by effective medium.
- K Visheta, Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship, Bangalore.


Many Indian institutes are already making their presence felt at national and international level witnessing better education to Indian students. By focusing on international faculties and students, competence among these institutes would increase to world education level through effective teaching methodology and delivery. This also provides opportunities to amalgamate advance scientific approach of west and the ancient traditions of gurukuls to the modern residential schools. Knowledge was considered as power, but today knowledge sharing is power. International exposure among students and academicians would definitely enhance the quality of the institute, especially with students due to multi culture environment.
- Kushal Shenoy, Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship (XIME), Bangalore.


In India, the education system is more theory oriented and less practical oriented. Compared to India, other countries such USA, UK, etc adopt case-based and interactive methodologies of teaching. Also these countries have professors who have undertaken extensive research in their areas of specialization, resulting in better external interface. Foreign students are usually more mature, especially in MBA programs. Hence, besides upgrading our education, funding short foreign faculty stints and inviting self funded international students would be best.
- Arund Sundar, XIME, Bangalore.


Ideally, having international students and faculty on campus should increase diversity in both teaching and learning paradigms, thus leading to more learning for all students. But, considering the diversity and large talent pool within our country and the shortage of seats for Indian students, it is best that we focus on our students first. However, having international faculty and providing better education to Indian students need not be viewed as mutually exclusive. International faculty, coming from different and diverse education systems, can help us in achieving the goal of providing better education to Indian students.
- Debojyoti Chakraborty, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA).


Education can be formal or informal. Having international faculty and students on Indian campus then the advantages are more research work students will do, better opportunities that Indian students  has, it is also less expensive, more convenient. And it will raise the Indian education standard. So that the employment also increases in the country.and same time disadvantages also, like the student miss the international exposure and lack of economic benefit.  But education wise it’s good for students so they can get international exposure and compete with international students.
- Gunjan Talsania, St Kabir Institute Of Professional Studies, Ahmedabad.

Internationalisation plays a very important role in education institutions. It will benefit us with cross cultural edge in improving knowledge,as western world was always outrageous in terms of research and technological domains. So incorporating international faculty will give upper edge to the thought process of Indian students in respective key areas. Hence such Harvard & Cambridge model of internationalisation will help and improve positioning of Indian institutions.
- Monil Shah, Fr C. Rodrigues Institute of Management Studies, Navi Mumbai.

India has an impressive list of universities and colleges spread across major states and cities which has made it popular with international students from all over the world. Though India is the second largest higher education network in the world, everyone recognizes that India has a serious higher education problem. Indian institutes should collaborate with foreign universities for a cultural exchange programme for studying, training and research in various fields. Also, the government should offer scholarships to international students who wish to pursue their studies in India which would also promote interaction among students, scholars, academicians from different countries.
- Aditya Boddu, SIBM Pune.

Exchange of program which leads to a cross-cultural awareness and networking has become an important for all professionals to explore the ideas with the global orientation which makes an effective learning process for the students. Technically the student or faculty members are getting more interactive with the global base of technical learning process, gain knowledge about latest technique, innovation and the practice which is going around the world with that learning system they can bring up to the mark of learning process which is globally accepted.
-  Prasenjit Ghosh, Unitedworld School of Business, Ahmedabad.

With the wind of globalization had spread in the Indian atmosphere since 1991, corporate are facing scarcity of talented employees who can handle their international operations too. One of the reasons may be lack of international exposure by the employees in their higher studies education.Keeping a long term view of India becoming a superpower in 2020,next generation's employees will definitely need a international exposure by having international faculty and students on campus ,so that they can compete employees of other nations and fill higher positions with Indian brains.
- Harsh Mehta, St Kabir Institute of Professional Studies, Ahmedabad.

The foreign student population in Universities is growing at a fierce rate of 65% worldwide since 2000. Having international faculty and students is not mutually exclusive of providing better education to Indian students, in fact it will help in increasing the exposure of young Indian minds to the global trends, improve their approach, add a new dimension to their thinking process and make them more competitive world over. With foreign universities setting up campuses in the country, India will become a global classroom sooner or later and for the Indian institutes to survive, they need more diverse intellectual capital.
- Arunansu Kumar, Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship, Bangalore.

Your responses should reach us at edu@business-standard.com by Monday evening every week. Please ensure that your responses do not exceed 100 words. Avoid attachments and email your full name, institute's name, batch and complete mailing address. The student who gives the 'Best Response' will be awarded Rs 500.
 

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:  Do you think introducing four year under graduate courses by colleges will help students?