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‘Quality in higher education must improve'

JAIPUR: Experts addressing a national seminar on higher education, which ended here on Sunday, called for quality and accountability in institutions of higher learning. Infrastructure and teachers' training in universities also needed identical attention, they said.

Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University (VMOU), Kota, organised the two-day seminar on ‘Quality assurance in higher education with special reference to open and distance learning (ODL) system' at its regional centre here to deliberate upon the quality aspect. University Grants Commission's National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) director H. A. Ranganath inaugurated the seminar.

VMOU vice-chancellor Naresh Dadhich pointed out that the Planning Commission had identified quality as a key issue for the higher education sector in its approach paper to the 12 {+t} {+h} Five Year Plan. “With the emphasis on [increasing] the gross enrolment ratio, expansion continues to be important for higher education,” he said.

Prof. Ranganath laid emphasis on expansion of higher education along with robust academic cooperation between teachers and students. He said the infrastructure, value system and academic standards were some of the aspects generally scrutinised by the NAAC in the assessment of higher education institutions for recognition.

US-based education researcher Arthur Dudney said higher education in India should be promoted as a means for public welfare. Former Goa University vice-chancellor B. S. Sonde said quality education demanded proper training of teachers and improvements in infrastructure.

Anil Shukla of Lucknow University said the ODL system, which promotes diversity in higher education, should be popularised for those out of the formal education model. Educationist K. L. Sharma said education and society were complementary to each other.

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