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Winds of CHANGE over higher learning
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A quantum change is predicted in the field of India's higher education, when GATS takes shape in 2005. RAKHEE MOHAN finds that educationists are gearing up for the challenge foreign universities will pose.
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WHEN GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) comes into effect in 2005, the education sector, countrywide, will experience repercussions of a great magnitude. The whole educational system will have to undergo a revamp if it is to survive the competitive ambience that will be created by its implementation. GATS is a multilateral, legally enforceable agreement covering international trade and services. Born out of the Uruguay Round of parleys where developing countries had registered their opposition against bringing services in the purview of trade rules by WTO, education services including higher education is one of the 12 broad sectors included in the agreement. As India is a member of the WTO (World Trade Organisation) it will have to comply with the contents of this agreement. So, in other words, education will be treated as a trade.
"But, even though there are provisions not to undermine the efforts of developing countries to develop and enhance their own domestic higher education system, very little is known about the consequences, " says Prof. Leslie Palloth, Principal of St.Albert's College. The quality of the education services, a domestic authority to regulate higher education systems and public subsidies for higher education are just some of the topics that have been left unanswered. "Moreover, in GATS, public and private higher education are interdependent, therefore it is impossible to effectively separate out sub-sectors like adult education, private providers, government education etc," points out Prof. Palloth.
What it will mean for the average Kochiite is that foreign universities will suddenly spring up in large numbers in your neighbourhood. No more crossing the seven seas to get armed with that prestigious foreign stamped degree. Quality education will be available to discerning students, it will generate more employment opportunities as well as open up more research programmes and will be good for developing countries where governments find it tough to provide additional resources. Also as Prof. Samson Davis, Head of the Zoology Department of Sacred Heart College puts it, "If these foreign universities offer prospective courses which are in tune with the needs of the hour, students would rather flock to them." Fr. Joseph Poonely, Principal of Sacred Heart College adds, "moreover, just like, it being a fad to go to English medium schools, parents may prefer their wards to be placed in the foreign universities, even if for namesake." But all is not rosy as Sister Tessa, Principal of St.Teresa's College, raises doubts about the affordability of enrolling in such universities. " Student access is sure to be limited as they will charge exorbitant fees . Money and affordability are the deciding factors here." Fr. Joseph Poonely says, "Money power is a challenging fact but if they make concessions and provide scholarships and student loans then they can usurp our domain." But, he further adds, "These are just our fears, and one can't quite say, what is going to be the course of events. Instead, I feel the foreign students would benefit if they came and studied here in India as they would find it lighter on their pockets and Indian universities can get additional funding." "But, what will really make India a hunting ground for the foreign universities is that India has the largest number of young population. Fifty-four per cesssssnt is below 25 years and 70 per cent is below 35 years and university education is very popular. We have 80 lakh university students and the large number of English speaking population only makes things easier and attractive for the foreign universities to drop anchorage here," says Prof. Palloth.
This calls for revamping of the education sector, or else we will have to pay a huge price. As more and more Indian students look to Australia, Britain and the U.S.A for post-graduate studies, the quality of Indian universities will continue to suffer. Many of the resource-starved institutes such as mofussil colleges in rural districts will be on the wrong side of the digital divide. Moreover, it will become extremely difficult to attract and retain world-class faculty members in the face of the attractive benefits that the affluent foreign universities can provide. Fr. Joseph Poonely also points out that "the government is already attempting to make all higher education self financed." Moreover, according to GATS rules, public funding is equated with unfair subsidy. Prof. Palloth raises grave concerns over the lack of an international system for accrediting and assuring the quality of education. "They may be profit motivated private universities thinking of education as profitable business. How do we differentiate between the really serious players and the defaulters if there is no organisation to monitor their activities." They might be "degree mills" churning out dubious quality education. Fr. Joseph Poonely also says, "Brain drain is inevitable with the best minds opting for their courses and the Indian universities will only get the average students." Other than an increase in the social divide there will be erosion of indigenous methods of education, arts and culture. Foreign providers may only provide courses in professional areas like management, finance, law and information technology that do not require heavy infrastructure. They may offer only profitable subjects leaving the public institutions to deal with non-profitable ones like Humanities and Sciences. But this is just one side of the picture.
Indian universities can go and set up centres abroad. "India has become a knowledge society and so we can withstand this invasion by foreign universities. Just look at what the opening up of the business sector did for the economy in India," says Economics professor of St. Albert's College, Mr. Robins Jacob. "Cross border education is an upcoming reality and we can capture the benefits of globalisation only if those in the education sector are made more aware of its presence and take it up as a challenge rather than as a threat," he further adds.
Prof. Leslie Palloth has the last word when he says, "There are real opportunities for India to benefit significantly. To do so we will require major policy reforms in the way Indian universities are structured, funded and regulated. It will also require closer links between Indian industry, especially growing technology based sector and Indian universities. Just as it will require a new globally oriented entrepreneurial style of leadership by the Indian vice chancellors and other top level administrators."
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