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Integrating mental health policies in higher education

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“Explore the expertise of Mrs. Sangeeta Sharma, Placement Officer at IIIT Bhagalpur, in creating opportunities for young individuals and fostering a competent workforce. Discover the importance of integrating mental health policies in higher education and gain valuable insights from Mrs. Sharma’s extensive industry experience, including working with renowned companies such as Mphasis, Cisco, Altisourse Business Solution, and Ocwen.”
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Mrs. Sangeeta Sharma is a highly accomplished professional with a remarkable journey. With degrees in Engineering and Management, she has excelled in roles at renowned companies such as Mphasis, Cisco, Altisource Business Solutions, and Ocwen. Currently, she plays a pivotal role in the Placements and Jobs department at the Indian Institute of Information Technology Bhagalpur, where she shapes the careers of young individuals and fosters a competent workforce. Sangeeta’s exceptional achievements, dedication, and compassionate nature make her an invaluable asset in any professional setting, serving as an inspiration for others.
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Enhance your understanding of promoting mental well-being within the higher education community.
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How do you think the current recession and placement trends are affecting students and professor’s mental health?
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These are the main factors causing stress among students and professors.
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Another point that I will add is that a few companies and MNCs they are starting new trends as in few companies are offering internships to students in the pre-final year for around six months which is a good opportunity for students and the students are not aware of this change.
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Talking about professors at this time of recession they are not getting proper projects and proper funding for the research programs and we as TPOs are really connected to students and seeing the students struggling that is also creating stress in our minds.
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This is affecting both students as well as professors. Firstly as the opportunities are limited, that is the main reason for stress among students.
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They have to compromise on low salaries and limited options. Also, sometimes the students are not sure about their career paths and in which direction to go after graduation.
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Students also go through financial stress as their parents invest a lot in their education, so they want to make them proud.
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Therefore, they are not able to grab this opportunity. In our university, we are also facing this challenge as we have to get approval from the government and then only we can make the changes.
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How can training and placement officers provide resources and support for students mental health building a mutually beneficial relationship?
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In my opinion, there are a lot of ways, and we are already making these changes. First and the foremost point is communication. Professors should be available for students, and students should not be afraid to come to you to share something. Being their mentor is very important. Secondly, we can organise different seminars and workshops that help students to manage stress, these initiatives will definitely help students if they attend them. Very importantly there is a program that we can start in the universities that is ‘‘Alumni mentorship program’’ where they can interact with their alumni, they can share insights of the industry to be updated with the current scenario this can definitely help students in the future.
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Currently due to recession there are offers being revoked, people are not getting their expected salary, So what is your take on the mental health policies that universities should integrate for students?
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Students should be open to opportunities, in the current scenario staying updated is the only option.In the universities different activities are conducted like if we talk about some building construction our civil engineers can be part of that project. In house projects can be assigned to students to get internships and to gain work experience.
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I was working with ITM University previously and we initiated an in house internship program there and architecture students were part of building design and everything, and management students were part of the canteen management team.
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We as the placement officers, should be updated, we should share regular updates with the students,if we are updated then only we can share the information with students.
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What can institutes/universities do to motivate students if the student is going through a recession and financial issues?
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We can appoint a teacher mentor according to their skills if somebody is good at stress management, communication,mentorship we can faculty for this. Counselling has to be there at the university. We as the placement officers, should be updated, we should share regular updates with the students,if we are updated then only we can share the information with students.
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“Students should be open to opportunities, in the current scenario staying updated is the only option.In the universities different activities are conducted like if we talk about some building construction our civil engineers can be part of that project. In house projects can be assigned to students to get internships and to gain work experience.”

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I was working with ITM University previously and we initiated an in house internship program there and architecture students were part of building design and everything, and management students were part of the canteen management team.
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What tips would you give the other placement officers to ensure the well-being of the students and professors?
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Networking can be done which will help and you have to be honest, we can also inculcate alumni mentorship programs in the universities, even we continuously organise events and interactive sessions. We must be consistent with these initiatives throughout the year. We must be available to each other. For example if a company is coming to my campus and if the requirements are not fulfilled here, we can give a referral to other universities.
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“Communication is the main key. We should get regular feedback from the students that is very important. We should get feedback from both the assessment company as well the students. We should continuously check if the student is comfortable. Continuous feedback is important as it will help them to prepare. As a mentor you have to help the students. They should not hesitate to come to you”.

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During our enlightening conversation on Importance of integrating mental health policies in higher education with Mrs. Sangeeta Sharma, she graciously shared her profound wisdom and offered valuable insights. To gain further valuable knowledge, you can explore the Eduvoice Chronicles

July 24, 2023
Impact of Incorporating Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education

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Gain insights Impact of Incorporating AI in Higher Education from Dr. Vinay Kumar Saini, Head of Department (AI & DS) at Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, with over 20 years of experience in Software Development, Information Security, Training, Research, and Consultancy. Explore the profound impact of incorporating Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education with Dr. Vinay Kumar Saini and discover how AI is revolutionizing teaching, learning, and student outcomes. Stay ahead of the curve and unlock the potential of AI in shaping the future of higher education with expert insights from Mr. Vinay Kumar Saini.
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Dr. Vinay Kumar Saini has more than 20 years of experience in Software Development, Information Security, Training, Research, and Consultancy. He holds B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering and M.Tech in Information Technology and Ph.D in Computer Science and Engineering(Blockchain).

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He has qualified CISA exam and is Wipro and Infosys Certified Faculty. He has published many research papers in journals and proceedings of International and National Conferences.He has delivered many guest lectures on various Information Technology, Risk Management, IT Security and IS Auditing related concepts in leading institutions like CA Sri Lanka, ICAN Nepal, IEI, ICAI, NISG, CAG, RDIAS, TIPS, and many more across India and abroad.
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With the increasing demand for AI, what, according to you, are the scope and opportunities of AI and DS for the students?
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Artificial intelligence and Data Science play a crucial role in assisting every business organization. It can be used in identifying business trends and changes through advanced Big Data Analytics. It provides a variety of techniques and tools to interpret and predict business results and the future from multiple data sources through statistical analysis, data aggregation, and data mining.
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”Jobs are becoming more available for students through on-campus internships at B.Tech Artificial Intelligence colleges as the demand for experts in the field of data science and artificial intelligence is on the rise nowadays.”

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Artificial Intelligence and Data Science have a lot of opportunities in various sectors like e-commerce, healthcare, biotechnology, genetics, research and development, Big Data Analytics, IT-enabled service industries, banking, government agencies, insurance, aerospace, etc.
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The use of AI is at its peak right now. Owing to this, some people, along with the government, feel that it needs to have certain regulations to it. How will these regulations affect the demand for AI in the market?
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What I believe is that regulations are crucial for ensuring controlled and sustainable development while mitigating potential abuses and threats to society. Applying effective regulations specifically to the development and application of AI is imperative.

Such regulations foster ethical practices and fair optimization of AI,enabling its better utilization. AI regulations serve multiple purposes. They establish clear guidelines and standards for responsible creation and deployment of AI technologies, ensuring they prioritize human values and rights.
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“By addressing biases and discrimination through transparency and accountability, regulations promote fairness and inclusivity in AI applications. Additionally, regulations safeguard data privacy and security, protecting individuals’ information and building trust in AI systems.”

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Moreover, regulations facilitate collaboration among stakeholders in the AI ecosystem by creating frameworks for sharing knowledge and best practices. This promotes responsible and ethical development while preventing the potential harms of unregulated AI applications. In summary, AI regulations are vital for controlled and sustainable progress, preventing abuses, and addressing threats. They ensure ethical guidelines, fairness, privacy protection, and collaboration, allowing us to harness AI’s full potential for the betterment of society.
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What are the Pros and Cons of implementing and developing AI in the real world?
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Well, the question should be, do we really need AI in the real world?.

In my personal opinion, AI should be embraced primarily when human involvement is impractical or when it brings about significant advancements beyond our individual capabilities. Take, for instance, remarkable applications like Google Maps, which seamlessly navigate complex routes, or the awe-inspiring space missions that venture into unexplored frontiers.

These examples showcase the immense value of AI in situations where human work faces limitations or when it propels us forward.However, we must be careful and balance our dependence on artificial intelligence. We must not allow ourselves to become enslaved by technology; instead, we should view AI as a helpful tool that serves our needs.
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“It should never replace human decision-making or undermine our autonomy. Rather, it should act as a trusted ally that complements our abilities and empowers us. It is our responsibility to ensure that we retain control over AI and prevent undue dependence.”

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In addition, as AI progresses, it becomes increasingly important to take into account ethical implications and societal impact. We need to address concerns like fairness, transparency and accountability to ensure that AI systems reflect our values and contribute positively to the common good. This entails continuous monitoring and regulation to mitigate potential risks associated with AI development and deployment.
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During our enlightening conversation on Impact of Incorporating AI in Higher Education with Dr. Vinay Kumar Saini, he graciously shared his profound wisdom and offered valuable insights. To gain further valuable knowledge, you can explore the Eduvoice Chronicles.

June 14, 2023
Educators: The Unsung Heroes of The Pandemic

The COVID-19 crisis has changed the face of heroes these days, and one of those ‘Heroes’ is our academicians. The ongoing health crisis has been a difficult period for teachers across the globe. It can’t be denied that it is a task in itself for teachers to switch to the virtual model of learning, and not being tech-savvy makes it all the more difficult for them.

Academicians should not panic to go ahead with the normalcy of online classrooms, but the fact is, that they are concerned about the student’s academic growth that creates a panic situation for them.

What Makes Them a Hero?

As much as it has been difficult for us to work from home, it has been difficult for them as well. Have you ever thought, that if you are not able to meet the deadlines, or maybe find it challenging to work with a new editing tool, it seems tough right? That’s what 60% of educators are facing ever since the lockdown has been implemented. For sure it’s not easy for them to shoot a video, or conduct engaging online content, but kudos to their efforts.

It gets much more difficult to reach out to their students who reside in rural areas with a lack of internet and resources. Or we can say, if the teacher itself is living in a rural area he/she has probably no means to conduct the classes. Nearly 6 months of making consecutive efforts to complete the syllabus, the teachers have made remarkable efforts to accomplish the tasks in hand.

For teachers it’s important to get a chance to have one interaction with their students, it’s their presence that matters to them. Keeping the students motivated and involved during the online class is not as easy as it seems. Of course, the teachers are leaving no stone unturned to make sure that they excel at delivering the most engaging lectures online.

Strongly Dealing With the Cyber Space

The cyberspace has made it feasible to conduct sessions online, but it is still not as easy going as it seems for teachers. We are well aware of the consequences of the lockdown and mostly had an idea that we are gonna miss a lot of things.

But, what we didn’t notice was that, as much as it is going to be difficult for us to stay at home, it will be difficult for teachers to form a learning environment and share knowledge amidst the pandemic. Did I tell you they aren’t taking leaves either? Yes, you read that right, almost 50% of them are working every single day along with the hustle-bustle of their day to day routines. While some of the teachers are homemakers as well, they have a double responsibility to manage it all together.

From “No Smartphones” to becoming a pro at using it, it surely has been a roller coaster ride for academicians worldwide. They have been the ones who encouraged us to learn new things, and now they are the learners surrounded by gadgets.

Not Giving Up At All

One of the major challenges that the teachers have been facing, is to make sure that they can pay attention to each student and take feedbacks. Along with that, various cases talk about the time when the parents are the one who takes notes on behalf of the students. I wonder how patient a teacher must have been to watch such unnecessary involvements during an ongoing class. It becomes difficult for them to maintain the decorum of the class.

From preparing themselves for the next session to adjusting with the camera, to making it more engaging and above all, completing the syllabus. I must say, they haven’t given up. We are not acknowledging them enough for being patient for so long.

The academic fraternity is the community of “Unsung Heroes” who are putting their heart and soul to conduct classes online with 0 technical knowledge. We are still uncertain about how and when things will get normal, but the fact is that our educators have embraced the new normal with utmost sincerity.

Even if it is possible virtually, make sure you thank them for being available for you and guiding you throughout during these unprecedented times. This teacher’s day, assure that you make it special for them.

For More Such Articles, News Update, Events, and Many More Click Here

March 27, 2023
Kerala HC Upholds Educational Qualifications Prescribed For Teachers In KUFOS

The Kerala High Court has upheld the qualifications laid down by the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) for teaching posts in the varsity.

Justice Sathish Ninan upheld the higher qualifications for teaching posts laid down by the university, saying they were prescribed “to uplift the quality of education.”

The decision came while dismissing a joint plea by several aspirants to the posts of Assistant Professors in the university.

The petitioners had contended that the qualifications prescribed were contrary to those prescribed under the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations and were also “irrational and unreasonable.“

The university, represented by senior advocate Jaju Babu, contended that the UGC regulations lay down only the ‘minimum qualification‘ for the appointment of teachers.

Therefore, the qualification prescribed by the University shall not be lower than the one mandated by the UGC. Prescription of qualifications in addition to the minimum qualification fixed by the UGC does not amount to a violation of the UGC Regulations,
He Told The Court.

Agreeing with the stand of KUFOS, the court noted that since knowledge is to be imparted to the students of BFSc course, the State deemed it appropriate that the teachers who impart knowledge should possess a degree in Fisheries Science and Post Graduate degree in the subject concerned.

“It can only be understood to be the prescription of a higher qualification to uplift the quality of education. It does not do away with the minimum qualification of ‘A Masters’s Degree; as prescribed under the UGC regulations.

“Therefore, the challenge against the provision on the ground of repugnancy fails,” the court said.

The court also disagreed with the petitioners’ contention that securing a degree in Fisheries Science approved by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an impossibility, saying it “cannot be acceded to”.

“Therefore, the said ground of challenge also fails,” it said.

For More Such Articles, News Update, Events, and Many More Click Here

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March 20, 2023
Indian Government And EdTech Startups Reshaping The Education Landscape With Teacher Upskilling

The Indian EdTech startup culture has been thriving in recent years, with many platforms emerging to cater to the diverse needs of the education sector. These have not just been catering to young students but are also bridging the gap for continuous learning and upskilling by providing the youth and avid learners an excellent platform to enhance their knowledge and leverage that for greater and global work opportunities.

Suraasa is one such platform that is leading the way when it comes to teacher education and empowerment. As one of the few EdTech platforms curated specifically for teacher training, Suraasa has made a significant impact on the Indian education ecosystem.

The brand’s approach to teacher education is research-driven and pedagogically sound, which has helped them to enhance and upskill teachers. This, in turn, has contributed to an improved educational platform for students. With their innovative approach, Suraasa has raised $1.2 million in seed funding from various investors, including NB Ventures in the United Arab Emirates, SuperMorpheus in Singapore, Vinners, and SucSEED Innovation in India.

One of the key initiatives by Suraasa was the launch of the International Teachers’ Olympiad 2022, which aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This initiative received registrations from over 60,000 teachers from 1800 schools (both government and private schools) across 30+ countries. Moreover, their Teacher Training Programme has also been instrumental in helping teachers secure some of the best jobs in the USA, with packages as high as ₹64 lacs per annum. The success of these initiatives demonstrates the importance of upskilling teachers and the potential for EdTech platforms like Suraasa to make a difference.

Even the Indian Government recognizes the importance of upskilling and has been actively pushing for it. It considers upskilling and re-skilling of the youth to be an imperative step in enhancing their skills and employability and promoting economic growth. Hence, The Union Budget 2023 saw a significant allocation of funds to enhance upskilling resources for the youth. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has been allocated ₹3,418.07 crores this year, 20% higher than the previous year. This retaliates that youth empowerment through skilling is one of the priority areas in this year’s budget, which aligns with Suraasa’s mission to enhance teacher education and empowerment.

Speaking about the industry growth and the government’s push towards upskilling, Founder and CEO of Suraasa, Rishabh Khanna shares, “At Suraasa, we believe that empowering Indian teaching talent is key to unlocking the potential in the country. With the growing demand for skilled educators in India and around the world, we are committed to providing innovative and effective teacher education and empowerment programmes. Education is one such field that is welcoming technology and embracing the innovative solutions of the edtech community. Even the government is giving a boost to India’s edtech sector that has grown exponentially over the last three years. We are thrilled to be part of this growing EdTech startup culture. With the government’s support, we’re excited about the potential impact of our upskilling programmes on Indian teaching talent and the technology-driven evolution of the education sector.”

With constant innovation and a drive to mark a global presence, it is encouraging to witness The Indian EdTech startup culture flourish, and platforms like Suraasa, leading the way in transforming the education sector. With their innovative approach to teacher education and upskilling, they have made a significant impact on the quality of education in India and the government’s push for upskilling further emphasizes the importance of initiatives like Suraasa’s and the potential for them to contribute to a brighter future for the youth of India.

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February 28, 2023
West Bengal School Service Commission Cancels 618 Teachers’ Services

West Bengal School Service Commission on Monday evening cancelled the recommendation for 618 secondary school teachers as they have been found to have secured their jobs allegedly through manipulation of marks.

These teachers had been appointed by the state secondary education board, following the recommendation.

“It is notified that the recommendations of 618 candidates (as in annexure A) shall be taken up for cancellation in the exercise of the power conferred upon the commission in terms of Rule 17 of the West Bengal School Service Commission (Selection for Appointment to the post of teachers for classes IX and X in secondary and Higher Secondary Schools) Rules, 2016,” says a notice signed by the commission’s chairman Siddhartha Majumdar.

The notice says the recommendations were “erroneously issued”.

These candidates had written the state-level selection tests in 2016.

The commission has uploaded on its website the names of the 618 candidates along with the subjects they had been recommended for and a memo of the recommendation.

An official of the commission said manipulation of marks meant that the candidate’s marks in selection test results available on the commission’s server did not tally with the responses captured on the OMR sheet details of which were retrieved from a hard disc.

The commission’s chairman on Friday said those who have a bigger mismatch of marks would have their recommendations cancelled in the first phase. These 618 candidates have a bigger mismatch of marks.

The commission announced its decision on cancellation on a day the teachers moved a division bench of Calcutta High Court against an order of a judge of the same court, who last week told the commission to terminate the service of these teachers.

The commission had recommended 800-odd teachers to the secondary board for an appointment and on Monday terminated the recommendations of 618 candidates out of these 800.

Why have the remaining ones from this 800-odd been left out of the cancellation list?

A WBSSC official said the remaining 180-odd candidates have a marks mismatch of 1 or 2, and they have started manual scanning of their OMR sheets.

“The manual scanning will ensure no one is subjected to any injustice. OMR (optical mark recognition) answer scripts are scanned by the computers. By undertaking manual scanning, we want to find out whether the machine during a high-speed scan made any errors,” the official said.

“In some cases, computers read unintentional pen marks on OMR sheets. Manual scanning could find out those errors”.

The commission had on December 1 published a list of 183 candidates who had allegedly got teaching jobs in government-aided schools illegally.

On the same day, the CBI informed Justice Gangopadhyay that not 183, but 952 teachers had been appointed on the basis of fake recommendation letters.

“The list of the remaining candidates of the list of 952 will be published subsequently,” the commission’s Monday notice says.

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February 14, 2023
India must Focus on Health and Education Post-Budget

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting her last full budget for this government the day after tomorrow. It is quite likely that much of the big-picture details and minutiae would have been worked out, finalized and sent for printing. Given that the finance minister’s speech is almost baked, is there anything else left to discuss 48 hours before it is read out?

The answer probably lies in one word: governance. This is difficult to budget for but needs to be one of the core pillars in the budget exercise. This becomes especially significant in two critical areas where the government’s social contract with citizens is in danger of being hollowed out.

The first is healthcare. The National Health Policy of 2017 set a target for government spending on healthcare—2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by both the Centre and states—to be achieved by 2025. But the budgetary outlay for healthcare has been range-bound between 1.2% and 1.4% in the period 2014-20. Thereafter, the covid pandemic saw it rising to 1.8% in 2020-21, and 2.1% for 2021-22; preliminary indicators suggest that healthcare expenditure is likely to be 1.3-1.4% of GDP in 2022-23.

Low government spending on a vital part of the social sector has led to major flaws in this industry’s structure, leading to governance gaps. According to public health research organization Center for Disease Dynamics and Economic Policy, India had 69,265 hospitals in 2019, which translates roughly to one hospital for every 20,350 Indians. This leaves a wide chasm between demand and supply of healthcare capacity. The problem gets compounded by the fact that there are only 25,778 public hospitals against 43,487 private ones. There is another way of seeing this: of the roughly 1.9 million hospital beds in India, there are only 0.71 million beds in public hospitals against 1.18 million in the private sector.

This points to growing inequality in access to healthcare. Various research studies (including Economic Survey 2020-21) have shown that the cost of treatment in private hospitals is in multiples of that in public hospitals. Given that a large number of Indians reside in rural and semi-rural areas, it is clear that the number of public hospitals is inadequate. Worse, over 80% of India’s population is not covered by health insurance, forcing patients to pay for expensive treatment from their own pockets. But the government, which has a duty to provide affordable healthcare to citizens, has ceded this space and responsibility to private hospitals. This is not to say that private hospitals should not exist; they should be available to those who can afford them.

The health sector is a shared space between the Centre and states, with the burden of expenditure split 25:75. The economic shock of the past four years decrees that the Centre increase its share, especially since better health indicators are unequivocally linked with higher productivity and economic growth. Meanwhile, till additional money is made available, the Centre can effectively contribute much more by creating a regulatory framework that lays down strict treatment guidelines and discourages price gouging by the private sector. It is also necessary to rationalize the sprawling, maze-like legal framework in the sector by gutting unnecessary laws while enacting some vital ones which are currently missing.

Education is another sector where both the Centre and states share responsibility. Again, regulation in the sector has focused largely on higher education and elementary and secondary school stages. Regulation for the two other stages—pre-primary and tertiary (10+2) levels—is largely a grey area, leading to multiple unethical practices. For example, many premier 10+2 institutions outsource their pedagogy—especially in the science stream—to coaching outfits and charge exorbitant fees, thereby fulfilling the dual functions of providing students with a formal school certificate as well as preparation for competitive entrance exams. In fact, edtech and coaching classes are two other categories that require stricter regulation.

The combined Centre-state expenditure on education, as per Economic Survey 2021-22, has remained at 2.8% of GDP through 2014-20. Subsequently, in the wake of the pandemic, the bill increased to 3.1% for both 2020-21 and 2021-22. The expenditure ratio between the Centre and states works out to 23:77. In the current financial year, the combined spend is likely to end up between 2.8% and 3.1% of GDP. This is a far cry from the 6% of GDP promised in the 1968 education policy, which was re-affirmed in the 1986 policy and its 1992 review, and was further revalidated as a worthwhile target in the 2020 National Education Policy. Interestingly, a 2022 study by the ministry of education found that close to 61% of the Centre’s spending is focused on elementary and secondary education.

Admittedly, regulating the healthcare and education sectors is not easy, since it entails close coordination with states and their various institutions. Occasionally, politics also gets in the way. It can also be argued that perhaps a budget is not the ideal vehicle to accomplish the complex task of improving regulatory structures, though regulatory announcements for other sectors have frequently found mention in previous budgets. But a start has to be made and any time during the next 12-16 months seems like a good time to initiate some changes.

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January 30, 2023
Budget 2023: Ed-tech to Build Better Bridges for Youth, Collaboration, and Tax Refunds

With digitization becoming the norm in the post-pandemic era, India’s ed-tech sector is expecting to see increased consumer demand and new business models in the upcoming year.
As more emphasis is placed on the importance of upskilling in keeping up with quickly increasing technological innovations across industries, edtech plays an important role in developing a skilled talent pool for national progress. However, the sector continues to confront obstacles such as a lack of infrastructure, access gaps, and tax inconsistencies.

Following a tumultuous year of spectacular highs and lows, the industry is now at a crossroads, and the allocation of financial benefits and reforms is critical to ensuring future growth and sustainability.

The Journey so far

The Budget 2022 announcements certainly cemented the government’s recognition of the ed-tech sector as key for national development. Announcements such as the development the expansion of the PM eVidya one class-one TV Channel program, the launch of the DESH-Stack e-portal for upskilling and reskilling, and the setting up of 75 skilling e-labs for simulated learning environments have delivered a much-needed boost to the sector.

Building a strong and competitive workforce is key for national growth, and upskilling initiatives are vital to bridging the existing skills gap across industries, particularly in emerging digital technologies.
While government policies such as the Skill India mission and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) have greatly contributed to this goal, further investment in the sector is key to building a strong and competitive workforce that can drive economic growth and development.

Structured professional upskilling programs play a key role on this front, as they enable employees to enhance and expand their skill sets while continuing to work in full-time roles.
Government-funded programs and private-public partnerships on this front are necessary to enable the same and incentivize the workforce to take up these programs.

Expectations from Budget 2023

Increased government support and funding for the sector: Moving towards the NEP’s goal of a 6% contribution to GDP from the education sector (from the existing 3.1%) necessitates initiatives like subsidized rates and incentives to encourage innovation and growth in the industry. Higher education costs in India continue to be high, and financial aid can equip the ed-tech sector to become an enabler in bridging this accessibility gap.

Additionally, increased government support and funding for online initiatives will further help in creating an enabling environment for the growth of the sector.
Tax reforms: A lower tax bracket on educational goods and services will greatly encourage ed-tech entrepreneurship and improve the ease of doing business in the sector. There continues to be a discrepancy between online and traditional learning, with schools being exempt from GST while ed-tech enterprises continue to pay GST at 18%.

Shifting educational products and services to a tax band of 5-12%, as suggested by the Indian Edtech Consortium (IEC), will give the sector a significant and much-needed boost. This is key to incentivizing upskilling among the country’s working population – a key requirement at a time when the country is grappling with a skills gap across sectors.

Digital skills training: As technology continues to advance and automation becomes more prevalent, the demand for workers with digital skills is increasing in a wide range of industries. Therefore, the government must invest in programs to train and upskill workers in areas such as data analytics, full-stack software development, and artificial intelligence to help employees stay relevant in the job market and to meet the growing demand for digital skills in the economy.

Infrastructure development: The development of digital infrastructure should be a top priority to improve accessibility in Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities. This is also key to achieving goals laid out in NEP 2020, such as an increased focus on digital learning, teacher preparation, and the construction of research infrastructure. Additionally, the improvement of internet connectivity infrastructure for last-mile access, affordable 5G devices, and most importantly, stringent data protection legislation for EdTech businesses is imperative. Infrastructure development should also focus on strengthening the upskilling and reskilling ecosystem through investments in equipment and technology to support the delivery of training, such as online learning platforms, virtual classrooms, and training centers.

Education should be given at least 8-9 percent of GDP. More funding is required not just for elementary, secondary, and higher education, but also for initiatives that skill our youth outside of the education system and make them suitable for current career prospects.
In the United States, private colleges are collaborating with the government to transition to an ISA (Income Share Agreement) model as an alternative to education loans. When it comes to boosting skills in India, we must also pay attention to this.

The education budget has already been reduced by 15% during the last two years. This is the ideal decade to capitalize on the demographic dividend. The Indian government should establish an enabling structure that prioritizes and expands initiatives that integrate employment and study to create more career mobility opportunities.
Closing the gaps and removing the barriers between completing one’s education and starting a job will be beneficial to the economy and provide significant ROI for learners, companies, and society as a whole.
As the world enters a new era of optimism and opportunity, policymakers, employers, and educators must promote and encourage programs that combine education and work experience, particularly those that allow people to earn and learn while completing their college degree while taking into account new physical and digital modes of engagement.

Closing the gaps and lowering the friction between finishing one’s education and starting a career provides significant rewards for students, companies, and the country as a whole; the finance minister now has a window of opportunity to build the environment for such an education system to grow!
With India quickly becoming a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, sunrise sectors like ed-tech can greatly contribute towards cementing the country’s position as a prime investment destination.

Historically, improvement in education has always been linked to increased economic growth, and budget allocations towards improving infrastructure and accessibility to ed-tech platforms will greatly enable the government’s vision of democratizing education access and building a future-ready workforce.

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January 27, 2023
Why Foreign Universities Are Reluctant to Establish Campuses in India

Nearly 800,000 youngsters join foreign universities every year in search of quality education and entrepreneurial training, resulting in a massive outflow of resources – $3 billion – to finance their education. The reason behind these students’ decision to look for greener pastures abroad is the lack of quality teaching and research in the majority of India’s higher education institutions (HEIs). Over 40,000 colleges and 1,000 universities are producing unemployable graduates who cannot function in a knowledge- and technology-intensive economy.

The solution that the Indian government came up with is opening doors to foreign universities with a proposed set of regulations to provide higher education and research services to match global standards. Another reason was to control the outflow of resources. However, the step has raised many questions.

Surprisingly, the government, while promoting social justice and welfare through the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota in educational institutions, has taken this decision without any limit on the fee structure. Education experts and academics are concerned that opening the doors to foreign universities may further strengthen the notion of commercialisation of education, and decades down the line, it may overshadow our educational models and encroach on our educational system.

There is no denying that the presence of foreign universities may have some advantages, but we have to weigh what disadvantages it may cause in the short and long run. Can we envision creating IIT and IIM campuses with the same rules abroad?

However, there are no corresponding gains to India’s economy of the highly educated and trained manpower for domestic companies. Most job seekers seek placements in multinational corporations with higher earnings, and therefore, they do not return to the country.

Another concern raised by educationists is that education in India is largely a social welfare activity for which the government has made an oft-repeated commitment to allocate at least 6% of the GDP; however, currently, less than 3% of the GDP is spent on education. While several private educational institutions offer diploma/degree programmes as a social service, they are not permitted to commercialise education or earn profits. Why?

Though the Supreme Court of India prohibits profit-making in providing educational services, there is a proliferation of private institutions under the patronage of large business houses and top political leaderships who resort to accounting gimmicks to circumvent tax laws to generate surpluses and profits. Is this what India is expecting foreign universities to do in the country?

In such an educational environment, in which the private education sector lobby is so strong and is able to flourish despite a ban on profit-making, foreign HEIs don’t see India as an attractive destination.

Now, the question is, why should a top and credible foreign university, say Harvard or Oxford, supported by its donors and taxpayers’ money, do a charity service in India without tangible gains to its financiers?

The proposed guidelines by University Grants Commission (UGC) do not commit to providing physical or financial capital for setting up campuses. While foreign universities will be allowed to charge any amount of tuition and other fees, how can they generate profits for repatriation when the Supreme Court does not allow the operation of ‘for-profit’ educational institutions? Foreign direct investment in the education sector is unclear.

In fact, foreign investment in HEIs has to be attractive in terms of profit-making for both the country of origin of HEIs and the private investors. Most countries in Asia and Europe, and the US allow for the establishment and operation of ‘for-profit’ institutions, while HEIs in India operate on the basis of a ‘not-for-profit’ basis. Therefore, the government’s approach to inviting foreign HEIs to India without profits is flawed.

Additionally, students, who are spending huge amounts on their foreign degrees, are looking for decent earnings in MNCs, for which India’s employment market is ill-suited due to massive unemployment problems across the professions.

UGC had earlier invited foreign universities, but no one has responded thus far. Why? This must have been investigated to know why foreign HEIs are not interested in locating their campuses in India. The experiences of countries in West Asia, even with financial support, have not been successful as expected due to various regulatory, financial, and academic reasons.

In the past, some of the best-performing universities in India have tried to establish collaborative arrangements with credible foreign institutions for students and teachers to exchange and promote joint research programmes. Even though UGC supported such collaborations by Indian universities, the Ministries of Home and External Affairs have not encouraged student or faculty exchanges, citing national security concerns.

In view of this, the proposed UGC guidelines are ill-conceived and populist, and hardly take note of the educational and financial interests of foreign universities.

M.M. Ansari is a former member of the University Grants Commission and Mohammad Naushad Khan is sub-editor at Radiance Viewsweekly.

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January 27, 2023
39 Lakh Students to Witness PM’s ‘Pariksha pe Charcha’ this Year, 50% up From Last, Says Govt

The number of students registering for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction – “Pariksha pe Charcha” has grown tremendously over the years, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Tuesday.

It is an event where Modi interacts with students and tries to answer their questions related to exam stress and other issues.

This year’s “Pariksha pe Charcha” is scheduled to take place in Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium on 27 January and will be telecast live across the country.

While the event was primarily for school students, higher education institutions have also been asked to virtually attend the event.

The event, which started in 2018, saw 20,000 students register in the first year. In 2019, that number was 158,000, it was three lahks in 2020, 14 lahks in 2021, and 15.8 lahks in 2022, Pradhan said at a media meet on Tuesday. This year, the registrations are 38.8 lahks, he said.

During the event, the Prime Minister talks to students on various topics, including mental well-being, tips on exam preparations and ways to handle stress.

With a 50 percent increase in registration this year over the last, the event “has become more of a student movement in recent years”, Pradhan said.

He informed that more than 2,000 students would physically attend the “charcha” in Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium. “We have tried to include more students from state board schools this year so that more and more students from regional schools get a chance,” he added.

The ministry has received nearly 20 lakh questions from all over the country, including from experts, parents, schools and students. “The questions that should be asked during the interaction have also been discussed in advance and the NCERT is going through them,” Pradhan said.

Students are also interested in tips on staying healthy and their future careers, the minister informed.

The higher education regulators All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and University Grants Commission (UGC) have sent letters to colleges and universities asking them to “make necessary arrangements” for teachers and students to attend the event virtually. The letters quote orders sent to them by the Ministry of Education.

“It is requested to please send an appropriate advisory to make necessary arrangements so that all the students in higher education Institutions/universities under your Department as well as under State Governments can view/hear the telecast,” the 10 January letter sent by the Ministry of Education to the AICTE and UGC read.

Although most institutions/universities are equipped with TV and have electric connection, in case electricity, TV and reception of TV signal is not available or in non working condition in the institutions/universities, then action to ensure that arrangement for a TV and facility for TV reception (including making alternate arrangements for electricity that day through generators/inverters, etc.) to ensure that students can watch the Prime Minister’s live address on that day may be taken in all institutions/universities
it added.

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January 25, 2023