As part of the XXIX AIFUCTO conference being held at GGDSD College, a
panel discussion was organized today on “Quality of Higher Education:
Issues and Challenges”.



The panel included Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Arun Grover,
Lucknow Central Unversity Vice-Chancellor Prof R.C. Sobti, The Indian
Express Resident Editor Vipin Pubby, JNU Teachers Association
President Prof Arun Kumar, Delhi
University Teachers Association President Nandita Narain and Prof. Sudhanshu
Bhushan.

Prof Grover emphasized that in the changing contemporary world, the
institutions of higher education are expected to be competitive, but
the challenge is how they
can manage to ensure the future security of the population in this changing
scenario. Prof Sobti, in his presentation insisted that instead of blindly
following the western trends in higher education, the system should focus on
imparting skill-based education relevant to the needs of the times.

Prof Arun Kumar, while identifying the key problems, said that it is
high time the Indian academics stopped being “derived intellectuals”.
Deliberating upon the role of and challenges faced by higher
education, he pointed at the loss of values and
ideas within our system.

From an
outsider’s perspective, Pubby made a note of the confined and inflexible
curriculum offered in colleges and universities and recommended a complete
personality-oriented course for the youth today.

Prof Nandita Narain highlighted the need for independent thinking for
qualityeducation and research. She put forth a strong argument in favour of
academics being involved in policy making and education reforms. Meanwhile Prof
Sudhanshu Bhushan underscored the importance of raising the standards of
students as a real objective of higher education.


Other esteemed members on the panel were AIFUCTO president Tarun
Patra, GGDSD Society president Upkar Krishan Sharma and GGDSD College
principal Bhushan Kumar Sharma. The deliberations ended on the note
that the participative role of the academia by way of seeking feedback
and recommendations must be given serious consideration while
overhauling higher education at national level.