New Delhi: Updating the curriculum, change in archaic regulations governing educational institutes, overhauling the examination system, upgrading pedagogy and focus on research are some of the reforms that need to be undertaken to improve higher education in the country and bring it at par with global universities, said panellists at the recently held Vice Chancellor Conference organised by Times of India in New Delhi.
“We are still following a dated curriculum. One of the immediate steps needed to improve the quality of higher education is to re-design the curriculum of all courses to teach students what is relevant in the present age,” said Anil Sahasrabudhe, chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
He added that along with the curriculum, the pedagogy also needs an upgrade for which training teachers is a must. Customised teaching solutions are the need of the hour as one-size-fits-all can no longer work.
Delhi’s deputy CM Manish Sisodia highlighted at the burdening education system, where the students remain anxious to obtain high marks. “This is the time when we should raise them to be fearless learners and be innovative,” he said.
“While everybody is stressing on improving higher education, it cannot be fixed until the foundations are strong. For that we need to instil a sense of curiosity, fearlessness to ask questions, out-of -the-box thinking instead of fear of scoring. We cannot have entrepreneurs and innovators if the students live in the constant fear of exams,” said Sisodia.
Raj Singh, vice chancellor, Ansal University said that the evaluation system in the country is compliance and conformity-based, which is not sufficient measure of learning. With such an examination system, a high percentage of students fail.
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