R.T.Sakthidaran

On 11^th August 2009, Government of Tamil Nadu had appointed Dr. V.C.Kulandaiswamy as Convener for a High Power Committee to go into the issue of up-gradation of Government and Government aided colleges into Unitary Universities. Some salient points:

1. The committee found 150 colleges in Tamil Nadu may qualify for up-gradation.

2. The committee also considered teacher’s associations expressing misgivings.

3. 20% of the world population living in the richest countries had access to 85% of world GDP, while the remaining 80% of the population had access to a mere 15% of the world GDP.

4. The income gap between top and bottom countries was 3:1 in 1820; 7:1 in 1870; 11:1 in 1913; 30:1 in 1960; 60:1 in 1990; 74:1 in 1997.

5. In every country, the threshold of economic development was nearly universal literacy.

6. China attained 79% literacy level in 1978; 93% adult literacy and 99% attendance in the Primary School level in 2007 but in India even in 1991, the literacy rate was 52.2%. It is a sad fact that, whatever be the reason, we have failed the nation in achieving universal literacy.

7. The affiliating system and the affiliated colleges are unknown in the rest of the world. They are confined to what was in the past, the British India. Even as early as the beginning of the 20^th century, Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy, frowned at the continuance of the obsolete, anachronistic affiliating system and referred to it as the servile adherence to a practice copied from the London University which itself has given it up.

8. The really sad fact is that in the field of higher education our practice had no relation, whatsoever, with the recommendations of the learned Committees and Commissions including the National Policy [1986] approved by the Parliament. Consequently we find ourselves left with a system, so different and so deficient in comparison with the practice in the rest of the world as a whole. An unplanned evolutionary growth has continued unchecked in the field of higher education.

9. It is estimated that for the state of development contemplated, we must have at least 20% of the youth in the corresponding age group in the university system. Now the figure is 10% or 11% and this must reach 20% by about 2020. It means that the admission strength we have reached in a period of about 150 years will have to be doubled in a matter of 10 years.

10. It is obvious that we have to, over a period of time, on a planned basis, move higher education which is now, mostly in the affiliated colleges to universities predominantly, if not completely.

11. 90.34% of the undergraduate students are in the affiliated colleges.

12. 66.84% of the postgraduate students are in the affiliated colleges.

13. 13.0 % of research scholars are in affiliated colleges.

14. 84% of the faculty are in the affiliated colleges.

15. 33% of the postgraduate students are in the universities.

16. 87 % of research scholars are in universities.

17. Our affiliated colleges – most of them – as of now are in their academic status, with faculty positions being only different grades of lecturers, are really in a place between a meritorious higher secondary school and a modest university department. It may be seen from the fact that out of 22064 colleges, only 6773 are eligible for receiving support from UGC under sections 2(f) and 12(B).

18. Kolkata University among the three earliest universities, and universities in Orissa did not permit till recently, postgraduate courses in affiliated colleges.

19. It has been observed that the top seven countries [G-7] In economy are also the top seven countries in research publications.

20. In the technologies that we used in India, the foreign components (2000) were roughly as follows:

    • Foreign technology used without alteration – 50%
    • Foreign technology modified and adapted to suit our need – 45%
    • Indigenous technology – 5%
21. It is said that in scientific research we were light yeas ahead of China in 1980, but over the years, we have lost the lead and fallen behind rather badly as may be seen from the following record of publication of research papers with citation.

Table – 1

Research Papers with Citation
Year	India	China
1980	10,606	692
1990	11,563	6,991
2005	25,227	72,362

Table – 2

Indexed Research Papers 2005
Year	India	China
Material Science	1634	7091
Computer Simulation	796	6,873
Applied Physics	802	3823

Table – 3

Countries	Researcher per Million of Population	Total Numbers
USA	4,605	1,316,951
JAPAN	5,287	675,678
GERMANY	3,261	269,032
CHINA	708	859,380
INDIA	119	128,464

22. In the World Bank’s Knowledge Economy Index [KEI]. India’s recent rating is 2.71 and it is lower than even the global average of 5.59 and well below that of advanced countries rating which is 8.5.
23. In India, only 16% of the higher education faculty is in the universities and they alone are expected to do research. Even this meager percentage is burdened with part of the administrative responsibilities in the affiliating system.
24. An urgent reform is unquestionably needed and if that is granted, it is the academic community and not the administrator who should take the responsibility, assume leadership and bring about the major reform required.
25. In the US about 4.0 percent of the science and engineering graduates finish their doctorates, this is about 7 percent for Europe, and in India this is not even 0.4 percent.
26. These are basic facts, which in our opinion, the teaching community alone is well aware of and they should take the lead to convince the administrators and political leaders that they should give the academia, the position and importance they deserve in nation building.
27. National Knowledge Commission [2006] headed by Dr. Sam Pitroda and the Yashpal Committee [2009]. Both have recommended the establishment of about 1500 universities.

TABLE-4

Countries	Population in millions	No. of Universities
USA	276	2500
JAPAN	127	726
GERMANY	82	350
UK	60	125
INDIA	1100	415
Tamil Nadu	62	53

28. The reports of the National Knowledge Commission and the Yashpal Committee, both have unequivocally recommended a massive increase in number of universities and this recommendation has met with approval, almost at all levels. While discussing the strategy to be followed, both these reports have uniformly recommended up-gradation of colleges that deserve to become universities.
29. We have established over a hundred and fifty year period [as of 31.03.2008] 242 state universities and 25 central universities besides 22,064 Colleges. We now face a situation when in the next 5 to 10 years we have to establish at least an additional 1000 universities
30. It has been observed from the experience of nations that it is not only the big ideas and great innovations that count for development, but also the large number of small ideas and humbler innovations from among institutions engaged in knowledge generation and spread over the country really matter too.
31. One could hardly imagine neglecting institutions waiting to be declared as universities, and think of investing money, and building all new universities.
32. The Thompson College of Engineering, Roorke and the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai were the outstanding institutions in Engineering and technology education. When India became independent in 1947, the then UP Government immediately upgraded the Thomson College of Engineering into Roorke University [1949]. It had enormous funding from the Government of India, since the first 15 years after independence has been the period of expansion of higher education. The Tamil Nadu Government did not upgrade the College of Engineering, Guindy till 1978, i.e., losing all the benefits for 30 years that it could have claimed had it been a university.
33. Of the fourteen Associations/Organisations invited, eight were from Government College Associations and the rest belong to the Aided College Associations.
34. The following were the common points made by the representatives of various Associations/ Organizations.
    • In the appointments to be made in unitary universities to be formed, seniority should be given due priority
    • The high level posts in administration should be filled up on seniority basis
    • The University and College S.C/S.T. Teachers’ Association made a specific request that the reservation policy must be applied in the appointment of Vice Chancellors and Registrars for the universities.
    • A major fear entertained by them in the case of upgrading a private college into a unitary university is that the Government may lose the control over it and the institution may come fully under the administration of the management.
35. The Committee would consider the following criteria for upgrading a college to a unitary university (arts & science):
    • Age of the institution Area of the campus
    • No. of teachers
    • Holders of Ph.D. as percent of the total
    • Number of U.G. Courses
    • Number of P.G. Courses
    • NAAC rating if accredited
    • Potential for excellence as seen from research programmes
    • M. Phil., Ph.D., production
    • Weightage for each factor
    • Score as percent of the total.
36. We find ourselves in the present unenviable position, since we did not implement many of the recommendations made by such Commissions as the ones headed by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and Dr. D.S. Kothari or the recommendations contained in the New Education Policy of 1986, approved by the parliament also.
37. It is the academics and not the administrators who would and should provide the counseling for policy formulation and decision making to political leaders.

A few days back the report was released and MUTA rejected the report summarily!

“It is the academics and not the administrators who would and should provide the counseling for policy formulation and decision making to political leaders”…….. Who is the academics? The vice chancellors, registrars, bursars  to the last temporary labour who are appointed by politicians. You think the Lecturers who pay bribe to politicians to enter the government college, the lecturers who pay bribe to politicians for transfer would be the academics. I do not find academicians here. Even the eminent committee members do not write a single line on corruption or un-ethical practices that has totally damaged the academic environment. Dr Kulandaiswamy team is already well prepared for the fate of the report by referring to Dr.S. Radhakrishnan and Dr. Kothari’s report. Persons of eminence like Dr. Kulandaiswamy , an IITan, Padma Bhushan should take the path of “dharma” and speak out. Unless, education is freed from politicians no one can expect any miraculous change. Dr. Kulandaiswamy has at least seen what is ethical practice, what is un-ethical practice but the present generations do not know what is ethical practice. They have been thoroughly brain washed by politicians, media and advertisements that the ultimate purpose of living is to “enjoy” at any cost. Today, the university degree has a very meager value. The placement takes place after several tests and hardly 10% qualify. Already, new business has started in the name of “finishing school” that offers 6 months training after graduation to make one employable with out any guarantee. Dr. Kulaidaiswamy may be knowing that politicians have introduced 6th pay commission salaries to government employees resulting in huge turmoil in self-financing colleges. At the same time, the very politicians are pleading not to demand a raise in the tuition fee. At 81, is it not possible to tell some truth or good advise to politicians? If not now, when will you do it?

Jai Hind

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