Higher Education – The Way

Ahead
Pankaj Kumar Mishra
IIM Lucknow
• The Root of the Problem in Higher Education
lies not in Quality of Students and Teachers
but..

• In the way we make Career Decisions

How do we choose our career ?
• Best Colleges, Streams Information apt for chosen
Need career

Current Information
• Friends, Seniors, Teachers, Internet
Sources

• Expert opinion from someone who has done

Ideal thorough research on colleges and courses

• All current information sources provide limited

information known to them
Reason
• Internet – huge information overload (unorganized)
 Does Graduation provides all that is
needed ?
What Industry Needs ? • Practical Application Based Knowledge

• Majority of Graduation Programs - Theory oriented,

What University Gives ? Less professional courses, No Industrial Interface

• Graduation time utilization - Employability skills

Ideal relevant for chosen career

• To prepare students for corporate jobs

Reason • Enriching Career growth path
 What should be done at University
level ?

Prior Counseling
Incubate Career Provide Information
from Experts before
Development on the available job
someone is joining a
centers opportunities
college and course

Prepare the student

Placement Process Ensure Industrial
through Personality
through Industrial Internships to give
Development
Tie Ups Practical Knowledge
programs
 Quality Improvement Program in
University - For Students
Introduction of Training Modules in all colleges related to :-
 Personality development Sessions
 Communication Skills
 Presentation Skills
 Stress Management
 Team Building
 Negotiation Skills
 Logical Thinking
 Problem Solving in real life scenarios
 Creative Thinking
 Interview and technical skills training
 Industry Awareness
 Certified Industry Internship
 Quantity Improvement -Teachers

Make Research Subjects

Improve Aptitude for
as higher credit at
Promote Interest Clubs Research by Teaching
graduation level to foster
for Research and Training through Real life Problem
competition among
Solving than Theory
peers

Higher Salary and Encourage students to go

Preparation Forums for
Growth Opportunity for Research than
GATE,JRF ,etc. with
similar to or better than Placements by giving
assistance from college
industry incentives
 Quality Improvement Program -
Teachers
A Good Researcher need not be
a good Teacher and vice versa
Industrial and Government tie-
ups with University
An atmosphere for Research
• Create ‘Train the Trainer’ initiatives in colleges for mentoring new recruits
and research scholars
• Ensure 2-3 days in week are devoted for research papers and work for all
teaching staff
• To create an atmosphere where Industry experts and Researchers can
swap positions for 2-3 years duration to imbibe cross industrial-academic
learning
• Knowledge Based forum for Colleges in tie up with the Industries ,where
both can share best practices and knowledge
• Solving of Local social and business issues by Teachers ,thereby applying
their knowledge
• Active Participation in mentoring graduate students to pursue research
and teaching as career
• Career Counsellor by providing vocal support of the Area they know best
 To Sum it all…
Career Counselling is needed prior to and after
joining a College Course

Interest Clubs to develop Research and Training

interests

Personality Development Programs

Industrial Tie ups for experience and

application based knowledge

Government Support to aid in local problem

solving and process improvement
 The Framework of Career
• How it Solves ? • Sustainability of Concept
– Focus on Career
Development
– Interest and Aptitude
created through
counselling and clubs
– Personality Development
program for quality
– Application and practical
approach to problem
solving
– Higher Education is for
Career formation along
with Knowledge Transition
– Easy to establish career
counselling units and
industrial interface in
colleges
– Solves issues at local and
industrial level in real life
scenario