Call for engagement

In this column I intend to raise a few issues which will affect our education system in the future, as the Indian economy meshes with the phenomenon of globalisation. Its unfortunate that the countrys educators arent stepping forward to speak up on such vital issues. This article is meant to make them get engaged!The Indian higher education system cannot remain isolated from the global developments taking place around us. Viewed from an international perspective, the following four issues will affect higher education in the coming years: (i) the international mobility of students; (ii) the concept of ‘education as an industry as envisaged under the Global Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS); (iii) the internationalisation of higher education; and (iv) the challenge of resource mobilisation. The relevance of these issues from the educators perspective are discussed below. The international mobility of students. Indian students are venturing abroad for higher education in ever greater numbers. It is necessary for teachers to understand that student mobility is a world-wide phenomenon, not restricted to India. In 2007, 2.8 million students studied outside their own countries. Of these, China contributed about 15 percent, and India 5 percent. At one stage India was worried about this brain drain, but in the new global-ised economy, our talent abroad is now looked upon as a brain bank. Never-theless the shortage of manpower in many sectors of the economy back home, including our educational institutions, is a matter of grave concern. The teaching profession in India is unable to attract even local graduates, leave aside those that go abroad. The teachers community should step forward and speak up on how to make their profession more appealing. Education as an ‘industry. Education, which has always been considered a ‘social good in India, is now being increasingly regarded as a ‘tradable commodity under the impact of globalisation. To promote global trade in commodities, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has been established to draw up the rules of trade between nations. Under WTO, member nations (including India) have evolved a protocol named General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Under GATS, governments have agreed to include ‘education services as a tradable commodity. Western countries are keen to provide various education services such as education testing and also perhaps formal education programmes, by promoting degree awarding institutions in India under company law. A new Bill approved by the cabinet (but yet to be introduced in Parliament) allows foreign education providers to establish campuses in India with the approval of the government of India, under conditions that will be specified in this Bill. If it becomes law, teachers from India will have the opportunity to sign up with foreign universities establishing Indian campuses. The teachers community has a role to play in setting the agenda for new opportunities in the education sector, as it transforms from ‘social good into possibly an ‘ethical commercial activity. Internationalisation of higher education. It is now received global wisdom that 21st century students should have global exposure to different…