Education to become borderless in coming years, IGNOU VC

NAGPUR: "India's education sector is going to witness a sea change in coming years," said IGNOU vice-chancellor Rajsekharan Pillai.
He was addressing the students and academicians during an international conference on 'Impact of foreign universities on India's management education' organised by Shri Sai Shikshan Sanstha's NIT Graduate School of Management on Saturday.
Sanstha secretary Salil Deshmukh, faculty Rajesh Waigaonkar, CMD of Sunil Hi-tech Sunil Gutte, and NIT GSM director Mohit Kumar shared the dais.
The IGNOU VC pointed out that the profiles of educational institutions all over world are witnessing a sea change and there will be complete metamorphosis in this sector in India as well. "Globalisation is the order of the day. Not just physical mobility but also virtual mobility of an educational institute is important in today's world," he explained.
Saying that the 11th five year plan was termed as education plan, he observed, "Around 100 renowned international management institutions are planning to set up their bases in India. The planning commission has opened a website where they are getting good responses from colleges all over world."
Pillai guided the audience about few strategic challenges in the Indian education sector. He said that the most important challenge in front of institutions is to enhance the quality of education. "India is a developing country facing many challenges. The students here must get the same degree given in foreign country vis-Ã -vis their foreign counterpart," he said.
He emphasised that along with upgradation education should be affordable too. "Technological facilitation can help the foreign university to be virtually present in India making education borderless in years to come. Even the corporate sector is entering into the education sector in a big way with as many as 900 colleges proposed across all faculties," he informed. The IGNOU VC applauded NIT GSM's work in the field of management studies by bringing international courses to India and also collaborating with the Melbourne University.
Kumar in his inaugural speech stressed on the role the foreign universities will play in the Indian education sector. "Proper regulatory framework is required to monitor the foreign universities setting up campuses in India. It will act as a catalyst for the Indian students to raise their level at par with their international counterparts."
He added that it will help in bridging the gap between education standards in Indian and foreign universities. "It will propel institutions here to raise their level and become competitive with those of foreign universities," Kumar pointed out.
A souvenir was released by Pillai along with other the dignitaries. Later two technical sessions were held on 'Opportunities and challenges' and 'Future road map'.