The current demographic profile confirms the emergence of this trend in India. But are we ready to take on the challenge? Are we ready to become global citizens? Are we prepared to participate in this new era? These questions need answers because India has clearly missed both the industrial and information era. While no one can dispute the former, the hype that the information era has been captured by Indian IT firms and its software engineers is a misnomer. Reason: most Indian firms are still at the lower end of the IT value chain. Forget the common perception: Indians have in fact assumed the status of cyber workers, not strategic thinkers.
To transform this situation, and for India to leverage the tremendous power in its demographic profile, the country’s education system needs to be of a global standard. In this context, it’s unfortunate that none of the Indian B-schools rank among the top 100 institutes in the world. One way to change things is for us to resist imitating the West blindly. For instance, the major issue confronting India is a crisis of leadership. To create leaders, the West emphasises only on the power of the mind and knowledge. Oriental wisdom delves not only on this, but, in contrast, also on the power of heart and soul. That’s how a holistic human being emerges, and that’s what forms the basic foundation/cornerstone of leadership. Only this combination can elevate us from being a coolie, and emerging as strategic thinkers and leaders. Only this change in attitude can ensure an exponential rise in the number of Indians who lead the world rather than pursue linear movements to follow existing trends.
The second element that has become important in this era of global citizenship is cross-cultural sensitivity. If global citizens have to coexist, they have to appreciate each other’s values and beliefs. B-schools must foster this sensitivity. MDI has taken the lead to give cognisance to this need and has recently launched a post-graduate programme in international management. An international exchange component has been introduced in the executive management programme, and many advanced management programmes have been redesigned to incorporate an international exposure for the participants. MDI has the largest student exchange programme in India, and is now gearing up to increase foreign enrolment in Indian campuses. An international accreditation is a step towards global recognition of our programmes and an indicator that quality of education at MDI is at par with the rest of the world. But we are still the first and perhaps only B-school to have received this accreditation. And if India were to boast of global-level education, we need at least 50 B-schools at that level.
This can happen if—and only if—we can free our education from the political and social divides, and rise above reservations, quotas and personal agendas. That’s how we shape a system which is dedicated to imparting meaningful learning. A point that gets missed is that a better solution is to increase the number of quality institutes that will allow larger number of candidates to access quality education. Unless we build private institutions the way they have been built in America and other parts of the world, our dream to provide leaders will not be realised. The HRD ministry should develop a Vision 2020 for education that ensures quality, and not just quantity. A re-look at the fee structures is essential. If we aspire to build 100IITs, can we expect autonomous bodies to charge a fee comparable to institutions that are funded by the government?
These are fundamental questions and if they remain unaddressed, we cannot truthfully face the upcoming challenges in the global world. The chances are that India may again miss this era of global citizenship. The threat is not just of missing the opportunity, but there’s also a strong apprehension that the country’s education system may collapse. I, therefore, urge the government to take the issue as the most imperative agenda because therein lies the solution to most of the country’s problems.
(The author is director, MDI, Gurgaon.)
