At a time when the whole world is searching for sustainable solutions to manage uncertainty and redesign the world, India is on the threshold of launching a major drive to create India of our dream. India that not only accelerates economic progress but works with a new normal to achieve inclusive development where no one is left behind. Further, our dream of an unemployment-free India, inhabited by law abiding responsible citizenship that has a caring concern for humanity at large and an abiding faith in the dignity of man and conviction to protect Mother Nature and its environment. Such an India is achievable shortly provided we create the public and political will, have the policies in place, and create a mass awakening of the community to work together with the government to achieve the goals and targets as partners in progress. Universities have a major role to play in creating both the empowered human capital as well as the advanced science and technologies that offer great opportunity to achieve the goals with certainty and at an accelerated pace of development, said Kulpati Prof PB Sharma while delivering his webinar at Career Point University at Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh.

India’s higher education system is the third-largest in the world, next to the United States and China. As of 2021, India has over 1000 universities, comprising of 54 Central Universities, 416 State Universities, 125 Deemed Universities, 361 Private Universities, 7 Institutes under the State Legislature Act, and 159 Institutions of National Importance which include IIMs, AIIMS, IITs, IIITs, IISERs, and NITs among others. Together with Universities we also have around 50000 Colleges enrolling over 3.74 Crore students with a GER of 26.4. This is targeted to go up to 50% by 2035 as per the NEP- 2020.

Education alone can make a real difference both to the shift in mindset as well as the quality of life of people. After all, the advancement of Science and Technology propelled by education in universities made Industries flourish in Nations around. But the accelerated industrialization and the growth in GDP in advanced and developing nations have been achieved at the enormous cost of environmental health and that too by creating a deep economic divide in society. But from now on we should be unconditionally committed to creating a bright and green future for our great nation and to its 1.35 billion people. But then it requires a major shift in our focus and object of universities in India. We need to take on board the responsibility of creating self-disciplined, deeply motivated, and wholeheartedly committed individuals as graduates of universities who besides their career goals have a heart for the vast humanity and a caring concern for protecting Mother Nature said Prof P B Sharma in his thought-provoking action-packed address.

Historically, Indian universities such as VikramShila of Lord Krishna’s times, Gurukuls of Sandeepni, Ashramas of Dronacharya, Agusta, and Viswamitra of ancient times, Taxshila and Nalanda of the Ashokan times and Shantiniketan of Ravindranath Tagore have provided holistic education in a multidisciplinary environment. Education in Ancient India was not just for developing capabilities but well-grounded individuals who would stand to the Ethical Standards, Professional Morals, and also Competence and Caliber unmatched. They were to be the torchbearers of the rich wealth of knowledge and noble citizens in their society. Great Responsibility rested on their shoulders to nurture Compassion, Harmony, Peace, and a Society providing justice and liberty. After independence, somehow and rather in our lust for career prospects and our greed to accelerate GDP, we sacrifice human development basics. We are paying a heavy price for this neglect of nurturing human values in persons of capabilities and knowledge.

Now that a New Normal is a must to not only tackle covid-19 but also to take advantage of the massive digital transformation that is sweeping all sectors of the economy, education included, we have great opportunities to achieve great goals and that too at a rapid pace. The Info-Nano-Bio-led new sciences and new and innovative technologies are emerging rapidly to create a new environment of learning and R&D for new age universities and the growth of new enterprises. The power of Mind and the rapid pace of Innovations are giving rise to new technologies that shall drive future growth. AI, ML, IoT, Robotics, VR, Integrated Supply Chain Management, Online Services, Online, on Demand Education and life increasingly shifting away from the age-old tannates of a social group to a ‘community of networked people’ largely communicating using most modern technology are now a reality, said Prof PB Sharma.

To address the role of the scientific method in producing solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges, we need a more robust S&T Ecosystem to drive accelerated growth and development for S&T advancement and Solution Research in India. A more balanced approach to what science and technology can do both for urban as well as rural India is the need of the hour. We need to go Rural with High Tech Minds and Scientific Solutions to maximize the benefits of S&T for inclusive growth and development in India, opined Prof Sharma who is the founder Vice-Chancellor of DTU and RGPV and a former Professor of IIT Delhi.

Covid 19 badly affected the education sector, With Schools, Colleges and Universities shut for almost over a year, the activity has been barely managed by WFH and online classes. But what about those who do not have a Laptop or a smartphone and a safe corner at home for work and study? Despite all this the Teachers as well as Students have put up a brave face during highly testing times.

ButCovid-19 also proved to be a blessing in disguise for Digital Transformation in all sectors of the economy especially the education sector. The virtual world of learning accelerated the use of virtual labs, iLabs, and other real-time online and offline experimental work and also kept the pace of R&D and online publications with Online admissions, online classes, online Quizzes, and online examinations all were taken up with a smile and with a lot of faith, both by the teachers as well as students. Thus we need to promote more Student Centric holistic and multidisciplinary dimensions of education as envisaged in NEP 2020.

Sharing the success stories of DTU and Amity University Haryana in respect of integration of education with research and innovations, Prof Sharma informed that even during the Covid times of lockdowns, Amity University Haryana has not only conducted all its classes online and also completed examinations online but its teachers and scholars have published 741 high-quality Research Papers, filed61Patents, Submitted 125 R&D Projects for funding and also received 21Funded R&D Projects worth Rs 15 Crores from national and international agencies.

To create India of our dream, we need breakthrough leadership for our universities that should focus on Employability, Industry Readiness, and Future Research Readiness. We need Speed Leadership that promotes Integration of Education and Research, supports interdisciplinary Education and Research, and builds Islands of Excellence for Solution Research. The focus of universities has to necessarily be on man making besides Knowledge Creation, Outcome Based R&D and Translational Research, Innovations that lead to  New Product Development supported by a vibrant eco-system for innovations and startups infrastructure.

India of our dream is India of Law-Abiding Citizenship, Responsible Global Citizenship, a Caring and Compassionate Society understanding the meaning and purpose of life. A prosperous India, free from economic disparity and social divide. India free from Religious tones (Dharmic Unmad) and inbuilt Respect for all religions require self-disciplined enterprising minds that bring glory to glory for Mother India. We cannot afford to miss this great opportunity to rebuild our universities to respond to this prime need of the hour, says Prof PB Sharma who has been the President of the Association of Indian Universities, AIU.

The webinar was chaired by the Pro-Chancellor Prof (Dr) PL Gautam, Vice-Chancellor Prof KS Verma, Honorary Professor JK Mehta, Deans, Heads of Institutions, faculty members, and a large number of students.

About the author- Kulpati Prof P B Sharma