The Karnataka State Higher Education Council was set up with the aim to forge a synergic relationship among Government, universities, academics and experts “by occupying an operational space between the Government & the universities on one hand and between the universities & apex level regulatory bodies on the other,” the council’s website states. In an interview to BW Education, SR Niranjana, Vice Chairman, Karnataka State Higher Education Council, describes the strengths of higher education in Karnataka and the transformations that have come about.
What have been some of the significant transformations and achievements in higher education in Karnataka
Karnataka is a hub for higher education. Medical, engineering, paramedical, law, hotel management and teacher education - our colleges attract students from all over India. The whole country is coming to Bengaluru to get education. There are plenty of arts, commerce and science colleges. Karnataka has 360 government degree colleges. There are 32 public universities. And including medical and agriculture, we have 22 lakh students in Karnataka.
What are the focus areas of Karnataka State Higher Education Council?
Among our objectives are:
Providing accessible and quality higher education and ensuring accountability; Making prospective plans for governance in higher education which pertain to administration, affiliations, recognition and inspections. The council engages in all those aspects of public and private universities; Strengthening institutional networking and global linkages. Recently, we have signed 11 MoUs with foreign universities; Curriculum structuring that includes skill-orientation and technology-enabled learning; Enriching human resources, through teacher-training programmes. The British Council has come forward to conduct the English teacher training programme and Enhancing quality research.
How is quality of education being ensured in higher education institutes in the state?
We are establishing a supportive framework, allocating adequate resources and setting high standards. Policy makers can create an environment conducive to quality education and legislation to enable equity, inclusivity and lifelong learning to ensure the sustainability of education system. Recently, Rs 100 crore grant of PM Usha has come for two universities each. And the Council is monitoring these two universities. Besides that, four universities have got Rs 20 crore each.
The other aspect is translation of books into vernacular language. Language should not be a barrier.
What is the state of English language proficiency?
It’s poor in rural areas. Those students do not have the vocabulary of English communication. Most of the rural students write the UPSC examination or state level examination but their effort is not sufficient to pass the examination. On the other hand, urban students go for the IT sector. Good students are not entering the fray for competitive exams. As a result, we are getting poor quality administrators. The English proficiency courses started by the British Council will help address that issue.
What is the reason for urban students not keen on UPSC exams?
Among the reasons is the time taken. Public appointments are not happening regularly. A KPSC exam can take five years. A UPSC exam can take three years. Students will not wait for that long. They prefer to go to ITBP sector. Many students prefer to go abroad. India has lost 13 lakh students in 2022. In 2024, 18 lakh students are already registered. This is because job opportunities are not regular in India. The other issue is shortage of staff in public universities. Universities are working with 30 to 40 per cent staff. That’s why quality research papers are not being published.
What impetus is being given to industry exposure for students?
Industry exposure for conventional courses is mandatory. Though now, everybody is charging. And industry is not coming forward to help the students. This means some students would lose out. This is why some universities have done away with project work. But universities with research centres do provide some opportunities.
How is the question of employability being approached if industry exposure and projects are limited?
Employability is not linked to project work. Those who are offering projects are not giving jobs. That’s why the government has taken the initiative of undertaking pilot experiments in four of the universities. And Karnataka Skill Development Council has come forward. And they have enlisted 15 industries who can help with our skills courses. So Davanagere and Kalaburagi are among the universities where the pilot experiments will happen and already, some of the students are being trained in skill-based courses like AI and cyber security.
When you say projects and employment are not linked, what has been your experience?
They are getting students who can work for their objectives. If a student goes for a short-term project, it is not sufficient for them from their organisational point of view. Companies have an objective and you should be able to work for that objective as an expert.
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