Decolonizing the Obsession with Foreign Degrees

Source: This post Decolonizing the Obsession with Foreign Degrees  based on article “US reduces student visas: You don’t need to be obsessed with foreign degrees” published in Indian express on 13^th December 2024.

UPSC Syllabus topic: GS Paper 2 – Issues relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context: The article shows the dependence of Indian students on Euro-American universities, considering it a reflection of diminished self-confidence in Indian academic institutions. Over 1.33 million Indian students study abroad, compared to only 46,878 foreign students in Indian universities, highlighting this one-sided exchange.

What does the reliance on foreign institutions show?

1. The obsession with foreign universities damages the self-worth of Indian academic institutions.
2. It reflects a colonized mindset, with many aspiring to foreign degrees instead of strengthening local academic infrastructure.

What are the issues with Indian universities that contribute to this trend?

1. Degradation of Institutions: Institutions like Rabindranath Tagore’s Santiniketan and Jawaharlal Nehru University have faced setbacks due to local politics, poor administration, and lack of funding.
2. Lack of Academic Freedom: Insufficient funds, lack of academic freedom, and poor pedagogic environments deter quality education and research.

How does the hierarchy of civilizations affect Indian academia?

1. Colonial-era hierarchies perpetuated by thinkers like Thomas Babington Macaulay continue to dominate Indian academia.
2. Many subaltern scholars who advocate for marginalized communities settle abroad in elite academic institutions, further deepening the asymmetry.

What examples highlight academic inequality between Indian and Western institutions?

1. Leading professors from Western universities like Harvard or Cambridge rarely engage with Indian institutions.
2. Indian academics and students primarily aim to enhance their CVs by studying or publishing abroad, reinforcing inequalities.
3. Preference for PhDs from foreign universities in Indian faculty recruitment demoralizes those working locally.

What changes can be made to address this imbalance?

1. Symmetrical Dialogue: Encourage mutual exchange of ideas between Indian and Western institutions.
2. Strengthen Local Academia: Create high-quality Indian journals, provide better funding for education, and improve academic culture.
3. Promote Confidence: Indian students and professors should take pride in pursuing and contributing to local institutions like Delhi School of Economics or Jadavpur University.

What is a cosmopolitan academic culture?

1. A genuinely educated individual embraces global perspectives while maintaining local roots.
2. For example, Indian students should study both Ashis Nandy and Zygmunt Bauman, Kalidas and Shakespeare, with equal appreciation.