On challenges of Higher Education Institutes – The IITs are overcommitted, in crisis

Source: The post is based on the article “The IITs are overcommitted, in crisis” published in The Hindu on 4th November 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 Social Justice – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.

News: The article discusses the challenges faced by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), including their expansion in India and abroad, the struggle to maintain high standards, and difficulties in hiring and retaining qualified faculty members.

What is the status of expansion of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)?

Domestic Expansion: The IITs have expanded to 23 institutes, with over 120,000 students currently enrolled, with 25,237 students graduating in the 2022-23 academic year.

Global Expansion: IIT Delhi has plans for a campus in Abu Dhabi, UAE. IIT Madras has inaugurated a branch in Zanzibar, offering programs in Data Science and AI.

What are the challenges faced by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)?

Drop in Quality: Newer IITs struggle to uphold the high standards of the original institutes, with vacant seats indicating potential quality issues.

Faculty Vacancies: The IITs face a significant faculty shortage, with 4,370 out of 10,881 faculty positions vacant as of 2021.

Lack of Competitive Salaries: Low salaries compared to international standards make it difficult to attract and retain top academic talent.

Location of New Institutes: The seven new IITs established after 2015, often located in remote areas, are less appealing to both prospective faculty and students.

Issues of Prestige: There is a concern about a developing hierarchy within the IIT system, where some IITs may be perceived as less prestigious than others.

Overseas Challenges: The expansion to international campuses like in Zanzibar raises questions about the timing and investment priorities amidst domestic challenges.

What should be done?

Focus on Quality at New IITs: Addressing the issue of unfilled seats by enhancing the quality and reputation of the newer IITs to match that of the original institutions.

Rationalize Expansion Plans: Re-evaluating the decision to establish overseas campuses, ensuring that domestic challenges are prioritized and quality is not compromised.

Invest in Resources: Allocating sufficient funds to improve infrastructure and resources, especially in remote IIT locations, to attract both faculty and students.

Standardize Admission Processes: Maintaining consistent and rigorous admission standards across all campuses, including international ones, to preserve the IIT brand of excellence.

Review Faculty Policies: Revising policies that affect faculty recruitment and retention, aiming to fill the high number of vacancies and reduce turnover.

Clarify Overseas Objectives: Clearly defining the goals of international campuses, ensuring they align with the broader objectives of the IIT system and India’s educational ambitions.

Question for practice:

Higher Education Institutes in India, such as IITs, need to tackle domestic challenges before focusing on overseas expansion. Elaborate.