Technological breakthroughs have taken every sector and field by a lighting speed. Tracing from the past, the Indian education sector has also taken a major hit with the introduction of new trends for higher education.
Though the future of higher education looks promising, certain factors may halt the development process altogether. The trends that are supposed to bring quality and major learning for the students may result in distorting the higher education in India.
Collecting some of those major trends and factors, we’ve compiled a blog to figure out which of these transformations in the higher education can lead to its demise.
7 Trends Leading to Dissolution of the Higher Education in India
Mentioned below are the emerging and disruptive trends for the higher education in India.
Internet of Things (IoT)
One of the up-and-rising trends in Indian higher education system is the Internet of Things. This embedded ecosystem connects mechanical & digital machines, computing devices, and other objects that are accessible through the internet.
Students, other than learning from textbooks, can also learn through a series of additional materials, videos and various assessments. On the other hand, educators can easily maintain lesson plans, track students progress and share study material within moments. Seems excellent, right?
Well, hold that thought. Though IoT is introduced to make education system smooth and easier, it may prove to have an adverse effect on the higher education. Firstly, this huge and complex network lacks on compatibility. Not every device may be able to support the connectivity of IoT software.
In addition to this, any bugs or errors in the hardware or software may result in complete system failure. Thus, it may cause a huge loss of ongoing classes and lectures.
Other than this, privacy and safety is another major concern with IoT. Since, all the data is transmitted, the probability of losing privacy increases. No matter how encrypted the data is, there’s always a fair possibility of losing the information.
Leaking of question papers, proxy attendance, assessment marks list, students’ bank accounts information, their parents’ financial information, etc. are some examples of hack-able information. There is even a chance of breaking into colleges or universities and looting the money.
VR and AR Expeditions
Technology is always transforming the ways we learn and communicate. Therefore, using VR/AR in the classroom seems like a fair and subsequent step for education. Students can experience an active hurricane, explore a strand of DNA, and learn about the chemical structure of plutonium by actually seeing it.
The classrooms will not only be limited to lectures and taking notes. Students will be able to experience things in practical. Won’t that make education much more interesting and engaging?
Certainly, it would. However, with these fantastic expeditions come serious limitations. Though AR and VR are great teaching tools, they lack the core values of realistic approach. They can surely project and bring life to still descriptions, but cannot make students fathom the practicality of the subjects.
Higher education means being able to implement practically whatever you have learned. But, when you study through these expeditions, you miss out on minor but crucial details. For instance, a minor surgery performed with some stitches here and there can cost life of the patient. Similarly, minor technicality issue while assembling a power plant can lead to the shut-down of whole city electric supply.
Thus, AR/VR expeditions might be a brilliant addition to primary education; it is still a disruption for higher education.
STEM Education
Another major trend taking up the higher education by storm is STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) education. Programmes are structured in an attempt to integrate the individual subjects into a cohesive curriculum that offers a better connection to the real world and provides legitimate purposes for knowledge and learning.
Since this type of programme is gaining popularity in India; there are certain factors that state it could be a drawback for higher education.
Firstly, the STEM programmes are introduced at a very later age (around middle school) in India. Till then, the horizon of students understanding is already developed. And, those who lack in basic math and science skills cannot survive this type of education process. Besides, it also becomes difficult for them to comprehend and solve the complexities of STEM programme later. In other words, STEM education becomes more of elitist for average and under-performing students.
Also, there are no clear-cut guidelines for mentors to follow. As a result, they develop their own STEM education models within the schools, colleges, and universities. And, when those educators transfer or retire, the whole model is disrupted resulting in great discomfort for the students.
Short-term Courses/ Distance Learning
Often, students are found jostling upon whether to opt for short-term courses or to continue struggling for higher percentage in the competitive exams. Either way, it is them who suffer the consequences. The trend of short-term courses or distance learning not only compromises quality of education but also limits their learning.
In addition to this, distance learning students miss out on the opportunity to network, which is one of the major steps in higher education. For a simple reason, connecting with established alumni, experienced faculty and industry heads helps in paving the career.
Moreover, the degrees or diploma earned through these modes are often questionable. Reputed companies and big ventures do not even consider it as something of value in India. As a result, even after spending the hard-earned money, students experience unemployment.
Elimination of Quality Education
Since everything is dependent on e-learning nowadays, even teachers and educators have taken a back seat. The few who put an effort to educate the students are often mocked by their own fellow-mates or the students.
Similarly, where projects and assignments once used to determine the efforts of the students, they are now just a formality dragged and dropped from Google. The essence of real work and understanding the value of each assignment is long lost.
Only a handful of students actually put an effort in completing their projects and learn from them. Hence, when they are given responsibilities at work, they are most likely to face difficulty in it.
Foreign Education
According to a recent analysis, it was found that approximately 5.53 lakh Indian students which is equal to 55% are studying abroad. On the other hand, the number of foreign students coming to India has declined to 14%.
What is the reason for this humungous shift? Well, one of the major reasons is lack of equal opportunities in India. Such outlook pushes potential students to seek higher education elsewhere. Besides, a source reveals that on an average, a student has less than one in a 50% chance at getting admission in highly reputed colleges or universities.
In addition, the high cut-offs cause even the most intellectual students to give up their hope to get admission in their preferred course and college. And if that is not enough, the Indian education system focuses only on offering typical STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses.
As a result, more than half of the prospective Indian students turn to take the high-road to brighten their career. Only because their desired programme is not extensively available in the country. And, even if the programme is available, the lack of expertise and accreditation brings to non-existence.
On the other hand, in overseas countries, uniqueness is valued. Colleges and universities offer programmes in some of the most contemporary and eccentric fields like sports, entertainment, psychology and many more.
Thus, this emerging inclination towards foreign or overseas education is another possible explosive that could disrupt the higher education in India.
Limited Research and Innovation Option
84,505 students are enrolled in Ph.D. that is less than 0.5% of the total student enrolment. Imagine what the remaining percentage of students struggle with? The limited and restrictive access to higher education!
Even though the standards of higher education are developing in India, there still seems to be a lack of useful application of skills learned from abstract understanding. Students often spend years spiraling around the cobweb of competitive exams and approvals for grants to begin or continue their research.
This way not only the productivity of young talent is wasted, but also the students are forced to choose some other way. Thus, again a major contribution towards the disruption of Indian higher education.
The nitty-gritty of traditional and emerging trends in Indian higher education has led to its downfall. Certainly, there are benefits to these trends but only if they are used in a systematic approach. Otherwise, those days are not far when Indian higher education would just exist in history.
It’s time to be the change!
Contributor Bio — The blog is presented by Sharda University. Sharda University is one of the largest universities in Delhi
National Capital Region (NCR) offering 216 varied programmes.