ചോദ്യം : വിദേശ സർവകലാശാലകൾ കേരളത്തിൽ തുടങ്ങുന്നത് സ്വാഗതാർഹമാണോ? എന്തു കൊണ്ട്? നേട്ടങ്ങൾ, കോട്ടങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടെങ്കിൽ അത്, അനുവദിക്കുകയാണെങ്കിൽ സ്വീകരിക്കേണ്ട മുൻകരുതലുകൾ?
Answer: If good universities/institutes of repute, who have a track record of knowledge creation through research, come to Kerala that will be a welcome event. Universities that come merely with an eye to making business/profit should not be welcomed. Reputed universities where fundamental and applied research happen have processes in place that ignite discovery and innovation mindset. Their pedagogical methods are focused on developing creative and productive thinking. I would suggest that when we allow such universities/institutes to start functioning here, we should make sure that they contribute more on helping create knowledge and human capital that are focused on solving local problems and meeting regional requirements. If they could also help our universities upgrade to meet our needs in both academic standards and research quality that would be well worth the investment in inviting them. Typically, such a step should be aimed at building an educational ecosystem that results in a partnership between the local and the foreign universities, with careful planning for intellectual property right protection in favor of our local teams.
We should be able to build knowledge/industry estates with the focal node being a local university collaborating with an invited foreign one and a collection of industrial start-ups that arise from the incubation of ideas for solving/meeting local needs in several domains of expertise – sciences, engineering, and technological. [Much like a medical college hospital attached to a medical college, we should have each of these university-pairs initiating, nourishing, and growing multiple start-ups that create products and services for local consumption]. The local products and services, thus envisaged and created, can, across stages of their growth and application, be generalized to cater to larger geographical locations and areas. The university tie-ups should thus be the breeding ground for local solutions that metamorphose into global brands.(This is how most global brands that last, are created).
Some general comments – not part of the response for your query – is appended here:
What we need in Kerala is a complete overhaul of the system of education, not necessarily in creating new academic content etc., but more on the way our youth gather knowledge, reflect on, and use that for nation building. I believe ‘politics’ is all about ‘nation building’! So, the universities / institutions should be a breeding ground for ‘thought power’ that is aimed at shaping the future of the society/ nation/ world. This happens when they are not infused by hatred, parochialism, and ideological extremism of any kinds.
There should be an atmosphere of free-thinking surrounding the assimilation of knowledge in particular(of selected domains) and in general (as in general awareness). Stalwart thinkers from various areas of expertise, political philosophies etc. can be invited to the campus, but the students shall be free to listen in to understand and build their perspectives towards nation-building.
University campuses should be free of all political parties and ideological groupings, but they should be the crucible of learning of philosophies and ideologies in a free and fair manner of discussions and debates.
Scientists, innovators, statesmen, and leaders of all domains that leave an indelible impression on the sands of time are created only by providing such a platform of learning and interaction.
From local to global is the path of growth of ideation, innovation, and implementation.
കവർ : ജ്യോതിസ് പരവൂർ
Images : Google Images
