Change India: How to transform India's education sector?

Students, the youth of the nation, are the biggest stakeholders in the country's development. Likely to be most affected by the change that we expect to come, they want to know how and what the new administration intends to do.

So far, we have covered about 14 strategic policy areas over the last three months. Today, at a special conclave with students of the Shriram College of Commerce, we will focus on five of them which are of greater relevance for the young.

Along with the young and vibrant audience, we have a panel of experts -- Shailaja Chandra, an eminent civil servant and a former chief secretary of Delhi; Dr Surjit S Bhalla, one of India's leading economists and also the Chairman of Oxus Research and Investments; Vivek Katju, an outspoken diplomat, a former ambassador to Afghanistan and secretary (west) in the foreign ministry; and Dheeraj Nair, CEO of our Think India Foundation and someone who has anchored this whole Change India project for us.

Raghav: India spends almost USD 6-7 billion in sending its students abroad. If foreign universities set up campuses then what is an expense today for the country can actually becomes an investment. So, that's what we are saying you should liberally permit foreign universities to set up campuses here. Your first thoughts.

Audience: If we permit foreign universities to enter our country then basically it is a general belief that those universities will have more money, more funding. So, they will actually offer more salary etc to the faculty. So, will that result in faculty shortage in our universities?

Audience: According to me when students go abroad to study they don't only go because they want to get a better education but also to get the experience of a different country and the diversity that they experience. So, if foreign universities are permitted to open their campuses in India, will the students still get the same experience that they are getting there and will they want to go do the India campus rather than the foreign one?

Raghav: Surjit let me come to you. Two-three issues, lots of doubts in the young minds there. Will reservation policy be followed? What happens to profit motive because they will come in for money and faculty, will Indian universities simply get crowded out?

Bhalla: If I look at these two permit for profit educational institutions, permit the entry of foreign universities the question you asked. What is shocking to me is that these questions need to be asked. What I still don't understand with due apologies to the students as to what is the objection? Basically as all of you know since you are here you probably got 99.5 percent marks to enter this college, does that make sense?

We have a shortage of universities, of colleges, of educational opportunities. Is it the case that only a person with 99.5 percent should get a college admission? So, what is the issue?Isn't Shriram College making profit. What is wrong with profit making?

Raghav: Shailaja would you like to join the debate?

Chandra: They have raised very valid concerns and they should be addressed these concerns are important. You see when foreign universities come over here, two-three things are likely to happen. One, your best faculties will go and join the foreign universities undoubtedly.

Two, you will have a haves and have nots kind of picture.

Today we are nowhere on the world's scene of university education. Is this something that we should be proud about? You people when go abroad you shine; there is not a single child who does not shine. So, it means there is something missing in the way we are not building competitiveness.

SRCC is an island of excellence. It is a shame that India is nowhere in the list although our students are undoubtedly bright. To change that, when foreign universities are permitted it will increase the competition, increase the openings, there will be a cultural change and there will be hope that our universities, within India we will reach the world map. We are not even 250th in the world map.