ICAI 2013 witnesses 118 MoUs signed between foreign and local universities

On the first day of the International Conference of Academic Institutions (ICAI) 2013, 118 MoUs (Memorandums of Understanding) were signed between Indian and international universities in a bid to facilitate greater partnership in higher education.  The venue for the summit was Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU).

This mega-event is regarded as a platform where prominent figures in the Industry and Academia have the opportunity to interact. Sources from the government revealed that Gujarat is the first state to establish the Gujarat Education Innovation Commission (GEIC), which is an effort by the state government to promote the conception and implementation of innovative educational methods.

The second ICAI conference in 2013 is expected to present local and international universities with the opportunity to build collaborative relationships. These partnerships will then facilitate long-term sustainable collaborations in the areas of education, faculty and student exchange, knowledge transfer and capacity building.

International universities have also responded in kind. Sources from the University of Toronto have emphasized the need for joint ventures like these in order to face educational challenges on a global level.  Sources from the industry stated that Gujarat has achieved tangible success in the private sector, technological innovation and higher education. In addition to which, initiatives for the empowerment of women and the development of a healthy eco-system have also been a success.

Officials from 145 foreign universities from 56 different nations, 52 institutions from 14 states across the country and 60 institutes from Gujarat collectively participated in ICAI 2013.

Official sources from the World Bank stated that the organization is committed to supporting education initiatives in the country. As per a World Bank report on Madhya Pradesh, 90 percent of Indian students study state colleges and universities. Gujarat will now receive 2 billion dollars for education initiatives.

Some of the partnerships created at ICAI were between Gujarat Forensic Sciences University; Galilee International Management Institute and S.S.B.I. Institute, the Indian Institute of Teacher Education (State University) Gandhinagar and University of Helsinki, Finland, the  University Of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom and Gujarat Technological University, Cairn India Limited (CAIRN) and Pandit Deen Dayal Petroleum University and the University of Saskatchewan, Canada and the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar amongst others. 

Critics target the ‘marketing of higher education’ at ICAI

However, the objectives of ICAI drew criticism from some of the world’s leading academic figures. Critics specifically targeted the state government’s effort to push for Private-Public Partnerships (PPP) in higher education through a summit for the academia and industry. They also objected to the signing of MoUs.

Representatives from Indian, Canadian, American and British institutions have warned against the effort to market higher education. They criticized the state government’s emphasis on private funding, the stress on physical infrastructure, and overreliance on international universities, particularly in terms of faculty.  

They emphasized a need to create an environment for these collaborations not only one campuses but in the cities and towns that house them. They also stressed the need for greater international footfall.