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LATEST
NEWS |
16th
March 2010 / Times of India / Bangalore Edition
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 Will Bill take sheen off coveted foreign degree?
New Delhi: Although HRD minister Kapil Sibal believes the Bill will enhance choices, increase competition and benchmark quality, the Cabinet clearance of the Bill evoked a mixed response. While some welcomed it, others like Roy Anderson, rector, Imperial College London, were sceptical and expressed concern on quality control.
Several lesser-known international colleges have been setting up campuses in different countries. World-class institutes have been slow in that aspect. “They feel it will dilute the quality,’’ said Anderson.
According to SK Barua, director, IIM-Ahmedabad, while entry of foreign institutes will result in healthy competition among the higher academic institutions, they should not, under any circumstances, dilute the worth of the degree by qualifying the degree as that from an India campus.
Students seemed to be divided on the issue. While most of them agreed it would make overseas degrees more accessible and affordable, some pointed out that overseas education was not just about a degree but the total experience and exposure.
Indira Samarasekera, president, University of Alberta, Canada, said an overseas academic experience went beyond the classroom and the exposure helped students to evolve into global citizens.
While Richard Stagg, British high commissioner in India, felt the move would solve a lot of problems. The cost would be much less for students and they would still get quality education.
Not everybody, however, is excited about the affordable option. Atasi Chakraborty, a mother of two, who teaches at Indira Gandhi Memorial Secondary school, Kolkata, said her primary concern was neither the cost nor the exposure.
“We are living in a global world and our children have enough exposure. Money, too, is not an issue with double income and easy interest loans in place. For me, the real issue is the academic parameters. If the curricula, faculty and research excellence are in keeping with the overseas standards of the institute I would not hesitate to send my child there.’’
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