A good 92 per cent of academics in a global survey cited shortage of capable leadership in Indian universities.
The results of the survey were unveiled at the Education Promotion Society of India (EPSI) summit here on Thursday.
EPSI is the national body of over 500 higher education institutions.
The summit was opened by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor.
Credible standards
Tharoor said the Indian higher education system needed to step up credible standards. Towards this end, the Government has initiated 11 Bills in Parliament.
He welcomed the growth of private sector education institutions that make up for 64 per cent of the total institutions in India and contribute to 57 per cent of the total enrolment.
Survey findings
In the survey, 81 per cent respondents pointed to a serious gap between the existing pool and the requirement of academic leaders to meet the 12th Plan requirements, EPSI said in a release.
A majority (80 per cent) of respondents cited a ‘futuristic approach’ as the most critical trait of a ‘transformational’ leadership in higher education.
Adequate monitoring
More than one-third of the respondents also felt that being an academician was not a popular career choice any longer, as it lacked adequate mentoring.
“Lack of academic leadership, guidance and training (60 per cent) and low salary (50 per cent) were the other reasons why the education sector failed to attract promising academics,” the survey said.
The survey conducted in early February 2013, jointly with MBAUniverse.com, received 111 responses from thought leaders, chancellors, vice-chancellors, directors, deans, principals and professors in 37 locations, such as the US, the UK, Dubai, Germany, Australia, France and Hungary.
The survey was aimed at looking at why Indian higher education institutes were unable to attract overseas Indians with “exceptional” academic background and “proven leadership” skills.
Three-fourths of the respondents cited highly bureaucratic Indian systems and a siloed approach of stakeholders as the key reason for this.
“The results of the survey demand serious attention by the political leadership, policy makers, chancellors and vice-chancellors,” said G. Vishwanathan, President, Education Promotion Society of India, and Chancellor of VIT University.