Govt sets up panel to reform higher education

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 10

The Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC), a think-tank of the Delhi government, has set up a 17-member high-level committee for suggesting reforms for higher education system of the national capital within a year.

Nalanda 2.0, a non-profit policy think-tank, is the DDC knowledge partner in this initiative of the Aam Aadmi Party government.

The panel, chaired by DDC vice-chairperson Jasmine Shah, comprises entrepreneurs and leaders from academia, industry, government and civil society of India and around the world.

The committee's mandate will involve recommending goals, metrics, policies, and actionable plans for reforming Delhi’s higher education system, including vocational, undergraduate, masters, PhD, post-doctoral and continuing education, within a year.

Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia said “Over the past few years, Delhi came to be known  all over the world for the innovations in its government schools - be it the Happiness curriculum, infrastructure overhaul, teacher-training initiatives or more recently Entrepreneurship curriculum. We also wish to make Delhi a knowledge and innovation centre where some of the best talent in the world would want to live, study, and work as faculty members, students, and professionals.”

Shah said, “They bring valuable and diverse perspectives to make our higher education system relevant and impactful in the 21st century.”

He added that as Delhi’s population has rose from 16.8 million in 2011 to 18.6 million in 2016 and is estimated to reach 35 million by 2025 there will be a need of a lot of services.

“Most importantly, they will need jobs and be educated, skilled, and prepared for productive lives and careers. Thus, reforming higher education is important and urgent,” said Shah.