![Dr. G.Munjal Swift Group Chairman]()
“Though AICTE is designed to ensure quality in Technical Education, it is suggested to establish a separate body to assess the Quality of Education ensuring the same is maintaining international
quality standards, norms, and required parameters.”
Dr. G. Munjal, Chairman, Swift Group of Colleges
Commercialization of education is not simply an economic process related to the governance and structure of colleges and universities, but also a symbolic process by which the values of the market place, associated with the idea of private, for-profit ownership, gradually replace the values associated traditionally with education and knowledge as a public good, something worthy to be pursued for its-own sake and serving the needs of all members of society.
What instigated the journey from Ind Swift to Swift Group of Colleges? How far have you been successful? What are the next milestones on your agenda on the education front?
When I recollect and memorize the milestones passed throughout my life journey since the very inception of my career starting a small Pharma Unit – Ind-Swift Ltd., in the year 1984, with an Annual Turnover of only Rs. 2 Lac, It gives me immense pleasure to mention that my growth is in the same line in the life-science industry with ever expanding growth waves of Indian Pharma Sector. It was my own initiative and inspiration which prompted me to think of starting educational institutions in various streams besides Pharma, which obviously was my educational background and earnest desire and strong commitment to provide quality education-coupled-with practical aspects to the future generation in the Society from where I learned and earned.
As far as the quality of education then in the North was concerned, compared to the Southern and Western part of the Country, setting aside other global norms on quality and other parameters, there were no commendable institutions especially for higher studies. Such a situation and background prompted me to start initiating for Swift Group of Colleges. Moreover, Baddi in Himachal Pradesh, which is very close to us has become a pharma hub attracting the manufacturing units of almost all major pharma industries of our country due to various tax benefits & schemes offered by the Government. Besides getting the pool of learners of our-own Institute involved into our-own facilities, we aim to cater the need of these pharma industries located at Baddi with reduced costs and better quality, as the Government of Himachal Pradesh has put a condition to control the entry of outsiders in industrial establishments for employment ensuring 80% of the job opportunities are given to Himachalies.
We have, so far, been successful in our endeavors to achieve the target as in a very short span of time we could achieve several meritorious momentum in academic excellence as well as and social and philanthropic cause serving the surrounding area in many ways.
India is the only BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa) nation among the developing economies whose institutions have not been able to book a spot in the top 200 league, as per the recent survey conducted by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) & Times Higher Education (THE); ranking is based on the R & D in Education.
Swift Group of Colleges is a milestone in the long journey and not a destination as we aims to make it a University by 2015 and with sincere commitment to position itself into the list of Number 1 University in India and one of the top 10 Universities in the World. Also establishment of a well equipped 500 bedded medical college with all modern facilities in Punjab.
It is the need of the hour to think in light of the fact that India is the only BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa) nation among the developing economies whose institutions have not been able to book a spot in the top 200 league, as per the recent survey conducted by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) & Times Higher Education (THE); ranking is based on the R & D in Education.
What are your views about the commercialization of higher technical education? Should education be seen and treated as an industry? What regulatory and market forces would determine the due furtherance of access & quality of higher technical education?
It is a rule of thumb as well as reality of life that change is the only permanent thing in this world. Darwin’s theory of evolution has also supported this fact stating ‘fittest will survive’. The term ‘Commercialization’ especially in education has been used to denote negativity in most of the time. The motive of starting education should suffice the purpose where the predominance should be given to quality. The Global arena has been changing in fast pace and novelty of today will be replaced with unexpected needs and necessity due to technological advancement and ever expansion in communication. The higher education should have practical aspects, hand-on-experience, and exposure and last not the least should be aimed to bring the current in the mainstream. There should be more involvement of professional exposures in the field of education irrespective of the stream / subjects of study. It is not the matter of treatment of education as industry or not but the matter is that the purpose behind industrial establishment. In any Industry the motive behind establishing an industry is not mere earning profit rather to serve the society. Could any society ever achieve any economic progress, social advancement, improvement in standard of life without industrial growth?
Commercialization is the term used to designate the tendencies and practices that create increasing connections between colleges and universities and the economic sector. It is the process of driving public educational institutions to operate as if they were private. A relevant indicator of the commercialization of higher education on a global scale is the rapid expansion of ‘international trade’ in education services. There has always been an international aspect to education as both students and academics have engaged in pursuit of education across borders. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is a leader in this process and is currently considering a series of proposals to develop rules governing international trade in education services, just like any other commodity. The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is ‘an effort by multinational corporations and some government agencies’ in developed countries to ‘integrate higher education into the legal structures of the world trade through WTO.
Commercialization of education is not simply an economic process related to the governance and structure of colleges and universities, but also a symbolic process by which the values of the market place, associated with the idea of private, for-profit ownership, gradually replace the values associated traditionally with education and knowledge as a public good, something worthy to be pursued for its-own sake and serving the needs of all members of society. As educators and citizens, we are called up on to assess critically how the increasing commercialization of higher education changes our roles of educators and citizens and how those changes will influence our ability and willingness to teach students about the values of ethical citizenship in the global world. There should, obviously, be regulatory system / body stringent to watch and assess the Quality Parameters at par with global level periodically. Moreover, the current situation urges us to reevaluate individually each occasion when the links between the private sector and institutions of higher learning are likely to grow where ‘Corporatization’ is inevitable.
Indian academia is largely devoid of industry integration? How the industrial might of Ind Swift Group is leveraged at Swift Group of Institutions?
It is worthwhile to note that there is a wide gap in skill and competency levels exists in our educational system while comparing with the global educational standards, norms and requirements. The problem is more of lacking practical aspects in our educational institutions and more emphasize is given for theoretical knowledge. Moreover, practical activities are neither promoted nor assessed periodically and also traditional exam-based evaluation system has not been transformed to project-based assessment and evaluation of the learner.
As far as technical education is concerned, the existence of such a system in India is amply clarified by the New York Times in its recent reports stating that only one in four engineering graduates in India is employable, based on technical skills, English fluency, team work and presentation skills. It is a matter of great concern that while discussing and debating on unemployment in our country, we should not set aside the fact that we have enough requirement in our country, especially at the present state where we attract more FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments) in our Country, which reaffirm the recent report published by McKinsey, showing that 73 million semi-skilled and Skilled workforce are needed in our Country by 2015 i.e. 50% more than today in automobile and electronic sectors. Here is the need of an integrated approach in working and close proximity between Industry and Academia in curriculum design, development, conducting workshops, seminars, conferences, symposiums etc., from Industry and to get availed the benefit of Academia for industry such as Scientific and technical projects, survey reports, thesis and other volumes of publications by scientists & research scholars from time-to-time.
What prompted us to think of and initiate the establishment of Swift Group of Colleges, among other things was the existing gap between India and other Developed Countries in skill and competency level. Swift Group of Colleges imparts practical training to the learners in our-own manufacturing facilities, R&D Centers & other area of operations, wherever required. Moreover, we provide employment opportunities after completion of the respective courses. At present, the colleges under Swift Group of Colleges are Swift School of Pharmacy, Swift Institute of Nursing, Swift Institute of Management & Computer Science, Swift Technical Campus etc., It gives us pride than pleasure that within a short span of time the Group could engage in collaboration with various Foreign Universities such as Coventry University, UK (Swift Institute of Engineering and Technology an affiliate of Coventry), Royal Roads University, Canada (Joint Venture in Bachelors of Arts in International Hotel Management & University of Bedfordshire (for Nursing). The ceaseless efforts of Swift Fundamental Research & Education Society could bring national and international reputation including approval from AICTE. The matter is not only of industrial might but an academic might as well where we used to get the benefits of one for another.
How has the entrepreneurial journey of the founders affected the teaching pedagogy at SWIFT? You may cite some examples to explain the same.
The entrepreneurial journey of the founders, of-course by their broad vision, intense desire to reach the goal with high level of integrity, planned approach, integrated and balanced mind-set coupled with the attitude of change agents could definitely affect the pedagogy at Swift. We have at Swift Group a team of quality, matured, dedicated, highly motivated and professional faculty having industry experience which gives the Group competitive edge in highly complex and fast paced business world. The academic excellence shown by our learners as well as the total results of all streams vividly shows the same, even in very short span time, our students could place themselves in top positions in University examinations especially Pharma & Nursing stream.
Though lion share of our students especially of Pharma, Management & Engineering after successful completion of their course, becomes our-own employees, the students who prefer other corporate houses get job easily and the students who opt other universities or colleges / institutes for higher studies after completion of the undergraduate courses with us gets selected easily.
Recently, AICTE passed a policy which opened the gates for industrial conglomerates to open up technical institutions. How do you see this development?
This initiative and development, undoubtedly is very appreciable subject to the same is implemented in its true sense and spirit. We, in our system of education need to ensure Quality of Education rather than producing quantity of graduates, postgraduate and Research Scholars every year. The evaluation and assessment system should be strengthened with stringent norms and parameters on Quality Assurance as in other developed countries coupled with emphasis is given on R & D in education irrespective of the stream and level. Though AICTE is designed to ensure quality in Technical Education, it is suggested to establish a separate body to assess the Quality of Education ensuring the same is maintaining international quality standards, norms, and required parameters.