Date : 17/08/2023

Relevance : GS Paper 2 - Government Intervention by Policies - Education

Keywords: STEM education,Gender disparity in STEM, Vigyan Jyoti Scheme,GATI Scheme,KIRAN Scheme,National Education Policy, National Research Foundation

Context-

• The landscape of science education in India, particularly at the state-affiliated colleges and universities, requires a transformative shift to align with contemporary needs.
• The inadequacies in curricula, practical training, and resources call for a reimagining of these institutions' roles, emphasizing skill-based education.
• By leveraging the potential of state universities, India can address its challenge of producing job-ready STEM graduates and contribute to its burgeoning scientific industries.

Current State of Science Education

• State-affiliated colleges and universities play a crucial role in shaping the education and career paths of STEM graduates in India.
• While a substantial number of students enrolled in Bachelor of Science (BSc) courses, the transition to higher levels of education and research, such as Masters and Ph.D. programs, faces challenges.
• The vast majority of science graduates hail from state universities, and this demographic represents a significant segment of the future workforce.

Enrollment Numbers and Graduation Rates

• India boasts an impressive enrollment of around 50 lakh students in BSc courses, with over 11 lahks completing their degrees annually.
• However, this pool narrows significantly at the postgraduate level, with only 2.9 lakh students pursuing Masters's degrees and a mere 6,000 being awarded science PhDs each year. The disparity between initial enrollment and advanced degrees underscores the need for strategic interventions.

Gender Disparity in STEM

• In India, about 43% of STEM graduates are women, a global high. However, their representation in STEM jobs remains dismally low at just 14%.
• The concern isn't solely about the number of women graduates; it's the proportion that secures STEM employment.
• Multiple factors contribute to this imbalance, including stereotypes, societal pressures, and safety concerns. Despite various Initiatives like the Vigyan Jyoti Scheme, GATI Scheme, and KIRAN Scheme aim to bridge this gap. Vigyan Jyoti encourages girls in rural areas to pursue STEM education, GATI promotes gender equality in institutions, and KIRAN offers career opportunities to unemployed women scientists.
• Household responsibilities, safety concerns during commutes, and workplace harassment further hinder women's progress in the field.

State-Affiliated Universities and Their Significance

• State-managed universities contribute significantly to higher education in India, enrolling over 30% of students across various disciplines. Science courses, second only to arts, attract a considerable number of enrollments within these universities.
• Given their role as the primary source of science graduates, these institutions can play a pivotal role in nurturing a skilled scientific workforce.

Challenges and Bottlenecks

• Current science education at state-affiliated institutions faces several challenges. Outdated curricula and syllabi fail to align with modern technologies and industry demands.
• Moreover, inadequate laboratory facilities hinder practical training, while brief external internships prove insufficient for comprehensive skill development.

Unique Mandate for State Universities

• Reimagining the role of state-affiliated universities involves equipping them with a distinct mandate that aligns with India's scientific and technological aspirations.
• These institutions can evolve into hubs for skill-based science education, focusing on imparting industry-relevant skills alongside academic knowledge.
• Collaborations with industries can provide hands-on experience, workshops, and apprenticeships, bridging the gap between academia and the job market.

International Examples and Best Practices

• Models like community colleges and technical universities in the U.S. and Europe exemplify successful approaches to skill-based education.
• These institutions prioritize regional needs while producing workforce-ready graduates. India can draw inspiration from such models to reshape state universities for the benefit of both students and industries.

Key Elements of Skill-Based Education

• The transformation of state-affiliated universities should involve incorporating practical training, industry-relevant skills, and certifications into the curricula.
• Emphasis on programming, data analysis techniques, instrumentation expertise, quality assurance, and benchmarking can enhance graduates' employability. Collaborative efforts between academia and industry, including seminars, expert interactions, and job fairs, can further enrich the learning experience.

Alignment with National Goals

• The proposed reimagining aligns seamlessly with India's vision of fostering a science and technology-focused economy. As the nation witnesses growth in fields like information technology, life sciences, and biomanufacturing, state universities can contribute to a well-prepared workforce.
• This approach bridges the objectives of the National Education Policy and the National Research Foundation, optimizing resources and enhancing practical training.

Conclusion

By revamping state-affiliated universities and colleges into centers of skill-based science education, India can address the challenges of graduate employability and meet the demands of its scientific industries. Such an evolution will empower students with industry-relevant skills, provide invaluable exposure, and contribute to India's trajectory as a global science and technology leader.

Source - The Hindu