Govt plans 14 innovation varsities

Sibal wants that by 2020, 30% school passouts should make it to college

The human resource development (HRD) ministry plans to set up 14 “innovation universities” in the country from 2010 to build “disciplinary focusses” and push research and development.

Speaking at the CII University-Industry Council Symposium in Shibpur, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said, “We will set up 14 innovation universities with each university focusing on innovation and research in different subjects, Some of the areas identified are health, environment, new technologies for power plants, etc. We will also promote contract and auction research to raise money.”

“We are looking at collaboration with private partners so that initial funds for infrastructure development can be taken care of. We will start a university-industry congress that will celebrate national awards, among other things. The move should also boost PhDs in the country. Currently, while India awards around 8,000 PhD degrees every year, China gives around 50,000. This divide needs to be bridged,” said Sibal.

In India, every year, 900,000 students enrol for engineering courses but only 12 per cent make it to college after plus II. The global average is 27 per cent while the figure is 50-70 per cent in Europe and the US.

“The target for India by 2020 is that at least 30 per cent of school passouts should make it to college,” Sibal said.

“The human resource department has earmarked Rs 31,000 crore for state universities. Every university should have its own website providing as much clarity on courses, faculty and infrastructure as possible. Also, we are putting together a system in universities so that ‘achievers’ are given incentives. Simultaneously, non-achievers will be encouraged to perform in order to avail of these incentives,” he said.

Sibal also said that his department was working towards bringing uniformity in the school system so that one common apptitude test could adjudge all students, irrespective of the school board.

“India has around 41 boards in the school system. There should be some uniformity of standards across boards,” Sibal added.