IITs & IIMs Pin Hope on Budget 2017, Improving Infrastructure is Main Concern
Last year, Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister announced that the government would establish 20 world-class institutes. However, academic experts indicated that the government needs to sort out the infrastructure problems in IITs and IIMs first.
Various stakeholders in the education sector are indicating that research and infrastructure are the two critical areas where the government is likely to lay emphasis during the Budget session for the year 2017. The Budget session will begin on February 1, 2017, and the stakeholders are hoping that infrastructure problems in IIMs and IITs will be sorted out.
Last year, Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister announced that the government would establish 20 world-class institutes. However, academic experts indicated that the government needs to sort out the infrastructure problems in IITs and IIMs first. Most of these premier institutes, particularly new ones, are facing infrastructure problems, and they need to be addressed. Some of the institutes do not even have campuses and hostels. Therefore, instead of developing world-class institutes initially, the government needs to focus on the development of existing premier institutes.
Also read: - IITs and IIMs to Go Beyond Technology and Management for World Class Institution Tag
One of the senior faculty members of Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak expressed that the idea of HRD Ministry is to develop premier institutes at par with global standards. For this purpose, the premier institutes must show brilliant performance in both teaching and research front, and these need various types of infrastructure. Digital and physical infrastructure play a significant role in teaching. On the other hand, software, journals, books, collaboration with foreign universities and researchers, field trips and availability of databases are also essential to make a difference.
Also read: - IITs & IIMs to Adopt Villages to Formulate Development Strategies
Therefore, the careful review of aspects mentioned above in the upcoming budget can make a big difference. One of the academic experts while speaking on the budget for education was of the opinion that apart from IITs and IIMs, the universities in India need extensive funds to promote research. Indian varsities lag in global rankings due to poor research output.