good afternoon ladies and gentlemen I hope the mic is working and you can all
hope the mic is working and you can all
hope the mic is working and you can all hear me yes at the back I have been an
hear me yes at the back I have been an
hear me yes at the back I have been an entrepreneur since 1991 but it was only
entrepreneur since 1991 but it was only
entrepreneur since 1991 but it was only in 2005 that I had a new calling and
that was to help improve higher
that was to help improve higher education in India and this happened
education in India and this happened
education in India and this happened totally by accident in one of the
totally by accident in one of the
totally by accident in one of the businesses that I run jamberry we quote
businesses that I run jamberry we quote
businesses that I run jamberry we quote students on the GMAT GRE and SAT so in
students on the GMAT GRE and SAT so in
students on the GMAT GRE and SAT so in 2005 I was sitting in my room when a
2005 I was sitting in my room when a
2005 I was sitting in my room when a student worked in wanting help to
student worked in wanting help to
student worked in wanting help to prepare on the GMAT I felt I had seen
prepare on the GMAT I felt I had seen
prepare on the GMAT I felt I had seen this person before and when I asked him
this person before and when I asked him
this person before and when I asked him he mentioned that he’d met me three
he mentioned that he’d met me three
he mentioned that he’d met me three years ago in 2002 when he was preparing
years ago in 2002 when he was preparing
years ago in 2002 when he was preparing for the SAT at that point in 2002 he had
for the SAT at that point in 2002 he had
for the SAT at that point in 2002 he had been admitted to the University of
been admitted to the University of
been admitted to the University of California and Berkeley he was the only
California and Berkeley he was the only
California and Berkeley he was the only child of his parents and for family
child of his parents and for family
child of his parents and for family reasons he eventually could not go his
reasons he eventually could not go his
reasons he eventually could not go his 94% in class 12 got him admission into a
94% in class 12 got him admission into a
94% in class 12 got him admission into a mid-level delhi college and he spent the
mid-level delhi college and he spent the
mid-level delhi college and he spent the next three years of his life doing
next three years of his life doing
next three years of his life doing become honours in that college but i
become honours in that college but i
become honours in that college but i think what struck me when I met him in
think what struck me when I met him in
think what struck me when I met him in 2005 was really that I was meeting a
2005 was really that I was meeting a
2005 was really that I was meeting a different person the person I had met in
different person the person I had met in
different person the person I had met in 2002 was was very bright very chirpy and
2002 was was very bright very chirpy and
2002 was was very bright very chirpy and this person whom I was meeting in 2005
this person whom I was meeting in 2005
this person whom I was meeting in 2005 seemed rather dull and actually quite
seemed rather dull and actually quite
seemed rather dull and actually quite insipid so I started to wonder what’s
insipid so I started to wonder what’s
insipid so I started to wonder what’s happened to him and on proving further
happened to him and on proving further
happened to him and on proving further he mentioned that he felt that his
he mentioned that he felt that his
he mentioned that he felt that his college experience of those three years
college experience of those three years
college experience of those three years had been untruthful
had been untruthful
had been untruthful he talked about
he talked about
he talked about how he would go to college sometimes
how he would go to college sometimes
how he would go to college sometimes classes wouldn’t happen and the few that
classes wouldn’t happen and the few that
classes wouldn’t happen and the few that would happen were uninteresting and he
would happen were uninteresting and he
would happen were uninteresting and he felt that largely his college experience
felt that largely his college experience
felt that largely his college experience had been unfaithful I felt that the
had been unfaithful I felt that the
had been unfaithful I felt that the three years of his college life had
three years of his college life had
three years of his college life had changed him and not change him for the
changed him and not change him for the
changed him and not change him for the good and somewhere I started to feel
good and somewhere I started to feel
good and somewhere I started to feel that as a country we let him down as a
that as a country we let him down as a
that as a country we let him down as a country we did not have enough
country we did not have enough
country we did not have enough opportunities of quality higher
opportunities of quality higher
opportunities of quality higher education for our students and this
education for our students and this
education for our students and this experience inspired me to think that
experience inspired me to think that
experience inspired me to think that what will it take to set up a high
what will it take to set up a high
what will it take to set up a high quality University in India in the next
quality University in India in the next
quality University in India in the next 10 to 12 years I got involved with
10 to 12 years I got involved with
10 to 12 years I got involved with building Ashoka University right from
building Ashoka University right from
building Ashoka University right from 2007 onwards and some of what I speak
2007 onwards and some of what I speak
2007 onwards and some of what I speak today is largely based on that
today is largely based on that
today is largely based on that experience India I believe has a crisis
experience India I believe has a crisis
experience India I believe has a crisis in higher education we have a crisis of
in higher education we have a crisis of
in higher education we have a crisis of access and we have a crisis of quality
India today has the largest higher
India today has the largest higher education infrastructure in the world
education infrastructure in the world
education infrastructure in the world eight hundred universities 39,000
eight hundred universities 39,000
eight hundred universities 39,000 colleges we larger than us we larger
colleges we larger than us we larger
colleges we larger than us we larger than China we’re also the second largest
than China we’re also the second largest
than China we’re also the second largest in terms of number of students going to
in terms of number of students going to
in terms of number of students going to college with the second highest we have
college with the second highest we have
college with the second highest we have 35 million students in our colleges and
35 million students in our colleges and
35 million students in our colleges and universities only second to China but we
universities only second to China but we
universities only second to China but we have 140 million in the college going
have 140 million in the college going
have 140 million in the college going age group so in the age group of 18 to
age group so in the age group of 18 to
age group so in the age group of 18 to 23 which is a college-going population
23 which is a college-going population
23 which is a college-going population we have 140 million 35 million of whom
we have 140 million 35 million of whom
we have 140 million 35 million of whom go to college which is one out of every
go to college which is one out of every
go to college which is one out of every four and they
four and they
four and they means that our brass enrollment ratio
means that our brass enrollment ratio
means that our brass enrollment ratio which is the number that the world
which is the number that the world
which is the number that the world measures is about 25% one out of four go
measures is about 25% one out of four go
measures is about 25% one out of four go to college how does this stack up
to college how does this stack up
to college how does this stack up against the rest of the world the first
against the rest of the world the first
against the rest of the world the first I believe that there is greater push for
I believe that there is greater push for
I believe that there is greater push for autonomy and independence by the
autonomy and independence by the
autonomy and independence by the government to really help improve
government to really help improve
government to really help improve governance in a government universities
governance in a government universities
governance in a government universities the Indian Institute of Management bill
the Indian Institute of Management bill
the Indian Institute of Management bill which got passed last month is an
which got passed last month is an
which got passed last month is an example the same this bill aims to make
example the same this bill aims to make
example the same this bill aims to make the AIIMS more independent and
the AIIMS more independent and
the AIIMS more independent and autonomous another example is really
autonomous another example is really
autonomous another example is really this government’s proposal to set up 20
this government’s proposal to set up 20
this government’s proposal to set up 20 Institutes of excellence 20 institutions
Institutes of excellence 20 institutions
Institutes of excellence 20 institutions which are going to be free from
which are going to be free from
which are going to be free from regulatory control so these two pieces
regulatory control so these two pieces
regulatory control so these two pieces of legislation as well as most signals
of legislation as well as most signals
of legislation as well as most signals coming from the government point in the
coming from the government point in the
coming from the government point in the direction that the government does want
direction that the government does want
direction that the government does want to free up educational institutions they
to free up educational institutions they
to free up educational institutions they do want to have better governance in
do want to have better governance in
do want to have better governance in educational institution and this really
educational institution and this really
educational institution and this really bodes well for a higher education but I
bodes well for a higher education but I
bodes well for a higher education but I think time will die we’ve often had
think time will die we’ve often had
think time will die we’ve often had these glimpses or rays of hope and time
these glimpses or rays of hope and time
these glimpses or rays of hope and time will tell how far this autonomy goes
will tell how far this autonomy goes
will tell how far this autonomy goes these are there’s a second trend and I
these are there’s a second trend and I
these are there’s a second trend and I think I’m I’m I’m personally more
think I’m I’m I’m personally more
think I’m I’m I’m personally more excited by the second trend and and also
excited by the second trend and and also
excited by the second trend and and also more optimistic I think this one seems
more optimistic I think this one seems
more optimistic I think this one seems more real and something that is here to
more real and something that is here to
more real and something that is here to stay in the last 1012 years I feel there
stay in the last 1012 years I feel there
stay in the last 1012 years I feel there is a new category of private
is a new category of private
is a new category of private universities coming up in India private
universities coming up in India private
universities coming up in India private universities which are genuinely
universities which are genuinely
universities which are genuinely philanthropic and have a not-for-profit
philanthropic and have a not-for-profit
philanthropic and have a not-for-profit intent India has had a strong tradition
intent India has had a strong tradition
intent India has had a strong tradition of philanthropy in higher education the
of philanthropy in higher education the
of philanthropy in higher education the Indian Institute of Science Tata
Indian Institute of Science Tata
Indian Institute of Science Tata Institute of fundamental research BITS
Institute of fundamental research BITS
Institute of fundamental research BITS Pilani I think they’re all examples of
Pilani I think they’re all examples of
Pilani I think they’re all examples of outstanding private institutions that
outstanding private institutions that
outstanding private institutions that got created on private philanthropy but
got created on private philanthropy but
got created on private philanthropy but a lot of this happened before 1960 1965
a lot of this happened before 1960 1965
a lot of this happened before 1960 1965 then there was this period between 60 65
then there was this period between 60 65
then there was this period between 60 65 to 2005 when very few outstanding
to 2005 when very few outstanding
to 2005 when very few outstanding private institutions got set up and this
private institutions got set up and this
private institutions got set up and this was largely
was largely
was largely cause it was extremely difficult to set
cause it was extremely difficult to set
cause it was extremely difficult to set up a private university in India at that
up a private university in India at that
up a private university in India at that point there was strong regulatory
point there was strong regulatory
point there was strong regulatory controls you almost had to be a college
controls you almost had to be a college
controls you almost had to be a college for ten years then you apply to become a
for ten years then you apply to become a
for ten years then you apply to become a deemed university strong a series of
deemed university strong a series of
deemed university strong a series of regulatory approval so it was really
regulatory approval so it was really
regulatory approval so it was really tough I think we almost encouraged a
tough I think we almost encouraged a
tough I think we almost encouraged a very different kind of private
very different kind of private
very different kind of private universities that came up in this era
universities that came up in this era
universities that came up in this era I believe 2004 five is when things
I believe 2004 five is when things
I believe 2004 five is when things started to change and because education
started to change and because education
started to change and because education is on the concurrent list of the Indian
is on the concurrent list of the Indian
is on the concurrent list of the Indian Constitution both the central government
Constitution both the central government
Constitution both the central government and the state governments can legislate
and the state governments can legislate
and the state governments can legislate some state governments some state
some state governments some state
some state governments some state governments actually came up with some
governments actually came up with some
governments actually came up with some very innovative legislation to help set
very innovative legislation to help set
very innovative legislation to help set up private universities in these states
up private universities in these states
up private universities in these states Rajasthan Haryana – two examples and
Rajasthan Haryana – two examples and
Rajasthan Haryana – two examples and these legislations made it easier for
these legislations made it easier for
these legislations made it easier for private universities to be set up right
private universities to be set up right
private universities to be set up right you could be a private university right
you could be a private university right
you could be a private university right on day one and what’s more not only did
on day one and what’s more not only did
on day one and what’s more not only did it make it easier for private
it make it easier for private
it make it easier for private universities to come up most of this
universities to come up most of this
universities to come up most of this legislation also gave a lot of autonomy
legislation also gave a lot of autonomy
legislation also gave a lot of autonomy to universities right so it became
to universities right so it became
to universities right so it became easier to set up a university also you
easier to set up a university also you
easier to set up a university also you could set up universities which were far
could set up universities which were far
could set up universities which were far more autonomous and then what happened
more autonomous and then what happened
more autonomous and then what happened in in between the period of 2005 to now
in in between the period of 2005 to now
in in between the period of 2005 to now we had scores of private universities
we had scores of private universities
we had scores of private universities come up and we had universities of all
come up and we had universities of all
come up and we had universities of all kinds but I think the good part is the
kinds but I think the good part is the
kinds but I think the good part is the good part is that seven eight of these
good part is that seven eight of these
good part is that seven eight of these universities are quite outstanding seven
universities are quite outstanding seven
universities are quite outstanding seven eight of these universities have the
eight of these universities have the
eight of these universities have the capacity to raise resources they have
capacity to raise resources they have
capacity to raise resources they have not-for-profit intent and they are
not-for-profit intent and they are
not-for-profit intent and they are pursuing excellence in absolutely the
pursuing excellence in absolutely the
pursuing excellence in absolutely the right manner I believe these seven eight
right manner I believe these seven eight
right manner I believe these seven eight over time could really become centers of
over time could really become centers of
over time could really become centers of excellence but this number of seven
excellence but this number of seven
excellence but this number of seven eight and I think this is where the ray
eight and I think this is where the ray
eight and I think this is where the ray of hope for India is this number of
of hope for India is this number of
of hope for India is this number of seven eight is going to become 20 in the
seven eight is going to become 20 in the
seven eight is going to become 20 in the next five years and it will become one
next five years and it will become one
next five years and it will become one hundred
hundred
hundred in the next 15 to 20 years now this
in the next 15 to 20 years now this
in the next 15 to 20 years now this number of hundred is not a pipe dream
number of hundred is not a pipe dream
number of hundred is not a pipe dream but this number of 100 is quite doable
but this number of 100 is quite doable
but this number of 100 is quite doable considering we are opening 50
considering we are opening 50
considering we are opening 50 universities in Europe so even if one
universities in Europe so even if one
universities in Europe so even if one out of 10 universities that we open is
out of 10 universities that we open is
out of 10 universities that we open is outstanding we will get to the number of
outstanding we will get to the number of
outstanding we will get to the number of hundred and this does not take into
hundred and this does not take into
hundred and this does not take into consideration scores of other existing
consideration scores of other existing
consideration scores of other existing universities which are going to become
universities which are going to become
universities which are going to become top class and I think this this group of
top class and I think this this group of
top class and I think this this group of 100 really can help transform Indian
100 really can help transform Indian
100 really can help transform Indian higher education 100 is is enough of a
higher education 100 is is enough of a
higher education 100 is is enough of a critical mass to really force others to
critical mass to really force others to
critical mass to really force others to innovate and adapt and us again is er is
innovate and adapt and us again is er is
innovate and adapt and us again is er is a prime example very early in 17th 18th
a prime example very early in 17th 18th
a prime example very early in 17th 18th 19th 19th century some outstanding
19th 19th century some outstanding
19th 19th century some outstanding private research universities got set up
private research universities got set up
private research universities got set up in the u.s. Harvard Yale Columbia
in the u.s. Harvard Yale Columbia
in the u.s. Harvard Yale Columbia Princeton University of Chicago Stanford
Princeton University of Chicago Stanford
Princeton University of Chicago Stanford they’re all examples which was set up
they’re all examples which was set up
they’re all examples which was set up there is money through philanthropy
there is money through philanthropy
there is money through philanthropy created large endowments and fund
created large endowments and fund
created large endowments and fund education and research and over a period
education and research and over a period
education and research and over a period of time they inspired not many other
of time they inspired not many other
of time they inspired not many other educational institutions to come up in
educational institutions to come up in
educational institutions to come up in the United States I believe India will
the United States I believe India will
the United States I believe India will have a similar revolution so while these
have a similar revolution so while these
have a similar revolution so while these two big trends of a push for greater
two big trends of a push for greater
two big trends of a push for greater autonomy and a new category of private
autonomy and a new category of private
autonomy and a new category of private universities coming up is going to
universities coming up is going to
universities coming up is going to really help us tide over the four things
really help us tide over the four things
really help us tide over the four things we talked of governance intent
we talked of governance intent
we talked of governance intent excellence and funding India also has
excellence and funding India also has
excellence and funding India also has some other distinct advantages that I
some other distinct advantages that I
some other distinct advantages that I want to talk off briefly I think I think
want to talk off briefly I think I think
want to talk off briefly I think I think the first really is cost if you look at
the first really is cost if you look at
the first really is cost if you look at any of the top universities that are
any of the top universities that are
any of the top universities that are named in the u.s. even at a price point
named in the u.s. even at a price point
named in the u.s. even at a price point of $60,000 per annum tuition tuition
of $60,000 per annum tuition tuition
of $60,000 per annum tuition tuition only accounts for thirty to forty
only accounts for thirty to forty
only accounts for thirty to forty percent of the income of any top
percent of the income of any top
percent of the income of any top university
university
university right so these universities also have
right so these universities also have
right so these universities also have large cost models the bulk of the budget
large cost models the bulk of the budget
large cost models the bulk of the budget also getting funded from endowment and
also getting funded from endowment and
also getting funded from endowment and research grants I think India we have an
research grants I think India we have an
research grants I think India we have an opportunity to be far more efficient we
opportunity to be far more efficient we
opportunity to be far more efficient we are building universities from ground up
are building universities from ground up
are building universities from ground up our cost structures are lower so we have
our cost structures are lower so we have
our cost structures are lower so we have an opportunity to deliver a quality of
an opportunity to deliver a quality of
an opportunity to deliver a quality of education which is probably as good as
education which is probably as good as
education which is probably as good as what is delivered outside but we can do
what is delivered outside but we can do
what is delivered outside but we can do it at one-fifth or one-sixth the cost I
it at one-fifth or one-sixth the cost I
it at one-fifth or one-sixth the cost I think there will be a time where in the
think there will be a time where in the
think there will be a time where in the world when children from all across the
world when children from all across the
world when children from all across the world will come to India to study we are
world will come to India to study we are
world will come to India to study we are also doing much better on capital costs
also doing much better on capital costs
also doing much better on capital costs and here I can give a example from the
and here I can give a example from the
and here I can give a example from the University I was associated with so
University I was associated with so
University I was associated with so shoka is going to cost one hundred and
shoka is going to cost one hundred and
shoka is going to cost one hundred and ten million dollars or about 750 crores
ten million dollars or about 750 crores
ten million dollars or about 750 crores to set up it will have two thousand five
to set up it will have two thousand five
to set up it will have two thousand five hundred students fully residential
hundred students fully residential
hundred students fully residential best-in-class infrastructure I am given
best-in-class infrastructure I am given
best-in-class infrastructure I am given to understand that this is what to take
to understand that this is what to take
to understand that this is what to take this is what it takes to build one
this is what it takes to build one
this is what it takes to build one building on a u.s. campus so we have an
building on a u.s. campus so we have an
building on a u.s. campus so we have an opportunity we have an opportunity to be
opportunity we have an opportunity to be
opportunity we have an opportunity to be far more efficient and cost
far more efficient and cost
far more efficient and cost I think the second the second advantage
I think the second the second advantage
I think the second the second advantage we have is the high quality of human
we have is the high quality of human
we have is the high quality of human capital that we have in this country and
capital that we have in this country and
capital that we have in this country and this can really help us create a very
this can really help us create a very
this can really help us create a very high quality faculty pool again a very
high quality faculty pool again a very
high quality faculty pool again a very very important ingredient for excellence
very important ingredient for excellence
very important ingredient for excellence in higher education a large percentage
in higher education a large percentage
in higher education a large percentage of faculty in universities and
of faculty in universities and
of faculty in universities and institutions in North America and some
institutions in North America and some
institutions in North America and some other countries is of Indian origin we
other countries is of Indian origin we
other countries is of Indian origin we can leverage this talent we’ve also seen
can leverage this talent we’ve also seen
can leverage this talent we’ve also seen the impact and potential of a human
the impact and potential of a human
the impact and potential of a human capital it has helped us to transform
capital it has helped us to transform
capital it has helped us to transform our IT sector it has helped us to
our IT sector it has helped us to
our IT sector it has helped us to transform our pharmaceutical sector and
transform our pharmaceutical sector and
transform our pharmaceutical sector and I think it will now help us to transform
I think it will now help us to transform
I think it will now help us to transform Indian higher education and the last
Indian higher education and the last
Indian higher education and the last thing that I want to talk off is and
thing that I want to talk off is and
thing that I want to talk off is and this is something that inspires me the
this is something that inspires me the
this is something that inspires me the most we also have a very very hungry
most we also have a very very hungry
most we also have a very very hungry student population we have outstanding
student population we have outstanding
student population we have outstanding students in this country extremely
students in this country extremely
students in this country extremely bright who are thirsting for
bright who are thirsting for
bright who are thirsting for education we have 225 million students
education we have 225 million students
education we have 225 million students in the age group of 10 to 19 all wanting
in the age group of 10 to 19 all wanting
in the age group of 10 to 19 all wanting access to higher education the West has
access to higher education the West has
access to higher education the West has the opposite problem they are dependent
the opposite problem they are dependent
the opposite problem they are dependent on international students now to fill
on international students now to fill
on international students now to fill their universities in US for example
their universities in US for example
their universities in US for example higher education pretty much peaked at
higher education pretty much peaked at
higher education pretty much peaked at 21 million in 2011-12 and is now
21 million in 2011-12 and is now
21 million in 2011-12 and is now declining 55 percent of the students in
declining 55 percent of the students in
declining 55 percent of the students in science technology engineering math in
science technology engineering math in
science technology engineering math in postgraduate courses and US universities
postgraduate courses and US universities
postgraduate courses and US universities are international students we don’t have
are international students we don’t have
are international students we don’t have that challenge we have enough of our own
that challenge we have enough of our own
that challenge we have enough of our own and we have bright students bright
and we have bright students bright
and we have bright students bright students with a hunger in their belly
students with a hunger in their belly
students with a hunger in their belly and students who want to study so I
and students who want to study so I
and students who want to study so I would like to conclude by saying that
would like to conclude by saying that
would like to conclude by saying that higher education is an opportunity
higher education is an opportunity
higher education is an opportunity higher education is an area where India
higher education is an area where India
higher education is an area where India is on the cusp of revolution the ball
is on the cusp of revolution the ball
is on the cusp of revolution the ball has already been set rolling the ball
has already been set rolling the ball
has already been set rolling the ball has been set rolling by some very
has been set rolling by some very
has been set rolling by some very innovative legislation that was brought
innovative legislation that was brought
innovative legislation that was brought in by state governments to help create
in by state governments to help create
in by state governments to help create private universities in India and Indian
private universities in India and Indian
private universities in India and Indian philanthropy is responding to that
philanthropy is responding to that
philanthropy is responding to that challenge in 15 years 20 years from time
challenge in 15 years 20 years from time
challenge in 15 years 20 years from time from now we will have 100 outstanding
from now we will have 100 outstanding
from now we will have 100 outstanding universities 100 universities that are
universities 100 universities that are
universities 100 universities that are going to be autonomous innovative agile
going to be autonomous innovative agile
going to be autonomous innovative agile and best-in-class and they will put
and best-in-class and they will put
and best-in-class and they will put India on the road to becoming a higher
India on the road to becoming a higher
India on the road to becoming a higher education center of excellence in the
education center of excellence in the
education center of excellence in the world thank you
”
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