New Delhi: Higher education sector in India is being affected and eventually, deteriorating due to the shortage of capable leaders in the system. The worsening situation of this leadership crisis was highlighted in a report presented as a result of a global survey, conducted by the Education Promotion Society for India (EPSI).
According to the statement issued by EPSI, around 81 percent partakers of the survey emphasized that there is a huge difference in the number of existing and required academic leaders, in order to meet the targets of the 12th Five Year Plan and India Vision 2020, for Higher Education sector. Only 18 percent had a positive outlook towards the issue.
During the survey, when it was asked that, what are the critically important traits of a transformational leader in Higher Education in India, over 80 percent of respondents said that it is innovative approach to development. Besides, some also mentioned that high professional integrity, ethical standards, global exposure and ability to change, were some other significant qualities required to make good transformational leader.
As per sources, these survey results were divulged on the first day of the two-day education summit, at the India International Centre, New Delhi. The main agenda of the summit was, to discuss the role transformational leaders in the education sector. The summit is being conducted by EPSI, which is a representative body of over 500 higher education institutions in India.
Arun Nigavekar, former chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC), who was present at the summit, also discussed about the issue and defined the traits of transformational leaders. Making critical judgments; differentiating between good, bad and indifferent; communicating intelligently and being flexible, adaptable and tolerant of other creeds and cultures, are a few, traits that he mentioned.
Lamenting over the results of the survey on 'Leadership Challenges' in the higher education system, G. Vishwanathan, President, ESPI and Chancellor of VIT University, Vellore, said that the results are alarming and should be given prime attention by political leadership, policy makers, chancellors and vice chancellors.
The said survey was conducted across 22 Indian cities, including Delhi-NCR, Pune, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Manipal, while, it also received responses from various intellectuals, chancellors, vice-chancellors, deans, principals and professors from the US, Britain, Germany, Australia, France, Hungary and Dubai.
