5-Notes on the Role of Research Universities in Developing Countries

The Department of Education, University of Kerala, in association with the Kerala State Higher Education Council, on 14^th  July 2010 organized at Trivandrum,  an Interactive Discourse with Dr. Philip Altbach, Monan Professor of Education & Director, Center for International Higher Education, Boston College, USA.

Prof Altbach based his presentation on the key argument that Research Universities are very important  in a  Knowledge economy. He also insisted that developing countries like India, need Research Universities and the state of Kerala with its high levels of literacy definitely require a top class university.

Other arguments provided include the following:

• Establishing Research Universities is  one way of preventing domination by other countries and the  research done  in such universities can actually make a contribution to the local economy.
• In selecting universities, it has to be decided which university should function as a Teaching university and which a Research university.
• It is true that  in India a number of Private Universities are growing, but none of them is a Research university. This is because  for such universities  profit making  is the prime motive and  research  does not necessarily bring profit.
• One has to make a distinction between Public-good and Private-good.  The Public-good idea-based educational  institutions, serve the public and  the people benefit. As per the Private-good idea, the individual benefits the most.  Research Universities are basically public funded and its research contributes to public good. But private research is keen on patents that help make a lot of money.
• Research universities are not usually challenged by competition. They require full time faculty, and they must be research focused. It requires staff with PhD and the ability to do innovative work. The Professors of such universities should be free of corruption and they must be permitted to work free.
• Research Universities must be linked to foreign agencies/ organizations engaged in pursuing research, the faculty must be well paid, and unlike in private universities should not have to go ‘moonlighting’ for additional income. In short a special breed of academics is required whose main commitment should be with the  research undertaken in the university.
• Research universities should not have the inbreeding system where the students of the same university is appointed as faculty in the same university. There should be representation from a number of institutions and background.
• The globalization of science is a challenge and an advantage to universities too. In the context of globalization it is essential that teachers from other universities are invited to India and faculty from India visit and teach for short spells in foreign universities.
• In some developed countries, some universities are set up based on  the contributions  they purport to make. If they fail, such universities are shut down… But, in India, once a University is set up  it  goes on existing without  making any real contributions. At the out set this should change.