The Research Culture in Traditional Indian Universities: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities

 

NEP2020 rightly emphasizes the development of a research-driven educational ecosystem for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This is a positive step toward addressing the challenges faced by Indian society and finding solutions. Understanding these issues often involves conducting real-time surveys to discover potential solutions. However, there is a distinct difference between scientific research and research in other disciplines, with the exception of the research methodology used to conduct such studies. In science, a researcher may need to sacrifice a life to solve a scientific problem, whereas research in political science typically involves gathering public opinion to address and eliminate the causes of such problems. This becomes a significant issue when we standardize the research infrastructure and establish career advancement criteria for stakeholders in various academic and research institutions. Ultimately, all researchers are individuals with similar family aspirations. In this comparative scenario, research often becomes a formal requirement to meet certain criteria or accumulate points on a career advancement form, regardless of the quality of the research output. However, the current discussion focuses on scientific research and the challenges associated with conducting research in the sciences.

The cornerstone of successful research is upholding stringent research ethics, which are largely self-regulated. Without proper awareness and training for budding researchers, the already fragile research environment will only worsen. When equal opportunities are lacking, the race for survival often sidelines research ethics. This is a significant challenge faced by India and many other nations, leading to a trust deficit within the scientific community. As a result, authentic researchers are overshadowed by those with questionable achievements, causing genuine and fundamental research to fade into obscurity. It is crucial for the revitalized research community to understand that restoring India's research rhythm is vital for national progress and sustaining a leading role in the global hierarchy. However, this should not come at the cost of disregarding the scientific contributions of past scholars. Unfortunately, as the world progressed with scientific discoveries and inventions from the 17th to the 19th centuries, India was embroiled in a battle for independence from colonial domination.

A significant challenge faced by researchers is the absence of equal opportunities, which can result in feelings of distrust and distress. This begins with a set of rules and regulations, largely overseen by the UGC, which dictate the number of PhD students a professor/associate professor/ assistant professor can supervise based on their academic rank, a criterion often overlooked by other research institutions. The rationale behind such governance is to maintain research quality. However, a counterargument is that highly qualified academics with global exposure find these regulations overly restrictive for career advancement and team building. Consequently, they face limitations in manpower, a critical component of scientific research, impeding the development of a robust research culture. Moreover, this issue does not affect researchers in non-university research organizations. Career advancement poses another hurdle; an assistant professor in a university need to wait 12 years to progress to a level where they can supervise additional students, which dampen their scientific enthusiasm. They are also encumbered with extensive administrative duties. In contrast, their more fortunate peers in other environments do not encounter such prolonged delays. Furthermore, universities are not the preferred choice for the majority of talented PhD students, and many researchers find themselves in a deficient situation when it comes to conducting research. Nevertheless, the most significant challenge is the inequality in research facilities upon entering a university system. India must either dedicate a significant portion of its budget to developing equitable research infrastructure or enact innovative policy decisions to remedy these disparities. Despite India's economic advancement, a substantial investment in research infrastructure may not be viable in the short term due to financial obligations aimed at addressing social inequities and political challenges.

One potential solution is to revise the mandate for establishing major standalone research institutes on university campuses, allowing university researchers to work in these institutes under special arrangements without the need for formal collaboration. Additionally, universities have extensive land banks that are often underutilized, which could be leveraged to develop office spaces for corporations and shared research and development facilities. This approach could create additional income by leasing space to private companies, contributing to the financial stability of government-funded institutes. It would also promote the development of a skilled workforce by providing students and stakeholders with access to these facilities under agreed terms. Implementing such policies would be a progressive step towards eliminating the unequal playing field in scientific research, and upon achieving this, India could establish the much-needed knowledge society to maintain a leading position in the global hierarchy.

Weeping Rose

02.04.2024