Higher education in country is outdated: DU VC Dinesh Singh

Outgoing Delhi University, Vice Chancellor, Dinesh Singh, whose reforms in education did not go down well with the varsity teachers as well as HRD Ministry, says his suggestions have been welcomed more abroad. He also said higher education in the country is "outdated".

"The concepts and methods that we have been following in the country are outdated and are hence landing the lakhs of students who graduate every year in a mess. When I proposed similar ideas outside India, they have been welcomed more."

"I was called to address a conference on MOOC (massive open, online courses) in London three years back where I had proposed that they are making a mistake by putting technology first and idea later.

I got a mail from the company's CEO when I was back that how the idea went down well in their minds and how they are working on it. I was glad atleast they understood what I was saying. We can't think of doing something similar here that easily."

Dinesh Singh tenure is coming to an end on October 28, has been vocal about how the higher-education in the country is moving on the pattern which was followed decades back."Our pedagogy is outdated, we are focusing on creating more and more graduates, more and more teachers, but neither we are creating employers nor we are producing graduates with employability," he added.

"When I took over the charge as the university's Vice Chancellor I came across the fact that the syllabus has not been updated 30-40 years in a fast changing department world. For instance, till three years ago, the department of history was teaching the history of Soviet Union till 1950.

Imagine there was no mention that the old system had collapsed and things had changed radically. I was surprised at the fact that no one had objected to this situation. But if you tell them to change and update many will start opposing it," he concluded.

PTI