An Obsession with Ranking is Harming India’s Universities (GS Paper 2, Education)
Context
- The current metrics-driven approach in Indian higher education is prioritizing rankings over the fundamental purposes of universities, framing education as a market commodity rather than a citizen’s right.
Introduction
- In our data-driven society, everything is quantified, including education.
- This obsession has led to the rise of global ranking agencies and frameworks like India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), which focus on assigning numerical values to universities.
Purpose of a University
The core mission of a university includes:
- Teaching and Mentoring: Preparing future citizens.
- Knowledge Creation and Dissemination: Engaging in research to advance understanding and innovation.
- Socio-economic Impact: Universities also play crucial roles in societal and economic development.
A single ranking metric fails to capture this multidimensional nature, oversimplifying the complex functions of universities.
Overemphasis on Research
The global ranking systems heavily favor research activities, leading to:
- Quantification of Outputs: Metrics such as the number of published papers, journal impact factors, funding acquired, and PhD graduation rates dominate the evaluation.
- Inadequacy of Numbers: These metrics do not adequately reflect the quality or relevance of research.
- Competitive Pressure: The need for visibility through rankings pressures universities to manipulate policies to enhance their standings.
- Marginalization of Teaching: Universities increasingly prioritize research outputs over teaching effectiveness, diminishing the educational experience.
India’s Foreign Education System
India’s education model has leaned towards a market-driven framework, influenced by American practices, including:
- Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA): Created to support global ranking aspirations through market-based loans.
- Autonomy for Institutions: This shift has led to increased financial pressures on public universities, necessitating higher fees, which can alienate economically weaker students.
Importance of Teaching and Mentoring
The focus on metrics has detrimental effects on the teaching profession:
- Research-Centric Evaluations: Faculty members are often assessed primarily on research metrics, sidelining their teaching and mentoring abilities.
- Career Advancement: Promotions and career growth are tied to research output rather than teaching effectiveness, further discouraging quality instruction.
- Neglected Qualitative Aspects: The nuances of teaching cannot be captured by metrics, leading to a decline in the value placed on educational pedagogy.
Key Questions in Higher Education
The current research culture fosters a "publish or perish" mentality, raising critical concerns:
- Is research conducted solely for rankings meaningful if it compromises education?
- Are integrity issues like plagiarism and data manipulation byproducts of this metrics obsession?
- Are educators failing in their mentoring roles due to these pressures?
Creating Two Tracks
To address these challenges, universities could:
- Dual Focus: Establish separate tracks for research-focused and teaching-focused faculty, allowing individuals to excel in their areas of strength.
- Reduce Resentment: This approach would help alleviate feelings of inadequacy among faculty, fostering a more committed teaching environment.
Socio-economic Impact of Research
Universities must shift their focus from mere output metrics to:
- Content Relevance: The societal and economic implications of research should take precedence over publication metrics.
- Recognition of Teaching: Teaching must be acknowledged as a crucial component of university life, with faculty incentivized to enhance curriculum quality.
Conclusion
- The current “metricocracy” threatens to distort the purpose of education, treating it as a market commodity rather than a fundamental right.
- This model neglects the holistic development of students, reducing academic pursuits to mere transactions.
- To foster a healthier educational ecosystem, India must embrace a more inclusive approach that values both teaching and research, preparing students to become informed and engaged citizens.
