‘We need to increase literacy level to 95%’

With over 20 years of experience in academic governance at the University of Pune, Bhushan Patwardhan has been convenor of the national committee on Promotion of Indian Higher Education Abroad, member of the taskforce on the National Knowledge Commission and Planning Commission, consultant to WHO Geneva and SEARO. He has also worked as chief (academics) with Manipal Education in Bangalore. Patwardhan has now been appointed vice chancellor of the Symbiosis International University (SIU) and will take charge in the last week of March. Presently, he is director of the Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, Bangalore. He spoke to DNA on Ayurveda, quality research and the need to improve the literacy rate...

Why do we lag behind in generating quality research? What are the real problems?
Research should not be seen in isolation for the purpose of getting degree qualifications like PhDs. We need more research programmes, teachers and facilities with a balance of affordability, accessibility and quality. Creating a research culture through mentorship and support from networks of research institutes must be closely connected to graduate research in universities.

Confluence of interdisciplinary faculties like science, engineering, biomedicine, information technology, cognitive sciences and artificial intelligence are just a few examples that I would like to experiment with. India needs more holistic, flexible and vibrant universities where research becomes an integral part of every curriculum.

Ayurvedic therapies have many worthy aspects that have been proved. Shouldn’t its label of being an alternative therapy be removed now?
In India and abroad, scientists are trying to investigate the huge potential of Ayurveda. It is now beginning to be appreciated through the lens of modern science. Emerging commonalities between biomedicine and Ayurvedic science remain exciting. I hope that better insight into interrelations between the basic principles of Ayurveda and modern science will happen in a complementary and integrative way rather than conflicting or competitive manner.

Certain significant developments have boosted systematic research on various aspects of Ayurveda and traditional medicine in India. Under the science initiative in Ayurvedic research, the Department of Science and Technology has supported several collaborative projects on science and Ayurveda, which involve a network of institutions. The focus was on subjects like the genomic basis of Ayurvedic phenotypes, metabolic and immunologic correlates of the traditional procedure of panchakarma; and the microstructure of metal-based Ayurvedic drugs in powder form. All such initiatives would certainly help in the expected renaissance of Ayurveda.

We always talk about promoting industry-academic cooperation, but nothing concrete happens in practice. Why?
The major change to befall universities over the last two decades has been identification of the campus as a significant site of capital accumulation. This has resulted in systematic conversion of intellectual activity into intellectual
capital and, hence, intellectual property.
The level of cooperation is certainly increasing. The research and development facilities of large corporations are working closely with academia. Several Indian professors and scientists are interacting with industries and many new collaborative initiatives are emerging. This will get further intensified if universities are able to create a conducive environment for innovation and research on their campuses.

How can academics and research activities be made relevant to the needs of society?
India is now at the crossroads where we need to increase the literacy level to 95% of the population for social mobilisation and use of technology to create the best possible skilled manpower for nation building.

To make the country self-sufficient, our skilled manpower must get adequate incentives. These incentives must be available to those who pursue higher education to contribute towards nation building. The financial aspects of the education system as a whole will determine the levels of all attributes, including but not limited to excellence, equity, commitment, autonomy, accountability and most importantly, its relevance to societal and national development.

Higher education in India has many threats — scarce finances, inadequate faculty, lack of innovation and autonomy, poor germane content and global competition. Information technology supported by space-based communication systems are changing the needs and character of higher education.