Indian Education Sector Needs Better Leadership: Survey

Academics also thought that high professional integrity, global exposure, ethical standards and ability to change are some of the other requisite traits of a transformational leader.

More than one-third of the respondents felt that being an academician was not a well-liked career choice as it lacked sufficient mentoring. A shortage of academic leadership, guidance and training (60 percent) and low salary (50 percent) were the other reasons that were given for the failure of the education sector to attract promising academics.

The survey was conducted in early February 2013 among thought leaders, chancellors, vice chancellors, deans, principals, directors and professors located in the U.S., UK, India, Dubai, Germany, Australia, France and Hungary. 

The survey observed why Indian higher education institutes are unable to lure overseas Indians with excellent academic background and proven leadership skills.

Highly bureaucratic Indian systems and siloed approach of stakeholders were cited as the chief reasons. While, poor appreciation of academics and perception that academicians in the higher education system have low integrity were other reasons why the overturn in brain drain wasn't happening.

Dr G Vishwanathan, president, EPSI and chancellor of Vellore institute of Technology University said "The results of the survey on leadership challenges in the higher education system are alarming and demand a serious attention by political leadership, policy makers, chancellors and vice chancellors," as reported by TNN.

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