The strength that India has as a country, of a young, entrepreneurial population, cannot be marshalled to its full extent in the absence of access to education, says Ratan Tata, chairman, Tata Trusts. Tata was speaking at an event in Mumbai on Wednesday, which saw Tata Trusts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) come together to create an open-access, digital education platform.

Higher education in the country has taken the global route. Every institution in the country has understood the significance of global collaborations and more importantly the influence of the west. Undoubtedly the technological and research superiority of the west is progressive however, it is important to realize the relevance of the same in our country.

Even though multiple human cultures across the world created the same weapon – the bow and arrow, there were cultural differences that could not be disregarded. The English used the Longbow but the Native Americans used a Flatbow. Though they are essentially the same instrument, the differences in their makeup and characteristics are remarkable. The key differences appeared in the end products due to the availability of the resources, relevance and need.

In our digital world, technology pervades on a global scale and it is much easier to spread ideas across to millions of individuals than it was in previous centuries. Therefore, it is imperative that we understand the paradoxical nature of global collaborations. It can lead to developments that arise out from the sake of progress rather than the needs of the generation. Similarly, we need to analyze the needs of our current higher education system before we stretch our hands across the globe for help.

This edition of SiliconIndia has tested institutions under various parameters such as student intake, infrastructure, faculty, industry interaction, innovative programs, and research & placements. Our panel of experts consisting of top HR Managers and Dignified Educationalists shortlisted the Top institutions in the Country across various domains such as Dental, Nursing, Management and Engineering to come up with College of the Year, 2015. With a true motive to provide the right insight to the student community and Indian Higher Education sector, Silicon India Education, uncovers the top Colleges of the Year to enroll for.