“What are you studying?” is a familiar question we ask young people. Perhaps an equally useful question is, “What would you like to do with what you learn?”
I found myself thinking about this after attending a session by Prof. Jandhyala B. G. Tilak, former Professor and Vice Chancellor of NIEPA and Distinguished Professor at the Council for Social Development, New Delhi. He spoke about higher education and its role in building Viksit Bharat, a developed India by 2047.
National ambitions can seem distant from everyday life. But bring the discussion into a classroom, a college office or a family budgeting for education, and it becomes very real.
One of his observations was that expenditure on education is an investment whose benefits unfold over time. Families understand this instinctively. They plan, save and sometimes make considerable sacrifices to give their children opportunities.
The returns extend beyond a salary. Education can help a person make informed decisions, understand different perspectives and participate more confidently in society. The benefits reach colleagues, families and communities too.
India has built an extensive higher education system and institutions respected for their teaching and research. The challenge is to make good learning accessible across a much wider range of colleges and universities.
A student’s experience should include opportunities to ask questions, explore ideas and put knowledge to work. Preparing a budget for a college event, conducting a small research project or completing a meaningful internship can make a lesson much easier to understand—and remember.
As an entrepreneur, I see a useful role for employers here. We can offer students responsibilities with guidance, explain how decisions are made and give constructive feedback. An internship becomes worthwhile when someone takes the time to teach.
Prof. Tilak also spoke about the importance of stronger connections between leading institutions and other colleges. Sharing expertise and research resources could help more students benefit from the excellence we already have.
Then there is affordability. An admission letter brings excitement, but it can also bring difficult calculations about fees, travel, accommodation and loans. Expanding education requires attention to what families can reasonably manage, alongside sustained support for institutions.
For those of us outside education, there are ways to contribute. Share scholarship information. Mentor a student. Offer access to professional experience. Support a college initiative where our knowledge could be useful.
The journey towards Viksit Bharat will depend partly on the opportunities we create in these everyday settings.
Today’s students will be making decisions for businesses, public institutions and communities in 2047. Helping them learn well, think independently and understand their responsibilities is work we can begin now.
Pallavi Salgaocar
CA, Entrepreneur & Author
