Reclaiming the Social Role of Higher Education in India | Challenges & Way Forward

Higher education in India is not just about producing degree-holders or skilled professionals. At its core, it is supposed to create socially aware citizens who contribute meaningfully to the community. Over the past few decades, however, the focus of Indian higher education has shifted too much towards employability and market-driven outcomes. While jobs are important,

I chose this topic because there is growing concern that the social role of higher education in India is getting lost. From reduced focus on humanities and social sciences to limited access for marginalised groups, we are slowly moving away from the idea of inclusive and meaningful education. As someone who believes education should bring real change in society, I feel it’s important to highlight these concerns and push for a more balanced system. If our colleges and universities don’t actively engage with social realities, then we risk creating educated individuals who are disconnected from the world around them.

Why Social Dimensions Matter in Higher Education

Education is not just about books and exams. Especially in a country like India, higher education should promote equality, freedom of expression, and awareness about issues like caste, gender, environment, and democracy. Socially conscious students can contribute more meaningfully to the development of the country.

Many iconic movements in India began from university campuses—be it anti-caste debates, women’s rights, or protests against injustice. But in today’s fast-paced, job-oriented academic space, such engagement is slowly reducing.

Key Challenges

1. Shift Towards Market-Driven Education

With rising privatisation and pressure to get “job-ready,” many institutions focus more on placements and less on social awareness. Subjects like sociology, political science, and history are seen as less useful than tech or business courses.

2. Lack of Diversity in Campuses

Students from marginalised backgrounds often face barriers—be it language, financial constraints, or discrimination. This leads to a lack of diverse voices in classroom discussions, weakening the social fabric of education.

3. Reducing Space for Debate and Dissent

Campuses are slowly becoming less tolerant of differing opinions. Open discussions on political or social matters are often discouraged. But universities should be safe spaces for disagreement and dialogue.

4. Neglect of Regional and Indigenous Knowledge

We often ignore local issues, regional languages, and community knowledge systems. Higher education becomes disconnected from ground realities, especially in rural India.

How Can We Reclaim the Social Purpose of Higher Education?

a) Reimagining Curriculum

Curriculum must include more local case studies, fieldwork, and community-based learning. Courses should not just teach theories but also connect them to real-life social issues.

b) Encouraging Student Participation in Society

NSS (National Service Scheme), student unions, debate clubs, and community outreach activities must be promoted. When students engage with people outside the classroom, they develop empathy and awareness.

c) Making Campuses Inclusive

Financial aid, better hostel facilities, language support, and mentorship for first-generation learners can make campuses more inclusive. Representation matters—students must see themselves in faculty and leadership roles too.

d) Protecting Academic Freedom

Teachers and students should be allowed to express views without fear. A healthy campus is one where there’s space for dissent, dialogue, and discussion.

e) Strengthening Public Universities

Public universities still educate a large number of students, especially from underprivileged sections. These institutions must be properly funded, protected from political interference, and given space to innovate.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.