Globalization and higher education in india: the changing trends

Authors Details :
Dr Gedam Kamalakar,
Dr Kandi Kamala

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The latest phase of capitalist expansion is called “globalisation”. That no state is an autarky but enjoys comparative advantage over others with certain resources and that free trade among these states would work for mutual benefit is the essence of it. Consequently, it advocates the minimization of the governmental intervention in economic affairs and encourages free play of market forces to foster economic development. The argument that this rationale is also applicable to higher education is increasingly gaining currency. But this paper attempts to problematise such a proposition and in contrary argues that this may prove inimical to national development. Education and especially higher education is considered to be one of the factors that help state to promoting national development. However, apologists of globalisation call for its commercialization and argue for the “withdrawal of the state” from this realm. This has only resulted in mystifying profound class inequalities within and without state. Higher education in India is not immune to this ideology in the guise of good economics. It is being structured in such a fashion since 1991 that it has been primarily coupled with the process of economic liberalization and privatization. International financial institutions like World Bank, IMF, GATT, GATS, etc are its votaries. Education was acknowledged as one of the key sectors to be traded. As a result, higher education as a “social good” is fast shifting to being a commodity in the market.