Crisis in the Universities: Increasing Funding Gap between Universities andNational Laboratories/Scientific Research Institutions - Some solutions

摘要

The enormous inequality of funding of Universities forscientific R&D compared to National Laboratories/Scien-tific Research Institutions was highlighted (Curr. Sci.,2006, 91, 1435-1436). When we compare India, in termsof scientific output, or even simply in terms of PhDs pro-duced, with other Asian countries, a rapid decline isclearly evident. This therefore, has serious implications.What are the solutions? Fortunately, many of the Cen-tral Universities and a handful of State Universities haveexcellent faculty and still attract comparatively betterstudents. It is mostly these students who, after receiving afair degree of training and education, are selected forleadership positions at National Research Institutions underthe Ministry of Science & Technology or other Govern-ment agencies which have a significant scientific man-date. Some of these Universities have reasonable (thoughsub-optimal) infrastructure which is shared by a largenumber of faculty and students. When new infrastructureis given, there is no budget head for dedicated manpowerto run such a facility or for assured maintenance of thesame. On the other hand, in Research Institutions onefinds far more equipment with dedicated manpower toman and service the same, plus adequate provision forannual maintenance contract. All this, ironically, withmuch less number of users.