Private Universities Face Big Question About Leadership Style
New Delhi, December 19, 2024
Private universities in India are dealing with an important question about how they should be run. The main issue is whether these schools should be led by smart teachers or business experts who know how to make money.
This debate is happening as more private universities open across India. Many people are asking if a university should focus only on teaching and research, or if it should also work like a big company.
Two Different Ways to Run Universities
There are two main ways universities can be managed today.
The first way is the teacher-led model. Famous schools like Oxford University and JNU in India follow this style. Here, smart professors make all the big decisions. These universities care most about giving students good education and doing important research.
The second way is the business-led model. Schools like Stanford University and MIT in America use this method. They have leaders who think like business people. These universities work closely with companies and try to make money from their research.
The Problem with Making Too Much Profit
Experts say universities should never try to make profit as their main goal. When schools focus too much on making money, they might start choosing easier subjects over important ones. They might also pick students who can pay more money instead of the smartest ones.
“A university that loses sight of its core function is like a museum that moves out of the business of preserving cultural works,” one education expert explained.
The Best Solution: Mix Both Styles
The smartest universities around the world use both methods together. Harvard University is a good example. It has a smart teacher as the main leader, but also has business experts helping with money decisions.
In India, schools like IIT Bombay and Ashoka University are trying this mixed approach. IIT Bombay keeps its teachers in charge of education but also helps students start new companies. Ashoka University was started by both smart professors and rich business people working together.
Making It Work for Everyone
This mixed style can work well, but universities need to remember some important rules. The education mission must always come first. When there is a choice between making money and giving good education, schools should pick education.
Teachers and business experts need to learn to work together. Business people should help universities save money so they can spend more on research and teaching.
Universities that find the right balance between education and business will be the most successful. They will give students great education while also having enough money to keep running well.
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