Education in the Twenty First Century : Looking Beyond University

Contents: Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgements. 1. Emerging trends in higher education. 2. The idea of a university: then and now. 3. Issues at stake. 4. Whither higher education in India? 5. Can privatization help? 6. Private initiatives in higher education. 7. Vocationalization of higher education. 8. Role of technology in higher education. 9. Looking beyond universities. Bibliography and references.

"Whereas the impact of globalization on politics, economy, society and culture are well-studied and well-researched, it is difficult to visualize and conceptualize the changes occurring at the power knowledge realm. The book is an attempt to look beyond the traditional concept of a university to be able to grasp not only the drastic changes taking place at higher education systems worldwide but it also traces the causes and consequences of the same. Earlier the universities acted as the handmaids of the nation state but today they are required to promote global ethos transcending cultural and linguistic differences beyond the nation state. Today the focus is more on outputs, performances and public accountability rather than on inputs, academic freedom and solidarity. The author delves deeper into the very idea of university, latest trends, issues at stake, rise of private and non-state stakeholders, role of technology, emphasis on vocational skills, status of higher education in India, etc. She makes a precaution against some of the underpinnings behind the de-contextualization and deterritorialization moves by the economic and political hegemons in the name of higher education reforms." (jacket)