Fostering Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Indian Higher Education.

In today's modern world, it is imperative for Universities to prioritize autonomous research. Research ought to inform Teaching, just as Teaching must impact Research. This reciprocal relationship not only enriches the educational experience but also drives innovation and societal progress. Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and Indian Universities shall work relentlessly to build linkages and collaborations with premier institutions in India and aborad. By embracing the ethos of research-driven teaching and teaching-informed research, Indian universities can position themselves as global leaders in knowledge creation and dissemination, driving positive change at the intersection of academia and society.

Over the past decade, there has been a significant surge in the establishment of institutions offering courses in diverse areas such as health management, public health, and hospital administration. This expansion reflects the growing recognition of the interplay between science, technology, and other crucial domains such as medical research. By integrating multidisciplinary perspectives, these institutions are poised to make invaluable contributions to improving public health outcomes, particularly for marginalized communities.

Former President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has once quoted :

"India should deploy world class centres of excellence focused not only on traditional specialities but also on cross-cutting themes such as infectious diseases, vaccine development and regenerative sciences"

By fostering a culture of inquiry and discovery, Indian HEIs can empower future generations to address the most pressing challenges facing society and contribute to building a brighter, more equitable future for all.

The Government of India had set ambitious plans in motion to address this imperative. A glimpse of this initiative was evident in the New Education Policy (NEP 2020), where the government articulated its vision for establishing Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs). These proposed institutions aimed to not only create new avenues for the youth but also foster interdisciplinary research, positioning India as a global hub for research and development. While some progress has been made towards this goal, the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges, impacting the availability of funds allocated for such endeavors. Despite these setbacks, the establishment of multidisciplinary education and research universities (MERUs) remains a costly endeavor. To put it in perspective, each second-generation IIT established in 2008 required an expenditure exceeding Rs 2,000 crores. Creating MERUs at the scale and caliber of premier institutions like IITs and IIMs could demand heavy investments.

Nonetheless, amidst these challenges and delay in implementing the everything that was suggested in NEP 2020, there remains room for optimism and innovation. Individual institutions, each specializing in their respective areas of domain, are currently doing and have the opportunity to collaborate with other institutions possessing expertise in complementary fields. By pooling resources and knowledge, these partnerships are leveraging multidisciplinary research endeavors to have a profound impact on society. Such collaborative efforts underscore the transformative power of research, which not only enriches the academic community but also resonates beyond academia, contributing to societal advancements and Nation building. As we navigate the complexities of the present moment, let us remember that the pursuit of knowledge knows no bounds, and together, through collaborative interdisciplinary research, we can forge a brighter future for generations to come.

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Rohit Tiwari