Indian Education- a contrast to the western system

Indian universities produce 350,000 engineers every year in comparison to the 70,000 produced by american universities; yet all innovations worth their salt originate in the US. When post-graduate and doctorate courses are looked at, the research quality between the two countries is not even comparable save a university or two. These seem to stem from differences in the way universities operate in these countries.

This can be attributed to the following:

1. Most Indian students take up engineering for superficial reasons- peer and parental pressure, job security, high societal standing enjoyed by engineers; unlike students in the west. The western universities discourage students who are not passionate about engineering from taking it up both by the high fee charged and the admission process that weeds out students who are not suited for the program.

2. The impetus here is on grades and the degree whereas in the west, it is learning, application and practical results that are recognized and appreciated.

3. Research and faculty are two factors that attract quality talent. But Indian universities are on the wrong side of the research-faculty cycle; Indian colleges dont have state-of-the-art research labs and hence dont attract good faculty members which in turn results in poor research.

4. The system in the west allows constant faculty and course quality feedback from students which the Indian system does not.


Most of the reasons that I have discovered pertain to the Indian psyche. This makes it appear like it is not possible for an Indian university to produce quality engineers; because it is awfully difficult to change the way people think and percieve. But I wonder! May be it is not so difficult.