A number of challenges like emerging teaching and learning technologies, the proliferation of social media, shrinking external funding as well as the demand for flexible and competency based courses require the universities to do things faster, better and cheaper.  If put more aptly, the need of the hour is to become ‘Vibrant Varsities’. The predominant attribute of a vibrant university is agility, meaning the ability to quickly respond to the unexpected changes, rapid advancements or sudden shift in the circumstances taking place in the market.

Some institutions have already begun to implement educational strategies to create a vibrant 21st century university culture and embrace the market changes swiftly. Let us take an overview of five key characteristics that can be instrumental in the creation of Vibrant Varsities.

Centralized and Flat Structure

A bureaucratic educational leadership is often responsible for terse communication and lack of accountability between the central department and its learning units. However, a nimble educational institution flourishes in a non hierarchical management structure, with a single or minimal point of control. Flatter the institution is, quicker the decision making is and better the scope of innovation is.  Similarly, a central body ensures that all strategic matters such as policies, reforms, resource allocation, admissions and faculty management become less daunting challenges for the concerned subject matter departments. A central leadership takes the role of a catalyst and a facilitator, without losing the touch base with the entire structure.

Student Engagement Based Learning

The traditional course content in a majority of universities still largely revolves around classroom learning, textbook assignments and manual grading. But the modern age students expect courses that not only allow flexible schedules, but also sharpen their critical thinking and real – world skills. Hence, responsive universities should focus on customized, experiential and hybrid course modules, rather than the standardized offerings. A competency based project or an interactive online learning course can give the students an opportunity for peer interactions and two way feedback at their own pace. The higher education sector is also being gradually driven by automatic grading and data driven assessment, making it crucial for the institutions to adopt an integrated learning model.

Collaborative Leadership

In an article published in the October 2009 issue of Outlook, it is mentioned that agile organizations are able to change ahead of the curve when it comes to planning and developing a workforce with the right competencies and in the right numbers. They have deeper strategic insight into their human capital, and can use that insight to proactively put in place the right workforce that can effectively respond to urgent marketplace needs.

In the higher education sector, academic leadership can play a significant role in reinforcing receptive processes, innovation and culture. But to achieve this, they need to take off their anti-bureaucracy eyeglasses to highlight on the individual strengths and eliminate Achilles’ heel.  At  a broader level, the management can ensure a work tandem between the leaders through equitable compensation, job security, employment benefits, flexible work schedules and automated learning programs.

Meeting Industry Expectations

More than often, the  industry that absorbs the students post their university stint, express their concern over the lack of ‘entrepreneurial’ ability and ‘up-to-date’ knowledge in the new recruits. Colleges and universities prepare their students for analytical thinking and problem solving approach, but only theoretically.  What industry expects from the vibrant universities is an emphasis on the practical, rational content program, which also integrates the latest inputs and changes from the market. In the same way, the curriculum should empower the students to start their own ventures or multiply employment avenues for them.

Adoption of Technology

Ewart Woodridge CBE, Chief Executive of the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, says, “The ‘Agile University’ is about the capacity to innovate, particularly in new business or operating models. It requires a creativity in how an institution is structured and people are equipped to lead and manage it. It also requires a strategic and an entrepreneurial approach to the use of technology.”

Technology is dominating various spheres of our lives, why higher education should be an exception? Most of the universities across the globe have realized the potential of technology assisted learning, and hence started leveraging on its benefits.  A fine example of this is the growing popularity of Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), a distance learning course, which resembles classroom learning and is free to use for anyone without any admission criteria.

The above model gives a snapshot of which areas the higher education sector needs to focus on to become flexible and vibrant.

Vibrant Varsities are trending, are here to stay and ready to bring a paradigm shift in the higher education scenario.

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But, the big questions that still haunt the universities are:  How do we achieve this flexibility? What changes do we make to become proactive? How do we ensure that the institution will continue to sustain the global challenges? These are precisely some concerns that this post will address. It will take you through the core education strategies that can help you to foster vibrancy and responsiveness in your institution.

Create an anti-bureaucratic structure

According to a British Council India report, education in India is highly politicized and complex, particularly in the post secondary sector.  The formal structures restrict the distribution of power and resources required to drive the flexibility and transparency at the university level.  The rigid bureaucracy also puts the reforms and innovation on the back seat. A nimbler and stronger institution can make a difference here. What an institution should do is to trim the extra layers to cultivate a flat and glib organizational structure. This will remove the barriers between the decision making body and the academic leaders, enabling quicker approvals for the adoption as well as the management of changes.

Develop a dynamic workforce

In a majority of universities, including the top tier ones, there are two prominent stumbling blocks in creating a vibrant workforce: lack of academic autonomy and uneven salary structure.  The faculty barely has an authoritative say in the matters such as courses, syllabi, project funding or any other academic interests. They are largely dependent on the deans or vice chancellors to take these decisions. Similarly, the leaders are not compensated adequately according to their experience and qualification.  The success and failure of transformation to quite an extent, depends on the trust between the academicians and administrators.  Together, they can instigate dynamism in the university culture.

Equitable salaries, team building activities, faculty training, well-defined job responsibilities, interdisciplinary learning and research opportunities can go a long way in motivating your workforce as well as aligning them to the institution’s vision.

Keep a vigilant eye on the market

When institutions become too complacent or show resistance towards market changes, it will hamper their ability to innovate and learn. Universities need to be vigilant about the local and international trends that affect their existence. They should also understand that benchmarking their standards against the top institutions across the globe is more relevant in today’s competitive environment. Analyzing the rival institutions on their strengths and weaknesses, learning from their mistakes and inspiring from their success make sound guiding points for devising a robust strategy for a responsive university. Similarly, keeping a watch on what is being written about your institution and the others can also give you a fair idea about what is happening around.  This will not only give you an outsider’s perspective on your brand image, but also enable to mute the pain points, if any.

Blend learning with technology

The education sector is undergoing a tectonic shift. Today’s tech-savvy students demand courses, which are flexible, realistic and personalized. It’s about time, that students are treated as customers. And customers are king. Hence,  universities should create learning spaces, which are more modular, interactive and competency based. A strategic investment in ICT tools can reap long term benefits in e- enabled learning, including online courses and MOOCs. This philosophy is reflected in the 12th Five Year Plan (2012 – 2017), which emphasizes on creation of teaching resources through leveraging information technology as well as creation of meta-university for multidisciplinary learning and innovation.

Implement Enterprise Education

These days, the employers have been increasingly stressing on the inclusion of subjects, which enhance employability, entrepreneurship or job creation opportunities for the students. Universities can respond to this demand by adopting an enterprising model for teaching and learning.  Such courses will enable the students to experience the industry work culture and develop life skills such as decision making, risk evaluation and problem solving. This way, universities will be able to bridge the demand – supply gap efficiently.

The traditional Indian higher education sector still has a strong foothold, and we should be proud of its roots. But, at the same time, we should also be ready to accept the ongoing changes in the worldwide education, which calls for the adoption of nimble practices. A sustainable, transformative and innovative approach can bring the deep structural and cultural changes required to create a vibrant university.

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