DDC sets up a High-Level Committee to Reform Higher Education in Delhi

DDC sets up a High-Level Committee to Reform Higher Education in Delhi

·         The 17-member committee will recommend higher education reforms within a year

·         Nalanda 2.0 a non-profit policy think tank is the DDC knowledge partner in this initiative

Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC), the premier think-tank of the Delhi Government, which advises the government on key policy issues, has set-up a 17 member high level committee on reforming higher education in the national capital.

The committee will recommend goals, metrics, policies, and actionable plans for reforming Delhi’s higher education system within a year. It will be chaired by the DDC vice-chairperson Jasmine Shah.  

Nalanda 2.0, a non-profit policy think tank with a mission to making India’s higher education system world class, is the knowledge partner of DDC on this initiative. Currently, this High-Level Committee includes the following Members:

1.      Mr. Pramod Bhasin, Founder Genpact and Co-founder Ashoka University

2.      Mr. Arindam Bhattacharya, Senior Partner and Director, BCG

3.      Mr. Abhishek Gupta, Skill Development Expert

4.      Dr. Pankaj Jalote, Founding Director, IIIT Delhi

5.      Dr. Devesh Kapur, Director of Asia Programs and Professor, Johns Hopkins University

6.      Dr. Gaurav Khanna, Assistant Professor of Economics, UC San Diego

7.      Mr. Sandeep Kumar, Secretary (Higher Education), Directorate of Higher Education, GNCTD

8.      Mr. Shailendra Kumar, Founder & President, Nalanda 2.0

9.      Mr. Arjun Malhotra, Director on the Board at Lumis Partners and Co-Founder HCL

10.  Dr. Shyam Menon, Former Vice Chancellor, Ambedkar University

11.  Ms. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited 

12.  Dr. Dheeraj Sanghi, Director, PEC, Chandigarh and Former Dean, IIT Kanpur

13.  Mr. Manish Sabharwal, Co-Founder and Chairman, Teamlease

14.  Mr. B.K. Sharma, Advisor, Planning Deptt., GNCTD

15.  Mr. Shailendra Sharma, Principal Advisor to the Director of Education, GNCTD

16.  Dr. Nikhil Sinha, CEO, GSV Labs, Founding Vice Chancellor SNU, and Former Chief Business Officer, Coursera

17.  Dr. Pramath Sinha, Founding Dean ISB and Ashoka University

Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Mr Manish Sisodia said this initiative furthers

the commitment to transform the education system in the national capital.

“Over the last few years, Delhi has become to be known all over the world for the innovations in its government schools – be it the Happiness curriculum, infrastructure overhaul, teacher training initiatives or more recently Entrepreneurship curriculum. We also wish to make Delhi a knowledge and innovation center where some of the best talent in the world would want to live, study, and work as faculty members, students, and professionals,” said Mr Sisodia.

Higher education by definition includes all post-secondary education: vocational, undergraduate, masters, PhD, post-doctoral and continuing education. A vibrant higher education system is an engine for empowering people, addressing challenges that matter to the society and industry, spurring the economy, and enriching humanity. “Thus, making our higher education system world class is critical for realizing that vision,” he stated.

DDC vice-chairperson Mr Jasmine Shah, said, “I am delighted that entrepreneurs and leaders from academia, industry, government, and civil society from India and around the world have joined this Committee.” He added, “They bring valuable and diverse perspectives to make our higher education system relevant and impactful in the 21st century.”

Population of NCT of Delhi grew from 16.8 million in 2011 to 18.6 million in 2016 and is estimated to reach 35 million by 2025. “The growing number of people will need a lot of services, but most importantly they will need jobs and be educated, skilled, and prepared for productive lives and careers. Thus, reforming higher education is important and urgent.” said Mr. Shah.