JOAN DASSIN, Executive Director of the Ford Foundation International Fellowships
Programme was in India recently. Educationonline presents her views on the fellowships for the
marginalised section, on higher education and economic development:
The
Programme
India's programme is part of the worldwide fellowships programme
conducted across 22 countries to promote access and equity in higher education. This fellowship is
aimed at training potential leaders from marginalised groups who have demonstrated commitment to
improve the welfare of their communities.
Eligibility
Globally we
have the same set of criteria, which maybe interpreted differently in different locations. Primarily
we look at the level of academic achievement and the capacity to do well in a postgraduate
programme, one who has demonstrated a certain level of leadership skills and social commitment.
India specific, we look into those areas/ communities which lack access to higher education
such as the scheduled tribes and castes, other backward classes, women, physically challenged and
remote areas. Primarily it can be anyone, with some years of experience, who have demonstrated
difficulty in access to quality higher education. Presently we are working in 10 states of the
country.
Why India?
Like all large countries, India too is a land
of contrast. Here, there are people who can afford international higher education. But there is also
a section which cannot even afford higher education in India itself. The Ford Foundation's
international scholarships are for these sections of the civil society.
Role of
higher education in India’s economic growth
For countries like India, China
and Vietnam, which are fast growing economies we see a tremendous growth. But this growth cannot be
commodity based. Only human capital can sustain it and from the way the human resources are being
developed in India, the nation seems to have understood it very well. Indian entrepreneurs have
moving back to the country and have started contributing to its economy.
Moreover, higher
education institutions are getting globally connected to international campuses. Higher education is
intimately related to economic growth through human capital growth.
Road ahead
In the long run we would like to share our experiences and partner with
governmental agencies, NGOs and corporates to expand more such programmes in countries like
Cambodia, Laos, East Timor. No single donor can serve all of them and we feel other donor need to
look at our model and extend it to other poor countries. |
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