Trump said he was uncertain whether NATO would support the United States if assistance were ever requested, comments that many European leaders viewed as dismissive of two decades of allied cooperation. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has issued a strong public response after US President
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized protecting the Election Commission's independence. He stated institutions face pressure. Kharge highlighted the need for free and fair elections. He mentioned that snatching the right to vote tarnishes democracy
On National Voters Day, PM Narendra Modi shared greetings to the nation, hailing the day as a moment to strengthen faith in India's democratic values. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to citizens on the occasion of National Voters' Day on Sunday
A decade ago, self-driving cars were science fiction. Today, they're navigating our streets. AI has quietly slipped into our homes, workplaces, and classrooms, changing how we live and think. Yet amid this revolution, one truth stands tall: it all began with Maths.A decade ago
“Kam hai paisa, kam hai dana, kaise khilaye bachchon ko khana,” is the slogan which workers are asked to raise when seeking for their delayed wages and ration allocations. Among them is Ramsingh Baghel, 69, who has headed a Sahayata Samoh (self-help group for school and anganwadi
Who really needs college education? A hard look beyond the Silicon Valley narrative
Who really needs college education? A hard look beyond the Silicon Valley narrative Premium
A few weeks ago, an Indian tech founder remarked that many bright American students now skip college altogether, urging Indian parents to rethink their assumptions about higher education. The comment echoed long-standing Silicon Valley views. U.S. based AI company Palantir, co-founded by Peter Thiel, has been running a “Meritocracy Fellowship” programme from 2023 giving students a chance to directly start working rather than joining college. Peter Thiel also funds students who drop out to start companies through a separate “Thiel Fellowship” since 2011. Elon Musk repeats, often and confidently, that “you don't need college to learn anything important.”
These ideas travel fast. They resonate with young people already questioning the value of degrees and with parents anxious about rising costs and uncertain job markets. But what is often missed is that these statements come from a context very different from ours. The American education system, its K–12 preparedness, financial-aid structures, and recognition of non-traditional credentials bear little resemblance to those of India.
In India, the question “Who needs university education?” does not lend itself to a single answer. It has two answers that sit almost in tension with each other. One with a question mark, and one with an exclamation point.
Not everyone. And certainly not everyone at eighteen.
For lakhs of young Indians, going to college is almost an automatic next step. They complete school and, without pause or reflection, enter a degree programme. Families offer little counsel beyond “get a degree and life will improve.” The assumption is that any degree is better than no degree.
But the reality is more complicated. The steady stream of graduates, and even postgraduates, applying for clerical government jobs reflects a startling mismatch between what universities are meant to do and what they actually deliver. In too many institutions, students spend three or four years without acquiring either employable skills or the intellectual confidence that higher education should cultivate.
Many are simply not ready for university at eighteen—academically, emotionally, experientially or practically. They would gain far more by first building discipline and clarity through a vocational course, an apprenticeship, a job, or even a year spent engaging with the world. Because public higher education is often free or subsidised, young people enter college “because there is nothing better to do,” and the result is frustration.
This is where the Silicon Valley narrative sounds tempting. Skip college, learn online and just hustle your way forward. But that story works only in an ecosystem where students have strong school preparation, access to mentors, career counselling, early exposure to problem-solving, and a labour market willing to recognise unconventional pathways. That is not the reality for most Indian students.
For them, the right question is not “Do we need university education?” but “Are we ready for university education now?”
More people than ever, but only if universities remain true places of learning.
For a large segment of young Indians, university is not only relevant but essential. And not as a virtual video playlist, but as a physical space where intellectual, emotional, and social transformation takes place.
The years between eighteen and twenty-two are truly transformative. Identities shift. Curiosity deepens. Friendships and networks form beyond the family. A campus is where young people learn to think independently, communicate clearly, listen deeply, disagree without hostility, collaborate on messy problems, meet deadlines, balance competing commitments, and handle failure, all in the company of peers and mentors. These are not skills transmitted through online modules. They are lived, observed, and absorbed.
Space matters too. Human beings think with their bodies as much as with their minds. We take walks when we want clarity; we don't sit inside a cupboard. The corridors of a university, its libraries, studios, labs, and informal corners expand thought. They create encounters. They shape imagination. Online learning can deliver information and some skills but does not necessarily cultivate judgment.
As families become more inward-looking and screens occupy every shared space, the university remains one of the few places where genuine human interaction still occurs. Ironically, as technology advances, the need for physical universities may grow stronger.
However, the universities of tomorrow will not be the same as of today. Those universities that reinvent themselves, adapt rapidly and stay nimble will be in high demand. The university clientele is also going to change rapidly.
India aims to raise its Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education to 50%. This expansion is necessary, but unless accompanied by real improvements in quality, it risks producing more degrees but not more learning.
Two truths must be acknowledged.
First, all students are not ready for university at eighteen. We need gap-year pathways, stronger counselling in schools, bridging curricula, and opportunities to enter or return to university later at any age.
Second, the quality of institutions must improve substantially. Too many universities today carry the label without the substance. They neither challenge students nor prepare them for life and work. Expansion without quality will only deepen the mismatch.
Online degrees and education is an option but with definite limitations of informing without really educating.
The belief that all formal education must end by twenty-two is outdated. Universities must evolve into places where people come at different stages, at eighteen, twenty-five, forty, or even sixty, whenever they are ready to learn something new. The goal should be an 18-to-80 university, not an 18-to-22 one.
So, who needs university education? Some young people, not yet. And many others, absolutely yes. India's task is to build a system that recognises both truths: one that gives time and alternativeWho Really Needs University Education in India? A Hard Look Beyond the Silicon Valley Narratives to those who need to grow first, and strengthens universities for those ready to learn deeply.
Our aim must be not more institutions, but better ones. Not more degrees, but more learning. And above all, universities that help young people grow into thoughtful, capable, confident, and compassionate adults.
(Prof. Rudra Pratap is Founding, Vice-Chancellor, Plaksha University)
Published - January 23, 2026 04:46 pm IST
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: Rs 2 Crore Loan For US Education Education Budget 2026 Is Applying Perfume On Your Neck Really Harmful For Your Skin 50 Jammu Medical College Students To Get Admission In 7 Other Colleges One nation needs zero food imports US lawmakers say TikTok joint venture deal needs scrutiny from Congress We really enjoyed Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadavs partnership International Day of Education 2026 How 11 years of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao improved girl child education in India No one needs to lecture us on patriotism
A tall building in Worli may look like just another luxury address in Mumbai, but its past tells a very different story. A recent Instagram video brings attention to the land where Samudra Mahal now stands and traces its journey from royal ownership to a symbol of modern wealth
1 minutes ago
Federal immigration officers shot and killed a man on Saturday (January 24, 2026) in Minneapolis, drawing hundreds of protesters in a city already shaken by another fatal shooting weeks earlier. Family members identified the man who was killed as Alex Pretti
2 minutes ago
Pakistan's participation in the T20 World Cup is under review. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated a decision will be made upon the Prime Minister's return. Pakistan is already scheduled to play all league matches, including against India, in Sri Lanka. Naqvi expressed support for Bangladesh
2 minutes ago
A few weeks ago, an Indian tech founder remarked that many bright American students now skip college altogether, urging Indian parents to rethink their assumptions about higher education. The comment echoed long-standing Silicon Valley views. U.S. based AI company Palantir
2 minutes ago
India's rental housing market remains one of the most underdeveloped segments of urban real estate, even as demand continues to rise sharply. With higher job mobility, rapid urbanisation and homeownership being deferred by young professionals
1 minutes ago
Bangladesh's decision to refuse travel to India for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, and its subsequent replacement by Scotland, is the latest high-profile example of teams pulling out of or refusing parts of ICC events. Historically these choices have been driven by security fears
1 minutes ago
Cricket fans are gearing up for the third T20 International between the India national cricket team and the New Zealand national cricket team in the five-match series as both sides look to build momentum ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026
2 minutes ago
The World Health Organisation expressed hope for the United States' return after its withdrawal. WHO stated the reasons cited for the US decision were untrue. The organisation highlighted America's significant contributions to global health achievements
2 minutes ago
Celebrate Republic Day 2026 with a stunning Indian flag panna cotta, featuring three distinct layers in saffron-orange, white, and green. This no-bake dessert captures the tricolour's spirit, using orange juice for the top orange layer, symbolising courage
2 minutes ago
The hearing on taking cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) chargesheet filed against businessman Robert Vadra, husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a money laundering case linked to UK-based defence dealer Sanjay Bhandari was postponed on Saturday
2 minutes ago
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin paid homage to 'Language Martyrs' who sacrificed their lives during the anti-Hindi agitation, asserting Hindi has no place in the state. He emphasized the historical struggle against Hindi imposition and vowed to oppose it forever
1 minutes ago
Border 2 Box Office Collection Day 1: Sunny Deol and Varun Dhawan's war epic registers a powerful Day 1 collection, outpacing Dhurandhar and proving audience appetite for big-scale patriotic action movie Border 2 has made an impressive debut in theatres
1 minutes ago
As Dhurandhar continues to tell cinegoers that Pakistan's deep state views Hindus as pushovers, Border 2 arrives to underscore that the 1971 War stemmed from the neighbour's belief that Indians are meek until confronted by Sunny Deol on the western front
1 minutes ago
New Delhi: IT services giant Infosys has begun collecting data on household electricity consumption of its employees as part of efforts to measure and offset emissions linked to hybrid working. Under its hybrid work policy, employees work from home for most of the month and are required to be on
1 minutes ago
World number one Aryna Sabalenka expressed her desire to partner Novak Djokovic in mixed doubles. She humorously stated she is awaiting a message from the Serbian star confirming she is his dream partner. The pair previously played together in a charity match
1 minutes ago
For most visitors, a trip to Shri Malanggad means getting ready for a long uphill climb along with the visit itself. The hill fort near Kalyan in Maharashtra's Thane district is known for its height, steep terrain and the long climb required to reach the shrine of Haji Malang
1 minutes ago
Yui Susaki is one of those sportspersons you call ‘near perfect'. The Japanese four-time wrestling World champion and former Olympic champion's streak of perfection was broken when she lost to Vinesh Phogat in the opening round at the Paris Olympics
1 minutes ago
Budget Glossary: The Union Budget 2026 is set to be presented in a matter of few days. Before Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tables the government's blueprint on expenditure, taxes it is planning to implement, it will be important to know what she says during her Budget speech as it will
1 minutes ago
The brief rain spell on Friday brought in much-needed respite from the toxic air pollution levels in Delhi, even as winds in the capital city turned chilly. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 150 in the “moderate”
1 minutes ago
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will present a tableau highlighting the nationwide implementation of the three new criminal laws — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam — on Republic Day
1 minutes ago
Ukraine and Russia agreed on Saturday (January 24, 2026) to hold a second round of U.S.-brokered direct peace talks next weekend after a two-day meeting in Abu Dhabi, despite Ukrainian complaints negotiations were undermined by a barrage of deadly strikes
1 minutes ago
Xiaomi has confirmed that the brand's latest mid-range device, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+, will be launching in India on 29 January. Ahead of the launch of the device, Xiaomi has also begun the pre-bookings for the phone on Amazon while also sharing some key details about the device
1 minutes ago
Scotland replaces Bangladesh in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 after BCB refused to play in India. The ICC has announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. On Saturday, it was formally declared that Bangladesh will not compete in the upcoming ICC Men's T20
1 minutes ago
For years, busyness was worn like a badge of honour. Full calendars, constant notifications, and the unspoken pressure to always be “on" became markers of success. But something is shifting. Quietly, deliberately, and almost rebelliously
1 minutes ago
The Budget 2026 will be presented in Parliament on February 1, Sunday, continuing the tradition of unveiling the government's annual financial plan at the start of February. The Budget lays out how the government plans to raise and spend money in the coming year and is closely tracked by taxpayers
1 minutes ago
Under Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, the responsibility of the bank is limited — and in many cases, the loss is borne by the customer. New Delhi: Many people believe that keeping gold jewellery in a bank locker makes it completely safe
1 minutes ago
Delhi's AQI improved to 150 after winter rain, prompting CAQM to revoke Stage III GRAP. CPCB and India Meteorological Department report moderate air and chilly weather. Delhi's air quality saw a marked improvement following a winter rain shower that swept through the capital. On Sunday at 8 am
2 minutes ago
