The news of the Supreme Court examining the operations of private universities has certainly captured my attention Supreme Court orders inquiry into private universities' establishment, governance, funding; UGC monitoring. It's a critical moment for our educational landscape, as the court has directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) and various state governments to provide detailed affidavits on the establishment, governance, and funding mechanisms of these institutions. This comprehensive review, I understand, has expanded significantly from an initial case, largely influenced by the petition filed by Ayesha Jain, highlighting the urgent need for scrutiny.
For years, I've reflected on the essence of engagement and trust, particularly in the digital realm. It strikes me how relevant these reflections are to the current debate surrounding private universities. In an earlier piece, "PARTICIPATORY ADVERTISING," written back in 2011, I discussed how brands needed to create compelling content and foster two-way conversations with consumers. Simon Bond, CMO/BBDO (simon.bond@interpublic.com), emphasized the "increasing need for compelling content to engage consumers with a brand," noting that we were living in a "true social revolution." Similarly, Deepa Prahalad, an author and business strategist, highlighted that "the frequency of interaction with the consumer is very important for building up this trust."
The core idea I wanted to convey then, and which rings true now for private universities, is this: Just as brands strive to be personal, relevant, and create remarkable experiences to build trust and engage consumers, so too must our educational institutions. The quality of education, the transparency in governance, and the ethical use of funding are, in essence, the "compelling content" that universities offer. They are the foundation of the "two-way conversation" with students, parents, and society at large.
Now, seeing how things have unfolded with the Supreme Court's intervention, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. The inquiry into private universities underscores a fundamental truth: trust is paramount. Without genuine engagement, quality offerings, and transparent operations, the very foundation of an institution, be it a brand or a university, begins to erode. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation for those earlier ideas and also a renewed urgency to revisit them, because they clearly hold immense value in the current context of ensuring integrity and accountability in our educational system.
I believe this judicial examination will serve as a crucial step towards ensuring that private universities uphold the highest standards, creating truly valuable and trustworthy experiences for their students and contributing positively to the nation's intellectual capital.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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