Respected Sheriff of Kolkata, Guest of Honor, Distinguished Speakers, Moderator Sir, Guests, Members of the MW Board of Advisors:
A Very Good Afternoon and a warm welcome to all of you on our 7th Anniversary.
Material World instituted the MW Anniversary Debate in year 2004 in keeping with our vision of a consulting house with a social commitment. Through this annual event along with our other events, our e-zine, our blogs we have endeavored to put forth for discussion issues of industrial and social importance envisaging an audience that would challenge each other intellectually and foster growth through ideas generating therein.
While making available our knowledge to address needs of our varied clientele-be it in areas of executive search and executive value addition along with our recently taken up one umbrella support services for US aspirants in association of the Indus Foundation, USA we have been trying relentlessly to influence decision makers in the circuit so that we can live in an environment which is more intellectually challenging.
MW has neither the dedicated readership base of a publication nor the numbers might of a professional association. In the process of our mission of greater societal and industrial benefit through our services and our vision of influencing decision making we also have to present ourselves a brand which has a profit and loss account to take care of and not surpluses.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Let me dwell on the motion for a couple of minutes, with your permission.
I attained a small part of my higher education in an overseas nation, US, to be specific, in the early 90s…. at that stage the very going to the land of opportunities was an achievement for me.
My take off from the then Dum Dum Airport had a theatric overtone… I was denied visa on Day 1; granted on Day 3 and I was off on Day 4…. I was still shopping in the afternoon on the day I was to board the Air India flight to Chicago.
It was a never-ending flight all of 36 hours what with a bizarre route…. Calcutta to Bombay; Bombay to Delhi; Delhi to London; London to New York; New York to Chicago; Chicago to Toledo…New York to Toledo.
Well Toledo was quite a comedown from the overnight stay in New York City what will dry barren mid western land and huge pick up trucks.
I slit opened the tea bag when it was meant to be dipped; I was perplexed at my American friends addressing the 60 something math professor by his first name and I was curious why my hosts drank their “pop” which was the mid western colloquy equivalent to soft drinks with lots of ice.
Overseas education is a dream of many a student in today’s competitive world. The various benefits, which a student gains through overseas education apparently gives them an edge over others. Overseas education has the potential of transforming lives. The international exposure one gets makes a student competent enough to face the increasing demand of knowledge and skills and present themselves as a complete package for the prospective employers.
Again, that is not to suggest that the decision to opt for overseas education is way out of all woes as perceived by some. Overseas education, with all the associated benefits like better career prospect and a wider perspective of life is also pregnant with the potential of jeopardizing a career if an impressionable mind fails to overcome the stress involved in living life all by oneself in the fast lane.
Again, in an era where international degrees area available right here in India where does overseas education stand?
While trying to make a case for a print media tie up with a leading daily in town, albeit unsuccessfully I was repeatedly confronted by a question as to why we were organizing this debate…
I’ll sign off with an answer to my young interviewers:
We want you to form an independent opinion on this subject and it is our hope that through the deliberations of our distinguished speakers shall aid you in this process.
Phew…aligning this annual debate has always been difficult. Our role as a facilitator well and truly in place.
(Sligted edited from the actual address. The above does not necessarily purport to constitute an official position of the Material World Group)
Material World Group is Eastern India's emerging knowledge group. Material World through its knowledge aims at resolving man (human) and materials resource issues of those availing its services.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
MATERIAL WORLD ANNIVERSARY DEBATE 2007- A Report
In his welcome address Rajib Kumar, CEO, Material World shared some lighter moments of his stay in the United States. He listed the advantages and disadvantages associated with getting educated overseas. In an era where international degrees are available right here in India where exactly does overseas education stand? Kumar invited the distinguished panel to deliberate on this.
Inaugurating the anniversary celebrations Rathin Datta, Sheriff of Kolkata said he had an “institutional interest” in the topic in light of his association with the Indian Institute of Management.
Guest of Honor Khokan Mookerji, Secretary General, Bengal Chambers of Commerce and Industry said that we (in India) do not have enough good learning institutions and that we desperately needed to upgrade the quality of our higher education.
Dr. Anuradha Das, Principal, Calcutta International School said a large percentage of students from her school go abroad for higher studies. She was therefore speaking from that perspective (and experience). Overseas education gives a lot of flexibility and a greater level of confidence to students with which they can come out as winners in professional and personal life. She mentioned the very admission process in overseas institutions is a lesson in time and stress management.
Prof Ananya Chakraborty, Professor In Charge, Departments of Journalism and Film Studies, St. Xavier’s College countered Das’s assertion. "What is the percentage of population going abroad for education? How many can afford overseas education in India?" she asked. This was essentially a luxury of the elite she asserted. Chakraborty mentioned that he knew people who went abroad for education and experienced immense trauma in their 1st year- “uprooted from their own culture”. They experienced not only geographical alienation but also alienation within the student community she asserted.
Dr. Sushanto Banerjee, Director of the American Center Library at Kolkata countered Chakraborty’s assertion that students get traumatized in foreign nations. Students are given full orientation before they begin their stay he reassured the house. Banerjee mentioned that the demand of getting educated in the US is so high that it is difficult to find a space to sit in the United States Educational Foundation in India. He said, currently, there are about 76,000 students from India in institutions in the US. He cited examples of Prof Amartya Sen, Prannoy Roy and Azim Premji all of who excelled, he said, with the help of the education they attained in overseas nations. Through overseas education one becomes a “complete man” Banerjee opined. Political interference in educational institutions in India was rampant Banerjee said. There are good institutions in India like the IITs, IIMs or ISIs but very few can get in these the ex-ISI noted.
Sushmita Chakraborty, English teacher of La Martinere for Boys analyzing the motion said with the medium of Internet at everybody’s access level- why would one have to venture outside to gain information or know about other cultures? She said though she too spent an extended period of time in the UK for her education she feels it is not a “necessity”. “Its not air, water or shelter” she quipped. Sushmita paralleled overseas education with a mobile phone with “added features”. A mobile phone is a necessity today but a mobile phone set with added features like camera, megapixel, MP3 Player etc and so on is a luxury.
Dr. Das said overseas education empowers the student to choose what he or she wants to learn. She cited the example of the year’s ISC topper who gave the IITs a miss and went to Singapore for higher education. “We must value the decision of a topper,” Dr. Das told the house building a strong case in favor of the motion.
Ananya Chakraborty wondered if overseas education was that great why are medical and business establishments in countries like United States still dominated by Indians and Pakistanis? Where are the “complete” men? Countering Sushanto Banerjee’s example of Amartya Sen, Chakraborty said Sen’s roots are firmly here. “Amartya Sen has not given up his Indian citizenship,” she reminded her worthy opponents. Chakraborty was critical about the American system for international students. The visa fees, fees of TOEFL are exorbitant she opined. The system, she felt was not transparent and all this was a “huge source of income”. She also questioned the justifiability of taking the TOEFL for a Masters in English. “I do not see those long cues in front of the American consulate any more” Chakraborty commented.
Dr. Sushanto Banerjee said gone is the age of Nalanda University. Most campuses in India lack basic technologies like Wi Fi. Contrary to the conventional wisdom and views of his opponents, Banerjee mentioned that many students are going overseas from middle class families with the help of financial aid from US universities and funding agencies. He cited the example of the son of driver at the American center who made it to the US with the help of scholarship assistance.
Veteran PR and Media personality Biswajit Matilal was the moderator.
The House remained divided on the issue. The Motion, therefore, remain open ended.
(Editorial Team, Offline)
Inaugurating the anniversary celebrations Rathin Datta, Sheriff of Kolkata said he had an “institutional interest” in the topic in light of his association with the Indian Institute of Management.
Guest of Honor Khokan Mookerji, Secretary General, Bengal Chambers of Commerce and Industry said that we (in India) do not have enough good learning institutions and that we desperately needed to upgrade the quality of our higher education.
Dr. Anuradha Das, Principal, Calcutta International School said a large percentage of students from her school go abroad for higher studies. She was therefore speaking from that perspective (and experience). Overseas education gives a lot of flexibility and a greater level of confidence to students with which they can come out as winners in professional and personal life. She mentioned the very admission process in overseas institutions is a lesson in time and stress management.
Prof Ananya Chakraborty, Professor In Charge, Departments of Journalism and Film Studies, St. Xavier’s College countered Das’s assertion. "What is the percentage of population going abroad for education? How many can afford overseas education in India?" she asked. This was essentially a luxury of the elite she asserted. Chakraborty mentioned that he knew people who went abroad for education and experienced immense trauma in their 1st year- “uprooted from their own culture”. They experienced not only geographical alienation but also alienation within the student community she asserted.
Dr. Sushanto Banerjee, Director of the American Center Library at Kolkata countered Chakraborty’s assertion that students get traumatized in foreign nations. Students are given full orientation before they begin their stay he reassured the house. Banerjee mentioned that the demand of getting educated in the US is so high that it is difficult to find a space to sit in the United States Educational Foundation in India. He said, currently, there are about 76,000 students from India in institutions in the US. He cited examples of Prof Amartya Sen, Prannoy Roy and Azim Premji all of who excelled, he said, with the help of the education they attained in overseas nations. Through overseas education one becomes a “complete man” Banerjee opined. Political interference in educational institutions in India was rampant Banerjee said. There are good institutions in India like the IITs, IIMs or ISIs but very few can get in these the ex-ISI noted.
Sushmita Chakraborty, English teacher of La Martinere for Boys analyzing the motion said with the medium of Internet at everybody’s access level- why would one have to venture outside to gain information or know about other cultures? She said though she too spent an extended period of time in the UK for her education she feels it is not a “necessity”. “Its not air, water or shelter” she quipped. Sushmita paralleled overseas education with a mobile phone with “added features”. A mobile phone is a necessity today but a mobile phone set with added features like camera, megapixel, MP3 Player etc and so on is a luxury.
Dr. Das said overseas education empowers the student to choose what he or she wants to learn. She cited the example of the year’s ISC topper who gave the IITs a miss and went to Singapore for higher education. “We must value the decision of a topper,” Dr. Das told the house building a strong case in favor of the motion.
Ananya Chakraborty wondered if overseas education was that great why are medical and business establishments in countries like United States still dominated by Indians and Pakistanis? Where are the “complete” men? Countering Sushanto Banerjee’s example of Amartya Sen, Chakraborty said Sen’s roots are firmly here. “Amartya Sen has not given up his Indian citizenship,” she reminded her worthy opponents. Chakraborty was critical about the American system for international students. The visa fees, fees of TOEFL are exorbitant she opined. The system, she felt was not transparent and all this was a “huge source of income”. She also questioned the justifiability of taking the TOEFL for a Masters in English. “I do not see those long cues in front of the American consulate any more” Chakraborty commented.
Dr. Sushanto Banerjee said gone is the age of Nalanda University. Most campuses in India lack basic technologies like Wi Fi. Contrary to the conventional wisdom and views of his opponents, Banerjee mentioned that many students are going overseas from middle class families with the help of financial aid from US universities and funding agencies. He cited the example of the son of driver at the American center who made it to the US with the help of scholarship assistance.
Veteran PR and Media personality Biswajit Matilal was the moderator.
The House remained divided on the issue. The Motion, therefore, remain open ended.
(Editorial Team, Offline)
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