Budget 2023: Universities expect schemes for digitisation of skill-based education, sustainability

NEW DELHI: In India budget 2023, academicians, professors, and universities expect reduction of tax on educational programmes to increase employability; schemes to encourage private participation for digitisation of skill-based education; incentivised schemes for sustainable development.

Pragna Rao, pro vice-chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bengaluru campus expects reduction of tax on educational programmes so that more and more students can enrol which will help increase employability. She said, “The education sector is looking at the budget, hoping there would be a substantial focus on enhancing skill development, employability and digitising the learning ecosystem. With the focus on internationalisation and skill development by the NEP, there is a hope that the government will bring in policies focusing on the long-term impact on the education sector.”

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“The major anticipation is the taxes on educational programs being reduced from the current 18%. This would ease the burden of millions of learners to enrol for various skilling and upskilling programmes that would enhance employability. There is also a hope that the government will introduce schemes which will encourage private participation in the efforts towards digitisation of professional and skill-based education,” she added.

Scheme for textile industry

Risha Roy, head, sustainable fashion and textile design, School of Design, Anant National University expects initiation of an incentivised scheme for the textile and apparel industry that is designed to address the growing demand for sustainable practices in the industry. “They could include government funding for research and development of new technologies and innovation that address the sustainability requirements in the industry. The key area to focus currently would be natural resource management -reduction of consumption pre-and post-production, reduce the use of toxic chemicals, promotion of regenerative fibers, and develop solutions for the end-of-life management of products,” he said.

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Additionally, the scheme could also focus on promoting traceability of inputs in the industry. This would allow for better monitoring of the supply chain and help to ensure that the materials and products used in the industry are sustainably sourced. Overall, this incentivizing scheme would help to encourage the textile and apparel industry to adopt more sustainable practices, which would have a positive impact on the environment and society as a whole, as per Roy.