Higher education in knowledge economy – UGC NET Question

Statements A and B correctly highlight the strategic role of higher education in a knowledge economy. Universities generate new knowledge and foster innovation, and their collaborations with industry and government can create dynamic innovation ecosystems. Statement C is false because employability and practical skills are crucial in a knowledge-based order and cannot be ignored. Statement D is false since the scale and quality of higher education are closely linked to national competitiveness and productivity. Thus, A and B only form the correct combination.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it notes the centrality of universities but leaves out the equally important networked partnerships captured in B, which describe how different sectors interact to drive innovation.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it combines the institutional role of universities with their collaborative role in a triple-helix arrangement, while excluding C and D, which misrepresent expectations from higher education in a knowledge economy.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it pairs B with C and endorses C’s claim that employability can be ignored, which contradicts labour market and policy expectations.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it treats all four statements as correct, thereby suggesting that higher education has no bearing on competitiveness, which directly conflicts with the core idea of a knowledge economy.