Indian Higher Education
In today’s day and age, the premise that quality higher education is crucial for sustainable human development is undeniable. Higher education leads to acquiring analytical and problem-solving skills, ultimately helping humans to develop intellectual curiosity and character. It pushes the students to identify and set career goals that make them ready for professional setups. Therefore, a refined higher education enables economic, physical and social well-being to a student.
Indian Higher Education System
India boasts one of the largest higher education systems globally, ranking second in terms of its extensive network. In India, "higher education" refers to tertiary education pursued after completing 12 years of schooling, which includes 10 years of primary education and 2 years of secondary education. The country’s higher education landscape includes over 1,100+ universities and more than 45,000+ colleges offering exceptional academic opportunities. All these institutions are governed by the Ministry of Education.
Indian institutions are equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including modern libraries, classrooms with advanced technology (such as smart boards, computers, and Wi-Fi), all of which support interactive and comprehensive learning experiences. Due to these outstanding resources, several Indian institutes, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), are consistently ranked among the top global institutions. This reinforces India's position as an emerging hub for higher education, attracting both national and international students.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of both public and private sectors, Indian higher education has seen impressive growth over the years. The cutting-edge teaching methodologies adopted by these institutions not only enhance students' problem-solving abilities but also encourage innovative, out-of-the-box thinking.
The Landscape of Indian Higher Education
The structure of Indian Higher Education is three-layered, consisting of Universities, Colleges and Courses. The universities and colleges work in unison with regulatory as well as accreditation bodies to deliver standardised education.
Types of Universities:
On the basis of management the universities are classified as:
- Central Universities: These are set up through an Act in Parliament. The establishment and operation are funded by the Union Government.
- State Universities - These are set up through an Act in the State Legislature. The state universities are primarily funded and operated by the State Government.
- Private Universities - These are set up through an Act in the State Legislatures. It includes specialized institutions and multidisciplinary research universities.
- Deemed Universities - These are well-performing institutes that are declared to be of equal standing as the universities by the Central Government on the advice of the Union Grants Commission (UGC).
- Institutes of National Importance (INI) - These are eminent institutions of India that are known to develop highly skilled individuals. They are funded by the Government of India and include all the IITs, IIITs, NITs and AIIMs institutes.
Colleges:
The colleges enabling higher Study in India can be affiliated either with central or state universities. The private colleges are mostly affiliated with state universities. Further, there are autonomous colleges as well that enjoy autonomy in terms of deciding curriculum, admissions and examination process. But, they are also affiliated with a government university (central or state).
Courses:
The courses offered in Indian higher education institutions can be generally classified into two categories:
- STEM Courses - STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics includes all courses focused on these fields. Rather than teaching these disciplines in isolation, STEM courses emphasize integrated learning and the practical application of concepts. Effective STEM education goes beyond theoretical knowledge, incorporating hands-on experimentation and research-based learning in Artificial Intelligence - Machine Learning etc. Indian institutes are equipped with advanced laboratories that foster innovation, problem-solving, and skill development among students.
- Non-STEM Courses - Indian institutions offer an extensive range of Non-STEM courses include Arts, Commerce, Nursing, Business Management, Humanities, Social Sciences, Optometry, Veterinary, Architecture. Indian Institutes also offer niche courses like Yoga, Buddhist Studies, Indian Music, Vocational & Certificate courses etc. Indian institutions offer a strong foundation in these fields, allowing students to specialize in their chosen areas. Non-STEM majors, like Humanities, open doors to diverse career paths where knowledge and skills are highly valued. Degrees in fields such as education, accounting, marketing, English, journalism, and language studies offer a wide range of professional opportunities. Career options for non-STEM graduates include roles like counsellors, educators, clinical psychologists, art directors, and creative professionals, among others.
The Landscape of Indian Higher Education
The entire ecosystem of higher Study in India is primarily overseen by the following authorities:
University Grants Commission (UGC):
The main regulatory body that performs a range of tasks such as providing funds to the universities, establishing education standards for the universities and analysing the growth of the various higher education institutions. It is crucial for universities to meet the criteria set by UGC so as to enjoy degree-awarding authority.
All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE):
The paradigm shift in the higher education system in India is aided by the integration of the latest innovation and technology. The transformed system focuses on the inclusive development of the learners and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 ensures the same. The main purpose of NEP 2020 is to implement and strengthen multidisciplinary, inclusive and technology-based learning that is accessible to all. It focuses on imparting higher education that enables personal accomplishment for students and prepares them to pave a good future. In addition to this, the policy highlights the need for the internationalization of higher education. For this, the Indian higher education institutions are being promoted on the world stage through programmes such as Study in India and International Students Offices.
Furthermore, the NEP 2020 granted increased flexibility to the institutions according to which they have the right to create a curriculum and decide the internal assessment so as to execute an interactive learning experience for the students. In short, the underlying aim of the entire higher education system will be to attain global standards in terms of quality.India with its valuable and competitive education ecosystem is an attractive option for international students. Moreover, the freshly implemented policies further push the development of constructive skill-sets in the students. The overall culture, tradition, heritage, spirit, and inclination towards creativity and innovation make India a great study destination for higher education.