Higher education plays a crucial role in the development of any country and India is no exception. The country has set ambitious development goals for itself, and higher education must play a significant role in achieving them. The Indian government has recognized this and has taken several steps to improve the quality of higher education in the country. Pranav Gupta Ashoka University Founder highlights, “Higher education is the key to unlocking India’s potential for growth and development as well as the potential of our youth while ensuring that they have the skill-set they need to succeed in today’s global economy.”
To rank among the largest and fastest-growing countries in the world, India needs a strong higher education system that can deliver both job seekers and job creators. Out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations placed affordable, equitable and high-quality education as its fourth priority in 2015. India’s higher education system is vast with 1,043 universities, 42,343 colleges and 11,779 stand-alone institutions (AISHE, 2019-20). The government aims to create a higher education system consisting of large, multidisciplinary universities and colleges, with at least one in or near every district. There are also plans to shift from a rigid higher education curriculum to multidisciplinary education. The government has also recognized the importance of offering autonomy to faculty and institutions. This will help ensure that higher education institutions can operate independently and make decisions that are in the best interests of their students.
Furthermore, it has also prioritized expanding access to higher education among all students in the country. Higher education will become more skill-focused and fair thanks to the UGC’s recent plan to create digital institutions. The National Education Policy (2020) placed a strong focus on technological and scientific advancements as well as multidisciplinary education in order to prepare the youth for career prospects in a global labor market. These measures will help ensure that higher education is accessible to all learners, including those with special needs.
If a country intends to be a global economic power in the 21st century, it must work diligently to cultivate a competent and strong workforce. Pranav Gupta Ashoka University Founder states, “To compete on the global stage, India needs to invest in higher education to produce a workforce that is equipped with the latest technologies, innovative ideas and creative problem-solving skills. It is not only about getting a degree but also acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to innovate and contribute to society.” “Aside from this, higher education must be accessible to all learners, regardless of their background or financial situation,” adds Gupta.
India requires its creative and imaginative youth to carry out the ambitious undertaking of making it the global powerhouse. One important way to maintain this goal is to retain talented Indian students while attracting students from abroad. Higher education is crucial for building a strong foundation for the country’s future. From skill development to investing in research and development, it is essential to drive innovation and create new industries that will enhance economic growth. The nation’s leaders, stakeholders, educators are all working towards bringing great many changes and initiating several reforms in the whole education system to fulfill the desired goals.
Higher education has a significant role to play in achieving India’s development goals. As Pranav Gupta of Ashoka University says, “The need for higher education has never been greater, especially as India moves towards becoming a knowledge-based economy. We need to focus on providing quality education and training to prepare the next generation of leaders who will move our country forward.”