In News:

NITI Aayog released a comprehensive policy report titled ‘Expanding Quality Higher Education through States and State Public Universities (SPUs)’, focusing on the development of higher education institutions, particularly public universities in India.

The report aims to enhance the quality, funding, governance, and employability outcomes within SPUs, which contribute to around 80% of the country's higher education system.

The document, the first of its kind in India, presents a detailed analysis of vital indicators like quality, funding, financing, governance, and employability over the last decade, supported by stakeholder consultations with over 20 states and Union Territories, Vice Chancellors, academicians, and State Higher Education Council Chairs. The report includes nearly 80 policy recommendations, along with 125 performance indicators, aiming to address long-standing challenges within SPUs.

Key Findings from the Report

• Funding:
  • Maharashtra leads in funding for higher education, with Bihar and Tamil Nadu following closely behind.
  • On the other hand, states like Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland have the lowest funding for higher education, highlighting regional disparities.
• University Density:
  • The national average university density is 0.8 universities per lakh population. However, states such as Sikkim, with a density of 10.3, and Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Meghalaya, and Uttarakhand have significantly higher densities. In contrast, states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra have lower densities compared to the national average.
• Female Enrolment:
  • Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh have achieved higher female enrolment rates than males, which reflects positive gender inclusivity trends in certain regions.
• Challenges:
  • Infrastructure deficits, including a lack of quality facilities and resources.
  • A shortage of faculty and staff, particularly in advanced fields such as MTech and Ph.D. levels.
  • Insufficient investment in research and development (R&D).
  • Outdated courses, syllabi, and curricula, which are not aligned with industry needs.
  • Financial constraints due to over-reliance on traditional revenue sources like admission fees and state grants.
  • Administrative delays in fund sanctioning and the absence of frameworks for securing loans through financial institutions.

Policy Recommendations

The report proposes several reforms to address the aforementioned challenges, with a focus on improving educational quality, securing better funding, enhancing governance, and boosting employability:

• Funding and Investment:
  • Increase the combined investment in education to 6% of GDP, as recommended in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
  • Increase R&D investment (both public and private) to 2% of GDP, as recommended in the Economic Survey 2017-18.
• Creating Centers of Excellence:
  • SPUs should form clusters and focus on addressing local challenges by establishing Centres of Excellence. These centres should focus on region-specific issues to drive academic and practical advancements.
• Governance Reforms:
  • Enhance governance structures at SPUs, empowering Vice Chancellors, faculty, and staff through targeted capacity-building initiatives.
  • States may consider setting up dedicated finance agencies, similar to the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA), to fund infrastructure and research development specifically for SPUs.
• Financial Innovations:
  • Develop financial frameworks to increase investment in education, ensuring access to timely funds, and reducing dependency on state grants or admission fees.
• Industry-Academia Collaboration:
  • Strengthen the link between academia and industry to ensure that the curricula are relevant and prepare students for the job market. This can be achieved through increased partnerships, internships, and practical learning opportunities.