Inclusive and Qualitative Expansion of Higher Education. Compilation Based on the Deliberations of the Working Group for Higher Education in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17)

Abstract

This document contains the core of ideas towards reform initiatives in higher education. Since the reforms have to take roots at the university level, the university leadership has contributed to this document significantly in shaping the policy planning processes at the macro level and in recommending strategies for achieving the targets set. The document draws upon all the existing reports, papers and data bases on higher education and provides a synoptic view of the state of higher education. It has attempted to synthesize the data from the latest round of National Sample Survey (NSS) with the existing enrolment figures and marks a step forward in our understanding of the progress and difficulties faced by higher education. It acknowledges the challenge of rising numbers, social inequalities and the real issue of quality of teaching-learning in Indian higher education. It has reflected on the ambitious challenge of describing, analyzing and suggesting remedies for the higher education sector, and seeks to keep up the momentum of higher education through upscaling the reforms that began in the 11th Five-Year Plan (FYP).