RESTRUCTURING HIGHER EDUCATION IN INDIA

The educational journey of India during the last six decades after independence has been quite exciting. The growth in the area of higher education has also been rather impressive. The trajectory of expansion, however, requires a qualitative shift. It must address issues relating to quality and inclusiveness. The new wave of institution-building should be supported by public investment. There are concerns that in the present phase of expansion, the privatization and globalization might create serious distortions affecting adversely access, inclusiveness and quality.

The book analyses the past developments in state supported higher education and discusses why high quality could not be sustained in the past. Specifically, the institutional failures both at the levels of policy and practices are pointed out. The emerging issue at the system level is the proliferation of private providers resulting from the failure of public institutions to respond to the market. The book attempts to present a critique to the neo-liberal agenda of reforms and provides solutions through institutional and academic reforms. The salient features of finance through plan investment are further analysed.

The book on the whole seeks to provide solutions for the desired qualitative shift in higher education. It will not only interest education experts and practitioners but will be of special relevance to those interested in the development of higher education in India.

Sudhanshu Bhushan is Professor and Head, Department of Higher and Professional Education, National University of Educational Planning and Administration, New Delhi. He specializes in the policy and planning of higher education. He has conducted researches in the area of internationalization and financing of higher education. In the professional capacity he has been organizing workshops, conferences and training programmes of the senior functionaries of the universities and colleges. Beside a score of research papers, Prof. Bhushan has authored/edited three books.