Following a series of workshops in India, delegates present from Indian and UK higher education institutions identifeid that there was a lack of knowledge from both sides concerning the delivery, financing and organisation of higher education and research in both countries. A series of research studies were commissioned to explain more fully the approaches of each country; this session will present some of the results and implications. The context is the rapid growth in higher education enrolment in India over the last decade or so – and demand for places is likely to accelerate, certainly in the near to mid-term. The Indian government has been unable to fund the large numbers of addtional places needed with the net effect that the independent sector has grown to absorb the excess demand.
In addition a significant number of foreign education providers have commnenced delivering degree and other programmes in various arrangements with Indian providers, particularly in the independent sector. This session will therefore provide delegates with:
- The overall context of higher education in India, funding arrangements, governance, respective roles of government and private sector providers – and likely future directions;
- A clearer understanding of the Indian private sector, its operation, institutions and geographical spread;
- The role of foreign education providers, the numbers of institutions involved, the different modes of delivery, the students recruited and likely future trends.
A full publication detailing the studies will be avaialble free to delegates after the conference.
