In the report published by All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for the academic year 2018-19, it has been observed that the gender gap in higher education in India has seen a significant decrease as compared to the previous year – 2017-18. The statistics show that female students made up nearly half (48.6%) of the total enrolment in higher education. Interestingly, in states like Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, female enrolment in higher education surpassed male enrolment.
Key Findings of the AISHE Report
The survey conducted by AISHE saw participation from 944 out of 993 universities listed on the AISHE portal. According to the data shared by these universities, the total enrolment in higher education was found to be approximately 37.4 million. This also resulted in a slight increase in the gross enrolment ratio.
When it comes to course preferences, a majority (around 79.8%) of students are enrolled at the undergraduate level followed by post-graduation (10.8%). However, an increasing interest was observed in integrated degree programs, which provide a comprehensive understanding of subjects.
The data further reveals that the maximum number of students preferred Arts/Humanities/Social Sciences courses (35.9%), followed by Science (16.5%), Commerce (14.1%) and Engineering and Technology (13.5%).
Course Preferences Among Female Students
According to the AISHE report, there is a trend among women to opt for language courses, while men tend to choose fields like Science and Technology that provide immediate job opportunities. However, the share of female students remained lowest in Institutes of National Importance.
Higher Education Initiatives: Key Facts
| Initiative | Aim |
|---|---|
| National Mission on Education through ICT (NMEICT) | Providing quality content to all learners in the country at no cost using ICT |
| Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) | Providing strategic funding to higher education institutions throughout India |
| Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP) | Crafting an action plan to give a multi-pronged boost to Indian higher education system |
| Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) | Attracting national talents to Ph.D. programs for research in advanced science and technology |
Government Efforts to Promote Higher Education
The Department of Higher Education, under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, has launched several initiatives aimed at improving higher education in India in terms of policy and planning. Some of these initiatives include Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), which focuses on enhancing the research ecosystem by facilitating collaborations between Indian and international educational institutions; Global Initiative for Academic Network (GIAN) aimed at leveraging global talent pool to augment India’s academic resources; and the establishment of Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) to finance the creation of capital assets in prestigious Indian educational institutions.
