Overview of the book
Indian higher education – currently the third largest, would surpass the US in next the five years and China in the next 15 years to be the largest system of higher education in the world. Indian higher education has a complex structure riddled with many contradictions. Thus, despite its growing importance, the outside world knows and understands very little about the Indian higher education.
The book is, therefore a window to the international higher education community on Indian higher education. It gives them an informative, up-to-date and analytical understanding of the Indian realities.
It would also be immensely useful for Indians—policymakers, the academic community and the public—because it provides an overview of the complexity of the higher education system and analysis of its problems. It presents a robust base to build a progressive and forward-looking policy for higher education.
The book facilitates a clear and holistic understanding of the sector’s complex nature and breaks several myths. The empirical overview maps the ground realities providing a nice international perspective. It gives a macro or an aggregate vision and shows variation. Besides the ideas, arguments and suggestions contained, the book is virtually a reservoir of precious data that will be immensely useful for everyone, who may be interested in understanding the state of higher education in India as well as the global trends.
The book is organized in nine chapters covering almost all contemporary and relevant issues concerning higher education. While, each chapter builds on discussion in the previous ones, yet the chapters can be read independently as well as in conjunction with each other. Large volume of useful data on India is presented in comparative perspective. Thus, the arguments are not merely based on perceptions, but are supported by hard facts. Each chapter has a large number of references and endnotes making it a very useful resource for further research on Indian higher education.
The book has evolved from the ICRIER working paper released in 2006. For over three years, this paper was widely circulated and commented upon. Thus the book has benefited from valuable feedback from many people both from India and abroad. The book is written from the vantage point of an insider as well as a detached observer and academic researcher. It will be a valuable resource for centres of higher education in universities and research organizations, as well as think tanks. It would also be a useful tool for consultants and private organizations working in the higher education sector.
|
