The 21st century has largely been do­m­i­na­ted by a society that is driven by informat­ion and knowledge. The industrialization and economic expansion of this century are causing technological transformations all over the world. Today, monodisciplinary dom­i­nance in knowled­ge systems is being supplanted by cross-disciplin­ary programs that have broadened intellectual frameworks for the understanding of nature and society. Uni­ver­­sities are expected to play a key role in social transformation, breaking the stra­n­g­le­hold of a single disciplinary and intellect­ual framework that has dominated since the 19th century. Education is a critical factor in the dev­e­lopment of society, by bringing technological and eco­­no­­mic growth.

Optimal growth of society can only be achieved if the status of education in society is improved, allowing for multi-faceted development of its citizens. Higher education is critical for societal aspirations, developmental priorities and societal values, all of which must be assessed, nurtured and refined regularly.

With over 45,000 higher educational instituti­­o­ns,­ India has the world’s largest higher education system, owing to a massive expansion in the hig­h­­er education sector, which has seen a four-fold rise since 2001. However, the sector continues to face challenges such as insufficient funding, lower graduate employability, poor teaching standards, poor governance and complex regulatory proces­ses. India’s demographic trend indicates it will soon overtake China as the world’s most populous country, and demand for higher education will fol­low suit in the coming years.

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