Lok Sabha Question No. 2089 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Number of HEIs Opened
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Chandra Prakash Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2089

ANSWERED ON-09/12/2024

## NUMBER OF HEIs OPENED

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†2089. Shri Chandra Prakash Choudhary:

Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:

(a) the number of institutes of higher education opened in the country during the last three years and the contribution thereof to increase the enrolment of students;

(b)  the  details  of  the  partnerships  with  the  international  Universities  and  institutes  for  the improvement in quality and accessibility of higher education in the country;

(c) the impact of the increase in enrolment of higher education on the quality of education and availability  of  employment  opportunities  along  with  the  relevant  supporting  data  in  regard thereto; and

(d)  the  details  of  the  changes  made  in  the  schools  for  implementing  skill  India  teaching framework in Jharkhand, particularly in Giridih Lok Sabha Constituency?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR )

(a) As  per  All  India  Survey  on  Higher  Education  (AISHE),  2022-23(Provisional),  the  total number  of  Higher  Education  Institutions  (HEIs)  i.e.  University/University  level  Institutions, College and Standalone Institutions, registered under AISHE has increased to 60,380 in 2022-23 from 56,205 in 2020-21. Total student enrolment in higher education has increased to 4.46 crore in 2022-23 from 4.13 crore in 2020-21.

(b) National  Education  Policy  (NEP)  2020  focuses  on  Internationalization  and  inter-alia recommends to encourage High performing Indian universities to set up their campuses in other countries.  An Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up of campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar- Tanzania has been signed on 5-7-2023 between the Ministry of Education (MoE), Govt.  of  India,  IIT  Madras  and  Ministry  of  Education  and  Vocational  Training  (MoEVT) Zanzibar- Tanzania. Also, an MoU for setting up of campus of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi has been signed between MoE, Govt. of India, IIT Delhi and Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (United Arab Emirates), on 15-7-2023, for setting up of campus of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi.

University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  spiritedly  undertaken  many  measures  for  the Internationalization of higher education as charted in NEP-2020. Some of the major initiatives undertaken by UGC in this direction are:-

- i. UGC has issued Guidelines for the Internationalization of Higher Education to provide an opportunity for global outreach of Indian Higher Education Institutions through activities such as internationally relevant curricula, brand building of Indian Higher Education Institutions abroad,  academic  and  research  collaboration  with  foreign  universities,  credit  recognition under twinning arrangements, global citizenship approach and engaging with foreign alumni.
- ii. UGC  has  issued  the  'Setting  up  and  Operation  of  Campuses  of  Foreign  Higher Educational Institutions in India Regulations 2023' to  give  international  dimensions to higher education and by establishing foreign campuses to enable Indian students to obtain foreign qualifications at affordable cost and make India an attractive global study destination. UGC has also developed and opened the Portal (https://fhei.ugc.ac.in)wherein eligible FHEIs can apply for setting up their campuses in India as per the criteria laid in the regulations.
- iii. UGC has issued Regulations on Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign HEIs to offer Twinning, Joint Degree, and Dual Degree Programmes in 2022 to promote active linkage between Indian and Foreign Higher Education Institutions, research/teaching collaborations, faculty/student exchanges. (https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/4555806\_UGC-Acad-Collab-Regulations.pdf)
- iv. In accordance with NEP 2020, UGC has introduced an initiative called 'Establishment of an Office  for  International  Affairs' in  each  University  which will  be  an  integral  part  of internationalisation  of  higher  education  in  India.  This  office  will  be  responsible  for undertaking various activities to coordinate all matters relating to welcoming and supporting foreign students, to disseminate information related to admission process among prospective foreign students and to engage in promotional activities and brand building campaign abroad.
- v. UGC has introduced an initiative called Alumni Connect in order to encourage HEIs to engage with Alumni (of foreign origin and Indians living abroad) for brand building of the HEIs.  In order to maintain a continuous engagement with the alumni, the HEIs have been encouraged to undertake a number of activities such as establishment of an alumni cell in their respective institutions, maintain a database of the alumni living abroad and share information and invite for participation in conferences etc.

All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  also  accord  approval  to  Technical Institutions  for  conducting courses through collaborative programs with reputed Universities/ Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in India/ Foreign Countries.

- (c) Several steps have been taken in line with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, to improve the quality of higher education system in the country. University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines for transforming stand-alone, fragmented and domain-specific  higher  educational  institutions  into  large,  multidisciplinary  universities  and autonomous degree-awarding institutions with institutional infrastructure necessary for multidisciplinary education and research.  Regulations have been brought in for the National Credit Framework (NCrF), National Higher Education Qualification Framework, the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), Multiple Entry and Exit for making the higher education curricula aligned to emerging global requirements and bringing in flexibility in the system.  All higher education institutions  are  being  encouraged  to  join  the  National  Institutional  Ranking  Framework  and getting accreditation under the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), and the parameters for these have been rationalized to facilitate greater participation.

Due  to  such  concerted  effort  of  Government  of  India,  the  number  of  Indian  higher education Institutions in 'QS World University Rankings' has increased from 9 in 2014 to 46 in 2025. Also, there is approximately 88% increase in the number of Research publications in 2022, since 2015. Filing of Patents increased by more than 55.4%, rising to 66,440 in 2021-22 from 42,763 in 2014-15. Further, as per AISHE 2022-23(Provisional), the PhD enrolment is 2.33 lakh which is nearly doubled during the period 2014-15 to 2022-23.

Improving employability of the youth is a priority of the Government. Towards this end, the NEP, 2020, as part of a holistic education, envisages providing students at all HEIs with opportunities for internships with local industry, business, artists, crafts persons, etc.

In order to make students globally competitive, so that they may face the challenges of life and become  employable,  AICTE  is  making  concreate  efforts  to bring qualitative changes/reforms in Technical Education by focusing on universalization of quality education, skill development, faculty capacity building and internationalization etc.

AICTE is collaborating with various industries and institutes to design skill development courses in online mode that are integrated into the regular curriculum. These courses are aimed at enhancing the practical skills of students and making them more employable. To achieve these objectives, it has entered into MoU with leading orgnization such as Sales Force, Adobe, CISCO, Microsoft, Youth 4Job, META, AMAZON IBM, CDAC, Bajaj Finserv and WHEEBOX etc. These  collaborations  are  supposed  to  lead  to  the  development  of  integrated  programs  that incorporate  real-world  applications  and  industry-relevant  skills.  Internship  has  been  already made mandatory as part of the curriculum.

(d) For  implementing  Skill  Education,  as  per  the  perspective  of  NEP  2020  and  National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, Vocational Education is being introduced as a compulsory subject from Grade 6 onwards. As a follow-up of this, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has brought out an Activity Book on Vocational  Education  entitled-'Kaushal  Bodh'.  This  will  provide  exposure  to  children  in different areas of Vocational Education based on Project -based pedagogy in schools. Vocational Education has also been integrated from Grade 3 onwards across subject areas. NCERT has also brought  out  Guidelines  for  10  bagless  days  which  also  provides  ample  exposure  to  local vocations in integrated manner.

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