Assistant Professor, GGDSD College, Chandigarh, India
Online published on 8 October, 2014.
The paper compares the differences of opinion among the respondents from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. T-test analysis has been performed to analyze significant differences in responses of categorized respondents from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Higher education should also be considered as public good as it has immense power to foster the economic growth which ultimately determines a nation's prosperity. Mass Higher education has huge potential to accelerate rate of human resource development. Higher education institutions don't have world class infrastructural facilities. The State with its limited resources and slow moving machinery is unable to fully meet education needs of people. There is scope for public-private partnerships to boost higher education sector. Students are receptive, knowledgeable but non- demanding. They hesitate to join innovative courses. The colleges/institutions generally don't pay close attention to students’ satisfaction. GATS will provide students with choices and creates competition between institutions which will be vital in enhancing quality and accountability. Presently, the courses offered, teaching materials, assignments, projects and databases are partially available in electronic form. Usage of ICT enabled education; the quality courses offered by foreign education providers are welcomed. The adverse affect on Balance of payment position is partially accepted but stakeholders believe that ultimately local availability of quality education has huge potential to reduce tendency of rich students to pursue higher education courses abroad. The stakeholders believe that the presence of foreign education providers through physical campuses, twinning programmes, satellite campuses will bring qualitative improvements in Higher education.
