Reforms and Innovations in Higher Education

With the explosive growth of knowledge in the past century and with the development of handy tools of information and communication technologies (ICT) as well as of other scientific innovations, competition has become a hallmark of growth all over the world. Reforms and innovations in higher education has been become the need of the hour. Globalization presents many important opportunities for higher education, but also poses serious problems and raises questions about how best to serve the common good. The Indian government has set a goal of increasing the enrollment ratio among Indians of college age (gross enrollment ratio, or GER) to 30 percent by 2020, from a current rate of just under 20 percent. In doing so, the government hopes to bring the nation's GER broadly into line with the projected 2020 global average. It also recognizes that quality standards need to be improved in tandem with access if the GER goals are to have a measurable impact on the broader Indian economy. This essay provides an outline of the major challenges facing universities throughout the world, This then give context to a discussion on current policy reforms and the future of higher education.