Perspectives in Higher Education

Higher education deals with the tertiary level of education. Under¬graduate Colleges, Post-Graduate Colleges, Universities and Centers of Advanced Studies are coming under scope of higher education. As on 31.02.05, there were 342 Universities including 18 central Universities, 211 state Universities, 95 deemed Universities and 5 institutions established under state legislation and 13 Institutes of National Importance. There were 17625 colleges, of which 5286 have been recognized by UGC. In 2004-05, an estimated 104.81 lakh students were enrolled in the institutions of Higher Education and the faculty strength was 4.71 lakh. Higher education has special value in the emerging knowledge society. It contributes directly as well as indirectly to the wealth of a nation. Therefore, the country's future depends on a massive expansion of education particularly at higher education level.