Private Higher Education in India

The Private higher education sector is growing fast in many settings, including India, and there are variations at the national level. Privatization of higher education in India has been the result of changes in the economic policy towards liberalization and privatization by the Government of India. Till 1980, higher education sector was controlled by government and thereafter, there has been a trend towards privatization of higher education. Setting up of private universities by individuals and private trusts has been a new trend of privatization of higher education in the country during the twenty-first century. From the modest number of 15 pioneering universities in 2005, there are 171 private universities in India in January 2014. This increase in their number during the last three or four years has been a cause of concern in terms of quality. With this background, the present article makes an in-depth analysis of two private universities pertaining to their mission, ownership and management; admission process and enrolment pattern; profile of student and teacher; faculty position; financing; programmes of study; physical facilities and support services. The general purpose of this article is to illuminate an important policy issue for India and to contribute to general debate on the role of private sector in the provision of higher education. There has been an overall growth and increase of student enrolment in private universities in India in recent years. The study summarizes the general characteristics and issues relating to the provision of quality education in private universities.