Higher education in India

Despite the COVID crisis and the forced lockdown, higher education in India emerged resiliently. All India Survey on Higher Education points out that student enrollment in higher education increased by ~11 lakhs, a ~3% jump between 2019-2020. So, how has higher education in pandemic changed? How will it evolve in the future? How should we adopt the changes?

Here’s how the pandemic has changed higher education in India and trends that you must watch out for.

The new learning model for Millennials

The focus will be to introduce micro-learning to suit the short attention span of Millennials. This need was highlighted during COVID as faculty found it challenging to capture the class’s attention during the online learning sessions. The hybrid model will eventually evolve to meet this challenge. For instance, NIIT has introduced Nugget, a digital learning platform with some brilliant features that enable micro-learning. It even goes a step further to allow students experience on-campus learning in the virtual setting.

 Introduction of unconventional practices

The use of the phone in the traditional classroom setting would sure be frowned upon in the pre-covid era, which has become a need of the hour to impart knowledge today. Similarly, however impossible it may sound, sooner or later, the open book examinations may be welcomed.

While you are celebrating this piece of information, let us give you one more reason to celebrate. It is speculated that emphasis on physical attendance will decrease, and you will be allowed to take exams irrespective of you meeting the minimum physical attendance requirement.

Hybrid learning mode

The students, faculty and educational institution needed to embrace online learning during the health crisis. This new learning model ensured that assessments were moved online too. However, physical classroom learning forms an essential part of the learning process, and it also encourages healthy social interaction among peers. In future, hybrid learning will effectively change the face of higher study in India. Blended learning will bridge the gap between online education and hands-on experience by imparting practical knowledge.

Up-skill and Re-skill

As COVID hit us, the fear of losing jobs made it imperative to stay a step ahead in the competition. This drove many to enroll in up-skilling and re-skilling programs. So, even after completing higher education, it will be necessary for you to continuously hone yourself through these programmes to stay updated and relevant in the market.

Research and Innovation

India’s Prime Minister aims to make India a Research & Development hotspot and bring the science stream to the centre stage. Amid the crisis, the education system adapted to cater to the new need for online learning. The efforts of existing R&D institutions have led to brilliant innovations that were integrated during the pandemic in the form of online learning platforms.

So, as we advance, the learning experience will focus on flexibility, seamless experience and, more importantly, on adapting to the changes led by macro and micro factors that will influence the education system. These innovations and advancements will encourage students to aim higher. We at Avanse are always prepared to make your academic journey seamless and affordable. Education loans for higher education as well as for up-skilling & re-skilling courses will enable you to achieve your academic goals without worrying about the finances.

Some interesting statistics of higher education in India

• The Indian education ecosystem is equipped with 51,000 educational institutions that support around 39 million students
• PhD courses witnessed a rise from ~1.17 lakh students in 2014-15 to ~2 lakh students in 2019-20
• The gross enrollment ratio increased from 26.3% in 2018-2019 to 27.1% in 2019-2020

So, these are the trends you must watch if you are planning for your higher education in India. While the higher education system has readily embraced some of these changes, the rest will become trendsetters in the future. You can plan your higher studies keeping these points in mind. If finance-related hurdles keep you from planning your higher studies, then loans for higher education are readily available. With Avanse, you get 100% finance and all your education-related expenses covered too. So, if you need to apply for a loan for your higher education, remember, we are just a call away!