As India's higher education sector stands at a pivotal crossroads, Grant Thornton Bharat and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have launched the insightful report “Continuous Improvement Journey of Higher Education Institutions: Approaches and Practices Shaping the Future of Learning” during an event at ISB Mohali Campus. Timed with the rollout of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the report spotlights actionable strategies for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to surge from a 30% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) to 50% by 2035—demanding an 85% enrolment jump to 86.11 million students and a robust 5.3% CAGR in capacity.
Drawing from intimate roundtables with leaders from IIT Mandi, BITS Pilani, Lovely Professional University, and more, the document underscores a seismic shift: blending AI-driven personalization, interdisciplinary pedagogy, and industry-synced skills to combat the obsolescence of 40% of job skills by 2030. It's not just about scaling access—it's about embedding agility, ethical tech, and human-centric innovation to forge resilient, employable graduates.
Spotlight Quotes:
- Ashok Varma, Partner & Education Expert, Grant Thornton Bharat: "In a world where the shelf life of skills is shrinking, a future-ready institution adapts and evolves continuously—demanding dynamic, student-centric education."
- D N V Kumara Guru, Chairman, CII NR Education Committee: "This report is a guide for resilient, relevant HEIs... inspiring collaboration to shape learning's future."
Core Pillars from Roundtable Insights:
- Innovative Pedagogy Unleashed: HEIs like BITS Pilani pioneer AI-personalized paths and challenge-based learning, fostering sustainability via cross-sector ties.
- Skills for the AI Era: Micro-credentials and work-integrated programs (e.g., LPU's "Learn & Earn") team up with Pearson India for AI assessments, ensuring 90%+ placement readiness.
- Agile Institutions Rising: Panjab and Chitkara Universities lead with participatory governance, ethical AI frameworks, and net-zero campuses for global competitiveness.
Case Study Snapshots:
- ISB's Digital Frontier: Gamified online modules boast 90% completion, serving 5,000+ learners with blended flexibility.
- BITS Pilani's Ecosystem: WILP programs for 47,000 professionals yield alumni-founded unicorns and swift employability.
- MRIIRS's Impact Play: SDG-integrated courses engage 7,000 students in real-world village transformations.
