HIGHER EDUCATION IN INDIA: QUALITY IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR

Abstract

Quality in higher education has become the prime agenda of countries worldwide. In the changing context marked by expansion of higher education and globalization of economic activities, education has become a national concern with an international dimension. To cope with this changing context, countries have been pressurized to ensure and assure quality of higher education at a nationally comparable and internationally acceptable standard.India has joined a worldwide trends in which nations are seeking to improve the quality of their higher education systems by giving greater autonomy and accountability to lower levels of government (e.g. states) and to the higher education institution themselves. India’s 12th Five –year plan, released in December 2012, suggested a range of reforms to higher education to change the role of the national govt. from “Command and Control” to “steer and evaluate”. Information and communication Technology (ICT) is th need of the hour.ICT, if used creatively, can make a big difference in the way teachers teach and students learn and can help students acquire 21st century skills like digital literacy, innovative thinking, creativity, sound reasoning and effective communication in case of Open and Distance Education(ODE) system where “Anyone, Anywhere and Anytime i.e is 3 A’s the main philosophy, ICT-enabled education can do wonders that no one can imagine and help pave way for the creation of virtual Universities in the long run . .