Page 12 - EVALUATION ENGLISH

Introduction

Amidst rapid demands of constant change put forth by a globalised economy, the higher
education sector in India is going through its transformation stage. The current pace of
accelerated growth of Indian economy, significantly accompanied by surge in growth in
certain sectors, primarily services, puts tremendous pressure on the need for human resources
to keep up to the momentum and pace of change and growth. The challenge then to the
higher education system in the country is to create a skilled resource of the young population
it has, to unleash their potential to take on the baton of change and growth. In turn, the
Government has a key role to play in aiding to give impetus to provide adequate and high
quality education system.

With the aim of the Government to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio to about 30% by the
next decade or so, the country will need more than double the number of 700+ universities it
currently has. This will not only ensure meeting expected enrolment ratio targets but will also
accommodate millions of students who will seek to pursue higher education by then.

Of foremost concern is just not the quantitative growth, but to also ensure that the students are
equipped with 21 century skills for the new age enterprises and to play lead roles in sophisticated
st
ways of conduct of business. In order to achieve this, it is imperative that both the Government and
the higher education sector should focus on excellence and employability. Upon these platforms,
a strong system should be built-up that takes care of needs of scale and maintenance of quality.
With a robust system in place, the higher education sector should focus on being more learner-
centric, be oriented to conduct and gain knowledge through research, and be in pursuit of constant
improvements in quality.

Innovation and technology can be drivers that can accelerate the much needed recognition of Indian
higher education. Technology as an enabler is now being introduced, albeit in its nascent form,
in a manner that was unthought-of, couple of years ago. Digital learning is now harnessed upon
to deliver education in smaller modules. Capacity issues can be bridged by digital learning modes
and online learning modes. Parameters of testing and assessment need relook and reorientation
so as to create the next generation knowledge workers. A whole new format of assessment tools
using digital platforms need to be utilized to build the requisite skills that is required of a growing
economy. This said, in some specific way with unified efforts, will enable all students who have
enrolled in higher education programmes to attain requisite skills of higher order through the
intended learning outcomes.

10 Evaluation Reforms in Higher Educational Institutions