NEP aspires to reach the ambitious target of 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035.
CHANDIGARH (India CSR): Grant Thornton Bharat, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), released a knowledge report titled “Continuous Improvement Journey of Higher Education Institutions: Approaches and Practices Shaping the Future of Learning.” The report highlights how NEP 2020 is redefining India’s higher education landscape—driving a structural shift toward outcome-based, technology-enabled, and learner-centric models. With an ambitious target of achieving a 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035, the policy is prompting institutions to rethink access, quality, and employability.
According to the analysis, India needs 86.11 million enrolments by 2035—an 85% increase from current levels—requiring a sustained 5.3% compounded annual growth rate in higher-education capacity. Achieving this scale will demand systemic innovation, digital enablement, and collaborative investments in infrastructure and capacity building, particularly for faculty and other stakeholders.
The findings are drawn from three focused roundtables with over ten universities from the northern region, complemented by secondary research and analysis. They reflect the lived experiences and evolving priorities of higher-education leaders navigating transformation on the ground.
Ashok Varma, Partner and Education & Skill Development Expert, Grant Thornton Bharat, states: “India’s higher education ecosystem is entering a defining decade. The National Education Policy 2020 has set the course for transformation, but its success will depend on how quickly institutions adapt—by embedding innovation, agility, and human-centricity into their DNA. Future-ready universities will be those that treat learning as a continuous, evolving journey rather than a finite goal.”
Key Takeaways from the Roundtables
1. Cross-learning and innovative pedagogy
Academic leaders emphasized that the future of learning lies in interdisciplinarity and experiential engagement. Institutions such as IIT Mandi, BITS Pilani, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, and Lovely Professional University showcased models of AI-powered personalized learning, challenge-based assessment, and cross-sector sustainability partnerships. These approaches are helping Indian HEIs shift from traditional teaching to dynamic, NEP-aligned frameworks.
2. Skill assessment and employability readiness
With nearly 40% of core job skills expected to evolve by 2030, employability is becoming a central design principle in higher education. Institutions are embedding micro-credentials, modular credits, and work-integrated learning, while leveraging AI-enabled assessments and industry linkages. Initiatives by BITS Pilani, DIT University, MRIIRS, and Pearson India demonstrate how academia and industry are co-creating outcome-oriented ecosystems for an agile, technology-driven workforce.
3. Preparedness of future-ready HEIs
As technology, globalization, and learner expectations reshape education, institutions are enhancing academic flexibility, improving stakeholder experience through participatory governance, revitalizing policies and processes, and adopting workflow automation. Ethical AI use is emerging as a priority from the student perspective. Universities such as Panjab University, Chitkara University, and DIT University are adopting frameworks that strengthen academic excellence, industry engagement, and human-centric design—underscoring adaptability, collaboration, and sustainability.
The report underlines that the transformation of higher education in India is no longer a policy aspiration—it is an operational imperative. As institutions deepen their Continuous Improvement journey, the dialogue is shifting from access alone to also include scale and quality. The road to Viksit Bharat demands that India’s tertiary education system perform at its peak across all dimensions. The latest report emphasizes that this transformation is not a distant vision—it is already unfolding within Indian HEIs today.
(India CSR)
