NITI Aayog has launched a policy report titled ‘Expanding Quality Higher Education through States and State Public Universities’. The report is a first-of-its kind policy document in the higher education sector focused specifically on States and State Public Universities (SPUs).
It provides detailed quantitative analysis on vital indicators of Quality, Funding and Financing, Governance and Employability over the last decade across the themes. It provides the distilled essence of the insights gained from extensive stakeholder consultations held with State Government Officers of Higher and Technical Education Departments from over 20 States/UTs, Vice Chancellors, and senior academicians of 50 SPUs, and Chairpersons of several State Higher Education Councils.
| Parameter | Challenges Highlighted | Recommendations |
| Quality | Poor research infrastructure and low R&D spending, outdated curriculum and issues of faculty shortages | Research: Develop a National Research Policy Pedagogy: Regularly update curricula & assess teaching effectiveness |
| Funding | Limited funding to cater to capital expenditure & operating expenses, lack of fee autonomy. E.g. Education spending by states have fallen as percentage of GSDP between 2005-06 & 2019-20. | Increase education investment to 6% of GDP, boost R&D spending to 2% of GDP, Diversify revenue via self-financed programs, alumni engagement, CSR, and PPP models. |
| Employability | Outdated curriculum and weak academia-industry collaboration | Promote internships, industry collaborations, skill training, and entrepreneurship. |
| Governance | High accreditation costs, lack of administrative autonomy, opaque faculty hiring. E.g. Only 38 SPUs appeared in the top 100 institutions (university category) in NIRF 2024 | Enhance accreditation affordability, Grant SPUs autonomy, improve regulatory frameworks. |
| Internationalisation | Selection criteria need revision, underfunded research limits global outreach. | Identify and prioritize SPUs with existing infrastructure suitable for international students. Conduct a review of existing model curricula to identify areas needing adjustments to align with international standards. |