The AISHE for 2019-20 indicates that the enrolment in private universities has substantially increased between 2015 & 2019, on account of the increase in the number of such institutions. Enrolment in private universities accounted for 24.5% of the total enrolment in 2019-20, up from 18% in 2015-16.
In continuation of our previous story on the All India Survey on Higher Education Survey (AISHE), we look at student enrolment at various levels during the last 5 years by type of university and level of education in this story. The enrolment trends over the last 5 years reveal two important details:
- State Public Universities account for more than 30% of student enrolment, which is highest amongst all other universities.
- Under-graduate courses account for almost 80% of total student enrolment.
What are the different types of Universities?
A Central University is defined as a university established or incorporated by a Central Act, whereas a State university is incorporated by a Provincial Act or by a State Act. An Open University imparts education exclusively through distance education. A Private University is defined as a university established through a State/Central Act by a private sponsoring body such as a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860, or any other corresponding law for the time being in force in a State or a Public Trust or a Company registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. A Deemed University is an Institution Deemed to be University, which refers to a high-performing institute, which has been declared by Central Government under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956.
Institute of National Importance is an Institution established by the Act of Parliament and declared as an Institution of National Importance such as an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), National Institute of Technology (NIT). Institute Under State Legislature Act is an institution established or incorporated by a State Legislature Act. There are 5 such Universities, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad; Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati; Shere-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar; Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna; Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
Student enrolment highest in State Public Universities
According to the data released by AISHE Survey 2019-20, student enrolment is the highest in State Universities and reveals the following:
- State Public Universities account for the highest student enrolment (more than 30%), followed by State Private and Open Universities, and Private Deemed Universities in that order.
- Central Open University accounts for a higher number of student enrolments as compared to Central Universities and Institutes of National Importance combined.
- Institutes under State Legislature account for the lowest student enrolment, followed by State Private Open University, and Government Deemed University.
Enrolment in Private Universities up 71% in 5 years, more than 6 times the growth in Public Universities
Over the past 5 years, the trend in student enrolment by type of university shows an increasing trend for some and a consistent enrolment trend for others.
The significant trend is that the enrolment in private universities (state, deemed & open) has increased by more than 71% between 2015-19 while in public universities (state, central, open, deemed, INIs, etc.), it increased by around 11% during the same period. On account of this, the share of enrolments in private universities increased from 18% in 2015-16 to 24.5% in 2019-20.
- State Private Universities, Private Deemed Universities, Central Open Universities, and Institutes of National Importance show an increasing trend in enrolment over the years.
- While State Public Universities registered an increase for 2019, the trend has been on a decline for the past years.
- Central Universities, Government and Government-aided Deemed Universities, and others show a relatively stable trend in enrolment, i.e., not registering a similar increase as their counterparts.
Under-Graduates account for 80% of Student Enrolment
According to the data released by AISHE Survey 2019-20, the highest proportion of student enrolment is for under-graduate courses and reveals the following:
- Under-graduate courses account for almost 80% of total student enrolment, followed by post-graduate courses, and diploma courses.
- M.Phil, Integrated, Certificate, and Ph.D. courses account for the lowest number of student enrolment.
Over the past 5 years, the trend in student enrolment by the level of education shows a significant steep increase in enrolment for undergraduate courses.
- Under-graduate courses alone show a rapidly increasing trend.
- Postgraduate courses, Ph.D., and Integrated courses show a minor increase in student enrolment over the years.
- Some courses such as PG Diploma and MPhil courses show a declining trend over the years.
CAGR of Overall student enrolment at various levels at 20% between 2015-19
In sync with the above observations, we look at Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for different courses.
- Undergraduate courses registered the highest CAGR at 19.1%, followed by Postgraduate courses at 12.2%. This implies that student enrolment in these courses is increasing at a rate close to the total average CAGR of 19.8%.
- PG Diploma and MPhil courses are the only courses to register a declining CAGR at -7.6% and -8.1%. This implies that student enrolment in these courses is decreasing at a rapid rate.
Featured Image: Enrolment in Public Universities
